Current Projects
Elliotts:
Writing a book on this north east mining family, their roots in the pit community of Birtley between the Wars, their importance to the folklorists and the folk revival, their politics, their character as exemplars for the modern world, and their songs, from nursery rhymes to the Child Ballads.
The Selkie:
The Keelers are involved in a stage production in the new year, a play by Valerie Laws directed by Neil Armstrong, and also featuring singer Katie Doherty. Set in a modern Tyneside housing estate, it is a re-working of the legend of the "Selkie", a creature which alternates between seal and human form. It opens at the Sage with a four-day run in early February 2008, followed by a tour of major theatres throughout the north east and Cumbria. The Keelers have put tunes to poems written by the playwright, arranged the music, and will sing the songs along with Katie.
| Gigs in 2008 | |
| Sunday January 10th |
Grimsby Folk Club |
| February 6th - 23rd | Selkie tour with the Keelers (Details) |
| Monday, March 10th | Stockton Folk Club, Sun Inn |
| Monday, May 19th | Herga Folk Club |
| Saturday June 7th | Swaledale Folk Club,Richmond |
| Thursday June 26th | Tynefolk, Black Bull Blaydon |
| August 1st -8th | Sidmouth Festival |
| August 9th - 14th | Broadstairs Festival |
| August 16th-22nd | Whitby Folk Week |
| Sunday October 5th | South Shields Folk Club with the Keelers |
| WednesdayOctober 10th | Birtley Folk Club |
| Monday October 20th | Grand Union Folk Club, Loughborough |
| Gigs in 2009 | |
| Sunday April 5th |
Bothy Club, Southport |