FOR the tenth year running, the Black Swan Folk Club will play host to the Winter Folk Day on January 28 as part of the York Residents' Festival.

Folk and acoustic musicians who all live within York will perform in the newly refurbished function room at the Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, with the club’s PA system in use.

The afternoon concert, from 2pm to 5.30pm, will feature Leather’o; Bella Gaffney & Polly Bolton; Two Black Sheep & A Stallion; Paula Ryan; Union Jill; Tom McKenzie and Toni Bunnell.

The evening bill, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm, will present The Foresters; Ian Pybus; White Sail; Fake Thackray and the club’s house band, Ramshackle, whose members are Stan Graham, Eddie Affleck, Phil Cerny, Chris Euesden and Judith Haswell.

"The line-up for the whole day looks brill – maybe the best yet!", reckoned one early comment. Entry will be free for holders of York cards and York students' union cards while non-residents can attend too, space permitting, for a small charge.

The folk club's club room at the Black Swan Inn is being refurbished this month. "The badly worn old carpet will be removed, the uneven floorboards extensively repaired and a new carpet laid," says club organiser Roland Walls. "There'll also be repairs to the windows and some work on the staircase.

"Our landlady, Maggie Anderton, promises that we can meet as normal, but the events on January 11 and 18 may have to take place on a bare wooden floor, which will make for an interestingly different acoustic, I expect. All work should be completed in time for the Winter Folk Day."

This Thursday's "very special club night" with Chris While & Julie Matthews has sold out with a waiting list for returns, on a New Year bill when Chris Euesden will be the master of ceremonies and the floor singers will be Simon Alexander and Judith Haswell. If you miss out on Thursday, be aware that While & Matthews will be playing Thorganby Village Hall on May 26.

Irish-born troubadour Anthony John Clarke will make his third visit to the Black Swan on January 11. "He was last here in 2012 for a memorable duo night with Dave Pegg, of Fairport Convention, with whom he continues to tour regularly, but this time around it's a solo show," says Roland. "A lyricist who is, by turns, hilarious, serious, compassionate, irreverent, brave and challenging, and also a skilled guitarist with an instantly recognisable voice, Anthony John is one of the most engaging and entertaining folk performers in the business and we're delighted to welcome him back."

Stan Graham will be the MC for this event and the anticipated floor singers are John Storey, David Swann and Eddie Affleck. Already half the tickets have sold at £9 at wegottickets.com; whatever seats are left on the night will be £10 on the door from 7.45pm.

The club's ever-friendly open-house gathering, the Singers & Musicians Night, on January 18 will be hosted by John Storey on January 18. "All acoustic performers are welcome at these nights, and it wouldn’t be the same without listeners too," says Roland. "Come along and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and some excellent music. Admission is just £3 on the door or £2 for students. Performers are asked to put £1 in the kitty."

The club's last guest night for January has a nautical flavour in the form of Tom Lewis, who served 24 years in the Royal Navy. "With a repertoire ranging from traditional shanties to songs fashioned out of his own seafaring experience, Tom will take us on a voyage by turns reflective, dramatic and humorous," says Roland.

"He accompanies on button accordion and ukulele but, above all, it's his clear and powerful voice which entertains. Celebrating his 75th year and newly resident in Shipley, West Yorkshire, after a three-year peregrination of England’s inland waterways, Tom remains an utterly engaging performer."

Floor singers will include York’s rousing male vocal group Two Black Sheep & A Stallion. "They're old friends of Tom Lewis, having first met when Tom was living in western Canada and they were guesting at a festival over there, and they perform several of his compositions," says Roland.

"We can surely expect some lively chorus singing that night and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Two Black Sheep join Tom on stage at some point. Phil Cerny will be acting as MC for this one and the other anticipated floor singers are Ian Pybus and Toni Bunnell. Tickets are again £9 in advance or £10 on the door."