Songs from heart keep flames burning (From Stroud News and Journal)

Songs from heart keep flames burning

JOHNNY Coppin makes a welcome return, folk torch in hand, to the Subscription Rooms this weekend with his hugely popular Christmas show, Keep The Flame.

Coppin is one of England's finest singer/songwriters and a sometime member of cult folk band Decameron, who played a reunion concert in Cheltenham recently. His annual concert at the Subscription Rooms is always a very popular event and has sold out swiftly for the past three years.

Accompanied by stunning images from the highly regarded photographer Martin Fry, the evening is a carefully chosen mix of material that conveys joy, hope, nostalgia, remembrance and poignancy - perfect for the reflective Christmas season.

There are songs and tunes from Johnny's latest Christmas CD, Keep The Flame, alongside entertaining old seasonal favourite stories and folklore. Johnny is joined this year by some of the region's finest musicians - including fiddle and recorder player Paul Burgess and guitarist Mick Dolan and surprise guests. Mulled wine and mince pies will also be available during the interval.

Organiser Crispin Thomas said: "Johnny's songs and music are unique, in that not only are they infused with the gentle, true spirit of what we would all like this time to be , one of peace and stillness and hope for the future, but that they come always straight from the most important place - the heart."

This year the Stroud date is part of a tour which includes stops in Bristol, Cheltenham, Leek, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Worcester and Trowbridge.

Keep the Flame arrives at the Subscription Rooms on Sunday, December 12 at 8pm. Tickets are available from the box office.