Club Programme

Last seen at the Black Swan Folk Club in February 2016 not long before their founder member and inspiration Koady Chaisson unexpectedly passed away from a heart anneurysm at only 37 years old. The East Pointers have Koady to thank for being the kinetic force behind them. This JUNO-Award winning indie-folk trio combime to produce dancefloor-shaking electro-trad, a glorious combination of folk/pop' It has brought much joy to audiences around the world and now, even posthumously, Koady’s energetic fire continues to blaze their musical trail onward. They return to York to stir up a storm once again.

James Keelaghan returns to The Black Swan Folk Club. His return is long overdue and this concert is the final night of the extended City of York 'Roland Wall's' Folk Weekend 2025. Called Canada’s finest singer-songwriter by one of the most respected and lauded music journalists of the last 50 years, James Keelaghan is an artist who has proven to be a man for all seasons. As the calendar pages have turned, for almost a quarter of a century now, this poet laureate of the folk and roots music world has gone about his work with a combination of passion, intent and intensity, and curiosity. Fusing his insatiable appetite for finding the next unique storyline Keelaghan also forges his pieces with brilliantly defined craftsmanship and a monogrammed artistic vision, making him one of the most distinctive and readily identifiable voices of not only the Canadian scene, but as a member of the international singer-songwriter community

This one is a double bill with 2 locally based artists who certainly require more attention. LEWIS PUGH was brought to our notice when he made an impressive debut at one of our Open Mic evenings earlier this year. He is a prolific songwriter influenced by everything from bluegrass, country, folk through to skiffle and punk. Through his family his appreciation of roots music came at a young age. Self-releasing his first solo album in 2017, he has since released 'Dark Wheels Turn Above Our Heads' in 2020 and 'Bullets for Bread' in 2024, finding a sound between country, folk and bluegrass with a distinct political slant. In between albums there have been singles & EPs raising money for homeless outreaches or food banks. 'Featherstone Massacre', Lewis' song about a tragedy which happened in West Yorkshire in 1893, has recently appeared on a documentary film by Ian Clayton about the events. CARAMBA have appeared at the annual City of York ‘Roland Walls’ Folk Weekend many times but this is their first appearance as guests on a club night. Founded in 2002 they are a multi-instrumental group (fiddle, charango, guitars, mandolin, African thumb piano, whistles, and percussion) and they sing in 3-part harmony. They specialise in music from Africa and Latin-America, and also cover other styles including Cajun and bluegrass.

Michael McGoldrick and Tim Edey are celebrated musicians in the realm of Celtic folk music, renowned for their exceptional skills and innovative approaches. Former BBC Folk Awards Musician of the Year Michael McGoldrick is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and composer. Born in Manchester to Irish parents, he is a master of the wooden flute, low whistles and uilleann pipes, making him a go-to contributor for many artists. Mike has collaborated with Mark Knopfler since 2009 and been a core member of the Transatlantic Sessions since 2007. Steeped in Irish traditional music, he has, from his ground-breaking 2000 solo album Fused onwards, assimilated a wide range of musical styles into his work including jazz, funk, African and Indian rhythms. Mike has made an immense contribution to the Irish and UK folk scenes through his many solo and collaborative projects including being a founder member of the supergroup Lúnasa and later through his work with Capercaillie. Recently nominated as Best Folk Instrumentalist at the 2024 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, Mike’s reputation as one of the leading musicians of his generation is undeniable. Tim Edey is a guitarist & melodeon player, a BBC musician of the year & BBC Scotland best traditional musician winner. Having spent years touring with acts like The Chieftains, Seamus Begley, Brendan Power, Natalie MacMaster to name a few, Tim is now an accomplished solo artist and joins Mike, a huge musical influence, having first met him at Rochester Sweeps Festival in 1996. The duo is a special meeting of old friends bringing together virtuosity and sheer musical magic.

Stan Graham, David Swann and Anna Shannon all well known to the club as three fine North Yorkshire singer-songwriters with a wealth of great songs. They entertain with a mixture of their own compositions plus tales to tell about the songs. Three different styles held together by excellent musicianship, humour and great storytelling.

It's a pleasure to welcome one of the great folk and acoustic guitarists Clive Carroll back to The Black Swan Folk Club Widely known for his unmistakable sound, compositions, and versatility he has toured across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and China, bringing his signature blend of warmth and humour to breathtaking, genre-bending live performances. Carroll made his musical debut at age two as a banjo- strumming cowboy singing nursery rhymes, and went on to earn a 1st Class Honours Degree in Composition and Guitar from the famed Trinity College of Music in London. Upon graduation, he was taken on the road by the legendary “folk-baroque” pioneer, guitarist-composer John Renbourn, with whom he also collaborated over many years. He has also worked with other guitar greats such as John Williams, D'Gary, Tommy Emmanuel, Xuefei Yang, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, and Ralph Towner. With influences mined from the delicate cadences of Elizabethan lute classics, the imaginative eccentricity of Frank Zappa, visionary classical composers such as Bartok and Ligeti, and hints of jazz and Delta blues, Carroll has created a sound world all his own. ________________________________________ 2000 - “Probably the best and most original young acoustic guitarist/composer in Britain.” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine USA 2009 - “Clive Carroll looks set to become the latest acoustic guitar hero” - The Guardian, UK 2021 - “...arguably the most accomplished fingerstylist in the world today...” - Total Guitar Magazine 2024 - “one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists and instructors working today. His knowledge, technique, and passion for the art form are unparalleled” - Acoustic Guitar Magazine USA

Since their first get together, to record the eponymous St Agnes Fountain album in 2001, the quartet; David Hughes, Fairport Convention's Chris Leslie and multi award winning duo Chris While and Julie Matthews, have brought musical invention and laughter to the star-dust atmosphere of the season. Founding member David Hughes sadly passed away in 2023 but the other original members Chris Leslie, Julie Matthews and Chris While continue as a trio. 2024 brought a new 'live' album from them, recorded all across the country during their 2023 Christmas tour. As usual the album accompanied the putting up of a thousand Christmas trees throughout Britain and around the globe as their reputation reached further afield. It is, without question, their magical live performances that have endeared them to an ever-growing audience. Christmas, as they say, starts with...... St Agnes Fountain... Fa la la la la la la la la! Here they are again for their third visit to the National Centre for Early Music.