Music / Previews
Bristol’s month in folk & roots – September 2024
And just like that, the summer is over. The students are flooding back to Park Street, the festivals are a dim memory and all of the venues are back in business again. September in Bristol is absolutely packed with a whole load of folk-ish things.
Starting the new season at Christ Church, Filkin’s Drift make a return journey to Downend on September 20. Seth Bye and Chris Roberts blend guitar, fiddle and gorgeous vocal harmonies, sing in English and Welsh and are “utterly mesmerising”.
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As part of the quite remarkable Filkin’s Ensemble they were the highlight of many a folk fan’s summer but they are just as compelling as a duo. Support comes from Michelle Holloway, another member of the Ensemble.
You just know that it’s going to be a good month when The Folk House is full of goodness. Brookes Williams & Aaron Catlow kick September off on the 6th. Catlow is the fiddle player in Sheelanagig, Williams has collaborated with the likes of Dan Walsh and Boo Hewerdine; they are utterly joyous, incredible live and just so much fun. The latest album, Greens and Blues, features songs by Molly Tuttle, Gillian Welch and Sierra Farrell and is a folksy, bluesy, swinging bluegrassy monster.
BBC Radio’s Mark Radcliffe has described Alex Hart (September 8) as the “Stevie Nicks of folk”. She has toured with Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre, collaborated with Seth Lakeman and the Guardian reckon that she’s about to “make a global impact”.
The Schmoozenbergs will deliver a guaranteed brilliant night out on September 13. Their latest album, Mouse, is one of the best of the year. Their infectious mixing of Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz, Balkan and Celtic tunes will have your toes tapping and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear.
One of the highlights of the Bristol Folk Festival this year were Touki, Amadou Diagne’s kora and Cory Seznec’s finger-style guitar playing an absolute riot of coastal African rhythms and sounds. They play on September 20.
It’s been a while since India Electric Co were in Bristol, but it’s always a treat to have them back (September 27). As much a fantastic pop band as they are a folk act, they form part of Midge Ure’s touring band and, quite simply, make some of the best music around.
The Schmoozenbergs at Balldehob Jazz Festival – photo: Schmoozenbergs
One of the brilliant things about folk music is the depth and breadth of the music that is made. Strange Brew have a wealth of different folk-adjacent things that are as exciting as anything in the city.
Daisy Rickman’s latest album, Howl, is a heart-stopping piece of experimental folk. Her show on September 2 is a full band affair and might be the highlight of the month.
Hailaker (September 9) are a little closer to indie-folk but the duo make some seriously beautiful music.
If you want something deliciously eclectic, Ryley Walker plays on September 17. A finger-style guitarist from Illinois, he’s toured with Richard Thompson, is about to support Dinosaur Jr and recently played a Bert Jansch tribute show. His 2015 album, Primrose Green, is still a classic fusing folk, jazz and avant-pop.
Finally, Irish singer songwriter Gemma Hayes tours her latest album, Blind Faith, to Bristol on September 26.
There’s a good mix of things at the Beacon in September too.
Jake Xerxes Fussell was brilliant at Strange Brew the last time he was in Bristol. This time he’s at Lantern Hall on September 1 and is a fantastic interpreter of American folk music.
Sea shanty superstars Fisherman’s Friends need no real introduction and their show on September 8 is already sold out. They are always fantastic live so this will be superb.
Equally superb but altogether more ‘country’ are Little Big Town, on September 11. Grammy nominated, multiple award winning and one of the biggest selling country bands in the world, this is the sort of gig we’ve been missing while the Beacon was out of action. As great as the headliners will undoubtedly be, their support is Ashley Monroe and she is absolutely incredible.
On the same night, William Tyler plays in the Lantern; his stuff is a bit more “cosmic country” than the lush harmonies of Little Big Town. Something for everyone really.
Little Big Town on stage in Chicago – photo: Little Big Town
There’s always something interesting going on at The Exchange and September is no different.
From the experimental, instrumental folk of Andrew Wasylyk on September 13 to the troubadour tales of Charlie Parr on September 18, it’s good stuff.
Jill Andrews is an Americana singer-songwriter from east Tennessee who used to be in the everybodyfields and plays on Friday 20.
It seems incredible that Mercury and Brit nominated artist, Tom McCrea, has made nine albums. The latest is a gorgeous collaboration with some of his favourite French artists and he plays The Exchange on September 25.
Hedera are one of the most interesting of Bristol’s folky bands. They play slow and beautiful music that is inspired by European folk traditions, bringing together French, English and Scandinavian music, together with Eastern European tunes. Featuring Tamsin Elliott, Opa Rosa’s Isis Wolf-Light and Beth Roberts they are extraordinary live. They visit Bridge Farm (BS16 1BQ) on September 19.
Hedera are clearly at home in the farmhouse-like environment which will come in handy when they play Bridge Farm on Glenfrome Road later this month – photo: Hedera
Various other things
Something Sleeps are a new dreamfolk project from London, featuring Fiona Fey and Rey Yusuf (formerly Tell Tale Tusk), violinist & singer Monica Viñoly and cellist Josh Considine. They play The Greenbank on Sunday 8.
Grack Mack and the Pack are a Bristol based indie-folk band influenced by Phoebe Bridgers, The Beatles and Big Thief, who play The Lanes on Friday 13. Support is from fantastic singer songwriter Eve Appleton.
The Men They Couldn’t Hang bring their 40th Anniversary tour to The Thekla on Saturday 14. It’s going to be wild, raucous and damn good fun, as ever.
For something a little more mellow you could try the Sacred Harp Convention at The Trinity on September 14/15.
Electric indie-folkers Grack Mack and the Pack are an emerging quartet from Bristol – photo: Grack Mack and the Pack
Then there’s a horrible clash on Thursday 19. The Grace Smith Trio and Archie Churchill Moss are at To The Moon while Cohen Braithewaite Cohen (of Granny’s Attic) is at The New Room on the same day. Both will be excellent for those that love traditional-ish folk.
As if that lot wasn’t quite enough, local superstar Katy J Pearson plays one of those lovely acoustic and signing things at Rough Trade on September 24.
Festivals
There are two festivals that catch the tail end of the summer in the South West too.
The Small Town Big Music festival is in Almondsbury across the weekend of 6/7/8 September. The Saturday has a great line-up of country and roots music. Tenille Arts and Kezia Gill headline while there are afternoon slots from First Time Flyers, Hicktown Breakout, Matt Hodges and loads more.
The next weekend (13/14/15) sees the Priston Festival, near Bath. It’s such a lovely community festival and has some great music too, including Reg Meuross, Matt Owens, Buffalo Gals and Sam Evans. Much of it is free too.
Main photo: Aaron Catlow
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