Royston Folk Club organiser Chris Walls may have been running the show for more than a year, but he still gets a buzz when talking about the talent staged at the regular music nights.
From old folk legends to local performers, for three years the folk club has held a variety of events – from the showcase nights giving up-and-comers a chance to shine, to the concerts for the established pros.
Chris, who will be performing himself as part of acoustic duo Pass The Buch at the town’s Boar’s Head this weekend, said: “What’s amazing about the showcase nights is that the performers are predominantly local people who come together to collaborate.
“It’s extremely exciting and I haven’t yet had a night where I haven’t thought: ‘What have we just seen?’
“You see real musicians doing really exciting stuff.
“We help a lot of musicians from the showcase nights progress – they then go on to be support acts and perform on double and triple headline nights.”
A regular crowd of more mature folk fans, aged from 50 to 80, attend club sessions, and Chris is appealing to younger audiences to come along and have a listen.
He said: “We have got a lot of younger performers, who are influenced by singers like Ed Sheeran, Mumford and Sons and Bellowhead.
“Their friends often come down to see them perform, but we need to get younger people coming down to the club on a regular basis.
“All the gigs for under 25s cost just £2. I’d like to say to younger people that if you are enjoying the music of artists such as Mumford and Sons and Ed Sheeran, then come and listen to similar performers live.
“We have great young musicians who perform here – the likes of The Willows, Fred’s House, Michael Stephenson – playing well-crafted amazing music.”
The next Royston Folk Club concert will be held on Friday, January 29 featuring Martin Carthy, supported by Showcase regulars Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, as well as Jess Lambert. Chris said: “Carthy is folk royalty. It’s a bit special to have him at the club.”
Sunday’s Pass the Buch spot at The Boar’s Head in Market Hill kicks off at 8pm.
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