News

We recently ran two competitions for Mechanical Brides Album Launch and a very generous Folk by the Oak giveaway which the sponsor, Casillero del Diablo, offered a further four pairs of tickets which means there are even more winners.

‘All Along the Wall’ was an incredible and miraculous project which resulted in an album and show which is deserving of continued resurrection. So the good news is that Boo Hewerdine, Jez Lowe, Julie Matthews, Rory McLeod, Ruth Notman, Kate Fox, Elvis McGonagall and Kate Bramley will reunite for a further three shows in September 2011!

As far as band shake-ups go you don’t get a more striking change than this one. The Albion Band is to get a complete re-boot for 2012 as the torch is passed to a newer generation of English folk talent. Ashley Hutchings will be handing over the reins to his son, Blair Dunlop, who is joined by Gavin Davenport, Tom Wright, Katriona Gilmore and Tim Yates.

Folk Music Gigs happening over the coming week: some will need no introduction such as Richard Thompson and Martin Carthy. There are also some great newcomers such as Blackbeard’s Tea Party and Rosie Doonan & The Snapdragons. Not forgetting the oldtimers: Unstrung Heroes!

The Big Eyes Family Players’ bandleader James Green has a busy weekend ahead of him this July 23-24. As part of this year’s Tramlines Festival in Sheffield, Green has co-curated The Folk Forest in Endcliffe Park, a two-day stage featuring Nancy Elizabeth, Rozi Plain, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Tyde, Phantom Dog Beneath the Moon and many more.

Cocos Lovers have released their first video from their new album ‘Elephant Lands’. Elephant Lands comes a year after the critically acclaimed debut “Johannes”. Watch it now and get a taster of more tracks from the album.

Northern Lights is a blending of Norse and Irish: sagas, stories, soundscapes, cultural flavours and perspectives, through a meeting of their music and songs. It is a project of Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Raphael De Cock and James Mahon.

Welcome back to the Friday Folk Music Club. This week we have videos from: Jason Steel, James Yorkston & Big Eyes Family Players, Sharon Shannon, Townes Van Zandt, Julie Fowlis, Nathaniel Rateliff, John Martyn , A Hawk And A Hacksaw and Nancy Elizabeth! Plus audio tracks from The Owl Service and downloads from Spiers and Boden, David Gibb, Cathal Clohessy and Eamonn Costello, Martin Carthy with Dave Swarbrick and The …

We’ve a pair of tickets to give away for Mechanical Bride’s album launch show at St Giles In The Fields next wednesday (20th July). Living With Ants is Mechanical Bride’s debut album. It sees her song writing blossom into fully formed techni-colour flourishes.

Just over a century ago, that most English of pursuits, morris dance, made its way to America – this summer it’s making the return journey in style! The groundbreaking English group Morris Offspring is collaborating with North American dance collective Maple Morris to create a huge site-specific performance work, to be performed at London’s Cecil Sharp House on 28 July.

Port Eliot Festival is held on 21st – 24th July and is set in the beautiful grounds of the ancient Port Eliot estate. A 5000 capacity festival that is a magical combination of books, food, music, art, comedy, fashion, films, flowers, photography, wildlife and water.

Award-winning duo John Dipper and Luke Daniels present their unique take on strange rural customs and the hidden history of our ritual year as part of a new multi-media educational project planned for the summer term that will culminate in 12 public performances this autumn.