WE’RE DELIGHTED TO BE BRINGING IRON-BROW AND THORN-COAT TO THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS IN GLASTONBURY!

Puppets, masks, storytelling and beautiful music…

*******

“When the sea-foam is red at the end of the Earth, only then will you see me again – until then you will wander the earth and all that you touch will turn to iron…”

A curious hedgehog with high hopes and his iron-browed bride journey to the ends of the Earth. Will they find true love and happiness, or witches and dragon-flames? Beyond a limitless ocean, a woman covered in moss begs for forgiveness, while under a crone’s stone doorstep, two toads endure winter for love’s sake.

IRON-BROW AND THORN-COAT is our retelling of a classic Lithuanian folk-tale. Steeped in old magic and half-familiar memories, this is a beguiling tale of magical transformation, love, betrayal and endurance.

Suitable for ages 5+

*****

IRON-BROW AND THORN-COAT is the culmination of three years planning, nine years dreaming and months of hard work. There are puppets and masks, carved by Rima, Sarah Vigars and Jan Zalud, but there’s also music from Louis Bingham and Griselda Sanderson, with storytelling from Tom and puppetry and mask-work by Helen Aldrich. Sarah Vigars has been providing artistic direction, with Howard Gayton directing puppetry and mask-moves. Rima has overseen the design of the show, as well as painting and carving alongside Sarah.

Opening circle.
Shamanic drummers.
Laura Isley and Ian M Perry 
Marty Ratcliffe.
Clive Brown.
Amanda Lambourne.

interval

The Byrds.
Crow morris.
Mandy Woods.
Nathan Lewis Williams.
Brakeman.
Closing circle.

Admission by Magic Hat donations, all proceeds to the Assembly Rooms to help keep this community venue open and running! Doors open at 8pm, followed by opening circle, and Shamanic drummers. We will then have a selection of excellent musicians, poets and Bards! Contact us if you would like to take part – email mcfarlane23@gmx.co.uk or nathanvibration@gmail.com@gmail.com

The Oroonies – A Brief History –

The Oroonies were spawned in the Spring of 1981 in a green sucking pool, high on a bog-strewn mountain top in the Western reaches of Ireland. The line up featured Ron Noden (drums) Mr Hinty (keyboards) Geek (bass) Boris E Stiahl (guitar).

The band promptly split upand proceeded to incarnate in mutant forms such as The Datura Pig Band, The Mouth of Nodenand finally in early 1984 as the ferocious Immoral Minority. The line up now consisted of Ron and Boris (guitars/vocals) Geek (bass) Tanya Horn (drums). Living in caravans in a grey desert of rock and later on a flat plain of bog the ImmMins were forced to invade other peoples homes, with or without permission, in order to vent their frenzy and pursue The Bad Smell. A first gig was performed and brought to a premature halt by the distressed landlord. “The Woods Are Alive with the Smell of his Coming” and “They Don’t Want Us Around” were both conceived during this seminal period.
The Immoral minority promptly split up. Boris (guitar/vocal) Tanya (bass/drums) united with Hinty (keyboards) in an unrestrained spouting that saw the basis of Exalt The Horn c74 and tracks such as Yahoo and Word Of Mouth on like Yeast We Rise. Ron appeared on occasion to give good gitar on Questions (Lies)/3 guitars. The entire pack of Geek, Hinty, Boris, Tanya and Ron united for one evening: the result was cacophony and impressed by their efforts The Orunes resolved to carry on regardless of difficulties with members living in different countries, which had always been responsible for the erratic dispersal of the band.
In the summer of 1985 the band celebrated 40 days and nights of rain in West Ireland with more musical spasms that combined with previous dribbles of 84 to make up The Woods Are Alive tape.
Then during the Christmas of 85 the unthinkable happened. The Oroonies set off on a mini tour of London and the South West in feedback stricken alliance with My Bloody Valentine. The die was cast: adrift in the heady aromas of live performance the band careered through a feverish welter of free festivals and squat gigs, oblivious to the sensibilities of assembled onlookers.
1986 saw the arrival of Breda on flute, contributing to tracks on Like Yeast We Rise and in 1987 the Ee I Ee I O cassette ushered in improved recording quality (can you tell the difference?) The Woods Are Alive 12″ was recorded in summer 87 and released New Year 88, receiving one play from John Peel. Various additional percussionists and drummers came and went but the band had settled into BorisBredaGeekHintyRonTanya as a chewed core. Whale and the wind recorded in 1988 heralded a new era of Oroonimusic, with less feedback, shouting and excessive randomness. Steadily the cacophony subsided in favour of Arabic and world tunes in 1989 gigs. In 1990 the band recorded Of Hoof and Horn for Demi Monde (which was not released until 1992) and it was at this time Boris threw in the towel, unable to cope with rehearsal , melody and reasonable musical behaviour. The band continued gigging through 1990 playing a tight set of album material. A new band The Cheapsuit Oroonies appeared playing strictly acoustic fo;k and world music featuring Ron, Breda, Jo (violin joining Oroonies in 1990) and Geek. The Oroonies gradually puttered to a stop and no longer existed in 1992. However it would be premature to state that the night of the living Orooni will be no more. Dark thoughts lurk in curlicue minds, whispers and rumours arise and subside, nothing is interesting save to see what happens next …….

…and indeed, so it has come to pass, The Oroonies resurrected again in 2012 as a trio of Joie, Boris and Tanya, large as life and twice as confusing. Inappropriate recordings have surfaced as CDs comprising Oroonies Undone, Oroonies are Next Door, Prodding, Nobody Understands and There Are Many Ways. Tunes are also scattered through the Interweb on Soundcloud and Youtube. And gigs are happening once more, to general disorientation and happiness. The Oroonies train is rumbling on…

Here them on Youtube here

This November, join the Wild Women Retreats sisterhood and deep-feminine activist Rooh Star to get earthy. In the evening of the year, energy returns to the hidden places – where it continues to nourish and transform from the depths. At this time we choose to honour the ground, our planet, and the cycles that sustain us.

Through songs, soil, celebration, and ceremony we will share a day of connection with spirit, self and community.

We are thrilled to welcome ‘The Hobbit Priestess’ Rooh Star as our special guest. Rooh says…

“I’m a hedge dweller, living on the wild edges, living in community. I’ve turned aside from the well worn path and found my own way, a way blessed by nettles and silvery mugwort, ancient oak trees and blooming hawthorns. This path has taken me wandering through England with a handcart, dedicating myself to Love and the Earth. At present I’m living in a small low impact community, dreaming of more travelling adventures and learning how to pull a wagon with my handsome moustached pony Winston. Along my way I’ve been writing songs , for pleasure , for medicine and for remembering. I’m excited to be sharing some of these songs with you, along with tales from my journey.”

If you need accommodation there are lots of amazing places to stay in the heart of Glastonbury and sacred sites like the Chalice Well Gardens and Glastonbury Tor are not to be missed – not to mention the cafes and shopping!

Stalls are free of charge but are strictly limited and we request a 10% donation of your takings to the Wild Women Retreats Bursary Fund. You will need to be a full ticket holder and let us know what you want to sell. For more information contact us at info@wildwomenretreats.co.uk

Tickets price: £50

As the Wheel turns and Winter begins we gather and reconnect with the Earth, our community and our Ancestors. Join Touch the Earth for an Evening of Music, Songs and Chants Honouring the Ancestors, Celebrating and Dancing with the spirit of the Hearth fire that brings us together.

Touch the Earth are a Tribal Folk Band that draw their inspiration from the natural world around them, their music has been described as: ‘A vibration of pure energy gathers one up, the flutes, violin, guitar, didge, drummers and singers are part of this surrealism – the essence is pure spirit.’ – The Holistic Channel

They are unique in their instruments and approach to performance, in addition to the more traditional Guitar, Fiddle and Voice they also use big native American style Pow Wow drums, Djembe, Didgeridoo’s, Native American style flutes and the 7ft Fujara: a Slovakian shepherds flute which creates otherworldly soundscapes. Their concerts are a mixture of songs, ballads and improvised pieces which frequently take the listeners imagination to the wild places of this land.

Fabulous Furry Folk returns for the autumn season of monthly singarounds in the Assembly Rooms cafe, and gigs in the main hall will begin in 2020. Come one and all, and share folk songs & tunes in a friendly and supportive atmosphere – we sit in a circle and all are welcome to perform, join in, or simply listen. We gather at 8 for an 8.30 start, and aim to finish by 11 p.m. at the latest. Admission on the door is £2 for all ( a change from last year, to cover costs and raise funds to book touring acts for the hall – there’ll also be a Magic Hat at the bar for extra donations which are welcome!) and we will also be offering membership of the newly formed FFF Folk Club – which brings discounted tickets to the year’s gigs, a monthly newsletter and early bird tickets for concerts, and a chance to attend and vote in an annual A.G.M. – we’ve formed a committee and are trying out how it feels to run proper folk club this year! Membership costs only £5 for the year, and will help us to pay the fees of the fabulous touring bands we plan to book for the monthly concerts (with support from floor spots) in the hall in 2020. SIngarounds for the remainder of 2019 planned so far: 24th October and 21st November (4 weekly) – December 19th t.b.c. depending on the Assembly Rooms’ Winter Solstice events.

Fabulous Furry Folk returns for the autumn season of monthly singarounds in the Assembly Rooms cafe, and gigs in the main hall will continue in 2020. Come one and all, and share folk songs & tunes in a friendly and supportive atmosphere – we sit in a circle and all are welcome to perform, join in, or simply listen. We gather at 8 for an 8.30 start, and aim to finish by 11 p.m. at the latest. Admission on the door is £2 for all ( a change from last year, to cover costs and raise funds to book touring acts for the hall – there’ll also be a Magic Hat at the bar for extra donations which are welcome!) and we will also be offering membership of the newly formed FFF Folk Club – which brings discounted tickets to the year’s gigs, a monthly newsletter and early bird tickets for concerts, and a chance to attend and vote in an annual A.G.M. – we’ve formed a committee and are trying out how it feels to run proper folk club this year! Membership costs only £5 for the year, and will help us to pay the fees of the fabulous touring bands we plan to book for the monthly concerts (with support from floor spots) in the hall in 2020. SIngarounds for the remainder of 2019 planned so far: 24th October and 21st November (4 weekly) – and 19th December t.b.c. depending on the Assembly Rooms’ Winter Solstice events.

XYZ are back at The Assembly Rooms with a full XYZ production event with Great Sound, Great lighting and some Great crews taking over on the decks…

▪️The Ranch Crew & Bish Takeover
A top bunch of lads that definitely know how to throw it down at a party !!! This will be one hell of a takeover set from Komet, Crom & Noisy Antics all seasoned dj’s slamming it at huge events over the past few years also featuring the Badman Bish who’s been absolutely tearing it up across the country at some of the biggest events and festivals and a true don on the decks…Spread the word this one is definitely not to be missed !!!
https://www.facebook.com/THERANCH.23/
https://www.facebook.com/DJBishDNB/
https://www.facebook.com/NoisyAntics/

▪️The Drum & Bassment Takeover
Another great bunch of lads that having been making waves over in Frome and will be hosting the Official after party for the huge UKF event coming up there in October, these lads really know their tunes and will be coming to Glastonbury with pure bangers and mixes to blow the roof off of the assembly rooms, we sure as hell can’t wait for this one
https://www.facebook.com/thednbment/

▪️XYZ Residents
The XYZ residents are constantly on the hunt for huge tunes and sick mixes to bring to the crowds at every XYZ event so expect no less and get ready to have it.
https://m.facebook.com/XyZparties/

9PM – 1AM
£5 Advance (Tickets Available soon)
18+

Anyone who remembers previous Alchemy in Avalon events, around 15 years ago will know how good this will be. Details coming soon….(previous events included Simon Posford and Youth).. hosted by the legendary Lee Harris, founder of Alchemy Headshop in London.. details and artwork coming soon. http://leeharris.co.uk/Alchemy%20in%20Avalon/index.htm

Somerset’s No.1 (and only!) Pogues tribute band is coming to Glastonbury for a festive special!

The Pogues were a cult band with a difference – playing high energy Irish/Punk/Traditional Drinking music that encapsulated all the feelings and things to do that life can bring; Drinking, tales of love, sorrow, happiness and drinking…

With that in mind, THE P’HOGUES are coming to Glastonbury (all the way from Bridgwater!) to replicate their sound and style, for what is set to be a special night of celebration and enjoyment. They will be playing all the hits, including Streams of Whiskey, The Irish Rover, Whiskey in the Jar, Rain Street, Tuesday Morning, Dirty Old Town, Fiesta, Broad Majestic Shannon, A Pair of Brown Eyes, and of course – Fairytale of New York among many, many more.

So come along and join the band, grab a pint (or 6) of Guiness and make this a Christmas to remember and enjoy – or forget depending on how carried away we get!

Happy Christmas Your Arse!

For more info on the band – please visit their website: https://thephogues.wixsite.com/mysite

Opening ceremony at 8.30 p.m. led by Bards Of Ynys Witrin. Performances from 9 p.m. – contact Nathan or Craig in advance  (via the Assembly Rooms Facebook page) to book an open mic / floor spot slot of up to 10 minutes / 2 songs. Turning up early on the night may or may not secure you a chance to perform, depending how busy we are!

Cary Grace is a songwriter/composer, producer, musician, and analogue synthesizer maker based in the UK.

She was born in South Carolina, and lived in Nashville for many years, releasing her first album in 2004. 2005 saw her relocating to England, bringing only four guitars, her cat, and a couple of dozen boxes.

Since then, she has been working with various other musicians recording and and writing prolifically and releasing six more full-length albums and two EPs [ full discography > ].

Her first double album, 2009’s Perpetual Motion, is heavy on improvisation, but the improvisational aesthetic is blended with Cary’s distinctive songwriting to create something that is simultaneously both free-flowing and structured.

2010 brought a return to more conventional song-forms with the debut self-titled album by Monday Machines (a collaboration with Allan Coberly, backed by Andy Budge and David Payne).

The same year she began producing The Airtight Garage, a music-based programme and podcast (currently on hiatus).

In 2011 Cary acquired the exclusive American modular synthesizer brand, Wiard, following a lengthy training period where she learned how to build the hand-made 300 Series modules first-hand from Grant Richter, the founder of Wiard. During the same time period she released a single recorded in collaboration with Mauve La Biche after adding some Buchla 200 overdubs — a cover of the Amon Duul II classic “Archangel Thunderbird”, and recorded and gigged with Grant Richter’s spacerock band, F/i, in the USA. She now manufactures Wiard Synthesizers in England at Wessex Analogue, while continuing to use all available free time to make music.

Recently, Cary has made several appearances on releases by the seminal English vinyl label, Fruits de Mer, covering Pink Floyd, Amon Duul II, and David Bowie. Cary’s versions of “Black Country Rock” and “Sound and Vision”, (as well as Consterdine’s version of the latter) appeared on a very special limited edition 8″ lathe cut, Friends of the Fish 8, with a third David Bowie cover, “Queen Bitch”, appearing on 2016’s Fruits de Mer Members’ CD compilation A New Career in a New Town.

Following the widespread acclaim of 2015’s Tygerland, 2016 brought something new — a live album release. The Uffculme Variations was recorded at Kozfest 2016, when The Cary Grace Band was joined on stage by past collaborators (and Tygerland guests) Steffe Sharpstrings and Graham Clark for a dazzling mostly improvised set.

The new single, “Without a Trace”, will be released via most digital download retailers 5th May, but can be pre-ordered and downloaded now from Bandcamp.

After a very successful first show during the 2018 Solstice celebrations in Glastonbury, and a brilliant reception at 2019 Glastonbury Fringe, Glastonbury Assembly Rooms will play host to our play of lovers, faeries and players once again!

Join us on June 13th 2020 at the Assembly Rooms for an evening of laughter, entertainment and food for thought. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7pm start.

Ticket information coming soon.
Tickets will likely be sold from The Lords of the Wildwood Community Tea Rooms, Labyrinth Books and The Mystic Garden Gallery on Glastonbury High Street.