DETAILED PROGRAMME

2026  

NOVEMBER 8TH     BOB FOX & STU LUCKLEY – Bob and took the folk world by storm when they began playing together in the late 1970s. The duo's reputation was cemented in 1978 when they released Nowt So Good'll Pass, their debut album which won Melody Maker's Folk Album Of The Year award. Their musicianship was undoubted, their vocals were superb and complimentary, Bob’s crisp voice and Stu’s soft blended so well. But it was their arrangements that made the whole so exceptional, and now they are together again to wow us anew.  YouTube  Members £18, Non-members £20 

NOVEMBER 22ND      TRACKDOGS   Track Dogs are two Irishmen, an Englishman and an American, (Garrett Wall, Dave Mooney, Howard Brown & Robbie K.Jones), whose artistic name derives from the dark subterranean world of New York’s subway system. Formed in the Autumn of 2006 in Madrid around the eclectic line-up of acoustic guitar, electric bass, trumpet and cajón, over the following 20 years they have added banjo, ukulele and mandolin as well as honing their four part vocal harmonies, now very much an integral part of their “sound”. Well-established in Spain where they are based, they are surprising music lovers everywhere with “Sun-shiny songs thriving on dark themes behind irresistible rhythms.” After a fortuitous invitation to the Costa del Folk Festival in Ibiza they have become a “must have” band for festivals and clubs.  YouTube  YouTube   Members £18, Non-members £20

NOVEMBER 29TH      GIGSPANNER – are Peter Knight, Roger Flack & Sacha Trochet.  In the wake of his departure from Steeleye Span, fiddle player Peter Knight turned his full attention to his trio Gigspanner, and in the process established their reputation as one of the most genuinely ground-breaking forces on the British folk scene, inspiring Maverick magazine to write "Gigspanner are pushing at the boundaries, expanding the possibilities and in the process making some of the most beautiful music the genre has to offer".  They have been described by Folk Radio UK as one of the “most quietly brilliant sets of musicians in the folk world and beyond”, and by Songlines as "another milestone in folk's rebirth of cool".  Taking self-penned material along with music rooted in the British Isles and beyond, with the flick of a bow, a finely chosen chord or slip of a beat. YouTube  Members £18 Non-member £20

DECEMBER 6TH    ST AGNES FOUNTAIN   - Christmas would not be Christmas without St Agnes Fountain Chris Leslie (Fairport Convention) and BBC Folk Award Winners Chris While and Julie Matthews.  They have brought joy, laughter, a few tears, sparkling musicianship and heartfelt renditions of your favourite Christmas tunes to the club for the past 25 years. YouTube  TICKET ONLY   Members £22, Non-members £25 

DECEMBER 20TH    AN ALBION CHRISTMAS   - Specially formed for the festive period and featuring the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band) Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings. this show takes you on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain, music, dancing and celebration. 'The perfect antidote to the corporate Christmas' (The Guardian) 'The Albion Christmas Band take the audience deep into Britain's winter festival with visions of frosty mornings, a rejoicing Earth, burning logs and berries'. YouTube   TICKET ONLY   Members £22, Non-members £25

2027

JANUARY 10^TH  ELIZABETH & JAMESON and GILMORE & ROBERTS (Double header) Hannah Elizabeth and Griff Jameson joined forces to create an acoustic folk-roots sound which encompasses both their individual musical backgrounds.  Hannah’s influences are firmly planted in traditional folk-roots, whilst in contrast Griff has formed his musical reputation within folk pop/rock genres.  Together they arguably offer the best of both backgrounds; this is simplistic, classic song writing at its best - a stripped back harmony-driven sound with acoustic guitar, violin and exquisite vocals.  YouTube  www.elizabethandjameson.co.uk      Contemporary folk/acoustic duo Gilmore & Roberts combine award-winning songwriting with astounding musicianship and their trademark harmonies to create a powerful wall of sound. Nominated three times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Katriona (fiddle, mandolin) and Jamie (guitar) met while studying at Leeds College of Music and released their debut album in 2008.  Since then, the duo has toured Canada and mainland Europe, played some of the UK’s biggest acoustic festivals, toured with folk rock legends Fairport Convention and won countless accolades for their genre-spanning work.  YouTube    www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk (Members £16, Non-members £18)

JANUARY 24^TH   SHOW OF HANDS – The Steve Knightley & Phil Beer duo played their first booking at Hitchin.  As a nod to this long relationship with the Club, they agreed to this one-off SoH concert to celebrate Maureen’s 60 years since taking over the running of Hitchin Folk Club.   (SOLD OUT)

FEBRUARY 7^TH   EDWINA HAYES and EMILY SLADE (Double header)   Edwina’s beautifully written songs, charming stage presence and voice of an angel have won her a reputation as a true natural talent of gentle folk-Americana. Edwina is often invited to guest on studio albums and support major artists on tour, opening numerous shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison, and has toured with KT Tunstall and Gretchen Peters amongst others. She has played her own sets on stages everywhere from Glastonbury Festival to The Royal Albert Hall. Edwina numbers the late Michael Parkinson and Mike Harding among her fans, and the title track of her album Pour Me A Drink was covered by Nanci Griffith, who called her ‘the sweetest voice in England’.  YouTube  www.edwinahayes.com   Emily is one of Britain's foremost female fingerstyle guitarists, taking up the acoustic guitar at the age of nine and making her stage debut that same year. During her final year at Cambridge University, she launched her record label ‘Rustic Thorn Records’ to release a limited-edition EP called ‘Small Talk’.  Her debut album, ‘Shire Boy’, followed, gaining a BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award nomination for best newcomer. Emily took to the road, promoting the album by travelling internationally, carving out a staggering reputation amongst fellow musicians and support at grassroots level from the audiences at her concerts. The partnership between her intricate guitar playing and enchanting vocals are rarely found in one person, making Emily an enthralling performer. She is a woman quite clearly at ease with her audience. Her winning personality and presence have endeared her to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. www.emilyslademusic.co.uk  YouTube   (Members £16, Non-members £18)

FEBRUARY 21^ST   GARY STEWART and SARAH YEO  “The songs of Paul Simon and Joan Baez” (Double header). Scottish singer/songwriter Gary who has carved out a strong fan-base in his adopted home of Yorkshire with his concerts mixing songs of Paul Simon with his own songs about paranoia, love & resilience. This talented musician also plays drums for fellow Bandcampers Hope & Social, bass for Leeds-based Fleetwood Mac tribute ‘Weetwood Mac’ and tours regularly up & down the UK performing Paul Simon’s classic 1986 album ‘Graceland’ with his seven-piece band. www.garystewartmusic.co.uk   YouTube (Take a look at this YouTube video of Gracelands @ Shrewsbury Festival, an hour well spent!).   West Country’s Sarah delivers a unique blend of original folk/country style songs, with a beautifully rich, soulful voice and engaging stage presence, that leaves audiences spellbound. Sarah’s mature songwriting, accomplished musicianship gives audiences a flavour of British songwriting at its finest. Recently this ‘Blues and Roots and International Song competitions finalist has performed at The British Country Music Festival, West Country Music Festival, Buckle and Boots and many more festivals and venues both here and the US.  Tonight she will concentrate on songs from her 2026 ‘Music of Joan Baez’ tour, returning again to perform this material in her own style, from Joan's early career, the first recording 'Harvard Square' and onward through her lengthy journey to date, telling pivotal stories and singing key songs from the Newport Festival days, her years in Nashville, activism around the world, her relationship both on and off the stage with Bob Dylan, and her love of recording just great songs. www.sarahyeomusic.co.uk  YouTube  (Members £16, Non-members £18)

MARCH 7^TH   CHURCHFITTERS plus SOUTH OF POLARIS   Churchfitters are three virtuoso musicians from England and France who strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with instruments, flute, banjo, dulcimer, whistle, guitar, ukulele, stand up petrol tank bass and a stack of percussion. Throw in some exquisite harmonies, a slew of startlingly original songs and a few jokes that create instant rapport and you’ve got a high energy show that always leaves audiences cheering! Churchfitters just have to be experienced.  YouTube  YouTube    South of Polaris is the Flamenco-infused Alt Folk duo of Danii Reales (UK) and Saúl Díaz (Spain). Their distinctive sound brings together intimate folk storytelling, the fire of flamenco and the theatrical energy of rock, driven by Danii’s Vocals and Violin and Saúl’s intricate Electro-Classical Guitar. Born from grief, their music became a form of healing, and on stage they move effortlessly from hushed intimacy to explosive intensity. YouTube  (Member-£18, Non-member £20)

MARCH 21^ST KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN - Two of the British folk scenes most accomplished performers, Kathryn and Sean have graced stages the world over in a number of guises. However, the intimacy and strength of passion shown as a duo, combined with an ever-evolving eclectic repertoire ensures a rare treat for any listener. Both are hugely experienced; Kathryn first came to Hitchin in a duo with Kate Rusby and Sean first came to notice as one of the teenage trio, the Lakeman Brothers.  YouTube  (Members £16, Non-member £18)

APRIL 4^TH   BANTER    Banter are: Simon Care on melodeon, Nina Zella on keyboards & vocals, Tim Walker on drums, percussion, brass, vocals & dance calling and Mark Jolley on bass, fiddle, guitar & vocals.  Four fine musicians who’s roots are firmly in the traditional English genre, but who enjoy stretching the limits.  Formed in 2015, they realised that a common love for the living traditions of English song and dance music was at their core and began to pursue it’s evolution, bringing in flavours from a wider palette of musical influences.  They have gained a reputation for being powerfully unique in the English traditional music genre. Their popularity grew rapidly, placing them in great demand to perform at many of the UK’s largest festivals.  Although just four people, they create a huge sound and have been described as “the world’s smallest big band.”  YouTube   Members £16, Non-members £18

APRIL 18^TH   HONEY AND THE BEAR   Honey & the Bear have been a tour de force on the UK Folk Festival circuit in recent years. The British folk and roots duo combine delicately interweaving vocal harmonies with emotive and evocative songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and dynamic. Conjuring stories in song, they have been enchanting audiences up and down the country with tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire and their passion for nature.  The multi-instrumentalist, husband and wife team comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bouzouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin & percussion). Together they have played at many revered venues and festivals across the UK and most recently, the duo sang live on the BBC Radio 3’s In Tune programme. They are currently working on their next studio album which is due for release in 2026. In November 2023 they released ‘Away Beyond the Fret‘, their most personal album yet, featuring stories and folklore of all things close to their heart including their home in Suffolk, nature, family, history and community. The album has received much critical acclaim including 5 stars from the Morning Star. After a heavy year of live gigging in 2023, they were also delighted to be shortlisted as FATEAs best band of 2023.  YouTube     (Members £16 Non-member £18)

MAY 9^TH   GRANNY’S ATTIC   With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, Granny’s Attic just go from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. Much loved by audiences up and down the country, the trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. In October 2021, they released their latest album, The Brickfields, an instrumental collection that sees them reach new heights both as performers and composers. Described by Folk Radio as “one of the most exciting and accomplished English folk acts on the scene right now”, this outstanding trio can hold audiences in the palm of their hand. YouTube   (Members £16, Non-members £18)