Mediaeval Sandragon

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Highlights

An authentic re-creation of music from a particular period...
A blend of folk and mediaeval music guaranteed to fit with any mediaeval banquet or re-enactment eve
Interactive and fun - mingling with your guests playing discreet background music or leading them in

Act profile

Maggie (voice, hurdy-gurdy, mandola) has long experience in many musical fields: as a session singer and performer in her own right. She and Mark have been collaborating on Sandragon and other projects since 2000.

Mark ( hurdy-gurdy, mandola, voice) is well known in the folk music world as performer, recording engineer and producer, having worked with some of its biggest names. He has worked on mediaeval and historical productions such as the "Kingmaker's Feast" mediaeval banquets at Warwick Castle and the historical plays performed by Fieldwork, the touring theatre company.

Will (bass, percussion) is a graduate of the Guildford College of Music (bass performance.) He combines his work with Sandragon with sessions and the writing of a Master's dissertation.

Stephen (pipes, mediaeval woodwind) is a graduate in Early Music from Bristol University. Before Sandragon his work encompassed orchestral, choral and theatrical performance and conducting.


The band has worked extensively in folk clubs, theatres and arts centres, at home and in Europe, as well as performing at mediaeval events.

They can provide historical accuracy when it is called for, but primarily Sandragon is about ENTERTAINMENT- befriending and involving the audience and working to ensure that they have a good time, whatever the event.

Whether you need strolling players providing background music to set the scene, or raucous, upfront songs and energetic dances, this is the band that will get your mediaeval event going!

Line-up

Maggie Sand - voice, harmonium, mandola, hurdy-gurdy.

Mark Powell - hurdy-gurdy, mandola, voice.

Stephen Clark - pipes, crumhorn, rauschpfiefe, cornamuse, recorders, wooden flutes, fife, whistle, voice.

Will Hughes - bass, percussion, voice.

N/A

Also included

Owing to the nature of the events at which we normally perform, we usually play acoustically with no amplification. However, we do have a quality PA system with a Soundcraft mixing desk and Roland powered speakers. Our lighting rig, when this is required, comprises a mix of parcans and uplighters.

Location

South East based and will travel to these areas: South East, South West, Midlands, Wales.

Testimonials

"...the musical journey moved back to the times of the alchemists with Maggie. With her project Sandragon she draws from many sources: Medieval and English folk, and stirs the elixir until a special sound is formed."

Andrea Weber, Isar-Loisachbote, Munich, reviewing our concert at the Hinterhalt, Geretsried, March 18th 2009.


“Sandragon start with a traditional song called If I Were a Blackbird. Maggie has a beautiful folky voice and is accompanied by Mark on guitar.

They continue with a French tune called Le Garcon de Montagne. Mark plays the hurdy gurdy for this and is accompanied on the bellows organ by Maggie. Together they produce a fantastic sound made all the more richer by Maggie's vocals during the tune."

Clive Meggs, the FAB Club, Grays, UK, 1st March 2009. (From their website.)


“Last month we were very privileged to have Sandragon as our special guests. What a great evening they gave us."

Aiden Mullinder, the Jug of Punch Folk Club, Sutton Coldfield, writing on the club's website.


“Those of you who remember Shave The Monkey and loved them need to see Sandragon... they were terrific. Everyone enjoyed them.”

Sue Tuckey, Fridayfolk Club, Orpington, UK.


"This is a fascinating CD distinguished particularly by the full exciting sound of the group of instrumentalists who have come together as Sandragon."

Toby Freeman, Folk London magazine.

Previous clients

David Smith, Cressing Temple, Witham Road, Braintree, Essex CM77 8PD. 07761 680 058. david.smith34@ntlworld.com.

Jan Ayres, Waltham Abbey Folk Club, 35 Haywood Court, Waltham Abbey, Essex. EN9 3DP 01992 613 987

Marion Treby, Cambridge Folk Club, 79 Burrell Road, Exning, Newmarket. CB8 7DN 01638 603986

Roger Pitt, St. Neots Folk Club, The Mill House, Bolnhurst, Bedford. MK44 2ER 01234 376 278

Sue Tuckey, Fridayfolk, Orpington, 49 Zelah Road, Orpington, Kent. BR5 4JU 01689 838 077

Ann Dempsey, The Jug of Punch Folk Club, 6 Monkshead Road, Sutton Coldfield. B72 1LB 0121 354 4357

Valmai Goodyear, Lewes Arms Folk Club, 20 St. John’s Terrace, Lewes, E. Sussex. BN7 2DL 01273 476 757

Assunta Tammelleo, Kleinkunstbuhne Hinterhalt, Leitenstr. 40, 82538 Geretsried, Germany.
+49 8171 238 104 or 177 726 2727

Warwick Castle, Warwick, Warwickshire. CV34 4QU 0870 442 2000

Förderverein des Kreismuseum des Salzlandkreises e.V., Pfännerstr. 41, 39218 Schönebeck, Germany.
(Or

£500 to £795

Music Samples

Repertoire

A full list can be supplied if required.
The songs below, which are all featured as MP3s on this site are examples of what we do:

Les Garcons de Montagne
The kind of thing that we play whilst leading the audience through a dance.

Susie Fair/Salterello
Part of our featured song spot

A Rosebud in June
An example of the sort of song that we play when discreet background music is required.

Cob a-Coaling
A livelier song and tune that we would include as part of a featured spot.

Extra Costs

The price brackets above should be used as a guide only as all quotes are bespoke.

Performance times for most acts except Tributes and some other Unique performers are usually 2 x 60 minute sets or 3 x 40 min sets.

(If you require the act to perform longer than these times you may incur extra costs.)

Travel costs vary depending on the act and will be included to the quote given to you by our agents.

Our acts would usually expect to arrive around 5.30pm and to be finished around midnight.

(If you need the act to arrive earlier or finish later there may be extra costs but these can be negotiated.)