Author Archives: bridget

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts on 2 April

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Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts

On Friday 2 April at the Christ Church Centre, Magdalen Road, Norwich Folk Club welcomes Katriona Gilmore (Rosie Doonan & the Snapdragons, ex-Tiny Tin Lady) and Jamie Roberts (Kerfuffle), who have been performing together on the folk scene since 2006. Their self-penned material ranges from blazing instrumentals to ‘heart-wrenching’ songs, to contemporary arrangements of traditional songs.

Jamie’s dextrous percussive and lap-style guitar work is a visual as well as a sonic delight, while Katriona’s intricate fiddle playing shifts seamlessly from sensitive to fiery and back again in the blink of an eye.

Shadows & Half Light, the duo’s first full length recording, has made waves in the national music press, being described as ‘inspired’ by fRoots and awarded five stars by Rock’n’Reel . The album makes the most of Katriona and Jamie’s multi-instrumental skills – mandolin, banjo, and even trombone can be heard alongside the usual fiddle and guitar, as well as guest vocals and piano from Jamie’s sister Kathryn Roberts.

In 2009, the duo brought their unique sound to more than ten festivals and supported, among others, LAU, Dave Swarbrick, Bellowhead, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and Spiers & Boden. Tickets can be reserved in advance by email or at the club. Bring your own refreshments.

As usual, all are welcome at the singarounds at the Christ Church Centre on Friday 19 and 26 March. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Sewell Park College Hall, 5 March

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On 5 March the singaround ‘In Celebration of Women’ will be at the new main hall at Sewell Park College, starting at 8 pm, as we must finish by 10.30 pm. Entrance is from St Clement’s Hill. Everyone is welcome. Drinks can be bought in the Sports Centre Bar or you may bring your own.

On 12 March we will be back at the Christ Church Centre, but tickets are SOLD OUT for Dave Swarbrick.

Temporary relocation, 26 February

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Unfortunately, due to an unexpected delay in the licensing process, we are not able to meet at the Christ Church Centre this week. On 26 February, from 8.30-10.30 pm we shall be using the nearby new Main Hall at Sewell Park College NR3 4BX. This is just up St Clement’s Hill – the entrance is between Chamberlin Road and Elm Grove Lane. We can use the Sports Centre Bar for drinks or bring our own refreshments. We are told the acoustics are good and there’s room for dancing!

Watch this space for the location of  the singaround on 5 March ‘In Celebration of Women’ (either CCC or school hall). We shall definitely be back at the Christ Church Centre on 12 March with Dave Swarbrick. Tickets are sold out for this event.

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher on 5 February

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Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher

Well known throughout their native county, Lincolnshire, both for their club work as a duo and as members of the Higgledy Piggledy band, Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher present a fine blend of voices mellowed by nigh on thirty years of singing together.

Accompanied in traditional style on English and duet concertina, harmonium, and melodeon, their songs, both ancient and modern, have enough choruses to please everyone.

The pleasure they get from singing is obvious and since the release of their debut album ‘… Their Fine Array’ they have taken their music further afield in clubs from Cornwall to Lancashire and the North East and festivals countrywide.

They have been involved with Martyn Wyndham-Read’s ‘Songlinks’, appearing on the CDs and at the premiere concerts at Sidmouth festival and the CD launch concerts at Cecil Sharp House. Their fourth album ‘Fit For Reclining’ received enthusiastic reviews and album number five ‘Acorn to Oak’ is now available.

There will be a singaround in the upstairs room at the Christ Church Centre on Friday 29 January. All welcome, as usual. Please bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Annual General Meeting on 19 February 2010

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The Annual General Meeting of Norwich Folk Club will take place at 8 pm on Friday 19 February at the Christ Church Centre on Magdalen Road, Norwich. The main business will be the election of a committee to serve for the coming year. This is a chance for members to show their support for the club by voting for a committee to run events and by giving opinions on club matters.

Any current members who have not already received the agenda and the minutes of the previous AGM are asked to contact the club secretary by email though the form on the ‘About the Club’ page.

The meeting will be followed by a singaround, starting at around 9 pm. All welcome, as usual. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee will be available.

Tony Hall on 15 January

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Tony Hall

Tony Hall (Photo: Keith Garnham)

ON Friday 15 January we welcome local melodeon maestro Tony Hall to our new venue at the Christ Church Centre on Magdalen Road – just opposite the junction with Waterloo Road and close to the Whalebone. Tony plays a wide range of tunes which ‘defy the limitations … of the two-row box’, interspersed with songs delivered in ‘Tony’s inimitable singing style’ (Mel Howly, The Living Tradition). Tea and coffee available, or bring your own atternative beverages. Tickets £3 (£5 non-members).

New Year’s Eve ceilidh and singaround

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On Friday 18 December the last meeting took place at the White Horse Inn, Trowse, in the upstairs function room. Many thanks are due to landlady Pam and to Andy and the bar staff for all their support for the club in the last four and a half years.

On Thursday 31 December from 8.30 pm there will be a New Year’s Eve Ceilidh and Singaround with members of Shufflewing plus others (all welcome) and caller Faith Masendu at our new venue, the Christ Church Centre, on Magdalen Road (NR3 4LA). The Centre’s large car park is opposite the junction with Waterloo Road, and near the Whalebone. Please bring your own drinks and perhaps some food to share. (The Whalebone will have queues and a one-out one-in policy on this night.) Tickets £5 (£3 members).

On Friday 8 January there will be the first acoustic club night in the upstairs room at the Christ Church Centre. Everyone is very welcome to join us there. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Pete Morton, Maggie Boyle and Chris Parkinson

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Chris Parkinson, Pete Morton and Maggie Boyle

On Saturday 12 December, in association with Norwich Folk Club, Pete Morton,  Maggie Boyle and Chris Parkinson bring their Magical Christmas Tree Tour to the Christ Church Centre on Magdalen Road (opposite the Whalebone pub), with an enjoyable mix of seasonal offerings and special treats from this accomplished trio of performers.

Songwriter Pete Morton sings from the heart, with songs that are an unruly mix of humour, politics, love and social comment, wrapping their way around the folk tradition.  He may also be persuaded to sing his well known song ‘Another Train’.  It’s bound to be on the tree somewhere!

Maggie Boyle is a traditional singer and flute-player. Through her ballads and tunes, old and new, she continues the tradition of music and storytelling passed on by her Irish family. Maggie’s voice and flute are an integral part of Christopher Bruce’s folk ballet, ‘Sergeant Early’s Dream’ created for Rambert Dance Company.  She has worked with James Horner, The Chieftains, Incantation, Bert Jansch, Steve Tilston, John Renbourn, Grace Notes and ,,,

Chris Parkinson, who has played music since the age of five, starting with the harmonica before moving on to everything else. However, he is best known for his melodeon and piano accordion playing, and is one of the most sought-after accordion players in the country. Among many others, Chris has worked with Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson, Ralph McTell, Billy Connolly, Mike Harding, Steve Tilston, Martin Simpson and Steve Phillips.

The Magical Christmas Tree is full of songs and tunes from everywhere and this is your chance to write the set list! A fun and spontaneous night for everyone – especially Maggie, Chris and Pete – who quite literally don’t know what they are going to do next … but they do it well! Tickets £8 (£6 club members) can be reserved by email, using the form on ‘About the club’ page.

On Friday 11 December there will be a singaround at the White Horse Inn as usual. Everyone is very welcome to join us – whether to listen, sing or play.

Sally Barker on 4 December

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Sally Barker and Glenn Hughes

Sally Barker and Glenn Hughes

On Friday 4 December, at 8.30 pm Sally Barker will be at the White Horse Inn, Trowse presenting the Joni Mitchell Project. This is a personal tribute to the very much admired earlier recordings of Joni Mitchell.

Sally (whose voice is often compared to Joni’s) is a member of female folk group The Poozies and during her career has supported both Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson. For the Joni Mitchell Project she is accompanied by Glenn Hughes on keyboard and dulcimer. Tickets £8 (£5 members), check availability through the email link on the ‘About the Club’ page.

The singaround on 27 November will be in the upstairs room at the White Horse Inn. This jam session is open to all, whether to listen, sing or play.

Bob Fox on 20 November

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Bob Fox

Bob Fox

Bob Fox is one of the most popular and best loved performers on the world folk stage and after more than three decades remains at the very top of his game. Nominated as BBC Radio 2 Best Folk Singer in 2003 and 2004 , in 2006 Bob was commissioned to perform one of the six new BBC Radio Ballads.  In 2008, Bob embarked on an ambitious project with former duo partner Stu Luckley to re-record both of their original vinyl albums for a 2 CD set called “THIRTY YEARS ON” that they produced for their equally ambitious re-union tour which took place in the autumn, taking in many of the places that they played in the 70s and finishing at the highly prestigious Sage Concert Hall on the banks of the Tyne in Gateshead. The performances they produced on the tour and the quality of the CD brought them a nomination in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009 as ‘Best Duo’.

Bob is counted by Vin Garbutt as ‘one of the truly great voices from the North East with musicianship second to none’.  Check for availability of tickets by email through ‘About the club’ page: £8 (£5 members).