What must it be like to come from a place that is so very, very NOT you? What would it be like to come from, let’s say, Birmingham when you yearn for the sea and the sand? To have a soul that longs to explore but lives in a boring midlands town? To sing songsContinue reading “Chris Cleverley – August 2015”
Author Archives: tallfolk
Jackie Oates – July 2015
Earlier this year the decidedly un-Folk folk at Classic FM voted The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams as their favourite piece of classical music. Its heart-stopping violin line echoing the sound and flight of a lark, it never fails to bring a tear to the flintiest of eyes. It also conjures a particular Englishness.Continue reading “Jackie Oates – July 2015”
O’Hooley and Tidow – June 2015
Learning stuff is brilliant. Did you know that a “Kitsune” is a shape-shifting fox? From Japanese folklore? One that transforms into a human woman? Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow taught us that at the Downend Folk Club. That and so much more. The idea of the Kitsune is strangely fitting for two of the mostContinue reading “O’Hooley and Tidow – June 2015”
Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin – April 2015
Can you believe it? A year ago we were in this church watching the first tentative steps along the Downend Folk Club road. A whole year! Over those twelve months Ant, and his gang of Merrie Folksters, have established one of the finest folk clubs in the South West. We have been treated to risingContinue reading “Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin – April 2015”
Maz O’Connor – February 2015
“This” according to the Black Feathers “is a posh gig”. The Black Feathers are supporting the utterly divine Maz O’connor at the Downend Folk Club and they are not wrong in the slightest.Christ Church, once again, rings to the sound of folk music and a damn fine job it makes of it. The Black FeathersContinue reading “Maz O’Connor – February 2015”
Jim Moray – December 2014
That’s the thing about this time of year. Things are a bit disappointing. The dry turkey and the house full of plastic rubbish. The mince pies and the marzipan laden cake. Disappointing. Thank goodness then that a proper Christmas came early to Downend Folk Club. And there wasn’t a touch of disappointment in sight. FirstlyContinue reading “Jim Moray – December 2014”
The Jennifer Crook Trio – October 2014
What’s the best thing to come out of Downend? Badminton Road? W.G. Grace? Keren and Sara from Bananarama? Or Jennifer Crook? On a wet, dark night in October, when Autumn leaves were just a little too slippery on Downend’s quiet streets, a girl came home. Harpist, singer, songwriter and Downend School alumnus Jennifer Crook playedContinue reading “The Jennifer Crook Trio – October 2014”
That TallFolk
A few years ago Ant Miles asked me to review some of the gigs that he was putting on at the wonderful Downend Folk Club. This is a bunch of those reviews. I love writing these and I love the club that has inspired them. It’s a welcoming, diverse and appreciative place to be andContinue reading “That TallFolk”
Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar – August 2014
What did the cheese maker do when he painted his wife? He double glossed her. Dreadful cheese jokes are not what you expect when visiting Downend Folk Club. Quality music is though. Happily two time BBC Folk Award winners Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar delivered both. As winners of the 2014 Horizon Award they wereContinue reading “Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar – August 2014”
TallFolk 