Martin Stephenson - The Highwayman

In 2003 Echo Productions were involved in the filming of a stage play about the music and life of North Carolina musician Charlie Poole. There was more to this than just the play. Director/Producer D. J. Patterson decided to delve deeper. He was to discover acclaimed musician Martin Stephenson who produced the play, had previously went on his own journey to North Carolina in 2000. After composing a song about Charlie Poole's fiddle player Posey Rorrer, Martin's journey took him all over North Carolina rediscovering many great forgotten musicians and recording them for a CD release - called "the Haint of the Budded Rose". Martin decided to produce a play about Charlie's life with scriptwriter Graham Rhodes. He set about telling the story and recreating the great string band music of the 1920s/30s that Charlie Poole performed. He brought together the cream of the North East of England's accoustic musicians for the project. This is where Echo Producitons came on board and decided to document this unique story for prosperity. This was their our first feature length documentary. The film was premiered at the Mike Figgis Digital Lounge at Newcastle's famed Tyneside cinema in July 2005. It was also premiered in the United States in Smithsfield, North Carolina at the Ava Gardner Film Festival in 2007.

This performance is taken from Echo Productions' documentary Ramblin' Boys a journey - The Martin Stephenson/Charlie Poole connection. The full documentary can be seen at Google video. This film is also available for film festivals. (Please contact us at echofilms@hotmail.co.uk) for all enquiries.
Martin pulled together the cream of the acoustic crop for this project.
Martin Stephenson-guitar/vocals
Gypsy Dave Smith-Dobro/Vocals
"Round Eyes" Ray-Guitar/Vocals
Graham"Shipcoat"Anderson-Double Bass
Stephen Foster-pilkington-Fiddle
Jim Hornsby-Banjo
Peter McCormick-Mandolin

Here's some website's worth checkin' out-

myspace.com/martinstephenson
myspace.com/whiskyrivers (Charlie Poole.)
mypsace.com/gypsydavesmith
myspace.com/shipcote
myspace.com/hotlickscookies
myspace.com/fosterpilkington
myspace.com/grahamrhodesartistwriter
myspace.com/piedmontfolklegacies (Charlie Poole music festival.)

Category:

Music

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• charlie
• poole
• martin
• stephenson
• gypsy
• dave
• smith
• hot
• licks
• cookies
• country
• blues
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• old
• timey
• mountain
• string
• bands