Back in March of 2022, we were due to welcome KNIGHT & SPIERS, but that pesky covid intervened. We’re delighted to say we’ve finally managed to find a date to reschedule, and they’ll be with us to headline our November concert.
Folk 'A-list'-ers, folk 'royalty' and folk 'icons' are terms frequently applied to Peter Knight & John Spiers, but what it means in reality is that they bring the best of traditional music to any stage they play.
The exquisite explorations of the liminal space that exists between traditional and classical music is what makes the music of Peter Knight and John Spiers so compelling and beguiling, ultimately rendering genres irrelevant.
The pairing of violin and melodeon is a classic one, but in the hands of Knight and Spiers, improvisation and invention meet the listener at every turn. Together they have created a musical document that resonates with history, but also something to inspire future generations of musicians to engage with Britain’s folk music heritage.
Opening the evening will be FLY YETI FLY, an alt-folk duo whose enchanting harmonies, warm instrumentation and heartfelt storytelling weave songs about connection and community. Blending folk, roots and Americana influences, their music is both uplifting and deeply moving, with a sound that is reminiscent of the late-’60s folk scene. Now living on their canal boat on the Kennet & Avon, their music is heavily influenced by the ebb and flow of life on the water.
Tickets for the concert, which takes place at CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND on Friday 21 November 2025, are available online HERE and from MELANIE’S KITCHEN (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. Doors open at 7.00pm and the music starts around 7.45pm. This event is also included in our AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON TICKET, if you've bought one already.
There will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and real ale from Bristol’s HOP UNION BREWERY. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own glass/mug/tankard, as well as reusable bottles for water, as part of the drive to be more environmentally aware; there is a 50p discount for those that do. There will also be sweet treats available at the bar courtesy of Radstock-based THE GREAT CAKE COMPANY, as well as a prize draw, which helps to fund the opening artists for each concert.
For those that can’t make it to Downend, or miss out on tickets, this concert will also be live-streamed in partnership with LIVE TO YOUR LIVING ROOM, so you can watch from the comfort of your own sofa! Head to livetoyourlivingroom.com for more information on live-stream tickets.
For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BLUESKY, YOUTUBE or TIKTOK.
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The number three is a special thing. The Chinese consider it lucky, De La Soul thought it magic, English teachers just can't get enough of the Rule of Three. And folk trios? They're pretty amazing too.
THE SHACKLETON TRIO and THE ASHEN KEYS effortlessly demonstrate that, while two might create a contrast, three allows for nuance, possibility and glorious intricacies.
From the opening seconds of Mandy Lynn, it is quite obvious that The Shackleton Trio are out to prove the true power of three. Georgia Shackleton's fiddle pings off of the mandolin of Nic Zuppardi, while Aaren Bennett's guitar clears a path to the dancefloor. The mandolin lends a Bluegrass edge but Shackleton's fiddle keeps things on this side of the Atlantic, the push and pull creating unbridled joy.
It's a joy that rarely lets up. The Fashionable Farmer swirls around the harmonies of Shackleton and Bennett as the fiddle and mandolin pokes gentle fun at a daft chap. Black Sluice, taken from the current album celebrating their ten-year anniversary, creeps stealthily around a tune that hints at smoky Parisian bars before being illuminated by mandolin flashes. For a slightly depressing song it has a brilliant chorus and a great spoonful of jauntiness.
The Shackleton Trio bask in a love of nature too. There are Fenlands and brave animals everywhere you look. Two Hundred Miles tells the tale of a determined and loyal dog; it gallops along, the hard tracks of rural America scooting beneath its feet, Zuppardi's banjo pushing it forward. Lonesome George is short and sweet, the celebration of a giant tortoise, and Shackleton's voice is simply the loveliest thing. On War Pigeon, the fiddle and mandolin spill into a dizzying Bluegrass hoedown as she tackles tongue-twisting lyrics. The love for, and awe of, the animal world is palpable.
The Frost Fair harks back to ancient, chilly days but warms like an ice-bound brazier, Bennett's acoustic-Led-Zeppelin trills and a fabulous chorus doing the job. Bird's Nest Bound, meanwhile, is a feather-light Blues, banjo bubbles popping at the softest of touches.
It's not often that the Downend audience gets up to have a dance (they much prefer a hearty sing) but, tonight, there’s some spirited, untethered whirling. Bolton Lodge is a walking tune that spins with its arms wide, bouncing on the balls of its feet. It has a childlike fizz that sends people up and out of their seats. The Stanford, a tune written for a pub, does it too. Mandolin and fiddle zooming around, pausing, dipping, then joining the steady thrum of the guitar.
Three instruments, gloriously intricate, full of possibility, sparking utter joy. The power of three in human form.
Most bands, having had to endure a five-and-a-half-hour drive from Kent to Bristol, might be a bit grumpy. The Ashen Keys, though, drift in on a cloud of harmonies, as gentle, as untroubled as if they'd just wandered in from next door. The Den, taken from their debut album The Name on Your Compass, is a wind-blown waltz, layers and layers of voices creating something lush, something drowning-deep. There are breathy oboe sighs from Rachel Lowrie and an Amélie accordion from Vicky Price, paving Paris streets.
The Ellerby Hoard tells of treasure hidden under floorboards and is just as magical and unexpected; Hannah Ellerby (no relation) narrates a story that teeters on the edge of spooky as Price's French horn ghosts around it. Finally, Lowrie's acoustic strum drives the whole thing prog-folkwards. With Cassandra, The Ashen Keys mine their literary loves and unearth a blues-y slink that's full of dark corners and strange creatures. The three of them casting shadows, breathing life into myth, intoxicating with harmony. It's the harmony that does it really as Lowrie, Price and Ellerby gently twist around one another on Gathering, their voices nothing short of magical.
Words: Gavin McNamara
Photos: Barry Savell
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You can expect captivating songwriting and fiery tunes that combine mandolin, fiddle, guitar and banjo with powerful three part harmonies at this month’s concert.
The unmistakable sound of The Shackleton Trio brings to life the stories of their native East Anglia and beyond, featuring Georgia Shackleton (fiddle, vocals), Aaren Bennett (guitar) and Nic Zuppardi (mandolin and banjo). Collectively the band draw influence from British, American and Scandinavian folk traditions, whilst Georgia’s flair for sourcing largely unsung material from East Anglia keeps the band firmly rooted in their local tradition.
2025 sees the trio touring a brand new album, as they celebrate their 10 year anniversary. A decade performing together has included plays on BBC Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4, BBC 6 Music, RTE 1, BBC Countryfile, press coverage with gleaming reviews, an appearance on Cambridge Folk Festival’s prestigious main stage, a host of UK and European festivals and international tours, and many miles on the road.
This is a band that clearly enjoys playing together, and are not to be missed.
Opening the evening will be The Ashen Keys, a multi instrumental, multi voiced celebration of heartfelt storytelling from Kent. Their sound tells of influences from folk, blues, pop, classical and even early music. Expect to be taken on a journey through dark folk tales, bittersweet love stories and reveries on nature, all with exquisite vocal harmonies and unique instrumentation. The Ashen Keys have performed at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, Rochester Cathedral, Black Deer Festival, and Shrewsbury Folk Festival among other festivals and folk clubs. They released their debut album, The Name on Your Compass, in September 2024.
Tickets for the concert, which takes place at CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND on Friday 17 October 2025, are available online HERE and from MELANIE’S KITCHEN (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. Doors open at 7.00pm and the music starts around 7.45pm. This event is also included in our AUTUMN/WINTER SEASON TICKET, if you've bought one already.
There will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and real ale from Bristol’s HOP UNION BREWERY. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own glass/mug/tankard, as well as reusable bottles for water, as part of the drive to be more environmentally aware; there is a 50p discount for those that do. There will also be sweet treats available at the bar courtesy of Radstock-based THE GREAT CAKE COMPANY, as well as a prize draw, which helps to fund the support artists for each concert.
For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BLUESKY, YOUTUBE or TIKTOK.
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