Features

 My first port of call this month is the Suffolk town of Bungay and a venue that's now established on the British folk scene thanks in no small part to Movers & Shakers, who're putting on more and more acoustic shows there.

Bob Fox

After visits by the likes of Martin Carthy, Ralph McTell and Martin Stephenson towards the end of 2008 comes a concert by another popular figure on the British roots scene - Bob Fox.

Born and raised in County Durham, Bob's career began in the folk clubs of the North East.

Bob Fox

He broke through nationally when his album Nowt So Good'll Pass, recorded with Stu Luckley, was named Melody Maker Folk Album Of the Year in 1978.

It's also in the BBC's Top 50 Folk Albums of All Time and the LP's success led to the pair touring all over the world.

In more recent times Bob has compered and played at Cropredy and in 2003 signed to Topic Records.

Since then Bob has been busier than ever and one of his most recent highlights was taking part in updating the famous Folk Ballads radio series for the BBC.

He's also been working as a duo with former Jack The Lad and Lindisfarne singer Billy Mitchell, but he'll be solo for his Bungay show on Wednesday 11 February. Tickets are £13.

Fairport Convention

Over the years Bob Fox has also worked with Fairport Convention, touring with them and inviting members of the group to guest on his debut solo album Dreams Never Leave You.

On Sunday 15 February the current line-up of Fairport is in Norfolk to perform at the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton. The date is part of their 25th consecutive winter tour across the UK.

Fairport Convention line up

Fairport will perform favourites from their extensive back catalogue and also songs and instrumental from their most recent releases.

They have a great affinity with Norfolk and not so long ago issued an EP to raise funds for local lifeboat crews.

Phil Cool

You may be surprised to hear that they'll be supported on the entire tour by Mr. Rubber Face himself - Phil Cool.

Phil is best known for his work as a TV comic but what you might not know is that he's also a talented singer-songwriter.

Phil Cool

Accompanying Phil on stage will be Steeleye Span's Ken Nichol who also has a long association with Fairport.

Their Hunstanton show is bound to be well attended so you'd be well advised to get tickets beforehand from the box office on 01485 532252.

Jonatha Brooke

American singer, songwriter and guitarist Jonatha Brooke has her roots firmly in folk, learning the ropes in the state of Massachusetts while studying at college.

After several years working in a duo known as The Story Jonatha began a new chapter in her musical story in 1995 when she released her debut solo album Plumb.

Jonatha Brooke

It marked a shift away from folk-pop into a more radio-friendly style which began to pay dividends. In 2002 she performed two songs on Disney's Return To Never Land film soundtrack and since then she has gone into overdrive.

Her latest album, released last year, saw her putting original music to some of Woody Guthrie's lyric journals.

I'd be very surprised if material from the album, the Works, doesn't figure highly in her much anticipated show at the Norwich Arts Centre on Wednesday 25 February.

Jonatha is without a doubt one of the US's finest modern-day singer-songwriters and deserves a big turn-out in Norfolk this month.

Spikedrivers

Highly-rated blues trio Spikedrivers are gracing the stage at The Fisher Theatre in Bungay at the end of this month.

Ben Tyzack, Constance Redgrave and Maurice McElroy have built a great reputation for acoustic-based blues with a twist.

A couple of years back they recorded a session for my Drivetime show on BBC Radio Suffolk and it remains one of the best we've ever broadcast.

Spikedrivers

Little wonder then that they're in much demand at festivals across the UK and on the continent.

Ben, who sings and plays guitar and harmonica, first formed Spikedrivers in 1992 but it wasn't until the current line-up hooked up a few years later that the group began to make an impact on the British blues scene.

They are now a must-see act and are, quite rightly, headlining shows of their own. They're also on tour with boogie woogie king Ben Waters and his band this month but for their return to Suffolk Spikedrivers are the stars of the show. Well worth investigating if you haven't already been spiked!

Golden Earring

Brenda Lee is coming on strong. No it's not a piece of juicy gossip on my part, it's the line in one of the greatest rock tracks of all time. In case you're still in the dark, I'm referring to the Golden Earring classic Radar Love.

That gem of a record made number seven in the UK charts in 1973 and helped establish Golden Earring as a band to be reckoned with.

They've been working ever since. Mind you, we haven't seen them in the UK for 30 years.

Golden Earring - Moontan

Their standing in their native Holland and neighbouring countries in Europe has meant that England hasn't been on their radar for the past three decades but thanks to Suffolk-based concert promoter John Hessenthaler that's changed.

Buoyed by the success of recent tours in this country by another top Dutch band from the 1970s, Focus, John thought he'd give Golden Earring a try.

The group are playing two shows for him next month. They're at the Ipswich Regent on Friday 13 March and the following night are performing in London at the Shepherds Bush Empire.

The Golden Earring LP Moontan remains a great listen, as do their many of their other albums released since those heady days.

Opening for Golden Earring will be Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash who, would you believe, include a member of Showaddywaddy in their ranks these days.

He's Danny Wilson, who's still with Leicester's greatest rock'n'roll combo, but is also enjoying rocking out a bit, providing one half of the twin-guitar sound that has served Ash so well. 

I'm told tickets have been selling well for Golden Earring's visit to Ipswich so another well supported night of classic rock is assured.