Film Postponed – February 7

Multi award-winning contemporary folk artists Jackie Oates and John Spiers meld together their shared love of English traditional folk tunes and songs with their fine voices and expertly played acoustic instruments. Audiences can look forward to a fresh, uplifting and poignant evening.

Their festive concerts are a beautiful and heart-warming antidote to the materiality that can be a feature of the Christmas season. The duo perform captivating traditional Christmas carols and tunes from England and beyond.

Concerts at other times of the year include music from the duo’s debut album, Needle Pin, Needle Pin, released in early 2020 and featuring songs from the Oxfordshire area which they have researched and arranged. Many of the songs were originally sung by lace-making factory girls to keep time whilst crafting lace and to add enjoyment to their work; the album title makes reference to a line from one of such songs. Beautifully in synergy with the handmade nature of the source songs, the CD comes as a limited edition, hand-stamped, entirely handmade album.

Although followers of British folk music will be familiar with Jackie and John from their other high calibre bands, this collaboration began quite innocently and spontaneously when the pair first started playing together for fun during guest spots at Nettlebed Folk Club in Henley-on-Thames. Recognising the potential, they began working together on material from their native county of Oxfordshire. 

Melodic jazz with inspirations from around the world. Cape Town-born pianist/composer Clouts’ South African roots have inspired a voyage of discovery that has led to him soaking up the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel while honouring jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.

As a key member of the popular London-based world jazz ensemble Zubop and its offshoot Zubop Gambia, with BBC World Music award-winner Juldeh Camara, Clouts created a solid body of work with African roots and since moving to Dorset in 2006 he has responded to his new surroundings with impressionist compositions that complement his world music interests, resona3ng with strong themes and packing a mighty rhythmical punch.

The latest CD from the Philip Clouts Quartet is one of the first wave of releases on the new jazz imprint from prestigious label Odradek Records. On this album, entitled Umoya (named from the Zulu word for life force), Clouts’ African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to Gnawa music and Afrobeat, and further to pan-European folksong and soul-jazz. Joined by rising star saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Tim Fairhall and drummer Marek Dorcik, he brings his musical journey alive with superb musicianship and infectious vigour.

This performance is part of our Members’ 241 Offer. Please ask for details.

Join us for a lively celebration of folk music, dance and culture at the Folklincs Humber Fest in Barton-upon-Humber, UK.

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with toe-tapping tunes, energetic performances, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Download Schedule.

Join us for a lively celebration of folk music, dance and culture at the Folklincs Humber Fest in Barton-upon-Humber, UK.

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with toe-tapping tunes, energetic performances, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Download Schedule.

Days of the Supergroup may be long past… but The Guilty Men would surely qualify for that description! The band is made up of five of the finest musicians from the Northwest of England. Between them, they have played over 10,000 gigs on planet Earth, recorded thousands of songs and made countless radio and TV appearances. To say they’re experienced would be an understatement!

The story starts in 1979, in Manchester, England. Clive Gregson and Neil Cossar met through a mutual friend, John Martin, the bassist in The Cheaters… Neil was the band’s guitarist. Clive was the leader of Any Trouble. The Cheaters had a PA, Any Trouble owned a van. It made sense to pool resources, often with both bands on the same bill… happy days!

Any Trouble signed to Stiff Records, The Cheaters signed to EMI. Both bands released several albums and played thousands of shows. Both bands ran their course… Clive then went on to a successful partnership with singer Christine Collister, released over 20 solo albums, and spent 15 years in Nashville working as a session musician and producer. Neil became a radio DJ, formed a Music PR company and launched the online brand This Day in Music, before becoming a music book publisher.

Cut to 2021… lifelong friends Clive and Neil are catching up over lunch and thought it might be fun to try and write some songs together… Several weeks and quite a few songs later, they decided to expand the enterprise from a songwriting workshop to a full blown band. Clive recruited keyboardist Jez Smith and bassist Craig Fletcher from John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest… and the lineup was completed with the addition of legendary drummer, Paul Burgess, who has played with 10cc since 1973. They named the band The Guilty Men… and headed into the recording studio.

Cut to 2024… and The Guilty Men’s debut album “Invisible Confetti” is ready to roll. 13 brand new songs recorded in the old-fashioned way: everybody playing live in the studio, intent on catching the moment. Most of the songs were laid down in no more than 2 or 3 takes… and with four featured lead vocalists, the album covers a lot of musical bases. “Invisible Confetti” rocks… with nods to Americana, country, folk, pop, psychedelia… it’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish. All aboard!

Award-winning London-based saxophone player and composer Kasper Rietkerk worked with John Carrol Kirby, Eddie Chacon and Jean Toussaint among others. His work is rooted in a jazz tradition,but also influenced by rock, hiphop and pop music.

‘The Island’ is his first full length album released under his own name. The album is about the experiences he had during his first two years in the UK. It is about the beauty of living abroad and personal development. But also reflects the dark side in a time of war in Europe and an uncertain future. It will be launched with a big live show at Pizza Express Soho London on the 24th of June.

On this album his sextet KRSIX welcomes Emma Rawicz (Ship of Fools), Anatole Muster (Roll it in Glitter) and Immy Churchill. Kasper also arranged all seven songs for string quartet which gives the album a unique sound.