Woodman Folk Club - Newsletter

Well hello again folkies, and it's now official, the festival season has just begun for another year however so I’m about to jet off to sunnier climes for the first of our busy year. If you’re not venturing out with your rucksack, tent and pegs just yet, the Woodman has another month of marvelous music, merrymaking and mirth to present to you, beginning with…….

….Friday 3rd which will be yet another of our marvelous Singers Nights. You know the rules so make sure that you get there early to book your spot as Singers' Nights are very popular and slots are limited However, to be sure, it would be best to book a spot in advance by contacting Debby & Derry either by phone or email - contact details are on the home page. PLEASE NOTE: Singers nights now begin at 8.00pm until further notice.

Then on Friday 10th we bid a very welcome return to our good friend and banjo maestro Dan Walsh. Dan is a cracking singer and all round nice guy, what more can I say! Well, this’ll be Dan’s sixth visit to the club, fifth as a solo artist and of course with his fantastic trio on an earlier visit. He last appeared at the club with a blistering performance back in 2022. Undoubtedly one of the best banjo players in the UK, (and no slouch on the guitar either!), Dan plays a very varied mix of styles taking in folk, funk, bluegrass, jazz, rock and even a few Indian Raga’s thrown in for good measure. He really does make it sing in whatever way he likes! Welcome back again Dan!

Finally….finally after two sadly aborted attempts the Woodman is very proud to announce that David Starr will be arriving to entertain us on Friday 17th and I am REALLY looking forward to this one!! David Starr is an American guitarist/singer-songwriter that I haven't so far seen but in checking him out via YouTube etc., he really has got the perfect surname (despite the extra 'r'). He was of course due to be with us back in May 2020….but we all know what was going on then!! He was subsequently due to appear in May of last year but a last minute hiccup in his touring schedule put paid to that one, so let’s hope it's third time lucky!! He has toured internationally, opening shows for esteemed artists such as John Oates (Hall & Oates), The Steel Wheels, Survivor, and more. Starr's prestige extends beyond the stage as well, having launched Starr's Guitars in Little Rock in 1998, then relocating to Cedaredge in 2001. Today, the store is such an institution that Cedaredge proclaimed the musician's birthday as David Starr Day in 2016! This should be a night of contemporary Americana at its best.

Then on the 24th we will take very great pleasure in welcoming back Crows. They absolutely mesmerized the audience with a blistering show just a year ago. Crows are a hugely popular band and great exponents of the English folk tradition, They are Mick Ryan on vocals, Paul Downes on guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals, Dave Bordewey on violin, and Pete Harris on bouzouki, vocals, and other weird and wonderful stringed instruments and together they make a formidable rousing sound. Beware, they swap instruments between the band all the time! Crows are masters of their trade, delivering top-class songs. Mick’s powerful vocals and the band's overarching harmonies, form a wall of voices that are both melodic, powerful, and strong. Then there’s the music. This is performed and presented with limitless energy, pin-point precision, unsurpassed skill, and boundless talent. You can’t get a better folk band than Crows! Again we have of course been royally entertained by Mick and Paul many times in the past but this ensemble really raises the bar!

And our final night in the merry month of May will be the 31st when yet again we will be presenting another of our marvelous Singers Nights. You know the rules so make sure that you get there early to book your spot as Singers' Nights are very popular and slots are limited However, to be sure, it would be best to book a spot in advance by contacting Debby & Derry either by phone or email - contact details are on the home page.

Well, whaddya know, summer is a’comin’ in, it’s June next month!! But for now that’s yer lot so from me it’s…

Cheers m'dears

Rob x