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.
EWAN has just won the Horizon Award (for up-and-coming artists) at the 2011 BBC Folk Awards and he is indeed a young man whose star is very much on the up! Born in Edinburgh, he has been making headlines over the last year, performing at festivals, clubs, and concert halls across the country. Growing up at home his family all sang, and he grew up with a deep appreciation of Folk in all its forms - from Scots Trad to Bob Dylan - and the social and political issues it relates to. Like a youthful Archie Fisher or Dick Gaughan, his music combines traditional music from around Britain and beyond with his own earthy, self-penned songs, creating a unique and compelling sound. BBC Radio 2's Mike Harding has said "he sings beautifully, with great sincerity, great empathy - he's terrific!" His classically-influenced guitar style has been described as "stunning" and his recent debut CD "Rags and Robes", was MOJO Magazine's 'Folk Album of the Month; 'With a gorgeous, lilting voice, a quietly assured and commanding presence and some smart guitar arrangements ... it's the tender sincerity of McLennan's own performance that makes the album so moving'.
http://www.ewanmclennan.co.uk£8 members/£9 non-members
Another young, criminally over-talented duo who are leaving audiences everywhere in a state of 'Folk euphoria'. We know because we have seen them in action at Banbury Festival, and can assure all who may be dubious about the combination of banjo and harmonica that this works fantastically well! WILL has become one of the most accomplished harmonica players in the world, with a mastery of a range of musical styles from French Canadian to New Orleans Jazz, English folk to traditional Turkish. An instinctive player, he improvises, plays by ear and simply astounds all who hear him. DAN is a true innovator, changing the way the banjo is played and pushing its range to new limits in the same way that Hendrix did with guitar-playing, single-handedly dispelling the pariah status that still lingers in some quarters! These boys have no fear and nothing is beyond their combined talents. Be it folk, funk, bluegrass, jazz, rock, Arabic, the notes tumble forth in complete, melodious empathy. Above all they are hugely entertaining, with great songs, humour & audience rapport.
http://www.walshandpound.co.uk£8 members/£9 non-members
Possibly our favourite Transatlantic duo (now based just over the river), BRIAN and CATHRYN have played the club many times over the years, effortlessly crossing genres and disseminating warmth and emotion. Brian is simply an ace guitarist, be it sensitive, intricate acoustic or, with bands like The Strawbs, soaring electric lead. A more modest and unassuming chap you'll never meet who lets his guitar do the talking! Originally a 'house guitarist' on the Beatles' Apple Label, he has accompanied dozens of artists from Nanci Griffith to Monty Python, but in Cathryn he has found his musical soul mate. And she's a pretty mean picker too, with a wonderfully-authentic Nashville voice that can lend itself to any mood and is right up there with the Shania Twains of this world. Top twanging, heavenly hollerin' and some fine yarns in between!
http://www.craigandwilloughby.com£9 members/£10 non-members
ANNA won the BBC 'Songwriter of the Year' award in 2006, but prior to that her life was a roller coaster ride of hard times, disruptions and traumas that bear comparison with those of Nanci Griffith and continue to influence her music. Born in Scarborough into a musical family, at the age of 10 Anna played flute, French horn, oboe and trumpet and was the youngest member of the Yorkshire Youth Orchestra. Destined for Music College, her future was marred by family problems and she left home at 13, became a teenage bride and had a family. It wasn't until the early eighties that she took up music once again after spending five years living in a camper van and teaching herself to play guitar, fiddle and saxophone. She then discovered the folk scene and her ability as a songwriter, and her musical career has blossomed ever since. She has featured in line-ups as diverse as skiffle, blues, jazz, folk rock, ceilidh and Cajun over the years, but it is her award winning solo work that is now earning growing acclaim. Her harp-like classical guitar style, compelling, honest voice & unusual instrumental pieces make for refreshingly-unique entertainment. Her songs draw from a wide range of subjects and her latest CD 'OVER LAND 2010', is all about 'the land' - a subject extremely close to her heart.
http://www.annashannon.co.uk£8 members/£9 non-members