January Songs & Tunes Night

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

 Formed in 2001, the Time Bandits are a Chester-based folk band who are equally at home playing concerts and for dances. Influenced by artists such as the Albion Band, Blowzabella and Steeleye Span their repertoire mixes Renaissance and early dance music with traditional and contemporary songs and tunes played on a variety of instruments including fiddle, border bagpipes, saxophone, recorders, melodeon, bouzouki and electric bass. The band have recorded a total of six albums to date. The most recent, Stolen Histories, was released in May 2022.

The band chose its name from the Terry Gilliam ‘Pythonesque’ movie of the same title. Similar to the spirit of the movie, the remit of the band is, in essence, to be musical ‘time travellers’ raiding and pilfering over 500 years of musical material to be brought back and performed in an updated setting for a modern audience.

Central to the band’s philosophy is that this music is not for the museum. Whether first played 500 hundred years ago, or perhaps a mere hundred years ago, this is living music that should be played and enjoyed with a passion. We hope you agree. The Time Bandits Website

The day will start with an early-afternoon singing workshop with JESS & RICHARD ARROWSMITH, before moving on to a concert featuring Poppy regulars PHIL SMEETON & HAZEL ATKINSON and Leicestershire-based acoustic band LOOMA; before JESS & RICHARD return to the stage to give us an hour of songs and tunes.

Our evening concert brings to the club the brilliant and very popular Nottingham band KELLY'S HEROES with their repertoire of fast and furious Celtic songs and tunes, gentle ballads and contemporary and original material.

And if that's not enough, there will be a free music session in the downstairs bar at teatime, and a singaround at the end of the night following the evening concert.
Don't miss out!

Poppy Folk Day Schedule HERE

KELLY'S HEROES  

JESS & RICHARD ARROWSMITH (INCLUDING SINGING WORKSHOP)

LOOMA

PHIL SMEETON & HAZEL ATKINSON

BAR SESSION

SINGAROUND

 Kelly's Heroes ... this East Midlands based band are one of the most sought after on the circuit.The richness provided by the accordion, powerful rhythm guitar and bodhran give a fullness of sound that belies the number of people on stage. Their repertoire encompasses fast and furious Celtic songs and tunes, gentle ballads and quality contemporary numbers by the likes of Christy Moore and Ewan MacColl as well as some original material. 

Kelly's are our our evening guests at THE POPPY FOLK DAY - lots of opportunities to listen and to participate. Tickets available for individual concerts/workshop, all afternoon and all day. Schedule HERE

Jess and Richard Arrowsmith are singers and musicians (fiddle & melodeon) and well established in the traditional English music scene.

They bring you powerful vocals, subtle accompaniments, lively tunes and a broad range of material that will have you laughing, weeping, tapping your feet and joining in the choruses. Jess's self-penned songs have been performed and recorded by a range of other artists and are

entering the tradition in their own right. Jess & Richard's latest project in conjunction with James Fagan & Nancy Kerr as the Melrose Quartet has earned them a nomination for “Best Group” at the 2014 BBC Folk Awards. Other projects include Hekety, Glorystrokes, Crucible and

Pecsaetan.

Jess and Richard are our Afternoon Concert headliners at THE POPPY FOLK DAY - lots of opportunities to listen and to participate. Tickets available for individual concerts/workshop, all afternoon and all day. Schedule HERE

Looma are an acoustic band based in the East Midlands. They play tunes and songs from a wide range of folk and roots traditions, as well as self-penned material. Expect  Folk, Celtic, Cajun, Country, Blues, Old Time and more. Guaranteed to be a foot-tapping, stirring afternoon!  

Looma are: 

Liz Logie (Piano Accordion) is an Orcadian who has played the accordion since she was ten, being inspired to play by her father who was a well-known Orkney accordion player.  

Mark Theobald  (Harmonica, Ukelele, Vocals)  was a National Harmonica League 'Player of the Year' in 2013 and 2014, playing Irish and blues music.

Bob Gilmour-Evans (Guitar, Vocals) has been performing and writing songs since he was a teenager. He has recorded his own album and guested on several others. Many artists have covered his songs. 

Tim Garland (Cittern, Fiddle, Vocals) has been performing traditional and self penned material for over thirty years, both as a founder member of Midlands based radical folk group FIELDWORK and with KASUTIMA Ceilidh band, playing nationally at clubs, festivals and on national and local radio. He has also performed regularly as a solo artist and in a duo with Indian percussionist Nitin Odedra. He has made five albums with FIELDWORK and two solo albums. 

Looma are one of the artists performing in our Afternoon Concert at the POPPY FOLK DAY - lots of opportunities to listen and to participate. Tickets available for individual concerts/workshop, all afternoon and all day. Schedule HERE

Phil and Hazel are Poppy regulars who play original songs spanning a wide emotional range from heartbreak to happiness, with a couple of seafaring tales and outlaw tunes thrown in. As heard on BBC radio 1, radio 2 and radio 3. Phil wrestles with the accordion, Hazel tickles the ukulele, and harmonies abound! 

Phil and Hazel are performing in our Afternoon Concert at the POPPY FOLK DAY - lots of opportunities to listen and to participate. Tickets available for individual concerts/workshop, all afternoon and all day. Schedule HERE

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Siobhan Miller will be joined by two of Scotland's finest musicians, Innes White on guitar and Charlie Stewart on fiddle. 

One of Scotland’s most celebrated folk singer-songwriters, Siobhan's musical prowess has earned her numerous accolades, including four BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards' Scots Singer of the Year titles and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Traditional Track. Her discography boasts five solo releases, all of which have been shortlisted for BBC Alba STMA Album of the Year.  Her latest album, Bloom, is a freewheeling celebration of much-loved Scottish songs which deftly balances a love of traditional song with modern influences.

Having grown up in Scotland's rich folk scene, Siobhan has been a regular performer at Glasgow's Celtic Connections festival, where she was Artistic Director for the 2016 Opening Concert and featured amidst the star-studded Transatlantic Sessions line-up in 2022, duetting with Paul Brady and Sarah Jarosz.

Siobhan's unique vocal style has been honed through collaborations with many of Scotland's top musicians, including Eddi Reader, Kris Drever & Phil Cunningham. She has also made guest appearances with the National Theatre of Scotland, and spent a season on Broadway and a month-long residency in Boston's Majestic Theatre for Brian O'Donovan's Celtic Christmas. 

Siobhan Miller website here

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Blurb coming soon...

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Blurb coming soon...

Blurb coming soon...

coming soon...