Rooting About WHAT’S HAPPENING

News Edited by Sarah Coxson

Because we go to press a month before publication date there are occasionally announcements made after copy date about things which will have passed by the time the next issue is published. If you have urgent news about something happening in the current month, we have a Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/frootsmag where you can post it.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

The place to be this month is Celtic Connections, Glasgow which fills the city venues from 14th to 31st January. The Opening Concert celebrates 50 years of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland with musical director Siobhan Miller at the helm, and there’s a wealth of guests throughout the event including The Chieftains, Lau, The Unthanks, Bela Fleck, Moving Hearts, Lucinda Williams, Baaba Maal, Le Grande Anniversaire (Aly Bain at 70 in a show with his longstanding cohort Phil Cunningham, celebrating 30 years of performing together), Admiral Fallow, Toumani Diabate, Karine Polwart, Boys Of The Lough, The Shee in collaboration with Andy Cutting, Brian Finnegan, Karine Polwart, Martin Simpson, Kathryn Tickell and Chris Wood, plus Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson, John Grant, Aidan O’Rourke Trio, Soumik Datta & Bernhard Schimpelsberger, Bwani Junction (performing Graceland), Marry Waterson, Martha Wainwright, Martin Carthy, Michael Doucet, 9Bach, Abigail Washburn, Afro Celt Sound System, 3 Oysters 3, Peatbog Faeries, Cheikh Lô, Alison Brown, Songs Of Separation, Altan, Lúnasa, Rhiannon Giddens, Solas, Moussu T e Lei Jovents, Cara Dillon, Reem Kelani, Karen Matheson, Davy Spillane, Olivia Chaney, Vieux Farka Touré, The Unthanks, Karan Casey, Dick Gaughan, Marc Savoy, Jacky Molard, James Yorkston, John Doyle, John McCusker, Juhani Silvola, Julie Fowlis, Sheena Wellington, Shepheard, Spiers & Watson, Jyotsna Srikanth, Aon Teanga, Ballaké Sissoko, Bixiga 70, Flook, Sam Lee, Blazin’ Fiddles, Blick Bassy, Saltfishforty, Bella Hardy, Buille, Duncan Chisholm, Susana Seivane, The Poozies, Emma Smith, Lynched, Kathleen MacInnes, King Ayisoba, Malinky, Mike Vass, Mischa Macpherson, Moh! Kouyate, Mr McFall’s Chamber, N’Faly Kouyaté, Old Blind Dogs, Shane Connolly & Alasdair Roberts, AnDa Union, RANT, Rayna Gellert, RM Hubbert, Roddy Woomble, RURA, Sarah Hayes, Seckou Keita, Fara, Dallahan, Fiona Hunter, Freeland Barbour, Sound Of Yell, Stephanie Hladowski, Steve Turner, Talisk, The Alt, The Outside Track, The Pictish Trail, This Is The Kit, Thomas McCarthy, Tim Dalling, Tim Edey, Tony McManus, Trembling Bells, Trio Da Kali, Twelfth Day, Vincent Ségal, Violet Tulloch, We Banjo 3, Zoufris Maracas, Gordon Duncan & The Armagh Pipers, Gillebride MacMillan & Kyle Carey and many, many more. The final day of the festival includes a show at the Old Fruitmarket in aid of the Bert Jansch Foundation, with Robert Plant, Bernard Butler, Archie Fisher and Jacqui McShee and more special guests in Bert Inspired: A Concert For Bert Jansch. www.celticconnections.com

Normafest, Norma Waterson’s celebratory evenings of song at Scarborough Spa Theatre, runs on 8th & 9th January with The Gift Band, The Devil’s Interval, Mawkin, The Waterson Family, Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine. Tel 01947 603475; www.scarboroughspa.co.uk

The International Mummers Festival runs from 8th – 9th January in Stroud with a symposium, workshops, tours, Mumming in the Dark, the Stroud Wassail, processions and 12th Night Revels.www.mummersunconvention.com globalFEST returns for its 13th edition on 13th January at New York’s Webster Hall with Astrid Hadad, Debauche, Fendika, Ginkgoa, Lakou Mizik, Mariana Sadovska, Simon Shaheen’s Zafir, Stelios Petrakis Quartet, The Dhol Foundation, Tribu Baharú, Somi, Music Maker Blues Revue and more.globalfest.org

Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival runs from 15th – 17th Jan with Gilmore & Roberts, Sunjay, and Peeping Tom with Phil Bassindale. www.strawbear.org.uk

Bradford Roots Festival runs on 16th & 17th Jan at Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire featuring Beth Porter & The Availables, Cardboard Fox, The Yirdbards, Jess Vincent, Fistful Of Spookies, morris and ceilidh dancing, poetry and much more. Tel: 01225 860100 www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Shannonside Winter Music Weekend (21st – 25th Jan) takes place in Sixmilebridge and Bunratty with Ann Lynch & Alph Duggan, Brendan Walsh Band, Dizzy Blues Band, Dónal Clancy & Pipers Union, Frances Kennedy, Josephine Marsh, Mariachi San Patricio, Meascán, Suffolk Singers, Rackhouse Pilfer and Tomas McCarthy. www.wmw.ie

Colston Hall will be opening its doors for the 12th Bristol Acoustic Music Festival on 23rd January 2016. The festival, presented by Jelli Records, will feature Son of Dave and Heather Peace amongst others.www.colstonhall.org

A hearty congratulations and happy birthday to Paul and Linda Adams of Fellside who celebrate 40 years of the label in February. Roots 66, a special event in conjunction with Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick runs from 5th – 7th February with Chris While & Julie Matthews, Jez Lowe & The Bad Pennies, The Mighty Doonans, Gordie MacKeenan & His Rhythm Boys and The Ciaran Algar Band plus showcase concerts featuring: Ewan McLennan, Pete Morton, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar, Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, Wendy Weatherby, Fiona Cuthill & Stevie Lawrence, Bram Taylor, The Hut People and Joe Topping. Ireby Introduces… is a platform for new talent staged by Ireby Folk Festival programmers with Weikie, Lucy Ward, Kelly Oliver, plus open mic sessions, masterclasses, workshops and family activities. Tel: 017687 81100; www.roots-66.co.uk

Love Folk Festival at The Atkinson in Southport runs on 12th and 13th February with Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle, Seth Lakeman, Elbow Jane, Will Pound & Eddie Jay, Ange Hardy and Sheelanagig. Tel: 01704 533333; theatkinson.co.uk

Cheltenham Folk Three, Cheltenham Town Hall runs from 12th – 14th February with Lau, Sam Lee, Edward II, Nizlopi, Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick, Martin Simpson plus a ceilidh with Tickled Pink and caller Gordon Potts. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk/whats-on/festivals/folkthree/

The Ahbab Festival, an Arabic Music Festival celebrating and exploring themes of love in music and film, will take place at Cambridge Junction from 12th – 14th February with Tarek Abdallah & Adel Shams El-Din, Natacha Atlas, Baladi Blues Ensemble, Oxford Maoam ‘Abd Al-Halim’ Ensemble and more.www.junction.co.uk

The American Old Time Music And Dance Festival in Gainsborough (12th – 14th February) features guest appearances from The Sunny Mountain Serenaders, Adam Hurt & Beth Williams Hartness, Evie Ladin & Keith Terry, The Horsenecks, The Old Roustabouts, Roger Jackson, Cath & Phil Tyler and Paul & Clare Sheridan. www.foaotmad.org.uk

Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival takes place from 26th – 28th February in Coventry with ceilidhs, concerts, workshops and more, featuring Blast From The Past, Steamchicken, Peeping Tom, Les Zeoles, Bob Morgan, Jake Wood, Sally Vernon, Rhodri Davies, Phil Bassingdale, Folkus Pocus, Andrew Swaine & Daisy Black, The Night Before and more.www.warwickfolk.co.uk/ivfdf

Traditional or contemporary folk, roots or world music musicians under the age of 25 who sing or play are invited to enter for New Roots 2016. There are two categories, under 18 and 18 – 24, with artists selected to will take part in the final in April at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans and the chance to appear at folk festivals, clubs and other events. A form with full details of how to enter can be found at myweb.tiscali.co.uk/alimac/ new-roots.htm. The closing date is 31st January 2016.

For the first time in 13 years, there will be no Sauti za Busara festival in Stone Town, Zanzibar this February. Organisers report that reluctantly they had to cancel this edition due to lack of funders. Meanwhile high level discussions continue with potential sponsors and local authorities to ensure East Africa’s top annual music event resumes stronger than ever from 2017. More info www.busaramusic.org

And a bit of advance news on our Cellarful Of Folkadelia events that we curate at Sidmouth Folk Week. In 2016, after two years as a faux cellar relocated to a ground floor, we’ll be returning to our original home in the basement of Kennaway House. Among artists appearing from July 31st – August 4th will be The Rheingans Sisters, Tymon Dogg and Rhona Dalling as featured on this issue’s fRoots 57, plus Anna & Elizabeth, Wizz Jones, Trio Dhoore, Dead Rat Orchestra and Hot Vultures (Ian Anderson & Maggie Holland, who are having a brief reunion after over 30 years, for one summer only) plus a few more yet t.b.a.www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk

TOURS

Baaba Maal promotes his new album with dates at Waterfront, Norwich (19th January); Royal Festival Hall, London (20th); Colston Hall, Bristol (21st); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (22nd); Manchester Academy (23rd). baabamaal.tv/

The Gloaming have a new album out in February on Real World Records plus a sell-out show at Union Chapel, London (26th Feb) and further dates at The National Concert Hall, Dublin (27th & 28th.) Look out for further tourng info in the autumn.thegloaming.net

3 Oysters 3 play January dates at Band On The Wall, Manchester (15th); Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal (16th); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (17th); Old Fire Station, Carlisle (19th); The Atkinson, Southport (20th); Apex, Bury St Edmunds (21st); The Stables, Milton Keynes (22nd); De La Warr Pavilion (Café Space), Bexhill (24th); Nettlebed Village Club (25th); St David’s Hall 3, Cardiff (26th); Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter (27th). www.oysterband.co.uk/tour-dates/

Lau play early 2016 dates at Celtic Connections, Glasgow (28th Jan); Duncan Cultural Arts Centre, Belfast (29th); Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire (Nr Dublin) (30th). www.lau-music.co.uk

Otava Yo, “subversive energy and surreal wit from Russia” have a Making Tracks tour at the back end of February and into March. Dates include: Brighton Dome (21st Feb); Colston Hall/Lantern, Bristol (23rd); Pontardawe Arts Centre, Swansea (24th); Manchester RNCM (25th); University of Sheffield (26th); The Junction, Cambridge (27th); The Stables, Milton Keynes (28th). makingtrackslive.org.uk

Vieux Farka Touré has UK dates at Warwick Arts Centre (19th Jan); Komedia, Brighton (20th); The Lantern, Bristol (22nd); Band On The Wall, Manchester (23rd); Cambridge Junction (24th); Norwich Arts Centre (26th); Kings Place, London (27th); Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal (28th); Music Room, Liverpool (29th); Sage Gateshead (30th) Celtic Connections, Glasgow (31st); Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton (2nd Feb); Yellow Arch Studios, Sheffield (3rd); Howard Assembly Room, Leeds (4th); Turner Sims, Southampton (5th). www.vieuxfarkatoure.com

Beppe Gambetta & Tony McManus play a rare date at Celtic Connections, Glasgow (27th Jan). Tony McManus then has solo dates at Live At The Star, The Admiral Bar, Waterloo Street, Glasgow (9th Feb); The Old Laundry Theatre, Crag Brow, Bowness (12th); String Jam Club The County Hotel, High Street, Selkirk (13th); The Tin Hut, Gartly Community Hall, Nr Huntly (14th); House Concert, Edinburgh (16th); Kings Place, York Way, London, N1 (19th). www.tonymcmanus.com

Chris Wood plays at Celtic Connections, Glasgow (with The Shee) (15th Jan); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (16th); The Poppy Folk Club, The Poppy And Pint, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, West Bridgford, Nottingham (24th); Colchester Folk Club, Colchester Arts Centre (25th); The Spring Arts & Heritage Centre, East Street, Havant, (28th); West End Centre, Queens Road, Aldershot (30th); Chapel Arts Centre, Lower Borough Walls, Bath (31st); The Met Studio, Stafford Gatehouse Theatre (1st Feb); Lincoln Drill Hall, Freeschool Lane (5th); House Concert, Braunston (6th); The Stables Theatre, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes (7th); Chris Wood & Andy Cutting play a rare duo date at Cecil Sharp House, Regents Park Road, London on 17th Jan. chriswoodmusic.co.uk

Fairport Convention bring their winter tour dates to The Roses Theatre, Tewkesbury (28th Jan); Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (29th); The Atkinson, Southport (30th); St David’s Hall, Cardiff (31st); Waterside Theatre, Aylesbury (2nd Feb); Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent (3rd); City Varieties, Leeds (4th); Alnwick Playhouse (5th); Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh (6th); Eden Court, Inverness (7th); Gala Theatre, Durham (9th); Whitby Pavillion (10th); The Stables, Milton Keynes (11th); The Apex, Bury St Edmunds (12th); The Maltings, Farnham (13th); Lincoln Drill Hall (14th); The Gulbenkian, Canterbury (16th & 17th); Connaught Theatre, Worthing (23rd); Corn Exchange, Exeter (24th); Weston-super-Mare Playhouse Theatre (25th); The Electric Palace, Bridport (26th); The Camp and Furnace, Liverpool (27th); The Lowry, Salford (28th). www.fairportconvention.com

Lynched join in on Cara Dillon’s Christmas celebrations at The Convent, South Woodchester (as does Paul Brady) on 18th December, followed by January dates at Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle (29th) and Celtic Connections, Glasgow (30th). lynchedmusic.com

Three Cane Whale play at Brunel’s Goods Shed, Stroud (17th Dec) and then, with Maarja Nuut and cellist James Gow at St Pancras Old Church, London (20th Jan); St George’s, Bristol (21st). www.threecanewhale.com

Martin Carthy has solo dates at Guildford Folk Club, The Music Institute, Ward Street (15th Jan); Mill Race Folk, Bromham Mill, Bridge End, Bedford (16th); Celtic Connections, Old Candleriggs, Glasgow (as part of Freeland Barbour’s book launch (19th); The Old Cinema Launderette, Marshall Terrace, Gilesgate, Moor, Durham (22nd); Seagull Theatre, Morton Road, Pakefield, Lowestoft (24th); Royston Folk Club, The Old Bull Inn, High Street, Royston, Herts (29th); Ropetackle Arts Centre Little High Street, Shoreham, West Sussex (30th). www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk

Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick play their first duo tour in many a year with dates at The Marlowe Theatre, The Friars, Canterbury, Kent (12th Feb); Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street (13th); Folk Three, Cheltenham Town Hall (14th); Nettlebed Folk Club, The Village Club, High Street (15th); Cecil Sharp House, Regents Park Road, London (17th); Guildhall Arts Centre, St Peters Hill, Grantham (18th); Bright Phoebus, The Greystones, Greystones Road, Sheffield (19th); St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Off Park Street, Bristol (25th); The Hawth, Hawth Avenue, Crawley (26th); The Stables Theatre, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes (27th); Vivacity Key Theatre, Embankment Road, Peterborough (28th). www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk

Martin Simpson plays solo at Jersey Arts Centre, Phillips Street, St Helier (19th Dec);Red Lion Folk Club, Kings Heath, Birmingham (10th Feb); The Lowry, Pier 8, Salford Quays, Salford (11th); The Floral Pavilion, Marine Promenade, New Brighton, Wirral (12th); Folk Three, Cheltenham Town Hall (14th); The Octagon, Yeovil (18th); Farncombe Music Club, St. John’s Church, St. John’s Street (19th); The Hinckley ACT, Sketchley Meadows Business Park, Watling Close, Burbage, Hinckley, Leicester (26th). www.martinsimpson.com

Peatbog Faeries bring festive fare to Melville Gardens, Montrose Town Hall (19th Dec); Edinburgh Hogmanay, Castle St Stage (31st); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (23rd Jan). www.peatbogfaeries.com

Tim O’Brien has dates at Celtic Connections, Glasgow (22nd & 23rd Jan); The Live Room, Caroline Social Club, Saltaire (29th); Foxlowe Arts Centre, Leek (30th); Topsham Folk Club (31st); Beambridge Inn, Wellington (1st Feb); Nells Jazz & Blues Club, London (2nd); The Greystones, Sheffield (3rd ); The Convent, Stroud (5th); Sage Gateshead (6th); The Met Bury (7th). timobrien.net

Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band play at Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham (4th Feb); Lichfield Arts Centre (5th); The Convent, Stroud (6th); Theatre Severn (10th); Selby Town Hall, York Street (13th); Hitchin Folk Club (14th). nancykerr.co.uk

Aoife O’Donovan plays at Tradfest, Dublin (27th Jan); Out to Lunch Festival, Belfast (28th); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (29th); Greystones, Sheffield (30th); The Met, Bury (31st); Tunnels, Bristol (1st Feb); Bullingdon, Oxford (5th Feb). www.aoifeodonovan.com

Gretchen Peters plays dates at Celtic Connections, Glasgow (31st Jan); Lemon Tree, Aberdeen (1st Feb); Gala Durham (4th); Atkinson, Southport (5th); Walker Theatre, Shrewsbury (6th); Hellans Manor, Much Marcel (7th); Pavillion Theatre, Rhyl (9th); Harpenden Public Halls (10th); De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-On-Sea (11th); Buxton Pavillion (13th); High Wycombe Town Hall (14th); Union Chapel, London (16th); Sheffield City Hall (Ballroom) (18th); Artrix Bromsgrove (19th); Bingley Arts Centre (20th); Queens Hall, Edinburgh (21st).www.gretchenpeters.com

Patty Griffin has UK tour dates atThe Sage Gateshead (15th Jan); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (16th); Olympia, Dublin (17th); Cadogan Hall, London (21st); Trinity, Bristol (23rd); Glee Club, Birmingham (24th); Stables, Milton Keynes (25th); Manchester RNCM (26th). www.pattygriffin.com

Ewan McLennan plays at Celtic Connections, Glasgow, Scotland (with RANT) (29th Jan); Nailsea Folk Club (12th Feb); Twickfolk At The Cabbage Patch Pub, London Road, Twickenham (14th); Edinburgh Folk Club, The Pleasance Cabaret Bar (17th); Byre Theatre, St Andrews (18th); Tolbooth Stirling (19th); Craigmore Bowling Club, Grosvenor Road, Rothesay, Isle Of Bute (20th); Red Lion Folk Club, Kings Heath, Birmingham (24th). www.ewanmclennan.co.uk

Martyn Joseph has January dates at The Junction, Cambridge (21st); The Fisher Theatre, Bungay, Suffolk (22nd); The Lantern, Colston Hall, Bristol (27th); Waterside Arts Centre, Sale, Nr Manchester (28th); Walker Theatre, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury (29th); The Stables, Milton Keynes (30th). www.martynjoseph.net

RANT play at Celtic Connections, Glasgow, with special guests Julie Fowlis and Ewan McLennan (29th Jan). www.rantfiddles.com/

Jim Causley launches his new album Forgotten Kingdom at Kings Place, York Way, London, N1 on 17th Feb with special guests Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and Nick Wyke & Becki Driscoll. www.jimcausley.co.uk/

9-piece band Anda Union from Inner Mongolia have UK tour dates at St George’s Bristol (26th Jan); Victoria Hall, Settle (27th); Perth Concert Hall (28th); Celtic Connections, Glasgow (29th); Spiegeltent, Dumfries (30th); Eden Court Theatre, Inverness (31st); Edinburgh St Bride’s Centre (1st Feb); Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (3rd); Hull Truck Theatre (4th); Sage Gateshead (5th); The Platform, Morecambe (6th); Square Chapel Centre For The Arts, Halifax (7th); Band On The Wall, Manchester (8th); Norwich Arts Centre (9th); Pavilion Arts Centre, Buxton (10th); St Barnabas Church, Oxford (12th); Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea (14th); Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan (15th); Ty Siamas, Dolgellau (16th); Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham (17th); The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington (19th). andaunion.com

The James Brothers appear at Oscars, Ludlow Assembly Rooms, Mill Street (24th Feb); Redbourn Folk Club (25th); The Stables, Milton Keynes (26th); Arlington Arts Centre (27th); The Convent, Stroud (28th); Colchester Arts Centre (29th). www.thejamesbrothers.co.uk

Will Varley has February dates to support his new album Postcards From Ursa Minor at The Cluny 2, Newcastle (10th); Voodoo Rhythms, Edinburgh (11th); King Tuts, Glasgow (12th); Night & Day, Manchester (13th); Brudenell Social Club, Manchester (13th); Buyers Club, Liverpool (19th); The Bodega, Nottingam (20th); Junction, Cambridge (23rd); Waterfront Studios, Norwich (24th); Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (25th); Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff (26th); The Louisiana, Bristol (27th); The Phoenix, Exeter (28th). willvarley.com

Austin-based roots band Uncle Lucius play at The Garage, London (21st Jan); Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes (22nd); Alfie Bird & The Oobeck, Birmingham (23rd); Club, Leeds (24th); Greystones, Sheffield (25th); Hug & Pint, Glasgow (26th); The Tunnels, Bristol (27th). www.uncleluciusmusic.com

GIGS

Pontio, the brand new arts centre in Bangor, Gwynedd finally opened its doors last month, and has an opening season that includes a special show curated by 9Bach called Llechi (Slate), with Lleuwen Steffan, Côr Penrhyn and more, plus Breabach and Treacherous Orchestra. Tel: 01248 382828; www.pontio.co.uk

The Live Room, Saltaire, recent winners of the Outstanding Live Music Promoter category of Yorkshire Gig Guide’s Grassroots Awards, has shows from Rod Picott, Tim O’Brien, Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Angel Snow & Matthew Perryman Jones and more. www.theliveroom.info

Terakaft’s rescheduled show at Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Road, London E1 takes place on 4th February. Tel: 020 7613 7498; www.soundcrashmusic.com/terakaft-rich-mix/

Catch Cheikh Lô and band at Under The Bridge, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London SW6 1HS on 29th Jan.underthebridge.co.uk/

London’s Barbican has imminent dates with Marcel Khalifé, Idan Raichel, Kodo Drummers and Jorge Drexler. barbican.co.uk

Downend Folk Club has forthcoming dates at Christ Church, Downend Road, Downend, Bristol from Tobias Ben Jacob & Lukas Drinkwater with Ian Roland, Gilmore & Roberts with The Susie Dobson Trio, Luke Jackson with Hannah Cumming, Mairearad & Anna with Steffan Lewis & Rachel Foster and more. 07837 881941; www.downendfolkclub.co.uk

Village Pump Friday Folk at The Lamb Inn, Trowbridge features Charlie Dore with Julian Littman and Mick Ryan’s folk opera A Day’s Work.

Subject of a recent feature on folk clubs in Saga Magazine, the Black Swan Folk Club, York has January/February guests including Jim Moray, Niamh Boadle, Roisin Ban, The East Pointers and Bob Fox, as well as promoting a concert at the National Centre for Early Music, with Barluath coming there in February. Tel: 01904 632922, blackswanfolkclub.org.uk.

Howard Assembly Room, 42-46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6N has winter season guests including Mulatu Astatque, Vieux Farka Touré, Cheikh Lô, Asian Dub Foundation, The Shee, Sam Lee and Moishe’s Bagel. 0844 848 2727, howardassemblyroom.co.uk

Amongst concerts in the Jan and Feb programme at The Witham, Horse Market, Barnard Castle, Co Durham are She’s Fired: The Story of the Seaham Colliery Disaster, The Pitman Poets with Billy Mitchell, Bob Fox, Jez Lowe and Benny Graham, Lau and Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys. Tel: 01833 631107; www.thewitham.org.uk

London’s Cecil Sharp House, Regents Park Rd, Camden, NW1 has forthcoming programme highlights include: The Duhks, Chris Wood & Andy Cutting, Martin Carthy & John Kirkpatrick, the John McCusker Anniversary Show, with special guests Heidi Talbot, Andy Cutting, Adam Holmes, Innes White & Toby Shaer as well as Folk Rising with Patch & The Giant, Effra, The Changing Room, Ange Hardy, Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp, Alma, Megan Henwood, Greg Russell, Ciaran Algar & Luke Jackson, Moore Moss Rutter, Lucy Ward, John McCusker Band and more.www.cecilsharphouse.org

Knees Up ceilidhs at Cecil Sharp House feature Melrose Quintet with Gordon Potts, Cheap Jack with Nick Walden, Take the Biscuit with Nancy & Gordon Potts, OSS with Mary Panton and A3 Ceilidh Band with Ben Moss. Refurbishment work in the Kennedy Hall means ceilidhs from Jan – April take place in the Trefusis Hall downstairs.www.kneesupcecilsharp.co.uk

St. David’s Hall at Roundwell Street, South Petherton has forthcoming dates from The Bully Wee Band, Phil Beer, Bob Fox, Moscow Drug Club, Kieran Halpin, Julian Dawson, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Cara Dillon as well as a promotion of Martin Simpson at The Octagon Theatre, Yeovil. Tel: 01460 240 340; www.thedavidhall.org.uk

Coming up at The Met, Market Street, Bury are Songs Of Separation, The Rails, Aoife O’Donovan, Gordie Mackeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Tim O’Brien, Michael McgGoldrick, John McCusker & John Doyle, Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, Breabach and more. Tel: 0161 761 2216; www.themet.biz/

Coming up at The Goose Is Out!, Nunhead, London SE15 are The Askew Sisters, Wizz Jones, Steve Dan Mills, Kris Dollimore, Elle Osborne and more, plus monthly singarounds and beginners’ sessions.www.thegooseisout.com

Coming soon to The Fleece in Bretforton, nr Evesham: the Fleecey Wassail!, Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys, Bendrix: Benji Kirkpatrick’s Hendrix Project and Breabach. Tel: 01386 831173; www.thefleeceinn.co.uk

The Kitchen Garden Cafe in Kings Heath, Birmingham has future dates with Steve Tilston, Keith James, Cam Penner & Jon Wood, Jenny Ritter, Rod Picott, Martha Tilston, Brooks Williams and more.www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk

Chilli Fried Presents has a date with palm wine trio Abdul Tee-Jay’s Palm Wine A-Gogo and a Sound of the World DJ Relay upstairs at the Ritzy, Brixton Oval, London SW2 on 30th Jan. Ritzy_Picturehouse/Upstairs

Future Haddenham Ceilidhs held at Haddenham Village Hall, Bucks on the first Saturday of the month include dances from Cock and Bull with Fee Lock, The Diatonics with Sheena Masson, The Old Swan Band with Barry Goodman, Asha with Simon Loake, Peeping Tom with Hugh Rippon, The Pigeon Swing with Barry Goodman and concerts with Ninebarrow, Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman, John Kirkpatrick, Andy Cutting, Jeff Warner and Jackie Oates with Tristan Seume. www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk

Burnley Mechanics, Manchester Road has future dates with Paul Jones & Dave Kelly, Lau, Willie & The Bandits, Ferocious Dog and more. Tel: 01282 664400; www.burnleymechanics.co.uk

Cellar Upstairs at Calthorpe Arms or Lucas Arms on Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 has future dates with Rory McLeod, Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp, Reuben’s Train, Hector Christie & Chris Edwards, Tim Laycock and the Fraser Sisters Tel: 020 7281 7700; www.cellarupstairs.org.uk

Coming soon to Anvil Arts, Basingstoke are Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Kodo, Seckou Keita and Ballake Sissoko & Vincent Segal. Tel: 01256 844244; anvilarts.org.uk

Peppery Productions present ‘Authentic Cuban Son!’ Son Yambu on 27th February at Manor Ballroom, Ipswich plus optional dance workshop. Tel: 01473 295900; www.peppery.co.uk

CDs

These recently in: Leif Aasane Djervt (Etnisk Musikklubb); Alba’s Edge Run To Fly (Padledoo Music); Xabi Aburruzaga Geure (DNDiskak); Across The Pond Kid On The Mountain (own label); Ciaran Algar The Final Waltz (Fellside); Alos Quartet Garden (NO CD); Hoëla Barbedette Cerisier (Coop Breizh); Jimmy Burns It Ain’t Right (Delmark); Backyard Buskers 10 Of Your 5 A Day (own label); Juan Mari Beltran Hots-Larretan (NO CD); María Berasarte Súbita (own label); Geoff Berner We Are Going To Bremen To Be Musicians (Oriente Musik); Blackbeard’s Tea Party Reprobates (own label); The BlarneyGirls The BlarneyGirls (own label); Torleiv Bolstad Tølleiv (National Library Of Norway); Buille Beo (Crow Valley Music); Kevin Brown Grit (Doodah Records); Rolando Bruno Bailazo (Voodoo Rhythm Records); Alex Caton Never Take A Daisy Down The Mine (own label); Caci Vorba Satrika (Oriente Musik); Michael Chapman Journeyman (Secret Records Ltd); Daimh The Hebridean Sessions (own label); Damily Very Aomby (Helico); Davide De Fuego (own label); Xabier Diaz & Adufeiras De Salitre The Tambourine Man (Musicas De Salitre); Ferocious Dog From Without (own label); Tymon Dogg Made Of Light (Tymon Dogg); Eis Ten Polin Wild Flowers of Anatolia (Voice Of Shade); Dylan Fowler, Ian Melrose & Soig Sibéril Celtic Guitar Journeys (Acoustic Music GmbH); Full Attack Band 1001 (Comparsa); Gentlemen Of Few The Way & The Return (own label); Sam Gleaves Ain’t We Brothers (Community Music); Katayoun Goudarzi & Shujaat Husain Khan Ruby (own label); Clive Gregson & Christine Collister Home And Away (Cherry Red Records); The Gurdjieff Ensemble/Levon Eskenian Komitas (ECM): Sahra Halgan Trio Faransiskiyo Somaliland (Buda Records); Fay Hield Old Adam (Soundpost Records); Highlanders Cruce De Caminos (Oca Records); The Holcombe Family String Band Ragtime! Hokum! Western Swing! (Gin House Records); Bert Jansch Moonshine (Earth Records); Jon & Alfie Level Pegging (own label); Kaláscima Psychedelic Trance Tarantella (Ponderosa); Karavan Sarai Woven Landscapes (own label); Mamak Khadem The Road (Innova); Dunja Knebl & Kololira I Mara I Cvetje (Kopito Records); Olga Krasojevic & Svetlana Spajic Group (WMAS Records); Kroke Cabinet Of Death (Oriente Musik); Last Forever Acres Of Diamonds (StorySound Records); Last Forever Last Forever/No Place Like Home (StorySound Records); Last Forever Trainfare Home (StorySound Records); Jimmy Little How Does It Gan, Again? (Hooky Mat Records); Baaba Maal The Traveller (Palm/Marathon Artists); Pipe-Major William Maclean Scottish Tradition 10 Pibroch (Greentrax); Madame Ceski Palimpsest (Wooden Spoon Records); Eddie Martin’s Big Red Radio Live In Tuscany (Big Red Radio Records); Michael Messer’s Mitra Call Of The Blues (Knife Edge Records); Obrad Milic Traditional Singing, Diple & Gusle Playing From Zegar (WMAS Records); Anto Morra Boudicca’s Country (AMMA); Moune De Rivel La Grande Dame De La Chanson Créole (Frémeaux & Associés); Jenna Moynihan Woven (own label); Dimitris Mystakidis Esperanto (Fishbowl); Sainkho Namtchylak Like A Bird Or Spirit, Not A Face (Ponderosa); The Nouveaux Honkies Blues For Country (own label); Tim O’Brien Pompadour (Howdy Skies Records); Dónal O’Connor, John McSherry & Séan Óg Graham Ulaid (own label); Odetta It’s Impossible (FLC); José-Luis Orozco Come Bien! Eat Right! (Smithsonian Folkways); Pagoda Project Clarion (Sylvafield Records); Plantec Kontakt (Aztec Musique); Kimmo Pohjonen Sensitive Skin (Octopus); Ragged Union Hard Row To Hoe (Shining Castle Music); Haley Richardson with Dylan Richardson Heart On A String (own label); Paula Ryan Let Me Try (own label); Tom Robinson Only The Now (Castaway Northwest); John Shaw Says Plato (Current Cat Records); Show Of Hands The Long Way Home (Hands On Music); Skillet Licorice Skillet Licorice (own label); Slim Chance On The Move (Fishpool Records); Kyrre Slind Open Airs (Music & Nature); Vilma Timonen Quartet Drops (Bafe’s Factory); Sonny Terry His Best 21 Songs (Wolf Records); Trader Horne Morning Way (Earth Records); TriBeCaStaN Goddess Polka Dotess (Evergreene Music); The Ukulele Uff & Lonesome Dave Trio (own label); Harry Upton Why Can’t It Always Be Saturday? (Musical Traditions); Various Bali 1928: Vols III – V (World Arbiter); Various Bali 1928: Anthology I – V (World Arbiter); Various Belenzukc Fallen From The Sky (WMAS Records); Various Bella Ciao (Buda Musique); Various Cold & Bitter Tears: The Songs Of Ted Hawkins (Continental Song City); Various Joe Bussard Presents The Year Of Jubilo: 78RPM Recordings Of Songs From The Civil War (Dust-To-Digital); Various Live At Foxrock Folk Club (Cornelscourt Records); Various Percussion Around The World (Saydisc); Various Serbian Song (WMAS Records); Various Songs Of Separation (Navigator); Various Zydeco: Black Creole, French Music & Blues 1929 – 1972 (Frémeaux & Associés); Varrtina Viena (Westpark); Ellen Wade Then & Now (own label); You Shouldn’t Know From It It’s Klezmer (Oriente Musik).

MISC.

We are sad to report the passing of Lindisfarne and Jack The Lad guitarist Simon Cowe on 30th September; of morris and mumming researcher Roy Dommett on 2nd November aged 82; of US folk-rock drummer Eddie Hoh on 7th November, aged 71; of Singing From The Floor author J P Bean on 8th November aged 66; of New Orleans musician and producer Allen Toussaint on 9th November aged 77; of Scottish radio producer and Travelling Folk mastermind Stewart Cruickshank on 16th November aged 64; of folklorist, record producer and writer Mack McCormick on 18th November aged 85; of Greek musicologist and instrument/record shop host Giorgos Xilouris on 19th November; and of Pakistani poet and songwriter Jamiluddin Aali on 23 November, aged 90.

BBC Radio 3’s World On Three (Fridays at 11pm) has Mary Ann Kennedy presenting highlights from Womad (24th Dec), while Lopa Kothari presents more from Awa and Baraji on 1st Jan and Pat Thomas and Iberi (8th). The rest of January’s shows will come live from Celtic Connections.

BBC Radio 2’s Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe (Wednesdays at 7pm) has guests Emily Smith (23rd Dec), a best of 2015 sessions (30th), Show Of Hands (6th Jan), Archie Fisher (13th Jan), Fay Hield (10th Feb) and The Gloaming (24th Feb) – other weeks t.b.c. at press date

DJ Ritu’s A World In London, Wednesdays at 6.30pm on Resonance 104.4 FM in London and online, features Maria Camahort Quintet (13th Jan), Don Kipper (20th), Brickworks Lizards (27th) and Griselda Sanderson (17th Feb) – other weeks t.b.c too.

Debby Golt’s The Outerglobe, with guests and African music and wider arts across the diaspora, goes out on London station Resonance 104.4FM (www.resonancefm.com) on Mondays 5 – 6pm, repeated Fridays 2am with archives at www.mixcloud.com/outerglobe

New fRoots writer Kitty Macfarlane won Gold as Best Specialist Music Programming at the National Student Radio Awards in November for her show Pop Up Folk on Warwick University’s RaW 1251AM

Womad founder Peter Gabriel received an Outstanding Contribution To Festivals Award at the UK Festival Awards & Conference in November.

The North American Folk Alliance have announced that the keynote speaker at their February conference in Kansas City will be singer Judy Collins.

A feature length documentary exploring the life and music of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu is in development, with the production team aiming towards a 2016 cinematic release via Madman Entertainment. The documentary will be produced by Shannon Swan and directed by Gurrumul’s close friend Paul Williams.

Afropop Worldwide has set up a feature series called Best Of The Beat, to showcase that late magazine's coverage of reggae, African, Caribbean and world music on the international scene for 28 years. The first feature has two Youssou N'Dour interviews, in 1987, and 1994, to complement his current North American tour, and the US release of Fatteliku. www.facebook.com/afropop

The first UK Americana Awards will be held on 3rd February at St. John at Hackney, London. The awards show will be hosted by Bob Harris, with musical direction by Ethan Johns, and nominated artists include UK Album Of The Year: Danny & The Champions Of The World What Kind of Love, The Dreaming Spires Searching for the Supertruth, Emily Barker The Toerag Sessions and The Staves If I Was; International Album Of The Year: Jason Isbell Something More Than Free, Kacey Musgraves Pageant Material, Gretchen Peters Blackbirds, Cale Tyson Introducing Cale Tyson; UK Artist Of The Year: Bear’s Den, Danny & The Champions Of The World, The Dreaming Spires, Lewis & Leigh; International Artist Of The Year: The Bros. Landreth, Jason Isbell, Gretchen Peters, Sturgill Simpson and UK Instrumentalist Of The Year: Joseph Bennett, BJ Cole, Spencer Cullum Jr and Paul Lush. theamauk.org/tickets/

John Kirkpatrick is forming a new ceilidh band called Kirkophany with his four sons – Jobie, Benji, George and Fergus. They have spots at Sidmouth and Towersey Festivals next year, and will consider anything! www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk

Guitar and mandolin maker, Richard Osborne is running 'no experience necessary', one-month guitar making courses from a new workshop in Llanidloes, Powys. He runs three courses per year in which three students at a time complete a beautifully crafted acoustic guitar from scratch with top grade timbers. He has overseen the building of 65+ instruments on these courses with some returning to build a second time. Courses now booking for Spring and Autumn 2016.www.osborneguitars.co.uk

We apologise for missing a couple of photographer credits from the Algerian music feature in fR390. The photo of Chaabi Au Feminin was by Akmi Skmito and of Amal Zen was provided by Amal Zen.