Presented by Norden Farm Jazz Club.

Nic Meier (guitars)
Alex Hutton (piano)
Marianne Windham (bass)
Tbc (drums)

UK based guitarist Nicolas Meier has carved a reputation out as one of the world's most original and uniquely talented guitarists. Drawing from a love of Turkish, Eastern and Middle Eastern music, Flamenco, Tango and more - all mixed with jazz.

Meier's versatility and musical fluency extends well beyond that, even (so much so, that his considerable talents drew the attention of rock guitar legend, Jeff Beck, who made Nicolas a mainstay in The Jeff Beck Group carrying him on two world tours during the course of the last several years).

Meier originally hails from Switzerland born in 1973, to parents who are great lovers of the arts. Never short on ambition, Meier founded his own record label, MGP Records, in 2009. To date, he's produced twelve albums as a solo artist in various group formats (The Nicolas Meier Group, Nicolas Meier Trio, Eclectica!, Nicolas Meier World Group), with his heavy metal band, Seven7, and in a duo format, with long-time partner, fellow guitarist and collaborator, the fabulous UK master, Pete Oxley.

Meier’s sound is rooted in his love of playing jazz on acoustic guitar, especially his Godin nylon-string guitar. It’s a sound that lends itself especially well to flamenco and middle-eastern music, also and conveniently so, as these influences, and more, are brilliantly fused in his unique multi-lingual style. He also plays fretless acoustic guitar, the Saz (a traditional Turkish stringed instrument), electric guitar, steel-string acoustic guitar, glissentar (an 11-stringed fretless instrument) and a baglama. By 2022 a new World Group studio album called Magnificent came out. A 3 CD package including Live and Stories! To promote this release, lots of UK concerts and a European tour of 11 dates opening for rock guitar legend Steve Vai.

This show will be a nod towards the influence of Pat Metheny and a celebration of jazz standards that has had an impact upon Nic’s musical development. It will be a colourful blend of jazz, rock and European folk influenced Jazz.

Studio
£16

Nic's website

Insta meier.nicolas
Fb Nicolas Meier

•   7 Feb from £16

Rich music with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative song-writing style that is both delicate and moving.

Christina Alden and Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich.

Deeply inspired by the world around them, they have a keen environmental eye to craft stories with the natural world at its heart, reflecting on the relationship between humans and the wild.

They have enjoyed touring extensively in the UK and Europe; including a twenty three date concert hall tour with Show of Hands (including Union Chapel and St David’s Hall Cardiff). A show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for Celtic Connections, headline and main stage performances at some of the UK’s most prestigious folk festivals and performances in Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland.

They have written and self-released four albums, composed music for a BBC Radio 4 documentary series and have had over a million streams on Spotify.

‘A milestone for contemporary folk song writing’ Bright Young Folk

'A bright, lively collection of songs that plays so sweetly it evokes the sensation of
a summer folk festival' The Guardian

‘Perfectly matched harmonies...at times it’s hard to tell them apart, you could be
listening to a single voice’ Folk Radio UK

'Gorgeous harmonies and lush melodies...a beautiful album that transports the
listener to wild landscapes and wild lives' BBC Countryfile

'Alden’s voice is hauntingly beautiful' Folk London

‘Alex would give even the great Swarbrick himself a run for his money in terms of
sheer feeling and passion' At The Barrier

Studio
£16

Christina and Alex's website

Insta christinaaldenalexpatterson
Fb Christina Alden & Alex Patterson

•  27 Mar from £16

Presented by Norden Farm Jazz Club.

Georgia Mancio (vocals)
Alex Hutton (piano)
Julie Walkington (bass)
Dave Ohm (drums)

Multi award-winning / nominated vocalist, lyricist and producer Georgia Mancio, is a supreme storyteller who creates work of authenticity, adventure, beauty and bite. Whether interpreting her own luminous originals or standards, Georgia’s evoking performances connect deeply with her audiences and linger long in the mind.

Her copious industry acknowledgements include consecutive wins at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards:  Best Vocalist 2021 and Best Album 2020 for Finding Home with Kate Williams . She has also received several nominations at the Jazz FM, British Jazz and Urban Music Awards.

Her revered partnership with Grammy-winning pianist / composer, Alan Broadbent, has yielded two albums (Quiet Is The Star, Songbook), two books (The Songs of Alan Broadbent and Georgia Mancio) and engagements across Europe and the US, including Ronnie Scott’s and Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC.

Other credits include: BBC Proms, Ian Shaw, Liane Carroll, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny (lyric approval), Gareth Lockrane, Nigel Price, Alina Bzhezhinska, Tom Cawley, Robert Mitchell and her own festivals ReVoice! and Hang.

Georgia is also a vocal tutor at City University and co-runs Hugh and Marion’s, Eltham Jazz Club.  

Studio
£16

Georgia's website

Insta georgiamancio
Fb Georgia Mancio Music

•   4 Apr from £16

Led by Creative Eye

Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.

Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.

You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.

Spring Season
Tues 14 Jan - Charcoal Drawing
Tues 21 Jan - Embroidered Photos
Tues 28 Jan - Decoupage Log Slices
Tues 4 Feb - No Session
Tues 11 Feb - Polymer Clay Octopus
Tues 18 Feb - Pin Board
Tues 25 Feb - Willow Suncatcher
Tues 4 Mar - Wire Flowers
Tues 11 Mar - Felt Keyring / Brooch
Tues 18 Mar - Woven Basket
Tues 25 Mar - Wool Hoop Art
Tues 1 Apr - Book Folded Sheep
Tues 8 Apr - Fabric Flower
Tues 15 Apr - Cube Bunny
Tues 22 Apr - Embossed Foil Decorations
Tues 29 Apr - Iris Paper Folding

Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.

Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.

If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.

Suitable for ages 60+ years.

2pm - 3pm
£6.50 per session, including a cup of tea

•  14 Jan from £5
•  21 Jan from £5
• 13 more dates...

Led by Nanda Sharma

Welcome to Bollybhangra Dance Fitness Party sessions! Nanda teaches her original choreographies to top hits from Bollywood, Bhangra, Belly dance and also other international music and dance rhythms.

The joyful music and movements encourage us to open our hearts and minds to possibilities, improve wellbeing and body-confidence and encourage us to embrace our individuality.

Enjoy the benefits of dance on flexibility and balance, health and fitness, and mood, memory, in a fun and friendly environment, at your own pace - no pressure. Beginners welcome.

Every class feels like a party and your place awaits! Dress up or dress down, some colour, sequins and a jingly bellydance scarf will add to your experience!

Bring water, a towel, wear dance sneakers or trainers.

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 29 Apr
3pm - 4pm

£10 per session

•  14 Jan from £10
•  21 Jan from £10
• 10 more dates...

Led by Seann Wilkinson

A non-audition community choir open to all. Working on everything from Madonna to Les Mis, from gospel to pop - this is an opportunity to meet people, learn some harmonies and sing your hearts out. No experience required. Enthusiasm absolutely necessary!

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 1 Apr (exc 18 Feb)
7.30pm – 9pm

£11 per session | £110 per 11 week term

•  14 Jan from £11
•  21 Jan from £11
• 8 more dates...

Led by Julie Potter

This class is particularly suited to beginners, those returning to yoga having had a break, those with specific injuries or conditions or even those that consider themselves to be of a certain age that might need a less challenging approach. We will cover general breathing practises, the basic and gentler postures, together with general information and possible discussion around movement and the potential difficulties we might come up against.

The aim will be to relax and enjoy.

The yoga I teach is an evolution of nearly 30 years of practice and study, with a broad experience of many styles and teachers. In recent years I have been moving away from ‘external’ evaluation of the postures and moving towards an internal sense of the postures, moving away from the more used traditional approach of systemised yoga to a more experiential and felt approach, influenced by teachers who have been inspired by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli.

Please bring a blanket, a Yoga / Pilates mat, and wear loose comfortable clothing

Spring
Wed 15 Jan - 12 Feb (5 weeks)
Wed 19 Feb - 19 Mar (5 weeks)
Wed 26 Mar - 30 Apr (5 weeks)

11am - 12.15pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

You will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email.

•  15 Jan from £12
•  22 Jan from £12
• 13 more dates...

Led by Emma Duncan

In each session children take part in a series of drama games and activities that develop their confidence as well as teaching them drama skills. These include focus, communication, developing a character and voice projection.

As the weeks go on the group will each have a part with some lines to learn in a small-scale show. They will rehearse as a team and share what they have learnt during the last session, more details to follow on this after half term.

Suitable for school years 2 - 6.

'Norden Farm is my favourite after school club, it always keeps me moving and relaxed. It is a great place to go for drama and within a short time, I have become far more confident and expressive' Timothy, age 7

'We have sent both of our children to Youth Theatre at Norden Farm and have seen dramatic improvements in there ability, confidence, social awareness and expressiveness generally and specifically. The environment is safe and developmental in a broad and exciting sense' Alex - parent

Spring
Wed 15 Jan - 2 Apr (12 weeks)
5pm - 6pm
£126

Junior Youth Theatre Booking Form

'The youth theatre is a nice place and I’ve only been here a short time and I Love it!' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'It is cool and welcoming' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the most professional classes I’ve enrolled in' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best drama clubs, everyone is so friendly and we do amazing games' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'We have absolutely loved the drama classes, we have seen a tremendous improvement with our daughter's confidence, she enjoys the sessions as there is a mixture of techniques and games and has made friends along the way! Emma is great at adapting the lessons and I have only seen improvements, we Look forward to the end of summer show combined with the senior class!!! Love Norden Farm as the venue!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

'This is my daughter’s first experience of a drama club - and it has been such a positive, confidence-boosting, creative experience for her. I particularly love that there is no pressure on the children - there is plenty of time and practice to get ready for the end of season Sharing Session, and the level of performance is just enough to stretch them, without making them worry. It’s pure joy and excitement! You can see how far the group has progressed from term to term - they are becoming a very confident and capable group of Thespians!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

•  15 Jan from £126
•  22 Jan
• 10 more dates...