Paul & Sheila Burke

Friday 16th August 2024
#PVFF24

Paul & Sheila Burke sing a mix of traditional and contemporary songs, accompanied by various members of the Burke family.

Paul Burke attended his first folk club in Liverpool in 1959. As you would expect from a Scouser of his vintage, he saw the Beatles before they were famous, but he rarely mentions it because he preferred The Spinners and the atmosphere at their folk club. From that point on he was an active member of the folk scene, including spells in Yorkshire and London, before setting up the Ringwood and Bournemouth Folk Clubs, and Purbeck Valley Folk Festival.

He met Sheila in the early 1970s, an East London girl of Cavan stock whose family also had a rich heritage of singing. They got married in 1973 and have been part of the folk music scene wherever they have lived ever since. In 2023, for their golden wedding anniversary, they decided it was time to record a debut album!

So, without further ado… nominees for the category of ‘oldest newcomers’: Paul & Sheila Burke!

Burke Family Band image. The family are on the Fire Stage at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival. There is a bright red and orange backdrop for the stage. Paul & Sheila Burke are stood in front of microphones on the left hand side of the stage, and 5 other family members (2 of their children, and 3 grandsons) are sat down on the right hand side of the stage.