Month: June 2015

Long since known for the freshness he brings to songs that others might have discarded for being too familiar, the gentle fellow with the storyteller’s voice Sean Donnelly is back at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 24th June. This is a change to the scheduled programme.

A native of Co Tyrone, who ‘emmigrated’ to Newcastle Co Down in the early ‘70s, Sean Donnelly has been popular on the folk club circuit for a number of years. He has made countless radio broadcasts and his seventh album And Our Time Together containing songs new and old, is one of which he is particularly proud.

Gentle, quiet, unshowy, easy relaxed style are all words that are used repeatedly when people describe Sean. He has a knack for knowing a good song when he hears one and has accumulated a vast repertoire that draws heavily but not exclusively from the traditional wells of Ulster song. He also writes songs. Sean has a quiet storyteller’s voice with a distinctive Northern Ireland enunciation and a delicate guitar style that is the envy of many. He plays an open-tuned guitar that complements his singing ideally.

Tommy Sands who knows a thing or two about singing says of Sean ‘there is a gentleness in the man’s voice and a kindness in the guitar that unwrinkles the mind and body’ . What a gift Mr Sands has for finding the right words!

Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 24th June is the place to savour the songs, the singing, the stories and the music of Sean Donnelly. The Irvine Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road, starts at 8pm and it’s BYOB.

Finally, the 48th Marymass Folk Festival programme giving full details is now out. They are available in all sorts of places but, if you can’t find one then phone Joyce on 01294 551047 or visit www.irvinefolkclub.org.uk

Unfortunately John Hinshelwood has had to call off tomorrow night because of illness. Should still be a good night so come along and support the club.

With nearly thirty years’ experience playing on the Americana, Country and Folk circuit, the John Hinshelwood Band will be strutting their stuff at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 10th June. They last played at the Club almost four years ago.

The well established name of John Hinshelwood on the Scottish Americana circuit has come about from playing at Country Festivals, Bluegrass Festivals, Folk Clubs and Arts Centres all over the UK. Glasgow based John describes himself as a singer and songwriter. He plays acoustic guitar and does vocals.

His respect and admiration for the late Gram Parsons led him to form The City Sinners – a six-piece outfit set up to perform a show based on Gram’s life and music. The Sinners continue to play on an ad hoc basis. Canadian vocalist Sandra Gellatly was recruited to the Sinners and went on to form a duo with John Hinshelwood. A result of this collaboration was a CD in 2009 called Shattered Pleasures. It featured 9 original compositions by John. Lowering the Tone is John’s third CD and was released last year.

Tim Black on acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and vocals and Ed McGlone on bass and vocals complete the John Hinshelwood Band line-up.

Americana could be described as an amalgam of American musical styles, including folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues and rock and roll. To check out this very loose description, get along to Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 10th June at 8pm to hear the John Hinshelwood Band. The Club meets in Vineburgh Community Centre in Quarry Road and it’s BYOB.

Finally, the annual Folk Night organised by Ardrossan Highland Games is on Friday 12th June in The Lauriston Hotel. It features Dave Gibb, Spancil Hillbillies and Ayrshire man Ciaran Sinclair. Tickets are £10 from 07967 810550. The concert starts at 7.30pm