Steve Turner on 11 November

Steve Turner

Steve Turner arrived back on the folk scene in 2004 after a twelve year absence, having been a professional singer for eleven years through the ’80s. His singing and concertina playing are now widely acclaimed, with great reviews, magazine interviews and national radio plays for the fifth album, ‘The Whirligig of Time’ which was also short-listed for the 2008 BBC folk awards.

Tickets can be reserved by email through the contact on the ‘About the club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee also available.

Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman on 8 July

Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman

Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman make a welcome return to Norwich on Friday 8 July. Dave and Anni joined forces in 1985, after spending many years around the folk club scene, in which time they featured on several albums made by other performers. Anni has developed a specialist repertoire of songs originating from her native North East, and Dave has been writing songs in traditional vein since 1982, many of which are widely sung and have become part of the general song repertoire of singers all over the world. ‘If you love traditional music delivered with strength, clarity and simplicity, you certainly won’t be disappointed with this duo’ (Cornwall Folk Festival).

Rosie Hood

In support is Rosie Hood, an unaccompanied singer originally from Malmesbury and another of this year’s New Roots finalists. Rosie is fairly new to solo performance, having previously sung in bands and throughout school. Her experience of sessions and folk clubs has sparked an interest in the history of the songs she sings, particularly those of her native Wiltshire and those collected by Alfred Williams. Rosie also sings a variety of songs from around the British Isles, learned from many sources, including the sessions of Glasgow (where she studies Design) and Sidmouth Folk Week’s legendary Middle Bar.

Tickets £8 (non-members). Reservations by email on the form found on the ‘About the Club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Hot drinks available.

The Sultans of Squeeze on 13 May

John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson

John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson first appeared as The Sultans of Squeeze in 2004. Together they present a huge variety of music, performed on every possible combination of their various squeeze-boxes – John on one-row and two-row melodeons, three-row button accordion, and treble and bass anglo concertinas, and Chris on various two-row melodeons, piano accordion, and bass piano accordion. As well as the traditional folk songs and tunes that you might expect to hear from these two, they also tackle military marches, French waltzes, nostalgic popular classics and signature tunes, blues, zydeco, jazz, rock & roll, and some pieces of their own making as well.

Please check that tickets are available by emailing via the link on the ‘About the Club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher on 5 February

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.

Trio Threlfall on 15 May

Trio Thelfall

Sisters Jane and Amanda Thelfall weave gentle harmonies, ably accompanied by Roger Edwards on guitar and concertina. The Trio Threlfall are passionate about the English tradition and their latest CD, Sweet Nightingale, is testimony to their commitment:
“I am besotted by the new album … I think it’s absolutely beautiful. Terrific songs and playing and really tight, unfussy arrangements. The girls are in great voice and the accompaniments are brilliant.”  Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

And of their 2007 album, Revisited:
“Jane and Amanda … lift the songs way above the pedestrian. (They are) equally at home without the aid of any instrumental safety net … secure, relaxed harmony singing of the highest order.
Particular mention should be made of the concertina playing of Roger Edwards … his ‘Double Lead Through’ must be one of the finest recordings of a dance tune ever.”  Baz Parkes, English Dance & Song

And what you hear on their albums is what you get from their live performance. Members: £5; non-members: £8.

Barrie and Ingrid Temple on 13 March

Barrie and Ingrid Temple

Barrie and Ingrid Temple

Well established and much respected harmony singers Barrie and Ingrid Temple will be guests at the club on 13 March. Their songs are traditional, with original arrangements and accompaniment by Barrie on English concertina and guitar. They also sing Barrie’s original songs, written in the traditional style, many of which have been recorded by other performers.

Friday 21 November at the Manor Rooms

Tim Laycock

Tim Laycock, singer, concertina player and actor, is the Folk Club guest on Friday 21 November. at the Manor Rooms, just up the Street from the White Horse Inn. Tim has appeared with the Albion Band and is a specialist in the songs, traditions and dialect of the West Country. Support on this evening is provided by the young fiddler and singer James Findlay, who was a finalist in New Roots 2008.

James Findlay