Held on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at Earls Barton Working Men's Club in Northants, a typical Kontra evening will showcase three varied, top quality acoustic roots acts who play for 45 minutes each approx. The club starts at 8pm and runs through till 11pm, and though it is non-profit making we do charge a token £3 admission to cover costs. We also welcome voluntary donations. Our Earls Barton venue is ideal for acoustic music: characterful and friendly (it also serves real ale) and can be found at 1 Queen Street, Earls Barton, Northants, NN6 0LN (see map at bottom).
From humble beginnings in 2004 as an open mic at a Northamptonshire village pub, Kontra gradually evolved through several changes of venue and format, all the while building a reputation for presenting entertaining and eclectic evenings of quality acoustic music.
It is now acknowledged as Northamptonshire's premier acoustic roots club, attracting some of the best up and coming acoustic talent from across the country, as well as
more established performers from home and abroad.
With an open music policy that welcomes all genres of acoustic roots music as long as it is of outstanding quality, Kontra is a rare success story in these difficult economic times. Run as a non-profit making enterprise, admission to the club is just a token £3, and the acts, often professional musicians, play for expenses only. That they do so is testament to the excellent reputation the club has built up over the years, with its friendly atmosphere, large, loyal, and enthusiastic audiences, excellent sound (courtesy of Geoff Bland), and the imaginative programming of organiser, Kev Buxton. Priding itself on the fact that it sets no musical boundaries other than quality, a typical Kontra session crosses many genres within the space of a single evening: folk, blues, Americana, jazz, world, contemporary and traditional music all find a welcome reception on the Kontra stage.
THE CLUB IS NOW ON ITS SUMMER BREAK BUT WE'LL BE BACK FOR THE START OF THE AUTUMN SEASON ON
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
with guests
Flashback Photograph
Peter Conway
Oakleas Rise
UPCOMING SHOWS
13 SEPTEMBER
Sunsinger & The High Seas
Americano
Doughboy Three
27 SEPTEMBER
When Rivers Meet
Town Musicians of Bremen
Oakleas Rise
11 OCTOBER
Marie Claire Berreen &
Her Husbands
Attila Vural
Irene Rae
25 OCTOBER
Katy Hurt
Ward & Parker
Louise Brennan
8 NOVEMBER
Glymjack
Chris Ronald
Phil Riley & Neil Mercer
CLUB INFO
KONTRA ROOTS CLUB GALLERY
Photos of our acts from the last six months (click to expand).
KONTRA ROOTS CLUB
Flashback Photograph
This terrific, upbeat, foot-tapping folk rock band from Peterborough made a big impression at the club when they made their debut early last year, and it’s great to have them back to kick off our autumn season. Featuring guitar, bass, banjo, harmonica and percussion, the band are regulars on the Cambridgeshire music scene where they are a big live draw, playing live at all kinds of venues and events plus regular studio sessions for local radio. Their influences are too many to name, but chances are that if you like Mumford & Sons you’ll love them! www.flashbackphotograph.wordpress.com
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=221qkoVULzg
Peter Conway
A welcome return to the club for this breathtaking live performer with a unique, unforgettable voice and song delivery that takes you on a journey of the heart and soul. A remarkable singer-songwriter, tipped for greatness by music industry bible 'Music Week' as well as 'Maverick Magazine', his list of credits include having no less than ten of his songs feature in as many original motion pictures, from Hollywood blockbusters to independent British films, and he gets the kind of reviews most artists can only dream about.
“Some artists put heart and soul into a song, this man pours all of himself, every fibre, every sinew, every essence of his being and spirit into each syllable and note.” (Tim Carroll – Folks Words) “Spectacular… this album is a piece of art work that will always be remembered.” (Sue Marchant – BBC Radio Cambridge) “Sixty minutes and not one second wasted, a beautiful experience…” (Malcom Carter – Penny Black Music) “Not a lot more you can ask of an album.” (Neil King – FATEA) “He’s my favourite singer. He’s making music that many people won’t realize they need until they hear it.” (Charles Shaar Murray) “His dark and brooding intensity is real. He sings and plays as if he is under a spell, it’s simply elemental.” (Mike Butler – Metro) www.peterconway.net
Oakleas Rise
A third visit for this cracking Northants based indie country folk duo, a collaboration between two highly experienced singer-songwriters, Lesley Curtis and Stuart Mcleod. Great songs, beautifully played. They’ve taken their music up to a whole new level in recent times, so if you like acts like Lost Hollow, they’ll be right up your street! www.oakleasrise.com