Welcome to Spalding Folk Club
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First Wednesday every month
at South Holland Centre, PE11 1SS
Guests 2024
Wednesday 3rd Jan
Harry Li
Harry is a singer/songwriter and terrific guitarist from Lincoln. He caught people's eye at last year's Day of Folk at Leadenham.
Here's a clip
Wednesday 7th Feb
The Home Growns
Or should that be Home Groans? A showcase for some of our regular singers and musicians who often get invited to play at village halls, garden fetes and the like. They're not exactly a band, more of a rabble, but they promise to entertain.
Wednesday 6th March
Joe Topping
Joe last appeared here in 2016 and this return is overdue. He's a charismatic singer who was a semi-finalist in ITV's The Voice, no less.
Here's a clip
Wednesday 3rd April
Huw Williams
Huw is a gifted songwriter many of whose songs have become folk standards. The Summer Before the War and Rosemary's Sister are two examples. Ralph McTell says "the number of cover versions of his songs would make many seasoned songwriters jealous."
Here's a clip
Wednesday 1st May
The Rye Sisters
Lincoln-based duo singing folk/country Americana in close harmony. With accompaniment on guitar and fiddle, the Rye Sisters are the real deal and are becoming known outside their native Lincolnshire, playing at clubs and festivals up and down the country.
Here's a clip
Wednesday 5th June
Union Jill
Otherwise known as Helen Turner and Sharon Jagger. Their all-original material embraces historical themes and contemporary issues; personal experiences and protest songs. They have an on-stage banter that you only get from two women sharing a stage. And two Yorkshire women at that.
Here's a clip
Wednesday 3rd July
Dave Fletcher
Dave has made many visits to the club with Bill Whaley but this is the first time he will have come here as a solo singer. "Old golden gob" Bill used to call him and we're looking forward to hearing his beautiful singing once again.
Here's a clip of the duo
Wednesday 7th Aug
The Acoustic Itch
Kim and Phil Biggs, Dave Tucker and Mark Addison are all members of the very successful Americana/Folk/Rock band Crossing the Tracks - top quality musicians all. They have played some sold-out gigs lately and look set for great things.
No clips but here's their website
Wednesday 4th Sept
We Mavericks
Very exciting NZ/Australian duo, who have twice been nominated for Artist of the Year in the Australian Folk Music awards. They mix a few trad numbers with their own songs, all performed with superb singing and musical backing on fiddle, mandolin and guitar.
Here's a clip
Wednesday 2nd Oct
Mick Ryan and Paul Downes
Mick used to play with the well-known band Crows while Paul was part of the Arizona Smoke Review and also partnered Phil Beer for several years before the formation of Show of Hands. So, quite a pedigree between them. Sadly Mick is not well and has had to drop out - but that still leaves Paul who is pretty good on his own!
Here's a clip
Wednesday 6th Nov
John Kirkpatrick
John is a giant of the folk scene, a fantastically versatile musician and great live performer. Wizard of the button accordion and concertina, singer, songwriter and member of so many bands across the years, Steeleye Span and the Richard Thompson band to name just two.
Here's' a clip
Wednesday 4th December
Rapsquillion
A band of contrasts: they're a mainly acapella group who now and again all play some tunes. They do plenty of trad folk but also some very out of the way material. Liz saw them at Shrewsbury Festival last year and was really impressed.