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DARTFORD FOLK CLUB UPDATE

BBC Radio 2 Folk Club of the Year 2008 – check out the following link:

http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/dfc_award08.htm

Dartford Folk Club meets on Tuesday from 8.30 to 11.00 p.m. at
Dartford Working Men’s Club in Essex Road, Dartford.

*  Floor Singers Welcome – ring Pam or Alan on 01322 222553.

*  Drinks at club prices, including up to 15 real ales!  Coffee & tea
also available.

FORTHCOMING GUESTS:

NOVEMBER 3RD – JEZ LOWE & THE BAD PENNIES
(http://www.jezlowe.com/)

Jez Lowe, a long-time favourite at Dartford, is famous for his songs
about the mining culture and people of the North East.  Fairport
Convention, Tanahill Weavers, The Black Family, The Dubliners and
Cherish the Ladies are among the many who have covered his work.  The
Bad Pennies are Kate Bramley on fiddle and vocals, Andy May on pipes,
whistles, piano and accordion and David de la Haye on bass.

NOVEMBER 10TH – MIKE DOWLING (USA)
(http://www.mikedowling.com/)

Mike Dowling is one of the most skilled acoustic guitar players
around.  Armed with an engaging voice, self-deprecating wit, and an
arsenal of elegant interpretations of old blues, swing, ragtime and
original tunes he has proved a highly popular visitor to the UK.  Mike
draws inspiration from various American roots guitar styles, but his
style is uniquely his own, whether bottleneck blues or elegant swing
interpretations.

NOVEMBER 17TH – JOHNNY SILVO
(http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/jsilvo.htm)

Johnny Silvo has been a fixture on the folk scene for over 40 years
and has performed at Dartford many times.  He sings a wide variety of
songs ranging from jazz, folk, blues to country and soul, accompanying
himself on guitar.  He has a wonderful voice, superb in clarity, tone
and versatility.  However, more than anything else, Johnny is a
good-humoured entertainer whose aim is to make people happy!

NOVEMBER 24TH – MÁIRE NÍ CHATHASAIGH & CHRIS NEWMAN
(http://www.oldbridgemusic.com/)

Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman are both virtuoso performers in
their own right and have been playing together since 1988.  Máire has
been described as the greatest Celic harpist of our age.  Chris is one
of Britain’s leading acoustic guitarists and a prolific composer and
arranger.  Together they combine to produce a wonderful blend of
traditional Celtic, jazz, baroque and contemporary music.  Don’t miss
them!

COMING UP IN DECEMBER

December 1st – Simon Prager & Rob Mason (http://www.simonprager.com/)

December 8th – Fraser Nimmo
(http://www.frasernimmo.co.uk/FN-SITEFOLDER/FN-home.html)

December 15th – Phil Beer & Guest(s) (http://www.philbeer.co.uk/ )

December 22nd – Les Barker (http://www.mrsackroyd.com/ )

December 29th – Yuletide Come all ye Singer and Players Night.

To give you a taste of the excellent programme that's coming up in the
new year, Pam has booked for January: Barber & Taylor (5th),
Grassroots (12th), Quicksilver (19th) and Bully Wee Band (26th).
February: Dave Swarbrick (2nd), Martyn Wyndham Read (9th), Tom
Mcconville Band (16th) and Wizz Jones (23rd).  March: Mad Agnes (USA)
(2nd), Tom Lewis (9th), Keith Pearson’s Coup de Grass (16th), Allan
Taylor (23rd) and Tom Kitching & Gren Bartley (30th).

For more information on the club (including directions on how to get
there) and details of guest performers past, present and future,
please visit our website at http://www.DartfordFolk.org.uk/.  We are
delighted to announce that, following the sad loss of Paul Homer, Marj
Mitchell has agreed to take over as website editor.  We wish her the
very best in this role and thank her sincerely for all of the hard
work that it has already entailed.  You will see that she has also
included a tribute to Paul on the website:
http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/tribute1.htm.

DARTFORD FOLK CLUB UPDATE

 BBC Radio 2 Folk Club of the Year 2008 – check out the following link:

 http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/dfc_award08.htm

 Dartford Folk Club meets on Tuesday from 8.30 to 11.00 p.m. at
Dartford Working Men’s Club in Essex Road, Dartford.

 *  Floor Singers Welcome – ring Pam or Alan on 01322 222553.

 *  Drinks at club prices!  Coffee & tea also available.

 FORTHCOMING GUESTS:

 SEPTEMBER 1ST – STEVE KEITH (USA)
(http://www.stevekeith.com/)

 Steve Keith is a singer, songwriter and fine guitarist, fiddler and
banjo player who invites his audiences to let loose, stomp their feet
and sing along.  The people and places he encounters while sailing up
and down the U.S. Atlantic coast inspire many of his songs, which are
full of humour and sensitivity, blending bluegrass with Irish folk
songs, sea shanties and country and western.

 SEPTEMBER 8TH – DANA & SUSAN ROBINSON (USA)

 (http://www.robinsongs.com/)

 Dana and Susan Robinson blend roots and tradition with contemporary
song writing, bringing to their performances an understanding of
America's musical heritage.  Dana writes songs and tells stories about
America, the land and its people.  Together, in concert, you'll hear
two rich, intimate voices, intricate and powerful guitar and banjo
playing with a handful of fiddle and mandolin thrown in.

 SEPTEMBER 15TH – PAUL DOWNES & MICK RYAN

 (http://www.pauldownes.com/ &
http://www.wildgoose.co.uk/displayArtist.asp?ARTIST_ID=134)

 This is a relatively new duo between two folk stalwarts.  Paul Downes
has long been a favourite at Dartford and is remembered by many as one
half of Downes and Beer.  He plays the guitar effortlessly, but sees
himself more as a singer of songs.  Mick Ryan is well known as a fine
singer of traditional and original songs.  He has written material for
radio and a series of highly successful folk musicals, most recently,
'The Navvy's Wife’, which was well received at this year’s Broadstairs
Folk Week.

 SEPTEMBER 22ND – LANDERMASON

 (http://www.landermason.com/)

 Fiona Lander and Paul Mason have been writing, recording and
performing together since 2000.  Fiona (vocals, piano, whistles,
saxes, clarinet and recorder) and Paul (guitars and vocals) have
developed an impressive sound, full of variety and with lots of
audience interaction.  They combine both traditional and contemporary
folk with jazz and other styles in their beautiful and striking
arrangements.

 SEPTEMBER 29TH – BEVERLY SMITH & CARL JONES (USA)
(http://www.smithnjones.net/)

 Carl Jones and Beverly Smith have been part of the traditional music
scene for years, playing just about anything with strings and tossing
in vocal harmonies in various bands and formations.  Carl is a singer
songwriter who plays mandolin, banjo and fiddle.  Beverly is a highly
respected guitar player and is also in demand as a singer, fiddler and
dance caller.  Together, they are a most engaging old timey duo.

 COMING UP IN OCTOBER

 October 6th – Bob Fox & Billy Mitchell (http://www.bobfoxmusic.com/ &
http://www.billymitchell.co.uk/)

 October 13th – Lee Collinson (http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/lee_coll.htm)

 October 20th – Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley
(http://www.spiralearth.co.uk/news/story.asp?nid=2497)

 October 27th – Rag Mama Rag (http://www.ragmamarag.co.uk/)

 For details of guest performers beyond September and more information
on the club, including 35 years Hall of Fame and full directions,
visit our website at

 http://www.DartfordFolk.org.uk