History

Here we have listed some of the recent performers that we have promoted at North Shropshire Folk which demonstrates that we have many of the best musicians in the folk world at our gigs.

October 2009 The Unthanks

‘Intimate, epic, overflowing with feeling and musical intelligence’ The Independent

The autumn of 2009 represents an exciting and adventurous time for the Mercury nominated Geordie band formerly known as Rachel Unthank & The Winterset. Having established themselves as the most innovative and critically acclaimed English folk band in modern history, with admirers as disperate as members of Radiohead, Portishead, Robert Wyatt, Ben Folds, Nic Jones, Ewan McGregor and Nick Hornby, The Unthanks are ready to risk it all with another audacious step sideways. While the abbreviated name reflects the long-established reality that the band is co-fronted by Rachel Unthank's sister Becky Unthank, the real development sees an extended line-up that includes string quartet, brass, percussion, tuned percussion, bass, and The Unthank's producer Adrian McNally taking on piano responsibilities from Stef Conner who returns to a PHD. Winterset key member Niopha Keegan continues on violin. Known for their timeless, unsentimental and quietly subversive tales of loss, fear, booze, brawels, abuse and sorrow, new album Here's The Tender Coming, as the name suggests, is a calmer, melancholic, warmer colour of sad than the intense bleakness of its predecessor; The Bairns, nominated for the Uncut Music Prize and Mercury Music Prize as one of the top ten British albums of the year. Forging links between folk worlds old, new and other, The Unthanks are the inheritors, curators and distorters of Tyneside’s traditions. Don't miss the next chapter.

“Music as tough as it is gentle, as ancient as it is modern, and as coldly desolate as it is achingly intimate.. a sensationally graceful sound that can be epic and subdued, dreamy and specific, as well as supernaturally ancient and defiantly modern”.
Paul Morley, Observer Music Magazine

Visit the Unthanks website
www.the-unthanks.com
www.myspace.com/rachelunthank

April 2009 October 2005, 2003 and 2002 The Paperboys

Describing The Paperboys' sound isn't easy. Never ones to do the same thing twice or rest on their past success, their music is always evolving, yet grounded by the vision of Mexican-Canadian founder Tom Landa. Like Paul Simon, Steve Earle, Los Lobos and the Band before them, The Paperboys redefine their musical style from one album to the next - sometimes even from song to song on one album.

Formed in 1991, the band began as a Celtic Pop outfit, but soon added other musical elements to the mix. Today they slide effortlessly from Americana Country to Latin Groove to Stax influenced Soul tunes or to a ragin' Celtic Stomp. You could call it Latino Celtic Grass or Country Soul. Most describe it as Acoustic-based Roots music. But screw it, just call it good music!

This sound has garnered them rave reviews and industry accolades, including a Juno (the Canadian Grammy). Their impressive performances have brought them to some of the most prestigious theatre and club stages, as well as Pop and Folk Music Festivals in North America and around the world.

Click here to see the Paperboys website

November 2006 - Tim Van Eyken with his band

Those who saw Tim van Eyken win the 1998 BBC Young Folk Award knew there would be a glittering career ahead of this engaging young musician with a passion for traditional English music. Indeed he was soon snapped up by English traditional music’s best known band Waterson:Carthy. As if touring and recording with them was not enough, he has received critical acclaim for his contribution to super-group Dr Faustus.

You may not have seen Tim with his own band before, but rest assured you will soon start to hear much more of him. Five years of touring with the Waterson:Carthy dynasty have not only honed his instrumental skill but also seen him develop in to one of the most assured and captivating singers around. With new album "Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves" out on Topic Records and a stack of Summer Festivals, 2006 will see the long awaited return of “one of Britain’s great young hopes” (The Daily Telegraph)

Visit Tim van Eyken's website

November 2006 and March 2004 - Last Nights Fun

Described by IRISH MUSICAL MAGAZINE as "the most exciting and entertaining traditional Irish music live band in England" Last Night's Fun are nothing short of legendary for their live performances. "Nothing can prepare you for their live act" LIVING TRADITION

The Band

Danny Bartley - Vocals and rhythm guitar, Chris Sherburn - Concertina

Nick Scott - Cillian O'Briain Uillean pipes

When watching 'Last Night’s Fun' the best advice is: "A box of tissues is an absolute essential when attending a Last Nights Fun gig. When you’re not using them to mop up the tears of laughter, you’ll need them to wipe away the tears of jealousy at the sheer mastery of their respective instruments."
If you’re not into folk music, think again. A night with Last Night’s Fun is not just a music concert, its a life experience! Last Nights Fun have an audience pinned to the wall with breathtaking virtuosity and creative arrangements, and falling off their chairs with a natural line in patter that is their trademark. They embody a fire and passion for traditional Irish music not seen since The Bothy Band and Planxty at their peak. Their album, Dubh, was described by Living Tradition as “stupendous, both a landmark release and a seriously important contribution to the modern presentation of Irish traditional music”.

Click here to visit Night's Fun website

September 2006 - 2Pauls (formally known as Belshazzars Feast)

In 1995 Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals) shared a musical passion borne out of the desire to earn sufficient money to support their extravagant lifestyles. Their amazing musicianship, coupled with wry humour stunned audiences around Europe and the States. After a brief sabbatical, they're back!

Paul Sartin is a member of BBC Radio 2 Award-winning big band Bellowhead and English music trio Faustus. He combines his busy performing career with teaching and outreach work, at St Edward's School in Oxford and for community organisations, most notably Live Music Now and SuperAct. He dabbles in academia, recently assisting on a number of publications of old tune manuscripts, and regularly deputises with the Choir of Winchester Cathedral, where he gets to wear a dress to work.

Paul Hutchinson is acknowledged as one of the leading exponents of the accordion, possessing a refreshingly original style. A powerful, yet sensitive performer, his outstanding musicianship and sense of humour reach audiences in diverse settings from concert halls and churches to arts centres and folk festivals. Paul’s music is an eclectic mix of English, Irish and European traditional styles, filtered through the classical musicianship of his background, with influences including rock and jazz and he is a member of the innovative and progressive folk trio, Hoover the Dog, as well as Okavango - the collaboration between Hoover the Dog and Fluxus (Belgium). Paul is also a seasoned accordion tutor for Folkworks, Hands On, British Council (in Czech Republic and Belgium), Birmingham Conservatoire and University of Limerick. As a leading tutor, Paul is renowned for his relaxed and humorous approach, he uses his own distinctive arrangements based on a diversity of musical influences, and clearly demonstrates the rich potential of his instrument.

April 2006, November 2004, February 2002, April 2001 and March 2000 - Flook

Flook For those that do not know them already, Flook is an exciting, funked-up four-piece British band that always impresses its audiences without fail. Flook's unique combination of flutes underpinned by fluid guitar and hugely impressive bodhran playing has made them one of the most popular groups on the live music circuit in Britain today.
The band is 100 percent acoustic and comprises four inspired musicians: two enormously talented flute and whistle players, London-born Sarah Allen (alto flutes/piano accordion) and Armagh-born Brian Finnegan (flutes/whistles). Ed Boyd hails from Bath and is a craftsman on the steel-strung guitar; and John Joe Kelly from Manchester is the undisputed maestro of the bodhran.

Click here to see Flook's web site

Coming from a family steeped in the folk tradition of the north-east, young Rachel and sister Becky finally emerged from the shadows of their dad (George, of the Keelers) into the harsh light of touring a couple of years ago, and wowed festival goers with their amazingly accomplished singing and their often original takes on a wide range of material either taken directly from or directly inspired by the tradition.
Having performed at festivals as an unaccompanied duo for the past two years; including Cambridge and Sidmouth; Rachel and Becky Unthank have only hinted at things to come. A Special Commendation at Celtic Connections this year (2005) was swiftly followed by their first album release (Cruel Sister), which should make the folk world sit up and pay attention. So does the album deliver? Emphatically yes, not least in its simultaneous looking back to and drawing on tradition, and taking it forward in imaginative and often innovative treatments of songs, while also embracing some of the best of contemporary folk writing. Which means Dave Goulder, Cyril Tawney and Matt McGinn, but also Nick Drake
Rachel and Becky Unthank have now become Rachel Unthank and The Winterset, to accommodate a new band line-up, and to allow a back seat for Becky while she goes to University, though Rachel's sister is still fully integral to the band. Permanent fixtures of The Winterset are pianist Belinda O'Hooley, and Young Folk Award Finalist Jackie Oates in 5-string viola.

The C

lassic Rock Society recently presented Dave Cousins, leader of The Strawbs, with the Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating thirty years in rock music. The award was presented by former member of the group, Rick Wakeman. Thirty years on from their huge album chart successes, 'Grave New World' and 'Bursting at the Seams', the Strawbs now tour three times a year with an acoustic line-up - Dave Cousins on guitar, dulcimer, banjo and vocals, Dave Lambert on guitar and vocals, plus 70's band member Chas Cronk on guitar, bass and vocals.

The Strawbs have enjoyed major success on both sides of the Atlantic. In the early 1970s, as well as the hit albums, their hit singles "Part of the Union" and "Lay Down" topped the charts. From the mid-1970s they spent more time in the States and Canada where their albums charted for five years as they toured, among others, with Santana, The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Blue Oyster Cult, Joe Walsh, King Crimson, and Frank Zappa.

Acoustic Strawbs have recently toured Italy to critical acclaim and played three nights at the Edinburgh Festival at the prestigious Music Hall in the Scotsman Assembly Rooms. The trio have also finished recording their first studio album in ten years including several new songs such as 'There Will Come The Day', written by Dave Cousins for a film on human rights for the Council of Europe, and 'Not All The Flowers Grow' which reflects on the Aberfan tragedy, together with new acoustic versions of classic Strawbs tracks. On the album they are also reunited for three tracks with Robert Kirby, perhaps best known for his arrangements on the Nick Drake albums.

'Welsh borders trio HOOVER THE DOG are purveyors of inventive, intelligent music. Fiddler John Hymas' classical, European and jazz influences dominate the Celtic-ish repertoire with a few English traditional tunes thrown in for good measure. The result is wonderfully original. A mainly instrumental set features the virtuoso combination of Hymas' strings, the athletic accordion of Paul Hutchinson and guitar/bouzouki man Tony Harris' light, fluid fingerings. Exhibiting bags of technical brilliance and the gift of making music clever and funny at the same time - much cheeky time change and manic modulation - the music ranges from stylish and understated to gutsy and gleeful.'

Julian Sutton - Melodeon
Peter Tickell - Fiddle, Guitar
Joss Clapp - Guitar. Bass Guitar
Kathryn Tickell - Nurthumbrian Pipes and Fiddle

Kathryn Tickell's roots are in the North Tyne Valley of Northumberland, where many of her relatives still play traditional music. Her father Mike Tickell is an acclaimed performer of the songs of this area. Kathryn took up the Northumbrian smallpipes at the age of nine and by the age of thirteen had won all the traditional open smallpipes competitions and was rapidly making a name for herself as a fiddle player. At the age of sixteen Kathryn released her first album, "On Kielderside". Two years later, in 1986, she turned professional, immediately entering a busy touring schedule throughout Britain & abroad, as well as recording her second album, "Borderlands" which was the first recording to include her own compositions.
In the summer of 1987 she recorded a sixty minute TV documentary, "The Long Tradition" for Channel 4. This chronicled her musical development and background, was broadcast in December 1987, and released on video in 1989.
Kathryn's third album, "Common Ground" was chosen as one of "Q" magazines 'Records of the Year'. Kathryn was also named as Top Instrumentalist in the Folk Roots Poll of 1988.

In 1990 the Kathryn Tickell Band was formed. The next few years saw Kathryn putting all her energy into the band, recording the albums, "The Kathryn Tickell Band" and, "Signs" and touring extensively throughout the world. However she still found time to compose music for two of Newcastle's Live Theatre Company productions, to present a series of programmes for Radio 2, record with the Penguin Cafe Orchestra and with The Chieftains. During this time Kathryn also contributed to Sting albums, as well as joining him to play live at Newcastle City Hall & also on TV.
In March 1997 Kathryn's sixth album, "The Gathering" was released to great critical acclaim and led to appearances on Later with Jools Holland and playing live on Andy Kershaw's Radio 1 show. In May, Sting, Jimmy Nail & Kathryn hit the stage of the Carnegie Hall, New York, performing, "The Waters of the Tyne" at a benefit concert in aid of the Rainforest Foundation. The song has also been recorded for a benefit CD, "Carnival".
Since then Kathryn has been involved in a collaboration with saxophone player John Surman, culminating in two concerts at Stockton Riverside Festival. She has also been presenting more programmes for Radio 2 featuring young musicians throughout Britain.
In February 1997 Kathryn founded the Young Musicians Fund. Managed by The Community Foundation, the fund aims to help young people in the North East region to realise their musical potential.

In August 1999 Kathryn was awarded a bursary from the Britten-Pears Foundation to study composition with Judith Weir at Dartington International Summer School. She also presented a series of TV programmes on music composition for Channel 4 Schools.

In September 2001 the Kathryn Tickell Band performed as part of the "Last Night of the Proms" celebrations, the first time the event had included traditional folk music. The performance was broadcast nationally and internationally.

Since September 2001 Kathryn has been a part -time lecturer on the new Folk and Traditional Music degree course at Newcastle University.

To see Kathryn's web site click here