This page is for reviews of folk club events,
appearing artists CDs and selected other local folk events.

Type	Artist	CD Title / Venue	Date
CD	Brian Finnegan	The Ravishing Genius Of Bones	9 November 2010
	Brian is but one constituent of the mighty KAN, who have not yet released a CD - but you need to read this to whet your appetite for the NCEM gig! (Review by DavidK)
CD	Chris Newman & Maire Ni Chathasaigh	Fire Wire	11th October 2010
	One of the most scintillating instrumental duos around, with an unmissable live act. Top-class guitar wizardry allied to top-class harpistry. Chris celebrates 40 years in the business with a brilliant brand new solo CD, which will be available at the gig on pre-release. (Review by DavidK)
CD	Sarah McQuaid	I Won't Go Home Till Morning	7th october 2010
	One of the most engaging singers around, Sarah delivers the goods on anything from folk, Irish, Appalachian and the occasional standard or gospel holler. She's also a dab-hand at DADGAD guitar too. And a really luvly person... go see her! (Review by DavidK)
CD	Issy & David Emeney	The Waiting	21st October 2010
	Issy and David are a vital and characterful duo with a warm and engaging live presence, well worth seeing. (Review by DavidK)
CD	Hans Theessink	Birthday Bash	16th September 2010
	This ace sexagenarian Dutch blues guitarist - and so much more - is feted on a brilliant birthday CD-set recorded just over two years ago. (Review by DavidK)
CD	Roger Davies	The Busker	23rd September 2010
	This latest (and long-awaited third) full-length CD from Brighouse (West Yorkshire)’s finest songwriter is arguably his own finest too. (Review by DavidK)
CD	Askew Sisters	Through Lonesome Woods	9th September 2010
	Latest studio album from winning sibling act offers fresh and imaginative reinterpretation of its traditional source material. (Review by DavidK)
CD	The Carrivick Sisters	Jupiter's Corner	15th July 2010
	Twins Laura and Charlotte bring to the scene an enchantingly different, and uncannily mature, blend of contemporary songwriting in the bluegrass and folk idiom, something very special indeed. (Review by DavidK)
CD	Anna Shannon	Over Land	17th June 2010
	Anna is a very special talent, so miss her next Black Swan gig at your peril! (Review by DavidK)
CD	Uiscedwr	Fish Cat Door	22nd march 2010
	Back with a bang, this revitalised trio are at the top of their game. (Review by davidk)
	Dana & Susan Robinson	Big Mystery	18th March 2010
	No big mystery about the appeal of this companionable duo, always guaranteed to give pleasure with their friendly proficiency and excellent, if understated musicianship. (Review by davidk)
	Suntrap	Sweet fast river	4th March 2010
	Latest review of a Suntrap Cd available. Their next album is eagerly awaited! (Review by davidk)
Gig	Chris Wood' Handmade Life Tour	NCEM	30/11/2009
	Chris Wood talks to Northern Sky's Allan Wilkinson at the National Centre for Early Music in York. (Review by Allan Wilkinson)
CD	Chris Wood	Handmade Life	30 November 2009
	The excellent new album from one of today's most important songwriters demonstrates his distinctive genius: and this is no word of exaggeration. (Review by davidk)
CD	The Askew Sisters	The Axford Five	12 Nov 09
	A lovely new CD combining the talents of the Askews with Craig Morgan Robson (seen at the Black Swan in May this year). (Review by davidk)
	The Askew Sisters	All In A Garden Green	26th November 2009
	An impressive take on the English tradition. (Review by davidk)
	The Queensberry Rules	Take Your Own Roads	12th November 2009
	Finest album yet from this quirky trio who've been dubbed "Staffordshire's Show Of Hands". (Review by davidk)
Gig	Jackie Oates	NCEM	19/10/2009
	Allan Wilkinson met up with the winner of this years BBC Horizon Award Jackie Oates to discuss a life of Sidmouth Festival, her new album Hyperboreans and the Shruti.. (Review by Allan Wilkinson)
CD	Jackie Oates	Hyperboreans	22 Sep 09
	A brilliant new album from one of the scene's most charismatic female performers, whetting our appetites for her appearance at the NCEM next month. (Review by davidk)
CD	James Keelaghan	House of Cards	22 Sep 09
	Another classy and compelling set that demonstrates why James is a must-see performer who's justly regarded as one of Canada's premier songwriters of the present-day. (Review by davidk)
CD	Megson	Take Yourself A Wife	3rd September 2009
	A duo full of presence and inspiration providing fresh takes on tradition as well as exceptional musicianship. (Review by davidk)
	Michael Rossiter	My Dearest Dear	18 Aug 09
	An inspired guitarist and singer gives his own personal, slightly idiosyncratic but ultimately satisfying take on tradition. (Review by davidk)
	Sam Carter	Keepsakes	17th September 2009
	An unbelievably assured young performer - guitarist, singer, songwriter - with a very strong presence and already building up a hell of a following. (Review by davidk)
CD	The Young'Uns	PLASTIC COD'EADS	10 Aug 09
	The unmissable second album from the unmissable young trio. Stunning singing, grand harmonies, excellent songwriting. Worth the price of admission in sea-coal. (Review by davidk)
	Nathan Rogers	True Stories	24 May 09
	Nathan, son of the late and much missed Canadian singer-songwriter Stan Rogers, is an important and interesting talent in his own right: a splendid singer, songwriter and guitar picker. (Review by davidk)
Gig	John Renbourn and Robin Williamson	NCEM	15 April 2009
	(Review by Allan Wilkinson)
Gig	Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy and Chris Parkinson	NCEM	10 March 2009
	(Review by Allan Wilkinson)
CD	Sylvia Barnes	The Colour Of Amber	12 February 2009
	Don't miss this rare appearance south of the Border by this distinguished Scots singer, on this occasion performing with Sandy Stanage. (Review by davidk)
CD	Zoox	88	10 Feb 09
	Three multi-talented multi-instrumentalist ladies: Gad-zoox! What more could you want? (Review by davidk)
Gig	Bram Taylor	Black Swan	14/08/08
	It’s easy for an MC to slip into hyperbole, but when Stan Graham introduced Bram Taylor as ‘one of the Black Swan Folk Club’s favourite guests’, he was simply stating the truth. (Review by Oz)
Gig	Chris Wood	The Black Swan	06/10/08
	In one of many rambling but captivating introductions tonight, Chris Wood explains his reasons for writing few conventional love songs: ‘I’ve a real aversion to cliché’. (Review by Oz)
Gig	The Churchfitters	The Black Swan	25/09/08
	‘It’s all a façade – we hate this music’. Guitarist Topher Loudon, hair already pasted to his face with sweat after only the first handful of numbers, may just possibly be telling porkies here. Because one thing that is clear right from the appropriately-titled ‘Amazing’ which opens the set, is that Churchfitters, in the parlance of reality TV, give 110%. (Review by Oz)
Gig	Emily Smith	NCEM	25/11/08
	Mid-point through David Ferrard’s support set comes a beautiful a capella version of the Appalachian ballad, ‘My Dearest Dear’. Using the venue’s impressive acoustics to the full, his clear, ringing voice is absolutely captivating – the highlight of a set which, whilst well-received by the near-capacity audience, leaves me rather cold. Perhaps I’m just missing something? (Review by Oz)
Gig	Kerr Fagan Harbron & Methera	NCEM	03/10/08
	I don’t like to use words like ‘world premiere’, announces amiable Aussie James Fagan, so I won’t. But it is. At a time of much fruitful intermixing in the folk world, here we have another experimental aggregation, this time with the most unwieldy name since Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch. (Review by Oz)
Gig	Rachel Unthank and the Winterset	NCEM	20/10/08
	Another capacity audience at the NCEM proved that the now regular collaborations between the Black Swan Folk Club and the venue are really hitting the spot with the discerning ears of York. (Review by Oz)
CD	Crucible	Love & Money	29th January 2009
	The Sheffield-based fab foursome continue to make giant strides in the presentation of largely traditional repertoire, demonstrating true guts, commitment and serious musicianship. Not to be missed. (Review by davidk)
CD	Grace Notes	Northern Tide	8th January 2009
	Three wonderful singers with an unrivalled choice of repertoire: yes, they really ARE that special... (Review by davidk)
Gig	David Ferrard	NCEM	20/11/08
	(Review by Allan Wilkinson)
Gig	Emily Smith	NCEM	20/11/08
	(Review by Allan Wilkinson)
CD	Emily Smith	Too Long Away	25th November 2008
	Enchanting singer, increasingly compelling songwriter, expert accordionist and with an intimate live presence - what more could you want?! (Review by davidk)
Gig	Rachel Unthank and the Winterset	NCEM, York	21st October 2008
	Rachel Unthank and the Winterset have been doing a bit of global trotting in recent months; earlier in the year they toured Australia and more recently the United States, with a handful of shows in Europe as well. Seeing them back in Yorkshire is always a pleasure. The last time we saw the band here at the National Centre for Early Music in York, the band was very different indeed. Since then we've seen the departure of two remarkable musicians Jackie Oates and Belinda O'Hooley, and some thought that this just might see our Unthank siblings back as a family duo once again. (Review by Allan Wilkinson)
CD	Tom McConville	Tommy On Song	13th November 2008
	fabulous musician just gets better and better it seems – and every record he makes represents a significant step forward in at least one aspect. Tommy On Song, the latest in a distinguished recorded canon, emphasises how genuinely great a singer Tom is (in addition to his proven exceptional fiddle skills). (Review by davidk)
CD	Chris Wood	Trespasser	6th November 2008
	Chris is a compelling performer whose speciality is his penchant for exploration of the contemporary English psyche. This he does largely through the vehicle of his neo-traditional songwriting. (Review by davidk)
CD	David Francey	Right of Passage	30 October 2008
	Ex-pat Scot now based across the pond, David's a man of easy charm and unassuming, down-to-earth creative talent and his songs and intimate personal rapport provide an experience not to be missed out on. (Review by davidk)
CD	Steve Suffet	Low Rent District	23rd October
	Experience companionable WYSIWYG old-school folk music from this "old-fashioned folk singer in the People's Music tradition". (Review by davidk)
	Kerr Fagan Harbron	Station House	3rd October 2008
	A dynamic partnership and an unmissable live act. (Review by davidk)
	Dan McKinnon	Just Another Day	15 Sep 08
	Dan's a warm-voiced (and equally warm-hearted) Canadian singer-songwriter who made a big impression when he last toured the UK just a couple of years ago. Though often in the past compared to Stan Rogers, Dan's very much his own man, with a wonderfully approachable style and wholly engaging presence. Come and experience the magic of Dan McKinnon at the Black Swan on 2nd October. (Review by davidk)
CD	Bella Hardy	Night Visiting	2 Sep 08
	So far, Bella's only released CD is this acclaimed solo album, reviewed below, but it's a great indication of her astounding talent and presence, which will be complemented by those very qualities in the musicianship of concertina wiz Chris Sherburn at the Black Swan on 11th September. (Review by davidk)
CD	Tom Bliss	Island Stories	2 Sep 08
	Island Stories is but the latest in an already distinguished line of releases from this ultra-talented singer, songwriter and multi-multi-instrumentalist (with so many strings to his bow it's scary!)... Tom's one of the most versatile - and genuinely entertaining - guys on the circuit. (Review by davidk)
CD	Bram Taylor	Song Singer	2 Aug 08
	A long-time mainstay of the folk scene and one of its most well-loved performers, Bram always presents a fine selection of songs that he very obviously loves singing. (Review by davidk)
CD	Roger Davies	Northern Trash	26 Jul 08
	Defiantly “northern”, yes, but certainly not trash. Roger’s a West Yorkshire (Brighouse-born) singer-songwriter who engages your attention straight away with his easy, unassuming, captivatingly relaxed performing style and his knack for finding musical poetry in purely local places, stories and references. (Review by davidk)
CD	Wendy Arrowsmith	Now Then?	13 Jun 08
	This CD is a refreshingly direct and admirably simply recorded demonstration both of Wendy’s musical and songwriting talents and her winning personality. (Review by davidk)
CD	Jeff Warner	Jolly Tinker	6 Jun 08
	Jeff's a brilliant communicator of song who invariably conjures an enchanting evening worth travelling miles to catch. Which you can do soon - at the Black Swan on 12th June! (Review by davidk)
CD	Faustus	Faustus	22 May 08
	A brilliant shop-window for all that's best about the current crop of revitalised trad-arr folk. Remember - you heard them here "faust" - at the Black Swan and then at the NCEM! (Review by DavidK)
CD	Dana & Susan Robinson	'Round My Door	22 May 08
	A neat little masterpiece of truly elegant Americana from this week's Black Swan guests (May 22nd). (Review by DavidK)
CD	Brian Peters	Songs Of Trial And Triumph	22 May 08
	A complete CD of Child Ballads - but also supremely entertaining and stimulating! Can't be done? - well just read on!... (Review by DavidK)
Gig	David Moss & Masha Kaestner, aka Lightgarden	Black Swan Folk Club	3rd April 2008
	Magic! One of those nights where the unusual and unfamiliar provides a more stimulating evening’s entertainment and more lasting musical satisfaction than the “know exactly what you’re in for” bigger-name attractions. (Review by DavidK)