EVERY 1ST & 3RD

Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou's Lantern Society is rightly billed as London's Finest Folk Club. Upstairs in the convivial surroundings of the Dickensian Betsey Trotwood, in the City of London, the finest folk from all over the capital and beyond congregate to regale one another with story and song. Just as the legendary club ‘Les Cousins’ earned the reputation as the home of innovative folk music in the capital in the 1960s, the place where players shunned by the folk traditionalists could be heard playing all night sessions, The Lantern Society has duly and accurately inherited this mantle. The ‘F’ word may fly above the performers in plain black and white bunting, but one can’t help but suspect this ship is sailing under false colours, as the stage is breached by a vast multicoloured spectrum of sounds and styles. 'We trawled the streets of town for years playing open mics, and never once were satisfied. We moved to London as so many do looking for that mythical community of players who challenge and entertain one another, but all we found was a sign up sheet, scenes of devastation as bodies littered the toilets desperately seeking a quiet spot to tune up, and in one case even a bell to rudely announce when your time was up, mid song or otherwise. The bottom line was it didn't exist, this was a bitter realisation, and there was only one thing to do.' The club was established in 2007, but found its spiritual home at the Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon in early 2008, and since January 2009 has become the home of the Lantern Society Radio Hour. This bi-weekly revue hosted by Trevor Moss features the very best performances fresh from the stage, interviews with the performers and more. Emulating renowned field recorders and archivists such as Alan Lomax, it has been an overwhelming and intriguing success, forging a unique and definitive document live from the frontline of new London Folk. Special editions recorded at the Betsey's inaugural Winterlude Festival, and a two hour special from Wood Festival has seen the LSRH become a defining program in its field. A special Christmas edition, broadcast Christmas day, finished off a spectacular maiden year of recording and broadcasting.