Tag: Folk Music

Jul 2 2026

Sons of Town Hall 2026

Thursday 11th June 2026

Photos and videos by Keith Belcher, review by Mike Latham

What an absolute pleasure it was to witness the return of the Sons of Town Hall to the Live Room last night.

George Ulysses Brown and Josiah Chester Jones did us the honour of tying up their craft on the local waterway and bringing us up to date with their new adventures. They were as pleased to see us, knowing that here in Saltaire was a safe harbour with an appreciative audience and a very warm welcome. Newcomers were reminded of how our intrepid seafarers met and their early adventures. George always reminding us of the delights of making sausages in Germany. We were also regaled with their endeavours to win the heart of Louise which can often impact their own, close relationship.

New adventures, there have been many, the most adventurous being their recent accompaniment of Mr. Ernest Shackleton to the region of Antarctica. They regaled us with examples of a new aid to supporting their adventures through the concept of sponsorship. How the world moves forward, and they with it.

Their skills as fearless explorers of the high seas are matched by their skills as musicians, songwriters and wonderful harmonies. They truly embrace the skills of those who have come before them.

Sail on safely, gentlemen. And, as they say further to the north from here, haste ye back.

Acknowledgement of introducing this wonderful duo to us goes to the Master of Sound, Ron and the Mistress of Ceremonies, Hilary. Thanks to them and the club and volunteers for yet another wonderful evening.

videos by keith belcher

Boss Man

Morning Fields

Leaving London Town

Jul 2 2026

Over The Moon

Sunday 24th May 2026

Photos and videos by Keith Belcher

videos by keith belcher

Chinook Waltz

Sea of Heartbreak

Apr 5 2026

Rosier & Elanor Moss

Sunday 29th March 2026

Photos & video by Keith Belcher, review by Mike Latham

A wonderful introduction to two new names to me; great to see such younger musicians coming forward to take what has gone before and add their own stamp on it.

Elanor took what appears to be a simple style, those folk club singers of the early 60s with ‘simple’ songs and tunes , except she doesn’t. Her style of playing had me transfixed, watching her fingers intently and then, those songs. Revelatory compositions on the human condition, how we face the rigours and disappointments of life but move forward with strength. Definitely one to watch.

And then Rosier. Similar in the way they took those folk tales of their past and the influences of those musicians that they were exposed to when growing up and created their own sound. Ethereal is an adjective I have heard mentioned a lot recently and their sound was certainly that. Again, not afraid to stamp their own mark on it and take those old tales forward for us all to hear in a contemporary setting. Past and present aligning to remember those warnings of pitfalls and problems to avoid.

If only some contemporary ‘leaders’ would learn those lessons.

videos by keith belcher

Elanor Moss: On A Good Day

Elanor Moss: Sarah Waiting in the Car

Rosier: Plus D'Amis

Rosier: S'il Chante

Rosier: Other Forms

Mar 28 2026

Minor Gold

Sunday 15th March 7pm at The Kirkgate Centre, Shipley

Photos by Richard Leach

The Live Room partnered with Kirkgate Community Centre for this one off special show by Australian duo, Minor Gold to help them complete the UK leg of their tour after the show booked for The Hullabaloo fell through. We’re really glad we managed to pull it together thanks to Kirkgate, as they delivered a really wonderful evening of brilliant songwriting and harmonies, together with some sparkling guitar work. We will definitely be working on a return visit by them, this time to our home at Caroline Street Social Club. Thank you to everyone who came along and made such a lovely night for them.

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.

videos by keith belcher

Av Hjärtat Jag Dig älskar En Annan Polska

Sam Hall

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 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

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.