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Tuesday 11th March 2025 @ 7.30pm
KRIS DREVER & CHRIS STOUT
Kris Drever is no stranger to Grayshott Folk Club. He played for us with supergroup Lau, back in November 2018.
Kris Drever and Chris Stout are both icons of the Scottish roots culture and two of the most powerful contemporary voices to sing out of it in the last quarter century. Both come from the Northern Isles (Kris from Orkney and Chris from Shetland) and represent the strength of those identities in the music they inhabit. Inherited through childhood, family and osmosis, you can hear the wind whistling through the strings, the rhythms washing against your animal self and the old stories whispering out from the ingleneuk.
In Glasgow in 2019 the two found themselves to be neighbours in the West End and began meeting up and playing music together. Both musicians found a sound of great interest and emotional power in these little get-togethers, and it soon became a more regular happening.
Now they’ve decided to share the experience with a wider audience. Come and hear songs and tunes you know and some you don’t, shining through the unique prism of these two ‘one of a kind’ musicians.
Kris Drever is a guitarist, singer and founder member of the highly successful trio Lau. He’s a multi award-winning singer/songwriter and has played and written with a galaxy of stars (Eddi Reader, Roddy Woomble, Mark Knopfler, Kate Rusby, Jack Bruce, Karine Polwart…).
"Scapa Flow": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrGskHmZBhk
"Oak" From Spell Songs II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5PRlorjsps "Throwing Pennies": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xozmhQZB48A
Here's an Interview with Kris Drever from The Folk Show No: 138
Chris Stout is a virtuoso violinist, viola player and composer, founder member of the legendary Shetland band ‘Fiddlers Bid’ and long-time collaborator of the genius harpist Catriona McKay. He has performed in venues as storied as the Sydney Opera House and has composed for and performed with The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, The Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra and a great many more.
Here are Kris and Chris together: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myiV1Re7wkU
Tickets £20
From Grayshott Post Office (in person only)
By phone from Des O'Byrne on: 01428 607096
Or online through Ents24: https://www.ents24.com/churt-events/churt-village-hall/grayshott-folk-club-presents-kris-drever-and-chris-stout/7236589
Saturday 1st March 2025 @ 7.30pm
POLLY PAULUSMA (with Jon Thorne)
Polly Paulusma is an English singer-songwriter, touring recording artist, record producer, label founder and published author. Straddling the singer songwriter Jazz-inflected, Indie Folk and Trad Folk genres, she has supported renowned artists such as Bob Dylan, Jamie Cullum, Coldplay, Marianne Faithfull and The Divine Comedy during her 21 year career.
‘Wildfires’ Tour - March 2025
Polly Paulusma plays a stunning show of songs accompanied by Jon Thorne (Lamb, Yorkston, Thorne, Khan) on upright bass, to celebrate the release of her latest album 'Wildfires'.
Together Paulusma and Thorne will bring you songs from across Paulusma’s repertoire of six studio albums to date, released since 2004 on Bjork’s label, One Little Independent.
Her latest, 'Wildfires', is an extraordinary extended piece of work containing two hours of breathtakingly emotional songs interlaced with spoken word poetry. A truly immersive experience, the album has been produced by acclaimed record producer Ethan Johns (Laura Marling, Ray Lamontagne, Ryan Adams).
The musical connection between Paulusma and Thorne is something to behold; together they swoop and glide through songs from all of Paulusma’s albums, but especially 'Wildfires' which Thorne also recorded with Paulusma -- combining their trademark bawdy humour and anecdotes with deep songs that touch on love, loss, grief and philosophical enquiry.
Tickets £18
Available (in person only) from Grayshott Post Office
By phone from Des O'Byrne on 01428 607096
Online from Ents 24 at:
https://www.ents24.com/hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall/polly-paulusma/7188990
Saturday 8th February 2025 @ 7.30pm
THE TANNAHILL WEAVERS
The Tannahill Weavers first played for us in November 2021 and what an excellent night we all had! So it's great to welcome back one of Scotland's finest and most enduring bands. Over more than 50 years, The Tannahill Weavers have established an international reputation for their special brand of Celtic music, blending the beauty of traditional melodies with the power of modern rhythms.
The "Tannies" are one of Scotland's premier traditional bands whose diverse repertoire reflects their country's rich musical heritage. Traditional Scottish music at its best - as tight and versatile as any band in the Celtic music scene, they can summon rock-n-roll intensity or haunting introspection, at will.
They are an eloquent and intoxicating mixture of the old and the new.
Roy Gullane - guitar, lead vocals,
Malcolm Bushby - fiddle, bouzouki, harmony vocals
Ian Magillivray – Highland bagpipes, fiddle, whistles
Phil Smillie - flute, whistles, bodhran, harmony vocals
+ ED BLUNT
We had hoped to bring you Ed last November as support for Bella Hardy but things didn't quite work out how we planned. Now we are putting that right. Ed has recently been capturing and exciting the ears of local audiences and when you are told by three different local musicians independently, whose opinions you respect, that “you should book this guy”, you have to sit up and take notice. So here he is; local singer/song writer/guitarist Ed Blunt for your delectation.
Tickets available (in person only) from Grayshott Post Office
By phone from Des O'Byrne on 01428 607096
Online from Ents 24 (see link)
CANADIAN NIGHT: Saturday 18th January 2025 @ 7.30pm
SHOWMAN & COOLE (on tour from Toronto)
John Showman (Fiddle) and Chris Coole (Banjo), have played together in a couple of thousand shows over twenty years or more, with bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace String Band. They have developed a deep and instinctive musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of Old-time, Bluegrass, and Folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely. Native Canadians, they have performed widely across North America and at many top European music festivals.
In addition to an extensive discography with The Lonesome Ace String Band, Showman and Coole have released two duet albums; “Afield” a collection of old-time fiddle tunes, and “Much Further Out than Inevitable – A Tribute to Some Music of John Hartford.”
“John Showman has made his mark as “one of the very best and most influential fiddle players in Canada”
(Steve Pritchard, CIUT 89.5 FM).
“Renowned for his clawhammer banjo picking, Coole now establishes himself as a gripping songwriter.”
Roddy Campbell, Penguin Eggs Magazine
+ Rube & Rake (on tour from Newfoundland)
ECMA 2022 Songwriter of the Year and 2020 Music NL Folk/Roots Artist of the Year award winners Rube & Rake, engage audiences with storytelling, intricate guitar work, and rich vocal harmonies. Based in St. John’s, NL, the Folk duo composed of Josh Sandu and Andrew Laite, have formed an intimate musical connection that comes across in every new song and performance.
Available (in person only) from Grayshott Post Office
Or Des O'Byrne on 01428 607096
Online from Ents 24 (see link)
Grayshott Folk Club's
"Christmas Special" with MELROSE QUARTET
After another year of upheaval and uncertainty, what we all need is an opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy a proper old-fashioned, Christmas "do". Who better to play for us, than Melrose Quartet? Top Folk musicians Nancy Kerr, James Fagan, Jess Arrowsmith and Richard Arrowsmith will royally entertain us with their very special, seasonal show, which they call "A Bright New Year" (I'll drink to that!). The show will be based upon "The Rudolph Variations", which is their full-length album that features a range of joyous seasonal songs, from traditional carols to contemporary wassails.
This will be a fun evening of music & song, dressing up, games with prizes, lots of choruses to join in with, and an award for the most memorable Christmas jumper.
Nancy Kerr (voice, fiddle)
BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2015 and well-loved for her appearances with, The Magpie Arc (https://themagpiearc.com/) Martin Simpson, The Full English, Shake the Chains and The Transports among others – and especially for her multiple award-winning duo with husband James Fagan.
Awards
2000: "Horizon Award" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
2003: "Best Duo" (with James Fagan) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
2011: "Best Duo" (with James Fagan) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
2011: "Best Album" (with James Fagan) in the Spiral Awards
2014: "Best Group" and "Best Album" (with the Full English) at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
2015: "Folk Singer of the Year" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
James Fagan (voice, bouzouki, guitar)
Bouzouki wizard, multi-instrumentalist and singer of traditional and contemporary songs, especially from his native Australia. He has toured internationally with Nancy Kerr, Cara Dillon, Bellowhead, Glorystrokes and most recently, with his new duo The James Brothers.
Jess Arrowsmith (voice, fiddle)
Singer and fiddler Jess, performs with husband Richard as a duo, in ceilidh band Hekety, and in new transatlantic trio Arrowsmith : Robb with Ian Robb of Ottawa, having formerly sung, played and toured internationally with Crucible.
Richard Arrowsmith (voice, melodeons)
Box virtuoso and bass singer of great warmth and depth, Richard is recognised as one of the finest players of traditional dance music on the scene. Alongside his work with Jess in duo, trio and full band form (Arrowsmith : Robb, Hekety, Crucible) he is also principle musician for morris side Pecsaetan, and a founder member of metal/ceilidh band Glorystrokes..
Tickets £20
Available from Des O'Byrne
On: 01428 607096
Or online at Ents 24:
https://www.ents24.com/hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall/the-melrose-quartet/7189053
Bella Hardy
At Grayshott Folk Club on Friday 29th November 2024 @ 7.30pm A must-see for anyone who loves music with heart, soul and a dash of magic.
“Brit Folk's finest” – Mojo
“A fine, no-nonsense interpreter of traditional music and an excellent songwriter”
-The Guardian
“Few are as adventurous and intriguing” – Songlines
“Stunning… there is an aura of sophistication that will win over listeners who never usually set foot in a Folk club”
- The Sunday Times
Bella Hardy, the inimitable voice of modern Folk, will be visiting Grayshott Folk Club on her highly-anticipated UK tour. Hardy, a singer-songwriter with a gift for storytelling, has earned a reputation as a boundary-pushing artist whose work continues to evolve while staying deeply rooted in the traditions that shaped her.
Fans can expect a show that spans her remarkable career, with new songs including(from February 2024), "Shepherds Are The Cleverest Lads":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCEhQ694VJs and "The Ballad of Stone" (released October 2024):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbKbNRm5l3I sitting comfortably alongside classics from her extensive back catalogue, such as
"Herring Girl": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV0iFbF29rI&t=2s
This is Folk music for the modern age – rooted in tradition but unafraid to venture into new, uncharted, and very personal territory.
Speaking about the tour, Bella says; “There’s something magical about performing live, where the songs can grow and change each night, depending on the energy in the room. I’ll be performing a collection of songs very close to my heart, and there’s nothing like the energy of a live show to bring them to life.”
Anyone who has already seen Bella live, will tell you it’s clear that she’s an artist who knows how to captivate an audience. Her voice – at once powerful and delicate – has a way of drawing listeners in, making each performance feel like a conversation between old friends.
And with her good friend and award-winning guitarist Jenn Butterworth on Stage by Bella's side for the first time, this tour promises to be something truly special. Be sure to get your tickets early.
Hardy’s debut album "Night Visiting" (2007) established her reputation as a talented songwriter when her first original composition "Three Black Feathers" earned a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nomination.
Since then, Bella has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold out Royal Albert Hall, and learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province. She’s sat on the moors of her beloved Peak District with only her fiddle for company. She spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. And she’s released ten solo albums along the way.
With the ability to conjure and twist stories that call straight to the heart, her themes of displacement and home, lost and found love, heartache and joy, are delivered with her unique, disarming honesty, and, of course, the acclaimed crystalline voice that won her the BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year Award in 2014.
Tickets for the Bella Hardy tour are available now, with some dates already selling out. Don’t miss the chance to witness one of the most captivating Folk artists of our time as she brings her music to life on stage.
Tickets £18
Available (in person only from 20th October 2024) at Grayshott Post Office.
Reservations by phone from Des O'Byrne on 01428 607096.
Or online from Ents 24 at:
https://www.ents24.com/nr-hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall-1/bella-hardy/7099158
Grayshott Folk Club introduces:
RACHAEL McSHANE & THE CARTOGRAPHERS
https://rachaelmcshane.co.uk/home
Rachael McShane is a renowned folk singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player from the North East of England. She was an original member of the award-winning folk big band Bellowhead, touring with them extensively and making a number of television appearances.
The band recorded five studio albums and, together, won a staggering total of EIGHT BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Parting ways in 2016, the band re-united in 2022 for a series of ecstatically-received performances that reminded audiences of their unique alchemy, energy and talent.
Away from her Bellowhead fame, Rachael is a much sought-after performer and recording artist. Her debut solo album "No Man’s Fool" arrived in 2009 via Navigator Records, establishing impressive credentials that eventually led her to signing with the prestigious Topic Records, the oldest independent record label in the world.
Rachael is also the leader of The Cartographers, a band that features the exceptional talents of guitarist Ian Stephenson (Kan, Baltic Crossing), and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting). Their music is a powerful blend of traditional folk and contemporary sounds, with Rachael's stunning voice and instrumental skills leading the line. The Cartographers have garnered a loyal following thanks to their impressive live performances and critically acclaimed debut album, When All Is Still (2018, Topic Records).
Listen to "Ploughman Lad" here:
and a live version of “Green Broom” from Beardy Folk Festival 2022 here:
In recent years, Rachael has lent her voice to a new adaptation of The Transports alongside The Young’uns, Faustus, Nancy Kerr, Greg Russell and Matthew Crampton. The resulting album was a stunning showcase of Rachael's range as an artist, and is testament to her ability to breathe new life into old folk songs. With her extensive experience and formidable talent, Rachael McShane is a sought-after performer and workshop leader.
We are delighted to welcome Rachael McShane & The Cartographers to Grayshott Folk Club as part of their new Album Launch Tour.
“You’re in the presence of something very special…what a voice”
- BBC Music
“A delight”
- R2 Magazine
“Delivered with such rebellious verve and wit – they are a life-affirming joy” - Songlines
Tickets £18
Available from:
Grayshott Post Office (in person only)
Call Des O'Byrne on 01428 607096 to reserve your tickets.
Or buy online from Ents 24 at:
https://www.ents24.com/hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall/rachael-mcshane-and-the-cartographers/7176259
THE HENRY GIRLS
‘These sisters have a sensational talent. The quality of their harmony singing goes beyond mere technique. They possess an unerring ability to blend tone and resonance in a seamless fashion’ (The Evening Herald)
We already know The Henry Girls well, as we were absolutely charmed by them at Grayshott Folk Club back on October 31st 2015. Their warm, friendly personalities, their brilliant musicianship and wonderful sibling harmonies have finally earned them a long overdue return to us.
The Henry Girls are sisters Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin from the most Northerly part of Co. Donegal in Ireland. The trio formed as a professional music group in 2001 after Lorna and Karen returned from living in Australia where they started to perform and write songs. At that time, Joleen, the youngest of the three, was finishing her Leaving Certificate and becoming a very promising Harp and Piano player so it was a natural progression for them all to join together. They wrote and recorded their first album later that year. It was produced by Maire Breathnach. They have since gone on to record 6 more original studio albums, a couple of EPs and a live album of music by The Boswell Sisters of New Orleans (released February 2020).
Infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal but with a Transatlantic flavour, their music has been described as: ʻfull bodied and powerfully dynamicʼ by Froots magazine.
They have successfully learned to interweave their traditional roots with contemporary elements, earning them both commercial success and spectacular critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.
What sets The Henry Girls apart is their distinctive sound, a captivating fusion of Harp, Fiddle, Accordion, and tight, impressive three-part harmonies. The harmonious interplay between these instruments and their hauntingly beautiful vocals, creates a sonic experience that transcends boundaries, capturing the essence of both their Irish roots and a global musical spirit.
The Henry Girls have graced stages at festivals and venues around the world, leaving audiences in awe of their exceptional musicianship and heartfelt performances. From the intimate settings of Irish pubs to large International festivals, their music has resonated with people from diverse backgrounds, connecting them through the universal language of melody and harmony.
Listen to "Down By The River" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa7rIDjPFwg
Listen to "Slow Down" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hn-A89_C4y8
Their Latest Album: "A Time to Grow":
"A Time to Grow", is a testament to The Henry Girls' evolution as artists. Released in January 2024, the album is a musical journey that reflects the growth and maturity of the trio. Produced by the acclaimed Tommy McLaughlin, known for his work with many other influential artists, the album is poised to be a landmark in The Henry Girls' discography.
Irish national radio station RTE 1 voted "A Time to Grow”, Album of the Week. Listen to their interview here: https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22356594/
Listen to "A Time To Grow" here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkyB1G5D7MI
“The confidence and control of musicianship comes at you straight away, through a blending of instrumentation, harmonies, striking lyrics and wonderful vocals”
IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE
“The Henry Girls are one of those musical acts that you just want to tell people about-as many as you can. The writing is first rate, as is the instrumentation, and those harmonies! I can’t say or write enough. Go seek them out yourself. You will be glad you did.”
MUSIC NEWS-NASHVILLE
“Ireland might have to finally share it’s pride and joy with the rest of us, it’s time for America to discover The Henry Girls”
THE HUFFINGTON POST- USA
Tickets £18
Available (in person only) from Grayshott Post Office
(from 1st September 2024)
By calling Des O’Byrne on: 01428 607096
Or online at: https://www.ents24.com/hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall/the-henry-girls/7170676
Grayshott Folk Club puts on musical performances from top Folk musicians who come from all over the UK and abroad. We also occasionally host Pop/Rock musicians too.
01428607096
