The Folk Forecast: 17 Nov–1 Dec 2021
A tribute to Peter Bellamy, plus Jackie Oates and John Spiers, Granny's Attic, Ninebarrow, Martin and Eliza Carthy and more!
Hello, and welcome to another very busy fortnight of folk! With gigs from some of the finest artists on the scene, there’s heaps to look forward to in the next couple of weeks, both online and in person. In my freelance work, I’ve been busy working on all manner of folky happenings, including the launch of Amy Thatcher’s new EP today to mark World Prematurity Day - scroll down to find out more about that!
I’d also like to take a moment to pay tribute to the great Barry Coope, who sadly passed away on 6th November. There was a wonderful radio show in his honour over on Thank Goodness It’s Folk, so if you didn’t catch that, you can listen again here.
Thanks as always for reading, and see you again soon!
This week’s playlist
Head over to this week’s playlist to hear a selection of tracks from artists featured in this issue. Listen to something new, and see which gigs you might fancy going to!
WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER
“Tell It Like It Was”: A Peter Bellamy Memorial Concert — 8pm GMT
The Musical Traditions Club
An all-star bill from both sides of the Atlantic present a tribute to the late, great Peter Bellamy, live on Zoom. The event will feature Damien Barber, Jon Boden, Gina Le Faux, Brian Peters, The Wilson Family and Heather Wood, hosted by Mossy Christian.
Tickets £8 / £5 for Musical Traditions Club members, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER
Thursday Folk Nights: Dan Whitehouse — 7pm GMT
Yorkshire Festival of Story
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Dan Whitehouse previews a selection of songs from two of his forthcoming releases: the Midlands-centric song-cycle ‘Voices From The Cones’ written in Wolverhampton in 2019 and the EP ‘The Glass Age’, written in Yokohama, Japan, in 2020. Both are due for release in 2022.
Free to view on Crowdcast.
Ellie Gowers* — 7.30pm GMT
Rosslyn Court
Building on traditional roots, Ellie Gowers writes powerful songs about the issues of today, from climate change to HS2. Her voice is incredible, so if you haven’t come across her before, give her a listen!
Hybrid gig. The first hour of the performance will be livestreamed free of charge (donations encouraged). The second half will be exclusively for the in-person audience.
Lucy Farrell Cook-A-Long & Song — 8pm GMT
Hudson Records
Join Lucy Farrell as she cooks, chats and plays some songs live for the Hudson Club, joined by Neil McSweeney. You’ll be sent an ingredients list for Lucy’s tasty vegan enchiladas and cornbread so you can cook along at home. I love this idea!
Sign up to the Hudson Records Club to watch and join in. Subscription is £10 a month with exclusive content every month. You can cancel at any time.
Owen Ralph: ‘Imprint’ Album Launch* — 8pm GMT
Greenwoodside
Folk singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Owen Ralph (who also works on Folk on Foot!) launches his ambitious new album, Imprint, this week. The album takes folk songs, broadside ballads and art songs and pairs them with strings, woodwind, drums and synthesisers to morph them into something new.
Livestream tickets £8, with in-person tickets for The Harrison, London, £12.
FRIDAY 19 NOVEMBER
Afternoon Tea Special #4 with Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer — 4pm GMT
Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer on Facebook and YouTube
Join Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer for their fourth Afternoon Tea special (and 89th Afternoon Tea show in total!). Expect music, cake (BYOC) and a few surprises along the way.
Free to view, with donations encouraged.
Gem Andrews + Serious Sam Barrett — 8pm GMT
The Globe Newcastle
Join The Globe for a double headline concert of singer-songwriters from the North of England. Gem Andrews writes Americana and folk music with an honesty and rawness that takes the listener by surprise and cuts to the quick, backed up by full harmonies, blooming fiddle melodies, piano, accordion, double bass and drums. Serious Sam Barrett is a hard touring folk and country singer-songwriter from Otley, West Yorkshire, playing honest, heartfelt self-penned and traditional songs on 12-string guitar and banjo.
Hybrid gig. Livestream tickets £7.50, with the option to pay more to support the artists and venue. Stream is available to view for a week.
SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER
Granny’s Attic: The Brickfields Online Album Launch* — 7.30pm GMT
HEART Headingley - livestreamed on Granny’s Attic Facebook and YouTube by Tom Stanier
Granny’s Attic have been busy touring their new album, The Brickfields, and they’re hosting an online launch at HEART in Headingley so you can tune in wherever you are. I’m their agent, so I would say this, but their tour and new album have really been going down a storm and it’s so well deserved. If you live near Leeds, you can go along in person, but if not then tune in on the Granny’s Attic Facebook page or YouTube channel. It’s being livestreamed by the wonderful audio/visual engineer Tom Stanier, so quality will be second to none!
Suggested ticket donation £10, with rewards available for donating more.
Jackie Oates and John Spiers* — 8pm GMT
Live to your Living Room
Multi award-winning contemporary folk duo Jackie Oates and John Spiers will be heading online on Saturday 20th November for an evening of beautiful traditional folk songs and tunes! After first performing as a duo at Nettlebed Folk Club, they began working on material from their native Oxfordshire and released their album 'Needle Pin, Needle Pin' in 2020. Seeing them perform together live is pure magic!
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER
Tuesday Folk People: Chris Fox — 8pm GMT
Home Stage on YouTube and Facebook
Home Stage are hosting ‘Tuesday Folk People’ every week, with different artists invited along each time to showcase their music and tell us their story. This time, they’ll be chatting to singer-songwriter and looping wizard Chris Fox.
Free to view
THURSDAY 25 NOVEMBER
Thursday Folk Nights: Harbottle & Jonas — 7pm GMT
Yorkshire Festival of Story
Harbottle & Jonas have established themselves as one of the most exciting prospects on the folk circuit today, combining a love of the richness of traditional folk with their own original and powerful songwriting. During this live session, they will share songs from The Beacon which focus on hope and hearth, nature and nurture. The album stands as a signal of hope that we will once again experience the joy of communion through music, and sing together once more.
Free to view on Crowdcast.
Jez Lowe — 7.30pm GMT
Rosslyn Court
With his sensitive songwriting and witty banter, Geordie icon Jez Lowe can make you laugh or cry. He is renowned for the quality of his songwriting, with songs covered by the likes of Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, Bob Fox, The Unthanks and The Young’Uns. He recorded a new album during lockdown, so is sure to have some new songs to share!
Hybrid gig. The first hour of the performance will be livestreamed free of charge (donations encouraged). The second half will be exclusively for the in-person audience.
FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER
Gadarene* — 8pm GMT
Live to your Living Room
Gadarene take old English tunes and add their own sprinkling of ideas, modern dance grooves and music production to revitalise them into something new. Their first studio album, Butchers of Bristol, was launched in March 2021, and they’re looking forward to sharing this new music with audiences!
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
SATURDAY 27 NOVEMBER
Ninebarrow — Wandering Minstrels: The Concert — 7pm GMT
Ninebarrow
Prepare yourself for a concert unlike anything you'll have experienced before, as Ninebarrow don their walking shoes and take you on a magical mystery tour of Dorset and beyond with their most ambitious concert yet! They’ll be sharing 14 songs, performed live in 14 different stunning, outdoor locations. There will also be a Q&A after the show.
Tickets £12.50 for a single viewer or £25 for a household.
SUNDAY 28 NOVEMBER
GreenMatthews: A Brief History of Christmas* — 8pm GMT
Live to your Living Room
Acclaimed musicians Chris Green and Sophie Matthews will be joined by Jude Rees to present a festive romp through 600 years of Christmas music, songs and carols. Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending in the 20th century, ‘A Brief History of Christmas’ is a whistle-stop tour of the origins of our midwinter festivities. Featuring long-forgotten folk songs and tales, as well as some familiar and well-loved carols, this is a show guaranteed to delight the hearts of young and old.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER
Martin & Eliza Carthy* — POSTPONED to 16 December
Live to your Living Room
Martin and Eliza Carthy join forces to perform an eclectic range of songs and tunes from their vast family repertoire, drawing from the traditional canon as well as selections from a more contemporary songbook. Their in-person tour this winter was postponed to next year, so this is your chance to catch them and support them.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER
Tuesday Folk People: Lillian Grace — 8pm GMT
Home Stage on YouTube and Facebook
Home Stage are hosting ‘Tuesday Folk People’ every week, with different artists invited along each time to showcase their music and tell us their story. This time, they’ll be chatting to traditional folk singer Lillian Grace.
Free to view
WEDNESDAY 1 DECEMBER
Lady Maisery — 8pm GMT
Live to your Living Room
Award-winning vocal trio Lady Maisery are long celebrated for their innovation at the forefront of the English folk scene. All composers and multi-instrumentalists in their own right, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans weave together a rich palate of sounds with their unique approach to harmony singing, intelligent and thoughtful arrangements of both traditional repertoire and original compositions.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Highlights in person
Sam Sweeney’s tour kicks off on 19th November, so there’s still time to get your ticket - and I highly recommend that you do! Find tickets here.
Lady Maisery are on tour through late November and early December. Due to reschedules, I’ve had a ticket for this for 2 years! Find your ticket here.
Seth Lakeman is already out on his Freedom Fields 15th anniversary tour, and after that he’s heading out for some December dates, accompanied by Alex Hart and with support from Joe Francis. Find tickets to all Seth’s gigs here.
Awake Arise are on tour in December. This is a collaboration between Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, and it’s just one of my favourite things ever. If it’s anywhere near you, you really must go (and if it’s not that near you, it’s worth the journey!). Find tickets here.
Other news
Jo Freya* is running an online winter songs and carols course starting on Monday 29th November and running for 4 weeks. She’ll be teaching songs in 4-part harmony, and you’ll have the chance to submit recordings of yourself, which Jo will compile to create a virtual choir! Find out more.
Rolling Hills Folk Club are running online sessions on Zoom on the first Friday of every month, with people taking part from around the world! To get involved, email Jenny Anderson for the Zoom link.
Amy Thatcher* is releasing her new EP, Let What’s In, Out on 17th November to mark World Prematurity Day. It includes the single Look At You Now, which was inspired by Amy’s experiences having her twins 11 weeks early on tour in Germany with The Shee. Amy is keen to share the video far and wide so that other parents of premature babies can hear the music and know that they’re not alone. You can find out more about the story over on Folk Radio.
I’ve been working with Amy on this, and there will also be a live launch event at High Bridge Works in Newcastle on 17th November at 5pm. As part of this, Amy will be fundraising for the premature baby charity Bliss - donate here.
New releases
17 Nov - Amy Thatcher - Let What’s In, Out
19 Nov - Hannah James & Toby Kuhn - Sleeping Spirals
26 Nov - Good Habits - Antipody
3 Dec - Salt House - Working for Zeus
10 Dec - Spell Songs - Spell Songs II: Let the Light In
Record of the week
Record of the Week is Make Your Mark by Seth Lakeman, which is out on Friday 19th November. Seth clearly used his 18 months away from touring wisely, as the album includes 14 brand-new songs, produced by Seth himself and released on his own label. Covering everything from love and loss to the environment around us, this is a wide-ranging album thematically, but feels very much like coming home to Seth’s signature sound. He is joined on the album by Ben Nicholls, Benji Kirkpatrick, Alex Hart and Toby Kearney.
Seth says, “The pandemic gave me a real determination to come out musically stronger and I really dug deep into myself for this album. Being able to record and play with the band again was really quite spiritual.”
Seth will also be playing songs from the new album on tour this December, so look out for dates near you.
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The Folk Forecast is created for artists, for audiences and for the UK folk scene. All information is correct to the best of our knowledge. If you have queries about the events listed, please contact the artists or promoters. If you have any suggestions for inclusion in future newsletters, please email TheFolkForecast@gmail.com. We may not be able to include absolutely everything, but we’re interested in UK folk events with a broad appeal, and would particularly welcome suggestions from Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The Folk Forecast is compiled by one person, so please bear with me if I can’t get back to you right away.
* Alongside The Folk Forecast, I work with other organisations including Folk on Foot, Fancourt Music, Live to Your Living Room, Thank Folk For Feminism and Polyphony Arts, as well as individual artists including Jo Freya. Events where I have some involvement with the promoter, agency or artist are marked with a star for transparency. Although I have other affiliations, I strive to be fair and inclusive and tell you about anything I think you’ll enjoy!