News from CVFolk

(L-R) Pete Willow, David Meredith, Pauline Black, Rob Halligar.

If you enjoy Folk Music, CV Folk have lots going on that definitely you won’t want to miss. Firstly, this Sunday at the Temperance Bar in Leamington there will be a CV Folk Club Night. They are hoping that this will be the first of many interesting collaborative projects with this popular music venue. The show will feature performances of resident or regular acts of folk clubs across the Coventry and Warwickshire region and offer a real taste of what the local folk scene has to offer.

Eleven acts are lined up each one an ambassador for individual guest-booking clubs that meet regularly in the CV postcode area. It starts at 6pm and runs until around 9.30pm, following an afternoon get-together, or ‘moot’ of folk club organisers which will be discussing life on the circuit since Covid.

The concert will be run on similar lines to the monthly Leamington Folk Club and hosted by their regular MC Andi Wolf. Admission is just £3 and advance tickets can be booked on the Temperance/Eventbrite website -www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/temperance-6897850307 (there’s a booking fee of 96p).

Chair of CV Folk, Pete Willow said, “It’s an unusual venture that’s already sparking off a lot of interest. If nothing else, it will be a night of good entertainment and humour plus a chance to meet the movers and shakers of the grass roots folk scene.” Details of who is appearing: www.cvfolk.com/event/cvfolk-club-night-feb23

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Some momentous news for CVFolk – they are to be ‘adopted’ by the Albany Theatre, Coventry. Pete Willow will have more details later, but meanwhile he said that CVFolk, as a campaign, project and event organiser, will be continuing its work as part of the overall activity of the theatre and making use of the excellent new facilities that will be available this year as the theatre undergoes its major refurbishment.

Pete added, “Under this new arrangement, we plan to add to our regular monthly programme by staging music/song workshops, artist masterclasses and a more flexible programme of events including some Sunday afternoon concerts for family audiences, and the occasional big-name concert in the Main House.”

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CVFolk’s next show in the Albany Theatre Studio takes place on Sunday, 12 March, 7.30pm. This will be a free-admission Performers Night with music from an excellent cross-section of what’s happening in local folk and acoustic venues: Jamie Scott, Nowhere Club, Steve 2, Bob Wilkinson & Amelia Webster, Sage Sana and Willow &Tool Band. Pete Willow said. “As usual, we will be inviting banknote donations during the evening courtesy of our caddy collection.

“This follows what turned out to be a truly wonderful night of music earlier this month when Donnelly and South captivated an almost full house with their delightful music and repartee. We were also treated to some first-class support, courtesy of Poacher’s Pocket and Paul Gibson. Thanks to all who came to play, watch and generally make it a memorable evening. I’ll be posting photos shortly on our website.”

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Katherine Fear. Photo by John B Smith

Finally, a reminder -The Undoing of Polly Button takes place at the Albany Theatre this Saturday and tickets are selling fast. This highly acclaimed folk opera, written by Katherine Fear features an all-star cast of local musicians including Keith Donnelly, Jennian King, Anya Faye, Karen Jones and Katherine herself. Pete Willow commented, “If you’ve seen it before, you’ll want to see it again. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t miss this golden opportunity! It’s a superb show.

For more details and tickets go to: www.cvfolk.com/event/folk-opera-the-undoing-of-polly-button-3