"THE BEST UNKNOWN SONGWRITER IN BRITAIN" - Steve Knightley
2018 is the centenary of the last year of the First World War. To mark this, Chris Hoban, singer songwriter - some of whose songs get the biggest rounds of applause at a Show of Hands gig - came to St Pancras church in Widecombe on Saturday 18 August. Chris performed in our church last summer with the exquisite Lost Sound chorus.
Chris is one of the leading songwriters in the folk tradition in the South West and is enjoying a growing reputation as a solo performer and multi-instrumentalist, accompanying himself on guitar, piano accordion, mandocello or 'cello. He also makes regular appearances in folk clubs and festivals with the West Country folk musicians Steve Knightley, Phil Beer, Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, Jim Causley, Geoff Lakeman, Phil Henry & Hannah Martin. He regularly writes songs for Show of Hands - Katrina, The Old Lych Way, The Lily and the Rose, for example - has featured on a number of their albums and joined them on their recent autumn tour, “Sanctuary”, performing in the cathedrals of Britain.
This show included a section called "1918" which is a series of songs (some of which have been recorded by Show of Hands, Miranda Sykes and others) telling untold stories from the Great War, many of them with local connections. Chris performed up to a dozen songs intermingled with stories and anecdotes. He was supported and in some instances, backed, by one of the most local performing groups you can find - the not-at-all famous Widecombe Singers!
And now for the audience comments:
Well, what a wonderful Widecombe Sailing Club event Saturday evening was!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and also thrilled to be part of the Widecombe Singers, supporting Chris.- Barbara
Really good feedback from audience.
Thoroughly enjoyed and full of praise.
And a full church…wow!
Big thank you’ s to Daf for setting it up and finding a wonderful main attraction in Chris Hoban.
But biggest appreciation to Bridget who manages to get a better than average sound out of us. – Ros of the Widecombe Singers
Just wanted to say a big thank you for tonight event it was brilliant
a wonderful evening, we enjoyed it very much as I am sure everyone else did.
Many thanks – Wendy
What a wonderful show last night - congratulations!
Wendy B
Just wanted to say what a wonderful and memorable evening it was last night - what a talented chap Chris Hoban is; no wonder the Rear Admiral is so taken with him! The whole thing was an absolute treat and I was so impressed with the Widecombe Singers as well - what a polished and professional sound. Thank you so much for organising and ensuring yet another wonderful musical treat.
Andrea x
Just a very quick note to say how much my wife and I enjoyed the concert, and how impressed we were with the Widecombe Singers. Well done to all concerned.
Regards, David
Really enjoyed Chris Hoban's gig and wanted to say that the Widecombe Singers made it very special too – fabulous voices. - Sue W
My friends and I really enjoyed Chris Hoban's concert. What a talented writer and performer and such a nice guy as well! And well done to the Widecombe Singers as well. A great night out and thanks for organising it. Ron
Chris Hoban's gig was a great success and the Widecombe singers were a perfect partner. Well done, Sean
What a fabulous evening we've just had with Chris Hoban and the Widecombe singers. Thank you Daf for putting it together and Chris for his wonderful songs. Hibly.
Such a joy for the Widecombe Singers to sing with Chris Hoban. A wonderful evening. Sue B
Chris Hoban - a talented song writer and regular with Show of Hands - gave an incredible performance at Widecombe in the Moor Church on Saturday 18th August. Opened by the Widecombe Singers who supported him in the second set which was a history lesson on WW1 through Song. Original material well-performed. Andrew on Facebook
Chris has blogged about the event on his own website - please click here
Quite a lot of people have asked Chris if he's going to record 1918 - and the answer is (I know 'cos he said so) - yes - once he's got funding. He wants to do it properly and that takes money. It would help him secure funding if he can show that the song cycle is popular, which it is. So... if you'd like to see it recorded, please can you email on http://chrishoban.com/contact/ or use the email address info@chrishoban.com and tell him what you think?
2018 is the centenary of the last year of the First World War. To mark this, Chris Hoban, singer songwriter - some of whose songs get the biggest rounds of applause at a Show of Hands gig - came to St Pancras church in Widecombe on Saturday 18 August. Chris performed in our church last summer with the exquisite Lost Sound chorus.
Chris is one of the leading songwriters in the folk tradition in the South West and is enjoying a growing reputation as a solo performer and multi-instrumentalist, accompanying himself on guitar, piano accordion, mandocello or 'cello. He also makes regular appearances in folk clubs and festivals with the West Country folk musicians Steve Knightley, Phil Beer, Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, Jim Causley, Geoff Lakeman, Phil Henry & Hannah Martin. He regularly writes songs for Show of Hands - Katrina, The Old Lych Way, The Lily and the Rose, for example - has featured on a number of their albums and joined them on their recent autumn tour, “Sanctuary”, performing in the cathedrals of Britain.
This show included a section called "1918" which is a series of songs (some of which have been recorded by Show of Hands, Miranda Sykes and others) telling untold stories from the Great War, many of them with local connections. Chris performed up to a dozen songs intermingled with stories and anecdotes. He was supported and in some instances, backed, by one of the most local performing groups you can find - the not-at-all famous Widecombe Singers!
And now for the audience comments:
Well, what a wonderful Widecombe Sailing Club event Saturday evening was!! I thoroughly enjoyed myself and also thrilled to be part of the Widecombe Singers, supporting Chris.- Barbara
Really good feedback from audience.
Thoroughly enjoyed and full of praise.
And a full church…wow!
Big thank you’ s to Daf for setting it up and finding a wonderful main attraction in Chris Hoban.
But biggest appreciation to Bridget who manages to get a better than average sound out of us. – Ros of the Widecombe Singers
Just wanted to say a big thank you for tonight event it was brilliant
a wonderful evening, we enjoyed it very much as I am sure everyone else did.
Many thanks – Wendy
What a wonderful show last night - congratulations!
Wendy B
Just wanted to say what a wonderful and memorable evening it was last night - what a talented chap Chris Hoban is; no wonder the Rear Admiral is so taken with him! The whole thing was an absolute treat and I was so impressed with the Widecombe Singers as well - what a polished and professional sound. Thank you so much for organising and ensuring yet another wonderful musical treat.
Andrea x
Just a very quick note to say how much my wife and I enjoyed the concert, and how impressed we were with the Widecombe Singers. Well done to all concerned.
Regards, David
Really enjoyed Chris Hoban's gig and wanted to say that the Widecombe Singers made it very special too – fabulous voices. - Sue W
My friends and I really enjoyed Chris Hoban's concert. What a talented writer and performer and such a nice guy as well! And well done to the Widecombe Singers as well. A great night out and thanks for organising it. Ron
Chris Hoban's gig was a great success and the Widecombe singers were a perfect partner. Well done, Sean
What a fabulous evening we've just had with Chris Hoban and the Widecombe singers. Thank you Daf for putting it together and Chris for his wonderful songs. Hibly.
Such a joy for the Widecombe Singers to sing with Chris Hoban. A wonderful evening. Sue B
Chris Hoban - a talented song writer and regular with Show of Hands - gave an incredible performance at Widecombe in the Moor Church on Saturday 18th August. Opened by the Widecombe Singers who supported him in the second set which was a history lesson on WW1 through Song. Original material well-performed. Andrew on Facebook
Chris has blogged about the event on his own website - please click here
Quite a lot of people have asked Chris if he's going to record 1918 - and the answer is (I know 'cos he said so) - yes - once he's got funding. He wants to do it properly and that takes money. It would help him secure funding if he can show that the song cycle is popular, which it is. So... if you'd like to see it recorded, please can you email on http://chrishoban.com/contact/ or use the email address info@chrishoban.com and tell him what you think?
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The Widecombe Singers in full voice.
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