Tag Archives: Fiddle

Steve Turner on Friday 4 September

Posted on by

Steve_Turner-DSC1355Steve 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 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”.

BarberSistersIn support will be Isobel, Lydia and Ellie Barber – a string trio from the village of Thorpe in the Peak District. They began learning classical violin at the age of 5, and started playing folk music together after first participating in Folkworks Summer Schools a few years ago. With a particular love for Scottish folk music, the Barber Sisters have been influenced by bands such as RANT, and enjoy playing arrangements of original and traditional tunes on fiddle and viola. They were one of the 10 acts shortlisted for the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2015 and were also finalists at New Roots 2015.

Tickets can be reserved via the contact form on our website: £10 (£7 for club members). Bring a bottle or enjoy a tea or coffee from the kitchen.

 

Song Session Showcase with Hannah Cumming on 5 June

Posted on by

Promo Pic Hannah CThe showcase guest at the song session on Friday 5 June will be New Roots finalist 2015, Hannah Cumming. Hannah is 23, has been fiddling for 12 years and within the last two years has started singing along to her fiddle accompaniment. She has a passion for traditional English folk songs as well as acoustic and popular music. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Seth Lakeman, Nancy Kerr and Jackie Oates, Hannah creates unique arrangements to suit each song, embracing the original in her own sweetly haunting style.

Singers and musicians are invited to join the song session, and listeners are equally welcome. Entry is free. Bring a bottle, or enjoy a tea or coffee from the kitchen.

The regular Friday song sessions are currently being held downstairs in the main hall. There is no charge and all are welcome, whether to sing, play or listen.

 

Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar on Friday 15 May

Posted on by

Russell AlgarTwo-time BBC Folk Award winners Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar released their debut album, The Queen’s Lover with Fellside in 2012. Numerous tours followed, as the duo developed and honed their stagecraft, becoming one of the most sought-after young acts on the English folk scene. ‘The press coverage and folk club reports have been glowing and rightly so’ (R2 Magazine). In January 2013, the pair picked up the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award.

After recording their second album in the November of 2013, again with Fellside, Russell and Algar received the Horizon Award for best breakthrough act at the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. The second album, The Call, was then released in July, receiving 5 Stars in fRoots, 4 Stars in both R2 Magazine and The Telegraph and a host of other brilliant reviews, Bright Young Folk describing it as an ‘outstanding show of maturity’ with ‘enormous promise’. In the last year, both Greg and Ciaran have been touring with Mick Ryan’s folk opera, A Day’s Work. They were also nominated in the Best Duo category in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015. YouTube clip: Davy

Tickets £10 (£7 members) can be reserved by emailing us via the contact page. Bring a bottle or two, or enjoy a cuppa from the kitchen.

 

Teyr on 24 October

Posted on by

Teyr poster blankWe welcome folk trio Teyr as showcase guests at the song session on Friday 24 October. Forged amongst the hustle and bustle of North London’s folk scene, Teyr (‘3’ in the Cornish language) are a trio of players who showcase the many sounds of the British Isles.

With roots running from Ireland to Wales to Cornwall, James Gavin (guitar and fiddle), Dominic Henderson (uilleann pipes) and Tommie Black-Roff (accordion) capture the hybridity of contemporary life within traditional music, injecting it with a shot of youth. Having met on the Trad music scene through late night sessions, each performer holds an intuitive sense of folk music, evident in their deft new arrangements of fiery tunes and songs as well as original material.

There is no charge, but we will have a raffle. Listeners, other singers and tune-players all welcome. Bring your own drinks – teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

Georgia Shackleton on 26 September

Posted on by

Georgia2The showcase guest at the song session on Friday 26 September will be local singer-songwriter and fiddler Georgia Shackleton, who favours performing ‘wordy songs about other people’. Georgia takes inspiration from places and faces, as well as the traditional, regional and early 20th century material she also performs.

After studying the highly acclaimed Folk and Traditional Music degree in Newcastle, Georgia has performed in various line-ups alongside an eclectic mix of fantastic musicians. She has now returned home to her native Norfolk and is currently working on new projects, including material with fellow Newcastle graduate, Nic Zuppardi on mandolin, and ‘Addison’s Uncle’ guitarist, Aaren Bennett. 

There is no charge and all singers, musicians and listeners are welcome to join the song session. Bring your own drink – teas and coffee available in the kitchen, as usual.

 

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan on Friday 25 July

Posted on by
James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

We look forward to welcoming back the winners of the Best Duo in the BBC Radio 2  Folk Awards 2011, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, particularly since their touring together as a duo will become less frequent as the boys grow up. You probably already know many of their songs and if you haven’t come across them before, both fiddler Nancy and bouzouki-player James grew up in the folk tradition – Nancy is the daughter of Sandra Kerr and James is part of the Australian Fagan Family. See more here: Living Tradition article. Recently James has been playing with The Cara Dillon Band and Nancy’s new CD ‘Sweet Visitor’ is released on 21 July.

Tickets £11 (members £8) are SOLD OUT. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available across the road, with teas and coffee in the kitchen.

New Roots showcase session on Friday 27 June and harmony workshop on Saturday 28 June

Posted on by

Special guests filling the two spots at the showcase session on Friday 27 June are finalists at the 2014 New Roots competition at St Albans, Speldosa and Alex Cumming and Nicola Beazley.

Speldosa

Speldosa are a clarsach (harp), fiddle, hammered dulcimer and vocal trio who perform their own arrangements of traditional and modern tunes and songs. Speldosa is Swedish for ‘music box’, so expect a beautiful twinkly sound together with passionate songs and toe-tapping tunes.

Alex and Nicola

Alex and Nicola

Alex Cumming and Nicola Beazley are an exciting new box and fiddle duo performing songs and tunes from around England. They are both recent graduates of the Newcastle Folk and Traditional Music Degree. Expect plenty of lively tunes, spine-tingling arrangements and lots of sing-along choruses.

Singers and players are welcome to come along and take part in the song session – listeners also appreciated! Tickets £3 (£2 members) on the door. Bring your own drinks – fine ales available nearby and teas and coffee from the kitchen.

Alex Cumming and Rosie Calvert (of The Teacups) will be leading a harmony workshop from 10 till noon on Saturday 28 June. All welcome. Tickets £3 (£2 club members). Teas and coffee available in the kitchen.

 

James Findlay on Friday 13 June

Posted on by

James FindlayThe guest on Friday 13 June will be the winner of BBC Young Folk Music Award 2010, fiddler, guitarist and singer James Findlay. Brought up in the folk tradition, James is particularly passionate about songs from his home counties of Dorset, Somerset and Devon. With a great voice and a love for song that’s evident though his knowledge and understanding of the material, James is one of the most accomplished of the latest generation of folk performers.

James enjoyed a busy year in 2013 with commendations for his folk festival and folk club gigs as well as his part playing Little Musgrave in Jon Boden’s ‘The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard’. He has also been involved in other high-profile projects, including the recording of ‘The Liberty to Choose’, songs from The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs, with Lucy Ward, Bella Hardy and Brian Peters, produced by Fellside.

Saul BaileyIn support is melodeon and English concertina player Saul Bailey, one of the very latest of the New Roots finalists to catch our attention. Saul enjoys experimenting with old and new English folk tunes – particularly ‘dance stuff, fast stuff, furious stuff and frankly ridiculous stuff’. Saul has appeared at various folk clubs and village events, as well as at Cambridge Folk Festival.

Bring your own drinks – fine ales available at nearby establishments, and teas and coffee in the kitchen. Tickets (£10/£7 members) can be reserved by email via the form on the contact page.

For beginners and upwards, the ukulele get-together from 7.30 till 8.30 on Friday 6 June will be followed by the usual song session.

The Magical Christmas Tree Tour on 13 December

Posted on by

Pete at FaldingworthThe Magical Christmas Tree Tour is Pete Morton, Emily Sanders, Chris Parkinson and a tree that makes these three unsuspecting folk performers do things they wouldn’t do the other eleven months of the year.

After five successful seasons touring the UK, this show is a festive treat, where the audience pick scrolls from the tree and help to make every night a unique occasion!

This is a high-flying combination: a singer/songwriter extraordinaire, a superb Parky-raged- for webfiddler and one of the folk scene’s most sought-after instrumentalists. Pete, Emily and Chris all excel in their own departments. Together they deliver a richly textured collection of vibrant new songs, beautiful old carols and stunning instrumentals – plus all three voices in three-part harmony … and they have a great time doing it.

Emily SandersCome along and join us for an evening of superb acoustic music!

Bring your own drinks – real ale available at nearby pubs, with coffee and a choice of teas in the kitchen. Contact us to reserve tickets £10 (£7 members).

John Ward and Mario Price on Friday 11 October

Posted on by
John Ward and Mario Price

John Ward and Mario Price

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. Local pubs are also nearby. Reserve tickets (£10 or £7 for club members) by emailing via the contact box on the ‘About the club’ page.

We meet at the Christ Church Centre, Magdalen Road in Norwich from 8.30 to 11.30 pm every Friday throughout the year. Fridays between guest nights are folk song sessions. All welcome, whether to sing, play or listen.