Month: July 2014

At last, and not for the want of trying, Dr Mango and The Chickpeas top the bill at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 6th August and it should be just the very thing to set up Irvine audiences for Marymass Folk Festival which starts on 20th August. Dr Mango and The Chickpeas are a young, Glasgow based, five- piece band who play whatever they play with great passion. Expect to hear self-penned and traditional material as well as Scots music and Scots and French song. This varied repertoire reflects the range of backgrounds of the band. Jen Austin from Orkney plays piano; Ayrshire’s Robyn Gray plays fiddle and does vocals; Kirsten MacLeod plays accordion and she’s from Ardnamurchan; on bodhran & French song is Marissa Vachon from Vancouver and finally on guitar is Borders man Chris Waite.

The five band members met playing on the rich and vibrant Glasgow folk scene. Their upbeat contemporary sound and their wide ranging musical influences create what has been described as ‘a musical marmalade’! But who’s Dr Mango? One explanation is that trad musicians, particularly of the Celtic variety, would give their contemporary, instrumental tunes silly names…..and so, Dr Mango and The Chickpeas. Perhaps, a better explanation will be given by the band at the Irvine Club. In any case, Dr Mango and The Chickpeas are high quality musicians and yet another example of the high musical standard to be found across Scotland.

Hear them at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 6th August at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road. The Club starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB. It’s also where you can buy tickets for the forthcoming Marymass Folk Festival and find out all Folk Festival information.

New to Irvine Folk Club is the duo called JINSKI – two very individual guitarists/musicians with strong distinctive voices and they are the guests on Wednesday 23rd July.

JINSKI are Liverpool born Steve Wegrzynski and Geordie boy Dave Kennedy. Steve has been around the music scene for a while, playing tirelessly in the 80’s as a solo performer and going under the name of JINSKI. The same name JINSKI now applies to the duo he formed with Dave Kennedy. Steve does vocal and plays guitar and harmonica while Dave is on guitar and vocals. Steve is also a much respected songwriter. He writes songs from the heart inspired by the trials and tribulations of everyday life.

The musical roots of Steve and Dave lie folk and country. At the Irvine Club, expect to hear foot-stomping, sing-along and raucous songs as well as much gentler and subtly sophisticated material. As well as original numbers, a set list might include Neil Young’s Heart of Gold. Live performances by JINSKI are known for their warmth, passion and humour.

A casual glance at the JINSKI Gig List shows that they fairly clock up the miles and are in much demand. They travel the length and breadth of the UK on a regular basis.

So, to hear the two men who are being tipped to take over the Lindisfarne mantle, get along to Irvine Folk Club at Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road on Wednesday 23rd July for 8pm – and remember it’s BYOB.

Finally, make sure that you have a programme for the forthcoming Marymass Folk Festival. It starts Wednesday 20th and goes on until Sunday 24th August. If you can’t find a programme then just phone Joyce on 01294 551047 for all information.

Claude Bourbon is the special guest at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 9th July and is yet another terrific example of the prodigious talent to be heard in Folk Clubs. The unique Claude Bourbon has played the Irvine Club before and is known to be a formidable performer.
Claude is a French-born guitarist who was classically trained in Switzerland but his musical influences extend far beyond. He plays a travel-worn Gibson with such mesmerising dexterity that his fingers become a blur. He plays parts of the guitar that wouldn’t even occur to most players and using all ten fingers, it’s part of the fun deciding which hand to watch!
Apart from plucking, finger-picking and strumming with great speed and precision, Monsieur Bourbon also sings. His gravelly voice being put to particularly good effect on Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’, ‘Bright Lights, Big City’, and the Blues number ‘I Needed Shelter’. Some say he sounds like a latter-day Dylan with a French accent. In Belgium, they affectionately dubbed Claude The Frog with the Blues!
A swift glance at his gig list illustrates the demand to hear Claude live. He tours extensively in the USA playing at concerts, coffee houses and house concerts. Dates in Germany, France, Denmark, Belgium and the UK also abound. This man is a seriously good performer.
Hear Claude Bourbon at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 9th July. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre, starts at 8pm and while it’s BYOB, there is an excellent café.
Finally, not long until The 47th Marymass Folk Festival starts on Wednesday 20th August. Full information and tickets for the Evening Concerts are available by contacting Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.co.uk. The world renowned Battlefield Band top the bill on Marymass Saturday Night 23rd August, so securing a ticket early is strongly advised.