London Gigs
Fri 1st Eric Bibb Band
http://www.ericbibb.com/
Blackheath Halls
With a repertoire of
spirituals, folk songs and well-crafted
pop tunes all mixed together with 12-bar blues, Bibb is one
of the leading lights in the current revival of acoustic blues
music, who, according to Rapport Magazine
"has a voice
that is like butter being poured into a skillet. It may come
out as smooth as a baby's bottom, but when it reaches its
destination, the listener's ears, it still creates that fiery sizzle
that every truly impassioned blues man's does." Winner of
the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb
has been appropriately described as "discreetly awesome"
and "a total original".
Sat 2nd Bill Bragg and The Blokes
http://www.billybragg.co.uk/
Barbican Centre
Touring Europe with his band 'The Blokes' (who include
Ian McLagan , a former member of The
Small Faces and
The Faces) before heading for The
Bottom Line in New
York for solo gigs on the last two nights of this year (30th
& 31st Dec). Described as "the leading figure of the
anti-folk movement of the '80s" - see his AMG biography.
Volume 2 of 'Mermaid Avenue',
his recordings of unreleased
Woody Guthrie songs with US alt. country band Wilco,
was
released in May this year.
Sun 3rd Oysterband
http://www.oysterband.co.uk/
+ The Bushburys
http://www.bushburys.com/
Forum
Last date of their extensive UK tour. A new compilation
'The Granite Years - The Best of the Oysterband' has
recently been released by their former label, Cooking
Vinyl),
a double CD of their most popular songs recorded between
1986 and 1997.
Sun 3rd Bap Kennedy
http://www.dressed2kill.co.uk
+ Peter Bruntnell
http://www.slowriver.com/bruntnell/mail.htm
+ Blazing Homesteads
http://www.bhomesteads.freeserve.co.uk/
Half Moon, Putney
Belfast-born singer-songwriter and former Energy
Orchard
front man, Bap Kennedy's new album '"Lonely Street",
according to 'Guitarist Magazine', "moves beyond the
influences of Hank Williams Snr and Elvis Presley and draws
as much from the celtic soul of Van Morrison as anything. It
carries a loose, soulful, rootsy feel that is a move on from the
sound of his debut solo album that owed as much to Steve
Earle as anything...Heartfelt traditional songwriting from a
burgeoning talent. Great Stuff." Cajun, bluegrass, Celtic folk
and power pop from The Blazing Homesteads, whose
new album 'Crazy Ways' (A New Days
Records) has just
been released.
Mon 4th Tom Pacheco
http://pacheco.cjb.net/
12 Bar Club
According to Hugh Gregory in Folk
Roots, "If anyone
deserves to be mentioned in the same hushed tones of
reverence as John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Russell,
Ray Wylie Hubbard, Guy Clark and Steve Earle, it is he."
Describing Tom's 1999 album 'The Lost American
Songwriter' (Road Goes on Forever)
a 30-track double CD,
Rambles magazine describes
him as "still one of the
best kept
secrets in the singer-songwriter scene." His new album,
'Nobodies' (Norskgram-EMI Records), which has just been
released in Europe, is a collaboration with Norway's Steinar
Albrightsen, and features, amongst others, appearances from
members of The Band, including the
late Rick Danko's last
recording session.
Mon 4th Bill Jones
http://www.brickwallmusic.com
Croydon Folk Club (020) 8688 3580
Singing a spirited mix of Irish, Scottish and English traditional
and self-penned songs, Bill (Belinda) accompanies herself on
accordion or piano. Geoff Wall in Folk
on Tap Magazine
describes her debut home-produced album 'Turn to Me', as
"something really quite special... At a time when most music
is aimed at the age group that traditionally leaves social
gatherings with a piece of cake wrapped in a serviette, this
majestic collection shines-out like the beacon it truly is."
Tue 5th Waterson : Carthy
http://www.folkicons.co.uk/wcart.htm
Union Chapel, Islington
Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and their daughter Eliza
Carthy, joined by special guest Tim
van Eyken (replacing
Saul Rose who is taking a year out from touring). Norma's
new album is 'Bright Shiny Morning' (Topic) whilst Eliza's
new one is 'Angels & Cigarettes' (Warner). There is an
article about Eliza's recent work with Joan Baez on the
CNN Worldbeat
website, along with various links to sound
files and videos, including one exploring the revolution in the
roots of British folk music. The family will be touring the
States in January and February 2001 - see dates
Thur 7th Gail Williams and Kate Lissaur
http://www.wildwood-records.co.uk/K_info.htm
Hale End Folk Club
Two of the best exponents
of American old-time music in the
UK. Delightful US born singer, fiddler & banjo player Kate
joins forces with Gail's lovely singing & banjo playing. A
store of songs & tunes from both sides of the Atlantic
lovingly treated.
Thur 7th Pete Cooper
http://www.melbay.com/authors/coop.html
Islington
Folk Club
Top English fiddle player who started his professional career
in 1978, performing in Britain, Europe, and the USA first
with Appalachian dulcimer player, Holly
Tannen, then with
traditional singer, Peta
Webb. Since the mid 1980s, Pete has
concentrated his musical efforts on the study and teaching of
folk fiddle styles, publishing his book Complete
Irish Fiddle
Player (Mel Bay Publications), whilst also writing film music
and continuing to do solo gigs and as a member of Vivando
with cellist Kathryn Locke and mandolin player Geoff
Coombs.
Thur 7th The Levellers
http://www.levellers.co.uk/
Brixton Academy
The Levellers, from Brighton, on England's South Coast,
have remained the UK's leading punk-folk band for the last
decade. Their latest album 'Hello Pig' (China/East West) was
released in September. According to Q Magazine "This is
the first occasion the word "great" can be applied to The
Levellers. On this showing they might just go global", whilst
Folk Roots commented, "For those who like their Levellers
how they used to be, console yourselves with the certain fact
that far more people will catch this than ever before...."
Fri 8th Brian Peters
http://www.rootsworld.com/harbourtown/peters.html
Court Sessions
Top UK squeezebox player and a fine exponent of the open-
tuned English folk guitar style. According to Rock
'n' Reel
Magazine, "No singer outside Nic Jones and Martin Carthy
has embraced the tradition and used its wellsprings in as vivid
and ingenious a way"
Fri 8th Kathryn Tickell & Ensemble Mystical
http://homepages.tesco.net/~fallonz/start.htm
Blackheath Halls
Described by The Daily Telegraph as maybe "the best living
advertisement for English folk music", Northumbrian piper,
fiddler and composer, Kathryn Tickell's intriguing new project
combines new compositions with the oldest traditional airs,
featuring John Kenny on trombone,
sackbut, and carnyx,
Mary MacMaster (from The
Poozies) on harp and Ron Shaw
on cello. Her new album 'Ensemble Mystical (Park
Records)
has just been released.
Sat 9th The Cousin Lovers
http://www.cousinlovers.com
The Fiddler's Elbow, Malden Road, Kentish Town, NW5
Tel: 0207 485 3269
Describing 'Your Therefore Experience', the debut album by
this LA-based band, Country Standard Time says, " The music
transports the listener to a back porch in Appalachia for a
country/bluegrass jam session, although the bluegrass may be
more properly called 'alt.-bluegrass'. Aside from the better
known bluegrass greats such as Ricky Skaggs, Union Station,
et al., The Cousin Lovers play some of the best bluegrass put
to record in some time. Highlighted by great fiddle work from
Craig Eastman and the mandolin playing of lead vocalist Tim
Ferguson, who recalls Wade
Hayes, the album also features
great multi-part vocal harmonies.
Sat 9th Danu
http://www.danu.net
Hammersmith
Irish Centre (020) 8563 8232
7-piece Irish traditional band described by Hot
Press Magazine
as having "a sound all their own, and enough energy to keep the
electricity supply going in a small town for a couple of weeks.
Reels, jigs, polkas and songs tumble together in a glorious mix..."
Their latest album is 'Think Before You Think' (Shanachie)
Sat 9th The Men They Couln't Hang
http://www.tmtch.net
The Mean Fiddler (020) 8963 0940
The band's most recent release is their 1998 'best-of' collection
'Majestic Grill' (Demon Records)
featuring 16 tracks from their
14-year career, and described by Mojo Magazine as a
"reminder of just how good these politically intense, turbo-
charged folk rockers were and are.
Sun 10th Lucy Kaplansky
http://www.lucykaplansky.com
Jazz Cafe
Fine American singer songwriter over in the UK for her second
tour this year promoting her latest recording 'Ten Year Night'
(Red House Records) which features
guest appearances by
fellow Cry Cry Cry member Richard
Shindell, along with John
Gorka, and Jennifer Kimball.
See this interview
in September's
'Across the Pond'
Mon 11th Shane McGowan & The Popes
http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/~laurence/macgowan.html
Astoria
Originally a member of London punkabilly band, 'The Nipple
Erectors' (aka The
Nips) before forming 'Pogue Mahone'
(Gaelic for 'kiss my ass') in 1982, soon becoming known as
'The Pogues', combining wild Irish traditional music in the style
of The Dubliners with the UK punk ethos of the day, which
took them into the UK charts with songs like 'The Fairytale of
New York' and others. Shane left the band in 1991, forming
The Popes to record his
album 'The Snake' in 1994. The Popes,
who according to Donal O'Sharpe, "sound like The Pogues
beating The Dubliners to death with a carjack", and featuring
Bob "Lucky" Dowling, Tom "the beast" McManamon, Paul
"Mad Dog" McGuinness and Andy "Reg" Ireland, have recently
released their own album 'Holloway Boulevard' (Snapper
Records).
Tue 12th The Saw Doctors
http://www.enterprise.net/sawdoctors/
Shepherds Bush Empire
Reviewing their last album 'Songs From Sun Street' (Paradigm)
Dirty Linen Magazine said, "The
decade-old Saw Doctors reign
as one of Ireland's most popular bands, but this is their first
American release of all new material. With their rock, folk and
trad roots, they've got the zest and the moxie to make it big here
in the States." For their pre-Christmas shows, the band will be
joined by Anthony Thistlethwaite (Ex Waterboys) on Saxophone,
and the brilliant young Galway musician, Danny Healy on Trumpet.
Tue 12th - Thur 14th Ralph McTell
http://www.folkcorp.co.uk/mctell
ICA
Ralph's latest album 'Red Sky' is first studio album for five years.
The release coincides with a national concert tour and the
publication of "Angel Laughter", Volume One of his new
autobiography, published by Amber
Waves
Thur 14th Pete Morton
http://www.rootsworld.com/harbourtown/morton.html
Hale End Folk Club
Described by Folk Roots as "amongst
the best the British roots
music scene has produced in living memory", Pete has just
released a new album of mainly original material called 'Hunting
the Heart' (Harbourtown
Records) including guest appearances
by singer Julie Murphy and melodeon player Andy Cutting from
Fernhill and
Tom McConville
on fiddle.
Fri 15th The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/2819/index.html
Cecil Sharp House
Whilst Classical Guitar Magazine calls them "Virtuosic", London's
Time Out Magazine describes them as "Subversive, rare and very
precious. Catch them before the Government slaps an injunction
on them in the name of anti-terrorism. Frighteningly talented and
awesome: classics of the genre." Their last album 'A Fistfull of
Ukuleles' (Sony Records) included versions of Chuck Berry's
Johnny B Goode along with Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1
and Joni Mitchell's 'A Case of You'. Their new album 'Pluck!'
will be released soon.
Fri 15th Davey Graham
http://www.geocities.com/davygraham/index.html
+ The Flynn Brothers
Troubadour (020) 7737 0600
See UK news section. Tonight Davey is joined by two of his
former students, James and Nick Flynn, on whose 1991 album
'Annandale' he contributed on a couple of tracks and also wrote
the sleeve notes.
Fri 15th Nick Harper
http://www.nickharper.com
12 Bar Club
Son of Roy Harper, described by Drew
McAdam in the
Edinburgh Evening News recently as "the most underrated
performer around. Not only are his songs intense and
emotionally charged - pure poetry put to wonderful music -
but he is also genuinely warm and witty. He has a stage presence
which hooks your attention then holds it for two hours. His songs
are rich in poignancy and melody, swirling tunes and lyrics that
make the hair on the back of your neck stiffen."
Sat 16th Zydeco Active
http://www.zydeco.org.uk/zydecoactive.htm
Cecil Sharp House
One of Europe's top Zydeco outfits featuring Gavin Lewery,
said by Louisiana's top Cajun musician Steve
Riley, to be the
best Cajun and Zydeco accordionist in the UK. "Truly a force
to be reckoned with; raw, mean and ruthless, Zydeco Active
set dance floors on fire with their irresistible groove. They blend
the high-energy Afro Caribbean rhythms from Zydeco's traditional
origins with up to the minute contemporary sounds." (John Shotton,
host of the Black Horse Festival, East Sussex)
Tue 19th Maddy Prior & The Carnival Band
http://www.parkrecords.com
Queen Elizabeth Hall
South Bank date on their 'Carols and Capers' tour
with a live
show that features Christmas Music from England and America,
played on medieval instruments. Old favourites such as 'The
Holly and the Ivy' and 'I Saw Three Ships' rub shoulders with
secular carols like 'The Boar's Head' and dance tunes like 'Old
Joe Clark'. Maddy, who first toured with The Carnival Band
after leaving Steeleye
Span in 1997, says, "I love working with
the chaps, it's just so different and they're so off the wall. Coming
from a folk background I can relate to a lot of their dances and
early music, but anything less like serious academic concerts when
we tour you can't imagine. When we go out at Christmas, it's all
streamers, balloons and lunacy."
Mon 31st Reeling in Ealing
http://www.eastofealing.fsnet.co.uk
Cecil Sharp House
New Year's Eve bash billed as a Millennium Mega Ceilidh.
East of Ealing play a blend of Cajun with a sprinkling of Celtic;
a touch of Reggae with a pinch of Russian; a spoonful of
Tex-Mex with a measure of Techno; as well as Dub to Dervish;
South African to Samba and Greek to Groove.
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