• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

North East Connected

Hopping Across The North East From Hub To Hub

Powerhouse of traditional folk music to raise the roof in harmony! The Fire Station – The Wilson Family – supported by special guest Holly Clarke

The glorious, powerful, vocal harmony of The Wilson Family of Billingham, Teesside has rung out in folk clubs and festivals continuously for over 40 years.  On Friday 18 March, they will be singing old songs and new when they visit The Fire Station in Sunderland for one night only. Performing acapella in the state of the art new auditorium which has been designed for acoustic and amplified music, their voices will resonate throughout the new building!

The brothers are rooted in tradition, performing with deep understanding, joy and their famous infectious humour.

The group recently worked with the world-renowned recording artist Sting, but their roots actually took hold within the folk music scene of their native North East during the 1970’s.

They developed a close friendship with the highly respected folk performer and writer Peter Bellamy, and cite him as a major influence, along with traditional Sussex singing family group, The Copper Family, singing Shropshire farmhand Fred Jordan, The Young Tradition, The Watersons, Johnny Collins & Jim Mageean, amongst many others.

They are preparing to go back into the studio to work on a new album due out in 2022.

The Wilson Family will be supported by a wonderful rising star, Cumbrian singer-songwriter Holly Clarke who is steeped in the tradition of ballad singing.  Clarke is a singer who explores these old songs and finds new ways to perform their unique narratives. Storytelling is at the heart of what Holly does as an artist and this has been influenced by field recording singers like Nora Cleary and Sarah Anne O’Neill.

It is the grit and purity of these recordings that drives Holly to perform in the way that is true to both the ballad tradition and to herself. Her voice and style are in keeping with these traditions and the stories she tells, and the songs she sings resonate with people today.

Says Tamsin Austin, The Fire Station Director:

The power of the Wilson Family’s voices is renowned worldwide and is feels important to baptize a new auditorium like The Fire Station with close-harmony singing at its most powerful and resonant! Along with the pure, crystal clear vocals of Holly Clarke, opening the show, this promises to be a wonderful evening of song in Sunderland. We do hope you will join us!

This event is part of The Fire Station opening season – Firestarters. Firestarters is commissioned by Sunderland Music Arts and Culture Trust and supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Tickets The Wilson Family plus Holly Clarke are on sale now and priced from £11.00 subject to the normal booking fees. For more information and to buy tickets please visit:

https://sunderlandculture.org.uk/the-wilson-family