Peggy Seeger has given concerts for over 53 years, has made more than 20 solo and over 100 joint recordings, and written numerous original songs (including the 'Ballad of Springhill', 'Gonna Be an Engineer', 'Nine-Month Blues' , 'Carry Greenham Home' , 'Woman on Wheels', 'Call On Your Name' and 'Heading For Home' ).
Her parents were folklorist, Charles Seeger, and the classical composer and folk song collector, Ruth Crawford Seeger. She is also sister to Pete and Mike Seeger and mother to Neill, Calum and Kitty MacColl. There is a current campaign to nominate Pete Seeger for The Nobel Peace Prize:
Peggy's late-husband, Ewan MacColl, wrote classic songs such as 'The First Time I Ever saw Your Face' (dedicated to Peggy), 'Dirty Old Town' (dedicated to Salford), and the original Radio Ballads (dedicated to railway workers, fishermen, miners, travellers, road builders, boxers, teenagers, polio victims - who supplied the actuality).
Peggy was the musical director for the original BBC Radio Ballads project, and an instrumentalist &/or singer on several of the recordings. She provided musical links between the actuality (spoken voices) and the songs. Her arrangements for the ballads and direction of the music provided 'the icing on the cake', which helped to bring these fine song compositions to public attention. Both Ewan and Peggy played a considerable role in the UK folk music revival of the 1950s and 60s. The Ballads & Blues Club (later to become The Singers' Club), which they founded in the mid-1950s, was one of Britain's very first folk clubs, remaining in existence until 6th December 1991, more than two years after Ewan MacColl's death.
Peggy makes full use of voice, 5-string banjo, guitar, English concertina, autoharp, piano in her concerts, and has a vast repertoire of traditional Anglo-American songs. She is also a prolific writer of contemporary songs. The Peggy Seeger Songbook [uk] [usa] contains the lyrics and sheet music of her own song compositions between 1956 ('There's Better Things To Do') and 1997 ('Love Will Linger On'). There are songs for lovers (songs which tell men and women how to conduct themselves!), songs about politics or politicians, songs for peace, and songs for survival (warning against the effects of doing irretrievable damage to the environment).
Peggy Seeger's official website is at www.pegseeger.com and she is represented in the UK exclusively by Alan Bearman Music.
UK tour, May 2008-------A unique opportunity to attend one of Peggy Seeger's live concerts
Thurs. May 1-----------BRISTOL
St Georges, Bristol, 8pm, Tel: 0845 4024001
Mon. May 5------------DEVON Okehampton
Fairplace Church, Okehampton, Devon, Tel: 01748 884759
Fri. May 9--------------REETH (Sold Out)
Reeth Memorial Hall with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson, Arkengarthdale Road, £15/£17 - 8pm
Sat. May 10-----------BIRMINGHAM
Red Lion with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson, Vicarage Road, £14/£15, 8pm, Tel: 0121 2025000
There will also be a brief launch of Peter Cox's new book "Set in Song" about the landmark radio ballads produced by Ewan MacColl, Charles Parker, Peggy Seeger and others.
Wed. May 14----------NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME
New Vic Theatre, Staffordshire with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson
Thurs. May 15---------LANCASHIRE
Met Arts Centre, with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson, Etruria Road, £14 + 7.30pm
Fri. May 16-------------SUFFOLK
The Milkmaid Folk Club, Suffolk, with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson, £10/ or £11/ (members) and £11/ or £12/ (non-members) 8.30pm, Tel: 01953 604202. Venue: The Constitutional Club, 12 Guildhall street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1PR, Tel: 01284 754113
Sat. May 17------------BEDFORDSHIRE
(to be confirmed)
Sun. May 18-----------YORKSHIRE
Shepley Spring Festival,with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson. Dedicated afternoon concert, 3pm - bookable as an event: £12, or Festival ticket prices - Tel: 01484 604704
Tues. May 20----------GATESHEAD
The Sage, St Mary's Square, Gateshead, Tel: 0191 443 4661
Thurs. May 22---------PETERBOROUGH
Thurlby, Peterborough. St. Firmins Church, Traditional Music and Song at The Barn, St Firmin's Church, Thurlby, PE10 0EQ, grid reference TF104168 - 8pm - tickets £10 from Tel: 01778 560497 (these concerts often sell out)
Fri. May 23------------POCKLINGTON
Pocklington Arts Centre, Market Place, £10/£9, 8pm, Tel: 01759 301547
Sat. May 24-----------LONDON Hammersmith
Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, with Norma, Mike and Martin Waterson, Blacks Road, £15, 8pm, Tel: 020 85638232
Sun. May 25-----------LONDON Blackheath
Blackheath Halls, London with Norma, Martin and Mike Waterson. 23 Lee Road, £16/£14, 7.30pm, Box Office: 020 8463 0100
Wed. May 28---------LONDON Islington
Magpie's Nest Upstairs at the The Old Queens Head, 44 Essex Road, Nearest Tube: Angel Buses: 30, 38, 43, 73, etc., Islington, London
Fri. May 30-----------LONDON Croydon
Croydon Clocktower, Katharine Street, £12/£9 Ticket Office and Map showing Croydon Clocktower and East Croydon railway station. Tel: 020 82531030