London Gigs
Thur 1st Eddi Reader
http://www.compassrecords.com/reader.htm
+ Bap Kennedy
http://www.bapkennedy.com
Cabot
Hall, Canary Wharf phone 0207 418 2783.
London gig for ex-Fairground Attraction singer, before a US
tour this
month promoting her latest album 'Simple Soul' (Compass
Records),
described as her most stripped down and spare recording to date, a
beautiful acoustic work of eleven captivating, personal, light-hearted
and heart-breaking songs, with many of the tracks written or co-
written by Eddi and her longtime collaborator, Boo
Hewerdine.
Belfast-bred singer songwriter Bap Kennedy's 1998 album
'Domestic Blues' (E-Squared Records)
includes "a dozen
unpretentiously insightful originals (as well as an unlisted bonus version
of the Ewan MacColl folk
standard "Dirty Old Town", performed as
a duet with co-producer and co-label head Steve
Earle)."
Thur 1st Chris Mills & The Miserable Bastards
http://www.chris-mills.com/
The Borderline
Chicago singer songwriter whose debut UK release (his third album),
'Kiss it Goodbye' (Sugar Free Records)
is described as "straining at
the boundaries delineated by ambitious alternative pop, raw-knuckled
roots rock and the unquiet ghosts of folk songcraft.." According to
The [London] Times newspaper, it is "something of a discovery. Born
of the same rough-hewn alt.country cauldron that sired such great
bands as Uncle Tupelo
and Whiskeytown,
Mills tempers his tapestry
of twang with threads from the heartlands of great American rock."
Thur 1st Martin Carthy
http://www.folkicons.co.uk/wcart.htm
Hale End Folk Club
Solo gig by Martin before crossing the pond for a US
tour with wife
Norma Waterson and daughter Eliza Carthy. The UK wesbite
'folking.com' has recently posted an interview
in which he discusses
some of his early influences which, along with Ewan
MacColl,
included Big Bill
Broonzy and Elizabeth
Cotten.
Thur 1st The Posh Band
http://www.poshband.clara.net/
Islington
Folk Club
English country dance music featuring fiddler Ed Caines (ex-Tickler's
Jam), melodeon player Simon Ritchie (ex- The Old Hat Concert
Party), banjo player Ken Lees (ex- Webb's Wonders) and pianist/
singer Sue Bainbridge (ex-Marsden Rattlers). Their new CD,
'English' (X-Tradition Records) features twenty one tunes from the
last few hundred years to the present day and is, according to Rod
Stradling of Musical Traditions
Magazine, "quite simply, a joy to
listen to, wonderful tunes, played with bags of energy and bounce.
The playing has that nice raw edge.. a delight."
Fri 2nd Richard Grainger
http://www.richardgrainger.co.uk
Court Sessions, Balham,
SW12. (020 8767 4185)
Traditional singer/guitarist whose songs are firmly rooted in the
contrasting worlds of Industrial Teesside and The Cleveland Coast -
that land of cliffs and moorland on the North East Coast of England.
He'll sing of his Cleveland heritage, of James
Cook, the Whitby
Whalers and Middlesbrough's industrial rise, drawing from his own
family experiences through the generations. His latest album is
'Town in Time' (Klondike), 19 classic songs and tunes of the English
Klondike.
Fri 2nd Katie Howson and Jeannie Harris
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/mustrad/reviews/unbutton.htm
Musical Traditions
Club
Two fine one-row melodeon players - Jeannie is also a striking
singer specialising in travellers' songs from Suffolk. According to
Rod Stradling of Musical Traditions,
their CD 'Unbuttoned' (Old
Hat Music) "manages to catch some splendid performances of a
lovely selection of wonderful tunes from all over the world - which,
nonetheless, sound as if they are fully at home in southern England -
great stuff!"
Sat 3rd Juan de Marcos Gonzales Afro Cuban All Stars
present Felix Baloy
http://www.tumimusic.co.uk
Royal Festival Hall
"Rich and rhythmic, sparkling and seductive, Felix Baloy's voice
marks him as one of Cuba's very finest soneros. His magnificent
new album, 'Baila mi son' showcases a true artist at the peak of
his profession, backed by the thrilling arrangements of Juan de
Marcos and the peerless Afro Cuban All Stars."
Nigel Williamson, The [London] Times.
Mon 5th Dan Crary & Beppe Gambetta
http://www.dancrary.com [coming soon]
http://www.pangea.it/gambetta/
The Borderline
Two of the world's finest flatpickers - see this months UK News
section for an interview with Dan Crary.
Beppe Gambetta's compositions and arrangements reflect a
colourful mosaic of musical influences...from his native Italy to
American flatpicking, Celtic, central European and Mediterranean
dance tunes, classical fingerstyle and more. According to Pulse!
Magazine he's "another acoustic- guitar-flatpicking monster whose
superhuman grace on the instrument shows the rest of us unblessed-
by-deity folks just how far we have to go to pass muster." Both have
instruction books available from Mel Bay
Publications and instruction
videos on Homespun Tapes whilst
their latest album as a duo is 'Live
on Tour 2000'.
Monday 6th Danu
http://www.danu.net/
The Borderline
Highly rated young Irish traditional band, whose album, 'Think Before
You Think' (Shanachie) was voted in the
Top 10 Folk Albums of
2000 in Mojo Magazine. They will
be appearing in session on BBC
Radio London Live's Entertainment Zone (6 - 8pm GMT) before
tonight's gig. Listen live on
the net.
Tue 6th Peta Webb and Ken Hall
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/webbhall.htm
Sharps
English unaccompanied singers whose album 'As Close as Can Be :
Songs and duets from English, Irish and American traditions'
(Fellside Recordings) "is the first
album of their ten year partnership
and its collection of fine variants of traditional songs and more
recently written material offers much to delight their existing audience
as well as providing a welcome introduction for new listeners."
Georgina Boyes, Musical Traditions.
Wed 7th & Thur 8th Rickie Lee Jones
http://www.rickieleejones.com
Jazz Cafe
A brief European tour promoting her latest album of pop songs,
standards and show tune covers, 'It's Like This' (Artemis), a recent
Grammy nominee in the 'Best Traditional Pop Album' category, and
described by The New York Post as "her best collection since her
self-titled debut released more than 20 years ago!"
Wed 7th Michael Chapman
http://www.MichaelChapman.co.uk
The Troubadour, 265 Old Brompton Rd, W5. (020) 7737 0600
Long established UK singer songwriter and excellent guitarist, still
fondly remembered for his early albums, 'Rainmaker' (1969) and his
classic 'Fully Qualified Survivor (1970). His latest, 'Americana' is a
collection of guitar instumentals, composed and influenced after
recent US tours. According to Guitar
Techniques Magazine he is
"legendary amongst the fingerpicking ‘unplugged’ community...
This
album is a testament to the man’s unfathomable gift."
Thur 8th Clive and Becky Carroll
http://www.pressproms.demon.co.uk/page16.html#L
Islington
Folk Club
Clive is a young English fingerstyle guitarist whose playing has echoes
both of his classical guitar training and Irish traditional music
background. His debut album, 'Sixth Sense' (Old
Bridge Music) has
been described by John Renbourn as "a remarkable first recording....
world class...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." Tonight Clive is joined by his sister Becky, a member of
his original band 'Back To Basics'.
Fri 9th Tom & Barbara Brown
http://www.greenmanreview.com/umber.html
Court Sessions, Balham
020 8767 4185
Reviewing their album 'Where The Umber Flows' (Wild
Goose), Tom
Holke of The Green Man Review describes
them as "fine singers who
specialize in the songs of England's West Country...achingly beautiful
harmony singing....If you love English song or fine vocal harmonizing,
you'll want to hear this."
Mon 12th Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
http://www.martinhayes.com
Blackheath Halls
Born in Ireland and now residing in Seattle, Martin, an All-Ireland
fiddle champion six times over, plays in the slow, lyrical style of his
native East County Clare. He grew up playing traditional music with
his father, P.J. Hayes, leader of the famed Tulla
Ceili Band.
Dennis Cahill, from Chicago, is a master guitarist, versed as well in
classical, blues and rock as he is in traditional music, whose innovative
accompaniment is acknowledged as being a major breakthrough for
guitar in the Irish tradition. In addition to his work with Martin Hayes,
Dennis has performed with such renowned fiddlers as Liz
Carroll,
Eileen
Ivers and Kevin
Burke. Together they have made two highly
acclaimed albums - 1997's 'The Lonesome Touch' and 1999's 'Live
in Seattle'. In March and April they'll be touring the States along with
Liam O'Flynn & The Piper's
Call Band.
Thur 15th English Country Dance Band
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/english.htm
Hale End Folk Club
Reviewing their album 'Barn Dance' (available from Musical
Traditions), Folk Roots Magazine
described them as "an honours
degree band with an energy and exhilaration that prove beyond doubt
that mighty dancing trees from old chestnuts grow - especially if the
roots go deep enough! 'Barn Dance' will make you happier and
healthier than any medication ever could."
Fri 16th Liz Doherty
http://www.tartantapes.com/LizDoherty/main.html
Hammersmith
Irish Centre
Young Irish fiddler from County Donnegal. A founder member of
Cork-based group, Nomos . Reviewing
her debut solo album, 'Last
Orders', the Cork Examiner said, "Liz's style remains firmly on the
Donegal/Scotland/Cape Breton axis. Yet within that style many
diverse elements - crazy cross-cut bowing and delicate, almost
dainty contrasts, all underpinned by a masterly technique...An ideal
illustration of just how powerful the fiddle is in the hands of a
maestro."
Sun 18th Charlie Musselwhite
http://www.charlie-musselwhite.com
Jazz Cafe
'Memphis Charlie' is recognized as one of the world's premier
bluesmen, whose harp playing has won him six WC Handy Awards
for 'Best Blues Harmonica'. He has performed and recorded with
legends of the blues including Muddy Waters,
Big Joe Williams, and
John Lee Hooker as well as contemporary
artists like Bonnie Raitt.
Last year's collaboration with James
Cotton, Billy
Branch and
Sugar Ray Norcia
entitled 'Superharps' (Telarc Blues) has
just been
nominated for a Grammy
in the 'Best Traditional Album' category.
Sun 18th Brendan Croker
http://home.planet.nl/~lfblaauw/ds/divers/croker.htm
Bull Arts Centre, 68 High Street, Barnet, Herts 0208 4490048
Bradford-born Croker originally played with fellow guitarist Steve
Phillips in the duo 'Nev and Norris' before forming his own band, 'The
5 O'Clock Shadows' with Marcus Cliffe and Mark Cresswell, when
Phillips temporarily retired from music to concentrate on art in 1980.
In 1986 Brendan and Steve teamed up again with old friend, Mark
Knopfler from 'Dire Straits' to form The
Notting Hillbillies. Brendan's
last album, 'Not Just A Hillbilly...More Like A Best Of Brendan
Croker' (Essential/Castle Music) was released last year. See this good
discography
on Paul Williams' fan site.
Tue 20th e2K
http://www.e2k-music.co.uk
The Borderline
Rising from the ashes of Edward II comes e2K. The spirit remains
the same. Maximum danceability with English roots, strong songs and
a party atmosphere. But the material and the voice are different, and
the grooves, although guaranteed to make you move, are more
African than Reggae. Touring the UK to promote their new album
'Shift' due for release this month.
Wed 21st Jeff Finlin and The Idle Jets
http://www.jefffinlin.com
The Borderline
Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose latest album 'Original Fin'
(NBFNY) has been described by Mojo
Magazine as "down-tempo
everyman songs sung like a middle-period Dylan", whilst Music
Row
Magazine says "Imagine Steve Earle with three cups of espresso
and a thesaurus." The
Idle Jets include top Nashville guitarist, Pat
Buchanan.
Thur 22nd John Kirkpatrick
http://www.musicwords.nl/kirkpatrick.eng.htm
Hale End Folk Club
One of England's most popular folk artists with years of experience
in virtually every aspect of English folk music. A master on various
kinds of squeeze boxes: button accordion, melodeon and various
types of concertinas, as well as being a fine songwriter and
composer, he first came to prominence in 1972 for his work on
the historic 'Morris
On' album with Ashley Hutchings
and Richard
Thompson before joining Steeleye
Span in the late seventies and
Brass Monkey (with Martin Carthy
and Martin Brinsford) in the
eightees, whilst remaining a regular member of the Richard
Thompson Band. His last solo album 'One man & his box'
(MW Records) was recorded
as a regular gig set, many of songs
and tunes being all time classics at concerts, but never before
recorded by John.
Sat 24th Michael Marra
http://www.stoneyport.demon.co.uk/bio/marrabio.html
Cellar Upstairs (020) 7281 7700
According to the 'Scotland on Sunday' newspaper, his music is
"soaked in the Scottish experience, strained through a gauze of
ragtime blues-piano and shot with filaments of traditional folk
and American voices ... a ghost-white Marra sits at piano and
microphone, delivering caustic visions of the Scottish past and
wickedly funny and sometimes achingly poignant parables of the
present in vocals from a Woodbined voice."
Sun 25th Abdul Tee Jay
http://www.adastey.demon.co.uk/Tee-Jays/index.htm
The Barbican Centre, The Foyer, Silk
Street
Rising from the ashes of leading fusion band 'African Culture' in 1988,
Abdul's band 'Rokoto' were formed specifically to breathe new life
into the authentic strains of West African (Sierra Leonean) street and
traditional folk music. They were recently described by the UK's
'Guardian' newspaper as "the best exponent of African dance music
in town". Abdul's acoustic set, "Palm Wine A Go-Go", comes from
the West African Palm Wine
music , which "dates back to the days
when Portuguese sailors introduced guitars to West Africa. Early
African guitarists played at gatherings where revelers drank palm
wine, the naturally fermented sap juice of the oil palm." (See also
S E Rogie)
Mon 26th Chris Smither
http://www.smither.com
Purcell Room
Top US acoustic bluesman described by The Washington Post as
"one of the finest interpreters of classic blues and contemporary
roots music on the scene today." Reviewing his latest album 'Live as
I'll Ever Be' (High Tone Records in US;
Evangeline in Europe),
The Music Vine says "rarely has a live album captured so eloquently
the artist at the peak of performance...the masterful Delta blues
guitarist is free to let loose with his flawless finger picking, gritty,
deep rumbling voice and percussive boot heel stomping."
Tue 27th & Wed 28th Al Stewart
http://www.alstewart.com
Jazz Cafe
An influential figure on the British folk scene in the 1970s before
moving to live in California, back for a rare UK
tour. He has only
sporadically returned since he left, following his huge international
hit with his song 'Year Of The Cat'. His new album 'Down in the
Cellar' (EMI), scheduled for UK release this month, includes
remastered versions of his songs 'Modern Times', 'Year of the Cat'
and 'Time Passages'. Fans will be interested in two newsletters -
'The Al Stewart Chronicles'
in the US and 'Jackdaw'
in the UK.
Tue 27th Dougie MacLean
http://www.dougiemaclean.com/
Blackheath Halls
Internationally renowned Scottish singer songwriter, originally a
member of The Tannahill Weavers
and Silly
Wizard in the late
seventies, before launching his own record label, Dunkeld Records
in 1981, and producing a series of successful solo albums. His latest
CD is a live album 'From Two Ends of This Earth' (Dunkeld Direct)
and he has just released a CD Rom entitled 'Interactive
Songbook
Volume 1' (for Windows & MacIntosh) which allows you to study
and play along on guitar with ten of his best known songs.
Tue 27th Celtus
http://www.folking.com/celtus/
Union Chapel, Islington 0207 226 1686
Irish-Celtic rock group desribed by Irish
Music Magazine as
"Glowering, moody rock music, polished and textured, earthed with
the ethnic sound of Irish trad." Their new album 'What Goes Around'
will be released this month.
Wed 28th Cosmic Rough Riders
http://www.cosmicroughriders.com
The Borderline
Highly rated Scottish band led by songwriters Daniel Wylie and
Stephen Fleming. Their last (2nd) album 'Panorama' (Raft Records)
was described by Uncut Magaine as "an
infectious mixture of
mixture of West Coast psychedelia and folk-rock with a country
tinge, all delivered via jangly acoustic guitars and mandolins and
overlaid with faultless harmonies." Their latest album is ' Enjoy the
Melodic Sunshine' (Poptones Records).
The band are off on their
first visit to the States in March to appear at the SXSW
Festival
in Austin, Texas.
Go to:
Back to Page 1
London gigs
Best of the Rest of the UK
Festival Listings
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