MUSIC FROM HALF A CENTURY AGO.

these artists, and hundreds of others, were names I later collected avidly, but usually retrospectively. It staggers me to think of what my everyday listening was in 1971, and that the album Delta Momma Blues by Townes Van Zandt at the time never even bleeped on my radar.

EARL SCRUGGS: Bach and Beethoven In One

He was the most influential banjo player there has ever been: he was banjo's Bach, Beethoven and Bob Dylan all rolled into one.

HOME FREE make their voices heard.

Home Free have revealed not only their seemingly effortless vocals and impressive harmonies but have also shown good taste in their song selection. There are superb You Tubes out there of them performing End of The Road, and the classic Man Of Constant Sorrow, a song much beloved by our own banjo playing son.

CALENDAR CLASHES AND DIARY DISPUTES

Meanwhile, running parallel with the performance poetry scene Rochdale maintains it thriving creative writing community, with at least two major groups still convening in the town.
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WHAT HYPHENATED REALLY MEANS is Ellen Foley

that's Ellen volleying Meat's come-ons right back at him in "Paradise By The Dashboard Light."

THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Their Influence Is Indelible

Quite aside from the Beatles, the Everly Brothers were feted by everyone from the Rolling Stones – Keith Richards hailed Don as “one of the best rhythm guitar players I’ve ever heard” and called their voices “almost mystical” – to the Beach Boys.
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DYLAN FACING DAYS IN THE DOCK?

as if the Bob Dylan songbook really is the book of Revelation

CAMERISTI CROMATICI

The quartet delivered this to close the show, and it was a perfect, joyous selection. So much so, that within seconds of the closing the audience were on their feet in a standing ovation, in demand of an encore. The musicians genuinely seemed as pleased for the composers and their music as they were for themselves, but be in no doubt that this ovation was paying a tribute to the musicians.
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MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL; open

this is a working church and it is teeming with life. Come along to the host of brilliant events that we run here at Manchester Cathedral every year and help us to protect this very special place for another 600 years.
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a murmur of memories to come, carried on BEESWING

he sees John Lennon “wandering around, looking every inch an impersonation of himself, with his moustache, NHS spectacles and Afghan jacket”.