Tom Kitching & Marit Fält - Concert

“...takes English folk music by the scruff of the neck and sends it off laughing and dancing and having a good time."  - Mike Harding

A rare opportunity for us to indulge in two of our favourite things - English fiddle music and non-fiction writing - in one perfectly-aligned evening! When we heard that fiddle player and author, Tom Kitching, was working on his latest book and album documenting his travels on the waterways of England, we had to do the blindingly obvious thing. We invited him to play a book/album launch gig at the Boathouse on the banks of the Wey in Guildford. Accompanying Tom will be renowned multi-instrumentalist Marit Fält.

"I'm devouring the book, not just reading it. The lad is one of the best fiddlers I've ever heard - he breathes life into the tunes. I didn't know he was also a very fine writer indeed. I've been a sucker for these books about these islands. Busking for his keep, with his feet on the pavement of the high streets and his hand sending music into the air, Tom is a wise and witty guide to England pre-Covid19." - Mike Harding, on Seasons of Change.

Tom’s debut solo album ‘Interloper’ was listed at #6 in the Sunday Express albums of the year 2015. "There are dozens of folk violinists, but few with the attack, passion, and ingenuity of Tom Kitching. The most beautiful instrumental playing of the year."

TOM KITCHING

Tom Kitching is a fiddle player and author of two books 'Seasons of Change' and ‘B-Sides, EPs, and Rarities’. Tom has worked with numerous singers and bands, including Pilgrims' Way, Gavin Davenport, Jon Loomes, Gren Bartley, Zoe Mulford, and Albireo. Heavily involved in the dance scene, and veteran of over 1500 gigs, he stands at the leading edge of the English folk scene. His style is English at heart, whilst encompassing elements of many other traditions. It is a unique, vibrant style full of exuberance, energy and wit, yet capable of expressing extraordinary emotional depth.

MARIT FÄLT

Marit Fält is a multiinstrumentalist brought up in Norway of Swedish parentage. She is best known as a Låtmandola (Nordic mandola) player and is a leading proponent of using plucked instruments in a range of ways – equally as comfortable to lead as to accompany. Having graduated from Newcastle University with the highest performance mark ever achieved, she has toured internationally with a range of artists.