As we wind down from the summer festival season, those clubs that take a break are returning – so please have a look at our club listings and go and enjoy some fine music in good company!

Just click here and see what the region has to offer.

It does help if you go full Fred Pontin and BOOK EARLY for anything that you might wish to go and see. These can be difficult times for both clubs and artists, so the more certain they are that people will be coming, the happier everyone will be. It’s bad enough when you leave it too late, only to find out that an event has sold out, but finding out that something has been cancelled because not enough people had bought tickets must be even worse!

CONGRATULATIONS:
Our friends at Fleetwood Folk Club have just run their annual free festival. Not only have they entertained people with a fine selection of folk music, but they have also raised over £500 for the much deserving RNLI. Looking forward to next year already!

SADLY MISSED
A little late but a couple of obituaries to share:

We are sorry to share two items of sad news in from Anne and Tony at Runcorn Folk Club:
They are sharing news of the passing away on 19th May of long-time resident of Runcorn Folk Club, Gloria Collins.
Gloria was known around the local folk scene as a fine singer with a lovely voice who performed at our club singing in the traditional style unaccompanied and mainly accompanied by Christine Hanslip. She will be sadly missed by all at the club and beyond.
We are also sorry to share news of the loss of Gloria’s singing partner, Christine Hanslip, long-time resident at Runcorn Folk Club, who passed away peacefully on Monday 23rd June. A lovely lady who will be so sadly missed.

Tim Howard, former guitarist in both The Tansads and the first line up of Merry Hell passed suddenly at the far too young age of 60. He was a remarkable musician and a man for whom the term ‘bon viveur’ could have been invented. Wherever there was a good time to be had, he would likely be at the heart of it, and wherever Tim was, there was likely to be a good time. He had a phenomenal sense of fun, often laced with a little danger and a fair degree of alcohol. Tim features on the Tansads final album ‘Reason To Be and the first Merry Hell album ‘BLINK.... and you miss it’. He was then commissioned to carry out some sound related work in Dubai, went for a couple of weeks and stayed for 13 years.

Tim Howard: 1964 - 2025 - taken way too soon. Our thoughts and love are with his family.

Furness Tradition have sadly reported the passing of Derek Gifford, fine singer, musician, morris dancer and so much more. Derek will be known to locals as a mainstay of the Lancashire and general NW folk scene. Give yourself time this week to listen to Derek's singing from one of his many recordings and have a quiet moment.

Giff aka Derek Gifford sadly died on Thirsday August 28th. He had been diagnosed with cancer 2 years ago and slipped away, pain free and peacefully. RIP

BETTER NEWS:
A couple of events to illustrate what is going on around here!

Just a few days left to book discount advance tickets for Barlow Folk’s Edgworth Festival: Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th October. At the moment weekend tickets are £40 but that's before this Friday, 5th september. They are £50 after that. Click here for details and how to book.

The Wigan Diggers Festival is a free one day event in the centre of the town, celebrating the life, ideas and influence of Gerrard Winstanley, founder of the Diggers movement. There is a strong folk-folk/rock element to the day. With local favourite Lawrence Hoy, young singer songwriter The Dove and The Dragon, rising Agit-Folk singer Jess Silk, plus Steve White and The Protest Family, uplifting folk-rock from the Jon Palmer Acoustic Band, plus Phil ‘Swill’ Odgers, a solo performance from the frontman of legendary band The Men They Couldn’t Hang, rounded off by a hometown gig from Merry Hell. It’s all happening on Saturday September 13th, starting with a parade at 11am and finishing at 9.30pm. Largely funded by beer sales on the day, so organisers are encouraging people to drink responsibly.

The timetable for the day is below and more details can be found at www.wigandiggersfestival.org

GET INVOLVED:
With so many clubs operating around the area and part of the federation, artists looking for bookings, whether they are big spots, support slots or guest appearances, please consider joining our hiring fair – for a mere £10 registration fee, your details are up on our website to share and be seen. Also, any clubs that would like to be included and get their listings on the site – do get in touch with us and we will send you details.

If you have any reviews of a folk related album or a concert that you would like to share – please get in touch and we would be delighted to include them on the site – and do follow our Facebook page for more news throughout the year. Go on, you know you want to!!