Gavin McNamara

Our review of last night’s incredible concert, featuring The Black feathers with support from Hannah Wood, is now up on the website. Thanks to @tallfolk46.bsky.social for the review, and to Barry Savell for the photos.

#livemusic #folkmusic #americanamusic #countrymusic #downend #bristol

Review: Daisy Rickman, Strange Brew - 'Daisy is a wizard, a mystic and a true star' Daisy Rickman is a painter, filmmaker, photographer and musician from Mousehole, Cornwall

Daisy Rickman was brilliant at Strange Brew, Bristol last night.
My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here...
www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Ham Farm Festival - 'A hidden gem' A folk festival hidden in a garden tucked in a suburban corner of Emerson's Green... Who knew?!

If @thefolkarchive.bsky.social is to be believed (and we definitely should believe them - The Lost Folk is a brilliant book), then these little local festivals should be cherished. Ham Farm Festival in Bristol was great.
@bristol247.bsky.social

share.google/zyN93VILTqk7...

Les Caravanes - The Folk House, Bristol Les Caravanes - Folk House, Bristol

Folk music is always changing, always shifting. Right now, it's Broadside Hacks and Shovel Dance Collective that are staging the revolution.

open.substack.com/pub/tallfolk...

Review: Les Caravanes, Bristol Folk House - 'A folk revolution' A roving folk club drops in to Park Street

The brilliant travelling Folk Club, Les Caravanes, stopped off at The Folk House in Bristol last night.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here... share.google/HWo9BhoUBogF...

Review: Lizzy Hardingham, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Opens her lungs and pins the audience to the wall' This show, as always, is a celebration of the power of real music in real places enjoyed by real people

Another fantastic night @downendfolkroots.bsky.social on Friday. Lizzy Hardingham and Dan Sealey were great.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here...

Review: Lizzy Hardingham, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Opens her lungs and pins the audience to the wall' share.google/PfJhu4tORP60...

Our review of last night’s concert, featuring Lizzy Hardingham and her band, with support from Dan Sealey, is now up on the website.

Thanks to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos) for capturing the evening for us.

downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/54....

So many great gigs here...

Review: Ann Liu Cannon, Rough Trade - 'Fury bubbles beneath beauty' Radiant on a hot day, Cannon belongs in a sweet, wholesome folk club setting

Ann Liu Cannon at @roughtraderecords.bsky.social in Bristol was great last night. My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here:

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Cara Dillon, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Languid grace, tenderness and enormous fun'' Acclaimed Irish singer Cara Dillon chose an oven-hot night to visit Bristol

On a ridiculously hot evening @downendfolkroots.bsky.social, @caradillonsings.bsky.social was wonderfully cool.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here...

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Sam Kelly, Thekla - 'Huge-hearted euphoria' The boat plays host to a BBC Radio 2 Folk award-winner

@samkellymusic.bsky.social was so good at Thekla in Bristol last week. Euphoric Folk music for everyone.
My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here...

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Look at Lucy's brilliant review from the Cube on Friday. Top, top writing.

Review: Elly Hopkins, the Ill Repute - 'Brushed drums and a bruised heart' The Old Market pub with lived-in charm was the perfect place for Hopkins' debut single launch

@ellyhopkins.bsky.social was so good at The Ill Repute in Bristol last night. Dusty, fuzzy Americana of the highest degree.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

YouTube video by Downend Folk & Roots Holly Clarke - Strawberry Town (live at Downend Folk & Roots)

“The truly remarkable thing about Holly Clarke is her voice, and it is when she sings unaccompanied that she becomes incredibly special." - @tallfolk46.bsky.social

Here’s another video of @hollyclarkemusic.bsky.social from Friday’s concert.

Review: Amelia Coburn, the Louisiana - 'Shapeshifts and enchants' It's a Bristol debut for this literate folk-goth singer songwriter from Middlesborough

Amelia Coburn was brilliant at The Louisiana in Bristol last week. Superb literate folk-goth.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Thanks as always to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos) for capturing the evening. #livemusic #folkmusic #downend #bristol

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE: downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/53...

Thank you Lucy.

Bristol Folk Festival 2025 Bristol Folk Festival - St George’s and The Folk House, Bristol

The first of my live reviews on Substack. Bristol Folk Festival was brilliant this year. Highlights - @katherinepriddy.bsky.social @heartwoodchorus.bsky.social Talisk, The Goblin Band, Filkin's Ensemble and The Askew Sisters.

substack.com/@tallfolk/no...

Rachael McShane & The Cartographers - Uncharted Seven years on from When All is Still, Rachael McShane emerges from the back of the Bellowhead bus with an album that's, at turns, deliciously warming, oddly disquieting and as danceable as you like.

I've just posted my first review on Substack. It's the brilliant new @rachaelmcshane.bsky.social album, which I reviewed a while ago but was never published. Read it here..

open.substack.com/pub/tallfolk...

Review: Bristol Folk Festival - 'Music to stir the blood' The Park Street folk party's smorgasboard of musical delights did not disappoint

Bristol Folk Festival is always the highlight of the Folk-y year. It was brilliant this weekend. Highlights? @heartwoodchorus.bsky.social Talisk, The Goblin Band, @katherinepriddy.bsky.social, Martin Simpson, The Askew Sisters and more
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/festivals/re...

Bristol's month in Folk and Roots - May 2025 May is the best month of the year for Folk & Roots in Bristol

May is full of Folk-y, Roots-y wonderfulness in Bristol. Highlights include @skinnylister.bsky.social, Opa Rosa, Amelia Coburn, Flook and Rheingans Sisters
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Hannah Scott, Downend Folk & Roots - 'It is everything that makes life worth contemplating' Music and entertainment runs in the family for Hannah

@hannahscottuk.bsky.social and @corujajones.bsky.social on Friday at @downendfolkroots.bsky.social - yet another great Downend gig.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Heartwood Chorus, the Mount Without - 'The finest of celebrations' A celebratory evening of song and dance headed up by Bristol's premier folk choir

There's a wonderful Folk Choir "thing" going on just now - Bristol's own Heartwood Chorus are right in the centre of it. Here's my review of a glorious celebration for the release of their brilliant debut EP. @bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Review: Detta Kenzie, Downend Folk Club - 'Tugs on the divide between the real world and the magical' A Devonian singer with a crystalline voice and a talent for appealing to all-comers

These "Live at Lunchtime" gigs @downendfolkroots.bsky.social are brilliant. Detta Kenzie was perfect on Saturday - warm, welcoming and superb. @bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

Our review of Saturday’s Detta Kenzie concert is now up on the website. Thanks to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos).

downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/52...

Bristol's month in Folk & Roots - March 2025 A mix of folky style music for the merry month of March

Bristol is packed full of amazing Folk & Roots gigs in March. @downendfolkroots.bsky.social @bristolbeacon.bsky.social @stgeorgesbris.bsky.social and so many more places
www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

BOSS ALBUM REVIEW! If you haven't bought the album yet, get on it. I'm so proud of it, and there aren't that many left!

Boss Morris - Boss Morris, a review - Tradfolk If there is one thing that we know for certain around these parts it is that, ironically, traditions have to change in order to stay alive. We cannot hark back to the “good old days”; we cannot ignore...

The Boss Morris album, featuring @samsweeney.bsky.social, Rob Harbron & Miranda Rutter is absolutely awesome. Incredible modern folk music.
@tradfolk.bsky.social

tradfolk.co/performance/...

The Brothers Gillespie, Downend Folk and Roots - 'Utterly timeless' Two actual brothers with incredible voices pay a visit - from Northumberland - to the popular folk club

The Brothers Gillespie were incredible on Friday @downendfolkroots.bsky.social. Support from Liz Simcock - utterly timeless too. @bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...

The Brothers Gillespie and Liz Simcock were amazing @downendfolkroots.bsky.social last night. Brilliant modern folk songs.
@fateamagazine.bsky.social

www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/liv...