John Smedley Folk Memorial Concert

Eddi Reader, Charlie Dore 

Award-winning songstresses present the annual tribute to the late John Smedley, local folk-artist and Festival Organiser. Eddi Reader appears as partof her ‘40 Years Live’ concert tour. Playing the folk clubs of Scotland and street-singing across Europe led her to backing singer for Eurythmics and Gang of Four. In the the late 1980's Eddi’s own band Fairground Attraction had huge international success with number one hits with ‘Perfect’ and debut album ‘First of a Million Kisses’. Her successful solo career includes the albums 'The Songs of Robert Burns' and last years 'Cavalier'. She has won Brit Awards, been awarded four honorary degrees, an MBE and collaborated with a host of stars of Folk, Jazz, Pop, World, Punk and Classical work with various orchestras. In 2019 Eddi was a special tour guest with Jools Holland's Orchestra, she released her ‘Starlight’ EP and appeared on several BBC TV shows including Songs of Praise and Billy Connolly's ‘Made In Scotland’ series. 2020's ‘40 Years Live’ concerts promise to be something special, no two concerts ever the same. 

"Just perfect – Eddi Reader gets every song just right" - The Sunday Times. 

"One of my favourite singers of all time" - Jools Holland.

Charlie Dore returns to Sevenoaks with her long-time collaborator Julian Littman of Steeleye Span. Expect a taste of ‘intriguingly other’ eclectic contemporary folk. 

They’ll showcase their new album, as well as favourites from the past and original acoustic versions of hits Charlie has written for others, including George Harrison, Celine Dion and Jimmy Nail. Expect a new version of Charlie’s classic hit, Pilot of the Airwaves, still a staple of UK and US radio playlists.

“...a voice like Kate McGarrigle meets Dory Previn. Wonderful.” Mike Harding BBC.

"A gift for melody, brave, poignant, entertaining, original" Guardian

ww.eddireader.co.uk www.charliedore.com