Acoustics Records

05/01/2026

Happy New Year!
As the festive season ends and we're all taking down our Christmas trees, we send you some traditional Twelfth Night cheer with our version of The Gloucestershire Wassail. We recorded this traditional song specially for the occasion with Hilary adding her signature artwork.
Back soon with news of what's on the horizon in 2026
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
Hope you enjoy,

Gloucestershire Wassail - Performed, arranged and recorded by Simon Mayor & Hilary JamesArtwork drawn directly on to an iPad by Hilary James. Wassailing is a...

23/12/2025

Merry Christmas!
A very short message from Simon, Hilary, The Mandolinquents and all at Acoustics Records with our very best wishes for Christmas and New Year.

After ten years (we can't believe it!) of producing video Christmas cards, we've decided to wait and ring in the New Year instead with a specially recorded version of the traditional 'Gloucestershire Wassail'.
In the meantime we'll be posting some of our e-cards from Christmases past. Here's 'I Saw Three Ships' featuring one of Hilary's time-lapse drawings.
https://youtu.be/qZW_a-imJIU

Hope you enjoy!

I Saw Three Ships. Music 'I Saw Three Ships' by SImon Mayor taken from the album 'Winter With Mandolins' by Simon Mayor - https://mandolin.co.uk.Animated ar...

29/05/2025

Simon Mayor - Carolan in Settle- Sept 28th- Oct 2nd
Details: https://mandolin.co.uk
For fans of Turlough O'Carolan, the father of Irish folk music, who also play a musical instrument. A 4-day music retreat at the beautiful Falcon Manor, Settle North Yorhshire.

Music featured::Eleanor PlunketSi Bheag Si MhorHewlettFrom Simon Mayor's album; Fantasias themes by Tutlough O'Carolan 'Carolan At Settle' - 28 Sept- 2 O...

08/05/2025

Simon Mayor reads his poem 'Sheffield Steel Works 1959' from his book 'Of Death And A Banana Skin' :... poems and other words, with illustrations by Hilary J...

09/04/2025

Simon Mayor's arrangement for solo mandolin of the melody by Stephen Foster (1826 – 1864)Sheet music available from mandolin.co.uk Mandolin made by Mike Va...

10/02/2025

https://youtu.be/NdufjRKlO18
A second mandolin teaching video from Simon Mayor - tips, technique and tunes including Wildwood Flower, Limehouse Blues, Waltz On A Still Lake and Mandolin Mornings with guitar accompaniment by the wonderful guitarist Frank Kilkelly. Hope you enjoy!

Simon teaches five tunes:00:00 Intro (2025)01:11 Intro (1996)03:47 Tuning 04:31 Wildwood Flower in G Major - PERFORMANCE (trad arr Mayor)05:12 Wildwood Flow...

27/01/2025

https://youtu.be/L5x6l_9mGzY
This is the first of two teaching videos by Simon Mayor.
NEW CELTIC MANDOLIN was filmed in 1996 by our dear friend, the late Mark Chapman. Originally on VHS and DVD.

Simon teaches 5 tunes:
The Butterfly - Waynesboro - The Atholl Highlanders
The Dark & Slender Boy - The Dance of the Water Boatmen

I hope you enjoy!

Simon Mayor teaches: NEW CELTIC MANDOLIN00:00 Intro (2025)01:10 Intro (1996)02:01 Tuning02:40 The Butterfly (trad arr Mayor)11:52 Waynesboro (trad arr Mayor)...

08/01/2025

Playing Sunday, Slim Panatella & the Mellow Virginians. Worldclass collective on mandolin, violin and bass will light up your evening with an addictive blend of 30’s, 40’s and 50’s jazz, swing, ragtime, country blues and originals.

www.gtsf.uk/slimpanatella

“Absolutely magnificent set of largely American country / old time / blues… so melody-rich you would think it was going out of fashion” RNR magazine

“An aural o**y of dazzling musicianship” The Independent

22/12/2024

https://youtu.be/xQYguJJAReo
Seasons greetings to one and all!
Wishing you a fun-filled, carefree, cart-wheeling celebration followed by a whole year of good cheer, tears (of joy), much music and laughter.

Merry Christmas 2024 from Simon Mayor & Hilary JamesArtwork - Hilary James https://folksong.co.ukMusic - Simon Mayor https://mandolin.co.uk'God Rest Ye Swing...

05/12/2024

MANDOLINQUENTS - Christmas Special
14th DECEMBER 7:30-10.00pm
Goring Village Hall, High Street, RG8 9AG.
Tickets: https://mandolinquents.com or T. 0118 926 8615
Will include Simon's setting of Shakespeare's Winter (below).
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/d1OK8Fxf-Fs

Setting of Shakespeare's 'Winter' by Simon Mayor & Hilary James. Sung by Hilary James with Simon Mayor (violin, mandolin), David Pether (pipe organ), Ed Quic...

04/12/2024

Hilary James
November 26 at 2:32 PM ·
MANDOLINQUENTS - Christmas Special
14th DECEMBER 7:30-10.00pm
Goring Village Hall, High Street, RG8 9AG.
Tickets: https://mandolinquents.com or T. 0118 926 8615
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/P_CLODOw2as?si=I18RJxt27bm0U2Rz
Mandolinquents - Simon Mayor and Friends - Showreel
YOUTUBE.COM
Mandolinquents - Simon Mayor and Friends - Showreel

Simon Mayor & Friends (The Mandolinquents) appear at The GAP Festival, Goring-on-Thames, 7th June 2024, 7.30pm with special guest Gerald Garciahttps://www.th...

04/12/2024

Simon Mayor & Friends (The Mandolinquents) appear at The GAP Festival, Goring-on-Thames, 7th June 2024, 7.30pm with special guest Gerald Garciahttps://www.th...