Steamchicken with Becky Wolff:
A gutsy, genre redefining, twelve piece, brass driven, folk, jazz, blues, jump jive, soul, R&B, monster that puts English ballads into the heart of a new way of approaching swing and big band music.
For some years one of the best regarded ceilidh bands on the circuit Steamchicken have hatched a new brood and, led by vocalist, Becky Wolff (still only just 18), is now breaking on the festival concert circuit with theatrical shows in Coventry and Kenilworth and festival bookings at Upton, Shepley, Warwick, Sidmouth, Shrewsbury, Bedworth and Bromyard in 2011.
After her debut with the band at Cambridge in 2009 Becky burst on the festival scene in 2010 (picking up a favourable review in the Times) as the various chicken horns gathered and the pot simmered.
There were so many highlights. The heart stopping “Dream Catch Me” at Warwick. Becky Ede’s alto solo on “You Rascal” at Southwell. The now legendary “I just want to..” at the LNE at Towersey. “A star in the making methinks” said one review after Bedworth 2010.
Personnel changes over the winter saw the arrival of section leader Dave Greenwood and an expanded horn section of predominantly of twenty something’s and teens.
The old ruins are still there, generally propping up the rhythm section (and bar), providing firm foundations and the occasional flourish of whimsy.
Not remotely like anyone else and tricky to describe; we call the full show the “Jazz Roots Roadshow”. But it’s not jazz as it’s currently understood, it’s too anarchic and the musicians smile. Folk? Well certainly lots of traditional folk songs (mostly about death) and tunes at one time part of the folk genre. Blues; well lots of country blues - Does it matter what it’s called?
What would Janis Joplin sound like singing Child Ballads backed by Count Basie with Little Walter on Harmonica? How would Fletcher Henderson arrange Playford to feature ragtime mandolin and a horn section? Why do so few bands have “dance like a chicken” features?
The Chicken views? “The note doesn’t matter: just hit it hard and with attitude”, “Try that again wearing a hat”, “I think you’ll find the way of the chicken is just to hold that A minor chord and look modal”, “Was that my cue?”.
Shows are messy, noisy, exciting and unpredictable. But make no mistake Becky IS a star in the making. Catch them now, early and often.
A gutsy, genre redefining, twelve piece, brass driven, folk, jazz, blues, jump jive, soul, R&B, monster that puts English ballads into the heart of a new way of approaching swing and big band music.
For some years one of the best regarded ceilidh bands on the circuit Steamchicken have hatched a new brood and, led by vocalist, Becky Wolff (still only just 18), is now breaking on the festival concert circuit with theatrical shows in Coventry and Kenilworth and festival bookings at Upton, Shepley, Warwick, Sidmouth, Shrewsbury, Bedworth and Bromyard in 2011.
After her debut with the band at Cambridge in 2009 Becky burst on the festival scene in 2010 (picking up a favourable review in the Times) as the various chicken horns gathered and the pot simmered.
There were so many highlights. The heart stopping “Dream Catch Me” at Warwick. Becky Ede’s alto solo on “You Rascal” at Southwell. The now legendary “I just want to..” at the LNE at Towersey. “A star in the making methinks” said one review after Bedworth 2010.
Personnel changes over the winter saw the arrival of section leader Dave Greenwood and an expanded horn section of predominantly of twenty something’s and teens.
The old ruins are still there, generally propping up the rhythm section (and bar), providing firm foundations and the occasional flourish of whimsy.
Not remotely like anyone else and tricky to describe; we call the full show the “Jazz Roots Roadshow”. But it’s not jazz as it’s currently understood, it’s too anarchic and the musicians smile. Folk? Well certainly lots of traditional folk songs (mostly about death) and tunes at one time part of the folk genre. Blues; well lots of country blues - Does it matter what it’s called?
What would Janis Joplin sound like singing Child Ballads backed by Count Basie with Little Walter on Harmonica? How would Fletcher Henderson arrange Playford to feature ragtime mandolin and a horn section? Why do so few bands have “dance like a chicken” features?
The Chicken views? “The note doesn’t matter: just hit it hard and with attitude”, “Try that again wearing a hat”, “I think you’ll find the way of the chicken is just to hold that A minor chord and look modal”, “Was that my cue?”.
Shows are messy, noisy, exciting and unpredictable. But make no mistake Becky IS a star in the making. Catch them now, early and often.