Tag: Caroline Street Social Club

Mar 25 2026

Skye Consort & Emma Björling (CAN & SWE)

Sunday 22nd March 2026

Review Mike Latham, photos and video by Keith Belcher

Another fantastic performance at The Live Room; thanks Ron and Hilary. Well, the audience loved it and it looked like the performers had a great evening also.


Despite the similarity of instrumentation (are nyckelharpas making a comeback?), there was no mistaking the Skye Consort and Emma Bjorling for the recently enjoyed Firelight Trio.


One of the things that always strikes me about ‘folk’ musicians is their willingness to listen to and engage with musicians and songs from other parts of the world. We were introduced to our neighbours from Scandinavia, and we’re able to enjoy the universal tales of relationships and life from other areas, even if we might not have understood the language, we could understand the sentiment and joy created by the music.

What a mix of styles we were exposed to and not just in the mix of nationalities. The musical styles and backgrounds of each player, certainly to my ears, gave a ‘classic’ sound to the tunes and each was exceptional.

The mix of such individual voices created such a great sound and provided us all with such another uplifting evening.

It’s great to hear that negotiations for a return are underway. Here’s to the next contrasting session.

Mar 23 2026

Scotland Introducing:Constant Follower & Firelight Trio

Friday 13th March 2026

Review by Mike Latham, photos by Richard Leach

Wasn’t it Postcard Records who coined ‘The Sounds of Young Scotland’? Well, the sounds last night may not have been ‘Young’ but they were intriguing, emotional, empathetic, thrilling and beguiling. Talking to Ron afterwards, he also used the word ‘Ethereal’.

It would appear that we all came away with slightly different but, in the main, similar views of what we had experienced. The contrast between the two performances was very telling. When we go to festivals or one day events there is always a contrast between one performance and another. For me, that contrast was what made both last night so compelling. And it was all about sound.

The Firelight Trio certainly weren’t the average folk band; they took their instrumentation and inspiration from the genre and took it to another space. The sound they created was, to me, utterly magnificent, particularly the full sounds created by the nyckelharpa and the accordion.

My, what a contrast Constant Traveller proved to be. Yes, it would have been good to hear the whole sextet and experience their harmonies but, isn’t it also interesting to hear the stripped back sounds occasionally?

I loved those sounds and couldn’t quite put my finger on them. By contrast, more subdued than The Firelight Trio, they created a sound of tranquility as well as raw emotions. The words I heard spoke of relationships and resilience and, above all, empathy.


My candidates for bands that I was reminded of included Elbow and The Blue Nile. But, there was another name trying to break forth which didn’t quite manage it. On my way home I had the John Martyn Project CD playing. There he was…….. the man himself!

Mar 11 2026

Chris Wood 2026

Sunday 8th March 2026

Photos by Keith Belcher

Many thanks to everyone who came along and gave us a sold out evening for Chris Wood on Sunday. Chris was on superb form; his guitar and voice blending beautifully around those fantastic songs of his. In this writer’s opinion, ‘Spitfires’ alone is worth the price of entry. Although originally released some 17 years ago, it is sadly more relevant now that ever.

Never a polemicist or traditional protest singer, Chris nevertheless manages to echo and give words to the thoughts that haunt us during these very dark days. As he says: ‘I hope that people leave the show with the feeling that at least they’re not alone’.

However, not all his songs mine the ills of modern society, stories of replacing a much loved old sofa and taking his daughter to university show a family man dealing with the passing of time and are written with beauty, humour and much love.

He also gave us wonderful versions of some of our traditional songs, three of which were learned from his friend and sometime mentor, Martin Carthy, and were performed in tribute to the great man who has just retired from live performance.

The phrase ‘national treasure’ is much over-used, but is surely apposite in the case of this superb chronicler of English life. A brilliant show.

Mar 5 2026

Jeff Cohen Writers Round 2026

Sunday 1st March 2026

Photos and video by Keith Belcher, comments from the TLR WhatsApp group and Facebook

The return of one of the nicest men in the business, Nashville songwriter and publisher, Jeff Cohen, this time with a new cohort of guests: Laura Oakes from the UK and Stevie Woodward from Nashville. They were also joined for a couple of numbers by Jim Duguid, co-writer of many Paolo Nutini hits, including New Shoes, which he performed, and Steve Chrisanthou, who co-wrote many songs for Corinne Bailey Rae, including Put Your Records On, which he performed for us.

‘Hope that there’ll be another Writers’ Round next year. They’ve both been excellent and really varied’ – Susan Kirkham on Facebook

videos by keith belcher

Jeff Cohen: Boat On A River

Laura Oakes: Good Guy

Stevie Woodward: Nobody But You

Mar 4 2026

Niall McCabe

Friday 27th February 2026

Photos and video by Keith Belcher, review by Mike Latham

A wonderful performance last night. We missed him at Hullabaloo and I hadn’t yet listened to him. His style was not what one might expect from someone from an island off the coast of County Mayo but he has clearly been listening to lots of different sounds over the years. The music of his first few songs made me think of the folk of the sixties , Renbourn and Jansch a bit, but the American country influences came through loud and clear as the evening progressed. 

He’s developed his own, wonderful, guitar style, creating great sounds. His songs were marvellous tales of grief, wonderment and humanity, clearly influenced by his local culture as well as the folk music of his homeland and abroad. All was topped off with a great sense of humour and a perfect voice. 

Thanks for introducing such another fantastic artist to us, Ron and Hilary.

Videos by Keith Belcher

Crescendo

Valentine's Day

Mar 4 2026

Ashley Campbell

Friday 20th February 2026

Photos by Richard Leach, video by Keith Belcher

Ashley Campbell made her return visit to TLR after last year’s Writers Round with Jeff Cohen. This time she had her own band with her, comprising Thor Jensen, guitar and vocals; Mark Lewis, bass and vocals; and Jack Amblin, drums, washboard and vocals. They were also joined by Andrew Cox, from Post Modern Jukebox on sax.

videos by keith belcher

I See You

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

Feb 6 2026

Robert Vincent

Plus support Amy Jo Clough

Friday 16th January 2026

Photos by Richard Leach

The TLR debut of Robert Vincent and his trio was completely sold out and he gave us a stunning performance. What a voice! He received a standing ovation and we’ve rarely had so many rapturous comments from an audience as they were leaving. It was such a great show that we did that rare thing ourselves and immediately rebooked him, this time with his full band for January next year! Tickets on sale soon. We had a great opening spot from Amy Jo Clough too!

Thanks to Richard Leach for the photos.

Dec 19 2025

Homegrown Bluegrass

Sunday 14th December 2025

Photos by Nigel Plant

We closed of our 2025 programme with a celebration of all things bluegrass (with more than a dash of country, jazz and contemporary songs) from across Yorkshire. Featuring around twenty musicians, six bands, a tableful of cheese sandwiches and mince pies, and a packed house, it was a great way to bring our musical year to a close!

Many thanks go to Kevin Garratt and John Bennett, who brought all the musicians together ad also performed on the day, and also to Peter Mate, who first launched the idea and with Adrian Gallagher spent several hours preparing all those cheese savouries!

Dec 12 2025

Jackie Oates & John Spiers

Sunday 7th December 2025

Photos by Nigel Plant, review by Mike Latham via the TLR WhatsApp group

It was our last gig of the year and, as others have said, it was another great concert.

Jackie does, indeed, have a fabulous voice and the playing of both musicians was sublime. I’ve seen John playing in many combinations before but last night really opened my ears up to the wonderful sounds he could create with his melodeons. Fabulous.

As Paul said, we heard songs and tunes from many lands, as well as a bit of background. What struck me was the unity of composition looking at how people and communities dealt with issues, be it caring for children or uniting together in an endeavour to support one another. That echoed what Hilary had talked about with regard to small venues like TLR. There we were, a group gathered together to share in the experience of songs and tunes from, not only recent times but also from centuries past in the development of our country. 

Such gatherings show the importance that the joy of supporting TLR at the evenings we have attended at the Caroline Street Club throughout the year.

This was another wonderful concert in what has been an exceptional year. A big ‘Thank You’ to all involved for bringing that joy to us. 

Wishing everyone a very Happy Christmas and more great music in the year to come.

Nov 24 2025

Malin Lewis

Thursday 13th November 2025

Photos and video by Keith Belcher, review Pete Lambert

A truly exceptional gig on Thursday by Malin Lewis and friends ..

I had in fact bumped into them (Malin) in the Old Inn in Carbost, close to the Talisker Distillery, a few years ago – here was someone quite special in skill and experience – that was clear even back then.

I began playing the Highland Pipes in 2010 and had my own set of Scottish small Pipes made by Ross Calderwood of Lochalsh Pipes in about 2018.

What a thrill, then to see them at the live room a few years later, one outstanding talent alongside two others in Sally Simpson on fiddle and Ali Hutton on guitar.

The skill and musicianship of all three was truly outstanding and mesmerising ! The way the two fiddles interacted, exchanging melody and harmony with apparent ease and held together with the powerful and rhythmic guitar and penetrating into wondrous and unknown places (the halocline)

The sound of the Lindsay system small pipes was exquisite: these extending the range of the normal A chanter from 9 notes (low G to high A) to a full two octaves low D to high D) and creating a whole new world for this noble instrument.

And if this were not enough, Malin’s mastery of the Great Highland Pipes was total and glorious! Exceptional in every way.

Now to learn some of Malin’s tunes … at least those that can be managed by a 9 note set. Thanks for bringing this extraordinary trio to The Live Room, Ron and Hilary !

videos by keith belcher

Hiraeth/Trans

Bulgarian Tunes

Gavottes