Author Archives: bridget

Damien Barber and Mike Wilson on Friday 6 February

Posted on by

DM_Bar_300_dpiOn Friday 6 February, we welcome back two of the finest exponents of traditional song in the United Kingdom – Damien Barber and Mike Wilson. It is difficult to accept that these relatively young men have a combined 40+ years’ experience of performing at folk venues.

Raised in Norfolk and heavily influenced by such earlier Norfolk singers as Walter Pardon and Peter Bellamy, Damien is a stylish and distinctive singer, either unaccompanied or using guitar or concertina. Though he has lived for a long time in West Yorkshire he retains a strong East Anglian identity.

Mike Wilson is the youngest member of the Wilson Family, the powerful Teesside singing siblings who have raised the rafters at many a festival or folk club event. Mike’s musical heritage is emphatically that of the North East – rural and industrial folk song, both traditional and modern.

Damien and Mike have a rich shared repertoire of traditional songs plus the work of modern folk writers such as Bellamy, Ewan MacColl and Mike Waterson.

Tickets are £10 (£7 club members), but are SOLD OUT. Bring a bottle or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

Roger 2fOn Friday 30 January the showcase guest at our song session will be singer, guitar player and melodeon virtuoso, Roger Gamble – a veteran performer of over 50 years in his own right. Now in his 83rd year, Roger maintains a keen sense of mischief, his voice still carries an edge and his playing has a quality that can move.

Roger’s repertoire is a virtual conducted tour of the time he has spent singing and playing in East Anglia’s folk clubs and pubs. From the folk revival of the 50s and 60s on to Dylan and the great singer-songwriters, through delta blues and with an occasional nod to the world of rock, he has amassed a treasure chest of material which is still developing.

There is no charge on the door, but there will be a raffle. Bring drinks of your choice, or make a tea or coffee in the kitchen.

Anne Lister and Mary McLaughlin (Anonyma) on Friday 16 January

Posted on by

Mary and AnneOn Friday 16 January we welcome Anne Lister and Mary McLaughlin, who first performed together as Anonyma in the 1980s, after meeting at Broadstairs Folk Week. They toured extensively in the UK, the US and Ireland, and released the album ‘Burnt Feathers’ to critical acclaim, building a solid reputation for their original arrangements of a wide range of material, from Anne’s compositions to traditional British and Irish songs as well as the occasional song by Sting or Elvis Costello.

After five years they both had other projects and opportunities to follow, and Mary’s career took her to California. She has now returned to live and work in Limerick, and Anne and Mary are setting out on a comeback tour.

Tickets are available on the door, £10 (£7 members) and can be reserved via the form on our contact page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Christmas and Old Year’s Night

Posted on by

Norwich Folk Club welcomes club members and visitors to our Christmas Party song session on Friday 19 December. All singers, tune-players and listeners are very welcome and seasonal party pieces will be particularly appreciated. Please bring your own drinks and a little food to share at the pot luck buffet. This a free event and there will be a grand raffle – prizes of all kinds also very welcome!

FezziwigWe meet to celebrate Old Year’s Night at 8.30 pm on Wednesday 31 December. There will be lots of songs and tunes, as well as a couple of sets of dances with Fezziwig Ceilidh Band. All singers, tune-players and listeners are welcome to join us at this extended session. Bring your own drinks, some food to share and maybe a small quirky prize for the raffle. Tickets are £4 (non-members) and £2 (members).

Free song sessions will be held as usual on Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) and Friday 2 January. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Pete Coe on 5 December

Posted on by

Pete Coe_0166 black corner smallSinger, songwriter, melodeon, banjo, dulcimer and bouzouki player, Pete Coe has very kindly stepped into the breach to perform at the club on Friday 5 December, after news of Roy Bailey’s illness.

A fine solo performer and writer of powerful songs, some with a markedly political edge, Pete Coe has been active on the folk scene since the 1970s and is one of the most committed, most versatile, most important folk artists in Britain.

Tickets £12 (£8 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via our contact page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

Roy Bailey on 5 December

Posted on by

Roy.Bailey.smallOn Friday 5 December we welcome our special guest Roy Bailey, one of the UK folk scene’s most loved and admired performers. From his early days performing skiffle in student union bars to his love of traditional songs and the stories they tell, Roy has developed a unique repertoire of songs of dissent and hope, and he has performed on stages, TV and radio all over the world.

For many years, Roy toured with Tony Benn presenting their show ‘The Writing on the Wall’ for which the duo won Best Live Act at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2003. Now with more than 50 years as a performer, Roy is as compelling, entertaining, thought provoking and moving as ever before.

Tickets £12 (£8 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via our contact page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

STOP PRESS

Sadly ROY is not well and will NOT now be at the club on Friday 5 December, but folk legend PETE COE has very kindly stepped into Roy’s shoes.

Winter Wilson on 14 November

Posted on by
Both Derby 2013With six critically-acclaimed albums plus numerous tours and festival appearances to their names, Winter Wilson are increasingly well known across the UK acoustic music scene for their fine original songs, stunning harmonies and off-the-wall humour. Their latest album, Cutting Free, was recently selected by the Daily Telegraph as one of ’10 fine folk albums for Summer 2014′.
Described by John Tams as a ‘magnificent’ songwriter, Dave Wilson is now recognised as one of the best on the English acoustic scene. In addition to covers by some of folk’s ‘greats’, his songs are now regularly sung in folk clubs across the country by everyone from floor singers and groups to choirs.
Kip Winter’s voice is simply one of the best in the business, delivering power and emotion in equal measure (described by one promoter as ‘from melting to belting’). In the past she has sung everything from jazz to opera, but is at her best and happiest when singing folk and blues.
Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved by emailing via the link on our contact page or via facebook. Bring your own drinks – fine ales also available very nearby and teas and coffee in the kitchen.

Teyr on 24 October

Posted on by

Teyr poster blankWe welcome folk trio Teyr as showcase guests at the song session on Friday 24 October. Forged amongst the hustle and bustle of North London’s folk scene, Teyr (‘3’ in the Cornish language) are a trio of players who showcase the many sounds of the British Isles.

With roots running from Ireland to Wales to Cornwall, James Gavin (guitar and fiddle), Dominic Henderson (uilleann pipes) and Tommie Black-Roff (accordion) capture the hybridity of contemporary life within traditional music, injecting it with a shot of youth. Having met on the Trad music scene through late night sessions, each performer holds an intuitive sense of folk music, evident in their deft new arrangements of fiery tunes and songs as well as original material.

There is no charge, but we will have a raffle. Listeners, other singers and tune-players all welcome. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher on 10 October

Posted on by

Bill and DaveBill Whaley and Dave Fletcher have been singing together for over forty years, much of the time in their native Lincolnshire. They have appeared at clubs and festivals from Edinburgh to Bodmin and are in danger of becoming an overnight success. Their voices, described by Harvey Andrews as two of the best in folk music, blend perfectly and the pleasure they get from singing and sharing with an audience is obvious.

Bill and Dave’s selection of songs encompasses both ancient and modern, accompanied in traditional style mainly by Bill’s English, duet and anglo concertinas. They have also been involved with Martyn Wyndham-Read’s Songlinks project, appearing in the concerts and on both of the albums. Youtube clips include: The Call and the Answer

Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved via the form on the contacts page. If you do contact us, please assume that your name will be put on the list. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

Georgia Shackleton on 26 September

Posted on by

Georgia2The showcase guest at the song session on Friday 26 September will be local singer-songwriter and fiddler Georgia Shackleton, who favours performing ‘wordy songs about other people’. Georgia takes inspiration from places and faces, as well as the traditional, regional and early 20th century material she also performs.

After studying the highly acclaimed Folk and Traditional Music degree in Newcastle, Georgia has performed in various line-ups alongside an eclectic mix of fantastic musicians. She has now returned home to her native Norfolk and is currently working on new projects, including material with fellow Newcastle graduate, Nic Zuppardi on mandolin, and ‘Addison’s Uncle’ guitarist, Aaren Bennett. 

There is no charge and all singers, musicians and listeners are welcome to join the song session. Bring your own drink – teas and coffee available in the kitchen, as usual.

 

Benji Kirkpatrick in Norwich on Friday 12 September

Posted on by

Benji KirkpatrickOur guest on Friday 12 September, Benji Kirkpatrick, is a member of folk big band, ‘Bellowhead’, who play to ever-growing audiences in the UK and abroad. He is also a member of the reformed ‘Faustus’ and has worked extensively with Seth Lakeman.

Benji picks his way up and down the frets of various stringed instruments – mainly guitar, bouzouki, mandolin and banjo. He is also a singer and a songwriter, has made three solo albums and his performances have been described as ‘powerful’.

As usual the evening will start at 8.30 pm and tickets £10 (£7 club members) can be reserved via the form on the ‘Contact us’ page. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.