We’re excited to announce that we will be opening a brand new music and comedy venue in our hometown Ludlow, in partnership with Deborah Rose on 22nd July 2022.
We’ll be hosting monthly Friday nights in the beautiful, recently refurbished Victorian hall, at the Mascall Centre, formerly a school. The venue seats 70 people, and every month there will be a very special evening of entertainment, showcasing local, national and international artists in an intimate setting.
For the official opening Deborah Rose will be singing a selection of jazz and blues, with the fantastic saxophonist James Hunt and his Quartet.
What to expect
On arrival guests will be invited to sample some of the finest authentic Greek canapés with a glass of fizz at the Athena Greek Taverna before moving through to take their seats at Rascals! We’re delighted to be launching this new venture, with Deborah Rose who. as fate would have it, is our lovely next door neighbour! It’s true what they say that sometimes we have everything we need right on our doorstep!
At a recent dinner party in our ‘alley’ we began talking about music, and a shared love of Greece, where Deborah has been inspired to write many songs, mainly in Crete, the magical location that motivated the great Joni Mitchell to write her iconic album ‘Blue.’ We agreed that there was a space in the market for a Ludlow venue where people could experience a wide variety of high quality, eclectic music and comedy all year round in a listening room, complimented by a pre-show supper. Deborah has run a few music venues in the past - in Bewdley, Stanford Bridge and Worcester City Centre, hosting artists such as the late Julie Felix, John KirkPatrick and the Dan Cassidy Swing Quartet. Deborah has been been considering doing the same in Shropshire for a while. After a long winter, now is the time! We have some fabulous shows in store. We are anticipating tickets selling quickly, so please book early to avoid disappointment!
About Deborah Rose
Deborah is a local singer-songwriter and guitarist originally from Wales. She has performed internationally across the USA, UK, and Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. She has opened for Ralph Mctell, Fairport Convention, Judy Collins, American Songwriter Jimmy Webb, as well as presidential nominee Marianne Williamson. More recently she has been performing alongside the pianistand comedian Alistair McGowan.
Deborah has three albums and one in progress. Her latest singles ‘Anam Cara’ and ‘Rings of Saturn’ were released on vinyl this year. Her timeless voice has been likened to Eva Cassidy, and her cinematic sound to Enya, along with the troubadour spirit of Joni Mitchell. Her style transcends genres, from folk to pop, jazz to bluegrass, and she draws inspiration from her faith, and the bohemian poets and painters of the Pre-raphaelite era. Following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash, a unique part of her work is songwriting in prisons. Deborah Rose is not just a musician, but a creative force, bringing the joy of music and songwriting to all who meet her.
“Blessed with a stunningly pure voice and an innate musicality her love of words, song and singing has found her exploring the worlds of folk, jazz and Americana with a variety of collaborators”
“A musician with a social conscience Rose has championed women’s issues, worked on teaching and song-writing projects with prisoners, children and dementia patients, and travelled to Africa to work with women and children for a charity in Uganda.”
“Rose is a consistently excellent live performer and I have witnessed many of her local appearances over the years. No two shows have been exactly alike. Her work has attracted the attention of many celebrity admirers including Plant, White, US singer / songwriter Mary Gauthier and American folk doyenne Judy Collins.”
“Over the years I’ve crossed paths many times with Linda and Dave, as we previously both lived in Worcester - and now as fate will have it, we are next door neighbours in the lovely town of Ludlow! We met at a dinner party and began talking about music, and a shared love of Greece, where I’ve been inspired to write many songs, mainly in Crete, where the great Joni Mitchell wrote her album ‘Blue.’ Then over a few cups of authentic Greek coffee and the most delicious baklava I’ve tasted at their newly opened Greek Taverna, Athena, Dave showed me the room next door at the Mascall Centre - refurbished with beautiful chandeliers, and new acoustic panels. I’ve run a few music venues before, in Bewdley, Stanford Bridge and Worcester City Centre, and as Dave explained his vision of live music being held in the room, born was the idea of a brand new music and comedy venue … RASCALS! at the Mascall Centre.”
“We envisage this to be a place where people can enjoy a wide range of local, national and international talent in an intimate setting. I’m so excited to be planning, hosting and singing at these events in partnership with Linda and Dave. They are such lovely, kind people, with great vision, and are supportive of artists, and keeping music live. We have some wonderful shows in store. ‘The Lady Sings the Blues’ is the first of a whole programme of eclectic, quality entertainment coming to our town.” – Deborah Rose