"Awake, My Soul" is a feature documentary that explores the history, music, and traditions of Sacred Harp singing, the oldest surviving American music. This haunting music has survived over 200 years tucked away from sight in the rural deep south, where in old wooden country churches, devoted singers break open The Sacred Harp, a shape note hymnal first published in Georgia in 1844. These singers have inherited The Sacred Harp and its traditions from those who came before them and preserved these fierce yet beautiful songs, many of which are much older than the hymnal itself. Awake My Soul is a film
that captures both the history and the vitality of a music that is utterly unlike any music most viewers are likely to have heard.

What is most moving about "Awake, My Soul", however, is the singers themselves who wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to the songs they sing. These singers are surprisingly articulate, deeply thoughtful and often very funny individuals who are passionate about Sacred Harp singing. As Richard Delong puts it in the film, "We scheduled life around Sacred Harp singing. We didn't schedule Sacred Harp singing around life."

"Awake, My Soul" is a wonderfully detailed quilt made up of historical material illustrated by rare archival images, interviews
with singers who share their often moving personal histories, and the music itself, which is both earthy and otherworldly at the same time. It once was lost but now it's found: This is the story of the Sacred Harp.

Newcastle's Cath & Phil Tyler, who have been conducting Sacred Harp singing workshops for a while will also be with us tonight to perform music from their recently released album. If you live in Newcastle you’ll know who they are, but just in case you don’t, here are some reviews:

"Folk moves into a new era with Cath and Phil. Their combination of earthiness and grit, raw yet heartfelt and beautiful singing and immaculate playing makes this one of the most exciting and most moving albums I've heard in a long while." - Fiona Talkington, ‘Late Junction’, BBC Radio 3

“The twining harmonies…recall the heyday of English pastoral folk song” - The Wire

“Dumb Supper is one of those rare modern folk albums that will find a home in both the longstanding ‘traditional’ music community and among those attracted to the form's more experimental and lo-fi possibilities….It’s a weird looking-glass effect many folk fans will be familiar with: the straighter you play it, the stranger it gets…Shirley Collins always understood this and so do Cath & Phil Tyler.” - Frances Morgan, Plan B Magazine

http://www.myspace.com/cptyl

And, last but not least, Newcastle very own cuddly Richard Dawson, who’s been doing more of his acoustic schtick again recently.  You may remember Richard from his appearance on The Culture Show about a year back. If you live in Newcastle you probably already know his stuff and why it’s worth you coming along on the night. If you don’t then please check out his lovely music here and let it make your mind up for you:

http://www.myspace.com/richardmdawson

£5 on the door.

This event will be followed by a free workshop led by Cath & Phil Tyler on Sunday 23^rd from 2pm – just come along and participate!