E-Newsletter 255
December 2022
Hello everyone
It’s Christmas and we’re all lined up for our Christmas shows starting with our Christmas Party tomorrow evening Thurs Dec 15.
It’s the usual format for our annual festive shindig where everyone’s invited to join in the fun with seasonal songs and music. They’ll be some food, lots of music our ‘once a year raffle’ and admission is ‘free’.
And next week our special Christmas show is on Thurs Dec 22
This year the return of ‘Celtic Christmas Strings’ with
MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH and CHRIS NEWMAN at The Black Swan Folk Club
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 breath-taking 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.
And the following Thursday December 29th it’s time for the annual Christmas Million Dollar Xmas Bash with 4 piece band BLONDE on BOB celebrating the music of Bob Dylan. Special guests on the night are Graham Hodge and Billy Bills with their FREEWHEELIN’ line up and as usual they’ll be some festive fun tied in with the music.
….and then we’re into next year 2023 and are putting together a programme with a mix of established artists, new names and local performers giving us a full guest night at the club. Also we’re changing our start time, bringing it forward by 15mins, so from the beginning of next year it’ll be doors 7-30pm and start time 8pm.
Our first guests of the year on Thursday January 5 are THE BROTHERS GILLESPIE. A highly regarded new name who are fast heading towards bigger things.
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.
This one’ll be a fantastic start to the New Year.
We have our first Open Mic of 2023 on Thurs January 12 and that is followed on Thurs January 19 by a chance for one of our favourite resident singers to perform a full evening at the club. JUDITH HASWELL joined by her singing partner TRISH McLEAN will be giving us their take on a mix of traditional, contemporary and original folk song.
Thurs January 26 we welcome back, yet again, one of our favourite bands, the uniquely named CHURCHFITTERS.
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”.
To round off the first month of the New Year on Sunday January 29 another annual event at The Black Swan Folk Club it’s The Winter Folk Day. Part of City of York Residents’ Festival and free to all York residents.
The music starts in our club room at The Black Swan In at 2pm and the first session runs through to 5-30pm with Two Black Sheep, Phil Cerny, The Old Humpy Band, Chris Euesden, Leather’o, Eddie Affleck and Stan Graham
The evening session starts at 7-30pm with White Sail, Toni Bunnell, Soundsphere, Judith Haswell and Ramshackle.
Our itinerary for the following few months of 2023 looks like this:-
Thurs February 2 it’s an OPEN MIC.
Thurs February 9 THE HUNCH a really welcome return for this fantastic four piece band, featuring Mick Doonan ex-Hedgehog Pie on Northumbrian pipes, with an eclectic mix of folk, blues and contemporary song.
Thursday September 16 SERIOUS SAM BARRETT makes a long-awaited return with his highly individual take on old and new folk song.
And on Thursday February 23 THE POWER of THREE from Leeds return to the club for a full guest evening after highly lauded appearances at our open mic nights.
Thurs March 2 it’s another Open Mic, this time with a feature spot from our ‘house band’ RAMSHACKLE.
And we’re presenting a concert at The Crescent Club YORK YO24 1AW on Sunday March 5 with Irish songstress ELEANOR McEVOY. A long awaited York debut for this singer-songwriter who rose to fame on the ‘A Woman’s Heart’ compilation album, which also featured Mary Black, Dolores Keane and Sharon Shannon. .
Thursday March 9 we have CHARLIE DORE and JULIAN LITTMAN at the club
Thursday March 16 we present RACHEL NEWTON also at the club
And we have a St Patrick’s Night special at the club on Fri March 17 with
LISA O’NEILL but this show has already sold out.
On Sunday March 19, McCUSKER, McGOLDRICK and DOYLE return to the Crescent
and it’s a new name at the club on Thursday March 23, BRIGID MAE POWER
Finally for March, REG MEUROSS guests for us once again on Thursday March 30th
…..and a few other things coming along
IONA LANE at the club on Thursday May 4
CHRIS WHILE and JOHNNY HEYES at the club on Thursday May 11
BOB FOX, JEZ LOWE and JULIE MATTHEWS bring their show ‘In the Footsteps of Ewan MacColl’ to the Crescent Club on Monday May 22.
And our annual ROLAND WALL’S CITY of YORK FOLK WEEKEND is scheduled to happen at The Black Swan on June 2, 3 and 4.
Ticket links and availability for all the above can be found by going to the Black Swan Folk Club website www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk
Also watch our Facebook and Twitter pages for updates.
STAN GRAHAM a long-standing resident at The Black Swan Folk Club for many years has just released his seventh album (just in time for Christmas). It contains 13 tracks including his ‘Christmas hit’ Christmas Bells and the title track ‘One Man and his Guitar’, Stan’s heartfelt tribute to singer-songwriter Tom Paxton. Check out all the details at Stan’s website www.stangraham.co.uk
Other folk related events happening locally include:-
Green Matthews at the National Centre for Early Music in York on Saturday December 17
And The Rheingans Sisters are at the NCEM on Friday March 3 plus Leveret perform there on Wednesday March 15..
Every week you’ll find there’s a tune session on Tues evening from 8pm onwards at The Maltings, Tanner’s Moat in York.
That’s it for this month and don’t forget the new start time of 8pm at the club which’ll begin in the New Year.
As always we’re looking forward to seeing you soon.
And a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers.
Chris and The Black Swan Folk Club