Folk Man (Logo) EFDSS (Logo)

Ely Folk Club

Ely Folk Club takes place at the Arkenstall Village Centre, 7 Station Road, Haddenham, Ely, Cambs CB6 3XD. There is no bar, but you are welcome to bring your own drinks with you. There is a large car park at the Arkenstall Centre.

Events at Ely Folk Club start at 7.30pm (doors open at 7:00pm) unless otherwise stated.

Concerts take place most months, on Wednesday evenings. We also hold occasional extra events.

Tickets may be paid for online using the link shown in each individual event. Alternatively, they may be reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Wednesday 13th March 2024

Ninebarrow

Ninebarrow photograph

Ninebarrow are a multi-award-winning folk duo, who are impressing audiences across the country with their innovative and captivating take on the folk tradition. Described by Mark Radcliffe as sounding like ‘two halves of one voice’, by Seth Lakeman as ‘a fantastic duo’ and by Kate Rusby as ‘absolutely amazing’, Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere combine breath taking vocal harmonies and melodies, delivering songs that are inspired and rooted in the landscape and history of the British Isles. Nominated in the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for Best Emerging Artist and most recently picking up Best Duo in the Folking.com awards 2019, their latest album, ‘A Pocket Full of Acorns’ (released in March 2021) was released to wide-spread critical acclaim including coverage on BBC1’s Countryfile and BBC Radio 4’s ‘Front Row’. Photo credit: Greg Funnell

Tickets may be paid for online at https://www.ninebarrow.co.uk/ely

Peter and Jane

Peter and Jane photograph

Peter and Jane are a folk duo from Suffolk, playing traditional and original songs and tunes on a range of instruments including guitar, banjo, flute, whistles and small pipes. Whether playing Scottish airs, Irish jigs and reels, or singing bluegrass favourites, traditional ballads or one of their own songs Peter and Jane entertain audiences with lively and varied performances that centre around close harmony between their instruments and voices.

Wednesday 17th April 2024

The Boxwood Chessmen

Boxwood Chessmen photograph

The Boxwood Chessmen are a semi-acoustic, four-piece band from East Anglia and Middlesex, raiding a fabulous musical pantry stocked with the finest roots ingredients - Folk, Americana, Angliana, hokum, a light dusting of swing all delivered with panache and fun … Pretty much anything goes into the pot. The Boxwood Chessmen are: Penni McLaren Walker, Hector Ringtone AKA Steve Collins, John Campbell Armer and Bryan Causton.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1014524 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Christopher Crompton

Chris Crompton photograph

Christopher Crompton is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, writer and poet from the West Midlands. His work is created from a diverse palette of influences that cross genres and cultures. His distinctive voice and guitar playing draw these threads together into a unique sound and presentation. The subjects he addresses are equally heterogeneous, from the personal to the political, from the Stoic to the spiritual, from the everyday to the extraordinary. In every corner of experience, Christopher seeks the sensibilities that render the individual universal. His words and music set out to make you feel something. They challenge but carry compassion. They empathise, lament, celebrate and encourage.

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Gerry Colvin Band

Gerry Colvin photograph

Folk-pop legend Gerry Colvin must be one of the most endearing and energetic musicians on the planet, just as much at home playing small clubs as he is supporting Status Quo on their Aquostic Live Tour. This multi-talented singer-songwriter performs all his own material, combining catchy melodies with thoughtful lyrics on love, society, angst and Johnny Cash! His be-suited on stage performance combines Frank Sinatra, Lee Evans, and the aforementioned Man in Black. Genius? Madcap? Maverick? Yes, all of these things … and a lot, lot more. A stellar musical CV includes co-writing with Alison Moyet, being a John Peel favourite with his 80s band Terry and Gerry (recently reformed), winning best band (with his band ColvinQuarmby) at Fairport's Cropredy Festival as well as the Hancock Award for best live folk act. A Glastonbury stalwart, he has played several times and also acted as compere on more than one occasion. Gerry will be playing songs from his ninth album 'Back and Forth' as well as favourites from his extensive back catalogue – just expect a great night's entertainment from this extraordinary performer.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1014764 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Eric Sedge

Eric Sedge photograph

Born and raised in a rural backwater in the East of England, Eric found early success as songwriter and multi-instumentalist in folk duo “The Broadside Boys” performing on TV and radio, and at folk clubs and festivals including Cambridge folk festival, Ely folk festival and FolkEast. 2017 saw The Broadside Boys embark on a 100 date UK tour with the legendary performer Richard Digance. Fellow Broadside Boy Mat Bayfield was forced to retire from the tour due to ill health, forcing Eric to embark upon the new challenge of being a solo performer. The rest of the tour proved to be such a success that he was invited to tour again in 2018 and 2019. More recently Eric has performed at folk clubs, theatres, venues and festivals across the land.

Wednesday 19th June 2024

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan

James and Nancy photograph

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan are one of the best-known and most experienced folk duos on the British circuit today. Outstanding musicianship, a lifelong grounding in traditional singing and instrumental playing, acclaimed original compositions but most noticeably a visceral chemistry between these two make Kerr and Fagan a perennial favourite at festivals, venues and clubs across the country. They met in December 1995, and formed the duo and life partnership that has become the backbone of their professional career in music ever since. They won the inaugural Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2000, and were also the first ever recipients of the 'Best Duo' Award, which they won in 2003, and again in 2011. As a duo, Nancy and James have toured internationally, most notably in the British Isles, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. They have thousands of fans and despite now having two children, they continue to work and tour constantly from their home base in Sheffield. Their duo shows are now special and sought-after events. Photograph by Elly Lucas.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1014768 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Support act to be announced

Wednesday 17th July 2024

Camus

Camus photograph

Camus is a traditional folk band based in Cambridge, UK. They have played around East Anglia for many years, at clubs, festivals, ceilidhs and concerts. Recently re-formed as a four-piece, they have national championships in Northumbrian piping (solo and duet) and tune composition among their recent successes. Camus play an exciting mix of traditions, with influences from Northumbria, Ireland and Shetland, a dash of bluegrass, Galician and Irish, and their own tunes and songs.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1014773 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

The Larks

The Larks photograph

The Larks, Liz Miller and Chris Wilbraham, use carefully wrought harmonies, guitar and mandolin to entertain their audiences.They play festivals such as FolkEast last year and headline folk clubs locally and as far away as Islington. Influences are many (Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell. The Smiths, The Cure, Anais Mitchell ) and their sets may include songs from these artists as well as original songs which might speak of Mermaids, a Life Boat Disaster or Climate Change.

Wednesday 18th September 2024

Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke

Fran and Mike photograph

London-based Fran McGillivray and Mike Burke are an exciting and compelling duo with a strong following on the acoustic roots music scene who have spent many years writing songs, touring and recording together. They have developed an amazing empathy on stage and have performed at major festivals in Europe and the UK. They are regulars on the club and concert circuit, and on BBC and local music radio. Fran and Mike’s own compositions are complemented by soulful, dynamic and powerful interpretations of songs from a broad range of genres from American Folk through to Country, Blues and Jazz. They have recorded five albums, and the latest, “Rain” was released in February 2022 and was named in the top ten Blues Americana albums of the year.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1063521 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

The Browns

The Browns photograph

The Browns are singer-songwriters who started singing together in 2018 after reconnecting in 2015. They met as teenagers at a school dance and lost touch after arrangements for their first date went awry, but the intervening years has given them plenty of material for their songs. Known for their rich and expressive blend of voices in harmony they have performed at festivals and folk club venues across East Anglia and beyond. As well as their own songs, The Browns bring their unique touch to popular songs from the second half of the 20th century. With just two voices and one guitar, which Vernon plays upside down, they have developed an exceptional sound allowing their distinctive vocals to take centre stage and shine.

Wednesday 16th Oct 2024

Christina Alden and Alex Patterson

Alden Patterson photograph

Christina Alden & Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich. Their music is rich with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative song-writing style that is both delicate and moving. Deeply inspired by the world around them, they have a keen environmental eye to craft stories with the natural world at its heart, reflecting on the relationship between humans and the wild. They have enjoyed touring extensively in the UK and Europe; including a twentythree-date concert hall tour with Show of Hands (including Union Chapel and St David’s Hall Cardiff), a show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for Celtic Connections, headline and main stage performances at some of the UK’s most prestigious folk festivals and performances in Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland. They have written and self-released four albums, composed music for a BBC Radio 4 documentary series and have had over a million streams on Spotify.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1063522 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Support act to be announced

Wednesday 13th November 2024

Bob Fox

Bob Fox photograph

For almost 50 years Bob Fox has been regarded as one of “the iconic voices” of British folk song. Deeply influenced by the working class culture and industrial history of his native County Durham he has become a first rate exponent of storytelling through song. BOB has long been a favourite on the live circuit both as a solo artist and in his many highly successful collaborations which include a duo with Billy Mitchell (Lindisfarne), The Pitmen Poets (with Jez Lowe, Billy Mitchell and Benny Graham) and the BBC New Radio Ballads series. Bob was invited by John Tams to play the role of the folksinger/storyteller Songman in The English National Theatre’s multi-award winning production of Warhorse in London’s West End 2011-2013, and subsequently in the highly acclaimed and record breaking UK, Ireland and South Africa touring version 2013-2015 and the 10th Anniversary UK tour 2017-2019. In 2023 Bob teamed up with Jez Lowe and Julie Matthews to present a live concert of New Radio Ballads songs and stories and most recently has joined Home Service as lead singer.

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1063523 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Support act to be announced

Wednesday 18th December 2024

London Philharmonic Skiffle Orchestra

LPSO photograph

Great music and laughter, with the LPSO. Foot-tapping high energy acoustic music, comic songs, silly costumes and ridiculous props – they play over 15 instruments, from the more conventional to the outright bizarre. They have performed in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and Belgium, as well as throughout Britain, from Jersey to the Isle of Man. With vast experience individually, including Barnum’s Circus (USA), and TV appearances on The Benny Hill Show, Alas Smith & Jones and the Little & Large Show - the emphasis is definitely on FUN!

Tickets may be paid for online at https://buytickets.at/elyfolkclub/1063524 or reserved in advance by telephoning 01353 740999 or 01353 664706.

Support act to be announced