Following the stunning success of recent themed folk sessions, on Friday 28 June we look forward to an entertaining evening of ‘Norfolk Songs’ led by Brian Gaudet, host of Uncle Walter’s Music Nights at the Orchard Gardens in North Walsham.
Shake out your dwiles, seek out your favourite Norfolk ditties and tunes, and bring a bottle or check out one of the local pubs or off-licences. And there’s always coffee and a choice of teas in the kitchen. Free entry.
Showcase guest at the song session on Friday 14 June will be popular local singer, songwriter and guitarist Tim Chipping. Tim is an acoustic musician hailing from the rural depths of Norfolk’s Wensum Valley. He writes and performs his own songs, often very story based and which, whilst acknowledging traditional song forms, are influenced by a variety of contemporary music styles, encompassing themes from the modern world. He also reinterprets traditional songs and puts his own particular stamp on material by current artistes such as Bruce Springsteen, The Levellers and Steve Earle.
In the early 90s Tim co-founded folk rock band Folklaw and, latterly, was one half of acoustic duo Movers and Shakers together with fiddle player Mike Naldrett. Currently, as well as performing solo, Tim sings and plays guitar with Norfolk folk band LongShoreDrift (LSD to their friends!) as well as The Stringdogs, an Anglocana meets Americana acoustic roots collision. His new solo CD, ‘What You Hear Is What You Get’ is out now.
All welcome to this free session. Bring your own drinks, songs and tunes.
Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer
On Friday 7 June we look forward to another enjoyable evening, with fantastic guests. Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer have developed a strong reputation for a delivering great performances time and time again. Once known mainly for their instrumental skills with Scottish smallpipes, accordion and Swedish nyckelharpa, they are now being accepted as impressive song arrangers and writers.
Vicki & Jonny effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary interpretations, whilst equally creating original self-penned tunes and songs that are entirely at home in the tradition. Out of this combination they have developed a sound that is both familiar and fresh. Strong believers in letting the music tradition live and breathe through sensitive interpretation, Vicki and Jonny allow the melody to sing without any constraints.
Broken Boat
In support are New Roots finalists 2013, Broken Boat – a modern folk band who combine honest, heartfelt lyrics with an intricate, soulful sound and enchant live audiences with their simple but powerful songs and their eclectic instrumentation.
Originally formed in Plymouth, Broken Boat moved to Hertfordshire after being signed to Berkhamsted based label ‘Which Wolf Wins Records’. To date they have played hundreds of gigs all over the south of England and several festivals including Knee Deep Festival (Supporting Willy Mason) and Berkofest. Their debut EP ‘Peace and Quiet’ was recorded at the prestigious Yellowfish Studios with the world renowned producer Ian Caple and has been featured multiple times on radio 2 by Bob Harris, calling their music “Quite lovely”, as well as BBC Three Counties and BBC Radio Devon.
The evening starts at 8.30 pm and tickets are £10 (members £7) and can be reserved by contacting us by email. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available nearby. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.
On Friday 24 May the song session theme, led by Kevin Green, will be ‘Old, New, Borrowed, Blue’. Bring songs, tunes, applause and, if you have one, a kazoo!
Belshazzar’s Feast (photo Alan Cole)
Belshazzar’s Feast start with traditional folk music, add a touch of classical and jazz, throw in a bit of pop and music hall, and top it off wry humour for a unique live experience. They received a coveted nomination for the Best Duo Award at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards. ‘One of folk’s great odd couples – The Feast’ (The Independent on Sunday).
Their latest album, titled ‘Find The Lady’ and produced by Jim Moray, was released by One Little Indian Records in November 2010. ‘It is a bona fide English classic’ (R2, formerly Rock ‘n’ Reel).
TICKETS SOLD OUT. Bring your own drinks. Fine ales can be purchased at the nearby pubs and there is also an off-licence across the road. Teas and coffee are available in the kitchen.
Folk song sessions continue every Friday between guest nights, with a themed evening of ‘Love Songs’ led by June Thaine on Friday 19 April. Free entry. All welcome, whether to listen, sing or play.
The Norwich Folk Club’s Annual General Meeting will be held from 8 pm on Friday 26 April, followed by a folk song session from about 9 pm.
Gren Bartley
On Friday 12 April we look forward to welcoming Gren Bartley, a talented young guitarist and a prolific and exceptional songwriter who we first noticed as one of the New Roots finalists several years ago. Since then Gren’s career has blossomed and he is constantly touring and forever writing.
Gren’s new album ‘Winter Fires’ (out in spring 2013) is set to build further upon the success of 2012’s critically acclaimed ‘Songs To Scythe Back The Overgrown’. “A quiet triumph, no less” ( fRoots).
Showcasing his phenomenal guitar playing and poetry-driven lyrics, Gren is truly the future of folk songwriting, using his influences from folk and blues traditions to bring something unique to this modern day troubadour. He is an artist not to be missed. “One to really look out for …” (BBC Radio 2).
Tickets can be reserved by contacting us via the ‘About the club’ page (£7 club members, £10 non-members). Bring your own drinks. Fine ales and off licence nearby. Teas and coffee also available.
Folk song sessions continue every Friday between guest nights, with a themed evening of ‘Chorus Songs’ led by Glynn West on Friday 29 March. Free entry. All welcome, whether to listen, sing or play.
Craig; Morgan; Robson
Craig; Morgan; Robson bring a new dimension to the art of a-capella singing. Rich in repertoire and musical experience, Moira Craig, Sarah Morgan and Carolyn Robson have been singing together since the autumn of 2003, weaving beguiling harmonies around material from the British tradition and beyond with “an effortless range and variety unheard in folk music for many years” (Folk London).
Timeless songs of love and longing rub shoulders with compelling contemporary songs, and passionate, dramatic ballads take their place alongside a lilting Shetland melody or a stirring hymn from the Ozark mountains. The occasional solo song only adds to the variety of their overall performance. Here is a trio in which three distinctively different voices melt into one another to create a sound which is all their own. “True tradition bearers” (Living Tradition).
Bring your own refreshments. Teas and coffee available. Tickets £10 (£7 club members). Reserve your seat by emailing via the ‘About the club’ page.
Craig; Morgan; Robson will be hosting a harmony workshop at the Christ Church Centre, Magdalen Road NR3 4LA from 2-4.30 pm on Saturday 16 March. They will teach some songs from their repertoire, and share valuable tips on singing technique. Great fun! All welcome – no experience necessary! Tickets £10. Registration from 1.30 pm.
Martyn Wyndham-Read and Iris Bishop
Martyn Wyndham-Read has been involved with folk music for over forty years. As a teenager in the 1960s he set off to work on a sheep station in Australia and became part of the folk song revival there, later returning to England with a wealth of traditional songs and stories.
In the early 1970s Martyn started the ‘Maypoles to Mistletoe’ concerts which portray the seasons of the year through song, music, dance and verse and illustration. Martyn is also the instigator of the well known Song Links Project. He is accompanied by Iris Bishop, regarded by many as one of the finest players of the Duet concertina. Shining Down on Sennen
Tickets are £10 and can be reserved by emailing the club using the contact box on the ‘About the club’ page. Bring your own refreshments – teas and coffee available.
Norwich Folk Club Annual General Meeting will take place at 8 pm on Friday 8 February. The club is run by a committee, who will report on the events of the past year. All club members are invited to attend the meeting. This will be followed by a singaround, open to all listeners, singer and players, from about 9 pm. Bring your own refreshments – teas and coffee available.
June Thaine, David Robertson and Kevin Green
Special showcase guests at the singaround on Friday 1 February are popular local trio, June Thaine, David Robertson and Kevin Green, otherwise known as Poacher. We look forward to hearing a variety of traditional and more recent songs, sung in close harmony.
Other singers and players are also welcome to take part in the singaround. Entry free. Please bring your own liquid refreshments – teas and coffee available.
John Ward and Mario Price
Unfortunately the forecast blizzards have caused this gig to be POSTPONED to the autumn. The club will not meet this Friday.
Talented East Anglian-based singer-songwriter and guitarist John Ward also plays several other instruments, most notably the bodhran, on which he delivers trademark showstopping solos. John has toured extensively across England and overseas, and plays regularly with his musical partner, the outstanding violinist, Mario Price. Together, this popular duo always present an energetic and entertaining set.
John and Mario will be performing a highly eclectic mix of John’s original compositions, traditional songs and popular standards, punctuated by Mario’s beautiful and high-energy instrumentals.
Bring your own refreshments – teas and coffee are available. Reserve tickets (£9 or £6 for club members) by emailing via the contact box on the ‘About the club’ page.
Norwich Folk Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place at 8 pm on Friday 8 February, to be followed at approximately 9 pm by a singaround. All club members are invited to attend the meeting and the singaround is open to everyone, as usual.