Crookes Folk Club: Tina McKevitt and Matt Hegarty

Tina McKevitt and Matt Hegarty play Crookes Folk Club on Thursday 22 October, at The Princess Royal on Slinn Street. They've been performing together for more than twenty years, either as a duo or with Nick Sellwood as Bungalow Bliss, so they're a well-worn pairing. The set they'll bring to Crookes is a mix of Irish and English folk songs, some sung in the Irish language, alongside more contemporary material and their own compositions.

There's a bit of family history behind the sound. Tina grew up with a love of unaccompanied Irish-style singing handed down by her father and three of his brothers, while her mother's English family favoured music hall and popular songs. Matt is a multi-instrumentalist at home across a wide range of genres, and he's the one who sings some of the songs in Irish. That blend of traditions — the unaccompanied Irish singing and the English music hall influence — sits right at the heart of what they do.

It's a Crookes Folk Club night, which means the guest artist isn't the only thing on the bill. The evening opens with around 45 minutes of floor spots before the main act comes on in the first half, with singers signing up on the door to play. If you've got something you've been working on, you can put your name down and get a turn yourself.

Doors open at 8.15 and the music starts at 8.30. Entry is by donation, cash only.