Tudor Folk Club
Chesham, Bucks, England

Archive for 2004

12th January 2004 - Cloudstreet

"...a delightful duo who not only inspire one another but put an indelible smile on the faces of their audiences. Strong harmonies, side-splitting stories and ballads brought to life in a way we hadn't seen before. Heartily recommended."

James Fagan and Nancy Kerr

Imagine the scene. A cold, wet street in an impossibly rural Staffordshire. Wandering disconsolately back from one of the two main festival stages - which turns out to be polythene sheeting over a stone cobbled yard: the wind cracks the sheeting in a most convincing impression of a Captain Hornblower soundtrack - you see a couple of lost souls. "You look lost?"

Well it turns out that they are a couple of warm, generous and humorous fairly-newly-landed-in-the-old-country Aussies who are due to perform in the Hornblower suite later on. And warm, generous, humorous and ludicrously talented, musical, vivacious and gorgeously larynxed on stage, er, cobbles, they prove to be.

So A Plan was formulated. And here they are. Performing in the warm, generous and draught-proofed Tudor Folk Club.

26th January 2004 - Coope, Boyes & Simpson

Since their first appearance in 1993, Coope Boyes and Simpson’s powerful and distinctive unaccompanied singing and songwriting have taken English roots into radical new directions. Described as "quite simply the best purveyors of acappella song on these Islands", the trio’s first record, Funny Old World, was the rock magazine Q’s Roots Album of the Year, while their live debut on BBC Radio Four drew praise from the classical composer Steve Martland. Andy Kershaw commissioned them to write and record songs reflecting the state of contemporary England for his BBC Radio One series Kershaw Comes Home.

Their first appearance at Tudor on 25th February 2002 is reviewed in full in the archive. We said "the audience were left bubbling with the sheer quality provided by three excellent individual entertainers whose sum is even greater than their parts."

9th February 2004 - Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

A long overdue first visit for this 40% of the stadium veterans Equation who have been making quite an impact with their return to folk clubs over the last couple of years.

2001 heralded the return to the folk scene of two of its most inventive performers. Other commitments had meant that Kathryn Roberts + Sean Lakeman were unable to indulge their love of grass-roots folk clubs for several years and were keen for the opportunity to revisit their old training ground.

Now, several tours and two albums later, they have firmly re-established themselves as folk-club favourites, giving skilled and subtle performances in a relaxed, yet confident manner. With an eclectic repertoire of traditional song alongside favourites from the likes of Tom Waits and Suzanne Vega, Kathryn and Sean wear their roots and influences proudly on their sleeves.

As the lead singer for the well-known folk-rock crossover band 'Equation', Kathryn has toured the world with the group and continues to play to packed houses from Los Angeles to Lisbon. Although commitments with the band mean that opportunities for folk club appearances are limited, playing the clubs is something close to her heart. Sean shares her affection as his early career was also launched upon the folk club circuit, both as an accompanist to Geordie fiddle favourite Tom McConville and with his two siblings as 'The Lakeman Brothers'.

Kathryn Roberts hails from Barnsley in South Yorkshire. From a well-known musical family, she has simply always sung. She grabbed national attention in partnership when, with her long time friend Kate Rusby, the duo's only album was voted 'Folk Roots' album of the Year in 1995. The previous year Kathryn was awarded the prestigious BBC Radio 2 'Young Tradition Award'. These accolades brought opportunities for her to take her talents as far as Malaysia, Poland, Shetland and countless other crazy places. The creation of the band 'Equation' (initially the combination of Kathryn, Kate and the three acclaimed Lakeman Brothers), in late '95 brought a window of opportunity that has grown ever wider for Kathryn. Although early line-up changes brought confusion and apparent controversy, the band has since recorded five highly praised albums and has staunchly built a strong, loyal fan base. Equation currently spend most of its time in the United States where they have been embraced with celebrated enthusiasm.

Sean Lakeman, from the edge of Dartmoor in Devon has played guitar since the age of six. He was recognised from an early age as one of the most talented and promising young guitar players one the folk scene. Sean partnered Tom McConville during his self-confessed three 'lost' years at Music College. He was also asked to be a member of the BBC Folk on Two 'Young Tradition Band', alongside previous winners of its award, Luke Daniels, Simon Thoumire and Catriona MacDonald. The group was assembled to showcase the best young traditional musicians in the UK. The Early 90's witnessed the emergence of the precocious 'Lakeman Brothers', with Seth (violin) and Sam (piano). This trio wrote and produced their applauded album 'Three Piece Suite' (1995), upon which Kathryn was guest singer on two tracks. It was the success of this session that produced the idea of what was to become 'Equation'.

23rd February 2004 - Cock & Bull Band

With over 20 years experience on the professional folk scene, The Cock & Bull Band are widely recognised as one of the top ceilidh and barn dance bands on the circuit, and their concerts offer a treat, no matter how many times you have seen them. Always prepared to surprise and delight, the quality of the band's music guarantees an amazing time for their audience, be they beginners or the most expert dancers. Despite their almost unrivalled success, the band still enjoy playing at small, intimate events, as much as at major international festivals. As long as you are prepared for something thrilling and unique, you will have a fantastic time.

Although The Cock & Bull Band have now been performing as a ceilidh band for over twenty years, they still give as much energy and life to their performances as when they had just begun. They well deserve the high reputation they have built up over the years for playing both brilliant, stomping dance music, and entrancing concert material.

8th March 2004 - Jen & Hen

Welcome back! Jenny Crook and Henry Sears knocked our socks off when they played for us on 2nd July 2001. A couple more pictures from then in the Guests' Gallery

Jenny Crook and Henry Sears are a multi-instrumental duo based in Bath, UK. Between them they play Celtic harp, fiddle, viola, mandolin, low whistles and guitar. Oh, and they sing...

Prior to starting the duo a couple of years ago, Jenny and Henry had both been members of a fine selection of highly acclaimed acoustic roots outfits such as Afterhours (Henry), Madigan (both) and Cythara, formed by Jenny after her success at the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition awards in 1993. Their source material is largely drawn from the instrumental dance music and song of the British Isles and Ireland, thoughtfully arranged and re-worked. There's also a good swathe of their own songs and music included in a dynamic and uplifting live set that's fast bringing them recognition as one of the UK's top acoustic duos, and getting them bookings at some of the UK's top festivals, including Cambridge and Warwick.

Excellent reeling and picking… shiversome and sensitive. A bit of a find.

- fRoots

The combination of Jenny and Henry is captivating, and deserves to be much better known… Four hands and two mouths produce a surprisingly full sound… The musicianship is exemplary...

- Alex Monaghan, Living Tradition magazine

15th March 2004 - Come All Ye, featuring The Queensberry Rules

We're very pleased to welcome these guys for a featurette. Impressed by their promo, we're not surprised to see that they're accumulating loads of gigs. We were booked up for guests in March, they're to be in the area and at a loose end... Come and see what they're all about as they close off a Come All Ye for us.

22nd March 2004 - Robin Laing

Last with us in April 2001, he was a "must have", and rather overdue. A completely charming man; superb song writing with an unforced but compelling charismatic delivery. (Actually, the last time I spoke to him we were both changing our trousers in the car park at Bridgnorth Folk Festival.)

Robin Laing is a Scottish folk-singer and songwriter originally from Edinburgh who now lives in the idyllic setting of rural Lanarkshire. Since becoming full-time professional in 1996, Robin has created a one-man show on the subject of Scotch whisky called "The Angels' Share", has released an(other) album based on the show and has toured extensively both in the UK and abroad.

The Angels' Share combined two of Robin's passions - folk song and whisky - a powerful combination! When not exploring the purely cultural aspects of whisky, Robin is sometimes to be found on the Tasting Panel of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. It's a difficult job, but someone has to do it! During the Edinburgh Festival Fringe he has joined forces with Jim Malcolm to do "Whisky, Women and Song" at the SMWS.

In terms of folk music, Robin's real interest is in folk song and especially the old Scots Ballads, or "Muckle Sangs" as they are sometimes known. However, he also has a tremendous respect for the songs of Robert Burns, (not just the rude ones), and the tradition of Scots fiddle music that has come from people like William Marshall, Scott Skinner and the Gow family. Robin's instrument is the classical guitar and some of these fiddle tunes transfer quite well.

In the folk tradition, Robin's influences are The Corries, Ewan McColl, Lizzie Higgins and Hamish Henderson, all for different reasons. He has many other influences; musically, from classical composers like Bach and Mahler, in poetry from Tennyson and in songwriting terms from Paul Simon and Stan Rogers, to name just a few. All of these influences find their way into the process that produces Robin's own song compositions. They have a variety of styles because of this, and tend to have their main strength in the lyrical side of the composition. The songs are constructed with care and attention and a great deal of selection along the way.

5th April 2004 - Come All Ye, featuring Sue Graves and Hector Gilchrist

Sue and Hector came a played a floorspot for us late last year, and I've scarcely had such a unanimous "we should book them" groundswell. Two beautiful voices merging on material such as Tom Waits' The Briar and the Rose.

Sue Graves has been singing and playing guitar around the folk clubs since the late 1970s, solo and in various groups (none of them famous!). Early influences were Joan Baez, Mary Hopkin, Tom Paxton and Ralph McTell. A native of Surrey, Sue's parents came originally from Southern Ireland, so a love of singing and great melodies were part of her heritage. Sue has been described as "the voice of the South" by Mike Peach, the organiser of the Anchor Folk Club in Byfleet.

Here's an extract of a recent article about Hector from that fine magazine Folk on Tap:

"A sensitive, easy-listening singer - another Archie Fisher".

Coming from an Ayrshire farming community, Hector grew up in a family environment steeped in the musical tradition.. He has been singing in public since he was a small boy - "according to an aunt of mine, my first musical offering to the masses was as a three year old!", he said. He took up the ukelele in his teens, and at about the same time he began to learn the piano. "I play the harmonica, too" he told me, "it seems to come fairly naturally to me - but I never ever play it in public!"

Friday 16 April 2003 - Jacqui McShee's Pentangle with Kelly While at the Elgiva Theatre

The original Pentangle was the most creative and innovative band on the folk scene in the late 1960s and early '70s. Two key elements were the unique vocal talent of Jacqui McShee and the fusion of folk and jazz. These elements are as strong as ever in the current evolution of the band, Jacqui's McShee's Pentangle.

Jacqui McShee's Pentangle is a now five-piece consisting of Jacqui McShee (vocals), Spencer Cozens (keyboards), Gerry Conway (drums), Gary Foote (Sax and flute) and Alan Thomson (bass and guitar).

The band's live performances include some brilliant new versions of old Pentangle favourites. These are not simply nostalgic re-plays but imaginative new arrangements.

I've got a few Pentangle albums. The first, Basket of Light, was my first on a number of levels: first folk album, first gatefold sleeve and the first that cost over two quid! (£2/0/8 in pre-decimalised money, since you ask. And it meant I didn't have quite enough for the bus home, so I had to walk the last fare stage.) Bought because I liked the Take Three Girls theme song, Light Flight. Oh I guess it was also the first to feature a song in 5/4, too.

The last Pentangle album I bought was from the nearly current incarnation: About Thyme. I was in the Oxford Street Virgin Megastore and doing the tour of the listening posts. Hmmm... let's listen to this, then. Kapow! Fantastic! Since when the versions of a couple of the songs therein have "informed" my readings of them.

And I first saw/heard Kellie with the Albion Band. The band were too loud for my aging and I-don't-want-my-low-level-tinitus-to-get-any-worse ears, but Kellie was outstanding. The highlight being the duo she did with Ken Nicol on acoustic. And the stuff she does with E2K is terrific. So to have Kellie as support is more than an added bonus: it's worth the entrance money on its own!

Sunday 18 April 2004 - New Roots

We are proud to be associated with New Roots, an event for young performers of all styles of folk, roots or world music, traditional or original. The finals start at 2pm in The Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans, Herts AL4 0JQ

26th April 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. And we're delighted to start with Min Dawson for the first of quite a few pretty special nights. She'll do a thirty-minute set during the evening which will be an otherwise regular Come-All-Ye.

10 May 2004 - Nancy Kerr and James Fagan

Last with us in January 2002: the archive has a review of the gig in the including the following:

"Nancy has an angelic voice, but turns on the power when required, and plays fiddle and viola with a deft and accurate touch. James also has a beautiful voice, and plays a guitar-bodied bouzouki. But it's the instinctive interplay between the two which was so breathtaking, and their telepathic harmonies, allied to their appreciation and understanding of their broad range of material which shone through their engaging performance."

17 May 2004 - Acoustic Lindisfarne at the Elgiva Theatre

Picture from the official Lindisfarne web site of their gig at Ebbw Vale, 3rd April 2003, by Caroline Harry

Lindisfarne came to widespread acclaim in the early 1970s with Fog On The Tyne - the biggest British album of 1972 - and Meet Me On The Corner which was a top five hit. Gigging energetically for the next three decades, they have remained a top live act. However, they completed their farewell tour in November 2003.

Lindisfarne Acoustic are Meet me on the Corner writer Rod Clements (joined 1969), Dave Denholm (relative newcomer, joining in 1993) and Billy Mitchell (joined 1973). The Spring 2004 tour is the acoustic line-up’s farewell: and the Elgiva is the last date on that tour. Come for the party and to say your fond goodbyes.

7th June 2004 - Jon Boden & John Spiers

Sometimes, just sometimes, you know when an act has so much potential that success is guaranteed and doesn't need that bit of luck. It's no surprise to your humble webmaster that they're "Winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo 2004" in addition to "Winners of BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award, Folk Awards 2003" since they were last with us in November 2002. What was more surprising and perhaps more gratifying is that they're the only British act to have been nominated for the critics poll in BBC Radio 3's World Music Awards 2004 with Bellow. (They were runners-up BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards for best album 2001 with their debut album.)

I've seen them recently - last November - and while they're essentially the same lads with the same drive and verve as when we had 'em just ahead of the curve late '02, they're somehow even better. Maybe it's a wee bit more assurance (although they weren't exactly the shy, retiring types), maybe a touch more presence (although you were always sure where they were!) or maybe it's the addition of some choice new (old) material.

"Daringly confronts the traditional way of doing things."

Mojo magazine

"Both John and Jon are in their twenties, yet their renditions of trad. songs and English dance tunes are a million miles away from those of their peers. Their music is unashamedly traditional, but with an edge and excitement that's sadly lacking from some recent acts, where polish seems more important than passion and direct communication. The two Jo(h)ns are stars without trying, performing with a clear respect for their material, but with vigour, joie de vivre and, above all, an engaging rawness and immediacy in their interpretations of what traditional music is about: songs and tunes to be enjoyed and shared live."

Time Out Magazine

21st June 2004 - New Roots finalists The Maerlock and Frances Kempster.

The Maerlock (brilliant band that will excite all but the stone deaf) and singer Frances Kempster. The Maerlock will do 2 x 30 minute spots and Frances 1 x 30 minute spot. Sure to be a good night etc etc.

5th July 2004 - John Kirkpatrick

Top squeezer. A beautiful set of masterly playing.

19th July 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. And we're delighted to give the floor to Bob Templeman: guitarist and interpreter extraordinaire for what promises to be a pretty special night. He'll do a thirty-minute set during the evening which will be an otherwise regular Come-All-Ye.

9th August 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. And we're delighted to present Ms Kaye Tilley: winner of numerous song writing awards and crafter of memorable choruses. She'll do a thirty-minute set during the evening which will be an otherwise regular Come-All-Ye.

23rd August 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. Tonight we're delighted to present Paul & Lin.

6th September 2004 - Pint & Dale

William Pint and Felicia Dale rank among North America's most exciting interpreters of music based in the traditions of the British Isles and France... unconventional but spine-tingling... unique and mesmerizing.

20th September 2004 - Chris Wood & Andy Cutting

These guys got me back on the straight and narrow folkie path. I'd been buying Folk Roots for a while - mostly for the world music content - and these two were on the cover. I read the article, thought they sounded interesting, bought the CD and the scales fell from my ears (although why I'd chosen kitchen accessories for earrings, I can't quite remember. It must have hurt, though). Never having set foot in a folk club since migrating to the south of England, I went to see them in St Albans when I spotted a flier in the local library. And they were terrific. And there were some fliers for other clubs - Unicorn or somesuch - and the rest, to quote Paul Downes, is mystery.

So, the point of the preceding ramble is that they're ace. The real deal. Nothing extraneous, but they know exactly which notes fit where - and why. Passionate without being over-the-top. Incredibly insidious and compulsive grooves in the most subtle way.

Andy was nominated in four categories in the 2004 BBC Radio Folk Awards, including musician of the year (and three as part of Kate Rusby's band, if I remember correctly).

27th September 2004 - Come All Ye and A.G.M.

4th October 2004 - Eileen McGann with David K.

A welcome return for one of Tudor's favourite artists. It's two years since we saw Eileen and we thought it was time to hear her again. "Eileen McGann is widely acclaimed as one of the best contemporary Canadian songwriters, as well as one of the finest Celtic traditional singers anywhere. Add to this a dynamic performance style, an infectious sense of humour and a singing voice variously described as "magnificent", "stunning" and "hauntingly beautiful", and you have an artist not to be missed." She will be accompanied by David K playing a variety of instruments in a way that compliments Eileen's voice perfectly.

18th October 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. Tonight we're delighted to present Mike & Annette.

Thursday 21 October 2004 - Dougie MacLean at the Elgiva Theatre

Picture from the official Dougie MacLean web site of his gig in Santa Barbera September 2003, by David Bazemore

Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland's most successful, respected and popular musicians. Singer-songwriter, composer and magical performer, he is also a fine guitarist and fiddle player. Don't miss this chance to see this great artist in the intimate atmosphere of The Elgiva.

1st November 2004 - Come All Ye plus Pete Orton

Pete's a hoot - seriously funny. Hamish saw him down at Readifolk and had to book him. Pete will be doing a 40 minute set. All proceeds - including Pete's fee - are in aid of Water Aid.

8th November 2004 - Craobh Rua

"Craobh Rua from Belfast are free advertisement for everything that's good about Irish Traditional Music - they play it from the heart and they play it superbly" - So says the Belfast Telegraph, and so say all of us at Tudor who heard them last time they were with us.

22nd November 2004 - Come All Ye - feature night

It's time we celebrated our local heros. Our regular floor-singers and "Come-All-Ye"ers are really very good. So we'll be having feature nights for many of them throughout the coming months. Tonight we're delighted to present Clive Carey.

29th November 2004 - John Conolly

John plays guitar, squeeze box, and tin whistle and is an internationally known songwriter.
Many of his songs have a tang of the sea, reflecting his upbringing on the East coast of England.
His classic, "Fiddlers Green", along with "Punch and Judy Man" and many other powerful and evocative songs, have earned him a welcome at many leading Folk and Maritime Festivals.

13th December 2004 - Pete Coe

"One of our most versatile and impressive performers"

Sidmouth International Folk Festival

"Pete Coe is dry of wit, strong of voice and his instrumental versatility is of vaudevillian impressiveness."

The Glasgow Herald

"He is simply the most entertaining & exciting performer about, giving so much value with sparkling enthusiasm for the music he purveys."

Andy Leith, folk club organiser, "Traditions at The Tiger" Long Eaton, Nr Nottingham

"To describe Pete as a star of the U.K. folk scene would be an understatement. Here you have several stars rolled into one ... you'll find him singing, dancing and playing all at the same time - a performance that somehow leaves his audience even more breathless than himself"

Pete Burnham, folk club organiser, Rose & Crown, Leicester

20th December 2004 - Christmas Party