The Folk Forecast: December 2024
Online gigs with Eliza Carthy & Friends, John Kirkpatrick, Tim Edey, Narthen, Janice Burns & Jon Doran and more, plus January gigs and the latest new music.
Season’s greetings, everyone! Christmas is encroaching rather too quickly for those of us who are less organised with our shopping, but the good news is there are lots of festive gigs to enjoy from wherever you are in the next few weeks.
I’ve certainly been busy with plenty of gigs lately, with highlights including Bellowhead and Paris Paloma. If you haven’t come across Paris before, I’d highly recommend checking her out - whilst not exactly folk, her music is certainly folk-adjacent and her songwriting is something special. I’ve added a track of hers to this month’s playlist. I’ll also be sending an exclusive playlist to paid Substack subscribers soon with some of my recent favourites, which she’s sure to feature in!
Thanks as always for reading, and hope you have a lovely Christmas and New Year.
Lucy
This month’s playlist
This month’s playlist includes a variety of the artists mentioned in this issue, including some brilliant new releases! If you like what you hear, do support the artists if you can, to help them make more amazing music in the future.
If you’re a paid subscriber, look out for an email soon with bonus content, including an extra playlist just for you!
If you enjoy this issue and fancy saying thanks, you can make a small donation on Ko-Fi or sign up for a paid subscription here on Substack, to help support my freelance work on the folk scene. Thank you!
TOP PICKS: ONLINE
John Kirkpatrick* — Wednesday 11 December, 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
John Kirkpatrick’s Carolling & Crumpets show is a heart-warming look at the timeless rituals found in the folklore and folk music of England at Midwinter. John peels away the commercial gloss of modern Christmas to reveal the powerful pagan urges that race through us all at this time of year, and the life and death struggle that is symbolised in so many traditional songs and customs.
Tickets £12 / £18 / £30 - one ticket per household; pay as you can afford. Available to watch live or on catch-up for 72 hours after the show.
A Winter Union + Heartwood Chorus* — Friday 13 December, 7.45pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room and Downend Folk & Roots
Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other – A Winter Union – made up of Gilmore & Roberts, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage and Jade Rhiannon of The Willows. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic.
This gig is coming from Downend Folk & Roots near Bristol, and you can also go along in person.
Tickets £12 / £18 / £30 - one ticket per household; pay as you can afford. Available to watch live or on catch-up for 72 hours after the show.
Janice Burns & Jon Doran + Joe Dooley* — Saturday 14 December, 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room and ACE Space
Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music. The duo’s winter gigs have become something of a tradition over the last few years, and now they’re heading out on tour with their brand-new festive album. Expect seasonal favourites and little-known gems to warm the soul through the colder months.
This gig is coming from ACE Space in Newbury, and you can also go along in person.
Tickets £12 / £18 / £30 - one ticket per household; pay as you can afford. Available to watch live or on catch-up for 72 hours after the show.
Tim Edey* — Sunday 15 December, 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room and Live @ Sam’s
Tim Edey is a multi-award-winning musician who has collaborated with many of the biggest names in folk, including The Chieftains, Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon, Altan, Capercaillie, Michael McGoldrick and Julie Fowlis - to name but a few! His live solo shows are a stunning mix of world music, inspired instrumental virtuosity and passion.
This gig is coming from Live at Sam’s in Sheffield, and you can also go along in person.
Tickets £12 / £18 / £30 - one ticket per household; pay as you can afford. Available to watch live or on catch-up for 72 hours after the show.
Narthen* — Tuesday 17 December, 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
Narthen’s aim has always been to sing and play the songs and tunes that reflect their individual personalities and tastes. All four of them are fanastic singers and multi-instrumentalists, between them playing soprano sax, clarinet, whistles, fiddles, viola, hammered dulcimer, tenor guitar, diatonic accordeon and hurdy gurdy. Their Icicles and Inglenooks show promises polyphonic, four-part unaccompanied carols from Yorkshire and beyond, as well as tunes that are guaranteed to have you dancing around your living room. Expect the unexpected from Jo Freya, Fi Fraser, Sarah Matthews, and Doug Eunson.
Tickets £12 / £18 / £30 - one ticket per household; pay as you can afford. Available to watch live or on catch-up for 72 hours after the show.
Eliza Carthy's Christmas Party with Jon Boden, Emily Portman
& Marry Waterson — Thursday 19 December, 7.30pm GMT
Folkscape Live
Eliza Carthy graces the Howard Assembly Room stage this Christmas – joined by an illustrious band of her friends and family for an evening of seasonal joy! Eliza, her cousin Marry Waterson and their friends Jon Boden and Emily Portman will turn the Howard Assembly Room into a cosy Christmas living room party. Amongst seasonal classic folk songs, be entertained by games and stories of family rituals from across the years. Jon and Eliza will perform material from last year’s seminal Wassail! album, and Eliza and Marry will lift the veil on growing up with the Watersons and the huge, warm and welcoming Christmases they shared on the legendary farm on the North Yorkshire moors.
This gig is coming to you live from the Howard Assembly Room in Leeds - a lovely venue, which was actually named after someone I used to work for (Keith Howard), who was a passionate supporter of the arts.
Tickets from £15. Available to watch live, or on catch-up until 19th December.
Tim Edey — Thursday 19 & Saturday 21 December, 7.30pm GMT
Rosslyn Court
There are two more chances to see Tim Edey online this month, as he’ll be playing twice at Rosslyn Court and both concerts are being livestreamed. As noted above, Tim is a multi-award-winning melodeon player and guitarist. He comes from Kent, so these gigs at Rosslyn Court are on home turf and sure to be great fun.
Hybrid gig, so you can also go along in person. The first hour will be livestreamed (donations encouraged). The second half will be exclusively for the in-person audience. Also available to watch on demand afterwards.
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show* — Tuesday 14 January, 7pm GMT
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. I’ll also be on the show to talk about the latest folk news.
Free to access, but you can support the podcast by becoming a patron or donating on Ko-Fi.
Also online
A new episode of the Folk on Foot* podcast is out on Friday 13th December. This special festive episode explores a heartwarming Shropshire Christmas with concertina wizard John Kirkpatrick. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
There’s also a special festive edition of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show called Festive Fireside Folk, available on BBC Sounds here.
TOP PICKS: IN PERSON
Celtic Connections
There are plenty of festive tours going on at the moment, but looking ahead to January, we’ve got Celtic Connections to look forward to in Glasgow from 16th January to 2nd February. This iconic festival is known for showcasing the biggest and best artists in Scottish folk and beyond, but it’s also a place to see up and coming stars of the future and special projects you can’t see anywhere else. Whatever you’re into, there’s so much going on that you can almost curate your own festival!
There are too many events to mention them all, but here are a few that stood out to me…
As a songwriter, Josienne Clarke has been hailed as “extraordinary” by Mojo, “gently exquisite” by The Observer and “full of depth” by The Telegraph — but for this performance, she’s paying tribute to another truly great female singer/songwriter, Sandy Denny. Denny’s flame burned bright and all too brief, but her music has stood the test of time, marking her out as one of the most influential artists in the history of British folk music.
20 Jan - Rhiannon Giddens & Dirk Powell
Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell are celebrated for bringing the emotional essence of rural American music to modern audiences with a unique depth and vision. Rooted in the musical traditions of North Carolina, Kentucky, and Louisiana, their work blends diverse cultural influences.
This double-billed concert is an early insight into a compelling new collaboration between two highly acclaimed bands, each with a singular yet complementary vision. The Furrow Collective are renowned for their unique interpretations of traditional songs and ballads; Salt House are celebrated for their distinctive songwriting informed by nature and contemporary life. Expect crystalline harmonies and understated instrumental interplay, as both groups explore how stories can enable us to make sense of our lives in uncertain times.
Award-winning Gaelic folk singer and musician Julie Fowlis leads an exciting Scots-Irish collaboration between Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre — and this special Celtic Connections performance features the renowned Scottish Chamber Orchestra, truly making it a concert to remember.
25 Jan - Ímar and Malin Lewis
Glasgow-based five-piece Ímar is something of a Scottish folk supergroup. Featuring current and former members of Mànran, Mec Lir, RURA and Talisk, this is a band whose collectively crammed trophy cabinet includes several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and All-Britain/All-Ireland titles. Support comes from the incredibly innovative and award-winning multi-instrumentalist, Malin Lewis.
This exciting event features two unique projects. First of all, join acclaimed Scottish singer Ainsley Hamill for the official launch of Fable, a deeply immersive album steeped in Scottish folklore. Produced by Sam Kelly, Fable blends traditional and original songs in Gaelic, Scots, and English, weaving vivid tales from Scotland’s legends and landscapes.
Secondly, singer, harpist and composer Rachel Newton presents her solo project Sealladh, which was originally commissioned by the National Galleries of Scotland to celebrate 80 years of live music at the galleries. Each piece is inspired by an artwork from the Scottish Collection. This magical and evocative performance will include projections of each piece of art and found sound recordings from the artwork locations.
FOLKMOSIS is Perth singer-songwriter Beth Malcolm’s second album and a musical coming-of-age story (also recently featured as our Record of the Month!). Initially commissioned by Celtic Connections and developed in association with Perth Theatre And Concert Hall into a stunning, three-act multimedia performance, FOLKMOSIS embraces traditional and new songs, film and the spoken word; the story bending and twisting against a shifting soundscape. Beth will be joined by Matt McGinn, a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer from County Down, who also crafts songs that represent his own personal life experiences.
The Back of the Winter is a celebration of songs and community singing, borrowing its name from the opening line of Karine Polwart’s Follow the Heron, a song which has entered into common folk repertoire. This concert brings a one-off choir of 300 community singers to the concert hall stage, led by Stephen Deazley, in an evening that celebrates 25 years of Karine’s song-making and singing. Also featuring Steven Polwart, Inge Thomson, Dave Milligan and Calum McIntyre.
Transatlantic Sessions
Glasgow, Perth, Gateshead, York, Birmingham, Manchester, Oxford and London
Transatlantic Sessions returns for 2025, marking 30 years since the original TV series first aired, and continuing to explore and celebrate the rich musical traditions that connect Scotland, Ireland and the US. The tour starts off at Celtic Connections at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 31st January and 2nd February, before heading off on tour, finishing up at Royal Festival Hall in London on 9th February.
Artists include Loudon Wainwright III , Julie Fowlis, Niall McCabe, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, along with a house band crammed with well known names including Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, Phil Cunningham, John Doyle, Michael McGoldrick, Tatiana Hargreaves & Allison de Groot, John McCusker, Donald Shaw, James Mackintosh and Daniel Kimbro.
The Nest Collective Burns Night Ceilidhs
24th & 25th January, 6.30pm–10.30pm, Grand Junction, London
The Nest Collective are paying homage to ol’ Rabbie Burns with three riotously fun ceilidhs, including an afternoon one aimed at families. Their house band, the Ceilidh Liberation Front, will provide the soundtrack and guide you through the evening. Their mission is to breathe vigour and vitality into the traditional ceilidh, whilst honouring its roots and traditions.
Also on tour in early 2025
Maddie Morris, Martin Harley, Martyn Joseph, McGoldrick, McCusker & Doyle, Sarah McQuaid, Spiers & Boden, Steve Knightley, The Ciderhouse Rebellion, The Salts, Windborne
OTHER NEWS
New book from James Yorkston
As well as making music, James Yorkston is also an author, and his new novel, Tommy the Bruce, is available to pre-order now. It’s quite a dark tale of a man whose past is catching up with him… and you’ll have to read it to find out more! James also has a few solo shows throughout December, so it’s the perfect opportunity to hear some music as well as picking up a signed copy of the book.
NEW RELEASES
Jackie Oates and John Spiers have been touring their popular Christmas show for a while, and now at last there’s an album to enjoy too. This festive release is filled with traditional Christmas carols, wassails, advent hymns and festive tunes from the British Isles and beyond.
Allt II: Cuimhne is the highly anticipated second release from this collaboration of fine musicians. It is a collection of newly composed settings of Irish and Scottish Gaelic poems and tunes. “Cuimhne” - the Gaelic word for a memory, record or recollection - is a fitting title for this work, as the quartet are taking inspiration from the memories of Gaelic tradition and reworking and reframing them into a contemporary setting.
This Christmas EP turns the well-explored seasonal genre on its head, offering a fresh and innovative departure from your standard Christmas playlist. It crosses the boundaries between genres, from folk and Americana influences to dream-pop, post-rock and electronic music.
Helen Gentile & Lewis Wood's debut studio album was recorded and mixed by Alex Garden of Sheelanagig, Tarren, and The Drystones. It features traditional European dance tunes, as well as original material written by the duo and their friends.
RECORD OF THE MONTH
Record of the Month is Great Joy to the New by Janice Burns & Jon Doran*. It has long been the duo’s ambition to make a seasonal album (having sung Christmas songs together for the last 7 years!), and now this much-anticipated release is finally here.
Janice and Jon’s festive gigs have been something of a tradition over the last few years, starting out with online gigs in lockdown, and now they’ve gone into the studio to record some of their favourites. The album is rooted in tradition in all senses of the word. It draws strongly on traditional material, as well as winter customs and rituals from across the UK - from the wren boys in Pembrokeshire, to Sheffield Carols and the ram plays in and around Derbyshire.
The duo have also created some fantastic videos to accompany some of the songs, which are well worth a watch!
The Derby Ram:
The Wexford Carol:
I’m rather biased on this one, given that I’m the duo’s agent, as well as helping with press and backing vocals - but nevertheless, I think you’ll find much to enjoy in this album this Christmas time. You can also catch them on tour.
Top Tracks: I’m pretty much guaranteed to enjoy the saddest-sounding song on any given album, so in this case, it would probably have to be Down in Yon Forest.
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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, recently including Live to Your Living Room, Folk on Foot, Fancourt Music (Granny’s Attic and Janice Burns & Jon Doran), Calstock Arts, Stage4Beverley, Brundibár Arts Festival, Saltburn Folk Festival and individual artists including Lady Maisery. Events where I have some involvement with the promoter or artist are marked with a star for transparency. Although I have various affiliations, I strive to be inclusive and tell you about anything I find which I think you’ll enjoy!