We are thrilled to welcome one of the most highly-rated duos on the UK folk scene at the moment as the guests at our August Club Night.

Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar are two-times recipients of prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, scooping the Young Folk Award in 2013, and following that up by walking off with the “Horizion” award, presented to an act who has made a significant breakthrough, earlier this year.

Their new album, “The Call”, was released last month to critical acclaim, and it is a real privilege to welcome an act of this quality to Downend Folk Club.

Supporting Greg & Ciaran will be Geoff Pugh.

Geoff is a singer-songwriter who has been around the acoustic music scene in Bristol for five years, playing in pubs and live music venues such as Mr Wolfs. He writes about things he encounters or experiences, good and bad (tragedy plus time equals comedy), and is very much a storyteller. His influences include Steve Knightley, Harry Chapin and Bruce Springsteen, and he draws on the folk, country and blues traditions.

This unmissable gig will be held on Friday 15th August at Frenchay Village Hall, doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets are a mere £8 each in advance, and can be purchased from Baguette Me Not in Downend, or online here (no booking fee!). We're expecting a large crowd for this one, so get your tickets now!

On Friday 18th July, we will be joined by Gren Bartley as our headline guest for a solo gig.

“As an acoustic finger-picking guitar and banjo player he has few if any equals in his age group; as an acoustic rooted-in-folk writer he's developing an alarmingly good canon of work" - R2 Magazine

Gren Bartley is a prolific and exceptional songwriter. He is constantly touring and forever writing. The critically acclaimed new album “Winter Fires” (out now) is yet another giant leap forward and is building further upon the success of 2012's "Songs To Scythe Back The Overgrown". 

“A quiet triumph, no less” - fRoots

Showcasing his “phenomenal” guitar playing and poetry driven lyrics, Gren is touring relentlessly either solo, as a duo or with the full band. The workshops he hosts in guitar playing and songwriting have been described as “brilliantly fresh”. Gren is truly the future of folk songwriting, using his influences from folk and blues traditions to bring something unique to this modern day troubadour. He is an artist not to be missed.

“If awe inspiring albums really are delivered through vivid dreams whilst slipping in and out of illness induced delirium, then I want what Gren Bartley had. "Songs To Scythe Back The Overgrown" is an album that will enhance his reputation, not only as a top guitar and banjo picker, but also as a wordsmith and fully fledged troubadour. He wields his serrated edge sound with surgical precision, cutting deep into your psyche and then seeing which nerves reach the heart strings, which ones operate the tear ducts and which ones just get the feet tapping. A game changing album.” - FATEA Magazine

“One to really look out for...” - BBC Radio 2

And that's not all... for the first time, Downend Folk Club will feature a support act, and we're pleased to welcome Emi McDade for the July event.

Emi is a 16-year old singer-songwriter from Gloucester, whose piano-driven folk-pop has already won her lots of admirers.

Emi will open with a short slot before we welcome Gren Bartley on to our stage. The event will be held at Frenchay Village Hall on Friday 18th July, and tickets are available online here. You can also buy tickets from Baguette-Me-Not in Downend. They are priced at £9 in advance... a real bargain for two stunning acts!