Whether you are musically minded or not, or have always wanted to have a go at being part of a band, a visiting UK musician may have just the thing for you.

Top UK folk and roots musician Joe Broughton is to hold a ’Folkestra’ workshop, at the St John’s Methodist Hall in February.

Together with percussionist Tom Chapman, he will look to gather together as many willing participants as possible, regardless of skill level, and get them to create a piece of music.

While Joe says that any one wanting to take part must have the ability to play at least a very simple tune on a chosen instrument, the emphasis on the workshop is not about technical quality, but finding the energy and joy in playing music as a group

’My workshops are about putting energy and communication at the heart of the music, reminding people how enjoyable making music is and learning how to play folk tunes with all the infectious enthusiasm that they should have,’ said Joe.

’We will be using our ears and our imagination to create music together that is exciting and punchy and doesn’t involve music stands or conductors.

’In short, for a few hours we are going to be a band.’

Joe, who last visited the island to perform at the 2011 Mannifest festival with his band, the Urban Folk Collective, will be using folk tunes from all over the British isles and elsewhere as inspiration for the workshops, to create a piece of music that is not limited to a genre andhe hopes could go in any direction.

’I’m a strong believer that people play music better when they feel some ownership of it,’ he said.

’Everyone will have the opportunity to throw in ideas but we always create a framework that people can work in that stops it from being a daunting process. ’This means that we will base our workshops on folk tunes but other influences are going to be used, like rock, jazz, funk and soul.’

Organised by Culture Vannin, there will be twoworkshops, taking place on Saturday, February 10.

The first, from 11.30am to 1.30pm is for adults and over 16s and costs £10, with the later session for students aged 10 to 16 years, and goes from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, and costs £5.

Places must be booked in advance, and places can be reserved by visiting www.manxmusic.com

by Mike Wade

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