Bob Wood – 9th August

8th June – The Jeremiah’s

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!

May 25th – Dan McKinnon

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.

11TH May – Pete Coe

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.

27th April – Bruce and Walker with Moe Walker

Ian Bruce, Ian Walker & Moe Walker

Ian Bruce & Ian Walker have become a trio! Ian W’s wife Moe has joined the band and you can hear all three of them at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 27th April. Whilst Moe has on occasion joined the Ians on stage, this is the first time for Irvine audiences that she will be a formal band member.

Visits by Ian Bruce & Ian Walker are always welcome. They are two gifted songwriters with fine voices who play guitar and banjo respectively – and they are really nice guys. Moe is a singer and lends another dimension to an already classy duo. Sadly, little background info on Moe is available being that she is new-ish – all things in time!

Ian Bruce now resident in Edinburgh and Bo’Ness based Ian Walker joined forces in 1987 as an occasional duo, they quickly established themselves as a winning musical combination. Ian Walker says that his introduction to the world of entertainment was via the legendary Scots actor and entertainer Jimmy Logan. Ian has honed his skills playing at countless Folk Clubs and Festivals amassing a wealth of experience that comes from decades in the business. A very fine Banjo player, Ian sings and plays in an uncomplicated way and believes passionately in the power of music.

It’s hard to pin down Ian B’s style – his repertoire includes traditional material, country plus some almost pop items. What’s certain is that his exceptional vocal range and fine guitar playing make him an artist that is hard to match. As well as playing alongside the other Ian, Ian B also does solo gigs and over the last year or so, has teamed up again with big brother Fraser under the name Mrs Bruce’s Boys. If you have heard the marvellous Far, Far From Ypres show produced by Ian McCalman, then you have heard the powerful vocals of Ian Bruce.

The thoughtful and challenging songwriting style of both Ians continues to produce gems. Ian W’s Hawks and Eagles Fly Like Doves was used on a CD to mark the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain and the respect of other musicians is evident from the number of artists who cover material from both Ians.

Ian Bruce, Ian Walker & Moe Walker are at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 27th April. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and starts at 8pm. Better get there in good time to make sure of a seat.

13th April – Winter Wilson

Winter Wilson is one of the hardest working and most talented duos on the UK acoustic music scene and happily, Irvine Folk Club is included in their current touring schedule. The husband and wife team top the bill at the Irvine Club on Wednesday 13th April.
The duo are back by popular demand. The fine singing, stunning harmonies and off-the-wall humour of Winter Wilson on their debut appearance at the Irvine Club ensured that they would be back. Kip Winter and Dave Wilson turned full-time professional musicians in 2012 and their busy touring schedule indicates that it was the right choice.
Kip’s nomadic upbringing saw her being raised in Holland, Germany, England, Scotland and France. She loves singing anything, but especially folk and blues. Kip learned to sing harmonies on long car journeys back to the Outer Hebrides in the family car and as well as having a fine voice, she plays Accordion, Guitar and Flute.
Lincolnshire man Dave bought his first Yamaha Guitar as a 17 year old and taught himself to play by studying The David Bowie Songbook. As well as having an excellent voice, Dave plays Guitar and Banjo. He is also recognised as an accomplished contemporary acoustic songwriter whose songs are much in demand.
Together, Winter Wilson have released seven CDs including a song on their Cutting Free release which was written especially for Kip’s Mum by their good friend the late and much missed Nick Keir.
Winter Wilson is a class act. Their faultless harmonies seem effortless and added to their well-chosen repertoire and easy on-stage chemistry all add up to a duo well worth a listen. To hear Winter Wilson be at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 13th April for 8pm in Vineburgh Community Centre where it’s BYOB.
And finally, The Glenfarg Folk Feast takes place 8th – 10th April in stunning Kinross. All info from 01577 830370 or www.glenfargfolkclub.com
ENDS

Your memories of Irvine Folk Club and Marymass Folk Festival

We are now in the 50th year of Irvine Folk Club and looking forward to the 50th Anniversary of the Marymass Folk Festival in 2017. Pete Heywood has been working for some time on compiling a history of the club and festival. He would welcome any memories that you have, ideally by email or in writing. Here are a couple of questions that could help start the ball rolling.

What memories do you have of your first experiences with the Folk Club and Festival? (Over time, it would be good to get people’s memories of particular highlights over the years, but to kick off it would be good to look back to you EARLIER experiences.)

In respect to the Marymass Folk Festival, which particular artists do you most associate with Marymass? (Again it would be good to focus initially on the earlier years. We’ll ask about the more recent era later.)

You can contact Pete directly by email – pete@peteheywood.co.uk

This post is set up so that you will be able to ‘comment’ on it and we can access your answers that way. Be aware though that we might have to switch off the ability to comment on the post if we end up getting too many Spam messages.

30th March – Tribute Night

Tribute Night to mark IFC’s 50th Birthday: Irvine Folk Club celebrates its 50th birthday this year and to mark this notable achievement, a number of events are planned throughout 2016. The first one is on Wednesday 30th March and it’s a Tribute Night to some of the much loved artists who have played at the Club over its 50 years history and sadly are no longer with us.

Having presented Folk Music in all its various forms for 50 years on a continuous basis, the Irvine Club is very fortunate in having a rich seam of artists who were and are so much appreciated. To acknowledge the music, song and stories of some of these artists, a Tribute Night is planned at which local Floor Singers will sing songs sung associated with artists including Iain Mackintosh, Hamish Imlach, Matt McGinn and of course Johnny Silvo. It would be remiss not to mention the late Danny Kyle in this list: a man who regaled Irvine audiences for many years with stories about his Uncle Wullie and Auntie Petronella. But who could replicate Danny’s quick wit and sense of fun?

Wednesday 30th March is a first for the Irvine Club and it’s entirely appropriate that tribute is paid to some of the artists who helped put Irvine Folk Club on the musical map. The Tribute Night starts at 8pm in the usual venue of Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and it’s BYOB.

Finally, it is sad to report the death of Eileen Whyte of Irvine. Eileen had a fine voice for whom harmonies were easy. She was a member of Tapsalteerie. Her introduction to folk music was via the Irvine Club when The Eglinton Arms was the Club’s home and where the late Joe Caldwell, Eileen’s uncle, was Mine Host. The Club’s sympathies go to Eileen’s family.

16th March – Jim Malcolm

Too many moons have passed since Jim Malcolm and his trademark vocals, guitar and harmonica graced Irvine Folk Club. So, his many fans will be delighted to know that Jim is the special guest at the Irvine Club on Wednesday 16th March.
Jim Malcolm is a quality performer – very polished and very relaxed. He is an accomplished songwriter but for many it is his thoughtful vocal interpretations of traditional Scottish music that is his great strength. Jim is a longtime admirer of the work of Burns and one of his 14 solo CDs Acquaintance is made up entirely of the Bard’s compositions.
The outstanding and confident guitar work and subtle harmonica playing of Jim just have to be heard. He is a master of inventiveness. So don’t be altogether surprised if you hear a Calypso or Jazz rhythm now and then during one of his sets ! Holding the music together is Jim’s wry humour plus the history and story of the songs. A particular love of his and a source of his choice of much of his material is the wildlife and nature of the Angus Glens.
People who haven’t heard Jim as a solo artist may well recall him fronting Old Blind Dogs, a band he played with for six years. He also used to sing with the late and much-missed Jim Reid and indeed that duo played at the Irvine Club when The Redburn Hotel was its home.
As well as playing at Clubs and Festivals, Jim works with Schools and along with his wife Susie, does Tours of Scotland which have gone down a storm. The 2016 programme is already sold out.
So, to re-acquaint yourself with the talented Jim Malcolm or to hear this much respected and talented Scottish musician for the first time, get along to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 16th March for 8pm in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. You’ll be glad you did!

Change to 2nd March

Due to very sudden serious illness in Wendy’s family she won’t be able to be at Irvine on Wednesday night. However Fiona Cuthill and Stevie Lawrence will be our guests and it should be a good night.

2nd March – The Wendy Weatherby Band

The Irvine Folk Club audience is in for some spectacular singing and playing on Wednesday 2nd March when The Wendy Weatherby Band are the special guests. The four Band members are each in their own right extremely talented musicians and joining forces, they will demonstrate the wealth of talent on the Scottish music scene.
Sandy Brechin, Stevie Lawrence, Fiona Cuthill and of course Wendy Weatherby make up the Band. All of them in some guise have appeared in Irvine – although only those who used to frequent the Irvine Club when The Redburn Hotel was its home will have heard Sandy play here. He is an off the wall Scottish Accordionist who plays superbly and with great energy. He plays in the popular ceilidh band The Jimmy Shandrix Experience, Burach, Seelyhoo and his own Sandy Brechin Band.
If you’ve heard Iron Horse or Rallion at the Irvine Club then you’ve heard the mesmerising guitar and bouzouki playing of Stevie Lawrence. He is an unassuming fellow who has toured all over the globe and is in great demand as a session musician. Stevie also plays in a duo with Fiddler Fiona Cuthill. She is a classically trained musician from Glasgow and is also a member of Rallion. Fiona’s Fiddle playing is quite exceptional and it will be great to hear her again in Irvine.
Wendy Weatherby is a Cellist, Singer and Composer and is the linchpin of the Band. She has wide musical interests and with her clever and sensitive Cello playing and warm vocals, it’s easy to understand why she has played at Folk and Jazz events all over the world. Wendy has composed music for theatre and film – she was part of the terrific John Bryden productions The Big Picnic and The Ship.
Four distinguished musicians in one Band. Make sure you are in the audience on Wednesday 2nd March to hear The Wendy Weatherby Band at Irvine Folk Club in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.