Steve Ashley returns to Evesham Arts Centre
Steve Ashley is one of British folk’s finest singer-songwriters, is May's guest at Evesham Arts Centre's popular Folk in the Foyer series.
Steve's songs have been covered by a legion of folk artists, including Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, Martin Simpson, Wizz Jones, Phil Beer, Maggie Boyle, The Bushwackers, Grace Notes, The Arizonas, Sproatly Smith, The Owl Service and St Agnes Fountain, among many others.
His album career began in 1974 with an award-winning debut - the ground-breaking ‘Stroll On’, which to this day, is still regarded as a folk-rock classic. In total, Steve’s released ten albums of original songs - consistently melding tradition with innovation, and delivering intelligent and inspired English poetry, amid distinctive original melodies.
He’s recorded with Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Robin Williamson, Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson and various members of Fairport Convention and also performed his songs with chamber orchestras conducted by Nick Drake’s arranger, the late Robert Kirby.
A lead singer with The Albion Country Band and his own Ragged Robin, Steve is a consummate entertainer and has what America’s Variety magazine has called ‘one of the funniest dry stage raps’.
In 2013 the prolific rock author, Dave Thompson published a musical biography of Steve’s career: Fire and Wine – An Armchair Guide to Steve Ashley with contributions from Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Colin Irwin and many others.
Steve released his eleventh solo album, Another Day, in January 2017 on Market Square Records. Like its predessesor, the highly acclaimed This Little Game (2015), it features just Steve performing solo with no added session musicians. The album - his tenth collection of original songs - contains fourteen Ashley originals and was recorded in Steve's home by Martin Mitchell during the summer of 2016.
In December, prior to the album's release, the title track was chosen as Song of The Day by Folk Radio. A video was also created for this track by the Public Reading Rooms website. In the new year, the album was well-received in the media, garnering three five-star reviews. Then in May Steve was invited to do a live session and interview with Mark Radcliffe for BBC Radio Two's The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe. For this show Steve recorded three songs live: People In Love, The Months Go Round and Best Wishes.
Last October, Topic Records - in celebration of the label's 75-year-history - included Ships of Shame in their 2CD release, Topic Records: The Real Sound of Folk Music. Then the following month O'Hooley & Tidow opened their new album, WinterFolk Volume 1 with Fire and Wine.
The concert will be held on Thurday 31st May at 8.00pm (doors 7.30pm). Steve will be supported by Worcestershire-based singer-songwriter Mike Weaver. For tickets and further information visit www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk/folk-in-the-foyer-steve-ashley
Steve's songs have been covered by a legion of folk artists, including Fairport Convention, Anne Briggs, Martin Simpson, Wizz Jones, Phil Beer, Maggie Boyle, The Bushwackers, Grace Notes, The Arizonas, Sproatly Smith, The Owl Service and St Agnes Fountain, among many others.
His album career began in 1974 with an award-winning debut - the ground-breaking ‘Stroll On’, which to this day, is still regarded as a folk-rock classic. In total, Steve’s released ten albums of original songs - consistently melding tradition with innovation, and delivering intelligent and inspired English poetry, amid distinctive original melodies.
He’s recorded with Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Robin Williamson, Richard Thompson, Danny Thompson and various members of Fairport Convention and also performed his songs with chamber orchestras conducted by Nick Drake’s arranger, the late Robert Kirby.
A lead singer with The Albion Country Band and his own Ragged Robin, Steve is a consummate entertainer and has what America’s Variety magazine has called ‘one of the funniest dry stage raps’.
In 2013 the prolific rock author, Dave Thompson published a musical biography of Steve’s career: Fire and Wine – An Armchair Guide to Steve Ashley with contributions from Dave Pegg, Chris Leslie, Shirley Collins, Linda Thompson, Colin Irwin and many others.
Steve released his eleventh solo album, Another Day, in January 2017 on Market Square Records. Like its predessesor, the highly acclaimed This Little Game (2015), it features just Steve performing solo with no added session musicians. The album - his tenth collection of original songs - contains fourteen Ashley originals and was recorded in Steve's home by Martin Mitchell during the summer of 2016.
In December, prior to the album's release, the title track was chosen as Song of The Day by Folk Radio. A video was also created for this track by the Public Reading Rooms website. In the new year, the album was well-received in the media, garnering three five-star reviews. Then in May Steve was invited to do a live session and interview with Mark Radcliffe for BBC Radio Two's The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe. For this show Steve recorded three songs live: People In Love, The Months Go Round and Best Wishes.
Last October, Topic Records - in celebration of the label's 75-year-history - included Ships of Shame in their 2CD release, Topic Records: The Real Sound of Folk Music. Then the following month O'Hooley & Tidow opened their new album, WinterFolk Volume 1 with Fire and Wine.
The concert will be held on Thurday 31st May at 8.00pm (doors 7.30pm). Steve will be supported by Worcestershire-based singer-songwriter Mike Weaver. For tickets and further information visit www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk/folk-in-the-foyer-steve-ashley
Final Line-up confirmed for Folk by the Oak
The UK’s largest one day folk festival confirmed the full line-up for their Hertfordshire festival on Sunday 15th July, with Scottish songstress Amy Macdonald taking Folk by the Oak’s finale slot as one of her few UK festival gigs this year.
Her finely honed acoustic set will showcase songs from albums including Under the Stars, released in 2017, and This is the Life the album that shot Amy to fame in 2007 and launched a career selling over 12 million records worldwide. A dedicated live performer and probably one of the most successful young Scottish singer-songwriters on the festival circuit today, Amy has earned a reputation for lively and effervescent performances, easily hitting the level of energy Folk by the Oak regulars have come to expect from their main stage firework finale.
Another big name joining the line-up is ‘Bard of Barking’, Billy Bragg. “We’ve always had an eye on Billy for our Main Stage” said Adam Slough, Festival Director for Folk by the Oak. “His ability to marry his informed political opinions with exceptional song-writing and remarkable live performances has made him a stand-out artist and one we know our audience will enjoy welcoming to our festival. We are very proud to have him joining us this year.”
Also on the Main Stage bill are BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees for ‘Best Group’ Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, whose live shows are famous for their incredible energy and vitality. First formed in 2013, the combination of traditional material pared with inventive arrangements and new work, brought to life by the many and varied talents of Eliza and the band members, has ensured ongoing success and much acclaim for the live performances of this boundary pushing project. Their album, Big Machine, which will feature heavily in their Folk by the Oak set, is also in the running for a Folk Award for ‘Best Album’.
Returning to the festival, having played the first ever Folk by the Oak back in 2008, is ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ nominee Julie Fowlis. Although usually known to sing in Scottish Gaelic, her ability to transcend language has allowed Julie to become a firmly established world music artist with multiple awards and accolades and now a fifth studio album, Alterum, to her name.
Two acts that have previously performed on the festival’s second stage enjoy a return to Folk by the Oak as 2018 Main Stage artists. Last year’s Acorn Stage headliners, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, gave such a memorable and captivating performance that they have been immediately invited back to the festival’s Main Stage. Sam and The Boys are also enjoying a nomination for ‘Best Group’ in this year’s Folk Awards. Also returning will be The Young’uns, whose 2015 Acorn Stage performance was hailed as a triumph of spine tingling harmonies and sparkling wit.
Established in 2012, the Folk by the Oak Acorn Stage has become a platform for a new generation of folk artists, with many talented newcomers performing in recent years. Always as carefully curated as the Main Stage, this year the Acorn Stage will be headlined by the critically acclaimed ‘Guerilla Buskers’ CC Smugglers, whose dedication, showmanship and serious musical talent have seen them rise rapidly from busking outside Old Crow Medicine Show gigs to this coveted headline slot on the Folk by the Oak Acorn Stage.
The penultimate Acorn act this year also has some serious street cred, with live reviews variously describing them as ‘frank’, ‘uncompromising’, ‘raw’, ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘urgent’. East London 5 piece folk band Stick in the Wheel give a contemporary twist to much loved traditional tracks alongside uncompromising original material.
The Acorn Stage will also host: Anglo-Irish all-female bluegrass band Midnight Skyracer, an all-star line-up of some of the UK’s top instrumentalists and singers, including the Carrivick Sisters; the sublime Folk/Americana trio Alden, Patterson & Dashwood; the exceptionally talented Radio 2 Young Folk Award Nominees The Drystones; the unusual and enthralling musical storyteller Harri Endersby and the up-and-coming talents of the London Youth Folk Ensemble.
For tickets and more information, visit www.folkbytheoak.com
Her finely honed acoustic set will showcase songs from albums including Under the Stars, released in 2017, and This is the Life the album that shot Amy to fame in 2007 and launched a career selling over 12 million records worldwide. A dedicated live performer and probably one of the most successful young Scottish singer-songwriters on the festival circuit today, Amy has earned a reputation for lively and effervescent performances, easily hitting the level of energy Folk by the Oak regulars have come to expect from their main stage firework finale.
Another big name joining the line-up is ‘Bard of Barking’, Billy Bragg. “We’ve always had an eye on Billy for our Main Stage” said Adam Slough, Festival Director for Folk by the Oak. “His ability to marry his informed political opinions with exceptional song-writing and remarkable live performances has made him a stand-out artist and one we know our audience will enjoy welcoming to our festival. We are very proud to have him joining us this year.”
Also on the Main Stage bill are BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominees for ‘Best Group’ Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, whose live shows are famous for their incredible energy and vitality. First formed in 2013, the combination of traditional material pared with inventive arrangements and new work, brought to life by the many and varied talents of Eliza and the band members, has ensured ongoing success and much acclaim for the live performances of this boundary pushing project. Their album, Big Machine, which will feature heavily in their Folk by the Oak set, is also in the running for a Folk Award for ‘Best Album’.
Returning to the festival, having played the first ever Folk by the Oak back in 2008, is ‘Folk Singer of the Year’ nominee Julie Fowlis. Although usually known to sing in Scottish Gaelic, her ability to transcend language has allowed Julie to become a firmly established world music artist with multiple awards and accolades and now a fifth studio album, Alterum, to her name.
Two acts that have previously performed on the festival’s second stage enjoy a return to Folk by the Oak as 2018 Main Stage artists. Last year’s Acorn Stage headliners, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, gave such a memorable and captivating performance that they have been immediately invited back to the festival’s Main Stage. Sam and The Boys are also enjoying a nomination for ‘Best Group’ in this year’s Folk Awards. Also returning will be The Young’uns, whose 2015 Acorn Stage performance was hailed as a triumph of spine tingling harmonies and sparkling wit.
Established in 2012, the Folk by the Oak Acorn Stage has become a platform for a new generation of folk artists, with many talented newcomers performing in recent years. Always as carefully curated as the Main Stage, this year the Acorn Stage will be headlined by the critically acclaimed ‘Guerilla Buskers’ CC Smugglers, whose dedication, showmanship and serious musical talent have seen them rise rapidly from busking outside Old Crow Medicine Show gigs to this coveted headline slot on the Folk by the Oak Acorn Stage.
The penultimate Acorn act this year also has some serious street cred, with live reviews variously describing them as ‘frank’, ‘uncompromising’, ‘raw’, ‘no-nonsense’ and ‘urgent’. East London 5 piece folk band Stick in the Wheel give a contemporary twist to much loved traditional tracks alongside uncompromising original material.
The Acorn Stage will also host: Anglo-Irish all-female bluegrass band Midnight Skyracer, an all-star line-up of some of the UK’s top instrumentalists and singers, including the Carrivick Sisters; the sublime Folk/Americana trio Alden, Patterson & Dashwood; the exceptionally talented Radio 2 Young Folk Award Nominees The Drystones; the unusual and enthralling musical storyteller Harri Endersby and the up-and-coming talents of the London Youth Folk Ensemble.
For tickets and more information, visit www.folkbytheoak.com
Cornwall-based songwriter and film-maker team up
Singer/songwriter Sarah McQuaid has teamed up with award-winning filmmaker Brett Harvey for a music video/short film based on the poignant true story of Bill Conner, a father who lost his daughter and cycled 1,400 miles to hear her heart beating again in the body of its recipient.
Underpinned by Sarah’s song “Slow Decay”, from her just-released fifth solo album, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous, the video was released at the end of March, with Conner’s blessings, ahead of Sarah’s April-May UK and Ireland tour dates. To view it, click here: https://youtu.be/4WjeCEoNHjY
In May 2017, five months after Conner’s daughter Abbey died at the age of 20, he decided to honour her short life by cycling from his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to visit Broward Health Medical Center, the hospital that had recovered Abbey’s organs for donation. 1,400 miles into Conner’s trip, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he met with 21-year-old Loumonth Jack Jr., who’d been given 10 days to live before he was saved by Abbey’s heart.
After sharing a minute-long hug, Jack pulled out a stethoscope so that Conner could hear his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time since she died. The family made a recording of Jack’s heart for Conner to listen to as he continued his journey to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation, promoting the efforts of https://www.donatelife.net/. The “Slow Decay” video seeks to further his efforts.
Born in Spain (to a Spanish father and an American mother) and raised in Chicago, Sarah now lives in Cornwall, as do Harvey and the five actors who appear in the film. She will be touring in the UK and Ireland in April and May.
Produced by guitar icon Michael Chapman, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous was released in February on both CD and vinyl and has been garnering a slew of rave reviews: it was described by Dutch music magazine Heaven as “een vroege kandidaat voor folkalbum van 2018” (“an early contender for folk album of 2018”), by The Vinyl District as “a major statement in contemporary folk” and by PopMatters as “a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.”
For Sarah McQuaid's full tour dates, please visit www.sarahmcquaid.com/tour
Underpinned by Sarah’s song “Slow Decay”, from her just-released fifth solo album, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous, the video was released at the end of March, with Conner’s blessings, ahead of Sarah’s April-May UK and Ireland tour dates. To view it, click here: https://youtu.be/4WjeCEoNHjY
In May 2017, five months after Conner’s daughter Abbey died at the age of 20, he decided to honour her short life by cycling from his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to visit Broward Health Medical Center, the hospital that had recovered Abbey’s organs for donation. 1,400 miles into Conner’s trip, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he met with 21-year-old Loumonth Jack Jr., who’d been given 10 days to live before he was saved by Abbey’s heart.
After sharing a minute-long hug, Jack pulled out a stethoscope so that Conner could hear his daughter’s heartbeat for the first time since she died. The family made a recording of Jack’s heart for Conner to listen to as he continued his journey to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation, promoting the efforts of https://www.donatelife.net/. The “Slow Decay” video seeks to further his efforts.
Born in Spain (to a Spanish father and an American mother) and raised in Chicago, Sarah now lives in Cornwall, as do Harvey and the five actors who appear in the film. She will be touring in the UK and Ireland in April and May.
Produced by guitar icon Michael Chapman, If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous was released in February on both CD and vinyl and has been garnering a slew of rave reviews: it was described by Dutch music magazine Heaven as “een vroege kandidaat voor folkalbum van 2018” (“an early contender for folk album of 2018”), by The Vinyl District as “a major statement in contemporary folk” and by PopMatters as “a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.”
For Sarah McQuaid's full tour dates, please visit www.sarahmcquaid.com/tour
Keeping Holywell's music tradition alive
Passionate music lover and promoter Geoff Smith is keeping Holywell’s music tradition alive and singing in the heart of Oxford, with a regular new concert series that's already off to a flying start: Holywell Music & Folk.
Holywell Music Room first opened its beautiful auditorium to the ears of the discerning music lover in 1748, and the room has hosted the best around for over 269 years now, from Handel to the Oxford Philharmonic.
Now, thanks to lifelong music fan Geoff Smith (pictured) - the driving force behind the exciting new live music venture Holywell Music & Folk - some of the best artists from the folk and singer-songwriter scene are now playing at this historic venue in the heart of Oxford.
Geoff has attracted some exciting support from Patron artists of this new venture, all of whom will be performing at the venue in 2018: “I am thrilled to be joining the 2018 line up at Holywell Music and Folk myself and will bring real-life stories of inspirational and relatable people from the past including songs from my latest project No Petticoats Here” says Louise Jordan. Acclaimed Somerset singer-songwriter Reg Meuross is looking forward to performing in July, “This is a fantastic initiative by Holywell Music & Folk and I'm proud to support it in every way I can."
Brilliant Folk Award nominees Ninebarrow are also excited: “The Holywell Music Room is stunning! There is an intangible, magical quality to the space. So, when you take a city as vibrant as Oxford, a concert programme of world class folk and roots music, and a venue the calibre of the Holywell Music Room, you really have got a recipe for something rather special – and we can’t wait for you to experience it!"
The programme in this unique U-shaped auditorium kicked off in January with a very special one off one-man show with Teddy Thompson, the son of Richard and Linda Thompson, described by the New York Times as “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation.” Next came a sell out show from Oxford based Anglo-Cymraeg-Galego four-piece folk band Xogara, followed by an extraordinary performance from Russian born singer-songwriter Daria Kulesh.
For more information and a list of gigs lined up for this season, visit www.holywellmusicandfolk.co.uk
Holywell Music Room first opened its beautiful auditorium to the ears of the discerning music lover in 1748, and the room has hosted the best around for over 269 years now, from Handel to the Oxford Philharmonic.
Now, thanks to lifelong music fan Geoff Smith (pictured) - the driving force behind the exciting new live music venture Holywell Music & Folk - some of the best artists from the folk and singer-songwriter scene are now playing at this historic venue in the heart of Oxford.
Geoff has attracted some exciting support from Patron artists of this new venture, all of whom will be performing at the venue in 2018: “I am thrilled to be joining the 2018 line up at Holywell Music and Folk myself and will bring real-life stories of inspirational and relatable people from the past including songs from my latest project No Petticoats Here” says Louise Jordan. Acclaimed Somerset singer-songwriter Reg Meuross is looking forward to performing in July, “This is a fantastic initiative by Holywell Music & Folk and I'm proud to support it in every way I can."
Brilliant Folk Award nominees Ninebarrow are also excited: “The Holywell Music Room is stunning! There is an intangible, magical quality to the space. So, when you take a city as vibrant as Oxford, a concert programme of world class folk and roots music, and a venue the calibre of the Holywell Music Room, you really have got a recipe for something rather special – and we can’t wait for you to experience it!"
The programme in this unique U-shaped auditorium kicked off in January with a very special one off one-man show with Teddy Thompson, the son of Richard and Linda Thompson, described by the New York Times as “one of the most gifted singer-songwriters of his generation.” Next came a sell out show from Oxford based Anglo-Cymraeg-Galego four-piece folk band Xogara, followed by an extraordinary performance from Russian born singer-songwriter Daria Kulesh.
For more information and a list of gigs lined up for this season, visit www.holywellmusicandfolk.co.uk
Maverick Festival announces eleventh year line-up
Following a milestone tenth anniversary last year, the UK’s first and finest Americana festival is thrilled to announce the 2018 line up. This year Maverick Festival will take place from Friday 6th - Sunday 8th July, showcasing the most authentic and talented musicians from both sides of the Atlantic.
Over the past decade Maverick Festival organisers have stuck to what they believe in, presenting exciting and inspiring line-ups year after year.
First up we welcome North Carolina's Jonathan Byrd to the bill; best known for his narrative tales of love, life and death in America, Jonathan will be heading over with his band to make his Maverick debut. Returning to Maverick by popular request are one of the hottest acts to emerge from the gutsier underbelly of Nashville’s music scene - husband and wife duo The Danberrys (Ben DeBerry and Dorothy Daniel), who’s latest release created a huge amount of excitement and praise from critics from both sides of the Atlantic.
We also welcome Canadian Alt-country singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger to this year’s line-up;
Leeroy is a Canadian wordsmith with a punk Indie past who’s made quite a name for himself on the UK roots scene. Leeroy shares the bill with fellow Canadian and Juno award nominee Terra Lightfoot, who wowed crowds at last years festival with her stomping Blues / Rock.
Next in line we have Americana and Southern blues rock artist, Arkansas Dave; who is very much rooted in the music created by his predecessors. Dave’s music is interestingly original, blending with the humble sounds of the South. Heading over all the way from Kentucky are charming female duo The Local Honeys, who will be bringing their delightful Bluegrass sound to this years festival; plus, to top off the weekend we have some 100% original Junkerdash straight out of Idaho from Hillfolk Noir, a sound brewed from folk, bluegrass, punk and string-band blues
For more information, visit maverickfestival.co.uk
Over the past decade Maverick Festival organisers have stuck to what they believe in, presenting exciting and inspiring line-ups year after year.
First up we welcome North Carolina's Jonathan Byrd to the bill; best known for his narrative tales of love, life and death in America, Jonathan will be heading over with his band to make his Maverick debut. Returning to Maverick by popular request are one of the hottest acts to emerge from the gutsier underbelly of Nashville’s music scene - husband and wife duo The Danberrys (Ben DeBerry and Dorothy Daniel), who’s latest release created a huge amount of excitement and praise from critics from both sides of the Atlantic.
We also welcome Canadian Alt-country singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger to this year’s line-up;
Leeroy is a Canadian wordsmith with a punk Indie past who’s made quite a name for himself on the UK roots scene. Leeroy shares the bill with fellow Canadian and Juno award nominee Terra Lightfoot, who wowed crowds at last years festival with her stomping Blues / Rock.
Next in line we have Americana and Southern blues rock artist, Arkansas Dave; who is very much rooted in the music created by his predecessors. Dave’s music is interestingly original, blending with the humble sounds of the South. Heading over all the way from Kentucky are charming female duo The Local Honeys, who will be bringing their delightful Bluegrass sound to this years festival; plus, to top off the weekend we have some 100% original Junkerdash straight out of Idaho from Hillfolk Noir, a sound brewed from folk, bluegrass, punk and string-band blues
For more information, visit maverickfestival.co.uk
Roots, Country and Blues stars lined up for Southwell
There’s a perfect blend of international stars, festival favourites and regional talent lined up for this year’s Gate To Southwell in June, and one of America's most successful singer-songwriters, Gretchen Peters, will be among the headline acts.
Grammy-nominated and recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, she’s regarded as one of the best voices in country and roots music; her hit album 'Blackbirds' was described as "an Americana tour de force" by The Sun while Uncut magazine hailed her as "one of Nashville's greatest talents of the past two decades". Gretchen (pictured) will be performing in the Southwell Big Top on Saturday June 9th.
Already booked for the East Midlands’ premier roots and acoustic event are hugely-successful veteran Geordies Lindisfarne, award-winning folkies The Young’uns, one of Ireland’s greatest singers Cara Dillon performing with special guests, returning Danish roots stars Habadekuk, extraordinarily funky Latin ska band Dinamo from Mallorca, celebrated Devon guitarist and singer-songwriter John Smith, acclaimed Canadian fiddlers The Fitzgeralds and 2017 BBC Folk Singer of the Year Kris Drever.
There’ll also be a special Blues Night (Thursday 7th) featuring Britain’s number one R&B band Nine Below Zero, Louisiana bluesmen The Lil’ Jimmy Reed Band and the UK’s best slide guitarist Johnny Dickinson.
Also joining the eclectic, international bill there’s Scotland’s Blue Rose Code, the Canadian jazz-meets-klezmer-meets-folk of The Boxcar Boys, acclaimed Southwell regulars Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, 2017 BBC Group of the Year The Furrow Collective, irresistibly entertaining Canadian hillbillies Ol Savannah, the traditional Celtic dance fused with funk & jazz of Dallahan, much-loved global troubadour Rory McLeod, the Canadian roots rock of James Keelaghan & Hugh McMillan, FATEA folk award winners the Luke Jackson Trio, highly-rated harmonious Celts Mongoose plus The Outside Track’s blend of Canadian and Celtic musics, and award-winning songstress Vikki Clayton, who has sung with both Fairport and Fotheringay.
While charismatic Jeff Warner, one of America’s foremost performers and interpreters of traditional music, returns following his excellent appearance in 2014, Truckstop Honeymoon - fusing bluegrass, punk rock and soul with music hall jazz and rock & roll - will be newcomers to Southwell in June. They took to the road in 2005 after their New Orleans home, and their recording studio, were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, they’ve settled in Kansas but still continue to travel the world with their four kids. Another welcome visitor is Joshua Cook, who also brings his unique brand of raw rock & roll, hard R&B and electric blues to Southwell, all the way from Kansas USA.
Adding to this fine mix there are also some very talented Midlands acts including the megafolk of Birmingham’s Destroyers, the stunning harmonies of Lincolnshire’s Winter Wilson, the country blues of Derbyshire’s Rogue Embers, the bluegrass Americana of North Lincolnshire’s The Life And Times Of The Brothers Hogg – one of last year’s highlights – plus the fantastic folk-country of the highly-rated Rye Sisters also from Lincolnshire. Throw into this regional music stew the extraordinary land-locked pirate prog-rock-meets-world-music of Nottingham’s Seas Of Mirth and clearly there’s something for the most eclectic and eccentric of tastes.
Derby’s Josh O’Keefe might sound like an unlikely contender for the role of the next Bob Dylan or the heir to Woody Guthrie, yet his politically-charged songwriting, his harmonica-playing and his powerful gravelly vocals are attracting high praise and respectful comparisons. Only in his mid-20s, Josh has moved to the Nashville skyline to inhale the ghosts of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and already has a new record deal.
With new acts still being added to Southwell’s best line-up yet - including the great roots and blues guitarist Martin Harley, returning-by-popular-demand Irish traditional band Ranagri, Bristol’s Sheelanagig duo of Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow, award-winning folk singer-songwriter Luke Daniels, acclaimed Irish songwriter Don Mescall, the inspiring alternative folk of Brighton’s Ellie Ford, the wonderfully-talented duo of Alex Cumming & Nicola Beazley… - there’s also the East Anglian Americana of The Shackleton Trio, the warm comedy compering and songs of Keith Donnelly, seasoned Leeds guitarist Benjamin William Pike and promising folk duo Harbottle & Jonas.
They’ll all add to the summer party atmosphere at this most family-friendly of festivals, which also features music workshops, ceilidhs (featuring top notch dance bands at Hoofers such as Banter, Tautas Roks, Urban Folk Theory and the English Contra Dance Band), dance displays by Morris sides from across the UK, children’s entertainment (starring Dan The Hat), a craft fair plus great food and drink stalls.
Discounted tickets are still available for this fantastic four-day event in beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside from Thursday June 7th to Sunday June 10th.
To buy tickets and find out much more about all the artists who’ve been booked so far, visit the Gate To Southwell 2018 website www.gtsf.uk
Grammy-nominated and recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, she’s regarded as one of the best voices in country and roots music; her hit album 'Blackbirds' was described as "an Americana tour de force" by The Sun while Uncut magazine hailed her as "one of Nashville's greatest talents of the past two decades". Gretchen (pictured) will be performing in the Southwell Big Top on Saturday June 9th.
Already booked for the East Midlands’ premier roots and acoustic event are hugely-successful veteran Geordies Lindisfarne, award-winning folkies The Young’uns, one of Ireland’s greatest singers Cara Dillon performing with special guests, returning Danish roots stars Habadekuk, extraordinarily funky Latin ska band Dinamo from Mallorca, celebrated Devon guitarist and singer-songwriter John Smith, acclaimed Canadian fiddlers The Fitzgeralds and 2017 BBC Folk Singer of the Year Kris Drever.
There’ll also be a special Blues Night (Thursday 7th) featuring Britain’s number one R&B band Nine Below Zero, Louisiana bluesmen The Lil’ Jimmy Reed Band and the UK’s best slide guitarist Johnny Dickinson.
Also joining the eclectic, international bill there’s Scotland’s Blue Rose Code, the Canadian jazz-meets-klezmer-meets-folk of The Boxcar Boys, acclaimed Southwell regulars Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar, 2017 BBC Group of the Year The Furrow Collective, irresistibly entertaining Canadian hillbillies Ol Savannah, the traditional Celtic dance fused with funk & jazz of Dallahan, much-loved global troubadour Rory McLeod, the Canadian roots rock of James Keelaghan & Hugh McMillan, FATEA folk award winners the Luke Jackson Trio, highly-rated harmonious Celts Mongoose plus The Outside Track’s blend of Canadian and Celtic musics, and award-winning songstress Vikki Clayton, who has sung with both Fairport and Fotheringay.
While charismatic Jeff Warner, one of America’s foremost performers and interpreters of traditional music, returns following his excellent appearance in 2014, Truckstop Honeymoon - fusing bluegrass, punk rock and soul with music hall jazz and rock & roll - will be newcomers to Southwell in June. They took to the road in 2005 after their New Orleans home, and their recording studio, were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. Since then, they’ve settled in Kansas but still continue to travel the world with their four kids. Another welcome visitor is Joshua Cook, who also brings his unique brand of raw rock & roll, hard R&B and electric blues to Southwell, all the way from Kansas USA.
Adding to this fine mix there are also some very talented Midlands acts including the megafolk of Birmingham’s Destroyers, the stunning harmonies of Lincolnshire’s Winter Wilson, the country blues of Derbyshire’s Rogue Embers, the bluegrass Americana of North Lincolnshire’s The Life And Times Of The Brothers Hogg – one of last year’s highlights – plus the fantastic folk-country of the highly-rated Rye Sisters also from Lincolnshire. Throw into this regional music stew the extraordinary land-locked pirate prog-rock-meets-world-music of Nottingham’s Seas Of Mirth and clearly there’s something for the most eclectic and eccentric of tastes.
Derby’s Josh O’Keefe might sound like an unlikely contender for the role of the next Bob Dylan or the heir to Woody Guthrie, yet his politically-charged songwriting, his harmonica-playing and his powerful gravelly vocals are attracting high praise and respectful comparisons. Only in his mid-20s, Josh has moved to the Nashville skyline to inhale the ghosts of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and already has a new record deal.
With new acts still being added to Southwell’s best line-up yet - including the great roots and blues guitarist Martin Harley, returning-by-popular-demand Irish traditional band Ranagri, Bristol’s Sheelanagig duo of Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow, award-winning folk singer-songwriter Luke Daniels, acclaimed Irish songwriter Don Mescall, the inspiring alternative folk of Brighton’s Ellie Ford, the wonderfully-talented duo of Alex Cumming & Nicola Beazley… - there’s also the East Anglian Americana of The Shackleton Trio, the warm comedy compering and songs of Keith Donnelly, seasoned Leeds guitarist Benjamin William Pike and promising folk duo Harbottle & Jonas.
They’ll all add to the summer party atmosphere at this most family-friendly of festivals, which also features music workshops, ceilidhs (featuring top notch dance bands at Hoofers such as Banter, Tautas Roks, Urban Folk Theory and the English Contra Dance Band), dance displays by Morris sides from across the UK, children’s entertainment (starring Dan The Hat), a craft fair plus great food and drink stalls.
Discounted tickets are still available for this fantastic four-day event in beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside from Thursday June 7th to Sunday June 10th.
To buy tickets and find out much more about all the artists who’ve been booked so far, visit the Gate To Southwell 2018 website www.gtsf.uk
Music legends announced for Cropredy 2018
Fairport's Cropredy Convention music festival will be joined by some legendary performers for the 2018 event, which takes place on Thursday 9th, Friday 10th and Saturday 11th August.
Cropredy 2018 will feature two sets by host band Fairport Convention. They will open the festival on Thursday with a short acoustic set then take the stage again on Saturday to close the event with their traditional two-hour headline set.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson headlines on Thursday 9th August, presenting his legendary 'Pet Sounds' album.
Friday’s headline act will be Levellers who are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary year and making a welcome return to Cropredy. This legendary folkrock powerhouse, winners of the prestigious 'Festival Feel-Good Act' award, will play an exuberant set.
On Saturday, Cropredy will present Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart. Accompanying himself on guitar, Al’s stage show is characterized by fine musicianship, beautifully crafted songs and an intimate rapport with his audience.
Other iconic British Folk musicians apparing this year include Kate Rusby and Oysterband,
Award-winning band Le Vent du Nord performs traditional Québécois music and contemporary material with infectious enthusiasm. Radio 2 Folk Award winner Sam Kelly is a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. After a year off, BAFTA nominee Richard Digance returns to his traditional Saturday slot to get the day off to a flying start. As always Cropredy will present a set by the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner.
Three-day festival tickets cost £135. Camping tickets cost £45 for three nights. The first 1,000 orders will receive a Christmas card signed by all five members of Fairport Convention and the first 2,000 will get a souvenir Cropredy car window sticker. All tickets are exclusively available from Fairport Convention's website. For more information visit www.fairportconvention.com
Cropredy 2018 will feature two sets by host band Fairport Convention. They will open the festival on Thursday with a short acoustic set then take the stage again on Saturday to close the event with their traditional two-hour headline set.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson headlines on Thursday 9th August, presenting his legendary 'Pet Sounds' album.
Friday’s headline act will be Levellers who are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary year and making a welcome return to Cropredy. This legendary folkrock powerhouse, winners of the prestigious 'Festival Feel-Good Act' award, will play an exuberant set.
On Saturday, Cropredy will present Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart. Accompanying himself on guitar, Al’s stage show is characterized by fine musicianship, beautifully crafted songs and an intimate rapport with his audience.
Other iconic British Folk musicians apparing this year include Kate Rusby and Oysterband,
Award-winning band Le Vent du Nord performs traditional Québécois music and contemporary material with infectious enthusiasm. Radio 2 Folk Award winner Sam Kelly is a talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. After a year off, BAFTA nominee Richard Digance returns to his traditional Saturday slot to get the day off to a flying start. As always Cropredy will present a set by the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner.
Three-day festival tickets cost £135. Camping tickets cost £45 for three nights. The first 1,000 orders will receive a Christmas card signed by all five members of Fairport Convention and the first 2,000 will get a souvenir Cropredy car window sticker. All tickets are exclusively available from Fairport Convention's website. For more information visit www.fairportconvention.com
Downend Fok Club announces Summer programme
Bristol's burgeoning Downend Folk Club has announced its Summer programme for 2018.
It features three of the best up-and-coming acts on the folk scene at the moment, including a double BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, a former member of Bellowhead and a duo hailed by fRoots magazine as “spellbinding”.
Kicking off on Friday 18th May at Frenchay Village Hall will be DAOIRI FARRELL. Seemingly arriving on the scene as a fully formed musician in the last year, Daoiri has in fact been studying traditional Irish music for a number of years and has accompanied most of the major names in Irish music including Christy Moore, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, all of whom are fans. Daoiri scooped ‘Horizon’ and ‘Best Traditional Song’ at 2017’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Opening the evening’s entertainment will be ROSIE HOOD, herself a former ‘Horizon’ nominee.
Headliners on Friday 15th June will be RACHAEL McSHANE & THE CARTOGRAPHERS as the club ventures to a new venue at Downend School. Rachael is a singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player based in the North East of England. An original member of folk big band Bellowhead, Rachael toured internationally with them as well as making several TV appearances. Bellowhead recorded 5 studio albums, and won a total of 8 BBC Folk Awards in their twelve years together. She is now playing with a brand new band, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord and melodeon player Julian Sutton. The evening will begin with a set from local four-piece ROAD NOT TAKEN.
Rounding off the programme back at Frenchay Village Hall will be HANNAH SANDERS & BEN SAVAGE, on Friday 20th July. A chance meeting at their local Black Fen Folk Club in Cambridge uncovered Hannah and Ben’s shared musical passions and sympathies, that over time has developed into a unique and intimate show of American roots and English folk music. Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are a folk duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet feel refreshingly unique. Exeter-based singer/songwriter & guitarist BEN MORGAN-BROWN.
For tickets and more information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
It features three of the best up-and-coming acts on the folk scene at the moment, including a double BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, a former member of Bellowhead and a duo hailed by fRoots magazine as “spellbinding”.
Kicking off on Friday 18th May at Frenchay Village Hall will be DAOIRI FARRELL. Seemingly arriving on the scene as a fully formed musician in the last year, Daoiri has in fact been studying traditional Irish music for a number of years and has accompanied most of the major names in Irish music including Christy Moore, Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny, all of whom are fans. Daoiri scooped ‘Horizon’ and ‘Best Traditional Song’ at 2017’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Opening the evening’s entertainment will be ROSIE HOOD, herself a former ‘Horizon’ nominee.
Headliners on Friday 15th June will be RACHAEL McSHANE & THE CARTOGRAPHERS as the club ventures to a new venue at Downend School. Rachael is a singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player based in the North East of England. An original member of folk big band Bellowhead, Rachael toured internationally with them as well as making several TV appearances. Bellowhead recorded 5 studio albums, and won a total of 8 BBC Folk Awards in their twelve years together. She is now playing with a brand new band, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord and melodeon player Julian Sutton. The evening will begin with a set from local four-piece ROAD NOT TAKEN.
Rounding off the programme back at Frenchay Village Hall will be HANNAH SANDERS & BEN SAVAGE, on Friday 20th July. A chance meeting at their local Black Fen Folk Club in Cambridge uncovered Hannah and Ben’s shared musical passions and sympathies, that over time has developed into a unique and intimate show of American roots and English folk music. Huddled round a single microphone, singing intimate duets with just mountain dulcimer, dobro and guitar Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are a folk duo that look & sound classically timeless, yet feel refreshingly unique. Exeter-based singer/songwriter & guitarist BEN MORGAN-BROWN.
For tickets and more information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
First acts announced for Musicport Whitby 2018
The first acts performing at this year’s Musicport Festival in Whitby have been confirmed. The festival runs from 19-21st October at Whitby Pavilion and it then goes on tour to the surrounding North Yorkshire villages from 22nd-26th October.
Top UK acts performing this year (with several more still to be confirmed) include Leveret, Blackbeard's Tea Party, O'Hooley & Tidow and Edwina Hayes.
Adding international flavour re Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, Mokoomba from Zimbabwe, Dobet Gnahoré (a Grammy Award winning singer from the Ivory Coast), six young musicians from Réunion on their first UK visit - Detyn Maloya Band - Ernu Chimu from Namibia and, returning from Sweden, one of that country's leading folk bands, Kolonien.
Musicport is a not-for-profit community business that started back in 2000 with a one-off festival for the Millennium, and that one-off has led to many more. The festival celebrated its 18th birthday in 2017, so this year is number 19! For tickets and more information, visit www.musicportfestival.com
Top UK acts performing this year (with several more still to be confirmed) include Leveret, Blackbeard's Tea Party, O'Hooley & Tidow and Edwina Hayes.
Adding international flavour re Vieux Farka Touré from Mali, Mokoomba from Zimbabwe, Dobet Gnahoré (a Grammy Award winning singer from the Ivory Coast), six young musicians from Réunion on their first UK visit - Detyn Maloya Band - Ernu Chimu from Namibia and, returning from Sweden, one of that country's leading folk bands, Kolonien.
Musicport is a not-for-profit community business that started back in 2000 with a one-off festival for the Millennium, and that one-off has led to many more. The festival celebrated its 18th birthday in 2017, so this year is number 19! For tickets and more information, visit www.musicportfestival.com
