Archive Programme

Another highly anticipated visit to York from brothers Brían and Diarmuid Mac Gloinn who grew up playing music together around their hometown of Carlow, a small town in the southeast of Ireland. After moving to Dublin in 2012, they quickly became a staple of the live music and session scene in Ireland, playing their own original songs as well as folk songs from Ireland, Scotland, England and America. In 2014 they came to the attention of Arbutus Yarns’ music filmmaker Myles O’Reilly, whose videos gained international attention for the brothers for the first time. After a chance meeting at Electric Picnic in September 2015, the brothers performed onstage with Glen Hansard, who invited them to open for him on his European tour the following October. Their debut EP Rose & Briar was released on October 7th 2015. Since then, they have been busy touring Ireland, the UK and Europe, opening for acts such as Villagers, Roy Harper and Lisa Hannigan (whose band they played in for her Irish tour, June 2016). They have played sold out headline shows in Ireland, France, Switzerland and the UK. They have made numerous television and live radio appearances in Ireland, and were also part of ‘Imagining Home’, a live broadcast concert in the National Concert Hall of Ireland, 2016, curated by Glen Hansard, Philip King and Gary Sheehan. In October 2017 they launched their debut, self-titled album to great acclaim. “Ye Vagabonds” comprises of harmony rich folk music, influenced by Irish traditional music, Appalachian singing, and the 1960’s folk revival. It includes ten mellow tracks weaved with thoughtful lyrics, thickly layered with strings and droning harmonium. Their second album ‘The Hare’s Lament’ was released on 22nd March 2019 to huge critical acclaim. In 2019 they won the BBC Radio Two Folk Award for Best Traditional Track, and they swept the boards at the RTÉ Radio One Folk Awards where they won Best Traditional Track, Best Group, and Best Album. In 2022 the released their long-awaited third album Nine Waves and have spent the majority of the year playing live in Ireland and across the UK, including opening a couple of shows for Phoebe Bridgers in June.

Many apologies to everyone but we have to cancel this show due to illness. Refunds to anyone who's bought a ticket are on the way.Although we originally announced an Open Mic instead we've decided to have a night off and so the club is closed this week. Back next week with Daoiri Farrell at the NCEM on Wed Oct 12 and an Open Mic at the club on Thuirs Oct 13.

We're proud to welcome back once again singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell. He has been described as one of the most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years. In 2017 six months after releasing the album ‘True Born Irishman’ he won two prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Newcomer and Best Traditional Track, and he performed live at the awards ceremony at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Since then he has toured the UK, and played at festivals in Australia, Canada, the UK, Belgium, Denmark and more. In February 2018 he toured with the all-star Transatlantic Sessions in major venues across the UK. Autumn 2019 saw him nominated for three RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, best singer, best traditional track and best album for latest release ‘A Lifetime Of Happiness’ produced by Donal Lunny. ‘His powerfully unadorned vocals might be from any era, variously recalling Paul Brady and Andy Irvine…it’s a powerful statement.’ Mojo Support is from locally based Irish singer and songwriter PAULA RYAN.

Revamped with a new sound, look and album, Joshua and his incredible band eagerly return to the stage. Having cut his teeth playing the folk festivals of the UK and releasing two albums of traditional songs, Joshua now returns to his original songwriting, exploring themes from traditional folk fused with his dynamic brand of retro pop-infused folk. Joshua’s latest album, Flowers Where The Horses Sleep, is inspired by the lives of people both past and present and explores humankind’s remarkable ability to find beauty, even in the ugliest of times; an ability as relevant now as ever.

First time at the club for John and Di. They've built up a great reputation with Di´s voice and John´s delicate guitar playing adding to their vocal harmony. They will be covering a selection of traditional and contemporary material including new, inventive and intelligent songs which are by turn poignant, wistful & hilarious.

2020 saw Clive Gregson’s 40th year in the music business when he was due to mark the end of an era as he’d decided to retire from solo touring at the end of the year. Yes, you’ve guessed it, the pandemic put paid to that! To belatedly celebrate his illustrious four-decade career, Clive will be fitting in as many live dates as practically possible this autumn. He had also planned to release a new album in every month during 2020 – all different, all new, all original! The January offering, One Year “Quite simply, one of the best albums of his career”, followed by Raggedy Ass in February… “So, another month, another great Gregson album' And yes, you’ve guessed it again, this plan was significantly disrupted, although he has managed to produce eight so far. Born and raised in Manchester Clive relocated to the USA in 1993 and was based in Nashville, then Houston for a large part of his musical life. An accomplished singer, musician and record producer of world-renown he first attracted attention, when his now legendary band Any Trouble burst onto the music scene. He also formed the ground-breaking duo with Christine Collister and over the years has toured with others including Richard Thompson, Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine, Nanci Griffith and Dennis Locorriere. Clive’s live solo shows are something truly memorable and definitely not to be missed. He’s one of the most respected songwriters of his time, releasing a steady stream of stunning albums throughout his career and an amazing guitarist. Many of his songs recorded by a host of contemporaries.

Fresh from publishing their much-anticipated biography of the late, great Jake Thackray, John Watterson (‘Fake Thackray’) and Paul Thompson combine their talents as performers and authors to present an evening like no other, featuring Jake’s brilliant, hilarious songs and stories from his remarkable life. Admired by Neil Gaiman, Jarvis Cocker, Jon Richardson and Arctic Monkeys, among many others, Jake is increasingly recognised as one of the greatest and most original British songwriters of the twentieth century; a unique talent, whose songs are full of wit, poetry, irreverence and humanity.

A familiar face at The Black Swan Folk Club. Tom has guested at the club many times. He was born on Tyneside and brought up in a pub on the famous Scotswood Road with clientele drawn from the Irish and Scottish communities. This is where he first experienced traditional singing and fiddle music; the Hornpipes of James Hill amongst his first influences. 50 years on Tom McConville is widely acknowledged as THE authority on the music of James Hill and produced the first CD devoted entirely to Hill’s compositions. Renowned for his musical accompaniments, Tom has played on hundreds of albums. The list includes: Barbara Dickson, Richard Thompson, Allan Taylor and Lindisfarne. Whilst he has shared stages throughout the world with Stephan Grappelli, Sean McGuire, Mark O’Connor, Paul Brady and The Chieftains, Tom has never forgotten his roots and is as happy in the intimate atmosphere of a small folk club as he is at the largest festivals. Tom McConville is a world class act! Tonight's gig sees Tom accompanied by acclaimed mandolin player and guitarist Andy Watt.

This event replaces the one we had to postpone from 25/11/21. All tickets already purchased for the postponed date remain valid. Allan Taylor is one of the last of the travelling troubadours who came through the London and New York Greenwich Village folk music scene of the sixties and seventies. He’s travelled the world performing at festivals, concert halls and clubs. Considered to be one of the foremost singer-songwriters and guitarists in his genre, with more than one hundred and fifty recorded versions of his songs by artists in ten different languages, he’s made more than twenty CDs/Albums and continues to write, record and tour throughout Europe.

Christina Alden and Alex Patterson have been playing music since they were children and were both raised in musical households in the Norfolk and Suffolk countryside. They are multi-instrumentalist songwriters and have been working together for over seven years from their home in the centre of Norwich. Their music is firmly bedded in the folk tradition of storytelling and their writing often reflects on the relationship between humans and the wild; from unlikely friendships between a wolf and bear, migratory movements of Artic foxes and people across land and ocean and the importance of re-wilding and enabling space for nature to renew. They have enjoyed touring extensively in the UK and Europe; including a 23 date concert hall tour with Show of Hands plus headline and main stage performances at some of the UK’s most prestigious folk festivals and performances in Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland. They have written and self-released four albums, composed music for a BBC Radio 4 documentary series and have had over a million streams on Spotify. 2022 is set to be an important year as they set out on our first major tour as a duo following the release of their spring 2021 debut album. ‘Hunter’ received great reviews and lots of national airplay including; BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, BBC Scotland, BBC Wales, BBC Ulster and RTÉ Radio 1 and it even made it into the top 10 in the Amazon Folk charts!

Ground-breaking, chart-topping, genre-bending, globetrotting, instantly enthralling… it’s little wonder that Talisk rank highly amongst the most in-demand folk-based groups to emerge from Scotland in the last decade and more. Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year 2018), Graeme Armstrong and Benedict Morris (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019) fuse concertina, guitar and fiddle to produce a truly innovative, multi-layered signature that has captivated audiences around the globe.At its core, three seemingly acoustic instruments – but in the hands of three master craftsmen; one unmistakable, bold sound and a captivating live show. Alongside extensive touring, Talisk have stacked up major awards for their explosively energetic, artfully woven sound – including Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award,and the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation. Appearances at leading festivals across multiple continents have amassed a die-hard following – including closing out Saturday night’s main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder Festival, the Rainforest World Music Festival in Malaysian Borneo, WOMADs UK,Chile and Las Palmas, Edmonton Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Festival, three back-to-back years at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, and six appearances at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections. Following their critically acclaimed debut, Abyss, Talisk’s sophomore album, Beyond, quickly amassed five star reviews and rose to No.1 in the iTunes world music charts upon its late 2018 release. With streaming figures into multiple millions, and new music on the horizon in 2022, audiences worldwide are hotly anticipating the latest chapter from a group lauded by leading world music magazine Songlines as: “incredibly infectious andendearing… fresh, invigorating, accomplished.”

A legendary artist who needs no introduction. Lifetime Achievement Award – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014 For more than 50 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music’s greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Trailblazing musical partnerships with, amongst others, Steeleye Span, the late Dave Swarbrick and his award-winning wife the late Norma Waterson and daughter Eliza Carthy have resulted in more than 40 albums. Whether in the folk clubs (which he continues to champion), on the concert stage or making TV appearances (he was the subject of the acclaimed `Originals’ music documentary strand on BBC 2) – there are few roles that Martin Carthy hasn’t played. He’s a ballad singer, a ground-breaking acoustic guitarist and an authoritative interpreter of newly composed material. He always prefers to follow an insatiable musical curiosity rather than cash in on his unrivalled position. Perhaps, most significant of all, are his settings of traditional songs with guitar, which have influenced a generation of artists, including Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, on both sides of the Atlantic. `Arguably the greatest English folk song performer, writer, collector and editor of them all’ Q Magazine. ‘Carthy is a master of the ballad of substance, songs that tell stories, whether they are traditional, his own or from contemporary writers.’ The Telegraph

There’s something magical about harps, and particularly at Christmas, though Máire and Chris’s alchemy on harp and guitar creates a very special magic at all times. Individually famed for originality, innovation and virtuosity on their respective instruments, together they have created one of the most distinctive voices in modern acoustic music and brought their unique musical vision to venues large and small in twenty-two countries on five continents. Their many recordings express both the depth of their commitment to tradition and an eternally playful, curious and adventurous spirit. Their Christmas show features a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, swing jazz and bluegrass, plus festive favourites given a fresh voice with arrangements that are intricate, inventive, moving and beautiful, and performed in their characteristically heart-warming style – a spellbinding treat for mid-winter.“A delightful... satisfyingly original, often refreshingly unpredictable take on festive favourites... Joyful, gorgeous and uplifting” THE LIVING TRADITION “Both are in the virtuoso class” THE GUARDIAN “Masterful playing... (ranging from) the entrancing and delicate to the wildly celebratory...” **** FOLK WALES “(Their) mastery and magic... produced a rapt response” THE GUARDIAN.

Back for their annual Christmas celebration of the music of Bob Dylan, BLONDE on BOB present an evening dedicated to the music of the world's greatest singer-songwriter. More than ably supported by Graham Hodge, Billy Bills, Graham Metcalf, Geoff Earp and their band FREEWHEELIN' plus the usual festive fun and games.

Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and 'showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie make music that is animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee). Brothers James and Sam Gillespie found their sound growing up in the fells and valleys of Northumberland, their songs often describing relationships with wild places and the experience of finding oneself in a world alive with soul. The music comes to them most strongly when walking in the borderlands with their packs and instruments which remains a regular practice for them. This spirit is channeled into their live performances which have a rare and intimate energy, both ethereal and earthy, romantic and radical. The brothers have travelled far and wide with their music and have played at Cambridge and Sidmouth Folk Festivals and opened for Lankum and Sam Lee. In 2021 they featured in the English Heritage ‘Songs of England’ recording series that appeared on BBC Radio 4. The release of their new album ‘The Merciful Road’ (‘pure magic’, Living Tradition) in Spring 2022 saw them embark on their most extensive national tour to date.

Our first Open Mic night of 2023. As always everyone is welcome to sing and play or just sit and listen. Starts at 8pm doors at 7-30pm. Put your name on the list at the door if you'd like to perform. Everyone gets a couple of songs and if there's time we go round again.

Judith Haswell, our local songbird is joined by her singing partner from Guisborough, Trish McLean. As a duo they've been performing for many years, bringing a mix of self penned and traditional/contemporary music married up with a subtle blend of humour that leaves audiences wanting more. They gave us a great set of songs when they played in the Black Swan car park at one of our outdoor events just after 'lockdown'. A truly entertaining evening is in store.

One of our favourite bands at The Black Swan Folk Club. Why “Churchfitters”? Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name’s origin is lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly - its quirkiness. When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps there’s little point worrying if the name makes sense! Saucepan dulcimer, glass harp, Bing-Bong machine and magic boots all join some more conventional instruments (fiddle, banjo, sax and whistle to name a few) to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice. These three flamboyant characters present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism and describe their music as “Folk Unlimited”. Mike Harding calls it “Brilliant and beautiful” while Dave Pegg says they are “The most musically inventive group I’ve seen in decades”.

Non-stop live folk music in two sessions with:- TWO BLACK SHEEP (2-00-2-25pm), PHIL CERNY (2-30-2-55pm), THE OLD HUMPY BAND (3-00-3-25PM), CHRIS EUESDEN (3-30PM-3-55PM), LEATHER'O (4-00-4-25PM), EDDIE AFFLECK (4-30-4-55PM), STAN GRAHAM (5-00-5-25PM),- INTERVAL- WHITE SAIL (7-30-7-55PM), TONI BUNNELL (8-00-8-25PM), SOUNDSPHERE (8-30-8-55PM), JUDITH HASWELL (9-00-9-25PM), RAMSHACKLE (9-30-10-15PM)

Another of our regular Open Mic sessions. Everyone welcome to come along and perform or just come along to listen. Starts at 8pm.

Second appearance at The Black Swan Folk Club for THE HUNCH. Their debut a few years ago was an absolutely stormimg night. The Hunch are a 4 piece acoustic band singing and playing a variety of Irish, Folk, Americana, Blues and Latin music with a generous dash of humour. Michael Doonan: Founder member of the legendary 70s folk-rock band Hedgehog Pie, Michael comes from a famous Tyneside musical dynasty – his Dad, John Doonan Snr, was an All-Ireland piccolo champion and founding figure of the UK folk revival in the 60s. As well as the Hunch, Michael fronts The Mighty Doonans folk-rock band, and adds vocals, flute and pipes to many a session from Shields to Sheffield. Bob Thomas: Bob fronted another highly respected folk-rock outfit, Kitsyke Will, and has since lent his wonderful soul-inflected vocal style to The Solicitors, as well as singing, playing percussion and harmonica with The Hunch. Alongside these two are the stunning acoustic guitarist/vocalist Chris Hanks and keyboards/accordionist/vocalist Tony Bacon, both alumni of West Yorkshire’s thriving roots music scene. A collective ready wit & easy rapport with audiences of all sizes ensures that any gig involving THE HUNCH goes with a swing -tasteful, exciting, assured, soulful, enjoyable and lasting in the memory

A return visit to the club for Serious Sam Barrett and this vist is long overdue he last appeared at The Black Swan Folk Club in 2016. Sam is a hard touring, folk and country singer from down the road in Leeds. He plays honest, heartfelt self penned and traditional songs on 12 string guitar and banjo. “The sustained brilliance of this playing is really something to behold.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2 “Songs that rattle with the ghosts of Appalachian folk, and southern blues, yet sound emphatically English.” Uncut Magazine

This trio get a full guest booking at the club on the back of a couple of highly entertaining performances at our open mic nights. Led by Phil Cockerham they've been playing together across the UK for some years and have developed a reputation for exciting and original music, delighting and pleasing audiences wherever they go. Their name ‘The Power of Three’ was coined during 2020 when the band recorded the ‘live’ CD ‘Windy Park Bandstand’. Dave Bowie Jr plays double bass and Dickie Dixon plays percussion and harmonium, accompanying Philip Cockerham on bouzouki and guitar, supporting him in creating original songs and tunes and performing refreshing versions of other contemporary songs. Their music is full of humour and fun, often thought provoking and always entertaining.

Another of our regular Open Mic sessions. Everyone welcome to come along and perform or just come along to listen. Starts at 8pm. This open mic will include a feature spot from Black Swan Folk Club regulars RAMSHACKLE

Having released her 16th album “Gimme Some Wine” to rave reviews at the end of 2021, Eleanor McEvoy one of Ireland’s foremost songwriters is now back on the road following the release of her latest riveting single “South Anne Street” Her live show is spellbinding. She walks in a single pool of light, the stage set with an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar, violin, piano and a small amp. What follows has been enthralling audiences around the world for decades. McEvoy is the composer, co-performer and producer of "A Woman's Heart”, the title track for the best-selling Irish album in Irish history. It features regularly on screen, most recently in 2019 in the award-winning TV show “Derry Girls”. Her song “Sophie” was described by David Smith in The Guardian as “an anthem that is touching, inspiring and consoling thousands of anorexic girls around the world” It is used internationally in treatment centres to treat patients with eating disorders. In February 2020, McEvoy completed four sold out concerts in Ireland at the National Concert Hall and National Opera House where she performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra alongside Wallis Bird and Maura O’Connell for “A Woman’s Heart Orchestrated”, two days later she boarded a plane for a five-week Australian tour that ended abruptly at the onset of the Covid19 pandemic. Upon her return she wrote “Scarlet Angels” inspired by the recent concerts with the RTE Concert Orchestra where McEvoy, Wallis Bird and Maura O’Connell had all worn red on stage. She continued to write through-out lockdown, teaming up with Paul Brady to write ‘Found Out By Fate’ - a savage indictment on a cheating partner. Having herself had some wine at this point, McEvoy’s own quote on this one was to “Think twice before cheating on a songwriter” Her most recent single ‘South Anne Street’ sets the scene for a song about meeting an ex at the corner of South Anne St and Grafton St. on a Tuesday afternoon and ending up in McDaid’s Pub. It is both absolutely specific and utterly universal and it has resonated with audiences both here and abroad. “Through this fusion of bygone and modern, established and innovative, McEvoy creates something totally fresh but with a taste of the familiar…with, perhaps, a glass of red on the side” Irish Times “so appealing” Irish Music Magazine “Song after song will resonate with you” Hot Press Magazine “superb… every beat, word and note earning it’s keep….it’s the sort of thing that gives popular music a good name” John Creedon RTE Radio 1 “she captures a mood absolutely beautifully… bang on” Ronan Collins RTE Radio 1 “South Anne Street” - that great song that so many people want to hear time and time again” Alex Lester BBC Radio 2 “One of the few artists who can do no wrong whatsoever”

Multi-award winner Charlie Dore brings a genre-defying evening of ‘intriguingly other’ eclectic, contemporary folk – bursting with earworms and crunchy lyrics. Charlie and her long-time collaborator Julian Littman of Steeleye Span will swap guitars, piano, mandolin, harmonium, ukuleles, banjo and stories as they showcase songs culled from Charlie's recording career.

APOLOGIES EVERYONE WE'VE HAD TO CANCEL THIS ONE BECAUSE RACHEL HAS COVID. WE WISH HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND WILL TRY TO REORGANISE ANOTHER DATE IN 2024. ALL ADVANCE TICKETS WILL BE REFUNDED AND WE'LL BE RUNNING AN OPEN MIC INSTEAD.

For a St Patrick Day's Special we present one of our favourite Irish artists at the Black Swan Folk Club since her debut here in 2020. Over the years Lisa O'Neill has quietly built a reputation for herself on the Irish and international scenes and now has a growing following with her unique folk sound, strong song-writing and distinctive voice. Her debut release ‘Has an Album’ was followed in 2013 by Choice-nominated ‘Same Cloth Or Not’. Her third album ‘Pothole in the Sky’ was released to critical acclaim and is filled with tension and emotion, contextualising themes of love, loss, heartache and sorrow today through referencing tales from the past with beauty, honesty and defiance. Lisa’s last release on the Rough Trade imprint River Lea, ‘Heard A Long Gone Song’ has garnered huge acclaim both at home and abroad. It was Choice Nominated has a 5/5 star review from The Guardian on release and a coveted ‘Best Folk Album of 2019’ from the same publication. She was also been nominated in 4 categories at the 2019 UK Folk awards and 5 categories at the 2019 Irish Folk awards, winning one for best original folk song. ‘Blackbird’, a song from the last album has also recently been featured in Peaky Blinders winning Lisa lots of new fans. 'At a time when sameness threatens to drain the world of charm and surprise, Lisa O’Neill stands tall for difference, as an outlier with a mission to frame the world as she sees it and to perform it accordingly. Her voice is her own. No small achievement.' The Irish Times 'Uncompromising, stunning, soul-shaking stuff.' The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Year

Never too soon to have this amazing trio back again. Folk music’s legendary triumvirate of musical magpies Mike McGoldrick, John Doyle and John McCusker will once again bring you their own blend of top-class folk songs, tunes and charming bonhomie. All three musicians have won global acclaim: John Doyle (Dublin – vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandola) is an Irish music linchpin and a founder member of acclaimed group Solas, who has worked with Joan Baez, Linda Thompson and Mary Chapin Carpenter. BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Winner John McCusker (Glasgow – fiddle, whistles, harmonium) has played with The Battlefield Band, Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan, recorded with Paul Weller, and recently produced albums for Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot and Kris Drever. Mike McGoldrick (Manchester – flute, whistles, Uileann pipes, bodhran, clarinet, congas) is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, founding member of Lúnasa, and current member of Capercaillie, who has worked with Mark Knopfler, Eddi Reader, John Cale. And that’s just for starters. With their vast repertoire, this will be an evening to remember. Described as the masters of flute, fiddle, song and guitar they have worked with the biggest and brightest and bring you a night of beautifully crafted music. Having shared stages and recording studios with everyone from Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler to Paul Weller, Joan Baez and Linda Thompson, Mike, John & John are a rare musical treat you’ll savour for a very long time.

A debut at The Black Swan Folk Club for Brigid Mae Power. Brigid Mae Power’s songs are like an overheard lament, a scrubbed clean yarn with plenty unravelling in the process. New country and traditional folk rub shoulders, making for a juxtaposition of threads that provides larger dynamics and a space for Brigid’s distinctive vocal style to spread itself across. Brigid Mae Power’s songs are like an overheard lament, a scrubbed clean yarn with plenty unravelling in the process. New country and traditional folk rub shoulders, making for a juxtaposition of threads that provides larger dynamics and a space for Brigid’s distinctive vocal style to spread itself across. Brigid Mae Power’s songs are like an overheard lament, a scrubbed clean yarn with plenty unravelling in the process. New country and traditional folk rub shoulders, making for a juxtaposition of threads that provides larger dynamics and a space for Brigid’s distinctive vocal style to spread itself across.

Reg’s clever and imaginative lyrics have earned him the title of “Master Storyteller” (PennyBlack Music) and led Mike Harding (Mike Harding Folk Show) to introduce him onto the stage of The Royal Albert Hall as “one of the finest singer-songwriters this country has produced”. Whether it’s a village hall or the Albert Hall, Reg brings to the stage a collection of extremely beautiful songs, performed with humour and depth, and sung with the voice of an angel. Reg has that rare gift of being able to touch people, through his songs and performance, on a really human level. His words and music paint pictures that remain with the listener long after the song has been sung.

A long-awaited return to The Black Swan Folk Club for this fantastic trio. Following a chance meeting at Whitby Folk Festival in 1993, Chris Sherburn (concertina) and Denny Bartley (vocals and guitar) have been bringing their unique sound to audiences across Europe and America, creating one of folk music's most enduring partnerships. Their obvious rapport made them one of the busiest acts on the folk scene, both as a duo and with their well-loved trio/quartet Last Night’s Fun. Their soul-stirring songs, exhilarating tunes and quick-witted banter ensures that no two concerts are ever the same. In 2016 Chris and Denny joined forces with Emily Sanders (fiddle/viola and vocals) and have since become a well-established trio, for the first time blending vocal harmonies and strings to underpin Chris and Denny’s unique sound, as well as providing a female lead vocal for some songs, and bringing a repertoire of English folk songs to complement the band’s more Celtic and traditional roots. Emily was a founder member of the acclaimed trio Isambarde. She has also toured with Merrymouth (Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene’s acoustic band) and regularly appears with Pete Morton and Chris Parkinson. Their latest album BEGUILE is the first to feature Chris, Denny and Emily together, and also has some stellar guest performances from Martin Simpson and Andy Seward (Kate Rusby Band).

More than simply a folk-singer, multi award winning singer-songwriter, musician and proud Devonian Jim Causley is an all-round entertainer and during the past decade Causley has been nominated no less than six times for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, last year he was nominated as “Singer of the Year” at the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, he won the Spiral Earth Singer of the Year award in 2014, presented his own folk music show on BBC Radio Devon and in 2015 he worked with BBC TV historian Dr Sam Willis to create the music for his show 'Highwaymen, Outlaws and Villains' and was asked to perform his song about Dartmoor tin mining 'Pride of the Moor' on BBC TV's Countryfile - Dartmoor Special. 2017 was also the centenary of Jim’s relative; the celebrated Cornish poet Charles Causley and award winning filmmaker Jane Darke made a specially commissioned biographical film about the poet which aired on BBC4 TV on 1st October as part of the Centenary celebrations. The soundtrack to the film was composed entirely by Jim and featured music from his 2013 album ‘Cyprus Well’ of musical settings of Charles’ work. Since the release of his debut album in 2005, Causley’s unique voice and persona have helped him become one of the most well-loved and respected figures of today’s contemporary roots and folk scene. A prolific collaborator, Causley is hugely admired for his work with iconic groups The Devil’s Interval and Mawkin:Causley as well as playing, touring and recording alongside Waterson:Carthy, John McCusker, Eddie Reader, Graham Coxson, Shirley Collins, Michael Morpurgo, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, David Rotheray of Beautiful South fame and many more. He was described by Mojo Magazine as “the finest singer of his generation” and they put Forgotten Kingdom in their Top Ten Folk Albums of 2016 list. Westcountry father of folk Geoff Lakeman described Causley as possessing “A voice in a million” in a recent interview in the Western Morning News, some accolade indeed! “The finest singer of his generation” Mojo Magazine “A voice in a million” Geoff Lakeman

A name from way back that many of you may remember. We welcome to The Black Swan Folk Club Hunter Muskett. Formed by Terry Hiscock, Chris George and Doug Morter in 1969 as a folk/rock trio playing the folk circuit alongside Fotheringay, Fairport, Pentangle and Steeleye. Following their 1970 album release, Every Time You Move, recorded with Pentangle’s Danny Thompson, Rog Trevitt joined on bass guitar. The four-piece gigged at home and abroad for five years putting out a second album, Hunter Muskett, produced by Keith Relf of The Yardbirds. Following a successful UK concert tour with Ralph McTell, the band went their separate ways in 1974 but later reformed when Cherry Red released the albums on CD in 2012. They are now performing many of their earlier songs, like the perennial Silver Coin, alongside a new repertoire of acoustic driven material. In the meantime, Doug Morter continued as a solo artist enjoying stints with the Albion Band and Magna Carter while also touring alongside Jerry Donahue of Fotheringay fame. As one reviewer said recently, most people will find an album in their collection featuring Doug Morter on lead guitar. Reunited once again the band are meeting old friends and new everywhere they play and with two albums of new songs they’re finding themselves back in demand.

*This is a seated show with all seating unreserved* On a rare tour, the three original members of Oysterband open their treasure-chest of music and stories of life on the road as one of the most-travelled bands in the folk world. Expect great acoustic versions of classic and rare songs with John Jones’ characteristic passionate vocals, Alan Prosser’s sublime guitar skills and Ian Telfer’s soaring fiddle and dry wit. Three musicians at the top of their game offer an irreverent, insightful glimpse into their world… and some great songs. Full story: Currently Oysterband consists of founder members John Jones (vocal, melodeon), Alan Prosser (guitars, vocal), and Ian Telfer (violin, keyboard, vocal) with Dil Davies (drums), Al Scott (bass guitar, mandolin, vocal), and Adrian Oxaal (cello, guitar, vocal). At first – around 1978 – purely a dance band (“The Oyster Ceilidh Band”), we soon started experimenting with radical arrangements of traditional songs and with home recording, and even put out 4 albums in the early 80s. These sound harmless enough now, but at the time their home-made, try-anything attitude was controversial. We were determined that traditional music should not be just a branch of the heritage industry. Other musicians came and went. The name shortened to The Oyster Band. We began to learn how to write songs. In 1985 we met a new roots-music label, Cooking Vinyl. Step Outside (1986), with Ian Kearey on bass and Russ Lax on drums, was their first release. We went on to make 9 studio albums with them. In the late 80s we toured almost continuously. As well as territories opened up by our new record company in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and North America, and shows with similar-minded artists such as Michelle Shocked and Billy Bragg, we toured for the British Council in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco. Travel on this scale had a powerful impact on our attitudes to the world and on our songwriting. It also made normal domestic life difficult. First Ian Kearey left in 1988, to be replaced by Ray Cooper; then when Russ Lax left in 1990 Ray called up his old friend drummer Lee Partis. The name shortened again at this point to Oysterband. Russ’s last act was to record Freedom And Rain with us and the great English folk diva June Tabor. Although it was essentially a covers collection, the songs were shrewdly chosen, and the album was very well received, particularly in the US. “Imagine if Aerosmith and Madonna announced they were to tour together??!!?” said Rolling Stone, excitably. Meanwhile in the UK the ground was shifting. As we were expanding from a folk background, others were expanding from a rock background in a folk direction, and the convergence became a new scene. The Pogues, The Levellers, The Waterboys, Celtas Cortos….we found ourselves working in a different context, often called “Celtic” (though the word seems to mean something different in every country). The US became harder, but we acquired new audiences in the UK, Germany and Spain. The high-point of this period is probably Holy Bandits (1993); the first song “When I’m Up I Can’t Get Down” was later a substantial hit for Great Big Sea in Canada. (Thanks, guys!) By 1997 our relations with Cooking Vinyl had cooled somewhat. We didn’t seek a new contract, but we co-operated with the preparation of a “Best Of” 2-CD collection, Granite Years (2000), covering the years 1986-1997. In 2003 we were honoured to receive the “Good Tradition” award at the BBC Folk Awards, and in 2005 were voted “Best Group”. Lee Partis spent some years training as a counsellor/therapist, even while drumming and singing for Oysterband. In 2008 he fulfilled a long-term ambition and left us to work in a prison in the north of England, possibly a first in the history of the entertainment industry. The very experienced Dil Davies then took over the drummer’s stool. In recent years, we’ve consciously tried to evolve our songwriting beyond the clichés of the “Celtic” style, and with Rise Above (2002) and especially Meet You There (2007) we think we’re getting somewhere. Meet You There was hailed widely at the time as our best recording ever. However, just when we were thinking of taking a tea-break, everything was turned upside down again by the remarkable success of our reunion album with June Tabor, Ragged Kingdom, released in 2011. Waiting 21 years to make a follow-up to Freedom & Rain may seem perverse, but hey! both parties were seriously busy. We never lost our friendship with June in the meantime, and even played the occasional show together; and one day the time just seemed right to try recording together again. Ragged Kingdom gained us 3 more BBC Folk Awards (Best Album, Best Group and Best Trad Track, plus Folk Singer of the Year for June). We toured it very enjoyably through 2012 and 2013 and featured on BBC TV’s Later….with Jules Holland. In early 2014 we put out a collection of new material, Diamonds On The Water, followed by a “Best Of… Vol 2” CD to cover the years from 1999 to 2015, under the title This House Will Stand. The 6-piece line-up with Al Scott and Adrian Oxaal was well-established, but during 2016 Dil Davies handed over on drums to Pete Flood, formerly of Bellowhead. The new album in 2022, Read The Sky, features Pete on one track while the rest of the album was made with Oysterband’s new drummer Sean Randle.

Singer-songwriter guitarist and fine interpreter of traditional and contemporary folk song Iona Lane gave us a captivating support set when she debuted at the club in 2021. Since then we've invited her back to guest in her own right and she arrives with a brand new album. “Hallival is a masterful debut. It’s also a poetic gift, one to lose yourself in that will continue to reward you with each listen. I can already see that this is going to be one of my album highlights of 2022.” - Folk Radio UK “An intriguing debut - her sweet voice recalls Emilíana Torrini, while her lyrics and musical arrangements crackle with wide-eyed curiosity.” - Jude Rogers, The Guardian “The gorgeous natural-mythological commentaries she explores in her own songs link ancient and often unheard histories with the world we find ourselves in today.” - Nancy Kerr “Spellbinding” - Jericho Keys, BBC Introducing ‘Hallival’ is the long awaited debut album from Leeds-based folk singer and songwriter Iona Lane. Driven by awe and wonder, hope and joy, it is a masterful debut. Across this album Iona delivers her poetic songs with the utmost care and attention. Subtle musical touches and contemplative warm vocals combine to make this one of the most rewarding albums of the year. The name ‘Hallival’ is taken after one of the mountains on the Isle of Rum, which inspired the writing for the opening track ‘Western Tidal Swell’. Karine Polwart and Julie Fowlis, amongst others, selected ‘Western Tidal Swell’ to win Feis Rois’/NatureScots’ In Tune With Nature competition in 2020. With Andy Bell on production, Iona and her band ventured to Watercolour Music (Ardgour, Highlands) for a week of recording in April 2020. The studio was chosen due to its stunning location - every day the team woke up to herds of deers guarding the studio, ever changing weather and phenomenal views over to Ben Nevis. The lead single from the album ‘Humankind’, featuring Jenny Sturgeon on backing vocals, was written from the depths of the Lake District in Wasdale just before the first lockdown. Being the closing track on the album, it reflects on how important humans are to each other and the kindness that we can bring particularly whilst feeling isolated, a feeling that we all know too well after the past couple of years. ‘Schiehallion’ was written after discovering the Schiehallion Experiment that was carried out in 1774. During the experiment scientists from the Royal Society used the shape and location of Schiehallion to calculate the mass of the Earth for the first time. After a summer of calculations on the hill, the scientists and locals had a party in a nearby bothy. The fiddler got so drunk that they burnt their violin and the bothy to the ground. ‘Schiehallion’ features Lauren MacColl on fiddle and Rachel Newton on harp. Any money raised from this single will go to the John Muir Trust who plant and restore mountain woodland on Schiehallion. Stemmed from being read ‘Stone Girl Bone Girl, The Life of Mary Anning’ by Laurence Anholt with illustrations from Sheila Moxley as a child, Iona’s song ‘Mary Anning’ focuses on the life of the groundbreaking palaeontologist who lived and worked in Lyme Regis in the 1800s. Mary made vast contributions to the scientific world, however, due to her being a woman she was unable to present her findings and would often end up selling them to her male colleagues. Up until very recently Mary Anning has had little credit for her work. Having studied under the tuition of Nancy Kerr, Jim Moray and Stuart McCallum, Iona has been praised throughout the scene for her delicate yet powerful vocals, which have captivated audiences up and down the country. Iona was chosen by Karine Polwart to receive the Taran Guitars Young Players Bursary 2020. Since receiving the bursary luthier Rory Dowling, of Taran Guitars, has designed and built a bespoke instrument for Iona’s music.

She has the heart of a poet and the eyes of a painter. Her writing is literate, credible, forthright and honest and her voice is simply beautiful Maverick Magazine ***** She rises from the ashes like an angel with a voice to match The Guardian. Chris While has earned herself a reputation of being one of the finest singers to come out of these islands. She has toured tirelessly over the last 35 years originally as a soloist and in 1991 she rose to the attention of the Folk Roots world equipped with an arsenal of original songs and her stunning vocals. She recorded her first three albums in quick succession Still on Fire 1991, By Request 1992, Look at Me Now 1993. In 1994 she started touring with The Albion Band as lead singer alongside Fairport Convention’s Simon Nicol and Ashley Hutchings. Chris went on to record two more solo albums - In The Big Room 1996 and the critically acclaimed Rosella Red in 2007 She is now writing for the very much anticipated next one... Since then, she has been recording and touring with Julie Matthews and together they have accrued 13 studio albums and two live albums They have been nominated 10 times in the BBC Folk Awards, winning best duo in 2009. She is now ready to do some solo work again, bringing once more to the stage her very personal songs, her warm personality and of course her heart stopping voice. She will be joined by stunning guitarist Johnny Heyes who has worked with Chris and Julie on their last 3 albums. Johnny is a revered teacher at the Royal Northern College of music with an impressive pedigree which includes playing with legendary artists such as Mica Paris and Tito Jackson..

Both Brooks Williams and Dan Walsh have each appesred at the Black Swan Folk Club in a solo capacity. Now they team up in a new duo which is bound to magnify their amazing talents Admired by both listeners and fellow musicians alike, Brooks and Dan combine for an extraordinary collaboration of British and Americana roots music. Each is a leading light on their respective instruments and they both bring buckets of charisma to the stage. Add to that poignant songs and lively humour and the result is a truly remarkable duet. Brooks Williams plays guitar with ‘melodic virtuosity’ (IRISH NEWS), effortlessly combining old-time fingerpicking, country flat picking and bluesy backbeats. He’s rated one of the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists and is ‘quite simply one of the most unassuming, natural performers on the circuit’ (FATEA). BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Musician’ nominee Dan Walsh plays British, Irish and American folk music. His ‘virtuoso playing’ (MORNING STAR) features a unique and dazzling take on clawhammer style banjo helping to challenge all preconceptions about the instrument. ‘Absolutely terrific’ (Mark Radcliffe, BBC RADIO 2)

Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. Industry still shapes the city here. The people, as with the land, are moulded by tides and stark horizons. Stand in the same place for long enough and you can watch the sun rise over the North Sea and then sink into crop fields, glowing auburn in late-summer sun. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through Katie Spencer’s music. The songwriting, and most 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 Spencer’s highly anticipated new album, The Edge of the Land (2022), follows her debut release, Weather Beaten (2019) which was praised for its unique song-craft, spell-binding musicianship and crystal sonic clarity, as she brought together fans of music from all backgrounds and walks of life. Support from MARNIE GLUM

Bob Fox, Jez Lowe & Julie Matthews come together “IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EWAN MacCOLL,” a concert of songs and spoken word. In the 50s and 60s Ewan MacColl along with Charles Parker and Peggy Seeger created the groundbreaking Radio Ballads broadcasts for the BBC Home Service covering a variety of subjects and using an audio documentary format to highlight the experiences of real people weaving the voices of rarely-heard communities with songs written from and about their recorded interviews. Almost half a century later, in 2006, a new set of Radio Ballads were commissioned by BBC Radio 2 using the same format but this time involving a whole team of stellar musicians, singers and songwriters from the folk/acoustic/roots music scene under the guiding hands and watchful eyes of producer John Leonard and musical director John Tams. Now three members of that team, Bob Fox, Jez Lowe and Julie Matthews, have put together a selection of songs from the 2006 new Radio Ballads for a concert performance IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF EWAN MacCOLL. All three are consummate engaging performers of meaningful songs and stories and are multi-instrumentalists whose skills have been honed by decades of live touring throughout UK, Europe, Canada, U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand. They have all recorded extensively, worked in collaboration with many of the top folk roots artists and bands as well as having highly successful solo careers and are well loved and respected by audiences and colleagues alike. Expect to be entertained and enlightened by songs of joy, love, hardship and humour.

Tom is once again performing to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis and Motor Neurone Disease with a rare performances at The Black Swan along with Ross Bennett and Dave Bowie. Tom’s concerts have always been hugely popular: ‘Never have I heard tales told and sung with such humour and skill. A spellbinding couple of hours – where did the evening go?’ (Bishop FM). ‘One of the best nights I’ve had. Tom was brilliant; great songs, great performance, superb stories. I was enthralled and so was everyone else,’ (FCO Web Forum). Doors 7-30pm concert starts 8pm.

Saturday evening in the Wolfe Room:- John Storey(7pm), Toni Bunnell(7-30pm), 'Extempore'(8pm), Phil Cerny(8-30pm), David Swann(9pm), Stan Graham (9-30pm), Eddie Affleck (10pm)

Saturday afternoon in The Black Swan Car Park Marquee we present:- Two Black Sheep(1pm), Duncan McFarlane Band(1.35pm), Chechelele(2.20pm), Kaminari Taiko(3pm), Graham Hodge(3.30pm), The Barbarellas(4-15pm), Blonde on Bob(5pm), Clurachan(5-45pm), Union Jill(6-30pm) In the downstairs front room between 2pm and 5pm 'Come All Ye' session hosted by Toni Bunnell, all musicians welcome. Saturday afternoon in the Wolfe Room we present:- A shape note singing workshop (details in the folk weekend programme) with Matthew Mason at 1-30pm. Pete Quinn(3pm), David Hardy(3-30pm), Alex O'Neil(4pm), Paul Culkin(5pm).

Sunday afternoon in the Black Swan Car Park marquee we present:- The Bounty Hunters(1pm), Soundsphere(1-45pm), Les Rustiques(2-30pm), Leather'o(3-15pm), White Sail(4pm), Edwina Hayes(4-45pm), Minster Strays Morris(5-30pm), Caramba (6pm), The Old Humpy Band(6-45pm) Sunday afternoon in the Wolfe Room we present:- Phil Pipe(2pm), Pen & Stu(2-30pm), Martin Heaton(3pm), Paul Culkin(3-30pm), Mary Callan(4pm), Simon Alexander(4-30pm)

Sunday evening in the Wolfe Room we present:- Tommy Coyle(7pm), Paula Ryan(7-30pm), Judith Haswell(8pm), Sarah Dean(8-30pm),Chris Euesden(9pm) Ramshackle(9-30pm)

Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, Spiers & Boden first rocketed onto the music scene in 2001, quickly winning a clutch of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and going on to form and front the extraordinarily successful folk big band Bellowhead. The duo reformed in 2021 after a seven-year hiatus, arriving with a brand new album ‘Fallow Ground’ which went on to reach number 3 in the Official Folk Albums Chart and was a Mojo top 10 folk album of 2021. Following a tour by their legendary big band Bellowhead in November ’22, the much-loved duo are back for a select number of dates in summer ’23. ‘It’s all exquisitely played – the pair are still the dons.’ The Observer

A new name to The Black Swan Folk Club and one that looks like we’ll be hearing a lot of in the years to come. Louise is rapidly making her mark on the Folk Scene. Returning to the UK a few years ago, a chance collaboration with John McCusker to write Evie’s Lullaby (his music, her lyrics) was a sign of things to come. She started to gather bookings and a reputation for quality in 2022. In January 2023 she won the Great British Folk Festival’s Introducing Stage Audience Vote. It’s the sort of reception she gets wherever she plays. In March this year she was invited to sing with McCusker, McGoldrick and Doyle at Sale and York. As a duo with her Dad Chris, she has released an album of 12 songs - ‘Things That Matter’. His intricate guitar work and smooth vocal sits easily with her voice and piano. Together they come across as a relaxed duo who enjoy performing live. Her arrangements of traditional and original material suit her “pure and soaring voice” (David Jones, Folk Northwest). More recording beckons later this year.

We like a mix of styles at The Black Swan Folk Club and here we present a cutting edge contemporary artist on tour from the USA. Eamon Fogarty is a composer, songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and audio archivist who was born in the state of New Hampshire. The on-line LA based music magazine Aquarium Drunkard described his 2019 record Blue Values as "a remarkable piece of art-pop, exhibiting the low slung ease of Tim Buckley’s jazz-rock, the shambolic grace of Beck, the progressive grandeur of Scott Walker, and the mystic yearning of Talk Talk." He has written for, recorded, and performed in a broad range of capacities and contexts, including numerous folk and rock bands, (Alex Dupree, Psychic Temple, Matt Kivel) choral groups, free improvisatory ensembles, puppet theater productions, and even a surf video or two. He currently lives in Austin TX. 'his intimate, minimal songs have a cosmic force'. This evening is all set to be the introduction of a refreshing new talent.

The last time we saw Keith Donnelly at the Black Swan he played together with club favourite Flossie Malavialle. Now he’s back with a new partner in crime and a great singer Lauren South. For those who don’t know Keith he’s one of the most popular, and yes, slightly crazy figures in the folk world. Keith’s song-writing and guitar-playing often take a back seat to his onstage madcappery. But in this duo there’s a mixture of comedy and song as Lauren delivers lovely vocals on a wide ranging mixture of original and traditional songs and adds to Keith’s guitar with her own fiddle and guitar playing. Those who have seen Keith before and know his past record working with Flossie, Dark Horses, Nothing by Chance, or indeed (back in the day) Waterfall, will know this is going to be an interesting and entertaining evening.

SOUNDSPHERE (Judith Simpson, Sarah Dean, Paula Ryan) are so excited to announce the launch of their brand new album entitled "Joined Up Writing". The title reflects the unique aspect of this album which is made up of totally new original songs, jointly composed by Judith, Sarah and Paula. This marks a new and exciting creative departure for Soundsphere whose previous albums have comprised of novel arrangements of songs from a variety of cultures and in multiple languages from around the world. In a fascinating artistic development for SOUNDSPHERE, "Joined Up Writing", as the name implies, will feature self penned songs which Judith, Sarah and Paula wrote together over the challenging period of eighteen months during the pandemic. The result is a fascinating collection of pieces in English covering a variety of musical genres, acutely perceptive, personal, inspiring lyrics, captivating melodies and Soundsphere's signature glorious three part harmony and punchy percussion. SOUNDSPHERE are so happy to be launching the new album as guests of the Black Swan Folk Club, a club very dear to their hearts. For the album launch, Soundsphere will perform all the songs in English from the new album while incorporating some favourite Soundsphere classics from our existing eclectic multicultural, multilingual repertoire.

No strangers to folkies in York and The Black Swan Folk Club as they've graced our stages at The Winter Folk Day and The City of York 'Roland Walls' Folk Weekend many times, it's now time for Leather'o to play their own guest night at The Black Swan Folk Club. They are a high energy Alternative Celtic – Gypsy Band. They play all acoustic, traditional instruments extensively reworking tunes and songs from the Irish, Scottish and Eastern European traditions. Formed in 2012, Leather’o have developed an extensive repertoire, which they constantly refresh, reworking Celtic tunes and songs. To say this will be a very lively night is probably an understatement.

First time in at The Black Swan Folk Club for this Australian musician en route to this year's Cambridge Folk Festival. Nigel Wearne saunters after dark in the music of the night, blending blues, folk and Americana-noir. Hailing from Gunditjmara country in the deep south of Australia, he's a guitarist and multi-instrumentalist with diverse influence from Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Gillian Welch. A deep thinker and truth speaker with a penchant for all things peculiar, he sings of human frailty, grace and the cosmos; songwriting that cuts to the bone. Nigel has toured Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Canada and he's performed at a long list of music festivals, including the Port Fairy Folk Festival and Adelaide Guitar Festival. His sophomore album, Black Crow garnered wide critical acclaim including a 4-STAR review in Rolling Stone, a nomination for Best Country Album at the Music Victoria Awards and it debuted at #1 on the AMRAP Charts. Singer-songwriter, luthier, poet and gleaner; Wearne paints lyrical pictures with “the narrative-fuelled prose of Paul Kelly” – BEAT MAGAZINE. “An eruption of energy, rhythm and melody” – RHYTHMS MAGAZINE. “Warmth flecked with grit…beauty awaits” 4 STARS – ROLLING STONE.

He last played for us at The Black Swan Folk Club in 2018 and JACK RUTTER is back for another guest appearance. A true Yorkshire folk singer Jack has established himself as one of the standout voices of the folk, roots and acoustic music scene in recent years. A hugely engaging stage presence, his soaring vocal, powerhouse guitar and bouzouki playing and masterful arrangements of traditional songs and contemporary covers have enthralled audiences from the largest festival main stages to the most intimate folk clubs. Following on from his critically acclaimed second album Gold of Scar & Shale, 2022 sees the release of a brand new EP, with 2023 bringing the successor to Gold of Scar & Shale in the form of a new album of traditional songs. ‘Among Britain’s finest traditional singers.’ - Folk Radio UK ‘An outstanding performer.’ - The Independent ‘You always want an exciting new discovery at a festival, and for many it was Jack Rutter who provided just that. What prowess he showed in music, he matched with his skills as a raconteur; his love and respect for the songs in turn made the audience joyful.’ - Louder Than War Magazine reviewing Underneath the Stars Festival ‘In the spirit of the old traditional singers, Jack Rutter takes a song, shapes it, lives with it and brings out something unique. This album makes my heart sing.’ - Kathryn Tickell OBE, BBC Radio 3 ‘One of the best albums of its kind in recent times.’ - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 reviewing Gold of Scar & Shale

*This is a standing show* The award winning and highly acclaimed band Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Quebec’s progressive francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while enhancing it’s hard-driving soulful music (rooted in the Celtic diaspora) with a broad range of global influences. Featuring button accordion, guitar and fiddle, the band’s sound is defined by the hurdy-gurdy, which adds an earthy, rough-hewn flavor to even the most buoyant dance tunes.” — Boston Herald Since its inception in August 2002, Le Vent du Nord has enjoyed meteoric success, performing well over 1,800 concerts over 4 continents and racking up several prestigious awards, including a Grand Prix du Disque Charles Cros, two Junos (Canada’s Grammys), a Félix at ADISQ, a Canadian Folk Music Award, and “Artist of the Year” at the North American 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: Harry Manx, Väsen, Dervish, The Chieftains, Breton musical pioneer Yann-Fañch Kemener, Québecois roots legend and master storyteller Michel Faubert, the Scottish folk band Breabach, singer Julie Fowlis, and the trans-Mediterranean ensemble Constantinople. Not content with standard approaches to tradition, Le Vent du Nord has also created a symphonic concert that, according to Voir Montreal, “puts all traditional folk naysayers to shame.” On stage these friends create intense, joyful and dynamic live performances that expand the bounds of tradition in striking global directions. This is the modern sound of tradition, a music of the here and now.

No stranger to The Black Swan Folk Club, Martyn Wyndham-Read has been involved with folk music for over forty years. In his late teens he left his mother’s farm in Sussex and headed off, with his guitar, to Australia where he worked on a sheep station Emu Springs in South Australia. It was while he was there that he heard, first hand, the old songs sung by some of the station hands at Emu Springs and he became captivated by these songs and the need to know more of them and where they came from grew. He headed off to Melbourne and became part of the folk song revival there and throughout Australia during the early 1960’s. Back to England in 1967 where he met up with the renowned singer and song collector Bert Lloyd, who himself had spent time in Australia. Martyn was asked by Bert Lloyd to be part of the album ‘Leviathan’ on the Topic label and soon after he started recording for Bill Leader and touring extensively worldwide. In the early 1970’s Martyn started the ‘Maypoles to Mistletoe’ concerts which portray the seasons of the year through song, music, dance and verse and illustration. Martyn is also the instigator of the well known Song Links Project, He has worked with Shirley Collins on a production called ‘Down the Lawson Track’ featuring stories, poems/songs of the great Australian Poet of the People, Henry Lawson with Pip Barnes, Iris Bishop, Gary Holder and Jackie Oates. His last cd Tintinara was released in 2018 on Wynding Road Music.

'Steve Turner..The best gig I ever saw' Nancy Kerr 2014. Steve Turner is known as a pioneer of highly sophisticated English concertina song accompaniments, stretching the boundaries of traditional forms, with one of the best voices in folk music. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and banjo. Steve began his career on the Manchester, UK folk scene at the end of the ‘60s, with the Geordie band “Canny Fettle”, touring with them for eight years and making two albums with them. In 1979 he won the UK Melody Maker’s national “Stars of the 80s” competition, which persuaded him to turn professional, and for the next 12 years he toured solo, nationally and internationally, releasing four albums with Fellside Records during this period (Out Stack, Jigging One Now, Eclogue and Braiding). After 13 years away from the folk scene he made a welcome return in 2004 performing in folk clubs and festivals, and in 2008 producing his 5th album, the highly acclaimed “Whirligig of Time” which featured UK luminaries Martin Carthy, Nancy Kerr and Miranda Sykes. Since then he has released further albums, “Rim of the Wheel” and “Spirit of the Game”, and his latest much anticipated 8th album “Late Cut”, featuring Eliza Carthy, Martin Simpson and Sam Carter, was released in January 2019.

The Jon Palmer Band are a high energy 6-piece folk, roots and rock & roll band based in West Yorkshire, inspired and influenced by The Pogues and The Oyster Band, with a bit of The Waterboys, The Saw Doctors and the Bruce Springsteen Seeger Sessions Band to name just a few. Original material penned by Jon Palmer speaks to roots in the tradition as well as sharp edged commentary on the world today. The band's recently released new album Vacca Wall, produced by David Crickmore (Steve Tilston, Pete Coe) has met with critical and popular acclaim: "the most electrifying acoustic band in the country... very fine songs" folking.com "an outstanding album of modern folk music... exceptionally talented band... one of the best songwriters around" Fatea "an album full of the joy of life, the thrill of living and genuine wonderment... a thing of wonder" TykesStirrings

It's been a while since songstress Vikki Clayton played the Black Swan Folk Club but we're pleased to welcome her back. Many will remember her from her appearances filling the late Sandy Denny role with Fairport Convention. In fact she'll be appearing at Cropredy once again this year. A Londoner by birth Vikki got caught up in music by the age of four and was fostered at the Trinity College of Music. She drifted into folk clubs and joined folk rockers Ragged Heroes moving on to fill the Sandy Denny role with Fotheringay and Fairport Convention. In her own right as a songwriter and guitarist she has recorded eight solo albums and played with some illustrious musicians including John Giblen from Simple Minds, Martin Barre (Jethro Tull), Fred T. Baker (Hatfield and the North) Rchard Thompson, Ralph McTell and John Martyn. Her voice is described as sweet, clear and English. On tour from New Zealand. We look forward to seeing her once again.

Daphne’s Flight are Chris While, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson, Melanie Harrold & Miranda Sykes Featuring 5 of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation, the music of Daphne's Flight is a unique and magical blend of their individual styles, completely captivating and inspiring audiences with their complex harmony arrangements, unbridled energy and infectious joy of performing together. Crossing a huge range of topics and genres, blending folk, blues, jazz and pop all woven together with striking harmonies and supported by a range of instrumentation and percussion. The music of Daphne’s Flight is a magical layering of sensitivity, beauty, experience and empowerment. Their songs are thought provoking, uplifting, empowering and relatable. They continue to inspire audiences with the warmth, energy and sheer joy they bring to their performances. They are, quite simply, a force to be reckoned with. With a new blend of personalities and musical synergy a new energy and hope sees Daphne’s Flight continue to fly and build on the momentum of their 2017 reunion tour. 2022 saw so a new chapter begin with Christine Collister pulling out of the band for personal reasons and Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands) joining. The result was a truly memorable and critically acclaimed tour in May of that year. Five individually successful solo artists in their own rights, together they create a unique and unparalleled force, empowering women of all ages, producing music that is relatable, moving and uplifting and creating a chemistry on stage that is both joyful and contagious.

Owen Spafford (The Weaving) and Louis Campbell (Sam Sweeney) met as teenagers, as part of the first cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Since forming their duo in 2018, they have been nominated for the BBC Young Folk Award and performed across England and received national airplay on BBC Radio 2 and 3 alongside RTE1 in Ireland and BBC Scotland. A shared musical ‘true north’ and lasting friendship enable the duo to make two instruments seemingly sound as one; creating subtle and emotive textures that redefine the trad. fiddle and guitar duo idiom. Owen has performed for the leaders of the commonwealth states, toured with Giffords Circus and has received a scholarship to study composition at the Royal Academy of Music. He is currently working on new music with James Keay (Sam Lee) and Cosmo Sheldrake. Owen is also an All-Britain Fiddle Champion in the Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine, BBC Young Composer Competition nominee and has studied with Sam Amidon and John Dipper. Equally at home in a traditional session as he is in a free improvisation workshop, Spafford's understanding of the oral tradition and love for vernacular music from around the world enables an inventive and thoughtful fiddle style. Louis has performed at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Bridgewater Hall, having joined Sam Sweeney’s band at 19. At the Royal Northern College of Music, he studied under Martin Simpson, Stuart McCallum, Craig Ogden and Kris Drever. He has been cited as ‘a talent to watch’ by the Sunday Times. Most commonly seen behind a large effects pedalboard, the duo provides space for Campbell to connect with his first love, the acoustic guitar. He has also released three solo EPs of alternative music. The duo allows Owen and Louis to distill their love of traditional and experimental music into powerful, intricate and intimate music. Their debut album 'You, Golden' manages to orbit many different sound-worlds while staying comfortably within the acoustic context of English folk music; seamlessly blending traditional tunes with their own material. Improvisation, humour and musicality make each live performance unique, breaking forward into a new direction for English folk music.

We tried to book Maz O'Connor to appear at The Black Swan Folk Club a few years ago but 'lockdown' put paid to that. Now at last we have been able to find a date for her. Described by The Observer as ‘a highly individual singer-songwriter’, Maz is known for her haunting, emotive vocals and her poetic lyricism. Her songs are most often short stories inspired by her love of literature, folklore and mythology. Her Irish roots, she suspects, inform her love of darker tales—those of heartbreak, longing and loss. As a teenager, the songs of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell inspired her to learn the guitar, and listening to Regina Spektor inspired her to write her first songs on piano. Winning a BBC Performing Arts Fund Fellowship in 2014 (once won by Adele) brought Maz to wider attention, and later that year she was nominated for a BBC Folk Award for her first album, ‘This Willowed Light’. Maz has since released 3 further albums, toured the U.K., Europe and Eastern Canada, played live sessions on BBC Radio 2 and 3, and appeared at major U.K. festivals, including Glastonbury. Her last album, 'What I Wanted', was co-written and co-produced with composer Will Gardner and released in May 2022. It's an ambitious song-cycle set in the city at night and explores themes of anxiety, capitalism, sexuality, spirituality, and the search for connection in an age of consumerism. 'What I Wanted' has been widely praised, and called ‘an excellent thing’ by Mark Radcliffe of BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2. ‘I’m interested in connection,’ she says, ‘that’s what music is to me. Creating a moment between myself and an audience member, a moment that’s intimate and real. I’m always seeking that.’ “BBC Performing Arts Fellowship graduate Maz O’Connor is a real find, fusing influences from the past (Joni Mitchell) with those of the present (Bon Iver) to concoct a dazzling array of part electric, part-acoustically crafted folk that occasionally borders on the experimental.” (Drowned in Sound)

Too tough for folk and too blues influenced for country, Lynne Hanson’s brand of ‘porch music with a little red dirt’ can turn on a dime from a sunshine, blue sky ballad to a full-on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. She's known for her high-energy, roots guitar driven live performances, whether playing solo or with her band the Good Intentions. A closet stand-up comedian, Lynne often leaves the audience howling with laughter with her between-song-banter. Lynne is a two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner (2018 English Songwriter, Ensemble of the Year with The LYNNeS), a two-time Indie Acoustic Project Alt-Country album of the year winner (River of Sand 2014, Uneven Ground 2017), a past winner of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, and a two-time finalist in the prestigious Kerrville New Folk competition in Texas. Lynne has toured Canada, the US, Europe and the UK. She's toured the UK in support of Grammy nominated songwriters (Gretchen Peters, Steve Forbert), as well opening for guitar legend Albert Lee in the UK and Canada. She will be accompanied on this tour by ace Ottawan guitarist, Blair Hogan. ‘Somewhere in the heartlands, in a town called 'Americana USA,' nestles a particular variety of singer-songwriter. Someone who views a melodic sensibility through the bottom of a whiskey glass. Canadian songstress Lynne Hanson could run for mayor of that town.’ - Trevor Raggatt - R2 Magazine (5 stars) ‘A mesmeric collection of seven dark pieces, splendidly assembled ... the album in its recorded format is tantalizingly sitting there for you to make a valuable addition to your collection.’ - Three Chords and the Truth (UK)

CLIVE CARROLL plays the music of JOHN RENBOURN + special guest DARIUSH KANANI For those who followed the folk revival of the 1960’s and the music of the cult band Pentangle, John Renbourn’s music needs little introduction. Spanning musical genres from blues and jazz through to folk, early music and original compositions he left behind a sumptuous catalogue of recordings which demonstrated not only his extraordinary talent as a guitar player but also his great musical depth. Any boundaries which may have existed previously were blurred by John’s eclectic taste, alongside a level of artistry and delicacy which led the way in the evolution of the steel-strung guitar. Here is a rare, one-off opportunity to hear some of John’s greatest compositions performed live by one of the World’s finest guitarists who regularly shared the same stage. Clive Carroll was recently described by Total Guitar Magazine as “...arguably the most accomplished fingerstylist in the world today…” and like John, he is equally at home playing Mississippi Blues as he is playing the Elizabethan lute music of John Dowland. On stage, Clive’s entertaining performance transfixes audiences whether they are guitar enthusiasts or not. Coupled with Dariush Kanani’s stunningly good technique inspired by his heroes John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, this one-time show is not to be missed! This tour coincides with the release of Clive’s new album which features the music of John Renbourn.

CLIVE CARROLL plays the music of JOHN RENBOURN + special guest DARIUSH KANANI For those who followed the folk revival of the 1960’s and the music of the cult band Pentangle, John Renbourn’s music needs little introduction. Spanning musical genres from blues and jazz through to folk, early music and original compositions he left behind a sumptuous catalogue of recordings which demonstrated not only his extraordinary talent as a guitar player but also his great musical depth. Any boundaries which may have existed previously were blurred by John’s eclectic taste, alongside a level of artistry and delicacy which led the way in the evolution of the steel-strung guitar. Here is a rare, one-off opportunity to hear some of John’s greatest compositions performed live by one of the World’s finest guitarists who regularly shared the same stage. Clive Carroll was recently described by Total Guitar Magazine as “...arguably the most accomplished fingerstylist in the world today…” and like John, he is equally at home playing Mississippi Blues as he is playing the Elizabethan lute music of John Dowland. On stage, Clive’s entertaining performance transfixes audiences whether they are guitar enthusiasts or not. Coupled with Dariush Kanani’s stunningly good technique inspired by his heroes John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, this one-time show is not to be missed! This tour coincides with the release of Clive’s new album which features the music of John Renbourn.

All performers, singers, musicians and listeners welcome. Using the mic optional.

Nominated ‘Musician of the Year’ – BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2018 ‘Martin Simpson has transcended borders and oceans to quietly become a superb storyteller and musician of great depth and unquestionable taste.’ Stephen Fearing The remarkable intimate solo performances Martin gives go from strength to strength – every gig is a masterclass. He travels the length and breadth of the UK and beyond, giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his playing. “What’s it like being the best guitar player in the world…?” Martin’s modesty and grace prevented him from answering this BBC Radio 4 interviewer’s question recently, but the facts speak for themselves. 40 years after he recorded his first album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, Martin is known as a guitarist of formidable talent. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues and his own compositions, he is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world. He is listed in Gibson Guitars’ Top 30 Acoustic Guitarists of all time, and Acoustic Guitar readers voted him number 12 guitarist in the world in 2005. Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, his solo shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game. Whether interpreting material from tradition or singing his own potent self-penned songs, Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving. His own songwriting produced the poignant ‘Never Any Good’, from Prodigal Son, 2007’s Folk Album of the Year. Martin continues to collaborate with a dazzling array of people from across the musical spectrum: Jackson Browne, Martin Taylor, June Tabor, Richard Hawley, Bonnie Raitt, Danny Thompson, David Hidalgo, Danú, Richard Thompson and Dom Flemons are among the great musicians he has worked with. In recent years, he has been a lynchpin in the award-winning Full English, The Elizabethan Sessions and, in 2015, recorded Murmurs, an exciting new album with Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr. Martin’s most recent album was released in November last year to the usual critical acclaim. ‘Home Recordings’ was recorded at his home by his regular producer, now neighbour, Andy Bell, and finds Martin singing and playing, literally amongst his beloved guitar and banjo collection and out on his Peak District-facing porch. Martin is planning a new solo album for release next March on Topic Records. Always prolific, and never one to rest long without a guitar in his hands and a song in his head, Martin is genuinely thrilled to be back out on the road now – back where he loves to be – playing live. He has had the most nominations of any performer in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, an astonishing 32 times, 13 of those as Musician of the Year, winning that particular accolade twice. A virtuoso player without question, but above all Martin Simpson conveys his diverse treasure trove of material from the heart, performing with rare subtlety, intensity and honesty. A true master of his art. Press: ‘Martin is in a class of his own. He is such an expressive player; he is ingenious in his use of the guitar. You can listen to one of his songs and three or four minutes in, he has only used the top four strings and not even played a bass note yet, and when he does, it feels like an orchestra coming in. His clarity of playing is just amazing.’ Jackson Browne ‘One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene. Sounds better than ever’ **** 4 Stars The Guardian ‘Simpson has become a fine interpreter of traditional and other songs, as well as a notable writer of his own.’ The Times ‘Simpson’s latest is a potent blend of the highest calibre…Simpson has never sung or played better’ Acoustic Magazine ‘One of our finest traditional musicians, Simpson’s latest album offers a roving overview of his talents’ **** 4 Stars Uncut ‘An excellent collection of material drawn from both sides of the Atlantic handled with loving care by Simpson and aided by some of the biggest names in folk’ **** 4 Stars Maverick

Rory McLeod, an ex-circus clown and fire eater, is a one-man-soul-band, and poet. He has a natural troubadour’s talent for weaving magical, musical, storytelling spells accompanied by his own bizarre solo orchestra of distinctive instruments. The spoons, finger-cymbals, bandorea, Djembe-drum, harmonica, guitar, trombone and-tap-dancing shoes accompany the “rich, raw, deep and resonant” voice of this “singular and liberating performer.” “Expect the unexpected.” Rory has worked as a circus clown and fire eater with 'Circo Ideal' a small Azteca family, Mexican circus, touring campesinos, pueblitos and tobacco plantations on the Pacific coast and in mountain villages. “Rory Mcleod must be the musical equivalent of a six or seven ball juggler… ” - The Guardian (UK) He says “I also got shot from a cannon. I got paid 3 pesos a mile and travelling expenses!” ” I wasn’t the lion-tamer,… I only combed the lion's hair and cleaned his teeth!” He is a musical Gypsy, his eccentric melodies are infused with influences from Flamenco to Country blues, through to Celtic, East European and Calypso rhythms creating a style of music and songwriting that has been described as:- “Intimate, revealing, political and powerful.” “Poetry and dance-stories with verve, sharpness, humour and warmth about people and for people.” “Great songs to dance to, infectious rhythms, flying harmonica!” “(Rory McLeod is a)…Rhythmic storyteller-Soul-Singing-Tap-dancing-Poet,Guitar-Picking,One-Man-Dance-Band” Rory has travelled the globe for different reasons at different times, from Asia to the Middle East from Gambia to Cuba, Afghanistan, China, Zimbabwe, Central America, Australia, North America, Canada, Europe and other nooks and crannies of the earth. He was voted Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2002. The award was presented by singer and songwriter Vin Garbutt. His other awards include:-Texas Harmonica Champion 1981 and Edinburgh Festival Street Busket of the Year in 1985.