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THE MUSIC DIARY…

Welcome to our wonderful Folk Club, which is staging live shows every Wednesday in Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club, Castan Road/Palalwyf Avenue CF72 9EH, at 8.30pm. 

Our Zoomaround sessions are held on the first Tuesday of each month (8.15pm for 8.30pm) – https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89787380016 Meeting ID: 897 8738 0016 – no password. We hope to see you there.

Wednesdays when no guest is listed are S&M (Song and Music) nights, where everyone is welcome.  £3 entry – come along and join us. (Remember to pay ONLY IN CASH – thank you!)

May 7, 2025: Caffrey / McGurk  

Caffrey / McGurk are a duo performing contemporary and traditional songs and music; Nick Caffrey is considered one of the finest unaccompanied singers in the North West of England, and Ed McGurk (vocals, guitar and cittern) is a long-standing supporter of the Lancashire folk scene, both as an organiser and musician in ceilidh bands and many North West folk groups. They bring years of experience to make up a strong pleasing sound and audience-embracing performance – in fact, the respected singer Keith Kendrick says: “True English folk singing, in my humble opinion, doesn’t come much better than this.”

(£8 entry, £5 members)

May 28, 2025: Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira 

Joining forces in Glasgow in 2018, Jocelyn (from the Canadian West Coast) and American-born Ellen were already two well-established musicians who found together a kindred musical spirit. With Jocelyn on fiddle and Ellen on cello, they push boundaries between traditional and contemporary genres to create a powerfully uplifting and soulful performance. They already had an uproarious encore from Llantrisant Folk Club – and they’re going to release their stunning new follow-up album, Here to Stay, which is an absolute cracker!

On stage, their instruments weave a rhythmic, textured sound with nuanced fiddle-cello interplay. Complemented with vocal harmonies and lively step-dancing, they bring life and fire into original tunes, and high-energy repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, North America, and Scandinavia. FolkWorld Magazine calls them “A dazzling duo!” Please watch this video of their entire house concert, recorded in January 2024.

Jocelyn and Ellen have been delighting audiences in North America and the UK with  their debut album, All It Brings. They won the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards for Traditional Album of the Year, and 2024 Western Canadian Music Award Nominees for Instrumental Artist of the Year. FolkWales Online Magazine calls the album “Wonderful, captivating… the most joyous and uplifting album in the entire galaxy.”

(£8 entry, £5 members)

June 11, 2025: A Different Thread

British-Americana troubadours A Different Thread create a richly emotive tapestry of transatlantic folk. Singer-songwriters Robert Jackson (Midlands, UK) and Alicia Best (North Carolina) first met while busking in Ireland. Their chance encounter sparked a musical journey that has spanned over nine years, a dozen countries, and three studio albums—capturing the love of two folk singers chasing their dreams on the road.

Their original songs weave Celtic balladry and Appalachian blues, featuring fiddle, harmonica, and an abundance of honeyed harmonies. Following in the footsteps of Johnny Cash and June Carter, Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, A Different Thread’s unique sound has earned them acclaim for their powerful storytelling and moving live performances. Watch their video, ‘Ode to the Leaving of Liverpool’. 

“Warm, deep songwriters who have drank from the well of 20th century folk tradition” – Folk Radio UK

(£8 entry, £5 members)

June 25, 2025: Hilary Spencer

Hilary holds the enviable record as Llantrisant Folk Club’s most invited and most well-loved artist; she’s been captivating our audience many, many times, and we do want to see her again!

She is well-known as “That Voice” in award-winning British a cappella trio Artisan, now taking a well-earned rest; she also joined Les Barker’s wonderful and totally barmy Mrs Ackroyd Band in 1997, and continues to perform with Alison Younger and Chris Harvey as MrsAckroyd. In 2002, Hilary joined forces with the amazing and extraordinarily talented singer songwriter and guitarist Grant Baynham as Quicksilver; festival crowds regarded them as a welcome high spot, until Grant’s tragically early passing in July 2022. Now Hilary is on her own again – and the Folk Club wants to revel in “That Voice” one more time! 

(£8 entry, £5 members)

July 16, 2025: Dave Gibb

Dave Gibb describes himself as “Left handed, balding, post menopausal, songwriting folky from  Scotland’s highest village.” A singer of songs and a teller of tales from the hills of Wanlockhead, Dumfries & Galloway, who happily fingerpicks his way through life’s travails. Songs funny or sad, happy or grim, meaningful or meaningless played fast or slow – sometimes both at the same time. He likes a giggle, and in fact he’s a wonderful guitarist as well. Please watch him on video.

  (£8 entry, £5 members)

July 23, 2025: Patakas (Joe and Will Sartin)

(£8 entry, £5 members)

September 17, 2025: Showcase – Songs of Jake Thackray presented by John Prior and accompanied by Chris Dale

(DATE CHANGE – £3 entry)

October 8, 2025: The Carrivick Sisters

(£8 entry, £5 members)

October 22, 2025: Culverake with Seb Stone

(£8 entry, £5 members)

November 12, 2025: Will Finn and Rosie Calvert 

(£8 entry, £5 members)

November 26, 2025: Tim Edey

(£8 entry, £5 members)

December 17, 2025: Christmas Show with Jackie Oates & John Spiers 

(£10 entry, £7 members)

March 25, 2026: Dana Robinson

A number of years ago, Llantrisant Folk Club just soaked up the authentic sounds of Americans Dana and Sue Robinson – and from Vermont, USA, Dana is back again. He’s a songwriter, guitarist and old-time fiddler who combines a warm, open-hearted singing style, with wry humour and astute observations about community and place. For over 30 years, Dana has been a fixture on the folk and acoustic music scene in the United States and the UK, playing his unique blend of songwriting with traditional influences.

Dana’s guitar playing combines British fingerstyle and Appalachian flat-picking to create his own distinctive style. His lyrics delve deep into the natural world with wonder, hope and connection earned through his years of travel and exploration across America’s rural landscapes. His new recording, The Sound of the Word, is due for an autumn 2026 release. Please enjoy his latest video, Cotton Eyed Joe, and another oldie: Shady Grove.

“Dana is a master storyteller, spinning his yarns with the precise skill of an artisan loom weaver.” (Seven Days)

“Rural America explored with elegant simplicity, his music and cleanly poetic song-writing bring to mind the great folksingers of our times.” (Asheville Citizen-Times)

(£8 entry, £5 members)

May 27, 2026: Over the Moon

(£8 entry, £5 members)

June 17, 2026: Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner

(£8 entry, £5 members)

June 24, 2026: Kenny Speirs

(DATE CHANGE – £8 entry, £5 members)

October 7, 2026: Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby

(£8 entry, £5 members)

For past guests, click here

For booking information & general enquiries…

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