Folk and Roots - The Guide to Folk Gigs, Concerts, Sessions- February 2010

February 2010 Events Guide

See Below for months ahead and the calendar to the right for events this month.

March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Please bear in mind that every effort is made to ensure that the details below are accurate, however some events are cancelled/sell out etc so please check with the venues/clubs before travelling long distances. Please email us to include your event listings and these will be added as soon as possible (NB please send us details of events in the body of the email or as text attachments, not as images (jpgs etc) as we will not open these nor include the event.).
For details of folk related workshops/courses click here

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Monday 1st February 2010

Oliver Talkes and Matthew Ord at MondayMonday, The Wilmington Arms, Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell, London
"Matthew Ord is a London based singer and guitarist performing the traditional music of the British Isles and North America. A dedicated musician with a deep passion for folk music from an early age, his repertoire reflects the length and breadth of these traditions, drawing together the Delta and Piedmont blues, Scots and English Ballads, jigs, reels, slow airs, nursery rhymes and protest songs, all skilfully performed with warmth and conviction."

Madison Violet at Saint Bonaventure's Parish Social Club, Bristol
If Gillian Welch, Steve Earle and Alison Krauss had a collective love-child, their offspring might sound like Madison Violet's new album, No Fool For Trying.
Madison Violet, Canadian duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac came to be nearly nine years ago after a chance meeting at an appropriately titled restaurant 'The Green Room'. Since that fateful meeting, the pair have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.
Their debut album, Worry The Jury (2004) garnered ECMA (East Coast Music Association) award nominations for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year' while follow-up Caravan (2006), on which they adopted a more alt-country direction, garnered them two further ECMA awards nominations in the 'Folk album of the Year' and 'Best Group Recording' categories, as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as 'Vocal Group of the Year'.

Danni Nicholls at Brighton Acoustic Session at The Lord Nelson Inn, 36 Trafalgar St, Brighton, Sussex
"The effervescent rising star of the UK Americana circuit will be showcasing original material from her new album as well as covering songs by the likes of Gillian Welch and Johnny Cash."

The Hot Rats at The Barnaby Rudge, Broadstairs, Kent
The best in celtic style world/european roots and original folk rock

Folk at The Foresters, Wilmington, Kent
Informal Session/Singaround

National Steel at The Rose and Crown, St Michaels Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire
"This is a duo which combines the outstanding bottleneck, lap steel and finger-picking talents of Lewis Cohen (of the Jumpsters and the Kickback) and Stuart 'Marshcat' Cumberpatch (of Delta Echoes and formerly the Kennet Sheiks) to re-create the masterpieces of the golden age of acoustic blues."

Tom Paxton at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Perennial US folk music legend returns to The Stables in what will be his incredible sixth decade as a performer. He's delighted generations of audiences with unforgettable classics including Ramblin' Boy, Always on My Mind, and Bottle of Wine and his work has been covered by everyone from Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Pete Seeger to Willie Nelson and John Denver. Tom has a magical charisma on stage, combining subtly acerbic wit with dignity, humanity and unique charm in abundance. An absolute one-off. "We are all born singing Tom Paxton songs" Nanci Griffith

Joe Topping at The Woodlark Folk Club, Lambley, Nottingham
Singer Songwriter

Singers and Musicians Night Barnsley Folk & Acoustic Night, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Singers and Musicians Night at The (Not the) White Horse Folk Club, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Singers Night at Skipton Folk Unplugged, The Narrow Boat, 38 Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Singers, musicians, poets and all always welcome

Singaround at Stockton Folk Club, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland

Session A9 at The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, East Lothian
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Claire Mann and Aaron Jones at Glenfarg Folk Club, Glenfarg, Perth and Kinross
"Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals) are two well established musicians on the folk scene today. Claire as well as being highly regarded as a tutor of traditional music has toured extensively with bands Tabache, Craobh Rua and Christy O'Leary. Aaron is currently touring worldwide with award winning Scottish band"

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Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Michael Chapman at The Green Note, Camden, London
“Chapman’s expansive guitar work creates a filmic soundtrack of the American South-west that’s as compelling as anything Ry Cooder might muster” Q Magazine
“The nicotine drawl is more mature and evocative than ever. Settle back with your Jack Daniels and enjoy” Record Collector The guitar and voice of Michael Chapman first became known on the Folk Circuit in 1967. Playing a blend of atmospheric and autobiographical material he quickly established a reputation for intensity and innovation.
He has continued to work and grow, developing his unique ‘voice’ and guitar style to a level of mastery that makes him almost impossible to categorise; leading to him being awarded an Austrian Grammy in 2007 (best acoustic album).
This self-styled old white blues guy from Yorkshire is one of the most under-rated heroes of our time.

John Kirkpatrick at The Ringwood Folk Club, The Elm Tree Hightown, Ringwood, Hampshire
"John's done it all from currently being a member of Brass Monkey, in the past Steeleye Span, Albion Country Band. He plays Anglo Concertina, button, Accordion and single row melodeon and sings as well as anybody has a right to. Expect Traditional, selfpenned humorous and 1930's material. A great entertainer and one of the finest Traditional performers."

Jim Causley at Chichester Folk Song Club, Chichester, West Sussex
"Jim is one of the new folkesque generation who are lighting a new spark to our great English tradition. Jim sings with an ease and maturity which belies his tender years. Listen carefully... He will be around for many years to come, singing beautifully." Karen Tweed

Steve Turner at The Central Theatre, Chatham, Kent
"One of the finest singer/concertina plays of his generation, Steve won Melody Maker’s Star of the 80s competition in 1979 and turned professional. Drawing on a family heritage that stretches back to the late 1800s, he made four acclaimed albums before retiring from the folk scene. He returned in 2004, drawing on friends including Martin Carthy and Nancy Kerr to complete album number five and has since recorded number six. Hear a master at work"

Dave Swarbrick at Dartford Folk Club, Dartford, Kent
Britains foremost folk fiddler, of Fairport Convention, Lazarus, Carthy and Swarbrick etc etc fame

Isambarde at The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Leigh on Sea, Essex
"ISAMBARDE are a folk band with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. They are the unusual and winning combination of Chris's driving guitar, Emily's incisive fiddle playing and Jude's lyrical oboe coupled with great full on vocal harmonies." PHIL BEER

Eddie Walker at St Neots Folk Club, St Neots, Cambridgeshire

The Globe Acoustic Sessions at The Globe Pub, Winfield Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire
All styles are welcome, it's totally acoustic and we have everything from bluegrass, contemporary self-penned and trad folk going on.
contact email is flashmeister84@gmail.com

Megson at The Roses Theatre, Tewksbury, Gloucestershire
“This is first rate - if you don’t like this music you have a problem! Megson are a couple of potential stars, peaches and cream harmonies, melodic roots consciousness and a huge sense of individuality. ” fRoots – Oct 07

Rosa's Lovely Daughters at Mansfield Brown Cow Folk Club, The Brown Cow, 35 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
"Female group who sing a mix of folk, classic pop, close harmonies and some original material – in fact, anything that takes their fancy,some acappella and some with a range of instruments – guitar, accordion and celtic harp.
Their stunning harmonies have been very well received wherever they have performed"

Dervish at The Playhouse, Nottingham
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Session A9 at The Catstrand, New Galloway, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Breabach and Le Vent du Nord at Carnegie Halls, Dunfermline, Fife
Breabach - "A young group performing with technical assurance and a feel for traditional idioms… Their raucous, driving attack is energised and exciting! " The Scotsman
Le Vent du Nord - Fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, strong harmony vocals, a strong Celtic & Breton influence, & heavy boots for time-keeping make up this Quebecois band." The Independant

Lise Sinclair at Leith Folk Club, Edinburgh
"Singer, songwriter, composer and poet, Lise Sinclair's performances are steeped in the stormy winters, midnight daylight, endless fogs and enveloping sky of her Fair Isle home. On this rare visit to the folk club circuit Lise will perform original and traditional music from her native island including material from her magical suite Ivver Entrancin Wis."

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Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Steve Tilston at Jazz @ Future Inn :: Acoustic Night, Bristol
"...that very rare combination of singer, songwriter and guitarist who actually excels in all departments..." Froots

Madison Violet at The Forge @ The Anvil, Basingstoke, Hampshire
If Gillian Welch, Steve Earle and Alison Krauss had a collective love-child, their offspring might sound like Madison Violet's new album, No Fool For Trying.
Madison Violet, Canadian duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac came to be nearly nine years ago after a chance meeting at an appropriately titled restaurant 'The Green Room'. Since that fateful meeting, the pair have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.
Their debut album, Worry The Jury (2004) garnered ECMA (East Coast Music Association) award nominations for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year' while follow-up Caravan (2006), on which they adopted a more alt-country direction, garnered them two further ECMA awards nominations in the 'Folk album of the Year' and 'Best Group Recording' categories, as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as 'Vocal Group of the Year'.

The Phil Beer band at The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, Hampshire
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Showcase Night featuring: 'Harvest Home' and 'Touchstone' at The Willows Folk Club, Arundel, Sussex

Isambarde at The Lamb Folk Club, Eastbourne, Sussex
"ISAMBARDE are a folk band with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. They are the unusual and winning combination of Chris's driving guitar, Emily's incisive fiddle playing and Jude's lyrical oboe coupled with great full on vocal harmonies." PHIL BEER

Dave Swarbrick at Llantrisant Folk Club, The Windsor Hotel, Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan
"Britain's premier folk fiddler"

Dervish at Huntingdon Hall, Worcester
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Bob Fox at Biddulph Up in Arms, The Biddulph Arms, Congleton Road, Biddulph, Staffordshire
Fox always was one of the scene's superior singers and his voice is as confident and ebullient as it ever was . . . Colin Irwin - FRoots

Sara Grey and Kieron Means at Spalding Folk Club, Spalding, Lincolnshire
American Traditional Singers

Session A9 at The Terry O'Toole Theatre, Lincoln
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Singers Night at Rivelin Folk Club, Hillsborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
"The club enjoys acoustic music in a wide variety of genres including traditional, roots revival, blues, jazz, country and americana. Unaccompanied singers, instrumentalists and singer/players are all equally welcomed. The club is particularly eager to welcome beginners."

Christy McGuigan at Dunfermline Folk Club, Dunfermline, Fife
Singer Songwriter

The Jani Lang Band at Edinburgh Folk Club, Edinburgh
"The Band was founded in Aberdeen Scotland in 2006 by Jani Lang, a Hungarian fiddler who moved there in 2005 after touring for many years with different bands and musicians. In Aberdeen local music sessions provided the starting point for a magical mixture of musical influences and talent. "

Breabach and Le Vent du Nord at The Queens Hall, Edinburgh
Breabach - "A young group performing with technical assurance and a feel for traditional idioms… Their raucous, driving attack is energised and exciting! " The Scotsman
Le Vent du Nord - Fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, strong harmony vocals, a strong Celtic & Breton influence, & heavy boots for time-keeping make up this Quebecois band." The Independant

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Thursday 4th February 2010

SOLD OUT Martin Simpson at The Green Note, Camden, London SOLD OUT
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Mary Humphreys & Anahata at Islington Folk Club, Clerkenwell, London
"Mary Humphreys and Anahata are established on the British folk scene as enthusiastic and entertaining performers of traditional material. With extensive research, skilled musicianship and a huge variety of instruments they have unearthed and brought back to vivid life some rare gems of English song and music."

The Lantern Society at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3BL 8.30 pm
"'Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou's Lantern Society is rightly billed as London's Finest Folk Club. Upstairs in the convivial surroundings of the Dickensian Betsey Trotwood, in the City of London, the finest folk from all over the capital and beyond congregate to regale one another with story and song. Although first and foremost what they nobley achieve is to have a good old knees up.'
The night is accompanied by the Lantern Society Radio Hour, a fornightly online free radio show bringing you the best performances from the lantern society stage."

Dervish at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
"County Sligo's finest export" enjoy their 21st anniversary and tour UK to celebrate. This is a great coup for Bournemouth Folk Club to be part of Dervish's tour.
Tickets £16 - reserve and pick up on the night - from Val Munro 01202 707498 or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk.

The Phil Beer Band at The Arts Centre, Bridport, Dorset
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Steve Tilston at Jagz, Station Hill, Ascot, Berkshire
"...that very rare combination of singer, songwriter and guitarist who actually excels in all departments..." Froots

Martin Wyndham-Read & Iris Bishop at Folk at The Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes, Sussex
"One of the finest voices on the folk scene in the company of one of the most talented and sensitive accompanists."

Paul Steele at Orpington Folk Club, Orpington, Kent
"Paul is a passionate singer / guitarist. Among his influences are Bob Dylan, Tom Waits and Dave Ellis."

Alan Prosser and Brendan Power at Whitstable Folk Club, Whitstable, Kent
"Local Oysterband original returns as part of his UK tour with world famous harmonica player, Brendan Power.
Alan has been a regular performer at the club and is always popular, this is sure to be another night of great songs and high energy, book early to avoid disappointment !"

Sarah McQuaid at The Acoustic Club, The Half Moon Pub, 31 North Street, Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Born in Madrid, Spain, raised in Chicago and holding dual Irish and American citizenship, singer/guitarist and songwriter Sarah McQuaid lived in Ireland from 1994 to 2007. She has since moved with her husband and two children to the home formerly occupied by her parents near Penzance, Cornwall.
I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning, the long-awaited follow-up to her acclaimed debut album When Two Lovers Meet, marked a distinct change of focus for the musician whose rich voice has been likened to “matured cognac”. Whereas her first album was a feast of Irish music, this is an enchanting celebration of old-time Appalachian folk, with Sarah’s arrangements punctuated by her own fine compositions and a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s classic ‘Ode to Billie Joe’.

Session A9 at The Junction, Cambridge
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Blanche Rowen & Mike Gulston at The Cuffern Manor, Roch, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
"ten magic fingers, three languages and two lush voices. Blanche Rowen and Mike Gulston bring you French dance numbers, English ballads of star-crossed lovers and irrepressible heroines, old Welsh lovesongs, and strange & wondrous hybrids of all three. All served with a graceful accompaniment of guitar and octave mandola and a healthy dollop of irreverence."

Madison Violet at The Chattery, Swansea
If Gillian Welch, Steve Earle and Alison Krauss had a collective love-child, their offspring might sound like Madison Violet's new album, No Fool For Trying.
Madison Violet, Canadian duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac came to be nearly nine years ago after a chance meeting at an appropriately titled restaurant 'The Green Room'. Since that fateful meeting, the pair have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.
Their debut album, Worry The Jury (2004) garnered ECMA (East Coast Music Association) award nominations for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year' while follow-up Caravan (2006), on which they adopted a more alt-country direction, garnered them two further ECMA awards nominations in the 'Folk album of the Year' and 'Best Group Recording' categories, as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as 'Vocal Group of the Year'.

Singaround at The Tump Folk Club, Coombe Social Club, Brinklow Road, Coventry, West Midlands

Birmingham Traditional Song Session at The Kitchen Garden Café, York Road, Birmingham B14 7SA
"Traditional music sessions take place in pubs all over the city but traditional singing is also alive and well. Here's a chance to sing and listen to traditional songs in a friendly and informal environment."

Bill Malkin and John Sylvester at The Hungry Horse Acoustic Folk Club, The Rake (Pub/Restaurant), Rake Lane, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Salt Village Hall, Salt, Staffordshire ST18 0BW Tickets: 01889 508284
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

Singers and Musicians Night at The Topic Folk Club, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Dave Burland at The Black Swan Folk Club, York

Session at Falkirk Folk Club, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

The Mick West Band at The Star Folk Club, Glasgow
'Mick West is regarded as one of Scotland's finest interpreters of traditional song. Together with his band, they have been described as a must for any fan of Scottish song. The current line up of the band are Fraser Fifield (sax, whistles and percussion), Stevie Lawrence (Bouzouki) Frank McLaughlin (Guitar) and new addition to the band Ali Hutton (Pipes,whistles,bodhran, guitar). On hearing the latest album "A poor man's labour", the U.S. folk magazine Dirty linen stated "Why is this man not a household name?"'

Breabach and Le Vent du Nord at The Music Hall, Aberdeen
Breabach - "A young group performing with technical assurance and a feel for traditional idioms… Their raucous, driving attack is energised and exciting! " The Scotsman
Le Vent du Nord - Fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, strong harmony vocals, a strong Celtic & Breton influence, & heavy boots for time-keeping make up this Quebecois band." The Independant

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Friday 5th February 2010

National Debt at The Green Note, Camden, London
"National Debt is a band formed by Ronnie Smith & Michael Messer in 2002. They started playing ‘just for fun’ in local pubs and over the past four years National Debt has gained quite a following. The music is Rockin’ Roots Country Blues, but with a twist of London in its soul!"

Jim Causley at The Goose is Out Folk Club, East Dulwich, South London
"Jim is one of the new folkesque generation who are lighting a new spark to our great English tradition. Jim sings with an ease and maturity which belies his tender years. Listen carefully... He will be around for many years to come, singing beautifully." Karen Tweed

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at The Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith, London
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

Donal Maguire at Bodmin Folk Club, Bodmin, Cornwall
"If you haven't heard this man yet then why the hell not?" Dick Gaughan

Nicky Swann at The Dartmouth Inn, 63 East Street, Newton Abbot, Devon
"Nicky Swann is developing into a fine singer-songwriter. Her delivery is warm, soulful (sometimes gritty) but always spiritually tinged. She lists Patsy Cline, Carole King and Janis Joplin as her big three. A passionate performer, she uses elements of folk, blues and country to tell her tales of love, hope and death."

Tom McConville and David Newey at Nailsea Folk Club, Nailsea, North East Somerset
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

Commercially Inviable Showcase feat. Friends of the Stars, World of Fox and Richard Burke at The Grain Barge, Hold Bar, Mardyke Wharf, Hotwells Road, Hotwells, Bristol

Ron Trueman-Border at The Coopers Arms, Pewsey, Wiltshire
"Ron employs a wealth of musical forms and influences to produce songs that vividly portray an Everyman's vision of life in the 21st century" Steve Clarke

Open Mic at Village Pump Folk Club, Lamb Inn, Mortimer St, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Martin Simpson at Marlborough Folk Roots, St Mary’s Church Hall, Silverless Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire
'There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving.'

The Carolina Chocolate Drops at Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, Berkshire
Rhiannon Giddens, Justin Robinson and Dom Flemons have come to together to play the rich tradition of fiddle and banjo music of Carolina's Piedmont. Under the tutelage of Joe Thompson, said to be the last black traditional string band player of Mebane (NC), they strive to carry on the long standing traditional music of performers like Odell and Nate Thompson, Dink Roberts, John Snipes, Libba Cotten, Emp White and countless others who have passed beyond memory and recognition.
“You start seeing things in sepia tones and even though the music’s being played right in front of you, you expect to hear crackles and hisses as if the sounds were being torn from a salvaged 78.” The Independent

Martin Carthy at The Ram Folk Club, The Old Cranleighan Club, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey
"Martin is Folk's reluctant godfather and a storyteller supreme. Multi-award winning and honoured for his services to Folk music, his guitar and singing style are instantly recognisable and unique. He has featured on countless classic recordings, both his own and by a 'Who's Who' of the Folk Scene. From the beginning of the Folk Revival right up to the present he continues to innovate, experiment, tour and record. An enormously- influential figure in English folk music Martin has always maintained a solo career in parallel to collaborations with Dave Swarbrick, Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey, Blue Murder, Waterson-Carthy, the Four Martins and now the Imagined Village. He gave Scarborough Fair to Paul Simon, but he’s still Carthy after all these years! "

Madison Violet at The Grub Cafe, East Grinstead, West Sussex
If Gillian Welch, Steve Earle and Alison Krauss had a collective love-child, their offspring might sound like Madison Violet's new album, No Fool For Trying.
Madison Violet, Canadian duo Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac came to be nearly nine years ago after a chance meeting at an appropriately titled restaurant 'The Green Room'. Since that fateful meeting, the pair have come into a sound of their own, which has been described as both city-folk and tumbleweed pop.
Their debut album, Worry The Jury (2004) garnered ECMA (East Coast Music Association) award nominations for ‘Best New Group’ and ‘Pop Album of the Year' while follow-up Caravan (2006), on which they adopted a more alt-country direction, garnered them two further ECMA awards nominations in the 'Folk album of the Year' and 'Best Group Recording' categories, as well as a Canadian Folk Award nomination as 'Vocal Group of the Year'.

Claude Bourbon at Brighton Folk and Blues Club at The Open House, Springfield Road, Brighton, Sussex
"Claude Bourbon, who trained for many years in Switzerland and has performed and studied all over the world, has crafted an inspired fusion of classical and blues, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision. His sound instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz, Claude Bourbon provides a real treat for music lovers. The unique Monsieur Bourbon is a formidable performer. He may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music and song from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of blues, rock, jazz, songs and melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice."

The Curst Sons at The Volunteer, East Gate Street, Lewes, East Sussex
The Curst Sons - Inspired by American traditional music with an added shot of urban grit and dose of wry humour the Sons powerful rootsy songs combine Old Time, Hillbilly and Hellfire Gospel. The powerful stripped down live shows are a wonder to behold.

Foolproof at Orpington Friday Folk Club, Orpington, Kent
"Cliff Baylis and Sue Hudson perform songs mostly from America but with roots on both sides of the Atlantic, including some of their own material. There are elements of country, bluegrass, old time, gospel, blues, Cajun and traditional folk. The songs are chosen for their brief insights into life and experiences."

Open Mic/Singers Night at The Milkmaid Folk Club, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

Liz Simcock at The Acoustic Kitchen, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
"Liz is a great songwriter and gorgeous singer with a relaxed and very endearing stage presence. She is going from strength to strength as a performer and stands alongside any of the female singer/songwriters currently working on the acoustic/folk music scene. In '99 she featured on the excellent Playpen Album of New Acoustic Music alongside Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg and Eddy Reader, but now concentrates on her solo studio career or performing in the trio with Ian Newman (bass) and Warwick Jones (guitar)."

Open Stage at Cambridge Folk Club, Cambridge

Peter Knight's Gigspanner at Fabnights, Bedford, Bedfordshire
"His 'other' band have just celebrated 40 years of business and pleasure with a mammoth tour but, never being one to sit back and relax, he formed Gigspanner a couple of years ago to explore more fully the many areas of music and song that interest him - folk, classical, jazz, blues, world and universe! Hailed by 'Songlines' Magazine as 'another milestone in folk's rebirth', Peter combines with two class musicians, ROGER FLACK (guitar) and Afro-percussionist VINCENT SALZFAAS (congas/djembe), to create a unique sound. Leave your pre-conceptions at the door and enjoy a captivating evening of music that combines emotional energy, brilliance and spontaneity."

Dervish at The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Singers/Players Night at Chepstow Acoustic Music Club, Chepstow Castle Inn, 12 Bridge Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire

Singers Night at The Valley Folk Club, Pontardawe, West Glamorgan

Friday Live Lounge at The Wheatsheaf Hotel, High Street, Llantrisant, Mid Glamorgan
Friday Live Lounge is a new weekly offering of Acoustic Folk Music, showcasing some of the finest talent in the scene.

Ember at Rhyl Folk Club, at the old RAFA (now the Rhyl Labour Club), Windsor Street, Rhyl, Clwyd
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Singers' Night at Northwich Folk Club, Northwich, Cheshire

The John Richards' Band at The Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford. West Midlands
"Fine songs, fine singing, umbilical harmonies, and outstanding musical interplay add up to one of the most exciting new bands around"

Dan Walsh, James Summerfield and Abie Budgen at The Lunar Society, The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham
"Touted as the finest banjo player in the UK, Newcastle’s Dan Walsh is an eclectic and exciting musician with a unique style which incorporates folk, funk, bluegrass, jazz, rock and even Arabic"
A veteran of Moseley Folk Festival, James Summerfield has released three solo albums.
23-year-old Abie Budgen combines psychedelic, roots and blues sounds with finger-picking

Beoga at The Last Inn, Oswestry, Shropshire
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

The Phil Beer Band at Huntingdon Arts Centre, Worcester, Worcestershire
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

The Carrivick Sisters at Brewtown Folk Club, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire
The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon, England.
They play a variety of bluegrass instruments (mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters. Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories.

Singers Night at Bingham Folk Club, Bingham, Nottinghamshire

Matlock Storytelling Cafe at The Imperial Rooms, Matlock, Derbyshire
"You will be presented with a sumptuous menu on arrival; a menu to titillate the taste buds and seduce the senses. Then you will have the opportunity to choose your own tales from this menu – will you fancy a hearty Scotch broth drawn from the highlands or something a little more exotic – maybe a Gazpacho tale imported from Espana? A portion of Turkish delight or the ever so naughty Storyteller’s Revenge?"

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Brimington Community Centre Heywood Street, Brimington, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S43 1DB Tickets: 01246 345228
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

Boo Hewerdine at The Beehive Folk Club, Harthill, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Singer Songwriter

Ewan McLennan at Raggalds Acoustic, Queensbury, Bradford, West Yorkshire
"Ewan’s singing and playing covers the broad range folk music has to offer; from traditional ballads sung unaccompanied, to dance tunes or melancholic airs arranged for the guitar, and with a strong emphasis on his own contemporary songwriting that follows in the folk tradition."

Grace Notes at The Baccapipes Folk Club, Keighley, West Yorkshire
"Grace Notes perform a cappella and accompanied arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs in three-part harmony."

Singers and Musicians Night at Bromley Cross Folk Club, Bromley Cross, Bolton, Lancashire
All Welcome

Session A9 at The Met, Bury, Lancashire
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

The Hale & Hearty Folk Club at The Cross Keys Hotel, Milnthope, Cumbria. 8:30pm
An open door folk club of 25 years standing guaranteeing a lively and entertaing evening of both contemporary and traditional folk song in a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. We have a residency of ten established perfomers who host the evenings in turn.

Sandy Brechin and Ewan Wilkinson at The Rolling Hills Folk Club, Melrose, Scottish Borders
"Sandy and Ewan have been touring together for a year playing in such venues as “The Star in the Square Folk Club” and the “Lismore” in Glasgow, Leith Folk Club and Hootenannies in Inverness as well a trip to the Middle East. Their first album as a duo is due for release in 2006. Together Ewan and Sandy play a mixture of Scottish, Irish and English traditional songs and tunes, together with contemporary folk songs, and original compositions."

Session at Stonehaven Folk Club, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Breabach and Le Vent du Nord at The Universal Hall, Findhorn, Forres, Morayshire
Breabach - "A young group performing with technical assurance and a feel for traditional idioms… Their raucous, driving attack is energised and exciting! " The Scotsman
Le Vent du Nord - Fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, strong harmony vocals, a strong Celtic & Breton influence, & heavy boots for time-keeping make up this Quebecois band." The Independant

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Saturday 6th February 2010

O Brother Where’s Hank at The Green Note, Camden, London
"Intending to combine the rootsy harmonies of O Brother Where Art Thou and the heartbreaking lyrics of Hank Williams was the idea that inspired the formation of this band."

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Arts Centre, Bridgwater, Somerset
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

June Tabor at The Old Vic, Bristol
"the velvet-voiced queen of the ballad, and Elvis Costello’s muse, is creating an evening of song, music and words all about the sea. She will be joined on stage by the acclaimed actor Simon Russell Beale, and musicians Huw Warren (piano), Andy Cutting (accordion), Tim Harries (double bass) and Mark Emerson (violin and viola)."

Beoga at The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, Hampshire
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

The Band of Two at The Star, Dorking, Surrey
"The popular pairing between multi-instrumentalists Pete Fyfe and Garry Blakeley results in traditional Celtic music that reminds us how good these are, such as "I'll Tell Me Ma", "Whiskey In The Jar", "Black Velvet Band", "Irish Rover" "Duelling Banjos"/" Orange Blossom Special".
With fiddle, guitars, mandolins, bodhran, tenor banjo, bouzouki, whistles and great vocals, this is good time music to have a good time by."

Mike Nicholson at Lewes Saturday Folk Club, Lewes, East Sussex
"Those who have heard Mike Nicholson sing will not need me to tell them what a delightful experience that is. When Mike sings a song it stays sung - and you won't forget it" Bob Copper, Copper Family

Sarah McQuaid at The Warehouse, 7 Brook Road, Rayleigh, Essex
Born in Madrid, Spain, raised in Chicago and holding dual Irish and American citizenship, singer/guitarist and songwriter Sarah McQuaid lived in Ireland from 1994 to 2007. She has since moved with her husband and two children to the home formerly occupied by her parents near Penzance, Cornwall.
I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning, the long-awaited follow-up to her acclaimed debut album When Two Lovers Meet, marked a distinct change of focus for the musician whose rich voice has been likened to “matured cognac”. Whereas her first album was a feast of Irish music, this is an enchanting celebration of old-time Appalachian folk, with Sarah’s arrangements punctuated by her own fine compositions and a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s classic ‘Ode to Billie Joe’.

Diana Jones at Empty Room Promotions, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
it will be great to welcome Diana back to Buckingham after the really dynamic show she gave early in 2009. We are all familiar we her brand of Acoustic, folk, bluegrass music which can be heard on "Better Times Will Come" which was released internationally on Proper Records in Jan. 2009 to widespread acclaim. Guests on the record include Nanci Griffith, Betty Elders, and Mary Gauthier. She toured extensively throughout the year, culminating in a spot on ‘Later’ with Jools Holland and garnered a lot of press attention. Support for the evening will be from singer songwriter and producer Chris Corney and he will be joined on stage by Katie Buckhaven

Dervish at Theatr Hafren, Newtown, Powys
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Folk Rebirth @ The Fleece Featuring: Stuart Todd at The Golden Fleece, Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
"Stuart Todd is an acoustic singer-songwriter active on the Liverpool music scene. He launched his first EP 'Playing The Field' at The View Two Gallery in November 2004. His second EP 'Man On A Mission' followed in 2005.Stuart previously worked with Neil Campbell in the group Triad before re-emerging as an acoustic duo with the release of their long awaited studio album 'Campbell Todd' in October 2007."

Session A9 at Number 8, Pershore, Worcestershire
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

The Old Dance School at Holy Cross Hall, Lichfield, Staffordshire
The Old Dance School’s exhilarating concoction of explosive, white-knuckle folk is blowing up a storm on the festival scene this summer. The twinkly-eyed six piece band features dueling fiddles and hair-raising world percussion galvanizing their intricate compositions which evoke images of wind-swept headlands, witches and wild vertical adventures.

Peter Knight's Gigspanner at The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
Hailed by ‘Songlines’ Magazine as ‘another milestone in folk’s rebirth of cool moment’, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner continues to engage hearts and minds with emotionally loaded and life enriching takes on British traditional and world music.
Steeleye Span’s iconic fiddle payer is joined by Roger Flack (Guitar) and Vincent Salzfaas (Conga’s/Djembe), who are both regarded as intelligent and powerful musicians in their own right.

Steve Knightley at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
"There's a reason why Knightley has been called, ''one of England's greatest singer-songwriters'' and you'll find evidence enough of his obvious abilities in these nakedly honest songs of hurt and hope” – BBC Music

The Phil Beer Band at The Citadel, St Helens, Merseyside
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Martin Simpson at The Pacific Road Arts Centre, Birkenhead, Merseyside
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Bella Hardy at The Unison Club, Lincoln
'Acclaimed singer Bella Hardy, twice nominated in the BBC Folk Awards 2008, has a voice marked as '...mesmerising' and '...faultless'. Having spent ten years playing some of folk's biggest stages with festival regulars The Pack and Ola, she launched her debut solo album Night Visiting in Autumn 2007 to overwhelming critical support. Bella has now established herself as one of the finest young folk acts around, singing unaccompanied ballads, or entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment to breathtaking effect.'

Tom McConville and David Newey at Coal Aston Village Hall, Coal Ashton, Dronfield, North Derbyshire
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

Steve Turner at Richmond Swaledale Folk Club, Richmond, North Yorkshire
A shining example of the music the British folk scene is capable of producing. FRoots
Steve Turner has been turning into one of this country's finest male singers and performers of folk-song [...] with him you can truly say that he has shown all the qualities of a great singer and interpreter of folk song. Swing 51, National Folk Magazine

Vin Garbutt at Arc, Dovecote Street, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland
"Teesside's own venerable legend of the folk scene worldwide, Vin Garbutt, is one of those performers whose work is drenched in such passionate fervour one has to listen seriously" - Rock 'n' Reel

Martin Carthy at The Davy Lamp Folk Club, Washington, Tyne and Wear
`Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all' Q Magazine
For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it.

Breabach and Le Vent du Nord at The Eastgate Arts Centre, Peebles, Scottish Borders
Breabach - "A young group performing with technical assurance and a feel for traditional idioms… Their raucous, driving attack is energised and exciting! " The Scotsman
Le Vent du Nord - Fiddle, accordion, hurdy-gurdy, guitar, strong harmony vocals, a strong Celtic & Breton influence, & heavy boots for time-keeping make up this Quebecois band." The Independant

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Sunday 7th February 2010

Donal Maguire at Walthamstow Folk Club, Walthamstow, East London
"An evening with Dónal Maguire is a five star event...one star for his outstanding voice, one for his exceptional repertoire of Irish traditional songs, one for his unique selection of English folk songs, one for his virtuoso mandolin and banjo work, and one for his wry wit and keen insight."

Sarah McQuaid at Twickfolk, Twickenham, West London
Born in Madrid, Spain, raised in Chicago and holding dual Irish and American citizenship, singer/guitarist and songwriter Sarah McQuaid lived in Ireland from 1994 to 2007. She has since moved with her husband and two children to the home formerly occupied by her parents near Penzance, Cornwall.
I Won’t Go Home ’Til Morning, the long-awaited follow-up to her acclaimed debut album When Two Lovers Meet, marked a distinct change of focus for the musician whose rich voice has been likened to “matured cognac”. Whereas her first album was a feast of Irish music, this is an enchanting celebration of old-time Appalachian folk, with Sarah’s arrangements punctuated by her own fine compositions and a cover of Bobbie Gentry’s classic ‘Ode to Billie Joe’.

So Long Angel at Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, Watermill Way, Merton, London
Blues Combo

Singers/Musicians Night at Wheal Dream Folk, Wendron, Nr. Helston, Cornwall
There is a warm welcome for all singers and musicians. Or, just come along and enjoy the best Folk Music in West Cornwall

Singers Night at Folk on The Moor, The Westward Inn, Lee Mill, Nr Plymouth, Devon

Session A9 at The David Hall, South Petherton, Somerset
Session A9 have been described by Dougie McLean as "the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years".
Over the years they have become known as a super group, great praise for a band formed through informal music sessions culminating in their first ever tour in 2009. In 2003 the band released their first highly acclaimed album "What Road" featuring many new compositions by band members and leading Scottish tunesmiths.

The Phil Beer Band at The Fiddlers, Bristol
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Rosie Doonan and The Snapdragons at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
After brilliant gigs here last year and at Purbeck Festival, Rosie + the Snapdragons return. Rosie is a lively and charismatic performer who writes great songs. Kat Gilmore (fiddle, mandolin, vocal harmonies) and cellist Sarah Smout make up the Snapdragons. Tickets £6 - reserve and pick up on the night - from Val Munro 01202 707498 or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk. Tickets will also be on sale on the door.

Dervish at Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester, West Sussex
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

The Hofners at Horsham Folk Club, Horsham, Sussex

Get Rhythm Presents... Americana Unplugged, at The Foundry, 13-14 Foundry St Brighton, BN1 4AT
Every Sunday from 7.30 the best Americana and American roots artists from Brighton, Sussex and beyond play live and unplugged.
The atmosphere and acoustics of this comfy, candlelit, intimate space make it perfect for listening to completely acoustic Americana

Steve Knightley at Hitchin Folk Club, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Ticketed event, check for availability

No Fixed Abode at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire 3.00-5.00pm
"No Fixed Abode are a blend of Una Walsh (vocals) and Tony Dean (guitar). Una originates in Ireland and has a voice as rich and smooth as the finest Irish malt whiskey. Tony’s guitar playing provides the ice. Together they invite you to sit back relax and enjoy Their mix of original acoustic songs blended together in a unique way that will take you on a magical mystery tour of your emotions."

Dave Ellis and Boo Howard at The Bothy Folk Club, Southport, Merseyside
Singer Songwriter duo

Session/Sing around at Scraggfolk, Shoulder of Mutton, Oakthorpe, near Measham, Leicestershire

Sara Grey and Kieron Means at Grimsby Folk Club, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
"Sara Grey is one of that rare breed of singers who have been involved with traditional music over many years and absorbed its vital essence. In Sara's performance, the art of the singer and that of the story teller merge to produce a web of tales and songs capable of transporting an audience from the concert hall or club room to the intimacy of a kitchen fire side." Brian Peters

Ember at Plug 'n' Play, Penrith Playhouse, Cumbria
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

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Monday 8th February 2010

Jez Lowe at Croydon Folk Song Club, Croydon, South London
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Session A9 at Nailsea Folk Club, Nailsea, Somerset
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Folk at The Foresters, Wilmington, Kent
Informal Session/Singaround

Martin Carthy at The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Leigh on Sea, Essex
"For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it."

Dave Swarbrick at St Neots Folk Club, St Neots, Cambridgeshire
Ticketed Event - Check for availability

Dervish at Nettlebed Folk Club, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Yasmin Levy at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Yasmin Levy's romantic, spiritual music explores the tension between the purity of Ladino (the Judeo-Spanish music of Spain) and the fiery passionate heart of flamenco. She first successfully explored the fusion of these two in her second album La Juderia but then rediscovered her Ladino roots with her third album Mano Suave. For her brand new fourth album Sentir she has finally found a vision that effortlessly integrates these various musical directions. The album draws songs not only from the Ladino and flamenco traditions but also from contemporary material written by Yasmin and even Leonard Cohen, with a remarkable and fresh version of Hallelujah.
"Levy's biggest asset is her voice, which is versatile, sensuous, and brimming with emotion." The Independent

Ember at Prospect Folk Club, The Prospect Inn, Weston Village, Runcorn, Cheshire
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Singaround at The Vernon Arms Folk Club, 21 Locko Rd, Spondon. Derby

Singers and Musicians Night Barnsley Folk & Acoustic Night, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Singers and Musicians Night at The (Not the) White Horse Folk Club, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Kevin Loughran at Skipton Folk Unplugged, The Narrow Boat, 38 Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire

Tom McConville and David Newey at Stockton Folk Club, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

Eilidh Grant & Peter Cooke at Glenfarg Folk Club, Glenfarg, Perthshire
"Eilidh’s stunning voice beautifully renders both classic folk songs and original material. With a love for traditional and contemporary folk alike, underpinned by a passion for Burns, Eilidh has made a considerable impression on the Scottish and Irish folk scene. Her vocal style, with shades of a Caledonian Joni Mitchell, won her the Danny Kyle Award at the 2004 Celtic Connections festival."

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Tuesday 9th February 2010

Singaround at Chichester Folk Song Club, Chichester, West Sussex
"A chance to sing, say or play, or just sit back and enjoy the music"

Martyn Wyndham-Read with Iris Bishop & Gary Holder at Dartford Folk Club, Dartford, Kent
"Martyn Wyndham-Read has been involved with folk music for over forty years. In his late teens he left his mother’s farm in Sussex and headed off, with his guitar, to Australia where he worked on a sheep station Emu Springs in South Australia. It was while he was there that he heard, first hand, the old songs sung by some of the station hands at Emu Springs and he became captivated by these songs and the need to know more of them and where they came from grew."

Dervish at The Arts Centre, Norwich, Norfolk
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Phil Beer and support from Jack Blackman at Coxs Yard, Stratford, Warwickshire
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Ember at Abertridwr Library, Aberfawr Road, Abertridwr, S Wales, CF83 4EJ. 2:15 - 3:15pm.
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Ember at Llanhilleth Acoustic Showcase, Llanhilleth Miners Institute, S Wales. 7:30pm..
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Jeff Lang at The Vale Blues,Jazz and Roots Society, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
Highly inventive, totally original Australian guitarist and songsmith on tour to promote the release of 'Half Seas Over'.

Singers Night at Mansfield Brown Cow Folk Club, The Brown Cow, 35 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
All singers, musicians and listeners welcome

Session A9 at The Arts Centre, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Claire Mann and Aaron Jones at Penicuik Folk Club, Penicuik, Midlothian
"Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals) are two well established musicians on the folk scene today. Claire as well as being highly regarded as a tutor of traditional music has toured extensively with bands Tabache, Craobh Rua and Christy O'Leary. Aaron is currently touring worldwide with award winning Scottish band"

Royal Wood at Leith Folk Club, Edinburgh
Singer Songwriter

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Wednesday 10th February 2010

Open House at Barley Folk, Barley Sheaf, Liskeard, Cornwall

Jez Lowe at Hambledon Folk Club, Hambledon, Hampshire
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Fairport Convention at The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Come All Ye - Open Stage Night at The Willows Folk Club, Arundel, Sussex
"Open Stage Nights, home to a wealth of local talent playing all sorts of styles! Performers and audience both welcome. No mics, no amps, just pure acoustic music!"

The Curst Sons at The William Cobbett, Abbey Street, Farnham, Surrey
The Curst Sons - Inspired by American traditional music with an added shot of urban grit and dose of wry humour the Sons powerful rootsy songs combine Old Time, Hillbilly and Hellfire Gospel. The powerful stripped down live shows are a wonder to behold.

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at Faversham Folk Club, Faversham, Kent
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at Baldock & Letchworth Folk Club, Letchworth, Hertfordshire
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Folk Session at The White Horse Inn, Edwardstone, Suffolk
All Welcome

'Folk, Roots and Blues' at Falcon Inn, Hinstock, Market Drayton, Shropshire
Good music, company, beer and food, need more info call John 07800 663 953

Dervish at New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

No Fixed Abode at The Swan Inn, Stone, Staffordshire
"No Fixed Abode are a blend of Una Walsh (vocals) and Tony Dean (guitar). Una originates in Ireland and has a voice as rich and smooth as the finest Irish malt whiskey. Tony’s guitar playing provides the ice. Together they invite you to sit back relax and enjoy Their mix of original acoustic songs blended together in a unique way that will take you on a magical mystery tour of your emotions."

The Tom McConville Band at Stamford Arts Centre, Stamford, Lincolnshire
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

The Phil Beer Band at The South Holland Centre, Spalding, Lincolnshire
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Angie Palmer at The Travellers Rest, 24 Derby Rd, Draycott, Derby
Singer Songwriter described by Bob Harris (Radio 2) as “One of Britain’s greatest singer-songwriters”.

Bella Hardy at The Old Ship Inn, Lowdham, Nottinghamshire
'Acclaimed singer Bella Hardy, twice nominated in the BBC Folk Awards 2008, has a voice marked as '...mesmerising' and '...faultless'. Having spent ten years playing some of folk's biggest stages with festival regulars The Pack and Ola, she launched her debut solo album Night Visiting in Autumn 2007 to overwhelming critical support. Bella has now established herself as one of the finest young folk acts around, singing unaccompanied ballads, or entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment to breathtaking effect.'

Session A9 at The Buccleuch Centre, Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Pete Morton at Dunfermline Folk Club, Dunfermline, Fife
"Singer songwriter and performer of traditional songs from Nottingham. Songs with an unruly mixture of humour, hope, politics, religion, social comment, and love songs wrapping their way around the folk tradition. Traditional ballads that have been sung for centuries rub shoulders with Pete’s current writing with remarkable ease"

Tattie Jam at Irvine Folk Club, Vineburgh Community Centre, Quarry Road, Irvine, Ayrshire
"An outstanding performance of virtuoso musicianship, original compositions both vocal and instrumental, and great vocal harmonies..." Tarbat Crack
"If you want to see some skilled vocal harmonies and traditional Scottish folk - Tattie Jam will deliver it with personality and talent." Three Weeks, Edinburgh Fringe

Anna Massie and Mairearad Green at Edinburgh Folk Club, Edinburgh

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Thursday 11th February 2010

Woody Guthrie: Hard Times & Hard Travellin' at The Green Note, Camden, London
“a live programme that sets the songs of Woody Guthrie in the context of the American 1930s - the Dust Bowl, the Depression, the New Deal and the state of popular music itself. In the presentation, Will Kaufman brings such hard-hitting Guthrie songs as 'Vigilante Man', 'Pretty Boy Floyd' and 'I Ain't Got No Home' into conversation with other relevant songs - from Joe Hill's 'The Preacher and the Slave' to 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?'. These renditions, buttressed by detailed historical commentary, exemplify the blending of music and radical politics that marks Guthrie's most powerful and evocative work."

Potato Potato at Islington Folk Club, Clerkenwell, London
"Potato Potato play progressive folk, with guitars, violin, mandolin, cajon and voices."

Mabon at Two for Joy, Hackney, London
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

Fay Hield and Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at Folklahoma, New Empowering Church, 1a Westgate Street, London Fields, Hackney, London E8 3RL
"Fay Hield has been singing traditional songs from an alarmingly early age. She was active in the lively music scene centred around the Famous Bacca Pipes Folk Club in Keighley, was instrumental in launching the Haworth Arts Festival and the Three’s Company folk agency and promotions organisation, and was part of a highly-regarded duo with Damien Barber.
During her time at Newcastle she helped form the female a capella quartet The Witches Of Elswick. The Witches recorded two acclaimed CDs — Out Of Bed, (Fellside) and Hell’s Belles (Selwyn Music) — in their four years together, as well as clocking up numerous radio broadcasts (including a spot on Woman’s Hour). Their true habitat, however, was in live performance, and they blazed their progress around the folk club and festival circuits."
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

Johnny Dickinson at Otterton Mill, Otterton, nr Budleigh Salterton, Devon
“The Most Potent Slide Player in the UK”
"I'd go a long way to listen to Johnny Dickinson. You hear a lot of good influences in his music but the result is something special. For me his playing really hits the spot." John Renbourn
"Johnny is a soulful player, singer, and a damn good writer! Don´t miss him!" Tommy Emmanuel

Nicky Swann at The Windjammer, Dartmouth, Devon
"Nicky Swann is developing into a fine singer-songwriter. Her delivery is warm, soulful (sometimes gritty) but always spiritually tinged. She lists Patsy Cline, Carole King and Janis Joplin as her big three. A passionate performer, she uses elements of folk, blues and country to tell her tales of love, hope and death."

The Phil Beer Band at The Arts Centre, Bridgwater, Somerset
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Michael Roach at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
East Coast US (now UK-based) blues guitarist Michael Roach tours his new album "Innocent Child".
Tickets £10 - reserve and pick up on the night - from Val Munro 01202 707498 or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk. Tickets will also be on sale on the door.

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at The Anchor Folk Club, Byfleet, Surrey
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Jez Lowe at Folk at The Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes, Sussex
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Singers and Musicians Night at Orpington Folk Club, Orpington, Kent

Open Stage at Redbourn Folk Club, Redbourn, Hertfordshire

Fairport Convention at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Fairport Convention are one of the greatest live bands on today's folk circuit. Their gigs attract critical acclaim and delight audiences, as every concert is different and the band's rich and varied repertoire ensures an exciting mix of old favourites and brand new numbers. The band has won a coveted BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted Fairport's groundbreaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time'. Whether you are a devoted fan or a newcomer to their music, this concert will be something very special.

Michael Parker at The Acoustic Cafe, Arrington, Cambridgeshire
"An informal and relaxed café atmosphere where talented singers and musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds provide first class entertainment on an acoustic stage. Each fortnightly session will feature an invited guest to headline the evening which will be preceded by ‘open stage’ acts."

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Castle, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Celtish at The Norwegian Church, Cardiff
Acoustic core and trad playing that’s crisp and sweet and a vocalist that has a voice that is worth the asking price alone’ Froots

Singaround at The Tump Folk Club, Coombe Social Club, Brinklow Road, Coventry, West Midlands

Lucy Ward at Bromsgrove Folk Club, Bromsgrove, West Midlands
“Lucy Ward is something rare. She represents the evocation of a spirit and style I once remembered brought bang up to date. Originality in a somewhat threadbare world will bring her the success she so richly deserves.” John Tams

Singers and Musicians Night at The Hungry Horse Acoustic Folk Club, The Rake (Pub/Restaurant), Rake Lane, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Double Bill featuring: Jack McNeill and Charlie Heys & The Old Dance School at The Cuckoos Nest Folk Club, Leek, Staffordshire
"Folk musicians who don't play traditional material... the playing is of the very highest standard... delivered with commitment and passion... gloriously upbeat... beautifully atmospheric''- Dave Haslam, Rock 'n' Reel
The Old Dance School’s exhilarating concoction of explosive, white-knuckle folk is blowing up a storm on the festival scene this summer. The twinkly-eyed six piece band features dueling fiddles and hair-raising world percussion galvanizing their intricate compositions which evoke images of wind-swept headlands, witches and wild vertical adventures.

Driftwood at Eccleshall Folk Club, Eccleshall, Staffordshire
Driftwood is a seven-piece Shropshire/West Midlands acoustic band specialising in acoustic folk and roots music with a dollop of soul.

Bob Fox at The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire
Fox always was one of the scene's superior singers and his voice is as confident and ebullient as it ever was . . . Colin Irwin - FRoots

Ray Hearne at The Topic Folk Club, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Martin Carthy at The Black Swan Folk Club, York
"Martin Carthy is widely regarded as one of the finest singers and interpreters of traditional music from the British Isles, as well as a highly influential guitarist. Martin has worked with a host of significant folk artists including Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick, The Albion Band, The Watersons and Brass Monkey, as well as maintaining a busy solo career. He still prefers to follow his insatiable musical curiosity rather than cash in on his unrivalled position as one of folk music's great innovators."

Beoga at The Irish Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

Newcastle Ceilidh featuring the Monster Ceilidh Band at Newcastle Union Building Bassment 2, Newcastle Upon Tyne (20.30 - 23.30, Price : £5 or £4 concession)
Newcastle Ceilidh’s very own brand of modern ceilidh restars for the new season. Feat. Monster Ceilidh Band – Newcastle’s favourite feisty funky ceilidh band. DJ Rob Heron completes the line up.

Dervish at The Theatre by The Lake, Keswick, Cumbria
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

The Wendy Weatherby Trio at The Star Folk Club, Glasgow
'Since cellist Wendy graduated from the RSAMD in 1983, her interest in jazz and folk music has led her to play and sing at festivals throughout the UK, Europe, the USA and the former Soviet Union'

Ewan Wilkinson & Sandy Brechin at Crail Folk Club, Crail, Fife
"Scottish, Irish and English traditional songs and tunes, together with contemporary folk songs."

Session A9 at The Eden Centre, Inverness
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

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Friday 12th February 2010

World Sounds at The Green Note featuring The Zagros Band at The Green Note, Camden, London
"The Zagros Band comprises of musicians from different musical backgrounds playing instrumental tunes with nods to folk, jazz and classical music with songs and genres from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. Apart from doing traditional Klezmer and Balkan gypsy music, the band also plays original and compositional works composed by band members. They have performed as the headline band at Brigg Fiddle Festival in 2006 and Cheshire World Music Festival in 2004 and 2005"

Martin Simpson at The Kalamazoo Club, Crouch End, North London
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Matthew Ord at The Goose is Out Folk Club, The Magnolia, 211 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, South London SE22 8HA
Matthew's live performances draw together the delta blues, English ballads, jigs, reels, protest songs and nursery rhymes, all performed with warmth and conviction.

Open House at Bodmin Folk Club, Bodmin, Cornwall
All Welcome

Red Dirt at The Reform, Pilton High St , Barnstable, North Devon
"Red Dirt are Russell Middleton Vocals/Guitar, Simon Swarbrick, Violin, Ian Turner, Double Bass, performing tracks from their new album. great songs great vocals meaningful and incisive lyrics passion and humour, it all adds up to Red Dirt live."

Dave Swarbrick at Wessex Acoustic Folk Club, The Farquharson Arms, Pimperne, nr Blandford, Dorset
Britains foremost Fiddler, formerly of Fairport Convention, Swarbrick and Carthy etc etc

James Hollingsworth at The White Swan Inn, 31 High Street, Swanage, Dorset
"James Hollingsworth’s main stage set on the Saturday afternoon of the festival ranged from what was grounded in the traditional – a voice buzzing in the ear, the familiar plucked guitar – to what seemed to border on the celestial, as both voice and a much effected, but delicately measured, acoustic guitar swept back and forth across the arena. James’ performance was captivating…truly so, as many followed him to the intimate surroundings of the Bar Stage later in the afternoon, where an equally diverse mixture of songs and styles was in evidence." - Abbey Mill Folk Festival, 2006

Tom McConville, David Newey, Phil Murray, Andy Watt & Shona Kipling at The Ram Folk Club, The Old Cranleighan Club, Portsmouth Road, Thames Ditton, Surrey
"Continuing our own mini Feast of Fiddles we present a new Supergroup with some familiar faces. At long last his immense talent as a fiddler was recognized in 2009 when he picked up ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Folk Awards. A wonderful singer too, he has played with just about everyone, with Seth Lakeman naming him as his biggest influence. And now he has assembled a superb group, with Young Tradition 2003 finalist DAVID (guitar, vocals), PHIL (acoustic bass), ANDY (guitar & mandolin) and multi-award winning SHONA (accordion). With Tom’s sweet tone embellished by such talent we are in for an evening of the finest traditional and contemporary folk"

Coup de Grass at The Bluegrass Plus Club, Coulsdon, Surrey
"'KEITH PEARSON'S COUP DE GRASS' is an exciting mix of all that is great in Bluegrass and in Folk. Their music, which ranges from fast, dazzling banjo, guitar and harmonica solos to ballads of exceptional beauty is just a part of what makes them one of the most popular and sought after acts currently playing the clubs and concert stages."

Get Rhythm Presents...Hootenanny @ The Worlds End, Brighton
Every 2nd Friday of the month at The Worlds End, London Rd, Brighton - not only will there be some truly amazing country, bluegrass and Americana bands (plugged IN) but also Straw & Bunting! From 8, free entry + pass the hat

Titus at Seaford Folk Club, Seaford, Sussex
" Titus are known for their lighthearted approach and even for some of their song introductions. They cover songs from such diverse artists as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and The Ink Spots to 16th century ballad operas (Gammer Gurtons Needle), traditional folks songs and sea shanties plus a number of originals."

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at Friday Folk Club, Orpington, Kent
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

The Askew Sisters at Waveney Folk Club, Waveney, Suffolk
"Emily and Hazel Askew are a young duo making waves on the folk scene with their energetic brand of English folk music. Using fiddle and melodeon, they play and sing with an infectious enjoyment and love for the music, winning them fans wherever they go. From rhythmic foot stomping tunes to powerful interpretations of songs and ballads, their playing always guarantees to engage and inspire those who hear."

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Mill Arts Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Hannah James & Sam Sweeney at Prema, Uley, Gloucestershire
Hannah & Sam have been playing together since their early teens as part of Kerfuffle, but they launched a Cd as a duo " Catches & Glees" at the beginning of August 09. Hannah plays accordian, sings & dances, Sam best known as a fiddler player is a multi-instrumentalist whose collection of instruments expands all the time: recent acquisitions include a set of English Border bagpipes, a viola, a mandola and a concertina. He also plays drum kit, cajon and nyckelharpa.

Mabon at The Parc Hall, Park Road, Rhondda Cynon Taf
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

Will Kaufman's "Woody Guthrie: Hard Times and Hard Travellin' at Northwich Folk Club, Northwich, Cheshire
"a live programme that sets the songs of Woody Guthrie in the context of the American 1930s - the Dust Bowl, the Depression, the New Deal and the state of popular music itself. In the presentation, Will Kaufman brings such hard-hitting Guthrie songs as 'Vigilante Man', 'Pretty Boy Floyd' and 'I Ain't Got No Home' into conversation with other relevant songs - from Joe Hill's 'The Preacher and the Slave' to 'Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?'. These renditions, buttressed by detailed historical commentary, exemplify the blending of music and radical politics that marks Guthrie's most powerful and evocative work."

Angie Palmer at Marr's Bar, Worcester
"Fairytales, folk stories, enchanted forests and fiery lakes – so far so promising, as Angie Palmer's latest perfectly crafted offering gets a Proper release in the January lull.... Palmer's night should fall more often." Simmy Richman, The Independent on Sunday

Grace Notes at The Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford. West Midlands
"Maggie Boyle, Lynda Hardcastle and Helen Hockenhull, now in their sixteenth year, perform a cappella and accompanied traditional and contemporary songs in three-part harmony making them one of the folk scene's best loved female groups. "

Singaround at The Brewtown Folk Club, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire

Peter Knight's Gigspanner at Lichfield Holy Cross Hall, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Hailed by ‘Songlines’ Magazine as ‘another milestone in folk’s rebirth of cool moment’, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner continues to engage hearts and minds with emotionally loaded and life enriching takes on British traditional and world music.
Steeleye Span’s iconic fiddle payer is joined by Roger Flack (Guitar) and Vincent Salzfaas (Conga’s/Djembe), who are both regarded as intelligent and powerful musicians in their own right.

Beoga at The Pyramid, Warrington, Cheshire
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Quorn Village Hall, Quorn, Leicestershire
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Singers Night at Bingham Folk Club, Bingham, Nottinghamshire

Bob Fox at Chesterfield Folk Club, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Fox always was one of the scene's superior singers and his voice is as confident and ebullient as it ever was . . . Colin Irwin - FRoots

Dervish at The Victoria Hall, Saltaire, West Yorkshire
Onstage, the band's live shows are characterized by their carefully crafted arrangements, as they subtly explore the endless rhythms and complexities that go to make great Irish music.
An instrumental line-up bursting with talent and creativity combines masterfully with the unique vocals of the entrancing Cathy Jordan – still regarded by many as the most distinctive voice and finest frontwoman in Irish music today. Bouzouki, mandola, flute, fiddle, bodhran and accordion ensure that there is plenty of firepower to build an irresistible energy and capture the intricate flavours of the Irish tradition.

Vin Garbutt at The Grove Folk Club, Holbeck, Leeds
"Teesside's own venerable legend of the folk scene worldwide, Vin Garbutt, is one of those performers whose work is drenched in such passionate fervour one has to listen seriously" - Rock 'n' Reel

Singers Night at The Baccapipes Folk Club, Keighley, West Yorkshire

Landermason and Gareth Davies-Jones at Reeth Memorial Hall, Reeth, Nr Richmond, North Yorkshire

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at O Neill's, 38 Neville St, Newcastle upon Tyne
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at The Rose Theatre, Ormskirk, Lancashire
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

The Carrivick Sisters at Carlisle Folk and Blues Club, Carlisle, Cumbria
The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon, England.
They play a variety of bluegrass instruments (mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters. Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories.

The Old Dance School at The Kirkgate, Cockermouth, Cumbria
The Old Dance School’s exhilarating concoction of explosive, white-knuckle folk is blowing up a storm on the festival scene this summer. The twinkly-eyed six piece band features dueling fiddles and hair-raising world percussion galvanizing their intricate compositions which evoke images of wind-swept headlands, witches and wild vertical adventures.

Ken Campbell's Ideal Band at Stonehaven Folk Club, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire
"In the 1980's The Ideal Band was one of Scotland's most highly-respected Celtic folk bands, performing in festivals, concerts and clubs throughout the UK and beyond, following in the footsteps of Glasgow's "Bob Smith's Ideal Band" of the 1930's.
The new line up creates a unique blend of Ken Campbell's essentially Scottish songs together with the very best of musicianship."

Tattie Jam at The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire 12:00pm
"An outstanding performance of virtuoso musicianship, original compositions both vocal and instrumental, and great vocal harmonies..." Tarbat Crack
"If you want to see some skilled vocal harmonies and traditional Scottish folk - Tattie Jam will deliver it with personality and talent." Three Weeks, Edinburgh Fringe

Session A9 at The Universal Hall, Findhorn, Forres, Morayshire
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

Return to Calendar

Saturday 13th February 2010

Buckshot Soup at The Green Note, Camden, London
Bluegrass, Alt country combo

Beoga at The Irish Centre, Hammersmith, London
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

Jim Moray at The Acorn Arts Centre, Penzance, Cornwall
At the age of 21 Jim Moray was hailed “…the greatest leap forward in folk for 30 years” (Neil McCormack,The Daily Telegraph) and “the most significant musician since Bob Dylan to decide that the folk idiom is the perfect vehicle for his musical adventures” (Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). Amongst other extravagant claims, his debut album ‘Sweet England’ was called “the most significant new development in English folk music since Fairport Convention's Liege and Leif.” (Nigel Williamson, Uncut) and “a revolutionary experience” (Nige Tassell, HMV Choice).

Red Dirt at The Jack Russell, Swimbridge, North Devon
"Red Dirt are Russell Middleton Vocals/Guitar, Simon Swarbrick, Violin, Ian Turner, Double Bass, performing tracks from their new album. great songs great vocals meaningful and incisive lyrics passion and humour, it all adds up to Red Dirt live."

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Dilton Memorial Hall, Dilton, Wiltshire
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Steve Knightley at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
"The great man plays first time at Centre Stage, a 160 seat venue. Early booking is strongly recommended."
Tickets £16 from Val Munro 01202 707498 or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk

Mabon at The West End Centre, Aldershot, Hampshire
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

Angie Palmer at Grub Café and Music Bar, East Grinstead, Sussex
"Fairytales, folk stories, enchanted forests and fiery lakes – so far so promising, as Angie Palmer's latest perfectly crafted offering gets a Proper release in the January lull.... Palmer's night should fall more often." Simmy Richman, The Independent on Sunday

Jeff Lang at Beechwood Hall, Cooksbridge near Lewes, East Sussex
“His combination of deep folk, kaleidoscopic blues and Hendrixesque fuzzy rock is enough to blow most minds…” Rolling Stone
“We’re treated to moody atmospheric textures, ripping lap-steel riffs, delicate acoustic picking, trippy backwards leads, throbbing tremolo and unconventional lyrics – all of which Lang blends like some crazed sonic alchemist” Guitar Player Magazine, USA
“A guitarist-singer-songwriter of the very highest calibre” Tony Hillier, Rhythms
Tickets £7.00 / Concessions £5.00. Call 01273 477706 / 07789 640347

Elle Osbourne at Lewes Saturday Folk Club, Lewes, East Sussex
Traditional Fiddler and Singer

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at The White Lion, Saddlery, Tenderden, Kent
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

The Phil Beer band at The New Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth, Suffolk
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Yvonne Lyon & Gentry Morris at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Singer-songwriter Yvonne Lyon is among the best and brightest emerging talent currently from Scotland. Her latest album, A Thousand Questions Why, combines poignant lyrics with strong, creative melodies and a voice that's both fragile and intense. Gentry Morris is a name that's easy to remember and so is the music that he makes. Having spent 5 years in the musical melting pot of Nashville, he strives to create a unique and individual sound and creativity flows from every note. Seldom does he write a hook that won't stop you flat in your tracks.
"Just stunning music." Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

Oxfolk Ceilidh featuring What's up Folk at Kennington Village Hall, Kennington Road, Kennington, Oxford, Oxfordshire
"John Mason School in Abingdon, Oxfordshire has its own group of enthusiastic folkies who together make up "What's up Folk". They are a group of 15 students and staff playing a variety of instruments, including brass, melodica and a cahon! Oxfolk have taken this fabulous band under our wing, and arranged for top folk musicians to come and work with them, including John Spiers, Jon Boden, and Cat Kelly."

Claude Bourbon at The Blue Note Cafe Bar Leominster, Herefordshire
'Born in France in the early 60’s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; he has crafted an unbelievable fusion of classical and jazz, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. '

Folk Rebirth @ The Fleece Featuring: Emma Black at The Golden Fleece, Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
"Emma Black learned her craft as a busker in Amsterdam and Berlin, living on the streets of major European cities, she started to describe life in the 'under belly of society' through song. After turning down a major record deal with her band The Immigrants in the mid-nineties she continued living on the edges of society, in a two-wheeled catering truck on Levenshulme common in Manchester, down the Llyn peninsular in Wales growing vegetables and on occasion, traveling the road. In that time she alternated music as a career with conservation work (something she still does) playing occasional intimate shows to initiates and converts around Europe rather than pursuing the mainstream. Over the next ten or so years, she built herself a loyal following who have stuck with the evolving sound and direction that led her to record her debut album in 2007 " Where Dark Horses Roam" Scince her debut album was released, Emma has played four national tours in the Netherlands and performed across the UK. Over the years, Emma has opened up for a diverse range of acts including The Indigo Girls at the Boardwalk in Manchester...Salif Keetah at the Royal Court, Liverpool..Hugh Masekla at The Grand Clapham...and more recently, The Zombies, Dr Feelgood and Royal Wood in the Netherlands and Nancy Kerr and James Fagan at Cambridge Folk Club"

James Hollingsworth at The Queens Head, Wolverley, Kidderminster, Worcestershire
"James Hollingsworth’s main stage set on the Saturday afternoon of the festival ranged from what was grounded in the traditional – a voice buzzing in the ear, the familiar plucked guitar – to what seemed to border on the celestial, as both voice and a much effected, but delicately measured, acoustic guitar swept back and forth across the arena. James’ performance was captivating…truly so, as many followed him to the intimate surroundings of the Bar Stage later in the afternoon, where an equally diverse mixture of songs and styles was in evidence." - Abbey Mill Folk Festival, 2006

Allan Taylor at Newhampton Folk Club, The Newhampton Inn, Riches Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
Singer Songwriter

The Fay Hield Trio at The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
Fay Hield (Witches of Elswick) is joined by Sam Sweeney (Kerfuffle, Bellowhead) on fiddle, viola and nyckelharpa and Rob Harbron (Jon Boden & the Remnant Kings, English Acoustic Collective) on concertina.

Singers Night at The Robin Hood Folk Club, The Stumble Inn, 37 Tamworth Road, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire

George Welch & Stewart Hardy at The Davy Lamp Folk Club, Washington, Tyne and Wear

Session A9 at Woodend Barn, Burn o' Bennie, Banchory, Aberdeenshire
"Described as the best band to come out of Scotland in 100 years, this eight piece includes members from Capercaillie, the Peatbog Faeries, Boys of the Lough and Fiddlers' Bid. The band's balance of their instrumentation; four fiddles ranged against guitars, piano, accordion and drums brings a multi-layered sophistication and creates a rich panoply of harmony, countermelody, cross-rhythms and complementary textures to their unbeatably rambunctious jigs, reels and jaggy Balkan-style dance tunes."

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Sunday 14th February 2010

Michael Roach at Walthamstow Folk Club, Walthamstow, East London
"Michael Roach, one of thirteen children born to Ted and Sadie Roach of Washington, D.C., USA, sings and plays guitar in an East Coast style of blues that dates back to the 1920s. After spending several years learning directly from such well known figures as John Jackson, John Cephas and Jerry Ricks, Michael Roach has developed his own style and is now an exceptional performer. He interacts with his audience and he entertains as he plays."

Jack Harris and Robby Hecht at Twickfolk, Twickenham, Middlesex
'Young Welshman Jack Harris is a great favourite at the club after several support spots behind the likes of Eric Taylor, Anais Mitchell, Jeffrey Foucault, Richard Shindell, Tracy Grammer and AJ Roach. Jack was a winner of the 2005 Kerrville Festival Songwriting Competition in Texas and was invited to showcase at the prestigious South By South-West music conference in Austin at the tender age of 17. During this time two mini albums were released which cemented his reputation as one of the best up-and-coming songwriters on the UK scene.'
'Robby Hecht’s music represents a return to the early 70s golden era of acoustic singer-songwriter music with thoughtful, well-crafted lyrics were blended with timeless melodies. His debut album Late Last Night was released in May of 2008 and features an impressive list of guest performers including Mindy Smith, Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band), Thad Cockrell and Andrea Zonn.'

Traditional Irish Music Session at The Harrison, 28 Harrison St (just off Grays Inn Road), Kings Cross, London WC1H 8JF
20:00 - 22:30
Free entry
Lively Irish Music jam session!
Musicians welcome

Wheal Dream Folk, Wendron, Nr. Helston, Cornwall
There is a warm welcome for all singers and musicians. Or, just come along and enjoy the best Folk Music in West Cornwall

The Phil Beer Band at The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington, Devon
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Steve Turner at Folk on The Moor, The Westward Inn, Lee Mill, Nr Plymouth
A shining example of the music the British folk scene is capable of producing. FRoots
Steve Turner has been turning into one of this country's finest male singers and performers of folk-song [...] with him you can truly say that he has shown all the qualities of a great singer and interpreter of folk song. Swing 51, National Folk Magazine

Jason Hinchey at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
Limerick-born Jason is an enormously popular singer-guitarist. He headlines tonight and brings along his own selection of perfomers to create a great "craic". Jason sings with passion and humour.
Admission £4.

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at Reading Folk Club, Reading, Berkshire
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Hambledon Village Hall, Hambledon, Surrey
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Grace Notes at Horsham Folk Club, Horsham, Sussex
"Now in their 17th year, their highly praised harmonies and thoughtful repertoire making them one of the folk scene's best-loved female groups. Individually they have a much longer history of live performance and recording sessions with Nic Jones, James Horner, The Chieftains, Mountain Ash Band, John Tams, Bert Jansch, New Victory Band & Muckram Wakes and many more."

Mawkin Causley at The Playhouse, Whitstable, Kent
Those wicked Essex rascals, Mawkin, have joined forces with the honey-voiced Jim Causley to form one hell of a boy band! One of the best instrumental outfits to emerge in recent years, Mawkin have a string of festival and concert appearances under their belt. Bringing Jim Causley on board is a masterstroke, as his gorgeous baritone voice is the perfect foil for their cleverly textured tunes and energetic performances. Their critically acclaimed debut E.P “Cold Ruin” gained them national radio play and a nomination for “Best Group” in the 2009 and 2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Amy Wadge at Hitchin Folk Club, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Claude Bourbon at The Uplands Tavern Swansea
'Born in France in the early 60’s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; he has crafted an unbelievable fusion of classical and jazz, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. '

Singers and Musicians Acoustic session at The Bell Inn, Newport Road, Tong Shropshire (12 noon and 4pm)
The event will be held in our function room on the 1st floor, Food is available all day from 12 noon, Carvery etc between 12 noon and 3PM,full menu and specials there after until 9.30pm.
Open Fires lit throughout the winter months.
Admission is FREE

Sara Grey and Kieron Means at The Bothy Folk Club, Southport, Merseyside
"Guitar, 5-string banjo and voices blend intuitively on old-time US songs and Scots and Irish ballads. Blues, back-porch picking and tall tales all come into the frame, on a regular return gig for this mother and son duo."

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Monday 15th February 2010

Lily Neill at MondayMonday, The Green Note, Camden, London
'Lily Neill is recognized as "part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard" 2005 Irish Music Magazine. She was a prize-winner at the All-Ireland Harp competition and has won numerous awards, honours and scholarships for her technical and artistic abilities as well as her original compositions. In 2006 she was named LiveIreland.com's “New Female Artist of the Year.”'

Folk at The Foresters, Wilmington, Kent
Informal Session/Singaround

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Egerton House, Egerton, Nr Ashford, Kent.
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Jez Lowe at Colchester Folk Club, Colchester, Essex
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Singers Night at The Tudor Folk Club, Chesham, Buckinghamshire

Steamchicken at Warwick Folk Club, The Warwick Arms Hotel, High Street, Warwick, Warwickshire
"A firm favourite at festivals and dance clubs Steamchicken is now established as one of the best and most in demand English Ceilidh bands."

The Young'uns at Barnsley Folk & Acoustic Night, Barnsley, South Yorkshire
The Young'uns are a Hartlepool-based folk and maritime trio, recognised locally, nationally and internationally

Singers and Musicians Night at The (Not the) White Horse Folk Club, Beverley, East Yorkshire

Beoga at The National Centre for Early Music, York, North Yorkshire
“Beoga are at the forefront of the Irish new wave” Irish Music Magazine
“Riveting…the most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century” Wall Street Journal

Singers Night at Skipton Folk Unplugged, The Narrow Boat, 38 Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire
Singers, musicians, poets and all always welcome

Singaround at Stockton Folk Club, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland

Wendy Arrowsmith at The Bridge Folk Club, Newcastle Upon Tyne
"Born and raised in the suburbs of Glasgow, Wendy’s musical influences as a child were mostly Trad Jazz or Church hymns! Although she learnt Burns and other traditional Scottish songs at school, it wasn’t until she moved to England to marry that she began to really delve into traditional folk music. Wendy has sung many different styles of music – ranging from large scale classical choral works, operetta and musicals to backing vocalist for a prog rock band! But with folk music she has found songs that come from the heart and allow great emotional expression and social commentary. She describes herself as “a singer who plays guitar”, but this shouldn’t detract from Wendy’s musical abilities not just on guitar, but also on whistles, bodhran, mandolin and most recently accordion."

Chris Miles & Gordeanna McCulloch at Glenfarg Folk Club, Glenfarg, Perthshire

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Tuesday 16th February 2010

Martin Carthy at The Ringwood Folk Club, The Elm Tree Hightown, Ringwood, Hampshire
Probably the most famous of British folk singers and not without reason. Masterly on the guitar & vocals, Martin was awarded the MBE for services to Folk Music a few years ago. He appears with, Waterson:Carthy.
Brass Monkey & is a former member of Steeleye Span. Martin sings mainly from the English Tradition. He still sings wonderful ballads telling stories of long ago, also some more recent. songs & an occasional humorous offering. Support tonight is James Findlay who recently won the BBC Young Folk Award (2010). He plays amazing guitar, fiddle and has a really beautiful voice. He performs English Traditional material.

Grace Notes at Chichester Folk Song Club, Chichester, West Sussex
"Grace Notes perform a cappella and accompanied arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs in three-part harmony.
Now in their 16th year, their highly praised harmonies and thoughtful repertoire make them one of the folk scene's best loved female groups. Individually they have a much longer history of live performance and recording sessions with Nic Jones, The Chieftains, Mountain Ash Band, John Tams, Bert Jansch, New Victory Band & Muckram Wakes, to name only some."

The Grassroots Band & Friends at The Eight Bells, Hawkhurst, Near Tunbridge, Kent (Singers and musicians welcome)
"Formed in 1973, the band have a long and exciting CV working both in the UK and abroad, even journeying to the US in the late 1970s where they had the privilege of sharing a stage with the "father of bluegrass", legendary mandolin player Bill Monroe! Featuring guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and double bass, complete with stunning trademark vocal harmonies, the band have spent a collective lifetime bringing bluegrass to new audiences by way of their highly entertaining and accessible live act."

The Tom McConville Band at Dartford Folk Club, Dartford, Kent
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer, he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music." Dave Swarbrick

Beth Nielsen Chapman at St Mary's Church, Sandwich, Kent
"Nashville based International Superstar with a voice and words that touch the soul. We are very honoured to present this concert, her only SE appearance outside London. Her new single has just been BBC Radio 2’s, record of the week. 01227 831493"

Patty Vetta & Alan Franks at St Neots Folk Club, St Neots, Cambridgeshire
"Journalist and playwright Alan Franks is a highly literate lyricist and witty tale-teller. Singer Vetta takes Franks' nostalgic English folk-songs, touches of blues, spiritual and jazz, and wistfully caresses them into music-hall life. A stimulating and quaint journey."

Jez Lowe at The Great Knight Folk Club, Northampton
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Mabon at The Prince Albert, The Butts, Walkley Hill, Rodbourgh, Stroud, Gloucestershire
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

James Hollingsworth at The Boat, Lone Lane, Penallt, Monmouthshire. NP25 4AJ
"James Hollingsworth’s main stage set on the Saturday afternoon of the festival ranged from what was grounded in the traditional – a voice buzzing in the ear, the familiar plucked guitar – to what seemed to border on the celestial, as both voice and a much effected, but delicately measured, acoustic guitar swept back and forth across the arena. James’ performance was captivating…truly so, as many followed him to the intimate surroundings of the Bar Stage later in the afternoon, where an equally diverse mixture of songs and styles was in evidence." - Abbey Mill Folk Festival, 2006

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Brindley, Runcorn, Cheshire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Sandwell Storytelling Cafe at Wednesbury Library, Walsall Street, Sandwell, West Midlands
"From Christine McMahon’s lips tumble stories of the North Country which she tells with passion and joy. With a twinkle in her eye she will bring to Storytelling Cafe magical stories from the handsome, mischievous rag and bone man to the magical spindle, needle and shuttle of the hand loom weaver. Folk Tales and stories live in the urban landscape of mills and mines as much as in the realms of woodlands and fairy dells. Christine’s fresh lively storytelling draws on fairytales and folklore from the north of England's harsh past."

Alan Prosser at Mansfield Brown Cow Folk Club, The Brown Cow, 35 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
"Expect some superb guitar work and great vocals from the guy who power riffs the Oysterband and wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s best loved song.."

Brian Peters at Kiveton Park Folk Club, Kiveton Park, Nr Sheffield, South Yorkshire
"Traditional songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar"

Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal at Leith Folk Club, Edinburgh
"Eilidh Steel and Mark Neal are a Scottish music duo playing traditional and contemporary tunes and songs with many of their own compositions on fiddle, guitar and vocals. Continuing in the traditions of Scottish music with many influences from Argyll and the West Coast of Scotland, they blend the historical and modern perspective using older and newer compositions. Both Eilidh and Mark are prolific composers writing tunes and songs, taking influences from a wide range of music from piping and fiddling to indie/funk/jazz and everything else around"

Claire Mann and Aaron Jones at Montrose Folk Club, Montrose, Angus
"Claire Mann (flute, fiddle, whistle and vocals) and Aaron Jones (bouzouki, guitar, bass and vocals) are two well established musicians on the folk scene today. Claire as well as being highly regarded as a tutor of traditional music has toured extensively with bands Tabache, Craobh Rua and Christy O'Leary. Aaron is currently touring worldwide with award winning Scottish band"

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Wednesday 17th February 2010

Martin Carthy at The Green Note, Camden, London
`Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all' Q Magazine (2004)
For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it.
Trailblazing musical partnerships with, amongst others, Steeleye Span, Dave Swarbrick and his award-winning wife (Norma Waterson) and daughter Eliza Carthy have resulted in more than 40 albums, but Martin has only recorded 10 solo albums, of which the much anticipated Waiting for Angels (Topic TSCD527) is the latest. Whether in the folk clubs (which he continues to champion), on the concert stage or making TV appearances (he was the subject of the acclaimed `Originals' music documentary strand on BBC 2) - there are few roles that Martin Carthy hasn't played.

Stela at Scoriton Village Hall, Scoriton, Devon TQ11 0JB
4 talented multi-instrumentalists with beautiful vocal harmonies bring you contemporary sounds inspired by the traditional music of northern Poland
7.30 pm for 8.00 pm start
Tickets: £7.00 Adults / £5.00 Children

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at The Willows Folk Club, Arundel, Sussex
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Brian Stimpson at The Lamb Folk Club, Eastbourne, Sussex
Guitar and banjo picker presents a lively mix of American roots music

The Hot Rats at The Man of Kent, 6-8 John Street, Rochester, Kent
The best in celtic style world/european roots and original folk rock

Moishe's Bagel at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Rip-roaring, foot-stomping, jazz-inflected klezmer and Balkan music from some of Scotland's finest musicians. An intoxicating, life-affirming mix of Eastern European dance music, Middle Eastern rhythms and virtuoso performances, Moishe's Bagel combines the energy and passion of Eastern European folk music with the excitement and soul of improvisation. We're just as likely to see them jamming in a late night jazz den, grooving at a forest festival, or enthralling an upmarket concert hall. The interaction of their individual musical personalities creates their own style, a sound that mixes klezmer, folk dance, jazz, eastern percussion and more, topped off with dazzling musicality and classical rigour.
"Consummate musicians, the degree of concentration and engagement with their music is palpable… this is high-class work." EdinburghGuide.com

Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner at Llantrisant Folk Club, The Windsor Hotel, Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun, Mid Glamorgan
"Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner are two of the most experienced and established harmony singers on the folk scene. They have a leaning towards traditional English material, but occasionally diversify and perform their own material and Victorian/Edwardian songs. Their interpretation of both contemporary and traditional material is sensitive, moving and has plenty of humour."

Mabon at Llys Meddyg Inn, East Street, Newport, Pembrokeshire
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

Birmingham Storytelling Cafe at Kitchen Garden Cafe York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands
"From Christine McMahon’s lips tumble stories of the North Country which she tells with passion and joy. With a twinkle in her eye she will bring to Storytelling Cafe magical stories from the handsome, mischievous rag and bone man to the magical spindle, needle and shuttle of the hand loom weaver. Folk Tales and stories live in the urban landscape of mills and mines as much as in the realms of woodlands and fairy dells. Christine’s fresh lively storytelling draws on fairytales and folklore from the north of England's harsh past."

The Carrivick Sisters at The Carrington Triangle Folk Club, Nottingham
The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon, England.
They play a variety of bluegrass instruments (mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters. Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories.

Jack's Rake at Rivelin Folk Club, Hillsborough, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
"A vibrant mix of styles. . . well crafted arrangements. . . great harmonies. . . pulsating celtic tunes"

Scott Gardiner with Johnie Kemp at Dunfermline Folk Club, Dunfermline, Fife
"Traditional songs sung by Scott with sympathetic accompaniment on guitar from Johnie"

Sara Grey & Kieron Means at Edinburgh Folk Club, Edinburgh
"Sara Grey is one of that rare breed of singers who have been involved with traditional music over many years and absorbed its vital essence. In Sara's performance, the art of the singer and that of the story teller merge to produce a web of tales and songs capable of transporting an audience from the concert hall or club room to the intimacy of a kitchen fire side." Brian Peters
"Kieron has such a tremendous passion when he sings, it goes right to the very core of himself, he's totally immersed the songs. He is a terrific performer on account of just that passion. His voice is especially striking, achieving the rare combination of a high lonesome edge with a warm richness of timbre, and it has a power to move the listener that few of his generation can match."

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Thursday 18th February 2010

Jeff Lang at The Green Note, Camden, London
Highly inventive, totally original Australian guitarist and songsmith on tour to promote the release of 'Half Seas Over'. A rare chance to catch a major artist in an intimate setting...

Jigjaw at Islington Folk Club, Clerkenwell, London
"JigJaw combines the percussion and passion of dance traditions with vocal harmonies in a tight, scintillating quartet of singing and dancing talents!"

The Lantern Society at The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3BL 8.30 pm - Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou's - Album Launch!
"'Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou's Lantern Society is rightly billed as London's Finest Folk Club. Upstairs in the convivial surroundings of the Dickensian Betsey Trotwood, in the City of London, the finest folk from all over the capital and beyond congregate to regale one another with story and song. Although first and foremost what they nobley achieve is to have a good old knees up.'
The night is accompanied by the Lantern Society Radio Hour, a fornightly online free radio show bringing you the best performances from the lantern society stage."

Nicky Swann at The Anchor Inn, Dartmouth, Devon
"Nicky Swann is developing into a fine singer-songwriter. Her delivery is warm, soulful (sometimes gritty) but always spiritually tinged. She lists Patsy Cline, Carole King and Janis Joplin as her big three. A passionate performer, she uses elements of folk, blues and country to tell her tales of love, hope and death."

Ember at The Ritz Acoustic Club, Victoria Street, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

The Carrivick Sisters at Bournemouth Folk Club, Bournemouth, Dorset
The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon, England.
They play a variety of bluegrass instruments (mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters. Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories.
Tickets £7 - reserve and pick up on the night - from Val Munro 01202 707498 or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk. Tickets £8 will be available on the door.

Bartram, Brookes and Weatherall at Folk at The Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes, Sussex
'A new trio from Shropshire that combines the excellent singing of Chris with the a pair of the finest exponents of English dance music on fiddle and melodeon'

Maggie Sand & Sandragon at Orpington Folk Club, Orpington, Kent
"Maggie's specialism is to blend English traditional songs with medieval and renaissance-era music.
She is joined by musicians Mark Powell, Malcolm Bennett and Anthar Kharana who collectively play hurdy gurdy, recorders, crumhorns, flute, harmonium, mandola, cittern, guitar, bouzouki and percussion. Together they produce a stylish and entertaining sound."

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at The Drum Folk Club, The Drum, Stone Street, Stanford, Nr Hythe, Kent
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Anthony John Clarke at Redbourn Folk Club, Redbourn, Hertfordshire
Singer Songwriter

Isla St Clair: The Songs and Music of Scotland at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
RIsla St Clair is one of Scotland's foremost singers, noted for the depth of feeling she brings to her country's music. Her performance is a wonderful fusion of the old and new, spiced with fascinating and humorous anecdotes of Scotland's rich musical heritage. The combination of timeless songs, ranging from Burns to the classic laments, and her experiences working with some of the world's great Celtic artists, is both poignant and wonderfully entertaining. Tonight she is joined by special guest Pipe Major John Spoore for some authentic Scottish sounds.
"Isla St Clair brings centuries of music to life, this is the genuine article!" Sunday

Acoustic Music & Song Night at The Royal Oak, Yelvertoft Road, Crick, Northamptonshire
Held on the third Thursday of every month, you can hear local talent perform music and songs of a variety of styles including folk traditional and contemporary), blues, soft acoustic rock, original & humorous and more! Good real ale and a Chinese take-away (or eat in) on the premises!
Musicians and singers encouraged and welcomed - its a great opportunity to meet up with other musicians and possibly start some great collaborations ......please contact David Baker on 07920 296 272 or John Kemsley 07957 697 083 in advance of the evening.

Singaround at The Tump Folk Club, Coombe Social Club, Brinklow Road, Coventry, West Midlands

Claude Bourbon at Katie Fitzgeralds, Stourbridge, West Midlands
'Born in France in the early 60’s, Claude Bourbon grew up in Switzerland, where he was classically trained for many years. This finger picking guitarist has performed and studied all over the world; he has crafted an unbelievable fusion of classical and jazz, with ethereal Eastern influences, Spanish and Latin elements with strains of Western folk. '

The Edwards Brothers at Common Folk, Pelsall Cricket Club, Walsall Road, Pelsall, Walsall, West Midlands

Allan Taylor at The Hungry Horse Acoustic Folk Club, The Rake (Pub/Restaurant), Rake Lane, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
"Allan’s one of the key songwriters of our time, a true professional as much respected by fellow-musicians as by his loyal audiences. Over some 40 years he’s produced a large number of intense and significantly enduring songs. … this set works fantastically well as a strongly unified offering in its own right which highlights both the mighty consistency of Allan’s writing craft and the unstintingly high quality of his singing and playing." Froots

Jez Lowe at Lymm Folk Club, Lymm, Cheshire
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Martin Simpson at The Playhouse, Nottingham
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Singers Night at The Black Swan Folk Club, York
"All acoustic performers are made welcome, and listeners besides, at our popular Open House session. The more the merrier, so do come along"

Sara Grey & Kieron Means at The Star Folk Club, Glasgow
'Sara has gained a reputation not only for her excellent singing & playing, but also for the sheer warmth and enthusiasm that she radiates to her audience. Her son Keiron's voice has been described as high and lonesome.'

Open Mic Night at Falkirk Folk Club, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at The Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy, Fife
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

Return to Calendar

Friday 19th February 2010

Ember at The Green Note, Camden, London
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Milverton Music Club, Milverton, Somerset
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

James Hollingsworth at The Ship Inn, 23A High Street, Swanage, Dorset. BH19 2LR
"James Hollingsworth’s main stage set on the Saturday afternoon of the festival ranged from what was grounded in the traditional – a voice buzzing in the ear, the familiar plucked guitar – to what seemed to border on the celestial, as both voice and a much effected, but delicately measured, acoustic guitar swept back and forth across the arena. James’ performance was captivating…truly so, as many followed him to the intimate surroundings of the Bar Stage later in the afternoon, where an equally diverse mixture of songs and styles was in evidence." - Abbey Mill Folk Festival, 2006

Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan at The Red Lion, Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Paddy and Tommy need little introduction to Irish music fans. Paddy is one of the giants of Irish music and a towering figure among pipers in particular. His style of playing prompted Donal Lunny to describe him as 'the Jimmi Hendrix of the pipes'. Tommy is an accomplished musician whose skills are as diverse as Paddy's and whose musical pedigree is equally rich.
For gig information or advance tickets contact Finbarr Sheehan on 01722 413236 or email finbarr.sheehan@yahoo.co.uk. Or, take your chance at the door!

No Fixed Abode at Bourne Folk club, Boscombe, Wiltshire
"No Fixed Abode are a blend of Una Walsh (vocals) and Tony Dean (guitar). Una originates in Ireland and has a voice as rich and smooth as the finest Irish malt whiskey. Tony’s guitar playing provides the ice. Together they invite you to sit back relax and enjoy Their mix of original acoustic songs blended together in a unique way that will take you on a magical mystery tour of your emotions."

Mabon at The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, Hampshire
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

Hannah James & Sam Sweeney at The Music Institute, Guildford, Surrey
Hannah & Sam have been playing together since their early teens as part of Kerfuffle, but they launched a Cd as a duo " Catches & Glees" at the beginning of August 09. Hannah plays accordian, sings & dances, Sam best known as a fiddler player is a multi-instrumentalist whose collection of instruments expands all the time: recent acquisitions include a set of English Border bagpipes, a viola, a mandola and a concertina. He also plays drum kit, cajon and nyckelharpa.

Ian King & His Band at The Boileroom, Guildford, Surrey
"Fast becoming a ubiquitous name in the folk scene, accomplished guitarist and singer/songwriter IAN KING will be performing songs from his debut album “Panic Grass And Fever Few” when he lands at The Boileroom for the Guildford leg of his current tour. Having been described as “as refreshing as a cold pint on a summer's day”, Ian's music is told with the humour and sensibility of a proud Yorkshireman, injecting traditional folk with a tyke-like burst of enthusiasm entwined with bitter cynicism."
“Elegant, witty, daring and powerful, this is English folk music for the 21st century!” Shirley Collins.
“Ian King is destined to be as big in folk as Richard Thompson” Tony Scott, GuilFest organiser.

Pete Morton at The Ram Folk Club, Thames Ditton, Surrey
"a passionate, intense performer with a driving guitar style & a great stage presence who, for the last couple of decades, has been busy putting back the 'F' in Folk. A former Punk (long ago), he is carrying on the true tradition of an urban songwriter, always 'on the road' and delivering a wealth of great songs that are an unruly mix of humour, politics, love and social comment. Pete sings from the heart and his song ‘Another train' is popular with choirs and artists around the world, bringing hope and encouragement to countless listeners over the years. His new CD ‘Casa Abierta’ marks a radical departure, featuring ten songs in different tongues including Spanish, Swahili, Welsh, Kurdish, Korean and French. And it’s great!"

Moveable Feast at Pissaros, Hastings, East Sussex
"Moveable Feast play their own unique and original style of world roots music - lively, rhythmic, full of fun - to create a dynamic fusion with a contemporary edge. Their compositions blend together many diverse elements - celtic rock, latin, reggae, ska, rai, african, jazz, cajun, klezmer, musette, english folk and pop - with lyrics in Spanish, French, Portugese, English and Italian that touch on both universal themes and topical social issues. "

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at Seaford Folk Club, Seaford, Sussex
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke at Broadstairs Blues Bash, Tartar Frigate, Harbour Street, Broadstairs, Kent
Acoustic Blues duo

The Biggin Hillbillies at KentFolk Bluegrass, The Boathouse, Grove Ferry Inn, Grove Road, Upstreet, Nr. Canterbury, Kent
Kentish 5-piece bluegrass with James Lin on fiddle. £7

The Floozies at The Milkmaid Folk Club, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
"Based in Suffolk, The Floozies play mainly original acoustic material with unusual combinations of instruments. If you like Eddie Reader, Beth Orton, Karine Polwart then this is the band for you. The Floozies are well known for their energetic contemporary folk, melting sensitive lyrics with cool jazzy riffs and ethnic percussion. "

Ben Paley and Tab Hunter at Oxford Folk Club, Oxford
Playing energetic and beautiful Swedish, Irish, Klezmer and American traditional music (and more), Ben Paley (fiddle) and Tab Hunter (guitar) have worked with Damon Albarn, Channel 4 and the Levellers, among others.

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Wytham Village Hall, Wytham, Oxfordshire.
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Singers Night at The Song Loft, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Sons of the Sod at Chepstow Acoustic Music Club, Chepstow Castle Inn, 12 Bridge Street, Chepstow, Monmouthshire
"Wolverhampton-based trio with a wide repertoire of traditional Irish, Scottish, English and American songs and tunes, complemented by their own distinctive compositions."

The Carrivick Sisters at The Valley Folk Club, Pontardawe, West Glamorgan
"The Carrivick Sisters are twins Laura and Charlotte Carrivick from South Devon, England.
They play a variety of bluegrass instruments (mainly guitar, mandolin, banjo, dobro and fiddle) with vocal harmonies and are both songwriters. Although their background is in bluegrass, their music has a strong folk influence which is evident in their original songs, many of which are inspired by their local landscape and stories."

Singers Night at The Woodman Folk Club, Kingswinford. West Midlands

Singers' Night at Northwich Folk Club, Northwich, Cheshire

Broom Bezzums at Frodsham Folk Club, The Conservative Club, 74 Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

Jez Lowe at Tamworth Folk Club, Tamworth, Staffordshire
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Harvey Andrews at The Brewtown Folk Club, The Old Cottage Tavern, 36, Byrkley Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire
"Long-awaited return of, arguably, the finest singer/songwriter on the folk scene. Always the consummate professional, Harvey’s songs are admired and sung by many in the folk world today."

Singers Night at Bingham Folk Club, Bingham, Nottinghamshire

Martin Simpson at The Rock at Maltby, Maltby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Roger Davies at The Baccapipes Folk Club, Keighley, West Yorkshire
Singer Songwriter

Gordon Giltrap at The Globe Hall, Ireby, Wigton, Cumbria
"Over the past forty years, Gordon Giltrap has graced the music business with his dedication to his craft and his affection for his audience. As one of the UK's most respected guitarists, he has consistently proved the adage that respect cannot be bought. It must be earned."

Peter and Barbara Snape at The Rolling Hills Folk Club, Melrose, Scottish Borders
In an age when the folk scene is a slave to this year's model, when musicians and singers are trying to cram as many notes and vocal tricks as possible into a melodic phrase, Peter and Barbara opt for a simpler approach. As such they embody an uncluttered, more organic attitude - the very spirit of what I call, real Folk. Peter's superlative melodeon playing allied to Barbara's crystal-clear, unaffected vocals make the Snapes a refreshing alternative to an awards-fixated, media-driven Folkerama. Clive Pownceby — Bothy Folk Club, Southport, May 2008

Open Mic at Stonehaven Folk Club, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at O'Neills, 11 Maxwell Place, Stirling
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

Return to Calendar

Saturday 20th February 2010

The Toy Hearts at The Green Note, Camden, London
'The Toy Hearts are certainly a British band to watch. As a first rate bluegrass flavoured Country/Americana band – that also writes some exceptionally good songs - they could become responsible for helping British Bluegrass take a huge leap forward.' - Dee Hallett IBMA, EBMA

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts at National Theatre Foyer, Southbank, London - lunchtime & evening shows
"A fresh and promising young duo... right up on the crest of the new acoustic wave. Check these guys out......now!" - Seth Lakeman
'An exceptional young duo...Katriona and Jamie are at times energetic, at times atmospheric, and always inventive. This is music which I would happily recommend to anyone' - Ric Sanders, Fairport Convention

Soiree at St. Peters Church, Laleham Road, Staines, TW18 2DX
Soirée are Sue Graves, Hector Gilchrist and Steve Poole. They perform material that is melodic, inspiring and accessible - beautiful songs lifted by lilting harmonies and tasteful guitars and harmonica.
Tickets are £5 at the door. Doors open 7.30pm, music starts at 8.15pm. There will be a bar selling local Real Ale and other drinks.

Martin Simpson at The David Hall, South Petherton, Somerset
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008 winner of Best Album for ‘Prodigal Son’ and Best Original Song for ‘Never Any Good’
“One of the finest acoustic finger-style and slide guitar players in the world”
Twice-winner Musician Of The Year BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and nominated for Musician of the Year 2009
In the last two years, Martin Simpson has been busier, more successful and more visible than ever before in his 37 year career, a veritable overnight sensation at the age of 56.Televised appearances at the Albert Hall at the first ever Folk Prom, and on Later with Jools, and radio appearances with Aled Jones, Mike Harding and Simon Mayo amongst others, garnered extraordinarily good reactions. Numerous festival appearances and a series of almost completely sold out UK tours continued to raise his profile. His 2007 release, "Prodigal Son" was nominated for 5 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and won Album of the Year, and Best Original song for the deeply moving "Never Any Good". At the end of 2008, Simpson returned to the States for the first time in 5 years for a triumphant series of gigs. Having lived and worked in the US for 14 years he is regarded there as a guitar legend, and an enormously influential musician.

Ian King at The Folk House, Bristol
Hotly tipped dub reggae folk ex dry stone waller from Yorkshire with record deal with Fledgling and album produced by top producer Adrian Sherwood featuring Skip (little axe) Mcdonald.
"Elegant, witty, daring and powerful. This is English folk music for the 21st century!” Shirley Collins - April 2009

Inu at The Old Road Tavern, Old Road, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1JA
"Inu's inventive mix of traditional and contemporary songs and tunes draws inspiration from the Celtic and Balkan traditions but is refreshingly different. Delicious tunes all played with flair that perfectly balances the darker songs and ballads." The Bath Chronicle

James Hollingsworth at The Nags Head, 32 Silver St, Lyme Regis, Dorset
"James Hollingsworth’s main stage set on the Saturday afternoon of the festival ranged from what was grounded in the traditional – a voice buzzing in the ear, the familiar plucked guitar – to what seemed to border on the celestial, as both voice and a much effected, but delicately measured, acoustic guitar swept back and forth across the arena. James’ performance was captivating…truly so, as many followed him to the intimate surroundings of the Bar Stage later in the afternoon, where an equally diverse mixture of songs and styles was in evidence." - Abbey Mill Folk Festival, 2006

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Ibberton & Belchalwell Village Hall, Blandford Forum, Dorset Tickets: 01258 817269 or 817555
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Evershot Village Hall, Evershot, Dorset.
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

No Fixed Abode at The Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, Swanage, Dorset
"No Fixed Abode are a blend of Una Walsh (vocals) and Tony Dean (guitar). Una originates in Ireland and has a voice as rich and smooth as the finest Irish malt whiskey. Tony’s guitar playing provides the ice. Together they invite you to sit back relax and enjoy Their mix of original acoustic songs blended together in a unique way that will take you on a magical mystery tour of your emotions."

Mabon at The Forest Arts Centre, New Milton, Hampshire
"High octane, festival favourites, Mabon pump out electrifying Celtic music that draws the best from British jigs and reels and throws in French Mazurka, Galician Muinera, Breton an dro and hints of Klezma too! This six-piece is led by the indecently talented accordionist and tunes meister Jamie Smith and features Young Scottish Musician of the Year finalist Calum Stewart on wooden flute and Oli Wilson-Dickson (Tea Hodzic Trio, The Ian MacMillan Orchestra) on fiddle."

National Debt at The Retreat, Reading, Berkshire
"National Debt is a band formed by Ronnie Smith & Michael Messer in 2002. They started playing ‘just for fun’ in local pubs and over the past four years National Debt has gained quite a following. The music is Rockin’ Roots Country Blues, but with a twist of London in its soul!"

Steve Turner at Lewes Saturday Folk Club, Lewes, East Sussex
A shining example of the music the British folk scene is capable of producing. FRoots
Steve Turner has been turning into one of this country's finest male singers and performers of folk-song [...] with him you can truly say that he has shown all the qualities of a great singer and interpreter of folk song. Swing 51, National Folk Magazine

The Band of Two at The John Harvey Tavern, Lewes, Sussex
"The popular pairing between multi-instrumentalists Pete Fyfe and Garry Blakeley results in traditional Celtic music that reminds us how good these are, such as "I'll Tell Me Ma", "Whiskey In The Jar", "Black Velvet Band", "Irish Rover" "Duelling Banjos"/" Orange Blossom Special".
With fiddle, guitars, mandolins, bodhran, tenor banjo, bouzouki, whistles and great vocals, this is good time music to have a good time by."

Alan Prosser at Sutton Folk Club, Sutton, Bedfordshire
"'Eclectic' is an overused word these days, and, particularly in the light of World Music, is often a synonym for dabbling. True eclecticism is first about understanding and having knowledge and respect for the source, and only then making it your own. That sums up what makes Alan Prosser's guitar-playing a great deal more than interesting"

Ember at Acoustic Routes, Cambridge
"You could call it contemporary folk – with an edge – and the group has been compared to Indigo Girls, The Be Good Tanyas, Simon and Garfunkel, Tracy Chapman, Michelle Shocked, Rickie Lee Jones and Dead Can Dance.
Engaging and humorous performers, Emily and Rebecca build a natural repartee with the audience - in true troubadour style. Hecklers are always welcome! "

Folk Rebirth @ The Fleece Featuring: Lizzie Nunnery at The Golden Fleece, Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
"Lizzie Nunnery is a 27 year old singer songwriter. Following the release of her EP, “Monkeys and Devils,” in 2006 she played a host of venues across the UK including supporting J.D Souther, Little Feat, Jim Moray and Tobias Froberg. She’s made several appearances on BBC Radio including a live performance on BBC Radio 3. The release of her second EP, "Hungry" in March 2008 continued this trend, with Lizzie winning “Best Newcomer” at the 08 BBC Radio Merseyside awards and “Best Live Performance” at the 08 Fatea Folk awards."

Jim Moray at The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
At the age of 21 Jim Moray was hailed “…the greatest leap forward in folk for 30 years” (Neil McCormack,The Daily Telegraph) and “the most significant musician since Bob Dylan to decide that the folk idiom is the perfect vehicle for his musical adventures” (Bruce Elder, Sydney Morning Herald). Amongst other extravagant claims, his debut album ‘Sweet England’ was called “the most significant new development in English folk music since Fairport Convention's Liege and Leif.” (Nigel Williamson, Uncut) and “a revolutionary experience” (Nige Tassell, HMV Choice).

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Guildhall, Preston, Lancashire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Rick Payne at Arc, Stockton Arts Centre, Dovecot Street, Stockton on Tees, Teeside
"Rick Payne is an established acoustic blues guitarist with many national and international tours to his credit. He has become especially well known for his authentic acoustic blues finger picking, in the many traditional styles of the blues including delta blues, piedmont, ragtime and slide and has recorded several albums of this kind."

Mawkin Causley at The Davy Lamp Folk Club, Washington, Tyne and Wear
Essex extroverts, Mawkin, have joined forces with the honey-voiced Jim Causley to form one hell of a boy band! One of the best instrumental outfits to emerge in recent years, Mawkin combiine with the sensational baritone voice of Jim Causley in a combination that brought them a nomination for “Best Group” in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The Shee at The Eastgate Arts Centre, Peebles, Scottish Borders
"The Shee are an exceptional all-female band showcasing powerful vocals and skilled instrumentals. Their music features original compositions alongside a wealth of traditional material. Their adventurous brew of Scottish folk, Gaelic song, and bluegrass has earned them fast growing recognition."

Return to Calendar

Sunday 21st February 2010

Brian Peters at Walthamstow Folk Club, Walthamstow, East London
"Traditional songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar"

Jez Lowe at Twickfolk, Twickenham, Middlesex
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Ben Lang at Wheal Dream Folk, Wendron, Nr. Helston, Cornwall

Inu at The Mission Theatre, Bath, Somerset
"Inu's inventive mix of traditional and contemporary songs and tunes draws inspiration from the Celtic and Balkan traditions but is refreshingly different. Delicious tunes all played with flair that perfectly balances the darker songs and ballads." The Bath Chronicle

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Studland Village Hall, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3AE Tickets: 01929 450514
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

An evening with Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou and The Lantern Players at Freshwater Memorial Hall, Isle of Wight
Following the release of Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou’s self-titled debut album on Loose Music, the pair will be eschewing the conventional live music circuit in favour of an enchanting tour of village halls, bringing along for company a handpicked selection of the best players from their famous London folk club, The Lantern Society.
See here for more details

Jim Causley at Horsham Folk Club, Horsham, West Sussex
"Jim is one of the new folkesque generation who are lighting a new spark to our great English tradition. Jim sings with an ease and maturity which belies his tender years. Listen carefully... He will be around for many years to come, singing beautifully." Karen Tweed

Porchlight Smoker at The Neptune, Kingsway, Hove, Sussex
"Porchlight Smoker began three years ago as a duo playing acoustic based country bluegrass tunes around Brighton. Today, they are a quartet playing all over Sussex and London, expanding from time to time with guest musicians. Popular with audiences for their vocal harmonies and musical dexterity on guitar, banjo, lapsteel and mandolin, they play a combination of original material and distinctive, idiosyncratic versions of pop, folk and country/ bluegrass songs."

Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke at The Barn, 101 Chestfield Road, Whitstable, Kent 2:30pm
Acoustic Blues duo

Edwina Hayes at Hitchin Folk Club, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
Nanci Griffith - 'A wonderful young woman, so gifted and full of song, with a voice as sweet as the angels'

Folk Session at The White Horse Inn, Edwardstone, Suffolk
Afternoon Folk Session (from 3pm. all welcome) as part of the pubs Beer Festival

Flaxenby at The Wheatsheaf, 50 High Street, Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
"Flaxenby provide a timeless, contemporary tilt on folk...The lyrical quality of the songwriting portrays an edgy, graceful energy, interwoven with experienced musical skill that creates that Flaxenby sound...
Sam McLeod blends her folk, rock and jazz influences with a bluesy depth with instinctive, vocal versitility. Chris Buttery's earthy vocals and americana influenced songwriting has stood him in good stead in the past as a founder member of Bill Caddick's 'Jackfield Riverbillies'. Andy Jones's perfect expression on the fiddle complements with soft celtic undertones."

Singers Night at The Bothy Folk Club, Southport, Merseyside

Pete Coe at Grimsby Folk Club, Grimsby, Lincolnshire

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Square Chapel, Halifax, West Yorkshire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

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Monday 22nd February 2010

Brian Peters at Croydon Folk Song Club, Ruskin House, Croydon, South London
"Traditional songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar"

Jez Lowe at The Isle of Sheppey Folk Club, Minster Working Man's Club, Liberty Hall, Union Road, Sheerness, Kent
'One of the best writers to come out of England' Richard Thompson.
'One of our best songwriters' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Folk at The Foresters, Wilmington, Kent
Informal Session/Singaround

John Devine at The Tudor Folk Club, Chesham, Buckinghamshire
"Traditional Irish Musician, Uilleann piper and Multi-instrumentalist"

Gren Bartley at Warwick Folk Club, The Warwick Arms Hotel, High Street, Warwick, Warwickshire
A "phenomenal guitarist and singer", Gren Bartley is deeply rooted in old folk and blues traditions whilst stamping his own style on the genre. Often compared to the likes of Richard Thompson, Nic Jones and Kelly Joe Phelps, he is an emerging talent not to be missed.

Steve Turner at The Vernon Arms Folk Club, 21 Locko Rd, Spondon. Derby
A shining example of the music the British folk scene is capable of producing. FRoots
Steve Turner has been turning into one of this country's finest male singers and performers of folk-song [...] with him you can truly say that he has shown all the qualities of a great singer and interpreter of folk song. Swing 51, National Folk Magazine

The Tom McConville Band at The Lowry Arts Centre, Salford, Greater Manchester
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

Singers and Musicians Night Barnsley Folk & Acoustic Night, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Martin Carthy at The (Not the) White Horse Folk Club, Beverley, East Yorkshire
"For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures."

Blackwater at Skipton Folk Unplugged, The Narrow Boat, 38 Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire
"Close harmony acoustic guitar duo performing an eclectic mix of well known, little known, unusual and self penned material. Their style makes compelling listening. Both are accomplished guitarists and singers in their own right now making their mark on the acoustic music scene."

Richard Grainger & Chris Parkinson at Stockton Folk Club, Stockton on Tees, Cleveland
"Richard Grainger is a singer and songwriter steeped in the Northumbrian and English Folk Traditions."

Rallion at Glenfarg Folk Club, Glenfarg, Perth
Rallion are a four piece contemporary folk group, hailing from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perthshire. They bring a wide range of musical influences together to create their powerful persuasive music.
Their unique sound is based around the double fiddle powerhouse of Fiona Cuthill and Andrew Lyons, the voice of Marieke McBean and the virtuoso playing of Steve Lawrence.

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at Stirling Folk Club, Stirling
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

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Tuesday 23rd February 2010

Brian Peters at Sharps Folk Club, Cecil Sharp House, Camden, London
"Traditional songs and music from England with squeezeboxes and guitar"

Quinns Quinney and Jason Hinchey at The Ringwood Folk Club, The Elm Tree Hightown, Ringwood, Hampshire
Quinns Quinney are an amazing 12 piece Skiffle band who have enough energy to power the National grid. Umpteen instruments inc. Banjos, Basses, Mandolin, guitars, percussion, ukelele, whistle & harmonica plus loads of singers. On their last time they blew the place away.
Jason Hinchey is a magical singer-songwriter from Limerick, currently based in Bournemouth. Reminescent of Christy Moore & with great songwriting & singing skills. He is building a strong reputation in the area.

Singaround at Chichester Folk Song Club, Chichester, West Sussex
"A chance to sing, say or play, or just sit back and enjoy the music"

Wizz Jones at Dartford Folk Club, Dartford, Kent
"There are few artists with more claim to being a 'musician's musician' than Wizz Jones. Inspired by Big Bill Broonzy, Rambling Jack Elliot, Alexis Korner and Ewan MacColl, and learning his guitar licks from the likes of Davy Graham and Long John Baldry while playing in the coffee bars of London's Soho during the late nineteen fifties."

Whistle Stop Tour at The Central Theatre, Chatham, Kent
"A new folk duo, born of celebrated and established acts; featuring Pierre Vincent of The Dealers and Gemma Gayner of JD and the Longfellows. Pierre’s mix of searching social comment, electrifying vocals and deft guitar skills, in harmony with Gayner’s violin and vocals, promises to be a night to remember. Just back from a tour of Germany, the duo will tonight launch their debut ep."

Norah Rendell and Brian Miller at The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Leigh on Sea, Essex
"Vancouver singer and flute player Norah Rendell and Minnesotan guitarist Brian Miller met while studying Irish traditional music at its source and living in the southwest of Ireland. Their duo performances clicked from the start. Ireland’s Munster Express wrote that their music “brings sunlight into your heart and set your feet a dancing.” Since returning to North America, their debut album, Wait There Pretty One, has earned Norah a nomination for Canadian Traditional Singer of the Year and they are fast becoming known as two of the best young interpreters of traditional music this side of the Atlantic."

Round the Room at St Neots Folk Club, St Neots, Cambridgeshire
Friendly singaround atmosphere, performers and audience very welcome

The Buffalo Gals at Botcheston Village Hall, Botcheston, Leicester LE9 9FF
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

Singers Night at Mansfield Brown Cow Folk Club, The Brown Cow, 35 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
All singers, musicians and listeners welcome

Broom Bezzums at Chapelton Folk Club, The Bully INN, Hamilton, Strathclyde
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at Leith Folk Club, Leith, Edinburgh
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

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Wednesday 24th February 2010

Mas Y Mas at The Green Note, Camden, London
'Más Y Más are a Latin acoustic power trio playing the original songs of Rikki Thomas-Martínez, their lead singer and guitarist and a small repertoire of traditional songs that they enjoy playing.'

The Long Notes and Chris Sarjeant at Two for Joy, The Old Queens Head, Essex Road, Islington Green, London
"The Long Notes unite the revered talents of Glaswegian fiddler/guitarist Jamie Smith (finalist BBC Radio Scotland Young Musician of the Year/Beneche), London Irish banjo/mandolin maestro Brian Kelly (Shane McGowan and the Popes/multiple All-Ireland, All-Britain champion) and Irish-born accordionist Colette O'Leary (Bumblebees/multiple All-Ireland champion). All three musicians have come to know each other through the ever-vibrant and constantly shifting music scene in Camden, North London."
Chris Sarjeant has been recently described as,"….a very major addition to the British Folk Scene…” by BBC Folk-musician of the year Tom McConville who added that his guitar work is “…impeccable…” and that he possesses, “….one of the best voices ever!”

James Fagan at Barley Folk, Barley Sheaf, Liskeard, Cornwall

Emily Portman at The Twilight Folk Club, Canterbury, Kent
Emily Portman is a singer, writer and concertina player with a passion for traditional narratives. Best known for her interpretations of English folk ballads, Emily is one of the brightest young stars on the British folk scene, having worked with Waterson:Carthy, Shirley Collins and making regular appearances on BBC Radio 2 and Late Junction on Radio 3.
One time member of harmony trio (and BBC folk-award nominees!) The Devil's Interval, Emily is now a member of Rubus who were featured on fRoots playlist, and she has gained plaudits for her duo with Lauren McCormick (recently appearing at Saddlers Wells, The Roundhouse and The South Bank centre). She was also featured as a soloist on the BBC's latest adaptation of 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles'.

Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke at The Angel Inn, Addington, West Malling, Kent
Acoustic Blues duo

'Fiddle n Folk' at The Three Horse Shoes, Sambrook, Nr Newport, Shropshire
good music, company, beer and food, need more info call John 07800 663 953

The Buffalo Gals at Waltham on the Wolds Village Hall, Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4AG
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

The Old Nick Trading Company at The Travellers Rest, 24 Derby Rd, Draycott, Derby
Americana Trio

Broom Bezzums at The Clarence Folk Club, The Clarence, Preston New Road, Blackpool, Lancashire
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

Session at Dunfermline Folk Club, Dunfermline, Fife
All singers, instrumentalists and listeners welcome

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Thursday 25th February 2010

SOLD OUT Chris Wood at The Green Note, Camden, London SOLD OUT
Singer of the Year and Best Album BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009
Chris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables. His writing has been said to share the same timeless quality as Richard Thompson at his best.
Chris’s latest projects include the new album, Trespasser, which has been widely critically acclaimed and nominated for the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. It was recorded at his R.U.F Records / English Acoustic Collective base in Kent and includes the vocals of Karine Polwart.
He is also part of Simon Emmerson’s project, ‘The Imagined Village’ which won a 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for ‘Best Track’ for ‘Cold Hailey Rainy Night’. The project also features artists such as Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Johnny Kalsi and Benjamin Zephaniah.
The Irish Times heralded Chris Wood as "the renaissance man of English folk" when on his own R.U.F Records label he released The Lark Descending which included the BBC Folk Award winning song One In A Million in 2005.

Hackney Colliery Band at Islington Folk Club, Clerkenwell, London
"Hackney Colliery Band is a nine-piece brass band usually found playing hip-hop and 'brass funk', or venturing into the sound worlds of Ska and Balkan Beats... Collectively run, the project has several composers and arrangers, and the HCB sound is a collaboration between all the musicians involved. "

Steven Finn at The Sunray Folk Club, Broadmayne Village Hall, Broadmayne, Dorset
"From the driving rhythm of his amplified two-tone tap shoes, through the raw energy of his bottleneck and explosive harp playing, to the wonderful words delivered with true passion, Steven Finn electrifies audiences. Described as “one of the best young acoustic blues guitar players on two legs” Steven is also one of only 3 UK artists to be endorsed by Hohner harmonicas."

Talkin’ about the Blues at Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury, Berkshire
An evening of music and conversation with Paul Oliver (MBE) and Michael Roach (EBA)
Join one of the UK’s most eminent blues historians and his close friend and Director of the European Blues Association for an evening that traces the inheritance of the early music from the Carolina Piedmont Region. Paul Oliver is a leading authority on the blues. His work, which began in the 1950s, includes interviews, field work and research in recording and printed sources tracing the origin and development of African American music. Michael Roach, from Washington DC, sings and plays guitar in the East Coast style following the tradition of performers like Blind Boy Fuller, John Jackson, Rev Gary Davis, Buddy Moss and Brownie McGhee. Between them, they present an evening that will be entertaining and enlightening, interesting and inspirational.

Porchlight Smoker at The Royal Oak, Brighton Road, Worthing, West Sussex
"Porchlight Smoker began three years ago as a duo playing acoustic based country bluegrass tunes around Brighton. Today, they are a quartet playing all over Sussex and London, expanding from time to time with guest musicians. Popular with audiences for their vocal harmonies and musical dexterity on guitar, banjo, lapsteel and mandolin, they play a combination of original material and distinctive, idiosyncratic versions of pop, folk and country/ bluegrass songs."

Singers and Musicians Night at Orpington Folk Club, Orpington, Kent

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The High Barn, Bardfield, Essex
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Open Stage at Redbourn Folk Club, Redbourn, Hertfordshire

Strangeworld at The Acoustic Cafe, Arrington, Cambridgeshire
"Strangeworld are gaining a big reputation for taking the folk/roots genre and giving it a real makeover. Played exquisitely on traditional instrumentation including cello, oboe, mandolin and accordion (amongst many others), the band use influences from the musical spectrum to create a sound that has been described as ‘mesmerizing’ . With two albums to their name and a third in the making, they are fast becoming one of the most respected acts on the scene today".

Birmingham Traditional Song Session at The Kitchen Garden Café, York Road, Birmingham B14 7SA
"Come along to sample stories and ales at this great new storytelling venue. Come to tell, listen, drink good beer, meet up with your mates. Whatever your reason for being there, just be there"

Singers and Musicians Night at The Hungry Horse Acoustic Folk Club, The Rake (Pub/Restaurant), Rake Lane, Little Stanney, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara at The Brindley, Runcorn, Cheshire
Innovative pioneer of Global Music, Justin Adams fuses the Sun Studio sound with Gambia. In his collaboration with master Gambian musician Juldeh Camara, an exciting new fusion is realized as Adams brings Clash-style punk energy to West African trance rhythm. Camara plays a single string violin (riti) which sounds like a blues harp one minute and a Celtic fiddle the next. Adams, son of an itinerant diplomat, together with Jah Wobble, formed The Invaders of the Heart and went on to create a legacy that spawned a multitude of reinventions - from Robert Plant to Natacha Atlas

Lizzie Nunnery at The Bothy Folk Club, Southport, Merseyside
Singer Songwriter

The Buffalo Gals at Ryhall Village Hall, Ryhall, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 4HR
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

Singers Night at Gregson Lane Folk Club, Gregson Lane, Hoghton, Lancashire

Zoox at The Topic Folk Club, Bradford, West Yorkshire
Zoox (Linda Game, Jo May and Becky Menday) are a superb trio serving up a cocktail of new melodies and traditional tunes with a delicate balance of strings, wind, percussion and voices.
Be prepared for a fabulous array of instruments from contrabassoon to congas.
Exciting arrangements, great musicianship and infectious energy typify the performances of Zoox in a show which is guaranteed to entertain and enchant.

Edwina Hayes at Darlington Folk Club, Darlington, County Durham
Nanci Griffith - 'A wonderful young woman, so gifted and full of song, with a voice as sweet as the angels'

Brian McNeill at Bellingham Acoustic Club, Riverdale Hall Hotel, Bellingham, Northumberland
“This year Brian McNeill celebrates the 40th year of a career that has established him as one of the most acclaimed forces in Scottish music. Brian has been described as ‘Scotland’s most meaningful contemporary songwriter’ (The Scotsman); add to that his work and influence as performer, composer, producer, teacher, musical director, band leader, novelist and interpreter of Scotland’s past, present and future and you have a man who has never stood still."

Angie Palmer at Rothbury Roots, Rothbury, Northumberland
A long awaited return to Roots for an artist described by Bob Harris (Radio 2) as “One of Britain’s greatest singer-songwriters”. Do not miss this wonderfully talented artist.
Admission £8 Bookable in advance on 01669 620470

Wendy Arrowsmith at The Star Folk Club, Glasgow
"Born and raised in the suburbs of Glasgow, Wendy’s musical influences as a child were mostly Trad Jazz or Church hymns! Although she learnt Burns and other traditional Scottish songs at school, it wasn’t until she moved to England to marry that she began to really delve into traditional folk music. Wendy has sung many different styles of music – ranging from large scale classical choral works, operetta and musicals to backing vocalist for a prog rock band! But with folk music she has found songs that come from the heart and allow great emotional expression and social commentary. She describes herself as “a singer who plays guitar”, but this shouldn’t detract from Wendy’s musical abilities not just on guitar, but also on whistles, bodhran, mandolin and most recently accordion."

Broom Bezzums at Denholm Folk Club, Denholm, Roxburghshire
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

Singers Night at Crail Folk Club, Crail, Fife

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at Hootananny, Inverness
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

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Friday 26th February 2010

The Dog Roses and The Cedars at The Green Note, Camden, London
'"highly proficient....deliver lyrical doses of worldly wisdom, spinning a sweetly sincere line or being witty and wry: taking idioms and giving them twists, showing indeed things learned from hank (williams)" - traditional music maker"
The Cedars like their Blues flavoured with a big dose of bluegrass, steel guitars and banjos, toiling away under Chantal Hill’s vocals. This London band certainly know how to play and they do a cracking job of evoking the spirit of the south (so good these songs would sit happily with period recordings).

Open House at Bodmin Folk Club, Bodmin, Cornwall
All Welcome

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Redgrave Theatre, Clifton College, Bristol
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Open Mic at Village Pump Folk Club, Lamb Inn, Mortimer St, Trowbridge, Wiltshire

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at The Ram Folk Club, Thames Ditton, Surrey
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

Club Night at Folk on the Coast, Bognor Regis, West Sussex

The Kittiwakes at The Pumphouse, Watford, Hertfordshire
The Kittiwakes craft timeless and magical acoustically dappled folk treats - gentle and alluring ostensibly Gaelic in sound texture and gorgeously flighty braided as they are by corteges of mandolins, accordions and violins.’ - Losing Today

Fenland Arts presents "Guitars Encore" at March Town Hall, Market Place, March, Cambridgeshire
Jaques Stotzem, the amazing Belgian virtuoso guitarist, and Phil Hare, one of the finest and most distinctive acoustic guitarists working on the current folk music circuit.
Workshop with Jaques Stotzem 6.00pm to 7.30pm, Concert 8.00pm
Tickets: £10 full / £8 concessions / £12 with workshop / workshop only £3.50 available from "Greetings", High Street, March (formerly Cards and Gifts): 01354 657495

Isambarde at The Everyman Folk Club, Saxmundham, Suffolk
"ISAMBARDE are a folk band with tremendous energy and enthusiasm. They are the unusual and winning combination of Chris's driving guitar, Emily's incisive fiddle playing and Jude's lyrical oboe coupled with great full on vocal harmonies." PHIL BEER

Richmond Fontaine at Empty Room Promotions, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
"We have been trying to get Richmond Fontaine back to Buckingham ever since they last played for us in July 2007. They are currently riding high on their critically acclaimed, and arguably their best album, ‘We Used To Think The Freeway Sounded Like A River’, which garnered a four star review in ‘Q’ magazine with the comment, “Eighth and best album from Oregon four piece”. This was trumped by a five star review in ‘Uncut’ magazine which heralded the CD with the words, “Raw, autobiographical, brilliant”."

Singers' Night at Northwich Folk Club, Northwich, Cheshire

The Buffalo Gals at Leigh and Bransford Memorial Hall, Worcestershire WR13 5DE
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

Singaround at The Brewtown Folk Club, Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire

Open Session at Loughborough Folk Club, Old Pack Horse Inn, 4 Woodgate, Loughborough' Leicestershire

Singers Night at Bingham Folk Club, Bingham, Nottinghamshire

The Old Dance School at Quarndon Village Hall, Quarndon, Derbyshire
The Old Dance School’s exhilarating concoction of explosive, white-knuckle folk is blowing up a storm on the festival scene this summer. The twinkly-eyed six piece band features dueling fiddles and hair-raising world percussion galvanizing their intricate compositions which evoke images of wind-swept headlands, witches and wild vertical adventures.
Tickets now available - call Sophie on 01332 840007 or email on robandsophie@hotmail.com

Paul Bell at Last Friday Folk Club, The Venue, Samuel Fox Suite, 650 Manchester Road, Stocksbridge, Sheffield
"After each working on their own separate projects for many years, father/ son duo Allan and Liam Wilkinson and bassist Gary Wells, have recently combined as a trio bringing together three great musical talents."

Singers Night at The Baccapipes Folk Club, Keighley, West Yorkshire

HowdenJones at Harlequin Theatre, Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria Box Office 01524271275
"With superb arrangements, breathtaking harmonies, down-to-earth virtuosity and an infectious delight in live performance, Kate Howden and Paul Jones are songwriters with that special magic that takes you on a journey through a musical landscape, telling stories and sharing experience with their music. Between them they play guitar, mandolin, fiddle,banjo, bodhran,and cajon.."

Broom Bezzums at Carlisle Folk and Blues Club, Carlisle, Cumbria
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

Ken Campbell's Ideal Band at Partick Folk Club, Glasgow
"In the 1980's The Ideal Band was one of Scotland's most highly-respected Celtic folk bands, performing in festivals, concerts and clubs throughout the UK and beyond, following in the footsteps of Glasgow's "Bob Smith's Ideal Band" of the 1930's.
The new line up creates a unique blend of Ken Campbell's essentially Scottish songs together with the very best of musicianship."

Session at Woodend Barn, Burn o' Bennie, Banchory, Aberdeenshire

Sophie Lavoie and Fiachra O‘Regan at Tigh an Eilean Hotel, Shieldaig, Loch Torridon, Strathcarron, Ross-shire
"Sophie & Fiachra perform a captivating fusion of traditional Irish and Québecoise music, mainly on Uilleann pipes and Fiddle. They sound like a Big-Big band, oweing to the nature of the instruments and their style of playing. Sophie & Fiachra are old Ireland and Québec meeting again."

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Saturday 27th February 2010

Will Killeen at The Green Note, Camden, London
Acoustic Blues Guitarist and Singer

Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke at The Red Lion, 92 Linkfield Road, Isleworth, West London
Acoustic Blues duo

Chris Wood at The Folk House, Bristol
"BBC award winning Chris Wood is an uncompromising song writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables, his writing has been said to share the same timeless quality as Richard Thompson at his best."

Bag of Rats at The Ropemakers, Bridport, Dorset
"A rich brew of traditional English tea, blues, reds, Irish, Jazz and Country; a smidgeon of pigeon Ska, a hint of alternative and a peppering of psychedelic skiffle."

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Central Studio, Basingstoke, Hampshire
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

National Debt at Back Porch Blues, The Coach and Horses, Rotherwick, Hampshire
"National Debt is a band formed by Ronnie Smith & Michael Messer in 2002. They started playing ‘just for fun’ in local pubs and over the past four years National Debt has gained quite a following. The music is Rockin’ Roots Country Blues, but with a twist of London in its soul!"

The Curst Sons at The Seal, Hillfield Road, Selsey, West Sussex
The Curst Sons - Inspired by American traditional music with an added shot of urban grit and dose of wry humour the Sons powerful rootsy songs combine Old Time, Hillbilly and Hellfire Gospel. The powerful stripped down live shows are a wonder to behold.

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at The Cut Arts Centre, Halesworth, Suffolk
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

The Bounty Hounds at The Greyhound, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Suffolk based folk rock combo

Folk Rebirth @ The Fleece Featuring: Johnny Hands at The Golden Fleece, Market Square, Tremadog, Porthmadog, Gwynedd
"Johnny is an acoustic artist from Birmingham and has been involved in music since a young age. He has just released his first full length album and is ready to entertain us with his newly published material."

Echoes of Erin: 2010 Comhaltas Concert Tour of Britain at Dolman Theatre, Kingsway, Newport, Gwent
'A colourful and exciting show of Irish traditional music, song and dance'.
See www.amairgin.net for more details.

Flaxenby at The Bull's Head, Chelmarsh, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
"Flaxenby provide a timeless, contemporary tilt on folk...The lyrical quality of the songwriting portrays an edgy, graceful energy, interwoven with experienced musical skill that creates that Flaxenby sound...
Sam McLeod blends her folk, rock and jazz influences with a bluesy depth with instinctive, vocal versitility. Chris Buttery's earthy vocals and americana influenced songwriting has stood him in good stead in the past as a founder member of Bill Caddick's 'Jackfield Riverbillies'. Andy Jones's perfect expression on the fiddle complements with soft celtic undertones."

The Buffalo Gals at Clows Top Victory Hall, Clows Top, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY14 9HG
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

Dave Swarbrick at Newhampton Folk Club, The Newhampton Inn, Riches Street, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
"Britain's premier folk fiddler"

Belshazzar’s Feast at The Red Lion Folk Club, Birmingham
“My personal find of the festival - Paul Hutchinson and Paul Sartin play like no-one else you've ever heard. Their music is breathtaking and wickedly inventive and the between-tunes interchange as intelligent and hilarious as the music. But don't let me give you the impression they're a lightweight comedy act: they finish the set with a haunting piece of oboe and accordion magic which has the audience spellbound.” – Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

Mad Agnes at Lowdham Village Hall, Lowdham, Nottinghamshire
'Mad Agnes's harmony-driven performance offers an eclectic mix of contemporary singer-songwriter material with influences of classical, Celtic, folk/rock, PDQ Bach, and a touch of street theatre. Their lyrics, vocal intricacies and instrument prowess make their music "music for thinking people.'

Magpie Lane at The Royal Traditions, Dungworth, Near Sheffield, South Yorkshire
"Traditional English songs and dance tunes performed on acoustic instruments"

Harvey Andrews at Birdsedge Village Hall, Birdsedge, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
'Harvey Andrews is one of the country's most renowned and popular singer-songwriters. After more than 40 years in the business, from the heady days of a major recording contract to the many years of touring, and the consistently well-attended appearances at festivals and events, Harvey has nothing to prove. He's simply one of the best. And after 40 years his voice is as fresh as it ever was, his writing just as insightful and nuanced, and his stories funnier than ever. A great all-round entertainer.'

The Wilson Family /Damien Barber & Mike Wilson at Hepworth Folk Club, Hepworth, Nr Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
"The Wilson family consists of sister Pat and brothers Tom, Chris, Steve, Ken and Mike, all members of the same family from Teesside in the North East of England. They have been performing traditional harmony singing since the early 1970's."
Damien is famous for his success with the Demon Barbers, winners of this year's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best live Act, but appearing at Hepworth with his old mate Mike Wilson (from The Wilson Family) singing a range of traditional tunes & songs from their recently released and highly acclaimed album, Under the Influence

The Durbervilles and Kath Reade at The Owl, Rodley, Leeds, West Yorkshire
"The Durbervilles make intelligent music to party along with” fRoots
"If you are looking for reference points then the closest are the Oyster Band or ..Fairport. The difference is that the Durbervilles do not stick to the English Folk route but throw country and Cajun into the mix to make a glorious sound” Maverick
“…consistently pleasing self compositions that blend country rock with the rootsy edge of Steve Earle & Lindisfarne and with a folkie's grasp of the instrumentals.” Rock n Reel

Zoox and Soundsphere at The Black Swan, Peasholme Green, York, North Yorkshire
Zoox - A superb trio serving up a cocktail of new melodies and traditional tunes from aroudn the world with a wide range of instruments delicately balanced including strings, wind, percussion and voices
Soundsphere - Four Astounding Voices Spiced with Fiery Percussion - A Unique Sound Experience! Divine Vocals - Driving Rhythms - Delicious Harmonies. Soundsphere will be performing material from their new album "No Passport Required" as well as soem old favourites

Rod Clements at The Met, Bury, Lancashire
From the beginning of Lindisfarne to his current solo album Odd Man Out, the career of Rod Clements reads like a who's who of contemporary British folk roots
After three decades in the business spanning over thirty albums and several chart hits, Rod Clements is "a man emerging from the Lindisfarne years and carving his own unique furrow in inimitable style"BBC Radio Scotland

Steve Tilston at The Davy Lamp Folk Club, Washington, Tyne and Wear
"...that very rare combination of singer, songwriter and guitarist who actually excels in all departments..." Froots

The Tom McConville Band at Hexham Community Church, Hexham, Northumberland
"Tom is a great player, and a terrific singer; he happens to be a number one bloke too. Tom plays as Tom is, with honesty and passion, and an obvious love for the fiddle and traditional music," Dave Swarbrick.

Jackie Leven at The String Jam Club, Galashiels, Scottish Borders
Singer Songwriter

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Sunday 28th February 2010

Viper's Dream at The Green Note, Camden, London
'Viper's Dream are a London based acoustic jazz band. Repertoire ranges across the entire history of jazz, from swing and bebop to latin, bossa nova and original compositions. Special emphasis is on the music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli and the Quintet of the Hot Club of France.'

Martin Simpson at Walthamstow Folk Club, Walthamstow, East London
"Martin Simpson's guitar playing is unsurpassed; he is one of the finest finger pickers and slide pickers of our time and was recently named one of the top artists of the decade by Acoustic Guitar Magazine."

The Curst Sons and Steven Finn at Come Down and Meet The Folks, Hoxton, London 4:00pm onwards
The Curst Sons - Inspired by American traditional music with an added shot of urban grit and dose of wry humour the Sons powerful rootsy songs combine Old Time, Hillbilly and Hellfire Gospel. The powerful stripped down live shows are a wonder to behold.
Steven Finn - "From the driving rhythm of his amplified two-tone tap shoes, through the raw energy of his bottleneck and explosive harp playing, to the wonderful words delivered with true passion, Steven Finn electrifies audiences. Described as “one of the best young acoustic blues guitar players on two legs” Steven is also one of only 3 UK artists to be endorsed by Hohner harmonicas."

Alan Prosser at Twickfolk, Twickenham, Middlesex
'Wolverhampton born Alan describes his upbringing as "totally normal, except for driving parents and siblings demento with whistles, recorders, and banging on the piano." As his love of music developed, he experimented with a wide range of instruments including guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bowed psaltery, bones, bandura, various guitar synths, and the sitar (he admits faring less well with drums and the trumpet). After dropping out of Kent University "to become a medieval minstrel" his musical career included playing in many groups including Fiddler's Dram (founded by Dave Arbus of East of Eden). Alan's main instrument is the guitar and he has a reputation among fellow musicians as a perfectionist, renowned for his prolific practice. His musical influences are wide-ranging - from medieval music to the American South, from pop and rock to Britain's folk-revival guitarists. He subsequently had a stint in Ashley Hutchings' Albion Band but is best known as a founding member of The Oyster Ceilidh Band (later Oysterband). He has been the group's guitarist/vocalist for thirty-odd years and his trademark playing is an essential part of Oysterband's distinctive sound. As a songwriter and arranger, Alan has made a significant contribution to Oysterband's repertoire. Away from Oysterband, Alan's solo recordings include 'Hall Place' released in 1997, 'Makerfield' released in 2003, and Nomads Cellar Sessions (with Lucy Randall and Brendan Power) released in 2006.'

Reg Meuross at Devoran Village Hall, Truro, Cornwall
'Dragonfly' is Reg's most recent and accomplished work so far, in a career that began with The Panic Brothers his duo with Richard Morton, formed in 1986 they recorded one album called 'In The Red' produced by Clive Gregson. Five years of successful touring and TV work followed, with appearances at Edinburgh, Glastonbury, Sidmouth and all the major British Festivals.

Singers/Musicians Night at Wheal Dream Folk, Wendron, Nr. Helston, Cornwall
There is a warm welcome for all singers and musicians. Or, just come along and enjoy the best Folk Music in West Cornwall

Phil Beer at The Topsham Folk Club, Topsham, Devon
"Phil Beer is the multi-instrumentalist half of England's foremost acoustic duo ‘Show of Hands’. His instrumental wizardry is well documented and has been utilised by countless artists over the years, the most notable being The Rolling Stones, Mike Oldfield and Steve Harley."

Mad Agnes at Folk on the Moor, Lee Mill, Nr Plymouth, Devon
'Mad Agnes's harmony-driven performance offers an eclectic mix of contemporary singer-songwriter material with influences of classical, Celtic, folk/rock, PDQ Bach, and a touch of street theatre. Their lyrics, vocal intricacies and instrument prowess make their music "music for thinking people.'

Ashley Hutchings and Ken Nicol at The Quay Arts Centre, Newport Harbour Isle of Wight
"Two of the best known faces in folk music take the stage for an evening fans will not want to miss. The tour will launch their new joint CD ‘Copper, Russet and Gold’.
The founder of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings continues to be at the forefront of English music. Ken Nicol is an exceptional musician and currently lead guitarist with Steeleye Span."

Song & Dance Night at Horsham Folk Club, Horsham, Sussex
"Songs, tunes and poems from members & guests plus dancing to our excellent ceilidh band."

The Band of Two at The Bull at Benenden, Benenden, Tenterden, Kent
"The popular pairing between multi-instrumentalists Pete Fyfe and Garry Blakeley results in traditional Celtic music that reminds us how good these are, such as "I'll Tell Me Ma", "Whiskey In The Jar", "Black Velvet Band", "Irish Rover" "Duelling Banjos"/" Orange Blossom Special".
With fiddle, guitars, mandolins, bodhran, tenor banjo, bouzouki, whistles and great vocals, this is good time music to have a good time by."

Bluegrass & Traditional Music Day at Kersey Mill, Stone Street, Near Hadleigh Suffolk IP7 6DP 01473-820200 (10:00am onwards)
Licensed bar and good food available all day.
All day ticket on the door £12: children 11-16 £5, under 11 free.
See here for full details.

The Floozies at The Fox Inn, Eastgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
"Based in Suffolk, The Floozies play mainly original acoustic material with unusual combinations of instruments. If you like Eddie Reader, Beth Orton, Karine Polwart then this is the band for you. The Floozies are well known for their energetic contemporary folk, melting sensitive lyrics with cool jazzy riffs and ethnic percussion. "

Meet in the Hedge, The Feathers Inn, Town Green, Wymondham, Norfolk
“Meet in the Hedge” is a monthly get together for people who like listening to, or performing live ‘acoustic’ music. We boast a friendly welcoming evening for both artists and audience.
Here’s some of what you can expect;
No restriction on the types of music played. (a typical evening often consists of a wide variety of styles and instruments which could include, guitar, bodran, saxophone, trumpet, recorder, violin or even on one occasion a Sarangi).
No Booking to perform. (Just turn up and ask to play, we’ll fit you in).

Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh at Hitchin Folk Club, Hitchin, Hertfordshire
"The greatest Celtic harper of our age" (Live Ireland) and TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001 with "one of the UK's most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists" (fRoots)
"A gorgeously complex mix of the lovely and lyrical and the positively jubilant by two top-notch players. A real treasure" Dirty Linen (USA)

Eduardo Niebla In Concert at The Stables, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
With Eduardo Niebla (composer & guitarist) and Ricardo Garcia (guitar accompaniment). A formidable flamenco-jazz guitar virtuoso, Eduardo Niebla is a master among today's generation; technically superb, breathtakingly versatile, supernaturally talented. Inspired by tours to India and the Middle East and by his adopted Yorkshire homeland, Eduardo presents his stunning new album in memory of his mother - intricately brilliant, passionate flamenco infused with a myriad of Eastern colours and a gypsy-jazz edge. World class guitar playing at its very best.
"Astonishing interplay between the principals who wed technical fluidity and virtuosity to an unashamedly secular passion." Q Review

The Buffalo Gals at Martley Village Hall, Martley, Worcestershire WR6 6QX
"Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show in the time-honored style of the old country string band."

Singers Night at The Bothy Folk Club, Southport, Merseyside

Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry at Grimsby Folk Club, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
Johnny Handle is a folksinger, musician and composer from the North East of England. He has been a mine surveyor, teacher and has kept two smallholdings over the years. He has lived in the rural areas of the North East at various times and thus gained a great respect for those who earn their living from the land, and for the enviroment around them. Now retired, he continues to perform, compose and undertake reserch into traditional music.

Broom Bezzums at Guisborough Folk Club, Guisborough, Cleveland
"Mark Bloomer & Andrew Cadie - A folk duo with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter.
With a repertoire of critically-acclaimed original compositions, northern English folksongs and instrumentals, Broom Bezzums offer emotive ‘fiddle-singing’, ballsy guitar, lyrical mandolin and fiddle. Andrew even pumps up his pipes from time to time. They round it all off with robust, soulful vocals. They have toured extensively in Germany, Britain, Switzerland and Slovenia, including appearances at Celtic Connections."

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