European Gypsy Music.

The Budapest Café Orchestra play powerful & driving folk-based music from Eastern Europe inspired by the music of European gypsies.

The richness & dynamism of Balkan music is on display here in all its untameable glory in a wide-ranging programme of impassioned Hungarian Czardas, tender Russian folk melodies, rollicking dances from Romania & Moldavia, bitter sweet Jewish laments, one or two electrifying compositions of the group’s own making plus a few surprises along the way... The music evokes vivid images of Tzigane fiddle maestros, Budapest café life & gypsy campfires – good enough to make you want to book a holiday along the Danube!

Comprising four fabulous players of violins, guitar, accordion, double bass, saz & balalaika, the BCO boasts some of the country’s most revered international stars: Eddie Hession has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras & Chris Rea & is a supreme accordion champion of Great Britain; Chris Garrick is one of Europe’s most celebrated jazz violinists & has performed with Dane Cleo Laine & Sir John Dankworth, Wynton Marsalis, Nigel Kennedy & Duffy. The band boasts one of Russia’s most valuable exports in the shape of Adrian Zolotuhin, a master of strummed strings & buff recording engineer besides. Veteran bass-man Kelly Cantlon has been in the business of laying down low-notes for many many moons. He is an original founding band member of BCO & remains its back bone & grounding force.

Full regular menu. £8 music cover charge.

You probably know George from the platinum selling band Groove Armada, they’ve headlined the world’s largest festivals & were one of the world’s biggest selling bands over the last few years.

Even my dad likes Groove Armada – Renault used George’s music “I See You Baby (Shakin’ That Ass)” for their Megane TV campaign. Marks & Sparks used Groove Armada’s “At the River” for their TV ads.

Cutting loose having made his name as guitarist for the likes of Groove Armada, John Squire (the Stone Roses), KT Tunstall & Nick Cave, George steps up front with a beguiling mix of his own lush melody strewn songs & a few of his all time favourite covers.

Expect a night of luminous folk-psych, “Bowie-esque” blues & sky swimming guitar mantras.

Full regular menu. £10 music cover charge.

Megan Henwood & Her Band

Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Megan’s debut album “Making Waves” is enjoying enormous acclaim. Her powerful, poignant & witty lyrics are woven around wonderful timeless pop melodies &demonstrate a depth of maturity far beyond her young years. Radio presenter & folk legend Mike Harding is a huge enthusiast & supporter of Megan. Megan grew up in Henley-on-Thames, exposed to music at an early age, watching her mother sing at the famous Nettlebed folk club (the venue Megan celebrated her BBC award at with a magical gig). As one would appreciate, Megan’s profile has exploded since winning her award with appearances at Warwick Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Festival, The Cambridge Folk Festival, Cropredy & The Crooked Billet.

At the Billet, Megan is accompanied by brother Joe on sax & her excellent band – her music isn’t finger in the ear, drab, moaning folk. Megan’s music is vibrant, melodic, fresh, energetic & bloody good. Don’t miss this one.

Full regular menu. £15 music cover charge.

Jump Jive Swing Band.

The ultimate party band, swing, jive, rock ‘n’ roll. Always receive a standing ovation whenever they perform at the pub. These guys are absolutely amazing. The Ding Dong Daddios bring you the most toe-tapping tunes from the heydays of the 40’s & 50’s. Get ready to take a choochoo ch’boogie runaway train with Five Guys Named Mo all the way to Mac the Knife, passing through Istanbut (not Constantinople) on the way.

Their rendition of ‘Top Cat’ is legendary. This jumpin’ & jivin’ 5-piece swing band jive suitable suited & booted 1940’s style. Double bass, guitar, percussion & trombone. Up-tempo & highly entertaining. I cannot recommend the evening enough, they always go down a storm wherever they play.

Full regular menu. £9 music cover charge.

(covers) return of the human jukebox!

Delighted to welcome Mr Lincoln back to the Crooked Billet (since Pete joined seventies glam rockers Sweet, he’s been very busy). One of Britain’s finest ‘recording session’ musicians and in-demand live performers – currently touring with Sweet, Pete also tours with Sailor and Cliff Richard. Pete will play anything you request, he’ll take you on a trip through modern popular music – Beatles, Kinks, Stones, Oasis, Simon & Garfunkel. His Steely Dan cover ‘Reelin in the Years’ is legendary, his ‘Hey Jude’ an absolute belter, his version of ELO’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’ has you in stitches. A fabulous feel-good evening.

Stunning contemporary blues & soul vocalist

We have enjoyed two superb previous Mollie Marriott shows, with her old band “Union Chain.” On 16th November, Mollie returns on solo lead vocal with exquisite singers & musicians.

Daughter of Steve Marriott, Mollie followed on in the family tradition by going on stage early. Her first record deal was as a member of girl band D2M at the age of 12.

Proving she can rock like her father, Mollie at the tender age of 15 recorded vocals with Oasis on their album Heathen Chemistry. She has also recorded & toured with Paul Weller, Ronnie Wood, Joe Brown, Mark Knopfler & Beyonce.

Mollie Marriott has a voice that gives you goosebumps – a simply world class performer, rock ‘n roll royalty in her DNA, as intoxicating as a vintage dessert wine. Expect R&B, soul, some exceptional self-penned numbers & a little rock ‘n roll.

Full regular menu. £10 music cover charge.

Robin Nolan, while being considered one of the worlds leading gypsy jazz guitarists in the tradition of Django Reinhardt, has also set himself apart by creating his own unique style.

From his base in Amsterdam, he has circled the globe with performances at the Lincoln Centre, the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Toronto Jazz Festival, Django Fest and numerous others.

A friend of George Harrison's he has played Friar Park many times, having been one of George's favorite guitarists.

Rod Clements is the North-East's master of slide guitar and a consummate solo singer-songwriter whose illustrious credentials read like a Who's Who of the folk-roots world.

The Lindisfarne founder-member and writer of  "Meet Me On The Corner" is one of the most widely respected figures on the British music scene both as an artist in his own right and through his associations with such seminal figures as Bert Jansch, Thea Gilmore, Ralph McTell and Pentangle, to name but a few.

Rod's show is a mixture of material from his acclaimed solo albums, songs from the folk/blues canon which originally inspired him and a sprinkling of Lindisfarne classics - all performed with wit, panache, heartfelt vocals and his trademark spine-tingling dobro guitar playing.

Rod is a tremendous performer who plays with real power and passion and has the songs and the voice to go with them. A master of his trade at the peak of his powers, he will draw you in with his compelling songs, his accomplished musicianship and some entertaining tales from all stages of his memorable career.

"Iconic folk genius."  R2

"A non-stop feast of unforgettable songs and instrumental wizardry."  BBC RADIO SCOTLAND

"A cult artist in the making." SIMON JONES, FROOTS

http://www.rodclements.com

Full regular menu. £12 music cover charge.