Tag: Folk Music

Aug 7 2025

Le Vent du Nord (CAN)

Thursday 24th July

Photos & video by Keith Belcher, review by Pete Lambert

Impeccable! Incroyable! Extraordinaire! Le pied, quoi!

This has to be up there with one of the best ever gigs at TLR … and that is saying something!

The atmosphere was electric, the overall musicianship was awesome, the individual mastery of instruments off the planet, vocals and harmonies exquisite… 

Perhaps the most abiding characteristic of this band was its joyous enthusiasm for playing performance

For a musician, there can be nothing more rewarding than playing well to a most appreciative audience … and they absolutely revelled in it and each one was so grateful for the response.

I absolutely loved the rock ‘n’ roll vielle à roue (hurdy gurdy) and what the accordion was able to do was staggering 

Comme je le dis, le pied!!!

video by keith belcher

Par Dessus Le Pont

Jul 8 2025

Breabach

Sunday 22nd June 2025

Photos, videos & review by Keith Belcher

Sunday 22nd June 2025. The long ago sold out debut appearance (in the flesh) of Breabach. The band did make a virtual appearance during you know what, but this was the long overdue live visit.

The band are all multi instrumentalists and comprise Megan Henderson (fiddle, vocals, step dance), James Lindsay (double bass, vocals), Calum MacCrimmon (bagpipes, whistle, bouzouki, vocals, step dance), Conal McDonagh (bagpipes, whistle, vocals), and Ewan Robertson (guitar, cajon, vocals).

I might be wrong but I think Sunday was the first time we’ve had double bagpipes and double dancers on the stage in the same show. To say they went down well would be a gross understatement. A truly great night . They received a well deserved standing ovation. Some shots of the night.

videos by keith belcher

Knees Up

Les Pieds Joyeux

Muriwai

Jul 8 2025

Kroke (POL)

Sunday 25th May 2025

Photos, video and review by Keith Belcher

Kroke is a Polish instrumental ensemble of world music. The band’s name refers to the Yiddish language name for Kraków. The band were formed in 1992. They have collaborated with the likes of Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, Peter Gabriel and Nigel Kennedy (to name but a few).

Originally a klezmer band their range covers a mix of modern Polish, klezmer, contemporary jazz, and classical chamber music. The band members are Tomasz Lato (double bass), Tomasz Kukurba (viola and whistle) and Jerzy Bawof (accordion) .

An “interesting” show to photograph and film. You have men in shadows, all wearing hats and glasses with music stands with very brightly lit iPads reflecting in their glasses. The music was absolutely amazing though and the sound was as pristine as usual which is what matters. I really was stuck for choice on what to pick, everything they played was so good. A truly amazing show.

(For the videos) I settled on the 10 minutes plus opener Light In The Darkness, a solo 90 second opening on small whistle from Tomasz Kukurba before Jerzy Bawof starts playing an accordion that produces sounds ranging from full church organs to harmonicas, Tomasz switches to plucked viola and is soon ccompanied by Tomasz Lato on electric double bass. This is not the longest tune of the set. The set 1 closer Magic Day was over 18 minutes of astonishing music. Jerzy opened the delicate Love (Lullaby For Kamila). The third video is the well deserved standing ovation encore Ajde Jano (translates as Come Jane. A traditional Serbian wedding song urging the dancing to start). This really was a great night.

videos by keith belcher

Light in the Darkness

Love (Lullaby For Kamila)

Adje Jano

Jul 7 2025

Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira (CAN/USA)

Friday 16th May 2025

Photos, video by Keith Belcher, review by Keith Belcher & Mike Latham

Friday 16th May 2025, The Live Room, Caroline Street Social Club, Saltaire. The return visit of Jocelyn Pettit and Ellen Gira accompanied by Miguel Girão on guitar. A multi national band who all met in Glasgow. Jocelyn from the West Coast of Canada playing fiddle, step dancing and vocals. From the East coast of the USA, now based in Glasgow, Ellen on cello and vocal. From the Portuguese Midlands Miguel on guitar and vocals, also resident in Glasgow.


A warm welcome back from Hilary and quite simply, we all had a wonderful night. On the TLR WhatsApp group Michael Latham wrote the following and I’ll just quote him as he sums the show up very well indeed.


Michael Latham wrote…
“And it happens again, another great evening show from the finest small folk and roots club.
I thought that Jocelyn and Ellen had grown in confidence since their last visit. It was wonderful, not only to witness their commitment and understanding of traditional tunes but to be amazed by the way in which they use their contacts with other musicians from around the globe and develop their own fabulous creations. I have to say that , although I cannot remember the title of it*, the tune that Ellen created in memory of her grandmother was one of the most beautiful pieces of music that I have heard.
The sound they created was magical and a special mention too, to Ron for his sound also.
Once again , we are so lucky to have this venue so close. Many thanks Ron and Hilary.”

videos by keith belcher

Across The Western Ocean

St. Catherine's Waltz & Atholl Brose Set

Jul 7 2025

Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain

Sundy 11thMay 2025

Photos and review by Nigel Plant

Catrin Finch and Aoife Ní Bhriain treated The Live Room at Saltaire to a fantastic evening of entrancing musical mastery yesterday. Weaving classical and traditional themes from Ireland and Wales to create a magical soundscape.

Jul 7 2025

South For Winter

Friday 2nd May 2025

Photos & Video by Keith Belcher

We were treated to a wonderful show by New Zealand/USA duo who we first saw at the Folk Alliance Conference in New Orleans in 2020. Great harmonies, songs and musicianship, and great humour too.

videos by keith belcher

Black Crows

Always You

Wintersleep

Jul 7 2025

Justin Adams & Mauro Durante

Sunday 27th April 2025

Photos & review by Ron Pengelly

A mesmerising fusion of music from around the world from guitarist & producer Justin Adams and violinist & percussionist Mauro Durante on Sunday evening.

And once again, top tier musicians who loved playing to the hugely appreciative Live Room audience and the very warm welcome they received.

Another brilliant show, one to remember.

Apr 7 2025

Lynne Hanson with Blair Michael Hogan (CAN)

Sunday 6th April 2025

Photos and videos by Keith Belcher

videos by keith belcher

Long Way to Crawl

Higher Ground

Shadowland

Apr 1 2025

Sean Taylor Trio

Sunday 30th March 2025

Photos, review and videos by Keith Belcher

Sunday 30th March 2025. A superb show from The Sean Taylor Trio, accompanying Sean tonight were Mike Seal on upright bass and Paulina Szczepaniak on percussion and keyboards. Great songs, great lyrics, great and very skilled and varied music, not to mention great humour and enjoyment. Well worth a night out if you can make one of their gigs. A really cracking night.

videos by keith belcher

Berlin

Mona Lisa

Mar 17 2025

Daoiri Farrell

Sunday 16th March 2025

Photos, review and videos by Keith Belcher

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. On St. Patrick’s Eve, Sunday 16th March 2025 we had the first visit to TLR in the flesh of Daoirí Farrell. He had appeared to TLR viewers via streaming during the lockdown (20th November 2020 to be exact).

It took a while but eventually we had a cracking real live show from Daoirí. Having followed Daoirí Farrell since his career started, and having seen him many times, I was overjoyed to eventually see him at TLR.

I’m admittedly very biased but it was a brilliant night with Daoirí displaying his musical virtuosity on bouzouki and shruti box. His superb voice also being a magnificent instrument in it’s own right.

There was also some very amusing , comical banter and jokes to keep the audience well amused between the songs. A very good time was had by all.

videos by keith belcher

If You Ever Go To Dublin Town

One Starry Night

The Galway Shawl