Upcoming events

TBC

The Mardlers + support TBC

Rescheduled show TBC

*This date has been rescheduled from 19th April/ 6th Dec, tickets purchased for either of those shows are valid for this date*

One of the finest bands on the Americana/Alt Folk circuit, Noble Jacks are coming to The Portland Arms, straight off the back of their sell out tour with The Dead South.

With the fiddle leading the charge, Noble Jacks are out to take no prisoners with their high-energy footstompin’ rhythms, which have taken crowds by storm across the UK.

2017 saw the release of Noble Jacks’ debut album What the Hammer to much acclaim. A fiddle driven thrill ride, the band set out to capture the raw energy of their notoriously hectic live shows. Achieving radio play internationally, including support from BBC Introducing and Radio Caroline, the riotous album has become a firm fan favourite.

Since this point Noble Jacks have been touring relentlessly, with sold out shows across the UK on their headline tours, as well as shows at major festivals including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Bestival, plus major European festivals. With their second album, Stay Awake, released Spring 2019, the Jacks went straight into the top 10 Official UK Americana Album Charts – with a sold out Concorde2, Brighton (650 cap) launch party.

Hailed as the finest purveyors of folk-influenced Americana, the band were invited to showcase at this years Americana Fest in Nashville where they went down a storm!

+ Supports TBA

This has been rescheduled from Saturday 8th May 2021. All tickets remain valid.

Roddy Woomble is widely regarded as one of Scotland’s finest songwriters.

Known for his enigmatic lyrics, warm baritone voice and consummate gift for a tune, Roddy has released five solo albums to date – ‘My Secret Is My Silence’ (2006), ‘Before The Ruin’ (2008, with Kris Drever and John McCusker), ‘The Impossible Song & Other Songs’ (2011), ‘Listen To Keep’ (2013), and ‘The Deluder’ (2017). Roddy’s first poetry collection ‘Instrumentals’ was released in 2016.

For the past two decades Roddy has also been the frontman of much loved Scottish alternative rock band Idlewild, releasing eight studio albums, and touring worldwide as a headline act, but also in support to R.E.M., Pearl Jam and U2 amongst others.

Thursday’s Band and Black Scarr

Two contrasting bands who like and admire each others’ work, and have played on the same bill several times.

Based in the Cambridge region, Thursday’s Band offers a unique combination of fiddle, viola and guitars that’s been described by different listeners as spine-tingling, spellbinding, utterly awesome, and ‘the most beautiful music I’ve heard in years’.

Coming from an eclectic background that includes folk, country, rock, cajun and classical music, the band is made up of Lucinda Fudge (viola, vocals and songs) Mark Gamon (guitar, vocals and songs); Matt Kelly (fiddle, viola, mandolin, vocals and songs); and Nick Blishen (guitar). Much of their repertoire is original – focused always on intelligent songwriting – with live sets enhanced by the addition of sympathetic covers and exuberant tunes.

Five years in, the entire band are agreed: this is the best thing we’ve ever done. They have performed at many folk clubs and several times at The Portland. Thursday’s Band have released two full albums, Chittagong Tattoo (2019) and All We have in Common (2016)

Look at video clips on youtube or at the band’s website:  www.thursdaysband.co.uk.

About Chittagong Tattoo:

 ‘This is very good… Granny Mean is stunning. Quietly finger-picked, violin in the background, a rising chorus, and lyrics which capture the many emotions of someone with dementia… It works. It shouldn’t but it really does. Let the Fire Die Back…. is driven by violin and the interplay between male and female vocal. You pick up the story in the gaps between the images – and you want to join in that refrain. Difficult Man is a delightfully human song. The Chittagong Tattoo is a powerful title track. And Leavings has… lovely interplay between the instruments as they hand the lead briefly from one to the other and a final verse that brings light to darkness… It feels like you might want to see if you can get them to your folk club…’  (folking.com)

Black Scarr are Johnny Black and Emma Scarr, an East London duo formed by two singer songwriters with different styles and influences, but whose co-writing has collided to produce a collection of songs that move audiences to laughter and tears.

Honest and gritty, this urban folk/country duo produce songs full of stories and themes that are modern but classic-sounding and timeless, personal and everyday, still universal. BlackScarr have become known for live performances bursting with energy and chemistry. Prepare to tap your toes to upbeat melodic country tunes and be touched by hard-hitting, yet poetic lyrics that will stay with you. Guitar, fiddle, harmonica and classic harmonies document the trials, contradictions, fears and delights of middle-aged life and love.

Black Scarr have performed at many folk clubs including Royston, Watford, Redbourne, Loughton, Hitchin, and Warwick, and many other venues in and around London, as well as a number of festivals.

Black Scarr won ‘Best audience reaction’ award at the ‘Love Folk Live’ competition run by Folkstock and have won Watford Folk Club song writing competition.

Black Scarr have recorded 5 CDs – find these and lots of other goodies on our website:

http://www.18tilidie.com/

New Yorker Darwin Deez is influenced by other New York artists such as The Strokes and The Mouldy Peaches. Darwin Deez began his career by performing at open-mic nights in New York, in the same cafes where Regina Spektor and Adam Green would often play. Deez has followed his own quixotic path and has quickly become a bona fide pop star on his own terms. He continues on his one man mission to improve the world through his particular streak of curiously addictive pop songs and bursts of gloriously unfettered synchronized dancing.