Didgeridoo gig (not an April Fool!)

The arrival of an Australian to live in Welshpool has resulted in the area’s music scene becoming a lot more diverse!

On Friday night in Pant Village Hall, Oswestry-based didgeridoo healer Chris Thorn will be performing a very special and unique concert with our 'adopted' Australian singer/songwriter Beck Sian.

Now residing in Welshpool and working at Powis Castle by day, Beck came to the UK from Melbourne in 2006. Originally intending to tour the UK for a year or so, Beck fell in love with Mid Wales and is no longer sure if she will ever leave!

Known for her Ethereal Ghost-Folk and mood-driven, alternative takes on old supernatural ballads, Beck taught herself to sing by mimicking her famous relative, English singer Kate Bush.

She has gone on to develop a unique style of her own, and her audiences enjoy her candid story-telling and vibrant humour as much as her emotive and haunting songs.

“Back in Australia, I have a great friend named Stax - The Didgeman. He is a gifted didgeridoo player and I was fortunate to have a few lessons in how to play one, before I moved here,” she said. “Then I was singing at the Maesbury Marsh Canal festival last year and I met Chris ‘Didgman’ Thorn. Chris is not only a wonderful didgeridoo player and musician, but he is also a healer. Listening to him play is a beautiful, dreamy experience.

“Chris and I decided to try combining my singing with his “didgeridooing” and the result is very lovely. We performed a little lunchtime concert together at Powis Castle back in January and we enjoyed it so much that we decided to hire a hall and put on a full concert.

“Our concert at Pant Village Hall will be a very unique musical journey and will include songs from my three albums, performed by Chris and I on guitar and didgeridoo. I’ll be doing some improvisational singing and chanting with Chris’ meditative, healing compositions, and I’ll join Chris in a didgeridoo duet!”

It sounds intriguing and will be held from 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm) with tickets (£7) available on the door. Organisers say to bring your own drinks and snacks.

For more information contact Beck at info@becksianmusic.com or visit www.didgeridoohealing.co.uk or www.becksianmusic.com

PICTURE (by Stephen Parry): Beck Sian and Chris Thorn performing earlier this year at Powis Castle.