Song session showcase with The Marisca Trio on Friday 14 October

Norwich band The Marisca Trio perform an eclectic range of music. Traditional songs from the North East, Music Hall monologues, Shetland jigs, twin fiddle Polkas, French mazurkas and South American tangos are just some of the directions they may head in on any evening; mainly playing piano and fiddles, but sometimes bringing out a guitar, banjo or musical saw.
The trio are Bob Hanna, piano and vocals, and Suzie Hanna and Lucy Ellis on fiddles. Bob started singing in folk clubs in the late sixties up in Shotley Bridge, and he ran the Sheffield University Folk Club in the early seventies. Suzie and Lucy are sisters and have been playing fiddles together since childhood, making their debut at Studio 4 in the 1960s. They all used to play in the Oily Rag Band in Norwich in the eighties, and Suzie played in an all girl country band Way Out West in the nineties. They reckon Bob is Norwich’s answer to Violet Tulloch, so prepare to tap your feet!
This event starts at 7 pm and is a song session showcase. There will be opportunities for participation in the first half of the evening, so do bring instruments and voices. There is no charge, but there will be a tip jar and raffle to help with expenses. Bring your own drinks, and there will be teas and coffee in the kitchen (50 p). Shirley’s donation box will be on the counter for any contributions that you can spare for the local food bank.

Song session showcase on Friday 6 September

Colin & Malle are a husband and wife duo who have only been playing together for about five years, though married for over 40.  Colin (lead vocals, guitar, piano) and Malle (backing vocals, accordion, piano) will be performing songs written by Colin, which can loosely be described as social commentary and protest songs.

Colin & Malle will be performing two extended spots within the song session. This is a free event. Please bring your own drinks, songs and tunes. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

The Teacups Trio on Friday 5 July

Returning to Norwich Folk Club on Friday 5 July we welcome The Teacups Trio, a fantastic young harmony group who we last saw in June 2015. As you may already know, The Teacups formed as a foursome while studying at Newcastle and offer unadorned, gutsy singing of traditional and contemporary material. Not to be missed!

Tickets £11 (£8 club members), can be reserved by emailing via the form on our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffees available in the kitchen.

In the meantime, the showcase guest at the song session on Friday 21 June is the popular local singer, melodeon player and guitarist Roger GambleA veteran of the folk and acoustic scene for over fifty years, Roger helped set up the first Norwich Folk Clubs at the Unthank Arms and the York Tavern and still regularly performs at sessions and clubs in Norfolk and Suffolk. Over the years Roger has happily absorbed influences from Dylan to Knopfler, from the Blues to the West Coast, but Norfolk song and humour are always likely to break through. This is a free session. Bring songs and tunes as well as your own drinks.

Showcase guests Sound Tradition on Friday 22 March

The special showcase guests at the song session on Friday 22 March will be Sound Tradition, an a cappella folk foursome (David, Linda, Catherine and Moose) singing in glorious harmony. Their varied repertoire ranges from lively chorus songs to lilting ballads, and from medieval times to the modern day, but always with an ear for the English folk tradition.

The quartet have proudly supported such luminaries as Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Chris Wood and Roy Bailey, but also enjoy the main stage in their own right. Hailing from East Anglia, Sound Tradition is building a reputation that has garnered bookings at clubs and festivals across the country. Powerful and rousing traditional songs with lovely harmonies. Go and see them!Pete Morton

This is a free event. Bring instruments and voices, and your own drinks. Teas and coffees available in the kitchen.

Showcase with Jaki Alden and Pete Wilks on Friday 25 May

On Friday 25 May we welcome well known local performers Jaki Alden and Pete Wilks as showcase guests at the song session. Jaki (cello and flute) and Pete (fiddle, banjo, guitar) are accomplished instrumentalists and singers, with an eclectic mix of acoustic songs and tunes, some ancient and some modern. Look forward to an evening of mellow sounds.

Entry is free, with a raffle, and all are welcome to come along to the session, whether to sing, play or listen. Bring songs and tunes, and your own drinks. Teas and coffee are available in the kitchen.

Showcase with Terence Blacker on Friday 11 May

Copyright Rob Howarth Photography
Terence Blacker

The showcase guest at the song session on Friday 11 May will be local performer Terence Blacker. Once described by the Boston Globe as ‘an angry, smart, and funny man’, Terence Blacker is a songwriter, singer and author who has sung and read at festivals, clubs and theatres in the UK, Europe and America. His songs have been compared to the work of Jake Thackray, Tom Lehrer, Noel Coward and Jacques Brel, but his style is very much contemporary and his own.

Terence will perform two sets within the song session. Free entry with raffle. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Showcase with Clarke Camilleri on Friday 28 July

On Friday 28 July we welcome showcase guest and New Roots 2017 finalist Clarke Camilleri, a young guitarist and songwriter, and a keen student of traditional folk music. Clarke has a recent EP of his own material and his current interest is in making his own arrangements of traditional British songs. 

Clarke, who was one of our favourite New Roots performers this year, will be performing two sets within the song session.

This is a free event. As usual, bring songs, tunes and perhaps a bottle or two. Teas and coffee will be available in the kitchen.

Norwich Folk Club meets from 8 pm every Friday throughout the summer for the regular song session. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether to sing, play or listen, and we particularly enjoy meeting visitors to the area. Free entry to all song sessions.

Please note that the song session on Friday 1 September will be in the cosy upstairs room, for one week only.

 

Two Coats Colder: showcase guests at the song session on Friday 24 March

TwoCoatsColderOn Friday 24 March we welcome Two Coats Colder as showcase guests at our song session. The band name derives from an expression used by a North Norfolk local describing the winter weather in those parts.

This acoustic folk band comprises Ray Taylor and Anna Bass, originally of Samphire, joined since 2012 by Chris Bullen of the Marina Florance Band and David Baird, a longtime friend and accomplice of John Martyn. Two Coats Colder have appeared at festivals, folk clubs and other venues. Their first full-length album Unseen Highway was released in 2015 and a track was featured on the Mike Harding Show. The band is currently working on a second album, Moment in Time.

Two Coats Colder will perform two sets during the song session. Please bring songs and tunes of your own to add to the mix, as well as your own drinks. Teas and coffees are available in the kitchen. This is a free event.

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Showcase guests Tin River at the song session on Friday 27 January

Tin River comp_02The showcase guests at the song session on Friday 27 January will be Norfolk trio Tin River: Skip Shipley (melodeons and vocals), Mim Barnes (whistles and vocals) and Marya Parker (guitar and vocals). Tin River specialise in instrumentals, three-part harmonies and accompanied songs from various traditions and with diverse treatments. The trio has built a solid reputation in the East, having appeared at every FolkEast Festival, as well as folk clubs, fairs and pub music venues.

This is a free event. Bring songs, tunes and your own drinks.

December events

On Friday 9 December we welcome our favourite supergroup the Zimmers as showcase guests at our song session.  We are fortunate enough to see Peter Coleman and John Mathews at the club most Fridays, and this week they will be joined by fellow long-time performers Mauny WoodColin Tait and Roger Gamble. A rare treat indeed! Other singers and musicians will also be welcome to join this song session, so please remember to bring instruments and songs. Free entry, with a raffle.

On Friday 16 December the song session will be in the cosy upstairs lounge. All listeners and performers very welcome. Bring your own drinks.

Our Christmas gathering will be on Friday 23 December, with seasonal and unseasonal songs and tunes, and a grand raffle (extra prizes much appreciated). Bring songs and tunes, bottles and, if you wish, some food to share. Teas and coffee will be available as usual. Christmas jumpers are optional!

6-of-the-bandNo session on Friday 30 December, as we’re meeting on Saturday 31 December from 8 pm till somewhat after midnight to celebrate Old Year’s NIght. As usual, there will be a mix of songs and tunes from the assembled multitude, with a couple of sets of ceilidh dances led by Stookey Blue. Don’t forget to bring instruments, songs and your own drinks, plus, perhaps, some food to share or a prize for the grand raffle. If you would like to reserve tickets: £3 (£5 non-members), please email us via the form on our contact page.