Welcome

Hello and welcome to our website! Thanks for visiting. We are a duo based in Lincoln, and sing Americana, folk-country songs in close harmony. You can book us for events, pub gigs, weddings and private parties. We are also available for vocal harmony workshops. Just get in contact for further information and prices and read our bio to find out more about where we've performed previously. 

Previous events

Three Days in May - Rye Sisters' Sue Pomeroy with Roger Jackson

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Manor Buildings, Park Lane, AShington, Nr Pulborough

Three days of singing in the beautiful West Sussex Downs, sleeping under starlit skies, with evening cocktails, fabulous food and great company.

The Venue

Manor buildings - actually a farm and campsite - is home to our friends and hosts, Chris and Patrice and where they put on gigs and other musical gatherings throughout the year.

The camping field offers great views across the valley and is a fantastically inspiring venue for our event, so accommodation will be your own tent or camper.

SP Fence view. colour.jpg House & Fence_edited_edited_edited_edite The Music

It's mostly Americana / Bluegrass. We're both fans of this style of music, and lots of people are already familiar with it in some form - from folk to country to pop.

Bluegrass has strict rules about vocal parts and it provides a very good way in to learning how harmonies work and how to make your own - as well as providing a good basis for creatively breaking those rules!

RJ Teaching 2 bright Crop.jpg _DSC0374.jpg The Tutors

Roger Jackson is a film & TV composer and has played with bands and produced recordings for many years.He writes songs and loves playing guitar.

He is one of the country’s top community choir leaders, and runs workshops at festivals and choral gatherings. Listen here to Roger's music.

Sue Pomeroy is a member of The Rye Sisters, a gifted teacher, who has taught at the famous Sore Fingers Summer School and is a talented singer song-writer (woman of a thousand songs) who has also written and performed with Roger as part of the former Woodberrys band.

Roger Jackson Sue Pomeroy

We're keeping it small - limited to just 40 which means that we have to share the amenity costs between a smaller number, but we do include full catering, so that we can eat together, and not have to worry about food supplies and cooking. This means we can fully immerse ourselves in the ambience and the music.

And there will be loads of that - We'll have three hours of tuition in the morning and one and a half in the afternoon, with a forty five minute recap. just before cocktails and dinner. Did I say cocktails? Well, I'll bring a bottle or two, and if you have a favourite tipple you'd like to share, we'll manage quite a reasonable bar.

Sing in the SWISS ALPS! Residential Harmony Workshop

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Adelboden, SWITZERLAND

A weekend residential workshop run by Roger Jackson, (Community Singing Director, album-producer for The Rye Sisters) and Rye Sister Ishani Siriwardena.

Learn how to make those distinctive American folk and bluegrass harmonies by singing the songs.

Get away from it all and join us for a weekend of singing in the Swiss mountain countryside this April.

Simple living, amazing views, and great music in the company of an international group of like-minded people.

This April 2023 Roger Jackson is running a weekend of singing in a classic 1930's Swiss mountain chalet in Adelboden in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland.

Limited to just 25 people, there will be learning sessions morning and afternoon with the evening free for trying out what you’ve learned or socialising as you enjoy the alpine ambience. This is a fun event and of interest to anyone who fancies singing.

Whether you're in a band, a choir regular or more of a shower soloist, this perfect for you and, because it's folk, everything is taught by ear, so there's no need to read music. Roger is joined this time by Ishani Siriwardena of The Rye Sisters. More experienced singers will find new songs and arrangements to stretch them, while if you're new to harmony singing, you'll learn how to approach finding and holding a part.

£295 (single room, includes all tuition, accommodation and food); £255 - same but twin room; £205 same but shared room (ie 3 plus people)

Dec9

CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS Caistor (Folk Club)

Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre

MESSAGE FROM CAISTOR ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTRE WITH FURTHER INFORMATION ON TONIGHT's EVENT: Sadly, the Rye Sisters have had to postpone their concert at the Arts and Heritage Centre tonight due to covid. We will rearrange the concert. Please contact the centre for refunds if you wish. HOWEVER the concert will still go ahead! Local singer MAURA COOK has kindly offered to step in. She will still also be supported by young local talent ELLA HILL. Here's to a great night!

Sing Mainly Bluegrass - Residential weekend workshop!

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Bushwell Farm, Newbold, Coelorton, Coelorton, Leicestershire

If you have ever wanted to sing like the Rye Sisters, or work out harmonies (men too!) this is a GREAT opportunity in a gorgeous location to learn how! Fully catered, outside mostly (marquee). Normally warm in September. Meet like-minded songsters and find your best voice.

£195 for the whole weekend, including camping, all food (good, home-cooked delicious food, I promise) and tuition

The Jazz Cafe, Lincoln

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Lincoln Jazz Cafe, 6 Water Lane, Lincoln, LN1 1TY

A classy atmosphere with delightful drinks and a lounge vibe, the Jazz Cafe is just off the Brayford. We will perform three sets aiming for a tasteful, laid-back sound to complement the sophisticated sound of clinking ice in cool glasses. For tickets contact: bookings@lincolnjazzcafe.co.uk

£7.50 (prices yet to be published and subject to change)

Off the Tracks Festival

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Donnington Park Farmhouse, Melbourne Road, Castle Donnington, Derbyshire

Off The Tracks is celebrating over thirty years delighting music lovers and is once again held near Castle Donington in the very heart of England. A great FFA favourite and voted a top "small is beautiful" festival by The Times, Off The Tracks is a marvellous, family friendly festival.

Arguably more House Party than festival, it’s no wonder that those in the know badge OTT as one of THE highlights of the festival season… and with good reason. (from https://www.festivalsforall.com/festival/off-the-tracks-festival-2022)

£95 for an adult weekend ticket including camping; £50 youth ticket (supervised) 12-16; under 12s free. Day tickets also available for less, obvs. see ticket link.

The Heckington Show

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Heckington Village, Heckington NG34 9RA

We are playing two sets: 12-12.45 and 4-4.30. There are also: animals, Sports for all the family, horticulture, crafts, cooking, arts, music...a wonderful show with a difference!

£18 for adults Sat and Sun; £11 for adults either Sat or Sun (two day advance). £12 on the gate Children up to 15 - £4 and Under 4s FREE

Gate to Southwell Festival

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The Gate to Soutwell Festival, Kirklington, Newark, NG22 8NX

We are playing at The Final Whistle at 1:30 pm on Saturday and The Folk Stage at 5 pm on Sunday. The Gate to Southwell Festival is a stunning kaleidoscope of music, colour, great food and drink, stalls and good times. When we first played this jaw-dropping festival we were completely inspired by the music and this year promises to be just as wonderful. We are so privileged to be a part of it. Get your full weekend tickets and see it all. And, obviously, come and see US! Go to the website: https://www.gtsf.uk/ for information and tickets

Tier 2 tickets on sale now - £125 for Thursday to Sunday weekend adult ticket. It's a bargain. Youth tickets MUCH cheaper Kids under 12 - FREE! See website link for more information!

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WE LOVE YOU CAISTOR! 

What an amazing gig on Friday! We were supported by Mollie Marchant, and Ella Hill and Ella Chappell. These girls are so very talented and we are looking forward to their blossoming success! Go girls!

Thank you to the whole crowd for being so welcoming. What a happy bunch - and almost as sane as we are!

Sue and Ishani

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CAISTOR FOLK CLUB GIG ON 9th December CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS 

We're really sorry that we can't do tonight's gig - Sue is ill with that thing that is coming round to haunt us all like the ghost of Christmas past! But there is a great night to be had still at Caistor Heritage Centre:

Here is a message from the organiser:

Sadly, the Rye Sisters have had to postpone their concert at the Arts and Heritage Centre tonight due to covid. We will rearrange the concert. 

Please contact the centre for refunds if you wish. 

HOWEVER the concert will still go ahead! Local singer MAURA COOK has kindly offered to step in. She will still also be supported by young local talent ELLA HILL. 

Here's to a great night!

 

Summer/ Autumn Schedule 

This is us at the great 'The Eyes Have it' Festival in Duffield, Derbyshire this summer. Our gigs and workshops coming up:

31st July: The Heckington Show

27th August: Scorpfest, Skegness

3rd September: Off the Tracks Festival, Castle Donington

8th September: Lincoln Jazz Cafe

11th September: Whitwell Festival, Derbyshire

16th-18th September: WORKSHOP -  FOLK ON THE FARM weekend residential, Leics 

21st-23rd October: WORKSHOP - SOREFINGERS weekend residential, Nr Chipping Norton 

 

 

MAVERICK and THE EYES HAVE IT - we LOVE festivals! 

Thank you Duffield! Thank you Maverick! We had a blast! Here are pictures of us having fun, the Peacock stage backdrop at Maverick, the Maverick main stage and The Real Thing (omg they were GREAT!) at The Eyes Have It festival in Duffield. Thank you to both festival teams for making us feel so welcome!

 

HERE COMES SUMMER: JUNE and JULY festivals! 

We are delighted to tell you that we have lots of festival gigs lined up for June and July! The first of these is the fantastic OUTFIELDS Festival, Louth- on 18th June; The Eyes Have it, in DUFFIELD, Derbyshire on Fri 1st July, the amazing MAVERICK festival, in Suffolk on 2nd-3rd July; ALFORD Music and Arts Festival on Sun 10th July and the stunning GATE TO SOUTHWELL festival on 14-17th July. We'll also be playing at a best kept secret in The North East - run by the Jumping Hot Club: COUNTRY CANTINA in Easington on 23rd July; The HECKINGTON SHOW on 31st July.

We are certainly looking forward to summer and to meeting you there!

We are very proud and excited to be playing at the warm and friendly Grimsby Folk Club on Sun 26th June.

Check out the SHOWS page for all the details!

Hooray hooray - the sun has got his hat on, not to mention his sunglasses and Hawaiian shirt!

Sue and Ishani! :)

HARMONY SINGING HOLIDAY, ANYONE?... FOR 3 DAYS IN MAY... (27th-31st May 2022) 

Hello everyone

If you would like to learn how to sing glorious harmony songs, like we do in the Rye Sisters, come along to 'Three Days in May' - a residential camp in Sussex, where you can learn a variety of songs - Americana, Transatlantic and kinda British in places even (yes we love that too!). There are limited places and you can look into it or book here:

Three Days in May!

It's a full three days, starting on Friday 27th May 2022 to Tuesday morning 31st May. Or if you prefer, you can come from Friday to Sunday, since Monday is not the usual bank holiday this year.

You deserve to spend time nurturing your voice, meeting the friendliest people (they honestly are) and getting some of the most yummy food ever served to anyone!) Cocktail hour is (sort of) compulsory.

 

Check it out!

Sue

 

LONG TIME NO BLOG - HELLO AGAIN 

Well, we had a blast paying at The beautiful Blueroom in Lincoln. It was all in aid of St Barnabas Hospice and, together with moving songster Gary Rudd and the fabulous energy of Klezmer band, Simcha, we helped raise over £1000 for this worthy cause.

We are performing at Boston Folk Club on Monday (14th March) and we're keeping it mostly in Lincolnshire until it gets warmer (you can put up with local cold - you get used to it...maybe). Please see all the shows we're doing!

Bramley Live and then Back to The Strugglers! 

Hi everyone

Can't wait to get back to The Strugglers on 20th November! Look forward to seeing you there. In the meantime we are playing at The Admiral Rodney on Sunday 7th November at 2 in Southwell. See our shows for the address if you are interested! We have worked in some new material of late and we'll still play the ol' favourites.

Onwards and upwards!

Sue and ishani

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