http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/

Dartford Folk Club, Essex Road, Dartford (2025)

05/07/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

08 JULY 2025 JACKIE OATES

"There's a sweetness and melancholy to her voice that is like no other, and for which there is no known formula with which to replicate it.." Songlines

Known for her exquisite vocals, emotive arrangements and expressive fiddle playing, Jackie is regarded as a 'contemporary folk treasure' and central figure in English traditional music.
She loves to collaborate with a diverse array of artists and commissions; seeking out new and surprising artistic corners to illuminate with her understated brilliance. Her 8th solo studio album, Gracious Wings, took flight in September 2022, receiving acclaim from the music press both within and beyond the folk genre.

In the 14 years since her iconic coming of age album Hyperboreans she has continued to build her large and varied following, write her own material, include surprising covers into her albums and breathe new life into traditional gems.

A member of 'The Imagined Village' with Eliza & Martin Carthy and Billy Bragg among others, the band performed at festivals in 2022 and her version of The Cure's 'Untitled' was a 2022 commission for LUSH and featured on Iggy Pop's Confidential Show on BBC Radio 6.

We hope you will join us in welcoming JACKIE OATES back to Dartford Folk Club!

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.
For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

Phot Credit: Patrick Gregory Wall

27/06/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

01 JULY 2025 THE SALTS

"The Salts - they were just outstandingly brilliant." Tim Walker BBC (Costa del Folk 2022)

"Incredibly gutsy stuff with a big sound." - Mike Harding (The Mike Harding Folk Show)

Twenty-first century folk fires a respectful broadside at the traditional. The Salts are a co-operative of seasoned musicians, creating what is fast becoming one of the most exciting and energetic folk concepts of recent times. With their own unique sound that mixes well written original compositions alongside classic traditional tunes, it's a guaranteed blast. Their debut album 'She Rises', their second album 'BRAVE' and the latest 'LIVE IN LONDON TOWN' are all receiving rave reviews across the board.

The band members are: Brian Doran (Vocals, Mandolin, Whistle), Lee Collinson (Vocals, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar), Jeremy Hart (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar), Richard Nash (Vocals, Drums) and Tim Cantrell (Double Bass, Vocals).

We hope you will join us in welcoming THE SALTS to Dartford Folk Club!

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.
For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

20/06/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

24 JUNE 2025 DONNELLY & SOUTH

Keith Donnelly, one of the most popular, and, yes slightly crazy, figures in the folk world, teams up with the scene's most exciting new voice - Lauren South. Keith's songwriting and guitar-playing often take a back seat to his onstage madcappery. Not so in this duo (He promises!).

Lauren's stunning vocals on her own originals, Keith's, and the odd 'trad' songs, not forgetting her violin, guitar and shruti box playing, never fail to 'wow' audiences wherever she goes. Although this new combo might at first raise a few eyebrows, anyone who ever saw Keith work with Dark Horses, Nothing by Chance, or indeed (back in the day) Waterfall, won't be too surprised to see him jump at the chance to work with a vocalist like Lauren. Anyone who has heard these musicians separately will hopefully be as thrilled to see the launch of this new duo.

Keith says - 'This is probably the most important new duo since Steve Beer teamed up with that Phil Knightley!'

Lauren says - 'Oh for heaven's sake!'

We hope you will join us in welcoming KEITH DONNELLY & LAUREN SOUTH to Dartford Folk Club!

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.
For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

14/06/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB
17 JUNE 2025 JAMES KEELAGHAN

James Keelaghan has spent decades weaving the past into melody and, in doing so, he has become one of the genre's most respected torchbearers. With his lilting baritone and rhythmic guitar work, he creates songs that aren't just heard - they're felt.

His philosophy is evident in songs like "Kiri's Piano," a haunting portrayal of the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, and in "Fires of Calais," where he captures the tension and desperation of the Dunkirk evacuation during WWII, while "Cold Missouri Waters," perhaps one of his most iconic works, recounts the harrowing Mann Gulch fire of 1949....

James Keelaghan's work reads like history rendered in sepia, sung with both reverence and rebellion, so it's no surprise that he often draws comparisons to narrative giants like Stan Rogers or Gordon Lightfoot, but his voice, both literal and metaphorical, is distinctly his own. Despite some heavy themes, his music never wallows. Instead, it uplifts through its craftsmanship, the melodies carrying listeners like a steady river through turbulent stories.

Whether he is performing in a packed theatre or a cozy folk club, James brings history alive. And in a world that often rushes to forget, his songs serve as powerful reminders that the past is never truly past.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

06/06/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

10 JUN 2025 TOM LEWIS

Widely acknowledged as North America's finest exponent of contemporary nautical songs. - Canadian Society for Traditional Music.

Tom Lewis brings to the stage wry humour, button accordion, ukulele, a great voice and bridging the sea-going and folk-singing communities.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland; then moving to Gloucester, England, Tom joined the Royal Navy as an Engineering Apprentice just a few days after his sixteenth birthday and, posted to a naval training establishment in Scotland in 1960, he soon started frequenting THE HOWFF Folk Club, in Dunfermline where he was exposed to such luminaries as Willie Scott, Alex Glasgow, Ewan McColl and Archie Fisher, to name but a few. However, it was Cyril Tawney who came to have an enormous influence on Tom's own development as a writer & entertainer.

During a 24 year naval career, Tom juggled the requirements of the service with a growing commitment to participating in folk clubs, concerts and festivals but it was meeting Lyn that coincided closely with Tom's first foray into songwriting.
After completing his naval service in 1983, Tom & Lyn emigrated to the mountains of British Columbia and soon Tom was receiving calls to play music which eventually led to the couple decided to 'take the show on the road' for a while and see where the road might lead...

We are delighted to welcome TOM LEWIS back to DARTFORD FOLK CLUB.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

31/05/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

03 JUN 2025 JANICE BURNS & JON DORAN

They play lovely strings, they have gorgeous harmony arrangements. Really well crafted, intimate, beautifully understated. - Karine Polwart

Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music and songs that tell vivid stories about the nature of life and our place in the world.

Their musical storytelling comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki, and guitar. Their arrangements have a spellbinding presence and an understated energy that transports their songs from the pages of books and manuscripts into the imagination of the listener.

Janice and Jon are building a reputation as one of the UK's foremost touring acts, with their relaxed and personable approach to performance, playing at notable venues and festivals including Cambridge and Sidmouth Folk Festivals, Cecil Sharp House, and Sage Gateshead.

Folk songs have always travelled, put down new roots, borrowed and evolved. Janice & Jon bring together songs that have survived through the ages, shapeshifting and adapting to changing environments as they've been passed from singer to singer. Exploring humankind's relationship with nature, love, and loss, these are songs with an enduring resonance.

We are delighted to welcome back JANICE BURNS & JON DORAN to DARTFORD FOLK CLUB.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

Photo Credit: Ellen Dixon

23/05/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

27 MAY 2025 WYCHBURY

Wychbury has been carving out a space for themselves within the folk scene, earning recognition alongside fellow rising stars, Maddie Morris, Broadside Hacks and Frankie Archer in Tradfolk's esteemed article, 'Young Folk Musicians You Need To Hear'. Their journey has taken them to the stages of some of the country's most renowned festivals, including multiple appearances at Glastonbury, on the Greenpeace Stage in 2022 and in the Green Futures Field in 2023.

Hailing from Stourbridge, West Midlands, Che and Rhiannon's musical partnership spans over a decade, a testament to their enduring bond and shared artistic vision. At the core of their sound lies Che Bradley's intricate finger-picking guitar and Rhiannon Kenny-McGrath's captivating vocals. Their music is a tapestry woven with threads of tradition and innovation, with a blend of acoustic instrumentation and modern production techniques, Wychbury breathes new life into age-old narratives, offering a fresh perspective for contemporary listeners.

Sharing stages with esteemed artists including John Francis Flynn and Rachael Newton (The Furrow Collective), Wychbury has cemented their reputation as ones to watch.

We are delighted to be hosting WYCHBURY on their first visit to DARTFORD FOLK CLUB.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

14/05/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025 ERIC SEDGE

Born and raised in a rural backwater in the East of England, Eric Sedge found early success as songwriter and multi-instrumentalist in folk duo "The Broadside Boys", performing on TV and radio, and at folk clubs and festivals including Cambridge folk festival and FolkEast. In 2017, The Broadside Boys embark on a multi-date UK tour with Richard Digance, but ill health forced his band member Mat Bayfield to retire so Eric completed the tour as a solo artist. The start of many more solo tours.

Eric now resides in North Yorkshire writing and performing songs inspired by the landscapes and people of the local dales, most notably on his latest album, "A postcard from the Pennines". Eric continues to travel the country performing at folk clubs and festivals across the land.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

07/05/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB

TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025 CLIVE GREGSON

Clive is an accomplished singer, musician and record producer, who led cult band Any Trouble in the 1980s. In 1985, he released his first solo album and he has maintained a solo profile ever since. His solo recordings and tours have been one of the main outlets for his prolific songwriting, featuring an eclectic mix of pop and folk styles ranging from a stripped down 'one man and his acoustic' intimacy to a full on electric band approach.

Along the road from pop frontman to singer-songwriter, Clive has followed many musical diversions. Between 1985-1992, he performed with Christine Collister, a partnership that 'Rolling Stone' called "the state of the art in British folk-rock". Christine's distinctive voice allied to Clive's songs, along with his instrumental and production skills creating something truly special. Clive has also toured and recorded with Richard Thompson, Nanci Griffith, Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine, to name but a few, and his songs have been recorded by many mainstream artists.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

02/05/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB
06 MAY 2025 JOE TOPPING

Described by Sir Tom Jones as "a Weaver of Dreams", Joe Topping is a folk singer and multi instrumentalist from Liverpool, whose singing and guitar playing regularly moves listeners to tears. His charismatic stage presence and engaging stories have entertained audiences all over the country and across Europe, including live sessions on BBC Radio 2, ITV television, The National Film Awards and a showcase at SXSW in Texas.

He has played on stage and in the studio with many legends of the British folk scene including members of Fairport Convention, Andy Irvine and was a member of the legendary Ashley Hutching's Rainbow Chasers. He is a member of festival favourites Elbow Jane.

Joe grew up listening to the Irish and American folk songs that his father sang at the folk club he ran, so Joe was constantly
surrounded by traveling musicians passing through and who often stayed at the house. These troubadours, along with the literature of Steinbeck, and others, gave Joe a wanderlust for the open road and a passion for folk music... Especially the music that told a story... that could make you laugh or cry, or could put you in touch with your own empathy for your fellow man.

Today, Joe channels these very qualities into his own music, aspiring to create songs that resonate with listeners on a profound level, aiming to forge a shared connection and foster a sense of community among his audience.

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

23/04/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB
Please note change of artist!

29 APRIL 2025 BROOKS WILLIAMS

Brooks Williams is one of those select few "how on earth does he do it?" artists. He can sing. He can write. And, man oh man, can he play guitar.

Cambridge UK-based, Georgia US-born, and admired by both listeners and fellow musicians, Brooks has been a leading light on the acoustic music scene for three decades. FATEA says his performances show "the greatest level of true expertise." Listed as one of the 'Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists,' his guitar skills are evident as he effortlessly slides in and out of folk, blues and country.

Brooks left his Georgia home in his late teens and moved to Boston at the height of the 1990s acoustic music renaissance. He did his apprenticeship in the bars and clubs in New York and New England and cut his teeth supporting artists like Shawn Colvin, Chris Smither, Leo Kottke, and Billy Bragg. His first album, North From Statesboro, caught the attention of The Washington Post and National Public Radio, which set the ball rolling and he has never looked back. People took notice and acoustic music radio played him from the very beginning.

In subsequent years Brooks has released a staggering 34 recordings in 35 years and, never one to shy away from the road, the list of venues and festivals here he has played is staggering. Alongside his solo shows, Brooks regularly performs with a host of fellow-musicians.

We are delighted to welcome BROOKS WILLIAMS back to DARTFORD FOLK CLUB!

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

17/04/2025

Marj Mitchell

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB
22 APRIL 2025 THE BROTHERS GILLESPIE

The songs of Northumbrian folk alchemists The Brothers Gillespie are animated by lyrical poetry, fluid fingerstyle guitar, multi-instrumental musicianship and 'the glorious tones of their blood harmony' (Sam Lee).

Brothers James and Sam Gillespie found their sound growing up in the fells and valleys of Northumberland, their songs often escribing relationships with wild places and the experience of finding oneself in a world alive with soul. Theirs is a music of encounter, of lark song and crow call, ash leaves and hidden ways, rooted in the earth and arising most strongly for them when they are out walking in the borderlands with their packs and instruments.

The brothers have travelled far and wide with their music and have played Cambridge, Sidmouth and Moseley Folk Festivals and opened for Lankum and Sam Lee. In Spring 2022 they released 'The Merciful Road', described as 'pure magic' by Living Tradition magazine, inspired by the grace of life in troubled times and blending rootsy, acoustic elements to create a rich warm sound with a touch of vintage magic. Last year saw them release the collaborative album 'Hirondelle'.

"Our music is inspired by the still wild soul of the land in which we live, a land alive with presences, not owned by anyone. It is about seeing with the eye of the heart and recovering our imaginations. It is about finding home, belonging and each other in a world which is singing to us as we sing to it.

We are delighted to welcome THE GILLESPIE BROTHERS on their first visit to DARTFORD FOLK CLUB!

Please do come early (Doors open at 7.15pm) if you are planning to sit with a large group of friends.

For further information, please E-mail: [email protected]

Dartford Folk Club

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