Once again we kick off the performance side of our festival with our Festival Curtain Raiser, this year to be held in the Wild Organic Eatery, formerly Café Velo, where our first Curtain Raiser was held.
The evening offers a taster for the week’s entertainment to come over the week ahead with festival artists performing poetry and music amongst the key features.
Chris Sewart, who will have led the Poetry Writing workshop will present some of the poets and poems created at that event, plus others. Back again will be Swing 42 offering a taste of Gypsy Jazz, Pop and Blues classics and singalong songs; whilst the highly acclaimed local singer songwriter Carrie Martin will bring to the event some of her most popular songs. Finishing off the concert is festival favourite, The Nick Rooke Band with its mix if traditional Irish and original songs. It will be the perfect night to kick off the festival in style.
Chris Sewart - Poet & Author
Chris will be leading our Poetry events at this year’s festival. He lives in Beverley and has been writing poetry for over 25 years.
He has been published in numerous journals and magazines and he has won many awards for his poems and literature. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Larkin Poetry Prize in the East Riding Festival of Words Poetry Competition and has since won the Gold Prize in the same competition, in 2021 and 2022, and was highly commended in 2020.
He has taught creative writing at libraries, as well as leading writing workshops as part of a creative writing group.
Swing 42
Michael Nagasaka and Gypsy Jazz guitarist Lewis Kilvington together form Swing 42. They have become favourites at the February Stage4Beverley festival. They perform toe-tapping Gypsy Swing rhythm over Jazz, Pop and Blues classics and will get you clapping and singing along to a number of ‘call and response’ tunes like Ray Charles’ “Hit The Road Jack” and “What’d I Say”, Cab Calloway’s “Minnie the Moocher”, and even everyone’s favourite Disney classic “I Wanna Be Like You” (the Monkey song) from the Jungle Book. Grab your beers and get ready to join the mass singalongs.
Toe-tapping Gypsy Swing rhythm over Jazz, Pop and Blues classics - Lewis and Michael's fiery guitars never fail to delight audiences and get them singing along.
Carrie Martin
Born in Hull, Carrie is an acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter.
Mentored by instrumental guitarist Gordon Giltrap MBE, she has attracted endorsements from Vintage Guitars, G7th Capos, Martin Strings & most recently she has become an artist for Faith Guitars.
May 2023 saw her take to the stage at The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury, alongside Gordon Giltrap MBE , Oliver Wakeman and the mighty Rick Wakeman CBE, which led to Rick quoting Carrie as ‘Phenomenal’. Rick invited her back to the Roses Theatre June 2024 and this time asked her to join him on stage to perform 'Morning Has Broken' with him
“Martin is equally skilled on guitar, on vocals and as writer. The voice is distinctive- the crystalline purity and range of a Kate Bush, the depth and delicacy of a Sandy Denny. And the songs to which she applies them stand up with any of her peers. The chord sequence of the title track evokes Joni Micthell’s Hejira album.” Trevor Raggatt, RnR Magazine.
" It’s pretty obvious from the moment you hear Carrie Martin sing that she is an outstanding vocalist with passion in each breath. Don't be too sidetracked by that voice and stage persona and well-crafted songs, because you might just miss the fact that she is a fine guitar player as well!” Gordon Giltrap
The Nick Rooke Band - Nick Rooke, Paul Blackburn & Lisa Wastling
Nick Rooke plays original music across many genres with an incredible repertoire and flexibility. Together Nick, Paul and Lisa play Nick’s own music and also traditional Irish Folk. An evening with them is a truly interactive experience!
