Top musician to play on at town's folk club

John Richards can be seen on Wednesday April 27.

He has been a well respected musician and songwriter from those early days. John’s songs have been covered by some of UK folk music’s finest professional artists as well as a long line of local singers.

John has fronted a number of bands over the years, Springheel Jack, The Ivor Smallpiece Big Band, Maurice and the Minors, Desperate Men, and the John Richards Band (in various line ups).

In the early days the repertoire was mostly traditional and covers but gradually the balance changed and became predominately John’s own songs.

By 2014 and after several changes of line-up John decided it was time to call it a day with his band and focus on his song writing.

John said: “There’ll be an immense amount of people in the area who won’t have ever heard of me but they may have been to Cropredy and heard Fairport sing my songs, Honour and Praise and The Deserter, or they might have heard Phil Beer sing Roaring Water Bay, Paul Downes sing a number of my songs or Mike Silver sing Foundryman’s Daughter etc.

“Although I’ve played Banbury Folk Festival with the band this is my first guest visit to the club as a solo artist and I’m really looking forward to it.

“You’ll hear two sets of my songs, stripped back to the way they were written but I’ll need the full power of Banbury Folk Club on the choruses please.”

The support act for John will be the Warwick group, Alkevan a group featuring mainly original songs written by guitarist Kevin Moffat. The rest of the band is made up of Alan Harvey on vocals and bodhran, Anne Bowden on flute, whistle and cello.

Tickets for the night are £8 and £7 for concessions. To be sure of getting in tickets can be reserved, to be paid for on the door, by phoning 01295 709881 and leaving a message with a phone number. The club usually meets every Wednesday at the Banbury Cross Inn, in Butchers Row at 8pm. For more details visit www.banburyfolkclub.co.uk.