the very best in acoustic music

The
RAM
CLUB
THE VERY BEST IN
ACOUSTIC MUSIC
at The Old Cranleighan Club,
Portsmouth Road,
Thames Ditton KT7 0HB
FRIDAYS AT 8.15pm
(Bar open from 7.30,
non-members welcome)
Former winner of the BBC Folk
Club of the Year award
SEPTEMBER 4 – THE CHURCHFITTERS ■ Wow! What an incredible start to the new term!
How is anyone to sit still when this electrifying four-piece is on stage? Based in Brittany, multi-instrumentalists Rosie
Short, Chris Short, bass player Boris Lebret and percussionist Margaux Scherer, play up-tempo and energetic folk, full
of stories, drama, harmonies and requiring a wild array of devices: regular instruments are supplemented by a range of
home-made and improvised additions. Broadcaster Mike Harding has called them “totally brilliant and beautiful”.
This is a chance to see a BIG band up close. £10 members/£12 non-members www.churchfitters.com
SEPTEMBER 11 – THE YOUNG 'UNS ■ A riotous, magnificent and uproariously funny trio
Three still-young lads, celebrating their 30 th birthdays this year, have an infectious love for the music, traditions and
warm humour of their native north-east. The show that David Eagle, Sean Cooney, and Michael Hughes delivered
when last at The Ram Club was riotous and uproariously funny. Whether singing a cappella, or accompanied by guitar
or accordion, they make a magnificent trio. £10 members/£11 non-members www.theyounguns.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 18 – MICK RYAN & PAUL DOWNES ■ Triumphant combination of voice and guitar
Mick's voice has been described as “underrated” – and while it's true, that's not a blunder we will make. He is one of
the finest singers around. Put the multi-talented Paul Downes at his side and you have a triumphant combination. Paul
says he's embarrassed when called one of the greatest acoustic guitar players. But either way, he's right up there and
adds gentle wit to Mick's hilarious stories. £9 members/£10 non-members www.pauldownes.com www.mickandpete.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 25 – CARDBOARD FOX ■ Brilliant young quartet starring the Carrivick sisters
The extraordinarily talented Carrivick sisters – Laura (fiddle) and Charlotte (guitar) – team up with John Breese on
double bass and Joe Tozer on mandolin to share their love of acoustic music, folk and bluegrass. They formed in 2013,
melding their various influences and backgrounds and writing original “re-imagined” folk songs. Expect musicianship
of the highest order from these brilliant youngsters. Garfield Kennedy, a festival organiser, said of them : “They just
absolutely blew me away.” £10 members/£11 non-members www.cardboardfox.co.uk
OCTOBER 2 – GARETH LEE & ANNIE BAYLISS ■ Enchanting duo with beautiful sounds and smiles
Come and be enchanted by this divine duo. They played a floor spot for us in the spring and charmed everyone with
their beautiful sound and smiles. They both sing, with Gareth on guitar and Annie on fiddle and accordion, and their
songs are full of touching lyrics to sweet melodies. This pair from Cornwall are attracting the attention of the awards
committees, broadcasters – and music lovers everywhere. £9 members/£10 non-members garethandanniemusic.co.uk
OCTOBER 9 – KIERAN HALPIN
■ Peerless Irish songwriter and performer
Kieran is a songwriter of such quality that countless artists have taken to singing his compositions – but who could be
better at performing his work than the man himself? Always a first-class entertainer on stage, Kieran has a rich
collection of sparkling stories and a back catalogue of 19 albums from which to draw. He has been playing music since
leaving school in eastern Ireland and has toured the world with folk classics such as “Nothing To Show For It All” and
“Angel of Paradise”. £10 members/£11 non-members www.kieranhalpin.com
OCTOBER 16 – JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH ■ Superbly polished guitar and banjo duo
These two young musicians are perfectly in tune with each other and the folk message they are putting across. They are
collectors of traditional songs and sing of the struggle of ordinary people and the simple life and their self-penned
tunes fit perfectly into their impressive collection. Their driving combination of guitar (Sid) and banjo (Jimmy) is as
tight as a drum and their harmonies as smooth as silk. Their CD has been called “understated and thought-provoking”,
and live they are superbly polished and accomplished. A class act. £9 members/£10 non-members jimmyandsid.com
OCTOBER 23 – ELLIOTT MORRIS ■ A dazzlingly skilful guitarist with a sweet singing voice to match
Come and be dazzled by this young man who must have been born with an acoustic guitar in his hands. His mastery of
the fretboard is so complete that he is able to use the entire instrument to create a big band sound all on his own. His
incredible technique and his musicality, songwriting and sense of fun have brought him to the attention of the likes of
Eddi Reader and Paul Carrack, both of whom he has supported. Having played hundreds of gigs, he sings and plays
with confidence and is surely on his way to great things. £9 members/£10 non-members www.elliottmorris.co.uk
OCTOBER 30 – SARA GREY, KIERON MEANS & BEN PALEY ■ Americana with a transatlantic twist
Sara is one of the finest exponents of the old-time banjo style, having perfected the frailing technique over a lifetime of
playing, from the time she first heard mountain music as a child in North Carolina – so her repertoire naturally centres
on the American traditions. Appearing with her is son Kieron Means, her regular musical partner, whose time spent in
England adds a transatlantic element, and Ben Paley, an American who has been playing fiddle since the age of six and
now lives in Sussex. £10 members/£11 non-members www.saragrey.net
NOVEMBER 6 – GIGSPANNER ■ Trio of master musicians take folk rock into new dimensions
Each member of Gigspanner brings a unique quality: Peter Knight on fiddle contributes his Steeleye Span pedigree;
Roger Flack has his roots in rock guitar; and Vincent Salzfaas adds the rhythms of Senegal and Cuba on congas and
djembe. It's a powerful and passionate mix, as heard on their new album, “Layers of Ages”, with the three lifting each
other to new heights. Just go to their website and listen to “Death and the Lady”, a song that captures traditional and
contemporary sounds in a gloriously atmospheric drama . £10 members/£12 non-members www.gigspanner.com
NOVEMBER 13 – ARCHIE FISHER ■ One man and a guitar – yet so much more
Archie likes to keep things simple on stage – but up there with him are history, tradition, experience, great skill and
dexterity, a voice rich in character, an easy humour, and a priceless repertoire of compositions. The writer of “The
Final Trawl” hosted a radio show in his native Scotland for many 25 years which, along with his timeless sound, has
earned him legendary status – and an MBE. £10 members/£11 non-members www.redhouserecords.com/artists/archie-fisher
NOVEMBER 20 – CLIVE GREGSON & LIZ SIMCOCK ■ Revisiting the amazing “Collister Catalogue”
When Clive collaborated with Christine Collister to make five albums in the late 1980s, Rolling Stone magazine called
it “the state of the art in British folk rock”. Now, the former Any Trouble front man has enlisted the hugely talented Liz
Simcock to showcase songs from that period. Clive is witty, with a strong distinctive voice, and Liz is quirky and fun,
with a velvety voice and willowy presence. £10 members/£12 non-members www.lizsimcock.com www.clivegregson.com
NOVEMBER 27 – RORY McLEOD ■ Musical troubadour poet who makes friends wherever he goes
Rory is always on the move – though even he's not sure whether he's running away or going somewhere. Either way,
he is a fascinating man – a former clown and fire-eater who ended up playing solo because the band he was in didn't
want to sing songs about his grandma who loved to dance. Rory is an enormously appealing character, embracing
many styles, travelling widely, and writing intelligent songs. £10 members/£11 non-members www.rorymcleod.com
DECEMBER 4 – EWAN McLENNAN ■ “One of the most exciting new voices in years”
After just a year of playing in acoustic music clubs, Ewan won a Radio 2 Folk Award and a couple of years later was
invited to be part of the BBC's “Transatlantic Sessions”. Still in his 20s, Ewan studied classical music at the piano, but
is now a guitar-wielding Scottish singer-songwriter, balladeer and storyteller. His guitar playing shines with virtuosity
behind his compelling vocals. Mike Harding said of him: “I was utterly bowled over by Ewan's music. One of the most
exciting new voices I've heard in years.” £9 members/£10 non-members www.ewanmclennan.co.uk
DECEMBER 11 – STEVE TILSTON & JEZ LOWE ■ Two of the finest songwriters on the same stage
Steve and Jez are each laden with awards and nominations for their memorable compositions – “Back in Durham
Gaol”, “The Bergen”, and “Slipjigs and Reels”. Regular visitors to the club in their solo guises, these old pals and
master craftsmen will swap banter and tales of touring and songwriting as they join forces for their “Writes and Songs
Tour”. Great singers and guitarists – and always superbly entertaining – this is a genuine two-for-the-price-of-one
opportunity. £10 members/£12 non-members www.stevetilston.com www.jezlowe.com
DECEMBER 18 – RICHARD DIGANCE/CHRISTMAS PARTY ■ Festive laughter guaranteed...
Richard left us in stitches after his barnstorming performance at the club in January – so who better to complete our
programme for 2015? Famed for his irreverent and hilarious commentaries on the news on TV, Richard mixes the
mirth with beautifully observed and moving ballads and raucous audience participation. On top of this, there is food,
drink, a mega-raffle, and festivities to make the party swing. £10 members/£12 non-menbers www.richarddigance.com
...AND COMING UP IN 2016 – The Hut People, Paul Millns, The Changing Room, and more...
■ More details from www.theramclub.co.uk or Bob and Maggie Wood on 020-8686 9421
■ Find us on Facebook & Twitter, and see performances of artists past and future on our YouTube channel – search for TheRamClub
■ To receive e-mail updates or tell us of address changes, e-mail [email protected]
■ Nearest stations: Hinchley Wood, Thames Ditton or Esher, via South West Trains