Devon Folk Day 2025
2025 Concerts
To open our 2025 programme, a fine selection of some salty club stalwarts took to the floor – drawing on a deep repertoire of sea songs. This set the scene for a boisterous and rousing evening from the Exmouth Shanty Men – the roof was noticeably raised!. As winter began to make way for Spring, Jim Causley and Miranda Sykes played to an enthusiastic home crowd, playing a mix tape of contemporary British and American songwriter material. A powerful blend of voices and an array of instruments made made some magic. On to March and a the marvellous , funny and thoughtful songs of Chris Wood. Accompanied by the rich semi acoustic guitar – made for another superb evening.
2024 Concerts
A remarkable and moving opening concert for 2024 took place in January with the Stolen from God song cycle, led by Reg Meuross, supported by the outstanding musicianship of Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne and Suntou Susso. A stunning cross cultural exchange. On a wet and windy February night we were transported by the wonderful voice and keyboards from Kirsty Merryn and in awe at the masterful guitar playing from Ben Walker. Another magical night. In March we welcomed Tom McConville and Michael Biggins to the stage. Come April the accomplished and imaginative songwriters Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts provided rich entertainment. In May Nick Hart and Tom Moore provided enchanting string instrumentation through the viol and viola to a selection of traditional songs and jigs. Summer arrived with traditional songs with Yorkshire flavour from Bryony Griffith and Alice Jones. Powerful harmonies and delightful arrangements demonstrating great skill across a range of instruments. On a September evening, the Salts came to Mathews Hall and the rafters were raised with their unique and moody take on sea songs and shanties. The unmistakeable harmonies of Lady Maisery filled the concert hall and enchanted a packed house in October. Into the chill of November, but the Hall was a whirl of dancers amidst the wall of sound that is Blowzabella. Early December and wrapping up a tour, Eliza Carthy and the Restitution came to town with a host of original and exciting songs. 2024 was rounded off in wonderful fashion with Steve and Phil as Show of Hands playing amongst old friends. Many special moments and stunning songs. Our thanks to all our special guests – a truly memorable year.
Join the club
Here’s the team ready to greet new prospective members at the 2024 ‘join the club’ event in Mathews Hall this year.
2023 concerts
Our opening concert came in late January from Jim Causley with a full evening of almost exclusively Devon-based songs. While in March we were treated to an evening of great skill and ingenuity from the Haar – with great favourites and new interpretations of many classic Irish tunes. At the end of April, another sell out crowd were charmed by Daoiri Farrell. In May we enjoyed the music and song of three fine songwriters who were instrumental in the revived BBC Radio Ballads of 2005-2017, and were loth to let them go after a deeply impressive and moving evening. Jez Lowe wrote over 50 songs for that project, and his inventive and compassionate lyrics formed the core of the evening. Add to these the songs of Bob Fox and Julie Matthews and sensitive instrumental accompaniment from all three, make a journey through six topics covering similar ground to the original Radio Ballads. On one special June evening, the inventive energy of the emerging dua, Good Habits, thrilled the audience, after opening songs from the trio Strandline and from Graham Butterfield – old friends of the club. On to July and the wonderful return to Topsham of the Melrose Quartet with their rich harmonies and stomping dance tunes, not to mention a special surprise appearance of the next generation, with three of the bands children holding the audience spellbound. Following the summer break the brilliant guitarist Martin Simpson entertained another rapt audience , including new material from his up coming album. As autumn drew on we had a real boost of energy from the trio Granny’s Attic. Traditional song and dance amongst some original tunes especially from the groups most recent CD , The Brickfields all delivered with joy and gusto. In November the marvellous collaboration that is Sykes Martin with Miranda Sykes and Hannah Martin performed some gorgeous harmonies and spellbinding traditional and more recently inspired songs. The evening finished on an early Christmassy note as the evening drew to a close and a contented crowd headed home. To finish the year in style , our old friends Show of Hands delivered yet again with a raft of original and thought provoking songs, concluding with a couple of old favourites and a ‘Fairytale of New York’, tribute to Shane MacGowan .
Support from Topsham Folk Club in 2023
The Club has been delighted this year to offer contributions to both Wren Music , who continue to do fantastic work to empower and break down barriers through the power of traditional music and to the appeal for the Doc Rowe Archive of folklore, song and dance.
IVFDF
Topsham folk club (well Min) led a wonderful session workshop at the Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival in February.
2022 concerts
Fantastic performers in 2022 – Nick Hart – Leveret – Edgelarks – Gigspanner Big Band – Spiers and Boden – Phil Beer – Harbottle and Jonas – Cara Dillon – The Shanty Men – Show of Hands
Jubilee weekend
We played jolly music outside the Saturday market and at the Long Table as part of the Jubilee festivities, to the delight of the crowd.
Back to a pub!
Since May 2022, we’re back at the Globe in Topsham! Find us at the front, beyond the dining room, with our own entrance.
Sue and Sheila Celebration
On 24th April we held a celebration of the lives of Sheila Stephens and Sue Mentz who both made a huge contribution to Topsham Folk club, and are much missed. We had a cornucopia of songs, tunes, dancing and reminiscences. Thank you to Jane for photos.
Years Gone By
2021
We had wonderful concerts from Show of Hands, Martin Simpson, Rheingan Sisters, Fay Hield Band, Paul Downes, Simon Barron, Chris Hoban.
2020
Despite the plague, we managed a few concerts: Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis, Ploughman’s Joy, Show of Hands.
2019
Si Barron, Chris Hoban, Crows, Daoirí Farrell, RANT – Anahata and Mary Humphries – Ryan Young – Paul and Warwick Downes – Sam Carter – Leveret – Jim Moray – Show of Hands
2018
Eliza and Martin Carthy – Peter Knight and John Spiers – Steve Tilston and Jez Lowe –Sarah Morgan – Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage – Phil Beer – Narthen – Martin Simpson – Moore, Moss and Rutter – Rosie Hood and Lucy Huzzard – Show of Hands
2017
Tom McConville Band : Vin Garbutt : Faustus : Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas : Melrose Quartet : Georgia Lewis Trio : Ewan McLennan : Peter Knight’s Gigspanner : Show of Hands
2016
Tim O’Brien : Peter Knight’s Gigspanner : Martin Simpson : Kris Drever + Siobhan Wilson : Chris Wood : Leveret : Nancy Kerr & The Sweet Visitor Band : Jim Causley : The Magical Christmas Tree Tour : Phil Beer & friends
2015
Nancy Kerr & James Fagan : Andy Cutting : Gavin Davenport Band : Lady Maisery : The Dovetail Trio + Greg Russell : Mick Ryan’s – A Day’s Work : Belshazzar’s Feast : Show of Hands
