Archive Programme

With a strong local connection transatlantic folk band The Magpies are quickly becoming one of the most exciting and innovative acts on the contemporary roots scene. Combining sublime harmonies with exquisite musicianship and impressive songwriting, The Magpies traverse Anglo and American roots, drawing inspiration from traditional Celtic folk, bluegrass and Appalachian trails, to create an effortless melting pot of music. Accomplished musicians in their own right, founding members Bella Gaffney (award winning singer-songwriter, guitarist and banjoist) and Holly Brandon (acclaimed fiddle player and tunesmith) perform alongside gifted singer-songwriter and guitarist Ellie Gowers. These talented young musicians work collaboratively to create their fresh brand of transatlantic folk and champion gender equality in the music industry, with a fervent thread of feminism running through their music.

A band who have been on the Folk Circuit since the late 60's it's a pleasure to host them at The Black Swan Folk Club. Born of a session in Paisley, Scotland, and named for the town's historic weaving industry and local poet laureate Robert Tannahill, the Tannahill Weavers have made an international name for their special brand of Celtic music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms. As one of the world's premier traditional Celtic bands, their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies, and humorous tales of life in Scotland. In 2021 they have been joined by exciting piper and fiddle player Iain MacGillivray, who is also Scotland's youngest Clan leader. Iain, a fluent Gaelic speaker, has worked on such exciting productions as Outlander and Men in Kilts, and has performed for a huge list of stars and dignitaries in recent years. As the band celebrate the nomination of their 18th recording, Òrach (“Golden” in Gaelic) as album of the year, and themselves as band of the year, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to footstomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits. "Formed from a Paisley pub session in 1968, seminal trailblazers the Tannahill Weavers now also rank as national treasures." -Glasgow Celtic Connections 2018

Riley Baugus represents the very best of old time American banjo and song. His powerful singing voice and his expert musicianship place him squarely in the next generation of the quality American roots tradition. Riley is a native of the southern Appalachians. The Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina is where his roots lie, and he grew up learning the music and art of storytelling of the region from older musicians in the area. His solo show consists of a focus on banjos, ballads, stories and songs. He has toured in the UK for many years with Ira Bernstein, as one half of the hugely popular Appalachian Roots project. He has played at Celtic Connections several times with Dirk Powell, and also toured with Tim Eriksen in the States, as part of the Cold Mountain film tour, and as a duo. Riley has also recorded with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, and with Willie Nelson – both T-Bone Burnett projects.

Nora Brown is the “brightest young star in old-time music” (Songlines), playing traditional music focused on southern Appalachian banjo and guitar, with her singing revealing her “thirst for storytelling.”( NPR) . She digs deep: “a reverent nod to deeply-rooted ole-time traditions, and an exhibit of sonic heirlooms carefully amended to meet a modern moment with vintage elegance.” American Songwriter. The New Yorker called her most recent solo record Long Time To Be Gone “a disarming collection of traditional laments and exquisite banjo instrumentals.” Nora will perform in a duo with award-winning fiddler Stephanie Coleman. First brought together by Brooklyn’s tight-knit old-time music community, Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman share a rich musical partnership that belies their 20 year age difference. Stephanie is a master old-time fiddler, having recorded with and toured internationally over the last two decades with celebrated artists including trailblazing all-women string band Uncle Earl. Beginning at age 6, under the tutelage of the late musician and scholar Shlomo Pestcoe, Brown also counts Alice Gerrard, George Gibson, and the late John Cohen, Lee Sexton, and John Haywood among her teachers and mentors. Just nineteen years old, Brown has released three albums, a single, and an EP on Jalopy Records – all of which have charted on the Billboard Bluegrass Charts during the first week of release. Across each haunting collection of traditional music, Brown’s playing is lucid, confident, and full of grace. She has toured across the US, Europe, and Japan, playing renowned festivals including the Newport Folk Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Winnipeg Folk Festival, and Live Magic! in Tokyo. She has performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk twice, TED Salon, WNYC’s Dolly Parton’s America and an official showcase at the 2022 Americana Fest in Nashville. “Some of the most interesting and haunting traditional music we’ve heard… impossibly talented… One thing that I really loved about both your albums is that both your banjo technique and your vocals are amazing. You seem to be mining these old songs with emotions far beyond your years.” Jason Verlinde, Fretboard Journal “A disarming collection of traditional laments and exquisite banjo instrumentals”. The New Yorker

'THE ROLLING HILLS OF HOME, THAT WAS NEVER MY HOME AT ALL' Two Americana and Folk performers combine for what promises to be an interesting evening of song. Jude Brothers is a freak folk singer-songwriter from Northwest Arkansas, inspired by the regional folk music of the Ozarks always reaching for the roots therein and branches thereout. Offering a new take on the music Brothers offers old school folk heads a taste of timelessness, evocative lyricism, and unparalleled vocal stylings over a bed of whirling harp & guitar melodies. On this tour Jude combines with Clarke Camilleri a folk singer-songwriter from Nottinghamshire, whose music blends folk traditions with a life of discovery. With his banjo in tow, he’s journeyed across countries, gathering stories that deeply influence his sound. Shaped by roles as a fisherman, construction worker, plasterer, and busker, his music is rich with authenticity and depth. These experiences have provided him with a wealth of stories, further enriching his songwriting.

Since their first get together, to record the eponymous St Agnes Fountain album in 2001, the quartet; David Hughes, Fairport Convention's Chris Leslie and multi award winning duo Chris While and Julie Matthews, have brought musical invention and laughter to the star-dust atmosphere of the season. Founding member David Hughes sadly passed away in 2023 but the other original members Chris Leslie, Julie Matthews and Chris While continue as a trio. 2024 brought a new 'live' album from them, recorded all across the country during their 2023 Christmas tour. As usual the album accompanied the putting up of a thousand Christmas trees throughout Britain and around the globe as their reputation reached further afield. It is, without question, their magical live performances that have endeared them to an ever-growing audience. Christmas, as they say, starts with...... St Agnes Fountain... Fa la la la la la la la la! Here they are again for their third visit to the National Centre for Early Music.

The party will take the usual format with Christmas songs and tunes with club residents in the form of a Come All Ye session and they’ll be food and prizes. It’s free admission to this one and everybody is very welcome.

The annual celebration of the music of BOB DYLAN with 5 piece band BLONDE on BOB supported by special guests BILLY LEONARD and GRAHAM METCALF.. Only songs from the legendary singer-songwriter plus Christmas festivities including the annual Dylan quiz.

Jez Lowe has long been one of the UK’s busiest folk performers, playing for audiences the world over and we're pleased to have him back again at The Black Swan Folk Club to kick off the year as our first club guest of 2026. Jez has helped to rekindle the fire in the tradition of mining songs and culture of his native region in a series of sell out theatre performances around the UK and over the last couple of decades, the likes of Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Unthanks, Wizz Jones, The McCalmans, Mary Black and The Young Uns have adopted his songs for their own repertoires. Richard Thompson has called him “The best singer songwriter to come out of the UK for a long time”, and personally invited him to play at Thompson’s Meltdown Festival at London’s South Bank Centre in 2010. Jez Lowe’s contributions to the BBC Radio series The Radio Ballads cemented this reputation, with a Sony Radio Award among the many accolades coming its way. We're looking forward to a great evening of song with Jez accompanying himself on guitar, cittern and harmonica. Tickets

A return to the club for this popualr performer. Award-winning songwriter Reg Meuross, introduced at the Royal Albert Hall by Mike Harding as “one of this country’s finest”, is a true modern troubadour and one of the most respected voices in contemporary English folk. With a beautiful tenor voice and a catalogue of songs that span compassion, social justice, history and humanity, he has captivated audiences for decades across the UK, Europe, North America and the Antipodes. A Reg Meuross concert is a masterclass in musical storytelling. Accompanying himself on his vintage 1944 Martin six-string guitar, harmonica, tenor guitar, banjo and dulcimer, he draws listeners into the heart and soul of his songs: stories that need telling, lives that need honouring, truths that need unearthing. Across 17 critically acclaimed albums, Reg continues to prove how highly relevant his songs are, whilst reaching new audiences with consistently spellbinding performances. Reg is currently touring songs from his extensive back catalogue alongside Fire and Dust, the narrated song-cycle commissioned by Pete Townshend, which explores the life of Woody Guthrie and shines a light on racism, corruption and inequality. A new solo album is due in 2026. “There’s something special about the way he writes and delivers a song” - Townes Van Zandt ‘assured a place in the pantheon of great folk songwriters’ – The Living Tradition ‘classic, with echoes of early Dylan, Tom Paxton and Leonard Cohen’ – The Guardian

The multi-award winning and highly acclaimed Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while enhancing its hard-driving soulful music with a broad range of global influences. Since its inception in August 2002, Le Vent du Nord has enjoyed meteoric success, performing well over 2,500 concerts over 4 continents and racking up several prestigious awards, including a SONGLINES MUSIC AWARD -Americas (UK, 2023) Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros (France), two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), three FÉLIX at ADISQ (Québec), a Canadian Folk Music Award, and been awarded Artist of the Year at the Folk Alliance annual gala. The group exhibits great finesse and flexibility, appearing regularly on Canadian, American, French, and UK television and radio, and participating in a wide variety of special musical projects. They’ve collaborated and performed with a diverse range of artists including: Väsen, Sharon Shannon, Harry Manx, singer Julie Fowlis, Dervish, The Chieftains, Yann-Fañch Kemener, Québécois roots legend and master storyteller Michel Faubert, Apiary fiddle band, Breabach and many more. Not content with standard approaches to tradition, Le Vent du Nord has also created since 2007 a symphonic concert that, according to Voir Montreal, “puts all traditional folk naysayers to shame.” As an amazing live performance quintet Le Vent du Nord continues to explore new sounds with stunning vocal arrangements. On stage these 5 friends create intense, joyful and dynamic live performances that expand the bounds of tradition in striking directions.

The third visit to the club from a locally based singer and songwriter. Jon Palmer Acoustic Band are now an established and well respected outfit who have created an enviable live reputation in the north of the country. A six piece band (Jon Palmer - guitar, vocals; Adam Hopkins - cajon, vocals; Wendy Ross - violin, vocals; Ryan Griffiths - bass, vocals; Iain Cunningham - keyboards, vocals; Lee Wellbrook - mandolin, vocals), they perform with a passion and enthusiasm that matches the content of Jon’s songs. Mixing the traditional with the contemporary, and never afraid to comment on current topics, Jon Palmer writes songs with soaring, memorable choruses that you will have trouble getting out of your head. The band’s last album, Light Goes Low, received great reviews and the band continue to go from strength to strength. “Energy filled folk-rock spilled from a 6-piece that hit the audience straight between the ears right from the start, rarely letting up” - Fatea “...their joy illuminated the venue with feel-good folk-rock with spirit and a conscience” - At The Barrier “…the biggest noise of the weekend, topped with 6-part harmonies, flying fiddle, energy, joy and spirit” - Folk North West

Another chance to see this phenomenal duo at The Black Swan Folk Club. “Tony’s music is beyond beautiful, it’s perfect” – Tommy Emmanuel. “Julia’s bell-like voice and her fiddle playing are thrilling. She moves effortlessly from fiddle to guitar, her solo is impressive.” – Salon Festival, France. Hailed by the late John Renbourn as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’, Tony McManus has been listed as one of 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Julia Toaspern, from Berlin, combines classical violin and voice training with an interest in jazz, baroque and traditional music. She has released two albums of original songs and performed both as a classical player and as a singer/songwriter on both sides of the Atlantic. Her skills as a guitarist are prodigious and make a very exciting fit with Tony’s work. The duo’s guitar treatments of traditional music is unique exploring the harmonic possibilities of these old, and sometimes not so old, tunes. Flat-picking or finger-picking at the highest level they are always at the service of the music rather than simply displaying technical prowess - although that is very evident as well. Julia's violin effortlessly morphs into a fiddle as she weaves from Italian madrigal to Scottish reel. Julia’s songs go to the heart of love and loss, hope and survival and are infused with a musical input from wide and eclectic experience of musical life.

Key members of celebrated folk collective Transatlantic Sessions and legends in their own right, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle are on the road again in 2026, bringing you their own blend of top-class folk songs, tunes and charming bonhomie.

“Brit folk's finest” – Mojo “A fine, no-nonsense interpreter of traditional music and an excellent songwriter” - The Guardian “Few are as adventurous and intriguing” – Songlines Bella Hardy, one of the most celebrated voices of modern folk, returns to the stage in 2026 ahead of the release of her eagerly-anticipated new album. Known for her crystal-clear voice and fearless songwriting, Hardy continues to push the boundaries of contemporary folk while staying deeply rooted in the traditions that inspired her. A gifted storyteller, Bella's work explores themes of home and heartache, love and loss, with striking honesty and poetic depth. Rooted in folk but never bound by it, her songs speak to the soul, timeless yet unmistakably modern. With her new material set to debut during this tour, audiences will be among the first to experience her latest chapter. Those who have witnessed Bella live know the power of her performances. Her voice, both delicate and commanding, draws listeners in from the first note, creating an atmosphere that feels as intimate as it is unforgettable. Touring with her trio, including acclaimed guitarist Jenn Butterworth, these shows promise a rare musical chemistry and emotional depth that few can match. From her breakthrough debut Night Visiting (2007) to ten acclaimed solo albums, Bella has forged an extraordinary career. She’s performed unaccompanied at the Royal Albert Hall, learned the songs of farmers in rural China, sung from the hills of her beloved Peak District, and immersed herself in the music of Nashville during a year as a Tennessee ranch hand. Her journey has shaped a voice that is at once worldly and deeply personal – a voice that earned her the title of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year. Don’t miss your chance to experience one of folk music’s most compelling voices live on stage.

Postponed from September 2025 it's a pleasure to once again welcome Mikey Kenney for his debut appearance at The Black Swan Folk Club. Mikey is primarily a respected fiddle player, singer, songwriter and composer from Liverpool, but he is also a multi-instrumentalist, often performing many of the parts on his recordings (on banjo, mandolin, guitar, melodeon etc). Embracing duality, Kenney is very much the musical outsider artist; he is hailed by many as an important conduit of learning, conserving and handing down both English and Irish traditional fiddle music in England's Northwest (previously the musical director for the Lancashire Youth Folk Ensemble and currently the Vice-Chair at Comhaltas Liverpool) and yet he is constantly composing alternative and progressive music of his own with his last two releases Counsel of Owls and The Reverie Road receiving widespread acclaim (both 5/5 fRoots magazine). For Kenney both of these releases serve as stepping stones in his artistic disciplines, as he seeks a way to use his knowledge of traditional fiddle music in his own compositions without compromising the integrity of either. Through direct experience, Kenney allows other musical forms such as psychedelia, bluegrass, jazz and Italian tarantella to seep into his music but never so far as to allow any one influence to dominate his deep love for traditional fiddle playing. The result of crossing these stones is his latest album Tiny Little Light. We are very pleased to be presenting such an exciting talent at the club.

*This is a seated show with all seated unreserved* Pioneering singer, songwriter and guitarist John Smith has been at the forefront of British folk and roots music for twenty years. He has amassed over 125 million Spotify streams and played his songs all over the world. He cut his teeth opening for the late, great John Martyn, and has since worked with a host of artists including Sarah Jarosz, the Milk Carton Kids, Patty Griffin, Joan Baez, David Gray, Tom Jones and Jackson Browne. As he marks his 20th anniversary in music this October, John's new release Gatherings celebrates, revisits, and reimagines songs from his first three albums, with brand new interpretations of his own and audience favourites from over 2,000 live shows. Pre-save Gatherings here: https://slinky.to/Gatherings Reflecting on these treasured compositions, John said: "I've learnt as time goes on that the songwriter isn't necessarily in charge of the songs. Sometimes it feels as if it's the other way round, that a song will reveal itself fully when it's ready to be sung." Gatherings features guest appearances from Lisa Hannigan, The Staves, Siobhan Miller, and Dan Mangan (all on vocals), Adam Levy (guitar) and Nick Pini (bass). It was produced by John and mixed by Ryan Freeland (Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann, Joe Henry, Ray LaMontagne). First single "Salty and Sweet" (featuring Lisa Hannigan) is out now, about which John shared: "One morning in 2010, I woke up with this song in my head, sung in Lisa's voice. The thing is, I didn't yet know Lisa. I met her a little while after and told her about it. She told me that I should sing it myself, but she'd be happy to duet. This song is the one people always shout out for, it gets the biggest singalong at the end of a show. I wanted to record a version with just Lisa and I in the studio, no frills, as if we were sharing a mic in a room full of people." Looking back on a remarkable 20 years, in John's own words.... "I went self-employed in October 2005 after a gig at Ullapool Guitar Festival that paid as much as a week at my four part-time jobs. Back then, I was working all day and playing every night in any pub, restaurant, or cinema foyer in Liverpool that would have me. All I had was my six-string and a handful of songs. Fast forward a few months, when out of nowhere I was offered a support slot for John Martyn. Suddenly I'm on tour! I found my calling on the road. Some two thousand shows later, here I am trying to make sense of it all. I was excited by the opportunity to re-record songs that have grown and changed over the years. To be honest, they change as soon as you leave the studio and get on stage; but I realise now that a few were perhaps recorded too soon, before they were fully formed. Others just feel more comfortable now that I've lived with them for a long time, like old friends. I took the chance to gather these songs and record them as I hear them now. These songs carried me everywhere through the years. They took me to places and introduced me to people I could never have expected to find. Along the way, I've met so many great musicians who have become true friends. I'm fortunate to have some of my favourites join me on this record - Lisa Hannigan, The Staves, Siobhan Miller, and Dan Mangan all contribute vocals, while Adam Levy plays a guitar solo as if he were singing. Nick Pini joins on bass, alongside a small ensemble lending colour to this imagined landscape. Finally, Ryan Freeland kindly agreed to mix the album, working his magic in vivid brushstrokes. Gatherings is a ten-song selection of audience favourites, revisited and reimagined, for all the people in the crowd who have stuck with me through the years; but also an opportunity to show these songs to a new audience." 'Smith's voice is a rare and deeply soulful combination of granite and velvet' Sunday Times

Returning to the Black Swan Folk Club after an absence of more than six years, acclaimed American musician and singer-songwriter Dana Robinson brings a wealth of experience, spirit, and originality to the stage. Known for his evocative songwriting and dynamic performances, Dana’s music is shaped by the vast landscapes he has called home—the wide-open horizons of the Western States, the inviting intimacy of New England, the enduring passion of Great Britain’s traditional ballads, and the earthy grit of Southern Appalachia. Drawing from old-time and country blues, folk, and rock, Dana crafts a sound that is both timeless and fresh. His skill on guitar is unmatched, seamlessly merging American flat picking with English fingerstyle to create intricate, rhythmic patterns all his own. His fiddle playing, inspired by the Round Peak tradition of North Carolina, adds depth and authenticity to his music. Dana’s latest album, The Sound of the Word, is his 14th full-length studio release and the culmination of six years of creative exploration. This record blends contemporary songwriting with southern old-time influences, resulting in a body of work that is at once expansive and intimate. Inspired by bands like The Horse Flies, Wilco, and Shooglenifty, Dana’s new material tackles the pressing issues of our era while always circling back to the solace and inspiration found in the natural world. Join us for an unforgettable evening with Dana Robinson—a true troubadour whose music celebrates tradition, innovation, and the enduring power of song.