The Folk Forecast: 7-13 Dec 2020
Including Kate Rusby’s Happy Holly Day, Melrose Quartet, Martin Hayes and festive favourites from McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle!
Hello, and welcome to a wintery edition of The Folk Forecast! As Christmas draws closer, there’s absolutely heaps going on - so much so, in fact, that this issue will cover a week rather than a fortnight, and I’ll be back next week with listings for the rest of the Christmas period!
This issue’s record of the week is Katherine Priddy’s new single, ‘Still Winter, Still Waiting’, which you can find in this issue’s playlist. I’ve also put together a gigantic folky Christmas playlist which has enough festive music to keep you feeling merry right through till New Year. Bye for now, and see you again next Sunday!
HIGHLIGHTS
Imagining Ireland: Martin Hayes
Tuesday 8 December 8pm GMT
National Concert Hall Dublin
Martin Hayes leads a celebration of Irish music, performed live from the National Concert Hall in Dublin. He’ll be joined by jazz pianist Cormac McCarthy, as well as Brian Donnellan on bouzouki, harmonium and concertina.
Tickets €16.50 (approx £15), access to the stream lasts for 48 hours.
McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle Christmas at Home
Thursday 10th December to Wednesday 30th December (Various venues)
Active Events in partnership with 18 venues and festivals across the UK
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle have recorded a very special Christmas show, packed with festive tunes and year-round favourites. The show is being streamed in partnership with 18 venues and festivals right across the UK, with each show being a bit different and having the opportunity for audiences to submit their questions! Ticket sales will be split between the artists and venues, so you can support your favourite venue as well as the band.
Tickets from £12, with the option to pay more to support the musicians and venues.
An Hour or So With… Sam Sweeney
Friday 11 December 8pm GMT
Downend Folk Club
Downend Folk Club have been hosting weekly gigs on Facebook recently, and the next one features the brilliant Sam Sweeney. I’ve been a fan of Sam’s since his early days with Kerfuffle, and since then he’s become known for his work with Bellowhead and Leveret, as well as some incredible solo projects. Join him for an hour or so and enjoy some songs, chat and the chance to ask him questions about his work.
No ticket required, but donations gratefully received on Paypal.
Pons Aelius
Friday 11 December 8pm GMT
The Globe Newcastle
Join Newcastle-based instrumental powerhouse Pons Aelius in their home city, as they perform live from The Globe. Drawing together influences from far and wide, this talented group of multi-instrumentalists is a force to be reckoned with.
Livestream tickets £7.50, with the option to pay more to support the artists and venue. Stream is available to view for a week.
Live at Sam’s: Greg Russell
Friday 11 December 8pm GMT (doors open 7.30pm)
Live at Sam’s
Greg Russell has been on the UK and European folk scenes for over 10 years, performing solo, in duos, in bands and in projects such as The Transports. These days, the chance to see him perform live is rare, so catch him while you can!
Tickets for a suggested donation of £10 per person. Gig is streamed via Zoom.
Kate Rusby’s Happy Holly Day
Saturday 12 December 7.30pm GMT
Pure Records
With no fewer than 5 Christmas albums under her belt, Kate Rusby is Christmas personified, and the festive season wouldn’t be the same without her. Luckily, you don’t need to miss out this year, as she’s treating us to a full-length Christmas concert available to stream wherever you are in the world.
Tickets £12.50 for 24-hour access, or £20 for a 25-day pass.
The Ninebarrow Band @ Lighthouse, Poole
Saturday 12 December 7pm GMT
Ninebarrow / Lighthouse Poole
Back in March, Ninebarrow were set to embark on a tour with their own band for the very first time. Sadly, it wasn’t to go ahead, but they were determined to capture a band gig for audiences. Against all the odds, they’ve recorded this fantastic concert from Lighthouse arts centre in Poole, which is sure to be an absolute treat.
Tickets £14 for single viewers or £28 for a household.
Edgelarks - Live album launch from Ipplepen
Saturday 12 December 7.30pm GMT
Firebrand Music Events
Join BBC Folk Award winning duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin as they launch their eagerly anticipated new album, ‘Henry Martin’, live from Ipplepen Village Hall.
Tickets £15 plus booking fee.
Scots Music Group - Day of Song
Saturday 12 December from 9.45am GMT
Scots Music Group
Enjoy a day of singing and learn something new, with a festive twist! Featuring sessions run by Kris Drever, Bella Hardy and more.
Tickets £22, with the option to pay more or less depending on your circumstances. Sessions will be held via Zoom.
Melrose Quartet
Sunday 13 December 7pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
Join Melrose Quartet (Nancy Kerr, James Fagan, Jess Arrowsmith and Richard Arrowsmith) for a rich blend of traditional and new material, including a capella and accompanied songs, plus instrumental sets that are sure to get you dancing!
Tickets £14, with options to pay a bit more or less depending on your circumstances. Gig is streamed via Zoom.
Also look out for…
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show - Monday 7 December 7pm GMT, Folk on Foot website, YouTube and podcast feed
Mossy Christian album launch - Wednesday 9 December 8pm GMT, Musical Traditions Club on Facebook Live
Swan & Dyer's Winter Warmer - Wednesday 9 December 8pm GMT, Live to Your Living Room
Big Band Ceilidh Tunes Workshop - Thursday 10 December 6.30pm GMT, Live to Your Living Room
Flossie Malavialle and Jez Lowe - Thursday 10 December 7.30pm GMT, Darlington Folk Club on Zoom - email darlofolkacousticclub@gmail.com for info
Oxfolk Zoom Ceilidh with Climax Ceilidh Band, called by Hannah Moore - Friday 11 December 8pm GMT, Oxfolk on Zoom
Folk Carols NOT in the Pub - Saturday 12 December 2pm GMT, Hosted by Muldoon’s Picnic on Zoom
John Dipper workshops (all instruments welcome) - Saturday 12 December, Saturday 19 December & Monday 28 December 4pm GMT, John Dipper on Zoom, email JohnDipper@mac.com for further details and to sign up
Maclaine Colston and Saul Rose - Saturday 12 December 8pm GMT, Live to Your Living Room
Steve Knightley - Live with Acoustic Promotions - Saturday 12 December 8pm GMT, Firebrand Music Events/Acoustic Promotions
Sarah Matthews fiddle workshop - Sunday 13 December 3pm GMT, Live to Your Living Room
Steve Knightley - Live with Hitchin Folk Club - Sunday 13 December 8pm GMT, Firebrand Music Events/Hitchen Folk Club
Celtic Connections
Celtic Connections is almost upon us, and this year they’ll be running a digital-first festival from Friday 15 January to Tuesday 2 February 2021. There’s an incredible line-up planned, including the likes of Breabach, Blazin Fiddles, Eddi Reader, Elephant Sessions, Kris Drever, Le Vent du Nord and many more.
Tickets are on sale now, with early bird tickets available for £30 for unlimited access to 19 nights of entertainment. This bargain is available for a limited time, so it’s best to snap up tickets quickly!
Cara Dillon competition
Win the chance to have Cara Dillon and Sam Lakeman carol singing on your virtual doorstep this year. To enter, you need to follow Cara on Spotify and subscribe to her mailing list. The competition closes on Monday 14 December.
This week’s playlist
Head over to this week’s playlist to hear tracks from this issue’s highlighted artists. Have a listen and try something new, but do remember to support artists in ways that pay them fairly too.
This week, I’m mostly listening to…
‘Still Winter, Still Waiting’ by Katherine Priddy. If you haven’t come across Katherine before, she’s a really wonderful songwriter with the most beautiful voice. She was set for big things this year, including bookings at the likes of Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festival, and it’s gutting she’s missed out on what should have been a pivotal year for her career. She couldn’t let the year pass by without giving her listeners something new to listen to though, and on 1st December she released this new single, all about being apart from a loved one this winter - something we can all relate to right now. It’s available on Bandcamp for just £1!
You might also like…
The Folk Forecast: 14–20 Dec 2020
The Folk Forecast: 21–27 Dec 2020
The Folk Forecast’s Christmas Gift Guide
A Very Folky Christmas playlist
Keep up to date - find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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.