CVFolk Gears up for a Busy Summer
Tu-kay and Ryan. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Folk music campaigners CVFolk are packing the June diary with quality entertainment at the Albany Theatre and in Coventry’s Upper Precinct. Here's Pete Willow's report.
Home of CVFolk’s monthly ‘Second Sunday’ concerts, The Albany Theatre Studio plays host to the much-anticipated appearance by the acclaimed duo, Tu-kay and Ryan on Sunday 9 June.
Ash Tu-kay & Rebecca Ryan have been delighting audiences with a tally of 97 gigs last year from Dorset to Doncaster, and even a one-off set at the Bluebird Café in Nashville!
The Harvesters will be at Coventry MotoFest. Photo courtesy of the artists.
Their glorious fusion of folk, Americana and roots music, complete with amazing harmonies and brilliantly crafted songs, has won them many friends on the club and festival circuit plus numerous awards, and effusive reviews for their recordings – four EPs and now one full-length album, Companion.
Optimists at heart, their songs encourage a positive outlook on life, even when things may be tough. And that’s something we all need.
The duo had been booked to play for CVFolk last January but were forced to reschedule due to illness. Fortunately, the acts who had come forward to play support can do the June date as well.
Daisybell. Photo courtesy of the artists.
So the evening also features first-rate music from popular Stratford singer-songwriter and recording artist Katherine Abbott, and the talented North Warwickshire duo Yonderland featuring accomplished songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Paul Monks and Jane Moss.
Doors open 7pm for a 7.30 start and admission is free, but please be ready with generous cash donations for the ‘caddy’ collection.
Prior to this, there’s Coventry MotoFest which takes place in the City’s Upper Precinct on 1 and 2 June, starting at 12 noon. So you can look forward to a selection of some of the best acts on the local folk scene. That’s five hours of folk of all descriptions – warm harmonies to catchy choruses, American trad to folk-rock, singer-songwriters to fiery fiddle playing.
Urban Fox. Photo by Pete Willow.
Saturday’s performance features Alkevan, Urban Fox, The Harvesters, The Hoarse Whisperers, and Liam Vincent & the Odd Foxes. Sunday sees The Scutters, Daisybell, the Old Broom String Band, Wes Finch’s band The Silver Wye, and KC Jones. Both days are hosted by experienced singers and folk club MCs, Dave Fry and Geoff Veasey.
Admission is obviously free. Just show up and listen, sing along or even have a dance if the mood takes you. Details of the programme timetable are on www.cvfolk.com/event/cvfolk-at-motofest-coventry.
Kevin Dempsey. Photo courtesy of Pete Willow.
Finally – and back at the Albany Theatre – here’s something for guitarists looking to improve their playing technique. The monthly CVFolk Freshers Skills Workshop takes place at 11am on Saturday 1 June, when Coventry’s world-famous acoustic guitarist Kevin Dempsey hosts another of his Improvers Guitar Workshop.
There was a good and friendly turn-out when Kevin tutored the first of these events last February, and the first Saturday of each month features different aspects of the folk performance arts. Fiddle-playing tutor, Lauren South returns in July after her well-received beginners’ session in March.
Admission for the workshops is currently pegged at £5 per person. You can book in advance on 02476 998964 or pay at the Box Office on arrival.
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