Come along and enjoy FREE folk music on Saturday 13 Feb with Busk Love Folk and the Bothy Folk Club at The Atkinson.
The Busk Love Folk Event is new to the Love Folk Festival this year. It will run throughout the afternoon and evening of Saturday 13 February and consist of twenty minute showcase appearances from artists across the country looking to play their music during The Atkinson’s Love Folk Festival, sponsored by Fatea Magazine.
Emma Lloyd, The Atkinson’s Principle Manager:Programmes;Audience Development & Enterprise said:
The Love Folk Festival is about bringing the best folk music to The Atkinson and the North West and we feel that it’s not just about the well-known acts, but about supporting and giving new talent the opportunity to be seen.
Many people have not heard much folk music, so by having music available for free in the venue during the festival – we hope to introduce this genre of music to a potential new fan base. The line-up across the stages is fabulous and hugely encouraging for the future of folk music!
We encourage people to come in, have a coffee and a piece of cake in the Bakery, visit The Lord Street Exhibition and listen to some really great music. The acts will be selling their CD’s – so it’s a chance to discover something different that you may not of otherwise been privy to.
Rob Lane (12pm – 12.20pm) was inspired to write and perform by the likes of The Beatles, Pete Townshend, Rufus Wainwright and Ron Sexsmith, Robert played with various bands as a guitarist before taking the decision to perform as a solo artist.
He was chosen by the LG Arena to perform before concerts from Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler, BBC Sound of 2010 winner Ellie Goulding and international superstar singer/songwriter John Mayer.
In May 2013 he returned to the Forum Live to play before Eric Clapton’s main stage appearance. In August 2013 he was one of 15 songwriters selected to attend a songwriting retreat/course with Kinks frontman Ray Davies.
Richard Knott (12.40pm – 1pm) plays music rooted in the style of his early blues and folk fingerpicking heroes like Mississippi John Hurt, Leo Kottke and Ralph McTell. But when he took up songwriting after years as an instrumentalist, a new set of influences – from the dry wit and sophisticated chord voicings of Steely Dan to the romantic jazz inflections of Michael Franks – came to the fore to create a unique and original blend. From roots to ragtime, blues to bossa nova, his quirky story songs and deft wordplay engage hearts and minds, while his guitar style creates driving and infectious rhythms on both his own material and classic covers.
”Original songs of witty observations and heartfelt emotions” – Quack/ Live Music
Skinner and Twitch (1.20pm – 1.40pm) are an original folk duo from Leeds. Music to melt the heart, with driving rhythms, strong vocals/harmonies, and a flamenco-inspired guitar style.
An eclectic range of styles and influences, including the music hall, musical theatre, and the tradition of Great British satire.
‘Fans of good vocal harmony folk should check out Skinner & T’witch.’ – Telegraph Folk Music
Iona Lane (2pm- 2.20pm) has performed with big names across the North West and at just 17 years old she has always had a passion for music but never really found her footing until about two years ago when she stumbled across folk music. Submerged herself in it, she picked up a guitar, and never looked back! Along the way she has also picked up mandolin and slide guitar. Her influences include; Blair Dunlop, Larkin Poe, The Lovell Sisters, howdenjones, KT Tunstall, Luke Jackson, Jeff Buckley, Punch Brothers and Kacey Musgraves.
Neil Stanton (2.40pm – 3pm) combines elements of folk and blues with a hint of indie-rock. Neil writes and performs subtle blend of original songs covering aspects of life and fantasy. A gritty blues song like “We’re Not the Undead” may be followed by a light tongue-in-cheek folk song such as “Prometheus”. The blend of song styles is complemented by the combination of instruments (guitar, blues-harp and, occasional ukulele) giving a constantly changing set with a variety of tones, dynamics and flavours.
Neil has been involved in live music in Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas for many years. Having performed as half of a duo (Tomsk) and as guitarist for the Sheds before joining Watford-based band Wicca as a bassist who played London venues such as the Mean Fiddler, The Underworld and The Garage as well as popular local venues.
Neil can be found supporting the local acoustic music scene as well as performing further afield in festivals and London venues.
Kneel Roddy (3.20pm – 3.40pm) is best described as a raw textured blend on indie/folk/rock with a message of meloncholic hope for the broken soul. Neil C Roddy is the central nervous system behind the creativity that drives KNEEL (signed to MMLJ Records in 2015). Kneel’s debut offering Tales from the Secret Garden of Cobwebs and Grapevines is a seminal masterpiece.
His musical journey has been a coloured one, from owning his own recording studio, to working from Mark E Smith of The Fal, to busking the streets of Manchester to keep the wolf from the door, Neil has never lost his passion to create. Some of Kneels work has been used for advertising and television.
Kneel is well known on the Manchester music scene and performs on a regular basis throughout the UK and works with an array of session musicians for his studio work and live shows.
Mullholland (4pm – 4.20pm) their fresh take on alt-country/folk back to The Atkinson after playing at the Americana Festival last year. They fuse the ‘sounds of the city’ and the ‘spirits of the backwoods’. If you like Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, James Taylor? You’ll like Mulholland.
With their influences reaching back to the heyday of singer/songwriters in the 60/70s, York-based Mulholland bring their own take on acoustic americana with their close harmonies, self-penned country/rootsy material and reinterpreted songs from the past. “Mulholland paint the picture of America’s heartland” – York Calling.
Originally formed in 2012 as a five-piece americana covers band, in July 2015 Mulholland morphed into an alt-country duo consisting of Stan Smith (lead vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica) & Ann Dunford (harmony/backing vocals, fiddle, accordion, keyboards).
Their new album, North Country, is due to be released at Easter 2016.
Paul Openshaw (4.40pm – 5pm) has been playing guitar and writing songs since his early teenage years. He finds music to be more to do with self expression and creativity, than commercial gain.
“……always makes us smile” (Fiveways Folk Club)
“….very original, highly entertaining” (Ringwood Folk Club)
Ashland (5.20pm – 5.40pm) are an acoustic duo based in the Midlands, with Kathryn Marsh on vocals and David Sutherland on guitar. The idea for the duo was born from Kathryn’s search for a musician willing to learn songs penned by her father; songs which helped form many of the musical memories of her childhood. David, a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with an impressive history of collaborating with others, (Kim Lowings and Chris Cleverley) was happy to help. Both musicians soon realised that Kathryn’s accomplished vocals worked well with David’s own material and so in October 2015, Ashland was formed.
So far they have opened for BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee, Ange Hardy, and multi-award winning singer songwriter Steve Tilston.
Salwar Azar (6pm – 6.20pm) was brought up on a mixture of classical and world music and only really branched into folk in her early 20’s. Listening to the album, although you can hear many different genres within, the mainstay of the album definitely lies in folk, although there are hints of Americana, Country, Bossa Nova and even a taste of laid back Jazz thrown in for good measure which add colour and variety throughout.
Before Seth Lakeman signs off another Love Folk Festival, please check out Jolly Jock’s session in Theatre bar from 8pm. Jolly Jock plays guitar, banjo-ukelele and rock ukelele as well as singing unaccompanied, he revisits music hall songs with a modern twist, marmalises some of our best known rock tunes that the audience can sing along to, desecrates favourite folk tunes keeping the audience on their toes wondering what on earth is coming next.
Bothy Folk Club are also playing in the Theatre Bar at the start of the festival on Saturday and then again at 5.30pm after Sheelanigig. Grab yourself a drink from the bar and let one of the oldest folk clubs in the country entertain you!
The Love Folk Festival features names such as Seth Lakeman, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle, Elbow Jane, Will Pound & Eddie Jay, Ange Hardy and Sheelanagig and is becoming recognised as the season opener for the extended festival season.
Love Folk – the little festival with a big heart invites you to spend the most romantic weekend of the year singing, dancing drinking, eating and generally loving folk!
Festival tickets are £41, daytime gigs are £10, McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle £17, Seth Lakeman £15 plus booking fee *. Tickets are available online at theatkinson.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01704 533333. They are also available over the counter during The Atkinson opening hours. Individual gig tickets are limited.
*Please be advised that there is a £1 per ticket booking fee for telephone and online sales and a 2% fee for credit cards at the Box Office.
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LISTING INFORMATION
Love Folk 2016 – At A Glance
Friday 12 February from 7pm
Bothy Folk Club
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle £17
Saturday 13 February from 12pm
Bothy Folk Club
11am – Making the Most out of Media Workshop (FREE DROP IN)
12pm-6.20pm – Busk Love Folk – Open Mic
12.30pm – Elbow Jane £10
2.30pm – Ange Hardy £10
4.30pm – Will Pound & Eddie Jay £10
Bothy Folk Club
7pm – Sheelanagig £10
8pm – Busk Love Folk (Theatre Bar)
9pm – Seth Lakeman (Solo) £15
Festival Ticket: £41
The Atkinson
Lord Street
Southport
Merseyside
PR8 1DB
HOW TO BOOK
In person: Visit The Atkinson box office on Lord Street
For tickets: visit the website theatkinson.co.uk or call box office on 01704 533333
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About The Atkinson
The Atkinson is Southport’s beautiful new home for music, theatre, art, poetry, literature and history, right in the middle of Lord Street in Southport. Significant investment has been made in refurbishing the stunning 19th century buildings, to create a really welcoming multi art-form venue with a strong contemporary feel.
The Atkinson offers an exciting and varied destination for families, cultural tourists and arts enthusiasts alike, with a full day and night time offer. Wile the day away visiting the new shop, that sells gifts and contemporary crafts from regional makers and then relax in the Bakery, choosing from a selection of artisan bread sandwiches, cakes and sharing platters. You can even take little bit of The Atkinson home with you from the delicatessen. Wander through the major exhibitions and see performances from some of the UK’s foremost musicians, actors, performers and companies, films, family activities and much more.
The new Museum is now open. Sefton Between Land & Sea tells the story of Southport and Sefton as well as the area’s dramatic maritime history. While Discover Ancient Egypt – the new Egyptology Gallery is the home of the Goodison Egyptology Collection, a remarkable collection of archaeology that has not been seen for over 40 years.
Posted on 1 February 2016 under General news
