Way back when, around the only time when football actually did come home, New York was awash with folk singers. In 1966 Greenwich Village coffee shops strummed with politics, hippy ideals and tales from real folks. Fred Neil, Karen Dalton and Tim Hardin were writing classics, plotting to (gently) take over the world. Ellie GowersContinue reading “Ellie Gowers – June 2021”
Tag Archives: Downend Folk Club
Sam Sweeney – May 2021
“How wonderful to be here. I can’t think of a better place to ease myself back in to this. Thank you. It’s going to be a feat of memory”. And, with that, Sam Sweeney picks up his violin and plays as though the last fifteen months have been the blink of an eye, as thoughContinue reading “Sam Sweeney – May 2021”
Jackie Oates – December 2019
Sometimes the best Christmas presents are the unexpected ones. They’re not the ones that you asked for. Not the ones that you dropped heavy hints for. Not the ones that you carefully write on a note on the fridge. They are the delightfully dizzying ones. The ones that show how much someone cares. Tonight theContinue reading “Jackie Oates – December 2019”
Talisk – November 2019
Just watch his fingers. Just. Watch. His. Fingers. As long as the head banging and foot stomping doesn’t distract you first, just watch his fingers. They are a blur. There is no way that anyone other than Mohsen Amini can play a concertina like that. He is TALISK‘s not-so-secret weapon. The greatest musician that has ever playedContinue reading “Talisk – November 2019”
Midnight Skyracer – September 2019
Now, look. Hang on. Just wait a cotton-pickin’ minute. THIS is not how your average folk gig is supposed to go. There’s laughter. There’s an almost complete lack of songs about murder and/or drowning. Almost no one has said “this was collected from Nether Wallop in 1872”. There are no tortured allusions to Br*xit/the difficultiesContinue reading “Midnight Skyracer – September 2019”
The Dovetail Trio/Road Not Taken – May 2019
There have been some fantastic folk highlights in Bristol this month; the triumphant return of the Bristol Folk Festival as well as numerous gigs at the Folk House and St George’s. It just shows how much amazing music is out there. It’s probably always been this way but right now there seems to be soContinue reading “The Dovetail Trio/Road Not Taken – May 2019”
Askew Sisters – April 2019
There’s a woman that works as a Weather Girl called Sara Blizzard. And a bloke called Les McBurney that works as a firefighter. Both delicious examples of nominative determinism – names that fit a job. You might expect, therefore, that a folk duo called the Askew Sisters would be a little bit wonky, for theContinue reading “Askew Sisters – April 2019”
Alden, Patterson and Dashwood – February 2019
Great things come in threes. Worrell, Weekes and Walcott. Led Zeppelin 1, 2 and 3. ELP – alright, not ELP. They were rubbish – Alden, Patterson and Dashwood. As mesmerising as West Indian cricketing gods; packed with as many great tunes as a run of classic albums; significantly better than a dodgy prog rock band.Continue reading “Alden, Patterson and Dashwood – February 2019”
Awake Arise – December 2018
About half way through the first half this delicious festive feast Hannah James tells a story. It’s a story of carol singing on the outskirts of Sheffield. As she speaks the other four voices join her. Gently harmonizing, softly humming. She tells us of the “old carols” and the pubs that they are sung in.Continue reading “Awake Arise – December 2018”
The Lucy Ward Band – October 2018
Downend Folk Club is back at Downend School and breaking rules. It can’t be right to drink beer in a school hall, can it? There’s more whooping and clapping than is acceptable in your ordinary assembly too. We’re even gently chastised for the absence of blazers and ties. Rules are already broken. If we wereContinue reading “The Lucy Ward Band – October 2018”
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