Folk and Roots - The Guide to Folk News around the UK

Internationally acclaimed songwriter, performer and recording artist Gary Miller steps out of the shadows and returns from the wilderness with the release in 2010 of ‘Reflections on War’, his ground-breaking debut solo album and first CD of all new material in 10 years.

“As a song poet there are few in the world today to match him” (Green Man Review, USA)

Following a self-imposed sabbatical due to long-term illness and intense personal reasons, during which time he continued working professionally in the music industry as a commissioned songwriter, worldwide artist booking agent (at Adastra), music industry college tutor and lecturer (throughout Europe), musical director for theatre, freelance community musician, and more, he is looking forward to relaunching his professional recording and performing career at an international level with the release of his new CD ‘Reflections on War’ and a return to international touring (both solo and with his new band ‘Gary Miller & The Volunteers’).

Produced by award-winning producer, songwriter and musician Iain Petrie, the 10-track CD (catalogue number WPTCD22) is the 22nd release on Miller’s own international label Whippet Records and features songs commissioned as part of a major exhibition at York Art Gallery on the theme of war entitled ‘Reflections on War’.

Gary Miller first rose to international prominence during the mid eighties and throughout the nineties as principle songwriter, lead singer, guitarist & mandolin player with The Whisky Priests (1985-2002), the internationally renowned folk-rock band with a worldwide cult following that he founded and fronted with his twin brother Glenn (“the Jimi Hendrix of the accordion”) - “the Joe Strummer and Mick Jones of the Folk World”. The Whisky Priests released a string of internationally acclaimed albums but were particularly renowned worldwide for their incredible live shows: “A Whisky Priests show is the sort of stuff to make your hair curl; honest, earthy, loud, raucous and tremendously uplifting” (FRoots, UK)

Due to be officially released and promoted with an exciting and unique live touring show by ‘Gary Miller & The Volunteers’ in autumn/winter 2010 and throughout 2011, as a first step towards setting him back on the road to a fulltime recording and performing career, Gary Miller’s highly anticipated ‘Reflections on War’ is a landmark release for this persevering and innovative artist.

“This CD grew out of my involvement in the community arts project Reflections on War at York Art Gallery as part of the Territories Project for York Museums Trust where I facilitated a series of poetry workshops in April-June 2009. I worked with a wonderful group of people in developing an exhibition and two books of poetry and stories based on war-themed art and memorabilia from the Museum’s collection, aswell as personal tales and recollections on the subject of war. In addition, I was inspired to create a series of songs of my own, often inspired through direct involvement with the participants themselves. I was particularly interested in focusing on the personal impact of war through its effect on individuals. The opportunity to record these songs arose, developed, grew and took on a life of its own – here are the results for all to hear!”

Gary Miller

www.garymillersongs.com

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Deal Maritime Folk Festival is happening!

The popular local folk festival is on between Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th September. The festival is only happening this year thanks to the efforts of a number of local bands and great support from the Astor and several of the town’s pubs. 50 performers are coming together in 60 sessions at 10 venues to produce a great weekend of music for the town.

This year’s festival will be a fantastic fusion of traditional folk favourites with the ‘new’ folk that has emerged in the town around the ‘Smuggler’s Sessions’.

Many of the past festival favourites can be found – The popular ‘Day of Dance’ hosted by Offcumduns will have seven Morris & traditional dance groups performing throughout the town centre on Saturday with a Ceilidh dance in the evening. The Deal Hoodeners will be doing their popular session at the Walmer Lifeboat House on Sunday morning; and there is a special ‘Songs of the Sea’ concert on Saturday with traditional singers Chris Roach, Kerry & Mandy and Paul Sirman at the Royal Hotel.

New this year are sessions from the Tom Farrer & the Pharaohs, The Turncoat, Trent Miller, Lucy Kitt, Uncle Meat & The Highway Children and Ben Thomas . On Saturday night there is a World Music first for Deal with a special concert with the Cocos Lovers supporting the great soulful Senegalese singer Nura Kane.

Will Greenham, Smugglers Sessions Organiser said: “the aim is to attract the widest audience to the town – just about all the events are free - but also give plenty of space for performers for sing-arounds and some spontaneous music making”

There will also be workshops on African drumming and harmony singing with some short folk films. The Festival kicks off with the new season of Smugglers Sessions at the Astor on Thursday 16th September.

See www.dealmaritimefolkfestival.org.uk for details.

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RACHEL HARRINGTON
with Rod Clements

UK Tour

Rachel Harrington is currently on an extensive tour of the UK that will keep her on the road until early October.

Rachel is being accompanied on the tour by Lindisfarne co-founder and renowned folk/roots/blues guitarist and dobro player Rod Clements.

Named after the oldest human settlement in North America, Rachel’s third full length album Celilo Falls finds her tales of the gothic West as evocative as ever. The "DarkGrass" sound of her sophomore release City of Refuge remains, but with a few twists and turns thanks to the deft performances of Ronnie McCoury (Del McCoury Band) on mandolin, Rod Clements on slide guitar, Dan Salini on fiddle & pedal steel, Doug Wintch on harmonica, Colby Sander on Dobro & banjo and Jon Hamar on bass.

And yet Harrington gets more personal now than ever before. Events from the past few years (the death of her grandparents, her father’s liver cancer, her last two years spent mostly touring …) seep into her work and inform the record’s themes of death, loss, longing, surrender and faith.

Evan Brubaker’s production provides a sparse, dusty landscape within which these characters and songs dwell. From barroom brawls to starlit weepers, Celilo Falls makes you want to set your clock back about 100 years, pull up a rocking chair on the front porch, and watch the west unfold.

In 2008 Rachel released her spellbinding second album ‘City Of Refuge’, the follow-up to her stunning 2007 debut ‘The Bootlegger’s Daughter’.

Tour Itinerary
August

Tues 24 Leith Leith Folk Club Edinburgh 07502 024852 / www.leithfolkclub.com £8, 7.30pm

Thurs 26 Montrose Montrose Folk Club, Links Hotel 01674 830658 / www.linkshotelmusic.com £6, 8pm

Fri 27 Berwick-upon-Tweed Maltings Theatre & Arts Centre 01289 330999 / www.maltingsberwick.co.uk £TBC, TBC

Sat 28 Galashiels String Jam Club, The Salmon Inn 01896 752577 / www.myspace.com/stringjamclub £9, 7.15pm

Sun 29 Rothesay Bute Sunday Sessions, The Argyll Arms Isle of Bute 07866 533416 / www.myspace.com/butesundaysession £5, 4.30pm

September Fri 3 North Shields Porters Coffee House 0191 2586100 / www.porterscoffeehouse.co.uk £10* / 7.30pm * includes light supper

Sat 4 Hartlepool The Studio, Tower Street 01429 424440 / www.studiohartlepool.com £7, 7.30pm

Sun 5 Wigton Monkey Tree @ The Glass House Cumbria 016973 42779 (Booking essential) / http://www.monkeytree.eu/index.html £16 (includes food at 6.30 & concert at 7.30), 6pm

Tues 7 Beverley The Processed Pea 01430 810669 / http://beehive.thisishull.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=2940 £10, 8.30pm

Thurs 9 Garstang Garstang Unplugged, The Kenlis Arms Nr. Preston 01995 602795 / www.garstangunplugged.com £10, 8pm

Fri 10 Maltby The Rock @ Maltby, The Wesley Centre Nr. Rotherham 01709 585977 / www.therock.org.uk £12, 7.30pm

Sat 11 Cambridge Acoustic Routes @ CB2 07971 299659 / www.acousticroutes.co.uk £9, 7.45pm

Thurs 16 Bournemouth Bournemouth Folk Club, Centre Stage 01202 707498 / http://bournemouthfolkclub.com £10, 7.30pm

Fri 17 Aldershot West End Centre 01252 330 040 / http://www3.hants.gov.uk/westendcentre £10, 8pm

Sat 18 Bath Chapel Arts Centre 01225 461700 / www.chapelarts.org £9, 8pm

Sun 19 Bath The American Museum, Calverton Manor 01225 460503 / www.americanmuseum.org £5.50*, 2pm
* included with grounds admission

Wed 22 Oswestry The Ironworks Shropshire 01691 679123 / www.the-ironworks.co.uk £7, 9pm

Thurs 23 Worcester Huntingdon Hall double bill with Edwina Hayes 01905 611427 / www.worcesterlive.co.uk £12, 8pm

Sat 25 Nottingham The Guitar Bar, Hotel Deux 07770 226926 / www.theguitarbar.co.uk £TBC, TBC

Sun 26 Lichfield Lichfield Guildhall, Donegal House Staffs. 01543 262223 / www.lichfieldarts.org.uk £12, 7pm

Tues 28 Liverpool House Concert with The Good Intentions www.myspace.com/thegoodintentionsmyspace £TBC, TBC

Wed 29 Biddulph Biddulph Arms double bill with Angie Palmer Stoke-on-Trent 01782 514896 / www.biddulphupinarms.com £12, 8pm

Thurs 30 Rothbury Rothbury Roots @ Queens Head Hotel Northumberland 01669 620470 / www.rothburyroots.net £9, 8pm

October

Fri 1 Carlisle Carlisle Folk & Blues Club, Sunset Suite,@ Carlisle United Football Ground 01228 541799 / www.carlislefolkandbluesclub.com £TBC, 7.45pm

For the latest tour news please check www.rachelharrington.net/calendar.html

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Karen Matheson Band to replace Cara Dillon at Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Organisers of Shrewsbury Folk Festival have secured the Karen Matheson Band to replace Irish singer Cara Dillon, who has had to drop out of this weekend's festival due to ill health.

Cara, who is eight months pregnant and unwell, has been advised to rest by her doctor, forcing her to stand down from her planned appearance at Shrewsbury.

Cara's Saturday afternoon slot on the main stage (4pm - 5pm) will be filled by Karen Matheson, the lead singer of Capercaillie, and her band.

Festival Director Neil Pearson said today: “We're obviously disappointed that Cara won't be with us but her health and that of her baby are more important than a single show, and we understand the situation and wish Cara and Sam well for the coming months. We'll do everything we can to bring Cara to Shrewsbury in 2011.”

He said that Karen, who will also be performing with Dervish, was a natural replacement for Cara.

“Karen occupies similar musical ground covering both traditional and contemporary song. This will be Karen's first English festival appearance this year with her full band, and a coup for Shrewsbury - while we're understandably disappointed that Cara can't make her show, we're excited to have such a high profile act playing at the festival.”

Reviews of Karen, who was awarded an OBE in 2006, include “spellbinding and evocative... she takes folk music to a celestial high” (New York Times) and "the finest Gaelic singer alive today” (Billboard Magazine).

Other headliners at the four day festival include The Afro Celt Sound System, Billy Bragg, Bellowhead and Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds.

There's also a free shuttle bus service into Shrewsbury town centre from 9am to 6pm on the Saturday and Sunday and for the first time this year, a river shuttle service linking the town centre and the showground.

www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

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Elliott BROOD
ANNOUNCE UK TOUR!

*Recording new album for release in 2011 on Six Shooter Records*
- "Loosely based around a 19th century massacre in Utah, their album, Mountain Meadows, is delivered with exuberance and skill, with Mark Sasso growling like Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood." – UNCUT * * * *
- "A breathtaking amalgam of The Band's sense of history and My Morning Jacket's metallic country." - Q Magazine ****
- “A concept album, this one hanging on the true tale of hardcore 19th century Mormons massacring a wagon train full of emigrants. It’s the first US release by a Toronto trio whose bleak country noir has already won them a following in Americana circles.” – MOJO Magazine

From their debut EP, Tin Type (boasting the cult hit, “Oh, Alberta!”) to their Juno-nominated, full length albums Ambassador and Mountain Meadows, Elliott BROOD have earned the praise of connoisseurs and critics alike. They’ve won over legions of fans with their raw and energetic live shows and their atmospheric, richly crafted records, making a name for themselves worldwide. They’ve carried their tunes through several Cross-Canada marathons, including headlining Exclaim! Magazine’s Wood, Wires & Whiskey tour. The band has opened shows for Wilco, Blue Rodeo, Corb Lund and The Sadies. They have completed five European tours, playing festivals throughout Europe, Great Britain and Scandinavia, including opening spots in Spain with The Black Crowes and in Paris with Broken Social Scene.

In June, 2008 Elliott BROOD released Mountain Meadows. The album captured its share of year-end accolades, earning the band a second Juno nomination for Roots/Traditional Album of the Year and a finalist position for the Polaris Awards in 2009, Canada’s equivalent to the Mercury Music Prize.

Through popular demand the band are heading back to UK soil for a string of live dates! Please see below for full details.

WINCHESTER, UK: SXSC FESTIVAL @ Railway Inn, Sept 5
http://www.railwaylive.co.uk/listings
LEEDS, UK: Brudenell Social Club, Sept 6, Brudenell Social Club, Sept 6 http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk
GLASGOW, UK: Captain’s Rest, Sept 7, £6 http://www.ticketweb.co.uk
NEWCASTLE, UK: The Cluny 2 (formerly The Round), Sept 8, £5 http://www.ticketweb.co.uk
LONDON, UK: The Borderline, Sept 9, £10 http://venues.meanfiddler.com/borderline
DORSET, UK: End of the Road Festival, Sept 10-11 http://www.endoftheroadfestival.co.uk

See www.elliottbrood.com

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Kings Place Festival ’10

Folk and World Music Events

Eliza Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Chris Wood, Dave Swarbrick, Martin Carthy, Monster Ceildh Band, Classical music from India
100 performances in four days, 9-12 September 2010
Music, Spoken Word & Visual Art plus café, bar & restaurant
Festival Venue: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9AG
Tickets for all performances £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk
Phone Bookings on 020 7520 1490

Medieval hip-hop, sculptures by David Bailey, artwork from the Arctic, a farmers’ market and instruments made of rubbish are just some of the surprises in store for the third Kings Place Festival. Celebrating the second anniversary of Kings Place opening, the four-day event showcases the wealth of cultural and social opportunity that the space offers year-round. A diverse range of musicians, artists, and cultural figures present a stellar line-up of classical, contemporary, experimental, folk, jazz and blues music, alongside the finest spoken word, comedy, visual art, and food.

This autumn Kings Place introduces a new Friday nights series Folk Union. Folk and world music highlights during the festival include:

Thursday 9 September
Classical Music from India
Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust
Darbar presents an Indian musical journey introducing instruments relatively new to Indian classical music.

Hindustani Santoor Recital
Hall Two 2.45pm
Harjinder Pal Singh santoor
Manjeet Singh Rasiya tabla
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Carnatic Concert
Hall Two 4pm
Jyotsna Srikanth violin
Neyveli Venkatesh mridangam
R N Prakash ghatam
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Contemporary Indian Classical Music
Hall Two 5.15pm
Jesse Bannister saxophone
Bhupinder Chaggar tabla
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Thursday 9 September
Spitz presents…
Spitz Jazz Everyday in Kings Place Atrium
Spitz Jazz cross musical borders with the Indo Bass Trio, who present rhythms as new as they are old.

Indo Bass Trio
Atrium 6.15pm & 7.30pm
Manjeet Singh Rasiya tabla
Ben Hazleton double bass
Clem Alford sitar
Free event

Thursday 9 September
In the English Tradition
curated by Alan Bearman Music
This fantastic evening of concerts brings together four of English folk music’s most influential and popular performers: Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick and Chris Wood.

Eliza Carthy
Hall One 7pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick
Hall One 8.15pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Chris Wood
Hall One 9.30pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Friday 10 September
Folk Made in the UK
Red Orange audience and arts development present three different approaches to folk music in the UK: interpretations of traditional English tunes and songs; happy, non-stop, danceable Gaelic folk/roots/world music; and new folk adventures based on international explorations.

Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll
St Pancras Room 7.30pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Monster Ceilidh Band
St Pancras Room 8.45pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Andrew Cronshaw and Tigran Aleksanyan
St Pancras Room 10pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Saturday 11 September
Outer Circle: Bristol
The Arctic Circle concert series, showcasing three of the finest new and emerging talents from Bristol, team up with Humble Soul to feature some of Manchester’s most exciting and genre defining contemporary musicians.

Rozi Plain
Hall Two 2.45pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Eyebrow
Hall Two 4pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Francois & The Atlas Mountains
Hall Two 5.15pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Saturday 11 September
Folkworks – Tradition and Innovation
curated by Kathryn Tickell

A series of three concerts celebrating the folk and traditional music of our islands with some of the country’s best-loved and well-established names as well as newer artists who are taking the tradition forwards.

John Kirkpatrick
Hall One 7pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell
The Askew Sisters
Hall One 8.15pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
Hall One 9.30pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Sunday 12 September
Spitz presents…
Spitz Jazz Everyday in Kings Place Atrium
Spitz Jazz cross musical borders with the Indo Bass Trio, who present rhythms as new as they are old.

Indo Bass Trio
Atrium 6.15pm & 7.30pm
Manjeet Singh Rasiya tabla
Ben Hazleton double bass
Clem Alford sitar
Free

Sunday 12 September
Outer Circle: Manchester
Arctic Circle team up with Manchester’s Humble Soul performing a range of sounds from the homespun, delicate, melodic folk of Nancy Elizabeth through the percussion-driven space pop of Homelife to the otherworldly electronic songwriting of Denis Jones.

Nancy Elizabeth
Hall One 7pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Homelife
Hall One 8.15pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

Denis Jones
Hall One 9.30pm
Tickets: £4.50 tickets online at www.kingsplace.co.uk

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Peatbog Fairies to headline Durham’s Streets of Folk Festival 2010

Scottish supergroup will have crowds dancing in the streets

Scottish folk supergroup The Peatbog Faeries have been confirmed as the headline act for the free festival on August 29 in Durham City.

The Streets of Folk Festival, now in its third year, is a street based music festival in the heart of Durham’s historic Cathedral city.

Kate James, Creative Planner for organisers Durham County Council, said: “Music lovers are in for a massive free weekend in Durham.

The Peatbog Faeries are going to be joined by the best in emerging folk talent from North East England and two of America’s finest folk singers in Adrienne Young-Ramsay and Christi Andropolis. This is the most exciting, eclectic line-up yet for Streets of Folk.”

Peatbog Faeries are from the Isle of Skye off the western coast of Scotland and combine traditional Celtic jigs and reels with high intensity styles including dance, hip hop, reggae and jazz.

In 2008, the Peatbog Faeries won ‘Best Live Act’ at the Scots Traditional Music Awards and are known for generating pulsating atmosphere at their gigs.

Local North East talent bolsters line-up

The festival line-up is enriched by young up and coming talent from the North East folk scene. Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell, both graduates of Newcastle University’s degree in folk and traditional music are currently supporting folk supergroup The Unthanks on their European tour. They will perform songs from their acclaimed debut album ‘The North Farm Sessions.’

Four piece ‘Last Orders’ are another North East group named in the line-up and were winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2007.The group have gone to play at major folk festivals at Cambridge and at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival.

Durham singer songwriter Katie Doherty will perform the premiere of a brand new song written exclusively for the festival in collaboration with local school children.

Grammy nominated Nashville folk singer Adrienne Young Ramsay, America’s Christi Andropolis and Newcastle’s Dave Gray and Jim Boyle complete the line-up.

Streets of Folk is one of three free festivals taking place over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, alongside Streets of Play: Durham International Buskers Festival (August 28) and Streets of Dance, a celebration of dance in all forms (August 30).

Durham is an ideal city for a music festival. It is easily reached by train, road or air. Durham is less than three hours from London by train and less than two hours from Edinburgh on the East Coast mainline.

A large stock of affordable and discounted accommodation is available on the tourism website www.thisisdurham.com including Durham Deals offering 3 nights for the price of 2 and 25% off the total bill.

“With three festivals going on over one weekend and a city geared up to receive visitors at great value prices, we’d encourage people to make a festival weekend of it in Durham this August” added Kate James.

All three festivals are organised by Festival Durham, part of Durham County Council’s cultural programme of events and festivals.

For full details of the programme for all three festivals, visit: www.streetsof.co.uk

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James Keelaghan
www.keelaghan.com
House of Cards + Sept & Oct 2010 Tour

Many of the songs on my CD, ‘House of Cards’ would not be there but for the fact that Joella Foulds of the Celtic Colours Festival in Cape Breton brought together an amazing group of writers Karine Polwart, Dave Gunning, Rose Cousins, Lori Watson, and David Francey put us in a house, fed us, and told us to write.’ James Keelaghan.

Track Listing & Composers:
Safe Home (David Francey & James Keelaghan) Next To You (Rose Cousins & James Keelaghan) Since You Asked (James Keelaghan) House of Cards (James Keelaghan, Lori Watson, Dave Gunning, Rose Cousins, David Francey & Karine Polwart) McConnville’s (James Keelaghan) What’s For You (David Francey, James Keelaghan, Karine Polwart) Medusa (Karine Polwart & James Keelaghan) Twister (James Keelaghan) Leave Town (James Keelaghan) Circle of Stone (James Keelaghan)

About James Keelaghan:
It was Dave Marsh, the award-winning American music critic and historian who not so long ago stated that James Keelaghan is “Canada’s finest songwriter.” Those few but powerful words of praise say it all about an artist who continues to set the bar at a lofty height. James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, curiosity intent and intensity. His masterful story telling has, over the course of nine recordings, been part of the bedrock of his success, earning Keelaghan nominations and awards - including a Juno (Canada's Grammy) - and acclaim from Australia to Scandinavia. More at www.pattynanmedia.com/452/397411.html

September 2010

Sun 26. Helmsley Arts Centre, Meeting House Court, Helmsley, York, YO62 5DW
Tel 01439 771700 Tickets £14.50 On Stage 7.00 p.m. http://www.helmsleyarts.co.uk/events

October 2010

Sat 2. Ceiriog Centenary Hall, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Wrexham, LL20 7LD
Tel: 01691 600310 Tickets £8.00 – From 7.30 p.m.

Tue 5. Music at the Links, The Links Hotel, Mid Links, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8RL
Tel: 01674 671000 Tickets £6.00 -- From 7.00 p.m. www.linkshotelmusic.com

Thu 7. The Star, 1. St Andrews Square, Glasgow, Scotland, G1 5PP
Tel: 0141 563 0454 Tickets £10.00 & £8.00 Conc. -- From 7.30 p.m. http://www.starfolkclub.com

Sat 9. Birdsedge Village Hall, Penistone Road, Birdsedge, Huddersfield, West Yorks, HD8 8XP
Tel 01484 606230 & www.wegottickets.com Tickets £8.00 -- From 7.30 p.m. www.birdsedge.co.uk

Thu 14 Maudslay Thursday @ The Maudslay, 190 Allesley Old Road, Coventry, CV5 8GJ
Tel 07535 130975 Tickets £0.00 – From 7.30 p.m. www.myspace.com/maudslaythursday

Sun 17.The Cabbage Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SZ
Tickets £9.00 via www.wegottickets.com – From 7.30 p.m. www.twickfolk.co.uk

Tues 19 Dartford FC at Dartford Working Men’s Club, Essex Road, Dartford, Kent, DA1 2AU
Tel: 44 01322 222553 Tickets £8.00 – From 7.30 http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/

Wed 20. The Lamb Folk Club, The Lamb Inn, High Street, Eastbourne, BN21 1HH
Tel 01323 728268 Tickets £6.00 -- From 8.00 p.m. http://www.lambfolkclub.freeuk.com/

Thu 21. The Boathouse, 1 The Parade, Parkgate, Neston, Cheshire, CH64 6RN
Tel: 0151 677 1840 Tickets £9.00 – From 7.30 p.m. www.parkgatefolkclub.com

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Tiller's Folly Stirring Up Scotland 2010 Tour

The music of Tiller's Folly is uniquely representative of Canada's proud Scottish heritage. For over a dozen years, they have been collecting and interpreting Scots traditional music from a global perspective, tracing its many influences through North American music traditions. Performing the width and breadth of the North American continent, and throughout the United Kingdom.

This visit, Tiller's Folly will be touring in support of Tiller's Folly singer Bruce Coughlan's solo release A Minstrel in Moray inspired by the beautiful music, wonderful people, and amazing landscape that is Scotland. Isles of Stone video.

In addition, we will be highlighting two new media projects.

Over Northern Skies: A song commissioned to celebrate 100 Years of Flight in Canada (2009), tells the story of how Scots-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell was responsible for Canada's first motorized flight. The song was used in a documentary celebrating the event.
Over Northern Skies Video

Robbie McBeath: Bruce was commissioned by the Village of Kinlochbervie, Scotland to commemorate their local hero, Robert McBeath, VC. That song has become a collaboration with the Vancouver Police Pipe Band. A line from the song is engraved in a commemorative cairn in Kinlochbervie.
Robert McBeath Tribute Video.

TOUR DATES:
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010
Institute Hall - 8:00 PM
Tiller's Folly In Session with Calum Stewart and Heikki Bourgault.
Fochabers, Moray

Thursday, July 29th, 2010
Carnegie Hall - 8:00 PM
Clashmore, Sutherland

Friday, July 30th, 2010
Speyfest Marquee Main Stage - 7:00 PM
Tiller's Folly with The Fochabers Fiddlers and The Wilders.
Fochabers, Moray

Sunday, August 1st, 2010
Speyfest Survivor's Ceilidh
Tiller's helps wrap up this incredible event!
Fochabers, Moray

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Eden Court Theatre -7:30 PM
Inverness, Highlands

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Gable End Theatre - 7:00 PM
Hoy, Orkney

Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Kirkwall
Support act for Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain
Kirkwall, Orkney

Friday, August 6th, 2010
Mey Village Hall - 7:30 PM
Mey, Caithness

Saturday, August 7th, 2010
Kinlockbervie Village Hall
Kinlochbervie, Sutherland

Sunday, August 8th, 2010
The Tin Hut
Gartly, Aberdeenshire

www.tillersfolly.com for more information.

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Wallingford BunkFest 2010 : Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th September

Now in its ninth year, Wallingford BunkFest has grown to be one of the most lively and popular festivals in the calendar! Preparations are well in hand for another great show this year with concerts, dance displays, ceilidhs, beer festival, a huge craft fair, workshops, a storytelling fringe, music on river boats and steam trains, Shooting Roots workshops for young people and much more. Over a thousand performers will be staging around 200 performances during the three days at around 20 different venues. Most events are free admission though donations will be encouraged to secure the future of the festival.

Headlining the weekend's festivities will be Soothsayers - one of the country's top Afro-beat / dub / reggae bands, Pressgang - fabulous folk rock band, Mabon - top Celtic dance band and Artisan - a stunning 3 part close harmony group who will be appearing with Cloudstreet and Alan Burke at a special concert in St Mary's Church. Many other festival favourites will be appearing, including Seize The Day, The Churchfitters, Isambarde and Wallingford's very own Pete Orton, Darrell Mitchell, Gipsy Fox, Russell Leak and The Keeling Curve.

BunkFest 2010 is titled the Greening Wallingford Edition in support of Sustainable Wallingford's Greening Wallingford project, which aims to encourage and support local people and businesses to take easy and straightforward steps to reduce energy consumption and waste – and in so doing to make financial savings while benefiting the environment. The first Sustainable Wallingford Green Fair @ BunkFest will be held at Centre 70 featuring a variety of stalls with goods and ideas for sustainable living, and speakers will be giving talks on a variety of green issues.

The BunkFest Community Street Fair will return on Saturday 5th September in the Town Centre, with St Martin's and St Mary's Streets closed to traffic during the day and a variety of street entertainers, dancers and stalls from local community groups plying their trade. Local groups are invited to apply for stalls, please get in touch via the contacts below.

BunkFest needs volunteers for all sorts of tasks, before, during and after the festival. If you are able to help please email volunteers@bunkfest.co.uk or call the number below.

For more information visit www.bunkfest.co.uk or call the Information Line on 07743 330494.

WATER TOWER BUCKET BOYS
SOLE KITCHEN

Turns out that the Pacific Northwest is a bubbling cauldron of activity in the folk music world. Leading this vibrant community of square dancers and bluegrass fanatics, The Water Tower Bucket Boys have a unique vision of traditional music in a brand-new century. They know the roots of the music inside and out and have stayed up through many an all-night back-porch picking party playing tunes until dawn. This is mighty refreshing in a world full of indie bands picking up banjos and ukuleles to evoke some rustic authenticity. These boys actually play and understand the music.

But don’t forget that they’ve been raised on raging punk music just as much as Tommy Jarrell, and half the band are pursuing jazz degrees in university. Put that together with the wanderlust of youth that has carried them throughout Europe and across the US, and you get their wildly eclectic, borderline-ADD vision of folk music dominated as much by internet memes and YouTube mash-ups as old 78 recordings and toothless fiddle masters.

The Boys just completed their third album, Sole Kitchen, recorded and produced by Mike Herrera of Tumbledown and MxPx. Sole Kitchen features 100% original songs and tunes, all drawn from the band's travels through the West Coast and Europe, busking on street corners, playing festivals and jamming with everyone they met. Songs like ‘Fromage’ and ‘Telegraph’ show off The Water Tower Bucket Boys' wholly original version of psychedelic traditional music (psych-trad), while instrumental tunes like ‘London Breakdown’ and ‘Blackbird Pickin' at a Squirrel’ show just how fast and hard The Boys can play. But this is a band whose feet are firmly planted in the topsoil of American roots music, and they can just as easily write a song like ‘Heaven’ that sounds like an old Bill Monroe spiritual, complete with traditional harmonies. This is what makes the music of the Water Tower Bucket Boys so refreshing: their roots in the music run deep enough for their new tunes and songs to have real meaning and real vision. It’s a vision of folk music in the 21st century, a vision that carries the same credo that folk has always carried: real music for real people.

The Water Tower Bucket Boys will be touring the UK in
August & September
when they’ll also be recording their 2nd session for Mark Lamarr’s BBC Radio 2 show
- See below for full itinerary

Reviews for Sole Kitchen

“These hard-pickin', tight-harmonisin' youngsters have blazed out of the US on a mission to prove that old-time country is not only alive and well, it's got something vital to tell the 21st century. The obvious comparison are fellow revivalists the Old Crow Medicine Show, with whom they share a knack for full-tilt playing, the ability to make their own material sound timeless and ancient songs sound thrillingly new.” Morning Star

“A knee-slapping corker of a record.” The Line Of Best Fit

“From Portland, Oregon, some real old-time string band music done with a ton of youthful energy, much quick fingered pickin’ ‘n’ pluckin’ and, on the likes of Fromage and Bread, a neat modern twist.” Q Magazine

“Mighty fine!” Tasty Fanzine

“If you like your Bluegrass of the high octane variety, and I do, then you will find the Water Tower Bucket Boys sound irresistibly infectious. This is a warm and life affirming piece of work that easily deserves a bigger audience. Don't be frightened off by the word Bluegrass. With bands like The Avett Brothers and these guys bringing a punk attitude to the genre you would be missing out if you don't give it a listen and this album is the perfect place to start.” The Music Critic.co.uk

WATER TOWER BUCKET BOYS UK TOUR
• AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2010

August

Thursday 12 London Bonanza presents (It's) Countrier Down South @ The Rest Is Noise, Brixton £Free, 8pm

Friday 13 Guildford The Boiler Room 01483 440 022 / www.theboileroom.net £6/7, 7.30pm

Saturday 14 Liverpool The Zanzibar Club www.thezanzibarclub.com £TBC, 7.45pm

Sunday 15 Quorn The Sunday Saloon @ Quorn Village Hall Nr. Loughborough 07947 358993/www.myspace.com/thesundaysaloon £5, 3pm NB. Finishes 7pm

Tuesday 17 Sheffield Whippoorwill @ The Green Room www.myspace.com/whippoorwillsheffield £TBC, TBC

Wednesday 18 Leeds Foxes & Convicts @ Milo www.myspace.com/foxesandconvicts £TBC, TBC

Thursday 19 Farnham The Mulberry Surrey 01252 726673 / www.mulberryfarnham.co.uk £Free, 8pm

Friday 20 Upstreet Kent Folk & Bluegrass Club - The Boathouse @ The Grove Ferry Nr. Canterbury 01227 721736 or 07544 915464 / www.kentfolk.com/bluegrass £10, 8pm

Saturday 21 Bristol The Old Duke 0117 9277137 / www.theoldduke.com £Free, 7pm

Sunday 22 Watford The Horns 01923 225020 / www.thehornswatford.co.uk £Free, Noon (On Stage: 3.30pm)

Monday 23 Sarratt Owlsworld Acoustic Session @ The Old Barn, Cock Inn Herts.0777 5 526881 / www.myspace.com/owlsworld £5, 8pm

Wednesday 25 London The Old Queen’s Head, Islington 07740 199665 / www.themagpiesnest.co.uk £8, 7.30pm

Thursday 26 Brighton The Prince Albert 01273 730499 / www.myspace.com/drifterpromotions £6, 8pm

Friday 27 Glastonbury The Assembly Rooms 01458 834677 / www.assemblyrooms.org.uk £8, 9pm

Saturday 28 Headcorn The Small World Summer Festival & Sunday 29 Kent www.smallworldsolarstage.org/smallworld/index.html £50/£70, TBC

September

Friday 3 Castletown, Omagh Appalachian & Bluegrass Music Festival - Ulster American Folk Park
-Sunday 5 inc. Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland www.nmni.com/uafp/What-s-on/Events/18th-Annual-Appalachian---Bluegrass-Music-Festival 028 8224 3292 £TBC, TBC

Thursday 9 Belfast Open House Festival - Saturday 11 www.openhousefestival.com £TBC, TBC

www.watertowerbucketboys.com · www.myspace.com/watertowerbucketboys

Reviews for the Boys’ 2009 album Catfish On The Line

“…if you've any interest in potent, old-time roots sounds, make sure to bait a hook for 'Catfish On The Line'. You'll regret it if you let it become the one that got away.” 8/10, Whisperin And Hollerin

“…a raging, almost-punk full-ahead charge that's wedded to some tremendous (and authentically driven) individual playing and a tightly-coordinated band sound that conjures up the image of all four huddled round a single radio mic just doin' what they do – and how!” NetRhythms

“…a rambunctious ramble through classic bluegrass, old-time country, and ornery originals.” Fiddlefreak

"They bring to life a golden era in American Old Time and Bluegrass music that will send a shiver down your spine, your feet will be a tappin' and you'll be reachin' out for a drop of that ole moonshine.” Folk Radio UK

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Shrewsbury Folk Festival On Course For Another Sell-Out

Shropshire's biggest music festival is on course for another sell-out – with more than a month to go before the event.

Day tickets for Shrewsbury Folk Festival on Friday August 27, Saturday August 28 and Sunday August 29 have all sold out with only a handful still available for the final day of the festival at the West Mid Showground on Monday August 30.

And organisers have said they expect weekend tickets, which cover all four days of the event and allow camping on site, to be snapped up well in advance of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Festival Director Alan Surtees, who started at music festival in Bridgnorth with his wife Sandra in 1997, said: “We still have weekend tickets available, but these are selling slightly ahead of last year and we are confident they will all be gone ahead of the festival. Once tickets have sold out, there will be no more made available on the gate during the festival.

“Shrewsbury has undoubtedly become a fixture in many people's calendars – both for folk fans and local people – and it is great to see how many families come back year on year, bringing friends and relatives.

“One of the great things about Shrewsbury is the atmosphere which has to be experienced to be appreciated – but if you want to try it this year, you'd better be quick because once the tickets are gone that's it.”

This year's headliners include The Afro Celt Sound System, Cara Dillon, Billy Bragg, Bellowhead and Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds.

The festival has four music venues, a dance marquee, and village stage for dance and music. There is also a children's festival, Refolkus for young people aged 12 to 25, workshops, a craft fair, a range of onsite caterers, and a free shuttle bus service into Shrewsbury town centre from 9am to 6pm on the Saturday and Sunday.

For the first time this year, there will be a river shuttle service linking the town centre and the showground and the festival has teamed up with website www.goCarShare.com to help festival goers who want to share their festival journey.

For more information about this year's festival or to book tickets go to www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk.

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Win free folk festival tickets!

Are you a folk singer or musician, a dancer or storyteller in the Midlands? A professional, amateur or participant? You could win free tickets to Shrewsbury or Moseley folk festivals. All you need to do is fill in a 5 minute online survey at www.folkmonthlysurvey.info

Folk Monthly and the Traditional Arts Team are conducting a Midlands-wide survey of traditional performance arts activity. This information has been requested by the Arts Council because they recognise they have very little knowledge of folk arts activity in the region.

There will be a draw for free tickets to Shrewsbury and Moseley folk festivals who are giving their support. So go online now and fill it in.

Thanks for your participation!

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REG MEUROSS All this longing - Hatsongs Records. HAT002

Reg's new CD 'All This Longing' will be released in August 2010.

Exclusive pre-release copies (signed on request) are available now for £12.00 including p&p.

To order please go to the website www.regmeuross.com and click on the PAYPAL link, or if you wish to pay by other means, please email regmeuross@aol.com

All this longing follows the success of his previous album 'Dragonfly', which received excellent reviews and extensive airplay in the UK and America, and took Reg to The Royal Albert Hall.

This new, all-acoustic album features Reg on a variety of instruments including six string and tenor guitars, and brings together 12 beautiful and original songs. Hailed as a true British troubadour, Reg takes us into the worlds of true-life lovers, singers and poets in an unforgettable, haunting journey.

All This Longing also features the talents of Paul Sartin from Bellowhead, Andy Cutting on accordion, Jackie Oates on viola, Fairground Attraction’s Roy Dodds on percussion and Simon Edwards on bass.

REG MEUROSS – CONCERTS

8th Jul The Royal Oak Folk Club, 3, Station St, Lewes BN7 2DA tinvic@globalnet.co.uk

09 Jul The Priddy Folk Festival, Somerset
10 Jul The Priddy Folk Festival, Somerset with Beth on Cello

14 Jul Midsummer Folk Concert at St Bartholomews Church Crewkerne with Phil Beer & The Claque
johnandgeraldine@clotworthy.co.uk

16 Jul SOLO CONCERT The George Hotel 1 Broad Street South Molton Devon
http://www.britnett-carver.co.uk/georgehotel/live_music.html

17 Jul Roadwater Village Hall Performance club, Roadwater, Somerset
http://www.roadwaterperformanceclub.com

30 Jul Bridport Arts Centre, Launch Concert for New CD with Bethany Porter www.bridport-arts.com/

20 Aug Reg Solo Chepstow Acoustic Music Club The Chepstow Castle Inn, 12 Bridge St Chepstow NP16 5EZ
Doors open 7.30pm Members £5.00 Public £6.00 Tickets and info 07870 611 979
http://www.chepstowacousticmusicclub.com

3rd Sept Cromarty Hall, Stromness, Orkney, Scotland

4th Sept, Kildonan Hall, Scotland

10 Sept Bath Folk Club, Bath, Somerset With Bethany Porter on Cello

12 Sept Twickenham Folk Club with Beth Porter on Cello The Cabbage Patch, London
http://www.wegottickets.com/TwickFolk

18 Sept Wortley Folk Club, Sheffield
www.wortleyfolkclub.info

25 Sept Oake & District Hall, Saxon Close, Oake, Somerset TA4 1JA 01984623834.
Doors open 7.15. Concert 8.00pm. With Beth on cello. £10 lilliecotton@aol.co.uk

1st Oct Winsham Village Hall, Somerset

15th Oct Bodmin Folk Club, Bodmin, Cornwall

12th Nov Tintinhull Village Hall + Beth on Cello

3rd Dec The Ram Club, Epsom Surrey

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Butcher Holler, The New Side Project From Eilen Jewell Features 12 Songs Paying Tribute to the Queen of Country Loretta Lynn

“Butcher Holler is named for the little Kentucky town where Loretta Lynn was raised. In this tribute to the country star we pay homage to her humble roots and straightforward, hard-hitting performance style. All of the songs in this collection were written by Lynn herself and are a testament not only to her strength as a songwriter but to her personal strength as well. In the 1960s and 70s, Loretta Lynn dared to write songs about topics that were widely considered off-limits, especially for women. The fact that her words still hit a nerve today is proof of their timelessness. And so, a toast: to the woman with more banned songs than anyone can count; to that voice that reaches the very grain of the theater walls around her; to our national treasure. Gratitude is not enough, so I sing these songs for any who will listen. “ – Eilen Jewell

For over four decades now, Loretta Lynn has fashioned a body of work as artistically and commercially successful—and as culturally significant—as any female performer you’d care to name. Her music has confronted many of the major social issues of her time, and her life story is a rags-to-riches tale familiar to pop, rock and country fans alike. Lynn has journeyed from the poverty of the Kentucky hills to Nashville superstardom to her current status as a honest-to-goodness American icon.

Set for release on September 6th Butcher Holler covers both familiar and lesser-known songs of Lynn’s from the 60’s to early 70’s. During this time, Lynn introduced a new female character in country music, writing a string of hits unprecedented for their take-no-attitude women narrators. Jewell includes three of these hits on Butcher Holler : "You Ain’t Woman Enough (to Take My Man)" [#2, 1966], "Don’t Come Home A’Drinkin’ (with Lovin’ on Your Mind)" [#1, 1967], and "Fist City" [#1, 1968]. The distinctive grit and strength of these songs are tempered by the tenderness found on more wistful tracks like "Whispering Sea" and "This Haunted House." Jewell’s supple expressive voice has never sounded better- her admiration and respect for Lynn’s music is conveyed in every line that she sings and every note played by her longtime band of Jason Beek (drums, harmony vocals), Jerry Miller (electric, acoustic, and steel guitars), and Johnny Sciascia (upright bass).

+++++UK DATES ANNOUNCED+++++

Sept 30th Luminaire, LONDON
Oct 1st The Basement, BRIGHTON
Oct 2nd The Railway, WINCHESTER
Oct 4th The Tunnels, BRISTOL
Oct 5th The Boardwalk, SHEFFIELD
Oct 6th Glasgow Americana Festival, GLASGOW
Oct 7th The Maze, NOTTINGHAM
Oct 8th Tingewick Village Hall, BUCKS
Oct 9th Royal Native Oyster Stores, WHITSTABLE

Eilen Jewell burst onto the Boston music scene with her 2005 debut, Boundary Country. Reaction to her music was swift, with many comparing her talents to those of Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch and June Carter Cash. Jewell’s heart-achingly hushed style and intimate grasp of roots music have earned her rave reviews, both nationally and abroad. No Depression wrote "Jewell is showing she can wander with the best of them, and write riveting song-stories about her adventures along the way." Indicative of Jewell’s strong following in Europe, The Word in the UK described her as "A voice of real distinction [that] manages to transcend some powerful influences and pierce the fog long enough for her own point of view to emerge." Eilen and her band tour relentlessly, regularly selling out venues across the country. Her last album, Sea of Tears was lauded as "album of the year" by critics, was featured on the New and Noteworthy home page on iTunes, and reached #9 on the Americana Radio Chart staying in the top 10 for 2 straight weeks. MOJO gave the album 4 stars and raved; "The comparison game can hardly get any muddier to suggest Lucinda Williams fronting Chris Isaak’s band, with both singer and accompanists at the top of their game.

See www.eilenjewell.com

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BRAMPTON LIVE 2010 IS CANCELLED

Brampton Live 2010, the biggest folk roots festival in the north of England, has been cancelled.

The 16th Brampton festival was due to take place near Carlisle between July 16-18 with a bumper line-up of artists from the UK, America and Canada.

But founders Ken and Sue Bradburn and their fellow directors of Brampton Live Ltd, Mick North and Steve Henderson have issued the following statement: “We are saddened to announce that the 2010 festival has been cancelled. The combination of reduced funding, decreasing sponsorship and disappointing ticket sales has meant we feel it would be irresponsible to continue. If we were to do so, we would not be able to meet our obligations in refunding ticket holders, stall holders and traders. These obligations will be met over the coming weeks.”

The event’s future is unknown at this time but the directors added: “We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the many volunteers who have given freely of their time over the last fifteen years as well as all our performers and other supporters past and present - plus a big thank you to our patron Maddy Prior who has always been a huge friend of the festival.”

The centrepiece of the 2010 festival was due to be the official premiere and CD launch of the All Along the Wall show featuring five top songwriters and two poets and celebrating Hadrian’s Wall.

The directors pledged to continue with this: “On a positive note we intend to proceed with the All Along the Wall project which was specially commissioned for the festival. A live performance CD will be available in July and other performances are planned, hopefully including The Sage, Gateshead and a range of other venues.”

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13TH SHOW OF HANDS FESTIVAL IN THE DORSET SUB TROPICS – WITH SPIRO, SHEPHERDS & A STELLAR LINE UP OF FRIENDS!

Show of Hands hugely popular annual signature festival on the Dorset heritage coast was missing a vital ingredient last year – the band’s multi instrumental wizard Phil Beer, who was away fulfilling a lifetime dream of competing in the Tall Ships Race.

But this year the festival is at full strength with Mr. Beer firmly back on board for the event at Abbotsbury’s glorious Sub Tropical Gardens near Weymouth on Saturday, July 3.

Phil and Steve Knightley, his long-term singer songwriter partner, won Best Duo at the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards earlier this year as well as Best Original Song for the Knightley-penned topical track Arrogance Ignorance and Greed. The pair, together with regular guest Miranda Sykes on double bass and vocals, will spearhead over six hours of non-stop open-air entertainment on Abbotsbury’s West Lawn.

They will be ably aided and abetted by a host of special guests topped by popular punk folksters Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds, who have been going down a storm at festivals. Comedy actor Edmondson, who like Show of Hands, hails from Devon, is best known as Vivian in The Young Ones but has forged himself a riotous new career by buying himself a mandolin and, with the help of folk musicians Troy Donockley and Andy Dinan, reinventing punk classics and other standards – even a truncated version of Steeleye Span’s All Around My Hat!
See www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x5FsRLbh84

Meanwhile the “impossibly talented” Rodney Branigan from Texas will be bringing his progressive folk fusion music to Abbotsbury and doubtless making jaws drop with his simultaneous playing of two guitars.
See www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Pm-1KbsrI

Another highlight of the eclectic line-up will be spellbinding folk-classicists Spiro, an instrumental quartet who The Word described as “Like Detroit techno played by a travelling band out of a Hardy novel”! The Bristol-based band comprises Jon Hunt on guitar, Jane Harbour on violin, Alex Vann on mandolin and Jason Sparkes on accordion.

The line-up is completed by the unique French-Geordie singer Flossie Malavialle who proved a popular support act for Show of Hands on their autumn 09 tour and has since supported Fairport Convention.

The event starts at 3pm. Tickets are available on 01305-871130, price £22 (adults); £11 (children) or a special offer family ticket for two adults and up to three children for £50. The Abbotsbury Tourism box office is open 9am-1pm and 2-5pm Mondays to Fridays Further information on www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk or email info@abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk

Concertgoers are invited to bring low-backed seating, rugs and picnics into the grounds - entry to the West Lawn area is from 1.30pm. The grounds open at 10am for those interested in looking round the magnificent 20-acre gardens (admission included in ticket price). For the youngsters, children’s entertainer Rob Pudner will be on hand with his circus skills and storytelling and face painters will also be at the ready.

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Smith: Byrnes: O’Sullivan – aka “SBO Band”

"A first class album, highly recommended." (Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine)
“Genuine, powerful music – written and played with absolute regard to the traditions from which it comes.” (Aidan Crossey, Pay the Reckoning)
“A bravura performance that combined the spark and spontaneity of a backroom session with concert stage quality musicianship.” (Rob Adams, The Scotsman)
Summer Tour 2010,p> Sat 26th June, 8pm – Hammersmith Irish Centre, London www.irishculturalcentre.co.uk

Sun 27th June – Glastonbury Festival, Shangri La Field www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk

Mon 28th June, 8pm – Scanlon’s Irish Club, Birmingham

Tues 29th June, 8pm – Leith Folk Club, Edinburgh www.leithfolkclub.com

Weds 30th June, 8pm – Cumberland Arms, Newcastle-upon-Tyne www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk

Thurs 1st July, 9pm – Hootananny, Inverness www.hootananny.co.uk

Fri 2nd July, 1pm – Lemon Tree, Aberdeen www.boxofficeaberdeen.com

Fri 2nd July, 8pm – Glasgow (Venue TBC)

Web: www.myspace.com/sboband

Biographies

Jamie Smith hails from Glasgow, Scotland. Jamie began as a classical musician, moving to folk music at fifteen. He moved to London in 2002 to pursue a career in journalism, whilst simultaneously establishing himself as a major force on the London session scene. Jamie was a finalist at the BBC Radio Scotland Young Trad Musician of the Year award in 2002. He released his solo album in 2006 and went on to form ‘The Long Notes’ with accordionist Colette O’Leary and banjo maestro Brian Kelly. Smith: Byrnes: O’Sullivan is Jamie’s latest project, born out of their weekly session at O’Grady’s in Ilford, East London.

Liam O’Sullivan began playing button accordion at the age of twelve, winning five all-Britain titles in his teens. He’s toured and recorded with award-winning trad Irish band Mise, and is featured in the opening credits of the Irish Music Channel. Liam’s also toured with two sell-out stage productions – Gaelforce Dance and Irish Nights – taking him throughout Europe and as far away as Taiwan, Thailand and Tasmania.

Steve Byrnes is from Kilkenny in Ireland and is studying jazz drumming and popular music in London. Steve also plays guitar and sings, writing many of his own songs. He has toured and performed with, among others, English folk group ‘Uiscedwr’, Michael McGoldrick, Treacherous Orchestra and The Long Notes. He is a member of several rock bands back in Ireland and is much in demand in London since moving there in 2007.

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Folk Festival Returns to Wat Tyler

Following the success of last years Wat Tyler Folk Festival, the event returns this year and promises a day of music not to be missed.

Some of the best artists from the world of folk music are preparing for the second folk festival which culminates a summer of events happening in the parks across the district.

The seven hour event gets under way at Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea Hall Lane, Basildon, on 12 September between 12pm and 7pm.

Acts performing include Faustus one of the top and up and coming folk bands, and Heidi Talbot, one of the best female folk artists to come out of Ireland who has recently wowing crowds as part of folk super group Drever, McCusker and Woomble.

Headlining the festival will be Adrian Edmondson and the Bad Shepherds. Star of ‘Bottom’ and ‘The Young Ones’, Edmondson’s band have been making big waves in the folk world and were recently nominated for the best live act award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Their incredible live performances have been gaining live reviews across the UK and promise a headline set to remember for the festival.

Tickets for the Wat Tyler Folk Festival are £12 and £8 concessions and are available from the Towngate Box Office on 01268 465465, via Essex Live at www.essex-live.co.uk or directly from Wat Tyler Country Park.

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US Roots Stars Crooked Still Set To Release Some Strange Country Their Fourth Studio Album On July 5th

Crooked Still’s fourth studio album Some Strange Country is an elegant package of superbly crafted musical styles taking country folk as a deep foundation and veering off into exhilarating and exciting directions. It’s amazing music that can hardly be called ‘bluegrass’ or be locked into any one genre. Where Ray Charles gave us ‘Modern Sounds In Country & Western Music’ back to 1962, Crooked Still bring those expressions into the new millennium.

Recorded during a long blizzard in rural Virginia, Some Strange Country expands on the band’s unique blend of Appalachian-based string band styles combining with chamber music strings and pop sensibility, all supporting Aoife O’Donovan’s sultry and sometimes spooky vocals. The album was produced by Gary Paczoza (Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek) and features guest contributions of bluegrass legends Ricky Skaggs and Tim O’Brien and vocals from rising star Sarah Jarosz. There are several gorgeous original songs alongside adaptations of tradition numbers from the likes of Dock Boggs and others plus an unlikely cover of the Rolling Stones “You Got The Silver”.

Still Crooked is an ensemble effort of inspired music making that moves the bands' impossible to pigeonhole style in new directions while honouring their folk roots. "It's hard to pin down our music," bass player Corey DiMario says. "We play improvised old time music, bluegrass, folk and our own songs within the broad context of a string band. Like a lot of today's bands, we have modern and traditional influences that confuse the boundaries. We want to keep blurring those lines to make something all our own." With the release of Some Strange Country Crooked Still cements their status as one of the most innovative and successful bands in American roots music.

www.somestrangecountry.com

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Jeffrey Foucault & Mark Erelli
Seven Curses – A Killer Collection Of Americana Murder Ballads

A few years ago Jeffrey Foucault sat down with long time friend Mark Erelli to record a collection of murder ballads. The result - two nights, two chairs, a dozen stories, and a handful of old guitars - matched an elemental approach to the elemental subjects, love and death. Now that collaboration, Seven Curses will be released in Europe on June 7th (CRS).

Starkly recorded, with a list of songs that includes Blackie Farrell’s dusty cowboy ballad ‘Sonora’s Death Row’, Neil Young’s mystical narrative ‘Powderfinger’, Porter Wagoner’s darkly comic ‘The First Mrs. Jones’, and Paul Siebel’s aching classic ‘Louise’, Seven Curses is raucous and chilling, raw and poignant, an expansive interpretation of a classic American genre. Kicking off proceedings is a honest interpretation of Woody Guthrie’s ‘Philadelphia Lawyer’ and Springsteen’s ‘Johnny 99’.

Jeffrey Foucault is one of the finest songwriters in the US and his albums have garnered praise and support all over the world. His last album, 2009’s John Prine tribute ‘Shoot The Moon Right Between The Eyes’ was hailed by MOJO (4****) and UNCUT who called it “deftly weighted between reverence and reinvention.” Mark Erelli released his first album in 1999 and has since gone on to record a number of well-received albums and share the stage with likes of Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, John Hiatt and Dave Alvin. Erelli was also invited to the UK last year as part of the Charles Darwin Song Project which resulted in intensive TV, radio and press coverage.

www.jeffreyfoucault.com
www.markerelli.com

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MABON News 2010

The stunning Inter-Celtic 6 piece MABON, fresh from their sell out OK U.K Tour part 2, bring their blistering tunes to a number of Festivals over the summer months. They include the Hexham Gathering (may 30), Bryngarw Festival, nr Bridgend ( June 11), Middlewich Folk and Boat (June 19), Carrog Village Hall (June 20), Priddy Folk Festival (July 12), Lorient interceltique festival, brittany (Aug 6/7), fairports cropredy convention (Aug 13), Pontadawe Int. Festival (Aug 20) Gwyl Tegeingl Festival, Mold (Aug 21), Bunkfest, Wallingford (Sept 5).

The band have also plans for a very special new 'release',of which more information will be forthcoming nearer its readiness - in time for the summers festivities, and plans are well advanced for an extensive tour during the autumn, covering the whole of the U.K - including Scotland...... for more information on all things MABON, please dive into the Mabon website - www.mabon.org

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Brooks Williams

BABY O! Release Date April 5 2010

“How soulful a solo guitarist can be when he has talent, taste and astonishing technique.” Blues Revue

Blues Americana guitarist singer and songwriter Brooks Williams delivers the deepest and most intense interpretations of everything from early blues songs to his recent original compositions on Baby O!, his 17th CD, his first recorded in the UK. A 23-year veteran of the road and living the trans-Atlantic life between Cambridge (UK) and Boston (US), on Baby O! Williams sings about a forgotten New Orleans guitarist, a Mississippi tragedy, the ache of long-distance love, staying true in the face of adversity, and not giving up on love. Williams’ voice floats over foot-stomping grooves and rollicking guitar riffs supported by David Goodier’s bass, PJ Wright’s steel and dobro, and Keith Warmington’s harmonica. Produced by Williams and engineered by Andy Bell (Seasick Steve), Baby O! is his most immediate and compelling roots record to date. The music that travelled across the ocean from the US to the UK on scratchy records and static-laden radio signals in the 1950s and early 1960s, then travelled back across to the US via records, singers and guitarists from the UK in the late 1960s and 1970s, continues its journey back and forth in the on-going singing of a timeless song.

“A consummate artist, Williams ranks among America's musical treasures.” Dirty Linen

Georgia-born guitarist Brooks Williams crosses the ocean and finds red-clay soul and wind-blown twang on the trans-Atlantic road…

“The road from Statesboro, Georgia to England is not as long as you might think - especially if you go via Texas. Which is what I did. It’s a crazy geography, but that’s how it happened. Years ago, within a few hours of touching down in England, my Justin boots were walking the streets of Bristol and found the club where I was to play. It was packed with people who welcomed me as if I were a traveler returned home from a long journey. After the sweaty show, in the small hours of the morning, in between each lonely cab that passed under my window, I heard the faintest strains of red-clay Piedmont hollers, wind-blown Texas ballads and dusty Delta blues. There was something so familiar in the night’s quiet singing that I could not shake it. And haven’t. In the passing years, 23 to be exact, as I have more or less followed the points on the compass rose from London to Memphis to Boston to Dallas to Istanbul to Dublin, that song has become my own. So for my 17th CD I bring my guitars, my voice, and my songs to England to record them with friends in the place where I first heard that night song. I hope you enjoy hearing it as much as we enjoyed making it.” Brooks Williams

“Harmonically sophisticated and breathtakingly beautiful…” Guitar Player

Brooks Williams • UK Tour • April-July 2010

April

Friday 16 Thames Ditton The Ram Club @ The Old Cranleighan Club, Surrey 020 868 69421 / www.theramclub.co.uk £7/£8, 8.15pm
Saturday 17 Devizes The Bear Hotel, Wiltshire, 01380 722444 /www.thebearhotel.net £4, 7.30pm
Sunday 18 Ivybridge Folk On The Moor @ The Westward Inn, Lee Mill, Devon 01752 881638 / www.moorfolk.co.uk £7/£9, 7.45pm
Thursday 22 Rothbury Rothbury Roots @ The Queens Head, Northumberland 01669 620470 / www.rothburyroots.net £7, 7.30pm
Friday 23 Carlisle Carlisle Folk & Blues Club, Sunset Suite, Carlisle United FC 01228 541799 / www.carlislefolkandbluesclub.com £8, 7.45pm
Saturday 24 Belper Belper Music & Arts, Top Bar @ The Queen's Head, Derbyshire 01773 826750 / www.belpermusicandarts.co.uk £5, 8.15pm
Friday 30 Bristol Jazz @ Future Inns: Blues Night, Cabot Circus Hotel with band 07515 051695/ www.futureinns.co.uk/bristol-jazz-club.htm £10/£12, 8pm

May

Saturday 8 Cromer Folk On The Pier - Solo show
Sunday 9 Cromer Folk On The Pier - Guitar Massif Blues Jam Norfolk 01263 512495 / www.folkonthepier.co.uk £30 (Day)/£75 (Season), 2pm
Tuesday 11 Lingfield British Wildlife Centre, Newchapel Surrey 01342 834658 / www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk £10, 7pm
Saturday 15 Battle The King’s Head East Sussex 07969 462836 / www.mrsyarringtons.me.uk Free, TBC

June

Thursday 17 Hebden Bridge Steve Tilston's Trades Roots: Trades Club, West Yorkshire 01422 845265 / www.tradesclub.info £7/£9, 8pm
Saturday 19 Dorchester Dorchester Blues Society at Dorchester Arts Centre, Dorset 01305 266926 / www.bluesnights.co.uk £10.50, £11.50 7.30pm
Saturday 26 Manningtree Red Lion, Essex 01206 395052 £8/£10, 7.45pm

July

Saturday 3 Ashover Ashover Well Dressed Festival
Sunday 4 Ashover Ashover Well Dressed Festival
Derbyshire 01623 812739 or 01246 862681/ www.ashoverwelldressedfestival.co.uk
Monday 5 London Monday Monday @ The Cross Kings, Kings Cross 0207 278 83 18 / www.folkonmonday.co.uk £8, 8pm
Thursday 8 Otterton Otterton Mill with band Nr. Budleigh Salterton, Devon 01395 568521 / www.ottertonmill.com £11, 6pm
Saturday 10 Priddy Priddy Folk Festival with band Somerset www.priddyfolk.org £32, 2.30pm

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SHOW OF HANDS - England’s acclaimed acoustic roots band - have finally scooped both the Best Duo and Best Original Song titles at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards after numerous nominations.

The enduring and hugely popular 18-year partnership of Devon’s Steve Knightley and Phil Beer beat off stiff competition from Martin Simpson and The Unthanks in the Best Original Song category and from Megson, Damien Barber and Mike Wilson and Belshazzar’s Feast in the Best Duo section to win the coveted double award at a ceremony in London tonight. They received the Best Duo award from singer/songwriter Tom Robinson and the Best Original Song trophy from Barnsley poet Ian McMillan.

The Knightley penned winning song Arrogance Ignorance and Greed – due to be released as a single on February 22 – is probably one of the most astute original songs to have come out of the recession. Taking an unflinching swipe at global bankers and bonuses, MPs and inventive expenses (“you’re on your yacht; we’re on our knees”) it perfectly capturing the current mood of the nation. See new video of the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-n8ITk6UWM
The title track of their latest acclaimed studio album was performed live at the awards ceremony tonight in London (with double bassist and vocalist Miranda Sykes joining them on stage).

Two of the most popular ambassadors for roots music, they formed Show of Hands in 1991. Knightley, who writes most of their inspired material and Beer, a dazzling multi instrumentalist, have built up a huge following which has seen them sell out the Royal Albert Hall three times, headline major festivals from Glastonbury to WOMAD and play all over the world, from Europe to America, Australia and India.

The band had previously been nominated twice in the Best Original Song category while it was the fourth time they had won a nomination for Best Duo.

The duo won the Best Live Act title in 2004 – the only year it has been voted for by members of the public - and were also nominated for Knightley’s Country Life – the rock rant title track of a previous album.

In 2006 they were also nominated for “Best Original Song” for Knightley’s storming Roots – an impassioned defence of England’s musical heritage and identity, triggered by minister Kim Howells’ comment that his idea of hell was listening to “three Somerset folk singers” - while in 2009 dazzling multi instrumentalist Beer was nominated in the Awards “Musician of the Year” category.

The day after the 2010 Folk Awards (Tuesday, February 2), Show of Hands will be making a sold-out debut at the oldest live music venue in London – Oxford Street’s 100 Club – a rare appearance in the capital to celebrate the upcoming single release of Arrogance Ignorance and Greed on February 22. www.the100club.co.uk

Following current solo tours and a tour of Germany, Knightley and Beer will be back on the road next April with a Show of Hands “Standing Room Only II” UK standing gig tour, supported by West Country-based singer songwriter Ruarri Joseph. Ports of call will include The Brook, Southampton, 53 Degrees in Preston and Cheltenham Town Hall.

Highlights of the Awards will be broadcast on Mike Harding’s Radio 2 show on Wednesday (Feb 3) at 7pm and live performances can be seen at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

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Sarah McQuaid - Calling all singers!

For her last few UK gigs before she sets off for Spain and the USA (including a last-minute Concert For Haiti that she's just been invited to take part in), acclaimed singer/guitarist/songwriter Sarah McQuaid is still seeking fellow vocalists to join her in singing a six-part round she’s written.

Entitled ‘In Gratitude I Sing’, the canon features on Sarah’s third album, which is currently in the mixing stage and should be out in late 2010 or early 2011.

In the meantime, her first two albums When Two Lovers Meet and I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning are being re-released in North America as a double CD, just in time for Sarah’s first-ever US tour – a real humdinger that takes in 20 shows in 23 days, including such legendary venues as Boston’s Club Passim, upstate New York’s Old Songs and Nashville’s Bluebird Café.

Before she heads Stateside, Sarah will also be performing a Valentine’s Day concert at the Palacio de Congresos y de la Música Euskalduna in Bilbao, Spain.

On her return from the US, she’ll once again be sharing the bill with fellow Cornwall-based band Dalla at Grampound Village Hall, where Sarah debuted her canon a year ago. On that occasion, four members of Dalla had bravely agreed to essay the song with just five minutes of rehearsal time before the show.

“Up to that point I’d only heard the different parts together inside my own head, having just written it that morning,” Sarah explains, “so I was terrified that they’d turn out to clash! I also wasn’t a hundred percent sure that the key would be okay for both male and female voices.

“But actually they sounded even better together than I could have imagined, even with only five of the six parts – one man and four women including myself – and the range was fine for everybody, thank goodness.”

Eager to share the song with more audiences, Sarah is calling on any singers who plan to attend her concerts to join her onstage for ‘In Gratitude I Sing’. The sheet music is available for download from Sarah's homepage, www.sarahmcquaid.com, as is a MIDI recording of the melody.

Born in Madrid and raised in Chicago, Sarah McQuaid lived in Ireland for 14 years before moving to Cornwall in 2007.

Details of UK tour dates follow; for non-UK dates, see www.sarahmcquaid.com/calendar.html.

Thursday, February 4th, 2010
8.30pm
Acoustic Club
The Half Moon Pub, 31 North Street
Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 2LD
01279 833154
Price: Stg 4 (2 for performers)

Saturday, February 6th, 2010
8.15pm (doors 7.30)
The Warehouse Centre
7 Brook Road
Rayleigh, Essex SS6 7UT

07982 718292
Price: Stg 8/5 U16 Friday, February 5th, 2010
Concert For Haiti - 8:00pm
Saffron Walden Baptist Church
High Street
Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3HD
01799 524002
Price: Stg 10

Thanks to Joanna Eden for putting together a last-minute Concert For Haiti to try and raise funds for this pressing cause. Tickets can be reserved at Saffron Walden Tourist Information Centre on 01799 524002 (ticket price includes two glasses of wine or fruit juice). Musicians taking part include Joanna Eden (http://www.joannaeden.com), Ben Sommers of Mozzy Green (http://www.mozzygreen.com) and Sarah McQuaid (http://sarahmcquaid.com) among others.

Sunday, February 7th, 2010 8.00pm
http://www.twickfolk.co.uk/TwickFolk (Twickenham Folk Club)
Cabbage Patch Pub, 67 London Road
Twickenham TW1 3SZ
Price: Stg 8

Saturday, March 27th, 2010
8.00pm (doors 7.30pm)
Grampound Community Hall
Fore Street
Grampound, Cornwall TR2 4SB
01726 883874
Price: Stg 7/4 conc

Friday, April 2nd, 2010
Time TBC
Isles of Scilly Folk Festival
St Mary's, Isles of Scilly
01720 422777

Friday, April 16th, 2010
8.00pm
No Alibis Bookstore
83 Botanic Avenue
Belfast BT7 1JL
Northern Ireland
028 90 319601
Price: Stg 8.50

Friday, April 30th-Saturday, May 1st, 2010
Border Grass
Weobley Village Hall, The Hopelands, Gadbridge Road, Weobley
Hereford, Herefordshire HR4 8SN
01544 327936

Friday, May 14th, 2010
8.15pm (doors 8.00)
The Goose Is Out!
Upstairs At The Magnolia, 211 Lordship Lane
London SE22 8HA
Price: Stg 6 / 4 singers/musicians

Saturday, May 15th, 2010
8.00pm (doors 7.30pm, workshop 5pm)
Ebbesbourne Folk
The Village Hall
Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire SP5 5JD
01722 780717
Price: Stg 10 concert/10 workshop/15 both

Monday, May 17th, 2010
8.00pm
Tonbridge Folk Club (Nellie's)
Rose and Crown, 125 High Street
Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1DD
01892 822945
Price: Suggested donation of 5 Stg

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
8:30pm (doors 8:00)
Folkmob
Blackheath Rugby Club, Kidbrooke Lane, Eltham
London SE9 6TE
07809 095237
Price: Stg 6

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010
8:30pm (doors 8:00)
Acoustic Music Club Kirkcaldy
Polish Ex-Servicemens Club, Bennochy House, Bennochy Road
Kirkcaldy, Scotland KY2 5TA
01592 653645

Thursday, June 24th, 2010
8:15pm (doors 8pm)
Folking Live Bracknell
Cellar Bar, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead
Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 7PA
01344 484123
Price: Stg 5
Folking Live Bracknell is run in association with www.folking.com, one of the country's leading independent folk, roots and acoustic music websites. The concert is a double bill with Horses Brawl (http://www.horsesbrawl.co.uk) and myself each doing a 40-minute set, plus a 20-minute opener from Garry Smith (http://www.myspace.com/garrymsmith). For more info, visit http://www.myspace.com/folkinglivebracknell or ring 01344 484123.

Friday, June 25th, 2010
8.30pm (doors 8.15pm)
The Ram Club
Old Cranleighan Club, Portsmouth Road
Thames Ditton, Surrey KT7 0HB

Sunday, June 27th, 2010
7.00pm
The Acoustic Kitchen - Live at the Riverside
Riverside Restaurant, 27 King Street
King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1ET
07814 838341
Price: 8 Stg

Friday, July 16th, 2010
8:30pm
Valley Folk Club
The Ivy Bush, 103 High Street
Pontardawe, Wales SA8 4JN
01792 830782
Price: Stg 5
For more info, visit http://www.pontardawefolkclub.co.uk or ring 01792 830782.

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Little Sister are a bright young folk band that seduce audiences with their quirky song-stories of frog love fairytales and lonely magpies. They embrace many different cultures in their music, taking inspiration from their travelling experiences and individual world music tastes. Their eclectic style encompasses celtic folk, klezmer, pop, reggae beats, bluegrass and rock ‘n’ roll.

World-folk group Little Sister is supporting Dave Swarbrick at the Red Lion Folk Club, Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7LY on 12th December 2009, 8pm.
Little Sister's Launch Party for their debut album 'Grey to Green' will be held at the Kitchen Garden Cafe, York Road, Birmingham B14 7SA on 30th December 2009, doors open 7.30pm.

To listen to a preview track from the album visit www.myspace.com/littlesistermusic

See www.littlesistermusic.co.uk, http://www.twitter.com/lilsistatwittle, http://www.myspace.com/littlesistermusic for more details.

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Blueflint

New Album: High Bright Morning
Johnny Luck Records

"...beautiful ballads of love and revenge with fantastic harmonies......what's not to love?"
Scotland on Sunday Review

"Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson (a)ren't afraid to play around the genre, exceptional harmonizing" The Scotsman

"A female banjo bluegrass duo you just have to hear..Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson are sublime as they sing ballads of love and loss. Blueflint deserve your attention." Daily Record

"Blueflint play haunting bluegrass shot through with a yearning sadness and soothing harmonies." The List

Yearning ballads of love, loss and revenge nestle next to tales of suicide and untimely death. In Blueflint’s songs is an unflinching retelling of the human condition, lightened by exquisite harmony singing and the deft beauty shaped by their instrumental work. With High Bright Morning, Blueflint delivers a haunting, singular statement.

Steeped in Americana, the group's music is part bluegrass, part folk. Based around the banjo duo of Deborah Arnott and Clare-Louise Neilson, Blueflint subtly intertwines the three-finger picking and clawhammer styles of banjo traditions to accompany striking harmonies on a set of original songs. Blueflint's unique sound is enhanced by contributions from a talented, versatile line-up including Roddy Neilson fiddle, Ian Stoddart drums, Joey Sanderson Double bass (Hugh Kelly on tour) and production by noted composer Jim Sutherland (Aberfeldy; 'New Town' BBC).

www.myspace.com/blueflint

www.blueflint.org.uk

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Zama Zama …try your luck…'
Album released November 2nd on Temple Records
Available as a CD via all good outlets, direct from Temple Records, or digitally via itunes and all major download sites

www.battlefieldband.co.uk
www.templerecords.co.uk

'Robber Barons', the first single release from Battlefield Band's new album 'Zama Zama…try your luck…', has already received airplay on BBC Shropshire, BBC Gloucestershire, BBC Scotland, Folkcast and Celtic Music Radio. The track, written by Alan Reid, looks at greed through the ages, from the 'Robber Barons' of the Middle Ages in Germany to the modern day politicians & bankers. The subject matter is as relevant today as it ever was… "This album started as a collection of songs and tunes about gold. But as we searched, like the alchemists of old, it turned into a wider idea. In the process we saw the greed, disasters and victories inherent in the search and exploitation of various sources of wealth in this world. Then, as if by demonic serendipity, along comes the worldwide economic crisis. We watched the major banks, insurance companies and Hedge Funds etc. implode, discrediting the entire financial system and many of its managers and advisers - But there was still more to come. We, in Britain, could only stand and watch aghast as many (too many) Members of Parliament, and the House of Lords at Westminster, 'the Mother of Parliaments' were exposed for their cynical misuse of the expenses system, often amounting to fraud.
As we put this album together, with our producer Robin Morton, we have been amazed, amused, angered, depressed and hilariously horrified. Who knew about the Zama Zama Boys? Or Ku'ula-kai, the Hawaiian God of Fish; or the extraordinary folklore and history of Chocolate? We will leave you to mine these extraordinary stories for yourselves." - Alan Reid

With the new album 'Zama Zama...try your luck...', Battlefield Band offer us songs both old and newly composed. Alongside new songs like 'Robber Barons' are tracks such as Nina Simone's 'Plain Gold Ring'.
As always with Battlefield Band, they produce Contemporary Scottish music - 2000 years in the making.

The release of the album celebrates the 30th Anniversary for Battlefield Band and their label Temple Records. For 30 years they have created and performed traditional Scottish music with a rare passion and joy, delighting audiences around the globe and evolving into what the press have called:
"...a wondrous, perfectly paced display by musicians firmly in command of their art...a Highland jam that rang the rafters." - The Washington Post

Under their banner Forward With Scotland's Past, Battlefield Band have been distilling their own unique form of the Scottish spirit and exporting it worldwide, with concerts in China, Malaysia, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Syria, Jordan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, U.S.A., Canada, Uzbekistan and the U.K.

"What the Chieftains have done for Irish traditional music, Battlefield Band are doing for the music of Scotland" - Billboard

Inspired by their rich heritage of Celtic music and fired by the strength and vibrancy of today's Scottish cultural scene, which indeed they have done much to create and fuel, they have led, and been at the forefront, of a great revival in Scottish music. Refusing to be limited musically by suffocating antiquarianism, or the music business' fashions, they have mixed the old songs and music with a new self-penned repertoire, all played on a fusion of ancient and modern instruments - bagpipes, fiddle, synthesiser, guitar, flutes, bodhran and accordion.

'No tricks, no gimmicks, just very fine music' - Mojo

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“AN ALBUM FOR ITS TIME”
Released: OCTOBER 19, 2009

The hotly anticipated new studio album from Show of Hands, produced by Stu Hanna and featuring nine new Steve Knightley songs

Right on the money, Arrogance Ignorance and Greed – the new studio recording from Show of Hands – is an acutely topical “album for its time”.

The 20th release from the phenomenally popular pairing of Steve Knightley and Phil Beer unveils nine new songs from the mighty Knightley pen, spearheaded by a fervent title track that potently captures the mood of the moment as we speed towards the first anniversary of the global bank crash.

The 13-track album, produced by Megson’s in-demand Stu Hanna will be showcased on a huge County Towns tour (September 30-December 4).

Dark, stark songs contrast with flourishing production numbers highlighting the honed songwriting skills of Knightley, twice nominated for Best Original Song at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and the multi instrumental magic of 2009 Musician of the Year nominee Beer.

Striking original tracks range from the “greed” of The Napoli, a “true” song about looters scurrying for rich pickings on the Devon coast to the soul-searching The Man I Was and the chilling, explosive IED.

Guest musicians : Mawkin:Causley’s Jim Causley and Dave and James Delarre; Miranda Sykes, Matt Clifford, Jackie Oates and Andy Tween on percussion and cajón.

“You’re on your yacht; we’re on our knees... through your arrogance, your ignorance, your greed”....

www.showofhands.co.uk

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Things About Comin’ My Way
A Tribute To The Music Of The Mississippi Sheiks

Black Hen Records

Featuring Madeleine Peyroux, John Hammond, North Mississippi Allstars, Bill Frisell, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Van Dyke Parks, and more....

“I knowed the Mississippi Sheiks. Yessir. Walked ten miles to see them play. They were high-time...makin’ them good records, man...” MUDDY WATERS

Between 1930 and 1935 The Mississippi Sheiks were the top selling band of their day, largely due to their hit song ‘Sitting On Top Of The World” which has gone on to be recorded by the likes of Bill Monroe, Cream. The White Stripes and Howlin’ Wolf. An intriguing blend of country, stringband, and weather-beaten blues, these sons of sharecroppers became underground stars throughout America. Recorded and produced by Steve Dawson (Black Hen Records), Things About Comin’ My Way – A Tribute To The Music Of The Mississippi Sheiks looks to re-ignite interest into this hugely influential band. Rather than just re-create the music, Dawson has gathered together a bunch of world-renowned artists to offer their own unique interpretations of the songs to offer up these songs in new and interesting ways. A house band was set up in Seattle including Wayne Horvitz (John Zorn) and Matt Chamberlain (David Bowie, Peter Gabriel) to provide a coherency to the sessions but still allowing these fascinating songs of another era to breath and flourish in the here and now.

None of these tracks are available on any other recordings.

UK Release date: November 2nd

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'LUSH Acoustic' summertime music schedule

'LUSH Acoustic' organise live concerts and gigs all over Northumberland promoting new, original music.

The LUSH Acoustic events feature a wide range of performers covering all types of acoustic-based music: contemporary and traditional folk, country blues, cajun, new folk and alt country. Singer-songwriters and Northumbrian fiddlers blend words and tunes alongside bodhrans, djembes, and a fabulous array of acoustic guitar styles.

Admission is free for most events and 'LUSH Acoustic' is a co-operative working to encourage new music in Northumberland and beyond. LUSH can provide music programming and PA for a wide variety of community events.

Contact: Bill Read: 01665 713278
or Carl Stiansen: 01670 760856

Website: www.myspace.com/lushacoustic
Email: info@chevstar.com

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After a break of two years, Radio Maldwyn, the commercial radio station based in Newtown, Mid Wales is bringing back its popular Monday evening programme of folk music.

The two hour programme returns to the schedules on Monday 7th September with its original presenters Yvonne and John Hart and under its original name, “Harts of Folk”.

Radio Maldwyn is heard across Mid Wales and the border areas of Shropshire and Herefordshire, but can be listened to throughout the U.K. via the station’s website, www.magic756.net

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Tommy Sands with Moya & Fionán
www.tommysands.com

‘Let The Circle Be Wide’

Born in the North of Ireland, an area bitterly divided by opposing religious and political issues, singer-songwriter- activist Tommy Sands has spent his life using music to spread hope, healing and inspiration, as well as entertainment. Since the ’60s with his brothers and sisters in The Sands Family, as a solo performer, and most recently with his daughter and son, Tommy has been bringing traditional Irish songs and original, socially relevant material to audiences all around the world.

On his new CD ‘Let the Circle Be Wide,’ Tommy Sands continues to write and perform wise, moving, sometimes rollicking songs infused with his deep but clear-eyed love of his imperfect homeland. The CD reflects some of the changes resulting from the historic 1998 power-sharing Belfast Agreement; Sands’ spontaneous performance of his songs with a group of Catholic and Protestant school children outside those agreement negotiations was called “a defining moment in the peace process.”

Unlike the early Gaelic bards who wrote songs, stories and poems in praise of their own clans alone, well-known Irish musician and folklorist Professor Mick Moloney has dubbed Sands an “enlightened bard,” who “says and writes words that are more likely to bring people of diverse backgrounds together than to keep them apart.”

The fifteen songs on Let the Circle be Wide ring with Tommy’s warm brogue, the poignant Irish lilt of uillean pipes, fiddles, and whistles, but also carry the influence of different cultures, such as the unearthly vocal buzzes and drones of Mongolian throat-singing on “Rovers of Wonder.”

Sands, who plays guitar, whistle, banjo, and dotara, a stringed Indian instrument, as well as singing the lead vocals, shares his music’s power to heal (the high-spirited “Send for Maguire” and ethereal “A Stór Mo Chroí”), to rally (“Make Those Dreams Come True,” “Time for Asking Why”), to pay tribute to the departed (“The Song Sings On: Ballad of Tommy Makem,” “You Will Never Grow Old,” a gentle farewell to Sands’ late brother Dino), to fight prejudice (“Keep On Singing”), to unite people (the title song), and to celebrate Ireland’s natural beauty amid ongoing social change (“Fields of Daisies,” “Carlingford Bay”). The CD’s misty, welcoming opener, “Young Man’s Dream,” is Tommy’s “translation/part transcreation” of an ancient Gaelic song which would much later become Ireland’s most famous ballad, “Danny Boy.” This dream song, so apt for today, dates back more than 500 years, drawing us to “an island dreaming where the heart is free,” where “the dream of love, it belongs to all.”

Sands’ musical inclusiveness extends to enlisting his daughter Moya (fiddle, bodhran, whistle, vocals), son Fionán (banjo, mandolin, backing vocals), his Sands Family siblings and additional musicians including guitarist Arty McGlynn (Van Morrison, Patrick Street, Christy Moore), guitarist/bassist Steve Cooney (Sinead O’Connor, The Chieftains, Chuck Berry, Dolly Parton), and co-producer/multi-instrumentalist Tom Newman (who worked on Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells), among others, to perform on Let the Circle be Wide.

With a new CD, a busy international performance schedule with Moya and Fionán, a weekly show on Irish radio, periodic tours with The Sands Family, and his involvement in social justice projects including peace concerts and educational programs in schools and prisons, Tommy Sands exemplifies the idealistic musician as a strong but gentle agent of tradition and change, a carrier of hope and solace, and a man of dreams and reality in the spirit of America’s Pete Seeger, Scotland’s Dick Gaughan and other giants of musical activism.

Steven Finn, the roots musician and songwriter, has joined Paul Jones (from Manfred Mann) and Paul Lamb in becoming one of only three UK-based harmonica players to be endorsed by Hohner Harmonicas.

Steven says "I began writing songs and teaching myself the guitar aged 15, then picked up a harmonica to learn the tunes I loved by Sonny Terry, Sonny Boy Williamson and Rory McLeod. How did they whoop, holler, sing and play at the same time? To now be recognised by Hohner is a real honour".

In 1999 Steven formed a band with bodhran player John Joe Kelly (from Flook) and Andrew Dinan on fiddle and they recorded 'Before the flood'. He played main guitar for Emiliana Torrini for 2 years travelling the globe playing gigs including the Montreaux Jazz festival and Glastonbury.

Now as a solo performer, with bottleneck guitar, tap shoes, voice and harmonica, Finn has been described as a 'one man folk and blues train'. With his energetic performances, Finn draws on old folk-blues music whilst addressing contemporary issues with raw passion. He has supported Martin Carthy, Paul Brady, Michael Messer, Isaac Guillory, Mary Coughlan, Kathryn Tickell, Lunasa, Capercaille and The Beautiful South amongst others.

2008 saw Finn release his debut album 'Houdini's Blues', an album of sparse beauty which was well received by critics and audiences alike and which brought him to Hohner's attention.

"Songs you want to listen to again and again" (Bristol Folk House - live review)
"Slapping harmonica. One mighty fine album" (Folk Blues & Beyond)
"This is a very cool album and well worth getting. Poignant lyrics, accompanied by great guitar and harmonica. We will be hearing more of the name 'Steven Finn'" (Folk Radio)
"A little gem in a league of its own" (Rootstime Radio, Belgium)

Visit www.myspace.com/stevenfinn for songs, video and more.

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"Make room for another impeccable starlet-to-be" - The Word
"Her treatment of traditional songs is exquisite"-
Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

JACKIE SCOOPS 2009 HORIZON AWARD

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Across The Pond Tour News and Blog

Across The Pond is now available again as an audio blog - see http://ontouracrossthepond.blogspot.com for a range of roots based acoustic music and news.

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Tish Hinojosa
Our Little Planet
Continental Song City

Born in San Antonio, Texas, singer songwriter Tish Hinojosa has long been a talented and much revered artist both in the US and Europe. Here, on her new studio album ‘Our Little Planet’ - released on CRS on November 17th – Hinojosa , inspired by her rediscovered love for country music, the 12 self-penned songs on this collection feature a deeply Americana mix of traditional bluegrass and Tish's trademark sound of contemporary folk and tex-mex.

The album is produced by and her long-time accompanist, Marvin Dykhuis, who also co-wrote the title song, as well as playing most of the instruments. It also features appearances by celebrated pedal-steel player Greg Leisz, duets with Texas country legends Rosie Flores and Dale Watson, as well as with rising star Carrie Rodriguez, all of which combine to add delightful new textures to "Our Little Planet's" stripped-down country sound.

http://www.mundotish.com

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New Acoustic Music Club For The North Tyne Valley.

North East musicians Fiona Lander and Paul Mason otherwise known as the duo 'Landermason' are setting up a regular live music night at the Riverdale Hall Hotel in Bellingham, Northumberland.

Bellingham All Acoustic or the 'Baa' Club will take place in the back conservatory of the hotel on the last Thursday of every month (except December) at 8.30pm. This intimate room (seating 40 maximum) will provide the perfect surroundings for the enjoyment of acoustic music.

Fiona explains "The idea is to promote live music at two different levels. Firstly to provide a platform for invited guest artists who we feel deserve a wider audience. Some of these will be local, others from further a field. Secondly we want to encourage music making within the local community. We plan to have several floor spots before the guest comes on, so if anyone feels they could contribute a song, tune or verse on the night, then we'd love to see you. Everyone is welcome, even if you just want to come along, sit back and listen!"

The club kicks off on Thursday 30th October with North East songwriter PETE SCOTT. Pete, who has supported major names such as Lindisfarne, Janis Ian, Judi Tzuke, John Martyn and Richard Thompson has released 3 solo albums to date. His music has also been included in 'The Northumbria Anthology', a musical celebration of the North East of England's history and culture. Don't miss this wonderful live performer who is sure to bring a smile to your face! www.petescott.co.uk Admission £6.00

Other guests booked throughout the year are Kathryn Davidson & Dan Walsh, Gareth Davies -Jones, The Caffrey's, Richard Grainger and Adrian Nation. Keep checking for updates on the website.

For those who wish to make a night of it, an early evening 2 course dinner is available in the hotel restaurant before the concert at £12.00 per head.
Table reservations 6.30 for 7pm
Bookings 01434 220254

For more information about Bellingham All Acoustic:
Tel. 0778 8804784
www.baaclub.co.uk
www.myspace.com/baaclub

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Debut Album from Folk Dance Duo Folkus Pocus

‘Under No Illusion', the debut album of the folk dance duo Folkus Pocus, was launched at the Lichfield Folk Festival on 21 June 2008. Published by the English Folk Dance & Song Society (EFDSS), the album features 17 tracks ranging from traditional tunes such as ‘Morpeth Rant' and ‘Pipe on the Hob' to tunes from Playford's 17th century dance collection including ‘Parson's Farewell', as well as American contra dance reels and some recently written tunes.
The CD booklet includes the descriptions of three previously unpublished dances, and all the tunes are played at dance speed.
The album will appeal to dancers, callers and musicians, particularly within the folk dance club scene, as well as folk dance festival enthusiasts.
Folkus Pocus are Caroline and Dan Hollingshurst, two young instrumentalists who met while studying music at university. Caroline's life-long love of folk dance music combines with Dan's improvised jazz and classical music background to create arrangements that are fresh, vibrant and eminently danceable!
Caroline's main instrument is the fiddle, but she also plays the flute and recorder on the CD, while Dan plays the piano. Read more about the duo at www.folkuspocus.com
The EFDSS is grateful to the Lichfield Folk Dance Festival and Lichfield Folk Dance Club for financial assistance with the production of this album.
‘Under No Illusion' by Folkus Pocus [EFDSSCD16] is published by the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Copies are available from the EFDSS, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent's Park Road, London NW1 7AY. Tel: 0207 485 2206. www.efdss.org Price: £13.95 plus £2.00 p&p.

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Virtual Open Mic is a new on-line open mic radio website which will be featuring a wide variety of music leaning towards the acoustic and folk types.
See www.virtualopenmic.com for more details.

A new website aimed at the live roots, folk, blues etc music scene in Cumbria called http://www.mostlyacousticcumbria.co.uk has been set up.
It contains information on:
Local artists / bands
Local services (eg, music shops, music tuition, pa hire, recording studios, pr, etc etc)
Local venues
Jam Nights
Gig Guide
Useful links
Events (eg festivals, one-off events , workshops etc)
Forum

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Read a feature on up and coming young singer-songwriter Jen Charlton along with three full length mp3s to download

Featured Artist
Click above for a review of London based Siansa's newly released Album and further information....

Bex Marshall is a young "cross genre" Singer-Songwriter based in the London area, *click here for an interview with Bex

******Bex Marshall Interview ******

Bex is a young up and coming singer-songwriter based in the London/South of England area with her own distinctive sound. She spared us a little bit of time to share some thoughts and inspirations with us.

Could you tell us a little about your musical background, what influenced you to follow a musical direction?
A. Now I look at it and think its the only thing I really feel I can do well enough to be able to make a living out of ,also the fact that its the thing I love to do writing and performing. Before when i really didn't know what I was going to do with my life and kept thinking somthing will turn up but I knew subconciously that somthing would come from my music eventually its all about saying "Go for it girl" I was brought up with The Beatles, Eagles, Elkie Brooks to Rod Stewart and of course Elvis good old fashioned songs with meanings and great sing along lyrics my Mum and Dad are my best friends and I spent alot of time when I was a teenager with them socially so perhaps thats why I write the type of songs I do and people used to say I was good at singing and playing so i just practiced some more until I was really good. I feel at home on stage like I belong up there its just very natural thing, I never get nervous, I just look forwad to performing like I'm putting my fav C.D on! I was always egged on to get up at parties etc and I love it.

Whilst you have a sound that is very much your own you seem to have a number of influences including a strong dose of country, is there any particular artist/genre etc that has encouraged you to develop your music in the style you have?

A. Well apart from the above mentioned, i think that all the people I listened and listen to now sing with that American tinge, I don't really know what i do there, when i sing Blues it goes, yeah I can sound really Country if i want to but I don't like to milk it, as Im not trying to be anything but a mixture of all the things i like I can take of different singers, Tina Turner, Cher, Elvis,Macy Gray but I think my voice is a mix of Rock, Blues and country I've it just comes out so I'm not going to mess with it, I had singing lessons for a few weeks and my tutor said what on earth do you do in your throat, but when i tried to sing a rock song the way she wanted me too I sounded like Charlotte Church (no offence).

I used to love that film "Best little whore house in Texas" with Dolly, and Neil Youngs "Harvest" is in there somewhere, my Dad always played Jose Feliciano which inspired my guitar playing imensley he's my guitar hero definately.

One of the fallacies around, in the mainstream, is that younger musicians are only interested in the more commercially (and probably easier) pop music, what influenced you to develop in a more country direction?

A.Well not all of my music is country at all, but there is a influnce sure, more Fleetwood mac/ Clapton i think, somtime my guitarist gets carried away with the country licks so it goes both ways in the studio however it would be toned down just a little as I'm not a huge lover of hard core country but I don't mind the odd slide guitar and mandolin.

You have just released your debut ep, tell us about that and the songs on it and any immediate plans for a follow up album?

A."Time and time again" musically is co written by a friend of mine called Bill Birks who apparently wrote the riff after a bad time with his woman at the time, and when I constructed the song and wrote the words I was just thinking about the fact that every body loves to love so they do, whether its the right one or not and that every one who is in a long relationship gets a bit bored or distracted at periods. Its called the bad times! As for a follow up album yes indeed I would like to say at the end of this year for sure.

What future plans do you have, We understand you have spent some time in the states, do you see your musical future over there or in the UK market?

A. I love America its a big play ground as is the whole world but its great fun and musically every body is so much more receptive to original work I hope to return back this year to do a follow up tour to last year on a big Harley Davidson of Triumph motor bike, as I ride one here and will hopefully be making a documentary this time but thats in the pipeline as for the markets, musically trends change so frequently who knows what will be the in thing next, I'm just going to keep doing what I do and give it to who ever likes the sound of it!

A)You are now playing with a backing band as well as more solo acousticmaterial, do you plan to continue this or combine the two?

For a long time now I have been playing as both solo and with a full band, I think it all depends on the venue, acoustic is wonderful for the more intimate feel and i like to play more of my easy listening, more lyrical tunes at those times where as with the band there is so much more to listen to musically the more up tempo material which is quite powerful its more time consuming also as when your trying to teach 5 other musicians arrangements, but some how I like to play anywhere as long as the sound is good and they look after the musicians properly. Some times i will play for over 3/4 hours if I'm happy and every one is enjoying it, even if the band have left me on stage.

Many thanks

Bex is still hard at work gigging in the London area (and elsewhere), to find out when and where visit her home pages at www.bexmarshall.co.uk and order her CD after listening to the clips available.