BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Musician’ nominee Dan Walsh returns to solo touring throughout the UK during late summer and autumn to promote the delayed release of a new live album, recorded in January 2020 in a special hometown gig in Stafford.
Prior to the pandemic, Dan was kept busy with a hectic touring schedule taking in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. He is also a member of the band Urban Folk Quartet and in 2019, he teamed up with award-winning fiddler Ciaran Algar (Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys) and mandolin maestro Nic Zuppardi for his “Trio” album.
Prior to this, he released a solo album titled Verging on the Perpendicular (2017). In his review of the album, Thomas Blake noted how Walsh, who hails from Staffordshire, “specialises in the ‘clawhammer’ style of playing. He has that combination of natural talent and well-honed craftsmanship that the banjo requires, but just as importantly he has a fresh, distinctive approach to the instrument. This is a result of his unique perspective: he had never heard bluegrass when he first picked up a banjo and is more likely to take inspiration from the Scottish or Irish traditions than from Appalachian folk music. His talents mean he is in high demand as a collaborator.” He concludes: “It is the perfect balance of authenticity and flair. Without ever ignoring the past, it points the way to an exciting future for banjo music.”
Add to all that poignant songs, astonishing musical departures and lively humour and the result is a truly memorable live show which has wowed audiences across the world from intimate seated rooms to huge dancing crowds in festival fields.
Dan Walsh UK Tour Dates
AUGUST
06 ALSTONEFIELD Memorial Hall (with Brooks Williams, Tom McConville and Nic Zuppardi)
07 ALSTONEFIELD Downhome Festival
18 MORECAMBE (AND ONLINE) More Music- Devonshire road, Morecambe
22 WHITSTABLE Whitstable Sessions (with Brooks Williams)- St Mary’s Hall, Oxford Street, Whitstable
SEPTEMBER
04 WOODBRIDGE Maverick Festival
10 BRISTOL Folk House (with Della Mae)
12 SHIPLEY Live Room (with Della Mae)
16 YORK Black Swan Folk Club, Peasholme Green, York
17 NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE The Globe (with Alistair Anderson) The Globe, Railway street, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
18 DUNBAR Music School (with Alistair Anderson) Kings Court, Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
23 CRAIL Folk Club (with Alistair Anderson) Town Hall, Market Gate, Crail, Scotland
29 STAFFORD Pocket Film Festival (live accompaniment to silent films!)- Gatehouse theatre, Stafford
OCTOBER
10 WALTON-ON-THAMES Riverhouse Barn, Walton Road, Walton-On-Thames
16 HARTLEPOOL Folk Festival (Urban Folk Quartet)
21 FAREHAM Ashcroft Arts, Osborn Road, Fareham
22 NEW MILTON Forest Arts, Old Milton Road, New Milton
23 ALDERSHOT West End Centre, Queens Road, Aldershot
NOVEMBER
18 WINCHESTER Hyde Tavern, Hyde Street, Winchester
Ticket links and more details here: https://www.danwalshbanjo.co.uk/dan-walsh-banjo-gigs/