Features

With everything that's on offer there's plenty to distract us from the UK's current economic woes.

It's not easy to put the effects of the credit crunch to the backs of our minds but one way of getting away from it all for a few hours is to take in some live music.

Admittedly it won't do anything for your finances but it will give you that much needed Feelgood Factor and I'm not just talking about the boys from Canvey Island.

One gig worth checking out this month is the first BBC Introducing gig for Suffolk.

Four of Suffolk's most exciting bands will be performing live on Saturday 11 October 2008 at the St Nicholas Centre, Ipswich. Find out more:

Kim Richey

Let's start with the excellent Nashville singer songwriter Kim Richey whose material is among the best coming out of Music City these days.

Kim commands enormous respect in the United States but is still to breakthrough in the UK.

Her visit to these shores will give many people their first taste of her wonderful music and here in East Anglia we're getting two bites of the cherry.

Kim Richey

On Friday 10 October, the lady, whose songs have been covered by the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Trisha Yearwood and James Morrison, is appearing at the Kelvedon Institute near Colchester and then the following night Kim is on stage at The Regal Theatre in Stowmarket. Opening for Kim on both nights will be Songs From The Blue House.

On the afternoon of the Essex show, Kim is coming into BBC Radio Suffolk to record an interview for my Drivetime show that evening and while she's at Broadcasting House she'll be recording a session for future broadcast.

Mawkin:Causley

Also on Saturday 11 October the young folk outfit Mawkin:Causley have been lined-up to play at Sibton Church near Saxmundum.

This lively five piece have been creating quite a stir on the UK's acoustic scene and there are real signs that the lads are destined for big things.

They performed to great acclaim at this summer's Cambridge Folk Festival.

Mawkin is a Suffolk word for a scarecrow or someone who dresses like a scarecrow and not surprisingly they've built up a good following in our region thanks in no small part to their enthusiastic take on most things folk.

Mawkin:Causley

The Causley part of their name is from the BBC Folk Awards nominee Jim Causley.

The group recently released a mini-album, Cold Ruin, for Navigator Records and are currently working on a full length CD for release in 2009.

Tickets for their Sibton show are now on sale from organiser Rosie Norton on 01728 660369. They're £8 in advance or £10 on the door and all profits will go to the Friends Of St. Peter's charity.

You can also catch the revitalised Mawkin:Causley at Ely Folk Club on Wednesday 15 October and two days later at the Norwich Assembly Rooms.

Squeeze

As I write, the latest incarnation of Squeeze is coming to the end of a US tour.

Founder members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook appear to have buried the hatchet and are working together again, but for how long is anyone's guess.

I have to say on the evidence of a Squeeze live album, Five Live, which came out a few months ago, there's little to suggest that the group will become a creative force again, but they'll never be short of people who want to see them perform their many hits so good luck to them.

Glenn Tilbrook

Chris and Glenn are still writing great songs but not as a partnership which means their new material more often that not comes out on solo CDs.

Glenn has been going out under his own name ever since Squeeze first called it a day and is one of the hardest working musicians on the scene.

This month he's out on the road with his band The Fluffers and they're playing The Junction in Cambridge on Monday 20 October. There should be an album out to coincide with the tour.

James Hunter

I've long been an admirer of the music of Colchester's James Hunter.

Back in the '80s he was known as Howlin' Wilf and was backed by The Vee Jays, but come the new decade he was going out as James Hunter and polished up both his sound and image.

After a couple of great albums for London label Ace Records and lots of touring as a member of Van Morrison's band it all went a bit quiet for Mr. Hunter, but we needn't have worried.

The noughties have been good for him. He's now on Rounder Records, he's supported Aretha Franklin in the States and can list New Orleans great Allen Toussaint as one of his fans.

James Hunter

Allen was so impressed with James when he saw him live that he agreed to guest on his current album The Hard Way.

If you've yet to savour the soul-drenched vocals and distinctive guitar rhythms of James Hunter then I recommend a visit to the Norwich Arts Centre on Saturday 25 October.

Close your eyes and you could be listening to James Brown, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson all rolled into one. This man is the dog's undercarriage.

Seth Lakeman

Fiddle player Seth Lakeman is very much at the forefront of all that's happening on the British folk scene.

The man from the West Country is taking roots music to new audiences with both his energetic live performances and classy studio recordings.

His latest album, Poor Man's Heaven, went Top 10 earlier this year and this month he releases another single from it.

The choice of Solomon Browne is a good one for two reasons. Firstly it's the stand-out track on the album and secondly, and more importantly, profits from the release will go the RNLI's SOS Day charity.

It's a cause close to Seth's heart and the song Solomon Browne retells the story of the 1981 Penlee disaster.

Sixteen people died in the attempt to save the lives of those onboard the shipwrecked Union Star coaster.

Seth embarks on a UK tour this month and his date sheet includes a show at The Junction in Cambridge on Sunday 26 October and at The Waterfont in Norwich on Sunday 2 November.

A spooky kind of Feelgood factor

The week leading up to Christmas in Ipswich won't quite be the same this year because there's no appearance by Dr Feelgood.

They're coming on Halloween instead and it'll be the first time I haven't been involved in organising their annual visit to the Manor Ballroom.

That task has now fallen to Movers & Shakers, a promotions company run by two good friends of mine - Steve Fernie and Bob Paterson.

They've already put on numerous gigs in the region including Ian Hunter's date at the Manor back in February, so the Feelgoods will be in very good hands.

Dr Feelgood

The group's lead singer Robert Kane recently celebrated his 1,000th gig as the band's front man and there's no doubt his presence since the summer of 1999 has added a new dimension to the act.

The Feelgoods' philosophy is "if it ain't broke don't try to fix it" so there'll be no attempts to re-invent the wheel on Friday 31 October.

Much of the set will focus on old favourites but don't be surprised if one or two new tracks find their way into the set.

Meanwhile film director Julian Temple is currently working on a Dr Feelgood DVD which will cover the early years of one of the most influential bands of the 1970's.

The disc looks set to feature lots of archive performances and video clips and will include the memories of founder members The Big Figure, Wilko Johnson and John B Sparks.