Past Guests

 

Dr-Price-and-Folk-Club

 Folk Club Guests – Ned’s Stats

Click on the links below to see lists of who has been on at the Folk Club since its very beginning.  The lists have set out in ifferent ways – choose the one you want.
 LFC History Alphabetical Order  LFC History Chronological Order LFC History Number of Appearances

 

Click here for the original Past Guest archive

Contents

March 15, 2023: Baggyrinkle (Wales)

Baggyrinkle – the Swansea shantymen brought together by Dave Robinson, long retired, and managed by Terri Kennedy – are celebrating more than 30 years of singing and laughing together. They have graced festivals and venues across Europe and the USA with their ‘Welsh choir’ approach, and their past roles include a doctor, medical scientist, nurse, headmaster, jewellery maker, businessman and NHS manager. Harmonies are created “on the night” – and although shanties are their mainstay, they also sing mining, rural and drinking songs.

 

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi – March 1, 2023: Three Legg’d Mare (Wales)

Three Legg’d Mare are a trio from Aberystwyth comprising Jon Davies (vocals, concertina, bouzouki, fiddle and mandolin), Kate Saunders (vocals, guitar, Appalachian mountain dulcimer and shruti) and Dafydd Eto (vocals, whistles, harmonica and bodhrán). Kate, Daf and Jon take great delight in singing traditional songs – and some of their own – in Welsh and English. For some years now they have immersed themselves and their audiences in songs of love, loss, joy, desire, sadness, adventure, madness, salvation and everyday life. A journey through physical and metaphysical worlds, history set to music, a rabble-rousing session, an irreverent insight into past lives – Three Legg’d Mare is all of these and more, woven together by dexterous vocal harmonies and far too many quirky instruments to mention. So, come on – let’s celebrate Dydd Gŵyl Dewi!

February 15, 2023: Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira (Canada/USA) 

From Canada and the US, Jocelyn & Ellen are one hell of a dynamic fiddle and ‘cello duo. First meeting in Scotland in 2018, they joined their musical forces, and have since been gracing stages and captivating audiences in both North America and the UK. From the West Coast of Canada, Jocelyn is a vibrant fiddle player, step-dancer and singer. With grace and passion, she has delighted audiences and ignited stages across Canada and worldwide, appeared on national television and radio, and released two multi-award-nominated albums. From the East Coast of the USA, Ellen is an accomplished cellist who has performed throughout North America and the UK. She has collaborated and recorded with numerous acclaimed traditional musicians, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Performance highlights include Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Neil Gow Festival (Scotland), Edinburgh Castle, Harrison Festival of the Arts (Canada), Northwest Folklife Festival (USA), and Folk Alliance International (USA). Their debut duo album, All It Brings, was released in July 2022 and won a five-star review from FolkWales Online Magazine. Please watch a video of Jocelyn and Ellen (in two countries!) and guitarist Adam Dobres performing ‘Fleur Reels’. 

February 1, 2023: Showcase with John Mosedale

Hereford singer-songwriter-guitarist John Mosedale has released his debut album, We’re Not Packing Parachutes. In fact, John began his songwriting career in early 2018 at an age when many are considering early retirement. Since then he has performed at Upton, Banbury, Cromer and Charmouth folk festivals, Worcester Music Festival and Brecon Fringe Festival, as well as host of folk clubs and other venues up and down the country.

He says: “I’m still writing – this summer I have been getting back into the swing of things performance-wise after the covid interruptions. A few weeks ago I recorded three songs for Narrowboat Sessions, the first of which is now up on Facebook.” Please watch his video.

 

January 25, 2023: Burns Night & Dydd Santes Dwynwen

Two for the price of one! The Club celebrates Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, and St Dwynwen’s Day, for all Welsh lovers everywhere. Rabbie achieved fame for composing many  beautiful verses, especially ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – but who was St Dwynwen? She lived during the 5th century and was one of the prettiest of Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters. She fell in love with Maelon Dafodrill, but her father had already arranged that she should marry someone else. Maelon was so outraged that he raped Dwynwen and left her. Dwynwen fled to the woods in her grief, where she begged God to make her forget Maelon. After falling asleep, Dwynwen was visited by an angel, who appeared carrying a sweet potion designed to erase all memory of Maelon and turn him into a block of ice. God then gave three wishes to Dwynwen: first, she wished that Maelon be thawed; second, that God meet the hopes and dreams of true lovers and third, that she should never marry. All three were fulfilled, and as a mark of her thanks, Dwynwen devoted herself to God’s service for the rest of her life.

January 18, 2023: Chris & Wendy Moreton (Wales)

 

Chris is an award-winning guitarist with more than 40 years of guitar-playing experience. Accompanied by his lovely wife Wendy on double-bass, he’s a multi-instrumentalist rated as the UK’s “best bluegrass guitarist” and as playing “truly world class lead guitar”. Chris was rated by Guitarist Magazine as Acoustic Guitarist Of The Year – and The Independent called him “the best bluegrass guitarist in the country.” He sings, cracks innumerable jokes and really entertains,  too!

December 21, 2022: Christmas Party #2: The Magical Christmas Tree with Emily Sanders, Chris Parkinson and Pete Morton

The Magical Christmas Tree Tour is a yearly festive get-together featuring singer-songwriter Pete Morton, fiddler Emily Sanders and diatonic accordionist Chris Parkinson – and a tree. According to the trio and a little-known folk legend, the tree is magical; it can make these perfectly normal folk musicians perform songs, tunes and the occasional dance that they wouldn’t dream of doing the rest of the year. It’s an evening of songs, tunes and silliness. Only the tree knows what will happen next – what could possibly go wrong? Not to be missed!

The Magical Christmas Tree is a Fellside Recordings album – it’s very suitable as an excellent Christmas present!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

December  14: Christmas Party #1 with Chiefly Ourselves

Happy Christmas – Nadolig Llawen! Llantrisant Folk Club will be stuffed with Christmas carols, seasonal mirth and silly songs to drive the cold winter away. Look forward to Pattie’s super-special raffle – and bring a small plate for something to share. 

December 7, 2022: Showcase with Dave Mason

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and relocated to Johannesburg at seven years old, Dave spent 30 years in various South African towns. He first played guitar while living in Namibia with the South African Air Force; later moving to Durban, he joined the Durban Folk Club and eventually started getting regular gigs. He left South Africa in 1996, joined a Newcastle pipe band and met his wife-to-be Michéle, whose work took them around the world. Dave started singing again in 2021. He composed for the bagpipes, and he published three music books. He also joined the Queen City Balladeers in 2017 and he started writing again – he believes that some of his best songs were written in the past few years, and he’s released seven albums. 

November 30, 2022:  Showcase with Stone Mountain Ramblers (Wales)

Tony, Lee, Martin and Ian are based In Cwmbran and have just formed themselves into an acoustic quartet. They are looking to get involved with the folk scene and will be working on developing a varied repertoire with a focus on developing vocal harmonies.

November 16, 2022: Janie Meneely, Rob Van Sante & John Conolly (USA, Netherlands & England)

Must-see performers share their two sets:  Grimsby Folk Club co-founder John Conolly, American Janie Meneely and Dutch-born Rob Van Sante bring maritime folk music from both sides of the Atlantic and their own instant-classic originals. These are songwriters whose material is often mistaken for old folk songs – John, who plays guitar and squeezebox, is an internationally-known songsmith who honed his writing around the once-bustling port of Grimsby. He wrote ‘Fiddler’s Green’ in 1964, and the well-known and well-loved chorus has been sung in pubs from Brittany to Bermuda, from Washington to Warsaw and from Berlin to Baltimore. Singer-songwriter Janie brings her nautical perspective to the world of folk music and storytelling, celebrating the maritime history and traditions in the Chesapeake Bay region, where she was born and raised. Guitarist Rob, when not touring with Janie in the wake of their duo CD Partners, draws deep from the well of traditional music with spellbinding songs that he’s collected in travelling across the world; he also tours with Alan Reid, founder of the Battlefield Band of Scotland.

October 26, 2022: Showcase with Bunny Eye Ceilidh Band (Wales) & Halloween night!

This Cardiff and South Wales-based trio have been busking around the streets, and they’re starting to get noticed with their accordion, fiddle, whistle and clawhammer banjo – they are playing for the famous and prestigious Ruff Ceilidhs next March, and Pat heard them in Pontypridd, gave them a quid and booked them!

AND don’t forget that Wednesday is Nos Galan Gaeaf – Halloween Night! There’ll be lots of spooky tales of ghoulies, ghosties and long-leggedy beasties – and Pat is cooking up some delicious Stwmp Naw Rhiw, the mash of nine sorts. (PS: the stwmp was very tasty and bloody marvellous!)

October 19, 2022 – Macmillan Cancer Support Fundraising night 

Organised by Julie Croad – an S&M (Song and Music) night, with added giving! Breaking News: Llantrisant Folk Club donated the magnificent sum of £350!

October 12, 2022: The Laners 

A Capella with attitude! The Laners started 30 years ago in a pub called The Lane Arms in Willenhall, West Midlands (mid-way from Wolverhampton to Walsall). The Lane Arms has sadly long since closed, but the group is forging ahead, entertaining audiences in pubs and clubs and at festivals. The current members are Clive Brooks, Pete Grassby and Dave Tarry – now the only original member. Most of their material comprises English traditional folk songs, but they also sing some shanties and an increasing number of the many fabulous contemporary songs that are coming into the tradition. Almost all of their songs have big choruses, so audience participation is mandatory; just sitting and listening is not an option!

September 28, 2022: Hungrytown (USA)

After more than 15 years of world-wide touring and three album releases, Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson – otherwise known as Hungrytown — have earned a reputation for the quality and authenticity of their song-writing.  Lyricist Rebecca is credited with compositions “that sound as timeless as any traditional songs” (Northern Sky, UK) while producer /multi-instrumentalist /husband Ken is lauded for his “remarkable affinity for instrumental embellishment” (No Depression) and for crafting Hungrytown’s “gorgeous vocal harmonies” (Folk and Roots, UK).

Hungrytown’s introduction to folk music came when a close friend, who died young, entrusted to them her collection of 1960s folk albums and her guitar, which has since been featured on all of their albums. Inspired by the grit and true-to-life experiences she heard in these traditional ballads, Rebecca was inspired to write the lyrics that later became her first songs, aided by Ken’s flair for musical arrangement. Soon afterwards, Rebecca released two solo albums, Sings! (1999) and Sunday Afternoon (2002), both produced by Ken. In the winter of 2003, the duo quit their desk jobs, moved to the green hills of Vermont and decided to pursue a full-time career as touring musicians. They released their first CD, Hungrytown, in 2008; Any Forgotten Thing in 2011; and Further West in 2015. The couple continue to spend more than half of each year on the road in North America, Europe and New Zealand. 

Please watch this video of Hungrytown performing ‘Hard Way To Learn’ in the BBC Wiltshire studio.

September 14, 2022: Showcase with Aidan Sheehan’s Harmonica Club 

Although currently based in the Pantmawr Inn, Rhiwbina, Aidan Sheehan’s user-friendly, sociable and never serious harmonica nights actually started in the Old School House Centre in Llantrisant. Every now and then, Llantrisant Folk Club kindly invite the Harmonica Club back to their original home to play – and they love doing that. These musicians regularly attend The Second Tuesday Folk Club and Open Mic at Whitchurch Rugby Club in Cardiff, where Aidan (apart from playing a harmonica and Cajun accordion in the roots-and-good-country band The Whiskey River Boys) is the MC.

 

 

 

September 7, 2022:  Road Not Taken

Road Not Taken are a Bristol-based four-piece who are currently coming to Llantrisant on their September Wales-and-England tour. Having honed their craft over a number of years of performing live, their debut album Fragment brings together eight songs, inspired by the tradition. It’s a collection of five inventive and atmospheric arrangements of traditional folk songs and tunes, two originals and a creative arrangement of a popular classic. Singer Anita Dobson’s clear and striking vocal soars over hypnotically beautiful melodies from Claire Hamlen on violin and viola, underpinned by Ant Miles’ understated finger-style guitar and Joe Hamlen’s creative use of harmonium, banjo and bass guitar. (Ant is chairman of Downend Folk Club and director of Fancourt folk agency.) 

Sadly, this will be their final tour for the forseeable future. They say: “We were on tour when Covid hit in 2020 and had to cut it short. We’ve not been able to do much between now and then, so it will be lovely to get back out on the road together and play some music for you. We love performing together, but the pandemic has changed all of our lives and unfortunately we can’t really see a way to make the band work going forward. We wanted to go out with a bang, so we do hope you’ll come and join us at a gig in September.” 

Please watch Road Not Taken’s video of ‘Hares On A Mountain’ /’Devlin’s Favourite’.

 

August 17: Fellow Pynins (USA)

Fellow Pynins is a Portland, Oregon-based award-winning contemporary folk duo with a keen and bucolic sense of vocal harmony and song craft anchored in the balladry tradition. The duo consists of Dani Aubert (claw-hammer banjo, bouzouki) and Ian George (guitar, mandolin). They are songwriters, collectors and interpreters. Since 2016 the duo has toured the US incessantly and has gathered significant traction in the UK/ and Ireland, gracing festivals such as Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness Festival, Omagh Bluegrass Festival, and selling out legs of their most recent UK and Ireland tour. In 2019 they were named by NPR’s Bob Boilen as one of the best Tiny Desk submissions and the same year won the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time duet competition. Watch their ‘Pretty Polly video.

August 3, 2022: Beach Party with Jack Dawgs (Wales)

Howlin’ good-time music! Jack Dawgs is one of the latest Swansea bluegrass bands which was put together by Gower Bluegrass Festival organiser and guitarist Roland Emmanuel – Roland, who started a number of local bands including The Grass Snakes and Roots ‘n’ Galoots, can be seen in the picture, standing right next to the double-bass player.

It’s August, it’s the long, hot summer, and so compere Pat has organised a Beach Party – bring your virtual deck chairs, your shorts and your sandals! The Beach Party includes competitions for Knobbly Knees and Bulging Biceps – with prizes!

July 27, 2022: Showcase with Pontyclun U3A Ukelele Club

A song and music night with added ukes – what’s not to like? Eager Univeresity of the Third Age participants strut their stuff.

 

July 20, 2022: Pauline Vallance (Scotland)

Pauline is a singer/songwriter and clarsach player from Ayrshire. She says: “I love to explore different styles and genres and write songs about subjects as diverse as the beauty of the Northumberland coastline to the disaster of dogs eating mobile phones… A typical gig, if there is such a thing, will consist of a variety of my own songs, some folk songs, particularly songs by Burns and Tannahill and possibly some unexpected rock covers. I am equally at home performing in small, intimate venues like Tannahill’s Cottage or grand venues like Stirling Castle, at events like chillout lounges at festivals to celebrations in Glasgow Cathedral and riverboats in Australia.”

Please watch a video of Pauline singing her new song ‘Last Orders’. This came about as a collaboration in a songwriting workshop in the One Weekend event in Stirling. She says: “We based it on the theme of an abandoned pub.”

July 6, 2022: Andy Cutting

Andy Cutting is a rarity. A musician’s musician: a soulful and technically outstanding melodeon practitioner with an ear for a fine tune. Many of his tunes have been purloined along the way: some considered contemporary classics on the folk scene. But then, Andy is also a warm and emotive perfomer, modestly engaging his audiences with his self-deprecating wit and then flooring them with downright staggering musicianship. There are few melodeon players who put so much feeling into their playing, whether it be a set of dance tunes, or accompaniment to a slow English ballad.

Andy is the consummate accompanist, harmonically, rhythmically and melodically and an exquisite soloist. There is no one I’d rather work with – Martin Simpson

In my musical life I’ve been lucky to work with a few musicians that I would call a genius, Andy Cutting without a doubt is one of these people. He is not only a true master of his instrument but a very inspiring musician to play with and be around. I’ve learned loads just by listening & watching Andy play. To top it all off, you couldn’t meet a nicer fella – John McCusker

Hearing Andy Cutting play is like going through the wardrobe and finding Narnia. His music is glorious, joyful, moving, subtle, emotionally charged, a totally spell-binding experience that is never long enough – June Tabor

Andy is a top drawer player who speaks with his hands. I had no idea how lucky I was to work with him until long after we had gone our separate ways – Chris Wood

Please watch a video of Andy performing ‘In Continental Mood/Flatworld‘.

 

June 29, 2022: Showcase with Steve & Julie Wigley and Stonesthrow

Julie is a singer and songwriter from Derby. She and husband Steve are regulars at folk clubs around Wales and England, and her output of original songs has been phenomenal. Since 2015 they have produced seven albums, a songbook and a poetry/ songbook illustrated by Steve. Their eighth and latest album, Time Train, comprises 17 new songs.

They have featured on folk programmes on Radio Derby, Lincolnshire, Shropshire, Hereford and Worcester, among others and performed last year on the main stage at Moira Furnace Folk festival, Derby Folk festival, and the Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Festival, Isle of Wight. Julie’s songs always have a story to tell and a number of them feature their home county of Derbyshire.

Delightful harmonies on guitars and accordion, and Julie’s song-writing is one to treasure. Please watch the Songs Fron A Caravan video when Julie sings her song ‘Southerlies’. Stonesthrow is a collaboration between Steve & Julie and their friend Tony Fowkes (pictured in the middle between Julie and Steve) and the trio sing mainly acapella versions of some of their favourite close harmony folk songs. 

June 15, 2022: Nick Dow

Nick is a mesmerising performer, guitarist and respected song collector who has been singing traditional folk songs for over 40 years. He has had a big influence on the folk scene; award-winning folk musician Jim Moray has quoted Nick as an influence, singing two songs from Nick’s repertoire and including one (‘Seven Long Years’) on his album Skulk.

He is an acknowledged expert on West Country folk songs; together with his gipsy wife Mally, he has collected over 300 songs in Dorset, and also found singers in Lancashire and Essex. He has also made recordings of gypsy singers some of which have been included on the Topic Records series The Voice of the People. He returned to the folk scene after a long absence, spending several years building up his signwriting business and building and restoring gypsy wagons.

Nick has lived an amazing life. From a rough childhood in South London, he has lived on his wits since he left home at eighteen – travelling half way round the world, living on the road with the travelling folk and learning their songs, working as a TV and film extra, broadcaster, narrowboat painter, writer, folklorist, guitar teacher and general dealer. Every song Nick sings has a story attached to it, and his gigs are as informative as they are entertaining. Nick and Mally now live happily in East Lancashire surrounded by moorland and fells.

 

June 8, 2022: Hannah Read & Michael Starkey (Scotland)

Fiddler and singer-songwriter Hannah met banjo player Michael at an Appalachian old-time session in Edinburgh in late 2019. The moment they first struck up a tune together there was an immediate meeting of musical minds. They have since become a dynamic fiddle and banjo duo, playing repertoire deep from the old time tradition as well as newly self-composed tunes and songs. Their compelling sound can be heard on the debut album Cross The Rolling Water on Hudson Records.

Hannah is an award-winning Scottish musician based in Brooklyn, New York. She moved stateside to study American fiddle styles and to immerse herself in the thriving string music scene. She has toured extensively, performing solo and collaborating with musicians far and wide including Tony Trischka and Sarah Jarosz, as well as being one part of the BBC Folk Award-winning Songs Of Separation. Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, music teacher and old-time banjo enthusiast living in Scotland. His mission as a musician is to keep things simple – clear melody lines underpinned by solid, infectious rhythm. Recent collaborations include with Wayward Jane (Edinburgh-based UK/US folk and roots music four-piece) and Faultlines, a collection of Lisa Fannen’s poetry set to music.

“Hannah and Michael have arrived at a way of playing old-time music that’s refreshingly dynamic, expressive, and toneful. Every track makes me feel like I’m sitting right next to them, eyeing my fiddle case, just hoping they’ll let me join in” – Stephanie Coleman, old-time fiddler

Please watch a video of Hannah and Michael playing ‘Apple Blossom’.

May 25, 2022: Rory McLeod 

Ex-circus clown and fire eater, a one-man soul-band, poet and storyteller, singing his own unique upbeat dance stories. He’s a modern travelling troubadour using tap shoes, a capella, harmonica, guitar, trombone, spoons, finger cymbals, bandorea, djembe and various percussion instruments.

Rory has travelled the globe for different reasons at different times, from Asia to the Middle East, from Gambia to Cuba, Central America, Australia, North America, Canada, Europe and other nooks and crannies of the globe. The Sydney City Hub observed: “You don’t listen to McLeod – you travel with him.”

Rory’s look on life: “I’ve travelled to look for work, to mend a broken heart, to be with someone I longed for. I’d travel to visit friends and on the way I’d make new ones, I’d roam because I was curious to see what was around the next corner, sometimes I travelled to follow the warmer weather and migrate… like the birds and the big whales and fishes do”.

Watch this amazing video of Rory singing The Wind Is Getting Stronger.

May 18, 2022: Cup O’ Joe (Ireland)

Cup O’Joe is a progressive bluegrass and folk band founded and based in Northern Ireland by three siblings, Tabitha, Benjamin and Reuben Agnew,  later joined by Tabitha’s husband David Benedict. Their unique mix of original compositions and re-imagined traditional songs paired with their lively performances has given them a growing presence in the acoustic music scene, touring extensively in Ireland, The UK, mainland Europe and beyond.

Their line-up features tight sibling harmonies, tasteful arrangements, compelling originals and virtuosic solos. Tabitha Benedict brings her unique style of banjo playing and delicate vocals to the band, which were both recognised by the IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association). She holds the 2020 Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year Award. Her sensitive and tasteful touch on both banjo and lead vocals blends effortlessly with her bandmates. Reuben’s phrenetic guitar breaks, rhythmic drive, and unwavering vocals make him another pillar of this band’s sound. Both Tabitha and Reuben are songwriters with a rare understanding of their own creations and what they want the listener to hear. David, the newest addition to the group, is a mandolin player of the first order. Winner of the IBMA Momentum Award for Mandolin in 2018, his mandolin playing is intricately sophisticated, while also being well established in the deep understanding of the instrument’s heritage and early sounds. Benjamin beats out the all-important bass tones and lead vocals, flawlessly holding the backbone of the music.

Cup O’Joe have made their name known among the folk and bluegrass circuit internationally, with appearances at Celtic Connections, IBMA in North Carolina and the Omagh Bluegrass Festival. In 2015 the band were runners-up in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, as well as being the first youth band to showcase at IBMA in Raleigh, North Carolina. They have not only made a name for themselves on the touring circuit, but have also appeared in several BBC television documentaries. They released In The Parting in January 2020, which features nine original songs and one reimagined traditional song from their native Ulster. Recently, they have released their first five-track EP of Christmas songs, Christmas Kin.

“They make a truly gorgeous sound and play with such intuition as only a family can do” – Cara Dillon

“Imagine what these young artists will accomplish before they’re done” – Bluegrass Today

Please watch and listen to this video: ‘I’ll Be True To You’.

May 4, 2022: The Outside Track  (Scotland/Ireland) 

Rescheduled tour due to the pandemic: Winner of Best Group in both the Live Ireland awards and the Tradition In Review awards, The Outside Track are one of the top Celtic acts in the world. They were Best Live Act nominees in the MG Alba Scots Traditional Music Awards, and won the German Radio Critics Prize for their album Flash Company. Live Ireland hailed them as “Among the top bands in the world – stunning on every cut!”

The Outside Track’s marriage of Celtic music, song and dance has been rapturously received around the world. Hailing from Scotland and Ireland, its five members are united by a love of traditional music and a commitment to creating new music on this as a foundation. They blend fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar, flute, whistle and vocals with breath-taking vitality, and their blend of boundless energy and unmistakable joie de vivre has won them a large following around the globe.

Band members are Teresa Horgan, from County Cork, who has an emotive singing style; Ailie Robertson, from Edinburgh, who is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s leading young traditional musicians – composer, arranger, teacher, improviser and harp virtuoso; and from the Highland village of Evanton, Fiona Black developed a love of music and dance from a young age, through the feisean movement which provided her the opportunity to nurture her passion through learning to play the piano accordion. composing and recording; amazing fiddle player Isla Ratcliffe, deputising for Nova Scotian Mairi Rankin; and accompanying guitarist Sean Green. Listen to the video of The Outside Track playing ‘The Drilling Set’. 

The Outside Track are Funded by the ACW Night Out / Noson Allan scheme.

 

 

April 27, 2022:  Keith Donnelly

Stand-up comic, fall-down comedian, surreal snigger-songwriter, guitar-hero, performance-artist, (tall) story-teller, philosopher, scriptwriter, (none can) compere, man-of-mystery, inner-childminder, actor, stuntman, metaphysical-poet, human ping-pong ball, life and soul of the (kids’) party, world-class athlete, leading socialite, raconteur, business tycoon, wit, author, half-wit, secret (sh!) agent, (vauxhall) astral-traveller, shamen, geordie-cultural-attache, word-juggler, snake-charmer, underline-dancer, unexpected clairvoyant, dream-weaver, daydream believer, psycho-linguist, shark-wrangler, smile sculptor, (compulsive) lying-tamer, Great-British eccentric, (alleged) international-jewel-thief, hot-dog-skier, alien-abductee, zen grand-master, champion tiddly-winker, sand-dancer, friend to the pantomime horse, erstwhile slice of bacon and all-round good egg.

“Keith is a very (very!) funny, globe-trotting, Geordie tall-tale-telling-singer-songwriter-guitarist. He could make sheep laugh!” – Jasper Carrott

April 13, 2022: Winter Wilson

Now in their ninth year as full-time musicians, Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy to every venue, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious humour and tales of life on the road. Kip (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) ​”simply has a voice to die for” (​ John Roffey, Maverick Magazine), whilst Dave (vocals, guitar and banjo) is now rightly recognised as being amongst the top tier of British songwriters, with his songs sung in folk clubs across the UK and beyond. Together, their voices are sublime.

​“In 30 years of listening to folk music, I have never heard two voices blend so perfectly” ​(David Aird, Chairman, Glenfarg Folk Club)

March 30, 2022:  Over the Moon (Canada)

Canadian roots/swing duo Over The Moon’s Suzanne Levesque and Craig Bignell are awarding multi-instrumentalists / vocalists that met, fell in love, got married and discovered their voices blend so well together that people often tear up upon hearing them sing. Living on a ranch in the foothills of Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, it’s inevitable there will be a strong sense of place – and the rhythms of the land when you start to make music.   When the couple released their debut album, the resonances were there for all to hear. reflecting the pulse of life,  lived in a territory that is both dirt-hard rugged and beautiful.
Their music is a wild ride from 1940s-sounding western swing and Appalachian old-time to cowboy blues.  Simple and sweet, all of their material has a common thread that speaks of the Canadian west. On their UK release, reviews were glowing: “Exceptional” (American Roots UK); “There’s so much to enjoy here” (Country Music People); “You will love this”  (Maverick Magazine);  “We knew we were on to something special” (Elmore Magazine, New York).

March 16, 2022: John Watterson / Fake Thackray

Jake The Master portrayed by John the brilliant interpreter! The folk scene and the entertainment business were stunned to hear that Jake Thackray passed away in 2002. John decided that the songs were too good not to be kept alive – so he set about learning more of them: “Before I had decided what to do when I grew up, it was time for my mid-life crisis. I told my wife Carol that I wanted to give up the day job and sing Jake’s songs and she said, ‘OK, then’ – so I did!’
John toured the show with Fairport Convention on their six-week nation-wide tour, and has performed 20 shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, earning several four-star reviews. He has also been delighted to support Ralph McTell, Richard Digance, and the late great Vin Garbutt and many more of his music heroes.

Fake Thackray is in increasing demand for clubs, festivals, village halls, arts centres and theatres, as well as house concerts and after-dinner engagements. John says: “It’s wonderful that Jake still has so many fans across the country, and the younger generation are catching on to a man who should be regarded as one of our greatest national treasures.”

March 9, 2022: Boo Hewerdine & Brooks Williams – State of the Union (England/USA)

We have been waiting a long, long time to experience Boo and Brooks – two lovely guitarists and songwriters who were born on the different sides of the Atlantic Ocean. They were booked here that year – but covid got in the way. Boo and Brooks create a magical, stripped back and enthralling musical atmosphere with two guitars and two voices. Their performances are consistently brilliant, equal parts emotive and entertaining.

The two formed their collaboration in 2011 and created three albums in rapid succession, State of the Union, Snake Oil and Saltwell Sessions. Subsequent tours took them around the UK, to Ireland and Portugal, including a 14-date stint playing theatres with Eddi Reader and an appearance on The Andrew Marr Show (BBC 1), plus four-star reviews in Q and R2. Both have an impeccable sense of rhythm and melodic beauty. Their sound is huge, two guitars and two voices exceeding the sum of the parts – and both love the craft of writing. Their fourth album was released on Reveal Records. Please watch a video of State of the Union delighting a packed audience at Shrewsbury Folk Festival in 2018. 

Boo Hewardine & Brooks Williams are Funded by the ACW Night Out / Noson Allan scheme.

 

February 23, 2022: Whiskey River (trio):

Blues from the Bayous! Whiskey River play Americana – Cajun, Zydeco, Good Country and Low Down Dirty Blues with a dangerous edge. With many years experience of performing, these guys deliver the goods. The two founder members, Martin Blake (from Hereford) & Aidan Sheehan (from Cwmbran), are joined by fabulous fiddler Alan Cooper (from the Brecon Beacons).

The current band was born after founder members Martin and Aidan went to Louisiana in 2003 and visited a fabulous funky dance hall called Whiskey River Landing, built on the edge of the Atchafalaya swamp, south of Breaux Bridge. They had a fantastic time there and got to thinking that Whiskey River might be a good name for a band. About a week later, a guy in a bar in Houston, Texas, heard them talking over a beer at the bar and said: “Hey, are you guys from New England?” – “Nope, we’re from Old England!” The guy then gave them a plectrum with ‘Whiskey River’ written on it. This was taken as a definite sign – and the band they were working with back in the UK was renamed on their return.

December 22, 2021: Christmas Party No. 2 – Jackie Oates & John Spiers

It’s Christmas… and Llantrisant Folk Club warmly welcomes two of the mainstays of folk tradition – Jackie Oates, described by The Independent On Sunday as having “the sweetest voice of her generation of English folkies”, and Bellowhead  melodeon member John Spiers, currently celebrating the release of the latest Spiers & Boden album Fallow Ground. 

Jackie was born in Congleton, Cheshire, in 1983 but grew up in Staffordshire. A member of Rachel Unthank & The Winterset, now called The Unthanks, she has recorded three solo albums. John – better known in folk circles as ‘Squeezy’ – is one of the leading melodeon players of his time.

Please watch this video of Jackie and John in the recent covid lockdown, performing together while staying at home! 

The Omicron Wave: We will be holding this concert in the Main Hall. This will allow more space for social distancing and help keep us Covid safe. If you can, please follow the Welsh Government guidelines to “flow before you go”.

Friday, December 10, 2021: Llantrisant Folk Club Homecoming Concert – Llantrisant Guildhall, Castle Green, Llantrisant CF72 8EE, 7.30pm

The Guildhall is hosting Llantrisant Folk Club, its singers and musicians – an evening of great music, song, stories and rhymes, including an appearance with the Mari Lwyd. (£5 admission)

December 1, 2021: Quicksilver

Hilary Spencer and Grant Baynham are a pair of tremendous performers who can turn their prodigious talents to any style of song from folk to jazz via blues and French chanson. Their repertoire includes songs by Jake Thackray, Victoria Wood and Grant’s own offerings, both comedic and serious. Hilary’s fabulous voice and incredible dynamic range is complemented by Grant’s voice and virtuoso guitar which offers styles from John Williams to Django Reinhardt. There simply is not another duo like them. They’ll grab the audience’s attention and not let it go from the opening notes to the last encore.

Hilary holds the prestigious record of appearing at Llantrisant Folk Club more times than any other artist – her voice is a thing of beauty. The smoothly-powerful centre of Artisan’s benchmark a cappella for 20 years, she has rightly been described as: “A Rolls Royce of a voice, one of the defining sounds of English Folk” (Steve Ritchie, of the Ontario band Tanglefoot.) 

Grant matches the baroque style of his songwriting with a guitar technique of gorgeous intricacy. His lengthy broadcasting credits include four years on BBC1’s That’s Life! As Ned Sherrin put it: “Comic song touched with gold.” 

Watch the video of Quicksilver kicking the whatsit out of Victoria Wood’s ‘Ballad of Barry and Freda’ – enjoy!  

 

November 17, 2021: 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 tto 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.

The former musician of the Dublin-based Fourwinds band 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.

October 20, 2021: Jeremy Harmer

Jeremy Harmer is musician, a guitarist and a singer-songwriter. He’s also a writer of books, mostly about the teaching of English as a foreign language – or books directly aimed at students of English themselves. He has worked in Mexico and the UK, in New York and elsewhere. He has worked with teachers all over the world and addressed many conferences. 

 

October 6, 2021:  Rapsquillion

Now in its 20th year, Rapsquillion, award-winning but grizzled veterans of the Shropshire and mid-Wales folk music scene, has, in its various incarnations, been producing its own brand of close harmony music, mostly a capella and usually based on traditional words and music.

They say: “We used to describe ourselves as a ‘folk group’. The eclectic mix of our music now travels from 15th Century frottola to 21st Century protest song, and on the way calls in on parody, traditional music from around the world, 1940s jazz and the chapel hymn book – so we’re not sure what we are any more, other than a group of friends who enjoy spending time and making music together.”

September 22, 2021: 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. Watch the Sidmouth Festival video of Geoff singing ‘Tie ‘Em Up’, his tribute to the Cornish trawlermen. He is now working with banjo virtuoso Rob Murch, which guarantees to be a bumper night.

September 8, 2021:  Huw Williams

Huw Williams comes from Brynmawr and began his professional career as a singer songwriter. He toured and recorded as part of the duo Huw and Tony Williams, whose songs have been covered by many other artists in the USA and Europe, including Fairport Convention – whose version of Summer Before the War and Simon Nicol’s Rosemary’s Sister brought Huw’s work to a much wider audience. Huw has also worked as a broadcaster producing and presenting programs for BBC in the UK.

 

August 18, 2021: The Jigantics 

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

2020

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 – please watch this video!

“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

March 4, 2020: Dathlu Wythnos Gŵyl Dewi / Celebrating St David’s Week

It’s St David’s Week – the holiday when all Wales traditionally observes our national patron saint. St David was the bishop of Mynyw (now St David’s); the son of St Non, he was born in c. 500AD and died  in c. 589AD. In fact, St David was the only patron saint to be born in his native country; England’s St George was born in Armenia, Ireland’s St Patrick was born in Wales and Scotland’s St Andrew was born in Palestine!

Pat says that to celebrate St David’s Week, she’s might make some leek and potato soup… 

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.

 

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.

​Fiddler Rob Strawson, from the original Blake’s Three, contributes the sound. Watch this video of the Acoustic Meeting Ground at Pontardawe Arts Centre, with Rob, Martin and Aidan performing Van Morrison’s ‘Tupelo Honey’.

January 22, 2020: Showcase with Dragon’s Breath (Wales)

One of South Wales’ most experienced twmpath/ ceilidh bands have broken free from the restraints of the dance hall to bring you a Showcase of their favourite tunes and songs. A good time for all is guaranteed!

 

2019

December 18, 2019: Christmas Party #2: Carolling & Crumpets with John Kirkpatrick

Taking its title from John’s unforgettable song telling the Nativity story from the point of view of the animals in the stable, this show is a heart-warming look at the timeless rituals found in the folklore and folk music at Midwinter. John peels away the commercial gloss of modern Christmas to reveal the powerful pagan urges that race through us all at this time of year, and the life and death struggle that is symbolised in so many traditional songs and customs.

And if that all sounds just a little too intense, then rest assured that the mysterious and murky goings-on in these magical songs of wassailing, wren-hunting, stirring the fire, and incessant feasting, all come dressed up in a glittering finery of toe-tapping tunes and cracking choruses. Add to the mixture a light-hearted smattering of hilarious original songs, a sprinkling of carols both familiar and unfamiliar, all stirred up with John’s usual panache and energy, and supported by his scintillating skill on a variety of squeeze-boxes, and you have an unbeatable recipe for having a rattling good sing, guaranteed to keep the spirits cheery and the cold at bay.

Sunday, December 22, 2019: The Llantrisant Mari Lwyd tour

The Mari Lwyd goes on her seasonal Midwinter visit, calling on several pubs in the Llantrisant area and wishing landlords and customers a Merry Christmas and good health for the coming year. Meet at The Athletic Club (12pm for car share), The Pipeworks, Pontyclun, The Dynevor Arms, Groes Faen (12pm), The Penny Farthing, Southgate, visiting Llantrisant Old Town hosteltries and a private house, ending at The Cross Inn (4.15pm-ish) & The Boar’s Head, Tyla Garw (8pm).

November 20: Tommy Sands (Ireland)

Tommy was born in Mayobridge, County Down in 1945 – and this singer, songwriter and social activist has achieved something akin to legendary status in his own lifetime. From the pioneering days with the highly influential Sands Family, bringing Irish Music from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Moscow’s Olympic Stadium, he has developed into one of the most powerful songwriters and enchanting solo performers in Ireland today. His songwriting, which draws the admiration of Nobel Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney and father of folk music Pete Seeger, prompts respected US magazine Sing Out to regard him as “the most powerful songwriter in Ireland, if not the rest of the world”.

His songs, such as  ‘There Were Roses’ and ‘Daughters And Sons’, have been recorded by Joan Baez, Kathy Matthea, Dolores Keane, Sean Keane, Frank Patterson, Dick Gaughan, The Dubliners and many others. His verses have been translated into many languages and are currently included in the English language syllabus in German secondary schools.

November 6, 2019: Dan McKinnon (Canada)

A big welcome back for Dan! Folk music enthusiasts just cannot mistake this

native Nova Scotian for his wonderful

deep-brown baritone voice, the flowing liquidity of his guitar, his prolific songwriting, his inspired storytelling and his larger-than-life personality that keeps his audiences transfixed and thoroughly fascinated thoughout his performing career. Playing French horn in various youth orchestras helped to form Dan’s love of music, but it was two defining influences that showed him a new direction. During a summer break at the Nova Scotia Teachers’ Training College, Dan picked up his sister’s seldom-used 100-dollar guitar – and he was smitten. And hitching a ride to a folk festival, he was introduced to the magic of Stan Rogers’ songwriting; hearing Stan’s performance would never leave him, and in the midst of a history degree he decided to take the plunge and go on the road. Dan has played concerts, festivals and folk clubs around the world, and he has released six albums: Just Another Day, Fields Of Dreams And Glory, Minstrel In The Rain,  Songs From The Hearth, Chasing Sunsets and Between Wind And Water.

Watch this video of Dan singing ‘Wandering Days’ at the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival on America’s East Coast in 2014.

October 30, 2019: Hallowe’en Special with Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton (Wales)

From the wilds of Gower, Andrew and Carole present their spooky Special, featuring seasonal songs, sketches, costumed characters and shadow puppets….a little bit of theatre!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

 

October 9, 2019: Phoebe Rees (Wales / Scotland)

Photo: Alan Maxwell

Originally from Oswestry, Phoebe grew up in Scotland – and it was in the North West Highlands where she began learning the fiddle. After going on to study as a classical viola player in Edinburgh and London, she is now living back in Oswestry. She is exploring a new sound by combining fiddle, viola and voice and getting back to her roots in Scottish and other traditional music. Over the past year, Wales has heard her performing, from the Cwlwm Celtaidd festival to the North Welsh coast – please watch a video of Phoebe playing and singing the Joan Baez composition ‘Prison Trilogy’ at Rhyl Folk Club – and another video of Phoebe’s amalgamation of the Fred Morrison/Bob Dylan tune-ballad ‘The Aird Ranters’/ ‘Seven Curses’.

October 2, 2019: Showcase with Bruce Watson (Australia)

Bruce is a witty humorist, writer and performer with the power to move audiences to tears. His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with sharp lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful song craftsman, be they evocative and heart-wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.

September 18, 2019: Colum Sands (Ireland)

A warm welcome back for Colum, who has performed in over thirty countries around the world – confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humorous details of life. A member of the internationally renowned Sands Family from County Down, Colum established his reputation as a songwriter with the release of his first solo album, Unapproved Road, in 1981. Songs like ‘Whatever You Say, Say Nothing’ and ‘Almost Every Circumstance’ were soon in the repertoire of artists from Billy Connolly to Maddy Prior and June Tabor. His second album, The March Ditch, inspired a special BBC television documentary and songs like ‘The Man With The Cap’ and ‘Looking The Loan Of A Spade’ confirmed his unique ability to observe locally and appeal universally.

In March 2001 Colum joined Middle Eastern storyteller Sharon Aviv for a tour of Israel and a concert in that country’s first integrated school and village for Jews and Arabs, Neve Shalom. This concert inspired the song ‘The Child Who Asks You Why’ and ‘Going Down To The Well With Maggie’, just two of the songs which appeared on a unique collection of songs and stories, Talking To The Wall, released by Colum and Sharon in 2002.

The endless range of venues around the world inspired the title track of Colum’s seventh album, Look Where I’ve Ended Up Now. Meetings on the road with Scottish Gaelic singer Maggie MacInnes led to another fascinating project and a new album, The Seedboat, investigating musical and linguistic links between Ireland and Scotland. There are many more albums, and between touring and recording, countless other performers have been introduced to the airwaves through Colum’s work as a presenter of BBC Radio Ulster’s Folk Club programme. He has also broadcast a series of programmes for BBC Radio 2 and has compiled and presented a series RTE Radio called Rootin About. Watch a video of Colum performing ‘The Wake Song’ in the Humph Hall in Sydney, Australia in 2016.

September 4, 2019: Josie Duncan & Pablo Lafuente (Scotland/Spain)

2017 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Winners Josie and Pablo are a vocal/guitar duo like no other. Calling the Isle of Lewis and Glasgow/Spain home, their music focuses on many strands of Scotland’s web of traditions where centuries-old ballads meet Gaelic Puirt A Beul, songs from the mines and cotton mills, as well as some original writing. Josie’s crystal-clear voice, with its slight island twang, is equally at home in any of these domains. Accompanied by Pablo’s dynamic, sensitive guitar playing, they illuminate the lyrics. Their music, at times sparse and haunting, at others driving and all-consuming, leaves audiences stunned.

They are both accomplished musicians in their own right. Josie is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she studied with some of the masters of the Scottish and Gaelic traditions. She has toured extensively, performing at festivals and venues in Europe, Canada and America. Her other projects include a collaboration with innovative Gaelictronica band Inyal, and Blasta, a showcase of singers of the Isle of Lewis, commissioned by this year’s Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Pablo’s experiences are no less varied; he has put down cultural roots in Scotland, exploring the tradition to its deepest core. Since completing his studies of guitar and fiddle at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, he has been in high demand, playing, recording and touring internationally with artists including The Outside Track, Barluath, Sketch and Spanish gaita extraordinaire Anxo Lorenzo. Since joining forces in 2016, Josie and Pablo have taken the scene by storm, quickly becoming one of Scotland’s most in-demand live acts at festivals and venues across the country. They were nominated for Folk Band Of The Year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. Watch a video of Josie and Pablo performing ‘Shift and Spin’.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

August 14, 2019: Mike O’Connor and Barbara Griggs (Cornwall)

These two make music of breathtaking beauty on a variety of musical instruments, principally the harp, violin, octave violin, and viol. Mike is one of the leading researchers of music in Cornwall, and Barbara is a respected early music specialist. Together they perform a unique repertoire, the product of unprecedented scholarship that has led to the discovery of many early manuscripts and previously unconsidered sources in Cornwall.

Mike is well-known for his song-writing, and his bulging portfolio – which contains items such as such as ‘Carrying Nelson Home’ – has a wide following. He is also a well-respected storyteller, with a deep knowledge of Cornish legends and folk tales, and a mesmerising skill with language. An evening with Mike and Barbara is relaxed and highly entertaining, a delightful blend of fact, fiction, An evening with Mike and Barbara is a delightful blend of fact, fiction, and music – balm for the soul!

July 31, 2019: Matthew Byrne (Canada)

Matthew Byrne is (according to Penguin Eggs Magazine): “possibly the finest interpreter of traditional songs in the country.” A Canadian folk singer and guitarist, he has performed and recorded both as a solo artist and as a member of The Dardanelles, the stunning five-member Newfoundland music band based in their home town of St John’s, who released an album The Eastern Light (produced by our very own John Doyle) in 2011. The son of Joe Byrne of the folk duo Pat and Joe Byrne, Matthew released his debut solo album Ballads in 2010 and his second album, Hearts and Heroes, was released in 2014. He received two Canadian Folk Music Award nominations at the 11th Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2015 – Traditional Album, for which he won the award, and Traditional Singer. His third album, Horizon Lines, was released in 2017 and won Traditional Recording of the Year at the 2018 Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Please watch a video of Matthew performing ‘The Eastern Light’, accompanied by The Dardanelles. He intends spreading his wings as a solo artist outside Canada – watch this space! In another video, Matthew uses his beautiful voice on a solo rendering of ‘True Love Knows No Season

July 17, 2019: MrsAckroyd

What can we say about the incredibly brilliant and awesomely daft trio? Cleckheaton Folk Festival put it into words: “Despite the absence of Les Barker, his strange imagination still soars to musical heights through the stunning voices of Alison Younger and Hilary Spencer and the keyboard wizardry of Chris Harvey. Alison, Hilary and Chris musically recreate the weird and wonderful world of the internationally acclaimed poet, philosopher, photographer and fruitcake and continue to perform the marvellous nonsense that is MrsAckroyd…” Please watch a video of the trio taking a break from Mr Barker’s lunacy and delighting and entertaining the Fylde Folk Festival audience with ‘The Lonely Goatherd.

This concert was supported by the Arts Council of Wales’ Night Out grant.

July 3, 2019: Martin Curtis (New Zealand)

Martin lives in Cardrona, the Central Otago area nestling in the Southern Alps in the South Island of New Zealand; 37 years after he released his debut recording, Gin & Raspberry, the veteran folk singer, song-writer, climber and tour guide has released 10 albums and one DVD, Otago My Home. The folk song ‘Gin And Raspberry’ – which Martin wrote about a Cardrona gold mine – has become a classic ‘hit’, with folk singers all over the world performing it.

This may be the last tour for Martin – so the Llantrisant Folk Club audience will have a last chance to hear his memorable songs and his irrepressible humour. (£8 admission, £5 members)

June 12, 2019: Eirwen Malin – Sorting The Sock Drawer (Wales)

A highly entertaining and fun storytelling Showcase evening, written and performed by local storyteller Eirwen, in aid of  the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and/or Parkinson’s UK. Eirwen, a Parkinson’s sufferer, says: “I have worked in the voluntary, arts and adult education sector in Wales for more years than I really want to admit to. I’ve been around the block a bit. In traditional stories, the ‘henwife’ knows a thing or two; she is the one who knows when to bring around a nourishing soup, when to offer practical help, when to ask a question and when to just listen. I hope I am beginning to have some of the henwife’s wisdom.

“It is two hundred years since James Parkinson wrote his ‘Essay on the shaking Palsy’ and gave the pesky condition his name. Many still know little of it, beyond the shaking – the anniversary is a chance to learn. Sorting the Sock Drawer takes an entertaining look at Parkinson’s from the perspective of two intertwining stories, one mythical, one personal. Each protagonist faces challenges, gain strengths, goes through ups and downs, experiences laughter as well as loss and arrives at journey’s end with a changed but meaningful life.”

A diagnosis of a neurodegenerative condition like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, MS or others, is a life changer. ‘Something is wrong in your brain!’ is the message, and it can feel like an assault on your sense of self, your very identity. It takes a bit of getting used to. Supported by The National Lottery Community Fund, Slow Motion Selfies, is a pilot project hosted by storytelling charity Beyond The Border designed to help individuals affected to be positively creative.

Admission: £5 on the door for members and non-members alike – in aid of Slow Motion Selfies.

May 29, 2019: Showcase with Jody Kruskal (USA)

Jody 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; he’s on a short tour doing folk clubs and being booked as a tutor at Swaledale Squeeze Concertina Weekend. He’s on the bill at Chippenham Festival and at Fire In The Mountain Festival, Aberystwyth, as well. His latest album is called Train On The Island and shows songs and tunes from the days of rail. We nabbed him to play a showcase, just before he drives off to visit his ancestral home in Tywyn. 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!

May 22, 2019: The Hut People

Taking the audience on a musical journey around the world, English instrumental duo The Hut People – accordionist Sam Pirt (ex-Chipolatas) and percussionist Gary Hammond (ex-The Beautiful South) – have firmly established themselves as one of THE most unique, entertaining and best-loved acts on the UK folk scene today. Mixing global rhythms with folk tunes from Quebec to Spain, Scandinavia to Sussex and everywhere in between, this is a quirky celebration of our rich musical heritage – and it works so well!

This is a show like nothing you’ve ever seen before – expect feel-good dancing tunes, audience participation, step dancing, Quebecois foot-percussion (whilst playing the accordion!) and humour aplenty. Here are some reviews: “A bewildering array of percussion and accordion-fired compositions…truly infectious!”  (R2)… “Remarkable” (The Living Tradition)…  “The festival season is nearly upon us, and with The Hut People gracing many of this year’s bashes, their infectious ‘World Folk’ will surely be winning them many new fans” (Songlines)… “This is a brilliantly unique sound…piano accordion and percussion defiantly unbounded by British traditions as they stride into world music” (The Scotsman)…  “The only band to have been asked back 10 times consecutively – because they’re so good!” (Swaledale Festival)

Please watch a video of Sam and Gary on stage at last year’s Chester Folk Festival. (£8 admission, £5 members)

May 8, 2019: John Doyle (Ireland)

Name many of the most notable recordings and/or performers in Irish music, and it’s a fair bet that the Irish guitar wizard John Doyle had something to do with them – Liz Carroll; Eileen Ivers; Karan Casey;  the Irish-American band Solas (which John co-founded); Michael Black; Mary Black; the trio of McCusker, McGoldrick and Doyle; and now Usher’s Island (Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, Mike McGoldrick, Paddy Glackin and John Doyle), not to mention the hugely popular Transatlantic Sessions. This list is a veritable Who’s Who of the greatest names in Irish music, and these are just a very few of the stellar artists for whom John’s signature guitar sound, singing or songwriting is essential.

Impossibly in demand in the studio and on the road, immensely talented and blessed with an acute ear, a wicked sense of rhythm and seemingly endless stream of magic in his playing, composing, performing and producing, John is solidly establishing himself as one of the most versatile, creative and prolific voices in folk and traditional Irish music. He is resident in the United States, and these are just a few of the American press tributes: “Doyle on guitar has risen to a level occupied by him alone. No one in Irish traditional music is a better guitarist than him right now” (The Wall Street Journal); “A complete rhythm section all on his own” (Chicago Tribune); “More talent than anybody deserves to have all to themselves” (Philadelphia News).  Watch a video  of ‘Clear The Way’, his take on Thomas Francis Meagher, Irish nationalist and Brigadier General of the Irish Brigade.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

 

May 1, 2019: Blanche Rowen, Mike Gulston & Cath Little: Bringing In The May (Wales)

Songs and stories to celebrate May Day, Beltane, Calan Mai and the coming of summer! Expect songs of Maytime antics, of trees and troubadours and The Devil outwitted, of Robin Hood and Jack-in-the-Green, woven through with tales of otherworldly transformations in a landscape of legend, in a time out of time – and one from Llantrisant! Blanche and Mike’s harmony voices are accompanied by guitar and octave mandola, laud and bowed psaltery, and Cath will weave weird, wise and wonderful stories to welcome in the summer.  (£5 admission for everyone).

 

April 17, 2019: Mairearad Green & Anna Massie (Scotland)

This is a must-see and a must-hear! Two of Scotland’s most revered multi-instrumentalists, Mairearad (accordion and bagpipes) and Anna (guitar, banjo, fiddle) are a truly captivating duo, providing a highly-energetic performance with an instantly warm and friendly stage presence. Having played alongside each other for over ten years, they revel in an intuitive approach to each other’s musical ideas and interpretations, and an “almost telepathic communication” on stage (Hi-Arts), effortlessly showcasing the fruits of duo partnership to the highest level, creating “music more than the sum of just two parts” (The Scotsman).

Now based in Glasgow, Mairearad and Anna both grew up in the Scottish Highlands amidst very similar musical backgrounds – most notably, mandolin-playing Dads – and so share an innate understanding of Scottish culture and music. As a duo, they have enjoyed many successes, including five stars in The Scotsman and high praise from KT Tunstall, becoming a much-loved live act. Their three albums (2009’s eponymous debut, ‘Doubling’ in 2013 and ‘Best Day’ in 2015) have met wide acclaim. Mairearad and Anna was recorded live, just the two musicians – the live double act – whilst Doubling features many layered tracks, building a more complex sound, though still just from the two musicians. At the heart of Doubling remains the live duo sets, intricately arranged and executed with symbiotic sympathy, enhancing their “must-see” reputation. Watch a video of Polkas!

(£8 admission, £5 members)

April 3, 2019: Pat’s birthday bash with The Fishguard Folk Singers 

The Fishguard Folk Singers come all the way from Pembrokeshire to bring you songs of the sea, seasonal songs and tunes, fund-raising to benefit the continuation of the Fishguard Folk Festival, in conjunction with other worthy causes. If you want to organise a fundraiser of your choice, the Singers will turn up and perform for you; all they ask for is a donation to the festival funds! (£8 admission, £5 members)

March 13, 2019: Judy Cook (USA)

Judy is an author, a folk singer and an entertainer who used to live in Maryland, but for the past five years she and her husband Dennis has settled in Ohio. She has  been on the road since the early 1990s, making her own the songs and ballads of traditional Americana and the British Isles. She has family roots in Virginia, born into a family who loved music, which led to a personal discovery of the rich and varied treasure of folk music. She has four albums; Her first CD of unaccompanied traditional songs and ballads, If You Sing Songs…, was released in 1998, followed two years later by Far From the Lowlands. Tenting Tonight: Songs of the Civil War was out in 2007, and Lincoln’s America in 2009. She has released eight albums, including two albums (Light & Shade and Well Met), released in 2018.)

July was the third of four children, and she grew up with singing from both parents and a love for music: “We sang at the table, we sang washing dishes, we sang riding in the car, they sang lullabies to us.” Singing went beyond the immediate family: Judy’s father sang squares for neighbourhood dances and played songs on the piano by ear, and Judy’s mother made sure singing was a big part of the scout troops she led; extended family gatherings often featured evening sings. Judy’s  joy of singing date from her earliest years.

February 27, 2019: Showcase with Mike Johnson (Wales)

Cardiff songwriter Mike Johnson records material about important events in the city’s life; from a folk club organiser to a Cardiff leisure centre and Coal Exchange events manager, Mike’s troubadour presence charts Cardiff’s history. (£3 admission)

 

February 20, 2019: Solasta

Solasta are an outstanding new folk trio who are fast building a name for themselves with their inventive arrangements, unique sound and exhilarating live performances. Comprised of award-winning Scottish fiddler Elisabeth Flett, Welsh cellist Hannah Thomas – talented daughter of Porthcawl singing duo Neil and Louise Thomas – and English guitarist Jamie Leeming, their dynamic interpretations of Celtic-based material are rooted firmly in tradition, whilst incorporating elements from diverse musical worlds including classical, jazz and early music. Sheena Wellington, Patron of the Traditional Music Association of Scotland​​, enthusiastically reviewed their show: “Solasta gave one of the most exhilarating and enchanting performances we have ever had….breathtakingly good, consummate young musicians with true flair and imagination.”

The trio recorded their debut EP in 2016 and released their first full-length album, A Cure For The Curious, in 2018 -The Guardian hailed it as Album Of The Month and gave it four stars, and fRoots Magazine made it Editor’s Choice! Watch a video of Solasta playing at the prestigious Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

Febuary 13, 2019: Club Swap Night – Lyceum Folk Club

Showcasing The Lyceum Folk & Acoustic Club’s floor musicians and singers with a one-hour spot. (£3 admission)

February 6, 2019: Club Swap Night – Barry Folk Club

Showcasing Barry Folk Club’s floor musicians and singers with a one-hour spot. (£3 admission)

January 30, 2019: Keith Donnelly

Keith Donnelly – stand-up comic, fall-down comedian, surreal snigger-songwriter, guitar-hero, performance-artist, (tall) story-teller, philosopher, scriptwriter, (none can) compere, man-of-mystery, inner-childminder, actor, stuntman, metaphysical poet, human ping-pong ball, life and soul of the (kids) party, world-class athlete, leading socialite, raconteur, business tycoon, wit, author, half-wit, secret (sh!) agent, (Vauxhall) astral-traveller, shaman, Geordie cultural attache, word-juggler, snake-charmer, underline-dancer, unexpected clairvoyant, dream-weaver, daydream believer, psycho-linguist, shark-wrangler, smile sculptor, (compulsive) lying-tamer, Great British eccentric, (alleged) international jewel thief, hot-dog skier, alien abductee, zen grand-master, champion tiddly-winker, sand-dancer, friend to the pantomime horse, erstwhile slice of bacon and all-round good egg. Here’s a video of Keith at Southwell Folk Festival, with the audience just loving it.

January 9, 2019: The Rumblestrutters (Wales)

John Toft (vocals, mandolin, banjo), Jonathan Nicholas and Liam Ward bring the Prohibition era to the party! The Swansea-based acoustic three-piece vividly evoke the blues, jazz and jug-band music of the 1920s – and their debut album, Prohibition Blues, has been greeted with international radio play and critical acclaim. The album has confirmed the trio’s reputation, with stellar performances at top festivals across the land.

Equally adept at classic material and original compositions, The Rumblestrutters’ performances have to be seen to be believed. Luscious harmonies and virtuosity combine in songs of bootleg liquor, late night parties, and even the odd hubbly-bubbly pipe.  Started when Jon found an ink jug at the back of an old cupboard, the trio features the virtuoso guitar-playing and voice of Jonathan and Liam Ward on vocals, harmonica and jug. Songs of bootleg liquor, all-night parties and bacchanalia abound, tapped from a rich musical source. The Rumblestrutters bring you the authentic sounds of 1920s and ’30s America – Paul Seligman shot this video of the last time they played at the Club in 2017.

(£8 admission, £5 members)

2018

December 19, 2018: Christmas Party No. 2 with Belshazzar’s Feast

A big welcome back for  this magnificent duo!  The best tribute comes from from Mike Harding, who reviewed Sidmouth Festival for The Mike Harding Show: “My personal find of the festival – Paul Hutchinson and Paul Sartin play like no-one else you’ve ever heard. Their music is breathtaking and wickedly inventive and the between-tunes interchange as intelligent and hilarious as the music. But don’t let me give you the impression they’re a lightweight comedy act: they finish the set with a haunting piece of oboe and accordion magic which has the audience spellbound.” Watch a video of the two Pauls performing the appropriate festive carol ‘King Herod And The Cock’. (£9 admission, £6 members – supported by an Arts Council Night Out Grant)

November 21, 2018:  Cosmotheka

The Cosmotheka was a rather seedy, rather dirty and rather run-down music hall in a less-than-salubrious area of Marylebone, Loetween 1857 and 1869. From 1972 to 1999, Birmingham-born brothers Dave and Al Sealey were Cosmotheka – performing the songs of the Halls, they were considered by many to be the finest interpreters of the genre, and appeared at venues across the country and around the world. There were numerous radio series and television appearances, and their many fans included Roy Hudd, Bob Monkhouse and Chas & Dave.

Since the tragic death of Al in 1999, Dave has returned to the stage in many collaborations, and particularly a solo career, including one-man shows of the work of two iconic performers, Stanley Holloway and Max Miller. Now the next generation is taking part – and Dave’s son, Dan Sealey, will be joining his father to recreate “a lot of the old songs, with a new twist”. Dan, having grown up with the songs, has his own take on the material. An accomplished musician, as bass player with the rock group Ocean Colour Scene, he is no stranger to the big stage. Dan’s guitar skills and dry wit introduce a compelling new dimension to the collaboration. Watch a video of Dave and Dan, accompanied by Adam Barry, at last year’s Bromyard Folk Festival (£8 admission, £5 members)

November 14, 2018: Showcase with Kathy Wallis – Hedd Wyn through story and song 

Llantrisant Folk Club friend and teachers’ union organiser Kathy, resident in Cornwall, tells the true story of Hedd Wyn, the bardic name of Ellis Humphrey Evans; he was born in Trawsfynydd and became a shepherd, farmer and pacifist, but was fatally wounded at Pickem Ridge within the first few hours of the Third Battle of Ypres on July 31, 1917, the start of The Battle of Passchendaele. He was posthumously awarded the bard’s chair at the 1917 Birkenhead Eisteddfod; the chair was draped in black, and the Eisteddfod became known as Eisteddfod y Gadair Ddu (The Eisteddfod of the Black Chair). (£3 admission)

November 7, 2018: Sarah McQuaid (USA)

Photo by Phil Nicholls (www.philnicholls.co.uk)

“The precision and sophistication of the writing and playing blows me away. I am so glad to be involved,” writes guitar legend Michael Chapman in his introduction to Sarah’s fifth solo album, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous – which he offered to produce after meeting the Madrid-born, Chicago-raised and Cornwall-based singer/songwriter at a festival where they were both on the bill.

Recently honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ards International Guitar Festival in Northern Ireland, Sarah has also drawn critical praise for her voice (which has been variously likened to malt whisky and melted chocolate) and her engaging rapport with audiences. The Award was in recognition of her innovative use of the DADGAD tuning and her authorship of The Irish DADGAD Guitar Book. She regularly presents workshops on DADGAD tuning at festivals, music schools and venues around the globe, and is working on a follow-up book on DADGAD song.

Sarah was taught piano and guitar by her folksinging mother. From the age of twelve she was embarking on tours of the US and Canada with the Chicago Children’s Choir, and at 18 she went to France for a year to study philosophy at the University of Strasbourg. She moved to Ireland in 1994 and lived there for 13 years, working as a music journalist and magazine editor. In 2007, She moved to Ireland in 1994 and lived there for 13 years, working as a music journalist and magazine editor. In 2007, she re-released her 1997 debut solo album of Irish traditional songs and instumentals, When Two Lovers Meet, and she launched her solo career with a performance on Irish national television as the musical guest on RTE’s arts show The View. The same year saw her moving to Cornwall, and in 2008 she released her second album, I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning, a celebration of old-time Appalachian folk, with Sarah’s arrangements punctuated by her own compositions. Recent albums include Walking Into White (2015). There’s a video of Sarah’s interpretation of Buffalo Springfield’s For What It’s Worth (What’s That Sound), recorded at Evesham Arts Centre. (£8 admission, £5 members)

October 31, 2018: Hallowe’en Special!!

…Or Nos Galan Gaeaf (from the Welsh translation, The Eve Of Winter)… We tasted the old Welsh recipe Stwmp Naw Rhyw, the Mash of Nine Sorts, nine being the magical factor; the mash consisted of potatoes, swedes, turnips, peas, carrots, leeks, butter, salt and pepper (butter substituted for milk). A ring would be hidden, and some lucky soul who discovered it would be married within the next year… A plethora of highlights included John Prior’s amazing and spooktacular ‘Tam Lin’ (in two parts!) and Greg Rowlands’ ‘Mallt Y Nos’ – thanks, Pat (pictured here) for a gorgeous stwmp!  You can see loads of photos in the Llantrisant Folk Club Facebook.

October 24, 2018: The Carrivick Sisters

The Carrivick Sisters are one of the UK’s top young bluegrass and folk acts. Twins Laura and Charlotte perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen covers on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and clawhammer banjo. Their busy touring schedule is rapidly building them a reputation for engaging and entertaining live performances with tight sibling vocal harmonies and multi-instrumental virtuosity. Having grown up in South Devon, an area rich in folk lore and legends, much of their original material is inspired by their local surroundings and history.

As well as touring all over the UK, the Carrivick Sisters have performed at major festivals in Canada and mainland Europe. They have released five studio albums: My Own Two Feet (2006), Better Than 6 Cakes (2007), Jupiter’s Corner (2009), From the Fields (2011) and Over the Edge (2013) to much critical acclaim and airplay worldwide. Their sixth album, 10 Years Live, was recorded live at The Convent in Stroud; it’s a ten-year retrospective and celebration, with half of the album being old favourites chosen by fans and the other half previously unrecorded material. Watch a video of them performing at Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire. (£8 admission, £5 members)

October 17, 2018: Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

The Guardian recommends: “To be a great folk singer, you have to be a great storyteller, as Jimmy and Sid are clearly aware. The duo are both fine singers and multi-instrumentalists.” Jimmy and Sid claim to be one of the finest duos to have emerged onto the British folk and acoustic scene in recent years. Their combination of outstanding vocal work, sensitive instrumentation, and a powerful social conscience has brought them widespread critical acclaim. Their performances pinpoint a common thread of political struggle, resistance, and justice – watch a video of Jimmy and Sid performing Chris Wood’s ‘The Cottager’s Reply’, adapted from Frank Mansel’s poem. (£8 admission, £5 members)

October 3, 2018: Chris Foster

Chris was born in Somerset and is a master of his trade; he was recently described as “one of the finest singers and most thoughtful inventive guitar accompanists of English folk songs.” His latest album, Hadelin –  recorded at Stiwdio Felin Fach in Abergavenny, with Jim Moray producing and Dylan Fowler engineering – was awarded five stars in FolkWales Online Magazine, and fRoots Magazine correspondent Colin Irwin praised him: “Chris Foster merits legend status, one of the very best in the second wave of the Brit folk revival, as important as Martin Carthy, Dick Gaughan and Nic Jones in the way he modernised and invested traditional songs with inventive guitar arrangements and potent vocal delivery.”

In 2001, as well as solo performing, Chris started working with the Icelandic traditional singer Bára Grímsdóttir, adding the traditional Icelandic instruments, langspil and fiðla to his repertoire. As the duo Funi, they have been performing, recording and broadcasting and teaching in Europe, North America and China as well as Iceland and the UK. In December 2004 they took up residence in Reykjavík, where they continue to explore and perform the musical traditions of their two islands, Check out Funi at: www.funi-iceland.com – and please watch Chris singing ‘The Seeds Of Love’ at the Hadelin launch concert in Reykjavík. (£8 admission, £5 members)

September 5, 2018: Reg Meuross

What a time it is to be a Reg Meuross fan, with three albums released in just over a year. Two of these, December and Faraway People, are highly acclaimed parts of a trilogy, the title track of the latter winning Song Of The Year at the recent Fatea Awards.

Songs About A Train in part answers the question of what happens to the tracks that don’t make the final release; the ones that slip down the back of the sofa. The last compilation of unreleased material resulted in The Dreamed And The Drowned, with Head Librarian at the Bodleian Music Library Stephen Jordan helping to bring that album to life. While Stephen sadly passed away in 2015, this album is a nod of appreciation to the man that said, “some songs are right books put on the wrong shelves.”

In many ways you know what you’re going to get with a Reg Meuross album; gorgeous and moving songs, full of heart and soul. Yet every release is distinctly unique. Songs About A Train is less political than Faraway People, though it has lost none of the humanity. Three of the collection had an airing at last year’s album launch, and it’s wonderful to see them getting on an album. ‘A Quiet Night’ is performed on Reg’s trusty Appalachian dulcimer, and is an understated joy. ‘The World Being The World’ was birthed by a somewhat nihilistic quote from Ian McShane on the TV show Deadwood – fortunately the track is a little more optimistic. Then there is the title track, which opened the album launch, played on banjo, and is destined to become a favourite.  Watch this video of Reg telling the true story of Dick Turpin and singing ‘Lizzie Loved A Highwayman’. And you know what? Seeing Reg live is just the icing on the cake!  (£8 admission, £5 members)

September 19, 2018: Guto Dafis & Danny Kilbride (Wales)

Guto and Danny are unique – Wales’ favourite storyteller, melodeon player and singer combined with blissful guitar work by trac‘s director in a magical mix which blends Welsh traditional songs and English contemporary material, performed with charm, wry humour,  passion and impressive accompaniment. Watch this video of Guto and Danny performing ‘Pill Sailor’ in Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. (£8 admission, £5 members)

August 15, 2018: Bob Wood (Scotland)

bob woodBob was born in the West Coast of Scotland but is based in London; he’s a warm and engaging solo singer and performer with an easy going sense of humour and a highly accomplished finger-style guitarist. Exploring a range of open tunings, his playing and song interpretations have been described as displaying a rare sensitivity, lightness of touch and great technique.

He has produced a couple of solo albums, When The Moon Sits Fat On A Scudding Cloud and After The Swithering, which the national folk magazines have described variously as delightful, haunting, reflective and exquisite. As a departure from his regular repertoire, Bob also loves gigging as a duo with Benny Gallagher (McGuinness Flint, Gallagher & Lyle) and features extensively on Benny’s most recent studio album, At The Edge Of The Wave, providing harmony vocals and second guitar parts. “Every time I sit down and play some music with Bob – I come away feeling feel enriched”, says Benny. “If I should ever write a song that I never get the chance to perform, Bob Wood is the man for the job.”

Some other reviews: “An artiste with an eclectic and entertaining repertoire of song which he accompanies with an innovative and always sympathetic guitar style” (Archie Fisher)… “Bob Wood is one of the deftest pickers and tastiest arrangers of songs it has been my pleasure to hear – a real delight!” (Steve Tilston)… “The man has an innate ability to elevate a song. His playing is brilliant and his singing and phrasing are in lock step with the intent behind the song. He’s covered a couple of my own works and I sincerely hope he will do more in the future” (David Francey).  Here’s a Youtube video of Bob at The Ram Folk Club in Surrey (which he founded), chatting to the audience and performing Garnett Rodgers’ song ‘All This Is’. (Admission £8, members £5)

August 8, 2018: Les Barker

Les BarkerLes Barker writes strange poems and comes from originally from Manchester, but he’s now emigrated to North Wales and become a shining example of a fluent Welsh speaker. He was an accountant before he became a professional idiot. He’s written 85 books, which sell in large numbers at his gigs because people don’t quite believe what they’ve just heard. His poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: ‘Jason and the Arguments’, ‘Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower’, ‘Captain Indecisive’ and ‘Spot Of The Antarctic’…  watch him performing  ‘The Shipping Forecast’ at Chester Folk Festival.

Mr Barker began his career as assistant to Mrs Ackroyd, a small hairy mongrel who lay around in folk clubs, bit people and became famous. Mrs Ackroyd was the only dog ever to own her own record label. Since her sad demise, Les is mainly a solo performer, though he has taken to working with humans from time to time. The Mrs Ackroyd Band gradually evolved from an ever-changing Who’s Who of the folk scene into a tightly knit, well-rehearsed group. The band are now playing as a trio, without Mr Barker, and will be far more tightly knit and well-rehearsed. Mr Barker’s Welsh songs are occasionally performed by a trio of Welsh musicians who have had the good sense to keep him out of the band.

Mr Barker has several solo albums to his credit: Dogologues, An Infinite Number Of Occasional Tables, A Cardi And Bloke, Up The Creek Without A Poodle, Arovertherapy and The War On Terrier. He has travelled the length, breadth and height of Great Britain, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and – both solo and with the band – the United States and Canada, and has more recently won prizes for his Welsh poetry, including five small chairs, a big one and a stool.

There are five highly acclaimed albums of his serious work; the folk opera The Stones of Callanish, Some Love, The Wings of Butterflies, Airs Of The Dog and Twilight Of The Dogs, all involving a galaxy of talent. His serious songs have also featured on albums by Martin Carthy and the late Dave Swarbrick and by June Tabor. June invariably includes a smattering of Mr Barker’s serious and comic songs in her live performances.

Showcase with Baggyrinkle (Wales): August 1, 2018

Baggyrinkle (or baggywrinkle, bag-o’-wrinkle) is, according to The Oxford Companion To Ships And The Sea, “a home-made substance to prevent chafe on sails from lifts, stays and crosstrees during long periods of sail.” The shanty group Baggyrinkle was formed in April 1994 with the initial role of hosting the Swansea Maritime & Shanty Festival. The group has since represented their city at its Cockles & Celts Festival. Swansea is twinned with Mannheim, and the crew was invited to the German city to provide entertainment at their prestigious International Rowing Regatta on the Rhine.

Baggyrinkle sing in three-part harmony, and most of the Baggies’ repertoire is traditional, although contemporary songs also feature. They have, in their time, performed at many of the major shanty festivals in the United Kingdom, Eire, Brittany, Holland, Germany, America and Norway. The repertoire features shanties and songs of the sea – but the lads also have a collection of drinking songs, which come in handy as they are often called upon to sing at beer festivals. They also have a wealth of material relating to the mining history.

July 18, 2018: Nick Dow  – CANCELLED: New artist – IAN BRUCE (Scotland)

Nick has cancelled his appearance in Llantrisant Folk Club; his wife, Mally, is due to go into hospital.

Meanwhile, Ian Bruce (pictured here) has kindly stepped in and will be performing for Llantrisant Folk Club on July 18. Ian has recorded a clutch of solo albums, and with his brother Fraser, accompanied by Gregor Lowrey (accordion) and Pete Clark (fiddle) he has been involved with the project and well-loved double album Auld Hat, New Heids which proved a resounding hit at the prestigious Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow.  Ian McCalman (of The McCalmans) paid this tribute: “Ian Bruce is one of the best known faces on the Scottish folk scene and a wonderful ambassador for the Scottish singer/songwriter genre, all over Europe and beyond. His voice has strength and accuracy, his guitar playing is excellent and his songs are beautifully crafted. In these days of amazing instrumentalists and controlled, tuneful singers, Ian is very much a performer to be reckoned with, a gem of the scene who presents his songs with raw emotion, backed up by a joyful and interactive relationship with his audience; a quality so often missing in the current folk scene.” Watch this video of Ian singing ‘Coming Hame’.

July 4, 2018: Molly Evans and Jack Rutter

Molloy Evans Jack RutterMolly Evans is a young singer and fiddle player from Cheshire. Her repertoire ranges from the the big ballads, such as ‘Lord Randall’, to traditional songs like ‘Lovely Polly’; from Peter Bellamy’s arrangement of Kipling songs to the setting of a song from the Susanna Clarke novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

Accompanying her will be fine guitarist Jack Rutter, who is currently making waves playing in the splendid trio and festival favourites Moore Moss Rutter. (Admission £8, members £5) Jack’s new album, Hills,  earned a five-star fRoots review from Colin Irwin, who said: “There’s a refreshing integrity about its stripped-down values. What comes to the fore is the durable strength and beauty of the songs.” Jon Boden called him “a truly captivating singer of traditional songs, (his) new record feels like one of the classic folk albums of the 70s.” Songlines praised Jack’s album: ‘Beautifully sincere, timeless and beguiling” and English Folk Expo said that Jack has “a voice as rich and beautiful as his native Yorkshire.”  Watch this video of of Molly and Jack at Bromyard Folk Festival. (Admission £8, members £5)

 Chris & Wendy Moreton (Wales): June 20, 2018:

Tommy Sands did not come to Llantrisant FC, after two bookings on his three-gig tour were cancelled; and he decided that travelling from his home in The North Of Ireland to Pontyclun just wasn’t worth it.

However, Pat battled through some dire EE communication problems and booked the wonderful Gwent-based Chris and his double bass-playing wife, Wendy. Chris shot to fame when he won a prestigious guitar competition by arranging and playing Handel’s ‘Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba’ in just three minutes, absolutely solo; bluegrass and Americana devotees revere and praise him as a jaw-dropping banjo and guitar master. Watch this video of Chris and Wendy performing ‘Life Is Like A Mountain Railway’ – just superb!

 Brooks Williams (USA): June 8, 2018

brooks williamsNow, here’s a must-see! Brooks Williams hails from Statesboro, Georgia, the town made famous by country-blues legend Blind Willie McTell. Ranked in the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists, he’s a mean finger-picker and a stunning slide guitarist. Plus: “He has a beautiful voice,” says AmericanaUK, “that you just melt into.” Not one easy to pigeon-hole, Brooks’ music is the love-child of country-blues and soulful Americana.

His massive repertoire spans classic roots and blues, ‘Trouble In Mind’, ‘Backwater Blues’ and ‘Mother Earth’, as well as compelling covers from the likes of Dave Alvin, Bessie Smith and Mose Allison. His own songs are thoroughly alive with clearly-drawn ironic characters, like Frank Delandry and Evil Knievel, and rich in blues pathos.

Brooks has worked stages worldwide for over 25 years, touring constantly in the US, UK and Europe. Audiences are often heard asking: How can one guitar and one voice sound like a full band? The San Antonio Light says that Brooks is a “fret monster who has to be seen to be believed” and Sheffield-based guitar master Martin Simpson says of him: “He’s a lovely player, a lovely singer, and a great writer – the real thing.”  Watch this video of Brooks singing ‘Statesboro Blues’. (Admission £8, members £5)

James Hickman and Dan Cassidy: May 30, 2018

James & DanJames comes from Shrewsbury, Shropshire where he was raised on a diet of folk and bluegrass music; his avid bluegrass musician father bought him s guitar at the age of 13 and started performing with him at local folk clubs; Dan was born into a musical family in Maryland, USA, and gained a solid background in music after taking up the violin on his tenth birthday. James and Dan first formed a duo in 2008; their sound flows from the connection between British and American folk and is bursting with all the humour, heartbreak and excitement of these genres. James’ lively English wit is set against Dan’s bone-dry irony and American drawl as they take you on a dynamic transatlantic journey.

While touring in the UK in the 1980s, Dan was introduced to the music of Shetland fiddler Aly Bain which sparked his keen interest in celtic music and the folk scene in general. Dan has spent the last 15 years in Iceland as a successful session musician, and has been returning to the U.K regularly to perform with his own band, The Dan Cassidy Swing Quartet. He appears on several recordings of his sister, the late Eva Cassidy.

After music college, James travelled with his guitar to Ireland and then to Iceland, where he and Dan formed The Dan Cassidy Swing Quartet. He then returned to England, where he began performing as a solo artist, going on to join the late lamented Uiscedwr and worked with them for two years. He now performs in the UK and Europe as part of Hickman And Quinn and The Dan Cassidy Swing Quartet. James and Dan are featured in this Youtube video, My Dearest Fling.

Granny’s Attic: May 16, 2018

Grannys Attic 2Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (fiddle, mandolin, vocals) are are a fantastic young folk trio from the Worcester area who play the tradition with verve, energy and their own inimitable style.  They are all exceptional musicians and fine singers and play a range of English, Irish and Scottish traditional music as well as their own compositions. Formed in 2009, out of a shared passion for folk music, they have been playing at clubs and festivals up and down the country, and have been heralded for their lively performances and maturity beyond their years in their delivery and selection of traditional songs. Their sound attracted the ears of Doug Bailey, WildGoose Studios producer and co-director, who invited them to Wherwell, Hampshire to record their second album, Off The Land (awarded four stars by FolkWales Online Magazine).

Lewis is the band’s principal tunewriter. He has been playing folk music for most of his life, with most of his efforts in recent years concentrated on playing for dance. His duo with Helen Gentile focuses on tunes from all over Europe, both played as concert material and for dancing. In 2015, he performed alongside renowned Galician Gaita player Carlos Nunez. Folk music combines a good few of George‘s interests – singing, history, people and pubs. He wrote his dissertation on folk clubs  George also plays euphonium and occasionally dips his toes into the murky waters of the brass band world, as well as with the Leeds-based hardcore brass-pop oompah band The Brasswursts. Cohen has been involved in folk and traditional music for over a decade and is well regarded as both a musician and a singer. In 2014, Cohen had the fortune of winning Bromyard Folk Festivals Future of Young Folk Award for young folk singers, and this year he was nominated for the Horizon Award in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Outside of Granny’s Attic, Cohen performs as a soloist with a repertoire of traditional English songs and tunes, as well as performing in various other line-ups. Watch this video.

Sadie & Jay (Australia): May 2, 2018

sadie & jaySadie and Jay sing captivating songs accompanied by intricate finger-style playing. Their contemporary and original folk music styles have leanings to the alternative with a tinge of blues and roots. Blending vocals of rare calibre with an evocative back-drop of traditional folk instruments this duo perform intimate, expressive and resonant music.

With her Welsh heritage, Sadie’s love for singing is instinctive. Born in the UK and raised in Australia, Sadie’s distinctive voice and versatility led her to perform in bands, theatre and cabaret. From singing jazz & blues to world & roots music, Sadie has performed with accomplished musicians enriching her spellbinding vocal ability. Born in Scotland and raised in New Zealand, Jay grew up in a musical family immersed in traditional British folk music. For many years Jay has been a member of The Penmans, a four-part family acapella group. This collection of brother, sisters and father have entertained at folk festivals and concerts in New Zealand. Their album Homemade Jam is a celebration of the traditional folk genre – watch a video.

John Conolly: April 18, 2018

John Conolly1John is the acclaimed singer/writer of his ‘hit’ song ‘Fiddler’s Green’, which has been recorded by many musicians the world over, including The Dubliners, The Wolfe Tones and Liam Clancy. John, writer of ‘The Trawling Trade’, ‘Punch and Judy Man”and many more songs, has been a presence on the British folk scene since the folk revival in the early 1960s, and was among the founders of The Grimsby Folk Song Club, which opened its doors in 1964.

Many of his early songs, written in conjunction with his old friend and songwriting partner Bill Meek, tell heartwarming stories of the lives and labours of the East Coast fishing community, and these songs have earned John a welcome at folk and maritime festivals worldwide. He has broadened the subject-matter of his writing – tender love songs, hard-hitting political protests and outrageously funny ditties which he describes as his ‘Saucy Postcard Collection’.

Many of John’s songs have been covered by well known national and international performers like Roy Bailey, Liam Clancy, Malinky, The McCalmans, Stormalong John and George Hamilton IV, to name but a few. The original versions, however, can be heard on John’s own CDs – and his album The Man From Fiddler’s Green, recorded and produced by Rob van Sante, was released in August 2013.

Debra Cowan (USA): April 4, 2018:

Debra CowanDebra, who lives near Worcester, Massachusetts, was once asked what kind of songs she writes. Her reply? “Bad ones – besides, there are so many good songs out there written by others and they should be sung.” Her captivating warm alto carries each folk song she chooses with such emotion that you’ll forget that they were written by others. She performs a cappella and with guitar in the great tradition of folk singers like Joan Baez and Judy Collins, with a clear vocal that calls forth the ghosts of long past but can also offer a more modern urban landscape. In her album, a live recording entitled Among Friends, she demonstrates her ability to connect with her audience and have them enthusiastically sing along on choruses and refrains.

Debra left a career in education to pursue a career as a folksinger, and she held the Monday night residency at Sandy Bell’s Bar, Edinburgh’s premier folk music pub. She is included in many compilations, notably the 2006 Free-Reed Records box set RT – The Life and Times of Richard Thompson, and has worked with many prominent musicians such as Dave Mattacks, Brookes Williams. Bill Cooley and John Roberts, the veteran British singer with whom she performed on her last Llantrisant Folk Club gig.

Sara Grey and Kieron Means (USA): March 21, 2018

2010-11-19 Sara & Kieron 006

Photo: Mick Tems

Sara and her son Keiron had to postpone their lengthy 2016 tour when Sara suffered bouts of ill-health – but now they are coming to Llantrisant Folk Club again. Sara and Keiron perform American tradition as opposed to Americana – theirs is the Real Deal. Musician and singer Brian Peters endorsed: “Sara is one of that rare breed of singers who have been involved with traditional music over many years and absorbed its vital essence. In Sara’s performance, the art of the singer and that of the story teller merge to produce a web of tales and songs capable of transporting an audience from the concert hall or club room to the intimacy of a kitchen fireside.”

Living Tradition Magazine paid this tribute: “Kieron has such a tremendous passion when he sings; it goes right to the very core of himself, he’s totally immersed the songs. He is a terrific performer on account of just that passion. His voice is especially striking, achieving the rare combination of a high lonesome edge with a warm richness of timbre, and it has a power to move the listener that few of his generation can match. His guitar playing is unconventional, its spareness a mile away from any notion of fancy picking, but it’s highly effective, while his stage presence is charismatic, yet laid-back. His songs range from old-time, through the blues – which he sings with startling conviction – to the work of tradition-influenced songwriters, and his own compositions have people, who know a good song when they hear one, nodding in approval.”

A little-known fact about banjo-frailing Sara and guitar master Keiron is that they nearly became members of Llantrisant Folk Club… Sara was so taken by the Club that she settled in a village near to Llantrisant, with seven-year-old Keiron in tow. However, they moved far, far away instead… now Sara lives in Rockland on Maine’s Atlantic Coast, and Kieron lives in the town of Malta, New York State.

Pilgrims’ Way: March 14, 2018

pilgrims3This band are off the wall, colourful, energetic – with influences starting in early music, passing through Playford and the Morris traditions, picking up prog, soul and pop, it’s impossible to categorise the sound they make as folk music is fed through their unique steam-driven sound-mincing engine.

Formed by default under a Stockport pub table in early 2010 by Edwin Beasant (melodeons, guitar, bass, electric Mars Bar etc), Tom Kitching (fiddle, mandolin) and past member Lucy Wright, Pilgrims’ Way has grown to incorporate a dazzling array of instrumentation and millinery. With the extraordinarily omni-skilled musician Jon Loomes (22 instruments played on Red Diesel), and champion Renaissance woodwind parper and oboe wrangler Jude Rees joining along the way, the prospect of an early night is slim. No cow is too sacred, no juxtaposition too ambitious. Pigeonhole at your peril! Wear a yellow carnation in your buttonhole! Password: ‘How’s your father?’

Off the back of acclaimed albums Wayside Courtesies (2011), Red Diesel (2016) and the  brand-new Stand And Deliver, released in October 20, 2017,  the band are out on the road again. Prime the mild pump, waterproof the revolving mirror ball, and strap on your dancing trousers!

Paul Hayes Showcase (Wales):February 28, 2018

Paul is a folk singer/songwriter, born in Middleton, north Manchester, and now resident in the village of Llangolman in Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills. He has recorded three  albums over the years, tracks from which have been played on numerous radio stations, including Frank Hennessy’s Celtic Connections. Paul’s music is a mix of self-penned songs in a folk style and new ways of expressing songs from the traditional folk canon. He recently launched his  third album, The Old Crooked Hat, in Jules Rutter’s monthly Acoustic Music Nights in Cuffern Manor, Roch,  Pembrokeshire.

What others have to say about Paul’s music: “Paul has a warmth that draws you into his songs… it’s easy to get lost on a musical and emotional journey with the man as he leads you along his musical road” – Michael Kennedy, Welsh Connections

“Our fabulous guest… Paul brought his banjo, uke and guitar and captivated his audience with a variety of traditional and original tunes ranging from the hauntingly beautiful to laugh out loud hilarity! Folk lovers will love Paul Hayes…” – Lampeter Folk

“Paul Hayes brings a delicious bardic darkness to his approach to traditional and original songs, reminiscent of Robin Williamson and Steve Ashley” – Maartin Allcock, ex Fairport Convention & Jethro Tull

Rattle On The Stovepipe: February 14, 2018

rattle on the stovepipe

Rattle On The Stovepipe are Dave Arthur (guitar, five-string banjo, melodeon, percussion, vocals), Pete Cooper (fiddle, mandolin, vocals) and Dan Stewart (five-string banjo, guitar, fiddle, harmony vocals). The trio first got together in 2003 to explore the connections between British, Irish and Appalachian songs and tunes that passed back and forth across the Atlantic, carried by waves of immigrants and visitors: morris tunes that cropped up in the Southern Mountains as fiddle and banjo breakdowns, black-face Minstrel songs that took root in the Cotswolds in the nineteenth century, the classic folk ballads whose themes of love, betrayal, murder, revenge and adventure appealed equally to North Carolina mountain people, Scottish travellers and southern English agricultural workers.

The wonderful Dame Shirley Collins, who collected Appalachian tradition with Alan Lomax, enthuses: “Whenever Rattle On The Stovepipe are booked to play at my local folk club, I’m first in the queue to make sure I get my seat in the front row. This engaging trio inspires in me the same devotion that old Virginia musicians like Wade Ward and Uncle Charlie Higgins do. There is that same sweetness, ease, subtlety and good humour, every song and tune so well understood, so deftly played and so perfectly paced. They are all master musicians, but there is no sense of ego, no promotion of themselves as stars, although they certainly can dazzle. They are completely at home with the music they love… both Dave and Pete have that rare gift of drawing you into a song.”

The Brother Brothers (USA): February 7, 2018

brother brothersBased out of Brookyn, New York City, twin brothers Adam and David Moss are a musicial duo unlike most others. As Sarah Jarosz, stunning songwriter and their friend, explains: “While they’re technically a new band, The Brother Brothers have been in this together for life – and their familial connection comes through in the music, harkening back to some of the greatest family harmonies ever made. They approach their poignant and often charming songs with an almost startling sense of ease, and the tight harmonies are enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. Their ability to pull the listener into their quietly energetic musical journey is a joy to behold. I can’t wait to be out on the road with Adam and David and hear their heart-wrenching songs and spot on harmonies night after night!”

The Brother Brothers offer rich harmonies and thoughtful songs, accompanied by guitar, cello, violin and banjo. Already established players and composers in a wide spectrum of genres throughout the New York musical circuit, they are finally teaming up to bring their individual experiences together.

Rapsquillion Showcase: January 31, 2018:

Phew! The bulging Llantrisant Folk Club diary has managed to squeeze in Rapsquillion, award-winning but grizzled veterans of the Shropshire and mid-Wales folk scene, has, in its various incarnations, been producing its own brand of close harmony music, mostly a capella and usually based on traditional words and music. The group was named after The Ship of Theseus Paradox, or ‘Trigger’s Broom’ (Trigger: “This ol’ broom… has had 17 heads and 14 new handles in its time.” Sid: “How the ‘ell can it be the same bloody broom, then?” Trigger: “Well, ‘ere’s a picture of it; what more proof do you need?”)

Now in its ninth incarnation, Rapsquillion was formed in 1998 when, as a result of a strange celestial juxtaposition, Keith Thomas and Trevor Hedges met and decided that they would stand more chance of surviving the monthly folk session at The Miner’s Arms, if they presented a united front. Rapsquillion tries hard to be democratic; the singers have no leader, and anyone can say what they like at any time (e.g. “I can’t bear that song; let’s try it with bagpipes”.) Everyone mucks in – Kay deals with fashion matters, Jen keeps the wine topped up, Dave provides expert critiques and Trevor handles complaints. Enjoy!

Vrï: January 10, 2018

Celebrate the Old Welsh New Year with Vrï, the brand-new trio representing Wales and the nation’s music in the fast-evolving world of ‘chamber-folk’. Bringing together the experience of Jordan Price Williams (cello, Elfen) Patrick Rimes (violin, viola, Calan) and Aneirin Jones (violin), they play tunes and songs from the Celtic nations and beyond, attempting to combine the energy of a rowdy pub session with the style and finesse of the Viennese string quartet.

2017

The Village Quire (Wales): December 20, 2017

Village Quire 1 jpgHere’s a Christmas celebration to beat all Christmas celebrations! The  Village Quire, based in Powys, are going on the road and are presenting their new seasonal show, Golden Gifts For All. The Quire sing in four-part harmony without instrumental accompaniment and with three singers to a part, like so many of the 18th century quires. Each of the programmes includes dramatic readings, given by actor Phil Smith, which have become a popular and essential part of the Quire’s performances.

The Quire’s core repertoire is West Gallery Music, but the performances also include other styles of folk polyphony. The power and raw energy of this music, coupled with striking harmonies, make it truly compelling, spell-binding listening. It is, after all, village music – the music of country people – and is born out of the hardships they endured and the emotions that these created.

The festive season draweth nigh – and The Quire bring a casket of mellifluous mid-winter goodies for the delight and delectation of all this Yuletide. Their  Christmas box is full to the brim with songs and stories of mumming and wassailing, folklore and frolics, misrule and mirth with rousing West Gallery anthems and delicate harmonies to melt your heart. Now the land is in thrall to the wind and the rain, the ice and the hail and the snow – but here we are snug and warm. Together we will open the casket and, by the glimmering light of candle flames, there will be Golden Gifts For All.

The Trials Of Cato (Wales/England): December 6, 2017

The Trails Of Cato-28-of-381The Trials of Cato are Robin Jones (mandolin, tenor banjo vocals), Will Addison (Irish bouzouki, tenor banjo, vocals) and Tomos Williams (guitar, vocals). The band formed in Beirut in the summer of 2015 and spent a formative year performing traditional music on the Lebanese music scene and developing their sound. Following their debut at Radio Beirut in September 2015, they went on to regularly fill some of Beirut’s foremost music venues. Since returning to the UK, they are booked up at folk clubs and festivals across the country thanks to a formidable live reputation. Their eponymous debut EP was described as ‘one hell of a calling card’ in FATEA Magazine earlier this year. The band’s live set includes both original and traditional material, featuring fretted instruments alone to achieve a musical presence not often heard on the modern folk scene. With tight instrumentation and rousing harmonies, the music is firmly rooted in the folk traditions of Ireland and Britain, yet the source material is decidedly contemporary.  

Aidan Sheehan’s Harmonica Workshop Showcase: November 29, 2017

Aidan of Cajun-rock band Whiskey River directs The Gob-Iron Class Of 2017! (£3 admission)

Moirai:November 15, 2017

moiraiMoirai are three fabulous women singers and musicians: songwriter Jo Freya, of the legendary band Blowzabella and Token Women; Sarah Matthews, fiddle and viola player of Derbyshire quartet Cross O’ The Hands, a duo with Doug Eunson and playing with Cupola/Ward; and Mel Biggs, former melodeon player with the ceilidh band All Blacked Up (who changed their name to The Ironmasters.) Morai named themselves after the three female deities in Greek mythology who control the lives of everyone from birth to death, and recorded their debut album for WildGoose Studios, Sideways – William Blake’s poem ‘The Garden Of Love’ was a delightful highlight in a wonderful collection. Their second CD, Here & Now, has just been released – and it has won a four-star review in FolkWales Online Magazine! You can see two YouTube videos; Jo singing ‘Sideways‘ and Moirai playing ‘Peter’s Pint‘.

James Keelaghan (Canada): November 1, 2017

Called Canada’s finest singer-songwriter by one of the most respected and lauded music journalists, James is a man for all seasons. For almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity. Canadian musician and accompanist Hugh McMillan is indisposed and sadly won’t be making the tour; however, James is looking forward to performing solo on the tour and reliving times when he released his first sensational album.

James says: “Inspiration can come in many forms; I’m always on the lookout for a good story or idea. My sister told me the story that became ‘Kiri’s Piano‘; it was such an image that visits a dark chapter in Canadian history, Japanese interment camps in the Second World War.” Not only does his deep catalogue include timeless originals like ‘Fires of Calais’, ‘Cold Missouri Waters‘, ‘Jenny Bryce’, ‘Hillcrest Mine‘, and ‘Kiri’s Piano’, James is also a possessive interpreter of outside material, a fine example being his gripping take on Gordon Lightfoot’s epic ‘Canadian Railroad Trilogy’ on the Lighfoot tribute disc Beautiful. There are a number of illustrations of his interpretive skills on his 2006 recording A Few Simple Verses. The closing tune on that spellbinding set, ‘My Blood’, written with Jez Lowe, is one of many examples in his career, where he has invited collaboration into his creative process.

Dave Marsh, the award-winning American music critic and historian, said that James is “Canada’s finest songwriter” –  and those few but powerful words of praise say it all about an artist who continues to set the bar at a lofty height.

O’Hooley & Tidow: October 18, 2017

With a personal invite from Billy Bragg to play Glastonbury, sessions on 6 Music and Radio 2, a five-star live review and feature in The Guardian, Belinda and Heidi are regarded as ‘one of British folk’s mightiest combinations’ (Mojo). Their forthcoming new album Shadows is the follow-up to ground-breaking album The Hum, which earned them a place in Mojo’s Top 10 Folk Albums of 2014 and a nomination for ‘Best Duo’ in last year’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Having the originality and skill to invite comparison with the most celebrated harmony duos, from early Simon and Garfunkel to the iconic Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Belinda and Heidi’s powerful, deeply moving and soulful performances are infused with an honesty and empathy that will disarm the hardest of heart. Rave reviews include: ‘Formidably brilliant’ – Independent; ‘Brave, beautiful and full of love’ – Martin Simpson; ‘In the leading ranks of the new wave of folk music aristocracy’ – Tom Robinson, 6 Music. 

October 11: Showcase with The Rubber Wellies (Ireland/Basque Country/UK)

Travelling folksters The Rubber Wellies present their intimate cabaret of joyful sing-along choruses and general participatory fun. A touring collective skippered by singer-songwriter and circus musician Harry Bird and multi-instrumentalist/ composer Christophe Capewell – pirates, lizards, cracks in the wall and Basque cyclists all inhabit the songscape. And let’s not forget that Beard Snood…

Based in Bilbao and Dublin, they have spent the last eight years touring Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe playing bars, cafes, theatres, circus galas, festivals and folk clubs alike. Their debut album, Long Way to Be Free, appeared in 2009 on Hot Drop Records followed by The Bones On Black in 2012 and Bricks and Feathers in 2015.

“One of my favourite bands of recent years” – Mike Harding

Andrew Sharpe & Amy Kakoura: October 4, 2017

amy&andrewThose splendid chaps who organise the Ruff Ceilidhs at Cardiff’s Heath Hospital know Amy and Andrew, singer and pianist with the band Steamchicken. Both have been writing and arranging with Steamchicken, including ‘Oh Mary’ and ‘Western Approaches’.

Amy and Andrew met in 2012 and have been performing as a duo since. They co-wrote the blues opera Songs From A Ledge, closing the show with their translation of the Greek prayer of farewell ‘To My Rest’, which played to five-star reviews and sold out at the Old Joint Stock theatre in Birmingham; played as a jazz/folk duo and band at major festivals around the UK and abroad; played at arts centres, theatres and clubs up and down the country; and laughed, cried, fought, written, arranged, sung their hearts out and learned how not to kill each other.

As individuals and collaborators, they form the backbone of many successful projects across the UK. Amy graduated in 2012 from the Guildford School of Acting with a BA Hons in Musical Theatre. She continues to work as an actress and singer, touring widely with the UK’s number one concert guitarist Richard Durrant on a regular basis, and is writing recording her own album. Andrew is now writing full-time – his second play, Goodnight Poly Jones, has recently been produced in South London. Their two-person show comprises a mix of folk, blues and jazz; songs and stories drawn from Songs from a Ledge, the band Steamchicken and their own take on a few classics – and Amy will showcase some numbers from her solo album.  Watch a video of The Scarecrow

September 20, 2017: Flossie Malavialle (France)

Flossie MalvialleFlossie Malavialle is a Southern French singer, born in the beautiful town of Nîmes, who has been based in the North East of England since 2002. She has become an accomplished performer, playing at folk clubs and festivals all over the UK and beyond, and supporting established performers such as Fairport Convention and Show Of Hands.

Flossie’s powerful yet sensitive rendition of songs combined with her quaint northern twang and humorous banter will entertain and leave you with a smile. She has recorded and released of 12 albums so far, which is a reminder of how much work and dedication she has put into her musical career – from well-established folk songs to jazz standards, from blues numbers to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel’s classics, her wide repertoire appeals to all.

Flossie says: “I first got involved in the British folk scene in 2000, while I was on a teacher exchange in the North East of England. After 12 years of teaching English full-time in secondary schools in the South of France, I decided to apply for a job as a French teacher in England, as I felt it would boost my English to live abroad for a year. I ended up working in Stockton-on-Tees while living in Darlington – great part of the world to improve on your English, like! As I had been singing for years in France before that, I found it quite natural to turn up at Darlington Folk Club one night to meet the locals and sing a song – I didn’t realise then that this was going to be the beginning of a new life in England for me.”

After Flossie’s exchange was over, she went back to France – but she missed her life in North-East England and decided to return. She is now based near Bishop Auckland.

Eileen McGann (Canada): August 30, 2017

Eileen McGannEileen  is an Irish-Canadian folk singer, songwriter and traditional Celtic musician. Her album, Beyond The Storm, was Juno Award-nominated in 2002. She has released seven solo CDs and has established an almost 30-year career touring across North America and Great Britain. Eileen  was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada to Irish parents and was the third of four children. The family gradually moved to Calgary, Alberta, with Eileen the last to join them in 1990, after completing her studies at the University of Toronto and the Pontifical Institute for Medieval Studies, followed by an MFA in Drama in the UK.. She moved to rural Vancouver Island in British Columbia in 1999, where she is now based. Her website calls her: “One of folk music’s most breathtaking voices… her songs range from Celtic and traditional to very contemporary and topical… A gifted lyric poet and musical composer whose gorgeous vocals make her a must-see performer.”

Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby (USA/UK):August 16, 2017

Cathryn & BrianFunny stories, serious songs, great singing, inventive guitar playing – step right up, Cathryn and Brian! With a combined working history reading like a Who’s Who of household names in music (Righteous Brothers, Mary Hopkin, Chet Atkins, Strawbs and many more) they sing and play their own well-crafted brand of acoustic guitar-based material.

Cathryn and Brian met in Michael Snow’s recording studio in Nashville; Brian and Michael had written the song ‘Hard Luck Café’, and Michael said he knew just the person to sing it. When Brian came to record the first album of his own songs, Black & White – which includes ‘Hard Luck Café’ – he invited Cathryn to sing. Together they wrote ‘The Fire’, ‘Alice’s Song’ and ‘Black And White’. Apart from ‘Love Belongs Right Here’, a Mary Hopkin/Brian composition sung by Mary, Cathryn sang on the whole album – and so the duo of Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby was born. They are now settled in County Down, Ulster, near Carlingford Lough. Here are some reviews:

“Long live traditional music, even when it’s only just been written” (The Living Tradition)… “sublime guitar work and one of the finest voices around” (Folking.com)… “A superb selection of material, together with many humorous stories of travels on the road of life. Not to be missed”(Dartford Folk Club)… “If we hadn’t managed to book them, I would have travelled to see them elsewhere” (Saltburn Festival)… “Staggeringly good…truly magical guitar work, vocals to lift your heart and soul, with utterly unforgettable songs” (Folk on the Moor)… “The pairing is perfect and about as good as it gets” (The Acoustic Tearoom).

Jackie Oates, Megan Henwood & Pete Thomas: August 2, 2017

Jackie Megan PeteThe marvellous singer-songwriter Megan Henwood absolutely captivated and amazed the crowded St David’s Hall audience when she supported the Show Of Hands tour in 2016; now, she and her musical partner Jackie Oates (formerly of The Winterset, who evolved into The Unthanks, with many great solo albums under her belt) have released a brilliant, beautiful five-track EP called Wings, with double-bass player Pete Thomas accompanying Jackie’s five-string viola and piano and Megan’s guitar. On the EP, Jackie and Megan harmonise to die for, choosing Megan’s composition ‘Bettystown’, New Order’s ‘Love Vigilantes’, Brian Bedford’s ‘What’s The Use Of Wings?‘ (on Youtube video), Lau’s ‘Ghosts’ and the lovely traditional song ‘Setting Of The Sun’. Ten to one that the CD shop does a roaring trade…

July 26, 2017: Elfen (Wales)

Elfen

Elfen is the Cymraeg translation for ‘element’ – and the seamless blending of three great musicians. The band started in 2011 when when Stacey Blythe (who works with Lynne Denman in the wonderful duo Ffynnon) and Helina Rees decided to begin working together to create a personal and joyous expression of Welsh Folk. Two years later, the band found the mix they were looking for in Jordan Price Williams and his double bass.

After captivating the crowds at the gigantic Lorient Interceltique Festival in Brittany, Elfen have appeared at venues across Wales, including St David’s Hall Welsh Folk Proms, Wales Millenium Centre and other arts centres. Stacey, Helina and Jordan create a distinctive and soulful soundtrack for a new folk music in Wales. With the ancient songs and tunes of the Cymry at their heart, Elfen are re imagining the traditional. Familiar old words are reworked into bold and inventive arrangements, with newly written tunes. Woven in alongside traditional music from around the world, Elfen manage to remain firmly in a Welsh sound world – and Cardiff Folk Club celebrated by launching the trio’s debut album, March Glas, in December 2016.

“Compellingly sunny, rich and evocative, their fiddle, accordion, and bass are woven masterfully around Stacey Blythe’s jazz-soaked voice giving Elfen their place in a new Welsh Folk” – Rhian Hutchins, Opera Sonic

“Elfen has captured something special with their combination of passion, musicality, subtlety and repertoire. Elfen’s magic is its command of instruments, sympathetic execution and fascinating choice of tunes to reward the listener with the friendliest of sounds and a truly lovely musical experience” – Caryl Parry Jones

“Soulful voice, beautiful fiddle, sweet harp and accordion, velvety bass – an exciting new Welsh trio” – Bernard Kilbride

na-mara: July 12, 2017

na-mara

Photo: Trevor Burrows

Described as “elegant and skilled musicians” by Folk London, Rob Garcia and Paul McNamara perform at clubs and festivals across the UK, have toured in France and Spain and featured in broadcasts on BBC Radio 4 and a host of local radio stations. They perform self-penned songs in traditional style on a range of contemporary and historical topics, as well as traditional songs and tunes from across the British Isles, their own translations songs of from the Breton, French and Quebecois traditions and a wide variety of tunes from Asturias, Galicia, Brittany and northern France.

Their recent albums Navajos & Pirates (released in 2015) and The Bite (2010) have received critical acclaim from a host of local and national folk magazines. Folk World suggested that “You may put na-mara on the list of enjoyable English duos, such as veteran Knightley and Beer or young Cadie and Bloomer”, going on to describe Paul is “an ingenious songwriter in the traditional vein.” Spiral Earth said that na-mara “turn an austere sound into an elegant one with their voices, displaying the required authority for such subjects” – while Rock & Reel Magazine noted that what na-mara do best is “tell stories to which you can’t but listen.”

Rob’s father was a Basque child refugee, evacuated from Bilbao as Franco’s forces bombed the city. As close friends of the International Brigade Memorial Trust, they have performed their own songs about the Spanish Civil War at numerous events commemorating the commitment of Britons who went to fight fascism in Spain in the 1930s.

Sandy Brechin & Ewan Wilkinson (Scotland): June 28, 2017

Sandy-Brechin-Ewan-WilkinsonSandy and Ewan are back by popular demand! Sandy lives in Edinburgh and Ewan comes from the Scottish Borders; they have been playing together for almost ten years. regularly touring Scotland, England and Wales, appearing at folk clubs and several folk festivals throughout the year, as well as their annual spots at the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe. They have toured Australia twice, and also played for the Caledonian Society in Bahrain in the Middle East. In 2013 they played at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh for the 40th Birthday party of Traverse Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin. In 2014 they were invited to play in the far north of Sweden for a Scottish/Swedish wedding.

Sandy owns Brechin All Records and is an amazing, entertaining accordionist; among his recordings are the solo CDs Out Of His Tree and Out Of His Box, his ceilidh band, The Jimi Shandrix Experience’s CD Electric Landlady and Sandy Brechin and Friends’ CD The Sunday Night Sessions. Ewan has recorded the album Lost In The Day, and Sandy and Ewan have released the new CD  Hard Times Come And Go. There’s a You-Tube video of Sandy and Ewan performing – enjoy!

June 14, 2017:  Andy May Trio (Northumbria)

Andy-May-TrioThree award-winning musicians from Newcastle  – Northumbrian piper Andy May (who plays for Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies and Baltic Crossing), wonderful guitarist Ian Stephenson (Kan, Baltic Crossing) and fiddler Sophy Ball (422, Bottle Bank Band) – come together as the Andy May Trio to play high energy instrumental folk, inspired by the music of their native North East of England. For an appetising taster, there’s a Youtube video of Sophy, Andy and Ian playing – it’s canny, mon!

Tom McConville: May 31. 2017

Tom-McConvilleA true fiddle master and singer, Tom was born on Tyneside and brought up in a pub on the famous Scotswood Road with clientele drawn from the Irish and Scottish communities. This is where he first experienced traditional singing and fiddle music; the hornpipes of James Hill amongst his first influences. 50 years on, Tom  is widely acknowledged as the authority on the music of James Hill and produced the first CD devoted entirely to Hill’s compositions. Here are some loving tributes from Tom’s musical contemporaries:

“One of the greatest violinists I’ve ever heard and by far the biggest influence in my music – A true master” – Seth Lakeman

“I hold Tom McConville in the highest esteem and he is, in the tradition of fine musicians to come from Newcastle – a rare talent” – Barbara Dickson

“When my schoolmates had boy bands on their Walkmans, I was listening to Tom McConville” – Kate Rusby

Cloudstreet – the Farewell to the UK tour (Australia): May 24, 2017

cloudstreet-3They’re coming to Britain again – and it looks as though we’ll be waving a fond goodbye to Cloudstreet. The original Cloudstreet, Nicole Murray and John Thompson, took a back seat for two years when John landed the fabulous role of the Song Man in the Australian theatre’s smash-hit production of War Horse. He also was busy touring with The Spooky Men’s Chorale, too! Nicole joined up with Newcastle folk graduate and fiddler Emma Nixon, and they recorded an excellent EP together, called The Wish List; however, John’s two-year contract with War Horse ended, leaving him free to concentrate on Cloudstreet again. Emma joined Cloudstreet, and their 2015 British tour went so well that they have decided to tour here once more as the trio. They have released a wonderful CD, Clouded House – come and fly the Cloudstreet! NOTE: Cloudstreet have put back the date from May 10 to May 24.

Tania Opland & Mike Freeman (Alaska/UK):  April 26, 2017

Tania-and-MikeTania and Mike describe themselves as playing Anglo-Alaskan acoustic world music; as Washington State’s Whidbey Island Folk Festival described the duo as: “Rather astonishing — she’s from Alaska and he’s from England, and between them they play hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, recorder and whistle, excellent percussion, sing, and have a wonderful stage presence. Their repertoire is vast, and includes things like sing-alongs in Russian. Credits include numerous UK and US tours and seven albums, including collaborations with Anne McCaffrey.” The Song Loft in Milton Keynes hailed them as: “Unquestionably the most talented duo we have ever had at this club… I’ve never seen so much variety in a single set.” (Admission £8, members £5)

Blanche Rowen & Mike Gulston (Wales/UK):  Showcase May 3, 2017

Blanche&Mike-blue-smallBlanche and Mike offer traditional and contemporary songs, with two voices in harmony accompanied by guitar, octave mandola, laùd and bowed psaltery; themes flowing through their music include the natural world and the folk customs of the seasons, a unique blending of traditional songs from England and Wales; and the dance songs of France and Brittany. Their second album, The Dance Goes On, celebrates the turning year and its customs, along with some mediæval favourites. There are contemporary songs here as well as ones from the English and Welsh traditions, even Irish and mediæval French. From midwinter, through the greening of the land and the long days of summer to the time of hops and bonfires, the songs take the audience back to Yule feasting (with a difference) and another whirl round the circle.

“A musical calendar: engrossing from beginning to end” (English Dance & Song magazine)… “Excellent harmony vocals and dexterous guitar, mandola, psaltery and recorder … this is classy stuff” (fRoots)…. “An enchanted journey, a pastoral celebration, a musical, historical and natural-world almanac. If you ever searched for the natural world and its reach into human lives, this is the guide you’ve waited for” (Tim Carroll, FolkWords)… “An eclectic and stimulating collection of songs … The combination of Blanche’s delicate yet assured vocal timbre with Mike’s tender, tremulous tenor makes for some distinctively attractive harmonies …The musical backdrops suit the material brilliantly, possessing a deftly charismatic quality …. I can confidently recommend this CD to anyone sharing the duo’s respect for this land’s traditions” (David Kidman, The Living Tradition) (Admission: £3)

Winter Wilson: April 5, 2017

winter-wilson1During 17 years of part-time touring, Kip Winter (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) and Dave Wilson (vocals, guitar, banjo) have built a reputation for fine songs, stunning harmonies and spontaneous, – occasionally outrageous – off-the-wall humour. Dave is now recognised as one of the UK’s best contemporary, acoustic songwriters. A great wordsmith, his songs are sometimes challenging, often lyrical, but always poetic and have been widely covered, including ‘Storm Around Tumbledown’,  recorded by Vin Garbutt, amongst many others. Kip has simply one of the best voices in the business, delivering power and emotion in equal measure. In the past she has sung everything from opera to soul and jazz, but is at her best (and happiest) singing folk and blues.

After becoming full-time professional musicians in 2012, Winter Wilson have gone on to be one of the hardest-working duos on the UK acoustic music scene. Their sixth album Cutting Free was selected as one of the Daily Telegraph’s top 10 Folk albums for summer 2014, but it is above all their live performances which have continued to delight audiences across the UK. (Admission £8, members £5)

Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman (Ireland & UK): March 15, 2017

Maire-Ni-Chathasaigh-&-Chris-Newman

Photo by Con Kelleher, Macroom, Co. Cork)

Night Out Logo

Maire and Chris’s celebrated virtuoso partnership of “the doyenne of Irish harpers” (Scotland On Sunday) and “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” (Froots Magazine) has by now brought its special musical vision to venues large and small – from the tiniest of historic churches in England, Germany and Italy to palaces in Kyoto and Istanbul, London’s Barbican, Sydney Town Hall and the Philharmonie in Cologne – in 22 countries on five continents. Their performances – described by The Irish Times as: “Music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in traditional music” – are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous: a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chris’s delightfully subversive wit.

Máire, with her  sisters Nollaig and Mairéad, released an album, Sibling Revelry; mixed and recorded by Chris Newman, it was one of The Daily Telegraph’s Albums Of The Year. Listeners to Frank Hennessy’s Celtic Heartbeat programme on BBC Radio Wales have always heard the well-loved Máire and Chris signing-off signature tune to wrap up for another week.

There’s a Youtube video of Máire’s and Chris’s exquisite playing – enjoy! There’s a Night Out scheme supporting the performance, thanks to the Arts Council Of Wales.

Jim Bainbridge: March 8, 2017

Llantrisant Folk CJim-Bainbridge.4lub has a special welcome for Jim, who picked up the melodeon in 1964 for a fiver in a Twickenham junk shop and has played the D/G box ever since. He learned a lot from the great London Irish players, as well as his involvement in the Marsden Inn folk club in South Shields, which had such memorable guests as Margaret Barry, The McPeake family, Willie Scott the Border shepherd, and Matt McGinn. He has picked up songs, ancient and modern, over the years, and has made a living in the West Cork pubs of South-West Ireland in the the nineties, as well as running a goat farm with his wife Francie, a grand spoons player. He’s lived in London, Kent, Ireland and Scotland, as well as spending a few years in the volcanic isle of Hierro in the Canary Islands. His repertoire is varied and eclectic, and he has played all over these islands as well as around Europe.

He has spent more than 40 years playing and singing in pubs, clubs and Seamens’ missions, and he has built up an enormous love and respect. His latest CDs include The Drunken Billy Goat (1998) with Patrick Forester – (reissued 2011), Lights on the River (2004) and Galloway House (2008). (Admission £8, members £5)

 Tornish; February 22, 2017

TornishTornish are Gwen Mairi on clàrsach and vocals and Tim Orrell on flute, whistles, percussion and vocals. Their music blends traditional tunes and songs from Ireland, Wales and Scotland with original compositions influenced by a wide variety of musical and lifetime experiences – so listen out!

A clàrsach player and pedal harpist, Gwen enjoys a busy and varied career on both instruments but it is with the clàrsach that she feels most at home. A graduate of the Royal Scottish Acdemy of Music and Drama and with mixed Scottish/Welsh heritage, she fuses music from both cultures with unexpected rhythms and world influences. Most recently, Gwen was chosen to be part of the ground-breaking Welsh traditional music project, 10 Mewn Bws. An exciting year of research, writing and recording led to the launch of the album. She accompanied Gwilym Bowen Rhys on his wonderful debut album O Groth y Ddaear.

Tim hails from Yorkshire but brings a strong Irish repertoire to the duo. Trained on classical clarinet and jazz sax, he eventually saw the light while watching Boys of the Lough in a tin shed in Argyll at the age of 12. He was active on the folk scene in Sussex, Devon and North Wales before settling in South Wales. He continues to perform solo and with several line-ups including former Mabon guitarist Derek Smith and Welsh/Irish singer-songwriter Catrin O’Neill.

Richard Grainger: February 1, 2017

richard-graingerRichard is a prolific singer-songwriter, living in the North Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. Born to a musical family, he was influenced by the folk scene at a young age; he was invited to join the popular Teesside Fettlers, and he followed in the footsteps of Vin Garbutt and his mentor Ron Angel, Richard’s songs achieving wider recognition.

In 1984 his first solo album was released by the Fellside label, produced by Paul Adams. Before long, Richard was touring throughout the UK at folk clubs and major festivals and was regularly heard ‘live’ and on record on BBC’s Folk Show on Radio 2. Among Richard’s collaborations was a partnership with accordion sultan Chris Parkinson, which produced some of his best songs – the songs were  recorded on the 1994 Folksound album Thunderwood.

Since 1995, Richard has been filling the role of artistic director to several festivals and has worked as a consultant to local authorities and arts organisations to help develop new events. He has added several musical plays to his repertoire; among the most notable of these is The Journey Home – an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, which was premiered in Sicily at The University of Catania in 2003. That was preceded by Eye of the Wind, telling the tale of the world renowned explorer James Cook, who lived in Whitby and has a statue in the town. The play was produced for radio by the BBC, with Sir David Attenborough narrating. His latest production, The Moorland Whalers, was inspired by his long association with Whitby and a project with The Ryedale Folk Museum in North Yorkshire. It tells the story of The Yorkshire Whaling Industry through the recollections of those who took part. Richards new ‘studio’ album, Hard Road To Prospect Hill, was released at the end of 2015. (Admission £8, members £5)

The Rumblestrutters (Wales): January 11, 2017

rumblestruttersThe Rumblestrutters are Jonathan Nicholas (vocals and guitars), Jonathan Toft (vocals, mandolin, banjo and kazoo) and Liam Ward (vocals, jug, harmonica and washboard) – purveyors of street jazz and blues from the Prohibition Era. Influenced by The Memphis Jug Band, Robert Johnson, Gus Cannon, Leadbelly, Tampa Red and many more, vividly evoking the music of the 1920s and ‘30s, the Swansea three-piece have chalked up stellar performances at Birmingham International Jazz Festival and Gloucester Blues Festival.The Rumblestrutters are establishing themselves across Wales and farther afield in England. Epithets are mounting: “I was very impressed!” said presenter Paul Jones of BBC Radio 2; the magazine Blues Matters praised them for being “super, pacy and energetic”, and ex-pop star Spencer Davis, who jammed with The Rumblestrutters in a Swansea pub, enthused: “Be sure not to miss them.” There’s a Youtube video of The Rumblestrutters playing the Memphis Jug Band classic ‘Stealin’ Stealin”, which was recorded in April 2016 in Gower. (Admission £8, members £5)

2016

Quicksilver: December 14, 2016

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Photo: Mick Tems

The great guitar and songwriting talent of Grant Baynham and the incredible trained voice of Hi;ary Spencer, absolutely laced with laugh-a-minute humour – it’s Christmas party time again! Grant starred in the popular BBC Esther Rantzen series That’s Life, and Hilary was The Voice of three-party harmony trio Artisan and MrsAckroyd, which pays loving tribute to the hilarious doggerel of Les Barker. The magical quality of Quicksilver was born when Hilary had a promotional concert for a CD she had just recorded, and Grant turned up as a last-minute accompanist; they even rehearsed in the concert car park. The rest is history!

There’s a double-CD available now, Quicksilver LIVE at WFMT Radio Chicago, recorded when Grant and Hilary were guests at the Illinois broadcast station. Rich Warren, WFMT Radio Chicago’s host and producer, enthused: “Our guests from England were Quicksilver, an incredibly talented duo with rollicking performance and dramatic voices who really put on a show. The audience continued applauding so loudly at the conclusion that I could barely get the show off the air! What a vivacious duo!” Other CDs are the seven-track Good Work (2015), which includes their much-requested ‘Michael On The Moor’, and the live show  Make ‘Em Laugh! (2007)  –  and this video shows Grant and Hilary stealing the show with the fantastic ‘Barry And Freda’, written by the late, lovely Victoria Wood. Enjoy! (Admission £8, members £5)

 More Than A Song Community Choir (Wales): Showcase – December 7, 2016

This communiAmy Jonesty choir practises each Thursday from 7pm to 9pm in the Soar Centre, Pen-y-Graig, Rhondda – and choir leader Amy Jones has graced the Llantrisant Folk Club stage when she was accompanying her husband, amazing guitarist Adam  Jenkins, in his Showcase appearance last year. More Than A Song’s weekly sessions are filled with beautiful songs from around the world, all taught by ear, in a relaxed, friendly and fun environment.  They enjoy creating harmonies, performing at concerts and having a biscuit and a cuppa during the break. The choir warmly invite: “If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a singing group, meet new people and get the feelgood factor, then come and join us!” (Admission £3)

Andreas Tophøj & Rune Barslund (Denmark): November 23, 2016

Andreas & RuneAndreas Tophøj Rasmussen and Rune Cygan Barslund are two leading Danish folk musicians of their generation, performing on fiddle, accordion and viola. The duo has its roots in Jutland, Denmark, and from the folk scene formed around the Academy of Music in Odense, which until recently was named after composer and musician Carl Nielsen. Like the famous composer, the sound of the duo is closely linked to the Danish folk tradition, but Andreas and Rune also offer a new interpretation of Danish folk, influenced by music from various countries and traditions. The duo draws on a wide range of inspiration gained from living in Ireland and the United States and from encounters with Celtic and Nordic musicians and other musical cultures. Andreas and Rune’s music is based on a compelling musical melting pot with many original tunes.

In April 2014, the duo recorded their first EP on the Isle of Funen, the centre of Danish folk. The Danish Immigrant was released in July, and includes the track for the music video of the same name, which was awarded track of the year at the Danish Music Awards Folk in 2012. Please have a listen!

Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner: November 9, 2016

lynne heraud pat turnerLlantrisant Folk Club welcomes two angelic voices combined in glorious harmony – Lynne and Pat play guitar, recorder, English concertina and a variety of whistles (including swanee, policeman’s and referee’s), list a spoons workshop in their hall of fame, and are not in the least averse to dressing up or dancing when a song requires it. They both agree, however, that their voices are their most important instruments. Their style is a unique blend of stunning song  and humour which takes their audience on a roller-coaster ride – everything from high tragedy to lovely smut!

Lynne and Pat have both served long apprenticeships on the shop-floor of folk music. Lynne sang in a duo with Sue Ashby; she performed with John Lambert and Frank Lee as Tom, Dick and Harriet and made a CD, Stars in My Crown, with Keith Kendrick. She was for many years the organiser and MC for the Hoddesdon Folk Club. Pat toured for six years with the folk band Filigree, making an album and also releasing a single! She was co-founder and MC of the City Folk Club in London. Lynne and Pat later joined Pete Cunningham (ex-English Tapestry and Heritage) to form Brandis, making several radio appearances. They finally settled into a permanent duo and made their first CD, Parallel, in 2003, and have since made three more on the Wildgoose label.

The Whiskey River Boys:  October 26, 2016

Whiskey River BoysThe Whiskey River Boys saved the day following the sudden cancellation of Sara Grey and Keiron Means’ transatlantic tour; Cajun accordionist and harmonica player Aidan Sheehan and guitarist Martin Blake will transport you on an acoustic tour to the swamps of Louisiana and the Whiskey River, where you can hear the exciting sounds of the fais-do-do and Cajun two-step, mixed with a healthy dose of Americana. Martin is based in the cathedral city of Hereford; Aidan, who lives in Cwmbrân, graduated with a BA (Hons), where he teaches musicians and the public about the music he loves. Both are members of the full-on band Whiskey River, based in Hereford.

Sara and Keiron have cancelled their month-long tour because of Sara’s bouts of ill-health. We wish her all the best and a speedy return to good health.

Showcase with Bel Blue & Kevs Ford (Wales): October 12, 2016

Bel BlueCardiff singer-songwriter Bel presents some of her debut album Our Places. She “has gathered together a host of Wales’  musical talent, including chief collaborator Kevs, to produce a remarkable debut collection of beautiful songs looking at time, place and nature and the way that we all fit delicately into the balance” (Roy Spencer, Folking.Com) … “Like Sandy Denny’s later solo work, Bel Blue has a simplicity and honesty that draws the listener in” ( Jeremy Rees).

Bel says: “The album began last autumn, with an outside recording of Our Places on the banks of the River Ely, Cardiff, where the title track was written. I was born in Ireland, and the album is inspired by my adopted homeland, Wales. It takes us on a journey of my songs, many of which are anchored in the rivers and landscape of South and West Wales. River of Dreams was written by Cenarth Falls on the River Teifi last summer, Nant Ddu on the Taff Fawr, Waterfall by the Nedd Fechan, Wild Dog Rose by the Taff.“

 Showcase with The Garth Mountain Boys (Wales): October 5, 2016

The-Garth-Mountain-BoysThose pickin’ heroes are back on their home ground, delivering lots of bluegrass, Americana-style acoustic music and originals, too! The Garthies consist of Richard Smith on banjo, AKA Rich Pickings, Lance Williams on guitar and mandolin, Stephen Porter on harmonicas, ”Budgie” on bass, ”Finchie” on fiddle and guitar and sometimes subs and guests – who knows what delights lie behind those anonymous fingers? This band just loves to play, as is evident in their happy sound and the foot-tapping atmosphere. Go, Garthies!

Beverly Smith & John Grimm (USA): September 21, 2016

Beverly Smith & John GrimmBeverly and John live in the mountains of North Georgia, in the beautiful town of Dahlonega. They played a Folk Club Showcase a while back, and the Club was eager to hear this mountain music again; their traditional songs and tunes reveal a deep familiarity with and great love for the genre. From archaic banjo and haunting fiddle tunes to raucous hillbilly singing and aching ballads, they display an ease that sounds utterly genuine.

John is an award-winning fiddler, owner of Dahlonega’s music store and a multi-instrumentalist. He has played with many old-time bands such as The Georgia Mudcats, The Georgia Potlickers, and Rural Radio Company. He played the role of fiddler John Carson in the PBS film “The People vs. Leo Frank” and has appeared in the Atlanta production of “The Cotton Patch Gospel”. Beverly is one of the most respected guitar players in old-time music today, and she’s also in demand as a singer, fiddler, and dance caller. Besides her three highly-praised recordings of early country duets with mandolinist Carl Jones, her guitar playing has been featured on recordings of well-known fiddlers, including Bruce Molsky.

Watch Beverly & John’s 14-minute Promo Video for a taste of rural Southern moonshine…

 The Jigantics: September 14, 2016

JiganticsThe Jigantics are a good-time band whose five members throw in cajun, blues, folk, Americana and all genres in between. Meet the musicians… Top vocalist Mark Coles is an irrepressible front man who is able to pick up almost any instrument – including squeezeboxes, mandolin and harmonica – and get an exciting noise out of it. He’s an in-demand international session player, too. Guitarist and vocalist Rick Edwards’ great slide-guitar playing his enabled him to perform and record in Mississippi with some of the all-time greats, including Pinetop Perkins, Muddy Waters’ piano player, Liverpool lass Marion Fleetwood is a fine singer, and she’s classically trained; she plays fiddle, ‘cello and mandolin, and was a member of folk rockers Meet On The Ledge and currently the award-winning Colvin Quarmby. Vocalist Lyndon Webb is equally at home on the bass guitar as he is on the mandolin; and drummer, percussionist and vocalist Marty Fitzgibbon has played on stage with Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Lou Reed, but he says that The Jigantics are the most exciting project he has ever been involved with.

Allan Yn Y Fan (Wales): August 31, 2016

AllanYnYFan2015Postponed from the original March date: Allan Yn Y Fan formed in 1996 as a rollicking twmpath band based in the Gwent valleys, but they have steadily won respect and praise from music critics and the folk press, who have hailed them as one of the most exciting international bands to come out of Wales. Geoff Cripps (guitar, bass, bouzouki, vocals) leads the original musicians, who consist of Chis Jones (accordion, flute, low D whistle, vocals), Linda Simmonds (mandolin, mandola, bodhran, vocals) and Kate Strudwick (flute, alto-flute, recorders, whistles, vocals). Two new members have enhanced the band’s sound – lead vocalist Catrin O’Neill (guitar, guitarlele, bodhran, percussion) comes from Aberdyfi in Southern Snowdonia, while Alan Cooper piles on the intense excitement with his beautiful fiddling.

Allan Yn Y Fan have released six albums on the Steam Pie label:  Off The Map (2003),  Belonging (2006),  Trosnant  (2009), Lle Arall/Another Place (2010), Pwnco (2012) and Cool, Calm and Collected (2014).

“If Welsh music is perennially considered the poor relation in the Celtic tradition, Allan Yn Y Fan are moving mountains to change all that” – Colin Irwin, Properganda Magazine

“…So look out Scotland and Ireland – a new Celtic Tiger is prowling” – Spiral Earth

Laura-Beth Salter and Jenn Butterworth (Scotland):  August 17, 2016

jenn butterworth lb salterPat and Ned saw Laura-Beth and Jenn at Colonsay Festival in the Inner Hebrides, and Pat booked them straight away! Jenn was brought up in Dumfries and Galloway, and she moved to Glasgow in 2000 to study the BA Applied Music course at Strathclyde University. Since then she has become a lynchpin of the Glasgow folk acoustic scene, which was where she met and formed a duo with Laura-Beth, founder member of all-woman Scottish band The Shee. After jamming with folk percussionist Steve Forman and Nae Plans duo Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland, they formed the The Blas Collective, and currently have a residency in one of Glasgow’s famous live music venues Bar Bloc. The Blas Collective and the local session scene provided Jenn and Laura-Beth with a vibrant and creative space to experiment with and develop their sound.

Jenn is also a highly-recognised teacher, with a wide range of teaching experience. She is Lecturer in Practical Studies in the Traditional Music Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is a regular member of the teaching staff for Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and runs the Hidden Lane community choir. This year, Laura-Beth was involved in Ross Ainslie’s New Voices Commission for Celtic Connections and another new project her musical partnership with Ali Hutton, Andrea Gobbi (Laki Mera), Patsy Reid (Breabach) and Innes Watson to work on some new material. She says: “They’re all great musicians!”

Laura-Beth and Jenn are planning their first duo album, to be completed by Christmas. As for The Shee, Laura-Beth and the others have been working on a big plan for their ten-year anniversary which will be launched the Glasgow’s Celtic Connections next year. Have a look at these two videos:

The Scottish Situation

 

Les Barker (Wales): August 3, 2016

Les BarkerLes Barker writes strange poems and comes from originally from Manchester, but he’s now Welsh. He was an accountant before he became a professional idiot. He’s written 85 books, which sell in large numbers at his gigs because people don’t quite believe what they’ve just heard. His poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: Jason and the Arguments, Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower, Captain Indecisive and Spot of the Antarctic, to name but two.

Les began his career as assistant to Mrs Ackroyd, a small hairy mongrel who lay around in folk clubs, bit people and became famous. Mrs Ackroyd was the only dog ever to own her own record label. Since her sad demise, Les is mainly a solo performer, though he has taken to working with humans from time to time. The Mrs Ackroyd Band gradually evolved from an ever-changing who’s who of the folk scene into a tightly knit, well-rehearsed group. The band are now playing as a trio, without Les, and will be far more tightly knit and well-rehearsed. Les’s Welsh songs are occasionally performed by a trio of Welsh musicians who have had the good sense to keep him out of the band.

Les has several solo albums to his credit: Dogologues, An Infinite Number of Occasional Tables, A Cardi and Bloke, Up The Creek without a poodle, Arovertherapy and The War on Terrier. He has travelled the length, breadth and height of Great Britain, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and – both solo and with the band – the United States and Canada, and has more recently won prizes for his Welsh poetry, including three small chairs, one for a Stomp (a Welsh language poetry slam), one at the North East Wales Learners’ Eisteddfod, and one from the Learners’ Pavilion at the National Eisteddfod. He could do with a table now.

The Mrs Ackroyd Band – supplemented by guest members such as June Tabor and Maartin Allcock – has released five albums; Oranges & Lemmings, Gnus & Roses, Tubular Dogs, Yelp! and Dark side of the mongrel.

In addition there are five highly acclaimed albums of his serious work; the folk opera The Stones of Callanish, Some Love, The Wings of Butterflies, Airs of the Dog and Twilight of the Dogs, all involving a galaxy of talent. His serious songs have also featured on albums by Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, and by June Tabor. June invariably includes a smattering of Les’s serious and comic songs in her live performances. The Kingston Trio and Tom Paxton have also recorded Mr Barker’s songs’.

Keith Christmas: July 13, 2016

Milverton15One Man and His Guitar – Keith Christmas can look back on a long career ranging from the 1960s to the present day. In 1969 he was the main act at Beckenham Arts Lab, run by a rising star called David Bowie, and was invited to play on Bowie’s first album, Space Oddity. Michael Eavis booked him on a small but growing event called Glastonbury Festival, and he has appeared many times from that day to this. He was the support act great rock bands like King Crimson and Ten Years After; he graduated from Bath University on a Tuesday, and by Friday he was trying to convince a doorman to let him in because he was supporting The Who. He played universities and Europe throughout the 1970s, and was the opening act for Frank Zappa, Argent, Captain Beefheart, The Kinks and Roxy Music. His manager decided that Keith should head for Los Angeles to write his next album there. While he was there, he recorded an album, Stories From The Human Zoo. Keith returned to the UK in 1976, and after a few years, stopped playing and touring and started renovating London houses. In 1991, Keith formed a blues band called Weatherman, and they released an album of the same name. In 1996, he started to write a completely different form of acoustic music, which led to an album, Love Beyond Deals, and in 2003 he recorded two solo albums, Acoustica and Light Of The Dawn. His CD, Live At The Pump, followed in 2012, and Keith is completing his next album now; seven songs are already finished.

 Jim Causley: June 22, 2016

Jim Causley 2Hot on the heels of his new CD, Forgotten Kingdom, Jim showcases Cornish poet Jack Clemo, celebrating the centenary of his birth in 1916. Five times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Jim is a singer/musician who is passionate about traditional song and particularly that of his native West Country. He became involved with traditional music from a young age via his family, the local folk scene and an historical tradition of wassailing in his home village of Whimple, East Devon. After studying Jazz & Popular Music at Exeter College he went on to study Traditional Music at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. During this time he became involved in the wider folk scene and gained interest as a solo performer in folk clubs and festivals throughout the country.

His recording debut came in 2005 as part of Martyn Wyndham-Read’s ‘Song Links II’ project (Fellside Records) which linked English Traditional songs with their American variants. That same year he released his first solo album; Fruits of the Earth (WildGoose) and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2006 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Jim received further acclaim for his work as part of a cappella trio; The Devil’s Interval whose album Blood & Honey (WildGoose) also received another BBC Folk Award nomination in 2007. As one third of The Devil’s Interval, he toured with Waterson:Carthy for seven consecutive years as part of their annual Frost & Fire Christmas show and joined them in the studio for on their last album, Holy Heathens and The Old Green Man (Topic).
He then went on to collaborate with the rebellious Essex band Mawkin to form Mawkin:Causley, whose albums received excellent reviews and their highly energetic live shows.

Showcase with Aidan’s Harmonicas at Llantrisant: June 29, 2016

Whiskey River Cajun accordion player and harmonica tutor Aidan Sheehan showcases his harmonica class of ’16!

Ritchie Parrish Ritchie (Canada): June 8, 2016

 RPR1

The world got one hell of a lot brighter for fans of the long-running but now disbanded Tanglefoot when Steve Ritchie, Al Parrish  and Rob Ritchie joined up once again in a new configuration, expanding their musical horizons beyond Canadiana and adding a shot of plugged-in to their sound. They have even added a percussionist, Beaker Granger.

Playing festivals and concerts in Canada and the USA, RPR is gathering momentum throughout North America. They recorded Transatlantic, their new album at Park Head Studio, while in the UK on their last tour. It’s now out in Canada and getting great reviews, such as this from The Beat Magazine: “They sing raucously and passionately with big stirring harmonies… at times with roaring vigour at others with sparse intensity, creating many moods… songs full of humour, pathos and love.”

Here’s a review from Beth Auerbach and Norm Stewart, organisers of Sleepy Hollow Folk Concerts, Falls Church, Virginia: “As longtime Foot-heads, we were thrilled to present RPR to kick off the 20th year of our Sleepy Hollow Folk series. RPR is not a “Tanglefoot-lite.” Despite a sprinkling of very entertaining anecdotes from life on road, RPR expands the breadth of its songwriting beyond Tanglefoot’s trademark Canadian history. The new repertoire ranges all over the board, the creative original lyrics brought to life with electric energy or leaner, quieter arrangements to complement them. It was a treat to experience these exciting performers close-up in an intimate setting.”

The Arts Council of Wales has awarded Llantrisant Folk Club a Night Out grant for Ritchie Parrish Ritchie. The Club has even moved into the Athletic Club dance hall.

The Hut People: May 25, 2016

hutpeople1Taking the audience on a musical journey around the World, instrumental duo The Hut People have over the last three years proved to be one of THE most unique, entertaining and best-loved acts on the UK folk scene today. Mixing global rhythms with folk tunes from Quebec to Spain, Scandinavia to Sussex and everywhere in between, this is a quirky celebration of our rich musical heritage – and it works so well! This is a show like nothing you have ever seen before – expect feel-good dancing tunes, audience participation, step dancing, Quebecois foot-percussion (while playing the accordion!) and humour aplenty.

Accordionist Sam Pirt and percussionist Gary Hammond both have extensive backgrounds in music – having been part of and performed alongside legendary acts such as The Beautiful South, Nina Simone, The Dubliners and Sharon Shannon, their playing is still very much in high demand. This is high-octane feel-good music from a very likeable duo who have the ability to get the whole audience involved and loving it – before the end of the first tune!

“A bewildering array of percussion and accordion-fired compositions….truly infectious!” (R2)… “Remarkable…” (The Living Tradition)… “The festival season is nearly upon us, and with The Hut People gracing many of this year’s bashes, their infectious ‘World Folk’ will surely be winning them many new fans” (Songlines)… “This is a brilliantly unique sound – a duo of piano accordion and percussion defiantly unbounded by British traditions as they stride into world music” (The Scotsman). Watch the video!

Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer: April 27, 2016

vicki&JonnyVicki and Jonny have developed an excellent reputation for delivering great performances time and time again – as Llantrisant Folk Club knows too well! Once known mainly for for their instrumental skills with Scottish smallpipes, accordion and Swedish nyckelharpa, they are now being accepted as impressive song arrangers and writers – they effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary interpretations while equally creating original self-penned tunes and songs that place themselves entirely at home in the tradition.

Vicki, following in her father’s footsteps, is a second generation piper. She studied the double-bass at the Royal College of Music, becoming the principal double bass and winning the solo double-bass competition. Vicki has now returned to her Swedish roots with the addition of the Swedish nyckelharpa (made by Olle Plahn), Swedish bagpipes and the translating of Swedish ballads. She was a member of the 2013 European Nyckeharpa Orchestra, runs the Nyckelharpas at Halsway Manor and is a tutor for the International Days of Nyckelharpa in Germany for 2014.

Composer and competition-winning guitar player, Jonny’s outstanding technical ability – coupled with a wide-ranging musical taste – has made him a forceful musical innovator. He has been singing choral music, soul, jazz and folk for as long as he can remember. He plays his two guitars and a custom-made sazouki (saz/bouzouki cross), made by Colin Kendal, two accordions, a Börs Anders Cow Horn, Kerry low D whistle and trumpet. Watch this video of Vicky and Jonny performing ‘The Sheffield Apprentice’ – Vicky is playing the nyckelharpa. Together with storyteller Nick Hennessy, Vicki and Jonny are doing the rounds of the arts theatres as SeriousKitchen.

Phil Millichip Showcase: April 13, 2016

Gwent songwriter and guitarist who is gaining a great reputation; his fine song ‘If I Had A Son’, about the bleak, dirty and dangerous South Wales mining industry, was recorded by well-known and well-loved artist Vin Garbutt, who sang it on his worldwide tours.

Coda (Ireland):March 30, 2016

CodaHearing unaccompanied voices raised in brilliant harmony is always pretty stunning; Coda is an a capella group of seven singers and musicians from Westport in County Mayo on Ireland’s Atlantic Coast, comprising Conall Ó Domhnaill (brother of Triona Ni Dhomnaill of the late lamented Bothy Band), Mike Cannon, Leonard Kelly, Steve Bryant, Alan Drumm, Declan Askin and Brian Lennon. The group develop their own richly-harmonised approach to vocal performance from diverse vocal and instrumental backgrounds, including folk, trad, blues, rock and pop music, uniquely complemented by their multi-part vocal harmony experience gained from classical choral music.

Coda offer seven-part harmonies in an eclectic mix of musical styles including Celtic and North American music, traditional and contemporary folk songs, original compositions and popular songs from sources as diverse as Clannad, Tom Waits and Van Morrison. Their repertoire comprises both a capella arrangements and songs with instrumental accompaniment as well as traditional Irish music. Coda’s range varies from Tom Waits’ ‘The Briar And The Rose‘ (first video), which they recorded in Dublin for WholeWorldBand, to ‘Lord Franklin‘ (second video), shot at a concert at the Dublin Templebar Tradfest last January. It features Triona Ni Dhomnaill singing with them.

Coda’s debut CD Mouthmusic  was recently reviewed in Irish Music Magazine. Here are a couple of quotes: “The brilliance of blending songs from across the time spectrum, from Burns to Lennon and McCartney, allows for the band to show off their breadth of their ability, and the beauty of the human voice as an instrument…” and: “An exceptional album. Burns’ ‘Auld Lang Syne’, although familiar, is completely new at the same time, a rare feat. Ewan McColl’s ‘Tunnel Tigers’ also has the punch that McColl s song was meant to have.”

However, the third video shows the Irish gaelic puirt à beul ‘Mouth Music‘ that Coda are so good at.

Tobin’s Favourites (Wales): Showcase March 23, 2016

Tobin's Favorites

Tobin’s Favourites are a new Cardiff band playing traditional Irish music, and the members are Dennis O’Rourke on the whistle (father to Imogen O’Rourke, fiddler with wonderful ceilidh band Juice), Helen Potts on the fiddle, Jim Barnaville (bodhran and vocals) Jon Reynolds (fiddle) and Quince Mothman (guitar and vocals).  Formed this year, Tobin’s Favourites are influenced by a vast array of celtic musicians, including De Dannan, Christy Moore, Planxty, The Chieftains, Boys of the Lough and Kevin Burke. The band are available for ceilidhs, weddings, pub gigs, general festivities and shindigs – this picture shows them recording in the BRfm local radio studios in Blaenavon.

Ffynnon: March 16, 2016

Ffynnon LongauThe fabulous voices of Lynne Denman and Stacey Blythe, promoting their new five-star CD, Llongau

Damien Barber & Mike Wilson: February 10, 2016

damien barber mike wilsonDamien, creator of The Demon Barbers Roadshow, and Mike, the youngest member of the Wilson Family, the powerful Teesside singing siblings who have raised the rafters at many a festival or folk club event, share a fond love of strong, proud songs. Damien was raised in Norfolk and heavily influenced by such earlier Norfolk singers as Walter Pardon and Peter Bellamy. He is a stylish and distinctive singer, either unaccompanied or using guitar or concertina. Though he has lived for a long time in West Yorkshire, he retains a strong East Anglian identity. Mike’s musical heritage is emphatically that of the North East – rural and industrial folk song both traditional and modern. Damien and Mike have a rich shared repertoire of traditional songs plus the work of modern folk writers such as Bellamy, Ewan MacColl and Mike Waterson.

Baggyrinkle (Wales): January 27, 2016

What is a Baggyrinkle? According to The Oxford Companion To Ships And The Sea, it’s: “A home-made substance to prevent chafe on sails from lifts, stays and crosstrees during long periods of sail.”  Different spellings abound, for instance “baggywrinkle” and “bag-o’-wrinkle”. The group was formed in April 1994 by veteran leader and maritime songwriter Dave Robinson with the initial role of hosting the Swansea Maritime & Shanty Festival.  The group has since represented their city at its Cockles & Celts Festival.  Swansea is twinned with Mannheim, and the crew was invited to the German city to provide entertainment at their prestigious International Rowing Regatta on the Rhine.

Always regulars at The Pontardawe International Festival, which used to run every year in August, they have featured at many of the major maritime festivals in the United Kingdom, Eire, Brittany, Holland, Norway, Germany and the Mystic Seaport Festival in Connecticut, America. The repertoire features shanties and songs of the sea, but the lads also have a collection of drinking songs and a wealth of material relating to mining history.

 The Sam Kelly Trio: January 13, 2016

Sam Kelly Trio

“Sam has such a beautiful voice and sings with so much soul. I’ve seen him perform live a few times and he’s amazing” – Cara Dillon

‘A captivating performer, Sam Kelly has one of the best young male voices in British acoustic roots music. Seriously…Check him out!” – Sean Lakeman

Sam is a 23-year-old singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who originally hails from Norfolk. As a young child, his only link with folk music was through the Gaelic songs that his Irish grandfather taught him. But he has never lost his love for traditional music, and this passion pours out of him in every note he sings. Sam’s debut EP, entitled  Your Way Home, was released in March 2013, featuring Beth Porter (Eliza Carthy Band) on cello. This created a buzz of interest in the folk scene for Sam’s music, being described by Bright Young Folk as a “captivating introduction to a name we’ll be sure not to forget”, and gaining him support slots with the likes of Cara Dillon, Jim Moray and Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman. So far, Sam’s musical journey has taken him from being selected for the first-ever EFDSS Artist Development Scheme to becoming a New Roots Finalist in 2013. He is now touring with his band, with Jamie Francis on banjo and Evan Carson on bodhran. The Sam Kelly Trio are receiving glowing reviews from audiences at every gig they play.

Watch The Sam Kelly Trio on video, performing The Golden Vanity.

From September 2015

Rapsquillion: 1st Christmas Party December 16, 2015

Rapsquillion2015It’s Christmas Party time, with plenty of laughter and good cheer, carousing and merriment – and the best recipe of all is Rapsquillion! The Raps were formed in 1998 when%2