Saturday 27th APRIL 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 4th May 2024

WATH FESTIVAL CONCERT with TOEIN IN THE DARK and HARP & A MONKEY

Admission: £10.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Wath Festival 2024 promises to be a cracker and Raising the Rafters is proud to present the Saturday Night Concert with our old friends TOEIN IN THE DARK and HARP & A MONKEY.
Toein in the Dark have done sensational nights for us at Rafters in the past with their eclectic mix of folk, blues, traditional, contemporary even classical pieces ….. if they like it, they’ll play it!
New to Rafters are the highly acclaimed award winning band Harp and a Monkey, specialising in poignant, uplifting and melodic short stories and songs about everyday northern life. The Lancashire outfit’s work has been described as “bold and brilliant” by The Observer, “Fascinating” by Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe and “Unique” by folk legend Mike Harding. All this for just £10! Online tickets available NOW at www.wegottickets.com ….. or pay on the door.

Saturday 11th MAY 2024

COMMON GROUND

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

They’re back!
. The four piece band COMMON GROUND did a fantastic gig in July 2023 and by popular demand involving threats of physical violence to the club organisers if they didn’t get a repeat booking (mostly from the band members themselves), here they are again.
. Common Ground are DAVE DUKE, ANDREW CROTHERS, ANDREW FAWCETT and DAVID GALLAGHER and they perform an eclectic mix of music from …. well, just about everywhere, old and new. Apart from Tierra Del Fuego, they don’t do any music from there. Bit of an omission actually …

Saturday 25th MAY 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 8th June 2024

JAMES HAIGH

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Anyone who has seen or heard James Haigh play the guitar will never forget the experience! He is a Guitar Hero in the making!
A member of the E.f.d.s.s. Young Persons Folk Ensemble, James has played solo and also with the highly acclaimed band “Don’t Feed the Peacocks” and The James Haigh Trio alongside Benammi Swift and Owen Spafford.
At James’ request, this club will be raising money for WATER AID

Saturday 22nd JUNE 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 13th JULY 2024

POKE o’ SWEDGERS

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00.p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Poke o’Swedgers are a two piece - one guitar and two voices - from the Chesterfield area - They describe themselves as “Purveyors of Hand Crafted Sweet and Savoury Songs ….. which sums them up rather well!
kev McNally and Dave Banks perform songs of their own devising, upbeat and reflective with an added dose of humour. It’s their first time at Rafters and we can’t wait.

Saturday 27th JULY 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 10th AUGUST 2024

NICK DOW

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

(Rescheduled from September 2023)
At long last it’s the long awaited return of Folk Music legend NICK DOW who has spent his life collecting and performing folk songs with the emphasis on traditional music. Illness prevented him from coming in September 2023 but now he’s back …. And we can’t wait. At Nick’s request the club will be raising money for. CANCER RESEARCH U.K.
This is going to be a busy club so advance purchase of tickets is recommended from www.wegottickets.com

Saturday 24th AUGUST 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 14th September 2024

TONI BUNNELL

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Toni Bunnell is a singer songwriter who has played on the folk circuit in the UK and Germany for many years. She has recorded seven albums of her songs which she accompanies using the guitar, bouzouki, dulcimer, hurdy gurdy and harmonium; plus an album of hurdy gurdy tunes. She has recently produced a book of 100 of her songs, called Across the Years. Toni’s latest album, Tracking the Changes, has received a 4 star review in RNR music magazine: ’These are songs that respect ‘the spirit of people throughout the world’, songs that remind us to ‘move to the future but remember the past’. Tracking the Changes is a living heritage’. Andrew Darlington, RNR Nov/Dec 2023
At her request, the club will be raising funds for “Animals Asia” and Toni’s own charity, York Hedgehog Rescue.

Saturday 28th SEPTEMBER 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 12th OCTOBER 2024

DEN MILLER

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

The multi talented DEN MILLER dropped in us in July 2023 as a floor singer and only performed a couple of his own songs ….. but it was enough to trigger a deluge of emails and messages afterwards to the club organisers with a common theme - BOOK HIM!
Den is one of the wittiest and most talented parody singers around (although he’s good at the serious stuff as well!). He’s cutting a new album at the beginning of 2024 and then touring and is going to end his World Tour at Raising the Rafters! Believe me, it will be worth waiting for!
This is another club where advance booking is recommended through www.wegottickets.com which will save you a few Bob, guarantee you a seat and allow you to walk in the club like you own the place. Sorry, Den’s humour seems to be rubbing off on me!

Saturday 26th OCTOBER 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 9th NOVEMBER 2024

REG MEUROSS IN CONCERT

Admission: £10.00 / £12.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

The return to Raising the Rafters of the U.K.’s premier Singer/Songwriter, Reg Meuross.
Reg writes beautifully powerful songs, many of which have become folk music classics - My Name is London Town, England Green and England Grey, For Sophie (This Beautiful day) and Faraway People - to name but a handful of dozens of such songs.
. Woodie Guthrie said that “ …. The purpose of a folk singer is to Comfort the Disturbed and to Distirb the Comfortable….” Reg Meuross does that with consummate skill and beauty.
It’s going to be a busy night so advance booking recommended - tickets available from www.wegottickets.com on and from 1/1/2024 at £10.00 . Entry on the door £12.00

Saturday 23rd NOVEMBER 2024

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Another of our Rafters Xtra Singers Night clubs, dedicated to giving a platform to our hugely talented group of musicians, singers and poets ….. and it seems to be just as popular with people who want to just come along and listen and enjoy! All profits on the night donated to charity.

Saturday 14th DECEMBER 2024

THE APPLE SELLERS

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms (Next to Wath Hall)

Finishing 2024 in great style, Raising the Rafters are proud to present ….. THE APPLE SELLERS.
This Lancashire based Duo specialise in traditional folk and narrative songs in a contemporary way - with piano, double bass and two part harmonies. A great way to celebrate the Winter Solstice!
At their request, we will be raising money for the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

Saturday 11th JANUARY 2025

PEN & STU

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms (Next to Wath Hall)

We’re launching ourselves onto an unsuspecting 2025 in great style with PEN & STU - an Acoustic Duo from York.
They play original contemporary folk (mostly written by Pen) on BIG whistles and tenor guitar ! And they’re fantastic!
The songs relate stories about famous characters from history, folklore, villains and errr ….. pirate queens . Want to know what one of those is? Come along and find out!

Saturday 25th JANUARY 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms (Next to Wath Hall)

Another of our additional “Singers Nights” Rafters showcasing our amazing band of musicians, singers and poets. Come along and play or just come along and listen. ……. The choice is yours! And all for less than the price of a posh coffee!