The Folk Forecast: July 2022
Featuring Christmas in July, the Gigspanner Big Band & Raynor Winn Saltlines tour, a BBC folk prom with members of Spell Songs, the official launch of Nancy Kerr's latest album and lots more.
Hello, and welcome back!
After a busy couple of days away for a wedding, I’m here with your latest folky updates. July is looking to be jam-packed with a huge range of events, from Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden’s Christmas in July, to Gigspanner Big Band & Raynor Winn’s Saltlines tour and even a folk-inspired BBC prom at Sage Gateshead with members of Spell Songs! There’s also plenty to keep you busy online, including a mini digital festival with Ninebarrow and the official launch of Nancy Kerr’s latest album, The Poor Shall Wear the Crown: Songs by Leon Rosselson.
You can find out more about everything that’s in store below. Thanks for reading - have a good month and I’ll see you again next time!
This month’s playlist
Head over to this month’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. Remember to support artists by buying their music and booking gigs too!
TOP PICKS: ONLINE
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show* — Tuesday 5 July, 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. 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.
The Shackleton Trio* — Tuesday 5 July, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
With captivating songwriting and fiery tunes, The Shackleton Trio take their influences from British, American and Scandinavian folk traditions, as well as their native East Anglia. They’re currently touring their new album, Mousehold, so this is a chance to find out all about it and hear some of the new songs in action!
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Tuesday Folk People: Honey and the Bear — Tuesday 5 July, 8pm BST
Home Stage
Join Home Stage for an hour of music and chat with Honey and the Bear. This much-loved duo are no strangers to livestreams, having kept audiences entertained with weekly gigs during lockdown! Since then, they’ve had a few more adventures, including the arrival of their little one. This will be a great opportunity to catch up with them.
Free to view.
Iona Lane — Thursday 14 July, 7.30pm BST
Rosslyn Court
Leeds-based folk singer and songwriter Iona Lane released her debut album, Hallival, back in March, and it’s gone down a storm with audiences and reviewers alike. If you haven’t seen Iona play live yet, now’s your chance to tune in from wherever you are!
Hybrid gig. The first hour of the performance will be livestreamed free of charge (donations encouraged). The second half will be exclusively for the in-person audience.
Tuesday Folk People: Katie Spencer — Tuesday 19 July, 8pm BST
Home Stage
The second Tuesday Folk People episode this month is with singer-songwriter and guitarist Katie Spencer. Katie released her new album, The Edge of the Land, in May, so this is a great opportunity to find out more about what she’s been up to.
Free to view.
Nancy Kerr Album Launch: The Poor Shall Wear The Crown* — Wednesday 20 July, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Live to Your Living Room and Live At Sam’s are delighted to be co-hosting the official international launch of Nancy Kerr’s latest album, The Poor Shall Wear the Crown: Songs By Leon Rosselson. The record is a culmination of the former BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of The Year’s popular and very personal pandemic musical project, a collection of contemporary folk and Chanson masterpieces from the unique lyrical voice of Leon Rosselson. Nancy is delighted to be able to share this launch with both a live audience in her home city of Sheffield, and with an international online audience.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Ninebarrow & Friends Live From Rose Cottage — Saturday 23 July, 6.30pm BST
Ninebarrow
Ninebarrow have hosted some brilliant online gigs over the last couple of years, and it’s been great to see them continuing beyond lockdown. This time around, they’ll be hosting a mini digital festival from Rose Cottage and the beautiful woodlands nearby. There will be performances from guests including Will McNicol, Ben Cipolla and Christina Alden and Alex Patterson, as well as Ninebarrow themselves of course!
Tickets £14.50 for a single viewer, or £29 for a household. The gig will be available to watch on catch-up for 7 days, so you can watch it at a time that suits you.
Also coming up online…
5 July - Soundpost - Covid Sings Singaround*, 8pm - this month’s theme is weather and predictions. This is linked to St Swithin's Day (it’s said that if it rains on St. Swithin's Day, it will rain for 40 days, but if it is fair, 40 days of fair weather will follow!). Don’t worry if you don’t know any songs that quite fit though - all songs are welcome!
7 July - Skinner & T’witch, 7.30pm - a combination of folk, flamenco and theatre! Hosted by Rosslyn Court - free to view, with donations encouraged.
21 July - Katy Carr, 7.30pm - an award-winning singer-songwriter who draws on a variety of influences, including her Polish roots. Hosted by Rosslyn Court - free to view, with donations encouraged.
28 July - Theo Mizú, 7.30pm - a journey around the world through music which crosses global borders. Hosted by Rosslyn Court - free to view, with donations encouraged.
Regular bits to look out for:
The Folk Room on Clubhouse is on Wednesdays at 7pm, and The Ballad Room is on Thursdays at 8pm.
Tim Edey often holds online concerts on his Facebook page at weekends - keep an eye on his page for details.
Singer-songwriter and guitarist Fabian Holland does regular free livestreamed gigs - join his online community to get access.
Piers Cawley hosts regular Song Swaps with special guests - check out his YouTube channel for the latest additions.
All times are in BST.
TOP PICKS: IN PERSON
Gigspanner Big Band & Raynor Winn: Saltlines
This is an exciting collaboration between folk-roots supergroup, the Gigspanner Big Band, and best selling author of The Salt Path, Raynor Winn. Raynor wrote The Salt Path after walking the South West Coast Path in its entirety when she and her husband Moth became homeless, just as he was diagnosed with a terminal neuro-degenerative disease. Having read the book, Deborah Knight (Peter Knight’s wife, and agent and manager of the Gigspanner Big Band) was walking along a stretch of the South West Coast Path when it occurred to her that such a well-trodden trail must hold many more stories of love, loss and the natural world. This inspired a search through the archives for traditional songs connected to the area, which brought up a multitude of songs and tunes to explore.
These songs and tunes have now been melded with Raynor’s words in a new show that celebrates the 630-mile South West Coast Path and its many stories. You can catch the Saltlines tour at Taunton, Ilfracombe, Port Isaac, Falmouth, Lyme Regis, Exmouth, Poole, and the Minack Theatre (which will be a particularly stunning setting for it!). This fascinating project has also recently featured in an episode of Folk on Foot, which is well worth a listen.
Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden’s Christmas in July
Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden were set to do a Christmas gig at Union Chapel in London on 21st December 2021, but unfortunately it couldn’t go ahead. Rather than postpone by a whole year, they decided to just do Christmas in July instead (why not?!). The Union Chapel is such a beautiful venue, and this is sure to be something special.
Grace Petrie: Butch Ado About Nothing
Grace Petrie is branching into comedy with her new show, Butch Ado About Nothing, which is running at Edinburgh Fringe Festival throughout August. Exploring gender politics, identity and belonging in an ever-changing world, this promises to be both heartwarming and hilarious.
BBC Proms at Sage Gateshead: Folk Connections
The Proms are coming to Sage Gateshead, and this folk-inspired concert will feature Royal Northern Sinfonia performing alongside members of Spell Songs, including Karine Polwart, Rachel Newton and Jim Molyneux. The programme will include some of the Spell Songs material, as well as other folk-themed repertoire and the New World Symphony. A great excuse for a visit to the North East!
Festival top picks
Ely Folk Festival, 8-10 July - Lindisfarne, Heidi Talbot & Boo Hewerdine, Daoiri Farrell, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Granny’s Attic* and more.
Stonehaven Festival, 8-10 July - Flook, Kris Drever, the Paul McKenna Band, Shooglenifty, Rura and more.
Hebcelt, 13-16 July - Julie Fowlis, Siobhan Miller, Rura, Skipinnish, Elephant Sessions, Josie Duncan and more.
Gate to Southwell, 14-17 July - John Smith, Dervish, Peat & Diesel, Le Vent du Nord, The Spooky Men’s Chorale, The Trials of Cato, Pedler // Russell*, Katherine Priddy and more. A new supergroup called Filkin’s Ensemble will be making a debut appearance. TradFolk shared a video on their Facebook page this week and I’m obsessed, so definitely check that out!
Doune the Rabbithole, 14-17 July - Peggy Seeger, Kinnaris Quintet, Elephant Sessions, This is the Kit and more.
Sesiwn Fawr, 15-17 July - Bwncath, Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Skerryvore, The Trials of Cato, Granny’s Attic* and more.
Folk by the Oak, 17 July - Spell Songs, Richard Thompson, The Proclaimers, The Unthanks, the Sam Sweeney Band, Kinnaris Quintet and more, including a special mass harmony singing workshop called ‘Sing it to the trees’ with Karine Polwart, which promises to be really uplifting and enjoyable.
Warwick Folk Festival, 21-24 July - Show of Hands, Seth Lakeman, Spiers & Boden, The Young’Uns, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Granny’s Attic*, The Wilderness Yet*, Janice Burns & Jon Doran* and more.
Folk Fell, 23 July - Kate Rusby, Bella Hardy, Cara Dillon, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys and more.
Cambridge Folk Festival, 28-31 July - Passenger, Spell Songs, Julie Fowlis, Sam Lee, Spiers and Boden, O’Hooley & Tidow, The Young’Uns, Afro Celt Sound System, The Magpie Arc and more, including a really exciting folk ballet presented by Ballet Folk and Words of a Fiddler’s Daughter (featuring members of The Ciderhouse Rebellion).
Womad, 28-31 July - a celebration of music from right around the world, with artists including Angélique Kidjo, Kae Tempest, The Dhol Foundation, Gwenifer Raymond, Project Smok and more.
Chickenstock Music Festival, 28-31 July - Cara Dillon, Edward II, Tankus the Henge and more.
Underneath the Stars, 29-31 July - The Young’Uns, Imelda May, Kate Rusby, Suzanne Vega, This Is The Kit, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys and more.
Sidmouth Folk Festival, 29 July-5 August - A full week of all things folk, including Steeleye Span, Chris Wood, Fisherman’s Friends, Kate Rusby, Show of Hands, Spiers & Boden, Grace Petrie, Martin Simpson, Melrose Quartet, Miranda Sykes & Hannah Martin, a special event from Folk on Foot and more.
Wickham Festival, 4-7 August - Levellers, Oysterband, The Longest Johns, Grace Petrie, Spiers & Boden, Show of Hands, Steve Knightley, The Dhol Foundation, a DJ set from Johnny Kalsi and more.
Broadstairs Folk Week, 5-12 August - Show of Hands, Lindisfarne, Spiers and Boden, Sharon Shannon, The Longest Johns, The Magpie Arc, Belinda O’Hooley, Flook and more.
Cropredy, 11-13 August - Fairport Convention, Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Martyn Joseph, Emily Barker and more.
The Magpies Festival, 12-13 August - John Smith, Seth Lakeman, The Drystones, The Jellyman’s Daughter, Honey & The Bear and more.
This is just a selection of festivals taking place over the next few weeks. To see details of even more folk festivals coming up in the UK, this website is really handy!
NEW RELEASES
30 June - Tamsin Elliott - Frey
Frey is the debut solo album from Bristol-based folk musician, composer and film-maker, Tamsin Elliott. It’s an album that reflects a deeply personal experience of pain, grief, healing and acceptance, as well as considering wider themes of societal disconnection and the destruction of the environment. The album also features guest artists including Sid Goldsmith and Rowan Rheingans - check out this video of them playing together!
1 July - Damien O’Kane & Rob Block - Banjophonics
This is an album that has its roots on both sides of the Atlantic, bringing together Damien O’Kane from Northern Ireland and Ron Block from California. They did a debut album together 4 years ago, and this is the follow-up. It’s a real celebration of the scope of the banjo as an instrument, and it’s very uplifting, which is definitely what we need right now!
1 July - Mama’s Broke - Narrow Line
Influences from Americana, Eastern European fiddle tunes and a cappella ballad singing are brought together into one melting pot with this new release from Mama’s Broke. A compelling listen!
4 July - Will Allen - English Fiddle
Will Allen is joined by Rowan Piggott (The Wilderness Yet, Songhive Project) for this beautifully simple collection of tunes performed on fiddle and cittern.
8 July - Bella Hardy - Love Songs
As lockdown set in and made touring impossible, Bella Hardy made a return to self-accompanied singing for online events including the Folk on Foot festivals. This led her to return to some of the first songs she’d ever learned, and now she’s recorded several of those songs, as well as a few originals, on this new album. It was recorded in just 3 days, as the songs were so ingrained!
15 July - Kathryn Williams - Night Drives
Kathryn Williams is known for crossing boundaries, and this new release takes her in a new direction with a more cinematic sound. She’s teamed up with a host of collaborators to create an album that’s varied and layered, with sweeping strings and electronic influences.
15 July - Keston Cobblers Club - Alchemy (vinyl release)
Indie-folk band Keston Cobblers Club are set to release their album Alchemy on vinyl this month. It’s a concept album based on an old folk tale which is set near the band’s hometown. It’s the story of an alchemist who dedicates his life to turning metals into gold, only to discover that the treasures he was looking for were within himself all along.
29 July - Katie Doherty & The Navigators - Flow
Katie Doherty writes songs from the heart, and this latest release features some of her boldest storytelling yet. The album takes inspiration from the lives of ordinary people, laying bare the state of the world today and looking forward with hope for a better future. It’s an album driven by community and connection, with a powerful message for all of us.
RECORD OF THE MONTH
Record of the Month is What Holds the World Together by The Wilderness Yet*. At a time of disconnection from each other and the environment, What Holds The World Together is an album grounded in our relationship with the natural world. It’s also an album with deeply personal links. From The Last Shanachie, which features a wax cylinder recording of Rowan’s great-great-grandfather (a traditional Irish storyteller), to The Nightingale’s Lullaby, a song written to lull Rowan and Rosie’s newborn son to sleep, the album is centred around love, community and connection.
Holding the weight of the world on its shoulders, whilst simultaneously radiating the joy of life, What Holds The World Together is a rumination on everything it means to be human.
* Disclaimer - I am working with The Wilderness Yet to promote the album, but would honestly pick it anyway as it’s so up my street!
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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 currently work with other organisations including Live to Your Living Room, Soundpost, Folk on Foot, Fancourt Music (Granny’s Attic and Janice Burns & Jon Doran), and individual artists including Jo Freya and The Wilderness Yet. Events where I have some involvement with the promoter, agency or artist are marked with a star for transparency. Although I have various affiliations and write about the stuff I enjoy, I strive to be fair and inclusive and tell you about anything I think might be of interest.