As heard on BBC Introducing (“Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant! I Love it!”) The Lost Notes are a folk/Americana band from Moseley Birmingham, renowned for their energetic and joyous live shows with a sound that “Fits in amongst peers like… Fleet Foxes, …Fairport Convention… Crosby Stills Nash and Young.” (Rocking Magpie).

“A brilliant 3 part harmony group – they sound even better live!” (CMR Nashville Radio)

“Coming across as a blend of Crosby Stills and Nash and the better acoustic elements of contemporary country, this Birmingham quintet have managed to pull in some jazz influences as well …worthy to sit with the best of Laurel Canyon circa 1974.” FATEA MAGAZINE

After a summer of festival performances including Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Off The Rails Festival and Costa Festival, Portugal, on 20.09.24. the band released their third studio album: “GOOD LUCK SHOES”. The album features ten new songs spotlighting tales of the wary, the hopeful, the loved and the lovable; the wild and the lost, the unhinged and the crossed. The fixed up, the torn down, the hoe-downs and throw downs, topped by the musings of a deliriously optimistic psychopath with a death wish.

“GOOD LUCK SHOES” was selected as “Editor’s Choice” by the British Country Music Association, was album of the week on British Country Music Radio and has already received some great reviews:

With Support by …

The Raconteurs

The midlands based folk duo The Raconteurs have a long and interesting history. Vocalist Tina McBain formed the trio in 1992 and for ten years they quickly made a name for themselves playing theatres, arts centres, folk clubs and festivals all over the UK and opening shows for some of the good and the greats of the UK folk scene like Ralph McTell, Julie Felix, Ian Campbell, Fairport Convention, The Strawbs, Kate Rusby and Lindisfarne. But in 20O1 former ELO 2 star and frontman Phil Bates invited her to move away from her folk background to join the highly regarded Eleanor Rigby Experience (This was not a tribute band as such more a celebration of the works o Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison), they specialised in reworking some of the Beatles greatest songs.

The lineup of the band not only included Phil Bates from ELO 2 but former Fairport Convention star Maartin Allcock , original Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker and Soft Machine bass player Fred T Baker. ERE undertook three successful UK tours and released one self titled album. After The Eleanor Rigby Experience came to an end Phil formed his Beatles, Blues, And, Blue Violin project and invited his former colleagues Mik Kaminski (of ELO & ELO2 fame) and Tina McBain from ERE to join the trio. BBBV quickly established themselves on the UK touring circuit and did five successful tours and released one self titled album. But the constant travelling became too much for McBain who had health problems with arthritis she decided to retire in 2012.

She has also been in a trio with Maartin Allcock of Fairport Convention fame called M74. Tina recorded and released a charity single called “Sheldon“ written by top Tamworth singer/ songwriter Eamonn Galbraith for the Help The Heroes Charity. It’s a touching song about a woman waiting for a phone call from her husband who is away fighting the war in Afghanistan to tell her when he would be returning home from the war to be with her and the children. Sadly that phone call never came. Last year 2024 Tina and Eamonn met up for a coffee and a chat about the old days Eamonn asked Tina if she missed performing she said she did but did not miss the constant touring. He asked her if she would like to do the odd local show with him she said she would like that very much.

They played an intimate show in a 30 capacity venue in Tamworth which lit a fire in Tina’s heart and she decided it was time to reform The Raconteurs that was eighth months ago. They say good news travels fast Tina McBain was back doing what she does best, singing folk songs. The bookings have come flowing in and in October this year they will be opening the show for former Fairport Convention And Matthews Southern Comfort Star Iain Matthews at nine of his UK tour dates. Tina said “I must confess I’m surprised how well the relaunching of The Raconteurs had gone down with people it’s very pleasing and quite touching I didn’t think at my time of life I’d be doing all this malarkey again but it great work with such an outstanding singer songwriter as Eamonn Galbraith. I’m having fun”

Your resident artist and organiser is Matt Beeson

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Matt and ask.