Author Archives: bridget

Carolyn Robson and Moira Craig on Friday 2 October, with a harmony workshop on Saturday 3 October

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Carolyn Robson and Moira CraigOn Friday 2 October we welcome two of Britain’s foremost acapella singers, Carolyn Robson and Moira Craig, who hail from Northumberland and Scotland respectively and whose repertoire reflects their Northern roots. Both performed for some years as part of the renowned harmony trio, Craig: Morgan: Robson, appearing at all the major festivals as performers and inspirational workshop leaders.

Carolyn Robson is a traditional folk song and dance specialist who has three solo albums and was featured on Kathryn Tickell’s CD ‘The Northumberland Collection’. Moira Craig is from a family of singers and musicians based in East Kilbride near Glasgow and is known for her superb interpretations of Scottish, Irish and English songs and ballads. She has a solo album, as well as three albums with Craig: Morgan: Robson and can also be heard on the ‘Pastimes’ albums.

Tickets for the concert on Friday 2 October can be reserved via the form on our contact page, £10 (£7 members). Bring a bottle or enjoy a choice of teas or coffee from the kitchen.

Carolyn Robson and Moira Craig will be hosting a harmony singing workshop from 1.30 to 4.30 pm on Saturday 3 October at Hayman’s Lodge in Catton Park, Oak Lane NR6 7DB, just off the ringroad in Norwich. Open to all abilities – a great opportunity to try singing for the first time in a supportive atmosphere – and it’s only £5. (Book spaces via our contact form.) Bring cold drinks. There will be tea and coffee available.

Steve Turner on Friday 4 September

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Steve_Turner-DSC1355Steve Turner is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern and plays mandolin and banjo.

In the F/Roots August/September 2014 edition Nancy Kerr in her “Rocket Launcher” interview when asked “what was the best gig you ever saw?” answered “the best spot I’ve seen recently was Steve Turner – total intensive musical focus and a vast serious repertoire”.

BarberSistersIn support will be Isobel, Lydia and Ellie Barber – a string trio from the village of Thorpe in the Peak District. They began learning classical violin at the age of 5, and started playing folk music together after first participating in Folkworks Summer Schools a few years ago. With a particular love for Scottish folk music, the Barber Sisters have been influenced by bands such as RANT, and enjoy playing arrangements of original and traditional tunes on fiddle and viola. They were one of the 10 acts shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2015 and were also finalists at New Roots 2015.

Tickets can be reserved via the contact form on our website: £10 (£7 for club members). Bring a bottle or enjoy a tea or coffee from the kitchen.

 

Pete Coe and Alice Jones on Friday 10 July

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PeteAlicePete Coe has been a professional musician since 1971. He has performed at festivals, concerts, folk clubs, dances and schools throughout Britain, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and the USA. Multi-instrumentalist Alice Jones first learned folk songs from her mother and was the singer with The John Dipper Band.

Together, Pete and Alice present ‘The Search for Five Finger Frank’, which features new arrangements of both classic and rare folk songs unearthed from the treasure trove that is the Frank Kidson collection. The show celebrates and commemorates the incredible legacy of a man widely regarded as ‘a pioneer of the folk song revival’. Many of the songs now popular in the folk repertoire of today were initially collected and published by this founder member of the Folk Song Society and key figure in the folk movement of the early 1900s. Check out Sprig of Thyme and One Summer’s Morning.

Tickets: £7 members (£10 non-members), can be reserved by email via the form on the ‘Contact us’ page. Bring a bottle or enjoy a tea of coffee from the kitchen.

The Teacups Trio on Friday 19 June and harmony workshop on Saturday 20 June

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TeacupsAlex Cumming, Kate Locksley, Rosie Calvert and Will Finn met whilst studying on the Folk Degree at the University of Newcastle and formed The Teacups in 2010. It’s an age-old format – a quartet of singers: two men, two women – performing an age-old collection of songs. But The Teacups are new, they’re young, and after the success of their debut album, ‘One For The Pot’ which reveled in the vibrancy of youth, and all that heartache, or confusion, or euphoria, that goes with it, the band take significant steps forward with their brand new album ‘Of Labour and Love’, an offering which represents a maturity in material matched only by its maturity in sound. And the best way to get that across to the listeners? Through unadorned, gutsy singing, where arrangements add the intrigue.

This summer the group will be performing as a trio, as Alex is currently suffering from ill-health and is not able to travel back to the UK from the USA, where he has settled since his marriage last summer. The trio incarnation of The Teacups has already successfully appeared at Chippenham Folk Festival and we look forward to welcoming them to Norwich. Tickets £10 (£7 non-members), can be reserved by sending an email via our contact page. Bring a bottle, or enjoy a tea or coffee from the kitchen.

From 10 till noon on Saturday 20 June, The Teacups Trio will be leading a harmony workshop in the hall at the Christ Church Centre. All abilities and ages are welcome to come along and join the fun. Tickets £5, can be reserved via the contact page.

Song Session Showcase with Hannah Cumming on 5 June

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Promo Pic Hannah CThe showcase guest at the song session on Friday 5 June will be New Roots finalist 2015, Hannah Cumming. Hannah is 23, has been fiddling for 12 years and within the last two years has started singing along to her fiddle accompaniment. She has a passion for traditional English folk songs as well as acoustic and popular music. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Seth Lakeman, Nancy Kerr and Jackie Oates, Hannah creates unique arrangements to suit each song, embracing the original in her own sweetly haunting style.

Singers and musicians are invited to join the song session, and listeners are equally welcome. Entry is free. Bring a bottle, or enjoy a tea or coffee from the kitchen.

The regular Friday song sessions are currently being held downstairs in the main hall. There is no charge and all are welcome, whether to sing, play or listen.

 

Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar on Friday 15 May

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Russell AlgarTwo-time BBC Folk Award winners Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar released their debut album, The Queen’s Lover with Fellside in 2012. Numerous tours followed, as the duo developed and honed their stagecraft, becoming one of the most sought-after young acts on the English folk scene. ‘The press coverage and folk club reports have been glowing and rightly so’ (R2 Magazine). In January 2013, the pair picked up the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award.

After recording their second album in the November of 2013, again with Fellside, Russell and Algar received the Horizon Award for best breakthrough act at the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The second album, The Call, was then released in July, receiving 5 Stars in fRoots, 4 Stars in both R2 Magazine and The Telegraph and a host of other brilliant reviews, Bright Young Folk describing it as an ‘outstanding show of maturity’ with ‘enormous promise’. In the last year, both Greg and Ciaran have been touring with Mick Ryan’s folk opera, A Day’s Work. They were also nominated in the Best Duo category in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015. YouTube clip: Davy

Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring a bottle or two, or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

 

Sarah McQuaid on Friday 17 April

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Picture by Phil Nicholls (www.philnicholls.co.uk)

Picture by Phil Nicholls (www.philnicholls.co.uk)

On Friday 17 April we welcome singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid to the club. Sarah has a wide repertoire of songs that includes traditional Irish songs and Appalachian folk, as well as her own compositions. Her rich singing voice is complemented by accomplished guitar playing. ‘Captivating performance, great songs, playing and singing.’ Gerry Evans, Twickfolk. Hear a live interview with Sarah on BBC Radio Norfolk at 2.30 pm on the same day. 

Sarah is also known for her interest in the DAGDAD tuning system. She is the author of The Irish DAGDAD Guitar Book, described by The Irish Times as ‘a godsend to aspiring traditional guitarists’.

Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring a bottle or two, or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

 

Rosie Eade showcase on Friday 27 March

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rosie and steveSpecial showcase guests at the song session on Friday 27 March will be the Rosie Eade duo. Singer-songwriter and guitarist Rosie has been gigging since 2004 and performs lively, evocative, life-inspired songs, along with traditional songs and favourite covers. Her voice has been described as ‘one of the loveliest new voices on the folk and acoustic music scene’ (Village Pump Folk Club, 2013).

Rosie is accompanied by mandolin player Steve Mathews.

There will be a raffle but no entry charge. This is a song session, so all performers and listeners very welcome. Bring a bottle.

Barrie and Ingrid Temple on Friday 13 March

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TemplesBarrie 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. They have been singing together for nearly 40 years and have performed throughout the UK and abroad, at folk clubs and festivals.

Barrie and Ingrid’s singing is mainly traditional with both serious and humorous content. They also perform lots of Barrie’s own songs, which are written in the traditional style. The couple are well respected for their unique style of close harmony singing and their original arrangements. Barrie’s own songs are now being sung and recorded by other folk performers, both here and abroad. Pulling Hard Against the Stream

Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved by emailing us via our contact page. Bring a bottle or two, or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

Annual General Meeting on Friday 20 February

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The club’s AGM will be held from 8 until about 9 pm on Friday 20 February. This is open to members from the year 2014–15, as well as those who already have paid-up membership for 2015–16. Members should have received details of the agenda and minutes of the last AGM and nomination slips for committee.

A grand song session will begin after the meeting and is open to all. There is no charge for entry. Bring a bottle or two, or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.