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.
are SARA BYERS (voice, accordion, guitar, whistles, bohdran), DEBBIE CHALMERS (violin, viola), PAUL HOAD (voice, guitar, harmonica) and MARY WILSON (voice, violin). Locally-based, they perform vibrant and mesmerizing music including their own material and the best of the traditional and contemporary folk repertoire, all with expert musicianship and stunning harmonies. Sara and Paul write innovative, melodic songs with a new, fresh sound, influenced by English and American Folk. Suntrap have played all over the UK and Europe at major folk events and their most recent CD, Sweet Fast River, is an exceptionally strong set.
http://www.suntrap.org/£9 members/£10 non-members
A welcome return. Both come from well known folk families and since winning the Best Duo award in the 2003 BBC Folk Awards they've gone from strength to strength, with their last CD 'Strands of Gold' picking up rave reviews. Their performances combine a highly skilful and innovative approach with accessibility, warmth, infectious exuberance and stage presence. Rarely are duos so full in sound; NANCY's earthy and exquisite fiddle and viola playing dances with the striking rhythmic texture of JAMES's guitar-bouzouki, while their rich singing, both as soloists and in harmony, evokes the stories of the songs they choose and write. Expect everything from Northumbrian tunes, contemporary Aussie songs and lots of their own. A joy to experience.
http://www.kerrfagan.com/£9 members/£10 non-members
'Je suis un Folk Star'. There's something about FLOSSIE that makes everyone warm to her. Fed up of teaching in France, she came over in 2001 on an exchange visit to Darlington, discovered the local folk club and the gigs rolled in! She liked it so much she decided to move there. Exuberant, bubbly as Champagne and with le gift of le gab and 'a voice as clear and tuneful as a lark, with a pureness of quality to stop you in your tracks'(says Colum Sands), Flossie is a great singer and entertainer. With an in-built sense of humour and a wide repertoire that includes most contemporary Folk writers, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Janis Joplin, The Eagles, Spanish and French songs, a sprinkling of jazz standards and crooners and, of course, Piaf, Flossie gives the present Madame Sarkozy a run for her money - her last CD 'The Wilderness Years' has sold out!
http://www.flossie-malavialle.co.uk/index1.html£8 members/£9 non-members
A first visit for this exciting young Scottish duo who play a heady mixture of traditional Scottish, Irish & English songs and tunes, together with contemporary folk songs and their own. SANDY, from Edinburgh, is one of the greatest exponents of the Scottish accordion, well known throughout the world having toured and recorded extensively with various bands including his incredibly popular ceilidh band The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience. Archie Fisher says of them 'whose accordion bellows boldly blow where no box has blown before'. EWAN was brought up in the Scottish Borders, with a strong grounding in the Scottish song tradition as well as a unique insight into the music south of the border. An emotive singer and articulate guitarist, he has been hailed as an important new young talent of the folk scene. A real treat is in store.
http://www.brechin-all-records.com/sandy-ewan.htm£9 members/£10 non-members