Camilla George - 1 March:
On Friday 1 March, Warwick Arts Centre is hosting jazz musician Camilla George, a visionary saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.
Her innovative music style is a unique fusion of African and Western music, with inspiration drawn from her Nigerian roots.
Camilla was born in Eket, Nigeria and has been a keen enjoyer of music from a young age, citing Felt Kuti, Charlie Parker, and Jackie McLean as some of her earliest influences.
This love of music lead to her picking up the saxophone aged 11 after being awarded saxophone sessions; the prize at a music contest she won.
She eventually went on to study at Trinity College of Music where she gained a master’s in jazz performance, in addition to being awarded The Archer Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in 2011.
In 2009, she joined award-winning band Jazz Jamaica and in 2013 Jazz Jamaica was nominated for a MOBO award for Jazz Performance.
All of this led to her becoming a fixture in London’s vibrant jazz scene alongside peers like Nubya Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings.
Camilla was dubbed ‘The Golden Girl of Jazz’ by The Evening Standard following her debut album, Isang (pronounced E-SANG which means ‘journey’ in Ibibio her native language).
Her accolades include nominations for Urban Music and Jazz FM Awards, performances at prestigious venues and festivals, and the recent receipt of the PRS Foundation Momentum Award.
Her most recent album Ibio-Ibio features a hypnotic blend of Afrofuturism, hip hop, and jazz and celebrates community, roots, and creation.
Ruby Turner - 6 March:
R&B/Soul singer & actress Ruby Turner returns to Warwick Arts Centre.
With a career spanning more than 30 years and 20 albums, Turner has been the recipient of many accolades, the highest of those being an MBE which she was awarded in 2016 for her services to music.
Ruby was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and moved to Birmingham when she was nine years old. She began playing around the Midlands in the late-70s and soon gained prominence for her powerful voice and her genre blending abilities.
One of her early breakthroughs came when she joined Culture Club. She then went on to work with huge names such as UB40, Steve Winwood, and Mick Jagger, and is a long-standing member of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.
However, she truly showcased her talent through her solo career, which began in earnest in 1986 when she released her debut album, Women Hold Up Half the Sky - featuring the hit single If You’re Ready (Come Go With Me).
Alongside her successful music career, Ruby has also appeared in a number of television shows and films as an actress. She cameoed in Love Actually, as well as making appearances in TV programmes such as EastEnders and Doctors.
Ruby Turner’s musical endeavours have earned her respect and admiration within the industry, and she is continually celebrated for her influence on the British music scene.
The Coral: The Making of The Debut Album - 9 March:
British indie rock band The Coral are visiting Warwick Arts Centre for a celebration of the 21st anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album.
The band’s music draws from a range of genre influences, such as psychedelic rock, indie rock, folk, dub, disco groove, as well as Egyptian reggae.
Formed in 1996, The Coral have had a lengthy career, spanning over 25 years. The band’s current line-up consists of James Skelly (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Paul Duffy (bass, saxophone), Nick Power (keyboards), Ian Skelly (drums), and Paul Molloy (guitar).
The group met in Hoylake on the Wirral in Merseyside and first came together after Ian Skelly and Paul Duffy began playing together in the basement of their local pub, Flat Foot Sam’s.
The rest of the members joined after, completing their line-up and readying them to record their debut album which was released in 2002 to critical acclaim, brilliantly showcasing the band’s talent and songwriting abilities.
LP highlights include Dreaming of You and Goodbye - the former went on to become one of the band’s most popular songs, reaching the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart.
This success helped the band to establish themselves within the British indie rock scene.
On 9 March, the performance will feature a blend of musical performance, conversation, and audience questions. James Skelly and Nick Power will play acoustic performances of key songs from their debut, as well as allowing for audience participation, making for an intimate and immersive experience.
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, and John Doyle - 10 March:
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, and John Doyle are each globally acclaimed musicians who have come together to perform a night full of beautifully crafted music.
Born in Manchester in 1971, Michael McGoldrick is an award winning (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Instrumentalist of the Year) multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer.
Having released many solo albums throughout his career, McGoldrick has been a prominent figure in the traditional music scene. He's a founding member of Lúnasa, and current member of Capercaillie, and has worked with Mark Knopfler, Eddi Reader and John Cale. And that's just for starters.
John McCusker is also a composer and producer. Born in 1973 in Bellshill, Scotland, McCusker is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative fiddle players in traditional music.
He has played with The Battlefield Band, Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan, recorded with Paul Weller, and recently produced albums for Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot and Kris Drever.
In his solo musical output, McCusker’s compositions draw from Scottish and Celtic traditions.
John Doyle is an Irish guitarist, singer, and songwriter originally from Dublin who is known and highly respected for his skilful guitar playing and emotive style of singing.
Much like the others, Doyle has had a fruitful solo career and has collaborated with a number of artists including Liz Carole, Eileen Evers, and Solas, making him a prominent figure in the contemporary music scene.
These three incredibly talented musicians have frequently collaborated as a trio.
This performance is part of their 2024 tour and is sure to bring you a night full of brilliant folk songs that showcase both their individual and collective talent.
Free Music events:
In addition to these, we have a few of our recurring events continuing throughout the month of March - all of which are free!
Join us every Friday in the Foyer for an evening full of live jazz music, hosted by The Aaron Moloney Trio. If you are a jazz enjoyer, come along from 5.30pm until 7.15pm and if you play yourself, the second half of the evening is an open jam session for local musicians to get involved in.
Weekly songwriting workshops hosted by Ellie Gowers and Steve Jones (aka Stylusboy) are taking place every Tuesday from 8-10pm. These workshops are suitable for everybody, so if you are interested in songwriting, no matter your level of expertise, come along.
Our next Open Mic session is on 7 March from 6-8pm in the Foyer. If you are a musician, poet, or any kind of musical performer, come along! Make sure to sign up early on the night for the best chance of getting a performance slot.
