Pale Fire Music

15/03/2026

We have not been able to secure Arts Council England (ACE) funding for our 2026 – 2028 Not-for-Profit Community Music Project at the Firefly in Telford.

Without ACE funding we will not be able to curate a music programme that attracts touring artists from the UK and overseas as we did during our 2023 – 2025 music programme.

We’ve been the only organisation in Telford dedicated to attracting touring artists performing new and original music in the town; and we know that those of you who’ve been supporting our live events will be disappointed to hear this news.

We will explore alternative funding possibilities for the project. Please continue to follow our posts on our account.

Many thanks to those that bought tickets during 2023 – 2025, especially those of you who travelled from across the country to attend our shows.

Pale Fire Music & Left for Dead Records

03/01/2026

Happy New Year to live music lovers everywhere!

This is what Pale Fire Music did in 2025. See more:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkAvMPTKM9zeH3SWSPePerQ

We aim to be back later this year with another eclectic series of events showcasing fresh, original, exciting, and inventive music and musicians.

Watch This Space.

01/11/2025

Steve Gunn & James Elkington at the Firefly, Telford, on Sun 26 Oct 2025.

A night of immersive, atmospheric, and hypnotic musical virtuosity totally held the attention of the audience for the pair’s final UK gig of their European Tour. A fantastic, unforgettable, and resonant event.

Many thanks to Steve Gunn and James Elkington, and to Tommy De Nys for bringing them to Telford.

The gig attracted fans from Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Blackburn, Leicester, Bristol and Dorset. A lucky few got their hands on signed vinyl & posters at the merch stand!

Many thanks to all of you who attended; music fans are essential to creating and sustaining an independent music scene. Especially when many small clubs and independent promoters are closing.
Finally, thanks to James Hammond and his sound engineers and James Townend for stage management & lighting during our 2-year programme.

This was Pale Fire Music's final gig in our 2023 – 2025 Arts Council England (ACE) Funded music programme. We hope to get another grant, and start promoting again in Feb / Mar 2026.

Please follow us, like us etc. for future updates.

Photos courtesy of Stephen Handley

25/10/2025

TOMORROW!
At the Firefly, Telford - Steve Gunn, and special guest James Elkington.

Steve Gunn, known for his genre-defying fusion of folk, blues, psych, and free jazz. His work is celebrated for its adventurous song-writing and virtuoso guitar craftsmanship, where subtle interweaving of traditional American song structures with raga-inspired textures creates a distinct, immersive sonic experience.

In support is James Elkington, a British-born, Chicago-based guitarist whose collaborations with Jeff Tweedy and Joan Shelley have cemented his reputation. His latest project 'Me Neither' sees Elkington abandon structured solo guitar albums in favour of daily improvisations, blending looping melodies, environmental soundscapes, and ambient layering into a haunting, dreamlike musical journey.

Tickets:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

18/10/2025

Just over a week away now! Coming to the Firefly (Telford) on Sunday 26th October - Steve Gunn and James Elkington.

Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter. He has steadily processed his inspirations into a singular, virtuosic stream. Close listening reveals the influence of blues, folk, ecstatic free jazz, and psych in his continually unfolding output.
Interview: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/steve-gunn-the-unseen-in-between-interview-777194/

James Elkington, a British-born, Chicago-based guitarist, explores new creative terrain in his latest album Me Neither. After scrapping plans for a solo instrumental guitar album, Elkington turned to daily improvisations, resulting in a record that blends his folk roots with experimental textures and found sounds.

Tickets HERE:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

12/10/2025

Remember, remember..... the 26th of October.

A rare chance to see and hear Steve Gunn and James Elkington live, on their 2025 European tour.

Steve talks about his process HERE:
https://www.songwritersonprocess.com/blog/2020/stevegunn

Remaining tickets available HERE:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com
Get yours now!

04/10/2025

Only three weeks to go...
From New York, guitarist and songwriter Steve Gunn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHuUsjgdjU
From Chicago, British-born guitarist James Elkington.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlAInFxXsk
Appearing at the Firefly, Telford on Sunday 26th October.
Brought to you by Pale Fire Music. Tickets available HERE:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

27/09/2025

Sunday 26th October just got better...
Pale Fire Music are bringing together some of Shropshire's finest singer-songwriter talent. Matthew Hill, Alan Jenkins, Johnny Owen and Vin Whyte will be performing at the Crown Inn between 2pm and 5pm. Free entry!

Later, Pale Fire Music have Steve Gunn (spellbinding guitar work and atmospheric song writing) and James Elkington (introspective beauty and emotional nuance) performing at the Firefly, tickets available at:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

12/09/2025

As part of his 2025 US & European Tour, Steve Gunn performs at the Firefly in Telford on Sunday 26th October. Supported by James Elkington. A rare chance to hear the immersive work of these distinctive musicians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHuUsjgdjU

Tickets available:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

30/08/2025

Pale Fire Music are very excited to bring STEVE GUNN to Telford. One of only three UK dates on Steve's US & European tour!

Kurt Vile former Lead Guitarist with War on Drugs who worked with Steve Gunn when he joined his band The Violators in commenting said "It's impossible to just talk about Steve. He's too good! He's so good; just listen to him. What can I even say about him that touches that? I just want to listen to him.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHuUsjgdjU

Steve is supported by James Elkington, a Chicago based songwriter and guitarist who has collaborated with everyone from Richard Thompson to Jeff Tweedy to Tortoise.

Tickets are on sale now — get yours before they’re gone!
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com

21/08/2025

Live music lover? Read this; an item on the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, describing the value of small venues.
https://thequietus.com/opinion-and-essays/black-sky-thinking/music-venue-crisis-working-mens-clubs-trades-hebden-bridge-ferret-preston/

The sprung wooden floor of The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge is no stranger to dancing. It’s hard to imagine today, but its modest upstairs hall was built in 1924 for graceful ballroom affairs – all waltzes and foxtrots to classical music. A century later, it has become a revered grassroots music...

12/08/2025

Coming to the Firefly (Telford) on Sunday 26th October - Steve Gunn and James Elkington.
Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter. With a career spanning nearly fifteen years, Steve has produced volumes of critically acclaimed solo, duo, and ensemble recordings on labels such as Matador Records, Three Lobed Recordings, Paradise of Bachelors, and RVNG. His albums represent milestones of contemporary guitar-driven material, and forward thinking song writing. Steve has steadily processed his inspirations into a singular, virtuosic stream. Close listening reveals the influence of blues, folk, ecstatic free jazz, and psych in his continually unfolding output.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUHuUsjgdjU
James Elkington, a British-born, Chicago-based guitarist known for his refined playing and collaborations with artists like Jeff Tweedy and Joan Shelley, explores new creative terrain in his latest album Me Neither. After scrapping plans for a solo instrumental guitar album, Elkington turned to daily improvisations, resulting in a record that blends his folk roots with experimental textures and found sounds. The album features unconventional elements—looping melodies, environmental noise, and ambient layering—creating an expansive, dreamlike soundscape. While largely instrumental, Me Neither reflects the introspective beauty and emotional nuance Elkington is known for, culminating in pieces like his haunting cover of ABBA’s “The Winner Takes It All.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOlAInFxXsk
Brought to you by Pale Fire Music. Tickets available HERE:
https://www.ticketstelford.com/whats-on/music/steve-gunn-with-special-guest-james-elkington/5324
www.skiddle.com