It’s music rooted in tradition – often traced to very specific geographical regions – yet in the age of global social media reach, folk music of all flavours continues to find favour with younger audiences.
The trend has been playing out at Lighthouse for the last couple of years and with a series of concerts by folk, and folk-influenced, artists in the coming months it’s showing no sign of letting up.
Neil King, managing editor of the influential acoustic-based music magazine Fatea and presenter of the Folk Friday Radio show Across the Tracks, recognises that the venue’s careful curation of the programme is paying off.
He says: “It’s always great when a venue really looks at a scene and not only selects the names that you know, but the names that you should know, drawing on the acoustic spectrum to cross pollinate talent from folk and blues to singer-songwriters and rising scenes.”
Music programmer John Blakeley says the audiences for these shows are some of the most diverse that Lighthouse has seen.
“Some of this music is centuries old, yet the digital age has somehow freed it from its own history and a new generation of music makers are able to assimilate it as any other found sound. It means that newer folk artists like Cerys Hafana, The Breath and Lisa O’Neill resonate with audiences as readily as revered, established acts such as The Unthanks, Spiers & Boden and Nick Harper – all of which can be seen at Lighthouse in the coming months.”
Folk-flavoured music highlights at Lighthouse in the coming weeks and months include:
Lisa O’Neill – 24 Feb: A raconteur in the truest sense of the word, Lisa O’Neill is a five-time BBC Folk Award nominee. Two of her songs feature in Peaky Blinders – Blackbird, her own composition, and an adaptation of Bob Dylan’s All the Tired Horses, which soundtracked the final scene of the epic TV drama.
Nick Harper – 25 Feb: A childhood growing up surrounded by the musical prowess of some of the most feted musicians of the 1960s, not to mention being son of Roy Harper, along with 20 years of crafting songs, has spawned a truly one-off, original guitarist and songwriter who stands alone as a UK great, to be cherished and revered.
Spiers & Boden – 5 Mar: Spiers & Boden have been at the forefront of the English traditional folk scene for 25 years, both as a ground breaking duo and as founder members of folk phenomenon Bellowhead.
The Breath – 13 Mar: A magical blend of alt-folk and musical storytelling, with the odd jazz undertone, The Breath is guitarist Stuart McCallum (ex-The Cinematic Orchestra) and previous BBC R2 Folk Singer of the Year winner, singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly who have made three albums for Peter Gabriel’s Real World label.
Martin Harley – 20 Mar: Known for his spellbinding slide guitar and ability to blend Americana, blues, and folk, Harley has captivated audiences for three decades, recording albums worldwide. His latest release, Morning Sun, showcases his finest songwriting as Harley’s heartfelt music continues to push boundaries in contemporary roots.
Cerys Hafana – 25 Mar: Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. They explore the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and are also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing.
Daoirí Farrell – 28 Mar: A product of Dublin’s famous club An Góilin Traditional Singers, since launching his solo live career at Celtic Connections in 2016, Daoirí Farrell has earned honours from BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and RTÉ Folk Award nominations, to ALSR Celtic Music accolades.
John Smith – 17 Apr: Born in Essex, raised by the Devon seaside and making his bones in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, the one and only John Smith has been at the pioneering forefront of British folk guitar music for 20 years.
Charlotte Carrivick Band – 16 May: Charlotte Carrivick is a flatpicking guitarist of international renown, sought for her inventive lead playing and regarded as an expert fiddle tune interpreter on the guitar. The old time, swing, bluegrass music she makes with her band is joyous, poignant, dark, pensive and exuberant with virtuosic instrumentals and close harmony singing.
Good Habits – 21 May: One of the UK’s most exciting and fast-rising indie-folk acts, their uplifting, genre-fusing sound has received international acclaim, awards, and opportunities to perform at major festivals such as Glastonbury, WOMAD, and Cambridge Folk Festival.
The Unthanks – 22 May: Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point, the influence of Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, King Crimson and Tom Waits makes The Unthanks a unique band.
Dele Sosimi – 22 May: Having started his musical career with Fela Kuti’s Egypt 80 band in his teens, he teamed up with childhood friend Fela’s son Femi Kuti to kick start the Positive Force and has been at the heart of the global Afrobeat scene since relocating to the UK in 1995.
Hollie Rogers – 29 May: Cornish singer-songwriter known for her expressive voice, clever lyrics, and percussive guitar-led sound with influences ranging from Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading to Blondie.
Sam Sweeney Trio – 18 June: Known for his expressive playing and bold musical vision, Sam Sweeney leads the trio through richly textured arrangements of traditional and original material that is both grounded in English folk traditions and alive with contemporary energy.
:: Tickets for all shows are available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/ and on 01202 280000.
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