Folk birthdays

Today

1 Oct Joe Heaney 1919 to 1984 Sean-nós singer and storyteller; Connemara
1 Oct John Lorne Campbell 1906 to 1996 Gaelic scholar and field recordist; Canna
1 Oct Marjory Kennedy-Fraser 1857 to 1930 Collector and arranger; Songs of the Hebrides

October

2 Oct Gillian Welch Singer and songwriter; with David Rawlings © Filberthockey at English Wikipedia Public Domain Mark
4 Oct Bridget St John Singer and guitarist; Ask Me No Questions © Seth Tisue from Boston, MA, USA CC BY-SA 2.0
6 Oct Flora MacNeil 1928 to 2015 Gaelic traditional singer; Barra © Paul Bonatti (Gaelic Arts)CC BY 2.0
7 Oct Joe Hill 1879 to 1915 Labour songwriter; Industrial Workers of the World © Bain News Service, publisher Public Domain Mark
7 Oct Mícheál Ó Domhnaill 1951 to 2006 Singer and guitarist; the Bothy Band, Skara Brae
10 Oct John Prine 1946 to 2020 Singer and songwriter; Sam Stone, Paradise © Ron Baker CC BY 3.0
10 Oct Kirsty MacColl 1959 to 2000 Singer and songwriter; They Don't Know, Fairytale of New York © K8 fan at English Wikipedia Public Domain Mark
10 Oct Tom Hughes 1907 to 1986 Fiddler and ploughman; the Borders style
12 Oct Cyril Tawney 1930 to 2005 Singer and songwriter; Sally Free and Easy, The Grey Funnel Line
12 Oct Ralph Vaughan Williams 1872 to 1958 Composer and collector of English folk songs
13 Oct Frances Tolmie 1840 to 1926 Collector of Gaelic song; Skye and the Western Isles
13 Oct Iona Opie 1923 to 2017 Folklorist; The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren © Dcs57 CC BY-SA 4.0
13 Oct Simon Nicol Guitarist and singer; Fairport Convention
15 Oct Alistair Hulett 1951 to 2010 Songwriter; Roaring Jack, Dance of the Underclass
17 Oct James Madison Carpenter 1888 to 1983 Collector of British folk song and drama
18 Oct Paddy Reilly Ballad singer; The Fields of Athenry, The Dubliners
18 Oct Sam Larner 1878 to 1965 Fisherman and traditional singer; Winterton, Norfolk
18 Oct Sarah Makem 1900 to 1983 Traditional singer; Keady, County Armagh
20 Oct Roy Bailey 1935 to 2018 Singer; songs of protest and justice © Tim Packer CC BY-SA 4.0
21 Oct Anne Lorne Gillies Gaelic singer and scholar; Songs of Gaelic Scotland © KevinBree CC BY-SA 4.0
21 Oct Derek Bell 1935 to 2002 Harper, oboist and pianist; The Chieftains
21 Oct Jeannie Robertson 1908 to 1975 Traveller ballad singer; Aberdeen
22 Oct Dominic Behan 1928 to 1989 Songwriter and writer; The Patriot Game, Liverpool Lou
23 Oct Archie Fisher 1939 to 2025 Singer, guitarist and songwriter; Travelling Folk © Cindy Funk CC BY 2.0
24 Oct Cecilia Costello 1884 to 1976 Traditional singer; Birmingham
26 Oct Jim McCann 1944 to 2015 Singer; The Dubliners, Grace
29 Oct Tom Clancy 1924 to 1990 Singer; The Clancy Brothers
31 Oct Tom Paxton Singer and songwriter; The Last Thing on My Mind, Ramblin' Boy © Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA CC BY-SA 2.0

November

2 Nov Dave Pegg Bass player; Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull © Kevin Smith CC BY 2.0
3 Nov Bert Jansch 1943 to 2011 Guitarist, singer and songwriter; Pentangle © Chris Barber from Dartford, England CC BY-SA 2.0
4 Nov Tommy Makem 1932 to 2007 Singer, banjo and whistle player; The Clancy Brothers © Cindy Funk CC BY 2.0
7 Nov Liam Ó Maonlaí Singer and bodhrán player; Hothouse Flowers © Bastun CC BY-SA 4.0
8 Nov Katharine Briggs 1898 to 1980 Folklorist; An Encyclopedia of Fairies
9 Nov Margaret Fay Shaw 1903 to 2004 Collector of Gaelic song and lore; South Uist
11 Nov Hamish Henderson 1919 to 2002 Poet and collector; School of Scottish Studies © Own work Public Domain Mark
11 Nov Ian Hardie 1952 to 2012 Fiddler and composer; Jock Tamson's Bairns
12 Nov Maud Karpeles 1885 to 1976 Collector; Cecil Sharp's collaborator
15 Nov Frank Kidson 1855 to 1926 Leeds song scholar; Traditional Tunes © James Henry Hogg Public Domain Mark
15 Nov Rick Kemp Bass player and songwriter; Steeleye Span © Rob Glover CC BY-SA 2.0
17 Nov Luke Kelly 1940 to 1984 Singer and banjo player; The Dubliners
18 Nov Peter Kennedy 1922 to 2006 Collector and broadcaster; Folk Songs of Britain and Ireland
19 Nov Stan Hugill 1906 to 1992 Shantyman, author and sea song historian
20 Nov Vin Garbutt 1947 to 2017 Singer, songwriter and whistle player; the Teesside Troubadour © jeaneeem CC BY 2.0
22 Nov Cecil Sharp 1859 to 1924 Collector of English folk songs and dances © Unknown authorUnknown author Public Domain Mark
22 Nov Rose Simpson Bass and fiddle; the Incredible String Band © Bert Verhoeff / Anefo CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
24 Nov Robin Williamson Singer, storyteller and harper; the Incredible String Band © Sam Saunders CC BY-SA 2.0
25 Nov Peter Opie 1918 to 1982 Folklorist; The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes © Dcs57 CC BY-SA 4.0
26 Nov Ciarán Mac Mathúna 1925 to 2009 Collector and broadcaster; Mo Cheol Thú
26 Nov Davy Graham 1940 to 2008 Guitarist; Anji, DADGAD tuning
26 Nov Ray Fisher 1940 to 2011 Singer; Scots ballads and the Fisher family
29 Nov Eamonn Campbell 1946 to 2017 Guitarist and producer; The Dubliners © XIIIfromTOKYO CC BY-SA 4.0

December

3 Dec Ralph McTell Singer, songwriter and guitarist; Streets of London
4 Dec Kate Rusby Singer and songwriter; the Barnsley Nightingale © Bryan Ledgard CC BY 2.0
8 Dec Anne Geddes Gilchrist 1863 to 1954 Collector of Lancashire song; Folk-Song Society editor
8 Dec Ric Sanders Fiddler; Fairport Convention, the Albion Band © Fonzleclay CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
9 Dec Meredydd Evans 1919 to 2015 Singer and scholar of Welsh folk song
11 Dec Henry Burstow 1826 to 1916 Bellringer and traditional singer; Horsham © unknown Public Domain Mark
15 Dec Brian Peters Concertina and melodeon player; ballad singer
15 Dec Chris Leslie Fiddler; Fairport Convention, Whippersnapper © Steve Knight from Halstead, United Kingdom CC BY 2.0
16 Dec Barney McKenna 1939 to 2012 Tenor banjo player; The Dubliners
19 Dec Ronald Hutton Historian; The Stations of the Sun © Evan T Jones CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
19 Dec Tommy Sands Singer and songwriter; The Sands Family © Avner Fitterman CC BY-SA 3.0
22 Dec Donald Riddell 1908 to 1992 Fiddler, fiddle maker and teacher; Kirkhill
23 Dec Karine Polwart Singer and songwriter; Faultlines, Malinky © Karine_Polwart_at_Tribute_to_Alistair_Hulett.jpg: Candy Schwartz derivative work: Qwfp (talk)CC BY 2.0
24 Dec Siân James Singer and harpist; Welsh song
24 Dec Willie Clancy 1918 to 1973 Uilleann piper, flute and whistle player © Dougsim CC BY-SA 4.0
25 Dec Jacqui McShee Singer; Pentangle © The original uploader was Bluewave at English Wikipedia.CC BY 2.5
25 Dec Shane MacGowan 1957 to 2023 Lead Singer of The Pogues, general Hell raiser © Masao Nakagami CC BY-SA 2.0
25 Dec Trevor Lucas 1943 to 1989 Singer and guitarist; Fotheringay, Fairport Convention
26 Dec Seán McGuire 1927 to 2005 Fiddler; Belfast
28 Dec Christine Collister Singer; Gregson and Collister, Richard Thompson © Brian Marks CC BY 2.0
31 Dec June Tabor Singer; Silly Sisters, Oysterband © JuneTaborAndMartinSimpson.jpg: candyschwartz from Boston, USA derivative work: Alison ❤CC BY 2.0

January

1 Jan George Petrie 1790 to 1866 Antiquary and collector; the Petrie Collection
1 Jan Margaret Barry 1917 to 1989 Singer and banjo player; Cork and London
4 Jan Clive Gregson Songwriter and producer; Gregson and Collister © Mudbugclub CC BY-SA 4.0
5 Jan Fred Jordan 1922 to 2002 Traditional singer and farm worker; Shropshire
5 Jan Georgia Ruth Harpist and songwriter in Welsh and English © The original uploader was IanMRichards at Welsh Wikipedia.CC BY-SA 3.0
6 Jan Bob Copper 1915 to 2004 Traditional singer and writer; the Copper Family
6 Jan Pop Maynard 1872 to 1962 Traditional singer and marbles champion; Copthorne
6 Jan Sandy Denny 1947 to 1978 Singer and songwriter; Fairport Convention, Fotheringay
7 Jan Dave Cousins 1940 to 2025 Singer and songwriter; Strawbs © Lrheath CC BY-SA 3.0
9 Jan Joan Baez Singer and activist; American folk revival © Jtgphoto CC BY-SA 4.0
9 Jan Nic Jones Singer, guitarist and fiddler; Penguin Eggs © Tony 1212 CC BY-SA 4.0
9 Jan Tim Hart 1948 to 2009 Singer and guitarist; Steeleye Span
10 Jan Louisa Jo Killen 1934 to 2013 Singer and concertina player; recorded as Louis Killen
12 Jan Matt Molloy Flute player; The Chieftains
13 Jan Frankie Armstrong Singer of ballads; the natural voice movement
16 Jan Iona Fyfe Ballad singer; Scots and Doric © Halfabeet CC BY-SA 4.0
17 Jan Matt McGinn 1928 to 1977 Songwriter; The Foreman O'Rourke
17 Jan Mike Waterson 1941 to 2011 Singer and songwriter; The Watersons © candyschwartz CC BY 2.0
20 Jan Billy Thom 1937 to 2010 Dance band drummer
20 Jan Francie McPeake 1917 to 1986 Piper and teacher; the McPeake Family
24 Jan Michael Chapman 1941 to 2021 Guitarist and songwriter; Fully Qualified Survivor
25 Jan Ewan MacColl 1915 to 1989 Singer, songwriter and activist; Dirty Old Town, Radio Ballads © Seattle Folklore Society Public Domain Mark
26 Jan Ashley Hutchings Bassist; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Albion Band © Brian Marks CC BY 2.0
27 Jan Phil Cunningham Accordion player and composer; Silly Wizard
28 Jan Jimmy Shand 1908 to 2000 Accordionist and dance band leader; The Bluebell Polka © Arcaist CC BY-SA 4.0
28 Jan Paddy Tunney 1921 to 2002 Singer, lilter and writer, the Man of Songs; Fermanagh
28 Jan Sabine Baring-Gould 1834 to 1924 Collector of Devon and Cornish song; Songs of the West
30 Jan Kevin Danaher 1913 to 2002 Folklorist; The Year in Ireland
30 Jan Paddy Keenan 1950 to 2026 Uilleann piper; The Bothy Band
31 Jan Alan Lomax 1915 to 2002 Collector; recorded Britain and Ireland in the 1950s © Unknown authorUnknown author Public Domain Mark
31 Jan Michael Coleman 1891 to 1945 Fiddler; Sligo style

February

1 Feb Bobby Crowe 1933 to 2014 Accordionist and dance band leader; Fife
1 Feb Francis James Child 1825 to 1896 Scholar; the English and Scottish Popular Ballads © Daderot Public Domain Mark
6 Feb Charles Wheatstone 1802 to 1875 Scientist; inventor of the English concertina © Samuel Laurence Public Domain Mark
9 Feb Philip Donnellan 1924 to 1999 BBC documentary maker; working lives and folk song
10 Feb Gavin Greig 1856 to 1914 Collector; the Greig Duncan Folk Song Collection
10 Feb Hamish Imlach 1940 to 1996 Singer, guitarist and raconteur; Glasgow
10 Feb Roy Palmer 1932 to 2015 Folk song historian and author
13 Feb Judy Dyble 1949 to 2020 Singer; Fairport Convention, Trader Horne © Tommytomato (talk)CC BY-SA 3.0
14 Feb Angus R Grant 1967 to 2016 Fiddler; Shooglenifty
15 Feb Lal Waterson 1943 to 1998 Singer and songwriter; The Watersons, Bright Phoebus
16 Feb Phil Tanner 1862 to 1950 Traditional singer, the Gower Nightingale
18 Feb Packie Manus Byrne 1917 to 2015 Singer, whistle player and storyteller; Donegal
20 Feb Alan Hull 1945 to 1995 Singer and songwriter; Lindisfarne © Rodhullandemu CC BY-SA 3.0
25 Feb Bernard Wrigley Singer, comedian and actor; the Bolton Bullfrog © Bryan Ledgard CC BY 2.0
27 Feb Jake Thackray 1938 to 2002 Singer and songwriter; witty, wordy songs
27 Feb Percy Dearmer 1867 to 1936 Priest and editor; The English Hymnal © Hollyer, Frederick, born 1837 - died 1933 (photographer)Public Domain Mark
28 Feb A. L. Lloyd 1908 to 1982 Singer, writer and collector; Folk Song in England

March

2 Mar Vashti Bunyan Singer and songwriter; Just Another Diamond Day © Graham Kolbeins CC BY 3.0
4 Mar Walter Pardon 1914 to 1996 Traditional singer; Knapton, Norfolk
7 Mar Paddy Clancy 1922 to 1998 Singer and harmonica player; The Clancy Brothers
9 Mar Martin Shaw 1875 to 1958 Composer; The Oxford Book of Carols © Unknown authorUnknown author Public Domain Mark
10 Mar Dónal Lunny Bouzouki player and producer; Planxty, Bothy Band © Richiecoss at English Wikipedia Public Domain Mark
13 Mar Terry Cox 1937 to 2026 Drummer; Pentangle © Jack de Nijs for Anefo CC0 1.0 (Public Domain Dedication)
17 Mar Bob Johnson 1944 to 2023 Guitarist and singer; Steeleye Span
22 Mar Niel Gow 1727 to 1807 Fiddler and composer; Scottish dance music © Henry Raeburn Public Domain Mark
25 Mar Micho Russell 1915 to 1994 Tin whistle player and singer; Doolin
26 Mar Steve Tilston Songwriter and guitarist
27 Mar Harry Cox 1885 to 1971 Traditional singer; Catfield, Norfolk

April

1 Apr Breandán Breathnach 1912 to 1985 Piper and collector; Ceol Rince na hÉireann
1 Apr Davie Stewart 1901 to 1972 Traveller singer and accordion player
1 Apr George Ewart Evans 1909 to 1988 Oral historian; Ask the Fellows Who Cut the Hay © Martinevans123 CC BY-SA 4.0
3 Apr Richard Thompson Guitarist and songwriter; Fairport Convention © Dxede5x CC BY-SA 3.0
4 Apr Danny Thompson 1939 to 2025 Double bass player; Pentangle © David Laws CC BY-SA 3.0
5 Apr Charles Parker 1919 to 1980 BBC producer; the Radio Ballads
5 Apr Dave Swarbrick 1941 to 2016 Fiddler; Fairport Convention
5 Apr Leo Rowsome 1903 to 1970 Uilleann piper, pipe maker and teacher
6 Apr Gordon Giltrap Acoustic guitarist and composer; Heartsong © Baillon CC BY-SA 4.0
11 Apr Cerys Matthews Singer and broadcaster; Welsh traditional song © Cerys_Matthews_Glastonbury_2008.JPG: Adam Smith, who uploaded the image using the handle Gingerblok…CC BY 3.0
11 Apr Duncan Williamson 1928 to 2007 Traveller storyteller and singer; Argyll and Fife
11 Apr Joe Burke 1939 to 2021 Button accordion player; East Galway
18 Apr Tony MacMahon 1939 to 2021 Button accordion player and broadcaster; The Long Note © Athlour CC BY-SA 3.0
25 Apr Wizz Jones 1939 to 2025 Guitarist and singer; British folk blues © Tony 1212 CC BY-SA 4.0
28 Apr Jean Redpath 1937 to 2014 Singer; Scots song and Robert Burns
30 Apr Alison Kinnaird Harper; the revival of the Scottish harp © Robin Morton CC BY-SA 3.0

May

1 May Tony Rose 1941 to 2002 Singer and concertina player; Bandoggs
3 May Pete Seeger 1919 to 2014 Singer, banjo player and activist; The Weavers © Fred Palumbo, World Telegram staff photographer Public Domain Mark
4 May Francis McPeake 1885 to 1971 Uilleann piper and singer; the McPeake Family
5 May Séamus Ennis 1919 to 1982 Uilleann piper, collector and broadcaster; As I Roved Out
7 May Christy Moore Singer and guitarist; Planxty, Moving Hearts
8 May Bobby MacLeod 1925 to 1991 Accordionist and dance band leader; Tobermory
8 May Eddie Butcher 1900 to 1980 Traditional singer and songmaker; Magilligan
10 May Johnny Collins 1938 to 2009 Shanty and sea song singer; Norwich
11 May Douglas Kennedy 1893 to 1988 Director of the English Folk Dance and Song Society
14 May Alasdair Fraser Fiddler and teacher; fiddle and cello with Natalie Haas © Bill Bailey for Coldsnap Festival CC BY 2.0
14 May Frank Harte 1933 to 2005 Singer and collector of Dublin street songs
14 May Gordon Duncan 1964 to 2005 Highland piper and composer
19 May John Sheahan Fiddler and whistle player; The Dubliners
23 May Mary Black Singer; De Dannan, No Frontiers
25 May Tom Munnelly 1944 to 2007 Collector of Irish traditional song
26 May Ian Powrie 1923 to 2011 Fiddler and dance band leader
31 May Bob Davenport 1932 to 2026 Singer; Geordie songs and The Rakes

June

5 Jun Mary Neal 1860 to 1944 Espérance Club; the early morris revival
8 Jun Kathryn Tickell Northumbrian piper and fiddler
17 Jun Peggy Seeger Singer and songwriter; Radio Ballads, Gonna Be an Engineer © University of Salford Press Office CC BY 2.0
19 Jun Julia Clifford 1914 to 1997 Fiddler; Sliabh Luachra
19 Jun Nick Drake 1948 to 1974 Singer, songwriter and guitarist; Five Leaves Left, Pink Moon
25 Jun Roy Williamson 1936 to 1990 Singer and songwriter; the Corries, Flower of Scotland
27 Jun Bill Caddick 1944 to 2018 Songwriter; John O' Dreams, Home Service
27 Jun Robin Hall 1936 to 1998 Singer; Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor

July

7 Jul Lisa O’Neill Singer and songwriter; Heard a Long Gone Song
7 Jul Sheila Stewart 1937 to 2014 Traveller singer and storyteller; Perthshire
8 Jul Percy Grainger 1882 to 1961 Composer and phonograph collector; Lincolnshire Posy © Bain News Service, restored by Adam Cuerden and MyCatIsAChonk Public Domain Mark
12 Jul George Butterworth 1885 to 1916 Composer and collector of songs, tunes and dances
14 Jul Woody Guthrie 1912 to 1967 Singer and songwriter; This Land Is Your Land © Al Aumuller/New York World-Telegram and the Sun (uploaded by User:Urban)Public Domain Mark
15 Jul Roy Saer 1936 to 2026 Collector and scholar of Welsh folk song; St Fagans
18 Jul Belle Stewart 1906 to 1997 Traveller singer and songwriter; Blairgowrie
27 Jul Tony Capstick 1944 to 2003 Singer, comedian and broadcaster; Sheffield

August

1 Aug Kenneth Loveless 1911 to 1995 Morris concertina player; Squire of the Morris Ring
1 Aug Paddy Moloney 1938 to 2021 Uilleann piper and whistle player; The Chieftains
1 Aug Seán Ó Riada 1931 to 1971 Composer; Ceoltóirí Chualann, Mise Éire
5 Aug James Scott Skinner 1843 to 1927 Fiddler, composer and dancing master; the Strathspey King © Colin Smith CC BY-SA 2.0
8 Aug John Renbourn 1944 to 2015 Guitarist; Pentangle, John Renbourn Group © Thom C from Blackstone Valley, United States CC BY 2.0
9 Aug Lucy Broadwood 1858 to 1929 Founder of the Folk-Song Society; English County Songs
10 Aug Jim Halcrow 1934 to 2015 Accordionist; Shetland dance music
15 Aug Norma Waterson 1939 to 2022 Singer; The Watersons, Waterson:Carthy
27 Aug Johnny Cunningham 1957 to 2003 Fiddler; Silly Wizard, Relativity
28 Aug Francis O’Neill 1848 to 1936 Collector of Irish dance music; Chicago police chief
29 Aug Derek Brimstone 1932 to 2017 Folk club guitarist, banjo player and comic
29 Aug Tom Anderson 1910 to 1991 Fiddler, collector and teacher; Shetland

September

5 Sep Donald MacPherson 1922 to 2012 Highland piper; Oban and Inverness
6 Sep Calum Maclean 1915 to 1960 Gaelic folklore collector; School of Scottish Studies © Abrach (talk) (Uploads)Public Domain Mark
7 Sep Scan Tester 1887 to 1972 Anglo concertina player; Sussex dance music
8 Sep Andy M. Stewart 1952 to 2015 Singer and songwriter; Silly Wizard
8 Sep Hugh Shields 1929 to 2008 Song scholar; Folk Music Society of Ireland
8 Sep Peter Bellamy 1944 to 1991 Singer; The Young Tradition, The Transports
8 Sep William Kimber 1872 to 1961 Morris musician and concertina player; Headington Quarry
9 Sep Paddy Canny 1919 to 2008 Fiddler; East Clare, the Tulla Céilí Band
10 Sep Joseph Taylor 1833 to 1910 Traditional singer; Saxby All Saints, Lincolnshire © AnonymousUnknown author Public Domain Mark
15 Sep Liam O’Flynn 1945 to 2018 Uilleann piper; Planxty
16 Sep Ronnie Drew 1934 to 2008 Singer and guitarist; The Dubliners
20 Sep Lizzie Higgins 1929 to 1993 Traveller ballad singer; Aberdeen
29 Sep Anne Briggs Singer; unaccompanied traditional song