April is an unpredictable month, but the big news is that Royston Live, formerly Royston Folk Club, is moving home from the Royal British Legion where it has been located for the last couple of years to The Plough in Shepreth which is about five miles to the north of the present location, but accessible by public transport as the rail station is a short walk away.
Unicorn Folk understands that the decision has been taken in part owing to the better facilities including sound equipment available at the new venue which has a recent history of staging music events similar to those staged by Royston Live. In fact, Melody Coles (Causton) and Elizabeth & Jameson will be playing there just two days after the first Royston Live concert at the new venue which will take place on Thursday 25th April when there is an exciting line-up consisting of Chris Fox and the John Ward Trio.
Doors open for the concert at 7.30pm for an 8.30pm start and if the previous month’s concert, featuring an enjoyable mix of Scottish tunes from Orphean Sprig, some beautifully performed traditional English folk songs from The Medlars alongside Pat Crilly and Greg Camburn in fine form, then we should be in for a very good evening. Get your tickets HERE and there are lots more gigs listed in the Unicorn Diary under The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website.
I was a bit horrified to hear that Katie Spencer had sliced off the tip of her left index finger whilst making breakfast recently! I’m not sure what breakfast consisted of but my fruit and yoghurt is normally quite safe! Glad to report Katie’s finger is healing well and that she will be out on the road soon and you can find her gigs listed in Gigs & Tours under The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website. In the meantime she has completed her second song book which is a detailed celebration of her second album The Edge Of The Land is available to purchase now, via Bandcamp.
Katie is also running a Songwriting Retreat with Iona Lane in September 2024 in the stunning Scottish Highlands. Places are rapidly filling up, and they have also announced their ‘Young Songwriters Bursary’ for under-25s too. Read more about it here, and perhaps join them for a special week later in the year!
On the subject of songwriting, a bit nearer home perhaps, Charley Foskett will be running a songwriting workshop in Wingrave Village Hall (HP22 4PE) on the borders of Beds/Herts/Bucks region on the weekend of 25th & 26th May. Special guest will be Judy Tzuke and you can find out more info by emailing Charley: info@foskettsfolkfactory.com
… and on the subject of books,Dorset duo Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere (aka Ninebarrow) are recognised as one of the finest harmony duos in UK folk music and they too are about to release a book on April 19 – ‘Ninebarrow’s Dorset-Volume 3’ a beautifully presented 80-page book of walks in their home county. Price £15, it can be ordered at the duo’s website www.ninebarrow.co.uk
Here’s a quick plug for a concert coming up on Thursday 30th May at St Andrews Church Hertford. Julie Fowlis is a very fine Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic and this is a rare chance to see her, so get your tickets whilst you can by checking the Featured Festivals & Concerts on the main Unicorn Folk website for details.
If you are keen to celebrate St George’s Day then you can do so by listening to ‘Filby’s Folk’at 6pm on Sunday evenings on Royston Radio and more specifically the repeat at 1pm on Tuesday 23rd April next week which is St George’s Day. The special St George’s Day edition of ‘Filby’s Folk’ will feature English folk artists only from the 1970s to the present day. Normally, the show features a wide range of folk music including traditional, acoustic, Celtic, European, Breton, Indie and folk rock and if you like the show I’d be very grateful if you would spread the word please about ‘Filby’s Folk’ and Unicorn Folk. Thank you!
Unicorn Folk News 