Leicester Common Folk Festival

LEICESTER COMMON FOLK FESTIVAL

Quaker Meeting Room 27th September 2025

Thoroughly enjoyed Saturday afternoon at the LEICESTER COMMON FOLK FESTIVAL in the Friends Meeting House... sadly other commitments meant i could only be there for most of the afternoon session, and it was a feast of lovely music... pure music, unamplified acoustic folk music... took me back to younger less complicated times!!

As we arrived the UNRULY CREW were getting into full swing with a set of rousing shanties which were close to lifting the roof... with the audience joining in in style. Shanties are normally accompanied by some hard work, rather than singing along!!... Great spirit, great singing, great entertainment and great fun.

Stepping in at the last moment to cover an absentee was JOHN McRAE, from the Unruly Crew with a short set of traditional songs accompanying himself on acoustic guitar... great to hear these songs delivered acoustically and with real style... sadly short set, would have loved to hear more.

Next up was a real treat, a unique band.. ACROSS THE STRINGS AND VOICES, the only traditional chinese folk group in the midlands, and they proved to be a real delight... the music bright, cheery and beautiful, the singers wonderful... you didnt need to understand what they were singing to be enthralled. The music conjured up images of flowers and trickling water... a totally delightful set... if i have one criticism I would have liked more of the instrumental pieces

Next up was Bob Gilmour-Evans, I have seen Bob many times with his band, Looma, and know him as a great songwriter and performer, but this was the first time I had seen him solo... and he was excellent... singing and playing beautifully, delivering mainly his own songs and his own spin on "House of the Rising Sun" which I totally loved... for his last song Bob invited a friend to join him in singing his beautiful and almost legendary "Praying for Rain"... loved his set.

To close the session, @JOHN BENTANGLE & Helen Butterfield... John specialises in the music of Bert Jansch and aims to keep his music alive (keep up the good work on that John!) and the duo delivered a set of songs from the era, covering Jackson C Frank, Annie Briggs, Nick Drake and Bert Jansch... John has a soft melodic voice singing beautifully and playing great guitar, while Helen, as ever, played exquisite and empathetic fiddle and singing along on one song. The duo blend together so well, playing wonderful evocative songs, John singing and playing beautifully and Helen delivering superb fiddle.

Thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon... it was a real treat... lets hope that there can be another such event... not only was the afternoon, and I am sure the whole day, a great success but it was also raising funds for another excellent worth charity... "One Roof Leicester"... be lovely if everyone supported them

Keep music live... keep music real... support your local venues and artists