Judi Daykin singaround showcase

Judi Daykin is the showcase guest at the White Horse Inn on Friday 6 November and will perform two spots within the singaround. Judi first sang in folk clubs “up north” back in the 1970s, but she was seduced away from the scene by the lure of the bright lights of show business. She trained as an actor and singer at drama school in London and has worked mainly in theatre for some years now. Folk music came back into her life in the new century following a chance conversation with Simon Nichol of Fairport Convention. He suggested a visit to their annual Fairport’s Cropredy Convention to see how things had changed. Inspired by this visit Judi rushed down to Norwich Folk Club and joined their ranks, as well as becoming a regular Cropredy goer.

Judi Daykin

Judi Daykin

Judi uses her actor’s storytelling ability to mix modern singer songwriter material with traditional numbers and even the occasional bit of poetry. Influences include Fairport Convention, Joni Mitchell and Show of Hands, all of whom will no doubt be showing up in her choice of songs. All welcome and entry is free.

On Friday 30 October the singaround is at the Manor Rooms, just up the Street from the White Horse Inn. Drinks can be bought at the pub and tea and coffee are also available. Everyone is welcome, whether to listen, sing or play, and the mix of music is often eclectic.

Trí on 23 October at the Manor Rooms

Trí

Trí

Young folk band Trí have had a fantastic first year, playing the Godiva Festival in Coventry, Folk in the Park at Biddulph, Alcester, Warwick, Bideford and Fylde Folk Festivals, and will be at Bedworth in November. With a background in Irish music and a string of Fleadh medals to their names, they are accomplished musicians. Ciarán Algar and Neal Pointon are impressive fiddle players and Niamh Boadle‘s vocals and guitarwork are beyond her years. She recently won the Fred Jordan Memorial unaccompanied singing competition at Bromyard Festival and has just been chosen as one of the six finalists  in the Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2010. All this, and step-dancing too!

Godiva Festival June 2009, Dave Swarbrick and Pete Willow: ‘They are absolutely wonderful and you can quote me on that. They are taking the Festivals by storm; You have just seen the future of folk music.’

St Albans New Roots Finals April 2009, James Fagan, Nancy Kerr, Andy Stafford and Lynn Heraud: ‘We … have run out of superlatives for this group. The musicianship was absolutely superb. Niamh has a beautiful voice with great quality. The song arrangements were subtle; … good variety throughout the set and the dancing added a lovely extra dimension …  easy on stage and obviously enjoying playing the music …. We were absolutely stunned … !’

This event will be in the Manor Rooms, just up the Street from the White Horse Inn. Collect your drink from the pub on your way! Tea and coffee also available. Tickets £5 (£3 members). Please email to book (see ‘About the club’ page).

On Friday 16 October there will be a singaround at the White Horse – everyone is welcome, whether to listen, play or sing.

FOOTNOTE: James Findlay, another New Roots finalist who played at the club in November last year, has also reached the Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2010 final.


Emily Smith on Friday 9 October

Emily Smith

Emily Smith

‘Scots Singer of the Year 2008/9’, Emily Smith has firmly established herself as a leading light in the Scottish folk scene.

Since winning the 2002 ‘BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award’ she has released three critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively with her band on the international folk circuit and is recognised not only as one of Scotland’s finest interpreters of traditional song but also as a talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Alongside her solo career, Smith has written, recorded and toured with artists from the folk scene and beyond including Eddi Reader, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Karine Polwart, John McCusker, David Scott and Phil Cunningham. She has recorded live sessions for BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, Aled Jones and Mike Harding alongside receiving regular play on BBC Radio Scotland. Smith was also involved in writing material for the much acclaimed Darwin Song Project at the Shrewsbury Festival last month.

This event will be at the White Horse Inn, starting at 8.30 pm. The concert will be amplified. Please check for availability of tickets £8 (£5 members) by email (see About the club page).

There will be singarounds at the White Horse Inn on Friday 25 September and 2 October – free entry and everyone is welcome to come along, whether to listen, sing or play.

Jim Causley at Manor Rooms on 18 September

Jim Causley

Jim Causley

Devon singer and musician Jim Causley has been nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He is one third of acapella trio The Devil’s Interval and also appears with the very successful Mawkin:Causley. Jim is known for his warm rich voice and his wickedly cheeky stage presence. A firm champion of English traditional songs and tunes – especially of West Country origin – he performs a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs. Jim’s debut album ‘Fruits of the Earth’ was released by Wildgoose Records in 2006 and he has also collaborated with Waterson:Carthy, Martin Wyndham Read and Scottish fiddle player John McCusker. Support is from up-and-coming New Roots finalists, Jonny Kearney and Lucy Farrell.  This will be at the Manor Rooms, just up the road from the White Horse, where you can buy drinks on your way. Please check for availability of tickets £8 (£5 members) by email (see About the club page).

Shadows in the Shade on 4 September

Shadows in the Shade

Shadows in the Shade

Shadows in the Shade are Jed Stone and Des Tighe, names well known around the folk clubs and sessions of their Suffolk homeland. Both are founder members of XXLcior, a shanty crew put together to support the sail training trawler Excelsior, and in a past life both have sung with the shanty crew Capstan Full Strength. Both have performed often in Holland, now and again in Poland and once in Norway. As solo performers, each has travelled extensively the shores and bars of their native England, of Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Given their pedigree it was probably inevitable that sooner or later they would end up singing together, and inevitable that an album would follow. Now we welcome them to Norfolk for a showcase at the Norwich Folk Club singaround on 4 September.

Summer Sunday Singaround on 16 August

Our annual Summer Sunday Singaround kicks off at around 2 pm on the patio or in the usual function room at the White Horse Inn, depending on the weather! Sprinkled through the afternoon and evening, there will be spots from various local folkies.

The usual Friday singarounds continue throughout the summer – free entry and all welcome.

On Friday 21 August we shall be at the Manor Rooms, just up the street from the White Horse Inn. Collect your drink from the pub on the way. Tea and coffee available.

On Friday 28 August we are back at the White Horse Inn, as usual. Visitors and locals are all invited – why not try out a new tune or song in these friendly surroundings?

Graham Schofield showcase on 7 August

grahamschofield1

The showcase guest at the singaround on 7 August is Graham Schofield. ‘Graham has been singing in folk clubs around the country since the revival and has a wide and eclectic repertoire rooted in the tradition or having the feel of the tradition. He tends to find the passion in a song, whether of the countryside or the lot of the working man. His voice has a sweetness and range which allows him to slip easily from a gentle love-song to a rousing shanty and he relishes a lively audience who love to sing the choruses with gusto.’ Free entry, all welcome.

There is, of course, a singaround on 31 July, as usual and on every Friday throughout the summer. All welcome – why not try out some new material?

A Murder of Rooks showcase on 17 July

A Murder of Rooks comprise Isobel Morris: vocals and ukulele, Gary Southwell: 9-string guitar and vocals and Jim Kimberley: guitar and vocals. At least two of the three will be with us on 17 July to contribute a couple of spots within the singaround. Simplicity and restraint is the key, with sparse musical arrangements and unadorned vocals. Their version of ‘Sam Hall’ has the traditional English lyrics, and their recent CD also includes ‘Never Came He’, ‘The Handsome Cabin Boy’ and ‘Three Ravens’. All welcome, free entry.

The singaround on 10 July is open to everyone as usual, with new songs and tunes appreciated. Our definition of ‘folk’ is broad and we encourage the efforts of new and returning folkies. Free entry.

The Askew Sisters on 3 July

The Askew Sisters

The Askew Sisters

Emily and Hazel Askew are a young duo making waves on the folk scene with their energetic brand of English folk music. They play and sing with an infectious enjoyment and love for the music and their debut album ‘All in a Garden Green’ has been played by radio stations across the UK as well as in America, Canada, France and Australia (and it’s rumoured to be doing well in Japan). The girls have also had a full feature in Living Tradition magazine, written by Brian Peters.

“As more and more people adopt the mantle of traditional music, it is wonderful to see how they treat the material with respect and are prepared to put in hard work researching and collating songs and tunes.” EDS magazine

“The breezy robustness of their musicianship is demonstrated in the joyous way the two parts switch around, colluding and colliding during the course of a tune set, adeptly maintaining listener interest while keeping feet tapping … infectious pumping energy characterises their performance.” fRoots magazine

Start time: 8.30 pm, tickets £8 (£5 members). Reserve seats by email and pay on the door.