Rodmarton Charity Concert (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Rodmarton Charity Concert

SIMON Mayor and Hilary James have taken their special blend of diverse and dazzling musicianship and humour, not only across Britain but across the world.

And they're coming to Rodmarton Village Hall on Saturday, September 20 to give a concert in aid of Chinese orphans.

There can be few performers who slide easily from an evocative Irish ballad into a mandolin and guitar version of Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and then have the audience singing one of their own notorious comic songs, but it's this wry humour and an easy, informal stage manner that hold it all together.

The duo's musical diversity has led to an equally broad range of festival invitations, from the Vancouver Folk Festival to the Stephen Leacock Humour Festival in Canada, the Henley Classical Music Festival in England and countless international world music festivals.

Hilary's elegant singing easily crosses the great musical divides from Celtic ballads to blues and Berlioz.

She's also renowned for an unlikely taste in bass instruments, accompanying Simon in anything from bluegrass to Vivaldi, and even managing a step dance for good measure.

Simon started out as a guitarist and fiddler, but his current position as one of the world's foremost mandolinists, and mandolin composer, has led to an ever-increasing number of invitations to play and teach at festivals and conventions.

Despite being a self-taught musician, he found himself at number nine in the UK classical artist chart in May 2000.

"We are delighted to have two such top class artists to perform at Rodmarton. It will certainly be an evening to remember," said the Rev Stanley Emson, of Rodmarton, who has arranged the concert.

The show begins at 7.30pm, telephone Ottakar's Bookshop on 01285 658998 or 01285 841348 for tickets.