2020 Guest and Themed Nights
23rd Jan: Burns Night
Each week we welcome singers, musicians and audience alike to the folk club.
On 23 Jan, do come and enjoy a Burns supper of Haggis, Neeps & Tatties to celebrate the life of the Scottish Bard, Robert Burns (25th January 1759 - 21 July 1796)
As per normal singers nights - entry fee is £2 (includes supper)
30th Jan: Benny Graham
Benny served his musical apprenticeship in the folksong clubs in the North East of England. That was a long time ago in the 60's and during the intervening years has gathered together a veritable wealth of songs and reminiscences. He has worked as a solo artist and in collaboration with other artists. Bob Fox, Jez Lowe and Billy Mitchell to name a few.
But to see Benny in his natural habitat, singing songs both unaccompanied or with his button melodeon, is an occasion to be cherished. He wont disappoint! Ballads and ditties, stories and tunes. Benny at his best!
Visit Benny Graham's Website.
6th Feb: Steve Turner
Steve Turner is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and banjo.
After a thirteen year break, building up an internationally known stringed instrument business, he made a welcome return to performing in folk clubs and festivals in 2005.
Steve's 5th album, his first for 22 years "The Whirligig of Time" was long listed for the BBC folk awards in 2008. His 6th album "Rim of the Wheel" was released in spring 2012 and received rave reviews - David Kidman in N.E. Folk Roundabout called it "sheer genius a sure contender for one of my folk albums of 2012". This was backed up by many festival bookings and re-plays on the radio on the Mike Harding Show Radio 2 and Late Junction Radio 3 and a full page article in F/Roots in July 2012.
Steve's new 7th album "Spirit of the Game" was released in January 2016.
In the F/Roots August/September 2014 edition Nancy Kerr in her "Rocket Launcher" interview when asked "what was the best gig you ever saw?" answered "the best spot I've seen recently was Steve Turner - total intensive musical focus and a vast serious repertoire"
Visit Steve Turners Website.
2nd Apr: Vic Gammon and Will Duke
Will Duke and Vic Gammon have played together since the 1970s when they found themselves living only a short distance apart in Brighton and sharing a mutual interest in traditional music. They played in dance bands, performed as a duo and in various other combinations.
Will is an outstanding concertina player, having learnt his style and even playing some of the instruments of the famous Sussex concertina player Lewis 'Scan' Tester. He is also a singer of great wit and charm.
Vic is well-known to Tynefolk as a club regular. Vic and Will have kept up playing together since Vic moved to the North of England in 1992, less regularly but no less enthusiastically.
Bob Copper wrote about Will and Vic in his book Across Sussex with Belloc, when describing the song and music sessions they used to play at regularly : '...their music blended to perfection. These evenings reassure me that Sussex traditional music and song is safe in such hands as these'.