7 Jan
Bernard Wrigley
Away from his acting career (Dinner Ladies, Phoenix Nights etc.etc.), Bernard (the “Bolton Bullfrog”) is delighting audiences up and down the country with an evening of songs, stories and silliness ! Not to be missed.
www.bernardwrigley.com
21 Jan
Isambarde
Isambarde are Chris Green (guitar/vocals), Emily Sanders (fiddle/vocals) and Jude Rees (oboe/vocals). Their music is a powerful blend of traditional and contemporary folk songs, taking the English tradition forward into the 21st century.
www.isambarde.co.uk
4 Feb
Will Morgan
Black Country singer and eminent “three chord guitarist”, Will presents a celebration of the singing of Jake Thackary plus humorous and traditional songs, monologues and tall stories. A great evening from a great entertainer.
www.myspace.com
18 Feb
Bob Fox
Hailing from the North East, Bob is the consummate professional. His velvet voice, lovely guitar work and wonderful songs make this a night not to miss.
www.bobfoxmusic.com
4 Mar
Quicksilver
Take the fantastic voice of Hilary and the incredible guitar-playing of Grant, add great songs, wit and humour and you have the recipe for a great entertaining evening.
www.quicksilveruk.com
18 Mar
Steve Turner
Steve is a fine singer of fine songs backed by a concertina accompaniment second to none. His treatment of well-known ballads (The Isle of St.Helena,The Dry Cardrona,The Poor and Single Sailor etc.) single him out as an exceptional talent.
www.steve-turner.co.uk
1 Apr
Dana and Susan Robinson
Songs of rural America, Dana and Susan make music that is a perfect blend of old and new, bringing roots and tradition to contemporary songwriting.
www.robinsongs.com
15 Apr
Mike and Ali Vass
Mike (fiddle, vocals) and Ali (piano, vocals) are two of the best young exponents of traditional music in Scotland. Playing a varied mix of traditional and contemporary tunes, songs with close vocal harmonies and footstompin’ jigs and reels.
www.myspace.com
29 Apr
Crucible
Crucible perform an exciting mix of energetic tunes, rich and evocative harmony singing and subtle accompaniment for a unique programme of English traditional material, ably complemented by their own compositions in the same style. They combine their joyfully distinct voices with a range of traditional instruments, including English bagpipes, fiddles, melodeon, guitar and cittern.
www.cruciblemusic.co.uk
13 May
Ewan McLennan
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.
www.ewanmclennan.co.uk
27 May
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
Ground breaking English fiddle player and singer Nancy Kerr and her Aussie partner James Fagan (bouzouki, voice) play a scintillating mix of traditional and contemporary acoustic music drawn mostly from the English and Australian traditions.2003 winners of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo and winners again in 2011 for Best Duo and Original Song awards.
www.kerrfagan.com
9 Sep
Martyn Wyndham-Read
Martyn is one of the most engaging performers you are ever likely to see. Greatly influenced by time spent in Australia, his exceptionally intimate performance combines songs, humorous bush poetry recitations, stories and anecdotes on outback life and Australian history.
www.martynwyndhamread.com
23 Sep
Debby McClatchy
Debby is recognized as one of the finest frailed-banjo players in the accompanying style and is renowned for her banjo and singing workshops. Her combination of goodtime, old-time banjo, glorious singing- with occasional outbreaks of mountain fiddling and freestyle Appalachian stepping – has made her a favorite in clubs and at festivals.
www.debbymcclatchy.com
7 Oct
Barrie and Ingrid Temple
Barrie and Ingrid are harmony singers from Newcastle upon Tyne. Although they sing mostly unaccompanied, Barrie also adds concertina or guitar accompaniment to some of their songs. Their singing is mainly traditional but with some serious and humorous material. They also perform lots of Barrie’s own songs, which are written in the traditional style. One of the most respected close-harmony duos on the folk scene.
lfd.org.uk
21 Oct
Dan McKinnon
Dan hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the Canadian Maritimes, an area rich in the musical and cultural traditions of the North Atlantic. His warm baritone voice, superb guitar arrangements and original compositions have won him widespread praise. Dan’s thoughtful compositions and smooth melodies cover the entire folk spectrum, with themes traditional, historical, contemporary and universal.
www.danmckinnon.ca
4 Nov
Grace Notes
Grace Notes perform acappella and accompanied arrangements of traditional and contemporary songs in three-part harmony.Their highly praised and thoughtful repertoire make them one of the folk scene’s best-loved female groups. Individually they have an even longer history of live performance and recording sessions with the likes of Nic Jones,The Chieftains and John Tams,to name but a few.
skinnymalinksmusic.co.uk
18 Nov
Cupola with Lucy Ward
Cupola brings together Sarah Matthews, Doug Eunson and Oli Matthews as a three-piece band, playing English and European dance music, and singing English songs in three-part harmony. Melodeons, fiddles, viola, soprano saxophone, vocals, clarinet and hurdy-gurdy combine effortlessly with sublime harmonies. The choice of material is inspired by tradition and contemporary works alike, with the emphasis on great melodies and intricate arrangements. Now working with the completely lovely Lucy Ward from Derby as a new collaboration of vocals plus instrumental.
www.myspace.com
2 Dec
John Kirkpatrick
Singer and dancer and instrumentalist (2010 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards “Musician of the Year”), John Kirkpatrick has been one of the most prominent figures on the English Folk Scene for many years. This evening, as part of John’s “Carolling and Crumpets” tour, we are treated to songs and music with a seasonal theme.
www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk
16 Dec
Christmas with Mrs Ackroyd
