Songs of the Solstice band

Richard has been busy getting ready for this year’s Christmas tour: Songs of the Solstice.

Priory next door to the church of St Mary & St Peters in Wilmington, Sussex

Come along to one of the eight shows to enjoy the growing collection of stunning original material contributed by every member of this remarkable six piece band performed alongside numbers such as Johnny Flyn’s The Burial Blessing, Fleet Foxes White Winter Hymnal and Ubi Caritas by Ola Gjeilo.

The inspiration for these shows came in 1994 when Richard was living in the 11th century Priory next door to the church of St Mary & St Peters in Wilmington, Sussex. On one quiet midwinter’s afternoon somebody knocked on the door…

‘I was asked if I could pop into the church to share some music with a group of toddlers. I happily grabbed a guitar and met the children sat around the Christmas tree. I played a few tunes and we began to sing together and as we sang the winter sun managed to peep over the top of  Windover Hill to shine through the church window. The sense of shared magic was complete.’ 

Says Richard

Richard will be joined by his long-term Christmas collaborator, the singer, songwriter and actress Amy Kakoura. You can also hear three Durrant siblings Rooney, Daisy and Django.

The sixth voice joining this year is the internationally renowned keyboardist Howard Beach with whom Richard collaborated for their 2014 album Harpsichord & Guitar.

Songs of the Solstice

Songs of the Solstice

7 Dec    Ropetackle Arts Centre
8 Dec    Ropetackle Arts Centre
14 Dec  Wilmington
19 Dec  Coventry
20 Dec  Scopwick

Photo 1 by Louise Durrant
Photo 2 by Guillaume Issaly (Unsplash)
Artwork by Amelia Bartlett