The Black Swan Folk Club

Simon Mayor & Hilary James

Simon Mayor is one of the worlds leading mandolin virtuosos and composers for the instrument as well as a fine guitarist, fiddle player and wit. Hilary James elegant singing is regarded as one of the purest singing voices to be found on the English musical stage. Quintessentially English, they easily cross the great musical divides from British ballads to blues and Berlioz. They have that rare ability that allows them to perform a truly diverse array of music with respect and affection held together by humorous introductions. Their repertoire encompasses folk, traditional, Celtic, swing, blues and classical music richly illustrated by a diverse range of instruments from mandolin, guitar, banjos, ukuleles, double bass and Hilary’s famous giant mandobass - the latter generates a lot of interest at performances. They slide easily from a beautifully evocative Irish ballads into a mandolin and guitar version of Handels Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and finish with everyone singing one of their own notoriously comic songs (reminiscent of Hillaire Belloch and Flanders and Swan).

See Simon Mayor & Hilary James tour dates