Jez Lowe on Friday 7 June

Jez Lowe has long been one of the UK’s busiest folk performers, playing for audiences the world over, either solo, (with guitar, cittern and harmonica accompaniment), or with his band The Bad Pennies. His Men At Words tour of North America saw Jez joining forces with James Keelaghan and Archie Fisher for much-acclaimed concerts across Canada and the USA. And as part of The Pitmen Poets (with Bob Fox, Benny Graham and Billy Mitchell), Jez has helped to rekindle the fire in the tradition of mining songs and culture of his native region in a series of sell out theatre performances around the UK.

Over the last couple of decades, the likes of Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Unthanks, Wizz Jones, The McCalmans, Mary Black, The Duhks, Bob Fox, The Young Uns, Enda Kenny, Cherish The Ladies, Tom McConville, The Clancys and scores more, have queued up to adopt his songs for their own repertoires. No wonder no less than Richard Thompson has called him, ‘The best singer songwriter to come out of the UK for a long time’.

Our events start at 8 pm. Tickets are now SOLD OUT. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Tania Opland and Mike Freeman on Friday 17 May

The guests on Friday 17 May will be Tania Opland and Mike Freeman, touring from the USA and Ireland with an eclectic mix of acoustic music and songs, incorporating more instruments than any sane duo would tour the world with, including hammered dulcimer, guitar, recorders, cittern, violin, Native American flute, ocarina, hurdy-gurdy and percussion.

Their shows feature traditional and contemporary material from many cultures as well as original compositions, all presented with wit and style. They are ‘one of the most original and interesting musical combinations you’re ever likely to see! Between them they weave a fascinating musical tapestry’ Chester Festival, Kelsall, Cheshire, UK.

Tickets £11 (£8 club members) can be reserved by emailing via our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

Dick Miles on Friday 12 April

Concertina performer Dick Miles has been singing and playing traditional music since he was 13. He lived for many years in Suffolk and some of his favourite songs are based on the superb traditional tales of East Anglia. Now living in the South-West of Ireland, Dick finds himself incorporating the local traditional music style into his own.

During the last 30 years, Dick has been singing at maritime festivals, folk festivals and clubs all over the British and Irish Islands. He has also written two concertina tutors, one of which is on song accompaniment.

Tickets £11 (£8 club members) can be reserved by emailing via our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

Showcase guests Sound Tradition on Friday 22 March

The special showcase guests at the song session on Friday 22 March will be Sound Tradition, an a cappella folk foursome (David, Linda, Catherine and Moose) singing in glorious harmony. Their varied repertoire ranges from lively chorus songs to lilting ballads, and from medieval times to the modern day, but always with an ear for the English folk tradition.

The quartet have proudly supported such luminaries as Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Chris Wood and Roy Bailey, but also enjoy the main stage in their own right. Hailing from East Anglia, Sound Tradition is building a reputation that has garnered bookings at clubs and festivals across the country. Powerful and rousing traditional songs with lovely harmonies. Go and see them!Pete Morton

This is a free event. Bring instruments and voices, and your own drinks. Teas and coffees available in the kitchen.

Damien Barber on Friday 1 March

This year Damien Barber is celebrating 30 years as a professional folk musician. 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 a capella or accompanied on guitar or concertina. Though he has lived in West Yorkshire for over 20 years, he retains a strong East Anglian identity.

 

 

 

 

 

Best known in recent years for his critically acclaimed stage shows ‘The Demon Barbers XL’ and ‘The Lock In’, Damien is now returning to the traditional songs of East Anglia that ignited his passion in folk music. This will be his first solo performance for 18 years!

Tickets £11 (£8 club members). SOLD OUT. Email via our contact page for returns and we will let you know if you have been successful. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer on Friday 15 February

Singers and multi-instrumentalists Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary sounds. Their performances showcase new interpretations of old songs alongside original self-penned tunes and new contemporary songs that are entirely at home in the tradition. Winter 2016 saw Vicki & Jonny as the front cover of the Living Tradition Magazine with a centre spread interview.

Be entranced by the haunting nyckelharpa, amazed at the cow horn (one of the world’s earliest communication devices) and meet some of the bagpipes that didn’t come from Scotland.

Tickets £11 (£8 members)  can be reserved by emailing via our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Alden Patterson and Dashwood on Friday 18 January

Our guests on Friday 18 January will be Norwich-based folk group Alden Patterson and Dashwood, a trio who weave rich vocal harmonies, fiddle, dobro and guitar around beautifully written original songs and melodies.

The group’s music takes influence from folk traditions from both sides of the Atlantic, with uplifting instrumentals and self-penned songs depicting tales of young travellers, sleepy seas and their affection for home. ‘It’s lovely stuff’ – Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.

The list is open to reserve tickets, £8 (£11 non-members). Email us via the form on the contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

The showcase guest on Friday 1 February will be the popular local performer, Kevin Green. Free event, with a raffle.

Winter Wilson on Friday 7 December

2018 has been a great year for Winter Wilson. Their tour with folk-rock legends Fairport Convention was an outstanding success and their new album ‘Far Off on the Horizon’ is their best selling to date. Now in their 6th year as full-time musicians, Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious tales of life on the road.

Every show is different. Kip (vocals, accordion, guitar, flute) ‘simply has a voice to die for’ (John Roffey, Maverick Magazine), whilst Dave (vocals, guitar and banjo) is now recognised as being amongst the top tier of British songwriters, with his songs covered by some of folk’s ‘greats’. 

Sam Brothers

Support is provided by New Roots finalist 2018, Sam Brothers, a talented 24-year-old singer-songwriter based in the South of England, who has spent the last two years busking and playing in a variety of venues, including music festivals. Sam’s songs are invested with echoes of Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake and Van Zandt and his first album, ‘Farewell to My Old Days‘ was released in 2017.

Tickets £11 (£9 club members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page, or you can just turn up on the night. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen, 50p. The evening runs from 8–11 pm.

 

Ninebarrow on Friday 16 November

Ninebarrow are a multi-award-winning folk duo who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Described by Mark Radcliffe as sounding ‘like two halves of one voice’ and by Kate Rusby as ‘absolutely amazing’, Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere combine breath-taking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering original songs that are inspired and rooted in the landscape and history of the British Isles. As well as crafting unique and engaging original material, Ninebarrow also take a wide-range of traditional folk songs and rework them in their own distinctive way, accompanied by tenor and octave mandolas, ukulele, two reed organs and piano.

In 2017, the duo were nominated at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in the ’Horizon’ category for ‘Best Emerging Artist’. One of the highest accolades in their genre, it was made even more exceptional because it was only a few months prior to this that Jon and Jay relinquished their jobs as a teacher and GP in favour of a full-time music career. Farewell Shanty

Tickets £11 (members £8) can be reserved via the email box on our contact page. Pay on the door. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen (50p).

Steve Turner on Friday 19 October

Steve Turner is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and banjo.

In the F/Roots August/September 2014 edition Nancy Kerr in her Rocket Launcher interview, when asked “what was the best gig you ever saw?” answered “the best spot I’ve seen recently was Steve Turner – total intensive musical focus and a vast serious repertoire”. Video: By the Dry Cardrona 

Reserve tickets £11 (£8 members) by emailing via our contact page. Bring your own drinks. Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.