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Review: Ham Farm Festival - 'A hidden gem'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 29

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

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A folk festival hidden in a garden tucked in a suburban corner of Emerson's Green... Who knew?!

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 29

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

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Les Caravanes - The Folk House, Bristol

Les Caravanes - Folk House, Bristol

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Review: Les Caravanes, Bristol Folk House - 'A folk revolution'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 25

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...

A roving folk club drops in to Park Street

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 21

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...

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

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Reposted by Gavin McNamara

Downend Folk & Roots @downendfolkroots.bsky.social · Jul 19

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....

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 15

So many great gigs here...

Knitted Elephant Promotions @knittedelephant.bsky.social · Jul 15

Some great gigs coming up this Autumn!

More information: mailchi.mp/87c7cc889a41...

#livemusic #bristol

Review: Ann Liu Cannon, Rough Trade - 'Fury bubbles beneath beauty'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jul 11

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...

Radiant on a hot day, Cannon belongs in a sweet, wholesome folk club setting

Review: Cara Dillon, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Languid grace, tenderness and enormous fun''

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jun 21

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...

Acclaimed Irish singer Cara Dillon chose an oven-hot night to visit Bristol

Review: Sam Kelly, Thekla - 'Huge-hearted euphoria'

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jun 16

@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...

The boat plays host to a BBC Radio 2 Folk award-winner

Review: Eric Chenaux / RÓIS, the Cube - 'Channelling the celestial'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jun 16

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

Lucy Langley-Palmer @lglpalmer.bsky.social · Jun 16

Eric Chenaux and RÓIS at Cube Microplex on Friday was incredible. Reminded me just how good live music can be. Here’s my write up for @bristol247.bsky.social

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

Two distinct artists converge to create an enchanting evening at the co-op run cinema-cum-venue

Review: Elly Hopkins, the Ill Repute - 'Brushed drums and a bruised heart'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Jun 7

@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...

The Old Market pub with lived-in charm was the perfect place for Hopkins' debut single launch

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

Reposted by Gavin McNamara

Downend Folk & Roots @downendfolkroots.bsky.social · May 21

“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.

YouTube video by Downend Folk & Roots

youtu.be

Review: Amelia Coburn, the Louisiana - 'Shapeshifts and enchants'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 19

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

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

It's a Bristol debut for this literate folk-goth singer songwriter from Middlesborough

Downend Folk & Roots - REVIEW: "EVERY OLD STORY SPRINGS BACK TO LIFE"

Reposted by Gavin McNamara

Downend Folk & Roots @downendfolkroots.bsky.social · May 18

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...

Downend Folk & Roots

downendfolkandroots.com

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 13

Thank you Lucy.

Bristol Folk Festival 2025

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 11

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...

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

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Rachael McShane & The Cartographers - Uncharted

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 11

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...

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.

open.substack.com

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 6

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...

Review: Bristol Folk Festival - 'Music to stir the blood'

The Park Street folk party's smorgasboard of musical delights did not disappoint

Bristol's month in Folk and Roots - May 2025

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 3

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...

May is the best month of the year for Folk & Roots in Bristol

Review: Hannah Scott, Downend Folk & Roots - 'It is everything that makes life worth contemplating'

Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · May 1

@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...

Music and entertainment runs in the family for Hannah

Review: Heartwood Chorus, the Mount Without - 'The finest of celebrations'

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Apr 7

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...

A celebratory evening of song and dance headed up by Bristol's premier folk choir

Review: Detta Kenzie, Downend Folk Club - 'Tugs on the divide between the real world and the magical'

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Mar 10

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...

A Devonian singer with a crystalline voice and a talent for appealing to all-comers

Bristol's month in Folk & Roots - March 2025

Reposted by Gavin McNamara

Downend Folk & Roots @downendfolkroots.bsky.social · Mar 10

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...

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Gavin McNamara @tallfolk46.bsky.social · Feb 28

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...

A mix of folky style music for the merry month of March