First acts announced for fortieth Cropredy Festival
2019 marks the fortieth anniversary of Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival. A stunning line-up is planned to mark the occasion, and the first headliners were announced as tickets went on sale at the start of December.
This year's festival opens on Thursday 8th August with return of The Waterboys. Mike Scott and his band played an amazing set five years ago at Cropredy and the organisers just had to have them back.
Richard Thompson and friends really was a highlight on fairport's golden jubilee celebrations and he returns to join Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg and Simon Nichol for 2019.
It will be a first appearance at Cropredy for Martin Simpson, one of Britain’s greatest acoustic guitarists. Nominated an astonishing 32 times in the BBC Folk Awards, Martin will be showcasing – and signing - his brand new album at Cropredy.
Also new to Cropredy, Daphne’s Flight feature five of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation. Christine Collister, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson and Chris While.
Fresh from a world tour with Led Zep legend Robert Plant, multiple award-winner Seth Lakeman is welcomed back to Cropredy after a ten year absence. Long overdue! Considered a key part of the Canterbury scene, Caravan blend psychedelic rock, jazz and classical influences to create a distinctive prog rock sound. They will make their first appearance at Cropredy in 2019 too.
Also on the festival line up (8th-10th August 2019) are Richard Digance, Martin Barre, Wildwood Kin - with many more to be announced. For tickets and further information visit www.fairportconvention.com
This year's festival opens on Thursday 8th August with return of The Waterboys. Mike Scott and his band played an amazing set five years ago at Cropredy and the organisers just had to have them back.
Richard Thompson and friends really was a highlight on fairport's golden jubilee celebrations and he returns to join Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg and Simon Nichol for 2019.
It will be a first appearance at Cropredy for Martin Simpson, one of Britain’s greatest acoustic guitarists. Nominated an astonishing 32 times in the BBC Folk Awards, Martin will be showcasing – and signing - his brand new album at Cropredy.
Also new to Cropredy, Daphne’s Flight feature five of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation. Christine Collister, Melanie Harrold, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson and Chris While.
Fresh from a world tour with Led Zep legend Robert Plant, multiple award-winner Seth Lakeman is welcomed back to Cropredy after a ten year absence. Long overdue! Considered a key part of the Canterbury scene, Caravan blend psychedelic rock, jazz and classical influences to create a distinctive prog rock sound. They will make their first appearance at Cropredy in 2019 too.
Also on the festival line up (8th-10th August 2019) are Richard Digance, Martin Barre, Wildwood Kin - with many more to be announced. For tickets and further information visit www.fairportconvention.com
Musicport success, and new a festival for 2019
From its opening parade on Friday 19th October led by Soznak & Runaway Samba Fire Jugglers & a junk instrument orchestra through to the final concert on 26th October with Martha Tilston as part of its village tour, this year’s Musicport festival (the 19th) was a resounding success.
Main stage performances by Blackbeards Tea Party, Zimbabwean band Mokoomba, reggae artist Natty, Malian star Vieux Farka Toure, Swedish band Kolonien & the uniquely wonderful Tankus The Henge were particular highlights. Standing ovations for Jasdeep Singh Degun Quartet, O’Hooley & Tidow & The Angel Brothers in the theatre proved that this more intimate stage had much to offer whilst John Hegley, Two Man Ting, Doomfolk, Mackie, Simon Wood & Tamara, Friends Of The Family all found really appreciative audiences on the smaller stages.
Throughout it all the DJs in the hub kept a great vibe going and with their special guest Adrian Sherwood proving a great late-night success on Saturday. Blessed with great weather over most of the main weekend, sitting outdoors between acts and the sea dip for charity on Sunday proved popular too.
With really good audiences for the village tour events too plus several school workshops organiser Jim McLaughlin said “Over the years we have developed an audience & a staff team who appreciate music, dance and spoken word in all its different forms and who come together in a spirit of community which ensures it is one of the friendliest and most trouble-free events you could imagine . All the workshops were really well attended proving that people want to engage with the artists as well as be entertained by them and stretching the village tour to 5 days ensures we provide more engagement with the rural communities”
Heading into its 20th year Musicport is hoping to bring together next October a stellar line-up of some its favourite acts alongside some acts who it has long wanted to bring to Whitby. The dates for 2019 are 18th-20th October.
Also announced over the weekend is a new outdoor festival in the summer of 2019 (28-30th June) at Mulgrave Castle, Lythe. Elephant At The Castle Festival will bring together the annual Normafest alongside Musicport to celebrate the 80th birthday of the grand dame of English folk music, Norma Waterson MBE from Robin Hoods Bay. On a stunning site with on-site camping it is hoped this will become an annual event boosting the local economy and attracting big name artists. For more details visit elephantatthecastle.com
Main stage performances by Blackbeards Tea Party, Zimbabwean band Mokoomba, reggae artist Natty, Malian star Vieux Farka Toure, Swedish band Kolonien & the uniquely wonderful Tankus The Henge were particular highlights. Standing ovations for Jasdeep Singh Degun Quartet, O’Hooley & Tidow & The Angel Brothers in the theatre proved that this more intimate stage had much to offer whilst John Hegley, Two Man Ting, Doomfolk, Mackie, Simon Wood & Tamara, Friends Of The Family all found really appreciative audiences on the smaller stages.
Throughout it all the DJs in the hub kept a great vibe going and with their special guest Adrian Sherwood proving a great late-night success on Saturday. Blessed with great weather over most of the main weekend, sitting outdoors between acts and the sea dip for charity on Sunday proved popular too.
With really good audiences for the village tour events too plus several school workshops organiser Jim McLaughlin said “Over the years we have developed an audience & a staff team who appreciate music, dance and spoken word in all its different forms and who come together in a spirit of community which ensures it is one of the friendliest and most trouble-free events you could imagine . All the workshops were really well attended proving that people want to engage with the artists as well as be entertained by them and stretching the village tour to 5 days ensures we provide more engagement with the rural communities”
Heading into its 20th year Musicport is hoping to bring together next October a stellar line-up of some its favourite acts alongside some acts who it has long wanted to bring to Whitby. The dates for 2019 are 18th-20th October.
Also announced over the weekend is a new outdoor festival in the summer of 2019 (28-30th June) at Mulgrave Castle, Lythe. Elephant At The Castle Festival will bring together the annual Normafest alongside Musicport to celebrate the 80th birthday of the grand dame of English folk music, Norma Waterson MBE from Robin Hoods Bay. On a stunning site with on-site camping it is hoped this will become an annual event boosting the local economy and attracting big name artists. For more details visit elephantatthecastle.com
New faces and old favourites for Evesham in 2019
Following a highly-succesful third season at Evesham Arts Centre, Folk in The Foyer returns to Evesham Arts Centre on Thursday 21st February with the multi-talented duo Jacob & Drinkwater.
The pair's energetic live shows get called "spellbinding". Their recordings win airplay and glowing reviews from Radio 2’s Folk Show, BBC 6's Tom Robinson, Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing, BBC Bristol, FRUK, Spiral Earth, Louder Than War and ‘Whispering’ Bob TV.
Singer-songwriter Tobias Ben Jacob's original writing weaves love, nostalgia, adversity and hope - and has taken him to BBC Madia Vale Studios, Nashville Tennessee & a run of summer festivals including Glastonbury and Larmer Tree.
Lukas Drinkwater - who has previously appeared at Evesham Arts Centre with Ange Hardy - is known as "one of busiest musicians in the UK", a producer, performer and session player in demand in the worlds of folk and jazz, he has featured on many acclaimed albums and worked with a long list of illustrious performers.
The duo'€™s dynamic live show has drawn comparisons with the pairing of John Martyn and Danny Thompson - Jacob's sweeping vocals and Drinkwater's nimbly rhythmic double bass never fail to captivate. Jacob & Drinkwater's Evesham Concert takes place on Thursday 21st February at 8pm and tickets are available in advance online at www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk/folk-in-the-foyer or from the Box Office (at The Almonry Museum, 01386 446944) or on the door.
Also lined up for the new 2019 season are 'the Rutland Troubadour' Paul McClure, London based singer-songwriter Saskia Griffiths-Moore, singer Nick Hart from East Anglia who are making their debuts in Evesham. Local favourite Colin Pitts returms to headline June's concert, and the season concludes in the summer with an evening of music from Bristol's rising young folk singer Susie Dobson, with Ant Miles and Mike Weaver.
The pair's energetic live shows get called "spellbinding". Their recordings win airplay and glowing reviews from Radio 2’s Folk Show, BBC 6's Tom Robinson, Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing, BBC Bristol, FRUK, Spiral Earth, Louder Than War and ‘Whispering’ Bob TV.
Singer-songwriter Tobias Ben Jacob's original writing weaves love, nostalgia, adversity and hope - and has taken him to BBC Madia Vale Studios, Nashville Tennessee & a run of summer festivals including Glastonbury and Larmer Tree.
Lukas Drinkwater - who has previously appeared at Evesham Arts Centre with Ange Hardy - is known as "one of busiest musicians in the UK", a producer, performer and session player in demand in the worlds of folk and jazz, he has featured on many acclaimed albums and worked with a long list of illustrious performers.
The duo'€™s dynamic live show has drawn comparisons with the pairing of John Martyn and Danny Thompson - Jacob's sweeping vocals and Drinkwater's nimbly rhythmic double bass never fail to captivate. Jacob & Drinkwater's Evesham Concert takes place on Thursday 21st February at 8pm and tickets are available in advance online at www.eveshamartscentre.co.uk/folk-in-the-foyer or from the Box Office (at The Almonry Museum, 01386 446944) or on the door.
Also lined up for the new 2019 season are 'the Rutland Troubadour' Paul McClure, London based singer-songwriter Saskia Griffiths-Moore, singer Nick Hart from East Anglia who are making their debuts in Evesham. Local favourite Colin Pitts returms to headline June's concert, and the season concludes in the summer with an evening of music from Bristol's rising young folk singer Susie Dobson, with Ant Miles and Mike Weaver.
Earlybird tickets go on sale for Gate to Southwell
It may be half a year away but Early Bird tickets are on sale and the first wave of music stars has already been announced for next summer’s Gate To Southwell Festival. Running from Thursday June 6th to Sunday June 9th 2019, it’s now one of the UK’s best-loved acoustic, roots and folk music events, featuring well-established acts and exciting new artists from across the music world.
Scotland’s Skippinish already rank among the most powerful and entertaining bands on the Celtic music scene while Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys (pictured) are one of the most exciting folk-meets-rock-meets blues groups in Britain today. Alongside them, there’ll be the fine acoustic pop-rock of Morrissey & Marshall, top piratical dance band Blackbeard’s Tea Party, plus talented young “supergroup” The Tweed Project, featuring Southwell favourites Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar with BBC Folk Award winners Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente.
The Gate To Southwell festival has received great responses to previous tribute events such as Dylan@50 and the Summer Of Love celebration. June 2019’s Saturday concert will feature an all-star Woodstock collaboration to mark 50 years since the pivotal peace and music festival. Plus the immensely talented Sunjay will appear on Sunday to mark the 60th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death by reprising his acclaimed role in the successful travelling show, Buddy Holly & The Crickets.
Leicester singer-songwriter and activist Grace Petrie will return to the festival for 2019, having released her highly-acclaimed ‘Queer As Folk’ eighth album, as will the immensely talented and original Irish performers Ranagri. And, having had to miss the 2018 festival through illness, we’re delighted that one of Edinburgh’s finest musical sons Ross Wilson – aka Blue Rose Code – will also be on the bill next June.
Adding to Southwell’s typically eclectic wave of names, there’s the contemporary folk of the Bird In The Belly collective, the gypsy Hot Club jazz of Nottingham’s Maniere Des Bohemiens while on the other there’s the bizarrely brilliant, madly entertaining John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett, over forty years on from their cult solo hit ‘Really Free’. Throw into the mix French-born folksinger Flossie Malavialle and lovable Geordie singer-songwriter-kids-entertainer Keith Donnelly and, with many more acts to be announced, the early festival forecast looks extremely bright.
With excellent children’s entertainment and camping facilities, in a beautiful Nottinghamshire location, there’ll also be dance sides from all over the UK, a beer and cider festival, a craft fair plus many other special family events.
2019 will be the 13th annual gathering and previous line-ups have included big names such as Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Bellowhead, Jools Holland, Hayseed Dixie, Kate Rusby and Lindisfarne. As the Irish singer Cara Dillon said, the 2018 festival was “incredible, just the right size, you can feel the energy”.
With many more acts for 2019 still to be announced, Early Bird tickets are on sale via www.gtsf.uk
Scotland’s Skippinish already rank among the most powerful and entertaining bands on the Celtic music scene while Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys (pictured) are one of the most exciting folk-meets-rock-meets blues groups in Britain today. Alongside them, there’ll be the fine acoustic pop-rock of Morrissey & Marshall, top piratical dance band Blackbeard’s Tea Party, plus talented young “supergroup” The Tweed Project, featuring Southwell favourites Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar with BBC Folk Award winners Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente.
The Gate To Southwell festival has received great responses to previous tribute events such as Dylan@50 and the Summer Of Love celebration. June 2019’s Saturday concert will feature an all-star Woodstock collaboration to mark 50 years since the pivotal peace and music festival. Plus the immensely talented Sunjay will appear on Sunday to mark the 60th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death by reprising his acclaimed role in the successful travelling show, Buddy Holly & The Crickets.
Leicester singer-songwriter and activist Grace Petrie will return to the festival for 2019, having released her highly-acclaimed ‘Queer As Folk’ eighth album, as will the immensely talented and original Irish performers Ranagri. And, having had to miss the 2018 festival through illness, we’re delighted that one of Edinburgh’s finest musical sons Ross Wilson – aka Blue Rose Code – will also be on the bill next June.
Adding to Southwell’s typically eclectic wave of names, there’s the contemporary folk of the Bird In The Belly collective, the gypsy Hot Club jazz of Nottingham’s Maniere Des Bohemiens while on the other there’s the bizarrely brilliant, madly entertaining John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett, over forty years on from their cult solo hit ‘Really Free’. Throw into the mix French-born folksinger Flossie Malavialle and lovable Geordie singer-songwriter-kids-entertainer Keith Donnelly and, with many more acts to be announced, the early festival forecast looks extremely bright.
With excellent children’s entertainment and camping facilities, in a beautiful Nottinghamshire location, there’ll also be dance sides from all over the UK, a beer and cider festival, a craft fair plus many other special family events.
2019 will be the 13th annual gathering and previous line-ups have included big names such as Eliza Carthy, Billy Bragg, Bellowhead, Jools Holland, Hayseed Dixie, Kate Rusby and Lindisfarne. As the Irish singer Cara Dillon said, the 2018 festival was “incredible, just the right size, you can feel the energy”.
With many more acts for 2019 still to be announced, Early Bird tickets are on sale via www.gtsf.uk
Downend Folk Club announces Spring programme
Bristol's burgeoningever-popular Downend Folk Club has announced its programme for Spring 2019. There's something for everyone on the third Friday of every month between January and April, ticking every box in the broad church that is the folk genre, from astute observational song-writing through to traditional English folk songs and tunes.
Kicking off the programme on Friday 18th January, and back by popular demand, is Gavin Osborn. Gavin went down a storm when he opened for Grace Petrie back in November 2017, with regulars asking to hear more than the 25 minutes he gave back then. Known for his storytelling shows with comedian Daniel Kitson, and now with five studio albums under his belt, Gavin is a regular on the festival scene and is also familiar to listeners of BBC Radio 4.
Katherine Priddy will provide the support slot at 8.00pm.
The February event, on Friday 15th, will be headlined by Alden, Paterson & Dashwood - one of the most exciting bands to emerge on the scene in recent years. The Norwich-based trio weave rich vocal harmonies, fiddle, dobro and guitar around beautifully written original songs and melodies. Their 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. Opening for the trio will be Molly Anne.
Making a triumphant and long-overdue return on Friday 15th March will be multiple Folk Award-nominated duo O'Hooley & Tidow. Belinda and Heidi first played at the club in 2015 to a sell-out audience, and the club has never had more requests for an act to return! With a personal invite from Billy Bragg to play Glastonbury, sessions on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2, five star reviews and a feature in The Guardian, the songwriting, voice and piano partnership
of Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow is regarded as “one of British folk music’s mightiest combinations” (Mojo Magazine).
DFC Favourite Mike Weaver will be the support act.
Rounding off the programme on Friday 19th April are The Askew Sisters. Hazel is a familiar face to the DFC faithful, having featured as part of Lady Maisery, but now she returns in duo form with her sister Emily. The pair’s live performances brim with the depth and connection not only of two sisters, but also of two musicians who have been immersed in folk music all their lives. In April they release their long awaited fourth album, a collection of songs about enclosure, place and power. Opening the evening's entertainment will be Nick Hart.
Each concert takes place at Frenchay Village Hall, starting at 8.00pm with the support act. The headline act will start at around 8.40pm. Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
Kicking off the programme on Friday 18th January, and back by popular demand, is Gavin Osborn. Gavin went down a storm when he opened for Grace Petrie back in November 2017, with regulars asking to hear more than the 25 minutes he gave back then. Known for his storytelling shows with comedian Daniel Kitson, and now with five studio albums under his belt, Gavin is a regular on the festival scene and is also familiar to listeners of BBC Radio 4.
Katherine Priddy will provide the support slot at 8.00pm.
The February event, on Friday 15th, will be headlined by Alden, Paterson & Dashwood - one of the most exciting bands to emerge on the scene in recent years. The Norwich-based trio weave rich vocal harmonies, fiddle, dobro and guitar around beautifully written original songs and melodies. Their 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. Opening for the trio will be Molly Anne.
Making a triumphant and long-overdue return on Friday 15th March will be multiple Folk Award-nominated duo O'Hooley & Tidow. Belinda and Heidi first played at the club in 2015 to a sell-out audience, and the club has never had more requests for an act to return! With a personal invite from Billy Bragg to play Glastonbury, sessions on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2, five star reviews and a feature in The Guardian, the songwriting, voice and piano partnership
of Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow is regarded as “one of British folk music’s mightiest combinations” (Mojo Magazine).
DFC Favourite Mike Weaver will be the support act.
Rounding off the programme on Friday 19th April are The Askew Sisters. Hazel is a familiar face to the DFC faithful, having featured as part of Lady Maisery, but now she returns in duo form with her sister Emily. The pair’s live performances brim with the depth and connection not only of two sisters, but also of two musicians who have been immersed in folk music all their lives. In April they release their long awaited fourth album, a collection of songs about enclosure, place and power. Opening the evening's entertainment will be Nick Hart.
Each concert takes place at Frenchay Village Hall, starting at 8.00pm with the support act. The headline act will start at around 8.40pm. Doors open at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information, visit www.downendfolkclub.co.uk
Daria's East-West Folk fusion enchants audiences
With her “extraordinary voice” and strong Russian and Ingush heritage, Daria Kulesh has been making a name for herself as a “bold, exotic, impressive" performer.
Mixing her Eastern roots with Western folk influences, she creates an original and exciting sound, full of passion and magic. Her debut release Eternal Child was described as “phenomenal” and her second album Long Lost Home has enjoyed rave reviews, national radio play and multiple awards in the UK and Russia, including LCM Album of the Year.
Daria’s beguiling music is a gateway to a very little known, but stunning part of the world - Ingushetia in the Caucasus (south of Russia). This unique landscape (pictured left) is hardly known in Western Europe - but thanks to Daria its rich history and folk traditions are becoming more widely known.
Through her mesmerising songs, people can discover this mysterious land and the story of the Ingush people - their language, culture and unique way of life that were nearly eradicated by Joseph Stalin in 1944. "The songs aren't just sung, but lived." (FATEA Magazine). A refreshing, uplifting, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining evening awaits all who come along.
For news of Daria's up-coming gigs in the region, please see our 'What's On' listings: Stroud (27th January 2019), Wychwood Folk Club - with Vicki Swann & Jonny Dyer, 2nd February) and the Chapel Arts Centre, Bath (April 27th). For national tour dates visit www.daria-kulesh.co.uk/gigs
Comments from the Scottish tour: Duncan MacInness, SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Isle of Skye: "Superb artistry - and very informative. Excellent blend of music, performance and insight into a period of history we were unaware of."
Cornwallace, writing for TheNettle.scot from The Market Bar, Inverness: "Her voice was simply magnificent. Mesmerising and ethereal."
Harry Wilson, Stirling Folk Club: "A spellbinding night last night with the amazing Daria Kulesh and Jonny Dyer. Some fascinating stories and songs. Daria's powerful voice was complimented expertly by Jonny's wonderful accompaniments."
Mixing her Eastern roots with Western folk influences, she creates an original and exciting sound, full of passion and magic. Her debut release Eternal Child was described as “phenomenal” and her second album Long Lost Home has enjoyed rave reviews, national radio play and multiple awards in the UK and Russia, including LCM Album of the Year.
Daria’s beguiling music is a gateway to a very little known, but stunning part of the world - Ingushetia in the Caucasus (south of Russia). This unique landscape (pictured left) is hardly known in Western Europe - but thanks to Daria its rich history and folk traditions are becoming more widely known.
Through her mesmerising songs, people can discover this mysterious land and the story of the Ingush people - their language, culture and unique way of life that were nearly eradicated by Joseph Stalin in 1944. "The songs aren't just sung, but lived." (FATEA Magazine). A refreshing, uplifting, intriguing and thoroughly entertaining evening awaits all who come along.
For news of Daria's up-coming gigs in the region, please see our 'What's On' listings: Stroud (27th January 2019), Wychwood Folk Club - with Vicki Swann & Jonny Dyer, 2nd February) and the Chapel Arts Centre, Bath (April 27th). For national tour dates visit www.daria-kulesh.co.uk/gigs
Comments from the Scottish tour: Duncan MacInness, SEALL at Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Isle of Skye: "Superb artistry - and very informative. Excellent blend of music, performance and insight into a period of history we were unaware of."
Cornwallace, writing for TheNettle.scot from The Market Bar, Inverness: "Her voice was simply magnificent. Mesmerising and ethereal."
Harry Wilson, Stirling Folk Club: "A spellbinding night last night with the amazing Daria Kulesh and Jonny Dyer. Some fascinating stories and songs. Daria's powerful voice was complimented expertly by Jonny's wonderful accompaniments."
