E-Newsletter 266
December 2024
Hello everyone
Just over about a week away from Christmas here’s our latest Newsletter with details about what we have at the club and in concert over the festive season and into the New Year 2025.
Thursday December 19 is our annual Christmas Party starting at 8pm at The Black Swan. The evening will take the same form as it has for many years with plenty of folk music with a Christmas theme in the form of a singers and musicians night where everyone is welcome to perform. They’ll be our only raffle of the year plus a small buffet so everyone can eat drink sing and be Merry. All are welcome and admission is free.
There isn’t a club a week Thursday as it’s Christmas Day but on Saturday December 28 we present what has become a Christmas tradition with Blonde on Bob in their 5 piece line up celebrating the music of Bob Dylan. They’ll be support from Billy Bills the annual Dylan quiz and the usual festive fun.
We start the New Year off on Thursday January 2 with an Open Mic where, as always everyone both listeners and performers are all welcome. If you wish to perform at any of the Open Mic nights just come along and give your name in at the door. Doors open 7-30pm and the music starts at 8pm as it does on all our club nights.
First club guests of the year are WINTER WILSON on Thursday January 9. A long overdue return to the club from Winter Wilson who last appeared at the club in 2015. They've released a string of critically acclaimed albums, one of the highlights being Live & Unconventional. The live album, recorded on tour and at Cropredy Festival with folk rock legends Fairport Convention.
Another favourite band grace the folk club stage on Thursday Jan 16 as once again we present THE HUNCH. If you haven’t seen Mick Doonan and the lads before it’s time you did. An evening of excellent musicianship with Northumbrian Pipes, Keys, accordion, guitar harmonica and percussion A powerful mix of contemporary and traditional folk song and tunes.
HOLLY TAYMAR premiers her new show paying tribute to the music of icon EVA CASSIDY on Thursday Jan 16. Holly is an old friend of The Black Swan Folk Club in fact the club was the venue for her first ever gig. We’re used to hearing Holly’s excellent self-penned material but on this occasion, she chooses to perform a celebration of one of the most beloved voices of the 20th century. Showcasing the powerful, soulful renditions of Eva Cassidy and bringing her own evocative and emotive voice to the iconic songs of the late singer.
Saturday January 25 is the date for our first concert of 2025. The venue is the National Centre for Early Music and SCOTT MATTHEWS headlines. His ground-breaking debut album, Passing Stranger earned him serious critical acclaim with its bold mix of folk, rock, blues and Eastern-inspired song-writing, and in 2007 his first single ‘Elusive’ won the Ivor Novello Award for ‘Best Song Musically and Lyrically’,
Sunday January 26 is our annual Winter Folk Day at The Black Swan Inn part of the York Residents Festival. As usual admission is free to York residents with music from local singers and musicians starting at 2pm and running through to 10-15pm. Artists include Leather’o, White Sail, Paula Ryan, Phil Cerny, Chris Euesden, Toni Bunnell, Judith Haswell, Trish McClean, Stan Graham, Sarah Dean, Peter Lister, and Eddie Affleck.
There’s no club on Thursday Jan 30th. We’re having a night off.
Lined up further into 2025 we have at the club:-
‘SERIOUS’ SAM BARRETT on Thursday 6 February, heartfelt self-penned and traditional songs on 12 string guitar and banjo
PETE MORTON premiers his new show 'The Ghost of the Sailor's Talking Blues' on Thursday 13 February
STEVE TILSTON one of the UK folk scene's most celebrated song-smiths and guitarists on Thursday 20 February
And at The Crescent on Tuesday February 25th we present in concert
THE GUILTY MEN.
Since his successful partnership with Christine Collister, Clive Gregson has been a celebrated soloist and has guested at The Black Swan Folk Club on many occasions. Now he brings his new band to York featuring some great players who have a wealth of musical experience between them with members of 10cc, Barclay James Harvest. The Cheaters and Any Trouble. The days of the Supergroup may be long past, but The Guilty Men would surely qualify for that description. Their new album “Invisible Confetti” contains nods to Americana, country, folk, pop, and psychedelia, It’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish.
Back to the club and it’s an Open Mic on Thursday Feb 27
Thursday March 6 a club debut for JOHNNY CAMPBELL delving deep into Northern English folk song and story.
Thursday March 13 COHEN BRAITHWAITE-KILCOYNE virtuoso talent playing melodeon and Anglo concertina
Thursday March 20 RYAN YOUNG acclaimed fiddler from North of the Border.
Rising star, guitarist and singer-songwriter CHRIS BRAIN plays The Crescent Club on Tuesday 25 March.
And it’s another Open Mic at the club on Thursday March 27.
Thursday April 3 Christina Alden and Alex Patterson return and
we also have Tom McConville (April 10), Open Mic (April 17), White Sail and Paula Ryan (April 24), Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow (May1), Bob Fox (May 8), Sam Carter (May 15), with THE EAST POINTERS on tour from Canada in concert at The Crescent Club on Wednesday May 28.
The annual City of York ‘Roland Walls’ Folk Weekend is set to happen at The Black Swan Inn again on June 6, 7 and 8, with more details to be announced soon, and on Monday June 9 we’ll be having a special concert at The Black Swan Inn with Canadian singer-songwriter James Keelaghan
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.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk
Other folk related events happening in York and nearby include:-
Navigators Art presenting A Feast of Fools II, a celebration of Twelfth Night in folk music and spoken word with White Sail, Henry Parker, Lara McClure, and more. That’s on the 5th January at the Black Swan. Details and tickets at bit.ly/nav-events.
Wetherby Folk Club host George Boomsma, White Sail and Chechelele on Friday 17 January.
The National Centre for Early Music present Martin Simpson on Saturday March 22 and The Fergus McBride trio on Sunday April 13.
Regular York sessions include a new Monday night get together at The Corner Pin, 17 Tanner Row, York YO1 6J and old-time tunes and songs are at The Golden Ball, Bishophill every Sunday evening. On Friday evenings there’s a session 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.
Check out ticket links and promo videos for all the performers by visiting the Black Swan Folk Club website.
Have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and wishing you a HAPPY 2025.
Chris and The Black Swan Folk Club