Tue 21st Van Morrison
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/
(Royal Albert Hall)
see UK tour dates below
Van the Man, promoting his latest album 'The Skiffle Sessions
- Live in Belfast' (Pointblank/Virgin) with Lonnie Donnegan and
Chris Barber. According to Steve Turner's biography 'Too Late
to Stop Now', "In 1956, when Van was ten years old, Lonnie
Donegan prompted the British "skiffle" craze with his
top ten hit "Rock Island Line". The appeal of skiffle
was that it was simple and inexpensive to play. All that was needed
was a Spanish guitar, a snare drum, a stand-up bass made from
a broom handle attached to an empty tea-chest, and two chords.
Skiffle held an additional appeal for Van, because Donegan was
popularizing the strange music that his father had been listening
to for many years. "Rock Island Line" had been written
by Huddie Ledbetter, better
known as Leadbelly, who had become one of Van's favourite blues
singers."
Tue 21st The Handsome Family
http://handsomefamily.home.mindspring.com/
(The Borderline)
"The Handsomes are tapping into a songwriting tradition that predates the latest alternative-country trend, and stretches back to the music found on Harry Smith's "Anthology of American Folk Music," a chronicle of coal miner laments, Appalachian ballads, country spirituals and dirt-road blues from the 1920s and '30s, and centuries-old Scottish ballads." The Chicago Tribune
Thur 23rd Ladysmith Black Mambazo
http://www.mambazo.com
+ Eric Bibb
http://www.ericbibb.com/
(Royal Festival Hall)
see UK tour dates below
Joseph Shabalala's 10-man South African a cappella group first came to international fame accompanying Paul Simon on his landmark "Graceland" album. In the UK, their soundtrack for a Heinz Soup TV commercial prompted the release of their hugely successful 'Inkanyeza Nezaza' (The Star and The Wiseman) single in 1997.
A leading light in the current revival of acoustic blues music, Eric Bibb (son of folk singer and TV personality, Leon Bibb, who was part of the 60'sGreenwich Village Folk scene) first came to prominence in the UK in 1996 at the London Blues Festival. Often compared to the likes of Ry Cooder, Keb Mo and Taj Mahal, his latest album, 'Home To Me' (Manhaton) was described by The London Times as "reinforcing Bibb's position as the leader of the acoustic blues pack."
Thur 23rd Robb Johnson
http://www.moosemusic.co.uk/rob.html
Leon Rosselson
http://www.fishdesign.com/rosselson/profile.html
Des De Moor
http://www.commex.org/dirkje/
(Bread & Roses, 68 Clapham Manor Street, Clapham SW4 )
A benefit fundraiser for the 'Raise Your Banners' festival. Of Johnson's latest album, 'The Big Wheel' (Irregular Records), Folk on Tap magazine wrote: "Honest emotion, a canny eye for life's quaint notions of justice and a gift of glorious hyperdriven melody."
Leon Rosselson is a renowned political songwriter, whose best known song is probably 'The World Turned Upside Down', which has been recorded and popularised by, amongst others, Dick Gaughan and Billy Bragg (who took it into the pop charts in 1985) and has been sung on numerous demonstrations in Britain and the USA.
Des de Moor is one of only a handful of British-based performers originating material that's broadly in a theatre-cabaret and chanson tradition more familiar in mainland Europe. Des draws on influences as diverse as Latin music, jazz, folk and German romantic Lieder to create cabaret songs in a style that is still uniquely his own
Sun 26th Gabriel Yacoub
http://club.ib.be/claude.calteux/divers/bioyacoub.htm
(Cecil Sharp House)
Founder of the innovative French group 'Malicorne', Yacoub first came to the fore as teenage back-up guitarist and singer with Brittany's pioneering Celtic harpist Alan Stivell in the early 1970s. His latest release "Quatre" is being hailed as his most perfectly crafted work to date - "a labyrinth that reveals more beautiful landscapes at every turn."
Sun 26th Pete Morton
http://www.rootsworld.com/harbourtown/morton.html
(Cabbage Patch, Twickenham)
Whilst best known as a fine contemporary songwriter, his last album, 'Trespass' (Harbourtown) featured simple acoustic guitar/voice recordings of traditional folk songs, described by Kevin McCarthy on his informative 'Celtic & Folk Music CD Reviews' website - see http://www.surfnetusa.com/celtic-folk/uk-PeteMorton2.htm as having "firmly cemented his position as one of the great song stylists of the British Isles folk music scene, ranking right up there with Scotland's Dick Gaughan." His new album, 'Hunting the Heart', featuring Andy Cutting's' accordian, Tom McConville's fiddle and Julie Murphy's vocals, will be released soon.
Tue 28th Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby
http://www.countrymusic.saltire.org/cathryncraig/
http://www.songs.com/brian/
(Cabbage Patch, Twickenham)
see UK tour dates below
Having toured with Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers until 1986, Cathryn Craig moved to Nashville to build her own solo career, singing harmonies with artists such as Shel Silverstein and Emmylou Harris and subsequently recording two solo albums, 'Porch Songs' and 'Cathryn Craig', both of which have been well received in UK and Europe. Guitarist Brian Willoughby has been a member of the legendary British folk band 'The Strawbs' for over 20 years. His recent debut solo CD 'Black & White' features Cathryn on vocals.
Wed 29th Kathryn Tickell with 'Vaganza'
http://homepages.tesco.net/~fallonz/start.htm
(Queen Elizabeth Hall)
"... with fluent Northumbrian piping and fiddle playing, faultless professionalism and an engaging stage presence, Tickell may well be the best living advertisement for English folk music." The Daily Telegraph Here with Northern Sinfonia's dynamic ensemble 'Vaganza' taking a very special musical journey from Ragtime to John Adams, traditional to 21st Century pipes and much more. A programme to attract lovers of folk and classical alike.
Thur 30th Baka Beyond
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/baka/bakab.htm
(Jazz Cafe)
see UK tour dates below
Guitarist Martin Cradick's search for common links between Northern European and West African traditions took him and vocalist, Su Hart, deep into the Cameroon rainforest where they lived with the Baka Pygmies. Inspired by his experiences there Martin formed 'Baka Beyond', teaming up with Breton fiddler Paddy Le Mercier (previously a member of the French folk-rock band, Malicorne), percussionists Nii Tagoe from Ghana and Ayodele Scott from Sierra Leone, with bass player Sam Djenge from Cameroon.
Fri 31st Sileas
http://www.stoneyport.demon.co.uk/bio/sileasbio.html
(Cecil Sharp House)
Leading contemporary exponents of the Scottish harp (Clarsach) , Patsy Seddon and Mary Macmaster, who currently also form half of The Poozies, have played as 'Sileas' since 1986. Their last album 'Play on Light' (Greentrax) was described by Folk Roots magazine as "a tremendous album, beautifully put together" that "gets under your skin more and more with each spin".
Wed 1st Dick Gaughan
http://www.dickalba.demon.co.uk/main.htm
(The Chimney Boy, Faversham, Kent 01795 538238)
An original member of the Scottish bands 'Boys of the Lough' and 'Five Hand Reel', a wonderful singer of both the ancient traditional Scots ballads - known as 'The Muckle Sangs' (the big story songs which form a substantial part of Scotland's living wealth of traditional song) as well as his own songs which have also been recorded by the likes of Billy Bragg, Mary Black and Capercaillie.
Fri 3rd Flook!
http://www.flook.co.uk
(The Gantry, Southampton 01703 229319)
Flook! 's unique combination of flutes underpinned by fluid guitar and hugely impressive bodhran playing has made them one of the most popular groups on the live music circuit in Britain today.
Fri 3rd Bill Caddick
http://wkweb1.cableinet.co.uk/realisations/Pics/BCaddick.html
Ram Club, Foley Arms Claygate, Surrey 01372 467208
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin/ram/
"Bill has been one of the great figures of the British music scene over the last two decades. The subtle, powerful poetry of his songwriting is matched by the fire and technique of his singing and the brilliance of his instrumental work - all illuminated by his sheer charisma in performance." - Redditch Festival 1999
Sun 5th Robin Williamson
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/square/ac455/index.htm
(Tower Arts Centre, Winchester)
A solo gig from the founding member of 'The Incredible String
Band' with Mike Heron and Clive Palmer. Following a tour and
album ('At The Pure Fountain') with Clive Palmer last year, The
Incredible String Band are due to re-form to play at this year's
Fairport Convention 'Cropredy 2000' Festival in August.
(see http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/jghall/fairport/fc.html
)
Tue 14th Sally Barker
http://www.ultravox.org.uk/evmiscsb.html
Dartford Folk Club
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/PaulHomer/dfc.htm
A member of The Poozies for their first 4 years, Sally has been described as "the smokey-voiced Diva of the British Folk Scene".
Thur 16th - Sun 19th Darlington Spring Thing Folk Festival
(Darlington Arts Centre 01325 486555)
Derek Brimstone
http://www.derekbrimstone.mcmail.com/
Kieran Halpin
http://www.kieranhalpin.com/
Jeremy Taylor
http://www.jeremytaylor.co.uk
The John Wright Band
http://home.wxs.nl/~graafw/index2.html
Tanglefoot
http://www.kawartha.com/tanglefoot/
Fri 17th - Sun 19th Folk Beat, Derby
(details from fiona@cutting-tweed.demon.co.uk
)
Chris Wood Trio
http://www.cutting-tweed.demon.co.uk/wac.htm
Coope Boyes & Simpson
http://www.westhoughton.demon.co.uk/artists/cbs.htm
Blowzabella Dance Band
http://www.kinrowan.com/bobbityshooty.html
Swap (Andy Cutting, Karen Tweed
Carina Normansson & Ola Backstrom)
http://www.amigo.se/swap_eng.htm
Fi Fraser & Jo Freya
http://www.sarcon.demon.co.uk/engfolk/jo_freya.htm
Davy Steele
http://www.rootsworld.com/temple/battlefield/davysteele.htm
Sat 18th Kate Rusby
http://www.purerecords.demon.co.uk/
(The Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, Hants 01329 310600)
Recent winner of the BBC Radio 2 'Folksinger of the Year' Award. Her latest album 'Sleepless' was also voted 'Best Folk Album of the Year'.
Sun 19th Acaysha
http://www.adastra-music.co.uk/bandsuk.html
(The Hexagon Theatre, Birmingham 0121 4403838)
An intriguing mixture of Bluegrass, Irish, Old Time and their own original music, gives this band an exciting and innovative sound which has brought it to the forefront of new, young bands to have emerged on the scene recently.
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