Dulwich Folk

Take a mighty piper, add great singers and a brilliant fiddle player- expect a great one off evening of Irish music and song from Grace Lemon , four times All-Ireland Pipe Champion. Peta Webb and Ken Hall. Long time singers, promoters and advocates of Irish and English Traditional music, Ken and Peta will offer brilliant harmonies and superb singing. Rowan Piggott Plays fiddle and sings. Best known as one third of The Wilderness Yet, Rowan is an accomplished singer and songwriter as well as a very fine fiddle player. He is a record producer and the author of books on Irish, Swedish and old - time fiddle tunes. This is an Irish music night unlikely to be repeated anywhere from 4 fabulous musicians! Entrance is £13

A year or so ago Clementine played a couple of songs from the floor at Dulwich . Last year she formed her trio with percussionist Carmen Ruiz Vicente and fiddle player Duncan Menzies. Carmen’s plays regularly with Savannah Gardner and the Recovering Good Girls. Duncan Menzies is no stranger to Dulwich folk having played here with both Copper Viper and Club Debris. Clementine seamlessly knits together traditional, singer songwriter and folk-rock roots. She’s a very fine singer whose own memorable songs clearly relate to the folk tradition. I’d agree with the FATEA review that said ““Clementine has a great voice, writes her own very moving songs, and interprets traditional (and not so traditional) pieces in a new way” The trio has been a great success; it has sold out the last three gigs including a recent very full Green Note. Recording is in progress. This is an act on the way up. Come and find out why. Entrance tonight is £13 . Links:

MICHTY! started out 10 years ago as a group of musicians from all over London meeting to play Scottish music. For the last 3 years MICHTY! have provided the house band at the Dulwich Folk ”After Burns night” night . They have been essential in making the night memorable , which is why this year they are our headline act. This year they have expanded their singing as well , so MICHTY! now includes the Gaelic harmony group Adhoctet Ghaidhlig; this group met through Còisir Lunnainn (London Gaelic Choir), and includes two of the conductors and Simon Stallard the 2024 winner, of the prestigious Silver Pendant, at the Royal National Mòd. This is going to be a fabulous night of Scottish music and song , probably split two- thirds music and one-third song. Entrance tonight is £10

Start the new Year by checking out someone we think is destined to be one of our finest singers. Seb is a traditional singer from the Peak District. In 2022 he won Bromyard Folk Festival’s ‘Future of Folk’ award. He draws on a varied repertoire of traditional English and Irish songs, focussing on the stories they have to tell, and their relevance to our modern world. Seb is also a member of Culverake and when not performing can be found poring over broadsides or field recordings, or playing sessions. Seb’s album “Young Tamlyn’s Away” is definitely one of the best of the year. Check out his version of Tamlyn and you'll see what I mean. As a bonus Seb plays the Uillean Pipes! ( and whistle) Entrance tonight is £10

Niamh is one of Irelands very finest singers and Dulwich are delighted to welcome her back together with her longtime partner the great guitarist Graham Dunne . Niamh is renowned not only as a brilliant interpreter of traditional songs but also for the way she can transform modern material. The great Archie Fisher described her as a singer “who only comes along once or twice in a generation”. Niamh has released nine albums over the course of her career, all of them infused with tenderness, conviction and beauty. Niamh is also President of the Irish Musicians Union. She has been performing with Graham on guitar since 1999. Their relationship has been described as a “fathomlessly deep musical and yes, spiritual bond…which draws out the essence of the songs.” When not accompanying Niamh Graham is usually seen playing jazz guitar (and even Flamenco!). Niamh and Graham don’t make it to England too often, so make sure you don’t miss them. You can check out Niamh’s singing at niamhparsons.com Entrance tonight is £13.

Pete and Richard (described by Sarah Coxon as “ Two superbly innovative musicians at the height of their craft”) were one of the very first acts we booked so we are very pleased to welcome them again. Pete's fiddle and Richard's cello will fire through an amazing set of dance and other tunes rooted in England but also including lots from around the world as well, complemented by the odd song from Pete. Pete and Richard's recent CD “Burning Bright” is terrific and is doubly welcome as it features artwork on the cover and on the cd which was done by Abel Kesteven our resident artist when they visited us last time. Pete and Richard don’t perform together often enough so take this opportunity to see them . It will be a terrific evening Entrance tonight is £12.

We don’t have many songwriters as guests at Dulwich, but we are delighted ( and lucky) to be able to welcome Angeline, whose songs, uniquely for a major British folk artist, combine an obvious love of traditional music forms with a retelling of the experiences of black British ancestors whose voices had been ignored or supressed. Her the 2022 album The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience was described by the Guardian as “...a startling record of resistance, rebellion and celebration” and was their no 1 folk album of 2022. As well as a songwriter and singer Angeline is also a multi instrumentalist playing among other things dulcimer, autoharp , shruti and kalimba. She will be accompanied on some songs tonight by Clarke Camilleri on guitar. Angeline is also half of the Psych-folk duo Rowan:Morrison and half of the alt-folk duo We are Muffy. Angeline doesn’t usually play venues as small as Dulwich and as I write this I notice she has already sold out the Green Note on 21st, so I am expecting a full house. Get here early! Entrance tonight is £13.

We’re very pleased to steal Kevin for the night from Walthamstow folk club where he otherwise be MCing.. Some of his anecdotes may even be true! Kevin is as excellent singer who will take us though his choice of the myriad of London songs. Taking London songs from "The Critics Group" as a starting point, Kevin takes us through London, loosely following the Thames . with songs and stories of places we pass. Some of the songs are traditional, some recent some comic, some serious , and you should expect some surprises. Kevin Sheils came to folk music in the mid 60s. Since that time he has been a regular singer and resident at many folk clubs . He is a regular concert MC at some of the country's major Folk Festivals and for the last 20 years he has presented the weekly "Traditional Music Hour" radio show on London based Arts Radio Station - Resonance FM. Expect an amusing, entertaining and informative night. Entrance tonight is £10

The great Irish harpist and the brilliant Stevenage guitarist! Not for the first time we are putting on musicians who by rights should be in a much bigger venue! Mairi is one of Ireland’s most important and influential traditional musicians . Her seminal 1985 album “The New Strung Harp” has just been re-released. This was described as “ An intensely passionate and intelligent record... a masterpiece of virtuosity... a milestone in Irish harp music" CORK EVENING ECHO Chris joined up with Mairi in 1987 and they have made at least seven albums together . As a live act they are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous: a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions and Chris’s delightfully subversive wit My favourite review from the Belfast Telegraph gives you a flavour of what to expect ““This celebrated harp/guitar duo took the place by storm. Stately Carolan tunes, jazzy Django-ish numbers, dazzling Doc Watson style flat picking fliers, driving Irish dance tunes - this pair can nonchalantly do the lot. Their musicianship was enviable. Guitar players applauded and went sadly home to burn their instruments!”
 Chris has also made at least four solo albums . His most recent “Breaking Bach” was described as “Groundbreaking - a magnificent tour-de-force... a toweringly impressive achievement" by Living tradition magazine . This will be an evening to remember. Entrance tonight is £14

This is a multi-media show with film footage complemented by songs. Martin, who is from Hull, is a fine singer well known to many London folk clubs. It is a show about Hull’s deep-sea fishing fleet – the practices, the people and its demise. It is a story of how a group of Hull women took action which forced the government to improve safety in the fishing industry following the loss of 58 fishermen in less than a month in 1968.. Songs by folk artists including Mike Waterson, Richard Grainger and Dave Evardson are woven together with Martin’s video footage of those who were there and readings from sources including Rupert Creed’s "Turning the Tide" and "The Headscarf Revolutionaries" by Brian W Lavery. A CD of Songs from the show will be available on the night. This will be an unusual and moving evening. All money raised tonight will be going to Medecin Sans Frontieres. Entrance tonight is £10.

Bitter Blossoms are an exciting new vocal trio based in the Netherlands. Phoebe Kirrage (UK), Julie Hasfjord (Norway) , and Viktoria Nikolova (Bulgaria) combine their skills and knowledge of traditional and other music to create a unique performance integrating songs, tunes and stories. As an international ensemble Bitter Blossoms draw on folklore and tradition from their own countries) creating a show which is simple and beautiful with darker undertones which is why its called "Nettles and Hemlock". Expect English , Bulgarian and Norwegian songs, unusual harmonies and some surprises. Their musical histories include choir , neo folk and classical experiences. Entrance tonight is £12

Raised in Glasgow and the Isle of Mull Debbie rediscovered her love of traditional song in her 20s. Debbie is a hauntingly evocative singer and tonight she will be solo , helped by her shruti box . She will choose songs from her broader repertoire, featuring many pieces that she rarely gets the chance to sing . Expect songs in English Scots Gaelic (and possibly Welsh!). To make this a properly Scottish night resident’s duties are being taken on by the local Dulwich Scottish music group, led by Andy Clarke who will MC, so there will be a lot of Scottish tunes as well. Debbie is best known for her role as half of Burd Ellen , and as a member of Green Ribbons, the formidably brilliant harmony group. She has recently has developed live shows with songs concentrating on women’s struggles over paid and unpaid labour in Glasgow “She Works Hard for the Money” and a joint show with artist Ruth Ewan “ A jukebox of people Trying to change the world.” Entrance tonight is £12

“VRi are not just three stunning musicians; they summon up a magic chemistry that is absolutely bewildering, mesmerising and thoroughly addictive." Mick Tems , Folk Wales Dulwich Folk are delighted to be able to give South London the chance to hear the magnificent and unforgettable VRI . VRI are Jordan Price Williams (cello, vocals), Aneurin Jones (violin, vocals) and Patrick Rimes (viola, violin and vocals). They draw their creative inspiration from the incredible story of the oppression of Wales’ traditional music by the Methodist chapels of the 18th and 19th centuries and the suppression of the Welsh language. . VRï’s music takes hold of the remaining strands of tradition and the music subsumed by the chapels, adds to them by discovering long lost tunes and songs and blending them into a joyous celebration of Welsh identity, sung in the Welsh language, combining the energy of a rowdy pub session with the style and finesse of the Viennese string quartet. All three members of the band are crossover musicians . They are all members of 20 strong Pentevig known for their mash-ups of Welsh folk and rock, funk, rap and electro; VRi have also represented Wales at the Last Night of the Proms . Don't miss the chance of seeing VRI in a small acoustic venue . This will be a magical evening. Entrance is £15

Nick is a gorgeous singer , (described as one of the best of his generation) and fine guitarist with a distinctive traditional repertoire, many of which he has collected himself. Expect to be moved, informed and amused . Nick has published three books of unpublished versions of songs ( notated by Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne). Many of his songs have been given to him by the traveller people with whom he has lived and worked. . As well as his books Nick has released many cds, most recently an album of traditional love songs. The last ten years has seen Nick make a welcome return to the folk scene after a gap of some 20 years mostly spent signwriting, and painting and restoring Gypsy Wagons. Nick is particularly pleased to be coming to the Castle as he grew up in Friern Road next door for over 20 years! Since leaving South London he has also worked as a TV and Film Extra, broadcaster, Narrowboat painter, and writer. Come and help give Nick a very warm welcome on his return to Dulwich . Entrance tonight is £12.

Cohen is a force of nature; an outstanding singer and a master of the concertina and melodeon, a member of Granny’s Attic, a music teacher and educator and the notator of three books of previously unpublished traditional songs. He has also recently been part of the highly successful “Stolen From God “ slave trade song cycle.. Cohen sings mainly traditional songs , with an emphasis on West Midlands material but may also throw in baroque, renaissance, ragtime, and music hall material! It is an absolute pleasure to put on such an great solo performer and to see the future of the tradition in such good hands! Get here early. Entrance tonight is £12.