Five unmissable gigs at The London Roots Festival

London Roots Festival is becoming a staple landmark of the capital's gig calendar, bringing us the best in folk, roots and world music from all over the globe to a variety of London's coolest venues.

This year's line up, as ever, features everything from household names to cutting edge contenders.  We've included a full list of forthcoming LRF gigs at the bottom, of this article, but here are the five shows that Extricate is particularly looking forward to.  See you down the front!

Sam Kelly + The Lost Boys

Bristol-based Sam Kelly and his band The Lost Boys delivers a gloriously raucous combination of traditional folk sounds and more than a hint of maniacal punk rock energy,  First making their mark with their debut EP 'Your Way Home' some five years back, they've been touring hard and recruiting fans across the country, cementing their success with their widely acclaimed 'Pretty Peggy' album last year.

Sun Nov 11 –  Bush Hall

Watch 'Chasing Shadows' here

Sound of the Sirens

Another act hailing from the West Country's  fertile roots scene, Exeter-based duo Sound of the Sirens break almost every rule in the folk handbook by being young and female and making music that is not only authentic but also accessible and boasting an enviably sharp edge.  Chris Evans was so impressed, he stuck them on his 'TFI Friday' show immediately after seeing them - but don't let that put you off, even he can be right every now and then!

Thu Nov 15 – The Slaughtered Lamb

Watch 'Smokescreen' here

John Smith

Smith is probably the most traditional prospect in our list of tips, not just because his raw, stripped back sound is based purely around guitar and vocals, but also because he's thrown himself into the musical archeology of folk culture, unearthing and reinventing songs from both sides of the Atlantic, sometime hundreds of years old.  That's one reason to like the Liverpudlian, although even more  important is the quietb storm of his music and a voice that you can't help but be emotionally engaged with.

Thu Nov 15 – St Pancras Church

Watch 'the story of Hummingbird' here

Trampled By Turtles

If you think you know bluegrass, think again.  Trampled By Turtles take the genre by the scruff of the neck and give it a good shake up, sending a surging energy through the well worn template of banjo twang and dueling fiddles.  They're massive in their native US, but as being booked into the size-able Camden venue the Electric Ballroom proves, this rare showing in good old Blighty is feverishly anticipated too.

Fri Nov 16 –, Electric Ballroom

Watch 'So Long' here

Joshua Burnside

Northern Ireland's Joshua Burnside is one of a new generation of artist using new technology to reinvigorate their offering of traditional sounds.  Burnside is a multi-instrumentalist, with accordion and banjo very much at the fore of his sound, but after travelling the world in support if his award winning debut album 'Ephrata' he's been letting all sorts of influences and collaborators in to keep things fresh,

Thu Nov 22 – The Waiting Room

Watch 'A Man of High Renown' here

www.londonrootsfestival.com

Full listings:

                                Sat Nov 10 – Bruce Cockburn, St Pancras Church

Sun Nov 11 – Sam Kelly + The Lost Boys, Bush Hall

Mon Nov 12 – Vagabond Voices (Dean Owens & Yvonne Lyon), The Green Note, Camden

Tues Nov 13 – Over The Rhine, Union Chapel

Wed Nov 14 – Jake Morrell, The Slaughtered Lamb

Thu Nov 15 – Finbar Furey, Union Chapel

Thu Nov 15 – Sound of Sirens, The Slaughtered Lamb

Thu Nov 15 – John Smith, St Pancras Church

Fri Nov 16 – Trampled by Turtles, Electric Ballroom

Thu Nov 22 – Joshua Burnside, The Waiting Room

Photo of Sound of the Sirens by Matt Austin

Text by John Robbins

2018