Mark's Gig List
Over the past few years I've been getting more bookings than I have over the last 30!
Here's a list of where I've been and where I am:
Click HERE for current dates
2005
Saturday 9th July 2005
"Ormskirk Comes Alive" Folk Festival
Saturday 16th July 2005
Saddleworth Folk Festival (with Chris Harvey - "A Mon Like Harry/Manchester Ballads" workshop)
August 19th-21st (Friday-Sunday) 2005
Burntwood Folk Festival (including "A Mon Like Harry" workshop)
Saturday September 3rd 2005
Fylde Folk Festival (with Chris Harvey - "Manchester Ballads" workshop)
This is being held in the Gasworkers' Club, Preston Street, Fleetwood.
10-30 to 11-30am
Monday October 3rd 2005
Folk at the Prospect, Weston Village, Runcorn
Friday October 7th 2005
Hale and Hearty Folk Club, The Kings Arms, Hale (just north of Carnforth on the A6), Cumbria
Friday October 28th 2005
Everyman Folk Club, Saxmundham, Suffolk (with Chris Harvey - performance will include a selection from "Manchester Ballads" and "A Mon Like Harry")
Sunday November 20th 2005
Open Door Folk Club, The Star Inn, Failsworth
2006
Friday February 4th 2006 12:30 to 2:00pm
Henry Watson Library, Manchester Central Library.
A Performance of Manchester Ballads with Chris Harvey
Monday February 13th 2006
A recording of "A Lancashire Garland" took place at the Room at the Top folk club in the Red Lion Hotel, Newburgh, nr Parbold, Lancashire.
Click HERE for more details of Lancashire Garland
Friday February 18th 2006
Lancashire Night in aid of Belarus Aid at the Stanley Institute, Burscough, Lancashire.
along with Sid Calderbank, John McAlister and others.
John McAlister and Mark Dowding Sid Calderbank
Newburgh Morris
(Photographs by Bob Robinson)
The night was a big success being a sell-out and nearly £1000 was raised for the Belarus Aid funds. Thanks to everyone who came along and supported the event.
For more information on Belarus Aid click HERE
Wednesday March 8th 2006
Edwin Waugh Dialect Society, Rochdale.
A Performance of Lancashire Garland with Sid and Liz Calderbank
Thursday April 13th 2006
"Bits and Pieces" at the Silverdale Hotel, Silverdale, nr Carnforth, Lancashire
(Unfortunately due to illness I was unable to fulfill this booking. Apologies to all who turned up to see me but I gather you had a good evening with the singers who were there)
Saturday April 30th 2006
Private event for Newburgh Church "Over 60's"
Friday June 2nd 2006
Hale and Hearty Folk Club, The Kings Arms, Hale (just north of Carnforth on the A6), Cumbria
Saturday June 17th 2006
Shrewsbury and Montgomery Railway Society
Belmont Arts Centre, Shrewsbury
A selection of Railway songs (with Chris Harvey)
June 23rd to 25th 2006
Four Fools Folk Festival, Lostock Hall Community High School, Lostock Hall, Nr Preston.
July 29th to 30th 2006
Saddleworth Folk Festival, Uppermill, Nr Oldham.
Performances of:
"Manchester Ballads" with Chris Harvey
"Lancashire Garland" with Sid Calderbank
"War of the Roses"
September 2006
Fylde Folk Festival
Includes a performance of "The Lancashire Cotton Famine" with Sid Calderbank, Mike Bartram, and Mary & Norman Wilson.
October 2006
Friday October 20th
A Northern Folk Night at the Dolphin Inn, Marsh Lane, Longton, Nr Preston
Also appearing, "From the North"; and Pete with Barbara Bennion
SOLD OUT
November 2006
Wednesday November 8th 2006
The Edwin Waugh Dialect Society Meeting, Rochdale
"A Journey Through Lancashire"
Songs and Poems from Lancashire
Thursday November 16th 2006
Biddulph Folk Club
The Biddulph Arms, Biddulph, Staffordshire
December 2006
Saturday 2nd December 2006
The Portico Library, Manchester
A performance of "The Lancashire Cotton Famine" with Sid Calderbank, Mike Bartram, and Mary & Norman Wilson.
2007
January 2007
Thursday January 25th 2007
The Railway Hotel
Mill Lane
Heatley, Lymm,
Cheshire
WA13 9SQ
Contact Stewart Lever on 07919-270916
Railway photo by Bernard Cromarty
Saturday January 27th 2007
A Burns Night Celebration at Fir Tree Farm, King's Moss, Nr Rainford
With Alison Younger and Chris Harvey
SOLD OUT
February 2nd 2007
A Northern Folk Night at Galloway's Home for the Blind
Howick
House, Howick Park Avenue,
Penwortham, Preston. PR1 0LS
Also featuring "From the North" (John McAlister, Alex Fisher and Maureen Cole)
Tickets £6 from John McAlister 01772 612531
SOLD OUT
Sunday February 25th
The Royal Oak
172 Manchester Road
Werneth
Oldham
OL9 7BN
8-30pm
Details from Pauline - 0161 681 3618
Open Door photo by Bernard Cromarty
"A good night woz 'ad by all! One of the biggest audiences we've had at the Royal Oak, and Mark rose to the occasion magnificently!" - Bernard Cromarty -webmaster Open Door website
Thursday March 22nd
"A Lancashire Garland" with Sid Calderbank
(Private Function at Kilhey Court, Worthington, Lancashire)
Saturday May 5th
"Folk to the Village" at Parbold Village Hall
A Northern Folk Night featuring John McAlister & Maureen Cole, Ken Kershaw, Champion Clog Dancer - Harry Cowgill and Mark Dowding
Tickets are £6 from Mark on 01257 464215 or John on 01772 612531
Bring your own Booze, Tea and Coffee available.
Sunday July 22nd
"A Concert of Railway Songs" with Chris Harvey
Saddleworth Folk Festival
31st August, 1st, 2nd September 2007
5th October 2007
Folk to the Village at Grimsargh Village Hall
Details from John McAlister - 01772 612531
6th October 2007
Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust
A concert of Railway songs (with Chris Harvey)
Mereside Community Centre
Mereside
Shrewsbury
Tickets from Joan 01743 460333
Friday 9th November 2007
Maghull Day of Folk - Friday concert
Support to The John Wright Band
Wednesday 21st November 2007
Chorley Clog Day
Evening concert at Chorley Town Hall
Thursday December 6th 2007
Manchester Art Gallery
A Performance of "Manchester Ballads" with Chris Harvey
1-00pm till 2-00pm
2008
Monday 28th January 2008
Burns Night at The Room at the Top folk club with Alison Younger and Chris Harvey
The Red Lion
Newburgh, nr Parbold
Saturday February 23rd 2008
Lancashire Night in aid of Belarus Aid at the Stanley Institute, Burscough, Lancashire.
along with Sid Calderbank, John McAlister and others.
Saturday May 17th 2008
Hilldale Village Gala with John McAlister
Monday June 9th 2008
Folk at the Prospect, Weston Village, Runcorn
Sunday August 10th 2008
John Ryland's Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester
3-00pm to 4-30pm
A History of the Manchester Cotton Industry
Written by Samantha Franks
Read by Maggi Huyton
Songs performed by Mark Dowding and Chris Harvey.
Entrance to this event is by free ticket
Details and more information ring 0161 305 0555
or email jrl.events@manchester.ac.uk
Friday September 5th 2008
Music and Song session at the Railway Tavern, Hoscar
(Provisional - email for more details)
Wednesday September 10th 2008
"Bits and Pieces" at the Silverdale Hotel, Silverdale, nr Carnforth, Lancashire
Saturday September 13th 2008
A concert at Parbold Village Hall featuring local entertainment to celebrate the refurbishment of the hall.
More details when I have them
2009
Friday February 27th 2009
Frodsham Folk Club