Big Bill Broonzy would inspire a generation of musicians, yet he was not the man they believed him to be. This first, very intimate, biography of the pioneering bluesman uncovers the mystery of who Broonzy really was and follows his remarkable and colorful journey from the racist Deep South to the clubs of Chicago and all across the world. With contributions from Pete Seeger, Ray Davies, Keith Richards, Martin Carthy, John Renbourn, and members of the Broonzy family. Broonzy's own words are read by Clarke Peters.
Himself
In 1982, folk musician Nic Jones was at the peak of his career, but driving home from a gig one night a near-fatal car crash changed his life forever. Almost every bone in his body was broken and neurological damage meant that he would never play his guitar in front of an audience again. Apart from a couple of tribute concerts, Nic Jones disappeared from the public eye for thirty years. Then in the summer of 2012, encouraged by friends and family, Nic returned to the stage to play several festival performances.. The concerts were a resounding success and for his old and new fans, a moving comeback for their musical hero.
Documentary reviewing the music and career of female singer songwriter Sandy Denny. Although deeply revered amongst fans of folk music and the 'singer-songwriter' genre, she has never received the universal acclaim so long overdue and so often heaped on those of a far lesser talent. This documentary attempts to redress this imbalance and reveal why she remains such an inspiration to so many. The film includes musical performances by Sandy Denny, reviewed and re-assessed by a team of esteemed experts, obscure footage and rarely seen photographs of Sandy, brand new and exclusive interviews with Dave Swarbrick, Martin Carthy, Dave Mattacks, Gerry Conway and John Renbourn, Fairport Convention biographer and all-round Sandy Denny expert Patrick Humphries, folk journalist Colin Irwin and Uncut magazine's contributing editor, Nigel Williamson.
Himself
Imagine travelling from New Orleans to Seville, throughout the English countryside to the Jazz clubs of Europe and America, and all in an hour and a half within your own living room. See before you on this DVD a stunning line-up of some of the World’s greatest acoustic guitarists playing together for the first time. Each one a virtuoso in his own right and together offering a taster of paradise.
Presenting together on stage : MARTIN CARTHY England’s finest exponent of traditional folk music, with his unique style of playing which has gained him recognition the world over; JUAN MARTÍN named "Dr Flamenco" by The Times, he has been named as one of the world’s finest guitar players; MARTIN SIMPSON quoted by Guitar Player magazine as "One of the finest finger pickers and slide players of our time"; MARTIN TAYLOR who Acoustic Guitar call "THE acoustic guitarist of his generation" and JazzTimes "Europe’s finest guitarist".
narrator
70 favourite traditional songs and rhymes presented as a pop-up book which comes to life through animation, puppetry & live performances. The beautiful visual world draws on the work of such classic children's illustrators as Arthur Rackham (Peter Pan) & John Tenniel (Alice in Wonderland). A delightful musical score by Tony & Grammy winning composer John Du Prez, features everything form Northumbrian pipes to Baroque orchestra, folk guitar, early instruments, military band, fairground organ & even a singing sheep (courtesy of Percy Edwards).
