Programme
Here is a list of the guests coming up. Click on pictures to enlarge. To download the latest flyer from May 2008 (pdf format), click here. To download the forthcoming dates until December 2008, click here. To get Adobe Reader, click here.
It is a great pleasure to welcome this legendary band back to our humble croft after their first visit in '05. Truly the Led Zep of Folk, the TANNAHILLS have an unerring ability to switch seamlessly between beautiful, evocative slow airs, ballads and topical songs with rich vocal harmonies, to out-and-out hell-for-leather tune sets led by Highland pipes, fiddle, whistles & flute with a rock-solid rhythm underneath. One of the all time great Scottish bands, they have a pedigree as long as a caber and toss the whole caboodle of the Scots folk cannon into a simmering pot of musical broth. Babes won't sleep, but this lot are AWESOME!
http://www.tannahillweavers.com£9 members/£11 non-members
Everyone knows TONY. He hangs around the local clubs, gets on the stage and within minutes you feel so much happier - pain in the belly aside. If Del Boy Trotter had a folk-singing brother Tony would be him, standing on a street corner with a suitcase full of CDs, all of them his, and he'll flog you one. 'You won't regret it mate'. Born and bred on a building site, he's the geezer with the pencil behind his ear, poised to pen another street classic about or with the next character he crosses paths with, each one an antidote to the massed ranks of mournful merchants who ply their gloom and angst. There's Fiona the fast food floozy, Mickey The Brickie with the wicked broken nose, Sheila with the C sharp harp and the one women he'll never forget - known only as Salt Of The Earth - to name a few. There should be a law to put him on after Eastenders - it would cut the suicide rate and remind viewers that there is a bright side. Highly-rated by Chas and Dave, he's just back from a stint supporting the BLOCKHEADS on their 30th anniversary tour.
http://www.tonycarling.co.uk/£6 members/£7 non-members
A wonderful pairing, brought about by drunken accident (or design) during the 2006 Fairport winter tour when they took PJ along as support. So much fun was had that PEGGY and PJ are doing it again! And fun it is for the audience too, as this pair don't take themselves too seriously and there is plenty of hilarious deadpan banter between the songs. PJ of course is a great slide, acoustic and electric guitarist who in his early days backed DEL SHANNON and BOBBY VEE before becoming lead guitarist in the STEVE GIBBONS band in the 80/90s and then LITTLE JOHNNY ENGLAND (here recently). Bass player extraordinaire Peggy has been a mainstay of FAIRPORT since 1969, as well as a long stint with JETHRO TULL. He is also an accomplished mandolin player. PJ's lived-in voice lends itself perfectly to the eclectic selection of self-penned songs from his solo album Hedge of Sound, while Peggy sings songs from his solo album Cocktail Cowboy including tributes to Sandy Denny. They also throw in a few affectionate covers of 'blasts from the past' from the annals of both pop and roots-rock and a couple of typically nifty instrumentals. Living legends both!
http://www.hedgeofsound.com/£9 members/£11 non-members
It took only a couple of visits for LIZ to become an established favourite at the Ram. Liz writes 'outside the box', with a warm-hearted sincerity, an endearing quirkiness and a rare ability to connect with her audience on the same wavelength whatever she is singing about. Liz dissects her subject matter (herself included) in the nicest possible way, gently forming it into gorgeous melodic songs. Her latest CD, Vanishing Girl, even features our own Finger-Meister Bob Wood! Her gorgeous voice and elegant guitar are treat enough, but tonight once again she brings the superb talents of IAN on double bass (brought by Smart car!) and WARWICK on guitar for what will be another varied and entertaining set.
http://www.lizsimcock.com/£8 members/£9 non-members
SUE GRAVES, HECTOR GILCHRIST and STEVE POOLE are familiar faces at the Ram, doing regular spots in whatever combination of them happens to be there. The concept of SOIREE is indeed that - a getting together of friends with music. Melodic, inspiring, and generally of a positive bent, the songs come from the very best of contemporary writers, together with a sprinkling of jazz crooners, traditional ballads, the odd tear-jerker and even a little Rock n' Roll. Hector and Sue combine in exquisite harmony with delicate acoustic guitar and harmonica, while Steve sings and provides the twiddly bits on guitar. Tonight they will be showcasing material from their brand new CD Serenading The Moon, so come and be serenaded!
http://www.soireemusic.co.uk/£7 members/£8 non-members
For the first time at the Ram we are proud to present this legendary Canadian Singer/Songwriter of International standing. Like fellow compatriots Robbie Robertson of The Band and the much-missed Stan Rogers, JAMES draws from the rich traditions, history, triumphs and tragedies of his home land, creating a powerful on-going narrative that combines Folk and Canadiana. Not afraid to dip his toes into the waters of politics and social issues either, his superb, powerful, evocative songs are delivered with a rich baritone voice that 'soothes, seduces and packs a punch'! Each new CD is special, and his latest, Buddy Where You Been, features the stellar talents of HUGH MACMILLAN on bass guitar, guitar and mandolin and ace young fiddler and violist JAIME RT, who will be gracing the stage with him tonight. A superb evening in store.
http://www.keelaghan.com/£9 members/£10 non-members
NIGEL is a consummate guitarist with a natural ability to turn his hand to a variety of styles. Steeped in Blues from his youth, he was in bands like JUICE ON THE LOOSE and THE BLUES CORPORATION in the 70/80s and fronted the Mighty 45s in the late 90s, who doubled as backing band to R & B diva ANGELA BROWN. Along the way, he has played, toured and recorded with a galaxy of stars from PETER GREEN to CHRIS FARLOWE. Sometimes though, he just likes to escape to a Folk club, chill out and do some nice acoustic Blues and Folk a la Ry Cooder, Eric Bibb, John Hiatt and Little Feat. Tonight he brings harmonica ace EDDIE (who's played with JEFF BECK, RON WOOD, PETE SEEGER & LONG JOHN BALDRY) for a night of blues, sultry ballads, folk, country and skiffle. Last time, a few mates turned up for a jam at the end, and huge fun was had by all. Time for another dose.
http://www.nigelbagge.com/£7 members/£8 non-members
There are few artists with more claim to being a 'musician's musician' than WIZZ. Inspired by Big Bill Broonzy, Rambling Jack Elliot, Alexis Korner and Ewan MacColl, he learned his craft from the likes of Davy Graham and Long John Baldry in the coffee bars of London's Soho during the late fifties, busking through Europe with ROD STEWART and cited by John Renbourn and Eric Clapton as an important early influence. With his unique guitar style, an eclectic repertoire and 'a right hand worthy of Broonzy', Wizz continues to tour on the acoustic folk and blues circuit - usually solo but tonight with son SIMEON on sax, flute and harmonica. A chip off the old block, Simeon has had 80's Pop adulation with ROMAN HOLIDAY, toured with TAKE THAT and GENO WASHINGTON and sessioned with the likes of PRIMAL SCREAM, SAM BROWN, TOM JONES and CHARLIE DORE too name but a few. Still likes to play some blues with his old dad though.
http://www.wizzjones.com£7 members/£8 non-members
PETER is another of the unsung heroes of the Ram Club - a man who is always ready to pick up his guitar at a minute's notice (or less) to do a floor-spot, and who never fails to deliver the goods in his own inimitable style. The Goods (and they are very good) being (mostly) his own original songs that go all the way from delicate, picked, wistful ballads to out-and-out 'Folk and Roll'! He has a great eye for subject matter and for looking beyond the obvious, with an uncanny ability to write tunes that stick and some excellent guitar-playing underneath. This is a long overdue opportunity to shine over a full evening. Gentle heckling permitted.
£6 members/£7 non-members
LEON is a one-man independent watchdog whose brief is to keep an eye on the Government and other Official Bodies on our behalf and tell us about official crassness, corporate greed and state stupidity in a form we can understand - song! Humour is his rapier and he could defuse a bomb with it. It is the one Weapon of Mass Destruction from which they can't hide. Even the Daily Telegraph said "a master of barbed eloquence - the world's most accomplished mischief-maker". No angry ranting, just superb sometimes-angry, often-hilarious satirical songs that enlighten and entertain. Much-covered, his classics include World Turned Upside Down and Don't Get Married Girls. His new CD A Proper State is up there with his best.
http://www.leonrosselson.co.uk
