Photo of Shirley by Katie Vandyck      



 


"Shirley Collins is without doubt one of England's greatest cultural treasures" - Billy Bragg
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Shirley's CDs and copies of 'America Over The Water' are available from this site at new LOW prices. Click on 'For Sale' above.

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America Over The Water 

Almeda Riddle

Lonnie and Ed Young

Alan Lomax

Shirley Collins

Ed Young and Hobart Smith

Fred McDowell.

In 1959 Shirley joined legendary musicologist Alan Lomax on a year-long journey through the musical heartland of the Southern States of America. During this field trip they recorded the music of religious communities, social gatherings, prisons and chain gangs, and discovered  the legendary bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell. These original recordings were featured in the Coen brothers’ film "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou".

Shirley’s book "America Over The Water" recounts this journey, intercutting and complementing the American narrative with an autobiographical account of growing up in Hastings during and after the war, and of her first meeting with Alan Lomax in London. The show of the same name includes readings by Shirley and by actor Pip Barnes, pictures of the singers taken on the journey and recordings made on the trip.

"America over the Water" was first published in 2004 by
 SAF Publishing. 

A new paperback edition was published in October 2006.

Buy both from our online shop.

'I found it very touching indeed....... truly moving' - David Attenborough

 

Wade Ward and Alan Lomax
Sid Hemphill and Lucius Smith
Shirley Collins


Shirley with Pip Barnes


Tina Smith - pictures
Vic Smith - sound
Chloe Alexander - design

Forthcoming performances

Details will appear here when bookings are confirmed.

If you are interested in booking "America Over The Water" please contact us.


For a flavour of the show, you can do no better than read Sam Saunders review of the West Yorkshire Playhouse/Opera North performance in Whisperin' and Hollerin'.