Martin Simpson's new album, 'Skydancers' hits number 2 in the Official Folk Albums Chart

 Martin Simpson's new album, 'Skydancers' hits number 2 in the Official Folk Albums Chart

Topic Records have announced that ‘Skydancers,’ the new album by  Martin Simpson reached an all-time high in April’s Official Folk Albums Chart  at number 2.   His 12th full length solo record for Topic, collects new,   Simpson-penned originals alongside 18th century broadside ballads  and reverent reworkings from the songbooks of, amongst others, Bob Dylan,  Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Nancy Kerr, June Tabor and Craig Johnson.   ‘Skydancers’ is available as a double CD, vinyl album and to download/stream... Skydancers (lnk.to) Reviews “an excellent record from a master of his craft” - Klof Mag “acoustic finger-picking magic” - Uncut  “Penguin Eggs-good. Seriously” - ★★★★ MOJO "It’s stunning and without doubt his finest work in almost half a century of  being at the vanguard of british guitar players, songwriters, singers and true  custodians of folk music” - Richard Hawley  "I do believe this set could be equal to, maybe better than, anything he’s ever done" - Ian Anderson, Tradfolk Visit The Topic Records Shop… Proper Music | Supporting independent music since 1988 Topic Records Topic Records c/o Proper Music Distribution 1-5 Applegarth Drive, Questor, Dartford Kent, Eng DA1 1JD United Kingdom

 

Lineup Announced For Cheshire Folk Festival 2024

Recently announced acts, including The Band From County Hell, performing at Cheshire Folk Festival. Website and ticketing information soon to be released

Cheshire Folk Festival on  Facebook

Tickets For The Richard Thompson Full Band Ship To Shore 2024 UK Tour Are On Sale Now!

Tickets for the Richard Thompson full band Ship To Shore 2024 UK Tourare on sale now! Full dates below...

MAY

25 Corn Exchange, Cambridge

26 Bristol Beacon

27 York Barbican

29 Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

30 The Glasshouse International, Gateshead

31 Aviva Studios, Manchester

JUNE

01 Victoria Hall, Stoke

03 Symphony Hall, Birmingham

04 New Theatre, Cardiff

05 Guildhall, Portsmouth

06 Brighton Dome

08 Royal Albert Hall, London

Richard Thompson Tickets, Tour Dates & Concerts | alt. tickets (alttickets.com)

Thank Folk Friday Will Be At The Ivy in Sleaford, Lincolnshire On Friday 1st December, 2023.

Next Friday the 1st of December, Jock & Dave are to host Thank Folk Friday at the Ivy in Sleaford Lincolnshire as normal with a special guest - Xavier Darmon who will be rapping on BFCH song 'Jimmy Baker'.  They are keeping it fresh at Thank Folk For Fridays, hope you can make it. 

Thenk Folk Friday is held at the Ivy on the first Friday of every month.

The Third Thank Folk Festival at the Ivy in Sleaford, Lincolnshire on Saturday 23 September and Sunday 24 September 2023

The organisers  are really looking forward to the third Thank Folk Festival at the Ivy in Sleaford, Lincolnshire on Saturday 23 September and Sunday 24 September 2023 and are planning for all possible weather conditions.

.#keepourhighstreetsalive #keepitlocal #keepmusiclive #musiciansworkingtogether

The Ivy Facebook Page        The Band From County Hell Website Home (bfch.co.uk)

Check Out Pennyless at Crowland Abbey on Saturday 15 July, 2023.

 

Pennyless Facebook

News From Topic Records - May 2023

 News From Topic Records - May 2023

Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay Eponymous Album Out May 26 on LP, CD and Digital

Topic is delighted to announce this eponymous collaboration between Jim Ghedi & Toby Hay - their first since 2018's 'The Hawksworth Grove Sessions.’  Postponed for two years due to the small matter of a global pandemic, finally, as some semblance of normality took shape, in February 2022, the duo headed into Giant Wafer Studios, mid-Wales, with very little rehearsal time and recorded the entire album live, with no edits or overdubs over three days.

Watch the new live video for Gylfinir, the third single from the new album.

Jim and Toby are both prolific, praised and established artists in their own right. Hailing from South Yorkshire, Ghedi's previous work has often been instrumental, exploring the natural world and his relationship to it, as seen on 2018's A Hymn For Ancient Land but also developing into using his voice, songwriting and traditional material on his more recent album, In The Furrows Of Common Place. Toby Hay, hailing from the Cambrian mountains, professes likewise, that the landscape serves as eternal muse and the spiritual groundwork of his entrancing guitar playing which has dazzled critics and listeners alike throughout his career. All of this makes their collaboration with the world's oldest independent label and custodians of UK folk music, Topic Records, a natural home for this exceptional record.   The album artwork includes beautiful liner notes by Andrew Male.

Pre-order the album on CD, LP or Digital

Album Release Tour June 10th - Chapter, Cardiff Tickets June 11th - The Lost Arc, Rhayader Tickets June 12th - The Greystones, Sheffield Tickets June 13th - The Old Church Stoke Newington, London Tickets

Happy Birthday Martin Simpson

Today (Friday May 5th) marks the 70th birthday of the world-acclaimed singer, guitarist, banjo player and songwriter, Martin Simpson.  Martin released his first record for Topic (‘A Cut Above’ with June Tabor) all the way back in 1980 and has since become a central figure in the label’s story.  His most recent albums, ‘Home Recordings,’ ‘Rooted,’ ‘Trails & Tribulations’ and ‘Vagrant Stanzas’ are indelible proof of a singular talent, ever-enthused, prolific songwriter and collaborator, much admired by fans and peers alike.   Happy Birthday Martin!  News of a very special album featuring Mr Simpson coming soon!    More info (including his Patreon page) about Martin over on his official website.

Topic Records on Spotify

Orkney Folk Festival Full Line Up - 25-28 May 2023

 Here it is... the full line-up for the 2023 Orkney Folk Festival! 

The festival programme is now available to browse online, at orkneyfolkfestival.com/programme

Fine Folk on LCRFM 103.6FM On 17 January 2023 - Fine Folk on LCRFM 103.6FM

Tune in to Fine Folk on LCRFM 103.6FM (http://lcrlincoln.com) on Tuesday 17th January at 7.00pm to listen to an interview featuring Alan Ritson speaking to Lizzy Hardingham.

Indomitable folk musician and ornate songstress, Lizzy is paving her way as a powerhouse performer with "beautifully delivered songs that sing straight to the heart". 2019 saw her storm the UK folk club and festival scene, including Cambridge Folk Festival, while in 2020 she captivated online audiences with "a voice that could fill a stadium and the sensitivity to bring a room to attentive silence". Having been nominated for FATEA's coveted Female Artist of The Year, Lizzy is currently being mentored by the English Folk Expo and working on "firmly nailing her place as one of the rising stars of the folk scene. Her sensitively penned songs have been spun on radio stations throughout the UK, across the pond and in Europe.

If you would like to hear this Fine Folk show again, including previous shows then check out our Listen Again option at [https://www.mixcloud.com/LCRFMLincoln/](https://www.mixcloud.com/LCRFMLincoln/)

Thank Folk it’s Friday at the Ivy Sleaford – 7 October, 2022.

 Thank Folk it’s Friday at the Ivy Sleaford – 7 October, 2022.

The first Thank Folk for Folk Friday at the Ivy, Sleaford is booked, Band From County Hell Acoustic will host all thank folk evenings and open with a 20 min set at 7pm. Also on Friday October 7th Macy will be performing accompanied by Martin Trimble on acoustic guitar. Main act on the 7th October is the wonderful Eastman Brothers.

The IVY Sleaford | Facebook

Sleaford Thank Folk Festival 3 & 4 September, 2022 - Final Lineup

 Sleaford Thank Folk Festival 3 & 4 September, 2022 - Final Lineup

(2) Thank Folk Festival Sleaford | Facebook

Don't Miss The Thank Folk Festival at the Ivy Sleaford, Lincolnshire - Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September, 2022

Don't Miss The Thank Folk Festival at the Ivy Sleaford, Lincolnshire - Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September, 2022.

Over 50 Acts will be performing across three Stages at the Ivy, Sleaford. NG34 7RL.

ThankFolk Festival Sleaford | Facebook

ThankFolk Festival Sleaford 2022 | Facebook Event Page

Contact thankfolkfestival@gmail.com

The IVY Sleaford | Facebook

Sam Sweeney On Tour May 2022.

Sam Sweeney of Leveret fame is on Unearth Repeat tour with his new band.  Highly recommended!   https://www.samsweeneymusic.com

Book tickets online or at venues…

Grimsby Folk Club Programme For April 2020 – Grimsby Lincolnshire, UK.

Grimsby Folk Club Programme For April 2020.

10th: Richard Grainger
Richard Grainger is a ‘Tees-side & Yorkshire’ born Singer & Guitarist living on the North - East
Coast of England. His extensive repertoire addresses much of folk-life from the Yorkshire Coast and Moors to industrial Teesside and beyond, both past and present. There are songs with an industrial and maritime theme, songs of the environment and much more.
Richard Grainger'sWeb Site

17th: Closed for Easter

24th: Jim Causley
More than simply a folk-singer, multi award winning singer-songwriter, musician and proud
Devonian Jim Causley is an all-round entertainer and during the past decade Causley has been nominated no less than six times for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award.
2017 was the centenary of Jim’s relative; the celebrated Cornish poet Charles Causley and award winning filmmaker Jane Darke made a specially commissioned biographical film about the poet which aired on BBC4 TV on 1st October as part of the Centenary celebrations. The soundtrack to the film was composed entirely by Jim and featured music from his 2013 album ‘Cyprus Well’ of musical settings of Charles’ work.

Jim Causley's Web Site

Grimsby Folk Club

Grimsby Folk Club | Facebook

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour - Martin Simpson - Eliza and Martin Carthy.

Catch Topic Records Artists on Tour

You can catch the following Topic artists on tour over the next few months...

Martin Simpson

23 OCT - MILNGAVIE, GUITAR WORKSHOP (DAYTIME) Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way, Bearsden
24 OCT - MILNGAVIE, Baljaffray Church, Grampian Way Bearsden
25 OCT  - TRAVERSE THEATRE, Cambridge Street, EDINBURGH, Mid Lothian, EH1 2ED
27 OCT - EASTGATE THEATRE, Eastgate Peebles, EH45 8AD
07 NOV - GREEN DUCK BREWERY, Gainsborough Trading Estate
11 NOV - CHAPEL ARTS, St James Memorial Hall, Lower Borough Walls, BATH, BA1 1QR
12 NOV - HUNTINGDON HALL, Crown Gate Worcester, WR1 3LD
14 NOV - TOPSHAM FOLK CLUB, Matthews Hall, Fore Street, TOPSHAM, Devon, EX3 0HF
26 NOV - THE GOOSE IS OUT - The Ivy House, London, SE15 3BE
27 NOV - THE HUNTER CLUB, 6 Saint Andrew's Street South, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 2PH

Eliza & Martin Carthy

23 OCT - The Marine Theatre, LYME REGIS
24 OCT - Henry Tudor House, SHREWSBURY
27 OCT - Ushaw College, DURHAM
28 OCT - The Globe Inn, GLOSSOP
30 OCT - Hertford St Andrew Church, HERTFORD
31 OCT - Hailsham Pavilion, HAILSHAM
03 OCT - Wiltshire Music Centre, BRADFORD ON AVON
04 OCT - Ramsgate Music Hall, RAMSGATE
05 OCT - Kings Place, LONDON
06 OCT - Otley Courthouse, OTLEY
07 OCT - National Forest Folk Club, ASHBY DE LA ZOUCH
09 OCT - Colchester Arts Centre, COLCHESTER
21 DEC - Union Chapel, LONDON (with Jon Boden)

Topic Records – Traditional and contemporary folk from the British Isles

The Thank Folk Festival in Sleaford, Lincolnshire Have Confirmed Even More Artists!

The Thank Folk Festival in Sleaford, Lincolnshire Have confirmed even more artists! It's shaping up to be a great weekend of music in Sleaford Town! 6th and 7th November, 2021.

Check Out...  Thank Folk Festival Sleaford | Facebook

Martin Simpson Is Playing at Brighton Pier Fest on 4 September 2021

Martin Simpson Is Playing at Brighton Pier Fest on 4 September 2021

Martin Simpson, Naomi Bedford, Paul Simmonds and The Ramshackle Band are all playing Brighton's iconic pier for a night of wonderful folk music on Sat 4th September 2021.

BrightonPier :: Pier Fest Live Music

Alan Ritson Will Be Talking To Brooks Williams On Lincoln City Radio on Tuesday 3 August 2021 @ 7pm.

 Tune in to Fine Folk on LCRFM 103.6FM (http://lcrlincoln.com) on Tuesday 3rd August at 7pm to listen to an interview with Alan Ritson speaking to Brooks Williams.

Brooks is an American acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter. His style combines roots, jazz, blues, classical, and folk. He has released albums of contemporary folk music, blues music, and of instrumental guitar music.

In addition to his solo recordings and tours, he has frequently recorded and toured with many other musicians over the years, including Boo Hewerdine, Jim Henry, Guy Davis and Steve Tilston.

 

Brooks Williams

 Brooks Williams | Facebook

 @BrooksRedGuitar

Listen To Tome Lane on Lincolnshire Folk Weekly at 9.00pm on Fridays on Lincoln City Radio (LCR FM 103.6).

Tom Lane has a new one hour programme called Lincolnshire Folk weekly at 9.00pm
on Fridays on Lincoln City Radio (LCR FM 103.6). 

You can get it on...

Smart speaker #playlcrfm

Online: streamer.lcrlincoln.co.uk 

If you want to listen back to it at your leisure you can find it on...

www.mixcloud.com/LCRFMLincoln

Watch Livestream Concert Sophie Janna with Kaspar Laval! Wednesday 19 May, 2021. 7.15pm BST.

Watch the Livestream concert Sophie Janna with Kaspar Laval! Wednesday 19 May, 2021. 7.15pm BST.

Watch Sophie Janna on Facebook

Join Sophie Janna of Netherlands-based folk duo The Lasses, as she plays a set of folk classics and original songs with bouzouki player Kaspar Laval (who you might know from his work with Flemish balfolk group Hot Griselda). Sophie just released a new single called Wide World, which they’ll be performing a brand-new version of.

Free to view

Find out more

Sophie Janna | Folk Musician | Amsterdam

Sophie Janna | Facebook       @_sophie_janna