Fivehead Folk Nights

14/06/2026

Will Southcote and Chris Jewell in full swing last night with one of several instrumentals as part of their highly varied and entertaining set.

07/06/2026

The highly talented duo Will Southcote and Chris Jewell return to Fivehead Folk Nights on Saturday June 13th with piano accordion and violin respectively. Expect a lively night of music and humour. Here's how Will describes their act:
"An eclectic mixture of songs,instrumentals and stories. We promise not to play anything we played last time, apart from what we did last time! An honest mixture of well-rehearsed numbers and some perhaps more spontaneously sourced. Choruses aplenty"

11/05/2026

James Slater entertained us with his unique blend of American-flavoured songs, including a selection of his own compositions. This video clip is James singing his song, co-written with his partner Fran, "Bitter Truths, Sweet Lies and Tales to Tell". The song title cleverly combines the titles of James' three CD albums, which are available at https://jamesslater1.bandcamp.com/

03/05/2026

At our Fivehead Folk Night on Saturday 9th May we look forward to a return of the ever-popular Americana singer/songwriter James Slater. James will no doubt entertain us with a selection of his original songs, classic blues and humorous stage patter, accompanied on guitar and harmonica.

James is well known on the Bristol folk scene, having been part of groups such as Appalachia, Iron & Oak and Chameleon but on May 9th we welcome him back for a solo gig. James has been busy sorting out some personnel health stuff this last year and writing new songs while not being so busy with bookings. A new album is planned for late 2026 and he is looking forward to playing some of the new songs on Saturday at Fivehead.

James Slater is a singer/songwriter living in the west country, his influences however are the other west! over the water in the United States.

12/04/2026

And here's Dan McKinnon singing his charming song 'Aesop's Fables'.

12/04/2026

Dan McKinnon gave a heart-warming performance of his beautiful songs, many of which are based on stories from his home town of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. With his wonderful baritone voice and fine guitar accompaniment, he had the audience weeping one moment with his moving song 'Remember Me' (the story of the 1917 explosion in Halifax harbour), then laughing the next with 'This Side of the Sod' - his positive take on getting old. Here is a video of Dan singing the title track from his 2007 album, 'Just Another Day'.

28/03/2026

Our guest artist on April 11th is Dan McKinnon, who is on a UK tour from his home in Nova Scotia, Canada. This will be a rare opportunity to hear this very fine singer/songwriting troubadour, so put it in your diary now!

Blessed with a glorious baritone voice, a graceful mastery on guitar, and a hearty laugh that delights any room, Dan McKinnon has carved out his own unique, musical path. From early beginnings in the coffee houses, pubs and bars of Atlantic Canada, to yearly tours throughout the UK, Dan’s performances reveal an enduring respect for the past, tempered by a profound attachment to the present. His keenly observed stories and passionately delivered songs convey a deep inquisitiveness into the human condition combined with the rich heritage of the Maritimes.

“Hearing Dan McKinnon for the first time reminds me of the first time I heard Stan Rogers or James Keelaghan…” - Rich Warren, Sing Out!

www.danmckinnon.ca

15/03/2026

Filling in at short notice, The Bluegrass Bwanas (aka Seph Krige and Che Padayachi) brought a flavour of the music of South Eastern states of the United States with an evening of Bluegrass, Gospel and Old Time songs. Accompanied on guitar (Che) and clawhammer banjo (Seph) every foot was tapping to Appalachian melodies. The audience were delighted by their close harmony singing and enthusiastically joined in on the choruses. Here are The Bluegrass Bwanas playing the traditional song, "Bury me beneath the Willow".

15/02/2026

The Blessèd Crow (aka Tim and Iona Crahart) brought an energetic and passionate performance to Fivehead Folk Night yesterday. Tim's skilled guitar and bazouki playing accompanied their songs with Iona’s clear, strong voice perfectly complementing her father. Most of their songs were composed by Tim, inspired by stories from their local Welsh folklore, but here's their rendition of a traditional Folk song, The Prickly Bush.

24/01/2026

Coming up on Saturday 14th February -
The Blessèd Crow are a dynamic father-daughter folk duo whose performances are marked by infectious energy and heartfelt storytelling. With Iona’s clear vocals and Tim’s accomplished musicianship, they deliver an energetic and uplifting performance. Their original songs blend traditional and modern folk, drawing inspiration from folklore, historical events, and spiritual themes. Many pieces reference local Welsh tales such as The Pwca and events like The Newport Rising, complemented by classic protest songs that reflect folk music’s tradition of championing the underdog.

The Blessèd Crow are Tim & Iona Crahart; a father and daughter folk duo from South Wales. They write original songs in a decidedly traditional style and call upon folklore, protest and spiritual themes for their inspiration. Tim & Iona share vocal duties and harmonies are a big feature of their per...