Past Guests and Theme Nights

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.