Poppy Folk Club
Songs & Tunes Night
Come and Join us!
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.
Doors open 7pm till about 10.30pm
£2 on the door
A Winter Union
Sunday 17th December 2023
Jade Rhiannon – Vocals, Shruti Box
Katriona Gilmore – Vocals, Mandolin, Fiddle
Jamie Roberts – Vocals, Guitar
Hannah Sanders – Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer
Ben Savage – Vocals, Dobro, Guitar
Five leading lights of the British roots scene join forces to create a festive folk band like no other. Expect soaring harmonies and exquisite musicianship as the 5-piece blast through a repertoire of brand new, specially written songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic.
Originally formed in 2015 for a one-off yuletide concert, A Winter Union have gone from strength to strength in the following 5 tours and now are fast becoming thought of as the pre-Christmas knees- up for folk & roots lovers all over the country. The band, that features members of The Willows, Gilmore & Roberts and Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage have gone on to play the likes of the Great British Folk Festival, Cecil Sharp House and were invited for a live session on BBC Radio 3’s inTune. The band release their third full length album in December 2022. Jade Rhiannon – Vocals, Shruti Box
Put on your glad rags and come and raise your voices with A Winter Union!
Bob Fox
Sunday 21st January 2024
7.30pm (Doors open 7pm)
£12
For more than 40 years BOB FOX has been regarded as one of “the iconic voices” of British folk song. Deeply influenced by the working class culture and industrial folk song prevalent in his native County Durham he has become a first rate exponent of storytelling through song.
A career that began during the vibrant “folk revival” of the 60s and 70s in England led BOB into regular and extensive touring throughout the UK, Europe, USA, Australia and New Zealand, firstly with fellow North Easterner Stu Luckley in their groundbreaking acoustic duo and later alongside such musical heavyweights as Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson, Jethro Tull and Fairport Convention.
In 1978 the Bob Fox & Stu Luckley debut LP record - “Nowt So Good’ll Pass” achieved Melody Maker Folk Album of the Year and in 2000 BOB’s solo CD “Dreams Never Leave You” was voted The Daily Telegraph’s Album of the Year.
BOB’s masterful interpretation of traditional and contemporary song combined with an outstanding guitar technique has also earned him countless nominations in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards over the years.
BOB has long been a favourite on the live circuit both as a solo artist and in his many highly successful collaborations which include a duo with Billy Mitchell (Lindisfarne), the BBC NEW RADIO BALLADS series, THE PITMEN POETS (with Jez Lowe, Billy Mitchell and Benny Graham) and most recently BOB was invited by John Tams to play the role of the folksinger/storyteller SONGMAN in The English National Theatre’s multi-award winning production of WARHORSE in London’s West End 2011-2013, and subsequently in the highly acclaimed and record breaking UK, Ireland and South Africa touring version 2013-2015 and the 10th Anniversary UK tour 2017-2019.
Don’t miss a chance to experience his warm, rich voice, accompanied by a wonderful guitar style that can both drive or embellish his supreme singing. Expect to hear songs of love, joy, work and humour as he performs material from WarHorse, newly written songs from the New Radio Ballad series and old favourites from his many recordings.
“………..as soon as I heard him sing I realised that Bob Fox must have one of the best voices in England, he is an artist of great ability and integrity.” - RALPH McTELL
“It was a real joy to work with you at last after being a fan for many years. Your voice and playing are undiminished in quality and expertise.” - IAN ANDERSON (JETHRO TULL)
“Blessed with one of the best voices in British Folk Music today and coupled with astonishing guitar technique, Bob Fox performs pure and unadulterated folk music at it’s finest.” - AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL
“Bob Fox has a gloriously rich singing voice, deep and resonant, honed by decades of performance, he combines his agile voice with nimble guitar playing and applies his ample talents to a repertoire of splendid material” - SING OUT! THE FOLK MAGAZINE OF THE USA
“…possibly the most complete male artist in English folk” - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
“one of the scenes superior singers his voice as confident and ebullient as ever!” - FOLK ROOTS
Jon Wilks
Sunday 19th May 2024
Jon Wilks is an acclaimed fingerpicking guitarist and singer of traditional folk songs and broadside ballads from the English repertoire.
His background as a journalist (a former editor of Time Out magazine and contributor to Dazed & Confused, The Guardian and other publications) means that he has a great eye and ear for a story, and this shows in his live shows – an amusing mix of folk song performance and storytelling. He throws in weird and wonderful tidbits about the original singers and collectors that he has unearthed during his substantial writing and podcasting research on traditional folk music in the UK, and his performance is often described as both entertaining and informative.
To date, Jon has recorded four full-length folk albums and one EP. He has also co-arranged and performed tracks on Jackie Oates’s Gracious Wings album.
NEW ALBUM
BEFORE I KNEW WHAT HAD BEGUN I HAD ALREADY LOST
Self Release – Out 5 May 2023
With his fourth solo album, Jon takes a step away from the Birmingham songs that brought him recognition on his two previous collections and instead focuses on the songs that have moved him most over the last few, difficult years. Still heavily focused on lesser-known traditional songs, the acclaimed guitarist and singer includes three compositions of his own and brings together a collection of musicians that he has grown to love playing with.
‘The sort of performer folk circles mean when they talk of the living tradition. Jon’s passion informs his live shows, the songs liberally sprinkled with anecdotes, humour and history, his singing and personality hugely engaging.’
Folking.com
‘One of the best of the New Wave of Folk Blokes.’ fRoots Mag
‘Beautiful, delicate with love and loss.’
The Guardian
‘Up The Cut is a beautiful album. Affecting, simple guitar, exquisitely accompanied by Wilks’ authentic, honest voice. A raw, but entirely seductive, performance. One for all lovers of traditional songs delivered with minimal frills.’
Folk Radio UK