AN EVENING OF MODERN FOLK DIRECT FROM THE PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL
Blair Dunlop is a captivating vocalist, phenomenal guitarist and writer of songs of the deepest lyrical and musical maturity. He scooped the prestigious Horizon Award at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Richard Thompson was so impressed with Dunlop that he gave him a previously unrecorded composition – Seven Brothers – for inclusion on his debut.
Blair has recently been in the studio with producer and collaborator Ed Harcourt (Sophie Ellis Bextor, Paloma Faith, Marianne Faithfull, the Libertines) working on his new album, scheduled for release in early 2018.
“…. Dunlop brings an air of tenacity while displaying a fine repertoire of well-crafted songs spanning traditional and contemporary. He’s determinedly taking the traditions of folk in his own direction” THE INDEPENDENT
“…his guitar playing ranks him alongside the likes of some of the folk masters.” Sonic Bandwagon
“…Dunlop gives a master-class” Louder than War
Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker.
The way this British duo inhabit songs that are sometimes centuries old, making them personal and present again, while also pricking the heart with their own tales of everyday love and loss makes the music of Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker a rare and precious thing. They won Best Duo at the 2015 BBC Folk Awards.
What truly sets them apart is the combination of Josienne’s divinely nuanced, emotionally affecting voice and Ben’s intricately expressive, adroit guitar technique. They cite Sandy Denny, June Tabor, Nic Jones and Pierre Bensusan as respective influences but theirs is a captivating sound that’s all their own.
“Clarke is a compelling singer, influenced by Sandy Denny in both her phrasing and lyrics, and she is finely backed by Walker’s delicate guitar work…exquisite ballardry” The Guardian
“Clarke’s diaphanous British voice and Walker’s guitar work — feels both timeless and ephemeral” NPR Music
“The duo are a rare find” UNCUT Magazine
Wednesday 14 March 2018 at Thornbury Theatre – Velvet Room ( venue info )