For our 30th birthday on 21st October 2013 we updated our 'Compleat History of the Ram Club' booklet (PDF format, 10Mb). Click to view or download - it's a 'must read', with a list of all the guests we have ever had plus some stories and pictures!
Below is a list of the past guests from September 2006.
They're back! The hugely versatile PAUL 'Sartorial' SARTIN (Oboe, violin, vocals,'dress sense') and fretboard whizz BENJI KIRKPATRICK have dispensed with the Dr and taken on a Pharmacist (his day job) in the form of ace melodeon player SAUL ROSE (Elisa Carthy, Waterson-Carthy). All three have been instrumental in the English revival of the last 10 years (Paul & Benji are also in BELLOWHEAD & Benji has played with SETH LAKEMAN and his dad's band), and their music is exciting, innovative & proudly drawing together the elements of English Folk into a new whole. A feast of Faustian delights awaits the bold...
Once a graphic designer, ROGER became sick of the working life and has been busily working the Folk scene for a couple of decades now, lending his skills on fiddle and guitar to such luminaries as JOHN TAMS, The HOUSE BAND, KATE RUSBY, BILL JONES & MARTIN CARTHY. ...and he still finds time for a solo career and some fine solo CDs of his and others' songs. Needless to say, he has graced our stage quite a few times, both by himself and with others, and it's great to have him back again. Expect a mix of originals, covers, an amazing version of Hendrix's 'Hey Joe' and songs from his new CD 'You Look Familiar'.
Last here in May 2002, ANTHONY is back to give us some more beautiful, wistful songs of love, life's journey, and the humour and madness of everyday situations which he dissects from real life into song with such precision. Belfast-born, he's been writing songs since the age of 11 and he sings them with genuine warmth and sincerity. The Troubles have inspired some of his most tender and poignant songs, like 'Irish Eyes' and 'Seven in Ireland'. An evening with Anthony is funny, challenging, entertaining and warm glow-inducing. One of the nicest guys on the scene he's like a calmer Kieran Halpin. Blue songs on a red guitar.
A founder member of STEALERS WHEEL with GERRY RAFFERTY, RAB is a unique musical person. As a songwriter he has been covered by LINDISFARNE, ARCHIE FISHER & BARBARA DICKSON among many. Over the years he has released a stream of CDs, with off-shoot bands including the amazing VARAFLAMES, featuring JERRY DONAHUE and PICK WITHERS. He has been produced several high-profile TV musical dramas and many CDs, including KARIN POLWART's 2004 'Faultlines' CD. Live, he puts that indefinable 'something' into a gig that makes you feel you've experienced something extraordinary.
One of the UK's premier folk guitarists, and a superb stylist, innovator & interpreter who has inspired 1000's of guitarists everywhere (and, it must be said, inspired 1000's more not to bother). His versions of songs from artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Randy Newman & Hank Williams have become definitive and much-imitated. He was a long-term accompanist to JUNE TABOR, and now works with ROY BAILEY and jazz guitarist MARTIN TAYLOR. He plays the grandest of emporia but the Ram is his respite.