Review Centre: Spanish / Flamenco Entertainment

"Even on a murky February morning (2005), the first performance in July of our new commission doesn’t seem too far away. Jane Roper tells us about the composer and the composition: Howard’s way If you ever get a chance to talk to Howard Haigh about composing, take it. He has a huge range of experience, good insights into the creative process, and he communicates his enthusiasm for his work so well, I guarantee you will be both enthralled and inspired. And now he's working for us! I thought you might like to read a bit of background to his career and to his current commission. Although Howard is happily settled up north in Lancaster he trained near us; a BA Performing Arts/Music at Middlesex Polytechnic was followed by a Masters in Music/Composition at the University of London. He studied composition with Brian Dennis and David Bedford; had tutorials with Michael Finissy, George Benjamin and John Cage, and studied flamenco guitar with Paco Pena, Juan Serrano, Manuel Granados and Titi Losada. We think of him principally as a Spanish guitarist, but he also studied mandolin, keyboards, percussion, harmonica and vocal techniques. He has written for most instrumental combinations, from solo guitar, small ensembles and string quartets to bands, girls’ choirs, large choruses, electronic scores and computer music. Howard combines composing with teaching throughout the north west. He has taught guitar at Lancaster University since 2000. He is a member of the English National Ballet's Education and Community Unit, and is engaged in outreach projects in schools throughout England. The nature of this work may range from musical accompanist to residencies in which he composes an original score for a short performance. He has done similar work for Ballet Rambert and the Royal Ballet. His work has been performed at the Barbican, the Royal Festival Hall, Sadler's Wells (for the Queen) and the Purcell Room; and at festivals in Edinburgh, Brighton, Cheltenham and WOMAD. One of his great strengths is his ability to collaborate with people from a wide range of performing disciplines. I've found out that as well as working closely with singers, dancers, and actors, he has also worked with jugglers, comedians, strippers, a skiffle group, film makers and performance artists. No problem working with us then. And then add a massive list of theatre companies, musicals, community projects and commissions and it's no wonder he's always out when I call. In the 1980's Howard composed some extraordinary pieces using unusual instruments. Body Music used claps, stamps, clicks and slaps. This was followed by Kitchen Music. I bet you didn't know that Alan Titchmarsh played the saucepan in this on Pebble Mill. There was also a pre-Prom show on Radio 3 featuring unusual percussion prior to Evelyn Glennie's performance. But by the late '80s his explorations were focusing on vocal writing. Crouch End Festival Chorus gave him an exciting opportunity when they commissioned him in 1990. I heard them perform Saeta again in the Barbican last January. It was sensational. I can't even remember what the second half standard-repertoire piece was; I was still high on Howard's piece and wanted them to sing it again. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Thank you so much, Ben for an amazing evening! You were the highlight of the event and we all thoroughly enjoyed listening to you! You have such a great talent! You completely changed the ambience.Thank you for playing a number of my favs at short notice. I will definitely book you again. Great Job, Ben!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"I organised a charity event and hired Ilusion Flamenca band to entertain in the evening. They made my event come to life, they got the crowd moving and nobody wanted the party to end. I loved their attire and especially the female dancer she looked amazing with the frills and flowers. Highly recommend."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Coming from a guy who plays music, he is very talented. From the 3 or 4 times ive seen this gentleman, he definitly has a variety of music, performed very well and provides a really inviting atmosphere.His performance is very admirable in the way which he plays very well. Would definitely listen to his music again."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"They will be one of the greatest guitarists in the world of pure flamenco and South American guitar, Miguel Fernandez, with his group, and the jam session with Joe Castellano & The Soul legends, the fourth appointment of the five promotional stages that anticipate the return of the Blues & Wine Soul Festival Sicily Circuit 2011. The concert will take place tomorrow evening, 7 August, in the Hotel Villa Athena, Valley of the Temples, Agrigento. The Blues & Wine Soul Festival is a great wine and music event, created to combine the phenomenon of blues, soul and gospel music performed by internationally renowned musicians, considered the greatest voices of world music in the world, with the best wine productions Sicilians. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"John's performance at our wedding was incredible. Many of the guests were talking about how good he was. Thank you John!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We cannot recommend Miguel and his Band highly enough. Their talent, genuine passion and professionalism for what they do made our wedding day even more magical than we could have ever imagined. Many guests even asked for their contact information for future occasions!! "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Booked Naomi to perform over zoom for my wife's 26th birthday. With it being lockdown in Scotland and not having many options, I thought it would be a lovely surprise for her to have a talented musician play a few of her favourite songs. I gave Naomi a list of a few special songs that she could play for us and without complaint or hesitation she was more than happy to play them for us. From the moment I made contact to the day of the performance everything was just perfection. My wife loved it as did I, she is still buzzing that Noami played all her favourite songs on violin. Cannot recommend Naomi highly enough. She played beautifully. Couldn't have asked for anything more. Utterly splendid. Perfection. Thankyou from us both!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"We'd been trying to organize and book The Flamenco Folks for months and we weren't disappointed when they finally got here. A terrific, authentic performance, all my customers at El Rincon were so super happy. We will be re booking them again for another Sunday gig here very soon. "

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"There were amazing I could not be happier with their performance!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Awesome musical duo to set the vibe for your event! We loved having Dos Bandoleros at our father’s 70th birthday bash. He is a huge lover of Spanish – style music and the duo definitely delivered with an eclectic mix that definitely set the vibe for our 50+ guests.I highly recommend for your next event. They are very easy to work with and very professional with everything."

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Really awesome he’s really good at what he’s doing all the time and a wonderful person. I’m proud of him. 👍👏👏 God bless you always 🙏🤗❤️🥰"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Warm and engaging voice. Excellent interpretation. Scent of home!"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"Excellent performer. Very professional, great entertainer, our guests were all extremely complementary. Would strongly recommend"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review:

"A sensational blast of passion, raw, tender and sublime"

Rating: 10 / 10 Share this review: