John Ward and Mario Price on 18 January POSTPONED

John Ward and Mario Price

Unfortunately the forecast blizzards have caused this gig to be POSTPONED to the autumn. The club will not meet this Friday.

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. Reserve tickets (£9 or £6 for club members) by emailing via the contact box on the ‘About the club’ page.

Norwich Folk Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place at 8 pm on Friday 8 February, to be followed at approximately 9 pm by a singaround. All club members are invited to attend the meeting and the singaround is open to everyone, as usual.

David Gibb and Elly Lucas on 14 September

 

David Gibb and Elly Lucas

Elly Lucas and David Gibb

On Friday 14 September we have a change of plan. Unfortunately Jim Causley is not able to appear at the club due to illness, but we are pleased to welcome, for the first time, David Gibb and Elly Lucas, an exciting young duo hailing from Derbyshire in the Midlands who have have previously toured the UK extensively as part of David Gibb & The Pony Club.

David plays the guitars, melodeon and sings; Elly plays fiddle, viola and also sings. From these minimal resources, the twosome produce distinctive vocal leads, haunting harmonies and a quite dense instrumental sound. Their singing is simple and unadorned ‐ check out Elly’s wistful vocal on ‘Blacksmith’ or David’s lead to ‘Jerusalem Cuckoo’. The pair were chosen as finalists in the prestigious BBC Young Folk Awards 2011 and, on the road, have supported such acts as Cara Dillon, Chris Wood, Coope, Boyes and Simpson, Jez Lowe and Megson.

In early 2011, they released their first EP, entitled ‘Three Children Sliding On The Ice’, garnering praise and national airplay from the likes of the Mike Harding Show (BBC Radio 2): Mike Harding says, ‘I was very impressed’. In the autumn of last year, they spent some time in the recording studio with producer Chris Harding, putting the final touches to their début album ‘Old Chairs To Mend’, which was released on HairpinRecords in March this year.

Singers and musicians will be welcome as usual for floor spots before the main event. Reserve tickets (£6) by emailing us via the ‘About the club page’. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan on 9 March

James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

We are very pleased to welcome back Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, one of the most established  and respected duos on the folk scene. About to celebrate their fifteenth year of touring, Nancy and James were winners of the Best Duo in the BBC Radio 2  Folk Awards 2011.

As well as being great exponents of their instruments (fiddle, viola and guitar-bouzouki) both are regarded as fine and influential singers. Nancy and James’s version of ‘Dance to Your Daddy’ was recently chosen by choirmaster Gareth Malone as one of his inheritance tracks on Radio 4’s Saturday Live and their new CD, Twice Reflected Sun, is much acclaimed.

Rosie Eade

In support will be a popular regular from the White Horse days, the talented young singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rosie Eade. Hailed as ‘one of the finest new voices on the acoustic scene’ (Burnham-on-Sea Folk Festival), Rosie also sings and plays sax/whistles with Cambridge-based folk-rock band Hedgepig.

Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee is available. Please check availability of tickets £10 (members £7) by emailing via the contact on the ‘About the club’ page.

James Findlay on 16 September

James Findlay

James Findlay

We look forward very much to welcoming James Findlay back – you may remember that James last performed at the club in November 2008, in support to Tim Laycock, after reaching the finals of New Roots earlier in the same year. Just over a year later, he went on to win the 2010 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award.

An accomplished guitarist and fiddler, James is influenced by all genres of music, but his love lies in traditional English folk music and particularly in ballads.

Judging the Young Folk Awards, Bellowhead’s Jon Boden exclaimed, ‘what a voice!’ 2011 sees James’ debut album released under the major folk label Fellside.

Please let us know if you would like to reserve tickets (£8 non-members), by email via the ‘About the club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Hot drinks available.

Tom McConville and David Newey on 11 February

David Newey and Tom McConville

Tom McConville is well known for his virtuoso fiddle-playing and interpretation of traditional and contemporary songs, and was chosen as BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year in 2009. His live performances include fast, rhythmic dance tunes, beautiful slow airs and great songs, all presented with his own inimitable sense of humour and style.

David Newey is a talented guitarist, songwriter and singer, and was a finalist in the Young Traditional Musician of the Year contest of 2003.

Reserve tickets by contacting us via the form on the ‘About the club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Jackie Oates on 1 October

Jackie Oates

Singer and fiddler, Jackie Oates is one of the brightest new stars on the folk scene, with two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2009 and nominations for three BBC Folk Awards in 2010. Jackie also plays the viola and occasionally the shruti. Her latest album, ‘Hyperboreans’ has been nominated for the fRoots Critics’ Poll Album of 2009 and reached no. 5 on the Mojo Folk Album of the Year Chart. ‘On all fronts Oates delivers, with beautiful singing, innovative arrangements and an intriguing selection of songs’ (Songlines, October 2009).

We look forward to welcoming Jackie to Norwich Folk Club on Friday 1 October. To be sure of a seat, please let us know by emailing via the form on the ‘About the club’ page. Bring your own refreshments. Tea and coffee available.

Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts on 2 April

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.

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.