Nettlebed Folk Club which started back in 1975 and is now one of the top folk venues in the UK, opens its doors again on Monday 13th September with Breabach, Winners of Live Act of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards & nominated for Best Group at the BBC Awards.

We are truly blessed to have such fantastic and varied high quality venues and events in and around Henley and Nettlebed Folk Club is no exception. Now their doors are re-opening they have a stellar line up for the next few months.

Here’s what’s on in September… For information and how to buy tickets visit nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk

Breabach are a dynamic & fun band with songs, tunes & step dance accompanied by double bagpipes & bass, flute, fiddle & guitar.

Securely ranked among Scotland’s most skilled and imaginative contemporary folk acts, Breabach unite deep roots in Highland and Island tradition with the innovative musical ferment of their Glasgow base. They have released six increasingly acclaimed albums, while fuelling their creative appetites in collaborations with indigenous Australasian artists, Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord, and most recently as artists-in-residence at 2019’s Celtic Colours festival with Cape Bretoners, Beolach.

Part of their 2021 Autumn tour they will be appearing at Nettlebed Folk Club on Monday 13th September.

“As polished as it was passionate, matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set.”

The Scotsman *****

Celebrating 30 years as a professional musician, John McCusker will bring some of the finest traditional musicians that he has worked with – Ian Carr, Sam Kelly, Helen McCabe & Toby Shaer.

‘One of the UK’s most gifted and versatile musicians in any genre, John McCusker is equally in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer’ – The Guardian

In celebration of his 30th Anniversary as a professional musician, John McCusker will release ‘A Best Of’ album in 2021 featuring tracks from his solo records and TV & Film Soundtracks over the last 30 years. John will also publish a book of his tunes ‘The Collection’ featuring 100 original compositions. There will also be a brand new solo album released to coincide with the UK Tour.

Two of British folk’s finest voices, Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands) and Hannah Martin (Edgelarks, Gigspanner Big Band) join forces to present a set of songs that take them back to their shared roots.

Having played together on numerous occasions, including in Steve Knightley’s Wake the Union band, and at the Royal Albert Hall, Miranda and Hannah knew that they shared an instinctive ear for harmony and skilled instrumental improvisation. A sociable Devon winter evening led to an exchange of songs; which proved to be so much fun that they soon arranged another musical get together. Swiftly these became rehearsal sessions, as a strong new sound emerged.

Miranda and Hannah have spent many years playing on the British folk scene, and their project is centred around their deep knowledge of roots music, and a love of harmony singing. They bring together old songs with new ideas; ancient tales with bass, fiddle, and banjo. Two mesmerising storytellers join voices to create a spine tingling testimonial to our shared musical heritage.

Nettlebed Folk Song Club was started in July 1975 by a group of Folk Song lovers from Maidenhead in Berkshire when the tenant of a local public house moved to the Bull Inn at Nettlebed near Henley-on-Thames.

From a small start in a tiny bar (40 people) the Club progressed to a converted coaching barn holding over 100 and quickly established itself as one of the Folk scenes major circuit venues. The Club moved in 1991 to its present venue at the Village Club in Nettlebed. This was due to the closure of the Bull Inn by its owners Brakspears Brewery in Henley. However, the opportunity was taken to ´change gear´ as the new venue held 200 people.

The acts that are staged encompass the different types of traditional and contemporary music and song from the British Isles with occasional acts from Europe & North America. Most of the major folk acts have appeared ranging from headliners like Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Ralph McTell, Altan, Dervish, Richard Thompson and Show of Hands to Club Acts like Vin Garbutt, Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, Martin Simpson & our local BBC Award winning Megan Henwood. The Club´s Patron is Phil Beer and we also have three resident acts – Terry Page and Maria Jaffray who make up ´Kith & Kin´, Bruce Gomersall and the BBC Award winning Jackie Oates.

The Club is also famous for its unique special performances such as ´Feast of Fiddles´ and Showcase concerts where they mix leading national performers with local artists to provide unique themed evenings.

Nettlebed Folk Club holds its concerts on Monday evenings from 8pm at The Village Club, High Street, Nettlebed, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 5DD. Tel 01628 636620.

Information Source: FolkandHoney.co.uk