A score of the Roses will be a treat not war

Lancashire’s Ken Nicol and Yorkshire’s Becky Mills embark on the Tour of the Roses this Friday at Preston’s New Continental.
Lancashires Ken Nicol and Yorkshires Becky MillsLancashires Ken Nicol and Yorkshires Becky Mills
Lancashires Ken Nicol and Yorkshires Becky Mills

The two have worked together previously but until now they have not teamed up in an event built around their combined talents.

Accomplished solo artists and members of illustrious bands including Steeleye Span, The Albion Band and Waking The Witch, Ken and Becky are both well known to folk and folk-rock fans.

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Now, for the first time, they present audiences with a special showcase of their own music.

Singer and guitarist Becky, originally from Pickering over the border in Yorkshire, has been singing and playing since her mid-teens, and in the early 2000s became one of the four female stars of the genre-busting acoustic music group Waking The Witch.

After three albums, successful tours and appearances at scores of folk, indie and blues festivals around the UK, Waking The Witch broke up.

Since then, Becky has performed solo and in a duo with her fellow Witch Patsy Matheson.

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Becky also contributed vocals to Historic Events And Other Subjects, the latest solo album by Ken Nicol.

Ken, from Preston, and has been hailed as “one of the greatest guitarists in the world” by Ashley Hutchings, the founder of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band.

Ken has played in duos and bands with Ashley, as well as in Steeleye and with a host of other stars, ranging from Al Stewart to Phil Cool.

From his musical debut in the 1960s, Ken has continued to make groundbreaking music, playing live around the world and in the studio, contributing to well over 50 albums as writer, singer, musician and producer.

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Renowned for his amazing acoustic guitar playing, Ken also plays electric and resonator guitars, five-string banjo, mandolin and ukulele.

His music ranges from folk to ragtime, blues to rock, ballads to jazz, and from amazingly intricate instrumentals to fun comedy numbers.

Tickets are £12 and are available from The Continental’s Bar (01772 499 425) or Preston Visitor Information (01772 253 731).

Go online from Skiddle, Seetickets or WeGotTickets.