Folk sessions return to Maltings Arts Theatre in St Albans

Piers Haslam (Image: Archant)

Batkin Hill finds Clive Batkin, known locally and more widely as a guitarist and guitar teacher, having teamed up with fellow guitarist Richard Hill, a highly regarded classical player, solo performer and band leader.

They met a few years ago at a summer school where they were both teaching and since then, they have met every summer to work on composing and arranging new material, specialising in evocative instrumental pieces.

Joining them will be Nanne and Ankie, from Friesland in the north west of the Netherlands, who have been performing together since 1980, originally in a series of groups and then, since the turn of the century, as a duo.

They sing traditional and contemporary songs in Frisian, Dutch, Esperanto and English and accompany themselves on guitar, mandolin, concertina and shawm.

Nanne and Ankie (Image: Archant)

Completing the line-up is Piers Haslam, a singer and guitarist who sings mainly traditional English folk songs plus a few tunes of his own.

The evening at the Maltings Arts Theatre gets underway at 8pm and tickets at £10, students £8 and under-16s £6 are available on the door or in advance, online, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or in person at St Albans Tourist & Information Centre.

* Gas In The Car, a tribute to the music of Steely Dan, are performing at the Maltings Arts Theatre the following night. Saturday, March 5.

Fronted by bandleader/guitarist Sean Conran who lives in St Albans, the Herts-based nine-piece take their name fromn a quirky Steely Dan lyric.

They perform all Steely Dan’s hits and popular classics alongside choice album cuts.

The gig starts at 8pm and tickets are £9.50 with concessions £7.50.