The Folk Forecast: 22–28 March 2021
James Delarre, Fay Hield, Moxie and more, plus workshops from Jenna Reid and Rachael McShane and a virtual version of Lau-Land.
Hello, and welcome to another issue that’s fit to burst with folky goodness! From fiddle extraordinaire James Delarre to a virtual edition of Lau’s hugely popular Lau-Land, there’s plenty to choose from in the coming days.
This week, I also had the chance to merge my folk interests with my role at Newcastle University, as I interviewed Nancy Kerr about her new position as a Lecturer on the Folk and Traditional Music degree. See what she had to say!
MONDAY 22 MARCH
Johnny Campbell Birthday Live Stream — 8pm GMT
Johnny Campbell on Facebook
Acclaimed folk singer Johnny Campbell is known for his explorations of Northern English folk song, as well as writing material of his own. Join him for a birthday live stream as he celebrates the big 3-0. He’s also running a Kickstarter to fund a new single marking the anniversary of the Winter Hill Trespass — find out more here.
Free to view but donations encouraged to the tip jar. It is his birthday, after all!
WEDNESDAY 24 MARCH
James Delarre — 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
A great opportunity to spend an evening with one of the finest fiddlers on the English folk scene! James Delarre is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Topette!!, Mawkin and Mawkin:Causley. He’s worked with some of the country’s top musicians and groups, including Eliza Carthy, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jim Moray, Jim Causley and Saul Rose, as well as appearing on Jools Holland and working on music for TV and film. Join him an intimate solo gig and ask him any burning questions!
Tickets £14, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Roseanne Reid + Rory Butler + Sarah Jane Scouten — 8pm GMT
Green Note website, Facebook page and YouTube channel
Enjoy an evening of song-sharing with Roseanne Reid, Rory Butler and Sarah Jane Scouten, as they perform virtually ‘in the round’ for London’s Green Note.
No ticket required, but donations gratefully received on Paypal.
THURSDAY 25 MARCH
Big Band Ceilidh Tunes Workshop — 6.30pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
A fantastic chance to learn ‘big band’ arrangements of a few of your favourite ceilidh tunes, with Jenny Newman and Andy Glass of The Party Band. Suitable for all instruments and abilities.
Tickets £12, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Miranda Sykes Live with Waveney Valley Folk Collective — 8pm GMT
Firebrand Music Events / Waveney Valley Folk Collective
Join Miranda Sykes for an intimate solo gig, hosted virtually by Waveney Valley Folk Collective. There will be an optional Q&A session on Zoom after the concert.
Tickets £10 plus booking fee.
FRIDAY 26 MARCH
Festival of the Artisan at Home — Various events from 26-27 March
Festival of the Artisan
What better way to celebrate the weekend than with a festival? Artists include Bella Hardy, Blair Dunlop and more.
Tickets pay as you feel (suggested £5 per session), with backstage passes featuring lots of extra goodies available from £20.
Fiddle Time with Jenna Reid — Various classes from 26-28 March
Jenna Reid on Zoom
A weekend of learning fiddle tunes for players of all abilities. Classes will mostly be taught by ear, with music available afterwards.
Morning classes £5 for 30 minutes, afternoon classes £8 for 45 minutes.
Anna Rheingans: Making a Gourd Banjo — 6pm GMT
The Rheingans Sisters on YouTube
Anna Rheingans presents a new short film, Making a Gourd Banjo. Featuring music by Adam Hurt, the film documents the building of a Gourd banjo during the UK's first Covid lockdown in spring 2020 with her luthier dad Helmut Rheingans. It will premiere on The Rheingans Sisters YouTube channel, followed by chat on Instagram Live afterwards.
Free to view.
Harbottle & Jonas: The Beacon Album Launch — 7.30pm GMT
Harbottle & Jonas on YouTube
To celebrate the release of new album The Beacon, Harbottle & Jonas invite you to raise a glass and join them for a live stream from one of their favourite venues, The Barrel House in Totnes. They’ll be playing The Beacon in its entirety, as well as favourites from previous albums, finishing up with a Q&A. For a taste of what to expect from the new album, take a look at this video of the title track.
Free to view.
An Hour or So With… Fay Hield — 8pm GMT
Downend Folk Club on Facebook
Enjoy an hour or so of song-sharing and conversation with the brilliantly talented singer, musician and academic, Fay Hield. This event is presented by Downend Folk Club, who have been hosting gigs regularly on Friday nights through lockdown.
Free to view, but donations gratefully received to the tip jar.
Janice Burns and Jon Doran — 8pm GMT
The Globe Newcastle
Janice Burns and Jon Doran formed their folk duo in 2017 after discovering their shared love for traditional song. Their compelling storytelling comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and thoughtful interplay between mandolin and bouzouki. Check out their EP — it’s brilliant!
Livestream tickets £7.50, with the option to pay more to support the artists and venue. Stream is available to view for a week.
Lizzie Hardingham plus Cathy Bennett and Robbie Sherratt — 8pm GMT
Folk at the Maltings
Lizzy Hardingham is paving her way as a powerhouse performer with "beautifully delivered songs that sing straight to the heart". Recently nominated as Fatea magazine’s Female Artist of the year, Lizzy is currently being mentored by Michael Hughes of the Young’uns under the English Folk Expo artist mentoring programme. For this gig, she’ll be joined by New Roots 2020 finalists Cathy Bennett and Robbie Sherratt.
Tickets £10 for one person, £15 for two or £20 for three or more sharing one device. Concessions £8/12/15.
Daisy Black: Unruly Woman — 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
Storyteller and academic Daisy Black presents an indecorous assortment of medieval tales and bawdy folk songs about women who gain the upper hand.
Tickets £12, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Cambridge Folk Club: Virtual Showcase with Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer — from 8pm GMT
Cambridge Folk Club on Zoom
Cambridge Folk Club host a virtual showcase with special guests Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer, plus Karen Hart, Bryan Causton & Penni Walker and Tony Tregidgo.
Free to attend but donations to the tip jar encouraged. Contact Cambridge Folk Club for access details.
SATURDAY 27 MARCH
Rachael McShane Absolute Beginners Intensive Fiddle Workshop — 10am GMT
Rachael McShane on Zoom
Join Rachael McShane for a 2-week intensive fiddle course for absolute beginners (the second session is at the same time on 3 April). The course will cover the basics to get you started with playing — from your first few notes up to playing your first folk tune, focusing on good technique and building a solid musical foundation. All you need is a fiddle and bow. This course is for adults and will be held via Zoom.
Tickets £41.50 for the full 2-week course.
Lau-Land Online — Sessions through the day from 10.30am GMT
Bristol Beacon
Bristol Beacon presents acclaimed folk trio Lau, as they take their world-renowned event, Lau-Land, online. This three-part all-dayer offers folk musicians the chance to collaborate with Lau in online masterclasses, make new musical connections, and play with the band and like-minded others as Lau recreate the social atmosphere of a music-making pub session.
Tickets £32.70 for the full day.
Daria Kulesh & Friends — 7pm GMT
Daria Kulesh on Zoom
Mixing Eastern roots with Western folk influences, Daria Kulesh has her own unique sound full of passion and magic. She’ll be joined by special guests as she plays live from a recording studio via Zoom.
Tickets £12, with options to pay more or less depending on your circumstances.
Daria is very busy this week, and is also appearing with:
Folk in the Cellar - Monday 22 March 7.30pm
Live at Thornsett Road - Wednesday 24 March 1pm
Moxie — 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
Moxie are an alternative folk band from the West of Ireland, emerging from traditional Irish music roots. Together with their new lead singer from Tunisia, they have merged different influences from past and present generations to forge a unique sound. They’ll be playing live from Ireland to wherever you are!
Tickets £14, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
DERT of DERTS — 8pm GMT
DERT - Dancing England Rapper Tournament on Facebook
The annual Dancing England Rapper Tournament (DERT) is going online again this year, and results will be livestreamed on Facebook.
Free to view.
Regular events
‘Almost Acoustic’ with Eliza Carthy on Radio Scarborough - Mondays at 8pm. The show is also repeated through the week, so you can catch up if you miss it.
Afternoon Tea with Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer - Concerts are held on Fridays at 4pm on Facebook.
Winter Wilson Live from the Lounge - Concerts are held on Thursdays at 8.15pm on Facebook.
Jack Hogsden’s Kitchen Sessions - Concerts are held on Saturdays at 7.30pm on Facebook. All money raised goes to Don’t Stop the Music.
Paul McKenna - Paul regularly plays Facebook gigs on Saturday nights at 8pm.
Tim Edey’s Sleeping Tunes - Concerts are held on Saturdays at 9pm on Facebook.
Will Pound’s Sunday concerts - Concerts are held on Sundays at 11.30am on Facebook.
Social Dancing with Lisa Heywood - Regular chances to get together and learn about folk dances from the UK and further afield.
Honey and the Bear - Concerts are held on Sundays at 7pm on Facebook.
Cara Dillon: This Woman’s Work on BBC Radio Ulster - This radio series is being broadcast on Sundays at 4pm, and you can catch up on past episodes now.
The Isolation Pub Sessions - John Spiers hosts monthly sessions on his Facebook page, and you can submit recordings of you playing if you’d like to join in!
‘Folk from the Boat’ - a YouTube series exploring traditional songs and tunes with Anna Tam, as she travels through Britain’s waterways on her canal boat.
McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle at HOME this Spring
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle present a new show for Spring. It’s being broadcast in partnership with venues across the UK and beyond from 22 March to 30 April, so there are plenty of opportunities to catch it!
Folk on Foot on Film
Folk on Foot have launched a new video archive featuring more than 100 unique performances of songs filmed on location during their walks. The archive includes almost all of the artists showcased in their podcasts, as well as sets from the Folk on Foot Festivals and a bonus 20-minute film of their walk with Kris Drever on Orkney. Every time they record a new episode, they’ll add more videos, creating a comprehensive visual record of contemporary UK folk music. You can access it by becoming a Folk on Foot Hero through Patreon.
A Song For Us
A Song For Us is a national music project marking this historic time and celebrating communities through song. You can help create a music map by submitting songs from where you live. Artists have also been commissioned to create songs for their counties, and the first batch — including commissions by Seth Lakeman and This is the Kit — will be released on 23 March, the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown.
Soundpost Sing Online
Soundpost are hosting another online singing day on 10 April, and places are limited so we’re posting it now for a bit of early warning! Tutors include Fay Hield, Bryony Griffith, Paul Sartin, Kate Thompson and Harriet Johnson. There will be workshops through the day, followed by a tutors’ concert and singaround in the evening.
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!
Record of the week
Record of the Week is A Pocket Full of Acorns, the new release from Ninebarrow. In particular, I’ve fallen head over heels for the track Under the Fence. This is a version of the traditional Cold, Haily, Windy Night, a favourite of mine (I love the version by The Imagined Village). Ninebarrow have brought it bang up to date by weaving in references to Syrian migrants, left out in the cold in their search for refuge.
On the basis of that song alone, the album gets a thumbs up from me, but the album as a whole is a beautiful thing, with Ninebarrow’s signature heartfelt harmonies. They’ll be needing more than a pocketful of acorns, as they’ve also vowed to plant 1,000 native English trees, including 500 oaks, to offset their carbon footprint from touring.
Keep up to date - find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
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’m associated with other organisations on the folk scene, including Folk on Foot and Fancourt Music, and I steward gigs for Live to Your Living Room. Although I have other affiliations, I strive to be fair and inclusive and tell you about anything I find that I think you’ll enjoy!