Countdown to 7 Nights of First Class Folk Music

Greenman Rising. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Mayday Monday sees Warwickshire’s folk-rockers Greenman Rising making their return appearance at the Lighthorne Folk Club at the Antelope in Lighthorne village. Host band for the annual Ragged Bear Festival in Nuneaton, the 7-piece line-up combines fiddles, melodeons, mandolins, flutes, whistles and driving percussion to produce their powerhouse sound.

Weather permitting, this will be the first time this year that the monthly club moves out of the building and under the giant canvas for an atmospheric evening of music. Support acts that night are Coventry’s rising star duo Yonderland and popular Oxfordshire trio Scarecrow. Admission is free but bring cash for the collection.

Tuesday 2 May sees the charismatic singer-songwriter Gerry Colvin as guest of the Wurzel Bush Folk Club at the West Indian Club in Rugby. Veteran of countless radio and television shows on both sides of the Atlantic, Gerry has fronted award-winning line-ups at Cropredy, Glastonbury and in 2015 the Royal Albert Hall as support act for Status Quo. Again, admission is free but generous donations to the collection pot are welcome!

Si Barron. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Onto Wednesday 3 May when you can catch the talented Si Barron at the Nuneaton Folk Club which meets in the Queens Hall on Queens Road, Nuneaton. Expert on guitar, dulcimer and harmonium, Si is something of a personality who brings a fresh and engaging approach to mainly traditional songs. Support is provided by singer, songwriter and Leamington Folk Club’s resident Andi Wolf and versatile singer and guitarist Adam Wilson, whose repertoire ranges from the folk tradition to convincing covers of Neil Young classics. And once more – free admission but bring your bank notes for the interval collection.

Shantyskeptics. Photo courtesy of the artist.

The spotlight on Thursday 4 May shifts to Tump Folk at the Humber pub in Coventry, probably the furthest you could get from the sea to enjoy a madcap night of parody sea-shanties! The Shantyskeptics features the formidable line-up of folk comedian Keith Donnelly, writer of humorous songs Bill Bates, and noted unaccompanied singer and researcher of old songs, Des Patalong. Their hilarious and interactive show draws on many familiar sources, with such titles as The Leaving of Leamington, Walnut Whip Jamboree, and the classic Bohemian Wellerman. Admission – take a wild guess!

True Foxes. Photo courtesy of the artists.

Friday 5 May sees True Foxes at the Temperance Bar in Leamington. In fact, this popular and cosy basement venue features top line folk and blues acts most nights of the week but Friday’s guests are making a return appearance after an impressive support spot for The Magpies concert at the venue last October. The duo comprises Cornwall-based cousins Annie and Chloe who are building up a big nationwide following. £8 tickets can be booked from the Temperance’s Eventbrite website, or you can reserve a space to pay at the door.

Back to Queens Hall, Nuneaton on Saturday 6 May when raucous, ramshackle, indie folk musicians Man The Lifeboats are in concert, supported by 60s-70s harmony rock line-up, Orange River Remedy – tickets £12-£15 from WeGotTickets.

The Harvesters. Photo courtesy of the artists.

And finally – for this packed week, Sunday 7 May sees popular Americana and back porch music trio The Harvesters as guests of Willow & Tool’s Music Parlour which meets (appropriately) at The Harvester in Long Itchington. Playing a lively set with a wide range of instruments and including some nifty and percussive Appalachian step-dancing, the guests are supported by blues guitar ace Jamie Scott and the monthly club’s resident five-piece Willow & Tool Band. Admission is free with bank note collection in the interval.

This is just a taste of the variety of excellent folk acts that can be seen across the county’s folk clubs and venues on any given week. For more details, of these any other folk events in the region, your ‘go to’ website is CVFolk’s What’s On listing on www.cvfolk.com/calendar.