FOLK
ORBIT
Updated
20 April 2008

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Helen Armstrong
 
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Folk Links
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Button to Top of Page Bands

  • Anne English: Superb Singer Songwriter
    Contact 07786 306576

  • Blowzabella: Blowzabella combine hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, violin, diatonic accordion, saxophones, clarinets and bass to produce an inimitable, driving drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and sheer feeling.
    http://www.blowzabella.com/
  • Dave Shepherd: is one of Englands innovative performers of traditional music, well known for his work with Blowzabella, as a solo performer, workshop leader, and more recently, in a duo with accordeonist Becky Price.
    http://www.fiddling-dave-shepherd.com/

  • The Family Band: The Family Band Barn Dance and Ceilidh band is a barn dance band in the Chester, North Wales, Cheshire, Wirral and Merseyside area. We play for barn dances and ceilidhs for all occasions including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and parties, and don’t mind being in any hall, barn, marquee or even outside. The Family Band Barn Dance and Ceilidh band is an "all night" band, providing complete entertainment for your evening, you get the band and a caller. We are quite happy to play with discos if you are having one. We are a very flexible barn dance and ceilidh band.
    http://homepages.which.net/~katriona.moulton/index.html

  • Jigsmith: are an exciting new folk & ceilidh band featuring a line up of melodeon, flute, guitar, bass guitar, bodhran and violin. The band includes players from many musical traditions from classical to jazz and we can provide our own caller. With Jigsmith you can be assured of the very best in danceable music.
    http://www.jigsmith.com

  • Jill Fielding: Contemporary Traditional English and Irish Acoustic Music. Guitar, Bodhran, Vocals, Keyboards, Mandolin, Banjo, Flute, English Concertina and Whistle.
    http://www.jillfieldingband.co.uk

  • Miv Cameron Band: 4-piece band from Anglesey and the Wirral, playing many festivals and clubs.  Details of their CD, 'The Empty Seat' available from the site.
    http://www.mivcameronband.co.uk

  • NowThen: That folk band from Barnoldswick and Earby!
    http://www.nowthenfolk.co.uk/index.html

  • Orbit : North West Folk & Blues duo, Tony Ballard & Colin Matthews. Available for Festivals, Clubs and Private Parties. Tel: 01244 313892 or 01244 880805

  • Reckless Elbow: a five-piece band producing their own interpretation of traditional, modern and self-written folk music with Celtic influences.
    http://www.reckless-elbow.com

  • Scolds Bridle: These two girls know what entertaining is all  about - they've been captivating audiences all over the country for a number of years. Their vitality and original presentation make them such a popular choice for any Festival, Concert or Folk Club listing.
    http://www.scoldsbridle.co.uk/

  • Solan: emerged as a band in July 1999 when Frances Wilkins, Richard Chaff and Chris Henderson started playing together in Shetland. Frances on Concertina, Richard on guitar and vocals, and Chris on fiddle.  From this base, Solan have toured extensively in Norway, Holland, Denmark, Germany and mainland Britain playing Shetland, Scottish, North American, Irish and original tunes and songs.
    http://www.cds-studio.shetland.co.uk/solan.htm (e-mail: solan@music.shetland.co.uk)

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Button to Top of Page Dance

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Button to Top of Page Festivals

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Button to Top of Page Folk Clubs

  • Wigan Folk Club: information about Folk Club and also current and archived issues of Folkal Point - a weekly issued list of acoustic music sessions, gigs, events etc.. in the North West of England.
    http://www.wiganfolkclub.co.uk
  • Wrexham Entertainment Support Society (WESS Club): housed in the former Lex Club, in Regent Street, Wrexham. Roy Mack opened the Club in 2001 and has a vision to make it a prime venue for entertainment, performing arts and art exhibitions in the area. It is already becoming popular as a meeting place for like minded people and the acoustic jam nights on Wednesdays and Folk/Acoustic nights on Fridays are rapidly growing in popularity.
    http://www.wess-club.org

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Button to Top of Page Instrument Makers

  • Louis Accordions:  Malcolm Manning is the UK's only maker of Lousiana Cajun style diatonic 10-button accordions. Branded 'Louis Accordions', after his eldest son, these instruments are hand made in small batches, using the finest Italian steel reeds. Call Malcolm for more details.
    http://www.mannings-musicals.co.uk/

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Button to Top of Page Internet Madness

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Button to Top of Page Miscellaneous

  • BritFolk (British Folk): is a self-help organisation for UK-based professional folk performers, including singers, instrumentalists, dancers, callers and storytellers. Membership is restricted to performers living, working or seriously touring in the UK and earning all, or a significant part of their income in that way.
    http://www.britfolk.co.uk/
  • Folk Images:  Over the past twenty five years I've been to many Folk Music events, based mainly in the North West of England. As a result, I have amassed a number of photos that have never seen the light of day. The Photo Galleries include a selection of these photos.
    http://www.folkimages.com

  • folkWISE: is a new organisation run by performers for the benefit of performers. Our aim is to support and encourage professional folk performers from Wales Ireland, Scotland and England in all aspects of their work and career.
    http://www.folkwise.org

  • Geoff Rodgers: Acoustic Music. available now. Tel 07884157373
    http://www.webfolk.net e-mail: email@webfolk.net

  • The Jake Thackray Project: promotes the live performance and recordings of the songs of the late, great Jake Thackray.
     http://www.jakethackray.com

  • The Yorkshire Musical Saw Player: aimed at musical saw players and would be players (especially in the Yorkshire area). It provides tips, humour, suggestions for music and instructions for playing.
    http://playthesaw.co.uk/

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Button to Top of Page Morris

  • The Morris Ring:  The Morris Ring was founded in 1934 to encourage the performance of Morris Dancing, to maintain its traditions and to preserve its history. The Ring is an Association of two hundred dance clubs - sides.
    http://www.themorrisring.org/
     
  • Shrewsbury Morris Dancers:  have nearly 30 years of dancing experience, providing an exciting mix of traditional border Morris and innovative dance styles with strong musical support.
    http://www.barlowsuk.f9.co.uk/morris/

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Button to Top of Page Music & Lyrics

  • All Tabs Music Tablature is a free source of music tablatures, sheet music, and midi sound files for 5-string banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass, tenor (4-string) banjo, and dulcimer.
    http://www.alltabs.com
  • Bluegrass Guitar Home Page: designed to be a convenient source of information about the acoustic flat-top guitar and it's use in Bluegrass music. Our goal is to help promote traditional guitar and assist players and fans alike.
    http://bluegrassguitar.com/
  • Chris Peterson Traditional Music:  This is a collection of (mostly) traditional music to look at, listen to, or download at your convenience. The emphasis is on traditional Celtic tunes, but there are some others you may find interesting, as well.
    http://www.cpmusic.com/tradmus.html
  • Concertina Music:  The concertina music site.  Your source for free sheet music with notation for the Chemnitzer concertina.
    http://www.concertinamusic.com
  • Contemplator: Folk and Traditional Music and Popular Songs, with Lyrics, Midi, Tune Information and History behind the folksongs and ballads. Irish, British and American Folk Music including Francis J. Child Ballads and Sea Shanties.
    http://www.contemplator.com/
  • Fiddling Around the World: Welcome to a world of fiddles. A world bursting with celtic fiddles, American bluegrass, old-time and western swing fiddles, mariachi fiddles, klezmer fiddles, gypsy fiddles, jazz fiddles. Ancient fiddles from China and Mexico, Hardanger fiddles from Norway, a double-necked electric monster from India. A world teeming with fiddle players famous, infamous and obscure. Street fiddlers, million-selling fiddlers, mythical fiddlers. Five continents stomping and swaying to the music of countless interconnected fiddle styles.
    http://www.fiddlingaround.co.uk/
  • Mudcat Café: Excellent USA Blues and Folk Site - download your own lyrics database of over 8000 songs
    http://www.mudcat.org/
  • The Traditional Music Database: the traditional music database, where you can search our database of traditional tunes and store your tune information for the benefit of all.
    http://tunedb.woodenflute.com/
  • A Traditional Music Library: A traditional and folk music archive of songbooks, tune-books, sheet-music, lyrics, midis, tablature, plus music reference, chord diagrams and music educational materials.
    http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/index.htm

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Button to Top of Page Music Agents

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Button to Top of Page Music Shops

  • Frailers: specialist in American guitars and banjos.  To view a list of items in stock, click here (Note this is a large file and will take a long time to load!)
    http://www.frailers.com/

  • MGL Industries:  Leading Manufacturers & Wholesale Exporters of Pipe Bands Uniforms accessories & requirements, Musical Instruments & accessories
    http://www.mglind.com/index.htm

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Button to Top of Page Online Magazines

  • Entertainment in Shropshire: Welcome to the only online directory of Entertainment & Leisure in Shropshire and surrounding areas including Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Birmingham, North Wales, Manchester, Stoke on Trent, Derby, Chester, Wrexham, Staffordshire, Cheshire, West Midlands and beyond.
    http://www.entertainmentinshropshire.co.uk/
  • Mr Red's Mid West: (Folk Venue/Festival/Radio & Dance Diary lists in Gloucestershire & surrounding area)
    http://www.cresby.com
  • Yorkshire Folk Arts: Yorkshire Folk Arts exists to raise the profile of the folk arts - principally, traditional song, music, dance, drama and storytelling. We are working with the Arts Council of England, Yorkshire Arts, and folk arts organisations throughout Yorkshire, North and North East Lincolnshire and beyond, to develop new audiences, venues and performers.
    http://www.yorkshire-folk-arts.com/directory/index.html

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Button to Top of Page PA Hire

  • Massive Technical Solutions: Massive Technical Solutions started in 2001 dedicated to providing High Quality Equipment to Professional Artists who might not otherwise get the technical support they deserve. Since then the company has expanded and now provides complete systems to everyone from solo singers to 18 piece Big Bands.
    http://www.massivetech.co.uk/

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Button to Top of Page Podcasts

  • FolkCast: We are a UK-based podcast covering folk, folk-rock, singer-songwriter and roots-based music, featuring interviews and features. A new show is released on the first Saturday of each month.
    http://www.folkcast.co.uk/
  • It's a Frog's Life Acoustic Podcast: The idea behind this podcast is to showcase some of the best podsafe acoustic music from here in my home town of Liverpool and also from across the UK.
     http://graham.itsafrogslife.net/11.htm
  • TransAtlantic Acoustic Show: The TransAtlantic Acoustic Show brings you Folk, Blues, Alt Country, Bluegrass, and even a classically structured guitar or piano tune once in a while. Whatever the genre, it is always acoustic.
    http://www.indieheart.com/podcasts.php

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Button to Top of Page Poetry

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Button to Top of Page Radio

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Button to Top of Page Societies

  • The English Folk Dance and Song Society: preserving and promoting the traditional song and dance of England.
    http://www.efdss.org/

  • Devon Squeezebox Foundation: a Not For Profit Organisation set up to encourage interest in playing music, primarily from the folk traditions of England, on free reed instruments e.g. piano and button accordians, concertina, melodeon etc in the County of Devon and through out the West Country.
    http://www.devonsqueezeboxfoundation.co.uk/
  • Folkus: Folkus is the Folk Arts Network of the North West. FOLKUS is a folk arts organisation founded by enthusiasts to celebrate, support, and build upon the continuing vitality of traditional and contemporary folk music, song and dance within the North West region.
    http://www.folkus.co.uk/

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Button to Top of Page Venues