Monday 20th September - Darren Black/Louise Jordan at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
See www.darrenblack.net or www.myspace.com/darrenblackmusic
Louise Jordan is a young folk singer who provides an enchanting twist on the traditional British folk song. Louise has an “individual approach to traditional songs, firmly keeping alive the spirit and beauty of each, whilst adding her own personality and fresh interpretation.” (Dennis Homes) Having lived, worked and studied in Wiltshire, Birmingham, London and Essex, Louise draws on her varied experience to tell songs of love, loss and betrayal with a “beautiful sweet rippling voice and delicate guitar style.” (Havering Folk Club)
As a performer Louise has an enormous capacity to empathise and immerses herself in a story as if it were her own. Recently Louise has been working on original material which reflects the injustice, inequality, courage and resilience of the marginalised communities she has been working with in East London. See http://www.myspace.com/skijordan
See www.myspace.com/skijordan
Monday 4th October - Steve Tilston and support from Raven at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Steve Tilston is one of our most celebrated song-smiths, with many of his songs adopted into the tradition. His 35 year career has been marked with the release of a 5-CD boxed-set; Reaching Back: the Life and Music of Steve Tilston. Featuring classic, rare, previously unreleased and new recordings, Reaching Back is a timely celebration of one of our finest performers. Not one to stand still however and with “Madame Muse” at his heels Steve is “reaching forward” with a new collection of songs and a new CD Ziggurat.
“When our generation of songwriters is assessed on our contribution to our time, Steve's work will rank alongside much better known artists.” Ralph McTell
www.stevetilston.com & www.myspace.com/stevetilston
See www.myspace.com/ravenfolkmusic
Monday 18th October - Josienne Clarke/The Imaginary String Band with support slots from Helen and Katie (Kit and Cutter), tbc at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Josienne's musical awakening began at a young age, learning parts to sing along with her father as he played folk and ballad classics on his Spanish guitar. Growing up in a world of singing and playing, Josienne was always a musician, and her natural authenticity and easy communication on stage owes much to these early experiences of performance and interaction. Later, she was drawn to other styles of music and studied classical singing. The influence of this can clearly be heard in the clarity of her voice and the attention to detail in her compositions. From the early choral music she learned in various choirs, to the guitar bands she would listen to with friends, via jazz and experiment, and never losing her love of the traditional music she learnt in her native Sussex, Josienne gathered ideas everywhere she listened. The sum of these many parts are expansive works of skill and beauty, executed with dexterity and charisma.
www.myspace.com/mondesirmusic
The Imaginary String Band never existed, you just imagined they did. They play songs about apples and macroeconomics; their tunes have words and their words don’t have tunes. They play folk music from all around the world through the classic string band combination of banjo, fiddle and guitar.
Breton Mazurkas, Jigs, Waltzes, Humours from Ireland, Mysterious Welsh tunes from obscure collections, Minor Morrises, 19th century banjo pieces, English Hornpipes and darn fool ditties. A string band like this could never have existed, but perhaps it already did?
See www.myspace.com/kitandcutter for a video of Kit and Cutter in action
Monday 1st November - You are Wolf and Firefly at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
See www.myspace.com/youarewolf
firefly's alt-folk songs of love, death and the sea have been captivating audiences across London over the last year. With a unique line-up of piano, strings, guitar, Javanese gamelan and voices, their carefully crafted music is fuelled by the driving post-minimalism of John Adams, the wonky pop of Sufjan Stevens and the emotionally direct lyricism of Joni Mitchell. Their songs are rich with close vocal harmonies, infectious rhythms and delicate atmospheric textures. firefly are Bea Hankey (voice), John Barber (piano, gender), Sam Glazer (cello) James Redwood (violin) and Jack Ross (guitar).
www.myspace.com/fireflyburning
Monday 15th November - Steven Finn and K.C. McKanzie at The Cross Kings, York Way, London N1
See www.myspace.com/kcmckanzie
www.myspace.com/stevenfinn
Monday 6th December - Sarah McQuaid and support from Sarah-Jane Miller at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Her deliciously earthy voice delivers a powerful emotional punch that’s matched by her distinctive, eloquent guitar style. Add this to a real rapport with her audience, and you have all the ingredients of a great night out.
And an extended support slot from Sarah Jane Miller.
See myspace.com/sarahjanemillermusic
Monday 20th December - Dogan Mehmet and support from Laura Victoria at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
www.doganmehmet.com
See myspace.com/lauravictoriamusic
Monday 17th January - The Raven and Jacquelyn Hynes at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Ste originally played saxophone, performing in band...s and as a session musician in Liverpool. Since moving to London he moved to playing guitar, having been influenced by artists such as John Martyn and Nick Drake.
Caz comes from a family of musicians, and has been singing since she was very young. She was introduced to folk music in her teens and has enjoyed performing solo and in groups ever since.
See www.myspace.com/ravenfolkmusic
She has supported some of Ireland’s leading musicians including Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill, Michael McGoldrick and Dezi Donnelly, Mary Coughlan, Niamh Parsons, and the scottish singer Karen Matheson, and this summer supported the world famous LUNASA in May and subsequently appeared with Donal Lunny and Friends in concert in Ireland in June.
Her World music project TARABA with Najma Ahktar, Zinga Rabhi, Howard Haigh, Aidan Burke and J.Eoin recieved an Arts Council England Awards for All in 2007.
In 2008/9 Jacquelyn was one of only two recipients of the Katherine McGillivray Fund Awards which allowed her to take up a place at the Irish world Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick where she is currently completing a Masters in Irish Traditional Music Performance.
See www.myspace.com/jacquelynhynes
Monday 24th January - Lily Neill - CD Launch at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Lily Neill is recognized as “…part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard,” 2005 Irish Music Magazine. She was a prize-winner at the All-Ireland Harp competition and has won numerous awards, honours and scholarships for her technical and artistic abilities as well as her original compositions.
More recently, Lily was named LiveIreland.com’s “2006 New Female Artist of the Year.” Lily’s musical style is at once rich in tradition and uniquely her own.
Her experiences working with artists from different genres and backgrounds, from folk to classical and rock spheres, have played a major part in shaping and continuing to shape Lily’s music. Central to Lily’s style is her utilization of techniques and repertoire from instruments other than her own. In defining Lily’s style, The Green Man Review writes, “It is delightful to welcome a new talent and one that is brimming with ideas, creative energy and yet has a [vice-like] grip on traditional methods and methodology, while pushing the envelope stylistically.”
See www.myspace.com/lilyneill or www.lilyneill.com
Monday 7th February - David Ferrard at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Born to a Scottish father and an American mother, David Ferrard is a veritable 'one-man transatlantic session'. He broke onto the British folk scene in 2006 with his rootsy folk songs which, whilst contemporary, evoke the 60s folk revival when singer-songwriters original output blended with traditional material. His strong, catchy melodies and commitment to social issues make his music both accessible and meaningful.
David's songwriting has been compared to Woody Guthrie & Tom Paxton, and his sweet, crystal vocals to John Denver & James Taylor, winning him several awards (Celtic Connections 2006, Burnsong 2007).
David performs with his guitar both solo and with other instrumentalists. Wherever David plays he attracts new fans and often sells out venues. His show Scottish Folk Roots & Offshoots sold out 24 consecutive nights at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2007.
David's songs are covered by other artists including Roy Bailey, Sheena Wellington, and Michelle Burke (Cherish The Ladies). See www.davidferrard.com
Monday 21st February - The Hut People at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
www.myspace.com/thehutpeople
Monday 7th March - Boyd & Wain/Jen Doyle and Joe Fowler at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden, London N1
In a previous life, Katy Boyd won the prestigious USA West Coast Songwriter’s Associa...tion’s annual contest. She ran off to England for adventure, and stayed. Benny Wain has been playing fiddle in festivals, pubs and concert halls since the age of 12, sharing stages with the Oyster Band, Shane McGowan, the Dubliners and Davey Arthur.
www.boydandwain.co.uk
www.myspace.com/jendoylejoefowler
Monday 21st March - The Ric Sanders Group with support at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden, London N1
Since 1985 Ric Sanders has been the violinist with the British institution Fairport Convention, touring the world and contributing many instrumental compositions and arrangements that have become fixtures in their repertoire. In 2001 Fairport received the BBC's "Folk on 2" Lifetime Achievement Award. Although considering himself primarily a jazz musician, Ric is equally adept in rock, folk and world music. Early in his professional career he toured with the renowned classical/rock percussionist Stomu Yamash'ta, and then went on to play with the celebrated jazz pianists Johnny Patrick and Michael Garrick. In the late 1970's he was in both The Albion Band (appearing on the classic album Rise Up Like the Sun) and the legendary jazz-rock group Soft Machine. In addition to Fairport, he has worked with a remarkably diverse roster of artists including Rick Wakeman, Dave Cousins (The Strawbs), Jethro Tull, Robert Plant, Roy Harper, Gary Brooker (Procol Harum), Pentangle, Gordon Giltrap, Andrew Cronshaw, June Tabor, Martin Simpson, Charlie Landsborough, All About Eve, The Mission and John Etheridge
Vo Fletcher has recorded and performed with such notable artists as Nigel Kennedy, Touch & Go, Rik Mayall, Dave Swarbrick, Andrew Cronshaw, Martin Simpson, Chris Leslie, Simon Nicol, Donovan and many others. Vo contributes many fine compositions to the Ric Sanders Group repertoire.
Michael Gregory first worked with Ric as a fellow member of The Albion Band during the Rise Up Like the Sun period. His vast experience as both a drummer and percussionist found him working with the Maddy Prior Band, the John Kirkpatrick Band, Home Service, Martin Simpson and the late John B. Spencer. More recently, he has been in demand for film and theatre work where he has played with The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal National Theatre, Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and in West End productions.
Monday 4th April - Black Peak at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Monday 18th April - Laura Victoria and Sarah Jane Miller at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
“Laura Hewison’s voice and cello work manages to eschew all manner of whimsy for a performance that is winningly edgy. Hewison’s songs don’t meander: they sally forth with purpose. A strident intent is at work here”. The Crack.
See lauravictoriamusic.com for more details
More details to come but in the meantime listen to Sarah Jane on myspace at www.myspace.com/sarahjanemillermusic
Monday 2nd May - Clive Gregson and Support from You are Wolf at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
www.clivegregson.com www.myspace.com/clivegregson
See www.myspace.com/youarewolf
Monday 16th May - Ewan McLennan and support at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
"Only once in a while do you hear a new voice, a new sound that is really worth listening to, Ewan McLennan is one such!” Martin Simpson
Monday 20th June - Jeff Warner and Support at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden
Monday 1st August - Christi Andropolis and David Newey at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden, London N1
Hailing from New York State, Christi’s musical influences circle from the Southern States of the US to the UK, exploring connections between roots music on both sides of the Atlantic. Her performance ranges from delta-style blues to Appalachian ballads, and includes her own original, earthy songs - effortlessly blending the traditional with the contemporary, and firmly establishing the breadth and diversity of her talent.
Having... toured the US and the UK extensively in the past five years, Christi is fast becoming one of the most recognisable artists on the scene today. Her voice is extraordinarily powerful and expressive, her fiddle playing a creative and dynamic combination of lead and accompaniment. Christi’s debut album ‘Rust and Holler’ will be available at gigs from January 2010, and on official release from 20th September through Furrow Records.
David is one of the most in demand acoustic guitar players in Britain today. Using a unique combination of flat-pick and finger style techniques, he has performed with many; most recently with 2009 folk musician of the year Tom McConville and traditional songstress Emily Portman. His playing is highly distinctive, from the extremely subtle to rock and roll, taking in some traditional tunes in between. His songwriting is of the personal and the political, and straddles the divide between traditional song and contemporary. David’s new album ‘Cities and Power’ is released this autumn, also on independent Furrow Records.
As a duo, Christi and David produce a huge sound, combining all of their influences, and make for an unprecedented and charismatic performance. Their 2010 schedule will take them all over the UK, playing to a huge variety of audiences; from folk and acoustic clubs and venues, to the main stages of festivals.
See www.myspace.com/christianddavid
Monday 5th September - The Askew Sisters at The Green Note, Parkway, Camden London NW1
"Hazel's rich gutsy voice and inventive melodeon playing combined with the skill of Emily's singing fiddle or soulful cello are a new force to be reckoned with!" Stirrings Magazine
"What the Askew Sisters do so well is tell the story and allow the music accompanying to help that story-telling along." EDS Magazine
And plenty more to be confirmed so keep watching this space, as you will be hard pressed to find a better folk night in London...