The Folk Forecast: October 2023
Including Lau, Tarren, Ward Knútur Townes, Jon Wilks, The Grace Smith Trio, The Rosie Hood Band, autumn festivals and a round-up of new music.
Hello, and welcome back to The Folk Forecast. This month marks 3 years since the newsletter began in the depths of 2020, and since then, it’s helped me to launch my career as a full-time freelancer on the folk scene, so thanks to everyone who’s supported me along the way.
As ever, we’ve got a busy month ahead, with highlights including Lau’s only gig this year, album launch gigs aplenty and a huge stack of new music to check out. Speaking of which, here’s the playlist…
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 enjoy this issue and fancy saying thanks, you can make a small donation on Ko-Fi to help support my freelance work on the folk scene. Thank you!
TOP PICKS: ONLINE
Jon Wilks — Thursday 5 October, 7.30pm BST
Rosslyn Court
Jon Wilks is an acclaimed fingerpicking guitarist and singer of English traditional folk songs. His background as a journalist means he has a great ear for a story, and this shows through in his live performances, which combine songs and storytelling.
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.
Tarren* — Friday 6 October, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Tarren is a trio made up of Bristol-based artists Sid Goldsmith (Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, Awake Arise), Alex Garden (The Drystones, Harriet Riley & Alex Garden) and Danny Pedler (Pedler // Russell). Together, they combine cittern, concertina, fiddle and accordion to create music that is fresh and dynamic, yet rooted in tradition. Tarren’s debut album, Revel, was our Record of the Month last summer.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Filkin’s Drift* — Thursday 12 October, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Filkin’s Drift are currently on an 870-mile walking tour of the Welsh coast, doing over 40 gigs along the way as well as releasing a new EP. This project is all about exploring more sustainable ways of touring. Along the way, the duo will collect songs, stories, and tunes to incorporate into their gigs, weaving together a tapestry of shared experiences of the Welsh coast.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Ward Knútur Townes* — Friday 13 October, 7.30pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Ward Knútur Townes found their sound when the world fell silent. In 2020, Lucy Ward (UK), Svavar Knútur (Iceland) and Adyn Townes (Canada) were selected to take part in a global music-sharing experiment called Global Music Match. Over several lockdowns, they turned their stories into songs, and now they're heading out on tour with an album in tow - more details on the album in the new releases section below.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Lau + Kathryn Joseph* — Saturday 14 October, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
For their only performance this year, Lau are heading to The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh for what will be an unforgettable night. Kris Drever, Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke are a multi award-winning trio who've become a Scottish institution. In this exclusive one-off event, they'll present a new collaborative version of their Unplugged show with special guest, cult singer-songwriter Kathryn Joseph.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Grace Smith Trio* — Thursday 19 October, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Acclaimed fiddle and viola player Grace Smith is joined by Sam Partridge (Concertina, Electric Guitar) and Bevan Morris (Double Bass) in this innovative ensemble. The trio are all well-known faces on the scene, with Grace spending the last ten years playing with the likes of the Monster Ceilidh Band, Katie Doherty and the Navigators and Cri du Canard, whilst Sam and Bevan are both members of Pons Aelius (among others!). The band’s debut album, Overleaf, came out on 29th September and was last issue’s Record of the Month.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Samhain Celebration — Saturday 21 October, 10am-3pm BST
Held on Zoom by Welcoming the Seasons
Celebrate the start of the Celtic New Year with a day of songs, storytelling, and vocal and writing workshops. The day will include performances from Emily Portman and Lucy Farrell.
Tickets from £20 to £50 for the day, depending on what you can afford.
The Rosie Hood Band* — Wednesday 25 October, 7.30pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Rosie Hood is known for her strong, pure voice and captivating performances, as well as her poetic writing and honest interpretations of traditional songs. She’s joined by Nicola Beazley (fiddle/cello/vocals) Robyn Wallace (melodeon) and Rosie Butler-Hall (fiddle/vocals), who form The Rosie Hood Band. Together, they perform re-workings of traditional English songs as well as original material, touching on politics, struggle, women’s voices and unheard stories.
The band’s new album, A Seed of Gold, is out on 3rd November (more details on that below!). I particularly loved Les Tricoteuses, written by Jenny Reid, which you can hear in the video above.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Mossy Christian — Thursday 26 October, 7.30pm BST
Rosslyn Court
Described as ‘One of the true new custodians of the tradition’ by Bright Young Folk, award-winning musician and singer Mossy Christian released his debut solo album Come Nobles and Heroes in 2020. Mossy specialises in the musical traditions of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, drawing on a rich and diverse repertoire of traditional dance tunes and folk songs charting the lives of everyday people.
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.
Source by James Kerry* — Monday 30 October, 8pm GMT (Note, this gig is after the clocks go back in the UK!)
Live to Your Living Room
Source is the new album from English folk pioneer, composer and melodeon player James Kerry. Leading an energetic four-piece acoustic band, James showcases his passion for the music with stunning arrangements of English folk classics, pieces by contemporary artists and his own compositions. Accompanying him is a group of friends who also happen to be among the UK’s leading folk instrumentalists: James Delarre, Tom Kitching and Danny Tonks.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose* — Thursday 2 November, 8pm GMT
Live to Your Living Room
You might recognise this gig, as it was postponed from September! Playing together for over 25 years, since meeting in the Kings of Calicutt, Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose‘s natural warmth and sense of humour shine through in their music and banter. Their new album is set to be launched in April 2024, so join us this autumn to get a sneak preview.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Also online
The latest Folk on Foot Official Folk Albums Chart Show* is out now, with a countdown of the top 40, musical highlights and an interview with Kathryn Tickell. I’m also on the show to talk about some of the gigs and new music featured in this issue. Watch it here.
Rosslyn Court are still livestreaming most of their gigs. They’ve got a great queer folk series coming up in November, which I’ll tell you more about next month, but in the meantime you can see everything that’s coming up here.
Jon Boden and Eliza Carthy have just launched the Under the Leaves Podcast, which explores the history of folk songs and folk song collection. Episode one, Heywood Sumner, is out now - listen here.
TOP PICKS: IN PERSON
Festivals
There are a few more festivals to look forward to over the autumn. Here are a few highlights…
Beyond the Moor Festival - 14 October - Beyond the Moor is back for a second year. This small city festival takes place at Gosforth Civic Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne. This year’s line-up includes Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys, the Siobhan Miller Trio, Benji Kirkpatrick, Jordan Aikin & Quercus, Dan Walsh, Frankie Archer and more.
Manchester Folk Festival - 19-21 October - Always a highlight of my year! On the bill this year, you’ll find Merry Hell, Martin Carthy & Jon Wilks, The Breath, Maddy Prior & Forgotten Lands, John Smith, Boss Morris, Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Hack-Poets Guild, Granny’s Attic*, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones and more.
Musicport World Music Festival - 20-22 October - This festival brings a whole world of music to Whitby. Artists this year include Harp and a Monkey, Joshua Burnell, Kathryn Williams, Maya Youssef, Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Sura Susso and more.
London Roots Festival - Various events in October & November - The London Roots Festival incorporates events at various venues across London over the next couple of months, including The John Martyn Project & The Sandy Denny Project at Union Chapel on 2nd November, The Trials of Cato at Omeara on 3rd November and Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys at The Waiting Room on 3rd November.
Kendal Mountain Festival - 16-19 November - An event tracing the connections between nature and sound, through music, prose and poetry. Featured writers include Robert Macfarlane, Simon Armitage and Elizabeth Jane Burnett, and musicians include Sam Lee and Hayden Thorpe.
An 80th Birthday Concert for Bert Jansch - Saturday 4 November, 7pm
This event at Royal Festival Hall in London will celebrate the enduring legacy of Bert Jansch as we mark what would have been his 80th birthday. Musicians involved include Martin Simpson, Jacqui McShee, Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Kathryn Williams and Sam Lee.
Show of Hands
Show of Hands are embarking on the first leg of their final tour, along with Miranda Sykes. The tour starts on 8th November, and they’ll be heading to Honiton, Shrewsbury, Harrogate, Buxton, Norwich, Bexhill on Sea, Bridport, Cranbrook, Basingstoke, Dorking, Bath, Street and Exmouth.
Jon Boden & Eliza Carthy: The Wassail
Jon Boden and Eliza Carthy marked Christmas in July last year, but this year they’re being somewhat more conventional, with November and December dates including Coventry, Oxford, Worcester, Bristol, Basingstoke, Ashford, Milton Keynes, Bury St Edmunds, Kendal, Manchester, Liverpool, Whitby, Halifax, London and Sunderland.
Also on tour soon!
Brìghde Chaimbeul, Cara Dillon, Christina Alden & Alex Patterson, Ellie Gowers, Filkin’s Drift, Gnoss, Grace Smith Trio*, Granny’s Attic*, James Kerry, Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay, Jon Wilks (solo and with Martin Carthy), Kris Drever, Leveret, Martin Simpson, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers, Ryan Young, Sam Lee (with Ludovico Einaudi), Sam Sweeney Band, Sarah Smout, Skipinnish, The Rosie Hood Band, The Wilderness Yet*, Ward Knútur Townes… and undoubtedly many more, so keep an eye on your favourite artists and support them if you can.
OTHER NEWS
Leveret Tune Book
This much-awaited book features notation for the tunes from Leveret's first six albums - 88 tunes in total, plus notes from the band on their unique way of playing together, and access to an online folder of tunes in other keys. Plenty to keep you busy! The book is out on 16th October and available to pre-order now.
The Askew Sisters Tune Book
The Askew Sisters have also been busy notating 32 of their favourite tunes. Most of them are from their first four albums, with some other favourites thrown in too. The book includes a mix of dance tunes, Playford tunes, tunes from village manuscripts and newly written ones.
NEW RELEASES
1 September - Calum Stewart, True North
This latest release from virtuoso Uilleann piper Calum Stewart explores a mix of traditional tunes and self-penned compositions. A must for all pipes fans!
21 September - Will Allen, English Fiddle II
Building on last year’s release, English Fiddle, Will Allen is back with a deeper dive into the world of English fiddle music, joined by Rowan Piggott. Expect everything from grinding Morris tunes to haunting Playford airs.
21 September - George Boomsma, Lily of the Nile (single)
George Boomsma goes for a full band production on his latest single, a tender self-penned song which reflects on love and loss.
29 September - Gilmore & Roberts, Documenting Snapshots
Much-loved duo Gilmore & Roberts are back with their sixth album. As always, they’ve found inspiration from the extraordinary stories of ordinary people, with original songwriting that goes right to the heart.
29 September - Julie Fowlis & Robert Macfarlane – Who Is This? (single)
This new single was inspired by the Cuillin mountains on the Isle of Skye. In June, Robert Macfarlane set out to hike across the Cuillin Ridge, finding lots of surprises and challenges along the way. When he returned, he worked with friend and collaborator Julie Fowlis to distill these experiences into a song. The track also features renowned fiddler, Duncan Chisholm.
6 October - Stornoway, Dig the Mountain
In 2016, Stornoway did a farewell tour, announcing that they wanted to end on a high. Now, they’ve reconnected with a surprise 4th release. There are also a few guest artists involved, including Sam Lee.
6 October - Ward Knútur Townes, Unanswered
As noted above, Ward Knútur Townes first got together when they took part in a virtual music-sharing experiment in 2020 called Global Music Match. The project was so successful that this year, they recorded their debut album in Iceland. Crossing the boundaries between folk, rock, pop and blues, these songs bring together the extraordinary talents of three distinctive and original songwriters.
6 October - Benji Kirkpatrick, In Phase
This solo release includes songs written by Benji between 2020 and 2022. The songs range from the intensely personal - as in the title track In Phase, a song about trying to make a connection to someone in the non-physical realm - to political and worldwide issues and the search for truth.
6 October - Track Dogs, Blind Summits & Hidden Dips
Track Dogs have had quite a year so far, including playing alongside Show of Hands at the Royal Albert Hall and performing for the first time at Glastonbury. To top it all off, they’ve got a brand-new album brimming with new songs, covers and previously unreleased material.
6 October - Chris Brain, Steady Away
Chris Brain is renowned for his silky-smooth vocals and distinctive finger-picking guitar style. This much-anticipated second album is intimate and introspective, with songs exploring loss, pain and our connection with nature.
11 October - Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy, Seek the Light (EP)
This is an accompanying EP for Karine Polwart’s Radio 4 series, Seek the Light, which combines her interests in science, history, folklore and the natural world. The Radio 4 series is also available to listen to here.
13 October - The Breath, Land of My Other
As you might expect if you’re familiar with The Breath, this is a heartfelt, authentic and powerful album with storytelling at its centre. The duo describe Land of My Other as a place “where songs are sung with feeling, instruments are everywhere and music lives deep in the bones.”
27 October - Jack Rutter, This Is Something Constant
This is the final album in a trilogy from Jack Rutter, unearthing rare gems from the traditional treasure trove. It includes Child Ballads and songs collected by Cecil Sharp, including some from Jack’s native Yorkshire, revamped in his own distinctive style.
27 October - Ryan Young, Just a Second
Ryan Young is a virtuoso fiddle player quite unlike any other I’ve seen before. This highly anticipated second album was delayed a few times for health reasons, which has seen Ryan’s connection with music develop an even greater poignancy. The album sees him take both lesser played and well-known melodies, many of which he’s known since childhood, and play them with all his heart and soul - the result is something quite astounding. Ryan is also heading out on tour with David Foley, and I highly recommend catching him if you can - details here.
27 October - Matt McGinn, Behind Every Door
This new release from Northern Irish folk star Matt McGinn draws from folk, alt-country and soul. Tying it all together is the storytelling, which is grounded in human stories. This includes two songs Matt wrote as part of a Community Engagement programme which paired him (as a musician from a Catholic background) with a Loyalist flute band. As they connected, they found more in common than differences, both in music and in life. One of the resulting tracks was The Music, featured in this month’s playlist. Another song with an interesting story is the closing track, Turning of the Tide, which takes inspiration from Willie Campbell, a disabled busker who performed the musical Saw outside Belfast City Hall for around 40 years from the 1920s. This song continues his legacy.
27 October - The Lasses, Near Far
This new release from The Lasses takes inspiration from Scotland, a place that is close to the duo’s hearts. It includes some of their favourite Scottish songs, both traditional and contemporary, and you’re sure to find some favourites amongst them too.
27 October - Amy Hollinrake, Sad Lady Songs Vol 1 (EP)
Alt-folk singer-songwriter Amy Hollinrake draws inspiration from women's stories within folklore and mythology and fuses them with a contemporary sound in this new release. She is also the founder of Loathly Lady, a creative feminist cataloguing project exploring gendered narratives in traditional music.
3 November - You Are Wolf, hare // hunter // moth // ghost
You Are Wolf is the alt-folk project of award-winning composer and writer Kerry Andrew, presenting bold new arrangements of folk songs influenced by electronica, contemporary classical music and alt-pop. The album centres around transformation, inspired by Kerry’s own experiences of recent debilitating chronic illness, and transition to a non-binary identity. It also features collaborations with nature writers including Robert Macfarlane, Nick Hayes and Kerri Ni Dochartaigh, and Sam Lee on guest vocals.
3 November - The Rosie Hood Band, A Seed of Gold
For her first new album since 2017, Rosie Hood is joined by fellow Sheffield-based musicians, Nicola Beazley, Rosie Butler-Hall and Robyn Wallace. Rosie states that the story is always the most important thing to her in a song, and that’s what she refers to as the ‘seed of gold’. The album includes a mix of traditional and contemporary folk songs, including some of Rosie’s originals. It was particularly poignant for me to hear a new version of Everything Possible by Fred Small, as this is a song I grew up with, thanks to Roy Bailey’s album for children. The track notes state that the band all grew up with it too, showing the impact this had on a generation of young folkies. Another standout track is Les Tricoteuses by Jenny Reid, a rousing protest song with women’s voices at its heart - see the video here.
RECORD OF THE MONTH
Record of the Month is An Nighean Sheunta (The Enchanted Girl) by Katie Macfarlane, which is out on 20th October. This extremely accomplished debut album weaves together different languages, cultures and musical influences in something of a musical melting pot. Katie is committed to preserving and celebrating minority languages within her work, and the album draws together Gaelic, Catalan, Scots and English.
Not only do the songs themselves draw from different languages and influences, but Katie also collaborates with musicians from both Scotland and Spain. Notable names involved include Katie’s husband, Pablo Lafuente (who you may know from Project Smok), Patsy Reid, Ross Ainslie, Brìghde Chaimbeul and many more.
Crossing the boundaries of language to capture the imagination of all who hear it, this debut release hints at a very promising career to come. As per the title, I’m sure I won’t be the only one to be enchanted.
Top track: O Cha Tèid, Cha Tèid Mise
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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 including Live to Your Living Room, Folk on Foot, Fancourt Music (Granny’s Attic, Janice Burns & Jon Doran and The Wilderness Yet), Stage4Beverley and individual artists including The Grace Smith Trio and Johnny Campbell. Events where I have some involvement with the promoter, agency 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!