NEWS & COMING YOUR WAY

Coming Your Way

Miranda Sykes has a busy month ahead of her starting on May 3 at Spalding Folk Club, The South Holland Centre, Market Place, Spalding, Lincolnshire. PE11 1SS. Doors open 8pm and show starts around 8.15pm. Tickets are usually £6.

Miranda Sykes

Then on May 5 you can see her at West Kirby Arts Centre, Wirral. Doors open 7pm and tickets are £12. The following night May 6 she will be playing The Pavilion Theatre, Cromer Pier, Cromer, Norfolk as part of the Folk On The Pier. The evening concerts which she is part of start 7.30pm. There is a range of ticket options available so check the website to see which best suits you.
Then on May she is appearing at Hitchin Folk Club, The Sun Hotel, Sun Street, Hitchin, Herts. SG5 1AF. Doors open at 7.30pm and show starts 8.15pm. Tickets are £12 for members and £14 for non-members. Also on the bill is Emily Mae Winters.
On May 11 it's off to Chettle Village Hall, Castleman Hotel, Chettle, Dorset. DT11 8DB. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £12.
Following this on May 12 she is performing at Calstock Arts, The Old Chapel, Sand Lane, Calstock.
PL18 9QX. Doors open 7pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £12 in advance or £13 on the night, also £10 and £6 concessions.
Then on May 13 she will be playing at The Plough Arts Centre, 9-11 Fore Street, Great Torrington, Devon. EX38 8HQ. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £13, £12 concessions and £11 for supporters of the centre.
The following night, May 14, she will at St Ives Arts Club, Westcott's Quay, St Ives, Cornwall. TR26 2DY.  Doors open 7pm and show starts 7.30pm. Tickets are £14. Then on May 17 you can see her at Bremhill Village Hall, Wiltshire. Show starts 7.30pm.
Her next show on May 18 will be at Lyceum Folk Club, Crindau Constitutional Club, 45 Malpas Road, Newport, Gwent. NP20 5PJ. Doors open 8pm and show starts 8.30pm. Then on May 19 she is playing at St Mary's Church, Garsington, Oxon. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £12 plus booking fee.
The following night, May 20, she will be performing at Gill Nethercott Centre, Whitchurch, Hants. Contact gillnethercottcentre@btconnect.com or 01256 896270 for more information.
On May 21 she will be at Osmington Village Hall, Osmington Village Hall, Shortlake Lane, Osmington, Dorset. DT3 6FT. Contact 07816 832554 for further details.
Her next gig is on May 23 at Roses Theatre Bar, Sun Street, Tewkesbury, Glos. GL20 5NX. Show starts 8.30pm and tickets are £15.
Then on May 25 she is performing at Black Swan Folk Club, Peasholme Green, York, YO1 7PR. Doors open 7.45pm and tickets are £12. To round the month off on May 26 she plays Birchmeadow Centre, Birch Meadow Road, Broseley, Shropshire. TF12 5LP. Doors open 7pm and tickets are £12 in advance.

O'Hooley & Tidow will be performing on May 12 at Cambridge Folk Club, The Golden Hind, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge. CB4 1SP. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £12 on the door, £11 in advance or £10 for members. The following night, May 13, you can catch them at Hebden Bridge Folk & Roots Festival, Hebden Bridge, HX7. The festival runs from May 12 to 14 and tickets range from £5.90 to £85.55. Then on May 19 they play Shepley Spring Festival which runs from May 19 to May 21. There are several venues being used and there is a wide range of tickets available so please check the website for the best deal to suit you.

Trio Mike Giverin, Lucille Williams, Jay Bradybury who are Jaywalkers have a handful of gigs this month starting on May 5 at Holmfirth Festival of Folk, Holmfirth Masonic Hall, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire. Doors open 7.30pm and tickets are £8. They will be supported by Murston Bapchild & the Braxton Hicks and Ben Bateman and the festival runs from May 5 to May 7.
Then on May 9 it's off to Tyn-Y-Capel Inn & Restaurant, Church Road, Minera, nr Wrexham LL11 3DA. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £9 or £7 for those under 14.
On May 13 they play Crossover Festival, Clonter Opera Theatre, Swettenham Heath, Trap Road, Congleton, Cheshire. CW12 2LR. The Bluegrass & Old Time Festival runs from May 12 to May 14. They are due on stage at 8.40pm and there is a wide range of tickets available so check the festival website to the best option for you.

The band move on May 18 to the Ritz Acoustic Club, Ritz Social Club, Victoria St, Burnham-on-Sea. TA8 1AN. They are due on stage around 10pm.
The following night, May 19, they are due to play at The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud. GL5 3SS. However, the venue website has no such listing.
On May 20, you can see them at Waveney Valley Folk Collective, St Edmund's Village Hall, Hoxne, IP21 5AN. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £8 and support is from Andrea King.
You can catch their act on May 21 at Barnsley Folk Club, The Old School House, Barnsley, Westwood New Road, Barnsley. S75 3DA. Show starts 5pm and support is from String Theory.
To round the month off on May 29 they play Chester Folk Festival, Kelsall, nr Chester which runs from May 26 to May 29. There is a wide range of ticket option to see the festival website to find which best suits your needs.

Dance band Threepenny Bit will be showing their talents starting with a free concert on May 6 at The Prince Albert, Rodborough Hill, Stroud. GL5 3SS. Show starts 8.30pm. The following night, May 7 you can see them in concert at The Slaughtered Lamb, 34 - 35 Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London. EC1V 0DX. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £9.90 including booking fee.
Their next show is on May 12 at The Art House, Southampton. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £9.76 including booking fee. Then on May 14 they play The Bullingdon, 162 Cowley Rd, Oxford.
OX4 1UE. Show starts 7pm and tickets are £12.10 including booking fee. To round things up on May 20 they play SHOCC ceilidhs, Guildhall Winchester, The Broadway, Winchester, Hampshire. SO23 9GH. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £12. Lisa Purkiss is also on the bill.

The Younguns trio are spending a short spell north of the border as part of their wider tour. They have four gigs at Orkney Folk Festival from May 25 to May 28. Their first outing is at the Burray Concert at Burray Hall and show starts 7.30pm. Tickets range from £8 to £15. The next night they play the Sanday Ceilidh at Sanday Community Centre. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets range from £5 to £10. Next they play and afternoon concert, 2.30pm, at St Ninian's Kirk, Deerness. Tickets are £12. The Kirk is accessed via a single track road - audience members are advised to park at the Deerness Community Centre and accept shared lifts from there, allowing plenty of time to do so.
Their final show is a Sunday Song Club starting 2pm at Stromness Hotel. Tickets are £8. Please note all bookings incur a £2.50 fee.

Scottish singer/songwriter Ewan McLennan has a few gigs this month starting on May 6 at Saltcellar Folk Club, Basement of Totterdown Baptist Church, Wells Road, Bristol. BS4 2AX. Show starts 7.30pm and entry is usually £5. Then on may 7 you can see him with George Mobiot at The Spire, St Mark's Chapel, Eastern Road, Brighton, BN2 5JN as part of Brighton Festival. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £15 plus fee. Finally you can see him May 12 at Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton. WV14AN. Doors open 7.30pm and tickets are £12.50.

Megson also have a few gigs lined up for this month starting on May Day at Wath Festival, which runs from April 28 until May 1. Unfortunately their show on May 19 at Stapleford Granary, Bury Road, Stapleford, Cambridge. CB22 5BP is SOLD OUT. You can however, catch them at Shepley Spring Festival on May 20. The festival runs from May 19 to May 21. Megson will be on the main stage for an afternoon show between 1.30 and 3.30pm. There is a range of tickets available so check the website for your best option.

Sam Sweeney will be running a Fiddle Day on May 6 at  Dungworth Village Hall, Sheffield from 10 am to 5pm.
Sweeney, who you will know from bands such as Bellowhead and Leveret, will lead a fiddle day workshop for intermediate to advanced players.
You can see the full day itinerary on our here.
Tickets are £30 or £20 concessions (NUS/Unemployed) and you can book here.
Places are limited and just to be clear the day is for experienced fiddle players only. A booking fee applies to all ticket purchases.

Steve Tilston will be still on the road through the month starting on May 4 where he will be joined by Mandolinquents & Friends at Arlington Arts Centre, Newbury RG14 3BQ. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £14.75 including fees.
Then on May 5 he plays Friday Folk at the Village Pump, Lamb Inn, Mortimer Street, Trowbridge BA14 8BN. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £10.
On May 7 you can see him at Twickfolk, Patchworks at the Cabbage Patch, 67 London Road, Twickenham. TW1 3SZ. Doors open 7.45pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £13.20 including fees
His next show is on May 12 at Exeter Folk Club, Victoria Park Tennis Club, Lyndhurst Road, St Leonards, Exeter. EX2 4NX. Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the night. However, you cannot pay for tickets through the venue's website.
Then on May 14 he is joined by Jez Lowe for an afternoon concert at Tredegar House Folk Festival, Tredegar House & Country Park, Newport. NP10 8YW. There is a range of ticket options so check the festival website.
He is heading off to the European mainland on May 19 where he will play a few shows in Belgium starting at At The Boulevard, Amerikalei 16, Antwerp. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are €20. The following night, May 20, he will play Dranouter Folk Club, Dikkebusstraat 234 B-8950 Heuvelland, Dranouter. Show starts 8.30pm. To finish off the month you can see him back in Blighty on May 26 at Roots@94, Kardomah94, 94 Alfred Gelder Street, Hull. HU1 2AN.

Former Bellowhead frontman Jon Boden will kicking off his Painted Lady Tour Prt 2 on May 8 at Colchester Arts Centre,Church Street, Colchester, Essex. CO1 1NF. Doors open 7.45pm and tickets are £20 with no concessions or membership discounts available. Then on May 9 you can catch him at Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way, Cambridge. CB1 7GX. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £22.50 in advance. Member discounts may be available.
The following night, May 10, he will be appearing at Komedia, 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton. BN11UN. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £25.31 including fees.
From there he moves on May 11 to Pittville Pump Room, East Approach Drive, Cheltenham. GL52 3JE. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £22.
His next show is on May 12 at Salisbury City Hall, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, Wiltshire. SP2 7TU. Show starts 7pm and tickets are £22.50.
Then on May 13 he will be performing at The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke. RG21 7QR. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £22 including booking fee. On May 14 he plays an afternoon concert at Town Hall,Victoria Square, Birmingham. B3 3DQ. Show starts 2.30pm and tickets are £22.50 including fees.
Then on May 15 he is off to Wales to play Theatr Mwldan, Bath House Road, Cardigan. SA43 1JY. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20 and appear to include a three-course meal.
He is staying in Wales for another concert on May 16 at Pontardawe Arts Centre, Herbert Street, Pontardawe. SA8 4ED. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £21.50.
Then on May 17 it's off to the Exeter Phoenix, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter. EX4 3LS. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £21.50 including booking fee.
You can catch him on May 18 at Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London. NW1 7AY. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20 or £10 for those under 26 all plus a £2 booking fee
On May 19 you can see him at St Edith Folk, High Street, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent. TN15 6NA. Show starts 7.30 and tickets are £24.20 including booking fee.
His penultimate gig of the month on May 20 is at The Y,  7 East Street, Leicester. LE1 6EY. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £20.
He rounds off the month on May 21at The Grand, 18 York Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire. BB7 2DL. Show starts 7pm and tickets are £20 plus booking fee.

Kate Rusby is marking 25 years or bringing her own brand of Yorkshire folk to the masses with a tour starting on may 10 at Charter Theatre, Preston Guildhall, Lancaster Road, Preston. PR1 1HT. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £24 including fees. From there on May 11 it's off to Unity Works, Wakefield. Show starts 7pm and tickets are £22.50 or £17 with concessions.
Then on May 12 she is at The Plaza, Mersey Square, Stockport. SK1 1SP. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £16.50 and £24.20 and may be subject to booking fees.
Her next gig on May 13 is at Winding Wheel, Holywell St, Chesterfield. S41 7SA. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £24.50 or £15.50 for children and there is a dinner and show option for £39.50.
On May 14 she will perform at The Lighthouse Theatre. Kettering. NN15 6PB. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £24 or £17 with concessions.
Then on May 17 it's off to Cheltenham Town Hall, Imperial Square, Cheltenham. GL50 1QA. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £24 plus booking fee.
The following night, May 18, she plays The Anvil, Churchill Way, Basingstoke. RG21 7QR. Show starts 7.45pm and tickets are £26 or £21 for under-16s including booking fees.
Her next show is on May 19 at the Octagon Theatre, Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset. BA20 1UX. Show starts 7.30pm and the few remaining tickets are £23. On May 20 you can see her at Kings Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants. PO5 2QJ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £27 or £22 for under-16s and for card members.
She rounds off the month on May 21 at Wycombe Swan Theatre, St Mary Street, High Wycombe. HP11 2XE. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £25.50 or £18 for under-16s.

Northern Ireland songbird Cara Dillon has a handful of gigs this month starting on May 10 at Thornbury Arts Festival. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £18 or £16. Her next show is on May 11 is in The Derby Hall at The Met.Market Street, Bury. BL9 0BW. Show start 8pm and tickets are £20. The following night, May 12, she heads further North to The Queen's Hall, 85 - 89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh. EH8 9JG. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £45 or £20 plus a £2 booking fee.
Then on May 13 she can be seen at Milngavie Folk Club, at Milngavie Town hall, Doors open 8pm and tickets are £20.
On May 20 she will perform at Guildhall Theatre, Derby. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £19.75 plus booking fee. The finally on May 21 she will play Colchester Arts Centre,Church Street, Colchester, Essex. CO1 1NF. Doors open 7pm and tickets are £20.

Veteran Irish band The Fureys have a full schedule this month kicking off on May 1 at Princess Pavilion Theatre, 41 Melvill Road, Falmouth. TR11 4AR. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £19 or £17 with concessions and there will be a £1.50 fee for card payments. Their next show is on May 2 where they play Exmouth Pavilion, Esplanade, Exmouth, Devon. EX8 2AZ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £19.

Then on May 3 you can see them at the Octagon Theatre, Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset. BA20 1UX. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20.50 or £19 with concessions.
From there on May 4 they travel to play in the auditorium of the Regent Centre, 51 High Street, Christchurch, Dorset. BH23 1AS. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20 or £19 with concessions.
The following night, May 5, you can see them at the Kings Theatre, Albert Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants.PO5 2QJ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £23 or £21 or £19 depending on the type of concession required.
Then on May 6 they play the Theatre Royal, Addington Street, Margate, Kent. CT9 1PW. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20.50 or £18.50 with concessions all tickets are subject to a booking fee.
The next show is on May 7 when they play the Sinden Theatre, Ashford Road, Tenterden, Kent. TN30 6LT. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20.
If you want to see them on May 9 then you need to get to Millfield Theatre, Silver Street, Edmonton, London. N18 1PJ. Show starts at 7.45 and tickets are £23.
On May 10 you can see them perform in Shropshire at Ludlow Assembly Rooms, 1 Mill St, Ludlow SY8 1AZ. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £21 or £19 with concessions.
Their show on May 11 at the Philharmonic Music Room is SOLD OUT.
Their next show is on May 12 at Galtres Centre, Market Place, Easingwold.YO61 3AD. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £18.
Then on May 13 they will perform at Lowther Pavilion Theatre. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20.50.
On May 14 the play the Forum Theatre,Town Centre, Billingham, TS23 2LJ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20.
Following this on May 16 they are at the Playhouse Theatre, Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. NE26 1LZ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20 or £18.50 with concessions.
They head to the border on May 17 to play The Maltings, Eastern Lane, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. TD15 1AJ. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets range from £20 to £25 with concessions available.
They move over the border for their next concert on May 18 to play the Queen's Hall,85-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh. EH8 9JG. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £21 plus booking fee.
The band is staying in Scotland for the rest of the month continuing on May 19 where they play the Gardyne Theatre, Gardyne Road, Dundee. DD5 1NY. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £22 or £20.50 with concessions including booking fee.
Then on May 20 they play Carnegie Hall, East Port, Dunfermline. KY12 7JA. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £19 plus reservation fee.
Their penultimate show of the month is on May 21 at the Gaiety Theatre, Carrick Street, Ayr. KA7 1NU. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets range from £16 to £24.
Then their final gig is on May 22 at Motherwell Concert Hall & Theatre,Windmillhill Street, Motherwell. Ml1 1AB. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £20 or £18 with concessions.

The band Three Daft Monkeys will be on the road this month beginning on May 5 at
Arts4Every1 Art Centre, Old St John's Church, Desborough Road, High Wycombe. HP11PU. Doors open 8pm and show starts 8.30pm. Tickets are £11.This is followed on May 6 with a gig at Barnsley Rock and Blues, Blackburn Lane, Barnsley. S75 2BA. Doors open 6.30pm and show starts 7pm. Tickets are £11 or £5.50 for under-18s.
Their next show is on May 11 at the Hare and Hounds, 106 High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham. B14 7JZ. Show starts 7.30pm and  tickets are £11.
Then on May 12 you can see them at the Prince Albert, 48 Trafalgar Street, Brighton. BN1 4ED. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £11.25.
The following night, May 13, you can catch them at Chapel Arts Centre, St.James's Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, Bath. BA1 1QR. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £11.
Then on May 19 they will be performing at the Barrel House, 59a High Street, Totnes, Devon. TQ9 5PB.  Show starts 8pm and tickets are £13.20 and the show is over-18s.
On May 20 they play the Palladium, Lower Gunstone, Bideford. EX39 2DE. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £8.80.
The band's next gig is on May 25 at Bearded Theory, which runs from May 25 to 28 at Catton Hall, Catton, Walton upon Trent, South Derbyshire. DE12 8LN. There is a range of tickets available so check the website for the option which best suits your needs. The band will be playing a second gig at the festival on May 28.
Following on from this, on May 26, you can see them at Milkmaid Folk Club which is held at The Constitutional Club, 12 Guildhall street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP33 1PR. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £12 or £10 for friends of the club.
Their penultimate gig of the month is on May 27 will be at Small World Spring Festival, which runs from May 25 to 29. There is a range of ticket options available so check the festival website for what suits your needs.

Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin are no more! But before you reach for the whisky bottle to calm the shock it's only a name change. The launch of their latest album will be under their new name, Edgelarks. They will, however, be keeping their old name for their Out Of The Ordinary tour this month which starts on May 10 at Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Harbour Drive, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff. CF10 4PA. Doors open 7.30pm and the show starts 8pm. Tickets are £14. Their next gig on May 11 at  Derby Old Gaol, 50-51 Friar Gate, Derby, Derbyshire. DE1 1DF is SOLD OUT.
Their next show is on May 12 at Williamson Tunnels, The Old Stable Yard, Smithdown Lane, Liverpool, Lancashire L7 3EE. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £15.46.
The duo's next gig at The Craven Arms Pub & Cruck Barn, Appletreewick, Nr Skipton, North Yorkshire. BD23 6DA is also SOLD OUT.
You can see them next on May 19 at Steam Museum of the Great Western Railway, Fire Fly Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire. SN2 2EY. The event has been organised by Black Duck Folk and doors open 7.30pm with the show at 8pm. Tickets are £14 in advance plus booking fee or £16 on the night and includes a day entry into the museum.
Then on May 20 you can catch them at Carnglaze Caverns, St Neots, Liskeard, Cornwall. PL14 6HQ. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £15.
On May 24 they will perform at Lion Salt Works, Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Northwich. CW9 6ES. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. The few tickets remaining are £12
Their next show is on may 25 at Witham Hall, 3 Horse Market, Barnard Castle, County Durham. DL12 8LY. Show starts 7.30pm and tickets are £15 in advance and £17 on the night.
The penultimate show of the month on May 26 is at The Fleece Inn, the Cross, Bretforton, Evesham, Worcestershire. WR11 7JE. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £12.50 plus booking fee.
They round of the month on May 27 at The Big Roundhouse, Butser Ancient Farm, Chalton Lane, Chalton, Waterlooville. PO8 0BG. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £15 including fee.

News

Moseley Folk Festival welcomes Laura Marling to its line up along with Kate Rusby, Roddy Woomble, Lankum, The Furrow Collective, The Destroyers, Mike Heron & Trembling Bells, Alasdair Roberts, Marry Waterson & David A. Jaycock, The Standing Wave, Fenne Lily, Jess Morgan, Nifeco Costa & Babcock Jazz and Culture Dub Orchestra.

Laura Marling

Other headliners include Jose Gonzalez who will be playing an extended solo acoustic set and the festival have bagged other acts such as Shovels & Rope, Josienne Clark & Ben Walker, Michael Chapman, Kaia Kater, Laura J Martin, Scott Hirsch and Izzie Derry.
At the festival you can also enjoy Courtney Marie Andrews, John Moreland, Nadia Reid, Nap Eyes, Diabel Cissokho and Matthew Edwards & The Unfortunates. There is a wide range of tickets options so check the website for what best suits your needs.







A Shropshire brewery has joined forces with Shrewsbury Folk Festival to give a chance to young musicians.
Wood's brewery, which is near Craven Arms, will sponsor a pop-up venue called The Launchpad at this year’s event at the West Mid Showground over August Bank Holiday.
They are appealing for solo performers and groups aged 18 to 26 who live in Shropshire, Mid Wales or the West Midlands to pitch for one of the five places available.
Successful candidates will be required to perform a 30-minute acoustic set at least three times over the weekend.
James Owens from Wood’s, said: “Shrewsbury Folk Festival is one of the top events of its kind and the opportunity to play there is a great step for young musicians. The Launchpad will be an informal space but it will be good experience for performers and the chance for them to reach an new audience.
"We know there’s a wealth of young talent out there.”
Festival director Alan Surtees said: “We’ve supported young and emerging musicians for several years, having them perform all over the festival site. For many, it can be the first time they’ve ever had the opportunity to take part in an event like ours.”
To apply for one of the available places, performers must be aged between 18 and 26 on August 25, living in Shropshire, Mid Wales or the West Midlands, and available to attend the festival from Friday August 25 to 28.
In return, they will receive free ticket to the festival, on-site camping, and a contribution to travel expenses.
To apply, send a short biography, links to performances (Soundcloud, YouTube etc) and your contact details to jo@shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk before May 31. Only the selected performers will be contacted.

The Conservatoire Folk Ensemble will mark their 20th anniversary with a new album, Painted, along with a tour.
The run of shows starts at Birmingham's Town Hall on May 12. The opening night of the Imagined Isle festival will see the line-up of 50 members  joined by as many former members as they can muster which could swell the ranks to 80 or 90.
This will be followed by further shows including the ensemble’s own Power Folk 4 festival on June 11 and a trip to Shropshire, where they will open the Shrewsbury Folk Festival.
Formed in 1997 at Birmingham’s Conservatoire by Joe Broughton of The Urban Folk Quartet, The Albion Band and Joss Stone), the CFE have established a reputation for creating energetic and powerful shows. 

Skerryvore are introducing a new member to their lineup. Scott Wood will join the band, playing pipes and whistles. His first appearances with the band will be on May 5 for the band’s shows at Gig on the Goil, then on May 6 at The Big Whistle Festival, Bury and then The Old Fire Station in Carlisle on May 7.

Wood has already been working in the studio with the band as they record their seventh album and has performed with many other acts across the world.
Wood said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be on board with one of my favourite bands. I first played with Skerryvore in 2010, at the age of 17, at their album launch, and to become a member now is a dream come true!”
Wood’s addition to Skerryvore comes as founder member Martin Gillespie takes a step back from full-on performances.

Canadian country singer Sarah Beth Keeley will be setting off on her first full-length UK tour this spring with dates across Scotland and England in support of her new single, Somebody's Baby.
Keeley has strong UK ties through her father, a professional jazz clarinettist, who comes from Birmingham and her mother, a violinist from Leeds.
Her UK tour dates include Vamos Music Festival, Perth Racecourse, Scone Palace Park, Perth PH2 6BB on May 13. Show starts 8pm. Then on May 19 you can see her at Hug n' Pint, 171 Great Western Road, Glasgow. Show starts 7pm. The following night, May 20, you can catch her at The Golden Lion, Market Place, Allendale, Hexham. Show starts 7pm. The on May 22 it's a show at Gullivers, 109 Oldham Street, Manchester. Show starts 7pm. To round off the month on May 26 she will be playing Dares Live Entertainment Venue, 16 Lower Essex St, Birmingham. Show starts 7pm.

Unfortunately award winning folk duo Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman have had a load of instruments and musical gear stolen from their vehicle at a Premier Inn in Petersfield, Hampshire.

The theft happened some time between 3 and 4am on April 23rd in the car park of the hotel, which isjust off the A3.
The list of instruments and items stolen are as follows: 1952 Martin 0-15 All Mahogany acoustic guitar, with Fishman rare earth humbucker pickup and white Calton flight case. Guitar Serial number 121337; 1983 Martin D28 Shenandoah acoustic guitar with a Fishman Rare Earth humbucker pick up and black Hiscox Artist series flight case; Silver Miyazawa PA101 Flute in small blue hard case; Bose L1 PA system base/stand unit in black soft Bose case; Black peli style case full of pedals, cables + x2 Shure microphones (sm58beta + sm57beta); Black metal X frame keyboard stand; Small silver Behringer Eurorack MXB1002 mixing desk in a soft black carry case; Stagg Black hard guitar stand case. Fits up to 6 guitars – tatty with only one lock working; Flute stand – yellow and black (was inside guitar stand case).
You can find pictures of all their gear at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0af8wbj3d8duboi/AAAqngfHCly33Jb19G7yL1zUa?dl=0
Please report any sightings of these items to Kathryn and Sean by using the contact form through their website at www.kathrynrobertsandseanlakeman.com
Or you can inform Hampshire Police by ringing 101 and quoting the crime number 44170150957.
However, they are soldiering on and fulfilling all their tour gigs for this month, check their website for dates and venues.

There is good news from the Vin Garbutt camp. The Teeside Troubadour is recovering well from a recent heart operation and it's hoped he will be back home at time of publishing. As you would expect his gigs have been postponed so check his website for more information about individual concerts.

Vin Garbutt

A posting on his facebook page reads as follows: "Hi Everybody, Pat here: I am sorry that you have all had to wait so long for some news of Vin but at last I can tell you that he is doing well. 
He has had a successful operation but been in intensive care a little bit longer than we would have liked. 
He had a bit of a dip ... but the problem was resolved the next day and now he is on the normal ward and doing really well. He should be up and about and coming home very soon. Thank you so much for all your messages of support."

Mike McGeary is working with Vin on his biography and is calling for fans help. If you have any memories, stories or anecdotes you think should be included, he would like you to get in touch. Whether you’re one of the hundreds of people who have put Vin up on his travels, you’ve met him once or many times or just have a favourite piece of patter that you remember, he wants to hear from you. Please send your contributions to the specific email address, Vindicated@email.com .Would you also start your notes with the place and year you think you first saw Vin. Folkall would like to wish Vin a full speedy recovery and hope he will soon be back on road with his guitar in hand.

If you have news about you or your band or wish to be included in the next Coming Your Way & News then please contact Folkall with your details on danfare60@gmail.com or via facebook at https://www.facebook.com/folkall/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel or through twitter on https://twitter.com/DannyFarragher.

All information and links were deemed correct at time of publishing. Folkall is not responsible for broken or unresponsive links. It is advisable to check artist and venue websites before making long journeys.

CERI RIDGE TRADING COMPANY

CD review

Ceri Ridge Trading Company

There is something refreshingly honest and unadorned about Ceri Ridge Trading Company (CRTC) which is transmitted in their eponymously named first album.

Chris Brown, Linda Rowe and Paul Cashmore

Emanating from Ceri in Mid Wales, hence the name, the band is made up of Linda Rowe, Paul Cashmore, Chris Brown and newest recruit, Linda’s son Jack.

They seem to have taken a back-to-basics approach to where you could almost see them playing on someone’s porch regardless of anyone being there to hear them, they play because it’s what they do.

Their version of L&N introduces Rowe’s feminine and gentle tones which are laid over Brown’s banjo and J Rowe’s fiddle.
Whether by accident or design the style of the song has a retro feel as though it’s a really old recording which has been restored but not to perfection which gives it a refreshing quality.
L Rowe’s singing continues with Waiting Around To Die which is again accented by Brown’s gentle picking. They are joined this time by Sarah Barnwell on fiddle. There is also a slightly off kilter undertone which gives it a teasingly deranged quality.

The traditional and well-known Cindy gets their treatment this time with its jug-band tempo and Cashmore taking over the vocals. It has a riding rhythm which gets under your skin and at some stage your head is going to start bobbing or your foot tapping.

Even more so than the last track Barnwell’s rasping strings add real character to proceedings.
Little Sadie has a real understated mountain sound with L Rowe’s carefree and almost sleepy vocals giving the song a definite laid back feel. This track epitomises what seems to be CRTC style of keep it simple and make every note count.

J Rowe takes lead fiddle on Soldier’s Joy and the tune creates an image of the barn dance or the locals gathering in the village hall to have a good time. You can almost smell the oil the lamps and hear the swirling of the apron covered dresses as the track progresses.

Sarah Barnwell

One’s again it’s J Rowe’s fiddle which pumps some life into Cluck Old Hen. This is a great fun piece. The two Rowes on vocals create the cadence of The Clapping Song in what is a real bit of indulgence.

A staple of so many bands’ set lists, Shady Grove is given CRTC’s understated treatment with Brown’s banjo keeping time; Barnwell’s strings adding colour to L Rowe’s vocals and there is even the occasional gem of the jaw harp thrown in for good measure.

J Rowe’s rasping fiddle brings in Like A Songbird and the undulating cadence is kept going with Brown’s banjo and matched by the soft tones of L Rowe’s vocals.

Hank Williams’ original of Ramblin’ Man was a solid country blues ballad but here CRTC have given it a slightly bizarre twist with Brown’s gobiron overlaying a smidgen of the eerie with something of a fairground sound.
L Rowe’s deeper and clipped lyrics add to the theatrics of the piece. Barnwell’s fiddle keeps in the background and Cashmore’s occasional but effective percussion adds to the unnerving quality of the song.

Hard Times is a thoughtful ballad with L Rowe bringing an almost spiritual feel to her vocals. The plodding beat of the banjo keeps time until it’s lightened by the guitar insert.

Go To Sleep is a fantastic track from the Coen Brothers’ film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? so to take that on is a brave move.

The debut album

Thankfully L Rowe’s voice proves perfect in tone and softness and with Brown on lap steel it is a great track to end what is a thoroughly enjoyable first album.

More than anything what this album proves is that to produce great folk or roots music you don’t need all the electronic gadgetry and musical sophistry which is so often employed sometimes to good effect and sometimes not.

CRTC are honest, unfettered musicians who have produced a stripped back, down to earth sound which is traditional enough to please almost anyone who is into folk and yet have still found room to put their own distinctive brand on.

This album of covers is a great introduction to the musicians which you have to admit, after listening to the album, whets your appetite for when they start putting together their own compositions many of which are hopefully already lying around waiting to see the light of day.

Ceri Ridge Trading Company is available from  the band's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ceriridgetradingcompany/.

If you want to see them in action for yourself then on May 1 they play as part of the Clun Green Man Festival at The Sun, High Street, Clun, South Shropshire. Then on May 20 they play Reet Petite, 18 West Street, Leominster.
They move on to Tamworth Bluegrass & Old Time festival on June 25. There are a range of tickets on offer so check the website for the options which best suit you.
Later in the year, September 15, you can catch them at The Sun Inn, 49 Regent Street, Llangollen. Show starts 9pm.

ROVING CROWS

CD Review

Bury Me Naked

After four years without an album you need to grab your listeners’ attention back - step up Roving Crows. The title track comes at you like Santana’s Jingo Ba. You feel it coming and you are like a rabbit in the spotlight.

Loz Shaw, Paul O'Neill, Caitlin Barrett and Tim Downes-Hall
 who are The Roving Crows. Pic Graham Munn

Paul O’Neill’s gritty singing has a tinge of the weird and wonderful songs of the Sixties such as Arthur Brown.
As the sound fills out with the threat of the fiddle you find yourself captured in some strange musical ritual.

Roving Crows have crammed energy into this album and then slammed the lid shut knowing it will burst out when put under the laser.
Their hit-you-between-the-eyes style is reminiscent of early U2 tracks.

The first and title track opens with a slightly drunken orchestral warm up where the guitar pulls you into a dreamlike scenario. There are elements of Steve Knightley’s powerful and cutting singing style from O’Neill and the close to jungle rhythms are all swirled into a vortex.

New York Love Song has a much more conventional intro, with O’Neill’s tones softened but it’s not too long before the introduction of Asian sounding harmonies pop up in the background followed by the percussion of Tim Downes-Hall to take a thumping turn of direction.

The Afro-Calypso sound which brings in the harmonised singing of O’Neill and Caitlin Barrett pushes your rhythm button straight away. Barrett’s fiddle inserts break into proceedings nicely without letting the listener off the hook. Towards the end, most of the instruments back off leaving just the percussion pumping behind the two singers.

Barrett adopts a country style for the ballad Riverside but the bongos let you know this is not good ‘ol country. With ease she shifts her voice from a gentle crystal clear sound to a style which has a much sassier folk-rock edge.

Paul O'Neill and Caitlin Barrett.
Pic Graham Munn

It’s her bluegrass fiddle playing which launches the triplet Fire Sky/Farewell to Chernobyl/Tiger’s Eye. The tune quickly morphs into a throbbing sound which wouldn’t be out of place as the sound track to a Mission Impossible film.

Barrett uses her fiddle to put the handbrake on the tempo and then take over the reins with her rasping strings.

In complete contrast the ticking of a clock heralds O’Neill’s voice for If I Had To Choose. From there it seems like they are trying to decide in which direction to take the song, speeding up the tempo then slowing it down as if to keep the lead singer on his toes.

It’s a reggae-folk beat which brings in Passing on the Love and, as you would expect by now, it gets broken up by a crazy almost punk-folk rhythm created by Barrett’s fiddle and Loz Shaw’s strumming bass.

Again there is a cavernous contrast as The Last Breath comes over as a Celtic lament. Barrett’s synthesised fiddle is loaded with emotion. O’Neill talking over the melody comes across as a little clichéd which is a shame because the message, which is undoubtedly sincere, of not taking this planet of ours for granted is a relevant and important one

Revolution is Now opens with a mystical/ethnic beat which is reminiscent of the Kodo drummers. Letting their rock side come to the fore, O’Neill adopts an in-your-face singing style which lies somewhere between that of Show of Hands and The Levellers as it goes into a full metal rant which leaves any semblance of folk behind.

The new album

As if to give the listener a breather, the band adopts a Pink Floyd style for Glory Bound. There is that feel of O’Neill’s words being lost in the sea of sound created by the band which borders on a musical representation of madness.
Barrett’s fiddle and Shaw’s percussion throw in another strand to complete the disorientation on this mammoth track.

The finale, Ride On, is a staple of legend Christy Moore so to hear a completely different version to the emotion-packed offering of the Kildare balladeer is both refreshing and disturbing.
Barrett’s sharp tones give the song a real edge and the sea-like backing sounds from Shaw on percussion provide it with a real landscape for your mind to get hold of.

The Roving Crows are a branch of the family folk tree planted by mould breakers Fairport Convention. This album is bursting with energy and is so crammed with sound you couldn’t shoehorn in a gnat’s eyelash if you tried. They use the whole gamut of music their talents can create, which is no mean feat and makes for a fascinating album.

Bury Me Naked is out now and the band will be officially launching the album on their home turf Gloucester on April 8 where you can see them live at Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester. GL1 1NS. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. There is confusing information over the tickets which are priced at £13.20 but listed as not available.
On April 14 you can catch their act at The Old Ship, Main Street, Lowdham, Nottingham. NG14 7BE. No further information is available. The following night, April 15, you can see them at Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester, Essex. CO1 1NF. Doors open 7.30pm and tickets are £10 or £8 with concessions.
Then on April 22 they play The Sun Inn, 49 Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire. LL20 8HN. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £6.60 including fees. From there on April 28 it's off to The Beeches, Isleham, 32 Mill St, Isleham, Ely. CB7 5RY. Doors open 7.30pm and tickets are £10. You can also call 01638 780097 or email louise@thebeechesisleham.co.uk. Support is from Tim Brown Duo.
On April 29 they will perform at Garboldisham Village Hall, Church Rd, Garboldisham, Diss, Norfolk. IP22 2SE. Doors open 7.30pm and show starts 8pm. Tickets are £12 or £11 with concessions.
They finish the month with an afternoon gig on April 30 at Eastnor Chilli Festival, Eastnor Castle, Eastnor, Ledbury. HR8 1RL. The festival, which runs over the weekend, opens from 11am on the Saturday and from 11.45am on the Sunday. Tickets are available on this link.

AMY DUNCAN

CD Review

Antidote

Amy Duncan has no truck with setting limitations on what she includes in her songs and music. Consequently what you get is a fascinating scrapbook of sounds which keep you flicking through the pages wondering what you are going to hear next.

Amy Duncan
Pic Steven Cook

Antidote is the Scottish musician’s sixth album and was mostly recorded at her home. She has surrounded her singing with a smorgasbord of melodies, harmonies and sounds which add colour, emotion and thoughtfulness to all the tracks.

Steady The Bow comes out of nowhere, with no introduction to speak of other than Duncan’s voice starting proceedings.

She has a gentle voice with a childlike quality but with an edge that has the ability to cut through anything surrounding it. Her style lies somewhere between Sinead O’Connor, Kate Bush and Dolores O’Riordan.

Her singing is highlighted by the slightly sultry sax of Sue McKenzie which helps to give the whole the feeling of something you would find late night on an obscure radio station.

Duncan keeps her voice breathy and in the higher range for The Journey but occasionally she forces it down into the bottom range where you can hear her struggling to keep it clean. What this does is create an emotional and slightly eerie ballad.

The bizarrely titled Severed Head is surpassed by the macabre lyrics where she talks of looking for somewhere to bury the offending article she is carrying in a bag. The matter of fact way in which she sings about the grisly subject adds a chilling quality.

With Alison within the first few bars Duncan creates an urban landscape with the siren sound effects and the smooth sax playing. This is the track where she sounds most like Bush pushing her innocent singing voice over the top of McKenzie’s brass instrument.

Sue Mckenzie

Golden Fox opens with beautiful birdsong echoing through woods. Duncan’s singing comes in almost as a chant and feels as much a part of the natural sound of the landscape as the birds. You can almost see her performing a ritual, outdoors dancing as she sings. Duncan’s keyboard playing also adds a fluid movement to the ethereal song.

Clearing sounds like a stream of thoughts from Duncan which you almost feel you are intruding upon. You almost get the feeling you have stumbled on her by chance, as you would a faerie ring, and her singing is the constant over the fractured undertones of the percussion and guitar playing.

Like a Pink Floyd track, This is the Road opens with sounds of everyday life leading you to the keyboard intro. Duncan sounds like she is indulging in vocal exercises as she stretches the notes like she is in competition with the silky tones of the sax.

The lyrics are minimal but effective as they bounce across the repetitive melody.

The muted sound of the guitar which opens Lost Balloon sounds almost like it’s being listened to on a radio. There is a definite sadness and feel of loss in her vocals akin to a draining experience to keep singing.

Pieces of Me is an abject example of how Duncan uses effects and random sounds like they were another musician on the team. Even though her voice often has a childlike quality on this track there is always a sense of something deeper and the story she is telling is of laying her personality and character bare.

The evocative sound of an ice cream van’s jingles bring in the penultimate track, The Caretaker. You get a sense of nostalgia with this song of lessons learned from childhood which have either stood you in good stead or have become hard to shake off.

The new album

She has a way of making this song connect with the listener even though the experiences and memories she sings about are remote and separate from anyone else.

The final and title track again comes in with sound effects and the xylophone which manages to carry an ominous tone. Duncan’s deeper and brooding singing adds to the atmosphere and the repetitive nature of the lyrics give it a slightly unhinged quality.

Duncan can use her voice to pull any music or sounds together and give them a harmony they really shouldn’t possess.

But her voice, along with her clever use of words and effects, weaves up and down the scale similar to a shuttle on a loom, weaving in and out of the strands pulling it all together into a whole which can only really be appreciated when the last strands are in place.

Antidote is out now on the Filly Records Label and distributed through Proper Music.

OLD BLIND DOGS

CD review

Room With A View

Eclectic and global is the simplest way to describe Old Blind Dogs’ new album. The music and the influences driving the nine tracks on this, their thirteenth album, come from far and wide snared in the dream catcher of their travels; from right under their feet in the earth of Scotland and from wider traditions, culture and legends.

Old Blind Dogs

All but three of the tracks are multiple tunes so no one can complain they have been short-changed. OBD even has a new line up to give the tunes a fresher look. Jonny Hardie is now making music with Aaron Jones, Ali Hutton and Donald Hay.

Opener Bunker Hill/Sandy Boys has a strong feel of Scotland with a tune akin to Tossing the Feathers and the pipes, from Hutton, though going full pelt remain subtle. Then there is the switch to Jones on bouzouki which brings a definite bluegrass feel underpinned by Hardie’s fiddle. For the big finish they throw everything into the pot before suddenly pulling the plug.

Another doublet follows with A Ring On Her Hand and Cairo Day. The electronics bring in the tune with a gentle touch from Hutton’s whistle before Hardie’s smooth tones begin the tale. With the lyrics dropping out, in comes the deep rasp of the fiddle driven by Hutton’s pipe playing keeping pace with the hopping beat underneath.

Newe is a triplet of John McCall’s March to Kilbowie Cottage/Joel Turk’s and An Iuchair. Hutton’s understated and wind gentle tones on the whistle are accented precisely by the picked strings. A drawn out note indicates a change of pace and the whistle brings a livelier dance. The percussion pushes to drive it into the third part where Hardie’s playing takes up the mantle before cranking it right up with a galloping beat matched by the pipes.

As if to give the listener a breather there is the single tune of Earl O March’s Daughter, a smooth ballad from Hardie. His voice lies somewhere between the nasal tones of Kris Drever and the soft singing of Ewan McLennan. This makes for a very pleasant song.

Donald Hay

The band goes back to a triplet with Nevertheless which is Billy Rush’s/Nina’s Jig and The North Star.

Jones kicks things of with his lovely, light and dancing strings before being joined by Hardie’s fiddle. It’s the kind of tune which can lift your spirits on a dull day. Hutton’s deeper whistle adds texture through to the second part. 

This is picked up by the jerky, sawing sound of Hardie’s strings which are an introduction for the pipes to catch anyone who might be getting too relaxed.

Sawney Bean comes in almost like a snake charming tune before the vocals begin the dark tale of the song. It’s a delicious and complex tune with the subtle but definite percussion from Hay holding up the strands of fiddle and whistle as they weave in and out of each other like insects in an aerial mating ritual.

The throaty sound of the fiddle brings in Gavottes Des Montagnes and once again the band bring their respective talents together in a dance for this instrumental with a tangible eastern flavour and almost sees the whistles and strings fighting for prominence, but of course the winner is the listener.

From the title of Warlike Lads of Russia you almost expect a marching sound but instead this is a tale of war with a distinctive light touch with the feel of a poem in its own right which has been set to music. What you get is a great tale of over the top of music which accents the story for a double treat.

The new album

The band keep the biggest chunk for last with Died and Gone which is a set of four tunes Abair Thusa Mi Bhi Tarraing/Highland Harry/Died and Gone to Prague and Sisters Reel. 

The tune gently eases the listener in with the liquid sound of fiddle, whistle and strings with the occasional Will O’ Wisp thrown in as a wee treat. the pipes at not long in coming starting slowly but then setting a grand pace for what is a fitting end to an enjoyable album which is Scottish enough to make you crave an Irn Bru but cosmopolitan enough to have wide appeal. 

Fans have had to wait six years for this album but it’s been worth the wait, however let’s hope they don’t leave those who want to enjoy what seems to be a new wave of traditional Scottish music, gasping for another six years.



Room With A View is out now on the band’s own label and is available from their website, and you can see them on tour throughout this month starting with their album launch on April 5 at Eden Court, Bishops Road, Inverness. IV3 5SA. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £15.

They continue the tour the following night, April 6, at Queen's Hall, 85- 89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh. EH8 9JG. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £15 or £12 concessions.
On April 7 they were due to play The Old Malthouse, Old Market, Bristol. However, this show has been CANCELLED, along with the concert planned on April 8 at Ferndown Village Hall. You can however see them on April 14 at The Arc Sessions, Fochabers Institute, 15 High Street, Fochabers, IV32 7EP. Doors open 7pm and tickets range from £6.96 to £16.52. 

Finally on April 15 you can see them at Tolbooth, Jail Wynd, Stirling. FK8 1DE. Show starts 8pm and tickets are £14 or £12 concessions.