150 Years of the TUC: Folk Concerts at the Mechanics Institute

This year, the TUC celebrates its 150th anniversary and with it, a century and a half of working together to change the world of work for good. To mark this special occasion in Manchester, Band on the Wall brings some of its favourite folk artists to the stunning surroundings of the Mechanics Institute, where the TUC was founded, for a string of unmissable and unique folk concerts.

Mike Harding (solo)
Sun 3rd June 2018

Singer-songwriter, comedian, author, poet, broadcaster and multi-instrumentalist Mike Harding was born in Manchester in 1944 into a working-class Irish-Catholic family. Throughout his early years Mike developed a love for music, playing in skiffle and rock bands in the 1960’s. He has fond memories of sharing the bill with The Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Hollies, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders and the late Eric Spanner and the Rhythmaires.

Oysters 3 (Oysterband Acoustic)
Tue 5th June 2018

Oysterband from a different angle – by popular demand, Oysters 3 take to the road again! John Jones, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer, the three founder members and creative heart of folk-rock legends Oysterband invite you to an evening of fresh acoustic performance and off-the-wall stories – an insight into their history, sometimes turbulent, often funny, with great songs from every era of a unique career.

Dezi Donnelly & Mike McGoldrick
Wed 6th June 2018

Dezi ‘Fiddle on Fire’ Donnelly is a Manchester-based fiddle player and one of the founder members of the revered celtic rock band ‘Toss the Feathers’. Mike McGoldrick has been a member of several influential bands. In 1994 he was awarded the BBC Young Tradition Award, and in 2001 he was given the Instrumentalist of the Year award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He was a founder-member of Toss the Feathers while still at school, and formed the band Fluke! (later renamed as Flook) with Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen in November 1995.

Kathryn Williams + Claire Mooney: Women in Union
Thurs 7th June 2018
An evening of music by some of the most exciting women in folk music today, featuring performances from Kathryn Williams and Claire Mooney.

Folk On A Friday Night ft. Bunting and Frolics (Martin Gittins and Bob Ashworth) (Free Entry)
Fri 8th June 2018

Bob Ashworth and Martin Gittins were active individually on the local folk music scene for many years, but then they came together to form the duo ‘Bunting and Frolics’, cleverly doubling their repertoire to a stunning seven (7) songs! As Bunting and Frolics they have been getting away with their so-called ‘act’ for over two decades, thus proving that you CAN fool all of the people all of the time.

Edward II + Jennifer Reid + Poppycock
Sat 9th June 2018

Edward II are the English roots band that uniquely blend the rhythms of the Caribbean with traditional songs from the British Isles. Temporarily turning away from the rural songs of the middle England Morris teams, this time around the band has been delving deep into a repertoire of songs born of the industrial revolution, specifically of their home town, Manchester. Still upbeat, and with rock-steady rhythms, blazing horns, fabulous harmonies and fiery melodeon melodies, this will be a new set mixed with some of the old favourites and a familiar sound for the faithful.

Find out how to get to the Mechanics Institute below.

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