E-Newsletter 263
June 2024
Hello everyone
Here’s our last Newsletter before the annual City of York ‘Roland Wall’s Folk Weekend which takes place this year over the weekend June 7, 8 and 9. Just a few days to go.
On the eve of the Folk Weekend this Thursday we have some really exciting music:-
Thurs June 6 TONY McMANUS & JULIA TOASPERN
Tony and Julia's previous and most recent UK-wide tour in May-June 2022 included 29 performances and one of them was at The Black Swan Folk Club. It was a classic evening of skilled musicianship with these two virtuosos playing to a packed house. And we thought we’d do it again.
Hailed by the late John Renbourn - as ‘the best Celtic guitarist in the world’ Tony McManus has been listed as one of the 50 transcendental guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine.
Julia Toaspern is a multi-talented musician from Berlin who combines classical training on violin and voice with a wide interest in genres such as jazz, baroque and traditional music. On top of this her skills as a guitarist are prodigious and make an exciting fit with Tony’s work.
Fri June 7 until Sun June 9 CITY of YORK ‘Roland Wall’s’ FOLK WEEKEND
As usual they’ll be non-stop folk and acoustic related music all weekend, some traditional dance, some familiar faces and one or two surprises.
We’re doing things a little differently this year and starting off by running a concert in the marquee behind the Black Swan. This will be a ticketed event and tickets can be purchased from ‘we got tickets’. The concert starts at 8pm.
Top of the bill are Celtic folk rock band GAELFORCE.
Based in Yorkshire GAELFORCE play rocked up traditional folk music plus self-penned songs, jigs and reels in the traditional style.
They feature Chris Dyson on fiddle and vocals (Mike Harding Band, Roisin Ban), Geoff Taylor guitars (Duncan McFarlane Band), Sammy Dowgill on vocals and bass and Jim Brierley vocals and drums plus Craig McIntosh on highland bagpipes (Pipe Major with the Los Angeles Pipe Band USA).
This concert will be held in the marquee situated in the car park at the rear of the Black Swan.
After the Friday night concert Saturday and Sunday feature non-stop music all day in the marquee behind the Black Swan and in the Wolfe Room upstairs. They’ll also be chance for a session of tunes and songs in the downstairs room. Saturday and Sunday are free events but donations will be encouraged,
Here's the line up so far:-
Stu Giddens (from Blackbeard’s Tea Party), Duncan McFarlane Band, Leather’o, Blonde on Bob (Nothin’ but Dylan), Edwina Hayes,
The Ale Marys, White Sail, Soundsphere, Holly Taymar, Caramba,
The Bounty Hunters, The Minster Strays Morris, Monkey’s Fist,
Les Rustiques, The Old Humpy Band, The Barberellas, Chechelele, Graham Hodge, Chris Euesden, Stan Graham, Toni Bunnell, Eddie Affleck, Judith Haswell, Phil Cerny, Sarah Dean, Paula Ryan, Martin Heaton, Tommy Coyle, Phil Pipe, John Storey, Pen & Stu, Extempore, Paul Culkin, Alex O’Neal, Simon Alexander, Martin Heaton, Tim Pheby, Mick O’Kelly, Louis Gibb, Mary Callan and more…..
On Saturday music starts at 1-30pm and runs through to 10-30pm
Sunday is an earlier start at 12-50pm and once again we’re through to 10-30pm.
After the Folk Weekend we’re here as usual every Thurs throughout June and July and they’ll be a mixture of Open Mic evenings and special guest nights.
Open Mic evenings are scheduled for June 13, June 20, July 11 and 18.
All the way from Australia ENDA KENNY is our guest on Thurs June 27..
Another visit to the club for this Irish-born songwriter who has made his home in Australia since the late 1980's. His thoughtful, descriptive stories of his adopted homeland have struck a chord with audiences in Australia, Ireland, the UK and beyond. Rock and Reel describes him as a cracking live entertainer.
Last year started well, Enda was awarded Artist of The Year at Newstead Live Music Festival in January 2023.
"On small stages to intimate audiences or large stages to festival audiences he always holds the crowd in the palm of his hand. Witty and intelligent songwriting and a brilliant night's entertainment"
Eleanor McEvoy.
The week after July 4 sees local favourite GRAHAM HODGE lined up for another guest appearance.
One of our favourite singers, Graham will doubtless once again entertain us with some superb renditions of contemporary and traditional folk songs plus some of his own compositions. All of them expertly accompanied by his fine guitar style.
The final guests of this season will be THE OLD HUMPY BAND on Thursday July 25.
A local band who we love to see along at The Black Swan Folk Club they’ll be set to give us a send off with some fine folkie songs and tunes before we head off for our August break. Join us for the final Thursday folk evening of the summer.
After the August break we are reopening in style with a firm club favourite who needs no introduction.
It’s JEZ LOWE on Thursday September 5.
And here’s what’s in the diary (so far) for the rest of the year:-
FLOSSIE MALAVIALLE (France) (Sept 12)
EILIDH GRANT TRIO (Sept 19)
ROBB JOHNSON (Sept 26),
JESSE TERRY(USA) (Oct 3)
Halfway to St Patrick’s Night with PAULA RYAN(Oct 10)
BROTHERS GILLESPIE (Oct 17)
JACK RUTTER (Oct 24)
HUNTER MUSKETT (Nov 7)
We have Welsh folk supremos CALAN scheduled to appear at the NCEM on Wed Nov 13 bringing with them ‘a Mythical Musical Odyssey’.
AMY HOLLINRAKE TRIO (Nov 14)
JOE TOPPING (Nov 21)
CHRISTINE COLLISTER (Nov 28)
Tickets are on sale for our Christmas show with ST. AGNES FOUNTAIN.
The date is Monday December 2 and the venue is The National Centre for Early Music in York.
Ticket links and availability for all the above concerts and club nights can be found by going to the Black Swan Folk Club website:- www.
The National Centre for Early Music in York presents Eliza Carthy on 28/6/24 Steve Knightley on 22/10/24 and Andy Irvine on 17/11/24..
Regular events include a tune session at The Maltings, Tanner’s Moat every Tuesday evening and old-time tunes and songs at The Golden Ball, Bishophill every Sunday evening. Friday evenings there’s a session of tunes and songs at The Three-Legged Mare in High Petergate.
As always, we’re looking forward to seeing you soon at The Black Swan Folk Club or at one of our in-concert events.