Chris Dover's Difficult World
Chris Dover is a fierce songwriter in the vein of Texan troubadours Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark while keeping his feet and his heart firmly planted in his Bradford home. Confidently weaving Delta Blues, British Folk and Country storytelling together to create a unique style that is a breath of fresh air in the UK scene.
Inspired by the likes of Foy Vance, Robert Johnson and his broad music tastes and influences, Chris began his solo career in 2019 to full express himself alongside his other projects.
“It’s a Difficult World” marks Dover’s third release since 2020, pushing his distinct voice and perspective to new levels. His first full length record, Chris explores the human condition and his own experiences in an intimate yet universal way.
Strongly independent and free thinking, “It’s a Difficult World”, captures the next chapter of Chris’s music and personal life as he grapples with the questions that keep people up at night and the answers that not many would be brave enough to share with the world like he does.
Establishing himself at the forefront of the new wave of UK Country and Americana artists through his personable and gripping live shows where the songs peak for themselves with dates across the country including a 2021 tour with Willie Tea Taylor, Chris is growing from strength to strength and building a following with every gig he plays.
“It’s a Difficult World” is a record for the people who have been searching for those new songwriters to pick up the torch of honesty and pain that haunt the song they are hearing in an earnest way, capturing their thoughts and feelings, their hometown tribulations and having them spun into songs that will stay with them for years to come.
Find out more by visiting https://chrisdovermusician.bandcamp.com/
Inspired by the likes of Foy Vance, Robert Johnson and his broad music tastes and influences, Chris began his solo career in 2019 to full express himself alongside his other projects.
“It’s a Difficult World” marks Dover’s third release since 2020, pushing his distinct voice and perspective to new levels. His first full length record, Chris explores the human condition and his own experiences in an intimate yet universal way.
Strongly independent and free thinking, “It’s a Difficult World”, captures the next chapter of Chris’s music and personal life as he grapples with the questions that keep people up at night and the answers that not many would be brave enough to share with the world like he does.
Establishing himself at the forefront of the new wave of UK Country and Americana artists through his personable and gripping live shows where the songs peak for themselves with dates across the country including a 2021 tour with Willie Tea Taylor, Chris is growing from strength to strength and building a following with every gig he plays.
“It’s a Difficult World” is a record for the people who have been searching for those new songwriters to pick up the torch of honesty and pain that haunt the song they are hearing in an earnest way, capturing their thoughts and feelings, their hometown tribulations and having them spun into songs that will stay with them for years to come.
Find out more by visiting https://chrisdovermusician.bandcamp.com/
Naval adventures inspire Celtic harp album
Chloe Matharu is a singer-songwriter and Celtic Harpist in Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, who is set to release her debut album 'Small Voyages' this September.
"Many of Chloe's songs draw on her experience as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy, sailing around the world on oil tankers. As a result, her thoughtful and sensitive songwriting offers an insight into the modern seafarer's life. Chloe's voice, coupled with her harp playing, form a haunting combination perfectly suited to the reflective nature of her material.
When speaking about the inspiration behind the single, Chloe explains, "The River Clyde is a backdrop to our lives in Inverclyde. During lockdown it was really special living so close to the water and being fortunate enough to walk along the coastal routes for daily exercise. I teamed up with Brian from the MacDonald Brothers in Ayr, who added additional instrumentation on this track and also produced the album. I used to visit the Isles of Cumbrae, Arran and Bute on holidays as a child living in Edinburgh, and now living on the West Coast of Scotland, I can see those beautiful islands from my window. There were also sediment islands that used to be used by fishing vessels in the Clyde that have long since washed away. Reading about these, the phrase "forgotten islands" stuck in my head, and a song was born”.
Chloe's talent affords a refreshing outlook on this new tradition of maritime Folk music. Her lyrics and melodies will resonate with you long after her performance. Of Scottish, Welsh and Punjabi heritage, Chloe sings in English and Welsh. With sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2021, Chloe has enjoyed playing venues such as Glad Cafe Glasgow, Green Note in London, Beacon Arts Centre Inverclyde, McIntosh Club, Helensburgh and Cwtch Cafe in Pembrokeshire, to name a few. She also frequently performs corporate events and recently played a series of gigs for COP26 to high-profile clientele. Chloe has a busy year ahead with live dates including Edinburgh Fringe, Unearthed Festival, Fishguard Folk Festival, Fringe by the Sea, as well as UK tour dates. Chloe has been shortlisted for the 2022 English Folk Expo and enjoyed performing at this year’s Celtic Connections 2022.
Chloe’s debut album 'Small Voyages' is due for release in September 2022, featuring impressive harp arrangements and field recordings of the natural environment. For more information visit https://girlandaharp.bandcamp.com/releases
"Many of Chloe's songs draw on her experience as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy, sailing around the world on oil tankers. As a result, her thoughtful and sensitive songwriting offers an insight into the modern seafarer's life. Chloe's voice, coupled with her harp playing, form a haunting combination perfectly suited to the reflective nature of her material.
When speaking about the inspiration behind the single, Chloe explains, "The River Clyde is a backdrop to our lives in Inverclyde. During lockdown it was really special living so close to the water and being fortunate enough to walk along the coastal routes for daily exercise. I teamed up with Brian from the MacDonald Brothers in Ayr, who added additional instrumentation on this track and also produced the album. I used to visit the Isles of Cumbrae, Arran and Bute on holidays as a child living in Edinburgh, and now living on the West Coast of Scotland, I can see those beautiful islands from my window. There were also sediment islands that used to be used by fishing vessels in the Clyde that have long since washed away. Reading about these, the phrase "forgotten islands" stuck in my head, and a song was born”.
Chloe's talent affords a refreshing outlook on this new tradition of maritime Folk music. Her lyrics and melodies will resonate with you long after her performance. Of Scottish, Welsh and Punjabi heritage, Chloe sings in English and Welsh. With sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2021, Chloe has enjoyed playing venues such as Glad Cafe Glasgow, Green Note in London, Beacon Arts Centre Inverclyde, McIntosh Club, Helensburgh and Cwtch Cafe in Pembrokeshire, to name a few. She also frequently performs corporate events and recently played a series of gigs for COP26 to high-profile clientele. Chloe has a busy year ahead with live dates including Edinburgh Fringe, Unearthed Festival, Fishguard Folk Festival, Fringe by the Sea, as well as UK tour dates. Chloe has been shortlisted for the 2022 English Folk Expo and enjoyed performing at this year’s Celtic Connections 2022.
Chloe’s debut album 'Small Voyages' is due for release in September 2022, featuring impressive harp arrangements and field recordings of the natural environment. For more information visit https://girlandaharp.bandcamp.com/releases
Sarah McQuaid back on the road with her 'Live In Lockdown album tour'
With her new live-in-lockdown album The St Buryan Sessions drawing critical raves and appearing on best-of-2021 lists on three continents, Sarah McQuaid is once again hitting the road.
The tour coincides with the release of a new video filmed earlier this month at the behest of The Bert Jansch Foundation, as part of their “Around The World In 80 Plays” project.
In what would have been the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter’s 75th year, the Foundation set three Yamaha LL TransAcoustic guitars travelling around the globe from guitarist to guitarist, each playing a song or tune inspired by Bert.
“I was tremendously honoured to be invited to take part,” says Sarah. “It was incredible just to handle an instrument that’s been played by so many guitarists I’ve worshipped from afar for so long, and to see their signatures on it and sign my own name under theirs. It was almost surreal.”
To make the video, Sarah returned to the beautiful medieval church of St Buryan, not far from her home in rural West Cornwall, where The St Buryan Sessions was also recorded and filmed.
Sarah’s own custom-made Andy Manson acoustic guitar will be accompanying her on tour, along with her Korg SV-2 stage piano, vintage Premier Olympic floor tom drum, and the Ibanez Artist electric guitar originally loaned to her by another guitar legend, the late Michael Chapman, when he produced her 2018 album If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous.
“It’s always funny when people see all the instruments onstage and say, ‘Oh, we didn’t realise you were bringing a band with you!’” Sarah laughs. “But precisely because I’m a solo performer, it’s important for me to be able to add variety by playing material in a bunch of different styles on a bunch of different instruments.”
Released on CD and limited-edition double vinyl LP on 15 October 2021, The St Buryan Sessions made it onto “Best of 2021” lists published by such far-flung media outlets as 2ser 107.3fm in Sydney, Australia; the “Ear To The Ground” radio show on Nashville’s WXNA FM; the Netherlands’ “Slim Chance” music blog; and the UK’s “Strummers & Dreamers” show on Cambridge 105 and Blues & Roots Radio.
For further information and full tour dates, please visit sarahmcquaid.com
The tour coincides with the release of a new video filmed earlier this month at the behest of The Bert Jansch Foundation, as part of their “Around The World In 80 Plays” project.
In what would have been the legendary guitarist and singer-songwriter’s 75th year, the Foundation set three Yamaha LL TransAcoustic guitars travelling around the globe from guitarist to guitarist, each playing a song or tune inspired by Bert.
“I was tremendously honoured to be invited to take part,” says Sarah. “It was incredible just to handle an instrument that’s been played by so many guitarists I’ve worshipped from afar for so long, and to see their signatures on it and sign my own name under theirs. It was almost surreal.”
To make the video, Sarah returned to the beautiful medieval church of St Buryan, not far from her home in rural West Cornwall, where The St Buryan Sessions was also recorded and filmed.
Sarah’s own custom-made Andy Manson acoustic guitar will be accompanying her on tour, along with her Korg SV-2 stage piano, vintage Premier Olympic floor tom drum, and the Ibanez Artist electric guitar originally loaned to her by another guitar legend, the late Michael Chapman, when he produced her 2018 album If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous.
“It’s always funny when people see all the instruments onstage and say, ‘Oh, we didn’t realise you were bringing a band with you!’” Sarah laughs. “But precisely because I’m a solo performer, it’s important for me to be able to add variety by playing material in a bunch of different styles on a bunch of different instruments.”
Released on CD and limited-edition double vinyl LP on 15 October 2021, The St Buryan Sessions made it onto “Best of 2021” lists published by such far-flung media outlets as 2ser 107.3fm in Sydney, Australia; the “Ear To The Ground” radio show on Nashville’s WXNA FM; the Netherlands’ “Slim Chance” music blog; and the UK’s “Strummers & Dreamers” show on Cambridge 105 and Blues & Roots Radio.
For further information and full tour dates, please visit sarahmcquaid.com
Debut album from rising Oxfordshire folk singer
Katie Grace Harris is a rising folk star based in Oxfordshire, who's style has been described as 'earthy, honest, folk.' A talented vocalist, pianist and accordion player, Katie puts her own twist on traditional material, as well as composing and performing her own well-crafter material in the folk tradition.
Katie’s Debut album ‘The Toledo Sessions’ will be released in late summer 2022. It includes two songs developed in collaboration with Reg Meuross and features musical contributions from Phil Beer, Odette Michell and Lukas Drinkwater
Katie’s first “instrument” is her distinctive pure voice - she uses it to draw her audiences into the story she is telling with ‘spine-tingling’ results. Her engaging live performances usually feature her playing a range of instruments including Piano, Piano Accordion and Shruti and she can often be seen toting a home-made chess board stomp box and a pair of sturdy boots for a full one-woman-band experience!
The last three years have proved a turning point in Katie’s career. As live gigs moved online, Katie took the opportunity to bring her music to audiences around the UK and has built on this as live performances have re-emerged supporting artists such as Katherine Priddy, Hannah James and Toby Kuhn and Jim Causley as well as headlining at various Folk Clubs and festivals. Her talent for writing original material attracted the attention Reg Meuross, festival favourite and one of the UK’s Folk singer/songwriter lynchpins. This resulted in a collaborative song-writing and recording project which features as part of Katie’s debut album ‘The Toledo Sessions’.
For more information, tour dates and news of the album release, visit https://www.katiegraceharris.com/
Katie’s Debut album ‘The Toledo Sessions’ will be released in late summer 2022. It includes two songs developed in collaboration with Reg Meuross and features musical contributions from Phil Beer, Odette Michell and Lukas Drinkwater
Katie’s first “instrument” is her distinctive pure voice - she uses it to draw her audiences into the story she is telling with ‘spine-tingling’ results. Her engaging live performances usually feature her playing a range of instruments including Piano, Piano Accordion and Shruti and she can often be seen toting a home-made chess board stomp box and a pair of sturdy boots for a full one-woman-band experience!
The last three years have proved a turning point in Katie’s career. As live gigs moved online, Katie took the opportunity to bring her music to audiences around the UK and has built on this as live performances have re-emerged supporting artists such as Katherine Priddy, Hannah James and Toby Kuhn and Jim Causley as well as headlining at various Folk Clubs and festivals. Her talent for writing original material attracted the attention Reg Meuross, festival favourite and one of the UK’s Folk singer/songwriter lynchpins. This resulted in a collaborative song-writing and recording project which features as part of Katie’s debut album ‘The Toledo Sessions’.
For more information, tour dates and news of the album release, visit https://www.katiegraceharris.com/
Global sounds for Summer Family Festival
International folk, roots and acoustic artists from the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia will grace the stages of this summer’s 15th Gate To Southwell Festival in Nottinghamshire (from Thursday July 14 to Sunday July 17).
While last September’s event was a great success – named “the best live event of 2021” by the prestigious RnR music magazine - everyone felt the absence of global acts due to pandemic travel restrictions. But now leading French Canadian band, Le Vent Du Nord (who were a big hit at the festival in both 2012 and 2017) will return to perform again while celebrating 20 years on the road. Oregon’s finest contemporary folk duo Fellow Pynins will also be appearing, and Southwell warmly welcomes back the much-loved American banjo and doghouse bass marital combo of Truckstop Honeymoon.
Katherine Priddy, one of the rising stars of the thriving British folk music scene, is among the latest names added to this year’s line-up in July, alongside two of the best bands currently on the live circuit – eight-strong folk rockers Merry Hell and Celtic punkers Black Water County. They’ll join headliners including the celebrated West Coast Scots trio, Peat & Diesel, Irish legends Dervish, top bluesman Ian Siegal and Australian vocal tour-de-force The Spooky Men’s Chorale.
Kicking off the festival on July 14th, Thursday will definitely be Blues Night, headlined by “national treasure” singer, songwriter and star guitarist Ian Siegel. He’s a nine-times British Blues Awards winner, a three-times European Blues Awards winner, and he’s twice won Mojo’s blues album of the year - the magazine branded Siegal "the cleverest writer and most magnetic performer of Blues in the UK”. Alongside Siegel, Southwell welcomes the Daniel Smith Blues Band led by one of the UK’s best boogie woogie and blues pianists.
Leading the list of Celtic stars at GTSF are the much-celebrated, riotously-entertaining, Stornaway band Peat & Diesel (pictured), often branded the “Hebridean Pogues” with their comedic stories of island life as showcased on two acclaimed albums ‘Uptown Fank’ and ‘Light My Byre’. They recently sold out the 10000-seater Glasgow Barrowlands and won Live Act of the Year at the Scottish Trad Music Awards.
The July event will also welcome Dervish, BBC Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 winners and one of the best-loved Irish traditional bands over the last 30 years. Fronted by Cathy Jordan, among Ireland’s most famous singers, Dervish have played everywhere from Glastonbury to Rio De Janeiro (in front of 250,000 people) and become international cultural ambassadors along the way. The Guardian described them as “simply brilliant…they carry Irish history with them” and many regard them as the natural heirs to The Bothy Band and The Chieftains.
Bringing an extremely vocal international flavour to GTSF 2022, The Spooky Men’s Chorale are cult figures from New South Wales and Western Australia thanks to albums such as ‘Tooled Up’, ‘Urban Sea Shanties’ and ‘Welcome To The Second Half’. A charismatic, funny and powerful male voice choir they’re famous for renditions of pop classics such as ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘In My Room’ and ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’.
With more acts still to be announced, from closer to home there’ll be the footstompin’ fiddle-driven rhythms of Noble Jacks, with top singer songwriters such as folk roots veteran Pete Morton and Humberside star Katie Spencer (promoting her poetic new album ‘The Edge Of The Land’). Plus there’s the folk Americana of Fritillaries (formerly Rainy Day Woman) who made such an impact at GTSF last September, Helian (the new five piece from the Leeds Conservatoire) and also Huson-Whyte, Southwell’s own talented duo, who’ll be among the class acts performing on four live music stages over four days.
Also signed up for the Midlands premier international roots music festival there’s the much loved singer-songwriter partnership of Chris While and Julie Mathews, the new line-up of highly danceable folk rockers Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Birmingham’s youthful folk supergroup Filkin’s Drift Ensemble featuring Ellie Gowers and the Field & Dyke project with BBC Folk Award winners Greg Russell and Danny Pedlar.
Building on last year’s success, there’ll be four live music stages presenting acts from diverse genres such as folk, blues, world, Americana, country, ska, punk, jazz… Plus on-site camping, glamping, street theatre, poetry, comedy, artisan food, great traders, cask ales, campfire sessions, morris dancing and ceilidhs.
As always, the Gate To Southwell Festival promises to be a fantastic event for the whole family with advanced plans for a fun-packed Kids Area featuring Storytelling, White Post Farm, Forest School, Kids Crafts, Toddle Bops, Baby Bops, Out of the Chicken Shed, Circus Skills, Face Painting, Soul Sensory, Giant Bubbles and much more!
Set in beautiful rural countryside at Kirklington near Southwell (NG22 8NX) - just off the A617 linking the A1 and M1 from Newark to Mansfield.
For the latest news and tickets visit www.gtsf.uk
While last September’s event was a great success – named “the best live event of 2021” by the prestigious RnR music magazine - everyone felt the absence of global acts due to pandemic travel restrictions. But now leading French Canadian band, Le Vent Du Nord (who were a big hit at the festival in both 2012 and 2017) will return to perform again while celebrating 20 years on the road. Oregon’s finest contemporary folk duo Fellow Pynins will also be appearing, and Southwell warmly welcomes back the much-loved American banjo and doghouse bass marital combo of Truckstop Honeymoon.
Katherine Priddy, one of the rising stars of the thriving British folk music scene, is among the latest names added to this year’s line-up in July, alongside two of the best bands currently on the live circuit – eight-strong folk rockers Merry Hell and Celtic punkers Black Water County. They’ll join headliners including the celebrated West Coast Scots trio, Peat & Diesel, Irish legends Dervish, top bluesman Ian Siegal and Australian vocal tour-de-force The Spooky Men’s Chorale.
Kicking off the festival on July 14th, Thursday will definitely be Blues Night, headlined by “national treasure” singer, songwriter and star guitarist Ian Siegel. He’s a nine-times British Blues Awards winner, a three-times European Blues Awards winner, and he’s twice won Mojo’s blues album of the year - the magazine branded Siegal "the cleverest writer and most magnetic performer of Blues in the UK”. Alongside Siegel, Southwell welcomes the Daniel Smith Blues Band led by one of the UK’s best boogie woogie and blues pianists.
Leading the list of Celtic stars at GTSF are the much-celebrated, riotously-entertaining, Stornaway band Peat & Diesel (pictured), often branded the “Hebridean Pogues” with their comedic stories of island life as showcased on two acclaimed albums ‘Uptown Fank’ and ‘Light My Byre’. They recently sold out the 10000-seater Glasgow Barrowlands and won Live Act of the Year at the Scottish Trad Music Awards.
The July event will also welcome Dervish, BBC Lifetime Achievement Award 2019 winners and one of the best-loved Irish traditional bands over the last 30 years. Fronted by Cathy Jordan, among Ireland’s most famous singers, Dervish have played everywhere from Glastonbury to Rio De Janeiro (in front of 250,000 people) and become international cultural ambassadors along the way. The Guardian described them as “simply brilliant…they carry Irish history with them” and many regard them as the natural heirs to The Bothy Band and The Chieftains.
Bringing an extremely vocal international flavour to GTSF 2022, The Spooky Men’s Chorale are cult figures from New South Wales and Western Australia thanks to albums such as ‘Tooled Up’, ‘Urban Sea Shanties’ and ‘Welcome To The Second Half’. A charismatic, funny and powerful male voice choir they’re famous for renditions of pop classics such as ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘In My Room’ and ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’.
With more acts still to be announced, from closer to home there’ll be the footstompin’ fiddle-driven rhythms of Noble Jacks, with top singer songwriters such as folk roots veteran Pete Morton and Humberside star Katie Spencer (promoting her poetic new album ‘The Edge Of The Land’). Plus there’s the folk Americana of Fritillaries (formerly Rainy Day Woman) who made such an impact at GTSF last September, Helian (the new five piece from the Leeds Conservatoire) and also Huson-Whyte, Southwell’s own talented duo, who’ll be among the class acts performing on four live music stages over four days.
Also signed up for the Midlands premier international roots music festival there’s the much loved singer-songwriter partnership of Chris While and Julie Mathews, the new line-up of highly danceable folk rockers Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Birmingham’s youthful folk supergroup Filkin’s Drift Ensemble featuring Ellie Gowers and the Field & Dyke project with BBC Folk Award winners Greg Russell and Danny Pedlar.
Building on last year’s success, there’ll be four live music stages presenting acts from diverse genres such as folk, blues, world, Americana, country, ska, punk, jazz… Plus on-site camping, glamping, street theatre, poetry, comedy, artisan food, great traders, cask ales, campfire sessions, morris dancing and ceilidhs.
As always, the Gate To Southwell Festival promises to be a fantastic event for the whole family with advanced plans for a fun-packed Kids Area featuring Storytelling, White Post Farm, Forest School, Kids Crafts, Toddle Bops, Baby Bops, Out of the Chicken Shed, Circus Skills, Face Painting, Soul Sensory, Giant Bubbles and much more!
Set in beautiful rural countryside at Kirklington near Southwell (NG22 8NX) - just off the A617 linking the A1 and M1 from Newark to Mansfield.
For the latest news and tickets visit www.gtsf.uk
