Shropshire Star

Evening of music heading to Rhydycroesau Village

An evening of songs, traditional and new, will be held at a village hall next week.

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The event at Rhydycroesau Village Hall, near Oswestry on Saturday has been organised by Borderland Music and will feature Johnny Coppin, Vera van Heeringen, Tom Browne, Annette Batty and John Neilson.

Johnny Coppin, from Gloucestershire, is a founder-member of the folk band Decameron. He is well known as a singer/songwriter, playing guitar and piano, and has written and recorded many albums as a solo artist. He has also collaborated with numerous other luminaries including the late Laurie Lee of Cider With Rosie fame and has been the Musical director for the Festival Players since 1992. He presents the Saturday acoustic music programme on BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Vera van Heeringen, from Holland via Llansilin, toured for nearly five years as part of the New Rope String Band before setting out on a solo career.

Tom Browne hails from Newcastle upon Tyne and has been singing and playing guitar in sessions, clubs, festivals and ceilidh groups for almost 50 years.

Annette Batty, who lives near Llanfair Caereinion, sang in the group Manticore, who were active in the early 1990s and has been prised out of musical semi-retirement to perform in Rhydycroesau.

John Neilson, from Llansilin, who is best known as an accordion player and composers, currently plays in the trio Half Six and in a duo with fiddler Faith Brackenbury. He will be doing a short solo spot and some accompanying on Saturday.

The evening starts at 8pm with tickets £8 and £5 for children 16 and under available from the Rowanthorn shop, Chapel Court, Oswestry, or from John on 01691 791403, or Eirene on 01948 710218.