Category: Guests

The dust not having had time to settle on the 49th Marymass Folk Festival, Irvine Folk Club starts back on Wednesday 31st August with The Mairs Family Band – and if you are a Bluegrass fan, then they will need little introduction.
All the way from Rutherglen, The Mairs Band is Alan, his wife Louise, their daughter Hazel plus some additional players. They are well-known on the Scottish Bluegrass scene for their musicality, strong vocal harmonies and wide range of material. From contemporary to trad the Mairs cover all of it.
Alan plays acoustic guitar, Louise plays double bass and Hazel plays dobro. Mandolin, banjo and fiddle can also be expected to be heard. In past times, the Band went under the name of Redwing then new Redwing to reflect line-up changes. Alan was a founder member of Old Hickory. In short, they have been around.
The Mairs Family Band kicks off the Autumn season at the Irvine Club on the last day of August. The Club starts at 8pm in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and it’s BYOB. Full details of Club guests from now until January plus details of how to be part of the planned exhibition to mark the 50th anniversaries of the Club and Festival are available now on Info Fliers in all Libraries or at www.irvinefolkclub.org

A new name to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 3rd August. It’s Enda Kenny and no, the Irish Taoiseach has not taken up a fulltime folk music career – just that the names are the same!
This Irish born singer and songwriter has lived in Melbourne, Australia since the late ‘80s and sings songs about where he lives rather where he left. After a decade working in Housing in the public sector in Melbourne, Enda returned to music full-time in 2013. Since then his growing international audience has gone from strength to strength. He tours in the UK, Germany, Holland, New Zealand and Canada. Enda is playing at The Fiddlers’ Green Festival in Rostrevor before he plays at the Irvine Club.
Enda has seven albums to his name, the most recent being Heart Tattoo. He is multi award-winning songwriter described by Colum Sands as ‘ the finest Irish songwriter living overseas’ – and Colum knows a thing or two about good songs. Gentle assurance is how the singing and playing style of Enda is known. As well as playing his own material he enjoys singing the songs of Stan Rogers and Jez Lowe
So, on Wednesday 3rd August get along to hear the musically gifted Enda Kenny. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
And two weeks after Enda Kenny’s appearance, the 49th Marymass Folk Festival starts – from Wednesday 17th right through to Sunday night 21st August. Yet again, a quality line-up of artists has been assembled from a variety of countries. There are sixteen scheduled events in the programme plus sessions at seven schools in Irvine. In the whole programme, only six have an admission charge and there’s a Festival Saver ticket available too. All information is in the Folk Festival programme which is now available. If you can’t find one phone Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.org.uk A new name to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 3rd August. It’s Enda Kenny and no, the Irish Taoiseach has not taken up a fulltime folk music career – just that the names are the same!
This Irish born singer and songwriter has lived in Melbourne, Australia since the late ‘80s and sings songs about where he lives rather where he left. After a decade working in Housing in the public sector in Melbourne, Enda returned to music full-time in 2013. Since then his growing international audience has gone from strength to strength. He tours in the UK, Germany, Holland, New Zealand and Canada. Enda is playing at The Fiddlers’ Green Festival in Rostrevor before he plays at the Irvine Club.
Enda has seven albums to his name, the most recent being Heart Tattoo. He is multi award-winning songwriter described by Colum Sands as ‘ the finest Irish songwriter living overseas’ – and Colum knows a thing or two about good songs. Gentle assurance is how the singing and playing style of Enda is known. As well as playing his own material he enjoys singing the songs of Stan Rogers and Jez Lowe
So, on Wednesday 3rd August get along to hear the musically gifted Enda Kenny. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
And two weeks after Enda Kenny’s appearance, the 49th Marymass Folk Festival starts – from Wednesday 17th right through to Sunday night 21st August. Yet again, a quality line-up of artists has been assembled from a variety of countries. There are sixteen scheduled events in the programme plus sessions at seven schools in Irvine. In the whole programme, only six have an admission charge and there’s a Festival Saver ticket available too. All information is in the Folk Festival programme which is now available. If you can’t find one phone Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.org.uk

Dundonald Highland Games is our main fund raising event of the year. The Club has 71 members and we ask each member to donate one bottle (alcohol) to this event. I only got confirmation this morning that we had been allocated a stall – hence the late notice. Would members please bring their bottles to the club on Wednesday or if you would prefer to make a cash donation I will purchase bottles. Dundonald Highland Games will be held on Saturday 6th August and it’s a good day out and always well attended. We depend on the support of our loyal members and you never let us down. It gets more and more difficult to raise sponsorship money and we really need the money this event brings in to keep the Festival going.
Thanks
Joyce

Returning to play at Irvine Folk Club after an absence of a good number of years, Kellys Heroes will top the bill on Wednesday 20th July. They were a very popular band and so expectations are high this time round.
Kellys Heroes first played in Irvine when The Redburn Hotel was the Club’s home – an indication of the quick passage of time! They went down well and subsequently appeared at Marymass Folk Festivals. Then due to family circumstances, the band was off the road for a while. But now they’re back.
The rich strength of Kellys Heroes is Helen O’Connell’s fine playing of the Button Accordion and Melodeon plus the powerful rhythmic Guitar and Bodhran playing of Steve Hall and Tony Duggan respectively. And all three do vocals too. As might be expected, the fast and furious Celtic songs and tunes are in their set list as well as gentle ballads and contemporary material from the likes of Eric Bogle, Ewan MacColl and Christy Moore.
It will be good to have this East Midlands based Band back in Irvine. Hear them for yourself, whether it’s the second or the first time, at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 20th July at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
Finally, look out in your local Library for The 49th Marymass Folk Festival programme giving full details of the five day bash. The dates are Wednesday 17th – Sunday 21st August and the programme will also be available at www.irvinefolkclub.org or else phone Joyce on 01294 551047.

The guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 6th July is Bob Wood. He is described by Ian McCalman as ‘one of Scotland’s best kept secrets’ and Bob’s debut album remains as one of Ian’s ‘most played’. Not a recommendation to be sniffed at! Although a native of Ayr, Bob moved to the bright lights of London a number of years ago and there he has remained. He is a founder member and organiser of The Ram Folk Club in Surrey and it is in and around London and the Home Counties that Bob has established himself as a very accomplished finger style guitarist and an excellent singer. Artists of the calibre of Archie Fisher, Tom McConville, Steve Tiltson and Jez Lowe all wax lyrical about Bob’s expertise and they know a thing or two about good music.

Bob has played at countless Clubs and Festivals throughout the UK and has contributed to a number of albums by other artists. Being in demand to appear on other artists’ CDs probably accounts for the fact that he has released only two of his own. His deft and much admired guitar picking skills make his guitar workshops very sought after. The workshops focus on alternative guitar tunings and song accompaniment. His extensive repertoire of songs includes traditional material as well as more contemporary songs. As well as his solo career, Bob does regular gigs with Benny Gallagher of Gallagher & Lyle fame and it’s a partnership they they both very much enjoy.

Therefore to hear the much respected Bob Wood from Ayr on his second appearance at Irvine Folk Club, get along to Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road on Wednesday 6th July for 8pm. It’s BYOB at the Club and there’s also a good café available.

Elsewhere, two glorious parts of Scotland are hosting Trad Music Festivals. First up is Falkland this weekend 1st – 3rd July and, from 7th – 9th July it’s the turn of Newton Stewart & Minigaff. Superb places to visit plus good music equals wonderful!

Our guest list until the end of the Year is now complete. Here is the list for your diaries.

July 6th Bob Wood
July 20th Kelly’s Heroes
August 3rd Enda Kenny

August 17th – 21st THE 49th MARYMASS FOLK FESTIVAL

August 31st The Mairs Family Band
September 14th Mark and Cindy Lemaire
September 28th David Francey
October 12th Jack Law’s Band
October 26th Saffron Summerfield
November 9th Fraser Nimmo
November 23rd Forgaitherin (Glenfarg)
December 7th Alan Reid and Rob Von Sante

With nearly thirty years’ experience playing on the Americana, Country and Folk circuit, the John Hinshelwood Band will be strutting their stuff at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd June. They last played at the Club almost four years ago.

The well established name of John Hinshelwood on the Scottish Americana circuit has come about from playing at Country Festivals, Bluegrass Festivals, Folk Clubs and Arts Centres all over the UK. Glasgow based John describes himself as a singer and songwriter. He plays acoustic guitar and does vocals.

His respect and admiration for the late Gram Parsons led him to form The City Sinners – a six-piece outfit set up to perform a show based on Gram’s life and music. The Sinners continue to play on an ad hoc basis. Canadian vocalist Sandra Gellatly was recruited to the Sinners and went on to form a duo with John Hinshelwood. A result of this collaboration was a CD in 2009 called Shattered Pleasures. It featured 9 original compositions by John. Lowering the Tone is John’s third CD and was released last year.

Tim Black on acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and vocals and Ed McGlone on bass and vocals complete the John Hinshelwood Band line-up.

Americana could be described as an amalgam of American musical styles, including folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. To check out this very loose description, get along to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 22nd June at 8pm to hear the John Hinshelwood Band. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and it’s BYOB.

Elsewhere, the winners of the 2015 BBC Folk Award Jossienne Clark & Ben Walker are appearing at The Star on Tuesday 28th June. The Club starts at 7.30pm in The Admiral Bar in Glasgow’s Waterloo Street.

A new band from Ireland, The Jeremiahs, will top the bill at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 8th June and Mike Harding has described them as ‘one of the most exciting bands to come out of Ireland in a long time’.
The band won the Best Vocal & Instrumental Album of the Year at Live Ireland last year and one commentator reckons that the four men who make up the band are examples of that rare breed – unassuming musicians. The band was formed in 2013 and they play both traditional and contemporary music in a style that demonstrates their combined abundance of skill.
The four band members are Dublin born Joe Gibney on vocals and whistle; JC Morel from Bordeaux on fiddle and mandola who was drawn to Dublin after hearing a recording of The Bothy Band and moved there to study Irish music; James Ryan whose percussive style of playing on guitar and bouzouki is a hallmark of the band and from Co Clare Brian Corry on whistle, fiddle and mandola. James is also a Sound Engineer – a handy and money-saving talent to have in a band!
The Jeremiahs are superb musicians whose repertoire of songs includes rousing sea shanties, songs of love, hardship and loss with arrangements that vary from the barest minimum to complex interweaving of driving guitar chords and fiddle and whistle.
The story is that this band is not-to-be-missed. The Jeremiahs is an interesting name but from what is known, it doesn’t appear that they will have any difficulty impressing the Irvine audience on Wednesday 8th June. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road at 8pm and it’s BYOB.
Elsewhere, if you’re looking for music near to home, then take a sail to Arran this weekend where the Arran Folk Festival will be in full swing from 3rd to 5th June. The programme looks good and Arran is always good to visit. Name appearing include Tim Edey, Claire Hastings, young band Talisk and of course Gillian Frame. Just go!

Dan McKinnon
From Halifax Nova Scotia, Dan McKinnon make his debut appearance at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 25th May and by all accounts, this is an artist in the not-to-be-missed category.
Dan started off playing French Horn in various ensembles and youth orchestras and this kindled his love for a variety of musical styles. It was at the end of his first year at Teacher Training College that he picked up his sister’s acoustic guitar and discovered his newfound musical passion.
Canada’s best known and best loved folk musician Stan Rogers remains Dan’s biggest musical influence. He first heard the music of Stan Rogers in 1979 and it was several years later before he heard him live. Dan has now clocked up 30 years of being a professional musician and has six Recordings to his name.
He has a rich and warm, strong baritone voice and a Finger Picking Guitar style. Dan tells stories in song. His songwriting skills are said to be as powerful as his voice.
Dan tours annually in the UK, also plays in the USA and has toured South Australia. He is in such admiration of Stan Rogers that he created a Dan sings Stan show which includes snippets about Stan’s life as well as his songs.
So for those already in the know about the talented Dan McKinnon or the simply curious, make your way on Wednesday 25th May for 8pm to Irvine Folk Club in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road.
Looking slightly ahead, on Friday 10th June the Ardrossan Highland Games Folk Night at The Lauriston Hotel features Dave Gibb,Bluegrass Band The Daddy Naggins and Ayrshire man Ciaran Sinclair. Tickets at £10 from The Lauriston.

A one-man folk industry in the shape of Pete Coe will be the guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 11th May. Those who have been in the audience at one of Pete’s previous Irvine gigs will reckon the one-man folk industry description to be pretty accurate. Who else do you know who does step-dancing while playing and singing at the same time!
Tall, lanky Cheshire born Pete is dry of wit and has an impressive instrumental versatility. He has been a professional musician since 1971 and has played at Festivals, Concerts, Clubs, Dances and Schools throughout the UK, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and the USA. From this, he has accumulated a vast repertoire of traditional and original songs and performance experience.
Pete can switch with ease from Melodeon to Banjo to Dulcimer to Bouzouki and uses his feet as percussion. He plays classic ballads, tells rural yarns and travellers’ tales, sings songs of love and loss and industrial protest that he has learned from the song-carriers and songsmiths he has met over his lifetime.
Pete has released a number of CDs and been a member of a number of significant musical outfits including the marvellous and colourful New Victory Band and as part of a much-loved duo with his then wife Chris.
Therefore, to hear this man of many parts – singer, songwriter, raconteur, step-dancer, multi-instrumentalist who is Pete Coe, be at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 11th May for 8pm at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road.
Finally, from 6th – 8th May the 15th Moniaive Folk Festival will be worth a visit whilst at the opposite end of the country from 26th – 29th May, Orkney Folk Festival will be en fete! Rarely is there a week without a Folk Festival somewhere in Scotland. They all help to keep music live.