From small intimate soirees to grander scale gigs, Cecil Sharp House, accommodates them all. Once again, the ‘house’ looks forward to hosting music-loving audiences in a packed Autumn/winter season, starting September 2021.
Although Cecil Sharp House is a much loved London venue, the English Folk Dance & Song Society based there is very much a nation-wide organisation, meaning that you can also enjoy a number of inspired projects over the summer months which the society supports, taking place outside the building – and beyond the capital too. This year, the amazingly accomplished rising stars of the National Youth Folk Ensemble finally get to meet in real life again and take centre stage at Purbeck Folk Festival (19th August) and with a live-streamed gig from Cecil Sharp House (23rd August). EFDSS Artistic Director, Katy Spicer, will host performances by bursary recipients at Devon’s Sidmouth Festival (30th July – 6th August), and you can also enjoy the English Folk Dance & Song Society’s contribution to the Cubbit Sessions, a free music festival in King’s Cross (Coal Drops Yard – 11th – 22nd August).
From September 2021, Cecil Sharp House throws open its doors to welcome a suitably stellar season of electrifying (if not electrified) folk artists; from John McCusker (marking his 30th anniversary as a professional musician) to Thea Gilmore (taking to the road for her first ever solo tour) to the angel voiced Irishwoman, now based in Edinburgh, Heidi Talbot, in the company of celebrated songwriter, Boo Hewerdine, to Somerset’s Kitty MacFarlane with her beautiful and eco-sensitive material, and a rare and entirely acoustic evening with the highly acclaimed trio LAU, plus many more. And if all that wasn’t enough, there’s an entire Cecil Sharp House festival hosted by none other than Spiers & Boden, reunited, with a new album (‘Fallow Ground’) and back on the road again after 10 years.
Diary Dates as Follows:
Cecil Sharp House Autumn/Winter 2021
Tom Moore & Archie Churchill-Moss
Wednesday 22 September
(Two brilliant players and innovators in traditional folk, Moore & Moss’ finely-crafted arrangements wield a rare potency)
John McCusker and Friends
Thursday 23 September
(In celebration of his 30th Anniversary as a professional musician, the stellar John McCusker performs with Ian Carr, Sam Kelly, Helen McCabe & Toby Shaer)
Saul Rose and Maclaine Colston
Wednesday 29 September
(Mac and Saul isn’t the name of a new pasta dish, it is in fact a glorious combination of melodeon and hammered dulcimer)
Thea Gilmore
Thursday 30 September
(Singer-songwriter, with three Top 40 entries on the UK albums chart to her name, Thea Gilmore takes to the road for her first ever tour performing completely solo)
The Rheingans Sisters
Thursday 7 Oct
(The Rheingans Sisters make playful, powerful and richly connecting music that is wholly contemporary while deeply anchored in folk traditions)
Spiers and Boden
Saturday 9 Oct
(If you’re in need of some good news right now, here it is. After 10 years of speculation, English folk’s best-loved duo are back together and working on new material inspired by a new album ‘Fallow Ground’. The Festival includes a family ceilidh, interview by legendary radio producer/presenter Matthew Bannister, an afternoon session and evening concert)
Jack Rutter
Wednesday 13 Oct
(The respected and fast rising folk singer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from West Yorkshire. One to watch)
Leveret
Thursday 14 Oct
(A unique collaboration between three of England’s finest folk musicians)
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson
Wednesday 20 Oct
(The main songwriting force behind award winning folk trio Alden Patterson and Dashwood)
Kitty Macfarlane
Thursday 21 Oct
(This October, Somerset’s Kitty Macfarlane returns to selected venues bringing her trademark tonic for the times we’re in)
Heidi Talbot & Boo Hewerdine
Saturday 23 Oct
(Heidi Talbot was born in Ireland, became a folk star in the USA as a member of the Irish American band Cherish the Ladies, and now lives in Edinburgh. She is joined here by long-time collaborator, Ivor Novello award nominated singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine)
Salt House
Wednesday 27 Oct
(Salt House is the Scottish powerhouse featuring Jenny Sturgeon, Ewan MacPherson and Lauren MacColl)
Grace Smith Trio
Wednesday 3 Nov
Wielding the distinct voices of fiddle, concertina, and double bass, The Grace Smith Trio cast expressive musical forces into a dialogue between these three like-minded musicians.
Hannah James and Toby Kuhn
Thursday 4 Nov
(Diverse, playful and hugely original performance)
Lau
Saturday 6 Nov
(Named after an Orcadian word meaning ‘natural light’ for the first time in over a decade, this Scottish/English trio, LAU, comprising Kris Drever, Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke present an entirely acoustic tour)
Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita
Thursday 11 Nov
(This sublime, critically acclaimed and multi award-winning collaboration between two adventurous virtuoso musicians deliver a stunning exhibition of world-class musicianship)
The Trials of Cato
Wednesday 17 Nov
The Trials of Cato are a dynamic BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning, English/Welsh band, originally formed in Beirut.
Granny’s Attic
Wednesday 24 Nov
(A folk trio who play the tradition with verve, energy and their own inimitable style)
Sam Sweeney and Band
Saturday 27 Nov
(Continuing his hugely successful solo career, Unearth Repeat celebrates a new direction)
Belshazzar’s Feast
Thursday 9 Dec
A much loved Christmas show that mixes traditional folk music, seasonal material, stirring in classical, pop and music hall, all topped off with audience participation and lashings of humour.
A Celtic Christmas with Calan
Wednesday 15 Dec
(Celebrate the yuletide season with bagpipes, fiddles, harp, step dancing, Welsh style!)
A Winter Union
Thursday 16 Dec
It’s an early Christmas treat and a perfect seasonal music present from group featuring Jade Rhiannon (The Willows), Gilmore and Roberts, Hannah Saunders & Ben Savage.
Freedom to Roam
Saturday 18 Dec
(A unique concert (& album launch) in aid of the Born Free Foundation, where folk meets classical via Africa, Scotland and India. Crossing borders, breaking boundaries)
The Young ‘uns
Wednesday 22 Dec
Three time winners of the prestigious BBC Folk Awards, County Durham’s The Young’uns are currently one of the hottest properties on the UK Folk and Acoustic scene.
*Note if any performance is cancelled, or if you are no longer able to attend the event, you will be able to claim a full refund or request a voucher towards a future purchase*
‘The spiritual home of English Traditional music’ – The Times
For further information visit: www.cecilsharphouse.org
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