The Folk Forecast: 3–9 May 2021
Huw Williams, Boo Hewerdine, Holmfirth Festival of Folk and the Official Folk Albums Chart Show.
Hello, and happy bank holiday weekend! Hope you’re all having a lovely time whatever you’re getting up to.
If you’re finding it hard to prise yourself from that cosy spot on the sofa (I know I am), there’s still plenty of music coming up this week to keep you entertained, including Holmfirth Festival of Folk, Boo Hewerdine, the Official Folk Albums Chart Show and lots more. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Huw Williams, a wonderful songwriter whose music I grew up listening to.
As usual, you can find a selection of tracks from the artists featured in this issue in this week’s playlist. Happy listening, and see you next time!
TUESDAY 4 MAY
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show* — 7pm BST
Folk on Foot website, YouTube and podcast feed. Commissioned by English Folk Expo and compiled by the Official Charts Company.
See which albums have made the Official Folk Albums Chart this month, with Folk on Foot. Packed with stories, music and exclusive content, this is always a joy to watch. We’ll also be on the show to share our picks for gigs and new releases in the coming month.
Free to access, but you can support the podcast by becoming a patron.
Covid Sings Singaround — 8pm BST
Soundpost
If you’re missing your usual folk club or singaround, join Fay Hield and fellow folkies from near and far to swap songs over Zoom. Covid Sings is held on the first Tuesday of every month.
Free to attend.
Tuesday Folk People: Jeremy Harmer and the Leedham Sisters — 9.30pm BST
Home Stage on YouTube and Facebook
Every fortnight, Home Stage are hosting ‘Tuesday Folk People’, where they invite two artists from the folk scene to showcase their music and tell us their story. This week, tune in for music and chat with Jeremy Harmer and the Leedham Sisters, as they explore their musical journeys so far and perform live over Facebook and YouTube.
Free to view.
WEDNESDAY 5 MAY
Huw Williams* — 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Known for his duo work with Tony Williams, Huw has penned some of the most beautiful modern folk songs around, including Rosemary's Sister and The Summer Before the War. He's also brimming with hilarious stories that are sure to make you laugh. I grew up listening to his music, so I’m really looking forward to this one.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Jackie Oates + Jon Wilks + Chloe Matharu — 8pm BST
Green Note website, Facebook page and YouTube channel
Enjoy an evening of song-sharing with Jackie Oates, Jon Wilks and Chloe Matharu, as they perform virtually ‘in the round’ for London’s Green Note.
No ticket required, but donations gratefully received on Paypal.
Jez Lowe with the White Horse Folk Club — 8pm BST
White Horse Folk Club
Jez Lowe will be joining the White Horse Folk Club in Highworth to perform as part of their virtual singaround.
Email whfczoom@gmail.com for an invitation.
THURSDAY 6 MAY
James Grant - Tolbooth Shindig — 7pm BST
Tolbooth Stirling on Facebook
Tolbooth Shindig is going online this year, with a series of concerts filmed live in Tolbooth Stirling being broadcast weekly on Thursday nights on Facebook. This week, it’s time for James Grant - ‘one of Scotland’s most gifted songwriters’ (The Scotsman).
Free to view
FRIDAY 7 MAY
SoundBox May Friday Special — 8pm BST
Soundbox Acoustic & Roots
With many gigs being postponed or cancelled, Soundbox are hosting an evening of music with some of the artists they should have had gigs with over the last few months. There’s a great line-up including Andy Cutting, Gilmore & Roberts, Mitchell and Vincent and lots more.
Tickets £11 including booking fee, with options to pay a bit more or less.
Hanna Enlöf — 8pm BST
The Live Room Saltaire
Swedish musician Hanna Enlöf started her musical career as half of the duo Good Harvest, and she’s recently released her first solo album, Bare Bones. Expect wonderful arrangements, masterful guitar playing and hauntingly beautiful vocals.
Tickets £10
Oxfolk presents: Zoom Ceilidh with Moody/Potts — 8pm BST
Oxfolk
Enjoy a Zoom ceilidh at home, with dances adapted for couples, solo dancers and small groups. Music will be provided by Diane Moody on fiddle and Gordon Potts on guitar, with Nancy Potts calling the dances.
Tickets £12, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
Dean Owens + Kirsten Adamson + David Huckfelt — 8pm BST
Green Note website, Facebook page and YouTube channel
Enjoy an evening of song-sharing with Dean Owens, Kirsten Adamson and David Huckfelt, as they perform virtually ‘in the round’ for London’s Green Note.
No ticket required, but donations gratefully received on Paypal.
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson album launch — 8pm BST
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson on Facebook
Join Christina Alden and Alex Patterson as they celebrate the official release of their new album, Hunter. They’ll be playing the entire album from start to finish, plus a few new things they’ve been working on. The evening will end with a Q&A if you’d like to find out more about how the album came about.
Free to view
Tony Bengtsson — 8pm BST
The Globe Newcastle
North East-based Americana artist Tony Bengtsson’s hook-laden songs are ‘remarkable to say the least’ (Maverick Magazine) and his voice has been described as ‘the best for country outside of America’ (Dan Walsh). His solo album Snake in the Woodpile received 4-star reviews in Maverick and Rock and Reel magazines.
Tickets £7.50, with the option to pay more to support the artists and venue. Stream is available to view for a week.
SATURDAY 8 MAY
Holmfirth Festival of Folk — from 11.45am BST
Holmfirth Festival of Folk
Enjoy a day of folk, live streamed from Holmfirth. Featuring O’Hooley & Tidow, Bob Fox, Harp and a Monkey, Magpies, Plumhall, Hayes Sisters, Birds & Beasts, Good Earth Collective, Rob Sharp, Fishing for Compliments, Georgina Hardcastle, Ticket Collectors and Boo Sutcliffe.
Pay as you can afford - link will be shared on the day.
Belshazzar’s Feast — 7.30pm BST
Wiltshire Music Centre
One of the best-loved duos in folk music, previous BBC Folk Awards Best Duo nominees Belshazzar’s Feast start with traditional folk music, add a touch of classical and jazz, throw in a bit of pop and music hall, and top it off with a wry humour that has won them fans across the world. Paul Sartin (of Bellowhead and Faustus) and Paul Hutchinson (of Pagoda Project) have together wowed audiences with their eclectic and eccentric mix of songs and tunes.
Tickets £12
Boo Hewerdine* — 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
From being lead singer of The Bible to embarking on a solo career and collaborating with Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine has carved out an impressive career and become something of a national treasure. This is a great opportunity to enjoy an intimate solo gig with Boo, without even needing to leave the house.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
SUNDAY 9 MAY
Ninebarrow Wandering Minstrels: Episode 3 — 7pm BST
Ninebarrow
Ninebarrow embark on a brand new, springtime adventure to the magical coastline around St Aldhelm's Chapel in Dorset's Isle of Purbeck. There will be live performances from the Ninebarrow Trio in the chapel itself, as well as an interview and live performance from Will McNicol. The show will be free to air, and you can watch it on the night or catch up afterwards.
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.
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.
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 Reassembled by Bellowhead. This is a recording of the livestreamed gig they did in December, which many of you may have attended! The album features lots of Bellowhead favourites, including New York Girls, Roll Alabama, London Town and Roll the Woodpile Down. Bellowhead have always been a band best enjoyed live, and although this wasn’t a face-to-face gig, it still captured some of that live energy we all know and love. The album will be released on 18th June and is available to pre-order now from Hudson Records.
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, Fancourt Music, Live to Your Living Room and English Folk Expo. Events where I have some involvement with the promoter or agency are marked with a star. 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!