It’s raining in Downend tonight. But it’s the sort of rain that you get after a really hot day. It brings with it that smell of grass that we all know but no-one can really describe. It makes the pathways through Christ Church Downend’s graveyard sparkle with a bit of reflected light. It makes everything feel a bit fresher.
This is the first concert back after Downend Folk & Roots’ annual August break, and this, too, feels fresh. That’s mostly down to the four-piece on stage, who’s take on folk music definitely sits in the ‘fresh’ category.
RANAGRI, named after lead-singer Dónal Rogers’ family farm in County Carlow in Ireland, describe themselves as indie-folk, but there are flecks of so much more. The lineup is ‘trad-plus’ too… alongside Rogers on his acoustic guitar, there is Eleanor Dunsdon on harp and Jordan Murray on a myriad of percussion instruments. Then there’s Eliza Marshall, playing a variety of flutes and whistles, and it is she that takes this band of super-talented musicians to a new level; she that transforms these pieces into gold-dust.
The band are touring a soon-to-be-released new album, Say Hello, which follows the people who left Ireland in search of a new life: the hopes they carried across the oceans, the hardships they faced and the ties they kept with home. Drawing on family letters and on the memories of Dónal's mother Lena, who still lives at Ranagri, the songs explore the excitement of leaving, the pain of separation and the wish to stay close to the place that shaped you. It is one family's story, but it speaks to everyone.
The opening number, An Derreen, really sets the scene. Almost seven minutes of sweeping soundscape, Dunsdon’s harp and Marshall’s flute skipping around one another, while Rogers’ guitar and Murray’s bodhrán driving the music along. It’s music to lose yourself in.
The theme of the evening is perhaps best summed up on Bound for New York City, which tells the story of a group who boarded the SS Cedric in 1904, headed, via Ellis Island, to a new life in the Big Apple. It’s recently been played on BBC Radio 2 and you can see why; it’s a proper ear worm.
Rogers tells us that when his mother was a child, visitors often came in the middle of the night, wandering around farm lands, and often they would sing you a song in exchange for something to eat. They’d then be allowed to sleep in the barn with the cattle. The resulting song, Knight of the Road, puts Rogers vocals front and centre, and deservedly so.
By the time Ranagri finish their set, with the ethereal Strange World (featuring Murray on a hammered dulcimer), they’ve had the almost sold out audience in this church dancing and clapping, and, after a well-deserved standing ovation, they return for “just one more”, to delighted whooping and hollering. It’s a reaction rarely seen for a band in this corner of South Gloucestershire, but it’s entirely merited.
Opening the evening were a Bristol/Devon duo, NIC JANAWAY & SARAH OWEN. They’ve played on this stage before, in their electro-folk guise of Solarference, but their new album, till all these things are done, sees them exploring stripped-back, acoustic versions of songs they’ve loved performing live over the years, and their 25 minute set is a thing of true beauty. Spiderweb shirt and prickle holly bush stand-out, but they save the best for last. Pretty saro sees their voices weaving around each other in melody and counter-melody, and it’s met with the now famous “audible sigh” that this audience reserves for those special, spine-tingling moments.
So the heatwaves of the Summer may be behind us, for now, as we enjoy the freshness that some welcome rain brings… but September also ushered in some wonderfully fresh music at Downend Folk & Roots, as it so often does.
Words: Bea Furlong
Photos: Barry Savell
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We resume our monthly concerts in September as we welcome a band who have been on our wish-list for some time for a concert that is likely to sell quickly, as our audience have also frequently requested that we book them!
With five studio albums under their belt, a wealth of international touring experience, and standout appearances at major festivals, Ranagri have built a formidable reputation on the global stage, captivating audiences from across Europe to Australia, Montreal and New Orleans. Now, they turn inward, reconnecting with their roots for what promises to be their most evocative and personal tour to date.
Steeped in stories of Ranagri - the farmland in rural Ireland from which the band takes its name - their new album explores themes of migration, identity, and the enduring search for the meaning of home. It is a work of depth and resonance, shaped by lived experiences and a profound sense of place.
Renowned for their commanding live performances, the band delivers a sound that is both intricate and expansive. Soaring vocals, rich harmonies, and driving rhythmic energy intertwine with masterful instrumentation - flutes, whistles, harp, bodhrán, hammered dulcimer, percussion and guitars - forming a virtuosic and immersive soundscape around lead singer Dónal Rogers. The result is a musical experience that feels at once intimate, powerful, and unmistakably anthemic.
For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BLUESKY, YOUTUBE or TIKTOK.
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We are thrilled to reveal our programme for Autumn/Winter 2026. We’ve managed to bring a couple of long-term targets to South Gloucestershire, as well as rounding off the season with our now-famous festive concert.
The season kicks off on Friday 18 September with a visit from RANAGRI, who we’ve wanted to book for a long time. Renowned for their commanding live performances, Ranagri deliver a sound that is both intricate and expansive. Soaring vocals, rich harmonies, and driving rhythmic energy intertwine with masterful instrumentation - flutes, whistles, harp, bodhrán, hammered dulcimer, percussion and guitars - forming a virtuosic and immersive soundscape around lead singer Dónal Rogers. The result is a musical experience that feels at once intimate, powerful, and unmistakably anthemic. Opening the evening will be award-winning alternative folk vocal duo NIC JANAWAY & SARAH OWEN, who perform with a powerful, resonant live energy, coaxing listeners deeply into the hearts of traditionally-rooted songs, through daring and wayward recompositions, space-filling vocal harmonies and minimalism-inspired interlocking instrumental work.
October’s concert will see TARREN in the headline slot, on Friday 16 October. Formed in 2021, this trio is creating New-Folk music, inspired by the English tradition while incorporating modern influences and their trademark modular hooks and riffs. They released their debut album Revel in 2022 to high critical acclaim with the album being likened to Faustus and Lau’s iconic debut Lightweights and Gentlemen. This success was built on in 2024 with the release of their second studio album Outside Time. Tarren is fast becoming known for intricate and dynamic arrangements of traditional and original material, tight musicianship, a forward-thinking outlook, and an inclusive and engaging on-stage presence. Supporting the trio will be RHONA MACFARLANE, a rising Scottish singer-songwriter whose emotive voice and evocative storytelling have been described as ‘casting a gentle spell over her audience’.
TOBY SHAER, ARCHIE MOSS & JACK WARNOCK will be our headline guests, on Friday 20 November. A brand-new trio formed by three seasoned session musicians, this collaboration between Archie Moss, Toby Shaer, and Jack Warnock was born out of a shared love for traditional music from the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. Since meeting in 2019, the trio have established themselves not only as dynamic performers but also as sensitive re- interpreters of the tradition. This trio approach their craft and arrangements with delicacy and thought, drawing influence from a plethora of traditions. A collaboration of three like-minded musicians presenting folk music through a contemporary lens. Opening the evening will be ERIN MANSFIELD. Known for authentic, bold interpretations of traditional music, they’ve developed a distinctive sound, delivering songs with a powerful three-octave voice, addressing social issues.
We’ll round off the season on Friday 18 December with our festive concert, which has become a highlight in the diaries of local music-lovers. We’re thrilled to welcome back THE WILDERNESS YET to headline the show. This new trio combines the acclaimed talents of folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes. Independently, they have earned audiences’ esteem as consummate musicians; together, they weave an eclectic tapestry of traditional and original songs and tunes; from a cappella three-part harmonies to luscious instrumental arrangements. As is now traditional, the evening will begin with a set from HEARTWOOD CHORUS, a Bristol-based folk choir who sing original arrangements of songs whose murky origins stretch back centuries and centuries, songs our grannies taught us and future classics from the thriving contemporary folk scene.
All four concerts will take place at CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND as usual, and seating is unreserved. Tickets are £15 in advance (£17 on the door) and are available online HERE, and from Downend Cards & Gifts (correct cash only). There is also the option to buy a season ticket for all four concerts for £50, which saves a few pounds as well as booking fees. All tickets are non-refundable. There will be a full bar at all concerts, as well as a prize draw, all proceeds of which go towards booking our support artists. Doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.45pm start.
We're really excited about this season, and we hope you will be too. Keep supporting live music, it’s becoming more and more important with every passing month! For further information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BLUESKY, YOUTUBE or TIKTOK.
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