Upcoming in 2025

Past Guests and Theme Nights

Wednesday, March 5^th 2025

Martyn Wyndham-Read

Martyn has an engaging presence as he phrases songs with great clarity.
His guitar accompaniment never intrudes.
He has a playful sense of humour with anecdotes releasing any moments of emotional intensity.
A wide range of songs including Australian bush-ranging and convict songs as well as his significant choice of traditional English, Scottish and Irish Ballads.

Always an evening to remember.

Wednesday, February 5^th 2025

Vic Gammon

Vic Gammon is a singer and instrumentalist, playing the anglo-concertina, melodeon, tenor banjo and tenor guitar and a writer and researcher. His performing work focusses on English traditional music and increasingly, in recent years, his own songs. He has performed in various groups including The Etchingham Steam Band with Shirley Collins in the 1970s and more recently with Dearman, Gammon and Harrison, as well as with his old Sussex musical partner, Will Duke.

He was a member of the Editorial Board of the Folk Music Journal. for 37 years and is an active member of the Traditional Song Forum and has recently contributed to the new folksong podcast 'Into the Roud'. Many of his published writings are available online or referenced at https://newcastle.academia.edu/VicGammon and has recently set up 'Vic Gammon's Audio Archive', which can be access at https://archive.org/search?query=Vic+Gammon . This features music, performances, talks and interviews made over the last half century. He has composed music for a number of stage and radio plays and before retirement was head of the folk music degree programmes at Newcastle University. In 2011 was awarded the Gold Badge of the EFDSS for services to folk music. He hails from the south but has lived in the North East for 20 years.

Wednesday, January 15^th 2025

Graham Bell & Anne Lamb

Tynefolk is so pleased to have Anne and Graham performing together on Wednesday, 15th January! Both are outstanding individual singers, and Graham is a talented songwriter known for his gritty, humorous, and passionate songs.

Since joining forces, they've become very popular on the folk scene, and we are delighted to welcome them to Tynefolk. This promises to be a very special night!

Wednesday, November 20^th 2024

Benny Graham

Benny Graham served his musical apprenticeship from 1967 in the folksong clubs of North East England.
Clubs like Birtley, run by the Elliott family, and Newcastle Folksong and Ballad were at the forefront of the British folk revival. There was no better place in the late 60's for a young singer to develop a love of the vast musical culture of the North East.

Benny currently works as a solo performer, and is also a member of the Pitmen Poets, alongside Jez Lowe, Billy Mitchell and Bob Fox.

Benny has a fantastic voice and gives an amazing performance of songs and patter, and has been given the Gold Badge Award for his contribution to music and song.

A right old song and dance !

Wednesday, October 16^th 2024

Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner
- with support by Tony Wilson

Individually, and in combination with a variety of well-known singers and bands, Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner have both served long apprenticeships on the shop-floor of folk music.

Between them they play guitar, recorder, English concertina and a variety of whistles (including swanee, policeman's and referee's), list a spoons workshop in their hall of fame, and are not in the least averse to dressing up or dancing when a song requires it. They both agree, however, that their voices are their most important instruments. Their resulting style is a unique blend of stunning song and harmony, and a humour which takes their audience on a roller-coaster ride - "everything from high tragedy to ingenious smut in glorious vocal harmony!""

In addition to appearing at folk clubs and festivals, Lynne and Pat also organise and perform themed shows and workshops, music hall evenings (awash with sauce and innuendo), and a special show called "A Birds' Eye View", which presents songs particularly from a woman's perspective (but which men are invited to attend as well - and learn from!) Audiences need to be robust as their humour has been known to cause side-splitting injuries. They both, however, include emergency first aid amongst their many qualifications.

Wednesday, July 17^th 2024

Bob Fox

For almost 50 years BOB FOX has been regarded as one of 'the iconic voices' of British folk song.

His career began during the vibrant 'folk revival' of the 60s and 70s and he has become one of the most highly rated and best loved singer/guitarists both in the UK and beyond.

Masterful interpretation of traditional and contemporary song combined with an outstanding guitar technique has earned him countless nominations in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards over the years.

Bob played the role of Songman for over 4 years in The National Theatre’s West End production of WarHorse and in two subsequent touring versions.

He can also be heard singing extensively with John Tams and Barry Coope on the new Radio Ballads commissioned by the BBC, has completed several sell out UK tours as one of the Pitmen Poets and most recently has joined HOME SERVICE as lead singer.

Don't miss the chance to see and hear one of our finest exponents of story telling through song, expect to hear of love, joy, work and humour all accompanied by a wonderful guitar style that can both drive or embellish his supreme singing.

Wednesday, June 19^th 2024

Chris Miles and Gearaidh Matthews

Chris Miles has been singing solo for almost forty years, alongside twenty years singing in a duo with Gordeanna McCulloch. and in the highly regarded acapella group Palaver. For the past eight years she has been in partnership with Gearaidh Matthews, a wonderful guitar player from Drogheda in Ireland, with a history of delighting listeners and fellow players for many years without any impact on his bank account whatsoever. They perform mostly traditional songs, but actually any song they like enough to learn. They are out and about here there and everywhere these days, including a five week tour of America in 2022.

Wednesday, May 15^th 2024

Di Henderson

Di has a canny powerful voice that adapts flexibly to any song of passion she happens to choose from traditional or from contemporary sources.

Wednesday, April 3^rd 2024

Barrie and Ingrid Temple

Barrie and Ingrid are harmony singers who sing mostly unaccompanied, although Barrie also adds concertina or guitar accompaniment to some of their songs.

They have been singing together for nearly 40 years and have performed throughout the UK and abroad, at folk clubs and festivals. Their singing of traditional songs and Barrie's own compositions have both serious and humorous content. They are well respected for their unique style of close harmony singing and their original arrangements.

Wednesday, February 7^th 2024

Jim Mageean & Graeme Knights

Jim and Graeme specialise in unaccompanied chorus songs. Sea Shanties, Work Songs, Union Songs, Mining Songs, Drinking Songs etc. Anything to get the audience to join in and 'Make the Rafters Roar'.

Wednesday, November 15^th 2023

Spindlestone

Tynefolk is delighted to announce that Spindlestone will be performing at Ye Olde Cross, Ryton on Wednesday 15th November.

Spindlestone are brother and sister multi-instrumentalists John Bibby and Kim Bibby-Wilson along with Sunderland-born singer Ray Leonard, who currently lives in Canada.

Taking their name from the legend of the Laidley Worm of Spindlestone Heugh, near Bamburgh, the trio play amazing variety of instruments with a strong focus on the songs and melodies of the North East.

This is a rare opportunity to hear John, Kim and Ray as Spindlestone as Ray doesn't get over to this neck of the woods very often - so put the date in your diary and make sure you come to see them.

Wednesday, October 18^th 2023

Benny Graham

Benny Graham served his musical apprenticeship in the folksong clubs of North East England.

Clubs like Birtley, run by the Elliot family, and Newcastle Folksong and Ballad (which featured among its regulars the High Level Ranters and Lou Killen) were at the forefront of the British folk revival.

There was no better place in the late 60s for a young singer to develop a love of the vast musical culture of the North East which takes in rural songs, Tyneside Music Hall and the music which grew from the heavy industries of coal, steel and ship building.

Benny features in the Pitmen Poets along with Jez Lowe, Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell.

Wednesday, November 1^st 2023

Jez Lowe

Jez Lowe is an outstanding folk singer and songwriter who has an engaging wit and infectious humour

He is well known for his traditional style compositions, often dealing with daily life in North East England, and has a prolific number of top selling albums.

Jez performs both as a solo artist and with his backing band, The Bad Pennies. He is an accomplished musician playing guitar, harmonica, mandolin, and bouzouki, to name a few!

He is also part of a quartet known as The Pitmen Poets, alongside Benny Graham, Billy Mitchell and Bob Fox. They have toured extensively around the UK, and have released three albums of songs about the coal mining communities of North East England.

Jez has written three novels: 'The Dillen Doll', 'The Corly Croons' and the third, 'Piper’s Lonnen' which is accompanied by a 5 track CD of songs and pipe-tunes.

Further information can be found on Jez’s website ...
Website: https://www.jezlowe.com

Tickets available by contacting us at info@tynefolk.uk

Wednesday, September 6^th 2023

Marie Little

Marie Little is an acclaimed performer, drawing her extensive repertoire from many genres, including Folk, Country and Music Hall.

Her songs can be sad or thought-provoking one minute, and have you howling with laughter the next.

Wednesday, August 16^th 2023

Louise and Chris Rogan

Louise is a singer and songwriter of the highest quality. Along with her dad, Chris, Louise has released an album of 12 songs, ‘Things That Matter'.

Chris' intricate guitar work and smooth vocals sit easily with Louise's 'pure and soaring' voice and piano.

Wednesday, June 7^th 2023

Johnny Handle & Chris Hendry

Chris and Johnny have appeared together regularly over many years, in Tyneside and Northumberland, and have performed at numerous festivals, both at home and abroad.

Their exciting blend of Scottish and North East music and song appeals to all audiences, presenting a display of our rich heritage.

Wednesday, May 17^th 2023

Caffrey McGurk Madge

Tynefolk are looking forward to welcoming Nick Caffrey, Ed McGurk, Robin Madge at Ye Olde Cross on Wednesday 17th May

Caffrey McGurk Madge is a trio performing Contemporary and Traditional songs and music. They bring years of experience both as a trio and solo work to make up a strong pleasing sound and audience embracing performance.

Wednesday, April 5^th 2023

Brian Peters

Singer, multi-instrumentalist and performer of songs and music based in the English Folk tradition

Brian Peters is a compelling singer and an outstanding multi-instrumentalist on squeezeboxes and strings

Brian is one of the country's best anglo-concertina players, is just as good on melodeon, and plays guitar to a high standard, recently adding banjo to his act. Well known for his singing of Child Ballads and other songs from the English tradition, Brian adds beautifully-played squeezebox instrumentals to a repertoire full of variety, fire and humour. He also has a deep knowledge of the history behind the old songs.

Wednesday, March 1^st 2023

Anne Alderson

Anne has been singing at folk clubs since she was 17 and was a regular at Richmond Folk Club (N Yorks) in the 1970/80s.

Anne has a sweet, clear and gentle voice ("you can hear a pin drop") and a choice of delightful, mostly traditional songs from Great Britain and Ireland.

Much of her repertoire was shaped by the many fantastic and generous singers met on her journey into folk song and she is delighted to be invited to share some of these songs at Tynefolk.

Her occasional guest performances afford audiences the opportunity to hear the wider range of her interesting and diverse repertoire.

Wednesday, January 18^th 2023

Tom McConville

Tom McConville is one of the leading fiddle players in the British Isles, performing at most of the leading festivals with a great sense of humour. He is a brilliant musician with a unique style and beautiful tone, and is always in demand for his sensitive contributions to other musicians' recordings.

Tom is also a wonderful singer; his interpretation of both traditional and contemporary song is greatly admired by other singers throughout the world. His live performance combines a rollercoaster of musical delights from fast, rhythmic dance tunes, through beautiful slow airs, great singing and dry Geordie wit.

Wednesday, February 1^st 2023

Marie Little (Postponed)

We are sad to have to postpone Marie's guest spot at Tynefolk on Wednesday 1st February.
She has a date for a long-standing operation. We wish her well and a speedy recovery.
We will rearrange Marie's booking in the near future.

Marie Little is an acclaimed performer, drawing her extensive repertoire from many genres, including Folk, Country and Music Hall.

Her songs can be sad or thought-provoking one minute, and have you howling with laughter the next.

Wednesday, November 30^th 2022

JIB

JIB are Jim Mageean, Ingrid and Barry Temple.

Three terrific singers from here in the North East with powerful voices producing ringing harmonies.

They have an extensive repertoire of sea songs including shanties, as well as traditional songs.

Some have been written by Barrie.

JIB is in much in demand at maritime and traditional festivals.

Wednesday, November 2^nd 2022

SONGS of TYNESIDE (Geordie Night)
Tynefolk Singers Joined by Johnny Handle

Singers Night for all singers to share with us their favourite songs.

A Geordie Night with pork pies ...

The night will be recorded and filmed by Will Riddell, a filmmaker researching North East folklore, songs and poems.

He comes from a long line of Geordie pit workers and after some ancestry digging last year feels connected with his roots.

Wednesday, October 19^th 2022

Tony Wilson

With over 50 years' of playing and singing experience, Tony Wilson continues to captivate audiences with his versatility, wit and diverse range of material and musicianship on a variety of instruments.

Tony has the skills and passion to please and engage any audience who can expect an entertaining and rich mixture of traditional and original songs laced with charm, an easy wit and humour and maybe an anecdote or two.

On the night Tony will be giving away copies of his live, 2020 release A DEFINITE PARALLAX

Wednesday, Sepember 21^st 2022

Jim Sharp

tynefolk is delighted to welcome Jim Sharp, a fine singer and sensitive guitarist.

This is a rare opportunity to hear his distinctive and melodic voice. He sings a varied range of traditional and contemporary songs.

Jim was the very first guest to be booked by the club in 1990 and has a long association with Tynefolk.

Wednesday, July 20^th 2022

George Welch & Christine Jeans

George Welch and Christine Jeans are well known on the Tyneside folk scene.

Together they can entertain with lilting melodies, driving tunes and moving songs.

In addition George can have the audience in stitches with his hilarious stories.

A night not to be missed.

Wednesday, June 29^th 2022

Rachel Hamer

Rachel is a local singer from the North East and has grown up surrounded by folk music in folk clubs and festivals.
With her distinctive voice she sings both traditional and contemporary songs with passion.
She is the vocalist in the Rachel Hamer Band, though this evening she is performing solo.

Wednesday, April 20^th 2022

Benny Graham

Benny Graham served his musical apprenticeship in the folksong clubs of North East England.

Clubs like Birtley, run by the Elliot family, and Newcastle Folksong and Ballad (which featured among its regulars the High Level Ranters and Lou Killen) were at the forefront of the British folk revival.

There was no better place in the late 60s for a young singer to develop a love of the vast musical culture of the North East which takes in rural songs, Tyneside Music Hall and the music which grew from the heavy industries of coal, steel and ship building.

Benny features in the Pitmen Poets along with Jez Lowe, Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell.

Wednesday, March 30^th 2022

The Wilsons in Concert

at Ye Olde Cross
on Wednesday 30th March 2022
Order tickets here or with Ed Lawrence

The Wilson Family are well known for their powerful vocal harmonies and their famous infectious humour. Singing old and new songs, the brothers are rooted in tradition, and have produced a number of critically acclaimed albums, including 'Horumarye' a complete album dedicated to the songs of Graeme Miles. Now the Wilson Family are preparing to bring out a new album in 2022.

Make a date in your diary to come and see them at Ye Olde Cross Inn, in March.

Wednesday, March 16^th 2022

Songs of Miners Life

Tynefolk Singers' Joined by Johnny Handle

Songs of miners and mining life, traditional and contemporary, and not forgetting the miners' wives.

The night will be recorded and filmed by Will Riddell, a filmmaker researching North East folklore, songs and poems. He comes from a long line of Geordie pit workers and after some ancestry digging last year feels connected with his roots in the North East, especially coal mining songs and culture.

Wednesday, March 2^nd 2022

Peter & Barbara Snape

Peter and Barbara Snape have an entertaining menu of good songs, all well sung and played with commitment, passion and enjoyment.

The Snapes are two fine performers with a well-deserved national reputation for performing traditional British folk music. With carefully researched material, they will leave you in good spirits.

Their selection of traditional songs with melodeon accompaniment is infectious. Not a dull moment!

Wednesday, February 2^nd 2022

Singers Night: With Vic Gammon CD Launch

Vic Gammon will join us to launch his own song compositions on his latest CD.
Vic will entertain us with a selection of his songs.

Photograph by Stefan Sobell 2021

Wednesday, January 26^th 2022

Singers Night: Rabbie Burns Celebration

Haggis and Neeps - if possible!!

Great chieftain o' the puddin'-race!
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Wednesday, November 17th 2021

Singers Night: Tynefolk Geordie Neet

Johnny Handle has agreed to join our regular singers to give us some of his Geordie gems. George Unthank will also join us to sing in his own distinctive style.

Wednesday, November 3rd 2021

Singers Night SpookyTheme

Witches, Ghosts, and Guy Fawkes

Wednesday, October 20th 2021

Singers Night Theme

Ronnie Palmer May 1931 - August 2021

Ronnie at the black Bull celebrating his ninetieth birthday on May 5th 2021

Ronnie Palmer's singing and whistling was as individual as he was.

We wish to recognise his contribution to tynefolk and the folk scene in general.

If you feel able to sing one of Ronnie's songs during the evening, you would be most welcome.

And some of you will be sure to have memories of happy times in his company.

Wednesday, September 29th 2021

The Keelers

Tyneside Shanty Singers

George Unthank, Jim Mageean, Alan Fitzsimmons

In 1986 the Cutty Sark Tall Ships Race came to Newcastle Quayside for the first time and Jim Mageean formed a shanty group to perform there. The Keelers are now in their 35th year together.

They are probably Britain's longest serving shanty group, a Tyneside based maritime group who have performed throughout the UK and Europe including several visits to Scotland.

They have broadened their repertoire to include many fine traditional and contemporary mining songs originating from their home ground in N.E. England.