London Gigs - November 2000

Wed 1st Rory McLeod & Aimee Leonard
http://www.adk93.dial.pipex.com
Purcell Room

An ex-circus clown and fire eater, Rory is a one man soulband,
poet and storyteller, singing his own unique upbeat dance stories.
His new album, 'Mouth to Mouth' (Talkative Music) is, according
to Folk Roots "A dazzling double album by one of our greatest
mercurial talents. It's almost too much to take in - 28 tracks, a
veritable hurricane of ideas flooding at you from all directions amid
a startling torrent of words, sounds and style gleaned from here,
there and everywhere...There's ranting politics, touching sentiment,
humour, anger, love and hate and there's blues, rock, rap, jazz, folk
musical styles from various corners of the world...this is
incontrovertibly McLeod's hour. And it's probably his finest."
Rory is joined by ex-Anam singer and top bodhran player Aimee
Leonard from the Orkney Islands in Scotland, who has developed
her own distinctive, contemporary and very "funky" style, using jazz
brushes and playing bass lines, which compliment Rory's tap-dancing
rhythms and syncopated guitar style.

Wed 1st Steeleye Span
http://www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/~zierke/steeleye.span/
Beck Theatre, Hayes 020 8561 8371

One of the UK's longest running and most influential folk-rock
groups,whose various line-ups since their debut album 'Hark! The
Village Wait' in 1970, have included a veritable who's who of top
British folk musicians - see list of band members . Despite losing
their best known original member, singer Maddy Prior in 1997
(to be replaced by fellow original member Gay Woods) and, in
August this year, singer guitarist Bob Johnson, a member since
1971 (replaced by another early member, bass player Rick Kemp),
the band seems indestructible. Their latest album is 'Bedlam Born'
(Park Records)

Thur 2nd Damien Barber & Jock Tyldsley
http://www.mobradshaw.cwc.net/
Hale End Folk Club

London gig for top young English Concertina player prior to a
15-date US tour this month. According to Martin Carthy, Damien
is "one of the new breed of singers who can sing well and play well.
He also puts the two together in a way that makes him truly
interesting to listen to". Tonight he'll be accompanied by the exciting
Cajun fiddle playing of Jock Tyldsley of Flatville Aces fame (see
this Cajun Times interview)

Thur 2nd Sara Grey
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/SaraGrey/
Islington Folk Club

Renowned traditional singer regarded as one of the foremost
exponents of the old-time 5-string banjo frailing style and a
fine story teller specialising in stories from New England where
she grew up. In recent years, has been concentrating on tracing
the migration of songs from the British Isles to North America.
According to Mick Tems in Welsh folk magazine, 'Taplas',
"An evening in her company is akin to sitting in a friend's kitchen,
drinking her wine and sharing her songs and stories. When it
comes to an end, you feel at peace with the world."

Fri 3rd June Tabor
http://www.fet.uni-hannover.de/~purnhage/music/junetabor.html
Purcell Room

Described by the New York Post as "one of the finest vocalists
in music today," June started singing mainly unaccompanied
traditional music in her teens influenced by singers like Anne Briggs
and Belle Stewart, before collaborating with Maddy Prior from
Steeleye Span in the the Silly Sisters, with whom she made two fine
albums, and with guitarist Martin Simpson on the superb 'A Cut
Above' album. Her latest album, 'A Quiet Eye' marks a departure
from her previous work, pairing June with the eleven-piece
'Creative Jazz Orchestra', and including the song 'A Place Called
England' which won 'Best Song of the Year' at this year's BBC Folk
Awards. Her band for this South Bank gig includes Huw Warren,
Mark Emerson, Mark Lockheart and Dudley Phillips.

Fri 3rd Youssou N'Dour
http://www.isis-intl.com/mike/youssou.htm
The Forum (020) 7344 0044

A member of The Super Etoile from Senegal in West Africa in the
1980s, he was first introduced to American and British audiences via
Peter Gabriel's 'So' album (in 1986) and their subsequent world tour
together. According to Brian Cullman in Rolling Stone, "If any third
world performer has a real shot at the sort of universal popularity last
enjoyed by Bob Marley, it's Youssou, a singer with a voice so
extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it."

Fri 3rd Ralph McTell
http://www.folkcorp.co.uk/mctell
The Wyllyotts Centre, Potters Bar 01707645 005

See details of Ralph's new autobiography and album mentioned in
last month's 'pond'.

Sat 4th John Kirkpatrick & Alistair Anderson
http://www.thebeesknees.com  &
http://www.nspipes.co.uk/hlr/hlr02.htm
Purcell Room

A pairing of two of the UK's top concertina players. John
Kirkpatrick has been one of the most well-known and popular
performers on the British folk scene for the past twenty-five
years both as a solo performer and as a past member of
Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey (with Martin Carthy and Martin
Brinsford) and the Richard Thompson Band. Alistair Anderson
is also a highly regarded English concertina player who, as a
member of The High Level Ranters (until 1979), greatly contributed
to the popularisation of the Northumbrian Smallpipes.

Sun 5th Flook
http://www.flook.co.uk
Purcell Room

Flook's unique combination of flutes - Brian Finnegan ("...a thrilling
talent, marvellous technical dexterity, bold musical imagination and
urgent tone combining in playing of breathtaking suppleness and
delicacy." - Scotland on Sunday) and Sarah Allen (a founder
member of 'The Barely Works' - "The force, power, virtuosity,
exuberance and sheer joie de vivre of her playing had the audience on
their feet from the opening bar." - The Shetland Times) underpinned
by the fluid guitar of Ed Boyd ("... A lot more than your traditional
rhythm guitarist" - Irish Music Magazine) and the hugely impressive
bodhran playing of John Joe Kelly (who has played with Altan and
Paul Brady - "...to say John Joe Kelly plays the bodhran, is like saying
Mount Everest is a bit of a climb." - Sidmouth Music Festival) has
made them one of the most popular groups on the live music circuit
in Britain today.

Mon 6th Joe Pernice
http://www.independentrecs.com/pernice2.html
The Borderline

A member of the neo-country/ pop outfit 'Scud Mountain Boys'
before forming the Massachusetts six piece 'The Pernice Brothers',
Joe has released two solo albums this year - 'Chappaquiddick
Skyline' (Independent), described by Muse as "American folk
filtered through an Anglophile's lens and a sugar-coating to soothe
the lyrics' bitter medicine", and his latest album 'Big Tobacco',
described by Ireland's Hot Press as "a sumptuous blend of languid,
melodic music with dark tales of quiet despair and lonesome longing
. ..couplets of jaw dropping cleverness and stinging poignancy in
abundance."

Mon 6th Maire ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/obm/mcn01.htm
Croydon Folk Club (020) 8688 3580

"Virtuoso Irish harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh (pronounced Moira
Nee Ha-ha-sig) in truly inspired union with Chris Newman, brilliant
English master of the acoustic guitar" (Daily Telegraph). "Stately
Carolan tunes, jazzy Django-ish numbers, dazzling Doc Watson
style flat picking fliers, driving Irish dance tunes - this pair can
nonchalantly do the lot." (Belfast Telegraph). Their last album
'Live in the Highlands' (Old Bridge Music), according to Folk Roots,
"captures the essence of these remarkable performers in a rare and
priceless way. Absolutely essential."

Mon 6th Terry Callier
http://www.thenetcurtain.com/terry.htm
Jazz Cafe

On his debut album, 'The New Folk Sound of Terry Callier' (Prestige),
released until 1968, Callier brought Coltrane's smoldering soul to
traditional folk standards like '900 Miles'. However, following several
albums in the seventies, lack of commercial success saw him giving up
music to support his daughter as a computer programmer in the early
1980s. Nearly two decades later, having been re-discovered by
England's acid-jazz scene, he returned with his highly acclaimed
'TimePeace' (Verve) album in 1998. His latest album 'LifeTime
(Blue Thumb) features his trademark blend of folk, soul, R&B, and
jazz and includes a duet with English singer songwriter, Beth Orton.

Tue 7th Tim O'Brien & The Crossing
http://www.mrscasey.co.uk/sbank/#crossing
Queen Elizabeth Hall

Multi-instrumentalist (guitar, fiddle, bouzouki, mandolin), songwriter
and spearhead of the contemporary bluegrass movement, O'Brien
came to prominence in the 80s with his group, Hot Rize (aka
'Red Knuckles & The Trailblazers) and as a duo with his sister,
Mollie O'Brien. His highly acclaimed 1999 album 'The Crossing'
(Alula Records) was inspired by the Irish, Scottish and English
immigration experience in the US, as well as Tim's own personal
reach back to his own roots, and featured guest appearances by
another Who's Who in Country, Celtic and Bluegrass music. The
current UK tour includes Tim with Darrell Scott from the US,
singer Kate Rusby and bass player Danny Thompson from England,
The Battlefield Band's John McCusker from Scotland, and leading
multi-instrumentalist from the original Riverdance, Maírtín O'Connor
from Ireland. (see full UK tour dates)

Tue 7th Ramsay Midwood
http://www.ramsaymidwood.com/
The Borderline

Born in Woodstock, raised in Virginia and now an LA- based blues
cowboy, previously a member of 'Waynesboro', with Randy Weeks
and Lone Justice drummer Don Heffington. Reviewing his debut
album 'Shoot out at the OK Chinese Restaurant' (Glitterhouse),
Ross Fortune in London's Time Out magazine said "magnificent stuff -
a dark and rustic hillbilly boogie with spit and grit and pith and bile....
a great album; rambling, rough hewn and bluesy - but bluesy like
Beefheart, Dylan, Waits, or even Johnny Dowd."

Wed 8th Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band
http://www.taj-mo-roots.com/
Shepherds Bush Empire (020) 83543300

Emerging from the folk music scene of the early 1960's, he played
a pivotal role in the mid-'60s blues revival. A master of finger-picking
country blues, bluegrass banjo, slide guitar, southern blues, soul, and
R&B, reggae, music of Hawaii, the Caribbean, and recently of Mali
in Africa - with master kora player Toumani Diabate on the wonderful
1999 album 'Kulanjan' (Hannibal) . His latest album 'Shoutin' in Key'
(Kan-Du/Hannibal) is a live album with The Phantom Blues Band
recorded over three nights at The Mint in Los Angeles.

Thur 9th Paul Brady
http://www.paulbrady.com/
Shepherd's Bush Empire (020) 83543300

Top Irish singer songwriter with a fine traditional pedigree. A member
of The Johnstons in the 60's, Planxty and a great duo with Andy Irvine
in the 70's, before recording his classic solo traditional album, 'Welcome
Here Kind Stranger' in 1978. Since then he has produced a series of
self-penned albums culminating in his latest release 'Oh What A World'
which includes a collaboration with Carole King, with whom he's
recently been recording.

Thur 9th Gordon Tyrell and Brian Peters
http://www.rootsworld.com/harbourtown/peters-tyrrall.html
Hale End Folk Club

"Gordon is a brilliant and original guitarist and a flute player, equally
at home with Irish reels or old English dance music. Brian is a leading
English exponent of the melodeon and anglo- concertina in styles
ranging from dance music to rock'n'roll and is also no mean guitarist.
Both are excellent singers who understand traditional style. Their
debut CD as a duo, 'Clear The Road" (Harbourtown) was
described by Sing Out! magazine as "A terrific album of rough and
gut-filled British folk."

Fri 10th Sharon Shannon
http://www.rmgplc.com/grapevine/artists/shannon/latest.html
Blackheath Halls

Top Irish accordionist, originally a member of Arcady and
The Waterboys before making her debut solo album in 1991
which has been hailed as the traditional album of the nineties.
Her latest album 'Diamond Mountain'(Grapevine) marks a
departure from her previous almost entirely instrumental albums
with guest vocal appearances from Steve Earle, Jackson Browne
and John Prine.

Sat 11th Kinky Friedman & The Village Irregulars
http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/
The Underworld

A member of The Texas Jewboys with Little Jewford Shelby
and others in the 70s, who, after touring with Bob Dylan's Rolling
Thunder Review, went solo and took up writing crime fiction - his
first novel, 'Greenwich Killing Time', about a country singer-turned-
detective, was followed by a series of successful books, the most
recent being 'The Mile High Club.' His latest album, back together
with Little Jewford, called 'Classic Snatches from Europe'
(Sphinctre Records) is a live CD compiled from their European
concert tour late last year.

Sat 11th Maggie Boyle & Clive Carroll
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin/ram/maggie.htm &
http://www.pressproms.demon.co.uk/page16.html#L
Cellar Upstairs (020) 7281 7700

Interesting pairing of long established traditional singer, Maggie
Boyle, known for her partnership with Steve Tilston and young
acoustic guitarist, Clive Carroll. Describing his debut album
'Sixth Sense'(Old Bridge Music) John Renbourn says "His
technique is blissful and the compositions are beautifully
conceived and mature. Clive is only just in his mid twenties but
from his music you would think him a grand old man already.
His influences are far broader than might be expected from
someone fresh out of college, encompassing elements of British
traditional music as well as rural American instrumental styles
and even chordal jazz guitar. All in all it's something that the
fingerstyle steel-string guitar has been waiting for."

Sun 12th Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies
http://www.jezlowe.com
Bromley Acoustic Music Club (020) 8466 1744

His latest album, 'Jez Lowe Live at the Davy Lamp' (Tantobie
Records), is a 22 track enhanced double CD recorded in
Washington, England in May this year with the Bad Pennies -
Billy Surgeoner, Judy Dinning & Simon Haworth, with special
guest, hurdy-gurdy player, Jake Walton.

Tue 14th The John Tams Band
http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/john_tams_topic_records.html
The Borderline

A member of Ashley Hutching's Albion Band in the late 70's before
forming his own band, 'Home Service'. His current band evolved
through the recording of his latest album, 'Unity' (Topic Records)
and includes Keith Angel, Andy Seward and Barry Coope (of
Coope, Boyes and Simpson along with former Albion Band
comrade Graeme Taylor and Alan Dunn from the Bob Geldof
Band. The legendary Linda Thompson also makes a rare appearance.

Thurs 16th Rory Block
http://www.roryblock.com
Blackheath Halls

As a teenager growing up in Greenwich village in the 60s, Rory, who
had the unprecedented opportunity to meet and play music with such
blues greats as Son House, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John
Hurt, Skip James, Bukka White and Mississippi Fred McDowell,
was destined to become the undisputed queen of the Mississippi Delta
country blues tradition. "She's very simply the best there is" according
to Taj Mahal, whilst Blues Review calls her "one of the greatest living
acoustic blues artists... she can hold her own with the legends who
inspired her." Whilst best known as a blues singer, in the past Rory
has also recorded several fine versions of traditional folk songs including
'The Water is Wide' and 'The Golden Vanity', both accompanied by the
hammered dulcimer. Her last album 'Confessions of a Blues Singer' won
her yet another WC Handy Award for 'Best Acoustic Blues Album of
the Year' in 1999 and included a guest appearance by Bonnie Raitt.

Thur 16th Pete Coe
http://www.backshift.demon.co.uk/petehome.htm
Islington Folk Club

Talented songwriter and multi-instrumentalist playing bouzouki,
Appalachian dulcimer, melodeon, banjo, bass balalaika and feet
(Appalachian flatfooting used as percussion to accompany his
songs). Pete's latest album 'Long Company', described as "a
sheer delight from start to finish" by Pete Wood in English Dance
& Song , was Mojo Magazine's Folk Album of the Month in July.

Fri 17th Ryan Adams
http://www.come.to/ryanadams
The Borderline

The 'Whiskeytown' frontman and creative force, whose new
debut solo album "Heartbreaker" (Bloodshot Records) has
been described by Rolling Stone as "a raggedy folk-punk
confessional.... With guest appearances from Emmylou Harris,
Gillian Welch, David Rawlings and Kim Richey, this record has
quality all over it. Adams' sources run deep--from Paul
Westerberg to Hank Williams--and he has the raspy, quavering
voice and innate tunefulness to be worthy of them."

Fri 17th The Sorentinos
http://www.twirlme.com/bands/sorentinos
12 Bar Club

"When Mojo spoke to the Sonoma County roots rockers last
year, they confessed their love for British audiences who (helped
in no small part by BBC DJ, Bob Harris) have developed a
passion for the band's pure, personal melodies. They return
armed with tracks from a gutsy new album 'All Good Things'."
Mojo Magazine

Sun 19th Chris Smither
http://www.smither.com
Jazz Cafe

With a guitar style often likened to the legendary Lightnin'
Hopkins and Mississippi John Hurt, his new live album
'Live As I'll Ever Be' on High Tone Records (Evangeline
in Europe) was recorded at concerts in Ireland and America,
and features cuts from four previous studio albums. According
to Billboard, "You don't so much listen to Chris Smither's
brand of acoustic blues as absorb it; his gently murmured
words and powerful roots tunes splice into a direct line to
the soul. This is the singer/ songwriter cut to the essence:
just plain fine songs and even finer playing." Here's an
interesting CD Now interview with audio clips.

Sun 19th Patrick Street
http://www.greenlinnet.com/bios/patst.htm
O'Neill's Irish Bar, E11

Taking to the road once again with their new 'Compendium -
The Best of Patrick Street' album (Green Linnett) featuring
the magnificant Sligo fiddle style playing of Kevin Burke (ex
Bothy Band, and Open House); the 'Sliabh Luachra' style
button accordion wizardry from ex De Dannan member,
Jackie Daly ('Sliabh Luachra' is the regional style of the
area bordering Kerry and North Cork, known for its lively
slides and lovely, spirited polkas -of which Jackie is a master);
the haunting vocals and bouzouki/ mandolin playing of Andy
Irvine(ex Sweeney's Men and Planxty), one of the great
balladeers of Irish music; and inventive guitar licks and vocals
from Ged Foley (formerly of the Battlefield Band and
The House Band - who replaced original member, Arty McGlynn,
in 1976) and who also plays fiddle and the Northumbrian
smallpipes. "If there is anything approaching 'supergroup' status
in Irish music, it's Patrick Street......" CMJ New Music Report.

Mon 20th Emmylou Harris & Spyboy
http://www.emmylou.net
+ Patty Griffin
http://www.pattygriffin.com
Royal Albert Hall (020) 7589 8212

Described by Rolling Stone as "making arguably the most daring
music of her thirty year career", Emmylou is back with her fine
band, Spyboy (featuring brilliant guitarist and songwriter in his
own right, Buddy Miller, bass player Daryl Johnson and
drummer Brady Blade) promoting her new album, 'Red Dirt
Girl' (Grapevine in the UK) which has been described as "both
a contemporary-folk treasure and an alternative-rock milestone."
Support on the tour comes from Patty Griffin, whose song 'One
Big Love' (from her 1998 album 'Flaming Red') is the only non-
original song on Emmylou's new album. Following her European
tour Emmylou and the band return to play a series of US and
Canadian gigs in support of the Anti-Landmine campaign along
with, amongst others, Steve Earle, Bruce Cockburn, Nanci
Griffith, Mary Chapin Carpenter and John Prine.
(see full tour dates )

Wed 22nd Lindisfarne
http://www.lindisfarne.de/
+ Chris While & Julie Matthews
http://www.chriswhileandjuliematthews.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth Hall

Long running folk-rockers from Newcastle, described as "the
rajahs of roots rock" on the Siren Music site, who have just
released their latest album 'Buried Treasures 3' which
includes rare studio, radio and live recordings culled from
Lindisfarne's entire career, including bootleg tracks and home
rehearsal tapes, the majority of which have never been
commercially available. Supported by Chris While and
Julie Matthews whose new live album, 'Stages' (Fat Cat)
is a double CD containing 32 tracks. They are currently on
their own extensive UK tour - see dates

Sat 25th Anam
http://www.anam.co.uk/anam/
Hammersmith Irish Centre

Mon 27th Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman
http://freespace.virgin.net/daveandanni.music/
Herga Folk Club, Harrow

"It's a magical experience whenever these two fine singers
put their voices together. As for their harmonies, they are
breathtaking." Warwick Folk Festival, UK

Wed 29th Nadine
http://www.www.nadinemusic.com
+ Dolly Varden
http://www.dollyvarden.com
The Borderline

Thur 30th Runrig
http://www.runrig.co.uk/
The Forum (020) 7344 0044
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Paul Castle pdcmusic@freeuk.com
Across the Pond @ http://www.folkmusic.about.com

NB Previous editions are archived in the Articles section at http://folkmusic.about.com/musicperform/folkmusic/library/weekly/mpreviss.htm

Wherever you're bound this month, have a great time.

Paul pdcmusic@freeuk.com

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