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An Evening with Alela Diane & Ryan Francesconi

Tuesday 10th November 2015

Vikesh Kapoor + Ellie Ford

At

Doors 7:30 pm

Price £12 + booking fee / £14

A new and fresh collaboration with Portland-based critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Alela Diane, and composer, guitarist Ryan Francesconi (Joanna Newsom); the duo have combined forces to create LP – Cold Moon – a collaboration of voice and guitar with intangible moods and resonances.

Singer/songwriter Alela Diane and guitarist Ryan Francesconi have uniquely collaborated to create Cold Moon. The two musicians talked at a friend’s show in October 2014, chatting about how they were both experiencing creative standstills. Ryan was lacking inspiration to make more instrumental music, and Alela was at a loss for how to dive into writing a new record after the birth of her daughter. A few days later, Ryan asked Alela if she would be into collaborating and then sent her several recordings of intricate, beautiful guitar pieces. Alela listened on repeat while staring out the window at the changing leaves, initially unsure how to sing even a note over what she heard. Eventually, something clicked. Words came first, and with words, melody followed. Throughout the winter, Alela made trips across town to Ryan’s house to woodshed the songs over cups of tea. Before they knew it, they had a record–a collaboration of voice and guitar with intangible moods and resonances–a collection that calls you to reflect and be hopeful.
A wintry music born in December. And so rose the Cold Moon.

Alela Diane is a critically-acclaimed singer/songwriter from Nevada City, CA currently living in Portland, Oregon. She’s released four albums including “The Pirate’s Gospel” in 2007, “To Be Still” in 2009, “Wild Divine” in 2011 and “About Farewell” in 2013.

Ryan Francesconi is a composer, guitarist, balkan musician, programmer, and cyclist living in Portland, Oregon. Recent projects include arranging Joanna Newsom’s “Have One On Me”, a solo guitar record “Parables”, and “Road To Palios” – his latest album of duets with Mirabai Peart released by Bella Union

Alela Diane:
“(On About Farewell) a sincere depiction of the quiet, resolute acceptance of mid- to long-term misery.” – The Guardian ****
“(On About Farewell) offering an almost forensic examination of love’s demise.” – The Telegraph ****

Ryan Francesconi:
“(On Parables) a kind of eloquent calm that recalls fellow guitar travellers such as James Blackshaw.” – The Guardian
“(On Road to Palios) a soothing, meditative aspect to the music redolent of a Mediterranean sunset” – The Independent

Support comes from:
Vikesh Kapoor
A 21st century folksinger and songwriter in the Woody Guthrie/Pete Seeger populist tradition, Vikesh Kapoor was raised in rural Pennsylvania but found his calling after an impromptu cross-country trip, after which he found himself singing at a memorial service in Boston for Howard Zinn. Moved by Zinn’s lifelong commitment to overcoming class and racial injustice, Kapoor, by this time living in Portland, Oregon, wrote and recorded a loose concept album, The Ballad of Willy Robbins, which centered on the struggles for a good life endured by the working class. The album, co-produced by Kapoor and Adam Selzer, was released by Mama Bird Recording Co. in the fall of 2013.

Ellie Ford
Ellie Ford is an alternative folk musician based in Brighton.
She draws influence from the likes of Karen Dalton, Nick Drake and Joanna Newsom.