7 June: Katie Spencer

We are delighted to welcome back the astoundingly talented singer, songwriter and guitarist Katie Spencer. Katie first appeared at TwickFolk in 2023, just after releasing her second album. Since then, she has completed multiple tours in the UK and further afield, and last year released What Love Is, an entrancing album of of heartfelt and intricately crafted songs.

Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull, Katie’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through her music. Her writing, and most notably her guitar playing, stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Michael Chapman and John Martyn weave into her sound. Katie absorbs these influences into her songwriting and with her distinctive deep vibrato and crystal-clear guitar style, she makes the music inimitably her own.

What Is Love was produced by Matt Ingram (Laura Marling, The Staves). Recorded in London’s Urchin Studios, it features prominent players Giacomo Smith (clarinet), Max Clilverd (pedal steel), Tom Mason (double bass) and Matt Ingram (drums, synth).… Continue reading. →

14 June: Double-headline special: David Collins + Simon O’Grady & Tim White

Tonight’s performance features two superb acts who will be well known to TwickFolk regulars. David Collins and Simon O’Grady & Tim White have appeared at TwickFolk in floor spots and support slots over the past few years and we are delighted to welcome them back for this special double-headline evening.

David is a singer-songwriter-guitarist who has drawn comparison to Chris Wood. Described by award-winning folk singer Nick Hart as “Fantastic to hear play… his guitar playing sounds really, really lovely”, David is a storyteller at heart. His music is a mix of traditional ballads, his own, often very personal songs, and even some contemporary works, too. All of this is underpinned by his guitar playing that has a gentle and nuanced approach, supporting the story and tradition of ballad singing. A semi-finalist at the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician awards in 2011, David played across the UK at clubs and festivals. After a break of several years, David’s debut full album, Sundown, was released last year and marks his return to live music and performance.

Dave Kelly is a true legend of British Blues, having been a leading light on the scene since becoming lead singer and guitarist with the John Dummer Blues Band in the late 1960’s. Dave has worked with many of his heroes, including John Lee Hooker, Son House and Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Freddie King, Lowell Fulson, The Allman Brothers Band, Bill Payne, James Burton and Albert Lee. Probably one of the most auspicious pedigrees of any British Blues artist. In 1979, he was a founding member of The Blues Band with Tom McGuinness, Paul Jones and Hughie Flint, and the band released more than 20 albums.

Dave continues to work with his own Dave Kelly Band when time permits. Also for about the past 25 years he and Paul Jones have toured as an acoustic duo. He does similar tours with Scottish soul queen Maggie Bell. Now in his 70’s, Dave shows now sign of slowing down nor any intention of retiring. He says: “Why should I retire? – I get paid for my hobby!”

Dave’s latest album, The Sun on My Face, was… Continue reading. →