Please note – admission is FREE. But please click green ‘tickets’ button to register attendance, to give indication of numbers. Collection at end of gig.

Lynne Hanson is a two-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner, a recipient of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award, winner of the Blues and Roots Radio International Song Contest, two-time Folk Music Ontario Blues Award winner, a two-time Indie Acoustic Project Alt-Country album of the year winner, and a two-time Kerrville New Folk finalist.

Described as “Canada’s Queen of Americana”, Lynne’s deep bluesy croon has drawn comparisons to Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch, and she is known for her high energy, roots guitar driven live performances, whether solo or with her band The Good Intentions, connecting with an authenticity to her audience that is as entertaining as it is disarming

Too tough for folk and too blues-influenced for Country, her brand of ‘porch music with a little red dirt’ can turn from a blue-sky ballad to a full on thunderstorm of gritty Americana swamp from one song to the next. A closet standup comedian, Lynne often leaves the audience howling with laughter with her between song banter, during sets drawn from the back catalogue of studio albums she’s released since 2006.

A prolific songwriter, she has released nice studio albums along with two books of poetry over her 16 year solo career, with her latest work ‘Ice Cream In November’ having been released to critical acclaim in April 2022.

Jacob and Drinkwater are, without doubt, some of the most talented musicians that have played Temperance. All their previous sell-out gigs had rave reviews and we can’t wait to welcome them back next April.

Devon based duo Jacob & Drinkwater have been called “stand out new folk” by BBC6 Music with their live show described as “intense and spellbinding” by Folk Radio UK. The duo formed in 2014 playing their first gig together at the iconic Glastonbury Festival.

The 2015 indie release The Burning Low EP received national airplay and glowing reviews from such quarters as Radio 2’s Folk Show, BBC6 Music’s Tom Robinson, Amazing Radio, BBC Introducing, BBC Bristol, FRUK, Fatea, Spiral Earth, Louder Than War and ‘Whispering’ Bob TV. The track We Are The First Ones Now featured stunning harmonies from Wildwood Kin.

In 2016 they recorded ‘Live at Hope Hall’ with a sell-out crowd at Exeter’s Hope Hall and released an album that captures the intense energy and improvisational nature of the live show and takes the listener on a real emotional journey. Throughout 2018 the duo performed at festivals in the UK and Europe and London’s historic Union Chapel. In September they embarked on their Waters of England tour; combining live touring with open water swimming in locations across the UK and documenting their adventures via their social media pages. Gone are the days of post-gig booze ups; the duo are teetotal and promote a healthy, clean living touring regime to support well being and mental health.

The February 2019 This Old River tour was their biggest to date and coincides with the release of their first full studio album, successfully crowdfunded through Indiegogo.

Singer-songwriter Tobias ben Jacob first received wider acclaim as part of The Roots Union with BBC Folk Award winners Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin (Edgelarks) including playing live for the BBC at Maida Vale Studios and recording in Nashville, Tennessee. He has toured extensively and had several releases including the 2017 album ‘A Polyphonic Life’ Tobias’ songs have been featured in the documentary film Beating The Bomb and in the feature film Tomorrow.

Lukas Drinkwater is rightly referred to as “one of busiest musicians in the UK.” In demand as a producer, performer and session player in the worlds of folk and jazz he has featured on many acclaimed albums. Recently he’s been touring with ‘AMA UK Artist of the Year’ Emily Barker, Albert Jones, Ange Hardy, and the Peoples String Foundation. He has also worked with Seth Lakeman, 3 Daft Monkeys, Jim Causley, Lack of Afro, Lucy Ward, Tankus The Henge, Sam Kelly, The Little Unsaid and many more.

The duo’s dynamic and emotionally charged live show with all its energy, musical chemistry and spontaneity has drawn comparisons with the virtuosic pairing of John Martyn and Danny Thompson. Jacob’s sweeping vocals never fail to captivate, delivering many a spine-tingling moment; the fluidity and precision of his finger-picking underpinned by Drinkwater’s nimbly rhythmic double bass; at times sweetly soaring, haunting, percussive and driving, the layers of depth a perfect counterfoil. The added complement of stirring vocal harmonies nicely rounds off the mix.

Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and ‘showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie make music that is animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee).

Brothers James and Sam Gillespie found their sound growing up in the fells and valleys of Northumberland, their songs often describing relationships with wild places and the experience of finding oneself in a world alive with soul. The music comes to them most strongly when walking in the borderlands with their packs and instruments which remains a regular practice for them. This spirit is channeled into their live performances which have a rare and intimate energy, both ethereal and earthy, romantic and radical. The brothers have travelled far and wide with their music and have played at Cambridge and Sidmouth Folk Festivals and opened for Lankum and Sam Lee. In 2021 they featured in the English Heritage ‘Songs of England’ recording series that appeared on BBC Radio 4. The release of their new album ‘The Merciful Road’ (‘pure magic’, Living Tradition) in Spring 2022 saw them embark on their most extensive national tour to date.

‘The Merciful Road’ was recorded in a cottage by the banks of the river Tweed and like their previous album ‘The Fell’, it blends rootsy, acoustic elements to create a rich warm sound with a touch of vintage magic. In some ways it is an album about finding the thread of love and belonging in a world that seems to be nonetheless unravelling.

The brothers emerge from the time of lockdowns with a yet greater reverence for the joy and privilege of being with an audience in real time and space.

‘Our music is inspired by the still wild soul of the land in which we live, a land alive with presences, not owned by anyone. It is about seeing with the eye of the heart and recovering our imaginations. It is about finding home, belonging and each other in a world which is singing to us as we sing to it’.

Fiddler and singer-songwriter Hannah Read met banjo player Michael Starkey at an Appalachian old time session in Edinburgh in late 2019. The moment they first struck up a tune together there was an immediate meeting of musical minds. They have since become a dynamic fiddle and banjo duo, playing repertoire deep from the old time tradition as well as newly self-composed tunes and songs. Their compelling sound can be heard on the debut album Cross the Rolling Water, recently out on Hudson Records in June 2022.

Hannah is an award-winning Scottish musician based in Brooklyn, New York. She moved stateside to study American fiddle styles and to immerse herself in the thriving string music scene. She has toured extensively, performing solo and collaborating with musicians far and wide including Tony Trischka, Sarah Jarosz and Jefferson Hamer, as well as being one part of the BBC Folk Award winning Songs of Separation.

Michael is a multi-instrumentalist, old time banjo enthusiast and music teacher living in Scotland. His mission as a musician is to keep things simple – clear melody lines and infectious rhythms. His recent collaborations include playing with Wayward Jane (Edinburgh-based UK/US folk and roots music 4-piece) and ‘Faultline’, a collection of Lisa Fannen’s poetry set to music.

Steve Pledger is a multi-award-winning recording artist with an enviable reputation as a talented and dynamic performer. With writing that ranges from fragile reflections on love and loss to blistering commentaries on present circumstances, his songs pack an emotional punch, both on record and on stage.

His musical influences are many and varied including Graham Parker, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, Martyn Joseph, Van Morrison, Don McLean, Springsteen, Loudon Wainwright lll and others. Following on from his 2012 debut album ‘14 Good Intentions’, April 2015 saw Steve release its follow-up, ‘Striking Matches In The Wind’, which according to R2 Magazine’s 4* review is “Authentically expressed in a voice with genuine appeal… a direct route to the heart.” In addition to Steve’s central performances, the album is graced by a number of other talented artists, including Lukas Drinkwater with whom Steve has continued to collaborate since.

Successful tours over the last few years have taken him around the UK, including for an annual run of dates across Scotland. Steve’s much anticipated third album, ‘Somewhere Between’ (released April 2016 to critical acclaim) appeared on multiple ‘Best of 2016’ radio shows – frequently in the top ten – and in January 2017 was announced as Album Of The Year by FATEA, as well as by FolkWords in their Male Solo Artist category.In February 2019, Steve launched his live music initiative, On Trust Events, to help make live music more accessible to all, regardless of their financial situation. It was nominated for a FATEA Award for ‘Innovation’ in January 2020.

October 2019 saw Steve release his first live (mini) album, ‘Alone In The Dark‘. Featuring seven of his best-loved songs played live and solo, it made it on to several ‘Best of 2019’ lists, including Roots & Fusion’s ‘25 Essential Albums of the Year’.The challenges faced by all during 2020 resulted in Steve’s quietest period for some years.Contracting Covid himself in the early Spring and experiencing elements of its long-lasting effects, he did manage to record three tracks at home.

All well-received, the third – ‘The Baptist’s Father’ – is a piano-backed, spoken-word version of a previously unreleased song and, in January 2021, was awarded the FATEA ‘Track Of The Year’.2022 saw Steve return to regular live performance as well as the release of his 4th studio album, ‘What Tomorrow Knows’.

Featuring: Sean McFadden, Robert Cooper, Gary Warren, Rory Dorgan, Emily Curtis, Matthew Eades, Abi Rowberry, Daniel Barrie

Andi Wolf (host)

The Leamington Folk Club meets at Temperance on the second Thursday of every month

• MC’d by Andi Wolf
• Performers  announced in advance
• Mix of established and up and coming musicians
• Each play up to 15 minutes
• Emphasis on original material
• PA, mics/stands, digital mixer and lighting provided
• Food (pizzas), soft drinks and full bar available
• Limited capacity so £3 advance booking (+bf) preferred

Everyone is most welcome to attend, whether performing or not!

Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounched Breetch-er Hime-bowl) is a leading purveyor of experimental Celtic music. Her piping has earned her a BBC Young Folk Award and a BBC Horizon Award, and seen her perform for heads of state at the Cop26 climate conference. She’s brought her instrument to a global stage, and has worked with a range of other artists – currently she can be heard on Caroline Polachek‘s new single “Blood and Butter“. With her second album ‘Carry Them With Us’, Chaimbeul has taken it beyond folk music, discovering a place where tradition and minimalism meet, offering her the freedom to experiment in sound and create something completely her own. ‘Carry Them With Us’ is an exhilarating weave of rich textural drones, trance atmospheres and instrumental folk traditions. She was joined on this album by acclaimed Canadian sound explorer and saxophonist Colin Stetson (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver), who also co-produced the album.

A native Gaelic speaker from the Isle of Skye, Brìghde’s style is rooted in her language and culture, but draws inspiration from a variety of global piping traditions, such as from Eastern Europe, Cape Breton and Ireland. Her debut album ‘The Reeling’ (2019) had an extraordinary response. Produced by Lau’s Aidan O’Rourke, it was named as Folk Album Of The Month by The Guardian, given five star reviews in both fRoots and Songlines, lavished with praise by BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and listed as one of The Quietus’s Albums Of The Year. ‘The Reeling’ was voted one of the 20 Scottish Albums of the Year by the Say Awards (out of 293 submissions) and secured a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award win for Brìghde.

Christina Alden & Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich.

Their music is rich with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative song-writing style that is both delicate and moving. Deeply inspired by the world around them, they have a keen environmental eye to craft stories with the natural world at its heart, reflecting on the relationship between humans and the wild.

They have enjoyed touring extensively in the UK and Europe; including a twenty three-date concert hall tour with Show of Hands (including Union Chapel and St David’s Hall Cardiff), a show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for Celtic Connections, headline and main stage performances at some of the UK’s most prestigious folk festivals and performances in Norway, Belgium, France and Ireland.

They have written and self-released four albums, composed music for a BBC Radio 4documentary series and have had over a million streams on Spotify.

Michele Stodart is an award-winning solo artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in London. Born in Trinidad, she spent her early years surrounded by Caribbean music and culture, until she and her family fled a military coup attempt, leading them to Queens, New York where she spent a large part of her childhood. Michele is best known as bassist, vocalist and co-songwriter of Mercury-nominated, double-platinum selling band, The Magic Numbers, who have released five critically acclaimed studio albums with top ten singles, and supported the likes of Neil Young, Radiohead, Brian Wilson, U2, Flaming Lips and Bright Eyes. She continues to play with the band and tour world-wide with them.

Alongside this, Michele has always pursued her own writing and nurtured a love for folk/Americana artists such as Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Gillian Welch. She started writing songs in her early teens, as a way to process and tell stories from her experiences. She would hide away to write songs, rarely playing them in public. After Michele gave birth to her daughter, her older brother, Romeo (frontman of The Magic Numbers), encouraged her to record and release an album of her own songs. This resulted in her first solo album, Wide-Eyed Crossing (2012), a southern-drenched journey into Americana country blues. “I never thought I’d release a solo album, but I needed closure from those songs, so recording them was the only way to truly move on”, she said at the time.

From this point, Michele began playing solo shows and tours. She soon became known for her intimate, passionate and heart-wrenching live performances, gaining her new fans along the way, as well as recognition for her solo material, helping to establish her as a singer-songwriter in her own right. After the success of her solo debut, she was signed by One Little Independent and a second solo album, Pieces (2016), followed to great critical acclaim: a confessional, melodic country/roots album with an orchestral, cinematic feel.

In recent years, Michele divides her time between her work with The Magic Numbers and her solo projects. In between recording and touring, she has also been building a name for herself as musical director, collaborator and producer. She has been invited to curate stages at a number of festivals and events, as well as promoting regular nights at Camden’s legendary Green Note. She continues to champion women in music and gender equality within the industry, and is curator, director and performer in a successful annual series of multi-artist shows celebrating International Women’s Day.

After a busy few years working on such a diverse range of projects, Michele is currently focusing on her third solo studio album, due for release in September 2023.