SHOWCASE
Friday 25th November
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Cambridge & Walker
David and Jenna … truly a most impressive …a classic blend of traditional and contemporary material, layered intelligently and contextually into an abiding listening pleasure.’ – FATEA
Along with …
Mandy Woods
A seasoned writer and performer in both the UK and America, Mandy has spent most of her adult life giving in to wanderlust and crafting songs, many of which tell a story – about the ups and downs of relationships, her own and other people’s struggles and quests for whatever it is we think our life is about, and anything else that has set her imagination off on her unconventional journey to where she is now.
Along with …
Umbrella Factory
The Umbrella Factory is a blues-folk duo based in Southend, Essex, they regularly play across various local and further-afield gigs and festivals, including the much loved annual Leigh Folk Festival.
Their music is a heady mix of the earthy blues tones of Memphis Minnie with the poignancy of artists such as Gillian Welch, Mary Gauthier, and Ola Belle Reed.
Along with …
Steve Warner
‘Steve tells great stories through his songs and captures the audience with his engaging delivery’ Gilmore&Roberts
‘I Thoroughly enjoyed Steve’s set. He is an engaging performer armed with a collection of thought-provoking, inspiring songs’ Hannah Scott
‘Steve puts audiences at ease, playing original and well-chosen covers, delivered with a fine singing voice and accompanied by a variety of guitars and even occasional mandolin’ Redbourn Folk Club
SHOWCASE
Friday 9th December
THIS WILL BE OUR XMAS PARTY
With a Local Heroes all star Sing-around Christmas Nibbles and General Jollyness
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Tenneson Mells
Soulful vocals and close harmony singing set to a backdrop of intricate acoustic guitar arrangements. Our performances are laced with classic guitar solos, delicate fingerpicking and blues harmonica, and our repertoire spans a century of modern music. Pembroke [highly commended Royston young musician] and Dan have over 25 years of live performance experience, and have played notable venues including The O2 Arena, Cambridge Folk Club, London Live TV, Notting Hill Arts Club, and Essex Live Lounge. Clients include famous chefs, SKY TV, Silverstone, and many more.Their own original music has received extensive radio play on the BBC, Radio Caroline and beyond.
Along with
The String Section
The String Section are a Mike Thompson-guitar, Denise Neapolitan-fiddle & Philip Rundall-mandolin Cambridge-based transatlantic string band, playing a hearty mix of Americana, country, folk, bluegrass, fiddle tunes and blues. Sometimes with a classic vocal if your lucky …
https://www.facebook.com/The-String-Section
WELCOME TO OUR 2023 EVENTS
Friday 13th January
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£10 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Winter Wilson
It is in live performance where these two really excel. Now in their 9th year as full-time musicians, Kip Winter and Dave Wilson bring a sense of intimacy to every venue, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious humour and tales of life on the road.
When Mike Harding dubbed Winter Wilson as one of the hardest working duos on the circuit, he’d clearly done his homework. In 2019 aside from touring around the UK, Winter Wilson performed in Australia, Spain, Belgium and Canada. They also released Live & Unconventional, the long-awaited live album, recorded on tour and at Cropredy Festival (video here) with folk rock icons Fairport Convention. The reviews have been exceptional
https://winterwilson.com
Friday 27th January
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£10 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer
This thoroughly entertaining duo have developed an enviable reputation for their ability to reimagine folk and folk dance music; creating sounds that are simultaneously new and progressive, and yet entirely sympathetic to the tradition. You are very likely to find yourself dancing to a song – and we dare you not to sing the chorus as you go.
Vicki studied at the Royal College of Music on the double bass. She also plays the various types of bagpipes, flute, recorder, piano and nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed
-fiddle).
Composer and competition-winning guitar player; Jonny’s outstanding technical ability, coupled with a wide-ranging musical taste has made him a tireless and forceful musical innovator. Jonny has been singing and playing choral music, soul, jazz and folk for as long as he can remember.
http://www.swan-dyer.co.uk/
Friday 10th February
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£15 cash or card on the door£10 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
That Blue Patch
“Two people, many instruments and a quirky take on songs old and new”. Performing with their own take on songs from as far back as the 1920s to as recent as the 21st century. Favoured influences are Americana, Blues and Jazz. Great fun and humour is to be had wherever they play. Influences include Tom Waits, Lyle Lovett, Doris Day, Bob Dylan, Maren Morris, Memphis Minnie, Bonnie Raitt, Bessie Smith, Lemmy…..the list goes on.
Along with …
Kelly and Woolley
Launching their NEW Album Matt Kelly & Gary Woolley, an acoustic duo playing their own songs and their original versions of Cajun, Country, folk
Friday 24th February
£9 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£12 cash or card on the door
Featuring … Freds House
Fred’s House are an award-winning band based in Cambridge. They make every day feel like summer with 70’s West Coast inspired folk/rock but have their own distinctively fresh sound that is very much part of now. This group of musicians have the rare ability to sweep you away with their gorgeous harmonies, moving lyrics, infectious melodies and uplifting grooves. Among their many influences are the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Lissie and Janice Joplin.
“Fred’s House rock the crowd!” Cambridge News
“Fred’s House.. belt out some of the cheeriest, most positive folk-pop you’ve ever heard. They’re a talented, well-rehearsed bunch and singer Vix has a lovely bluesy note to her voice… they leave everyone in the room smiling.”
Theresa Heath For Folk’s Sake magazine – live review, Sea of Bees @ Portland Arms, Cambridge, 13th July.
Press for Walls and Ceilings EP “Isn’t that lovely stuff. They have a whole new sound and one that I really love!” Baylen Leonard (BBC Radio 2 / Country Hits Radio)
Friday 10th March
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£15 cash or card on the door
Featuring … TBC
Friday 31st March
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£12 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£15 cash or card on the door
Featuring … Chris Wood
“Chris takes a traditional song and has you absolutely gripped…. He makes it really obvious why it is of contemporary relevance. On the flip side, he has managed this magical thing, writing songs on contemporary themes, or putting music to Hugh Lupton’s words, that absolutely fit hand in glove with traditional songs, but are totally modern.” — Ian Anderson
With support from
Mark Gamon and friends
Friday 14th April
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£? cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Steve Christopher
Along with …
Liz Goddard and Brian Crocket
Regular and favourite on the “sing a’round” circuit Liz has a number of musical collaborators of which Brian is her longest serving – enjoying an eclectic set list …
Friday 28th April
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£7 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£10 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Charly Foskett Band
Foskett’s Folk Factory is the home of the VERY well connected Charley Foskett and his escapades into all things Folk and Roots Music – His take on old and new stories, all skilfully set to music with the help of his incredible band are a real treat.
‘I do like Foskett’s music and his interpretations – really interesting arrangements and great production – a great find!’ … Sting (2017)
These home made songs of his have been his Distraction, his Healing, his Salvation – https://www.foskettsfolkfactory.com/
From his Duos album featuring Ralph McTell
Friday 12th May
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£9 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£12 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Tin Giants
Tin Giants take a refreshing “in with the old, in with the new” approach to interpreting, writing, arranging and performing traditional, contemporary and original music inspired by European acoustic and folk traditions. The band shares decades of skilled musicianship and award-winning song-writing, playing a dazzling array of instruments.
BRYAN CAUSTON Guitars, bass, mandolin, bouzouki, cittern, keyboards, percussion, vocals PENNI MCLAREN WALKER Lead vocals, guitars, whistles, keyboards, percussion DUNCAN MOSS Hurdy gurdies, bagpipes, flute, saxophones, rauschpfeife, keyboards, oboe, percussion, vocals MARTIN LINDRIDGE Drums, percussion, bass, vocals FRAN BROADY Violins, harp, vocals JOHN CAMPBELL ARMER Guitars, basses, bass pedals, synths, percussion, vocals
Friday 26th May
At The Royal British Legion
7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£9 FOR RESERVED SEATS
£12 cash or card on the door
Featuring …
Katie Spencer
Katie’s songwriting, and ever more notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman, flow into her sound, carrying with them the warmth and idealism of the early 70’s folk and songwriter movements.
“Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar’s strings and produces little tapestries of song.”
– Ralph McTell
“The way Katie plays is never contrived, showy or imitative; it sounds true … a world-class folk guitarist”
– fRoots
www.katiespencer.net