Big Changes at Royston Live

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 25^th 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 25^th & 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 23^rd 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!

Mad March!

Why Mad March? Well, just because it seems to have been so busy, an indication of which is the fact that Unicorn Folk received 9 CDs for review in just over one week recently, though on the other hand, it’s great to see that things are moving and the folk scene is coming to life again with each passing month.

On the subject of new albums, I have managed to review four of those received so far: John Meed and Friends with A Sudden Rain; The Battered Case with City of Song; Mat Green & Andy Turner with Time For A Stottycake, and Pete Cooper & Richard Bolton with Burning Bright. All of them are well worth a listen for a variety of different reasons and the first two are featured in a double album launch at Cambridge Folk Club this coming Friday 22^nd March. If you want to hear some great new songs from two very accomplished songwriters, underpinned by some beautiful string arrangements and, no doubt, performances, then I have marked your card for you on the CD Review page HERE.

I, on the other hand, will be conflicted, because much as I would like to go to that album launch I do like to support my local folk/music club which is Royston Live. This week, on Friday of course, Orphean Sprig, The Medlars and Pat Crilly provide the live entertainment which sounds like a potentially enjoyable mix of Scottish tunes, traditional English folk songs and Pat’s well-observed and interesting self-penned compositions.  Before then, on Thursday 21^st, at the Portland Arms in Cambridge you can observe the ‘State Of The Union’ between Boo Hewardine and Brooks Williams in what is billed as their only joint appearance in 2024. This is a fundraising concert for Ely Folk Festival and support comes from Tu-Kay and Ryan, and Rich Young and Myke Clifford. Details with links can be found on the main Unicorn Folk website amongst the posters in the Featured Festivals & Concerts section.

Also on the 21^st at the Acoustic Club Bishops Stortford, you can see Clean Sneak supported by Host and M/C Bill Tarran plus Richard Holder, Kevin Johnson and Jonny Brewer. Then on Friday 22nd Watford Folk Club host Elizabeth & Jameson and on Sunday 24^th Hitchin Folk Club sees the appearance of Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham also appearing on Tuesday 26^th at The Stables, Milton Keynes. The following evening the 27th Baldock Folk Club has Kelvin Davies & Chloe Turner + DnA.

All the above details can be found in the Unicorn Diary which is one of The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website and it will be updated beyond March later today, if I don’t have a repeat of the Internet problems that I suffered yesterday!

I’m thinking as I write this that EFDSS or Morris sides will soon be planning their seasonal activities and I would like to spread the word that Unicorn Folk is keen on keeping alive the old dance traditions and provides a FREE listing of events to allow sides to publicise their activities.  Do take advantage if you can and send your details to info@unicornfolk.uk ideally using the either Word or Excel forms (still labelled 2023 but fine to use) which makes it a lot easier to collate than just plain text in an email.

I’m already starting to play the new albums mentioned above in ‘Filby’s Folk’at 6pm on Sunday evenings on  Royston Radio with a repeat at 1pm Tuesdays so you can hear a sample track or two to accompany any reviews that you like the sound of.  The show features a wide range of folk music including traditional, acoustic, Celtic, European, Breton, Indie and folk rock. I usually include a reminder or two about ‘What’s On’ in the way of folk concerts in the week or so following broadcast so do give it a listen and if you like it spread the word please about ‘Filby’s Folk’ and Unicorn Folk. Thank you!

Folk in February

This seems a strange time of the year with such mild weather in February, in the South-East at least, and perhaps that’s why life seems unusually busy again though if I start repeating myself that’s not going to be very entertaining! What should be very entertaining are many of the acts that we have coming to our region over the next week or so.

Tonight, Tuesday 20^th I’m off to see Bird In The Belly in concert at St Neots Folk Club a band that I have wanted to see ever since I wrote the review of their CD ‘After The City’ for Unicorn Folk which you can read HERE along with lots of other reviews. Then, on Friday 23^rd Royston Live have their first Singers and Players Night since the new organisers of Bryan Causton, Penni Maclaren-Walker, Guido Rincón & Jeremy Harmer took over. (Hopefully, one or two of the hosts might provide a song or two!) On the same night, The Stables, Milton Keynes have Maddie Morris and Watford Folk Club have Hamish Currie as guest artists and Cambridge Folk Club have Nick Barraclough and friends.

On Sunday 25th February Hitchin Folk Club have Miranda Sykes & Hannah Martin as guests and again on the same day The Stables, Milton Keynes have Seth Lakeman on the Kitty Jay Tour. On Wednesday 28th Baldock Folk Club have North Sea Gas + Orphean Sprig and Four Rivers Folk Club in Hertford have Kate Ellis and finally on Thursday 29^th the Acoustic Club, Bishop’s Stortford have one of their 6 Acts 4 Songs nights with Colin Frid, Mike Excel, Melanie Quinn, Cider at Yours, Paul Booth + Si + Verna, and Ali Cossor.

A little further ahead and St Andrews Church in Hertford have Martin Simpson in concert on Thursday 14^th March. Their concerts seem to sell out quickly these days, probably because of the high quality of their performers so, should you be interested, I advise that you enquire quickly about tickets. Details with links can be found on the main Unicorn Folk website amongst the posters in the Featured Festivals & Concerts section.

I have recently become aware of the work of The East Anglian Traditional Music Trust, a registered charity which is based in Stowmarket, having been approached by them to help with publicity for their Traditional Music Day on Saturday 21^st September 2024.

As the Trust’s website says, East Anglia has a rich seam of traditional folk music, and has provided inspiration for composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, and been the subject of many recordings, books and articles. You can find information about their current projects, and how to get involved, including workshops and evening classes, community projects, research and publications on their website https://www.eatmt.org.uk/ and you can contact them at: info@eatmt.org.uk or ring 07495 054669.

In connection with the above and as regular readers of this blog will know I’m keen on keeping alive the old dance traditions, so I won’t apologise for another mention of the Dance Diary in The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website. This provides a FREE listing of events for all EFDSS or Morris sides to allow them to publicise their activities.  Do take advantage if you can and send your details to info@unicornfolk.uk ideally using the either Word or Excel forms (still labelled 2023 but fine to use) which makes it a lot easier to collate than just plain text in an email.

The new releases are starting to come out this year and I have a few to review now, more of which in the next blog but in the meantime keep your eyes on the CD Review page HERE. I have already started playing tracks from new albums in ‘Filby’s Folk’at 6pm on Sunday evenings on  Royston Radio with a repeat at 1pm Tuesdays. The show features a wide range of folk music including traditional, acoustic, Celtic, European, Breton, Indie and folk rock. I usually include a reminder or two about ‘What’s On’ in the way of folk concerts in the week or so following broadcast so do give it a listen and if you like it spread the word please. Thank you!

Where did January go?

As I said in the last blog, life seems very busy at the moment and before we know it we will be Into February and beyond. In the meantime, there are lots of good things coming up, (and that’s leaving aside the Six Nations rugby!) in the form of several concerts in our locality, starting with another reminder about Royston Live on Friday 26^th January featuring The Bounty Hounds and with the new management team of Bryan Causton, Penni Maclaren-Walker, Guido Rincón & Jeremy Harmer providing support.

You will have to be quick to catch the Burns Night celebration at the Four Rivers Folk Club in Hertford tonight but they also have a Ronnie Lane Night going on tomorrow Friday 26^th January and now all their club nights can be found as an entry in the Unicorn Diary which is one of The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website. The same is also now true of the Acoustic Club Bishop’s Stortford following the publication of its programme concerts, mostly at the new venue the South Mill Arts Centre. Their next concert night is a ‘6 Acts 4 Songs’ evening on Thursday 1^st February.

Next Wednesday 31^st January Baldock Folk Club features Elizabeth & Jameson with support from Adam Cooney and the following Wednesday 7th February there is another great night folk lined up for the audience at  St Andrew’s Church in Hertford featuring the Sharon Shannon Trio details of which can be found on the main Unicorn Folk website where it is a featured concert, but you’ll need to hurry as it is almost sold out! If that’s the case, then perhaps you should try for the night before that, Tuesday 6^th February, when Fairport Convention open their Wintour 2024 at the Stables, Milton Keynes. You can read a review of their Harpenden concert from Wintour 2023 on the Unicorn Folk website HERE.

I was saddened to see the news that Standon Morris are officially calling it a day and winding down. This decision was reached unanimously at their most recent AGM in September of last year following many years of struggle to recruit new dancers from the local area, despite repeated campaigns. They are now in the process of creating a consolidated archive which will hold photos, videos, newspaper cuttings and other bits and pieces from over the years. Select media from their archive will be posted to their Facebook page and they warmly welcome any media, footage, information, anecdotes or tales of the side that former members or followers are happy to share.

Amongst the responses to the post by Standon Morris was one by Trevor Jenkins who posted a copy of the front page of ‘The Times’ from Monday 27^th June 1977. This showed Standon Morris dancing in the Winster Processional as part of the 1977 Morris Ring meeting in Thaxted over the weekend just ended. I was reminded on seeing the photo that I was at that Ring Meeting, my first, as a dancer with Bath City Morris. We were led by Tubby Reynolds & Roy Dommett and missed out on the front page of The Times by only about 50 yards! Sadly, the Bath City Morris ‘university’ side has also been defunct for many years. We used to have an archive on a website somewhere and if anyone who is reading this has any connections with Bath City Morris as was, or knows someone who does, I would be interested in putting up another commemorative website for that side. Please get in touch using info@unicornfolk.uk.

Whilst genuinely saddened at the demise of any group keeping alive the old dance traditions, all the above is also an excuse to mention again the Dance Diary in The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website which provides a FREE listing of events for all EFDSS or Morris sides to allow them to publicise their activities.  This is provided simply to do what little Unicorn Folk can to keep these old traditions going. Do take advantage if you can and send your details to info@unicornfolk.uk ideally using the either Word or Excel forms (still labelled 2023 but fine to use) which makes it a lot easier to collate than just plain text in an email.

Finally, if you enjoy listening to folk music, try ‘Filby’s Folk’ at 6pm on Sunday evenings on  Royston Radio with a repeat at 1pm Tuesdays. The beauty of radio is that you can listen and do other things, such as cook, at the same time! The show features a wide range of folk music including traditional, acoustic, Celtic, European, Breton, Indie and folk rock (or ‘Frock’ as Fairport apparently now refer to it!) the latter being a particular favourite of mine. Do give it a listen and if you like it spread the word please. Thank you!

Happier New Year

I don’t know about anyone else but where I am usually a bit fed up at this time of the year, post-festive season and with at least a couple of months of cold weather to look forward to, the fact that life seems very busy seems to have mitigated my usual post-festive blues.

Maybe it’s the knowledge that there is lots of good music in store for us soon and to that end there is a new version of the Unicorn Diary in The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website which covers the first three months of events at music venues in the local area in 2024. If your venue is not listed then do be sure to send in details of your events preferably in either Word or Excel format by downloading and completing one of these forms. A plain text list in an email to info@unicornfolk.uk is also fine.

One highlight of the coming month is a concert that is taking place next Thursday 18th January at St Andrew’s Church in Hertford featuring Eliza Carthy. You can find all the details on the on the main Unicorn Folk website where it is a featured concert and also an entry in the Unicorn Diary which is one of The Listings. Some of the clubs listed in the Union Diary have only booked artists for the first month or less but the Unicorn Diary will be updated as soon as we have the details.

I’m also looking forward to the first concert under new management at Royston Live on Friday 26^th January featuring The Bounty Hounds where the new team of Bryan Causton, Penni Maclaren-Walker, Guido Rincón & Jeremy Harmer will hopefully also be providing a few tunes.

Did you know that The Stables, Milton Keynes runs music-based workshops and courses year-round which offer sociable and stimulating opportunities for people to become musicians?Amongst these is the Ceilidh Experience, which is a chance for anyone interested in traditional and folk music to play in a band and play at a ceilidh. The courses run every Sunday from 28 January and you can find more details HERE.

Also part of The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website are the Festival Finder and Gigs & Tours which have both been updated for 2024. Why not see if your favourite band is listed or perhaps even your own band if you are going on tour. Just drop a line to info@unicornfolk.uk if you wish your details to be included and the same goes for anyone organising a festival with at least some ‘folk’ music in it. Links to 100+ festivals are included in the Festival Finder though some, as indicated, don’t yet contain details of their 2024 event. There is also a Dance Diary in The Listings which provides a free listing of events for all EFDSS or Morris sides to publicise their activities, though take up of this service was very disappointing last year. Do take advantage if you can and send your details to info@unicornfolk.uk ideally using the either Word or Excel forms (still labelled 2023 but fine to use) which makes it a lot easier to collate than just plain text in an email.

If you are reading this blog then you probably enjoy listening to folk music, in which case, try listening to  ‘Filby’s Folk’at 6pm on Sunday evenings with a repeat at 1pm Tuesdays. You have missed the Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve specials but can always catch up on podcasts, now to be found under ‘Rewind’ on the Royston Radio website around a week after the original broadcasts.

Finally, let me wish you all a very Happy New Year in 2024.

Christmas tidings

It will soon be Christmas and most of the local folk clubs have had their Christmas parties and wound down for the festive season, including Royston Live where we had an excellent evening with a great story from Chris Walls and songs from Mark Gamon who are both stepping back after 10 years organising the club with help from partners Lesley and Becky amongst others. Many thanks to all of them for all their efforts in providing so many enjoyable evenings at the club! The evening was topped off with an appearance from Black Scarr who, as usual, left the audience demanding more before we all departed in a thoroughly festive mood!

There is still some music to catch before the new year though you will have to look sharp! The Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club have their Christmas Party tonight (Thursday 21^st) when they stage their Annual Retune Fundraiser starting at 8.30. They have a double headline with JONO and the Kazans (along with Greg Camburn) as well as 3 supporting players. Retune is a charity that inspires young people to improve their mental wellbeing through creative outlets such as music and the arts and this evening will help them to continue to give their invaluable help to youngsters at difficult times in their lives.

On Friday December 22^nd you can catch the Churchfitters at St Andrew’s Church, Hertford where I’m sure that you will enjoy a wonderful evening. The Churchfitter’s Christmas Cracker is a joyous blend of traditional and original festive songs as well as well-known carols and there are still a very few tickets left which you can purchase using this LINK. Heading North instead, on the same night, Cambridge Folk Club have Christmas Music as part of a Victorian Parlour Evening with The Threebys, David Savage and Hugh Boyde.

If you are still looking for that elusive Christmas present, or perhaps a stocking filler for a luxury stocking, do read my review of A Winter Union’s new album Sooner After Solstice on the main Unicorn Folk website under CD Reviews and you may find the answer. You will be able listen to a track from the album on ‘Filby’s Folk’at 6pm on Christmas Eve when I have a selection of brilliant Christmas Folk songs and again at the same time on New Year’s Eve when I am selecting my best new albums of 2023 and if you are a die hard folk rock fan then you will enjoy my show that went out on Royston Radio on Sunday 17^th December, now on a podcast listed under Filby’s Folk.

Over the next few days I will be updating the details in the Unicorn Diary in The Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website for the next 3 months or so, though some clubs are yet to finalise their programme. In the meantime, it only remains for me to wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year in 2024.

November News

The nights really are drawing in now and with the bonfire and fireworks season out of the way (“thank goodness” says our cat!) we will soon be going into the festive season and forthcoming gigs are starting to reflect that.

More of that later but there are an action-packed few days coming up in local clubs with a packed session to start on Friday November 24 at ROYSTON LIVE featuring Wickenwood, + Bob Hines + Thursday’s Band + The Big Buch Band. The Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer Acoustic Band provided a wonderful evening’s entertainment at Royston Live’s previous concert and tickets for Friday’s show are only £7 in advance online. On the same night, but far enough away not to cause a clash, Watford Folk Club are hosting the Gerry Colvin Band £12.50. Gerry played for Royston MusicFest as part of the trio Nestlerode, Colvin & Ralls, but of course is much better known for his band Colvinquarmby and his ‘Terry and Gerry’ successes. On Saturday November 25 St Andrew’s Church, Hertford host the well-known Scottish contemporary folk musician Kris Drever who is also a member of Lau. On Sunday November 26 Hitchin Folk Club play host to those brilliant Teesside exiles ‘Megson’ whilst on the same evening, and signalling the start of the festive season, The Stables, Milton Keynes features Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden’s Wassail.

You can find details of all the above events and links to venues in the Unicorn Diary in the Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website for all the links to the above event details and lots more in the region.

Since the last blog I have been to Basingstoke, not memorable in itself you might think, and you would be right, but I was there on Sunday just gone to see Show of Hands in concert. However, Basingstoke does have the wonderful Anvil Arts, the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire, and their main venue (one of three), The Anvil, has around a 1,000 seater auditorium (my estimate) which provided the largest audience for the SoH Roots2 tour so far – according to Steve Knightley!

I will be putting the review of that concert on the main Unicorn Folk website in the next couple of days but in the meantime there is a review of SoH’s latest album Roots2 under CD Reviews on that same website. I have also been playing tracks from Roots2 on ‘Filby’s Folk’ which are available on podcast (scroll down to Shows 26 & 27). Better still, listen to ‘Filby’s Folk’ on Royston Radio in it’s regular Sunday night slot at 7pm – listen HERE.

There are more new CD Reviews on the website from Clive Carroll (The Abbot – the music of John Renbourn); Honey and The Bear (Away Beyond The Fret) and Jack Rutter (This Is Something Constant).

Finally, virtuoso dulcimer player Dan Evans has created a blog post to encourage participation from the dulcimer community (and beyond) word-wide in the celebrations for Amazing Grace’s 250^th anniversary https://www.english-dulcimer.com/250-years-of-amazing-grace/ Do have a look at this interesting article which includes some detailed information on playing the hymn on a dulcimer as well as a little history about the composer John Newton and some photographs of Olney where he preached as a clergyman and where Dan has lived for the past 28 years.

Overdue October!

It has been a while since the last news blog owing mainly to the demands of organising Royston Arts Festival & Royston MusicFest and the recovery time needed afterwards! If you couldn’t get to the latter you can get a flavour of what you have missed by listening to the MusicFest podcasts which can be found on the Royston Radio website under ‘Filby’s Folk’ (scroll down to Shows 17 & 18 and try to ignore the horrible pictures you are presented with!) The weekly show goes out at 7pm on Sundays – listen HERE.

Looking ahead now, it may be too short notice to catch ‘The Trees’ at the Four Rivers Folk Club in Hertford tonight but put a date in your diary for 8^th November when Pat Crilly (who runs the Four Rivers FC) and Peter Crossley will be joining forces to provide the entertainment. Both performed at Royston MusicFest last month.

Tomorrow evening at the Bishop’s Stortford Acoustic Club, another MusicFest stalwart, Bill Tarran, will be hosting their Young Players Night featuring Lily Martin and, as usual, all at the bargain price of £5 cash on the door. If you miss that you can always go the following Thursday and see Elliot Porter and no less than 8 support acts. Moving on to Friday 28th, if you are an Elton John fan then you must get down to Royston Live where John Reilly and Lewis Nitikman‘s ‘Your Song’ concert will celebrate the music and lyrics of Elton John and Bernie Taupin. John Reilly appeared at a special Grammy Awards 50th Anniversary concert alongside Gary Barlow and Alfie Boe and his show ‘Your Song’ has been presented across the country to standing ovations. It’s just £15 on the door and only £12 if you book in advance. Royston Live‘s next concert after that on Friday November 10^th features the Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer Acoustic Band supported by Vic Lennard and amazingly the advance tickets are just £9. If you can’t wait until then, at Watford Folk Club on November 3^rd you can see Jon Bickley with the Invisible Folk Club Band.

If you are a folk fan living in Milton Keynes you must feel very lucky to have The Stables on your doorstep where you can see two very talented guitarists at the beginning of November. On the 1^st it is Gordon Giltrap who played a memorable gig at Royston Folk Club a few years ago and on the 3^rd you can appreciate Clive Carroll playing the music of the late great John Renbourn.

You are also very lucky if you live in Hertford where the organisers at St Andrew’s Church have put together a great programme of Winter concerts featuring Fairport Convention (sold out!), Kris Drever, and the Churchfitters in November and December with more to come in early 2024.

Just check the newly updated Unicorn Diary in the Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website for all the links to the above event details and lots more in the region.

If you are a young musician under the age of 25 who sings or plays traditionally based music you may wish to enter New Roots 2024. Whether your style is traditional or contemporary folk, roots or world music, whether you perform traditional material or write your own, the organisers would like to hear from you.   There are two categories, under 18 and 18-24. New Roots has been running since 2000 and the standard rises every year. There is no overall winner and everyone who makes it to the final will win one or more performance opportunities. More details of New Roots 2024 can be found under OTHER MUSIC/USEFUL LINKS on the main Unicorn Folk website and the closing date is 31^st January 2024.

Finally, there is a review of a brilliant album, Unanswered  by Ward Knùtur Townes which you can find under CD Reviews on the main Unicorn Folk website with more to follow in the coming days including the latest from Show of Hands which is released on November 6^th.

Royston MusicFest Radio Special TONIGHT!

This is a quick short heads up to everyone who might be considering going to Royston MusicFest on Sunday 1^st October as described in our last blog.

You can listen to a preview of all the artists performing at Royston MusicFest tonight Sunday 17^th September at 7pm on Royston Radio in a MusicFest Special. Royston MusicFest will take place on the afternoon of 1st October between midday and 5.30pm as part of Royston Arts Festival taking place from Friday 22^nd September to Sunday 1^st October. There will be FREE entry to participating pubs & clubs around town and any membership requirements will be waived on the day.

If you miss the show, podcasts will be available on the Royston Radio website under ‘Filby’s Folk’ from Monday 18^th – check HERE and a link will also be placed on the Royston MusicFest website.

Royston Live will also be taking part in Royston Arts Festival on Friday 29^th September and have a really good line-up including The Sheri Kershaw Band with … Clark and Johnson and … Linda Moylan at The Royal British Legion, 7:30 for 8pm to 11pm
£9 pre-booked tickets CLICK HERE £12 cash or card on the door.

Back to the Folk Clubs!

Oh dear! It’s a good job that August is a quiet month on the folk scene, for the clubs at least, although of course the opposite applies for festivals and I hope you enjoyed any that you went to. Unicorn Folk has been quiet for a while for reasons that I will come to, but in the meantime folk clubs are opening up again and there are some very interesting evenings awaiting music fans around here.

Royston Live actually started up on August 25^th and they are back with bang this coming Friday 8^th with a concert featuring the talented Ken Nicol of Steeleye Span and Albion band fame (amongst others) accompanied by classically trained violinist Wendy Ross. If that isn’t enough for one evening, for no extra dosh at all, you can sample the delightful sounds of DnA, Dave Oxley and Ali Cosser, in a new duo born out of ‘Sky West’.

On Thursday this week Bishop’s Stortford Acoustic Club is hosting Dave Sutherland in concert which will be an all ticket event – details on the website: http://www.acousticclub.co.uk/ Alternatively, if you are in the vicinity of Leytonstone tomorrow, Leytonstone Folk Club are hosting a Ceilidh with quality musicians at the bargain prices of £5 in advance and £7.50 on the door. You can even bring your own snacks and booze! Just click on the link for more details.

Speaking of Dave Oxley, his blues and ragtime partnership with fellow ‘SkyWester’ Martin Kaszak, ‘Cut the Mustard‘, is back live at the The Bull Beer Fest, Langley CB114SB this Saturday 9th Sept supported by ‘Pass the Buck’ and a lot of beer presumably! Starts 2pm.

The last couple of events are brought to you by way of Unicorn Folk’s grapevine but everything else can be found in the Unicorn Diary in the Listings on the main Unicorn Folk website.

On Sunday 10^th you are spoilt for choice with Hitchin Folk Club hosting John Tams and Black Fen Folk Club hosting Gilmore and Roberts. Later in the week on Wednesday 13th Ely Folk Club are hosting Phil Beer and to round things off for the week on Friday 15^th Watford Folk Club have the Polly Morris Band.

Into next weekend and Baldock Folk Club is hosting a day of live music at the Wimpole Estate Harv’Fest Festival with Free entry on Saturday 16th. Morning session – 11-12 – Kelly & Woolley and Greg Rose. Afternoon session – 1.30-2.30. – Kaszak & Afifi and Phil Hewett. Email Greg – greg_fieldfare@hotmail.com or text 07785328097 by Thursday 14th September to get free entry to the Wimpole Hall estate.

Now the big news that you have all been waiting for! Royston MusicFest is part of Royston Arts Festival and working on both has kept Unicorn Folk quiet during the peak summer weeks, if our disappointing weather this year can still allow that description of July and August! Now the MusicFest schedule is ready and all the expected artists and venues are shown on the roystonmusicfest.uk website. There are five venues this year with six mini-concerts of around 40 minutes each and excellent quality artists. Effectively, you can turn up at any venue and experience an extended session of quality music all for FREE. Do please buy a drink at the venue though, or perhaps treat yourself to lunch?

If you are not sure what to expect from MusicFest I suggest that you listen to the Special MusicFest Edition of Filby’s Folk going out on Royston Radio on Sunday 17^th September at 7pm. You will be able to hear something from every artist and a few words of explanation about the type of music they play. Then you can check the schedule and plan your Sunday afternoon at Royston MusicFest. You can also listen to all sorts of music on Royston Radio HERE at any time or catch up on the podcasts for Filby’s Folk if you miss the show on a Sunday evening.