Tag Archives: Melodeon

Bob Fox on Friday 13 September

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Bob Fox

On Friday 13 September we look forward to welcoming singer, guitarist and melodeon player Bob Fox, taking a short break before resuming the role of Songman in the touring production of Warhorse.

Described by Warhorse Songmaker John Tams as ‘most probably the last great traditional folksinger we have today’, Bob offers an eclectic mix of thought-provoking songs, including some new material from the BBC Radio Ballads and favourites from his wide repertoire of traditional and modern songs. Expect nimble guitar playing, great singing and a bit of banter – he’s from the North-East, after all! Tickets £10 (£7 for club members). Contact us to reserve seats. If you have already done this and have had no reply, please try again. (We have had problems with non-delivery of emails, which have now been solved.)

Norwich Folk Club will meet for a song session every Friday throughout the summer. All welcome, whether to listen, sing or play. Bring your own drinks – local pubs and off-licences nearby and teas and coffee available in the kitchen. Upstairs if cool and downstairs if there is another heatwave.

David Gibb and Elly Lucas on 14 September

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David Gibb and Elly Lucas

Elly Lucas and David Gibb

On Friday 14 September we have a change of plan. Unfortunately Jim Causley is not able to appear at the club due to illness, but we are pleased to welcome, for the first time, David Gibb and Elly Lucas, an exciting young duo hailing from Derbyshire in the Midlands who have have previously toured the UK extensively as part of David Gibb & The Pony Club.

David plays the guitars, melodeon and sings; Elly plays fiddle, viola and also sings. From these minimal resources, the twosome produce distinctive vocal leads, haunting harmonies and a quite dense instrumental sound. Their singing is simple and unadorned ‐ check out Elly’s wistful vocal on ‘Blacksmith’ or David’s lead to ‘Jerusalem Cuckoo’. The pair were chosen as finalists in the prestigious BBC Young Folk Awards 2011 and, on the road, have supported such acts as Cara Dillon, Chris Wood, Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Jez Lowe and Megson.

In early 2011, they released their first EP, entitled ‘Three Children Sliding On The Ice’, garnering praise and national airplay from the likes of the Mike Harding Show (BBC Radio 2): Mike Harding says, ‘I was very impressed’. In the autumn of last year, they spent some time in the recording studio with producer Chris Harding, putting the final touches to their début album ‘Old Chairs To Mend’, which was released on HairpinRecords in March this year.

Singers and musicians will be welcome as usual for floor spots before the main event. Reserve tickets (£6) by emailing us via the ‘About the club page’. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Tony Hall on 6 January

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Tony Hall at Norwich Folk Club, 9 January 2009

Norfolk singer and melodeon player Tony Hall is bound to bring good cheer to a chilly winter evening. A review in Living Tradition describes Tony as being ‘the master of playing distinctive, quintessentially English style two-row melodeon’, pointing out that he ‘has been heard on Maddy Prior and June Tabor’s Silly Sisters album, and Nic Jones’ superb Penguin Eggs‘, and concluding that he is ‘a man of rare talent’.

Tickets on the door (£5 for non-members). Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Peta Webb and Ken Hall on 21 October

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Peta Webb and Ken Hall

Peta Webb, a Londoner with an Irish background, formed her highly-acclaimed individual vocal style through the influence of Irish traditional singers, especially Margaret Barry, Sarah Makem and Sarah and Rita Keane. Peta believes firmly in the importance of learning directly from traditional singers wherever possible and has taken part in many collecting trips. Ken Hall, originally from Liverpool, started singing at the Islington Folk Club and was much influenced by Bob Davenport, Reg Hall and the traditional singers he heard there. He later developed an interest in the Northern Irish singing style of Joe Holmes and Len Graham, Kevin Mitchell and Roisin White as well as the satirical and humorous songs of Sean Mone.

In a review of their CD ‘As Close As Can Be’ (Fellside) in Living Tradition, Roy Harris comments: ‘Peta and Ken … sound natural and at home with everything they sing whether solo or in duet … each [has] a fine voice … Every track is a gem.’

Owen Woods

In support is New Roots finalist 2011 Owen Woods, a solo melodeon player, who performs traditional music from all over the world. Schooled in classical piano from an early age, he rediscovered folk music and picked up the melodeon some 9 years ago. Now playing for ceilidhs regularly, Owen has developed a personal style of performance, marrying tunes from different cultures and different periods. Prepare for strange time signatures, fluctuating rhythms and lush harmonies.

Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available. Reserve tickets via the contact box on the ‘About the club’ page.

The Sultans of Squeeze on 13 May

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John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson

John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson first appeared as The Sultans of Squeeze in 2004. Together they present a huge variety of music, performed on every possible combination of their various squeeze-boxes – John on one-row and two-row melodeons, three-row button accordion, and treble and bass anglo concertinas, and Chris on various two-row melodeons, piano accordion, and bass piano accordion. As well as the traditional folk songs and tunes that you might expect to hear from these two, they also tackle military marches, French waltzes, nostalgic popular classics and signature tunes, blues, zydeco, jazz, rock & roll, and some pieces of their own making as well.

Please check that tickets are available by emailing via the link on the ‘About the Club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Veteran returns to the Folk Club

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Roger and Chris Gamble will be the showcase guests at Norwich Folk Club singaround on Friday 30 April.

Singer and multi-instrumentalist Roger has been a stalwart of folk and acoustic sessions in Norfolk and Suffolk for over 45 years, drawing on a wide range of material, from English traditional to influences  as diverse as Randy Newman and Mark Knopfler. The trademark harmony singing of Chris and Roger has long been a feature of their local gigs.

Since moving to South-West Norfolk  their appearances in Norwich in recent years have sadly been limited, but their return promises to be a treat, with much of Roger’s ‘back-catalogue’ expected, together with some recent additions.

Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.


Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher on 5 February

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Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher

Well known throughout their native county, Lincolnshire, both for their club work as a duo and as members of the Higgledy Piggledy band, Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher present a fine blend of voices mellowed by nigh on thirty years of singing together.

Accompanied in traditional style on English and duet concertina, harmonium, and melodeon, their songs, both ancient and modern, have enough choruses to please everyone.

The pleasure they get from singing is obvious and since the release of their debut album ‘… Their Fine Array’ they have taken their music further afield in clubs from Cornwall to Lancashire and the North East and festivals countrywide.

They have been involved with Martyn Wyndham-Read’s ‘Songlinks’, appearing on the CDs and at the premiere concerts at Sidmouth festival and the CD launch concerts at Cecil Sharp House. Their fourth album ‘Fit For Reclining’ received enthusiastic reviews and album number five ‘Acorn to Oak’ is now available.

There will be a singaround in the upstairs room at the Christ Church Centre on Friday 29 January. All welcome, as usual. Please bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Tony Hall on 15 January

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Tony Hall

Tony Hall (Photo: Keith Garnham)

ON Friday 15 January we welcome local melodeon maestro Tony Hall to our new venue at the Christ Church Centre on Magdalen Road – just opposite the junction with Waterloo Road and close to the Whalebone. Tony plays a wide range of tunes which ‘defy the limitations … of the two-row box’, interspersed with songs delivered in ‘Tony’s inimitable singing style’ (Mel Howly, The Living Tradition). Tea and coffee available, or bring your own atternative beverages. Tickets £3 (£5 non-members).

The Askew Sisters on 3 July

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The Askew Sisters

The Askew Sisters

Emily and Hazel Askew are a young duo making waves on the folk scene with their energetic brand of English folk music. They play and sing with an infectious enjoyment and love for the music and their debut album ‘All in a Garden Green’ has been played by radio stations across the UK as well as in America, Canada, France and Australia (and it’s rumoured to be doing well in Japan). The girls have also had a full feature in Living Tradition magazine, written by Brian Peters.

“As more and more people adopt the mantle of traditional music, it is wonderful to see how they treat the material with respect and are prepared to put in hard work researching and collating songs and tunes.” EDS magazine

“The breezy robustness of their musicianship is demonstrated in the joyous way the two parts switch around, colluding and colliding during the course of a tune set, adeptly maintaining listener interest while keeping feet tapping … infectious pumping energy characterises their performance.” fRoots magazine

Start time: 8.30 pm, tickets £8 (£5 members). Reserve seats by email and pay on the door.

Tony Hall on 9 January

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We look forward very much to welcoming local celebrity, melodeon player and modest wit Tony Hall to the Folk Club on Friday 9 January. Tickets £4 (£2 members). Summed up by Islington Folk Club: ‘East Anglian melodeon player with a distinctive, quintessentially English style, who played on the iconic ’80s Nic Jones release ‘Penguin Eggs’. Hall’s sets are laid-back affairs, interspersed with his dry, sometimes gently surreal humour.’ See the EDP article online from 19 June 2008: ‘Tony draws on squeezebox skills’, where there is also a video.