Running out of time!

Those active on social media may be aware that after an apparently enjoyable concert on Thursday night at St Andrew’s Church, Hertford, Cara Dillon found that her set lists and lyrics had gone missing. These are very personal for Cara and accumulated over a long period, and she was understandably distressed at the loss. I have it on very good authority that St Andrew’s acted very promptly to try and recover the items and I understand that the items have now been recovered. Good news for Cara and well done to St Andrew’s for their prompt action for which they surely deserve a quick plug for their next event, being Martin & Eliza Carthy  on Friday 5 May – full details on the main Unicorn Folk website frontpage.

Since the last blog there have been a few updates to the main Unicorn Folk website and a new ‘Listing’ introduced with details of ‘Gigs and Tours’. These are essentially current and upcoming tour dates and gigs, though sometimes there is not much distinction between the two. The list will be expanded as and when we hear of more details and any band or artist performing ‘folk’ in its broadest sense is welcome to ask for their tour details to be listed – just email info@unicornfolk.uk with artist name and a link to the tour dates.

Many of the artists in the new listing have been the subject of CD Reviews which you can read on the main Unicorn Folk website – see under ‘Music’, then ‘CD Reviews’ on the top menu. For example, Megson launched their new CD ‘What Are We Trying To Say’ (review coming soon) on March 24^th and are halfway through a promotional tour and a number of other gigs. When a tour is effectively completed then the artist’s name will disappear from the list unless there are a few more gigs in the offing. We hope that this will prove to be a valuable service to readers.

Amongst others in the pipeline for CD Reviews are the new offerings from The Young’uns, ‘Tiny Notes’, and Gnoss, ‘Stretching Skyward’. The latest additions are ‘Cuckoo Tree’ by Kelly and Woolley and ‘Dusk Moon’ by Rura, the latter being on the ‘Gigs and Tours’ list and in Cambridge on March 27^th for those able to get there. Judging from the CD a concert by Rura will be well worth catching.

The Unicorn Folk ‘Festival Finder’ can be found under ‘Listings’ on the front/home page of the main Unicorn Folk website and has just been updated. It contains just over 100 listings for festivals starting this weekend and continuing until October and more entries will be added as they become known, so it is worth checking every now and then for updates.

Finally, a quick plug for remaining dates in March in the Unicorn Folk area. The Stables, Milton Keynes host The Fureys on the 28^th; Martin Simpson on the 29^th, and Police Dog Hogan on the 31^st. Baldock Folk Club host the Boxwood Chessmen and Barry Goodman on the 29^th; the Acoustic Club Bishop’s Stortford have Terry Hiscock & Roger Pavitt + 8 Support Acts on the 30^th and Royston Live have Chris Woods supported by the popular Thursday’s Band on Friday 31^st. You can find all this information and more about ‘What’s On’ in our area in the Unicorn Diary on the main Unicorn Folk website under ‘Events’ on the top menu.

March is running out of time so enjoy your last weekend of the month and don’t forget to put the clocks forward!

What’s On In March

If you are very quick there is still time to catch a gig on Fairport Convention’s Wintour 2023 and if you need convincing then just read the review of their concert in Harpenden on the main Unicorn Folk website HERE. After that and you will have to content yourselves with Chris Leslie and Dave Mattacks who will be part of the Feast of Fiddles 11-date tour running from 20 March until 1 April, details HERE.

More locally, there are some big names coming soon in March including Cara Dillon at St Andrew’s Church in Hertford on Thursday 23^rd March. More details and ticket links can be found on the main Unicorn Folk website frontpage and this is part of a 13-date tour which starts today 2^nd March.

The mention of Cara Dillon, with her links to the Lakeman family, provides a neat segue into the next topic which is the upcoming tour by Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman starting on March 18^th. The tour will showcase their new album ‘Almost A Sunset’ and you can find links in the review which appears on the main Unicorn Folk website (under Music/CD Reviews) and also in the interview which Kathryn and Sean kindly gave to Unicorn Folk – see under Music/Interviews.

Royston Live put on a great night recently when they had Fred’s House headlining to bring some of their own songs along with a touch of Fleetwood Mac and other covers to a full house at the club’s venue at Royston British Legion. At the end of March Royston Live host a very influential folk musician, Chris Wood, who has worked with the greats of English folk music but also performs in the French and Québécois traditions. Details via the link on the main Unicorn Folk website

St Neots Folk Club host Steve Tilston on Tuesday 21^st March and the Stables at Milton Keynes has a range of well-known folk acts appearing in March, including Feast of Fiddles, The Fureys and Martin Simpson. These and a range of other gigs in Baldock, Hertford, Bishop’s Stortford, Watford & Milton Keynes. amongst others, can be found in the Unicorn Diary on the main Unicorn Folk website under ‘Listings’

Finally, a reminder for Dance societies and Morris sides, as they are putting together their plans for the year that their activities can be listed for free in the new Dance Diary  onthe main Unicorn Folk website under ‘Listings’.