To book tickets email folkatthebarlow@gmail.com ring/text 07427 613783 or use the onsite booking form
Concerts 2024
Folk at the Barlow is a not-for-profit organisation. Our aim is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy and participate in folk music and song. Both the folk club and the Festival are run by unpaid volunteers. Children's tickets (under 16) are free and students up to 21 are half price.
Concerts are on the third Friday of each month, starting at 8:00pm, doors open at 7:30pm
See our HOME PAGE for details of this month's concert and how to book
The usual format is a 40 minute support act of excellent quality followed by 2 x 45 minute spots by the main act which will often be of National acclaim.
Between the two main act spots is an interval featuring the drawing of the raffle and a chance to visit the bar.
While the audience are checking in there is music from the House Band - you are welcome to bring an instrument and join in.
Tickets are £10 each for the Jan to June concerts. From July they are £12.50 each.
Under 16s are free and students up to 21 half price.
Email folkatthebarlow@gmail.com or use the booking form on the Home Page to purchase tickets
19 Jan 24 Close Quarters with Dave Boulton
January was heralded by Close Quarters, : Steve and Sandra Harrison, and Jen Wilso. These lovely people are well known on the North West Folk Club and Festival scene for their close three-part harmonies and amazing repertoire of wonderful songs, beautifully sung. They are the organisers of the Lake District Folk and Accoustic club and numerous session around Lancashire and Cumbria and great friends of this club . Expect choruses to join in with of varying complexity, songs both tender and humorous. Their material comes from a wide range of genres and includes several of Steve's own compositions. They just have a talent for picking the right stuff! Close Quarters were supported by that genial Analogue man in a Digital World, Dave Boulton, who is proving a great hit with Folk at the Barlow.
16 Feb 24. Redmayne with David Helme.
In February we welcomed Redmayne back to the club. Redmayne started way back in the 60's and have been very popular members of the folk scene ever since. They deliver an entertaining mix of acapella and acoustically accompanied songs with beautifully arranged complex harmonies featuring throughout. To whet your appetite you can find examples of their repertoire on their website here https://acousticredeye.com/artist/johncartain_redmayne/
David Helme is a regular performer at the folk club and local sessions, with a pleasant mellow voice, who mainly sings contemporary songs.
15 Mar 24. Brothers Gillespie with Gleo.
Tickets £10 each.
email folkatthebarlow@gmail.com, text 07427613783, or use one of the forms below to book in advance.
Please note that the cut-off time for bookings is 1pm on the day of the concert.
March saw Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie making their first appearance for Folk at the Barlow. Multi-talented brothers James & Sam write and sing songs of great lyrical power, animated by the sound of soaring sibling harmony, inspired guitar playing and a rich array of acoustic instruments. Their songs and performances have a rare, intimate energy that is both earthy and ethereal, romantic and radical. Regular Folk at the Barlow visitors may recognise younger brother Sam Gillespie from his previous 2 visits as lead singer / guitarist / wooden flute player with the excellent Wayward Jane. The duo's recent albums The Fell and The Merciful Road have been widely acclaimed, as have their festival appearances throughout the UK. Apart from a fabulous concert, a highlight was SAM playing martin's flute at the interval and and after the concert.
Support act Gleo went down a storm with the FatB audience. This young and talented quartet GLEO are all members of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Fin, Shenara, Buffy and Polly masterfully performed both their own compositions and traditional tunes, the unique combination of the cello, trombone, fiddle and concertina taking us on a musical journey through England, Scandinavia and the Celtic regions.
19 Apr 24 Fay Hield with the Dodgers
17 May 24 Jaywalkers with Liz & Dave Walmisley
21 June 24 Sherburn Bartley Sanders with Nick Mallion
Fabulous trio, Sherburn Bartley Sanders gave us a cracking June concert. They are in demand for Festivals all over the UK and abroad, Chris and Emily have just got married so we were pleased that they were happy to celebrate part of their honeymoon with us. They showed real energy and atmosphere, cheeky on-stage rapport, and many great interpretations of well-known tunes and traditional songs as well as contemporary pieces. Renowned anglo concertina player Chris Sherburn and guitarist/vocalist Denny Bartley have been wowing folk audiences for decades. Since 2017 they have trio-ed up with fiddler and vocalist Emily Sanders to give a wonderfully enhanced ensemble of musicianship and harmony. Here's the website is you' d like to hear them :
Supporting Sherburn Bartley Sanders was our very own gifted singer-songwriter and guitarist Nick Mallion. Nick has written many smashing songs too numerous to mention that really hit the spot and tell the story. He is also a member of trio Watch the Wall. For the second part of the act he was joined by Dave Howard on a variety of string instruments and Poppy Weatherall on fiddle. Together they produced some wonderful arranged to frame and enhance Nick's songs.
This evening we also had atmosphere stage lighting from our sound/light team, so many thanks to them too for making the evening a memorable one.
19 July 24 8pm Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage
with Ed McGurk and Dave Howard
In July, Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage provided a touch of ‘Americana’, yet still seemed quintessentially English. Traditional, yet contemporary, with their individual writing style. Playful and instinctive, they make music with such panache and natural chemistry it makes perfect sense. Hannah Sanders has a pure, beautiful, even mystical voice. Ben Savage is a singular guitarist with a sound as distinctive as it is innovative. Together their harmonies and unique stage presence shimmer with an infectious enthusiasm and joy for the connection music offers https://hannahbenmusic.com/home
Supporting Hannah and Ben were our own Ed McGurk and Dave Howard. Having worked together in Bandersnatch their musicianship complements each other perfectly with Ed playing a mean guitar and bouzouki and Dave wowing on dobbro, mandolin and guitars. Fancy string-work, fine vocals and a discerning choice of songs.
Who could ask for more!
20 Sept : Mossy Christian & Megan Wisdomwith The Harty Family
September brought a fabulous concert featuring young musicians. Fresh from Sidmouth Folk Festival and gracing the Barlow stage for the first time came Mossy Christian & Megan Wisdom. They perform traditional English folk songs, unaccompanied or supported by a variety of instruments including saxophone, one row melodeon, fiddle and Anglo concertina. Their performances include a charming mix of tunes and stories from Mossy’s native Lincolnshire and beyond. Megan cultivated her signature warm and simple style in pub sessions in her home county of Suffolk. She has a truly stunning voice.
‘One of the true new custodians of the tradition.’ Bright Young Folk
Fri 18 Oct Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer
with Eleanor Hill & Nick Mallion
Our October concert featured Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer, who effortlessly blend traditional material with contemporary sounds. Their performances showcase new interpretations of old songs alongside original self penned tunes and new contemporary songs that are entirely at home in the tradition.
Vicki is a brilliant and versatile classical and folk musician. She studied double bass at the Royal College of Music and also plays various types of bagpipes, flute, recorder, piano and, probably most famously, the nyckelharpa (come along if you want to find out what this is).
Jonny plays guitar, piano, bouzouki, citole and harpsicord. His outstanding technical ability, together with a wide musical taste in folk, soul, jazz and choral music, have made him a tireless and forceful innovator and an inventive composer.
As well as giving compelling and mesmorising concerts, Vicki and Jonny have an extensive tunes repertoire in various genres and hold dances, including medieval and Playford. Their workshops are also greatly enjoyed and they will be visiting Edgworth Primary School to spread the joy of music.
Supporting Vicky and Jonny we had Folk at the Barlow's talented duo Eleanor Hill and Nick Mallion, Eleanor's beautiful treble voice complemented by Nick's innovative and intricate guitar accompaniments. There were beautifully rendered traditional songs that brought tears to your eyes, songs with choruses and songs with a story, A very special evening overall. Eleanor is part of the Matilda Trio, as seen at the Festival, and Nick plays with local band Watch the Wall, due to appear here in 2025.
16 Nov Jess & Richard Arrowsmith with LocTup Together
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Jess and Richard perform English traditional music and song on voice, fiddle and melodeon. Their tunes and songs were fabulous, uplifting and memorable.
They gave passionate and moving renditions of some long-loved favourites,. Top-class musicianship together with Jess's beautiful and characterful voice make them a winning combination. They also perform self-penned songs and interesting reworkings of nursery rhymes.
Jess and Richard are also part of the Arrowsmith:Robb trio with Ian Robb, the Melrose Quartet, with Nancy Kerr and James Fagan (of the memorable fire-alarm concert last year!) and celidh band Hekety
Supporting the Arrowsmiths and fresh from our recent Festival, came popular duo LocTup Together.
Chris Lock and Ian Tupling sing a varied and inspiring repertoire that includes maritime songs and shanties among other quality songs.
Two wonderfully moving and powerful voices in close harmony. Their well crafted harmonies and Ian’s skilful guitar playing made them a joy to listen to.
Fri 20 December Bernard Wrigley with The Wanderers
We were delighted with the wonderful Christmas do thanks to the Bolton Bullfrog Bernard Wrigley. A special appearance at Folk at the Barlow! Singer, actor, author, poet, song-writer, comedian and most accomplished player of guitar and concertina, Bernard surely needs no introduction. His humorous songs and poems are legendary. The Barlow Hall was filled to the rafters with laughter and song. and what a great atmoshere. Bernard has been delighting audiences in Lancashire, Britain and beyond for more years than any of us are admitting to, and has also made many T V appearances alongside such actors as Victoria Wood and Celia Imrie. Take a look at Bernard's website - there is some great stuff on there!
The evening began with Christmas carols led by Eleanor and augmented by music from the House Band. Mince pies and mulled wine were served in the bar by Ann and Chris. The collection and raffle in aid of Bolton Hospice and organised by Nick raised a momentous £516, our best yet! The new carol book below proved a great success.
Ably supporting Bernard were Southport-based Americana / Folk band The Wanderers comprising Pete Rimmer (guitar, banjo), Chris Nelson (fiddle, mandolin) and Colin Maddocks (bass) with all three on vocals. The band are residents at the Bothy folk club in Southport and gave the concert a rocking start. Chris is no stranger to the Barlow, having appeared here several times with wife Siobhan.
Ably supporting Bernard were Southport-based Americana / Folk band The Wanderers comprising Pete Rimmer (guitar, banjo), Chris Nelson (fiddle, mandolin) and Colin Maddocks (bass) with all three on vocals. The band are residents at the Bothy folk club in Southport and gave the concert a rocking start. Chris is no stranger to the Barlow, having appeared here several times with wife Siobhan.
Carol Book
Click on the pdf icon to view the carol book
