Image: The Brothers Gillespie
Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and 'showing off British acoustic music in its best possible light', Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie 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. The release of theirThe Merciful Road album sees them embark on a UK wide tour in 2022 and the brothers are delighted to be playing the launch concert on home ground at the Queen's Hall.
The brothers have travelled widely and sung their songs at campfires, concert halls, Parisian circuses, folk clubs and a host of UK festival.
“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.”
Tuesday 15 March: 7pm Tickets: £12
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Despite revelling in the self-given title of 'Rock n’ Roll’s greatest failure', Otway truly deserves national treasure status. Alongside a frankly ridiculous number of live shows, Otway has managed two top 20 hit singles, collaborated with The Who’s Pete Townsend and been featured in an internationally released feature film about his life. He has sold out The Royal Albert Hall, written two published autobiographies and acted in TV series and adverts.
His song Beware of the Flowers was voted the nation’s 7th best lyric ever by Radio 4 listeners, and Jack Dee recently selected Otway's first hit, Really Free, as his inheritance track to pass on to his children.
He came to national attention with a memorable (and very painful) 1977 appearance on the Old Grey Whistle Test. He has now been touring his legendary live shows which display a wanton disregard for his own safety, solo, with his band and sometimes with on/off/on again collaborator Wild Willy Barrett for half a century - and is showing no signs of letting up! Support from comes from Sam Nix.
Friday 18 March: 7.30pm Tickets: £15, £18 on the door (+50p booking fee)
A celebration of the music, life, and times of one of the most original and distinctive groups that the UK has produced.
Formed on Tyneside in 1970, Lindisfarne's roots were in the beat-boom of the 1960's. Influenced by music as diverse as the Beatles, Muddy Waters, Debussy, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, they created their own sound based on the wonderful song writing of Alan Hull and burst onto the UK music scene in the early 1970's. International success and chart-topping albums soon followed, their second LP Fog on the Tyne was a UK No 1 for six weeks in 1972. Lindisfarne continued to tour and record and have been active in one form or another ever since.
Founder member Ray Laidlaw and frontman Billy Mitchell tell Lindisfarne's story in an engaging stage-show with a blend of sensational songs, vital video and tall tales, seasoned with a pinch of scurrilous gossip.
Saturday 26 March: 7.30pm Tickets: £22.50
The Feast of Fiddles band-waggon gets moving again after two tour cancellations courtesy of the pandemic. Born on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off special concert, Feast of Fiddles has done 25 Spring tours, 24 festivals and has 7 CDs to its name. This is a band of friends that puts on a show of huge dynamic range performed with passion, joy and a liberal dose of fun.
Fiddlers Peter Knight (Gigspanner, Steeleye Span), Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention), Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Tom Leary (Lindisfarne) and Garry Blakeley (Band of Two) add the large range of fiddle playing styles to the rock back-line of guitars, keyboards, sax and accordion – all held together by legendary drummer Dave Mattacks.
“Absolutely awesome!" Sue Marchant, BBC East
“The best fiddle players of a generation.” Roots
“Britain’s fiddling supergroup.” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
Friday 8 April: 7.30pm Tickets: £20, £18 (benefit concession & students)
Beginning life as a trio - with legendary Steeleye Span fiddle player Peter Knight being joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack - the line-up has been expanded to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player extraordinaire, John Spiers, joining the fray.
As collaborations go, it doesn't get much more mouth-watering than this.
Characterised by riotous inventiveness, technically gifted individual playing and subtle collaborative interaction, this coming together of several of the biggest names on the folk-roots scene, combines a deep knowledge of roots traditions with a ceaselessly boundary pushing approach. "They don't play together often, but when they do it's spectacular.” R2 Magazine “Utterly thrilling.” Northern Soul
Sunday 1 May: 7.30pm Tickets: £24
Taking inspiration from their roots in the Irish and English traditions, Flook have an enviable trademark sound, weaving and spinning traditionally rooted tunes over precise acoustic grooves, with a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination. There is certainly no shortage of virtuosity amongst the members of Flook, but the unique impact of this band stems from the wholly intuitive, almost symbiotic, exchange between the various flutes, frets and skins. More than twenty five years after their first gig together, Flook continue to inspire and enchant audiences of all ages.
Their most recent album Ancora, released in 2019 to critical acclaim and nominated for BBC Folk Album of the year, clearly demonstrates that, with their roots firmly anchored in the tradition, Flook still hold fast to their reputation as major musical innovators. Brian Finnegan - whistles and flutes Sarah Allen - flutes and accordion Ed Boyd - guitar John Joe Kelly – bodhrán
“Tour de force return after decade and a half – a luminous reunion.” The Irish Times
Tuesday 17 May: 7.30pm Tickets: £17
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Nominee for Musician of the Year 2019.
After embarking on a solo career, releasing his debut solo album The Unfinished Violin and touring it to sell-out crowds on the 2019 album launch tour, Sam released his highly anticipated second solo album in spring 2020.
Moving on from his connection to the First World War, which inspired his first album and captured the nation’s hearts through appearances on Antiques Roadshow and BBC Breakfast, alongside BBC Radio 2, 3, 4 and 6Music, Sam is moving on to making music on his own terms, with three of his favourite musicians and with a totally fresh approach and a big sound.
Sam and his new band (Jack Rutter on guitar, Ben Nicholls on double bass and Louis Campbell on electric guitar) are putting something into English music that has never been there before. This album has the swagger and groove of traditional English music with the huge sound, flare, energy and festival spirit of bands coming out of the Celtic and Scandinavian music scenes. “The fiddler with the Midas touch.” ★★★★ The Guardian
Wednesday 18 May: 7.30pm Tickets: £14
