Mon 9th October | 8pm

Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

This ground-breaking, genre-shaking San Francisco group screw up every tradition of the sound America gave to the world and remoulded it.

When Bob Harris played tracks Front Country’s memorable debut album, Sake of The Sound on BBC Radio 2, he told listeners they were “currently the biggest band on the bluegrass scene in America”…and he was right.

Coming out of the California Bay area’s red-hot roots music scene, the band first made serious waves with rarely-accomplished double “best act” competition wins at both the Telluride and Rockygrass music festivals – possibly the most prestigious get-togethers for the genre in the USA.

They’ve been praised for their ability to choose songs to cover (and arrange) that suit them perfectly; they’ve been praised for their sensational individual instrumental performances, for the top quality of their vocal harmonies and the high standard of the self-penned material. In other words, they make music that is distinctly their own; when musicians play and sing this well together, it only serves to magnify the power achieved.

Right at the core are the stunning pairing of Melody Walker and Jacob Groopman, already well-established as a considerable force on the circuit. Their high level of accomplishment is matched by sidekicks Adam Roszkiewicz (mandolin), Leif Karlstrom (violin) and Zach Sharp (bass).

When Sake of The Sound got it’s European release late in 2014, it went from nowhere straight to the Number 11 position on the influential Euro Americana Chart and some of the top music writers in the UK gave it four and five-star ratings. Maverick magazine contributor Paul Kerr enjoyed its “pop sensibility of Fleetwood Mac while retaining a woody, organic feel,” while R2 reviewer David Innes said: “Front Country have put down a strong marker for album of the year.” Writing at Folking.com, Dai Jeffries called the band “exceptional.”

frontcountryband.com

Tuesday 24th October | 8pm
Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

Stunning singer, fiddle player and harpist, BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Musician of the Year 2017 and Scottish Traditional Music Awards Instrumentalist of the Year 2016.

Singer and harpist Rachel Newton specialises in interpreting traditional folk songs in both English and Scottish Gaelic as well as writing and performing her own instrumental pieces. Rachel performs solo, with her trio featuring Lauren MacColl on fiddle and Mattie Foulds on percussion and with a full band when they’re joined by Michael Owers on trombone and Sarah Hayes on keys.

A skilled collaborator, Rachel is a founder member of the successful UK folk bands The Shee and The Furrow Collective. She also plays fiddle and viola and works across a range of performance platforms including theatre and storytelling.

Rachel released her mighty new album ‘Here’s My Heart Come Take it’ in April 2016.

‘Haunting vocals and elegant harp’ The Guardian

‘Harp and strings blur the border between worlds’ The Financial Times

‘Rachel Newton is well equipped to take centre stage in her own right and this second solo album is a beauty…fascinating stuff’

(5 * Playlist Selection) – fRoots Magazine

Top of the World Editor’s Pick – Songlines Magazine

rachelnewtonmusic.com

https://www.efframusic.com

Wednesday 1st Nov | 8pm
Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

Potent songs, silky double-bass, fiery fiddling and smoking harmonicas. An album launch event for their latest live release; D’rect From The Shire.

Jez Hellard is a singer of potent songs, fine guitarist and simply stunning harmonica player. His band, The Djukella Orchestra, play traditional and contemporary folk music, from jigs, reels and ballads to tango, rhumba and even reggae. Featuring one of the most captivating double-bassists you’re likely to see and some of the finest instrumentalists on the UK folk scene, their blend of virtuoso musicianship, witty political comment and a deep repertoire of powerful songs never fails to turn heads. Since hitting the road full time in 2005, Jez has played well over a thousand gigs; from the Glastonbury Festival to the North Country Fair, New York to Taipei, Istanbul to the Iberian Peninsular, gaining fans far and wide.

“Ridiculously enjoyable… an unequivocal thumbs up.” Folk Radio UK

“Beautifully crafted and stunningly delivered… a staggering jigsaw of musical invention and a sonorous voice that drags you into every song.” Folking.com

jezhellard.com

http://www.kittymacfarlane.com

Tuesday 14th November | 8pm
Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

Folk music from Europe, America and beyond; combining dazzling playing with a fine sense of musicality and showmanship and some damn great tunes.

Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow are a Bristol based duo playing acoustic, folk and roots music.

Best known as the virtuoso guitar and fiddle players from the band Sheelanagig, they draw on their many influences to created unique arrangements of traditional music, as well as their own compositions. The live show is a musical journey through Europe, America and beyond; combining dazzling playing with a fine sense of musicality and showmanship.

Kit Hawes and Aaron Catlow’s debut album The Fox explores the relationship between fiddle, guitar and voice, using the fertile ground of the traditional music of the British Isles as its starting point. The product of decades of musical experience, the track listing combines self penned tunes and folk tales, all intricately arranged and heartfelt.

“Fleet fingered and ingeniously arranged. …..deserve to be thought of as up there with the best of them” – Songlines

“such dexterity, energy and passion…..mightily impressive” – R2 Magazine

“The pair demonstrate an eclectic approach that lifts them head and shoulders above the rest” – Acoustic Magazine

“Never a dull moment, with imagination firing throughout and an abundance of creative energy” – Living Tradition

kithawesandaaroncatlow.com

http://www.saskiagm.com

Mon 4th December | 8pm
Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

Highly acclaimed multi-instrumentalist folk duo who play traditional and original storytelling music of the British Isles.

Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith are one of the finest duos to have emerged onto the British folk and acoustic scene in recent years. Their combination of outstanding vocal work, sensitive instrumentation, and a powerful social conscience has brought them widespread critical acclaim.

“To be a great folk singer, you have to be a great storyteller, as Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith are clearly aware. The duo are both fine singers and multi-instrumentalists.” (The Guardian)

The songs themselves are always given centre stage but they are brought to life with stunning musical arrangements and vocals. There is an integrity that shines through their performances and a common thread of political struggle, resistance, and justice.

Their critically acclaimed second album ‘Night Hours’ was released in December 2016 on Fellside Recordings. Described as ‘exhilaratingly diverse and full of impeccably crafted songs’, it has cemented the duo’s reputation as two of the most exciting musicians and social commentators on the scene.

“Making common cause between antique songs and present circumstances is one of the grails of modern folk, one this young duo pull off impressively…Rousing stuff.” (The Guardian)

‘Everyone at fRoots is certainly pretty excited about Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith, and for good reason. Their honest and arresting songs manage to speak with tender nostalgia whilst civilly calling for change. When you listen, prepare to feel the heat of empathy and the kindling of resistance.’ (fRoots)

jimmyandsidduo.com

http://annakissell.com

Tue 19th Dec | 10pm
Tickets: £8 Adv

Using just their incredible voices, Pete Truin, Jamie Doe and Sam Brookes explore ballads, shanties and seafaring songs that tell tales of whaling ships, lost loves and hardship at sea.

The Ballina Whalers (pronounced Bal-en-a) are Pete Truin, Jamie Doe and Sam Brookes – three musical barnacles clinging to the creaking hull of a musical tradition stretching back over hundreds of years. Using just their voices they explore ballads, shanties and seafaring songs that tell tales of whaling ships, lost loves, roaring storms and hardship out at sea.

Fast becoming one of the most sort after shanty bands around, known as much for their heart rending three part harmonies as their lusty approach to singing shanties, the last few years have been extremely busy for the boys, seeing them playing folk clubs, harbour sides, beaches, boat sheds and festivals up and down the country. Particular highlights include being invited to perform in Holland at the International Sea Shanty Festival in Appingedam and the Naar Zee, Naar Zee Festival in Leiden where they met and exchanged songs with legendary shanty men, Stormalong John, Andy Kenna from Liverpool and Les Souillés de Fond de Cale from Brittany.

“Definitely love at first hearing for me”

– Fiona Talkington, BBC Radio 3 Late Junction

“Stunning voices that blend so beautifully, a real knock out”

– Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

theballinawhalers.co.uk

Tue 26th September
8pm | £10Adv

tomhickoxmusic.com

Mon 11th September | 8pm
Tickets: £8 Earlybird, £11 First Release, £14 Second Release

Back by popular demand! Lo-fi post-folk with three-part close harmony singing blending traditional and original material, acoustic sounds and electronic noise.

The Nightjar perform lo-fi post-folk, playing songs for the end of time. Originally conceived as a close-harmony vocal trio, a collaboration with South London producer Kams brought them to the attention of Boiler Room’s Joe Muggs. The ensuing Boiler Room debut went viral, and brought their 2015 ‘The Nightjar’ EP plaudits from nearly 70,000 underground music fans, as well as the accolade of airplay on Radio 3’s Late Junction.

A successful crowd-funding campaign convinced them of the existence of an audience for their dream-like, ethereal songs of hope, loss and disaster and, in the autumn of 2015, The Nightjar relocated to a farmhouse in rural Portugal to begin their first full-length offering. ‘Objects’ was released in March 2017 on Pear O’ Legs Records.

2016 tours of France, Germany and the UK saw audiences brought to a stand-still by the raw intensity of their performance, bringing them a reputation as a must-see live band. Drawing influence from the lo-fi wooze of Grouper, the stark and poignant balladry of Diane Cluck and the deft compositions of Colleen, The Nightjar use close-harmonies, tight-interlocking guitars, deep bass and an intense lead vocal to paint fragile, haunting landscapes.

The Nightjar is Jez Anderson, Mo Kirby, Sarah Ricketts, and Pete Thomas.

“Gorgeous” – The Late Junction, BBC Radio 3

“Mesmerising in live performance” – fRoots Magazine

thenightjarmusic.com

http://www.youngwatersband.co.uk