Sing songs of old with Sunnie

3:50pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Sing It To the Rhythm, Viva Viva, High Street, Hornsey, Sunday, 5pm to 8pm, with a performance at 7.30pm

Before the blues came spirituals, work songs and call-and-response chants that were sung by Afro-American and Caribbean slaves working in the fields.

"There's something very deep about the way the songs are written," says singer Sunnie Dae. "They're not written for money or personal recognition. There's a rich vein of pain and suffering and joy and understanding of human life that we don't get in contemporary music."

At this session Ms Dae, who has led workshops for the Victoria and Albert Museum and Hackney Empire, will teach these songs as well as folk songs from the English and Celtic traditions. Participants will then perform what they have learnt.

Guitar, banjo, fiddle and blues harp players are welcome but should book in advance.

Two further workshops will take place on August 3 and September 7. Places cost £6 for the waged, £4 unwaged. To book, call 07932 828497 or email sunnie@singit.org.uk