What’s On at…

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February 5, 2020: Whiskey River Trio

The Whiskey River Landing is a fabulous funky dance hall located in Cajun Country, on the edge of the Atchafalaya swamp, south of Breaux Bridge. The current band was born after founder members Herefordshire guitarist/singer Martin Blake and Cwmbran Cajun accordionist/ harmonica player Aidan Sheehan went to Louisiana in 2003 and visited this dance hall, having a fantastic Sunday afternoon there and thinking that Whiskey River might be a good name for a band. About a week later, a drinker in a bar in Houston, Texas, heard them talking over a beer, and said: “Hey, are you guys from New England?” Martin said: “Nope – we’re from Old England!” The guy then gave them a plectrum with “Whiskey River” written on it. This was a definite sign – and the band they were working with back in the UK was renamed on their return.

​However, on July 24, 2019, Whiskey River’s fiery fiddle player, Dave Wood, was lost to cancer. Martin and Aidan say that Dave was a mainstay of the band and had been a friend and colleague for over 30 years and will be very sorely missed. But the band will go on, with the aid and help of fiddler Rob Strawson from the original Blake’s Three. Watch this video of the Acoustic Meeting Ground at Pontardawe Arts Centre, with Rob, Martin and Aidan performing Van Morrison’s ‘Tupelo Honey’.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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February 19, 2020:  Showcase with Phil Thomas

Vale of Glamorgan storyteller, singer and musician Phil has been busy writing some delightfully quirky and thoughtful songs for you to share – so we’ve invited him to come and showcase them at the Club.  

(£3 admission)

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February 26, 2020: Tim Edey

Tim is an utterly jaw-dropping guitarist, button-box player and composer who grew up in Broadstairs, Kent, and is now living in Ardara, County Donegal. He won two awards (Musician of the Year and Best Duo with New Zealand harmonica player Brendan Power) at the BBC Radio 2 2012 Folk Awards, and he has been nominated again for February, 2018. He toured with stunning Scottish bagpiper Ross Ainslie. and in Canada too – he was  invited to perform at the Celtic Colours Festival in Nova Scotia and the Gatineu Hills Fiddle Festival in Ontario. Please watch this video of Tim’s brilliant guitar work at Australia’s Illawarra Folk Festival in New South Wales – his diatonic accordion mastery is absolutely top-notch as well, as you can see in another video of Tim playing Bach.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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March 11, 2020: Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow

Best known as the virtuoso guitar and fiddle players from the band Sheelanagig, Kit and Aaron have a combined 30 years of live touring with many acts under their belt such as the Carnyvillans, Elephant Talk and Mad Dog McCrea, to name a few. They have played many traditional styles from across the British Isles and beyond, but what unites them is a passion for folk music.

They draw on their many influences to create unique arrangements of traditional music, as well as their own compositions. The live show is a musical journey through Europe, America and beyond; combining dazzling playing with a fine sense of musicality and showmanship.

“Rip-roaring violin, guitar and vocals” – Larmer Tree Festival
“Not just any old violin and acoustic guitar duo… THE violin and acoustic guitar duo” – The Bristol Post

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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March 18, 2020: Mike & Dylan James (Bzh)

Live from Brittany – father and son singers and musicians Mike and Dylan are back on the road again with a concert repertoire of ballads, tunes, songs of love and of unhappy affairs – many of them real ‘photographs’ of past life in the British Isles, but sometimes with surprising echoes of the contemporary world.

Accordionist and singer Mike, one of the founders of Pontardawe Festival and for many years a pillar of the Valley Folk Club in Pontardawe, has played all over Europe over the last 40 years, with groups such as the Anglo-Welsh band Swansea Jack, Quilty (Irish), Priodas and Twm Twp (Welsh dance music), and Breton music, fest-noz and song, such as a duo with Yves Leblanc, Jacal, and Glaou. Dylan, who has developed a strong reputation for his double bass playing, also plays percussion and sings close harmonies; he is an eclectic musician who never stops searching and learning, while keeping an anchor in the traditional repertoire. He sings and plays for fest noz in contemporary Breton music groups An Tri Dipop and Planchée; explores sounds and songs around the East Brittany repertoire with fiddler Emmanuelle Bouthillier (L’Abrasive) and also develops different styles of improvised music (Thomas James Folks, Luge). He is a loyal sideman for indie folk artist Vince Lahay, and often accompanies other artists from the traditional music circuit (Calum Stewart, Hervé Dréan, Yoann An Nedeleg). He has also developed a solo set, and is the lead singer and bass player in brass-rock-bass-jazz ensemble Moger.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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April 1, 2020: Showcase with Julie Croad, Adam Jenkins & Friends

Poet Julie ‘Sheds’ and phenomenal guitarist Adam perform a fund raiser evening for Macmillan Nurses – all door takings will go to this charity. 

(£3 admission)

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April 8, 2020: Jackie Oates and John Spiers

Two of the leading lights of the Folk scene of recent times, John and Jackie create a a stunning duo that brings their respective musical and vocal talents together for the first time. John, known better in folk circles as Squeezy, has made a name for himself as one of the leading squeezebox players of his generation.  Well known for his long-standing duo partnership with Jon Boden in the formidable Spiers & Boden as well as his contribution to the massively popular Bellowhead, John has also played with Eliza Carthy’s Ratcatchers and a number of local folk-dance bands.

Since appearing as a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2003, Jackie has performed extensively at festivals and venues across the country and beyond, in a solo capacity and with her band. A founder member of Northumbrian group and Mercury-nominated The Winterset, renamed The Unthanks, Jackie is now a permanent member of the folk super-group The Imagined Village, as well as touring in her own right.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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April 29, 2020:  Linda & Kristin Allen (USA)

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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May 6, 2020: Anthony John Clarke

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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May 20, 2020: Nick & Mally Dow

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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June 3, 2020: Geoff Lakeman & Rob Murch

Here’s a real treat – Geoff is a Cornishman who has lived on Dartmoor for 40 years and has been described as ” A stalwart of the West Country Folk scene and the father of a virtual folk dynasty.”  He’s the dad of Sean, Sam and Seth Lakeman, who are all internationally renowned folk musicians. They began playing as children in a family band with Geoff and their violinist mum, Joy.

Geoff is a leading exponent of the rare Crane Duet concertina. He performs self-written and West Country songs, English, Irish and Scottish folk and other music as varied as Jimmie Rodgers, The Louvin Brothers, Richard Thompson  and Randy Newman. He’s also one of the few to play 1920s and 1930s jazz on an authentic 1920s instrument.

His smooth tenor vocals and unique concertina accompaniment have won him plaudits and fans over the years, but it has only been since retiring from a long career as a Fleet Street Journalist that Geoff has truly spread his wings musically. 2017 saw the release of Geoff’s debut album, After All These Years. With a stellar line-up of musical family and friends it showcases his talents perfectly and illustrates the high regard and affection in which he is held. Geoff is now working with banjo virtuoso Rob Murch, which guarantees to be a bumper night!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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June 17, 2020:  Hannah James and Toby Kuhn (England / France)

Accordionist and singer Hannah and French post-classical cellist Toby met in the summer of 2018 at the Floating Castle festival in Slovenia. After seeing Hannah perform one of her solo pieces, Toby suggested she should keep him in mind if she ever needed a cellist. After a short jam in the Slovenian sunshine, it was clear that the two musicians shared a common approach to music-making and a real artistic chemistry. Toby joined Hannah at a solo gig a few days later – and a new duo was born.

Their music is soulful, original and conversational. The combination of accordion and cello allows for a huge palette of sounds and textures which lift Hannah’s pure voice and deeply honest songwriting. In the next breath, they switch to choppy rhythms and joyful interplay between cello and percussive dance in a diverse, playful and hugely original performance. Watch a video of Hannah and Toby in concert, delivering ‘Hush Now’ and ‘Dayspring’.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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July 8, 2020:  State Of The Union – Boo Hewerdine & Brooks Williams (England / USA)

Two legendary mighty guitarists, English singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine and Americana/blues picker Brooks Williams, have just released their fourth album on Reveal Records – and the critics have gone wild. Boo and Brooks – a Statesboro, Georgia native who is now living in the UK – met in 2011 and created three albums, State Of The Union, Snake Oil and Saltwell Sessions. Their performances are consistently brilliant, emotive and entertaining. Audiences are still buzzing about their appearances on the main stages at Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Costa del Folk, Wickham Festival and FolkEast.  There’s an hour-long video of Boo and Brooks delighting the crowds at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival in 2018 – enjoy!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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July 22, 2020: The Jigantics (NEW DATE)

The Jigantics roared down to Llantrisant Folk Club some years ago and received a rapturous encore. They have slimmed down to four musicians and vocalists – Keith Thompson (guitar, bass guitar, who has sold over 100,000 albums); songwriter Sarah Kelly (ukulele and bass guitar, winner of the Musicians’ Union instrumentalist award); front man Mark Cole (squeezebox, harmonica, mandolin and guitar, an in-demand international session player); and percussionist Marty Fitzgibbon, who has performed with (and in front of) some of the biggest names in the world of popular music, including Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Lou Reed – but says the Jigantics are the most exciting project with whom he’s ever been involved.

They frequently swap instruments and share lead vocals, interpersed with stunning four-part harmonies. Never afraid to mix musical styles, but always with a touch of class, they combine original material with their own interpretation of Steve Earl and Tom Waites. Their foot-tapping, feel-good music, plus totally convincing tear-jerkers, makes for a remarkable  eveningsʼ entertainment. Here’s what the critics say:

“One of roots music’s supergroups and must-see live acts” (Daily Telegraph);

“An awesome band, genuine, easy-going and very skilled musicians” (Ken Brown, Square Roots promoter);

“You can’t go wrong with a band that has two standing ovations”
(Koen Hottentot, Roots aan de Zaan, The Netherlands)

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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July 29, 2020: Jackdawgs (Wales)

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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August 12, 2020: Sadie and Jay (Australia)

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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September 2, 2020: Hungrytown (USA)

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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September 9, 2020: Llantrisant Folk Club’s 40th Birthday Party, with buffet!

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September 16, 2020: Findlay Napier & Megan Henwood: The Story Song Scientists

Megan Henwood is an artist who calls on the elements in her songwriting. The distinguished Oxford singer-songwriter is far too self-deprecating to describe herself as a force of nature – but her third album, River, reaffirms her unique ability to create roots music of beguiling purity from what’s around her. Findlay Napier is one of the finest songwriters and storytellers of the contemporary Scottish folk scene and has an insurgent talent that comes on like a Caledonian Loudon Wainwright. His most recent album, Glasgow, captures the timeless essence of one of the world’s great cities, distilled to artful acoustic guitar and Findlay’s remarkable voice.
Megan and Findlay released the album called The Story Song Scientists in March, 2019.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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October 21, 2020: Winter Wilson

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(£8 admission, £5 members)

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Oct 28, 2020: Daoirí Farrell (Ireland) 

Daoirí (pronounced Derry) is a former electrician who decided to become a musician after seeing Christy Moore perform on Irish TV. The Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important artists to come out of Ireland in recent years.

After a promising debut album, The First Turn, back in 2009, Daoirí spent several years studying traditional music and performance at colleges across Ireland. While at the University of Limerick, Fintan Vallely introduced him to the singing of the late Liam Weldon, an encounter that was to prove formative to his sound and his approach to folk song.

Daoirí had cut his teeth as a singer in Dublin’s famous Góilin Singers Club and at other sessions across the city, many of which he still visits regularly. His follow-up album, True Born Irishman, was released in October 2016. The following spring his won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – Best Traditional Track and Best Newcomer – and performed with a six-piece line-up at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

He has since performed in Australia, Canada, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, The Czech Republic, USA and Portugal, and played Cambridge Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival of Australia and many more. In 2018 he toured the UK with Transatlantic Sessions and recorded his new album with Dónal Lunny in the producer’s chair.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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November 11, 2020: Jody Kruskal (USA)

Jody flew in from the USA last year for a UK tour and played an very entertaining Showcase for the Club, and we booked him without question! He was born in Chicago, but he’s lived in Brooklyn, New York City, for 30 years. He is a performer, composer, educator, dance caller and instrument designer,  expert dance musician and he sings and plays an anglo-concertina which he fashioned himself. Please watch a video of Jody singing ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’ in Brooklyn – and a video of him playing his anglo-concertina in the open air, luring a herd of adoring cows. Finally, you must watch a video of Jody and his dancing companion, Henry, performing ‘Cluck Old Hen’ – it’s totally fascinating!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

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DON’T FORGET: All other Wednesdays are S&M (Song And Music!) Nights, starting at 8.30pm

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For past guests, click here

For booking Information & general enquiries…

Pat Smith			Mick Tems
Telephone	01443 226892		Telephone	01443 201634
Mobile	07989 209824		Mobile	07531 812400
Email (click)	Pat Smith		Email (click)	Mick Tems