The Folk Forecast: September 2023
Featuring the Feminist Folk Club, Melrose Quartet, Grace Petrie, The Unthanks, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening and more news from across the folk scene.
Hello, and welcome back to The Folk Forecast!
After a busy summer of festivals, I’m looking forward to getting stuck back into some online gigs this month. I’m particularly looking forward to the Feminist Folk Club returning to our screens (this time featuring Nancy Kerr, Angeline Morrison and Frankie Armstrong), as well as Grace Petrie’s stand-up show (really pleased it’s being livestreamed, after I missed out on getting tickets!). There are also plenty of tours coming up in person, as well as some special All-Dayer events from The Unthanks, and a boatload of new albums, radio shows and podcasts to listen to.
This weekend, I’m looking forward to a little birthday break (involving plenty of live music, of course), so without further ado, I’ll leave you with all the news from me before I go!
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
John Dipper Session Tunes Workshops — From Saturday 2 September, 10am BST
John Dipper on Zoom
John Dipper is running a series of four workshops on Zoom at 10am on Saturday the 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd of September. The teaching will be fiddle-centric, but all instruments are welcome. The workshops will be available live, or afterwards on YouTube if you’re unable to make the broadcast time.
Tickets £14 per hour-long session, or book all 4 sessions for £50.
Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening — Saturday 2 September, 7.30pm BST
Folkscape Live
Join Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening for the launch of their brand-new album, Cloud Horizons (as mentioned in last month’s newsletter). This gig is being broadcast live from a sold-out performance at the newly refurbished Gosforth Civic Theatre in Newcastle. Kathryn and the band want as many people as possible to enjoy the launch of the album, so you can set your own ticket price based on what you can afford.
Tickets pay as you feel
Note - This is a sponsored post
The Official Folk Albums Chart Show* — Tuesday 5 September, 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 all the news in this issue.
Free to access, but you can support the podcast by becoming a patron or donating on Ko-Fi.
Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose* — Thursday 7 September, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Maclaine Colston & Saul Rose have been playing together for over 25 years, since meeting in the Kings of Calicutt. Their natural warmth and sense of humour shine through in their music and banter. The duo are set to release a new album in April 2024, so this is a chance to get a preview.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Feminist Folk Club* — Wednesday 13 September, 7.30pm BST
A collaboration between the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) and Thank Folk For Feminism, livestreamed by Live to Your Living Room
Thank Folk For Feminism and the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) present a second pop-up folk club following the success of their first. Podcast hosts Lucy Ward and Pinky Ward invite you to spend the evening with three fantastic artists: Nancy Kerr, Angeline Morrison and Frankie Armstrong.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
The Black Feathers* — Friday 15 September, 7.45pm BST
Live to Your Living Room, in partnership with Downend Folk & Roots
Sian Chandler’s soaring, dramatic, melodious but powerful voice is a perfect counterpoint to Ray Hughes’ piquant vocals and sparkling guitar motifs. The Black Feathers love what they play and play what they love, with panache, humour, delight and rather a lot of commentary on the downside of being a human. After all, would it even be folk music if it was too cheerful?
This hybrid gig is hosted by Downend Folk & Roots, near Bristol, so you can also go along in person if you live nearby.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Sofa of Fools* — Sunday 17 September, 7.30pm BST
Live to Your Living Room, in partnership with Bright Phoebus in Sheffield
Sofa of Fools is a trio made up of Stephen Taberner of The Spooky Men’s Chorale (double bass, vocals), Jack Fitzgerald Sice (guitar, voice, things), and Coral Reid (fiddle and singings). Their repertoire is largely comprised of Stephen’s originals, which are known for their barely describable pastiche of “quirkiness, funkiness and outright melancholia”. This hybrid gig is taking place at Bishops’ House in Sheffield - tickets to go along in person sold out in just 2 days, but there is room for everyone online.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Monday Folk Singers with Angeline Morrison — From Monday 18 Sep, 7pm BST
English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS)
The Monday Folk Singers online singing group is taught by a different tutor each term, and this time it’s Angeline Morrison’s turn to take the reins. Angeline is a traditional singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose latest album, The Sorrow Songs : Folk Songs of Black British Experience, focuses on the hidden and forgotten stories of the UK's historic Black populations.
A member of the Natural Voice Network, Angeline has led many choirs and singing workshops for adults, as well as singing and music after school clubs for children. Angeline's approach is that the natural human voice is everyone's birthright, your voice is your superpower, and there's nobody who 'can't sing'. All voices and all levels of singing experience are very welcome!
£105 for a term of 10 lessons (£84 concessions)
Melrose Quartet* — Saturday 23 September, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room, in partnership with Live at Sam’s
Join Melrose Quartet live from Sheffield, as they launch their eagerly-anticipated fourth album, Make The World Anew. This album sees the band take their beloved four-part harmony arrangements to a new level. Expect powerful, uplifting songs alongside beautiful instrumentals, showcasing the band’s deep roots in traditional dance music.
This gig is being hosted by Live at Sam’s at St Andrew’s Church in Sheffield, so if you live nearby, you can also go along in person.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Grace Petrie: Butch Ado About Nothing — Tuesday 26 September, 8pm BST
Next Up Comedy
Protest singer Grace Petrie is currently touring her stand-up show, Butch Ado About Nothing, and you can catch it at venues across the UK as well as online (see all dates here). Join Grace as she explores what butch identity means in a world moving beyond labels, with plenty of moving and funny moments along the way. The online show is also available with captions.
Tickets £12.50 or £35 for an annual pass for all shows on Next Up Comedy.
The Askew Sisters* — Thursday 28 September, 8pm BST
Live to Your Living Room
Emily and Hazel Askew have become known as two of the foremost performers and interpreters of traditional music from England. Their live performances brim with the depth and connection not only of two sisters, but also of two musicians who have been immersed in folk music all their lives.
Tickets £10 / £16.50 / £25 - one ticket per household; choose the price that suits you best.
Also online
Karine Polwart has a new BBC Radio 4 series called Seek the Light, which weaves together stories of science, history and the natural world themed around light. The first episode is out now on BBC Sounds (listen here), and an EP is on its way in October - more info on that to follow next month. The first single is out now, and you can find it in this month’s playlist.
Rowan Rheingans has also been busy with lots of radio work lately! You can find a full list of her recent work here.
There have been a few appearances from folk artists on BBC Radio 3 In Tune recently, including Janice Burns & Jon Doran* (listen here, from 1 hour 7 mins - only a few days left to listen) and Filkin’s Drift (listen here, from 1 hour 6 mins)
Folk on Foot* have recently released a new podcast called The Story of the Big Walk, telling the behind-the-scenes tale of Matthew’s epic trek for Help Musicians. There is also a new bonus episode called The Music of the Big Walk, which has just been released. You can find all episodes of the podcast here and watch the videos of all the fantastic artist performances on YouTube here.
Rosslyn Court are continuing to livestream their gigs, with artists in the next month including Ruby Tipple, Friction Farm, Falle Nioke and Pearl Fish. Find out more about everything that’s in store here.
TOP PICKS: IN PERSON
Festival highlights
Bromyard Folk Festival - 7-10 September - This year’s line-up includes Merry Hell, The Young’uns, The Eliza Carthy Trio, Kris Drever, Dallahan, Jim Moray, Jack Rutter, Granny’s Attic* and more.
Swanage Folk Festival - 8-10 September - Based on the Dorset coast, this year’s festival features Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Merry Hell, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Melrose Quartet, Honey and the Bear, Janice Burns & Jon Doran*, The Carrivick Sisters and more.
St Ives September Festival - 9-23 September - This two-week celebration of music and the arts in St Ives will include performances from Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Jackie Oates and Mike Cosgrave, Cara Dillon and more.
Hartlepool Folk Festival - 6-8 October - Always one of my favourite festivals! This year’s line-up includes Spiers & Boden, O’Hooley & Tidow, Angeline Morrison, Ciderhouse Rebellion, Martin Simpson, Melrose Quartet and more.
The Unthanks All Dayers & tours
The Unthanks are holding 3 very special All Dayer events - at Sage Gateshead (9th September), The Barbican (10th September) and Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff (15th October). They’re also taking their Sorrows Away tour to Ireland, before the Unthanks in Winter tour right across England.
The All Dayer events are a real must for Unthanks fans. Rachel Unthank & The Winterset will perform Mercury-nominated album The Bairns in the afternoon, before The Unthanks perform their critically-acclaimed albums Here’s The Tender Coming and Last in the evening.
The All Dayer events mark the reissue of three albums which were originally licensed to EMI on a ten-year deal that has now elapsed, giving The Unthanks the chance to release all three on vinyl for the first time, as well as a 24-page CD book. Find more details on all gigs and the new releases on The Unthanks website.
Cara Dillon tour
Cara Dillon is touring her first new material in almost 6 years. Her new show, Coming Home, mixes song and spoken word, as she shares personal memories of County Derry. The tour starts at Arlington Arts in Newbury on 30th September before heading across the UK.
Filkin’s Drift - CERDD // ED Welsh Coast Path tour
As mentioned in the last issue, Filkin’s Drift are promoting their new EP, Rembard’s Retreat, with an 870-mile walking tour of the Wales Coast Path, doing 40 gigs along the way. The project is all about finding more sustainable ways to tour amidst the climate emergency, and it’s supported by Help Musicians and Fusion Gig Bags, who have supplied them with special bags to carry their instruments and belongings on the trip. The duo are also raising funds for Live Music Now, which brings music to care homes, hospitals, schools, libraries, hospices and more.
Liz Hanks’ Land: Audio Walk of Sheffield - Sunday 10 September, 10am BST
Enjoy a walk across Sheffield whilst listening to music from Liz Hanks’ album Land, with words by Sally Goldsmith. The walk begins at Bishops’ House in Meersbrook, and you need to bring a smartphone and headphones. This free event is part of Sheffield Walking Festival.
Slow Worm Records Live
Join Slow Worm Records at Servant Jazz Quarters in London for performances from four acts who are set to release new music on the label.
Owen Spafford - Welcome Here, Kind Stranger
Owen Spafford presents Welcome Here, Kind Stranger – a live installation exploring traditional music sessions and their connections with memory, culture and community. You can find lots more information in this great article from Folk Radio UK.
Also on tour soon!
Chris Wood, Daphne’s Flight, Filkin’s Drift, Gilmore & Roberts, Grace Smith Trio*, Granny’s Attic*, Iona Lane, Janice Burns & Jon Doran*, Jon Wilks, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Katie Spencer, Martin Simpson, Maz O’Connor, Megson, Ninebarrow, Phil Beer, Rachael McShane & The Cartographers, Rachel Newton, Rachel Sermanni, Reg Meuross, Sea Song Sessions (Jon Boden, Seth Lakeman, Ben Nicholls, Emily Portman & Jack Rutter), Steve Knightley, The Ciderhouse Rebellion, The Rheingans Sisters, The Wilderness Yet*
As always, this is just a selection so keep an eye out for your favourite artists and support them if you can.
NEW RELEASES
There are lots of lovely new releases this month. It’s also Bandcamp Friday on 1st September, so if you get a copy of anything on Bandcamp today, the artist will get a better deal as Bandcamp will waive their revenue share.
12 Aug - Beo by Pádraic Keane, Páraic Mac Donnchadha & Macdara Ó Faoláin
I stumbled upon this album, and it’s a good’un! These fabulous tunes were recorded live at various events around Ireland, and this lends the album a really fresh and vibrant feel.
8 Sept - Galargan by The Gentle Good
The Gentle Good’s long awaited 5th album, Galargan, is a stripped-back exploration of Welsh folk song accompanied by acoustic guitar and cello. The record came together during the isolation of the pandemic and is infused with the emotions of that time. You can catch The Gentle Good (aka Gareth Bonello) on tour across Wales this autumn.
15 Sept - Dreamer Awake by Rachel Sermanni
This deeply personal and poetic album is inspired by the works of Nan Shepherd, whose memoir, The Living Mountain, also inspired a release by Jenny Sturgeon. Dreamer Awake was recorded live to tape with musicians who are experienced in jazz improvisation, so the album really captures the immediacy of live performance. Rachel will be touring the album in September.
15 Sept - Mary Astell by Howay the Lasses (single)
Howay The Lasses have written a new song based on early feminist writer Mary Astell’s book “A Serious Proposal to the Ladies”. Mary was born in Newcastle in 1666, and a tribute to her was unveiled near Newcastle Cathedral in March. The song centres around her quote “If all men are born free, how is that all women are born slaves?” The band will be playing live at Sage Gateshead on 5th October.
21 Sept - So Far We Have Come by Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary
This is the debut duo album from Tamsin Elliott (UK) and Tarek Elazhary (Egypt). Through their friendship and ongoing collaboration, they have unearthed a series of intriguing connections between English and Arabic folk idioms, and worked together to weave a thrilling fusion of songs, tunes and textures.
22 September - Make the World Anew by Melrose Quartet
This new album from Melrose Quartet showcases their usual powerful, uplifting 4-part harmony arrangements, alongside instrumentals rooted in traditional dance music. The album is being launched live in Sheffield and online with a gig on 23rd September - info here.
22 September - Sing Yonder Vol.1 by Various Artists
Over the last year and a half, graphic designer and part-time folk musician Karl Sinfield has been working his way through the Roud Index, producing beautiful booklets to demystify traditional songs. Now, he’s had the idea to make an album, and with the help of musician friends (including Jim Causley, Hevelwood, Lizzy Hardingham, Burd Ellen, Angeline Morrison, Henry Parker, Bird in the Belly, The Shackleton Trio, George Sansome and Bryony Griffith), it’s becoming a reality! Expect lovely new versions of lots of your favourite folk songs, from Lord Randall to the Raggle Taggle Gypsies.
29 September - Nothing But Green Willow: The Songs of Mary Sands and Jane Gentry by Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz
Mary Sands and Jane Gentry were prominent contributors to Cecil Sharp’s collection of English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians, which continues to inspire many artists today. This new collaboration sees Martin Simpson and Thomm Jutz exploring these songs together, along with guests including Cara Dillon, Angeline Morrison, Seth Lakeman and more.
RECORD OF THE MONTH
Record of the Month is Overleaf by the Grace Smith Trio*. This is the band’s debut release, but they’re all well-known faces on the folk 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 Partridge and Bevan Morris are both members of Pons Aelius, among other things. The album was supported by Help Musicians, and it marks a step forward for the group collectively, as well as individually, as they enter their thirties and a new decade of music-making.
Blending fiddle, viola, concertina, double bass and even a hint of electric guitar, this thoughtfully arranged album drives forward like a well-oiled machine, drawing you along its path with tune after tune. Brand-new compositions sit seamlessly alongside age-old traditional dance music, and what draws it all together is the beating heart that characterises English folk at its best. If you’re a fan of the likes of Leveret, this one’s for you!
Top track: Miss Cole’s
Disclaimer - I am working with Grace on press for the album, but have chosen it as Record of the Month as it’s up my street and I think you’ll like it too.
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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), Soundpost and individual artists, currently including The Grace Smith Trio. 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!