Mediaeval Baebes

I thought I’d have a look at the Mediaeval Baebes website this morning before we see them at the Joust in a couple of weeks.

I knew it had been a while since I checked their site out, about the time of my post about Musical Taste back in April. So, it was a bit of a surprise to be greeted by a new picture and realise that I didn’t know some of the faces. It appears that 3 of the members including 2 of the founder members had left in May.

The other thing that was disappointing was to find that they had played in Milton Keynes, about 25 minutes away, at the beginning of May. I know that I should have checked the site, but I’ve got so used to RSS feeds, that some of the old sites I visit have been forgotten.

I first came across the Mediaeval Baebes in December 1997, when their first album Salva Nos was getting a lot of airplay on ClassicFM. I instantly became a fan.

We first saw the Mediaeval Baebes live at the Joust in 2005, where they signed a copy of their album Mirabilis.

There have been several changes in lineup over the years, I have tried to include all.

Current Baebes

Katharine Blake

Katharine Blake.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996. Born in London, Katharine is Musical Director of the Mediaeval Baebes. She was the lead singer in goth-rock band Miranda Sex Garden.

Katharine’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Emily Ovenden

Emily Ovenden.

Joined the Mediaeval Baebes in 2003. Born in Cornwall, Emily has written and published her first full length novel in 2004.

Emily’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Emily Ovenden’s website

Claire Rabbit

Claire Rabbit.

A friend of the Baebes since their formation in 1996, Claire joined in 2005.

Claire’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Melpomeni Kermanidou

Melpomeni Kermanidou.

Melpomeni joined in November 2006. Melpomeni studied Musical Composition in Melbourne, Australia and has been a nomad since.

Melpomeni’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Maxine Fone

Maxine Fone.

Maxine joined in March 2007. Maxine started her professional career at 18 years old as a Contemporary Dancer and Choreographer, mainly working with Matthew Bourne.

Maxine’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Sofia Escobar

Sofia Escobar.

Sofia joined in May 2007. Sofia was born in a cold November day in Portugal. She was the Portuguese voice of Jasmin in Disney’s DVD “Aladdin”.

Sofia’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Bev Lee Harling

Bev Lee Harling.

Bev joined in May 2007. Bev Lee Harling is a writer, composer and performer of songs from many different genres, forming a rich tapestry of subject matter.

Bev’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

ex Baebes.

Karen Lupton.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1995 and stayed till 99 (last gig – the eclipse). Is now a teacher in Glasgow’s East End, married to Ted Garcia (former guitarist, Feline, Horsepower)

Sophie Evans.

Member of Mediaeval Baebes in 2000

Nicole Sleet.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2000

Nicole Frobusch.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2000. Nicole has her own range of children’s clothing.

Claire Ravel.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2002. Spending time with her family in Texas.

Carmen Schneider.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2002. Carmen left to pursue her ambition of designing her own range of aromatherapy treats and live in New Zealand.

Ruth Galloway.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2003.

Dorothy Carter.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996. Dorothy was born in New York in 1935. It was her love of mediaeval instruments that inspired the formation of the Mediaeval Baebes, where she was instrumentalist and is credited with the arrangement of several of the songs. She died of a stroke in 2003.

Teresa Casella

Teresa Casella.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2005. Teresa was born in Hamilton, Ontario in Canada. She moved to London in 1989 and played bass guitar in the band The Lost Virgins in Space. She joined Miranda Sex Garden in 1995.

Rachel Van Asch

Rachel Van Asch.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until 2006. Rachel was born in New Zealand and spent much of her childhood travelling with her mother’s glam rock band Ragnarock. She moved to England in 1985. She launched her fashion label Sacred Clothing in 2001 and relaunched it in 2003 as Van Asch including a much wider range of garments.

Marie Finley

Marie Finley.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until March 2007. Marie has written for television and has credits for Banzai and Smack the Pony. She was the leading lady in Ken Russell’s movie Fall of the Louse of Usher.

Marie’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Audrey Evans

Audrey Evans.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until May 2007. Born in Brussels, Audrey has a degree in child psycology and when not being a baebe, can be found teaching in a nursary school. She sang in the band The Naked Goat.

Audrey’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Maple Bee

Maple Bee.

Joined the Mediaeval Baebes in 2003 until May 2007. Maple Bee has release two solo albums, was the bassist in her sister’s band Queen Adreena and vocalist/guitarist in the band Vertigo Angels

Maple Bee’s page on Mediaeval Baebes website

Maple Bee’s website

Cylindra Sapphire

Cylindra Sapphire.

Founder member of Mediaeval Baebes in 1996 until May 2007.

It will be interesting to see what the change of lineup has done to the arrangement of some of the songs. It seems from their guestbook that everyone is quite happy with the results. I wish the departing baebes all the best with their future endevors and look forward to some good weather for the Joust.

They are touring cathedrals this year. They performed at St. Leonards, London last Friday and will be at Coventry Cathedral and Ely Cathedral next Friday and Saturday. The remainder of the tour will be in November and December, it’s a shame that none of the locations are closer. Something like St. Albans Cathedral would have been great.

[Edit 7th September 2007] Update from Karen Lupton Garcia via my plugoo widget: ‘[Karen Lupton Garcia] UPDATE FOR YOU! > “Hi Ian, started Mediaeval Baebes 1995 and I stayed till 99 (last gig – the eclipse). I am now a teacher in Glasgow’s East End, married to Ted (former guitarist, Feline, Horsepower) lawyer -Pinsents” ‘
Thanks for the update Karen.

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