GODIVA FESTIVAL guest Joe O'Donnell is to produce new violin compositions to capture the atmosphere of his adopted home of Coventry. The project starts shortly after his Sunday appearance in War Memorial Park with Celtic-rock band Shkayla. Joe will record ambient sounds of city locations as a backing track for new violin pieces. He will be working in St Mary's Guildhall and Coventry Cathedral starting next week and future locations include the Lunt Roman Fort and even a local supermarket. Joe explains: "I'll be setting up microphones to pick up all of the sounds - footsteps, birdsong, mobile phones, whatever. "They'll provide a rhythm mix that reflects the atmosphere of the location. Then I'll go back to compose and record a piece on violin, using the mix as a background." Jo, former member of 70s rock band East of Eden, will be using a range of unusual fiddles made from ceramic and brass, plus a French antique violin and a Norwegian Hardanger fiddle. Joe brings his electric fiddle to perform with Shkayla at 5pm during Sunday's Godiva folk concert in the Rhythm Tent. Their set is followed at 6pm by this year's BBC Folksinger of the Year nominee and acclaimed song-writer Jez Lowe accompanied by fiddle-player Kate Bramley. The concert starts at 1pm with singer-songwriter Kristy Gallacher. Other guests include Dark Island, The QP, The Oddsods and the Rob Halligan band. * FORMER Mercia Sound folk presenter Norman Wheatley is back on the local circuit playing a mixture of his own material, comic monologues and classic songs. He is Wednesday's guest at the Bedworth Folk Club and is about to release an album, Apples & Wednesdays, so called because it represents an unusual mixture of contemporary and comedy songs. The music starts at the Conservative Club, Coventry Road at 8.30pm. * Details 07760 190309. | 
