Local acoustic events in Southport, December

All in the evening except §

• Sun 1st: Saskia Griffiths-Moore - Bothy Folk Club, Park Road West.

• Mon 2nd: Singaround - Guest House, Union Street.

§ Tue 10th: Lion Singaround - Tap & Bottles, Cambridge Walks, 1.30pm.

• Wed 11th: Singaround - Grasshopper, Sandon Road, Hillside.

§ Sun 15th: Carol singing, Fishermen's Rest, Weld Rd - 1.00 p.m.

• Mon 16th: Music session - Guest House, Union Street.

• Sun 15th: Lucy Ward - Bothy Folk Club, Park Road West.

• Sun 22nd: Bothy Xmas Party, Park Road West.

§ Thu 26th: Southport Swords Day of Dance afternoon - Hesketh, Churchtown, then Guest House.

Bothy Ceilidh - 12 May

Tickets available on-line, at the Bothy Folk Club on Sundays, 

or on the night, subject to availability.

Hunter Muskett this Sunday

Guest post by Clive Pownceby, Bothy Organiser:

A word or two about the guests at the Bothy Folk Club this Sunday 30 October - Hunter Muskett. Way back in the early 70s I had two favourite folk-rock bands which never really hit big. The JSD Band who supported David Bowie in the Ziggy era was one, and Hunter Muskett was the other. I guess that Steeleye and Fairport had the scene sown up but these lesser-known bands were certainly not musical inferiors.

Hunters made two LPs, both of which are now expensive collectors’ items and we’ll be hearing classic songs such as 'Silver Coin' and 'Magician' on Sunday. The band broke up in 1974 but still with the original line-up, got back to the road in 2010.

This is a rare chance to catch a slice of legendary and innovative UK music which not only stands the test of time but retains an on-going force to reckon with.

Do come along: we’ve had a season of ups and downs this far, and I’d love this gig to be a turning point. Band website here. Doors open at 8.00 pm at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS.

The Search For Five Finger Frank

This Sunday's guests at the Bothy Folk Song Club are Pete Coe and Alice Jones who will perform songs and tunes from the collection of Frank Kidson (1855-1926) from Leeds who was an early collector of what we call folk songs. His collection comprises ballads, broadsides and dance tunes and its influence on the first folk revival was inestimable, but he's often overlooked in comparison with better-known collectors such as Cecil Sharp and Lucy Broadwood.

Pete and Alice redress the balance with this presentation in word and lots of song - here is the show's website. This unique show is this Sunday at 8.00pm, and it is more than half sold out already, so get there in good time or buy on-line. Please note: an advance ticket ensures admission only, not a reserved seat, so an early arrival is advisable.

This Sunday 24 April at 8.00pm in the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, a real ale venue. Tickets on the door or on-line, subject to availability.

Jez Lowe this Sunday

Jez Lowe is a singer songwriter from County Durham. His songs frequently deal with daily life in the North East, particularly in his hometown of Easington Colliery, and cover a wide range of subject matter, including economic decline, mining disasters, and the narrow opportunities set by living in a depressed area. As well as performing solo, Jez sometimes plays in a band format with the Bad Pennies, and in various collaborations, such as the Pitmen Poets.

Jez is an old friend of the Bothy Folk Club and her performed there many times, both as a guest and on occasion as a floor singer. He is appearing in Southport at the Bothy next year (aka next Sunday 3 January). The Bothy meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, which serves Southport real ale. Tickets available on-line and on the door, and the show begins at 8.00pm.

This night is likely to be very busy, so I recommend an early arrival.

Askew Sisters gig

The guests at the Bothy Folk Club thus Sunday 18 October are the highly talented Askew Sisters, Hazel and Emily. "[They] are fast becoming one of the most popular and respected duos on the English folk scene. From dark ballads to uplifting dance tunes, they play with driving energy and the unity of two people who have played together all their lives. The sisters use fiddle, melodeon and concertina to breathtaking effect, creating cinematic arrangements that get to the very heart of each song. These create a perfect setting for Hazel’s striking voice, which won her Best Female Singer at the Spiral Earth Awards 2011."

"A definitive album of the current English Folk scene." - Spiral Earth

"Inspired arrangements of traditional music, striking versions of tricky ballads – this is traditional folk in a fine, fresh form." - The Telegraph

"An album of singular and iconic beauty." - FolkWords

" Vocals shimmering above fiddles, viola, melodeons and concertina, [this album] casts its spell." - The Sunday Times

"The edgy alchemy of melodeon and fiddle makes for a vivid and revitalising sound throughout… one of the most atmospheric and erudite albums you’ll hear this year and a model of consummate taste." - EDS

The Bothy meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Tickets on-line, or on the door. This will probably be a popular night, so best not arrive too late. The venue sells real ale from Southport Brewery.

Bothy Roadshow hits Ainsdale

This musical evening is free. There is also a bar, which isn't!

Season finale - Dave Burland

Dave Burland

'Dave Burland is one of the most well-respected and long-established performers on the folk scene. His apparently effortless singing and guitar playing gained widespread acclaim 40 years ago when his first album, A Dalesman’s Litany, was voted Melody Maker Folk Album of the Year. Nic Jones summed up Dave Burland perfectly when he said: “He’s a uniquely calm, gentle and clever singer who makes you feel it’s all so amazingly simple.” He’s also been described as the Frank Sinatra of traditional folk music. And he’s also got a deliciously wicked sense of humour.' - Costa Del Folk Festival.

Dave is an old friend of the Bothy Folk Club and has played there many times, He has been playing the folk scene since the late 60s and is noted for his laid-back style, his humour and, most importantly, his delivery of good songs. He is the final guest of the summer season at the Bothy, and this will be a chance to see a master of his craft at work. The Bothy meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Tickets on-line or on the door, subject to availability. The venue sells Southport real ales.

Anna Shannon on Sunday

Anna Shannon

Born into a musical family, by the time Anna Shannon was ten, she was already accomplished on classical flute, and at twelve was playing oboe, clarinet and trumpet. Guitar, fiddle, sax and bowed psaltery followed, but it wasn’t until she was in her early twenties that she discovered the folk scene. He released her first album, The Whale Dreaming in 2006 after winning BBC Radio Yorkshire Songwriter of the Year which she had entered on spec. Since that time Anna has released several more albums, and her latest, A Celebration of Old England, released on the Wild Goose Records label, sees her forging a strong path in today’s diverse folk club and festival circuit.

Anna is making a return visit to the Bothy Folk Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS this Sunday 5 July at 8.00pm. Tickets on-line or on the door. The venue usually sells Thwaites and/or Southport real ale.

Jennifer Crook plays Southport

A Brief Encounter moment for Jennifer

Jennifer Crook is the guest artist at the Bothy Folk Club this Sunday.

In a career that has led her from the BBC Young Tradition Award to touring with Snow Patrol, Jennifer has earned a reputation as a harp player, singer, songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. She has appeared on national television, recorded the music for the BBC David Attenborough series The Private Life of Plants and was recently invited to contribute to the Radio 2 programme Girl On Guitar about Joni Mitchell. Jennifer’s 2011 release Merry-Go-Round featured contributions from Eddi Reader and Darrell Scott and was produced by Boo Hewerdine. The album earned her national airplay and a live session with Bob Harris on Radio 2.

Carnforth Station is Jennifer’s third solo release; she wrote many of the songs on the lever harp and much of her musical history (elements of trad Irish, bluegrass and alt country) finds its way into this collection. Touring with this album included a special performance at Carnforth Station itself.

See her this Sunday 7 June at the Bothy Folk Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS at 8.00pm. The venue sells real ale from either Thwaites or Southport Brewery. Tickets on-line or on the door.

Keith Hancock in Southport

Keith Hancock is a singer, songwriter and musician from Manchester originally and has toured internationally: more details of what he's done over the last 30+ years on his website here. He now lives in Saigon and makes a living as a musician, singer/songwriter, author, writer and contributor to various websites. 2013 saw him returning to serious touring for the first time in 7 years, so an appearance locally in Southport is thus an extreme rarity. The good news is that you can see him this Sunday at the Bothy Folk Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, at 8.00pm this Sunday 3 May. The venue serves real from Southport Brewery or Thwaites.

Here is a sample of what he does:

Jim Causley gig in Southport

The cover of his new CD

Sorry, I should have posted this earlier about the Bothy's guest singer tomorrow night (Sunday).

Jim Causley is a folk singer and musician from Devon who specializes in the traditional songs and music of the West Country. Hailing from the village of Whimple in East Devon, he was born in Exeter and is a relative of the Cornish poet Charles Causley. His 2013 album Cyprus Well is based upon the poetry of Charles Causley, who died in 2003.

In 2006, he was nominated for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award under the Horizon Award (best newcomer) category and the following year his vocal trio, The Devil's Interval, who have previously played at the Bothy, were nominated for the same award.

He's appearing on Sunday 5 October at 8.00pm at the Bothy Folk Club, which meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Real ale from either Thwaites or Southport breweries.

Tich Frier at the Bothy

The Bothy's guest this Sunday is Tich Frier. It might seem apposite to have a Scot as the guest at the Bothy in this particular week, especially as the Bothy itself is named after the tradition of singing Bothy ballads, which mostly come from the north east of Scotland. In fact it's just a coincidence and anyway folk music recognises no national boundaries.

It's more than forty years since Tich began singing folk songs in his home town of Edinburgh. In that time he has established an enviable reputation as a first class entertainer, and he is held in high regard for his powerful and passionate singing, skilled guitar work and inspired sense of fun.

His repertoire can best be described as eclectic. It ranges through traditional and modern Scottish songs, Burns, his own compositions, parodies, music hall songs and contemporary classics, all linked together with his inventive off the cuff stories.

What they've said about Tich:

• "Inspired and energetic" (The Herald).
• "Spiked with humour and full of heart" (The Scotsman).
• "Uniformly positive to effusive reports from members". Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy. Fife.
• "Makes Burns come alive in verse, music and song." - Bill Nolan, Director, Eglinton Burns Club
• "A great night, can we do it again next year?" Guisborough Folk Club.

That's this Sunday 21 September at 8pm in the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, a real ale venue. Tickets on the door or on-line here.

Bothy autumn season begins

Mick Ryan and Paul Downes

Mick Ryan is well known on the folk scene as a fine singer of traditional and original songs He was described by "Folk Roots" as 'definitely the most underrated singer in the country.' His duo with Paul Downes has been well received: "Positively oozes skill and professionalism" (Folk North West); "The singing, as we have come to expect from Mick Ryan, utterly superb" (Shreds and Patches).

Paul Downes has a sensitive, yet fun approach to live performances which puts him among the most respected artists on the British acoustic music scene today. Paul has a rich musical background that has progressed through working with Phil Beer, The Arizona Smoke Revue, Pete Seeger and, currently, The Joyce Gang.

Together Mick and Paul provide singing, music and entertainment of the very highest quality.

They are the first guests of the autumn season at the Bothy Folk Club this Sunday 7 September at 8.00pm in the Park Gold Club, Park Rd West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Real ale either from Thwaites or Southport. Tickets on-line or on the door.

Ken Nicol & Becky Mills at the Bothy

Ken Nicol & Becky Mills are the Bothy Folk Club's guests this coming Sunday

Ken Nicol is a highly acclaimed musician, singer, songwriter, producer, playwright and composer who has been a member of folk/rock bands Steeleye Span and The Albion Band and also worked with artists ranging from Al Stewart to Phil Cool. He plays acoustic and electric guitar, resonator guitar, 5-string banjo, mandolin and ukulele. His music includes folk, ragtime, blues, rock, ballads, jazz, amazingly intricate instrumentals and singalong comedy numbers.

In the early 2000s, Becky Mills became one of the four female stars of the genre-busting acoustic music group Waking The Witch. After three albums, successful tours and appearances at scores of folk, indie and blues festivals around the UK, Waking The Witch broke up. Since then, Becky has performed solo and in a duo with her fellow "Witch", Patsy Metheson. She also contributed vocals to Historic Events And Other Subjects, the latest solo album by Ken Nicol. Although Ken heralds from Lancashire and Becky from Yorkshire, cross-Pennine harmony prevails.

This Sunday 20 July at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS at 8.00pm. Tickets on-line, or take your chance on the door.

Ken and Becky are the Bothy's final guests until September, but don't despair: the music continues throughout the summer with free singarounds every Sunday evening from around 8pm. "The show that never ends".

Dave & Boo - "wholly in tune musicians"

Dave and Boo performing at Hitchin

Dave Ellis & Boo Howard are making the third visit to the Bothy Folk Club on Sunday 6 July at 8.00pm.

"Their songs are intelligently constructed, elegantly articulated and never less than entertaining. The mix is eclectic (from folk to jazz to blues to bluegrass) but the songs are at the heart of it all, served by imaginative and stylish arrangements and by the singing and playing of two seasoned, wholly in tune musicians." Anonymous reviewer.

"You like your jazzy blues n' folk smooth and urbane? Come on in for these laconic vignettes of love, life and laundry with a modern sheen." Clive Pownceby.

Tickets on the door, or on-line. The Bothy meets every Sunday at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS; it serves real Thwaites Wainwright.

Blues at the Bothy

Tom Doughty and Graham Bellinger are the guests at the Bothy Folk Club at 8.00pm this Sunday 22 June. Tom Doughty is a superb lap slide guitar player whom I have seen playing at the Bothy on several occasions as well as in Liverpool, but Graham is new to me. I'm told that the two mesh well together. If Tom's previous gigs are anything to go by, the term 'blues' will used on a broader sense - blues have often been featured at the Bothy.

The Bothy meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. On-line tickets. Thwaites real ale.

Haddo at the Bothy

"Any chance of a lift to Southport?"

Haddo is a duo comprising husband and wife Nicky and Will Pound, who are young performers in the English folk tradition playing fiddle, viola and melodeon. Will is also well known for his harmonica playing and contributed to the Christmas hit single for Hillsborough, He Ain't Heavy; he has performed with musicians as diverse as Martin Simpson, Guy Chambers and Concerto Caledonia. Nicky has worked with conductors Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Colin Davis. She is popular as a session musician, including live concerts with Elton John. More recently, she featured on singer-songwriter Blair Dunlop's début album Blight and Blossom.

This talented duo is appearing at the Bothy Folk Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, this Sunday 25th May at 8.00pm. Click for on-line tickets. The venue serves Thwaites real ale (usually Wainwright).

Back on line at last + 2 news items

Hello everyone.

I hope you all remember me after all this time. I finally got my computer back in working order: it's had a three and a half month career break in the computer repair shop, which means this blog is now hopelessly out of date. Over the next week or two I'll be updating my various pages (beer festivals, music events, etc), and adding posts to this blog. I've received a number of comments about the blog being out of date by people who didn't know that I've been off-line for so long: Thanks - nice to know you've missed it.

Two quick items of news:

1. The guest at the Bothy this Sunday is the excellent Gordon Tyrrall. Traditional folk songs and instrumentals and own songs delivered with style and exuberance - and a decent chap to boot. 8.00 pm at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS this Sunday 11th May.

2. The Southport Swords Day of Dance takes place tomorrow. There will be many visiting Morris sides dancing in and around the town centre. If you're in Southport, keep an eye out for them.

Allan Taylor gig

Allan Taylor is one of the few singer-songwriters from the 1960s who is still touring regularly and performing at folk clubs, festivals and arts centres. I first saw him in the late 70s at the old Coronation Folk Club in Southport, and most recently at the Bothy when he was last here a year or two ago, and many times in between. I've never been disappointed.

His voice is mellow, his style understated and his repertoire consists almost entirely of his own material. His songs cover the whole range of the human condition, with a few becoming standards, such as Good To See You and Roll On The Day.

He is appearing at the Bothy this Sunday 9 February at 8.00pm, which meets at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. On-line tickets. It's usually a sell-out when he's on, so get there early.