Saturday April 27 | 5pm
El Sereno Mercantile - Idyllwild, California
UK TOUR - May/June
Thursday May 23
Southport - Bijou Cinema
TICKET LINK
Saturday May 25
Basingstoke - The Forge at Anvil Arts
TICKET LINK
Sunday May 26
Sheffield - Cafe #9
TICKET LINK
Wednesday May 29
Oxted - The Oxted Sessions
TICKET LINK
Thursday May 30
Margate - Rosslyn Court
TICKET LINK
Friday May 31
LONDON - The Harrison
TICKET LINK
Saturday June 1
Holbeach - Garden House
Tuesday June 4
Tenbury Wells - Shire Folk at The Regal
TICKET LINK
Wednesday June 5
Worcester - St Swithuns Church
*(Tickets Coming Soon)
Thursday June 6
Crewe - Ebenezer's
TICKET LINK
Friday June 7
Arneside - Arneside Sailing Club
TICKET LINK
Sunday June 9
Robin Hood's Bay - Old School House
TICKET LINK
Wednesday June 12
Coatbridge (Scotland) - Georgian Hotel
TICKET LINK
Thursday June 13
Crail (Scotland) - Crail Folk Club
TICKET LINK
The story of Lawrence Menard and Clare Quinn reads like it was taken from a romance novel. Lawrence was born in Louisiana and raised in California, Clare from Queensland, but fate would have them meet each other at an Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2012. They fell in love and became a folk duo called Those Folk. Now almost a decade later they find themselves in a full circle moment performing at the Wynnum Fringe Festival and bringing their wealth of experience from travelling the world.
It's evident throughout the show that this is more than picking up a guitar, strumming a few chords and singing some words. It’s complex music, poetic lyrics and the husband-and-wife duo have put in time and hard work to craft gorgeous and personal pieces for a wonderful audience in an intimate setting.
There’s a moment during the night where Clare talks about Lawrence’s connection with instruments, how Lawrence is always saying that instruments have character and a story to tell. That along with Lawrence’s passion for collecting and restoring old instruments are reflective in the music they play.
They aren’t afraid to be honest and show their relationship on stage in a playful way, and I enjoyed the stories they told between each song while also sharing the meanings behind the music too. Those Folk manage to create songs that are deep, layered and explore multiple themes utilizing folk and incorporating other genres such as bluegrass and jazz.
Their love songs feel authentic and never cheesy, and when Clare is singing about her childhood home it transported me back to the house I grew up in, flooding me with all the positive memories.
During many of the songs they create an effect where the interplay between the instruments each are playing feel like two individuals that stand out on their own, but when they come together like two people dancing, they meld into a beautiful sound. We get guitars intertwining with banjos, mandolins, keyboards, and the old faithful accordion.
Both have great voices, and we get to hear them solo at times throughout the night but when the voices align, we are presented with some amazing harmonies that are reminiscent of some of the great folk duos of the past.
Lawrence and Clare love music, and obviously they love folk. You can hear a touch of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in their music, but I was also reminded during one song of Big Star and at times Clare’s impressive vocals gave me Linda Perhacs’ Parallelograms vibes. They seem like a couple that is listening to music as much as they are making and playing it, always looking for new inspirations and ways to evolve.
Those Folk play many songs from their 2020 record One Thousand Homes, as well as some new released songs and an excellent cover of Jolene by Dolly Parton that might now be my favourite version of it replacing Jack White’s take on it at the top of my favourite Jolene covers list.
It's advised that anyone that is passionate about folk music should attend Those Folk if given a chance, it’s something I would highly recommend. I think most music lovers will be able to find appreciation in their music and if you’re looking for a show that isn’t overbearing but more relaxing, a show where you can sit back, enjoy a glass of wine, and listen to a duo that are devoted to their craft with deeply rich songs on display then this is the perfect show for you.
Past Highlights:
Ipswich Civic Centre - Headline Concert - February 2024
Parramatta Park - Balloon Glow Festival Show, West Sydney, NSW - January 2024
Bluegrass Concert with the Sonoran Dogs - December 2023
(Those Folk curated, promoted and were the support act)
Pomona Community Festive Choir - November > December 2023
(Clare and Lawrence formed a seasonal festive choir for a short season backed by the Pomona Community House)
Maleny Music Festival - November 2023
(Duo Show + Bluegrass Band with The Inadequates + Singing Workshop)
String Valley Acoustic Festival, Imbil QLD - November 2023
Third Annual Cooran Hall Spring Concert - October 2023
Headline Show at the Eudlo Hall, September 2023
'Wildflowers Trio' - Country Tribute
Winter Tour 2023
Townsville Folk Festival, June 2023
Wynnum Fringe Festival, December 2022
Heart of Gold Film Festival, October 2022
Headline Show at the Cooran Hall, October 2022
Caloundra Music Festival & Neurum Creek Festival, September 2022
Gympie Music Muster, August 2022
Brisbane City Hall, June 2022
The GAS - Old Time Music Festival, April 2022
Bushtime by Woodford Folk Festival - Jan 1st, 2022
Live and Local Showcase, Noosa Junction 2021
2021 Headline Show at the Cooran Hall (Spring Concert)
2021 Neurum Creek Music Festival Performance
2015-2020 Independent California touring of
intimate venues and house concerts
2015-2017 Lightning In A Bottle Festival, California
Retrospective Livestream Concerts
Filmed at our mountain-top studio in California, Mantle Records.