07852 143 580 NEW.... CD it's here! Please go to SHOP at top of website
Performances
Sunday, 4th May 2025 afternoon
Private Garden Concert
St Albans
Saturday 10th May 2025
Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival
www.ludlowspringfestival.co.uk
Sunday, 18th May 2024
The Quay Folk Club,
15 Sea Street,
Newport,
PO30 5BD.
Isle of Wight
Donations on the night
Contact : johnbentley765@btinternet.com
Thursday, 29th May 2025
Sunderland Folk Club
Blue Bell Pub,
Fulwell Rd,
Roker,
Sunderland
SR6 9AD
Patricia Haswell: 07983 784 010
Thursday, 12th June 2025. (Double header!)
'Anthony John Clarke and Julia Ann Porter'
and 'George Borowski with Mora and the Fabs feat'
Cubley Hall ,
Mortimer Rd,
Penistone,
Sheffield
S36 9DF
£16 in advance, £20 on the door
Saturday, 21st June, 2025
Private event
Saturday, 28th June 2025
Private event
Saturday, 19th July, 2025
Folk on the Farm,
Tyddyn Mon,
Brynrefail,
Dulas
LL70 9PQ
ANGELSEY
Contact :01248 410580
folkonthefarm@live.com
Saturday, 26th/Sunday 27th July 2025
Herne Bay Festival,
Numerous Venes.
For more details, please go to
hernebayfolk.co.uk
(Ray Fielder)
Sunday, 3rd August 2025
Chickenstock Festival,
Farm Norton green,
Pett Rd,
Stockbury,
Sittingbourne
ME9 7RL
Contact: 01622 884114
www.chickenstockfestival.co.uk
7th - 9th August, 2025
Cropredy MC
10th - 17th August 2025
AJC is the MC, and will be performing 11th/12th
Broadstairs Folk week MC
https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk
Friday 12th September 2025
Swinton Folk Club,
White Lion
242 Worsley Road,
Swinton M27 4TS
Sue & Ged Todd - 01942 811527
Friday, 19th September 2025
Liphook Folk Club,
Liphook and Bramshott Social Club,
Headley Road,
GU30 7NS
Paul Johnson
Monday, 29th September 2025
Chichester Folk Song Club
The Chichester Inn,
38 West Street,
PO19 1RP
chifolksongclub.co.uk
tel: 01243 781 866
Friday , 3rd October 2025
Blandford Forum
Friday, 10th October 2025
The Cafe,
Fenton Town Hall,
1 Albert Square,
Stoke on Trent
ST4 3FA
Contact: Jason potteriesfolk@rocketmail.com
Saturday 18th October, 2025 with the Lost Notes
Rowington Cricket Club
Rowington Grn,
Warwick
CV35 7DB
Staffordshire
Friday, 24th October 2025
Woodman Folk Club,
Ashwood Marina,
Kingswinford,
DY6 0AQ
Debs and Derry Jones
01384 560 462/ 07761 115 469
Sunday, 26th October 2025 (8.30pm)
Raven Folk Club,
Bear and Billet,
Lower Bridge St,
CHESTER
CH1 1RU
Wednesday,5th November 2025 with Dave Pegg
Banbury Folk Club,
Three Pigeons
Thursday, 6th November 2025. tbc
Bradden Village Hall
Friday, 7th November 2025
Poppleton (Private Event)
Sunday, 9th November 2025. with Dave Pegg, and with The Churchfitters
Birmingham Conservatoire,
200 Jennens Rd,
Birmingham B4 7XR
0121 331 5909
21st - 29th November 2025
USA
Thursday, 18th December 2025
Fleetwood Folk Club
The Strawberry Gardens
Poulton Road,
Fleetwood
FY7 62F
Tony Winstanley - 07925 839934
Friday, 27th February 2026
Bingham Folk Club
Bingham Rugby Club Pavilion Brendon Grove
Nottingham
NG13 8TN
Contact 07879226427 / 07867922785
binghamfolkclub@gmail.com
Friday, 6th March 2026
Poynton Pheonix Folk Club
Poynton Legion,
Georges Road West,
SK12 1JY.
Doors open 7.15pm
Details: 01625 873120
Wednesday, 18th March 2026
Banbury Folk Club,
Saturday, 16th May 2026
Music in Ulpha,
The Browfoot Room,
Ulpha,
Broughton-in-Furness,
Cumbria,
LA20 6DX.
Details: 01229 716994
24th July- 1st Aug 2026
Costa del Folk
Monday, 14th September 2026 tbc
Glenfarg Folk Club
Wednesday, 16th September 2026
Irvine Folk Club,
Contact: Stephen Quigg 07786 892 801
To purchase CDs, please go to the SHOP, via button at the top of the website
.
ANTHONY JOHN CLARKE
The Ultimate Collection
By Damian Liptrot Music Reviews
There can be very few folk club habitués in these parts who have not enjoyed an evening in the company of Anthony John Clarke, and presumably his partner in life, love and entertainment, Julia Porter. AJ, to his friends, who are many, is a consummate singer, raconteur and entertainer, seemingly effortless in his ability to make an audience listen, laugh or singalong, sometimes at least two of these at the same time. As he demonstrates his superpower to make a 3-minute song last for double that, with clever wordsmithery, observations, short stories and asides, it is possible to overlook what a fine songwriter he actually is.
The 14 tracks on his Ultimate Collection redress that balance. Chosen by the man himself, re-recorded with production by another legend, being Mr Richard Digance, the songs cover all the periods of his career to date. Delivered simply, almost exclusively by just a man and his guitar, we are treated to a decidedly autobiographical series of songs, taking us through from a Belfast Childhood, the early stages of a 50 year loveship, the trials of life and the joys of family, to a retrospective covering pretty much all the above.
Though full of emotion, the songs are gently delivered with truth and honesty, rather than any maudlin’ sentiment. The same is true when wider subjects are considered. No one could have grown up in Belfast between 50’s childhood and 70s coming of age without having something to say about the experience, yet we are treated to insight, compassion and hope rather than either blame, shame or glory and ats as a welcome reminder of a more general world view rather than a blinkered coverage of a time of trouble beyond the comprehension, if not the comment, of most.
His tales can also tell of the hard or darker side of life, with compassion and understanding rather than judgement. The sad circumstances of ‘Gloria’ are made all the more personal by the repeating of a couple of lines, by way of a chorus, inviting the listener to repeat and join in, a frequent feature of AJ’s songs that underlines the messages they contain.
On the other hand, ‘Banksy’, his story of a school tormentor does not end with a heart-warming redemption, grudging forgiveness, or even a life-lesson well delivered, there is a truth about the nature of a bully that goes beyond the obvious and it deserves to be heard rather than spoiled through explanation.
Well known for his compering appearances at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Festival, annually taking the 20,000 faithful though the musical delights on offer, a certain Dave Pegg recently pointed out that AJ is much more than their MC and this selection is the ultimate proof of that.
Available directly from his website, you may well enjoy ‘Walking On Sunday’ but listening any day of the week is also advised!
'AJC is a National Treasure' (Fairport Convention)
'AJC is a National Treasure' (Fairport Convention)
A little book what I wrote. it's not 'Great Expectations' of course and is unlikely to be made into a movie - for regular cinemas anyway - but it means well. It's a collection of observations about Ireland, music, children, religion and marriage served by a Belfast boy on a scurrilous bed of material I have used I stage over the years and somehow got away with... until now.dare.
Hard back now sold out
it's now available,
thanks to MARTIN WALKER's valuable help,
via Amazon (£7.86)