Smokin Roses presents: Folk in the Footlights

Event information

June's edition of Folk in the Footlights promises to be a brilliant night of Folk music.

Dan Wilde
We welcome back local folk legend Dan Wilde who played at our inaugural Folk in the Footlights in February 2024. Dan needs little introduction, his songs so well crafted you wonder how he is not a national superstar and we are very happy to hear him play live again.

It is his profound lyrics, melded with a unique melodic sensibility, which shows the writer maturing into a poetic commentator and keen observer of everyday life’s patterns and tapestries in his songs akin to Damien Rice and David Gray. Dan’s words have been described as “deeply personal and introspective but engrossing and charismatic” (Folkwords) and they reflect his peripatetic restlessness.



Originally from Blackpool, Dan now lives in Cambridge — but his wanderlust has taken him touring through the USA, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, the Czech Republic and Russia.



Dan has supported Rick Astley, Ethan Johns, Cara Dillon, Karine Polwart, Sam Carter, John Smith and Martin Taylor to name a few, and performed at some of the UK’s best-loved folk festivals — Cambridge Folk Festival, Kendal Calling, Beverley Festival and Galtres. Intimate and moving, Wilde’s work has a lyrical grace which is hard to match. Allow the song ‘Pieces’ to pin you to the wall and you won’t want to come back down.

https://www.danwilde.net/

Sean O'Hanrahan

Growing up in a musical family he was quickly drawn to the piano and started lessons at an early age. After being in bands at school, he began honing his craft on the Cambridge live gig circuit, accompanying other local musicians and lending his distinctive piano magic to artists such as EZIO and Max Bianco.
Sean’s diary entry style songs explore grief and heartache paired with intricate piano motifs.

https://www.seanohanrahan.co.uk/

Katie Nicholas


Katie Nicholas is an independent female producer, videographer and singer-songwriter from Liverpool with firm roots in country, folk and americana. With a loyal community that has steadily been building, performing sold out shows at various theatres, galleries, museums, including her first headline show at the Liverpool Philharmonic accompanied by strings, her work has been recognised by the likes of Whispering Bob Harris (featuring on his Nashville Showcase Stage at AmericanaFest 2018) as well as various BBC Radio sessions and airplay. “Powerful Vulnerability” - BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk Show.

In 2024 Katie embarked on her 50-song video series, the “Songwriter Diaries” where she explores 10+ years of unreleased material which never saw the light of day due to industry setbacks and personal circumstances. In an effort to “catch up” with where she left off, she shares stories and songs, broken into 7 distinct eras, revealing her prolific catalogue of music - all written between the ages of 15 and 25 (with the exception of her first song, shown here). See the Liverpool Echo interview “Singer told she’s got the looks but not the songs release 50”.

https://www.katienicholas.co.uk/

As every we will have a merch table for our acts and our vintage and vinyl store open! You can also find it online here: www.smokinroses.co.uk