stage 2

The Stables’ second performance space: intimate, relaxed and informal

Stage 2 is the ideal place to catch a star of tomorrow on their way up or enjoy more established artists experimenting with new material. With a capacity of just 80 for most gigs, there’s always an intimate and relaxed feel to proceedings.

Stage 2 hosts around 120 concerts each year of all shapes and sizes – folk, rock, blues and much more besides – along with a good smattering of comedy and theatre nights.

So come and hear the latest new music and comedy, relax and enjoy a drink with friends!

Look out for these Stage 2 artists making their headline debuts this season

Malone Sibun Band

Thursday 2 March, 8.45pm £14.50

Following the release of their debut album Come Together, Malone Sibun, featuring Motown-schooled Marcus Malone on vocals and guitar and former Robert Plant guitarist and vocalist Innes Sibun, found themselves with a stack of great reviews and a full gig sheet – and then lockdown happened. Their latest album, Ashes & Dust, suggests they found the perfect way to channel their pent-up frustration into a snapshot of a band that Covid couldn’t keep down.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Verity Bromham Band 18 Jun

John Coghlan’s Quo Re-Imagined

Saturday 4 March, 8.45pm £20

John Coghlan, Status Quo’s drummer for over 20 years, is taking a fresh look at some of the Quo compositions. His quartet reimagines the musical feel of classics such as Pictures Of Matchstick Men, Caroline and In The Army Now, and the results maintain the essence of the originals while imbuing them with a lighter, more lyrical touch with hints of jazz and even classical genres.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Francis Rossi 7 Apr

Jenny Colquitt

Thursday 9 March, 8.45pm £13.50 in advance, £15.50 on the door

Emerging artist Jenny Colquitt encompasses a unique combination of Americana, indie and folk rock and pop. Winner of the 2021/2022 FATEA Female Artist Of The Year award, Jenny has a voice that uniquely combines the melodic undertones of artists such as Eva Cassidy and Alanis Morissette. Her debut album Something Beautiful was released in 2021.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Laura Cortese 7 May

Keith James: The Great Canadian Songbook

Friday 10 March, 8.45pm £20

Keith James performs the music of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Wainwrights, Leonard Cohen, KD Lang and many more. Keith says: “I have been listening to and influenced by all of these singer-songwriters throughout my career and have always been amazed by the unique sense of honesty and deep collective integrity that music from Canada possesses.”

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Ron Sexsmith 15 May

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club

Wednesday 15 March, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door

Compere Andrew Bird introduces Sally-Anne Hayward and Mike Cox (line-up is subject to change).

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Stephen K Amos 4 Nov

Patrick Monahan: Classy

Saturday 18 March, 8.45pm £15.50

In a world of groups, hierarchies and class systems, everyone’s trying hard to fit in. What’s wrong with just being you? Be you, be proud! From the caravan to the middle-class neighbourhood, it’s taken Patrick Monahan four decades to realise this. Enjoy Patrick’s stand-up observations on living in modern life.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Andy Parsons 26 Apr

Trichotomy

Wednesday 22 March, 8.45pm £13.50

Acclaimed Australian trio Trichotomy return to The Stables as part of their UK tour, supporting their new album To Vanish. The new release blends catchy melodies with intricate rhythms and embeds electronic sounds alongside the acoustic instruments, creating a captivating sound world.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Under The Surface Tue 9 May

HurlyBurly: Meet Me A Tree

Thursday 23 March, 11.30am & 2pm £16.50 admits one adult + one child; £6 for each additional ticket (adult or child); tickets are only bookable in person or by phone. Meet Me A Tree is an interactive first opera for 0-2 year-olds and their carers, featuring music by Schumann, Delibes and Handel as well as words and music created by the company. HurlyBurly invite you and your baby on a multisensory journey through a year in the life of a tree.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Theatre of Widdershins 12 Mar

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra

Thursday 23 March, 8.45pm £16.50

Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra don’t care what genre you choose to put them in – Western Swing, blues, country, rock’n’roll or whatever else – as long as you understand that they’re 100% sincere and 100% immersed in this stuff. The Tea Pad sound draws on myriad influences, yet ultimately their northeastern Swing style is entirely their own.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Royal South 8 Apr

Hannah James and Toby Kuhn

Sunday 2 April, 8.45pm £15.50

Known for her work with Lady Maisery, Maddy Prior and Sam Sweeney, vocalist Hannah James is a leading figure on the UK folk scene. Always on the lookout for new ways to play his instrument, Toby Kuhn’s unorthodox approach has won admiration and acclaim, bringing the full potential of the cello with him on his journey across style and invention. Together, their music is soulful, original and conversational.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Sarah Smout

Emily Mae Winters

6 May

Wednesday 5 April, 8.45pm £13.50

Emily Mae Winters has that rare quality in a singer that makes critics reach for the superlatives. Described as having a voice that “stops you in your tracks” by Americana UK, Emily combines straight-to-the-heart bittersweetness with her own unique passion and drama in performance. Her much awaited second album High Romance was released in July 2019 and was listed in Folk Radio UK’s Top Ten Albums of the Year.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Gretchen Peters 16 May

Zoe Schwarz & Rob Koral Duo

Thursday 13 April, 8.45pm £14

Well known for their popular touring band Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, Zoe (vocals) and Rob (guitar) are equally at home in the more intimate duo format. Expect a soulful mix of roots, jazz, and blues, combining old school tradition with contemporary verve. As you might expect, after two decades of intense gigging together, the communication between these two fine musicians is evident for all to hear.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Alice Armstrong Band 14 Sep

Hushman

Friday 14 April, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door

Liverpool-born Hushman (aka Ewan MacPherson) is a folk singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and music producer. He is a well-established figure on the vibrant Scottish music scene and was nominated as Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2014 MG Alba Trad Music Awards. In addition to his new Hushman project, Ewan is a member of Salt House and renowned acidcroft band Shooglenifty.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Kris Drever Band 6 Jun

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club

Wednesday 19 April, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door

Compere Andre Bird introduces Peter Brush and Abi CarterSimpson (line-up is subject to change.)

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Stokes & Summers

7 Jul

Ray Cooper

Thursday 20 April, 8.45pm £13.50

Ray Cooper is an acoustic singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist. He accompanies his songs with a cello, mandolin, guitar and piano – each song comes with a story, and Ray has a lot of stories to tell. Since leaving Oysterband in 2013, he has carved out a successful solo career, recording four solo albums and touring extensively in the UK, northern Europe and Canada.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Sarah Smout

Edgar Broughton

6 May

Friday 21 April, 8.45pm £13.50

Edgar Broughton was a founder member of the Edgar Broughton Band in the 1960s. He is well known as one of the most strident of protest singers, but at times one of the most accessible. His solo performance is an emotive, entertaining tour de force containing both old favourites and new songs from the heart.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Gary Fletcher

12 May

Limited availability 14+

Mim Grey

Saturday 22 April, 8.45pm £14

Long-admired as a stellar UK vocal and songwriting talent, London-born Mim Grey has a deeply soulful voice and evocative tone. As an in-demand stage and studio session vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for numerous international household names, Mim’s talent has no doubt embellished much of the sound that has permeated your ears, even co-writing songs for the likes of Kylie Minogue.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Harriet 10 Jun

Andy Parsons (Work In Progress)

Wednesday 26 April, 8.45pm £14

Join Andy Parsons as he warms up for another national tour with this intimate airing of a brand new show. As seen on Live At The Apollo and Mock The Week

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Patrick Monahan 18 Mar

Gilmore & Roberts

Friday 28 April, 8.45pm £16.50

Nominated three times at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Katriona Gilmore (fiddle, mandolin) and Jamie Roberts (guitar) met while studying at Leeds College of Music and released their debut album in 2008. Since then, the duo have toured Canada and mainland Europe, played some of the UK’s biggest acoustic festivals, toured with folk rock legends Fairport Convention and won countless accolades for their genre-spanning work.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Alden & Patterson 12 Oct

Sarah Smout

Saturday 6 May, 8.45pm £14

Sarah Smout is a cellist-singer and activist, creating music and poetry deeply rooted in nature and place. Sarah’s solo performances are imbued with visceral storytelling, bristling with atmosphere and created with looped cello, haunting melodies and deeply felt lyrics. Audience members are left feeling transported and mesmerised, with sounds and rhythms that are never too far from the sea.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Hannah James and Toby Kuhn 2 Apr

Laura Cortese & Friends

Sunday 7 May, 8.45pm £16.50

Highly regarded American fiddler and smokey-voiced singersongwriter Laura Cortese and her band expand on the boundaries of what an indie-folk band can be. They pair sophisticated string arrangements with rich vocal harmonies and incorporate an edgy pop sensibility to create a bold and elegant sound, schooled in the lyrical rituals of folk music – all backed by grooves that alternately inspire Cajun two-stepping and rock’n’roll hip swagger.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Jenny Colquitt 9 Mar

Under the Surface

Tuesday 9 May, 8.45pm £13.50

Under the Surface are a Dutch band formed by drummer Joost Lijbaart, guitarist Bram Stadhouders and vocalist Sanne Rambags. Their debut album, released on Challenge Records in 2017, was nominated for an Edison Award. These three unique Dutch musicians have found a common urge to improvise, in which aesthetics, poetry and ensemble work all play a major role.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Trichotomy 22 Mar

Gary Fletcher

Friday 12 May, 8.45pm £16.50

A founder and ever-present member of The Blues Band, Gary Fletcher has appeared with and/or recorded with the likes of Peter Green, Maggie Bell, Van Morrison and Guy Barker. For his solo shows, Gary performs a compelling mix of originals and classic covers straddling blues, Americana and folk, playing guitar, slide, banjo, mandolin and ukulele – but not all at once!

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Malone Sibun Band 2 Mar

Chris While and Johnny Heyes

Saturday 13 May, 8.45pm £15.50

Chris While has earned herself a reputation as one of the UK’s finest singers. Having toured tirelessly over the last 35 years, she is now ready to do solo work again, bringing to the stage her very personal songs, her warm personality and, of course, her heart-stopping voice. She will be joined by stunning guitarist Johnny Heyes.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Daphne’s Flight 23 Sep

Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club

Wednesday 17 May, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door Compere Andrew Bird introduces Julian Deane and Kelli Taylor (line-up is subject to change).

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Screaming Blue Murder Comedy Club

15 Oct

Our Man In The Field

Friday 19 May, 8.45pm £15.50

Alexander Ellis and his brilliant band of pedal steel, guitar, banjo, upright bass and drums (with fine harmony backing vocals) take inspiration from the alt-Americana and Caledonian soul stylings of Van Morrison, Neil Young and Wilco. Alexander’s own sound is indefinable yet familiar – its introspective, intimate and deeply soulful style standing comfortably alongside modern-day artists such as Damien Rice and Foy Vance.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS The Carrivick Sisters

John Etheridge and Kit Holmes

15 Jun

Saturday 20 May, 8.45pm £20.50

Enjoy an uplifting evening of blues, folk, jazz, African grooves and much more from two outstanding guitarists. With over 50 years of live performance and recordings, it is no exaggeration to say that John Etheridge’s music spans a myriad of styles from gypsy jazz to acid-rock and everything in between! Kit Holmes’ trademark sultry vocals and virtuoso guitar playing have wowed audiences across the UK.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Tim Kliphuis Trio 17 May

Ellie Gowers

Tuesday 23 May, 8.45pm £11

Ellie Gowers is a songwriter and guitarist from Warwickshire. Her carefully crafted and emotionally mature catalogue of original material references artists such as Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake and Laura Marling. Ellie’s debut album Dwelling By The Weir was released last year. Weaving the past, present and future together, the album explores the folklore, stories and people that made her home county of Warwickshire what it is today.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Jill Jackson 2 Jun

Counter’s Creek

Friday 26 May, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door

Counter’s Creek are an acoustic folk band based in London who make original music inspired by the folk music of the British Isles and beyond. Jigs, reels, songs and grooves from Eastern Europe and West Africa, four-part harmony and catchy melodies are all performed with a real sense of swing and dance energy.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS The Canny Band 3 Sep

Jill Jackson

Friday 2 June, 8.45pm £15.50

Jill Jackson is one of Scotland’s leading singer songwriters and an acclaimed artist within the thriving international Americana music scene. Her sensitive and sympathetic storytelling, heartrending vocals and sheer love of Americana music have drawn comparisons to the likes of Brandi Carlile and Joni Mitchell. Her most recent album Yours Aye was released last May.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Ellie Gowers 23 May

Megan Dixon Hood & Alesund

Sunday 4 June, 8.45pm £11

Megan Dixon Hood is an independent artist taking inspiration from folklore, mythology, nature, and human beings. Together with her band, Megan creates forest pop soundscapes that gather you up and immerse you in cinematic storytelling, led by haunting vocals that caress you in their hands or cut you straight in half.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Solstice 2 Sep

SuRie

Friday 9 June, 8.45pm £16.50

SuRie might be best known to you as the UK entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Her music is crafted around stories from everyday life; seemingly insignificant moments that either lead to a nostalgic acceptance or to vital change. With one foot in classical music and the other tapping along to luminary songwriters, SuRie has always been inspired by the likes of Tori Amos, Joni Mitchell and Carole King.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Harriet 10 Jun

Albany Down

Saturday 10 June, 8.45pm £15.50 in advance, £18.50 on the door

Albany Down return to The Stables to celebrate the launch of their fourth studio album. The band will be performing original tracks from the album together with fan favourites from previous releases.

Promoted by AD Recordings

The Carrivick Sisters

Thursday 15 June, 8.45pm £13.50

The Carrivick Sisters are one of the UK’s top young bluegrass and folk acts. Twins Laura and Charlotte perform their original songs and instrumentals along with a few carefully chosen covers on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, and clawhammer banjo. Having grown up in South Devon, an area rich in folk lore and legends, much of their original material is inspired by their local surroundings and history.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Our Man In The Field

Kyshona

19 May

Friday 16 June, 8.45pm £13.50

Kyshona is an artist ignited by untold stories and the capacity of those stories to thread connection in every community. With the background of a licensed music therapist, the curiosity of a writer and the resolve of an activist, Kyshona is unrelenting in her pursuit for the healing power of song. She blends roots, rock, R&B and folk with lyrical prowess. Her release, Listen, was voted best protest album of 2020 by Nashville Scene

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Daphne’s Flight 23 Sep

Chris Fox

Friday 23 June, 8.45pm £11 in advance, £13.50 on the door

A genre-defying folk troubadour, Chris Fox has made rapid progress through the UK folk and roots scene with his songwriting, utilising a variety of styles across the roots lexicon of traditional and contemporary folk, Americana, country and blues. His naturally laid back, unostentatious style creates the perfect ambience for an intimate and inclusive live experience drawing listeners in with tales of both the everyday and the unexpected.

LIKE THIS? TRY THIS Chris Smither 26 Apr