The Black Feathers, Friday 13th November at 7.30pm
Americana to some, folk to others, The Black Feathers have those qualities in expansive quantity. Sian Chandler’s soaring, dramatic, melodious but powerful voice is a perfect counterpoint to Ray Hughes’ piquant vocals and his sparkling and occasionally spicy guitar motifs. This is a duo who love what they play and play what they love with panache, humour, delight and rather a lot of commentary on the downside of being a human.
Seeing and hearing them will leave you with a smile on your face and a glowing heart of delight. You might not think that is possible when you’ve just spent some time hearing the themes of the songs they lay before an audience but it is testament to their sunny dispositions, infectious laughter and amused self-deprecation that you can only come away from a gig feeling a whole heap better about yourself and life.
“…stunning harmonies that were so good it reminded me of seeing Gillian Welch and David Rawlings” – No Depression
“It is so rare an opening act rival the main performance but that is exactly what the seamless harmony singing Black Feathers achieved” – Jumpin’ Hot Club
“The pure emotion and subtle timing of their song delivery is as evident as the enjoyment radiating from their onstage chemistry” – 3 Chords and the Truth
Diary of Past Events:
John Coletta and his Kaleidoscope of Acoustic Electronica – Saturday 24th October 2026
Having toured the world singing his songs in various line ups, John now performs in tandem with his own video art and electronica. He plays mandolin, harmonica and resonator slide to a mesmeric blend of kaleidoscopic art and song. He has his own albums on sale, with albums he produced for other artists. Sharing tales from life on the road and the friends who inspired him.
Big Sofa Sessions, – Friday 7th August
Big Sofa Sessions is a guitar and harmony duo formed by Meghan McAvoy and Ian Simpson, two songwriters from East Stirlingshire. They performed a great mix of classic covers and original songs, each alternating between rhythm and lead guitar. A really entertaining evening!
Open Session, Wednesday 8th July
Another fabulous night playing music,reading poems and telling stories. We also had an unexpected visit from a Transylvanian alien chap in Cuban heels and are still not sure if Willie has recovered from the shock of this.
Rain of Animals, Friday 26th June
We were so lucky to have the incredible Rain of Animals come and play for us. Comments included:
“an awesome virtuoso performance. No notes, perfect atmosphere.”
“Beautiful musicians, lovely friendly evening. Great venue for meeting other locals”
Open Sessions, Friday 10th April and Friday 5th June 2026
Our open sessions have been a great success, with everything from songs to poetry, to traditional tunes and spoken word being enjoyed.
Scott Ashworth – Friday 20th March 2026
Scott Ashworth may hail from Denny, but actually he’s a master storyteller in the finest traditions of the American South. A former Royal Air Force musician, playing his saxophone in high profile ceremonial and concert venues, these days Scott much prefers the intimacy of a guitar and a microphone. Inspired by legendary songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Scott writes from the heart as he wrings the hurt and sadness from everyday life. Scott has had several #1 singles in both the iTunes Blues and Country charts, and his debut album ‘Ghosts and Broken Men’, released in 2024, received very positive reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.
