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Free Lunchtime Music!
Welcome to ignite. Taking place on Friday lunchtimes in the relaxed atmosphere of the Hall's Café Consort, ignite features talented young ensembles in performances from gypsy jazz to Parisian folk. Come and hear some fantastic music for free whilst enjoying great food and drink.
Our successful ignite brunch also continues throughout the spring, allowing you to enjoy a lazy Sunday with live music and a choice of dishes from our exclusive brunch menu. To find out more, please visit the ignite brunch page
The Groanbox Boys - Friday 9 May, 12 noon
The Groanbox Boys are New York/London-based music duo, Cory Seznec and Michael Ward-Bergeman. The two play a highly unique blend of what they call Old Time Mountain Gypsy World Folk Blues Music on accordion, acoustic guitar, banjo, harmonica and odd pieces of percussion, including their self-made ‘Freedom Boot’.
Their foot-stompin' sound features unconventional arrangements weaved together by tight vocal harmonies sung with raw intensity. Banging out the percussion with their feet using a ‘stompbox’ and a set of ‘ghungroo’ (Indian ankle bells), their performances are marked by a rich, distinct sound and unending energy.
www.groanboxboys.com
Robin Nolan - Friday 16 May, 12 noon
Born in Vietnam in 1968 to musical parents, Robin was instantly immersed into the life of a working, travelling musician. He was taught the guitar by his father and immediately showed a natural affinity for the instrument. This proved to be the beginning of a musical journey which has taken Robin through blues, rock and jazz before arriving at his love and passion the music of Django Reinhardt.
Robin has gained success and notoriety not only on the jazz scene but also in the rock and pop world. The Robin Nolan Swing Quartet became the Robin Nolan Trio in 1996 and through extensive touring and recording became internationally recognized as one of Gypsy Jazz's top outfits. It is his originality and compositional flair that sets Robin apart from the rest. His sound is instantly identifiable and thus, like the true greats, has a sound of his own.
www.robinnolan.com
Zig -
Friday 23 May, 12 noon 
German-born violinist Gundula could well have been raised in the Balkans, for her playing imparts the true soul of Gypsy music, bursting with colour and passion, an explosion of energy… She started ŽiG in 2004, and drives this group with her spirit and motivation.
They take their audience on a voyage of discovery through Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Listeners are enchanted by the wild rhythms, deeply touching melodies, thrilling complexity of the music - but it's the passionate performance and the rapport between these musicians that brings across such amazing joy and positive energy.
www.zigduo.com
Esther Hendricks Trio - Friday 30 May, 12 noon
The Esther Hendricks Trio brings you a collaboration of smooth vocals and sophisticated jazz. A fresh new talent on the jazz scene, Esther Hendricks is quickly gaining both support and recognition.
Esther is joined be Ienne Hunter (guitarist) and Jerome Davies (double bass/trumpet) for this concert. Ienne and Jerome were already established jazz musicians when they met Esther three years ago and their combined experience and love for music has helped produce something very special.
Byron Johnston - Friday 6 June, 12 noon
Soloist Byron Johnston is gaining increasing acclaim for his unique brand of acoustic guitar fusion and highly original artistic approach to guitar performance. He is rapidly becoming a rising star of the acoustic guitar in the UK music scene following the release of his debut album ‘Oceano’.
His music is described as evocative and captivating, with gypsy flamenco guitar technique fused with influences from classical to blues to world music.
Ensamble Criollo - Friday 13 June, 12 noon
Ensamble Criollo are the only ensemble of their type in the UK. Their musical style is called ‘Joropo’ or ‘Llanera Music’, which originally springs from a region in the west of Venezuela and east of Colombia known as ‘Los Llanos’ (The Plains or Low Lands). The genre describes the landscape and customs of the region using poetry fused with humour; a blend that makes it irresistible to the listener.
The ensemble features the Latin American Harp, the cuatro, a small Venezuelan guitar, bass and small maracas called capachos that are used as the basic percussion.
Plastic Chairs - Friday 20 June, 12 noon
Plastikes Karekles is a Greek folk group, the seed of which was sewn by a group of friends whilst lying on a beach in Greece. Absorbing the less than stressful feel of the Mediterranean coast line they discussed how ideal it would be to play and sing their way through life with your closest friends and, before they realised quite how, this resulted in Plastic Chairs!
Plastic Chairs regularly perform around London and have taken part in numerous festivals, most recently Henley, Chelsea and the Welsh Proms. With music encompassing traditions from all over Greece, this is a welcome return for an entertaining group.
Oh La La - Friday 11 July, 12 noon
Oh La La! perform jazz and pop with a French twist, including a hearty serving of Parisian folk music (Musette), Chansons Réalistes (made famous by Edith Piaf) and unforgettable jazz standards.
The rich and evocative sound of the accordion blends perfectly with the delicious voice of Fifi La Mer. Her incredible ensemble contains violinist extraordinaire, Julian Ferraretto, the crème de la crème of guitarists, Colin Oxley and the full-bodied and tasty playing of Julian Bury on double-bass. Oh la la! will take you straight back to that little café by the Eiffel tower. Bon appétit.
www.ohlalamusic.co.uk
King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys - Friday 18 July, 12 noon. 
King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys are more than just a great swing band, they are an institution. The band have been on the road for two decades playing across Europe, the US and Russia. Dazzling musicianship, riveting stage performances, more than 50 TV appearances and 75 radio broadcasts have established them as the Kings of Swing. Paul Jones on BBC Radio 2 called them ‘the hardest act to follow since the parting of The Red Sea’!
www.bigbearmusic.com
The Huckleberries - Friday 25 July, 12 noon 
The Huckleberries began life in 1996 as a busking duo on the streets of Bournemouth. They’ve now grown to a five-piece band that comprises string banjo/mandolin, fiddle, guitar, electric bass and drums. Their music traditionally comprised of traditional Irish, English and Scottish tunes mixed with American Bluegrass and a touch of Ragtime. Then, as the band grew, more original material was introduced combining the traditional flavour with a widely appealing contemporary dance feel.
The Huckleberries’ appeal is due to the infectious enjoyment they communicate at their performances, which accounts for the great reception they receive at their live gigs. They will certainly get your toes tapping!
www.thehuckleberries.com
Spontaneous Combustion - Friday 1 August, 12 noon 
Alan Barnes has played all over the world in the last 30 years winning 20 British jazz awards and becoming the BBC jazz instrumentalist of the year twice. He has played for Stan Tracey, Humphrey Lytellton and the BBC Big Band and appeared as a session musician on albums by Bjork, Bryan Ferry, Jamie Cullum and Westlife. He also runs his own record label, Woodville Records, and is known as an accomplished arranger/ composer. Works include: The Sherlock Holmes Suite, The Marbella Suite and two song cycles, Songs for Unsung Heroes and Seven Ages of Jazz, which are collaborations with playwright Alan Plater.
The trio will choose tunes on the day from a repertoire of hundreds.
Kosmos - Friday 15 August, 12 noon 
Kosmos are an innovative violin and cello ensemble inspired by Jewish, Gypsy, Balkan and contemporary music. Since their televised baptism of fire at the 2005 Rebetika festival, Kosmos have thrilled audiences at festivals and music societies across Europe and the UK as well as performing live broadcasts on Classic FM and collaborating with prestigious artists, such as viola player Robin Ireland (Lindsay Quartet) and percussionist Guy Schalom. Kosmos is passionate about expanding contemporary repertoire and have collaborated with composers such as Robert Fokkens, Ben Oliver and Owen Bourne.
Prepare to be intoxicated by entrancing dance rhythms, soulful improvisation and gypsy passion delivered with inimitable panache and virtuoso technique.
www.kosmosensemble.com
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