The Folk Detectives on Friday 1 November

The Folk Detectives are Matthew Crampton and Paul Hutchinson. Their mission is ‘to uphold the lore – the Folklore.’ They challenge the ‘so-called experts’ at Cecil Sharp House with a podcast filled with outlandish theories. But their pilot recording for that podcast keeps failing … “One of the most entertaining shows available anywhere in the folkie world.” (Mike Norris, Classic Folk)

The evening starts at 7.30 pm. Please email us via our contact page to reserve seats (£13 non-members, £10 club members). Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

The Brothers Gillespie on Friday 4 October

Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and ‘showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, the music of Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie is animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee).

’The stars of the show were The Brothers Gillespie … Imagine the guitar work of the early Nic Jones, the close harmony of the Dransfields and the commitment and honesty of Bob Davenport rolled into two brothers and you’ll get some idea.’ (Mike Harding)

Canadian singer Jesse Thom will be in support, and there will also be some floor spots.

The evening starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members) can be reserved via our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffees available in the kitchen, 50p.

Jim Causley on Friday 13 September

More than simply a folk-singer, multi-award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Jim Causley is an all-round entertainer and his concerts give a full night of beautiful singing, moving ballads, hilarious ditties and everything in between. Drawing equally from traditional repertoire, modern songs as well as his own compositions and settings of poems by his relative, the celebrated Cornish poet Charles Causley. All accompanied on piano and various accordions and served with a gurt dollop of Westcountry humour, an evening with Jim is an evening not to be missed!

Since the release of his debut album in 2005, Causley’s unique voice and persona have helped him become one of the most well-loved and respected figures of today’s contemporary roots and folk scene. West country father of folk Geoff Lakeman described Causley as possessing ‘a voice in a million in a recent interview in the Western Morning News, some accolade indeed! 

The concert starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen for 50p.

Reg Meuross on Friday 5 July

Image matthewr1969

Award-winning Reg Meuross was introduced onto the stage of the Albert Hall by Mike Harding as ‘one of this country’s finest’ and is a true modern troubadour, representing contemporary English folk writing at its best. Captivating audiences with his beautiful tenor voice, and with breadth and depth of material that is unparalleled, Reg has toured extensively for decades across the UK, Europe, North America and the Antipodes.

Reg accompanies his songs on a ‘44 Martin six-string guitar, harmonica, tenor guitar, banjo and dulcimer. Witnessing a Reg Meuross performance is to experience a journey into the heart, soul and songs of one of England’s most celebrated writers. Stories that need to be told; struggles that need to be known; injustice that needs to be uncovered; social conscience that needs to be celebrated – his music has an unrivalled power to reach and move the listener. His songs are ‘classic, with echoes of early Dylan, Tom Paxton and Leonard Cohen’ – The Guardian. Youtube: here 

The evening starts at 7.30 pm. Please let us know via our contact email if you would like tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members). Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available 50p. Contributions for the local food bank are much appreciated.

 

 

Causton and Walker on Friday 7 June

We look forward to welcoming Causton and Walker to the club from 7.30 pm on Friday 7 June. 2024 sees Bryan Causton and Penni McLaren Walker undertaking their first tour as a duo for many years, after spending their time concentrating on playing in bands Tin Giants and The Boxwood Chessmen. Fuelled by Penni McLaren Walker’s guitar work and beautiful voice which has been described as “a voice to be heard by the ocean“, Bryan’s Causton’s exquisite mandolin and bouzouki playing are the perfect accompaniment. Causton and Walker are fast growing a following throughout the country. Watch their version of Bus Stop here.

Please let us know via our contact page if you would like tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members). Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen 50p.

Sound Tradition on Friday 3 May

On Friday 3 May we welcome a cappella folk foursome Sound Tradition (David, Linda, Catherine and Moose), who sing a varied repertoire  in glorious harmony, ranging from lively chorus songs to lilting ballads and from medieval times to the present day, but always with an ear for the English folk tradition.

Hailing from East Anglia, Sound Tradition have supported a wide range of top singers at clubs and festivals across the country. ‘Powerful and rousing songs with lovely harmonies.’ Pete Morton

The evening starts at 7.30 pm and you can save seats by emailing via our contact page. Tickets for non-members are £13 and for members are £10. Bring your own drinks, and teas and coffee are available in the kitchen. We have a donation box for a local food bank if you would like to bring something along. Parking is available on Constitution Hill and St Clements Hill if the car park is full.

 

Josh Robins on Friday 5 April

Josh Robins is a talented singer-songwriter who grew up in the folk world in the North of England and now lives in Cambridge. Josh’s first EP was released in September and received numerous positive reviews and radio plays during his recent tour of the UK and Ireland.

Josh has spent the last 5 years living, writing and studying from his self converted van in Cambridge, and has become well known in the local scene for his coherent, poetic, story-driven lyrics. In his voice can be heard the northern twang of his family and the rough countryside feel of the East Anglian fens in which he grew up. Video here: Blessed with a Mess

Click here for Josh’s Facebook page with many more songs, and here for our Facebook event. Please let us know via our contact page if you would like us to save tickets for you (£13 non-members, £10 club members). Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen for 50p.

Damien Barber and Mike Wilson on Friday 1 March

On Friday 1 March we look forward to welcoming Damien Barber and Mike Wilson, two of the finest exponents of traditional song.

A proud Norfolk man, born, bred and heavily influenced by such earlier Norfolk singers as Walter Pardon and Peter Bellamy, Damien Barber is a stylish and distinctive singer, be it unaccompanied or alongside his guitar or concertina. Though he has now resided for some time in West Yorkshire, his roots remain firmly planted in his beloved East Anglia. 

Mike Wilson is the youngest member of the inimitable Wilson Family, the powerful Teesside singing siblings who have raised the rafters at many a festival and folk club event over the years. His musical heritage remains emphatically that of the North East – an evocative mixture of rural and industrial folk songs, both traditional and modern. 

Together, Damien and Mike share an incredibly rich repertoire of traditional songs from around the country, as well as drawing on the work of modern folk writers such as Peter Bellamy, Ewan MacColl and Mike Waterson.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT. The concert starts at 7.30 pm. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen. Parking available at the hall and in nearby streets.

Pete Morton on Friday 2 February

On Friday 2 February we welcome back Pete Morton – a singer and entertainer with a wealth of self penned songs that ‘express everything from the highly personal to the truly international’. Often referred to as an old-time troubadour, he delivers an unruly mix of humanism, politics, love, social commentary and humour, all wrapping its way around the folk tradition.

Since discovering the acoustic music scene at 16, Pete has been on a never-ending tour as a folk singer. With his powerful euphonious voice, storytelling and compelling stage presence, he continues ‘his merry niche’ of singing his anthemic folk songs with a fun-loving and approachable style. A new album ‘Fair Freedom’ is due for release in late February 2024! This will be his first album since the highly acclaimed ‘A Golden Thread’. Pete will be performing songs from both albums as well as a sprinkling of traditional ballads.

The concert starts at 7.30 pm. Tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

French traditional music from Bof! on Friday 12 January

In 2000, Bof! started playing as a four-piece band specialising in traditional French and Breton tunes and songs for dancing or listening to. The band members are Val Woollard, Simon Haynes and Phil Lyons, who play diatonic accordions, bagpipes, recorder, flute and guitars, and Breton singer Gwendal Moële, who became a full-time member of the line-up in 2018. Their repertoire is mainly traditional music from Central France and Brittany, but also includes compositions by members of the band and others. Watch: Voile au Vent. 

Bof! have played in folk clubs, for dance groups and at festivals in England and France, as well as organising regular French and Breton dance workshops and public dances in East Anglia, as part of the Burybal and Prêt à Danser groups.

The concert will start at 7.30 pm. There will also be space for dancing. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen, 50p. Tickets (£13 non-members, £10 club members) can be reserved by email via our contact page.