Anthony John Clarke

Described by Fairport Convention as a National Treasure, this singer-songwriter has been an integral part of the UK music scene for 30 years. Originally from Belfast, AJ emerged there with his songs ‘The Broken Years’ and ‘The Only Life Gloria Knows’, but now presents as one of the most humorous and entertaining acts around. Audiences cannot resist the musical invitations to sing from this true gentleman of the music world. Expect a degree of sentiment, but also songs covering topics from the Man From Uncle to Car Boot Sales, Presidents, Karaoke Nights, Nuns, Grandchildren and how to avoid them (he has at least five), Camping, Bigots, and Hitchhiking. This man is perhaps the funniest at serious songs and the most serious about funny songs. Enjoy the ride with AJ and everyone is advised to bring all necessary medication!

Performances

Sunday, 19th January 2025

Folk in the Barn Afternoon 3pm

The Tea Cosy Sessions

The Barn, The Street,

Kingston,

Nr Canterbury,

Kent CT4 6JB
Contact :Debs Earl, 07799 790738
www.folkinthebarn.co.uk debs@folkinthebarn.co.uk

https://folk-in-the-barn.webflow.io/gigs/anthony-john-clarke

Saturday, 25th January 2025

Coal Aston Live,

Eckington Road,

Coal Aston,

Derbyshire

S18 3AX

Contact Petegray@scuppered.org

Pete : 07860752471

Saturday, 1st March 2025

with John Watterson/ Fake Thackray

Barnoldwick Music & Arts Centre

18 - 22 Rainhall Road

Barnoldswick

BB18 5AF

Pete Barton, Manager

T 01282 813 374

M 07712 628 366

Tuesday, 4th March 2025 with Dave Pegg

Wrecking Ball Records and Books Venue

15 Whitefriargate,

Hull

HU1 2ER

Tickets £15

Wednesday 5th March 2025 with Dave Pegg

CAST Theatre, the Second Space,

Doncaster

www.doncaster.com

Thursday, 6th March 2025 with Dave Pegg

Cubley Hall Hotel,

Penistone,

S36 9DF

Friday, 7th March 2025. with Dave Pegg

Black Dyke Mills,

Unit 27 Brighouse Rd,

Queensbury,

Bradford

BD13 1QA
Tel: 07920 122735

Sunday, 9th March 2025 with Dave Pegg

Anthony John Clarke and Julia Porter -

50 years celebration concert, with Guests

Christ the King

Liverpool

L16 6AW

Contact: Lesley Scholes 07762 360 591

15th- 17th March 2025

Private event

Wednesday, 19th March, 2025

Banbury Folk Club

The Three Pigeons,

Southam Rd,

Banbury.

OX16 2ED

Contact: Ian Ralph Huckin 07484 674 882

Wednesday, 26th March, 2025

Nova Scotia Folk Club

Woodhill Evangelical Church,

30 Wester Cleddens Rd,

Bishopbriggs,

Glasgow

G64 2NH

Thursday, 27th March, 2025

Crail Folk Club

Community Hall,

St Andrews Road,

Crail.

KY10 3UH

enquiries 01333 450572

Sunday, 4th May 2025 afternoon

Garden Concert

St Albans

Saturday 10th/Sunday 11th May

Ludlow Castle

16th/17th May 2024

Isle of Wight

Thursday, 29th May 2025

Sunderland Folk Club

Blue Bell Pub,

Fulwell Rd,

Roker,

Sunderland

SR6 9AD

13th-15th June, 2025

Middlewich Festival

Saturday, 21st June, 2025

Private event

Saturday, 28th June 2025

Private event

Saturday, 19th July, 2025

Folk on the Farm,

ANGELSEY

Saturday, 26th/Sunday 27th July 2025

Herne Bay Festival

Monday, 28th July 2025 tbc

Chichester

1st/2nd/3rd August 2025 tbc

Chickenstock Festival,

Stockbury,

Kent

7th - 9th August, 2025

Cropredy MC

10th - 17th August 2025

AJ MC, and performing 11th or 12th

Broadstairs Folk week MC

Friday 12th September 2025

Swinton Folk Club,

White Lion

18th October, 2025

Staffordshire

Friday, 7th November 2025

Poppleton

Thursday, 18th December 2025

Fleetwood Folk Club

Friday, 27th February 2026

Bingham Folk Club

24th July- 1st Aug 2026

Costa del Folk

To purchase CDs, please go to the SHOP, via button at the top of the website

Reviews

Review in TYKES, by Nigel Schofield

Peggy and AJ tour together each November. This collection of ten songs is a summation of seven years of doing so. AJ has a keen eye for observation, a sharp wit for writing and a knack for turning phrases, evident in titles that make you wonder “what on earth could that be like? viz Routine Love, Irishman In Paris and Let Me Tell You How It Works.This is not a reproduction of their stripped-back, seated live sound – aside from mandolin, Peggy plays electric and bass guitar; La Belle Julia Porter, who co-wrote the songs, adds piano and strings; Adrian Black provides entirely apt clarinet and Mark Walker plays chimes. The songs benefit from these added dimensions. Try the full-on rock sound of Until the Wall Comes Down or Life’s got its own agenda, a song that could only otherwise exist if Jake Thackery had been transplanted to Basin Street! There are songs that make you smile, songs to make you think and songs for which the only reaction is “yes – exactly”. How can you resist a line like “I lost my religion in a poker game”? The songs are all direct and involve you immediately, but the craft in writing, subtlety of narrative and deftness of observation all reward repeated listens. Even after one listen, those skilfully coined phrases will leap into your head – and you’ll thrash around to recall where it’s from…and when you remember, this album ends up in CD player: it’s an endlessly repeating cycle. Earworms that never get earworn.

'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)