September 2000

London Gigs

Fri 1st Mediaeval Babes
http://eden.vmg.co.uk/baebes/html/menu.html
George's Theatre, Tufnell Park Road N7
(020) 7607 1128)

"In the spring of 1996, in the dingy caverns of Berlin's
cabaret circuit, Katharine Blake, enchanting singer with
the unusual band 'Miranda Sex Garden' met Dorothy
Carter, dotty, yet deadly committed musician, devoted
to the music of the mediaeval era. Inspired by Dorothy's
fascination with this romantic period, Katharine
attempted to convince her friends - a group of modern,
clued up gals - that what they wanted to be doing was
singing very old songs from an age of innocence." The
all-woman 12-piece vocal group were snapped up by
Virgin/Venture, their debut album 'Salva Nos'
(featuring a version of 'Gaudete') going straight into
the UK Classical Chart at Number 2, and staying in
the top ten for three months. Their latest release is
called 'Worldes Blysse'.

2nd North Mississippi All Stars
http://www.nmsallstars.com/
Garage

Memphis-born, Mississippi-raised trio with guitarist
Luther and drummer Cody Dickinson, sons of Jim
Dickinson, the legendary producer and musician
(Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan) along
with bass player Chris Chew. Following a recent
Borderline gig, The [London] Times called them "the
hottest new American rock 'n' roll band to arrive on
these shores in a month of stormy Mondays". Their
debut album 'Shake Hands with Shorty' (Tone-Cool
Records) was described by Rolling Stone Magazine
as "a hellish romp through the hill country that makes
most city-slicker blues sound tame."

Sun 3rd Black Umfolosi
http://www.artsworldwide.org.uk/touring_artists.html
Brick Lane Festival, London Tel: 020 7264 4660

Hot favourites on the world music circuit from
Zimbabwe - sweet sounds of a capella with
marvelous harmonies as well as captivating
dancing, including the 'gumboot dancing' of
South Africa.

Mon 4th The Amazing Mr. Smith
http://stortfolk.homepage.com/stort4.htm
Croydon Folk Club (020) 8688 3580

Described on the Stortford Performers page as
"At his best, a raving maniac. Also at his worst.
Caused Rebecca Leeds to very nearly tiddle
herself. A manic act built on the solid foundation
of a very considerable musical talent - expert
jazz guitar combined with several fairly eccentric
performing aids; if you've never seen a 'gummiharp'
this is the man to show you. If you've never seen
him before, you should. (bring spare underwear)."

Thur 7th Xim
http://www.xim.org.uk
Hale End Folk Club

European traditional dance rhythms and new
melodies from band featuring melodeon,
darabuka, flute, bagpipes and hurdy gurdy.
Their CD, '989' is available from ADA Distribution

Fri 8th The Handsome Family
http://handsomefamily.home.mindspring.com/
Union Chapel, Islington

"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]

Sat 9th Leon Rosselson
http://www.fishdesign.com/rosselson/profile.html
Cellar Upstairs (020) 7281 7700

Mon 11th Bert Jansch
http://www.folklib.net/index/j/jansch_bert.shtml
Jazz Cafe

Described in the CD Now biography as
"One of the most important figures in contemporary
British folk, Bert Jansch brought an unsurpassed
combination of virtuosity and eclecticism to the
acoustic guitar, both as a solo act and a key member
of Pentangle. Incorporating elements of blues,
American folk, and British Isles traditional music
into his playing, his influence was not only immense
in the British folk scene, it also extended to the rock
world -- Neil Young and Jimmy Page --have
acknowledged Jansch as a major influence. Young
went as far as to tell 'Guitar Player' that Jansch did
for the acoustic guitar what Jimi Hendrix did for the
electric. Bert has a brand new album 'Crimson Moon'
just released.

Mon 11th Little Feat
http://littlefeat.net/
Forum (020) 7344 0044

Following the release of their new album 'Chinese
Worksongs' (CMC International), news comes of the
September release of their long anticipated box set, a
four CD retrospective entitled 'Hotcakes and Outtakes-
30 Years of Little Feat' (Rhino). See a track listing here.

Tue 12th Graham & Eileen Pratt
http://www.stirrings.co.uk/folkzone/artistes/Graham_Eileen/
Sharps

Eileen's voice, considered one of the finest on the folk scene,
accompanied by Graham's guitar, keyboards, concertina and
fine harmonies.

Thur 14th Angelou
http://www.angelou.co.uk/
+ Kate Jacobs
http://www.bar-none.com/bios/katebio.html
Borderline

According to the UK's Fish Records site, "Angelou are a
UK based folk/roots/pop band fronted by the expressive
vocalist Holly Lerski. The songs are acoustic based with
strong melodies and there's a laid back reflective feel
to the disc. Reminiscent of The Sundays in places
(especially the excellent 'Glittering Creatures' which would
make a sure fire single), this is a beautiful understated
album that deserves to find a place in many collections."
(For Kate Jacobs see Sat 21st below).

Fri 15th & Sat 16th Steve Earle
http://www.steveearle.net/
Shepherds Bush Empire

Sat 16th Brian McNeill
http://www.brianmcneill.co.uk/
Cellar Upstairs (020) 7281 7700

Now established as one of Scotland's leading
songwriters, Brian formed 'The Battlefield Band',
in 1969. Also much in demand as a live solo
performer - due, not least, to the critical success
of his latest albums 'No Gods' (Greentrax) - and
'To Answer The Peacock'. Brian plays fiddle, viola,
mandolin, cittern, bouzouki, guitar, concertina, bass
and hurdy-gurdy, and the importance of his
songwriting (mostly about Scotland's past and future)
has long been recognised.

Sat 16th Pierre Le Rue
http://www.cyder.demon.co.uk/lerue.htm
Ealing Canal & Heritage Fair, Ealing 0208 7585743

Fiery fiddler, Pierre Le Rue, and his band serve up
a red hot musical gumbo guaranteed to keep your
feet on the dance floor. Currently featuring saxophone
and trombone, the band is now getting into a more
zydeco groove - showcased on the new album -
Fiddle Gumbo. They've been featured in Chris Hall's
Cajun Clubhouse on BBC Radio and on various
sessions for London's GLR radio - and also featured
in the BBC Wales series "TV Ballads" recently shown
on BBC2. For tour dates, info, etc. e-mail the band.

Mon 18th Artisan
http://www.artisan-harmony.com
Herga Folk Club, Harrow

Top folk a cappella trio, just back from a five week
North American tour, and now off round the UK again
promoting their latest album 'Dancing With Words', a
brand new set of songs by Brian Bedford.

Wed 20th Neal Casal
http://www.morebarn.com/nealcasal/
Borderline

Described by The Washington Post as "One of the
best new songwriters of the year", Neal is back at
The Borderline again following his successful gig in
May, promoting his new album, 'AnytimeTomorrow'
(from GlitterhouseRecords in the UK and Europe
or from http://www.milesofmusic.com or his site in
the US).

Sat 21st Kate Jacobs
http://members.aol.com/JacobsKate/index.html
12 Bar Club

Hoboken New Jersey resident Kate Jacobs returns
to the UK following her successful debut last Autumn
and enthusiastically-received album, "Hydrangea",
recently described by The [London] Times as
"A beguiling gem.... a contemporary American folk
classic." See UK tour dates.

Mon 25th Mary Coughlan
http://www.robotwisdom.com/jorn/coughlan.html
Jazz Cafe

Top Irish singer with jazz-blues shadings, who
recently made her American debut release with her
eighth album 'After The Fall', said to be "filled with
passion, intensity and wondrous emotion. Like the
music of Billie Holiday (to whom she is frequently
compared) or contemporary torch singers like
Marianne Faithfull, Mary Coughlan's womanly
voice has the power to create beauty out of
moments of darkness."

Mon 25th Trisha Yearwood
http://www.trishayearwood.com
+ Kim Richey
http://www.geocities.com/nashville/3235
Royal Albert Hall

"On her ninth release , 'Real Live Woman' (co-
produced with longtime producer Garth Fundis],
Trisha Yearwood continues to partner her sterling
vocals with honest and challenging material.
Possessing a vocal ability that can convey any
emotion, Yearwood dances as always through
distinct facets of country, folk, rock and pop with
unashamed interpretation and breathtaking verse."
Find details of her four-date UK tour here.

A major step-up for country/folk songwriter,
Kim Richey, playing the Royal Albert Hall for
the first time, following a storming gig I witnessed
at The Borderline earlier in the year. In 1998 her
album 'Bitter Sweet' was the winner of the
Nashville Music Award for Best Americana Album
and, this year, she won the Gibson Guitar Award
for 'Best Female Country Guitarist'.

Wed 27th Joan Armatrading
http://www.joanarmatrading.com/
Cabot Hall, Canary Wharf phone 0207 418 2783.

Off on an extensive UK tour in October (more next
month) following her highly successful US tour in July.
According to the website, one night on that US tour
"she was singing 'Willow' and there was this chap in
the front row on a cell phone! So she said, "Look--
this chap's on the phone! And everybody went
"BOOOOOO!" But when he explained his sister
couldn't make the show, so he called her so she
could at least hear 'Willow' on the phone, Joan
forgave him." [The Insider July 2000]

Thur 28th Martin Carthy
http://www.folkicons.co.uk/nlett.htm
Hale End Folk Club

With news of his daughter Eliza's new album 'Angels
and Cigarettes' (Warner Bros) due for release on
September 18th in the UK, a solo gig from Martin,
described on the iMusic site as having "done more
than any one person of his generation to keep the
British folk music tradition ongoing and thriving as
a living art form. Carthy has spent the good part of
thirty years interpreting, reviving, and writing songs
that are steeped in the lore, politics, history and
romance of his native England. He's created a guitar
style that is "in a class by itself" and which has
influenced such great players as Richard Thompson
and Pierre Bensusan; a style that is unique and virtuosic
but, above all, musical and awe-inspiring.

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