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A Benefit Gig for Eric Roche.
Haverhill Arts Centre will be hosting a benefit gig for the acoustic fingerstyle guitarist Eric Roche who passed away earlier this year after battling cancer for more than a year. Celebrating Eric is on Sunday 4th December – a date which would have been his 38th birthday. The gig sees a number of his friends and fellow musicians playing some of his music and their own work including compositions that they composed for Eric during his illness.
Appearing on 4th December will be a line-up which shows Eric’s diverse influences and collaborators. Playing will be singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine plus Harmonica Legend Steve Lockwood with guitarist Chris Newman who are based in and around Cambridgeshire. Acoustic Guitarist Stuart Ryan (based in Chester), solo bassist Steve Lawson (London), international virtuoso Kora player Ravi (West Wales), plus singer/ songwriter Max Gilkes (from Brighton).
Arts Centre programmer Nick Keeble said ‘Eric was a good friend to Haverhill Arts Centre. He played 3 gigs here and even took time one year to help judge the final of the Haverhill Rock Competition. He has helped develop an audience for guitar music at the Centre which will prove a lasting legacy.’
His widow Candy and children Stefan and Francesca (aged 3 and 1 respectively) still live in Haverhill where Eric made his home for more than 5 years.
Tickets are on sale from Haverhill Arts Centre Box Office on 01440 714140. Tickets are priced £12.00 and pre-booking in advance is advisable as it is expected that the event will sell out.
Haverhill Arts Centre, High Street, Haverhill, CB9 8AR Box Office: 01440 714140 email: boxoffice@haverhillartscentre.co.uk
Boo Hewerdine: a singer/songwriter based in Cambridgeshire who as well as his own work has written hit songs for Katrina and the Waves, Eddi Reader (The Patience of Angels) and Natalie Imbruglia. He fronted The Bible and has a huge following locally and nationally. Boo is presently touring the UK including a gig at Ronnie Scotts in London. He has composed music for the soundtrack for Nick Hornby’s film Fever Pitch (Hornby is a huge fan).
www.boohewerdine.net
Ravi: described by The Times as ‘A Virtuoso’, Ravi is a multitalented musician who specialises in playing the kora (a cross between a harp and a lute with 21 to 25 strings of leather. A large gourd forms the body, out of which comes a long neck to which the two rows of strings are attached). Eric Roche accompanied Ravi on a number of pieces. Ravi is internationally renowned and has run workshops at Colorado State University and in Brazil as well as appearing live at Glastonbury Festival and in the Purcell Rooms in London.
www.ravi-art.co.uk
Stuart Ryan: Eric himself rated Stuart as ‘…one of the greatest guitarists this country has ever produced’. He won the Guitarists Magazine’s Acoustic Guitarist of the Year in 2002 and has performed all over the UK as well as regular features on BBC Radio. Stuart played Eric Roches’ composition ‘With these Hands’ at Eric’s funeral.
www.stuartryan.co.uk
Max Gilkes: first came to prominence with acoustic guitar duo MAP whose ‘ The View from Here’ became an instant classic on release. His latest work has been compared with early David Bowie through Led Zeppelin to Peter Gabriel. He has composed film scores, written tutor books and is a faculty member of the Bath Intenational Guitar Festival. Max’s track ‘Round and Round’ is currently 3 year old Stefan Roche’s favourite record.
www.maxgilkes.com
Steve Lockwood: Steve graduated from University in Cambridge with a music degree specialising in the harmonica – a fact that was the answer to a question asked by Jeremy Paxman on University Challenge. He has toured around the world with bands and has appeared on BBC Radio and TV. He has recorded on more than 50 albums, played with legend Larry Adler and recorded with the Prague Philharmonic. He will be joined on stage by Chris Newman, a guitarist who has been a member of the John Slaughter Blues Band and the Chris Barber Band. He has recorded an acoustic tribute to Rory Gallagher. He performed with Eric and Steve Lockwood at the Cambridge Folk Festival.
www.steve.ms
www.chrisnewmangrooves.com
Steve Lawson: described by Bass Guitar Magazine as ‘…one of the most influential bassists in the world’. Steve is a solo electric bass player who has twice toured major UK theatres as opening act for 80’s Brit-funk legends Level 42. Steve’s musical message of ‘the bass, the whole bass and nothing but the bass’ has been making serious waves. He is a ‘one man cosmic symphony’ who performs in the UK and worldwide and has recently played the Edinburgh Festival in a solo show.
www.steve-lawson.co.uk
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