Acapela Studio welcomes two of the most exciting artists in the folk scene – Ben Walker and Kirsty Merryn.
Ben Walker was recently hailed as one of ‘the best acoustic guitarists in the world right now’ by Total Guitar magazine.
A versatile composer as well as a celebrated instrumentalist, his passion is putting old jewels in new settings. After six critically acclaimed albums and a BBC Folk Award as a duo with Josienne Clarke, and more than fifty records as a producer of other artists, Ben Walker’s signature style has been sought out from punk to Proms, from Rough Trade to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Ben’s first solo album, Echo, was released in July 2019; a collection of original pieces, traditional songs and poems set to music, critics have given it a rapturous reception. In between producing and playing with other leading artists, Ben is thoroughly enjoying bringing his characteristically warm, whimsical and virtuosic solo set to folk audiences in the UK and Europe throughout 2019. He is inspired by finding the past in the present, by the languages and lived experience of ordinary people and the names, songs and stories that reflect each other down the ages. With red hot irons in the fire for 2020; collaborations with the best of a new generation of folk musicians as well as a major new solo project there’s so much more to come.
“A fabulous and versatile guitarist.” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2, The Folk Show
“Just floors me every time I hear it…his guitar playing is second to none”. Verity Sharp, BBC Radio 3, The Late Junction
Listen to Ben play Eostre live
Kirsty Merryn is one of the most arresting and unconventional singer songwriters on the UK folk roots scene with a style uniquely her own. Kirsty launched her highly acclaimed debut album She & I at London’s Union Chapel in 2017 whilst supporting Show of Hands on their extensive UK Cathedrals tour. Kirsty has been championed by Show of Hands’ frontman Steve Knightley after he met her while teaching at an EFDSS songwriting retreat for upcoming folk singer songwriters. She went on to open for Show of Hands at their headline appearance at Sidmouth Folk Week in 2016, and supported them on their Cathedral’s tour of the UK.
Beguiling and mercurial, Kirsty’s music is heavily anchored in the folk tradition with jazz and classical backwaters. But it has a much wider reach, with her influences ranging from Cara Dillon to Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush -emphatic piano-based songs with sharply observed lyrics, packaged with panache in elegant, beautifully balanced settings and delivered in crystal clear, assured vocals. Skilfully produced by in-demand, award-winning Gerry Diver, She & I comprises eight Merryn originals, focusing on the diverse stories of inspirational women in history. It received extensive international air play including the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show and the BBC 3 World Music show. It reached number 3 in the Amazon Folk charts and continues to receive great reviews from publications including The Guardian, The Sunday Express and many more.
Since the album release Kirsty has become a regular on the folk circuit in the UK, sharing the stage with many well loved acts including Richard Thompson who she opened for at Sidmouth Folk Week in 2019. In 2018 Kirsty undertook her first solo tour of the UK, and is now working on a follow-up album for release in early 2020.
“★★★★Kirsty Merryn is a folk singer and composer of extraordinary skill…. destined to be a big star”. Sunday Express
“Folk debuts often arrive gingerly, shyly; Kirsty Merryn’s set of originals arrives bold and fully formed”. The Guardian
“…perfect, poised vocals…” Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM 18TH OCTOBER 2020 and 3RD MARCH 2021 – ALL TICKETS HAVE BEEN AUTOMATICALLY TRANSFERRED TO THIS NEW DATE.
Book a table for pre-concert dining
Acapela Studio provides pre-concert dining between 6.00pm and 7.30pm from our pizza oven. To view the current menu visit here.
Please purchase your concert tickets first before booking a table. We will not accept any table bookings that do not have a corresponding ticket purchase.
Then return to the event page to book your table, by selecting the date of your event, number of diners and time you require table. The times shown are the only vacancies left. Please complete your email and phone number as this is required to ensure your table is allocated. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email and text.
If on the date you have chosen no tables are available - no times will be shown and the booking system will revert you back to todays date - PLEASE ENSURE YOU BOOK THE CORRECT DATE!
PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE RELIES ON THE INCOME FROM DINING TO ENSURE WE CAN BOOK ALL THE GREAT ACTS PERFORMING.
Income from the provision of pizzas is very important to the venue and if you have booked a table it is a requirement that all people sat at tables order food - a salad alternative is available to pizzas. Please do ensure that all individuals will be ordering on your table - if this is not the case please cancel your table so others who are looking to dine can do so. Our apologies to raise this but recently we have had many tables (some very large) where less than 50% of those sat at tables have ordered food. Financially this is a real problem to the sustainability of the venue.
- All seating at tables must purchase a pizza - so please do not book a table if everyone is not eating.
- Please ensure that you arrive 10 minutes before the time slot allocated to order your pizzas prior to your booking time.
- Tables not seated within 15 minutes of the allocated time may be lost and allocated to other audience members wishing to order pizzas.
- If you wish to book a table for 6 or more please email info@acapela.co.uk
Please note that all of our pizzas are made fresh to order and cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven. It may take up to 45 minutes to be served during busy periods.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BOOK A TABLE YOU CAN STILL ORDER PIZZAS ON THE NIGHT (USUALLY ON BUSY NIGHTS NO LATER THAN 7.15PM) AND WE WILL SERVE THEM TO YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE SAT IN THE VENUE - IN A PIZZA BOX.