From: Sheila Miller [sheilamiller55_at_yahoo_dot_co_dot_uk]

Sent: 08 December 2015 17:41

Subject: Cellar Upstairs folk club: programme for January to June 2016 - plus a question

Cellar Upstairs folk club: programme for January to June 2016 - plus a question

Dear club regulars and others

Here is the programme for the Cellar Upstairs for January to June 2016.

First, I'd like to ask a question. Our audiences have fallen since we had to move at the beginning of this year, and I'd be grateful if those of you who used to come but no longer do would let me know why you have stopped coming. I know there are probably all sorts of good reasons for this; apart from anything else, it would probably be impossible to find a venue that's as easy to get to as the Exmouth Arms was. However, both of our present venues are easy to get to: King's Cross, Russell Square and Chancery Lane tube stations are a short walk away, and various buses go down Gray's Inn Road. The leaflet and this mail-out always say which pub we're in on which night, and that information is also always on my answerphone message (020 7281 7700) on Saturdays, along with info about who's on, etc. The Calthorpe Arms is a very friendly local pub, with a particularly good upstairs room; the Lucas Arms is also a nice pub, and drinks are cheaper in both pubs than in most central London hostelries.

Anyway, I'd be glad if you'd let me know, and I thank you in advance for doing so - and apologise in advance if I don't respond to your reply: as most of you know, I run the club on top of the work I get paid for, and I receive far more e-mails than I can find the time to deal with these days. I will certainly read all of your replies, however, and I will reply if I can.

As for the information - we mainly meet in the Calthorpe Arms, 252 Gray's Inn Road, WC1X 8JR (on the corner of Wren Street; 020 7278 4732) (C); on the nights when we can't be there (as above) we'll again be in the Lucas Arms, 245a Gray's Inn Road, WC1X 8QY (on the corner of Cromer Street; 020 7837 4340) (L). The pubs are only five minutes' walk apart, so, if you turn up at the wrong pub, it won't be too much trouble to get to the other one.

All the best

Sheila

Saturdays, 8.15pm. Venues: Calthorpe Arms, 252 Gray's Inn Rd, WC1X 8JR (corner Wren Street) (C); and Lucas Arms, 245a Gray's Inn Rd, WC1X 8QY (corner Cromer Street) (L); nearest tubes: King's Cross St Pancras and Chancery Lane; various buses; no advance booking necessary; floor-singers welcome; www.cellarupstairs.org.uk

2016

9 Jan: Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp (well regarded young duo with mainly traditional English songs, some unaccompanied, and others accompanied on concertina, guitar, banjo and cello; lauraandted.co.uk) (L)

16 Jan: Reuben's Train (idiosyncratic duo - Mick Watson and Keith Osborne - performing old and new Americana in dramatic style, with guitar) (C)

23 Jan: Hector Christie and Chris Edwards (mainly Scots traditional songs, including ballads, from new duo made up of experienced and accomplished Scottish singer and Welsh-Cumbrian multi-instrumentalist; occasional non-trad songs, eg, by Matt McGinn) (C)

30 Jan: Tim Laycock (first-class singer and musician from Dorset; sings traditional songs; also known for finding and setting Roll On, Roll On and setting Hardy poems) (C)

6 Feb: Fraser Sisters (Jo Freya and Fi Fraser, members of the Old Swan Band, Blowzabella and other bands; diverse range of material; fiddle, saxophone, clarinet, etc) (L)

13 Feb: David Campbell (fine English singer of traditional and modern songs from the UK and the US, son of Ian Campbell and brother of members of UB40 - but he doesn't sing any of their songs) (L)

20 Feb: Cath and Phil Tyler (impressive Anglo-US duo - one formerly with the group Cordelia's Dad, with Tim Eriksen - sing traditional American and other songs with banjo and guitar) (C)

27 Feb: Jim and Lynette Eldon (singer-fiddler and championship clog dancer from Hull; traditional songs - some collected by him from local fishermen - and others, including some of Jim's own idiosyncratic compositions; he has been known to do a striking version of Bat out of Hell) (C)

5 Mar: Kevin and Ellen Mitchell (revered singer from Derry and fine Glaswegian singer; traditional and other Irish and Scottish songs) (C)

12 Mar: Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham (duo from Derbyshire, one a former member of Muckram Wakes and Ramsbottom; traditional and other songs, accompanied and unaccompanied) (L)

19 Mar: Frank Weston and Dave Stacey (American old-timey songs on guitar and banjo from experienced duo, popular on the southern English old-time scene) (C)

26 Mar and 2 April: closed

9 April: Jez Lowe (very popular singer from County Durham; has written many great songs, including Coal Town Days, The Bergen, Durham Gaol, London Danny and The Last of the Widows) (L)

16 April: Leon Rosselson (one of Britain's great songwriters - Palaces of Gold, We Sell Everything, Harry's Gone Fishing, the World Turned Upside Down and many others; his songs are sung by many other performers - Martin Carthy, Billy Bragg, Dick Gaughan, Frankie Armstrong, Roy Bailey, etc) (C)

23 April: Si Barron (young singer and musician, formerly with duo Barron Brady; fine interpreter of traditonal and contemporary songs, lovely voice and excellent guitar-playing; www.sibarron.eu) (C)

30 April: Kirsty Law (young singer from the Scottish Borders; sensitive interpretations of traditional Scottish songs plus a few of her own; also performs with her own band; Karine Polwart said, "It's a joy to hear a young singer with such earthy and conversational character to her singing and songs." www.kirstylaw.com) (C)

7 May: Francy Devine, Paul Anderson and Steve Byrne (Irish and Scots songs and tunes from high-profile trio; members of bands including Malinky (Steve Byrne); pipes, fiddle, guitar and bouzouki) (C)

14 May: Peter and Barbara Snape (very entertaining duo from Lancashire; comic and serious songs with melodeon; as their website says, this is "for everyone who loves the broad variety of traditional songs from the British Isles"; www.thesnapes.org.uk) (L)

21 May: Pete Cooper (supreme fiddler and singer of mainly traditional British, Irish and American songs  and tunes; member of Rattle on the Stovepipe) (C)

28 May: closed

4 June: Pete Wood (experienced and accomplished singer of mainly traditional English songs, some with concertina; originally from Lancashire, long resident on Tyneside, once resident at Fighting Cocks club in Kingston-upon Thames) (L)

11 June: Jeff Warner (fine US singer of traditional songs, including many excellent and unusual American versions of British songs) (L)

THEN closed until September

ENTRANCE: Members: £6, non-members: £8 (unwaged £1.50 less), except on nights marked *, when it will be £7 and £9. Membership: £3. Information: 020 7281 7700.

Resident performers: Gail Williams & Jim Younger, Peta Webb & Ken Hall, Sue Williams & Frankie Cleeve, Bob Wakeling

Pub phone numbers: Calthorpe Arms: 7278 4732: Lucas Arms: 020 7837 4340