Welcome to the interim website of The Rock at Maltby. We are currently developing a new site, which we are hoping to have in the public domain very soon. This will have links to youtube, facebook, twitter and online ticket sales. Please bear with us in the meantime.
Welcome to The Wesley Centre, Maltby, now home to The Rock, a long-standing folk club that has enjoyed over 35 years of live folk, roots and acoustic music.
The original Rock opened in September 1974 in the back room of a pub in the quaint little village of Wentworth, to the West of Rotherham and became established and acknowledged over time by the public and the artists themselves as one of the best folk clubs in the North of England, resulting in winning Best Folk Club in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2004.
The idea behind the original venture was to create an acoustic venue that was neither a traditional nor contemporary folk club, indeed, not purely a folk club at all, but a platform for all kinds of folk, roots and acoustic music.
The new venue ticks all the boxes for concerts of this size. It is a licensed venue and has all the facilities to make the events as comfortable as possible for audiences and artists alike.
There are excellent facilities here and access for disabled guests. Seating is equally split with tables and chairs on the floor space and tiered seating to the rear. All seats are unreserved but wheelchair users may request to have seats saved.
Rita Payne plus The Jake Leg Jug Band - Friday 5th April
Live for a Fiver
Back in November, a young duo made their debut at the club. Rita Payne showed instantly that they are a
major new force on the acoustic music scene and we are delighted to give our loyal audience chance to
enjoy a longer set from this up and coming act. A great stage presence adds to their captivating manner
in holding an audience's attention from first to final note. Their strong material and equally powerful
delivery assure that Rita Payne will be around for some years to come.
Also on the bill will be the Jake Leg Jug Band. Playing a wealth of music from the 1920’s and 30’s on a
mix of string and home made instruments, this five-man outfit delivers a heady mix of Country Blues,
Ragtime, Vaudeville, Jug and Gospel.
Tickets £5
The Hut People - Friday 19th April
Support by Mark Hearne
The Hut People are rapidly gaining more and more of a reputation as one of the hottest and most
entertaining folk/world acts touring today. Taking the audience on a voyage across the globe with their
varied material, they perform a hugely engaging, entertaining and unique blend of home-grown tunes mixed
with British, Nordic and European folk music, embellished with driving accordion and a dazzling array of
exotic percussion.
Accordionist Sam Pirt and percussionist Gary Hammond both have extensive backgrounds in music - having been part of and performed alongside legendary acts such as The Beautiful South, Nina Simone, The Dubliners and Sharon Shannon, their playing is still very much in high demand. Great music and virtuosity aside, a show from The Hut People is overflowing with humour, spontaneity and a 100% commitment to their getting-the-crowd-involved ethos. Don’t miss them! You Tube
Tickets for this event can be purchased online. Buy Tickets
Tickets £10 (£8 Online)
Mas Y Mas - Friday 3rd May
Live for a Fiver
And now for something completely different! Más Y Más are an acoustic power trio performing original and traditional Latin songs. They serve up an irresistible meeting of Latino Flamenco and Afro-Cuban influences, woven together by driving dance rhythms. Más Y Más play the songs of Rikki Thomas-Martínez; songs of love, celebration, fiesta and of people finding common humanity beyond race, caste or creed.
Now in their eleventh year together, this union of three experienced and well-respected musicians has played to enthusiastic audiences all over the world. Bob Pegg of Mr Fox fame once wrote a top song called
“The Last Dance” with the immortal line “dance you buggers, dance”. Now living in the North of Scotland, Bob won’t be getting down but if you can make this lively gig you will be.
Support by Alan Wood
Tickets £5
Billy Mitchell Band - Friday 10th May
No Support
Billy started playing guitar in the early sixties and soon formed a ‘beat group’ with some pals at the local youth club and played local clubs and pubs til the sad arrival of full time employment got in the way of the fun. He then joined with former beat group pals to form a ‘folk group’ in the late sixties and early seventies. The Callies showed Newcastle what they thought folk music should sound like.
After a spell in Vancouver, Canada, Billy was invited to return to England to join Jack the Lad with members of the recently split Lindisfarne. Then followed four albums and four years touring the UK and Europe.
At the end of the seventies he joined with Peter McIntyre to form the hilarious Maxie & Mitch who spent the following twenty four years playing all over the world.
In 1996 Billy joined Newcastles’ favourite sons Lindisfarne, and remained with them until the band's retirement in 2003. Since then Billy has embarked on a successful solo career with his Backtrackin' show and in 2005 he recorded The Devil's Ground album, which received critical acclaim and extensive radio play.
In 2006, he celebrated his 60th birthday by forming the first ever Billy Mitchell Band and they played an emotional ‘sell out’ concert at The Sage, Gateshead and that is how you will find Billy on his latest visit to the Rock, fronting a hard-driving band which knows exactly what an audience wants to guarantee a good night. Get your tickets early online. Buy Tickets
Tickets £12 (£10 Online)
Fake Thakray with John Watterson - Friday 24th May
Live for a Fiver
The late, great Jake Thackray was no stranger to the Rock's audiences. His untimely death was a great blow to fans of this unique performer. That is why we are delighted to play our small part in keeping his music alive, through John Watterson who has performed the songs of Jake Thackray at festivals, concerts, clubs, after dinner venues and – most specially – to members of Jake’s family.
Those songs are exquisitely funny, satirical, incisive, irreverent, witty and gloriously un-PC – and sometimes all of these at the same time. Jake was a one off, his poetry broke the rules yet worked beautifully. He was a true craftsman of the English language, and his legacy of scores of songs continues to delight audiences of all ages today.
John's appreciation and love of Jake Thackray's music is obvious to his audience. John’s performance is a
celebration of the man that was Jake Thackray. John is a talented guitarist and vocalist and has that engaging quality that makes you want to listen to his performance. When you wrap these ingredients up in the songs of Jake Thackray the result is a highly entertaining, heartfelt tribute to one of the finest songwriters of the 20th century. Fresh from supporting Fairport Convention on their spring National Tour this will be a joyful celebration of the late Jake Thackray.
Tickets £5
Jez Lowe - Friday 31st May
Support by Damien Ryan
Jez Lowe has built an enviable reputation as a songwriter and performer in the world of acoustic music, and as a musical ambassador for his native North East England, with more than a dozen albums and countless live performances around the world over the last twenty years. Among those who have recorded versions of Lowe’s songs are Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Tannahill Weavers, Cherish The Ladies, Gordon Bok, The McCalmans, The Black Brothers, Liam Clancy and Bob Fox. He has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, both solo and with his band the Bad Pennies.
Back in 2006 Jez was one of the principle songwriters in the award-winning BBC series The Radio Ballads. The success in 2010 of another one-off programme inspired the BBC to commission a further six programmes on the subject of The Olympic Games. Jez is most at home on a club stage, building a natural bond with his fans and this night will offer the chance to enjoy the warmth and talent of a great performer.
Tickets £10 (£8 Online)
Contact Details
To reserve tickets please contact the Wesley Centre directly on 01709 811118 or email tickets@therock.org.uk in the meantime. For information about specific artists or for further details on the programme in the meantime, please contact Jonti Willis on 07939 148603 or email donnijonti@aol.com.
The Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham, S66 8JD