Scarborough Area Forum are planning a BIG free concert on August 1st ( Yorkshire Day) when they will bring together 14 choirs from a variety of genres including rap, punk, classical and shanty for a two hour concert at Scarborough Spa.

Each choir will perform from its own repertoire but will combine for the performance of Scarborough Fair, Ilkey Moor and the Richard Grainger song 'Scarborough Fishermen'. 

Among the choirs performing that day will be The Filey Fishermens Choir and The Endeavour Shantymen.

More on this to follow.........

PRESS RELEASE: DATE: 7th December 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

13th DECEMBER: A MEMORIAL CONCERT FOR BRIAN

Folk Singers from near and far are coming together this Sunday in Robin Hood's Bay for a Memorial Concert for local singer and songwriter Brian Krengel, who passed away in tragic circumstances in October.

Performers include; Richard Grainger, Henwen, Andy Caven, Duncan McFarlane, Roger Sutcliffe, The Hall Brothers, John Wilson, Gary Burnett and Monkey's Fist.

The Concert - all proceeds are going to Alzheimer's Charities - takes place in Swell (The Old Chapel) on Chapel Street in the old village of Robin Hood's Bay, and starts at 3.30 pm.on Sunday 13th December.

Tickets are £5 in advance from local shops in Bay, from The Port Hole in Skinner Street, Whitby, or from Jim on 01947 880660 - or £6 on the door, and everyone is welcome.

Brian Krengel was well known and respected for both his singing (he had an incredible repertoire of songs) and his songwriting. A founder member of Robin Hood's Bay Folk Club in the 1970's, he had twice beaten off cancer, and was a regular attender at the Club up to early autumn this year, when the Alzheimers that he had been suffering from for several years seemed to worsen.

A major search and rescue operation involving police, dogs, Coastguards and an RAF Sea King helicopter was carried out in Robin Hood's Bay on Wednesday 28th October after Brian was reported missing. After an extensive search a body was found at the base of the cliff. It was winched up by the helicopter and later identified as being that of Brian. He was 79.

Brian will be remembered with affection by all the Bay Folk Club regulars and many of the visitors. They will be thinking of him when the Christmas Season comes around, and they “sip a little nectar from the black thorn tree.”

Back in the last Century, Brian recorded a tape of his songs and settings, entitled "Sloe Gin". Ken Hall, the M.C. for Sunday's Concert, has remastered the tape into a CD, which will be on sale on Sunday with a free bonus recording of Brian.

For further information please contact: Robin Hood's Bay Folk Club: Jim Foster on 01947 880660

'Willy Went to Westerdale'  on new 'RYEDALE LIVE' CD

Richard Grainger, Anna Shannon, Anna Ledra Chapman and Canadian Artist Brooks Williams are among those featured on a new compilation CD  released in time for Christmas. All the artists featured on the album have appeared at 'Ryedale Live' - the monthly 'Up Beat & Laid Back Acoustic Music Shows ' held around the Ryedale area in North Yorkshire.

'RYEDALE LIVE' say that all proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to 'Ryedale Special Families' and at a cost of £7.99 the 35 track double album is a great start to your Christmas album collection.

Richard's 'Willy Went to Westerdale' is a version of the traditional song originally included in 'On Heather & Clarty Moor' the 2004 album of songs of the North York Moors on the Klondike label.

More info at http://www.ryedalelive.co.uk  or contact us here at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Richard Grainger is set to play on the opening night of the city of Vancouver 'Sustinence Festival' on Oct 3rd. Among the songs he'll be performing is the recently composed 'Good Earth' written for Middlesbroughs Environment City Project.

His home town of Middlesbrough, England celebrate with a Town Meal on September 26th and the song is a celebration of this. A limited edition single has been produced and will be available in Vancouver at the Sustinence Opening Night on Oct 3rd. Richard will be on stage at 8 pm.

See Tour Dates for linking website information.

Middlesbrough's Environment City - have commisssioned Richard Grainger to produce a new song to celebrate the Town Meal in September.

The song will be performed on Sept 26th before an audience of 3000 people who will sit together to eat the Town Meal in Middlesbrough Centre Square. The food will all be locally grown and produced in a local kitchen before being served to the 3000 invited guests. As Richard will be on tour in British Columbia, Canada at that time steps are being taken to have the song transmitted by him from Canada to the Big Screen in Centre Square, during the celebration. A similar project in Vancouver will feature Richard Grainger at their own City Farm festival on Oct 4th.

More details will follow....

RICHARD GRAINGER song 'One People' has been chosen by Middlesbrough Council and the Platform Tees Valley Project as the 'local song' to be performed at the town's 'Olympic Handover' celebrations on August 24th in Centre Square , MIDDLESBROUGH.

Richard will perform the song LIVE on BBC TV with local choirs , singers and members of the public at around 2 pm that day. Singers and audience can also enjoy an afternoon of Olympic demonstrations by local schools and sports personailites as this northern industrial town limbers up for the forthcoming Olympic Games in 2012.

Richard, born and bred in Middlesbrough, will attend a workshop in the town on August 22nd to rehearse the song with anyone who may wish to attend. Details of venues and times as they become known to us should be made available on www.myspace.com/richardgrainger.

Richard teams up with Yorkshires renowned piper Becky Taylor ( www.beckytaylor.info) for a short tour in March 2006. They will play two dates in Sicily . The Cripta of the Medieval Convent del Carmine in Scicli will be one of the great settings for one of their concerts on March 12th. Check out this link. www.theentertainer.it

Richard and Becky have blended trad & original songs and a unique guitar style with the evocative sound of the Irish and Northumbrian Pipes, Whistle and fiddle.

Limited dates may be available for festivals and clubs in the UK later in the year.

They first worked together in the foundation of Richards electric band which made its debut at last years Festival on the Moor in North Yorkshire, England.

Press & Booking Enquiries to richard.grainger@onyxnet July 2005

Richard appears on a new double CD by TV historian John Grundy. Entitled 'Middlesbrough - a most unusual town' ( Beautiful North Productions), it contains the following of Richards songs: 'Middlesbrough - The Klondike Song', 'Blakes Endeavour', 'Teesside & Yorkshire' and 'One People'. There is also an interview with Richard and one song each from Vin Garbutt and The Fettlers.

US West Coast Musicians 'Peter Kasin and Richard Adrianowicz have released a new CD 'Boldly from the Westward' which includes Richards Song 'Scarborough Fishermen ' Peter Kasin has quoted 'It is one of my all time favouite songs'. You can get more information on the CD from www.handspikes.com.

Richard will play a concert at the famous Hyde Street Pier Maritime Museum Concert Series in San Francisco on October 15th 2005.

Richard will feature in YTV/TTT/ITV 'Dales Diary' on July 14th at 7.30 pm and will be seen singning one of the songs from his latest album 'On Heather and Clarty Moor'. The song 'Mary of the Dale' was recorded 'live' in his own front room!

Following the Christmas Holiday and in the wake of the well received performance of ‘Lastingham Wassail', Richard returns to the road in 2005 with dates in Sicily and Ireland in January.

The first half of this year will see the long awaited publication of Richards Songbook.

There are plans for recording a new solo CD with a return to the tradition, and a sea song album featuring ‘The Endeavour Shantymen' as part of the Sea Britain 2005 celebrations.

Happy New Year!!

'Eye of the Wind'(KCD002) now available from The National Maritime Museum, London.

Klondike Records have received their first order from The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. Visitors to the Museum will now be able to purchase a copy of the CD 'Eye of the Wind' from the Museum Shop. It can also be purchased 'on line'.

The CD was released early in 2004. The 'Eye of the Wind' Folk Opera telling the tale of James Cook and his first fantastic voyage on board 'Endeavour', specially re-written for Radio and Audio Production in 2003 uses original songs and poems and tunes by Richard Grainger and extensive traditional material, sea shanties and songs with a narrative expertly delivered by Sir David Attenborough. It is beautifully packaged with a 24 page booklet containing all the song lyrics, the script and fine illustrations. The sleeve was designed by recent Award Winners, Bombshell of MIddlesbrough.

'On Heather and Clarty Moor' KCD 003 Launched

The New CD of songs and tunes 'from the heart of the North York Moors' was appropriately launched at a concert in Commondale Village Hall. On Stage with Richard Grainger were singers Flossie Malavialle , Steve Dawes , Helen Pitt, John and Joy Rennie and musician Moira Clarke. Concert Guests included Mike Pratt, Head of Information from the North York Moors National Park who introduced the CD and how it came to be sponsored by The NYMNP. Pete and Karen Bell of the Cultural Foundation and a surprise guest - Lord Gisborough were among the audience. A great mixture of folk from home and away made a great start for the CD's career.

Richard Grainger appears on 'Seafest' Video/DVD

The song 'Scarborough Fishermen',one of Richard Graingers best known songs is used in the opening sequence of a new film produced by Geoff Jefferson of Scarborough. The film focuses on the Seafest which is held each July in Scarborough with a host of folk, maritime and music from many other genres.

He is also filmed singing a couple of Shanties with The Endeavour Shantymen. On the same film are a host of artistes appearing at the 2003 and 2004 events including Nicky Mitchell, Ian McNicol, Stormalong John, Tom & Barbara Brown and Rachel and Becky Unthank. There is also a short extract from a performance by Waterson Carthy.

The film made for festival goers and sponsors alike may, it is hoped, be available shortly by Mail Order from Klondike Records.

Plans are in hand to produce a new film drawing extensively from Richard Graingers repertoire and focusing on the region of North East England of which he has written so much in the last 20 years.

National Parks' Week 1-9th July 2004

A CD commissioned by The National Park Authority, will be released in National Parks Week. The album, titled 'On Heather and Clarty Moor' by folk singer Richard Grainger, will celebrate the unique culture and environment of the North York Moors through Richards original songs and authentic moorland traditional material.

Richard will appear on July 3rd from 6 pm accompanied by some of the musicians from the new album, at its launch during the 'Beacon on the Bank' celebration at Sutton Bank near Thirsk, North Yorks.

Richard is backed up by an array of fine artistes including Flossie (vocal), Ron Angel (vocal/whistle), Steve Dawes ( mandolin /accordeon and vocal) and Helen Pitt (vocal, John and Joy Rennie( vocal and keyboard), Tricia Lucas (fiddle) and Moira Clark(melodeon), Andy Monaghan(vocal) and a newcomer, 16 yr old Rachael Thompson from Commondale. Songs include Willy went to Westerdale, Darklands, Ghost of Old Solem, The Cleveland Lyke Wake Dirge, Mary of the Dale. Final details will be released in two weeks time.

Sir David Attenborough and Folk Singer Richard Grainger pay tribute to Yorkshire's famous son.

English folk singer and songwriter , Richard Grainger is to publish his own tribute to James Cook later this month.

His new CD- the Folk Opera ‘Eye of the Wind’ ( KCD002) tells the tale of Cook’s first voyage of discovery on board ‘Endeavour’ with all the drama, sounds of the sea, songs, shanties , extracts from Cooks Logs, Poetry and a narrative spoken by non other than Sir David Attenborough.

‘We were fortunate to attract Sir David. Obviously he is a major figure and somebody of considerable popularity and professionalism’. RG

The new CD features, not only Richard Grainger in fine form leading the music, but an array of folk talent including former Teesside Fettler Ron Angel and the versatile duo, John and Joy Rennie. Also featured are the ‘Endeavour Shantymen’ ( founded by Grainger in 1997) and Olivia Rennie, who is a particularly fine didgeridoo player. Cris Yelland (Lecturer in English at the University of Teesside) is a powerful interpreter of Graingers poetical works.

The CD was produced by Richard Grainger and Ken Snowdon at BBC Radio Cleveland studios during October of 2003. It is accompanied by a 16 page full colour booklet with song lyrics and the entire narrative. Cook expert Doug Worton supplied much of the original authoritative text.

Middlesbrough based graphic designers ‘Bombshell’ have done a great job in layout and design while some finishing touches were made to the CD by Lorne Street Studio.'I am delighted that we have been able to display such an array of talent from Teesside- proving that we are on the cutting edge of this business – a few years ago we would have had an album like this produced in London’ RG

Klondike Records has generously agreed to donate £1 to The Captain Cook Trust from the proceeds of each album sold.

A must not only for folk fans but anyone interested in James Cook or simply a good tale, well told….

David Attenbourgh Narrates Richard’s ‘Eye of the Wind’

The folk opera written back in 1997 by Richard Grainger has been receiving some acclaim lately. Adapted for radio by BBC Radio Cleveland a 55 min version has been broadcast utilizing the magnificent narration of David Attenbourgh. This was to celebrate the 275th birthday of the famous navigator and scientist plus the visit of ‘Endeavour’ made to Middlesbrough in October/November.

A Stage version was performed at Middlesbrough Theatre on October 21st and was received very well by the audience.

Now Sir David has agreed to have his recorded narrative used in the CD release. The CD release date is Feb 14 2004.

The work also utilizes the voices of Ron Angel, Richard Grainger, The Endeavour Shantymen,Cris Yelland, Liv Rennie and more.

Two more theatre performances are being planned for next year to coincide with ‘HM Bark Endeavour’ visit to Whitby.