Archive
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Wednesday 3rd April - Folk Salad
Folk Salad, a group of locally based musicians, focus on playing traditional balfolk tunes with their own arrangements: mazurka, schottische, waltz and polka, as well as local dances from the Auvergne to Brittany via Berry & Poitou, with some mixers thrown in. In the first half there was a focus on one of the core dances, the bourrée, in particular how two couples can have fun being led by each other, as well as adding a beautiful set waltz to the repertoire, with a Scottish connection. The variety of rhythm, melody and harmony ensured a great evening of dance.
Wednesday 6th March - Club Night
An evening of dance and music with the Pied à Terre musicians and dance tuition.
This month included:
- Circle Bourrée.
- Rondeau.
- A 3-time waltz.
- Advice on How To Lead, the ballroom hold, direction of travel round the room, and leading on variations.
- 5 and 8 time waltzes.
- A Breton dance.
- Avant Deux.
Wednesday 7th February 2024 - Portmanteau
Portmanteau are an exciting Cambridge based trio playing traditional balfolk tunes with a modern twist. They feature saxophones, clarinet, and melodeons to create a unique and captivating sound. The genuine connection between the band members shines through in their music, with deep rich harmonies and driving rhythms.
“Portmanteau are a talented and versatile band who are sure to get you dancing. If you’re a fan of lively schottisches, exquisite mazurkas, and driving bourrées, then you should definitely check them out.”
Wednesday 3rd January 2024 - Club Night
An evening of dance and music with the Pied à Terre musicians and dance tuition.
This month we included refeshers of a number of popular dances:
- Avant Deux – a brief run through reminder
- Scottische and variations
- An update of the 5 time waltz
- Bourrée basics and variations
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8 (free)
- Dancing with some tuition– 8.15 to 10:30
- Admission £5.
Friday 29th December 2023 Xim & The Two Nicks
**Not a Pied à Terre Event**
Dear music lovers,
**SOLD OUT**SOLD OUT**SOLD OUT**
I would like to invite you to join us for an evening of wonderful European-inspired dance music at the Wensum Community Centre located on Hotblack Road in the city of Norwich. The evening will be featuring two amazingly talented bands, starting with the Two Nicks who are Nick Wiseman-Ellis on the button accordion and Nic Zuppardi on tenor guitar and mandolin. This will be followed by Xim who are Kate Ross on flute, whistle and bass, Tess Liligate on flute, whistle and harmonium, Frank Vickers on hurdy-gurdy and percussion and Nick Carpenter on melodeons.
You can come to dance the night away or simply watch and be blown away by their exquisite sounds!
Doors open at 7pm to start at 8pm, advance tickets cost £12 (including the online booking fee) and tickets on the door are £14. Please bring your own drinks and snacks as there is no bar at the moment. There is ample parking at the Wensum Community Centre if you are coming from further away and there is no zoned parking in the nearby residential streets so parking shouldn’t be an issue.
**SOLD OUT**SOLD OUT**SOLD OUT**
Here is the link for online booking: ximtwonicks
Door time: 7:00pm, Start time: 8:00pm PBOB
We hope you will come and join us, you won’t be disappointed!
Chris Keeler
**Not a Pied à Terre Event**
Wednesday 6th December 2023 - Pied à Terre Band and Guests
The Pied à Terre musicians hosted their friends to a special musical and dance event for the December session.
The line-up included:
- The Pied à Terre musicians
- Folk Salad
- The Kitchen Band
- Frank & Nick (from Xim)
Wednesday 1st November 2023 - Kerry Fletcher
A warm ‘Welcome back’ to Kerry Fletcher https://www.kerryfletcher.co.
Kerry will be concentrating on teaching the circle bourrée La Grande Pastourelle . If there is time we might try the five-time and eight-time waltz.
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8 (free)
- Dancing with some tuition– 8.15 to 10:30
- Tickets £8 cash only.
Wednesday 4th October 2023 - Club Night
This month was a club night. Club member reprised the 3 time Waltz, Schottische, Bourrée Tournante Les Grandes Poteries and Lo Crusado, as well as free dance accompanied by the PàT band.
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8 (free)
- Dancing with some tuition– 8.15 to 10:30
- Tickets £5 cash only.
This month the tunes the musicians played included:
For the workshop:
Lo Crosado (3 x bourrée)
Bourrée Tournante Les Grandes Poteries
Adieu ma Dedee (waltz)
Backstage (schottische)
Arthur (Em) and 10th May (waltzes)
Pousse Moi and Rue des Pres (schottisches)
Lindsay Barker and The Bay Tree (waltzes)
Jan Mijne man (Am then Bm) and Go Mauve (schottisches)
Valse Beaulieu and Flatworld (waltzes)
Man in a Brown Hat and Havero Schottische (schottisches)
For the Bal:
De Montford (2 x bourrée)
Wednesday 6th September 2023 - Bof!
We welcome back the fabulous Bof!
Bof! line-up left to right
• Gwendal Moële – Vocals
• Val Woollard – Bagpipes, Recorder, Flute, Desk bells
• Simon Haines – Diatonic accordeons, Vocals
• Phil Lyons – Acoustic guitar, Bass guitar, Vocals
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8
- Bof!– 8.15 til 10:30
- Tickets £10.
There was an interval break and the Pied à Terre musicians performed.
Wednesday 2nd August 2023 - Dave Shepherd
Dave Shepherd is probably best known as the fiddler in Blowzabella and over the years has developed a distinctive style. Dave grew up with traditional music and dance in his native Yorkshire where his father was a dancer with the Grenoside Traditional Sword Dance Team (Dave plays the fiddle that once belonged to Walter Fleetwood, Grenoside’s musician for five decades). He took up the fiddle when he was 12 after his family moved to London and played for morris and country dancing. Later Dave discovered the various European fiddle traditions which led him to see English music and dance in a different light. He is best known as the fiddler in Blowzabella and over the years has developed a distinctive style. Several of Dave’s compositions have become standards both here and in Europe. Dave is well known as a teacher of traditional dance and fiddle in the UK and abroad.
As well as playing in Blowzabella he has played in a duo with Becky Price (Boldwood), currently plays with Belgian accordion player Simon Gielen, and more recently has begun researching the English dance tradition and formed a duo with diatonic accordionist Anna Pack.
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8 led by Dave Shepherd.
- During the musicians’ practice, Dave will be concentrating on Auvergne Bourrées.
- Dancing with some tuition – 8.15 til 10:30
- Tickets £8 cash only please
During the interval break the Pied à Terre musicians performed.
Sunday 23rd July 2023 - Special Event: Eaton Park Get Together
Some club members visited at around 1pm Eaton park for a picnic despite the inclement weather.
Wednesday 5th July 2023 - Club Night
This month our dance tuition concentrated on the basics of French Dance. We covered the bourrée, schottische, waltz and mazurka. We plan to go over the basics of each dance and get everyone dancing.
The Pied à Terre musicians provided music for the tuition and dancing.
- Musicians’ practice 7 to 8 – free entry
- Dancing with some tuition – 8.15 til 10:30
- Tickets for dancers £5 cash only please
Special Event: Thursday 29th June 2023 - Topette!!
Driven by the rhythmic boiler-room of Stradling’s gnarly bass, Buisse’s intuitive bodhrán playing and Cutting’s warm bottom end, the melodies burst out of the seams of this bedrock. With great big anthemic walls of sound, Cartonnet’s glowing French piping and visceral tenor banjo, Delarre’s bright, bushy-tailed fiddle lines and Cutting’s dynamic accordion style. They were, quite literally, having a bal!
Topette!!…
- Andy Cutting – diatonic button accordion & melodeon
- James Delarre – violin & viola
- Julien Cartonnet – French bagpipes, & tenor banjo
- Tania Buisse – bodhrán
- Barnaby Stradling – acoustic bass guitar
Wednesday 7th June 2023 - Xim
Back after many years absence, Xim played a stonking set of their old favourites, some traditional tunes and a new one as well. They played a contrasting style of tunes with their rhythmic Bourrées, floaty waltzes and mazurkas, and groovy Scottisches on gurdy, flute and melodeon.
Xim are:
- Nick Carpenter – Melodeons
- Kate Ross – Flute, Whistle and Bass
- Frank Vickers – Hurdy Gurdy and Bodhran
Interval music was provided by the massed Pied à Terre musicians.
The audience danced enthusiastically on one of our best attended evenings recently.
Wednesday 3rd May 2023 - Club Night
Wednesday 5th April 2023 - Club Night
Our musicians’ practice was be led by Paul Keeler this month.
This month’s Club Night concentrated on the An Dro, Hanter Dro, Avant Deux and Italian Polka dances.
The dances were be taught by our experienced club members: Alice, Sarah, Roger and Quentin.
Dancing to The Kitchen Band and the Pied à Terre musicians.
Wednesday 1st March 2023 – Les Hirondelles
We were pleased to welcome back Les Hirondelles a recently-formed East Anglian quartet who play French music for dancing.
They take some of their inspiration from bands such as Blowzabella and Ciac Boum.
Their line-up (left to right) comprises:
- Pete Sewell – Fiddle
- Vicky Lambert – Flute, Recorder and Whistle
- Emma Hardy – Fiddle
- Tom Hardy – Guitar.
Wednesday 1st February 2023 – Club Night
Quentin taught Lo Cruzado and La Montagnarde, and Roger taught a Circle Mazuka. The Pied à Terre musicians played a wonderful variety of sets.
Wednesday 11th January 2023 – Cédric and Emily
We have welcomed Cédric Martin to play for us since he started touring in the UK. He plays button accordion and has led tours with Expire, Big Jeans and Salmanazar for the last 10 or so years. He trained in classical piano and percussion in Strasbourg but has played traditional percussion instruments from much of Europe and the Middle East. He is one of the best young traditional musicians in France, having played for major festivals and won the prestigious 2010 Best Duo Competition at the Chateau d’Ars Festival.
Emily Bowden (fiddle) is a musician, composer and teacher from London. Classically trained, she fell in love with folk music and improvisation in her early twenties and honed her skills as a dance-musician playing at clandestine mazurkas and European folk festivals. She began composing Balfolk music in 2016, drawing inspiration from the freedom and exhilaration of dance and the special interplay between musician and dancer. Since then she has been touring the folk scene in UK and Europe with her band Emily & The Simons. Her style is highly expressive, full of passion, tenderness and playfulness
Wednesday 7th December 2022 – Bof!
We were pleased to welcome back Bof! for our end of year festivities.
They fill the dance floor with dancers and the air with beautiful tunes and songs.
Wednesday 2nd November 2022 – Kerry Fletcher
Another warm ‘welcome back’ to Kerry Fletcher, who has brought her enthusiastic and engaging dance teaching to Pied à Terre many times over the years. She taught a Schottische variation, a Circle Progressive Mazurka, Lo Cruzado and the Five Time Waltz with music from our muscians.
Wednesday 5th October 2022 – Club Night
Roger taught some Bourrée and Schottische variations.
Wednesday 7th September 2022 – Club Night
Roger and some other dancers taught some Schottische variations.
Wednesday 3rd August 2022 – Club Night
We don’t usually meet in August as many people are away, but we decided to have meeting this month to make up some of the dancing deficit of the last two years.
Wednesday 6th July 2022 – Dave Shepherd
We welcomed back Dave Shepherd, best known as the fiddler in the fantastic Blowzabella. He led a music workshop, which featured some Avant Deux tunes and then taught the dances later in the evening. It was good to welcome back our first professional musician after such a long break.
Wednesday 1st June 2022 – Club Night
An informal evening of music and dance with some tuition by club members.
Wednesday 4th May 2022 – Club Night
An informal evening of music and dance with some tuition by club members.
Wednesday 6th April 2022 – Folk Salad
A good evening with local musicians – Folk Salad – beginning with a workshop for dance despite Covid causing cancellation of the musicians’ workshop.
A fun and interesting evening of popular French bal dances accompanied by a rich and varied French/Scandinavian fiddle sound; plus a couple of different but simple dances to begin with in the workshop.
Wednesday 2nd March 2022 – Club Night
An improving attendance, Roger and Quentin taught a basic Bourrée, La Montagnarde and Carnaval de Lanz.
Wednesday 2nd February 2022 – Club Night
An encouraging attendance, Roger and Quentin taught the Carnaval de Lanz and the Bourrée Tournante Les Grandes Poteries.
Wednesday 1st December 2021
Bof couldn’t come because of Covid, those of us who turned up had a quiet evening together.
Wednesday 3rd November 2021 - Pied à Terre Evening
Following the success of our October evening, did the same in November.
Wednesday 6th October 2021 - Pied à Terre Evening
Following the success of our September club night, did the same in October.
Sunday 12th September 2021 - Outdoor Picnic
Following the success of our picnic in Eaton Park a few weeks ago, several people met for some music, chatting and a picnic before the Autumn took hold.
Wednesday 1st September 2021 - Club Night
Our first indoors meeting at the Canary Club for many, many months. The Canary Club was operating normally – it is a large space and we didn’t expect a big attendance. We did not set out a list of rules … but expected everyone to follow good common sense, and remember that different people have different perceptions of risk.
- 7:30 pm Musicians practice led by Helen Boreham
- 8:30 pm Tunes suitable for dancing
- The was no formal tuition
- This month – free admission
Wednesday 4th March 2020 - Les Hirondelles
We were pleased to welcome back Les Hirondelles. They were formed in 2018 to play for the inaugural East Anglian Summer Bal.
With influences from Blowzabella, Ciac Boum, Dave Shepherd among others, this 4 piece comprising fiddles, flute, recorder and guitar played a mix of energetic Breton and French dance tunes and got everyone on their feet.
Wednesday 5th February 2020 - Club Night
Roger and Alice taught the Avant Deux, while Richard showed us a Bourrée variation
Wednesday 2nd January 2020 - Trois Pas d'Ici
We were pleased to welcome Trois Pas d’Ici a great new trio of three young women from France for their first gig in England. They play wonderful traditional music from Poitou in the south, as well as the Auvergne and Sweden. With two driving fiddles and diatonic accordion, they produce some great music for dances including the Avant Deux, Maraichine, Bal Limousine and Congo. But they also play standard balfolk dances: bourées, mazurka, schottische, valse, etc. and some lesser known ones such as Rond d’Argentons or bourée 3 temps from the Morvan region. And to top it all they also sing in harmony for dancing – a beautiful experience. As they say “hear our strings (vocal and steel), bellows, keys and bow.” with Nina Lachia and Marie Peyrat both on violin and Lucile Marsac on diatonic accordion, as well as voices and bellows.
Wednesday 4th December 2019 - End of Year Party
We celebrated the end of the year with an evening of dance and music. The year we showcased the talents of four groups: Alan+Sholto+Andrew, Dansons, Pied à Terre Band and the Kitchen Band.
Wednesday 6th November 2019 - Club Night
Sadly, Yannick Minvielle-Debat and Michael Beeke had to cancel because of a bereavement so we had a club night instead.
Wednesday 2nd October 2019 - Club Night
Wednesday 4th September 2019 - Trio Durand Millet Raillard
For four years and many bals, in France – especially in Burgundy, Switzerland, Germany, England, these three friends always have so much fun sharing music for dance that has deep and effective sounds!
From effective melodies on the bagpipes, to a certain groove carried by the guitar and in the middle a violin that plays with nuances and dynamics the repertoire comes mainly from traditional Morvan music – Auxois to which they are attached and that we want to continue to make live!
More information:
http://www.triodmr.com/ https://youtu.be/3k1tkk1Fd1E
https://www.facebook.com/Trio-Durand-Millet-Raillard https://soundcloud.com/triodmr
Wednesday 3rd July 2019 - Bof!
This month were are pleased to welcome back our old friends Bof ! In 2000, Bof ! started playing as a four-piece band specializing in traditional French and Breton music for dancing or listening. During that time they have played in folk clubs, for dance groups and at festivals in England and France, as well as organising regular French and Breton dance workshops and public dances in East Anglia, as part of the Burybal and Prêt à Danser groups. The band’s repertoire is mainly traditional music from Central France and Brittany, but also includes compositions by members of the band and others.
Saturday 22nd June 2019 - Special Event with David Shepherd & Anna Pack, supported by Zebrafish
Dave Shepherd & Anna Pack
Dave is well known as the fiddle player in Blowzabella has a vast repertoire of dances and fiddle music from England and western Europe. Anna is a dancer and musician with a longstanding interest in French traditional dance and has performed with Karen Tweed and others in The Chase and Circa Compania, both as a dancer and player of the diatonic accordion. Dave and Anna’s music and dance repertoire are drawn from various European dance traditions. They place great emphasis on passing on the traditional forms of dance and music but are also sensitive to innovation within the genre to adapt to changing social circumstances of the 21st Century. To this end, Dave and Anna not only play for dances and bals, but have also created the TradDance Project, presenting dance and music workshops to promote a wider interest in the dances and music along with the related cultural and historical background.
ZebraFish
Although each individual member of Zebrafish is a familiar face at Pied à Terre, they join us as a group for the first time on 22 June, to share/lead a mixture of song and dance. They will be bringing a new traditional song for dancing to the Pied à Terre repertoire as well as some sixteenth century French dances. Christine Adams (fiddle, accordion, nyckelharpa), Fran Broady (fiddles, voice), Louisa Young (recorders, clarinet, voice) and Biggles (Chris Pugh) will be teaching/leading the dances.
Wednesday 5th June 2019 - Club Night
Tution by Alice, Roger and Quentin on waltzing and the Montagnard.
Wednesday 1st May 2019 - Club Night
Richard, assisted by Roger and Alice taught a Circle Schottische, Quentin taught La Crosada (a bourrée variation) and Alice a Schottische Variation.
Wednesday 3rd April 2019 - Folk Salad
French bal with local musicians – Folk Salad – beginning with a workshop for bourrées + a Breton, and Basque, dance. A fun and interesting evening of popular French bal dances accompanied by a rich and varied French/Scandinavian fiddle sound; plus a couple of different but simple dances from the north and south of France to begin with in the workshop.
Wednesday 6th March 2019 - Les Hirondelles
A lovely evening with a musical collaboration across two of the Eastern counties, Les Hirondelles formed in 2018 to play for the inaugural East Anglian Summer Bal.
With influences from Blowzabella, Ciac Boum, Dave Shepherd among others, this 4 piece comprising fiddles, flute, recorder and guitar play a mix of energetic Breton and French dance tunes aimed to get everyone on their feet.
Wednesday 6th February 2019 - Club Night
Roger gave some pointers on good Waltz technique and Alice taught some Scottische variations she had just learnt.
Wednesday 2nd January 2019 - Salmanazar
We were pleased to welcome back our old friends Salamanazar to kick start the New Year. Great tunes, great dances familiar and some new from Alsace , taught By Cedric.
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Wednesday 5th December 2018 - End of Year Party
An excellent evening of festive fun with four (yes four!) great bands: the Kitchen Band, Salade de Folk, DanSons and the Pied à Terre Band.
Wednesday 7th November 2018 - Kerry Fletcher
Huge thanks to the wonderful Kerry Fletcher who taught us some fantastic new dances and variations!! Also to the PaT big band (25 musicians! – a record number) who played so beautifully. A great evening of music and dance.
Wednesday 3rd October 2018 - Club Night
Quentin taught the Montagnard and la bourrée Tournante des Grandes Poteries; Roger the Avant Deux and Vicky a Bourrée variation.
Wednesday 5th September 2018 - Dave Shepherd
Dave Shepherd is best known as the fiddler in Blowzabella and over the years has developed a distinctive style. Several of Dave’s compositions have become standards both here and in Europe. Dave is well known as a teacher of traditional dance and fiddle in the UK and abroad. As well as playing in Blowzabella he has played in a duo with Becky Price (Boldwood), currently plays with Belgian accordion player Simon Gielen, and more recently has begun researching the English dance tradition and formed a duo with diatonic accordionist Anna Pack to present dance workshops and play for dancing.
Wednesday 4th July 2018 - Bof!
An excellent evening from Bof! sent us off on our summer holidays with a spring in our step. Bof! started playing as a four-piece band specializing in traditional French and Breton music for dancing or listening to. During that time we have played in folk clubs, for dance groups and at festivals in England and France, as well as organising regular French and Breton dance workshops and public dances in East Anglia, as part of the Burybal and Prêt à Danser groups. In recent years Breton singer Gwendal Moële has joined our line-up on many of our gigs. The band’s repertoire is mainly traditional music from Central France and Brittany, but also includes compositions by members of the band and others.
Wednesday 6th June 2018 - Club Night
Richard and his assistants taught the Valse Ecossaise en Ronde.