Club Programme

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.

A one-off Monday special in the folk club room at The Black Swan with American singer-songwriter JOHN FRINZI. This evening is going to be a little different. John blends folk and country, delivering a sunny, laid-back beach vibe. A gifted singer and songwriter he’s built an audience through craft and originality. An early demo caught the ear of legendary pedal steel guitarist Doyle Grisham, a longtime member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, and their working relationship led to John's first album, “Into The Dawn.” His second release, “Shoreline,” showcases Frinzi's versatility as a songwriter and vocalist with many of the songs co-written by Tom Corcoran, co-writer of the Buffett classics,“Fins,” and “Cuban Crime of Passion". Most recently, John teamed up with multi-platinum songwriter and producer Aaron Scherz to release the EP "Blue Sky View" and several singles including “Florida Man”. A seasoned live performer, Frinzi has toured the USA performed in the Caribbean and Europe and has been featured at major festivals and shared the stage with acclaimed artists including Jesse Winchester, The Coral Reefer Band, Todd Snider and Maria Muldaur.

Singers, Musicians and listeners are all welcome to our Open Mic evenings. PA and of course a mic available but if you prefer you can perform acoustically.

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.

Singers, Musicians and listeners are all welcome to our Open Mic evenings. PA and of course a mic available but if you prefer you can perform acoustically.

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.

A double featuring some excellent local musicians. The Old Humpy Band are named after "Old Humpy," the oldest bridge in York that spans the river Foss in Strensall. The band consists of three members with extensive musical experience in various styles. Dee Marshall plays the flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and bass. She was a member of York’s celebrated folk band, The Foresters, for many years. Noel Jackson handles vocals and mandolin and is also part of the Alterego Ceilidh Band and the Bridge Shanty Crew. Steve Marshall has been playing guitar for 65 years and was also a member of The Foresters. The trio offers a varied selection of folk music, featuring both vocal performances and top-notch instrumentation. Expect an evening of top class folk entertainment from this trio. Matching them in quality Sharon Maher hails from Northern Ireland and much of her musical style is influenced by the sounds of her homeland. Her song “Ballintoy Harbour” has been featured on BBC Radio. Currently residing in the East Riding she continues to compose, record, and perform at local folk clubs and festivals, as well as on local and national radio. Recently, she had the privilege of supporting Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Rehaume at Newbald Live during Amanda's UK tour. "Delightful... Her song structure and delivery drew favourable comparison to the confessional females songwriters from the late sixties and seventies such as Joni Mitchell, Janis Ian and Judee Sill, rich in melody with a reflective lyrical narrative full of personal experiences betraying a poetic soul." Americana UK

We Mavericks dropped into the Black Swan Folk Club last year during their 2024 UK tour when our guest was Americana artist Jesse Terry. They totally won over the audience and we immediately made plans to rebook them at the club as guests in their own right. Real masters in the art of connection, Lindsay Martin (AU) and Victoria Vigenser (NZ) interweave effortless strings, soulful vocals and driving rhythms to form a singular, intense musical voice. The couple have been called contemporary folk, alt-country and acoustic pop, but words don’t capture their unbelievable musical kinship, or the deeply heartfelt way they relate to their audiences. Nominated Best Folk Artist in both Australia and New Zealand this troubadour duo have an inexplicable appeal that has seen them on a steep and fast rise.

It’s a real coup to get this fantastic 5-piece band to play the club room. The band's distinctive Scottish West Coast sound and dedication to their craft earned them a prestigious Folk Band of the Year nomination in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2022. Although they all come from different backgrounds and places, each member was immersed in traditional music, and their collective passion for their craft is evident in every song and performance. The band are well travelled already showcasing their talents at World Music Asia in Shanghai and performing at various shows in the US. With their third album currently in progress they are eagerly anticipating their next chapter elevating traditional music to new heights.

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.