Mix of folk acts due to play at the Apex in the coming weeks

There’s an array of folk music acts coming to the Apex over the autumn including Skipinnish, The Magpie Arc, Seth Wakeman, Blazin’ Fiddles and Talisk.

Skipinnish (pictured above) are at the venue on October 28 with their traditional and contemporary Scottish music along with their self-penned songs and a strong mix of powerful bagpipe, fiddle and accordion led tunes. They continue to captivate audiences with the boundless energy of their live shows, coupled with their wonderfully evocative song writing.

They are followed by The Magpie Arc (November 4) which features the multi award-winning talents of established folk musicians Nancy Kerr, Findlay Napier, Tom Wright, Alex Hunter and Martin Simpson. The group have formed a full-on electric band with the idea of updating the classic 60s and 70s British folk/rock sound (à la Steeleye Span & Fairport). Their focus has been on new material, however, they’ve also tackled some great covers and their own re-workings of traditional songs. There’s folk and rock, some country and even blues, but whatever the genre, you will hear excellent songs, lush harmonies, scything electric guitars, gorgeous fiddle lines and rock-solid bass and drums.

Celebrated singer-songwriter and virtuoso fiddler, Seth Lakeman returns to The Apex the following day (November 5). Seth shot to fame with his second album, 2005’s “Kitty Jay’” recorded for less than £300 it was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize and led to tours with The Levellers, Billy Bragg and Jools Holland. He released his new studio album “Make Your Mark” in November 2021 – written during his enforced 18 months off the road, the album features 14 powerful songs, including the first single “Higher We Aspire” which was playlisted at BBC Radio 2. Seth’s fiddle and tenor guitar playing is often breath-taking, while his trademark, soaring vocals are as beguiling and haunting as ever.

Blazin’ Fiddles (November 14) pack the passion and sensitivity of Scotland’s traditional music into a single show, blending solo and ensemble sets, so you can hear the regional expressions and diverse fiddle dialects from Scotland’s Highlands and islands. The four-fiddle frontline of Inverness’ Bruce MacGregor, Shetlander Jenna Reid, Nairn’s Rua Macmillan, and Orcadian Kristan Harvey, are backed by guitar and piano. From remote village halls to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Blazin’ Fiddles have delighted audiences with their tunes and tales, whilst embodying the excitement and raw fire of Scottish music.

Relative newcomers to the scene, Talisk (November 20) fuse concertina, guitar and fiddle to produce an innovative, multi-layered signature – three seemingly acoustic instruments in the hands of these three craftsmen make a bold sound and a captivating live show. Mohsen Amini (BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Musician of the Year 2018), Graeme Armstrong and Benedict Morris (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2019) have stacked up major awards – including Folk Band of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. Talisk’s sophomore album, “Beyond”, quickly amassed five-star reviews and rose to No.1 in the iTunes world music charts upon its release in 2018. You may have seen them closing Saturday night’s main stage at the 2019 Cambridge Folk Festival.

See www.theapex.co.uk or ring 01284 758000 for more information or to book tickets for any of the shows.