Sunday 4 December 2016

5th December 2016 at Swinton Folk Club: FEET IN MOUTHS!

FEET IN MOUTHS (Dave, Ged, John & Steve)

Last guest night for 2016 sees the welcome return of the four lads who have been friends and companions for many years and given all of us rare and wonderful nights of humour, song and warmth (and of course witty repartee!).
 
Come along and enjoy!!

Wednesday 19 October 2016

7th November 2016 at Swinton Folk Club: GARY AND VERA ASPEY!

Gary and Vera Aspey became full time professional artists in April 1974. Their experience and performance content has, over the years, taken them to many varied venues including Folk Clubs, Arts Centres, Theatres, PTA & Sports Clubs, Round Table & Masonic evenings, TV & Radio, around the world including Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Brunei, Oman, the Falkland & Ascension Islands, Belize, Cyprus, Sardinia and several European Countries.

Gary and Vera are old friends of Swinton Folk Club and have played here many times before. Be sure to join us for an evening of fun and laughter!

Sunday 28 August 2016

5th September 2016 - Anthony John Clarke

Anthony John is an old friend of Swinton Folk Club, and his Guest Nights are always a highlight of the club year. Monday 5th September promises to be no exception.

Anthony John Clarke was born in Belfast on 18th October 1956. He started songwriting at the age of nine inspired by the sixties but it was only when he left Ireland and came to England that he pursued his passion for writing with any vigour. Lacking belief in his work he languished in the shadow of others for too long but the creator of "Irish Eyes" and the beautiful "Seven In Ireland" was destined to make a mark on the British contemporary music scene. Living in Liverpool and being managed superbly by Sheelagh McGovern for many years afforded Anthony John the opportunity of performing his songs far and wide. Seven tours of the East Coast of the USA ensured him a small but loyal following there which remains loyal to him to this day. Bookings at clubs up and down the UK and recent developments including the vocal collaboration with Elizabeth van de Waal increased his popularity and made him an established folk name.

There are very few places in the UK and Ireland that Anthony John has not played. His supporters are loyal and many, and the tributes he receives from his peers bear witness to the talent and hard work of one of the folk scene's nicest guys. He retains his reputation as one of the top songwriters on the scene and his hard work and dedication to his craft are a credit to him. For him, songwriting is indeed a craft.

"The songwriter has a responsibility. It's not enough to put a tune to some words or some words to a tune. The song is a vehicle for a notion that the writer has about something. If it wasn't, then the song would have no beginning, middle or end. It's not complicated. The notion is what starts the process and the completed song is the fruition. It invites others into the notion, the idea, the feeling, the celebration, the private moment. And if you can provide a laugh or two along the way it gets my vote." 
 


Sunday 31 July 2016

Guest Night Monday 1st August: Steve Turner!

Monday 4th July we welcomed Geoff Higginbottom back to the club.  It proved to be a wonderful evening from Geoff (as always!) who entertained the  well attended gathering with his wealth of traditional songs and music presented in his own inimitable style. The audience responded by joining in the great choruses and jovial banter!  Thank you Geoff.

Our guest for 1st August, 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 the business. He is a multi-instrumentalist, who also accompanies himself on the cittern, and also plays mandolin and banjo.
After a thirteen year break, building up an internationally known stringed instrument business, he made a welcome return to performing in folk clubs and festivals in 2005.
Steve’s 5th album, his first for 22 years "The Whirligig of Time" was long listed for the BBC folk awards in 2008. His 6th album "Rim of the Wheel" was released in spring 2012 and received rave reviews – David Kidman in N.E. Folk Roundabout called it “sheer genius a sure contender for one of my folk albums of 2012” This was backed up by many festival bookings and re-plays on the radio on the Mike Harding Show Radio 2 and Late Junction Radio 3 and a full page article in F/Roots in July 2012.
Steve’s new 7th album “Spirit of the Game” was released in January 2016.

Wednesday 22 June 2016

JOHN COLLINGE SHANTY NIGHT: MONDAY 27TH JUNE 2016

It has been a tradition of long standing that we hold a Shanty Night on the last Monday in June in memory of John Collinge.

John was a stalwart of the club for many years, and enjoyed nothing better than a good Shanty sing-a-long and songs of the sea.

Here's a wee sample, from a Shanty Night a few years ago (I've tried to find one of Feet In Mouths doing the Club's unofficial anthem, 'The Little Pot Stove', but without success.) All the same, here are a few more Club stalwarts raising the rafters in style.

So come to the Club on Monday and help do the same!


Tuesday 31 May 2016

CHANGE OF PROGRAMMING: MONDAY 6TH JUNE

Due to unfortunate circumstances REDMAYNE are unable to appear at the club next Monday 6th June and our thoughts are with Dave Pollard.

At very short notice STANLEY ACCRINGTON has agreed very kindly to step in the breach and will be our guest. Look forward to seeing you all to support the amazing Stanley!

Tuesday 29 March 2016

April 4th: Stanley Accrington

Our third guest night of 2016 will be this Monday, featuring the great Stanley Accrington!


"Stanley emerged from the dark days of the late 1970's and has been terrorising the cultural world ever since.

He has written hundreds of songs in a range of styles on a vast rake of subjects. There are old-style songs on current happenings and modern style songs on ancient events. There are poems, pastiches, parodies, and possibly anything.

Apart from the silly and very silly material, Stanley has always been writing serious songs to confuse the situation further.

Stanley has been performing all over UK and occasionally beyond at a wide variety of locations and events. The pigeon-hole to put this stuff in is 'miscellaneous-ish'."

Here's a little sample:


Saturday 5 March 2016

March 7th: Dai Thomas

Our second guest night of 2016 is nearly upon us, starring the legendary Dai Thomas!

The King of the Salford Bluesmen, Dai has a truly awe-inspiring repertoire of classic Mississippi Delta Blues classics, featuring tracks by Skip James, Charley Patton, Blind Willie Johnson, Papa Charlie Jackson, Charlie Poole, Clarence Ashley, Henry Thomas and many, many more.

If you love the blues, a night with Dai is a must. Here's a little sample of what the man can do.



Wednesday 27 January 2016

February 1st: John Brindley

Our first Guest Night of 2016 has been confirmed. Our guest will be Jon Brindley!

"My fiddle was handed down from my Grandma and I could well play you one or two of my compositions. I was inspired to take it busking all round Europe after reading Laurie Lee. I’ve explored music through many forms. Celtic melodies, blues, contemporary folk, country, rock, popular songs and traditional ballads can all be picked out of my repertoire and it’s usually my own interpretations. Expect the unexpected!"

Jon will be playing Swinton Folk Club on Monday 1st February 2016.