Folking Around

Category: Music, Jazz, World & Folk.

Folk music has always been present in the British music scene, quietly doing its own thing in the pubs, clubs, arts centres and village halls of the country, and it’s fair to conclude that it always will be. Whether it’s fashionable or not is another matter, but right now it seems that the word ‘folk’ is cropping up in the mainstream music press often enough to suggest it is enjoying unprecedented limelight. In fact, some critics are going as far to say that this is another revival, as more and more young artists seek to interpret traditional stories, sounds and songs in their own way.

OK, so there might not always be the stampede to get tickets for folk gigs like Manchester witnessed recently for Arcade Fire at Manchester Central, but Greater Manchester will be seeing some of the very best performers in the current British folk scene over the coming months, and a good view is a guarantee.

First up is Edale’s very own Bella Hardy. Bella first came to prominence in the rite of passage that is the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, where she reached the final. Since then, she has released two albums on her own label, most recently last year’s In The Shadow Of Mountains. And if you’re pretty new to folk music, Bella Hardy is the ideal introduction – she has a classy, gentle voice which lends itself to storytelling perfectly, with innovative yet simple arrangements of songs from the folk canon, plus her lunchtime gig in the foyer of The Bridgewater Hall (Friday 3rd September) is absolutely free! If your boss is unlikely to let you out for an aural lunchbreak, though, fear not as she’s back again for a full concert on Friday 26th November at The Met in Bury.

October is a hectic month in the folk calendar this year. All fiddle fans should ensure they get tickets for Fiddlers’ Bid, a Scottish fiddle feast which includes Shetland fiddler, Chris Stout, and harp legend, Catriona McKay, amongst their number. Local lad, Michael McGoldrick, brings his friends – many of whom you might recognise from the Irish scene here in the city - and a lungful of Irish songs and tunes to The Met on Thursday 14th October, whilst two days later at the very same venue, Chris Wood, along with melodeon player of choice, Andy Cutting, takes to the stage. Wood knows his folk songs inside out, and is also a member of the critically acclaimed Imagined Village, but is perhaps becoming better known for his nuanced, observant original songwriting. ‘One In A Million’, his tale of modern day life set in a chip shop, won Best Original Song at the BBC 2 Folk Awards in 2006.

Absolutely unmissable is the industrious Lau. Best Group for three successive years at the Folk Awards, Lau know what they do best – entrancing audiences across the world. Though two thirds of the trio are Scottish, and Scottish trad. music is probably the foundations on which Lau is built, Lau is not just an engine for old tunes. The group seamlessly blend traditional with jazz, world and everything in between, with Kris Drever’s inimitable vocals steering songs to their understated climax. Lau will be at Band On The Wall on Friday 22nd October, but fiddle player, Aidan O’Rourke, will be back in town again on Friday 12th November at The Met with his new project, Kan.

If you managed to get along to the Ewan MacColl Memorial Concert at Peel Hall last October, you would have been touched by the Peggy Seeger’s plainspeaking about her love and respect for her late husband. At The Lowry on Sunday 7th November, we will be treated to an entire concert by the singer, banjo virtuoso and activist.

A few days later, 11th November, folk music fans are going to have a tough decision to make: Northumbrian smallpipes legend, Kathryn Tickell, at Band On The Wall, fresh from working with Sting on his latest album; or Shetland fiddler, Aly Bain, with his longterm collaborators, Ale Moller and Bruce Molsky, at The Met.

Next, it’s the Royal Northern College of Music’s turn to provide a stage for some folk big names. Show Of Hands is one of the those bands that forever seems to polarise opinion, but whatever the critical persuasion, there is no denying that Phil Beer is an astonishing multi-instrumentalist and Steve Knightly is a gifted wordsmith. Here, with the soothing vocals of Miranda Sykes, Show Of Hands will undoubtedly prove why they were the recipients of Best Duo at this year’s Folk Awards.

November will be energetically rounded off with Bellowhead at the Waterside Arts Centre in Sale on the 22nd. To the uninitiated, a large group of nattily-dressed musicians wielding fiddles, squeezeboxes and even a sousaphone could seem like a novelty act. And, frankly, what could be worse than a folk-influenced novelty act? But fear not, you needn’t leave your dignity at the door – just shoes unsuitable for dancing.

As you can probably guess, this article only focuses on a select few folk musicians visiting our area over the next few months. It’s pleasing to report that each of the venues mentioned, alongside many, many more independent folk clubs and nights, have programmes bursting with folk performers to sample.

And the best thing? It’s unlikely you’ll be facing over inflated ticket prices or sat behind someone holding their mobile phone aloft in order to enjoy it.

Sophie Parkes runs For Folk's Sake, Manchester's premier folk and acoustic night. Held on a monthly basis at Kro, opposite the University of Manchester Students' Union, FFS welcomes established and emerging acts from across the country and has just announced the autumn/winter programme. For more information, please visit: forfolkssake.org.uk/