Bayou Seco music workshops and free concert

Festival favourites Bayou Seco, from New Mexico, return to Hitchin on Thursday 26th May to deliver musical and educational workshops at Ickleford Primary School as part of Rhythms Of The World’s Outreach Programme.  This will be followed by a free concert in the evening at the Sun Hotel Ballroom in Hitchin.

The free concert, with support coming from Miss Jose Vanders, starts at 7:30 and as there is limited capacity it's recommended to arrive in good time to guarantee admission.

Bayou Seco, who starred at Rhythms of the World in 2008 and 2010, are a two piece group whose roots are deep in the southwest but whose branches reach far across the world. They have collected music from older traditional American musicians for most of their lives and learned to play many of their tunes and songs, especially focusing on Cajun music in SW Louisiana. They have learnt from traditional Hispanic, Cowboy and Tohono O'Odham musicians in New Mexico and Arizona and both play fiddle and guitar and sing.

The Rhythms of the World Outreach Programme aims to bring the ethos of the world music festival to people all year round as a way of putting something back into the local Community.  The educational resources for this programme have been sourced from the team at WOMAD Festival who have pulled together a package of workshops which link into the national curriculum.

UPDATE 7th June 2011

Ken Keppeler and Jeanie McLerie, from Silver City in the New Mexican mountains, began their busy day in school with a concert for the whole school, playing accordion, fiddle, banjo and harmonica and singing in English, French and Spanish.

Then there was a workshop for the older children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, in which they learned about New Mexico, its history and culture, and heard some of its traditional music and songs.

The school’s violinists and cellists learned and performed two pieces with Bayou Seco, then there was a workshop with the younger children in Reception, Y1 and Y2 and a closing concert.

‘It was a real privilege to have Bayou Seco in school and we are very grateful to Rhythms of the World for giving us this opportunity,’ said Headteacher Pat Salmon.  She said the children thoroughly enjoyed playing music and learning with Jeanie and Ken and finding out about the music of New Mexico. Comments from the children included ‘It was really good’, ‘inspirational’ and ‘funny’.  

The free evening concert at The Sun Hotel in Hitchin was a great success. As well as Bayou Seco, it also featured young singer/songwriter Jose Vanders who’d driven straight from her final exam at Bristol University to be at the show. The appreciative audience were treated to Bayou Seco’s traditional tunes gathered over the last 30 years, which mix Cajun, Hispanic and cowboy tunes all delivered with a wry sense of humour and a style that engaged the audience from start to finish.

Arriving early on Wednesday evening and with time on their hands, Bayou Seco joined the open mic session at Baldock Folk Club and enjoyed an evening of great tunes and great company. Some of the attendees were so impressed they came to the Sun Hotel show the following day.