The Village Folk Club with Jim Causley

Tuesday 17 November

Taurus Bar and Kitchen, 1 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3HE

7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

£10 full price on the door / £8 concessions

We've a special treat for November in the shape of the marvellous Jim Causley.
Five times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee Jim Causley is a singer/musician who is passionate about traditional song and particularly that of his native West Country. Jim has become renowned for his natural gift for interpreting traditional song, his deep, rich voice which belies his years and his relaxed and playful stage presence.
So join us on the 17th November downstairs at Taurus Bar for an evening to remember. Doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Floor singers/musicians welcome. Join the Facebook event here.

The Village Folk Club with Zoe Mulford

Tuesday 20 October

Taurus Bar and Kitchen, 1 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3HE

7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

£6 full price on the door / £4 concessions

We're delighted to welcome back to the club transatlantic singer songwriter, Zoe Mulford. You might remember the song about the knickers, or the song about her clown relatives... Zoe's songs are the kind that reach out and stick in your head. Her sensitive banjo playing and her warm vocals make her a delight to listen to. Make sure you come along and join in with her rousing choruses.

The Village Folk Club with The Arrowsmiths – back at Taurus!

Tuesday 15 September

Taurus Bar and Kitchen, 1 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3HE
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£8 full price on the door / £6 concessions

We're delighted to be back at our regular haunt, Taurus, and who better to bed us back in than Richard and Jess Arrowsmith?

You might have seen them as one half of the sublime Melrose Quartet, but Richard and Jess have been performing as a duo for years... gorgeous vocals and beautiful arrangements of English song. We can't wait to have them at The Village, and we look forward to seeing you there. As ever, join the Facebook page here.

The Village Folk Club with Kirsty Bromley

Tuesday 21 July

Upstairs at the Britons Protection, 50 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£8 full price on the door / £6 concessions

“Kirsty Bromley is a singer of songs of social justice, traditional songs and songs from the heart. Her voice is effortless yet stirring, at times ethereal but always earthy and with strong roots. Musical and beguiling.” Nancy Kerr, BBC2 Folk Singer of the Year 2015.

Village Folk Clubbers may remember when Kirsty led us in a few of our Christmas Carol evenings. Well, we'd delighted to welcome her back for a full set of her own material, especially as the release of her debut album is only weeks away... you never know, if we ask nicely, we may get a preview or two.

As usual, floor spots are welcomed – encouraged! – and you can join the Facebook event here.

The Village Folk Club with Emma Sweeney

Tuesday 16 June 2015
The Britons Protection 
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£8 full price on the door / £6 concessions

 We're delighted to welcome fiddler extraordinaire, Emma Sweeney, to The Briton's Protection for the next installment of The Village Folk Club. Emma's first album, Pangea, produced by Mike McGoldrick no less, has seen her win rave reviews – and a nomination for Best Artist and Best Newcomer by Songlines in their 2014 Awards.

And the best thing? She's one of her own – yes, this outstanding talent is Manchester born and bred. Come along and see Emma with cellist, Ben Cashell, and multi instrumentalist, Jack Rutter.

Fancy it? Join the Facebook event here for up-to-date news.

The Village Folk Club with Tom Kitching and Jon Loomes

Tuesday 19 May 2015
The Britons Protection 
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£9 full price on the door / £7 concessions

 

 

We're delighted to be welcoming incredi-fiddler, Tom Kitching, back to The Village – but with the addition of regular collaborator, Jon Loomes.

 

You may have heard Tom's recent album, Interloper, which is a fascinating foray into English fiddle – as you've probably never heard it before! Reviews have been very forthcoming: The Sunday Express deemed it their Album of the week and awarded it five stars. Not bad!

As ever, we'd welcome floor singers, instrumentalists, dancers, poets... just let us know you'd like to do a turn on the way in. And don't forget your pennies for the raffle!

Join the Facebook event right here and keep abreast of all our venue updates.

The Village Folk Club with Brian Peters

Tuesday 21 April 2015
Now at the Briton's Protection
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£9 full price on the door / £7 concessions

 “A singer, guitarist and melodeon player of rare ability... one of the very best performers in the field of English traditional song and music” 

Steve Winick, Dirty Linen (USA)

We're so chuffed to welcome Brian Peters to the club for the first time.

Brian Peters is one of the English folk scene’s great all-rounders: a compelling singer, a first-rate squeezebox player and a skilled guitarist. Brian is one of the country’s best anglo-concertina players and is just as good on melodeon, while he’s also internationally-known as a powerful singer of traditional Child ballads. Although best known for traditional folk songs and lively English dance music, Brian’s act is full of variety and also includes newer songs and tunes, plus wild squeezebox excursions into ragtime or blues. Add his energy and dry humour onstage, and you have a truly entertaining performer.

Brian has played most of the major folk festivals in Britain, as well as festivals in the USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In 2015 he will be touring the USA and playing at the famous Library of Congress, Washington DC. Brian is also in great demand as an instrumental teacher and workshop leader, and has recorded several highly-acclaimed CDs.

The Village Folk Club with Sue Burgess

We are not meeting in January or February, just as our home-sweet-home at Taurus Bar is undergoing some renovations. However, we will be back up and running with the mighty Sue Burgess on 17 March...

Tuesday 17 March 2015
Briton's Protection - please note change of venue!
(just a few minutes' walk from Deansgate and St Peter's Square)
7.30pm doors open for 8pm start
£8 full price, £6 concessions

Sue has been singing in folk clubs, concerts and festivals since she was 18, in harmony groups and as a solo performer. She is now widely known for her distinctive voice quality and unique repertoire - including her 'Lost Ladies Found' themed concert presentation. Expect lyrical love songs, powerful ballads and rousing chorus opportunities.

Just what we need! Make sure you come along.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, and thanks for all the support you've shown us in 2014.

We won't be meeting in January, but stay tuned for news about future guests.

In the words of Noddy Holder, IT'S CHRISTMAAAAAS!

Tuesday 16 December 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 
£2 suggested donation for club funds
As many mince pies as you can eat

Deck the halls with boughs of holly
’Tis the season to be jolly
Don we now our gay apparel
Troll the ancient yuletide carol,
Fa la la la la la la la la!

Yes, Christmas / Yuletide is nearly upon us once more, and here at the Village Folk Club we want get things underway by getting together and having a right good sing! Everyone is welcome at our annual festive celebration, from the finest vocalist to the tone deaf. Bring yourselves and your voices along to the club and join in some seasonal fun! This year, we are thrilled that Shelley Rainey and Karen Dyson (two thirds of the amazing Bailey Sisters) have volunteered to lead the carol singing. Also, as is traditional, there will be free mince pies to get you in the party mood!!

There will be a nominal entrance fee of just £2, and doors will open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start

Floor singers, musicians and dancers are very welcome!

The Village Folk Club with Sean Cooney

Tuesday 18 November 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £10 full price / £8 for concessions
To reserve tickets, please email villagefolkclub.mcr@gmail.com

If you've never seen The Young 'Uns, well, frankly, you've never lived. They're funny, talented, funny... 

Sean Cooney is one of their number and we, at the Village, are incredibly that he lives in our fair city, Manchester. 

And we've snaffled him for a rare solo show this November. There will be songs, with that gorgeous rousing voice of his, but there'll be stories, too. 

So when it's cold outside, come down to our basement, pull up a chair and listen to Sean Cooney. You can find out more about him here.

The Village Folk Club with Laura Smyth, Ted Kemp and Laurel Swift AND The Beech Band

Tuesday 21 October 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £8 full price / £6 for concessions
To buy tickets in advance, please click here

Wow, have we got a line up for you! Not only do we welcome Laura and Ted – formerly Manchester based but now calling London home – to the club for the first time, but they'll be flanked by Chorlton's infamous Beech Band playing a few tunes. It's going to be fantastic!

First of all, there's a good chance you haven't witnessed Laura and Ted in the flesh before... they're relatively new to the gigging circuit, but you might recognise Laura's name as she's recently been made director of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House in London. So she certainly knows her stuff! The duo have recently released their debut EP and we're looking forward to their thoughtful interpretations of lesser known traditional material, with a Manchester and Lancashire bias. Laura and Ted often perform with Laurel Swift, who you will have seen leaping through the air with a variety of different morris sides. To have a sneak preview, take a listen here.

Laura and Ted were also members of The Beech Band, before they left Manchester for the big smoke, so we're delighted that the band will be on hand to regale us with songs and tunes. For more information about The Beech, please visit their website.

The Village Folk Club with The Rachel Hamer Band

Tuesday 16 September 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £8 full price / £6 for concessions
To buy tickets in advance please click here

There's nothing more exciting than when you hear a few excited whispers and decide to book a band on that strength alone. So come along; Rachel Hamer and her musicians could be your new favourite band...

Here's what the band say about themselves:

The Rachel Hamer Band are an exciting new four piece folk band based in Newcastle. The band is made up of North Eastern singer Rachel Hamer, Jedburgh guitarist Graeme Armstrong, Saltburn’s fiddle player and clogger Grace Smith and Glossops’s whistle, flute, pipes and bassoon player Sam Partridge. Forming in 2013 over a shared love of music and song. They perform an exciting blend of traditional and contemporary songs. Since their formation they have performed in and around the North East and are looking forward to the future!

Join the Facebook event page here and visit the band's website here.

Club's out for summer!

Yup, we're off to frolic at festivals in the sun. See you for an icecream?

We'll be back on Tuesday 15 September with the Rachel Hamer band. Check them out, they're pretty awesome.

The Village Folk Club with Bryony Griffith and Will Hampson

Tuesday 15 July 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £9 full price / £7 for concessions

Bryony and Will hail from sunny Yorkshire and will be familiar to any of you who frequent folk festivals around the UK. English fiddle player and singer Bryony Griffith and melodeon player and dancer Will Hampson have been performing together for almost 20 years. They were both members of the acclaimed ceilidh band, Bedlam; the exciting young Cotswold morris side, Dogrose; the celebrated rapper dancers, Newcastle Kingsmen, and have been key members of the brilliant and award-winning Demon Barbers for the last ten years. Bryony was also a member of the much-missed a cappella group The Witches of Elswick. She has been described as having “the vocal power of a young Norma Waterson, the poise and attitude of the late Sandy Denny and the stage presence of Janis Joplin.” (Allan Wilkinson, Northern Sky). Add to that her ‘deliciously rustic’ fiddle playing’ (Colin Irwin) and Will’s driving yet sensitive melodeon playing and you get a distinctive repertoire of dark ballads, chorus songs and dance tunes delivered with good-humoured Yorkshire banter!

Don't miss this one. Reserve your tickets by emailing VillageFolkClub.Mcr@gmail.com and join our Facebook event here.

The Village Folk Club with Claire Mooney

Tuesday 17 June 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £8 full price / £6 for concessions

Manchester's very own Claire Mooney has been singing and songwriting for as long as she can remember. You may have seen her at a union benefit or leading protesters in song at a demo, as social justice and activism fuel her songs. A workshop leader and community arts practitioner, Claire has worked with youth groups, community groups and schools for over twenty years. She's produced radio shows and directed short films, worked in prisons, and co-ordinated projects for Councils, the NHS and colleges and universities. We're delighted to welcome her to The Village Folk Club.

Read more about Claire here and join our Facebook event.

The Village Folk Club with Jeff Warner

20th May 2014 

 Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street 

(just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

 7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

 £8 full price / £6 for concessions

We're extremely lucky to be one of the few venues hosting a show with Jeff on his forthcoming UK tour. 

Jeff Warner brings us songs from America's lumber camps, fishing villages and mountain tops but still manages to connect to 21st century audiences. Jeff grew up listening to the songs and stories of his father, Frank Warner, and the traditional singers his parents met during their folksong collecting trips through rural America. He accompanied his parents on their later field trips and is the editor of his mother’s book, Traditional American Folk Songs: From the Anne and Frank Warner Collection. 

Jeff has performed widely, from large festivals in the UK, to clubs, festivals and schools across America. He plays concertina, banjo, guitar and several pocket instruments, including bones and spoons. 

A native of New York City, Jeff has lived in Portsmouth, New Hampshire since the late 1990s. He is a speaker for the New Hampshire Humanities Council and an artist for the New Hampshire Council on the Arts, a former Arts Council Fellow, and a 2013 Performing Arts Honorable Mention.

“Jeff’s one of the most welcome of the fairly frequent visitors to these shores from the US, and his gigs are always eagerly awaited and supported by those in the know. Quite simply, he’s one of the most charismatic, enthusiastic and genuinely versatile performers on the whole scene, with a warm and approachable personality to match his encyclopaedic knowledge of traditional song.” David Kidman, Netrhythms 

Join our Facebook event here.

The Village Folk Club with The Teacups

Tuesday 15th April, The Britons Protection (not our usual venue!)

Doors 7.30pm, gig starts with floor spots at 8pm.

The Britons Protection is an excellent pub, just a short walk from Oxford Road station.

£10 / £8 concessions. We expect this to sell out, so please get your tickets in advance!

 

If you haven't yet heard The Teacups, you'll have undoubtedly heard the hype. Based in Newcastle, The Teacups have been taking their lively unaccompanied singing up and down the country, turning up in all sorts of unexpected places - most recently the rapper competition, DERT, where they sang for the dancers to dance to.

Have a sneak preview here: http://www.reverbnation.com/theteacups

Join the Facebook event page for more updates here.



The Village Folk Club with Rapunzel and Sedayne

18th March 2014 

Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street (just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

£8 full price / £6 for concessions

If you've never seen (or heard) Rapunzel and Sedayne, then you're in for a treat. If you have, then you'll make sure you're here at the Village for sure.

The husband and wife duo certainly know their British folksongs, but they also know how best to bring out their enchanting, mysterious nature. Be prepared for a multitude of unusual instruments and songs that meander, contemplate, whirr and whirl.

And Stewart Lee's got good things to say, too: 'Modal, improvisational techniques, Bredin’s exotic stringed instruments, and McCarron’s pure and unaffected vocal revivify an erudite selection of traditional British songs.... The ideal October album.'

Rapunzel and Sedayne will be primarily singing Spring songs at this gig so if you've a Spring song to sing or a tune that reminds you of Spring, please bring it along! Join the Facebook event here.

The Village Folk Club with Cath and Phil Tyler

18th February 2014 

Taurus Bar, 1 Canal Street (just five minutes walk from Piccadilly station) 

7.30pm doors open for 8pm start 

£8 full price / £6 for concessions 

Cath and Phil Tyler are raw and raucous in their approach to American and British folk songs and tunes - but manage sensitivity and fragility, too. We're not sure how they do it, but we love them and hope you will do on their first visit to The Village.

Check out their Facebook page, too.

"There's an earthiness and grittiness and a reality about this that I find personally incredibly appealing, the simplicity of the music is absolutely stunning." Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2.