The Churchfitters - Christmas Cracker

About

The Churchfitters is a folk band like no other. These three flamboyant characters present their uplifting and enormously entertaining 'Christmas Cracker' show with a unique dynamism and describe their music as "Folk Unlimited". The three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with conventional instruments and many more unique ones –an electric 'hub-cap' bass-bouzouki, double bass made from a saucepan and a 'bing-bong' machine made out of hack-saw blades, a musical saw and a glass harp made from charity shop glasses. In this Christmas show there will be a mouthwatering selection of traditional, familiar and original festive songs and carols guaranteed to see Christmas in with a bang and a paper hat-full of surprises, novelities and terrible jokes with many a laugh-out-loud moment. Tickets £17 (£8.50 under 18).
The Churchfitters produce heart-wrenching vocals, foot-stompingly fast fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock rhythms, plus traditional tunes reinvigorated with mesmerising jazz sax. Throw in some exquisite harmonies, a slew of startlingly original songs and a few jokes that create instant rapport and you've got a high energy show that always leaves audiences cheering. How do you adequately describe such a musically diverse, uplifting band? You leave it to Mike Harding, a self-confessed 'huge, huge fan'. He calls their music 'totally brilliant and beautiful', while Dave Pegg says they are "The most musically inventive group I've seen in decades".
'Like Annie Lennox in full flow' (Fab Nights Productions) - Londoner Rosie Short's achingly beautiful voice is equally at home singing husky blues, plaintive femme folk or ethereal originals. A talented songwriter, she's also a 'one woman orchestra', deftly swapping between flute, saxophone, banjo, tin whistle, dulcimer, ukulele and any number of things you can shake, rattle, or whack with a stick. Rosie's brother Chris is a feverishly fast fiddler who has the annoying habit of getting people, who were sitting quite comfortably, out of their seats and dancing. When required, he also plays slowly and most of the other speeds. A mean mandolin player, he sings great vocal harmonies too. Finally, he's a raconteur with a great sense of humour – but then you need that if you play the musical saw, and never has a glass harp been played better providing an ethereal sound.
Part bass player, part mad inventor, Boris Lebret from Lannion (France) hates to play a regular instrument when he can cobble together a better one out of scrap metal. Like when he discovered four strings weren't enough for his driving bass rhythms, so he simply reached for the Black & Decker and bolted on another six.
Why "Churchfitters"? Nobody knows! They're not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name's origin is lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly - its quirkiness. When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps there's little point worrying if the name makes sense!
The Churchfitters appear at Threlkeld Village Hall on Sunday 13th December at 8pm. Bar and Box Office from 7:15pm. Tickets £17 (£8.50 under 18) from Threlkeld Village Hall Coffee Shop, or on- line by debit or credit card from https://www.threlkeldvillagehall.org. Tickets bought on-line are collected from the Box Office on the night.