It's episode number 10 and in this episode we are talking with Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul.

Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul have been singing songs together for years. With roots in Edinburgh, Wester Ross and Newcastle they share a love of traditional songs and the stories behind them. Their debut EP ‘Six Sangs’ launched in 2024, showcasing their simple and striking approach using just guitar and voice to tell these tales.

Alasdair is a Highland guitarist now based in Newcastle, in demand for his thoughtful and driving style. He can be found playing across the country with Pons Aelius, the Heather Ferrier Trio and Jordan Aikin’s Quercus . Amy is an Edinburgh based singer, with a passion for the joy of singing: in this partnership, through her choir leading or any other chance she can find to sing.

You can follow Amy and Alasdair in numerous ways:

Amy and Alasdair's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amyandalasdair

Amy and Alasdair's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyandalasdairmusic

Amy and Alasdair's Bandcamp: https://amyleachandalasdairpaul.bandcamp.com/album/six-sangs

It's episode number 9, in this episode, we are talking with Rob Clamp.

‘It’s not often you come across a voice with such controlled power: even at the emotional heights and depths of the songs, Rob’s voice retains a purity and focus that is all too rare. Wherever his songwriting leads him, his voice adapts to the genre, from pop through folk and roots. A classic voice for classic music.'

Rob has been featured on BBC introducing, has won the highly regarded ‘Purbeck Rising 2022’ imprinting himself onto the UK folk scene, and won the ‘Sofia International Singer Songwriter Festival 2022’ in Bulgaria.

Heavily influenced by the likes of; Ben Howard, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and Bruce Springsteen - Rob’s music is filled with real life experiences, performed in his own compelling storytelling style, with acoustic guitar accompanied by a variation of foot percussion. 2023 has been eventful for Rob, selling out numerous shows in the South of England including; The Joiners Arms (Southampton) and The Railway Inn (Winchester). Rob is also looking forward to supporting the likes of; Frank Turner, James Walsh (Starsailor) and Sean McGowan towards the tail end of the year, with his debut album that came out in Spring 2024.

You can follow Rob in numerous ways:

Rob's Webpage: ⁠https://www.robclampmusic.com/

Rob's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@robclampmusic

Rob's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rob_clamp_music/

Rob's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robclampmusic/

Rob's Bandcamp: https://robclamp.bandcamp.com/

Welcome to our very first ShireFolk podcast! Each episode we will be having a relaxed conversation with some of the new stars of the Folk Music Scene.

This episode, we are talking with musician George Boomsma, who's music Bob Fisher (BBC Tees) referred to as "Songs of exquisite beauty, with a voice that could melt ice caps... gorgeous stuff." As we talk, George is about to perform as part of the ShireFolk tours in September 2023 and also release his new single 'Lilly of the Nile'.

We discuss all things English Folk Expo, motorway service stations, getting hair stuck in guitar machine heads (someone else's hair) and sometimes we focus on the music....

You can see George on Taskmaster here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op8l6y98Mq4

Link to the song 'In Rose' animated by Ale Orj, Madre Quiche Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS_qa9PbMlI

George playing with one of Nick Drake's guitars! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZinSWPOpDN4

You can follow George in numerous ways:

George’s Website: https://www.georgeboomsma.com/

George’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@georgeboomsmamusic

George’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgeboomsma/

George’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeBoomsma

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/

We also make a nod to the Kitchen Garden Cafe in Birmingham - check them out at: https://www.kitchengardencafe.co.uk/

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit https://shirefolk.co.uk

It's episode number 8, in this episode, we are talking with Katie Spencer.

“Katie’s guitar playing has echoes of my dear friend the late great Bert Jansch. Like a musical weaver she threads her poetic lyrics through the guitar’s strings and produces little tapestries of song” – Ralph McTell

“Her articulate picking, with suggestions of folk and jazz, frames intelligently written songs and is the backbone to her music.” Guitarist Magazine

Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. Industry still shapes the city here. The people, as with the land, are moulded by tides and stark horizons. Stand in the same place for long enough and you can watch the sun rise over the North Sea and then sink into crop fields, glowing auburn in late-summer sun. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through Katie Spencer’s music.

You can follow Katie in numerous ways:

Katie's Webpage: ⁠https://www.katiespencer.net/

Katie's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KatieSpencer

Katie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiespencermusic/

Katie's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiespencermusic/

Katie's Bandcamp: https://katiespencerofficial.bandcamp.com/

To learn more about the 'Humankind Songwriting Retreat' visit:

https://www.ionalane.com/

We are so pleased to have had a chat with 'Those Folk' for our first ShireFolk Special Podcast.

A little more about 'Those Folk'...Charismatic, authentic and thoroughly entertaining, Lawrence Menard (USA) and Clare Quinn (AUS) are the transpacific-troubadours known as ‘Those Folk.’ Having met in Scotland in 2012, they have since travelled extensively and lived in the pine forest mountains of California. They now hang their travelling hats in Pomona, Queensland.

A partnership forged in the fires of folk music, Those Folk explore sounds from the 1960’s folk revival and contemporary Americana music. Breathtaking vocal harmonies are featured alongside rich instrumental work performed on guitars, accordion, mandolin and banjo. Lawrence & Clare are storytellers who make audience members feel like fast friends. As songwriters they delve into love, hope, belonging, and the human condition. As performers they enthral, enchant, and leave a lasting impression.

Lawrence & Clare have been compared to the likes of Simon & Garfunkel and Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings. Those Folk make not just folk music, but music for all sorts of folk.

https://thosefolk.com/

It's episode number 7, in this episode, we are talking with Daudi Matsiko. "Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant" Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio 6 Music

"Very much my sweet spot" Lauren Laverne, BBC Radio 6 Music

Nottingham based, British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko carefully crafts modern albeit reverent folk. Deft, melancholic picking reminiscent of Nick Drake is tempered by contemporary percussion and instrumentation. Matsiko’s vocals derive their strength from their seeming fragility. With every song, his confessional lyrics cut to the marrow. After releasing EPs, ‘A Brief Introduction to Failure’ and ‘The Lingering Effects of Disconnection’, he has toured with Keaton Henson, GoGo Penguin and Portico Quartet and was also a participant of the Red Bull Music Academy in Montreal 2016.

You can follow Daudi in numerous ways:

Daudi's Linktree: ⁠https://linktr.ee/daudimatsiko

Daudi's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/daudimatsiko

Daudi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daudi/

Daudi's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellodaudi/

Daudi's Bandcamp: https://hellodaudi.bandcamp.com/

Link to an episode of Deprestival on LWSTD: https://www.mixcloud.com/lwstd-fm/2024-02-21-deprestival-lwstd-fm/

Here is a link to the Adam Buxton Podcast episode 415 with guest Daudi Matsiko! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5LMbQAl9N9XsZaj3o0XpDG?si=00db9813051c4314

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit⁠ https://shirefolk.co.uk

It's episode number 6, in this episode, we are talking with Georgie Buchanan. "This is beautiful, subtle and sophisticated folk music. Ethereal yet rooted. I can’t wait to hear more from Georgie Buchanan.” – Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands)

"Gorgeous" – Guy Garvey, BBC 6Music

Hailing from the North Shore Mountains of Canada and the Chiltern Hills, Georgie has always felt most at home creating music in the rich landscapes of the natural world. Since immersing herself in the folk world she’s performed with Show of Hands on the main stage of Sidmouth Folk Festival, been selected for Sound and Music’s highly competitive New Voices Programme and had one of her original songs ‘Love is a Rocking Wave’ played on The Nest Collective’s ‘Singing with Nightingales, Homecoming Broadcast’ hosted by Sam Lee. In 2021 Georgie was selected to take part in the English Folk Expo’s Artist Mentoring Programme and has performed at Focus Wales and Cambridge Folk Festival. In 2022 she supported renowned folk acts Ye Vagabonds, Katherine Priddy and John Francis Flynn.

You can follow Georgie in numerous ways:

Georgie's Website: ⁠https://www.georgiebuchanan.com/

Georgie's YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@georgiebuchananmusic

Georgie's Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/georgie.buchanan.music/

Georgie's Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/georgiebuchananmusic

Georgie's Bandcamp: https://georgiebuchanan.bandcamp.com/album/wise-as-a-fool

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: ⁠https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/⁠

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit⁠ https://shirefolk.co.uk

It's episode number 5, in this episode, we are talking with Heather Ferrier. “Star of the North East Folk scene”- Nicky Rob, BBC introducing North East

With captivating musicianship and a sound that is unapologetically her own, Heather Ferrier is a force to be reckoned with. An “engaging talker and magnetic performer” (NARC magazine), the Stockport born accordionist, clog dancer and composer is changing the perceptions of alt-folk on her own terms. Her latest EP Engine for the Sound creates music that sets the accordion free from its stereotypes, and with an extended line-up of musicians, expresses everything Heather stands for using powerful melodies and jazz-influenced harmony. Bold, passionate and enthralling; the EP has been played on BBC Radio 6 music, and well as being favourably reviewed in local and national publications.

You can follow Heather in numerous ways:

Heather's Website: ⁠https://heatherferriermusic.com/

Heather's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heatherferrier9201

Heather's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherferriermusic/

Heather's Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/heatherferriermusic

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: ⁠https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/⁠

Learn more about Help Musicians here: https://www.helpmusicians.org.uk/

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit⁠ https://shirefolk.co.uk

It's episode number 4, in this episode, we are talking with Maddie Morris. "Maddie Morris is an extremely accomplished young singer - not just the possessor of a haunting and delicately ornamented vocal style, but also a performer with serious insight into how to tell a story in song.” - Nancy Kerr

After graduating with a first-class honours degree from Leeds Conservatoire, Maddie soon made waves by winning the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, as well as landing a grant from the Alan Surtees Trust. From these firm foundations, her career has gone from strength to strength, with recent performances including Cropredy and Cambridge Folk Festival.

You can follow Maddie in numerous ways:

Maddies's Website: https://www.maddiemorrismusic.co.uk/

Maddies's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maddiemorris2085

Maddies's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maddiemorrismusic/

Maddies's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaddieMorrisMusic/

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit https://shirefolk.co.uk

It's episode number 3, in this episode, we are talking with musician Amelia Coburn. Since being nominated for the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, Amelia Coburn has been writing and performing highly evocative and narrative-driven songs inspired by film noir, her travels within unfamiliar lands, as well as the sights, sounds and folklore of her native North East.

While musically her compositions draw on Tin Pan Alley Jazz and European folk music, her lyrics explore unusual subjects such as vengeful widows, sleep paralysis, mutinous pirates and staying up all night in Dublin. Her songs have received national radio play in the UK and Ireland and are streamed around the world.

You can follow Amelia in numerous ways:

Amelia's Website: https://www.ameliacoburn.co.uk/

Amelia's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AmeliaCoburnMusic

Amelia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ameliacoburn/

Amelia's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliacoburn

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit https://shirefolk.co.uk

Welcome to podcast number 2!!! Each episode we will be having a relaxed conversation with some of the new stars of the Folk Music Scene.

This episode, we are talking with musician Lady Nade, a multi-award-winning eclectic Folk and Americana singer-songwriter. Gaining plaudits on Ralph McLean (Northern Ireland & BBC Radio Ulster), Clive Anderson - Loose Ends (Radio 4), Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2 & BBC Radio 6) CerysMatthews (BBC Radio 2 & BBC Radio 6), Lady Nade also won ‘UK song of the Year’ in the 2022 UK Americana Awards.

You can follow Lady Nade in numerous ways:

Lady Nade's Website: https://ladynade.co.uk/

Lady Nade's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ladynadevideos

Lady Nade's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladynadeuk

Lady Nade's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ladynade

Lady Nade's LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/ladynade

Learn more about the EnglishFolkExpo here: https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/

To get tickets to ShireFolk events just visit https://shirefolk.co.uk