22nd July 09


Dearest Mediaeval Baebes Fans

It’s been an evolutionary few months in the magical journey of the Mediaeval Baebes.  
Katharine’s new arrival Rosa is a beautiful bundle and is already accustomed to attending
rehearsals – what a lucky baby to have six women singing to her on a regular basis.

Magical journeys as with all voyages always involve departures and arrivals, and over the years the
Mediaeval Baebes have been through their fair share.  The last few months have been no exception and we are sad to announce
the departure of Claire Rabbitt from the band.  Claire has been an integral part of the Baebes for four years and we would like to thank her
for all her hard work and we fondly remember the fun times we have shared together.  We wish her well in her future endeavours and
we’re sure you will too.

Following on from this, we would like to announce a new arrival who has joined the Mediaeval Baebes in the
next stage of their musical career.  Please welcome Sarah Kayte Foster to the band.  Sarah has a background in musical theatre
and first took to the stage as a teenager in musicals such as West Side Story, My Fair Lady, and Grease as well as appearing in BBC and ITV dramas and numerous film projects – her most unusual job thus far has been squeaking for a living as an animated mouse!  We’ll be posting up some photographs on the website soon.

In the next chapter of the band’s career, we are very excited to tell you that we are currently developing a theatrical production,
the details of which are very much under wraps for now.  Hopefully we will be able to give you some sneak previews early in
2010 but for now we can tell you that it will feature the Mediaeval Baebes performing their most creative, visual and ambitious show yet.

In the meantime we have some more live dates to announce, firstly the Baebes are very excited to be playing their very first show in
the Isle Of Wight on 22nd August.This concert is a fundraising event for the Julia Margaret Cameron Trust.  A charitable trust that maintains
Dimbola Lodge Museum, which is home to the largest public exhibition in the UK by the eminent Victorian portrait photographer Julia Margaret Cameron, who lived at Dimbola Lodge.  This concert coincides with an exhibition by the internationally renowned artist (and Emily’s father)
Graham Ovenden which is a major retrospective containing paintings, photographs and poetry.

We have also have added more dates to our USA tour in August/September and additional dates for our UK Christmas tour. 
All forthcoming show details for 2009 below:

Sat 22nd August 2009
All Saints Church, Ryde, Isle Of Wight
Tickets £15 available from: Dimbola Lodge Museum 01983756814 www.dimbola.co.uk
Waterstones Bookshop or County Press Shop, Newport and Record Mania, Ryde.
E-Tickets available from
www.etickets.to/buy/?e=3049

Saturday 29th August &
Sunday 30th August 2009
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Annapolis, MD
http://www.rennfest.com

Monday 31st August
The Institute Of Musical Traditions presents at
Robert E Parilla Performing Arts Center
Washington DC
http://www.imtfolk.org

Wednesday, September 2nd
East Hartford Community Cultural Center
East Hartford, CT
doors: 6:30pm; Show: 7:15pm
www.ehccc.com

Friday 4th September 2009
Frick Art & Historical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Phone: 412-371-0600
http://www.TheFrickPittsburgh.org

28th October 2009
The Spa – Bridlington, Yorkshire
Box Office phone: 01262 678258
In person: open Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat - Sun 10am - 4pm

Tuesday 8th December
Gloucester Cathedral
Tickets on sale shortly – details to follow

Thursday 10th December
The Lowry – Salford Quays
Tickets priced £15-£18
www.thelowry.com
Box Office: 0870 787 5780

Friday 11th December
Ely Cathedral With The Ely Imps
Tickets priced £10-20 plus booking fees. 
See seating plan for details of ticket prices. 
Buy Tickets online here:  www.etickets.to/buy/e.x?cid=1136
Tel: 0207 281 7647
www.elycathedral.org

Sunday 13th December
Regent Centre, Christchurch
Tickets priced £17.50 & £18.50  www.regentcentre.co.uk/event/mediaeval-baebes-0
Box office: 01202 49919

Friday 18th December
Sheffield Cathedral
Tickets priced £10-£18.50 plus booking fees
See seating plan here:
Online E-Tickets from: http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=2858
Telephone ordering:  0207 281 7647

Saturday 19th December
Birmingham Cathedral
www.birminghamcathedral.com
Tickets priced £10-£18.50 plus booking fees
See seating plan here:
Online E-Tickets from:
www.etickets.to/buy/?e=2859
Telephone ordering:  0207 281 7647

Sunday 20th December
EM Forster Theatre, Tonbridge
Tonbridge School
www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/contact/map.pdf
Tickets priced £18 plus booking fees from
Box Office in person or by phone: 01732 304241
By email:  Boxoffice@tonbridge-school.org
By Fax:  01732 361908
Online E-Tickets from Mediaeval Baebes ticket fairies: BUY TICKETS

Monday 21st December
High Barn, Great Bardfield, Essex
Tickets £55 including Hog Roast and Mediaeval Banquet
More details coming soon

Solo News
Our Greek muse of tragedy – Melpomeni welcomes you to the underworld at Club Hell on
Friday 31st July at 10pm at The Cross Kings, York Way, Kings Cross, London N1.  £6
http://www.myspace.com/melpomenirising

Come and rock out with Emily’s metal band PYTHIA in August:
07th Aug 2009 – Purple Turtle, London
14th Aug 2009 – Bloodstock Festival
You can pre order their debut album and single ‘Sarah (Bury Her) which features a
rather brilliant cover of Gary Moore’s ‘Thunder Rising’ on the B side from the shop at
http://www.pythiamusic.com

* Deep cleansing breath * * In with the butterflies, out with the bees*
* Oh hell, it's not working *

NOOOOOOOOOOOO! After seeing Claire sing Trovommi Amor at Glos., I finally developed a really unhealthy infatuation with the girl!!! Claire, don't go. At least make the last US tour! I'll make you a necklace of silver so decadent and heavy Mr. T will be jealous.

Ok. Now that that's out of my system... If there's one thing that's constant about the Baebes it's change. Deep down inside I really do embrace it. Kat is like the ultimate talent miner and always seems to find beautiful gems at need. So, *sigh*, one chapter is written and another begun, another stitch in the tapestry, another link in the weave, all the while growing in unexpected and delightful ways.

I'm so glad to see you're playing Hartford!! I did NOT want to go all the way to bloody Maryland! Now I can spend all that money I would have wasted on travel on wine and catering! Maybe I'll get a glass this time (hint, hint).

Hey there now, "bloody Maryland" indeed!!

Actually, you should come down - seeing them at the Festival is a completely different experience than in a traditional concert setting. See them & the Festival Saturday & Sunday, then hang out and see them in DC on Monday night. Back to CT for Wednesdays show. Sounds like a good vacation plan to me. Downtown Annapolis is nice in the summer too.

There. I've done my tourist board message. I invite everyone to come. As a matter of fact - if you plan on traveling to the MD Renaissance Festival to see the Baebes, I will do a little informal contest. Email me from where you are coming from (Be honest!!) and the person who is coming the greatest distance will be given 2 free tickets to the Festival.
You can email me at carolynspedden@gmail.com

A big show plug - if you live in DC, East Hartford region or Pittsburgh - please be our ground forces and spread the word. If you want to see the Baebes back in your area the future, it is imperative that these venues are full. Spread the word! Bring a friend! Thanks.

Geez, that is very sad news and I wish her well. Claire is one of only three Baebes to appear on both DVDs and is therefore, in some way, immortalised in MediaevalBaebology.

Also quite bummed that Claire's leaving, but she probably has her reasons.

I've thought of this before but never really asked the question - exactly what kind of voices is Katherine looking for? Does she have a set idea in mind on how the Baebes should sound? i.e. Esther is in it for the extreme high notes she can pull off, that much's for sure. Emily can handle the lower notes in the vocal range of the Baebes, and the rest fills up the gap in between (incl Kat). However, has she been trying to get as little Baebes as possible to handle the songs written for the starting 9 to 12 Baebes which were there in the past?

I'm not critisizing, just am curious to know or guess at the reasons for picking one Baebe over the other when someone leaves.....

Ofcourse there could be loads of other reasons too but IMHo the sound of the Baebes is probably sacred to the band. Each Baebe has a different vocal sound, and can therefore possibly bring in different flavours or styles, like Melpomeni and Bev Lee for example currently.

I was really bummed when Marie (Findley) left, as her voice and appearance were extremely beguiling!

Any ideas anyone?

I'm really curious as to this "theatre production" they're currently working on!

Love,
Phantas

It was sad to hear that Rabbitt has left the Baebes. Would like to wish her all the best for whatever she does in the future. She will be missed. Was one of my favourite baebes.

I think we're all looking for the strongest singers we can find. Voice is important as the individuals have to work as a choir. 6 is a far easier number to manage than 12 and yes it is probably the lowest number we can go to as often there is six part harmony. The choir is certainly the best it has ever been and continues to get better.

By the way I'm a soprano (High singer) the same as Esther. Katharine and Pom are lower (Contralto) and Bev and Sarah are in the middle (Mezzo Soprano).

I miss Marie to but according to a text I received last week from her, I know she's very happy!!

I'm sure that the Baebes will go from strength to strength with this new line up & although I know we are all sad to see Rabbitt go, know that we will welcome Sarah and look forward to seeing her in one of your church performances at Christmas (I can only hope!)

Well said Blysse.

Oh wow, a reply from Emily herself! Meself feels very priviledged at this moment LOL! Thanks for clearing it up, it's been in my head for quite some time and just popped its ugly head

I wouldn't have expected you to be a Soprano though - I guess it doesn't shine through on the DVD...but maybe I'm generally mishearing things. It happens
Now that I think of it, it does make sense. Your vocal on Sunrise is a Soprano but you have a different texture of voice than Esther's...I think that is what makes the difference. Esther has a sweeter sounding voice IMHO, while yours is dryer, if that makes any sense? (yes, my thought process is awkward )

Anyway, I love the DVD and am sure the new line up will be spectacular in its own right. The first thing I thought of when there was mention of a theatrical production was some kind of play or musical being staged....with a medieval setting. I wonder if it will be based on the content of the songs ? I could see it being rather sacred in tone, but with some secular hints - Ah si mon Moine comes to mind LOL!

But it makes sense - you were already doing some acting on the first DVD, and the proclamations at the start of some of the songs comes off as being very theatrical as well. I guess with some if not most Baebes having a theatrical or acting background it comes naturally.

Thanks again! (for everything)

Love,
Phantas

Yes, definitely come to the Monday concert. It's always fun seeing them back to back in an outdoor and an indoor venue - totally different vibe. Here's the details for the Monday show.

Monday August 31, 7:30 pm at the
ROBERT E. PARILLA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
Montgomery College
51 Mannakee Street
Rockville, MD
Tickets: $25 in advance and $30 at the door

(See Carolyn, I'm spreading the word! )

Personally, I will miss not seeing Claire Rabbitt , but I look forward to meeting Sarah Kayte Foster.

bummer about Rabbitt (sniff)
will certainly miss her, and was hoping to see her and the rest of the Baebes here in "bloody Maryland!"

Anyone else planning on making the Montgomery College - Rockville show (Monday the 31st)?

Just wanted to give a little newsflash for folks in the DC/Baltimore area - you'll be getting a bit of a "Baebes bonus!"

On Saturday, September 5th the Baebes will return to the Maryland Renaissance Festival for a more informal performance - It's a "Pub Party with the Baebes" at 5pm at the White Hart. Enjoy a more casual jam with the Baebes before they fly back across the pond.

Awww, I'm sad Claire's leaving-- I loved her voice and sultry looks! But I look forward to seeing your new lineup at MDRF this year!

Well, safe travels to all. Hope to see a number of you at the MD RennFest and then maybe one or two others at the IMT concert in Rockville.
Cheers!