Adrian May, Songwriter/Author
Author of Boot Sale Harvest. Adrian has a long career in folk music, has published six collections of poems and songs, a trilogy of books on creative writing and is an associate in the Centre for Creative Writing at Essex University. He is a member of Face Furniture, Potiphar’s Apprentices and other acoustic bands. He is old, and a folkie – but defiantly so.
THE ADAGES PARSONS OF INTEREST and other songs
‘Locksie ‘ Heatley, daughter of Reverend Henry Heatley, vicar of Ingrave, near Brentwood, Essex, from 1887, introduced Ralph Vaughan Williams to the traditional folk singers who changed his life. Conrad Noel, vicar of Thaxted, Essex from 1910, was known as the ‘Red Vicar’ because of his Christian Socialism, filled his town with singing and Morris dancing. Writer and lay preacher, Ronald Blythe, author of oral history classic Akenfield, regularly preached and wrote his Word From Wormingford columns, in north Essex from 1993.
These are a few of the eccentric Essex vicars celebrated in song, in PARSONS OF INTEREST and othersongs by THE ADAGES, including ones about ukuleles, poetry and men’s clothing, for example. Their slightlythemed show is available for concerts, folk clubs and elsewhere.
The Adages are Jen Conquer (bassoon), Marion Kent (accordion) and Adrian May (songs and guitar). Adrian has a background as an author and songwriter in folk music, Jen and Marion both play with Morris bands, andJen also sings and plays guitar as a soloist.
Email Adrian adriansong [then add] @virginmedia.com
See THE ADAGES page
BLESS MY SOUL IT’S CONRAD NOEL
FALL END GREEN
News
Launch of Parsons of Interest and other songs, The Adages, Wednesday 29 July 2026, 7pm.
Leonard’s Church, Hythe Hill. Colchester, CO1 2NP, 7pm.