Gavin McNamara
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tallfolk46.bsky.social
Gavin McNamara
@tallfolk46.bsky.social
140 followers 270 following 44 posts
Teaches English. Writes about (folk) music for Bristol 24/7, Fatea and Tradfolk.
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tallfolk46.bsky.social
Daisy Rickman was brilliant at Strange Brew, Bristol last night.
My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here...
www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Daisy Rickman, Strange Brew - 'Daisy is a wizard, a mystic and a true star'
Daisy Rickman is a painter, filmmaker, photographer and musician from Mousehole, Cornwall
www.bristol247.com
August 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
If @thefolkarchive.bsky.social is to be believed (and we definitely should believe them - The Lost Folk is a brilliant book), then these little local festivals should be cherished. Ham Farm Festival in Bristol was great.
@bristol247.bsky.social

share.google/zyN93VILTqk7...
Review: Ham Farm Festival - 'A hidden gem'
A folk festival hidden in a garden tucked in a suburban corner of Emerson's Green... Who knew?!
share.google
July 29, 2025 at 6:28 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Folk music is always changing, always shifting. Right now, it's Broadside Hacks and Shovel Dance Collective that are staging the revolution.

open.substack.com/pub/tallfolk...
Les Caravanes - The Folk House, Bristol
Les Caravanes - Folk House, Bristol
open.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
The brilliant travelling Folk Club, Les Caravanes, stopped off at The Folk House in Bristol last night.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here... share.google/HWo9BhoUBogF...
Review: Les Caravanes, Bristol Folk House - 'A folk revolution'
A roving folk club drops in to Park Street
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July 25, 2025 at 12:18 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Another fantastic night @downendfolkroots.bsky.social on Friday. Lizzy Hardingham and Dan Sealey were great.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here...

Review: Lizzy Hardingham, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Opens her lungs and pins the audience to the wall' share.google/PfJhu4tORP60...
Review: Lizzy Hardingham, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Opens her lungs and pins the audience to the wall'
This show, as always, is a celebration of the power of real music in real places enjoyed by real people
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July 21, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Gavin McNamara
downendfolkroots.bsky.social
Our review of last night’s concert, featuring Lizzy Hardingham and her band, with support from Dan Sealey, is now up on the website.

Thanks to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos) for capturing the evening for us.

downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/54....
July 19, 2025 at 5:10 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
So many great gigs here...
knittedelephant.bsky.social Knitted Elephant Promotions @knittedelephant.bsky.social · Jul 15
Some great gigs coming up this Autumn!

More information: mailchi.mp/87c7cc889a41...

#livemusic #bristol
July 15, 2025 at 8:17 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Ann Liu Cannon at @roughtraderecords.bsky.social in Bristol was great last night. My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here:

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Ann Liu Cannon, Rough Trade - 'Fury bubbles beneath beauty'
Radiant on a hot day, Cannon belongs in a sweet, wholesome folk club setting
www.bristol247.com
July 11, 2025 at 1:13 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
On a ridiculously hot evening @downendfolkroots.bsky.social, @caradillonsings.bsky.social was wonderfully cool.
My @bristol247.bsky.social review is just here...

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Cara Dillon, Downend Folk & Roots - 'Languid grace, tenderness and enormous fun''
Acclaimed Irish singer Cara Dillon chose an oven-hot night to visit Bristol
www.bristol247.com
June 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
@samkellymusic.bsky.social was so good at Thekla in Bristol last week. Euphoric Folk music for everyone.
My review for @bristol247.bsky.social is just here...

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Sam Kelly, Thekla - 'Huge-hearted euphoria'
The boat plays host to a BBC Radio 2 Folk award-winner
www.bristol247.com
June 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Look at Lucy's brilliant review from the Cube on Friday. Top, top writing.
June 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
@ellyhopkins.bsky.social was so good at The Ill Repute in Bristol last night. Dusty, fuzzy Americana of the highest degree.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Elly Hopkins, the Ill Repute - 'Brushed drums and a bruised heart'
The Old Market pub with lived-in charm was the perfect place for Hopkins' debut single launch
www.bristol247.com
June 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Reposted by Gavin McNamara
downendfolkroots.bsky.social
“The truly remarkable thing about Holly Clarke is her voice, and it is when she sings unaccompanied that she becomes incredibly special." - @tallfolk46.bsky.social

Here’s another video of @hollyclarkemusic.bsky.social from Friday’s concert.
Holly Clarke - Strawberry Town (live at Downend Folk & Roots)
YouTube video by Downend Folk & Roots
youtu.be
May 21, 2025 at 4:57 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Amelia Coburn was brilliant at The Louisiana in Bristol last week. Superb literate folk-goth.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Amelia Coburn, the Louisiana - 'Shapeshifts and enchants'
It's a Bristol debut for this literate folk-goth singer songwriter from Middlesborough
www.bristol247.com
May 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Gavin McNamara
downendfolkroots.bsky.social
Thanks as always to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos) for capturing the evening. #livemusic #folkmusic #downend #bristol

READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE: downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/53...
Downend Folk & Roots - REVIEW: "EVERY OLD STORY SPRINGS BACK TO LIFE"
Downend Folk & Roots
downendfolkandroots.com
May 18, 2025 at 1:47 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
The first of my live reviews on Substack. Bristol Folk Festival was brilliant this year. Highlights - @katherinepriddy.bsky.social @heartwoodchorus.bsky.social Talisk, The Goblin Band, Filkin's Ensemble and The Askew Sisters.

substack.com/@tallfolk/no...
Bristol Folk Festival 2025
Bristol Folk Festival - St George’s and The Folk House, Bristol
substack.com
May 11, 2025 at 1:26 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
I've just posted my first review on Substack. It's the brilliant new @rachaelmcshane.bsky.social album, which I reviewed a while ago but was never published. Read it here..

open.substack.com/pub/tallfolk...
Rachael McShane & The Cartographers - Uncharted
Seven years on from When All is Still, Rachael McShane emerges from the back of the Bellowhead bus with an album that's, at turns, deliciously warming, oddly disquieting and as danceable as you like.
open.substack.com
May 11, 2025 at 8:50 AM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Bristol Folk Festival is always the highlight of the Folk-y year. It was brilliant this weekend. Highlights? @heartwoodchorus.bsky.social Talisk, The Goblin Band, @katherinepriddy.bsky.social, Martin Simpson, The Askew Sisters and more
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/festivals/re...
Review: Bristol Folk Festival - 'Music to stir the blood'
The Park Street folk party's smorgasboard of musical delights did not disappoint
www.bristol247.com
May 6, 2025 at 4:15 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
May is full of Folk-y, Roots-y wonderfulness in Bristol. Highlights include @skinnylister.bsky.social, Opa Rosa, Amelia Coburn, Flook and Rheingans Sisters
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Bristol's month in Folk and Roots - May 2025
May is the best month of the year for Folk & Roots in Bristol
www.bristol247.com
May 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
@hannahscottuk.bsky.social and @corujajones.bsky.social on Friday at @downendfolkroots.bsky.social - yet another great Downend gig.
@bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Hannah Scott, Downend Folk & Roots - 'It is everything that makes life worth contemplating'
Music and entertainment runs in the family for Hannah
www.bristol247.com
May 1, 2025 at 6:19 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
There's a wonderful Folk Choir "thing" going on just now - Bristol's own Heartwood Chorus are right in the centre of it. Here's my review of a glorious celebration for the release of their brilliant debut EP. @bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Heartwood Chorus, the Mount Without - 'The finest of celebrations'
A celebratory evening of song and dance headed up by Bristol's premier folk choir
www.bristol247.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
These "Live at Lunchtime" gigs @downendfolkroots.bsky.social are brilliant. Detta Kenzie was perfect on Saturday - warm, welcoming and superb. @bristol247.bsky.social

www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Review: Detta Kenzie, Downend Folk Club - 'Tugs on the divide between the real world and the magical'
A Devonian singer with a crystalline voice and a talent for appealing to all-comers
www.bristol247.com
March 10, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Gavin McNamara
downendfolkroots.bsky.social
Our review of Saturday’s Detta Kenzie concert is now up on the website. Thanks to @tallfolk46.bsky.social (words) and Barry Savell (photos).

downendfolkandroots.com/index.php/52...
March 10, 2025 at 10:55 AM
tallfolk46.bsky.social
Bristol is packed full of amazing Folk & Roots gigs in March. @downendfolkroots.bsky.social @bristolbeacon.bsky.social @stgeorgesbris.bsky.social and so many more places
www.bristol247.com/culture/musi...
Bristol's month in Folk & Roots - March 2025
A mix of folky style music for the merry month of March
www.bristol247.com
February 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Reposted by Gavin McNamara
samsweeney.bsky.social
BOSS ALBUM REVIEW! If you haven't bought the album yet, get on it. I'm so proud of it, and there aren't that many left!
February 7, 2025 at 10:05 PM