John Wright’s Band play Newcastle gig
Last updated 21:59, Wednesday, 27 August 2008
LONG Hellos . . . Short Goodbyes is a star-studded tribute from Britain's leading contemporary artists as they celebrate the life and music of the much-missed international singer John Wright.
John, who used to live near Newcastleton, died earlier this year. He became interested in folk music whilst still in the army and this increased as he left to make his life as a shepherd, at first in Northumberland on the English Borders and later as he moved over to the Scottish side. He was well-known in Langholm and Newcastleton where he used to work as a shepherd and trainer of sheepdogs.
He became a professional singer in the 1990s and toured around the world as well as the UK. His name became synonymous with ‘the best’ in the interpretation of contemporary folk song in the UK.
He was living in Barnard Castle, Co Durham when he died aged 60.
The concert is at The Journal Tyne Theatre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Friday, September 5 at 7.30pm.
The concert features John Wright's Band: Pete Abbott, Gregor Borland, Joe Wright and Fraser Speirs, along with Allan Taylor, Steve Knightley (Show of Hands), Kieran Halpin, Martin Allcock (Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull), Troy Donockley (Barbara Dickson Band), Thom Moore, Robin Laing, who played in Langholm recently, Ray Hearne (Radio 2 Ballads) and the Rolling Home Shanty Choir (Holland). The MC is David Jones.
Tickets are £17.50 and available from www.thejournaltynetheatre.co.uk, www.johnwrightmusic.co.uk or www.ticketmaster.co.uk, or phone the booking hotline on 0844 493 9999, 24 hours a day seven days a week.
