There’s the smell of mulled wine in the air, hundreds of people muffled up against the December night, the finest Folk choir in the country harmonising beautifully, there are sparkles and woolly hats and an expectant hum that there will be magic again. It can only be the Downend Folk and Roots Christmas shindig. TheContinue reading “A Winter Union – Downend Folk & Roots – December”
Tag Archives: Downend Folk & Roots
Jackie Oates – Downend Folk & Roots – November (lunch time concert)
There’s something very special about a Saturday afternoon spent watching live music. Everything just stops. All of the hassle, all of the heartache just melts away. This is the second of Downend Folk and Roots’ Saturday lunchtime gigs and Jackie Oates proves herself to be the perfect guest for a laid-back, inclusive, gentle hour (orContinue reading “Jackie Oates – Downend Folk & Roots – November (lunch time concert)”
Granny’s Attic – Downend Folk & Roots – November
There are those that will tell you that live music is struggling, that people just don’t go and see gigs since Covid. Those people should have told the packed house for Granny’s Attic at one of the best folk clubs in the country. Downend was heaving, with hundreds of people only too pleased to welcome oneContinue reading “Granny’s Attic – Downend Folk & Roots – November”
Filklin’s Drift – Downend Folk & Roots – September
After a fantastic tenth birthday party in July, Downend Folk & Roots took a well-deserved summer off. Last night they returned to remind us, once again, just how important it is to be a part of something bigger, part of a community. Both Filkin’s Drift and, jaw dropping support act, Michelle Holloway form a small partContinue reading “Filklin’s Drift – Downend Folk & Roots – September”
Downend Folk & Roots 10th Anniversary – July
In a time when live music venues are struggling, when any number of festivals have packed it all in, when musicians are finding it hard to make a living, this is something to celebrate. Downend Folk & Roots (formerly Downend Folk Club) is ten years old and they’re throwing a party. Three days of wonderfulContinue reading “Downend Folk & Roots 10th Anniversary – July”
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan – Downend Folk & Roots – June
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan have been doing this for a while. Next year will be their thirtieth anniversary as both a musical and personal partnership and, over that time, they have become, probably, the best folk duo in the country. This evening, they are extraordinary. As late evening sunlight floods through the church windows and theContinue reading “Nancy Kerr & James Fagan – Downend Folk & Roots – June”
Kitty MacFarlane – Downend Folk & Roots – January
For much of this evening you’d swear that a river bubbled and burbled through Downend. A river over which fresh water drifted and pulsed, coursed and spun. A river where birds swooped, creatures slithered and folk tales were told. A river over which the sun shone. Both Kitty MacFarlane and Detta Kenzie are from the West CountryContinue reading “Kitty MacFarlane – Downend Folk & Roots – January”
The Wilderness Yet – Downend Folk & Roots – December
Christmas traditions just don’t come better than this. Once the schools have broken up and Downend Folk & Roots have thrown their festive party, you just know that Christmas is around the corner. You can feel free to crack the seal on the Baileys, sit back and enjoy it all. So, the festivities begin withContinue reading “The Wilderness Yet – Downend Folk & Roots – December”
Ward Knutur Townes – Downend Folk & Roots – November
Lockdown did funny things to the music communities. It stopped live music, drove insular people to singing with strangers on Zoom, created unusual alliances. One such was Global Music Match – musicians from around the globe were thrown together to make something new. Derby’s Lucy Ward, Canada’s Adyn Townes and Svavar Knütur from Northern IcelandContinue reading “Ward Knutur Townes – Downend Folk & Roots – November”
The Black Feathers – Downend Folk & Roots – September
“I love it here”, says extroda-vocalist Sian Chandler, “it combines two of my favourite things – playing at Downend and drinking alcohol in church”. There’s a chuckle and the tell-tale fsst of a can opening. You might think that this makes the wonderful Black Feathers a hard drinking, good time rock n roll band. They areContinue reading “The Black Feathers – Downend Folk & Roots – September”
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