Atherstone Folk Club

Our annual August Singers Night!    Wednesday, 21 August 2024

The recipe will remain the same, just get in touch to be included. Lots of spots available; individual time depends on numbers. of course.

Please contact Dave Fry if you want to perform, but spots may still be available on the night, subject to the time available, of course.

SpotPlease [at] AtherstoneFolkClub.org.uk

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

Dave Fry

Dave started by playing a Chad Valley tin banjo, when he was 10 years old, till he blistered his thumb and he was hooked! He bought his first home-made guitar at twelve. He played in beat groups in Cumbria in the swinging 60s, then found folk at 17. He fell in love with twelve-string guitar at 18 and has been playing one ever since.

Dave will be the MC on the night, leaving Phil free to play with the sliders.  🙂

Please contact him directly for a spot on the night.  SpotPlease [at] AtherstoneFolkClub.org.uk

Liz Wall

Liz grew up around folk music as her parents both loved folk music. Shewas about 8 or 9 when she started singing and playing the guitar.

After not having performed for a while, she got back in to playing again in early 2022 having spent time during the various lockdowns playing music, writing songs and entering song writing competitions.

Malc and Gill

As a duo, Malc & Gill, not surprisingly with their backgrounds, have a wide diversity of material, both traditionally and contemporary based, and ranging from clever harmony work to humour and even a serious ballad or two, performed either a-capella or with Malc’s pleasantly understated guitar accompaniment.

Chris Marklew

Long-time singer and club organiser, Chris is based in Redditch.  Ran a Tamworth based club in the 70s.

He is a Bert Jansch style guitarist.

Geoff Veasey

Geoff sang, wrote, published and recorded with Coventry-based Black Parrot Seaside, from 1975-1982 and again between 2006 and 2014. Albums released: “Roll it Up and Eat It“ and “Aint It Grand”. Geoff still appears solo at Clubs and Festivals.

Yonderland

Paul Monks & Jane Moss have been playing floor spots around the local folk clubs for some years, playing mostly original songs with some covers. They are now performing under the name Yonderland.

Chris Joe Beard

From 1967 Summer of Love cult band “Purple Gang”, known for their seminal single “Granny Takes a Trip”, “Joe” was a founder member and song-writing guitarist. He went into folk music later and composed a full suite for a multi media show called “Legends of The Edge”.

Mike Daniels

Mike runs the successful Acoustic Session at the Dixie Arms in Market Bosworth every last Wednesday in the month.

Wes Hall

A local favourite, Wes is a regular at north Warwickshire clubs, and Folk at The Lion sessions.

Your host is Phil Benson

… and there are still two floor-spots available!

Just email Dave Fry and ask.

SpotPlease [at] AtherstoneFolkClub.org.uk

Residing in Warwickshire, Lauren South is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her original compositions and traditional melodies.

With the accompaniment of tenor guitar, fiddle, and shruti box, her songs exude heartfelt emotion and vivid imagery, drawing inspiration from her passion for the nocturnal heavens, the natural world, and her journey through motherhood.

Beyond her solo endeavours, Lauren is an enthusiastic collaborator and constitutes half of the dynamic new duo, Donnelly & South, alongside Keith Donnelly.

Her debut solo album Tiny Boat was released in November 2023.
​
‘I love Lauren’s voice! It has a distinctive and unique beauty that allows her to turn every word she sings into a kind of magic formula.’ (Reg Meuross)

‘Enthralling, intricate, pure crystal vocal lines… some of the most beautifully melodic vocal lines I’ve heard.’ (The Woodman Folk Club)

laurensouthmusic.com

The Support Artist on the night will be …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Rack and Ruin are a Warwickshire based folk-rock five-piece band playing a mixture of loud and lively folk-rock: fiddle driven traditional songs and tunes and jigs and reels – with added saxophone.

Rack and Ruin are just as comfortable headlining a large music festival or performing at a wedding, birthday, house concert or other private party. Their contemporary blend of lively folk rock, celtic, roots music is interwoven with foot-tapping jigs and reels that makes for an enjoyable and entertaining event.

rackandruin website

The Support Artists on the night will be …

The duo name Indigo springs from the idea that the project is Blue-adjacent – not trying to replicate the 1971 classic, but inspired by its chromatic character and energy. We are also playing Stephen Stills songs, a bit of Bonnie Raitt, and trying other retro artists as they occur to us. What do you think should be next on our list?

We have played at various folk clubs around Oxfordshire and the Midlands, and so far are finding Joni fans wherever we go. To get in touch, just contact Gordon on gordon.raitt@gmail.com or Rebecca on r.mileham@gmail.com.

Rebecca spends most of her musical time playing fiddle and singing in Liam Vincent & the Odd Foxes, a folk rock band whose debut album is Fabric of a Flawed Society. The band has played at the New Forest Folk Festival, Cropredy Fringe at the Brasenose, and the Great Barn Festival where they supported Mark Chadwick. A new acoustic album is coming soon.

She has also released two solo EPs, Underground (vocals/piano/violins – Rebecca) and recently Rising Tide (vocals and piano – Rebecca, guitars – Liam Stuchbury, bass – Brendan O’Neill, drums – Mark Stevens, additional vocals – Matt Berry and Natalie Yeap). This year she played live with her October Band in which Gordon has also played.

Gordon also plays guitar and bouzouki in the folk band Scarecrow with David Moore (whistles, bagpipes), and Rey Lear (bass guitar, flute), and bass guitar in Pete Watkins Originals. Both bands play in clubs and at festivals around the Midlands and the South of England.

Having played his much beloved 1978 Precision bass in various bands for many years, Gordon revisited his acoustic guitar in 2006 when Scarecrow was formed. This was a very welcome new direction, and a reminder of the college years when he played at the local folk clubs. There has been a great reaction to Indigo so far since its formation in August 2023, and we look forward to developing it further.

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

www.sunjay.tv

Supported by …

Steve and Julie Wigley

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Stand-up comic, fall-down comedian, surreal snigger-songwriter, guitar-hero, performance-artist, [tall] story-teller, philosopher, scriptwriter, [none can] compere, man-of-mystery, inner-childminder, actor, stuntman, metaphysical-poet, human ping-pong ball, life and soul of the [kids] party, world-class athlete, leading socialite, raconteur, business tycoon, wit, author, half-wit, secret[sh!]-agent, [vauxhall] astral-traveller, shamen, geordie-cultural-attache, word-juggler, snake-charmer, underline-dancer, unexpected clairvoyant, dream-weaver, daydream believer, psycho-linguist, shark-wrangler, mile sculptor, [compulsive] lying-tamer, Great-British eccentric, [alleged] international-jewel-thief, hot-dog-skier, alien-abductee, zen grand-master, champion tiddly-winker, sand-dancer, friend to the pantomime horse, erstwhile slice of bacon, and all-round good egg.

‘I have the best job in the world, I get to reminisce with people I don’t know, about things that never even happened!’ (Keith Donnelly)

keithdonnelly.weebly.com

The Support Artists on the night will be …

TBA

Floor Singer booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Get rid of that post-Christmas feeling. Come and sing! No guests, just you.

Just get in touch to be included. Lots of spots available; individual time depends on numbers. of course.

Please contact Phil Benson if you want to perform, but spots may still be available on the night, subject to the time available, of course.

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

Your residents are WatlingStreet

WatlingStreet are Anne Beeson, Phil Benson, and Pete McParland.

Separately, they have been singing for as long as they can remember, and together, on and off, since the mid 2010s.

They formed the new band in September 2023, in order to become the residents at Atherstone Folk Club.

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Gerry Colvin was born in Barrow-in-Furness.

In the 1970’s Gerry joined pop band ‘The Man Upstairs’. They released three singles and toured with ‘The Smiths’.

In the early 1980’s he co-founded and fronted the legendary John Peel favourite skiffle-cowpunk indie outfit ‘Terry & Gerry’. This seminal band toured Europe and the USA and appeared on countless Radio and TV shows including “The Tube” and “The Old Grey Whistle Test”. Their five singles and album all reached No.1 in the indie charts. In 2010 Cherry Red released ‘Let’s Get the Hell Back to Lubbock’, the definitive ‘Terry and Gerry’ compilation.

In the early 1990’s Gerry worked in Nashville as a professional songwriter and back in the UK collaborated with Alison Moyet, co-writing on an album project. He also penned TV themes, musicals, film scores and wrote and presented for BBC Radio 2. His band ‘Gerry Colvin’s Inexperience’, a fusion of Soul, R and B and Folk-Country, became a firm favourite on the College circuit.

In 1993 Gerry formed the folk-pop band ‘The Atlantics’: they toured extensively including a slot at Glastonbury Festival where Gerry was compere, and appeared on BBC’s prestigious ‘Pebble Mill at One’.

Colvin’s other major project at this time was film music as vocalist with ‘The National Screen Orchestra’; he also performed as a comedy double act with Hollywood superstar Mackenzie Crook.

In 1995 Gerry co-founded the five piece folk band Colvinquarmby. They released six critically acclaimed albums and were voted best band at the prestigious Fairport Convention Cropredy Festival in 2009. In 2010 they won the Hancock Award for ‘Best Live Folk Act’. In May 2013 Gerry was invited by New York producer and Robert Plant song collaborator Dave Barratt to record ‘Revolution’ for the ‘Beatles complete on ukulele’ album and website.

In 2015 the original line-up of Terry and Gerry reformed and toured nationally with rock heroes Status Quo culminating with a concert at The Albert Hall!! Terry and Gerry also appeared at Glastonbury that year and released the ‘Dear John’ EP: a self penned tribute to the late John Peel. Cherry Red re-issued the greatest hits album too!!

In 2013 Gerry released a self-penned solo album ‘Jazz Tales of Country Folk’ . His new CD ‘Six of One half a Dozen of the Other’, a collection of ten(!) brand new songs, is available now. And his novel ‘The Rabbits of Zakynthos’ will be published [2023].

Gerry Colvin Official Website

Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Hazjak are Yorkshire duo Steve Chapman Smith and Lynne O’Malley, both well known and respected musicians on the Northern acoustic scene.  Together they play an eclectic style of Roots, Americana and Folk music.

Steve – vocals, guitar, banjo, bouzouki, bass and mandolin. Lynne – vocals, piano, tenor guitar, banjo, percussion, whistle and harmonica, and of course Hazjak’s trademark harmonies.

Hazjak released their debut album “Listerville” in December 2020 to great critical acclaim, including a 4 star review in R and R magazine.

“Uplifting evening of most enjoyable music by Hazjak… Brilliant entertainment and great fun as always… You really take the listener with you”  Topic Folk Club, Dec 2021

“A highly talented duo… Excellent songs, superb musicianship and harmonies in abundance”   Tykes Stirrings, Spring 2021

“High calibre musicianship. Roots based music of the finest kind. They write raw and penetrating songs of truth and heart-rending stories to stir your souls.”  Ian Mayor, Drystone Radio

www.hazjak.com/

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Described by Bright Young Folk as “experienced storytellers” who bring “timeless quality” to their music, award-winning duo Farefeld (Chris Elliott, Caitlin Jones) have been playing music together since they met in 2014. Previously performing alongside Bella Gaffney (Magpies) and Heather Sirrell (Pilgrim’s Way) in the four-piece ‘Bric-a-Brac,’ they formed as a duo in 2017.

In 2022, the duo joined forces with virtuoso bassist Mike Seal, who gigs with them as much as he can (when he’s not doing something very clever!)

Both proudly from Staffordshire, Farefeld bring a mix of traditional and self-penned ballads about place, identity, old and new. Driving guitar and bouzouki accompany haunting whistles and harmonium along with intricate and warm vocal harmonies. Expect to hear songs written for and collected from all around the Midlands and beyond, accompanied by the heartfelt human stories that inspired them, their charming storytelling and warm Midlands humour.

farefeld.co.uk/

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Full details to follow

Since forming in 2016, Daisybell have been making waves on the local and national folk scene, delivering performances of passion, wit and raw emotion at clubs from Minehead to Gateshead, Worcester to Sheffield, releasing an EP and a video, fitting in a couple of live radio appearances and drawing acclaim for their “Sing Like A Daisybell” vocal workshops.

To date, the trio have appeared at festivals in Warwick, Broadstairs, Moira, Lichfield, Bromyard, Alcester, Bedworth and more.

Lauded for their song-writing, harmonies, and engaging stage presence, now is a great time to check out their gigs, recordings and social media banter.

katherinefear.co.uk

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Mim’s roots go back to the UK Folk Scene of the ’70s when “Our Mim” was likened to Joan Baez, and ranked alongside Maddy Prior and other revivalists of the time.

Then, she played a significant role in the folk revival, appearing at most of the Folk Clubs and Festivals of the time, including Edinburgh and Cambridge, with acclaim from all the leading critics of the day. Miriam’s interpretation of traditional and modern folk songs are unique, and her ability to lead a Folk audience into chorus singing, particularly, ‘Keys of Canterbury’ at Cambridge Folk Festival 1976, is the stuff of legends.

Over the years in South Africa, she has entertained for many concerts and festivals, including Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth and Splashy Fen  ‘Over Africa’ features on the 10 years CD – and established herself as a shining light in the entertainment business.

She is unique in South Africa, her songs, like ‘The beautiful pass at Van Reenen’ and ‘Over Africa’ have become part of their music heritage.

Her ‘protest’ songs about the border war ‘I don’t want my child to die’ (Richard Haslop featured this on his ‘Roots to Fruits’ radio show) and ‘Mother’s lament’ have been recognised as some of the best, ranking alongside those from other troubled lands like Ireland, USA etc.

These songs, and the music of South Africa, are becoming world renowned now, and Mim is part of this surge.

She originally retired from the UK Folk Scene in 1977, to have a family, and now they have flown the nest, the family encouraged her to get back ‘out there’, and she is now re-established as Miriam Backhouse-Erasmus, Professional Folk Singer, in the UK.  Folk Club, Arts Centre and Festival appearances there have been a great success and Miriam’s UK 2007 tour was a sell out.

Since marrying John Erasmus, relocating to South Africa, in 1977, and raising a family, she has diversified into the full range of music, playing ‘Anna’ in ‘The King and I’ under the direction of EOH’s Steven Stead, amongst countless other musicals, concerts, Radio and TV appearances.

“A lady of exceptional talent, Her voice is immaculate, impeccable and scintillating.. What a joy to hear every word she sings with perfect diction. ‘Mim has a delightful personality that immediately envelopes her audiences, her enchanting voice and easy-going banter captivates every audience whatever age… from toddlers to serene-agers.

We have often used her various talents for product launches… fashion shows… celebration entertainment and social events. One of the few entertainers that make one’s heart smile.” Sandy Day Promotions sandyday@telkomsa.net

“Together with a professional approach to audiences, Miriam’s haunting voice and tasteful instrumental work never fail to impress”. John Leonard. Smooth Operations. Producer of Radio 2 Mike Harding Show

facebook.com/MiriamBackhouseErasmus

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Our annual August Singers Night!

The recipe will remain the same, just get in touch to be included. Lots of spots available.

Please contact Phil Benson if you want to perform, but spots may still be available on the night, subject to the time available, of course.

phil[at]atherstonefolkclub.org.uk

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Yonderland

The Support Artist on the night will be …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Emma is a Black Country wench that performs laid back classic sing-along songs and some self-penned songs.

She has done a few guest nights at Brewood Folk Club, and regularly does support for Pete Kelly at the Red Lion Folk Club.

There will be some interesting Tipton stories and a lot of laughs, but most importantly, everyone will be able to talk Tip’n by the end of the noight.

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

Stonesthrow combines the strong lead vocals of Tony Fowkes with the natural harmonies of Steve & Julie Wigley. The Derby based trio perform mainly acapella, with their set spiced by the occasional song featuring Julie on accordion and Steve’s guitar.

Their choice of songs ranges from the traditional working songs of the sea and the land to contemporary songs of family, love and loss, providing a rich variety of material for their three part harmonies.

They have been winners and runners-up in the ‘Write a Song for Lincolnshire’ competition and have performed at the Chester Folk Festival Fringe, Moira Furnace Folk Festival and a number of folk clubs around the country.

With Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

Your residents are WatlingStreet

WatlingStreet are Anne Beeson, Phil Benson, and Pete McParland.

Separately, they have been singing for as long as they can remember, and together, on and off, since the mid 2010s.

They formed the new band in September 2023, in order to become the residents at Atherstone Folk Club.

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

phil~at~atherstonefolkclub.org.uk

Scarecrow emerged in 2006, formed by three members of a popular Oxfordshire barn dance band who shared a common desire to develop our collective breadth of musical styles, instruments and influences. The band brings together the classical music of Rey Lear, allied to folk tunes from David Moore with jazz and blues influences from Gordon Raitt. The resulting “Scarecrow Sound” reflects these diverse abilities and influences in both the repertoire and arrangements of well known and sometimes more obscure songs and tunes.

Rey plays bass guitar, flute, whistle, recorder and lead vocals. Rey is also very active as a member of a classical quartet, a recorder ensemble and runs Brackley Choir. He has worked as a professional musician since graduating and has toured the Caribbean, worked on cruise ships and been involved in music education for most of his professional life. His influences include his Mum & Dad as well as Billy Connolly, Brahms and Liszt.

David plays whistles, bagpipes, flute and percussion as well as backing vocals. He is self taught on all his instruments. Interests outside Scarecrow include playing Pipe & Tabor for the Adderbury Morris men and occasionally with historical “costume” bands on the English border pipes and Hummelchen pipes. He has toured with bands and Adderbury Morris in Oman, USA, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Belgium and Romania. Influences range between Steeleye Span, Blowzabella, The Albion Dance Band and Show of Hands.

Gordon plays acoustic guitar and bouzouki, and lead vocals. Gordon is the force behind the distinctive “Scarecrow” sound; his arrangements of the songs and tunes result in the tight and unusual arrangements that we have become recognised for. In addition to his Scarecrow commitments Gordon plays bass guitar in a rock band. He has been influenced by many genres of music including Blues, Jazz, Folk and Classical.

www.scarecrowband.co.uk

The Support Artists on the night will be …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

Get rid of that post-Christmas feeling. Come and sing! No guests, just you.

Just get in touch to be included. Lots of spots available; individual time depends on numbers. of course.

Please contact Phil Benson if you want to perform, but spots may still be available on the night, subject to the time available, of course.

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

Your residents are WatlingStreet

WatlingStreet are Anne Beeson, Phil Benson, and Pete McParland.

Separately, they have been singing for as long as they can remember, and together, on and off, since the mid 2010s.

They formed the new band in September 2023, in order to become the residents at Atherstone Folk Club.

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.

“With two grand voices – individually and in harmony” (Folker-German Folk Magazine), the Anglo-German duo Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer offer a versatile miscellany of self-penned and imaginatively arranged songs, delivered with guitar, woodwind instrumentation and occasional percussion.

“I’ve never seen our audience so spellbound!” (Malc Gurnham, Bedworth Folk Club)

So, what is it that makes this internationally touring pair so irresistible? Whilst Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer are acclaimed for their image provoking song-writing, expressive vocals and authentic musicianship, they are frequently recalled for their warmth, humour and their remarkable ability to engage with their audience. Karen’s natural theatricality and life affirming playful energy compliment charmingly with Paul’s calm geniality and combined they magically turn a great performance into a real event.

The duo has toured its shows extensively taking in New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Ireland and most corners of the UK, wooing audiences with Karen’s southern German accent tinged with an ‘oatcake induced’ North Staffordshire dialect from Paul’s heritage.

The pandemic has seen them focusing their attention on writing, recording and developing their online presence. Their live stream ‘Afternoon Tea with Paul & Karen’ is now in excess of 100 shows and still attracts a dedicated international following. The new album ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Me Duck’ was released in May 2022 and received a great amount of radio play, video attention and glowing reviews:

“Eclectic, performed with passion and with excellent musicianship.” Folk & Honey
“Charming, varied and fun” Irish Music Magazine

Overall, “A first-class experience.” (Bietigheimer Zeitung)

www.paulwalkermusic.co.uk

Support by …

TBA

Floor Singers booked to perform on the night …

TBA

Your residents are WatlingStreet

WatlingStreet are Anne Beeson, Phil Benson, and Pete McParland.

Separately, they have been singing for as long as they can remember, and together, on and off, since the mid 2010s.

They formed the new band in September 2023, in order to become the residents at Atherstone Folk Club.

… and there are still floor-spots available!

Just email Phil and ask.