The Sandy Denny Project

18.50 - 19.55

'A brilliant concert'...'The best'...'Incredible'...'The best gig of the year'...'Magical'...''Superb'...'Wonderful'...'Sandy is alive in your performance'

Celebrating Sandy’s genius with new shine and brilliance

Fotheringay MkII members Sally Barker (The Poozies, BBCTV's "The Voice", IOTA) and guitarist PJ Wright (TradArrr, The Dylan Project) are joined by multi instrumentalist Marion Fleetwood (voice, fiddle, guitars - Feast of Fiddles, TRADarrr, IOTA), Gemma Shirley (keyboard and vocals - TRADarrr) and the rhythm section of bassist Mat Davies and drummer Mark Stevens from folk-rock legends Little Johnny England to form The Sandy Denny Project. Sandy Denny’s remarkable writing is approached not as a tribute band, slavishly copying the records, but as a tribute in its best sense - an interpretation of Sandy's wonderful work.

With every year Sandy's reputation continues to grow in stature as a songwriter and interpreter of traditional material, and the six musicians in the band who share an impressive folk-rock pedigree are each at the very top of their musical game.

And they smile a lot.

A MESSAGE FROM GEORGIA ROSE LUCAS

Georgia, Sandy's daughter, says:

​'These pioneers of folk bring a whole lot of professional awesomeness to the table with The Sandy Denny Project

Covering some of my mum’s best work and doing an outstanding job of keeping her flame alive, these six highly talented musicians once again bring their creative musical powers together to celebrate Sandy’s genius with new shine and brilliance.

​A complete list of their talents and past work would take too long to list. But think - TRADarr, trio IOTA, The Poozies, The Dylan Project. Feast of Fiddles and Little Johnny England....and.....and.....and. I'm sure you love the music as much as me so show your support and go and see this fabulous group work their magic on Sandy Denny’s songs.

SandyFest Review  - Saturday, 29th April 2023

Mick Donovan

The sold out SandyFest 2023 at the Byfield Village Hall made me feel warm inside. And not just because the Sandy Denny Project were performing some of my favourite songs by my favourite singer with love and more love.

It was multi-instrumentalist Anna Ryder's last Project gig at which she dedicated the Fats Waller-infused arrangement of When The Real Thing Comes Along - simultaneous piano and cornet playing between singing - to her bandmates. Her successor Gemma Shirley (sic) was introduced by singer/violinist/guitarist Marion Fleetwood, who promptly invited the new recruit to pull out the raffle numbers for what the band described as 'legacy' prizes. The 'boys’ - drummer Mark Stevens, bass player Mat Davies and lead guitarist PJ Wright - shifted on the merch after the 'girls’ - including vocalist/guitarist Sally Barker and Ryder - did their stint last year. Pre-door opening, Barker, checking we were aware it was a BYO occasion, Davies and Wright chatted to the queue in the shadow of the blue plaque commemorating the venue as the last one at which Sandy Denny performed. In all, a community feel in a community venue which does big breakfasts on the first Saturday every month.

Over 200 of us sat on our unfolded chairs which we folded away afterwards lapping up waves after wave of sublime performances, vocally and instrumentally. There were tweaks to the originals (John The Gun, Matty Groves, Come All Ye. Highlghts such Fleetwood’s beautifully phrased singing on I’m A Dreamer and The Lady. Self deprecating chat such as Sally Barker admitting she had made a perennial quip after inviting song requests be written on a 50 pound note. And constant references to 'cake' particularly a gin and tonic lemon drizzle.

It all coalesced perfectly to put in the memory banks with Sandy's daughter Georgia Rose looking on from Australia via volunteer Jenny's smart phone (and twice waved at by the entire audience). Marion pledged her band - who have hosted the festival since 2018 - keep Sandy Denny's music alive for as long as they can. I’ll eat a slice of that cake to that.

Website:  https://www.thesandydennyproject.co.uk/