Author Archives: bridget

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher on 10 October

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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

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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

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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.

Joint song session with Irish guests on Friday 29 August

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Sixmilebridge Folk Group May14Special guests for a joint folk club session on Friday 29 August will be a group of members of Sixmilebridge Folk Club from County Clare in Ireland. To enable us to pack in as much music and singing as possible, the evening will start at 8 pm.

Free entry. Raffle prizes will be welcome! Bring your own drinks – fine ales available at local pubs. Teas and coffee in the kitchen.

Song sessions continue every Friday throughout the summer. All welcome to join the fray.

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan on Friday 25 July

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James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

We look forward to welcoming back the winners of the Best Duo in the BBC Radio 2  Folk Awards 2011, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, particularly since their touring together as a duo will become less frequent as the boys grow up. You probably already know many of their songs and if you haven’t come across them before, both fiddler Nancy and bouzouki-player James grew up in the folk tradition – Nancy is the daughter of Sandra Kerr and James is part of the Australian Fagan Family. See more here: Living Tradition article. Recently James has been playing with The Cara Dillon Band and Nancy’s new CD ‘Sweet Visitor’ is released on 21 July.

Tickets £11 (members £8) are SOLD OUT. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available across the road, with teas and coffee in the kitchen.

New Roots showcase session on Friday 27 June and harmony workshop on Saturday 28 June

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Special guests filling the two spots at the showcase session on Friday 27 June are finalists at the 2014 New Roots competition at St Albans, Speldosa and Alex Cumming and Nicola Beazley.

Speldosa

Speldosa are a clarsach (harp), fiddle, hammered dulcimer and vocal trio who perform their own arrangements of traditional and modern tunes and songs. Speldosa is Swedish for ‘music box’, so expect a beautiful twinkly sound together with passionate songs and toe-tapping tunes.

Alex and Nicola

Alex and Nicola

Alex Cumming and Nicola Beazley are an exciting new box and fiddle duo performing songs and tunes from around England. They are both recent graduates of the Newcastle Folk and Traditional Music Degree. Expect plenty of lively tunes, spine-tingling arrangements and lots of sing-along choruses.

Singers and players are welcome to come along and take part in the song session – listeners also appreciated! Tickets £3 (£2 members) on the door. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available nearby and teas and coffee from the kitchen.

Alex Cumming and Rosie Calvert (of The Teacups) will be leading a harmony workshop from 10 till noon on Saturday 28 June. All welcome. Tickets £3 (£2 club members). Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

James Findlay on Friday 13 June

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James FindlayThe guest on Friday 13 June will be the winner of BBC Young Folk Music Award 2010, fiddler, guitarist and singer James Findlay. Brought up in the folk tradition, James is particularly passionate about songs from his home counties of Dorset, Somerset and Devon. With a great voice and a love for song that’s evident though his knowledge and understanding of the material, James is one of the most accomplished of the latest generation of folk performers.

James enjoyed a busy year in 2013 with commendations for his folk festival and folk club gigs as well as his part playing Little Musgrave in Jon Boden’s ‘The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard’. He has also been involved in other high-profile projects, including the recording of ‘The Liberty to Choose’, songs from The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, with Lucy Ward, Bella Hardy and Brian Peters, produced by Fellside.

Saul BaileyIn support is melodeon and English concertina player Saul Bailey, one of the very latest of the New Roots finalists to catch our attention. Saul enjoys experimenting with old and new English folk tunes – particularly ‘dance stuff, fast stuff, furious stuff and frankly ridiculous stuff’. Saul has appeared at various folk clubs and village events, as well as at Cambridge Folk Festival.

Bring your own drinks – fine ales available at nearby establishments, and teas and coffee in the kitchen. Tickets (£10/£7 members) can be reserved by email via the form on the contact page.

For beginners and upwards, the ukulele get-together from 7.30 till 8.30 on Friday 6 June will be followed by the usual song session.

Showcase with the Zimmer Follies on Friday 30 May

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IMG_4640Song session showcase with two spots from our favourite supergroup the Zimmer Follies (otherwise known as Mauny Woods, Peter Colman, John Mathews, Colin Tait and Roger Gamble). These much loved veterans of the local folk scene present their multiple musical talents, together with a large measure of good humour.

Other performers and listeners are also very welcome at the session. Downstairs. Free entry. Bring your own drinks – pubs nearby – or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

Tania Opland and Mike Freeman on Friday 16 May

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oplandfreeman

On Friday 16 May we welcome back Anglo-Alaskan duo Tania Opland and Mike Freeman, whose repertoire starts from a base in the traditional musics of North America and the British Isles, spreads through most of Northern Europe and touches on other cultures around the globe. The array of musical instruments includes a rare Eskimo violin, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, djembe, double ocarina and hurdy-gurdy, along with more common instruments such as guitar, recorder and, of course, voice.

Tickets (£10/£7 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available at nearby establishments, with teas and coffee in the kitchen.

Showcase with Kim Lowings and the Greenwood on Friday 25 April

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Greenwood Promo photograph-1The showcase guests on Friday 25 April will be Kim Lowings and the Greenwood, who will perform a couple of extended spots within the folk song session. They promise an even mix of traditional and original songs, with a few chorus songs thrown in for good measure.

Described by the Potbelly Folk and Roots Club as ‘Rising stars of the folk scene with captivating traditional and original songs’, Kim Lowings and the musicians of the Greenwood collective have supported a range of well known performers. including Martin Simpson, Faustus and Belshazzar’s Feast – Paul Sartin comments, ‘Expect great things to come!’

All musicians and singers are welcome to join the song session, and entry is free, with a raffle to help with expenses. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.