The Folk Forecast: 5–11 April 2021
Kate Rusby, Jon Boden, CALAN, Maz O'Connor, Fay Hield, duets from Frank Turner & Emily Barker and the Official Folk Albums Chart Show!
Hello everyone! Hope you’re having a nice Easter, with plenty of Easter eggs and perhaps even the chance to see real people outside from an appropriate distance.
There’s a HUGE amount coming up this week. For some reason, every so often we get one of those weeks when absolutely everyone decides to have a gig, and this is one of them. So without further ado, here’s what’s coming up, and here’s this week’s playlist if you’d like to have a listen and discover something new:
TUESDAY 6 APRIL
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.
Poor Old Jack: tales and songs of highwaymen, smugglers and poachers of the South Downs — 7.30pm BST
Friends of the South Downs
Join Chris Hare as he explores the history of highwaymen, smugglers, poachers and rick-burners who roamed the south of England 200 years ago. There will be traditional songs from shanty singing crew Duck Pond Sailors and internationally celebrated folk singer, Martyn Wyndam-Read, plus a new song written by Jonny Mott about South Downs highwayman, Jack Upperton. Held on Zoom.
Tickets £5, including a £3 donation to Olly’s Future, a suicide charity.
CALAN — 8pm BST
Mandolin
Expect sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes, infectious rhythms and a champion clog dancer, as award-winning Welsh folk band CALAN invite us into their world for the night. They’ll be transforming a theatre stage into a living gallery of Welsh home life, with each band member playing inside their own socially distanced pod inspired by the places and objects that have shaped who they are.
Tickets $15 (approx £11) plus booking fee
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.
Songwriter Sessions: Benjamin Scheuer & Jim Moray — 8.30pm BST
www.brasseriezedel.com
Benjamin Scheuer, recipient of the 2021 Kleban Award for Lyrics, is joined by Jim Moray for an exploration of songwriting. They’ll each be sharing a few songs and delving into how they came about, in what promises to be a fascinating insight into each artist’s songwriting techniques.
Tickets £10
WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL
Jo May’s family percussion workshops* — 2pm & 3pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Join Jo May for two fantastic percussion workshops for families — a great option if you’re looking for something different to do in the Easter holidays!
Kitchen Percussion - 2-2.45pm
Learn to play the spoons! - 3-3.45pm
Tickets £5 per workshop or £8 for both.
Benji Kirkpatrick House Gigs — 8pm BST every day from 7–11 April
Benji Kirkpatrick on Facebook Live
Benji Kirkpatrick is doing a house tour, of his own house! Join him at 8pm each day from Wednesday through to Sunday. From relaxing songs in the living room to watery ones in the bathroom, we’re looking forward to seeing what he comes up with.
Free to view, but you can donate to Benji on Paypal here.
Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage* — 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Timeless yet unique, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage are an acoustic duo with a difference. Expect emotive songwriting performed with the purest of vocals.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
THURSDAY 8 APRIL
Kinnaris Quintet - Tolbooth Shindig — 7pm BST
Tolbooth Stirling
Tolbooth Shindig is back for 2021, with a brand new series of concerts streaming on Tolbooth Stirling’s Facebook page. This week, it’s time for Kinnaris Quintet, winners of the 2019 Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Music. Combining Scottish and Irish folk with bluegrass, classical, Scandinavian and Appalachian influences, Kinnaris Quintet have a unique and powerful sound.
Free to view
Winter Wilson — 7.30pm BST
Poppleton Live
Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy to every concert, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious humour and tales of life on the road.
Tickets £10
English Folk Expo Presents: Maz O’Connor* — 8pm BST
English Folk Expo
With a stunning voice and a talent for storytelling through music, Maz O’Connor is sure to leave you spellbound. During lockdown, she’s been working with new collaborators, drawing her music into new and exciting territories. She’ll be sharing some of these new songs at this gig, as well as some old favourites!
Tickets £12 plus booking fee, or £25 for an April bundle ticket which also includes Fay Hield and Naomi Bedford, Paul Simmonds and The Ramshackle Band. You can also get a 10% discount on tickets by joining EFEx Digital.
Mossy Christian — 8pm BST
Topic Folk Club on Facebook
Award-winning singer and multi-instrumentalist Mossy Christian specialises in the musical traditions of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. He’ll be playing live on the Topic Folk Club Facebook page, including tracks from his recent CD ‘Come Nobles and Heroes.’
Free to view, but you can donate to Mossy on PayPal here.
Frank Turner & Emily Barker: An Evening of Duets — 9pm BST
Frank Turner on Dice.fm
Frank Turner and Emily Barker perform a whole set of duets together for the very first time. They’ll be playing everything from country classics to glam pop, plus a brand-new song they’ve written together which will be debuted on the night. The stream will be available to view for 24 hours, if you need to catch up later.
Tickets £12
FRIDAY 9 APRIL
Rooftop Sessions: Ellie Gowers in concert + live Q&A* — 7pm BST
St George’s Bristol
Ellie Gowers performs from the roof of St George’s, with a panoramic view of Bristol as a backdrop. Her music embeds a fierce energy, with songs that reflect traditions whilst exploring the issues of the modern day.
Tickets £10
Bird is the Word: with Sam Lee, Helen Macdonald and Bill Bailey — 7.30pm BST
The British Library
Join Sam Lee, Bill Bailey and Helen Macdonald as they celebrate all things avian. Helen Macdonald, bestselling author of H Is for Hawk, will be discussing her new collection of essays, Vesper Flights, with passionate conservationist, renowned musician and folk expert Sam Lee, whose debut book The Nightingale pays homage to the songbird that has inspired artists, poets and musicians for centuries. The event will also feature a special recording by comedian and musician Bill Bailey.
Tickets £7.50
English Folk Expo Presents: Fay Hield* — 8pm BST
English Folk Expo
Fay Hield is a singer who seems to have been born knowing how to carry a tune, but with the rarer gift of knowing how to go straight to the heart of a song. She’ll be joined by Rob Harbron, Ben Nicholls and Miranda Rutter for this very special livestream from Cecil Sharp House.
Tickets £12 plus booking fee, or £25 for an April bundle ticket which also includes Maz O’Connor and Naomi Bedford, Paul Simmonds and The Ramshackle Band. You can also get a 10% discount on tickets by joining EFEx Digital.
An Hour or So With… Katherine Priddy — 8pm BST
Downend Folk Club on Facebook
Enjoy an hour or so of song-sharing and conversation with sublime singer and incredible songwriter Katherine Priddy. This event is presented by Downend Folk Club, who have been hosting events regularly on Friday nights through lockdown. The video will be posted on the page afterwards to view again too.
Free to view, but donations gratefully received to the tip jar.
Ceitidh Mac — 8pm BST
The Globe Newcastle
Ceitidh Mac blends the warming tones of the cello and soaring vocals to create a transformative sound that puts a progressive twist on the alt folk genre. Her live show is an innovative take on traditional and alternative folk songs, sitting alongside her own original material.
Tickets £7.50, with the option to pay more to support the artists and venue. Stream is available to view for a week.
Hannah Read + Jordan Tice + Taylor Ashton — 8pm BST
Green Note website, Facebook page and YouTube channel
Enjoy an evening of song-sharing with Hannah Read, Jordan Tice and Taylor Ashton, as they perform virtually ‘in the round’ for London’s Green Note.
No ticket required, but donations gratefully received on Paypal.
Stillhouse Junkies — 8pm BST
The Live Room Saltaire
This talented American trio combines a wide range of influences including bluegrass, Western Swing and acoustic country, to create an attractive groove-filled blend of American roots music.
Tickets £10
SATURDAY 10 APRIL
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Online — from 9am BST
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering on Facebook
A day of virtual events showcasing Northumbrian music, dance, dialect, drama, heritage, arts and crafts. The day will include concerts, family shows and stories, workshops, sessions and more.
Free to view, but donations encouraged to support the festival.
Soundpost Sing Online — from 10am BST
Soundpost
Join Soundpost for a day of workshops with Bryony Griffith, Paul Sartin, Fay Hield, Kate Thompson and Harriet Johnson. As well as workshops, the day will also include a tutors’ concert and singaround. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best, meet like-minded people and enjoy the magic of song.
Day ticket £40 or individual workshops £10.
Hands Up for Trad Showcase 2021 — from 1pm BST
Hands Up for Trad on Facebook and YouTube
Hands Up for Trad will be hosting a live music showcase from 1pm right through to the evening on their Facebook page and YouTube channel. Artists taking part include Sir-Reel Clarks, Evie Waddell, Madderam, Chris Gray, Lapwyng, Beth Malcolm, The Canny Band, Miguel Girão, Tannara, Binky Blue and DOSCA.
Free to view
Kate Rusby Hand Me Down Concert — 7.30pm BST
Pure Records
Join Kate and the band as they take to the stage to present the first live album play of the Hand Me Down Album. You can either book a 24 hour ticket or a 'Springtide pass', which allows you to watch again until 22nd May.
Tickets £12.50 for a 24-hour ticket or £20 for a Springtime Pass.
Joshua Burnell & Band present 'For One Stream Only' — 7.30pm BST
Joshua Burnell
Joshua Burnell and the full band present a full live-streamed concert, performing songs from Flowers Where The Horses Sleep as a full band for the first time, as well as debuting brand-new songs alongside tried and tested classics from Joshua's previous albums.
Tickets £12.50 for a single adult or £25 for two people watching, with options to pay more to support the band.
Ian K. Brown — 7.30pm BST
Rosslyn Court
Accomplished songsmith Ian K. Brown performs a livestreamed concert for Rosslyn Court in Margate.
Free to view, but donations encouraged.
Jon Boden: Last Mile Home — 8pm BST
Mandolin
Join Jon, the Remnant Strings and Edith the phonograph player to hear Last Mile Home played in full, along with some tracks from Floodplain and Afterglow, filmed in the factory where the story first began. The show can be watched for 48 hours, so you can catch up later if needed.
Tickets £15
English Folk Expo Presents: Naomi Bedford, Paul Simmonds & The Ramshackle Band* — 8pm BST
English Folk Expo
Folk and country duo Bedford and Simmonds have 4 acclaimed albums under their belts, with the latest, ‘Singing It All Back Home’, being featured as the Guardian album of the month and played in session on Mark Radcliffe’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Show. Join them and their band as they perform live from Cecil Sharp House.
Tickets £12 plus booking fee, or £25 for an April bundle ticket which also includes Maz O’Connor and Fay Hield. You can also get a 10% discount on tickets by joining EFEx Digital.
Väsen-Duo* — 8pm BST — POSTPONED
Live to Your Living Room
After 37 years of playing and touring together, Väsen-Duo (Mikael Marin and Olov Johansson) have something of a telepathic connection that makes their performances something very special indeed! From the silverbasharpa and oktavharpa to a three-rowed Nyckelharpa, violoncello da spalla and a blue electric viola, they play almost every stringed instrument you could imagine. With their roots in the traditional music of Uppland, they branch out into new musical worlds.
Tickets £15, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances.
SUNDAY 11 APRIL
Show of Hands: Steve & Phil 'Show off Sheds' — 7.30pm BST
Firebrand Music Events
Steve Knightley & Phil Beer will be streaming a special request concert from Steve's shed. To request your favourites, comment on the video post at the top of the Show of Hands Facebook page.
Tickets £15
Band of Burns - Spring Live Stream — 7.30pm BST
Band of Burns
Band of Burns is a unique collaboration of twelve artists – including members of such prestigious groups as The Breath and The Langan Band and featuring the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the year Ríoghnach Connolly. Join them to celebrate the arrival of Spring.
Tickets by a donation of your choice.
John Smith Live at Yellow Arch Studio: Behind the Music — 8pm BST
Mandolin
A unique livestream in which John delves into the songs on his new album, The Fray, and talks about the writing process. He’ll discuss how he puts the pieces of an album together; from choosing guitars, approaching lyricism and writing riffs, to how he orchestrates his recordings in the studio.
Tickets $15 (approx £11) plus booking fee
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 - Regular Facebook gigs on Saturday nights at 8pm.
Tim Edey - Concerts are held on Saturdays at 10pm 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.
Benji Kirkpatrick ‘Excess All Areas’
Benji Kirkpatrick has launched a new YouTube video series called ‘Excess All Areas’. Episode 1 is live now - tune in for music, chat and some laughs along the way. It’s free to view but you can donate on Paypal here.
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 They’re Calling Me Home by Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi. It’s an album full of nostalgia and longing for the places they’ve called home, which is probably something a lot of us have identified with over the last year. With some very personal choices, including some of the first old-time songs Rhiannon ever learned and an Italian lullaby Francesco sang to his infant daughter, it feels like this album gives a really intimate insight into their musical worlds.
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!