April 2001

London Gigs

Sun 1st Luka Bloom
http://www.page27.co.uk/jan/jbloom.htm
Purcell Room

Brother of renowned Irish singer Christry Moore, Barry
Moore made three albums under his own name before
changing it to Luka Bloom in the late eighties - 'Luka' comes
from Suzanne Vega's song of the same name; 'Bloom' is
from Leopold Bloom, the the hero of James Joyce's novel
'Ulysses'. His latest CD 'Keeper Of The Flame' (Evangeline
- due May in the US on Bar/One) is an album of covers,
from Radiohead's 'No Surprises' to Joni Mitchell's 'Urge for
Going'. "For me there is a connection between the
songwriting of Thom Yorkes and Joni Mitchell. Both of them
express their feelings. They just do it in a different way", says
Luka, whilst of his version of Abba's 'Dancing Queen' he
says "To make a folk version out of plasticpop was a real
challenge to me."

Sun 1st Aynsley Lister
http://www.aynsleylister.com/
The Torrington, North Finchley, N12 020 8568 0612

Described by Paul Reed of Blues Archive as "One of a new
breed of talented young singer/guitar players who herald a
new future for the blues..." Happy playing acoustic country
blues as well as those 'spine tingling' electric solos that have
become his trade mark, his new album 'Aynsley Lister'
(RUF) produced by Jim Gaines, features a dynamic duet
with legendary bluesman Walter Trout.

Sun 1st Mark Mulcahy
http://www.mezzotint.com/mulcahy.html
The Union Chapel, Islington N1 (020) 7226 1686

Describing his debut solo album 'Fathering' (Mezzotint),
Uncut Magazine, said "With a voice equal parts Tim Buckley,
John Martyn and Kevin Coyne, former Miracle Legion front-
man Mulcahy is rivalled in the Nineties only by Jeff Buckley
for soul-searching genius. He could sing about knitting and
still make it sound as though he was singing about extra-
marital liasons and illicit, claustrophobic sex. But since he
likes to sing about extra-marital liasons and illicit,
claustrophobic sex, there's never any confusion."

Tue 3rd Kathryn Williams
http://www.kathrynwilliams.co.uk
The Union Chapel, Islington N1 (020) 7226 1686

Newcastle-based singer songwriter whose second self-
financed album 'Little Black Numbers' (Caw) was nominated
for the Mercury Prize last year. According to Top Magazine
it's "a front porch-type record. Delicate, intimate acoustics,
plaintive vocals, an omnipresent cello and a cast of fully
realised characters, warts and all."

Wed 4th Oh Susanna
http://www.ohsusannamusic.com
+ Bap Kennedy
http://www.country.com/gen/music/artist/bap-kennedy.html
The Borderline 020 7734 2095

Canadian singer-songwriter Suzie Ungerleider "spent her
youth rummaging through her aunt and uncle's folkways
records, attending folk festivals at Jericho Beach and slam
dancing at all-ages punk shows held in the warehouses of
Vancouver. In Suzie's mind folk music, punk rock and rock
'n' roll were all linked." Best known for her harrowing ballads,
her new CD 'Sleepy Little Sailor' is said to be "more intimate
and feminine, more stream of consciousness than reportage,
more inward and gentle." According to BBC Radio 2 DJ,
Bob Harris, "Every now and then there is a voice that you
hear that is genuinely affecting. Neil Young has one of those
voices. It's the same with Oh Susanna. It has an emotive
quality to it. She pulls the heartstrings." (See her UK/Irish
tour dates).

Thur 5th Jimmy Hutchinson
http://www.freefolk.com/blair.htm
Musical Traditions

Fine unaccompanied singer from South Uist in Scotland on
his first visit to London. His album 'Corachree', has been
released on Living Tradition magazine's 'Tradition Bearers'
series of Scots songs and balads. According to Roy Harris,
"His versions of 'She Was A Rum One', 'Matty Groves' and
'Lord Donald', all from the singing of Jeannie Robertson,
would draw applause from the great lady herself.

Fri 6th & Sat 7th Jay Farrar
http://www.wbr.com/sonvolt
+ Peter Bruntnell
http://www.slowriver.com/bruntnell/reviews.htm
The Borderline 020 7734 2095

Two acoustic nights from the lead singer of US alt. country
band Son Volt, whose influences include Creedence
Clearwater Revival, The Louvin Brothers and The Byrds.
Previously a member of Uncle Tupelo, his songs are said to
chronicle the smalltown angst of modern America. Support
from UK singer songwriter Peter Bruntnell, whose album
'Normal for Bridgwater' (Slow River Records) was
described by London's 'Time Out' magazine as "A hugely
accomplished album of finely honed country rockin' fare."

Fri 6 Doug Hoekstra
http://www.doughoekstra.com
12 Bar Club 020 7209 2248
also Wed 11th at The Spitz (020) 7392 9032

UK tour for Nashville-based singer/songwriter Hoekstra,
whose 1999 album 'Make Me Believe' (One Man Clapping)
is, according to John Lonergan at Revolutions, "the most
inventive, brave and downright quirky folk album in ages.
There are more ideas in each of these tracks than most
others manage to cram onto a whole album." His latest
album, released last month, is 'Around the Margins'
(Inbetweens - Innerstate Records in the US), described
by Billboard Magazine in a recent interview as "a blend
of acoustic instruments and electronic smarts that yields
a sound that's strictly Hoekstra."

Sat 7th Show of Hands
http://www.showofhands.co.uk
The Royal Albert Hall

Top UK folk duo, described by The Times as "absolutely
fantastic... world music from the West Country". Phil Beer
was a member of The Albion Band before teaming up with
Steve Knightley in 1991 to form 'Show of Hands'. In 1996,
having built up a large mailing list of loyal fans from all over
the country, and wanting to get them all together for a big gig,
they took the brave step of hiring London's historic Royal
Albert Hall - the gamble paid off with the show selling out in
advance and the live album recorded that night becoming the
band's best selling album to date. Tonight they return to
celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

Mon 9th Coope Boyes & Simpson
http://www.coopeboyesandsimpson.co.uk
Croydon Folk Club

Fine unaccompanied English traditional singing from Barry
Coope, Jim Boyes and Lester Simpson. Reviewing their
debut 1993 album 'Funny Old World' (No Masters), Q
Magazine described them as "quite simply the best purveyors
of acappella song on these Islands". According to
Rock 'n' Reel, "Their singing seems to go from strength to
strength, their writing is full of power and force and their
harmonies are quite sublime."

Tue 10th Gretchen Peters
http://www.gretchenpeters.com
Dingwalls 020 7267 1577

Brief UK 'tourette' for US songwriter renowned for her
intelligent introspective songs in the country/folk/pop vein,
covered by the likes of Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless
and Martina McBride who recorded her 1995 Grammy
nominated Song of the Year, 'Independence Day'. Her own
new CD 'Gretchen Peters' (Valley Entertainment) was
released in February.

Wed 11th Eddi Reader
http://www.compassrecords.com/reader.htm
The Union Chapel, Islington, N1

Known as 'Ever Ready Eddi' in her days as a backing singer
for the likes of 'The Eurythmics' and punk outfit 'Gang of
Four', before forming 'Fairground Attraction' with Mark
Nevin in the 80's. Her latest album 'Simple Soul' (Compass
Records) has been described as her most stripped down and
spare recording to date, a beautiful acoustic work of eleven
captivating, personal, light-hearted and heart-breaking songs,
with many of the tracks written or co-written by Eddi and her
longtime collaborator, Boo Hewerdine.

Thur 12th Rokia Traore
http://www.concertedefforts.com/Rokia%20Traore.htm
Barbican Centre (020) 7638 8891

Young female singer-songwriter from Mali in West Africa,
whose second album 'Wanita' (Indigo/Harmonia Mundi) was
voted 'Album of the Year - 2000' in the recent Folk Roots
annual Critics' Poll and was described by Billboard Magazine
as "One of the finest records issued anywhere this year...The
music grips listeners as it glides into a rich nether realm
between tribal chant and folk chanson, prodding the spirit
with ideas that are bluesy in their convictions but almost
Asian in their plucked airiness."

Thur 12th Kellie While
http://www.kelliewhile.co.uk
The 12 Bar Club 020 7916 6989

Daughter of singer songwriter Chris While, Kellie is one of
the best young singers around, who has already carved out
her own niche on the British acoustic roots scene. Lead
singer with the latest incarnation of Ashley Hutchings'
'Albion Band' since 1997, she was also asked to join the
band formerly known as Edward II who had reformed as
'e2K' in 1999. Spring 2001 is proving to be a particularly
busy time for her, with the release of The Albion Band's
latest album 'Road Movies', e2K's 'Shift' and her own solo
album 'Tenacious'.

Fri 13th Steve Ashley
http://www.steveashley.co.uk
Kalamazoo Club, The King's Head 2 Crouch End Hill,
N8 0208 341 0716

Long regarded as one of Britain's finest folk singer-
songwriters. His reputation for creating innovative English
songs which are contemporary in relevance but traditional
in nature was established in the early seventies. An original
member of The Albion Country Band, his first solo album,
1974's 'Stroll On' was described by Karl Dallas in the
Melody Maker at the time as ""the most sensational album
since folk became contemporary." Following the 1999
release of a retrospective compilation "The Test of Time"
and a re-release of his classic debut as 'Stroll On Revisited',
his new album, released this month, 'Everyday Lives' (Topic
Records) includes contributions from Robin Williamson, and
Danny Thompson , along with past and present members of
Fairport Convention, amongst others. According to Mojo,
"Ashley has clearly relished this opportunity to deliver at last,
the follow-up that Stroll On always demanded ... Welcome
back."

Sat 14 Capercaillie
http://www.capercaillie.co.uk
Blackheath Halls

According to the UK's 'Daily Telegraph, "Few women
fronting any kind of British band possess a voice to touch
Karen Matheson's, remarkable in English but breathtaking
when she draws on her Hebridean roots to sing in Gaelic."
On the Scottish band's latest album 'Nàdurra' (Gaelic for
"naturally") they've returned to their roots, recording an
acoustic based album while retaining their typically vibrant
and contemporary sound.

Tue 17th Eliza Carthy
http://www.elizacarthy.com
Dingwalls 020 7267 1577

Just back from a US tour promoting her latest solo release,
'Angels and Cigarettes' (Warner) described by Entertainment
Weekly as "a buoyant work that effortlessly conjures both
past and present.... Carthy's voice, smooth yet earthy, carries
a tart, unmistakably British accent that allows her to sound
either knowingly rueful or as resigned as a lovelorn barmaid....
Carthy and her band set these sentiments to fall-crisp
arrangements that intermingle her voice and sturdy fiddle with
brisk rhythms, dub bass lines, and hints of electronica; the
results feel at once modern and vintage....by balancing the
old soul within and the young soul without, Carthy scores that
rare pop-music victory -- crossover with dignity and grace."

Wed 18th Damien Dempsey
http://www.zincfence.com/Damien/index.html
Croydon Fairfield Halls

Debut UK tour by 24 year old Dublin-born singer-songwriter,
former street fighter, boxer and social commentator who was
effectively discovered by Christy Moore, who invited him on
stage at the Point in Dublin a couple of years ago. Today he
sings traditional Irish songs and runs song-writing workshops
for children and single parents from the poorer parts of Dublin.
His debut album is 'They Don't Teach This Shit In School'
(Zinc Fence).

Thur 19th - Sat 21st Van Morrison & Linda Gail Lewis
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/
The Royal Albert Hall

Van The Man teams up with Jerry Lee Lewis's sister for a
run through their new album of blues classics, rockabilly and
country duets, 'You Win Again' (Virgin/Point Blank). Linda
talks about how she first met Van and his recording process
in this press release.

Sat 21st The Good Sons
http://www.wrench.f9.co.uk/
+ Tom Ovans
http://nsr.home.texas.net/
The Borderline 0207 734 2095

Probably Britain's premier 'Alt Country' band, formed by
lead singer Michael Weston King in 1991, wanting to
combine, he says "my love of songwriters such as Elvis
Costello, Tom Waits, Springsteen, and Townes Van Zandt
with the contemporary country rock feel of The Jayhawks."
Their well-received 1995 debut album 'Singing the Glory
Down' (Glitterhouse) included a duet with Townes Van Zandt
on Michael's sideswipe at British weekend cowboys called
'Riding the Range', which Townes also recorded a few months
before his death with Nashville bluegrass band The Calvins.
Their new album their fourth, released last month, is
'Happiness' (Floating World).
"Husky voice and dark compelling songs" from US songwriter
from Austin Texas, Tom Ovans, whose often been described
as a blend of Joe Ely meets Dylan. His latest CD, his seventh,
is 'Still in this World' (Evangeline) - See this biography.

Sun 22nd Plainsong
http://www.bluerose-records.com/e/artists/plainson.html
Ronnie Scott's

Original member of Fairport Convention and Matthews
Southern Comfort, Iain Matthews formed 'Plainsong' with
Andy Roberts in 1971. Various incarnations over the years
have included Clive Gregson, Mark Griffiths, and
Julian Dawson and they've recorded 9 albums. For this
April/May UK tour Iain and Andy will be performing as a
duo promoting their new 6-track CD, 'A to B' (for limited
release during the tour - see dates)

Tue 24th Kevin Coyne
http://www.kevincoyne.de
The Borderline 020 7734 2095

According to The Chicago Reader ""Kevin Coyne....may be
the only British musician who ever really had the blues....."
whilst Rolling Stone calls him "a peculiar blues singer, even
by relaxed standards. Since the late 1960s, Coyne has
forged a unique path in folk blues: interior monologues of
pain and giddy delusion, the extremes of everyday neurosis
made flesh in his chesty yowl......". Over the years he has
released nearly 40 albums. Now resident in Germany, his
latest, 'Room Full of Fools', is his first to be recorded in the
US.

Wed 25th Cubanismo
http://www.rosebudus.com/cubanismo/
Royal Festival Hall

New Orleans jazz and blues collide with the hot Latin
rhythms of Havana for a night of musical fireworks from
one of the World's leading dance bands. Their latest album
'Mardi Gras Mambo' mixes Cuban son, mambo,
cha-cha-chá, danzon and timba with second line marches,
New Orleans R&B, hot jazz, smoky swamp blues and
Mardi Gras Indian chants and is, according to the LA
Times, "stirring, powerful...an irresistible torrent of intricate
rhythms." In a recent interview with the album's legendary
producer, Joe Boyd, on 'Getsigned.com', when asked
"What's your all-time favorite studio experience?" answered,
"Hard to choose, but I guess the first day's recording in
Havana with 'Cubanismo' is pretty near the top."

Sat 28th Cathal McConnell
http://www.compassrecords.com/mcconnell.htm
Cellar Upstairs, 88 Royal College St., NW1
020-7281 7700

Solo gig from flute player, tin whistler and singer from
The Boys of the Lough who is one of the best-loved
performers in the world of Celtic music. Equal parts
modern virtuoso and old-time roots musician, his latest
album 'Long Expectant Comes at Last' (Compass Records)
includes special guests Richard Thompson, John Doyle and
Winifred Horan (both of Solas), Colm Murphy of
De Dannan, Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies, Dave
Mattacks, Linda Thompson, and Susan McKeown, among
many others.

Sun 29th Black Umfolosi
http://www.adastra-music.co.uk/blackumfo.html
Bull Arts Centre, 68 High Street, Barnet, Hertfordshire
020 8449 0048

A multi-discipline performing arts group, based in Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe. The group began as a means of entertaining
themselves while still at school in 1982. They have since
become an internationally acclaimed harmonic acappella
singing and traditional African dance group. Self-trained, the
original six members have developed their skills and their
organization to a point where the now 18 members provide
a multitude of services in the performing arts industry in
Zimbabwe and internationally.

Mon 30th Tom Lewis
http://gamgee.acad.emich..edu/~tomlewis/
Croydon Folk Club

Songs and stories of the sea, new and old, from British-born
veteran of Her Majesty's Royal Navy, now living in British
Columbia, Canada. His songs cover a wide range of nautical
topics, from life onboard H.M. ships, through the loneliness
and lure of the sea. According to Northern Journey Online,
"Lewis's songs sound as if they had been sung around
seaports for the past two hundred years. He has a fine knack
for writing in the shanty tradition."

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