Come On. Let's Twist. Again.

      After a difficult week, I hinted via a social media Network that I was losing my mojo a little. Becoming dispirited about Blogging and music generally. I was uplifted by the response via Private messages,Stalkbook and emails. Some people do read my posts and take comfort from the positive things I try to say about them. For people who cannot get to an event, BIogging them is a window into a world they sometimes cannot reach. 

          99% of the Folk I have met in music are supportive,friendly,helpful people. The odd One Per Cent know exactly how to get to me, how to get under my skin and wound me. Why they want to do that, I fail to understand. There is nothing about anything I do to make anyone jealous. They can do one.

          So all that said,after an emotional and challenging few days, I approached Nunc's return spot at The Twisted Barrel, Fargos, Coventry, with mixed feelings. I love the beer, I love the venue and the Staff. I have the greatest respect for Glyn Finch who organises Friday Night sessions there, both as a fine performer and as a host. Also, I have yet to see a bad act there. Having grown up round the corner, it is great to see this place thriving. 

         I speak as one who has played dozens of Coventry's city centre venues. Cov folk on a night out drinking can be a tough crowd. Most of the punters are there for the beer, not the music and I have no problem with that. The Golden Cross, The Colin Campbell, The Dive Bar (now Molly O'Grady's):The Shakespeare, The Climax: The Smithfield-mostly all gone now. You have to work hard. 

Two of Nunc's younger fans ,Alex and Annie, thoroughly enjoying our set

Not so long ago, with Black Parrot Seaside, we played The Tuns. Similar set up. You lock and engage, sing loud and do your best, because weaknesses will be exposed. We weren't on that night until 11pm  and the audience was a mixture of regulars,Goths and a few BPS followers. We got three encores so something went right.

      Glyn was poorly on Friday, with a nasty chest infection preventing him from singing, and limiting his announcing. He sat with a flask of something beefy at the mixing desk, but he did kick off events with his unique interpretation of The Pink Panther Theme before introducing the first turn of the night.

Glyn when he's not got a chest infection

       They were Paper Circus whom we had already met in the car park. They had an impressive sound, doing a mix of covers and their own material. Their singer Jennian had a good look and an imposing,powerful voice. The instrumentation was excellent too:-cello and guitar, well played. I liked them. They were different . Maybe we'll get them over to The Crown. Nice people, with no front and no Diva scene going on.

Paper Circus

          Next up were Nunc. We had a few minor sound issues initially. We did some of the songs previously performed at the T.B. but also gave a public debut to “ Weather With You” and “ Angel From Montgomery.”  Considering we had rehearsed them once-they went o.k. After “Down Where The Drunkards Roll” an audience member brought me up a free bottle of my favourite TB Tipple, Sine Qua Non. Excellent! In fact-I didn't have to buy a beer all night. Must have been my t-shirt. 

Nunc. (Product Placement on my left).

            Stephen Madden and Jimmy Laing were every bit as original and passionate as Paper Circus. Looking deceptively laid back, they seamlessly delivered an uplifting set of powerful songs, with Stephen blasting out vocals of a terrifying intensity. Jimmy's sensitive musical counter points, tastefully interwoven via his saxophone made it an ideal and at times moving combination. Stephen must have iron strings the way he was punishing that guitar.  Flossie was delighted to find out afterwards that she and Stephen went to school together. Small world, huh?

Stephen and Jimmy giving it some

             Then the impro began. Siraj from Paper Circus and Larry Lam duetted on a couple of numbers. They were clearly having fun and blasted out a couple of noisy tunes with great enthusiasm. Larry was then left to close the evening,and his selection of covers finally got a reluctant audience singing. We had the Beatles. We had The Stones and The Poet Laureate. We had Pink Floyd and John Denver. We had lots of other stuff, too. All bashed out with relentless energy and a permanent, genuine smile. It was almost a shame to drag him off, but the staff had homes to go to and by his own admission, he was running out of voice.  I'm not surprised. His ovation was well deserved.  A splendid evening. Just what the doctor ordered. 

Rare shot of Larry not smiling. 

       

If It Wasnae For The Weavers

       "If it wasnae for The Weavers,what wuid we dae?" Well we'd go out and sing, I expect. Having waved a beery goodnight to Malc Gurnham outside The Felix Holt yesterday after a long lunchtime session I settled down,the lone passenger, to snooze my way through the bus journey home. I must admit, I little expected that a few hours later and in the most excellent company of Mr. John Keaney, I'd be part of a hugely enjoyable evening's entertainment at The Weaver's Arms in Fillongley. Funny old world,eh?

       One of our regular Thursday meetings of The Nuneaton & District Elderly Gentlemen's Binge Drinking Society (Folk Club Section) had begun at noon. Fortified by Baltis and All Day Brunches ( or breakfast and chips as Malc calls them) the banter, chatter and general bitching had lingered on until around 5.30pm. This is what usually happens. The fainter hearted drift gradually away during the afternoon, leaving Malc and I to work gainfully through the beer menu. This is where the real deals are closed. I think I'd agreed to book Cara Dillon in at The Crown, and Malc was going to play acoustic bass during “Bring It On Home” next month-but it was all getting a bit fuzzy.

         Malc said he was off later to an evening somewhere in Warwickshire. I could only marvel at his stamina and doze fitfully on the back seat of De Courcey's last bus I wondered what sort of superhuman Folk Trouper could spend an evening carousing like that,after such an invigorating exploration of the handpulled Craft Ales on offer in The Felix? Not me, certainly.

        Back home,slippers on, mug of tea in hand,blearily checking messages, I saw that John Kearney had been having a bit of a day of it at work. He needed some communal singing that evening he said, a bit of a Craic. There was nothing for it, I would have to accompany him. So he picked me up shortly afterwards and soon we were circumnavigating Nuneaton's road closures and diversions. ( He made me do it. It was all his fault).

      When we arrived a startled faction of Nuneaton Camra were already settled in there on a scouting mission, including Ray Buckler, a regular at NFC and AFC evenings. The Weavers Arms sessions are an informal in the round session in this pleasant Warwickshire Pub. No big egos: everyone takes a turn and there are no restrictions or ground rules. With a banjo, two saxophones, an accordion, four guitars and a box of harmonicas, there was little territory we couldn't cover. John got “We Shall Overcome,” and “I Wanted to be Bob Dylan” off his chest and then was soon visibly unwinding.

Eddie Jones warming up his machine.

       Fortified by the excellent Purity Gold served in there, we did “Down Where The Drunkards Roll “ and “T'was On An April Morning ” together. Next to me, Maria Barham churned out the hits from a Golden Hour of Madge. Whilst over towards the bar were The Smiths. No, not that lot with Morissey and Marr: this was Mick, his brother and two lady vocalists. Jan Richardson brought subtlety and sophistication to the table. Her versions of “The Fallen Leaves” and “Moondance” were sublime.

       This doesn't tell the whole story. John and I did “Vigilante Man,” and there were quite a lot of instrumentals. I lost count of the variations of “Anjii.” Whoever took the vocals, they were accompanied by masterful middle sections of improvisation. I have never heard “Bring It On Home” done with a Horn section before. Twin saxophones filled in between phrases and I have to admit,that was so good, we went round twice. John was cajoled/forced/bullied into doing his unique versions of “ Staying Alive.” and “Don't Worry/Irish Rover.”

      We had Folk. We had Country,Reggae,Blues, Jazz and Contemporary. The dog next door joined in occasionally,often in the right key,and we finished indecently late with a rousing version of “Go Lassie Go.” Of Malc Gurnham there was no sign. I hope he got home from The Felix safely....

"ALL RIGHT! KNEEL! "

         We will never know exactly what the geezer who bellowed this in the corridor outside the room where BFC was in session last week was actually intending. It was so loud it certainly got my attention. Was he just noisily greeting his mate,Neil? Or had he been so inspired by the sweet noises emanating from the concert room that he had suddenly come over all religious and wanted us to join him in prayer? Whatever-the assembled company resisted the urge to drop to our knees and continued listening to whichever song was being performed,instead. He didn't come back to see if we were all still genuflecting so it must have been his mate.  

       An eclectic evening at Bedworth Folk Club's Newdigate Club venue on Wednesday October 12th, with Notts Alliance the Guests, and some good floor singers in each half. I was chuffed to get the last parking space in the Car Park-it gets a bit hectic here if the floodlit Bowls League is on. (I think Neil won  The Pairs ).  

Malc and Gill auditioning for The Panel.

       Malc and Gill opened up . They were in good voice and Gill was obviously feeling chipper as she had evidently just replaced her car with a newer model. She only mentioned it a few dozen times and even set the intruder alarm off by opening an exterior door to admire it. Thankfully, before we started.                                     

Brian Phillips

         Brian Phillips, Dave Webb and David Parr all did spots in the first half.    Malc and GillI started the second half. Then  Katherine Fear, Sam Stephens and I all did a few songs each before Notts Alliance returned. 

Young Kate

Mr. Parr-a study in concentration

Webby has Brass in Pocket

        It was lovely to see and hear Sam Stephens out on the circuit again. The tragic loss of Gren Morris came as a blow to us all. They had already done me a floor spot at Nuneaton and i was looking forward to booking them back in as guests. It was not to be and Sam lost his singing partner and buddy. I still listen regularly to their album "Hums Ancient and Modern."       After Gren died  Sam then suffered a debilitating illness himself, one which looked as if it might have stopped him performing altogether at one stage, But Sam was back on the horse again at The Newdigate and sounding good after a shaky start. He finished with a positive shower of harmonics. Good to have him back.

Sam Stephens gets back on The horse

              I sang "The Odeon " and "Di Di The Ice cream Man." The audience sang the choruses gamely. A couple of them came over afterwards. I thought they wanted to hit me, but they were just excited because they'd seen one of Di Di's preserved vans parked up in Burnham-On-Sea just a few days back,and wanted to tell me.  I also won a raffle prize for the second consecutive time at a BFC night. Not a bottle of rose wine this time, but a rose. Which I put in the garden the next day.

Some old person who strayed in from the street

         I had seen Notts Alliance before. Once again they were thoroughly professional. They sang two sets of scrupulously arranged and well co-ordinated harmonies. They fielded Gilly's heckling skilfully,and the banter between the three of them was endearingly spirited. 

Check Out the Alliance

All photos from John Smith.  

Back In The Day 6th October 2016

          Finally! I had been invited AT LAST to participate in a Warwick Festival where an audience had paid in advance to see us perform. A ticketed event with online advertising and its own website. ( No no that one-although I have sneaked incognito into Fringe venues there too and warbled a few tunes. I'm still awaiting a formal invitation to that one, and thirty years down the line I'm definitely not holding my breath!).

         No, this was the far more select Warwick Words History Festival. A considerably more aesthetic annual event which takes place over a whole week in the town each Autumn. I was flattered to be invited to be part of it-an evening of Folk Music based around the central theme of “Back In The Day.” I am indebted to Festival Committee members Jan and Campbell Perry for this honour. It turned out to be a highly entertaining evening-both for the performers and a large audience. If it wasn't a sell-out I would be very surprised, as it was standing room only throughout. Originally billed as a solo spot, I had persuaded John Kearney to come along,to help me out with vocals, provide a suitable key and to accompany me with his usual gusto. After only one rehearsal he had mastered all the songs, including a couple he had not heard before. The man oozes sheer talent.

        The event was staged in the excellent Wild Boar Brew Pub,in Warwick. This was my first visit to this hostellry and I have to say I was quite impressed. Friendly staff, a busy atmosphere and visible brewing going on in mash tubs behind glass. Besides all the quaint half timbered buildings and a magnificent castle, Warwick has whole districts full of narrow streets crammed with artisans houses. Double yellow lines abounded and so parking proved a little notional initially. I had misread the directions and led Mr.Kearney on a wild goose chase before having to be escorted to the official car park a few streets away.

       The pub has a cheerful decent-sized Function room,and despite it being less than ambient outside, it was already rammed when we arrived. Consequently the room was already like an oven. John and I had our traditionally loud Hawaiian Beach shirts on-and though people looked a little bemused by that when we first arrived, way before the interval they were casting envious looks at us. Once the concert was under way we had to open some external doors to let the hot air and sweat come out. John and I, by contrast, remained fragrant and cool (in every sense) throughout.

            It was a mixed audience, with very few “Folkies” present. Nor could I discern anyone I recognised in a sea of expectant faces, despite having played Warwick Folk Club several times. They seemed quite shy to begin with, evidently not sure exactly what kind of evening they were in for. Initially it put me a little in mind of John Lennon's classic remark at a Royal Variety Performance where he once invited one section to clap and another to “rattle their jewellery.”

        But each guest had done their preparation wisely. They all warmed to their theme and our audience visibly relaxed as we took them on a tour of trades, events, forgotten practises and nostalgic memories, from far away and much closer to home. This included plenty of home-written songs about real places in the wonderful County of Warwickshire and beyond.

      Jan and Campbell opened proceedings. They encouraged a few polite murmurings of choruses and a few smiles from a still slightly hesitant audience. They took us up to the Firth and they took us overseas. (Jan and Campbell-not the audience. They stayed sat down).We went to "Canada Hill" (one of their own). We enjoyed "Home lad Home" and the deliciously layered "Billie Sings The Blues"-another Perry original. 

      Colin Squire came up next and aired a thoughtful selection of carefully chosen songs. Each performed,with his easy,calming singing voice and deceptively relaxed (but very good) guitar playing. This settled the audience further.
    . John and I were next up.Perched on the stage (a pair of pallets with an old carpet on) we ran breathlessly through a diverse set of traditional and local material. With it being essentially a Festival of Words, I resurrected the long-silent “Wag Of Shop Fourteen,” an old Black Parrot Seaside song,delivering it as a recitation. I could see by the reaction on a few faces that some people were familiar with the erm, “working practices” once employed in the long-defunct Giant Factories and Assembly Lines. “Wag” is a fond  reminiscence of some of the characters who once  inhabited the Hangar-sized Assembly Shops in big factories. Voluminous places where forging,welding,pressing,hammering (and eventually) assembly of cars,planes and buses took place. I felt it best not to include the infamous Ryton Spanner Dance or any Lathe Shanties in this version.

       Dave Goulder's “Requiem for Steam” followed: a lovely song passionately lamenting the final passing of steam locomotives in the U.K. In 1968. With a bit of lonesome whistle tootin' on the harmonica at from me at the end. “ Albert Balls” well and truly broke the ice and got a few people giggling out loud as they enthusiastically indulged in the (only very slightly) naughty choruses.

          Ewan McColl's gritty celebration of a trade long gone-“ Shoals of Herring” also got a warm welcome before another song about Coventry's Industrial heritage followed. The public debut of “Daimler Deasley.” I wrote this song over a decade ago and it is one which, without JK's expert help, would never have been liberated. It caused quite a bit of interest: In the bar afterwards someone knowledgeable of  the automotive industry asked me about the background to it. I sang “ The Poacher's Lament” unaccompanied-a song describing how people used to be shot just for the crime of being hungry. We concluded with two more jolly singalongs “The Odeon,” and “Di Di The Ice Cream Man.” By this time the beer and wine was flowing, the memories were flooding out and the audience were warmed up in every sense. It was time for the Interval.

          After the Interval came a new and refreshing act I'd not seen before. Exiled Kentishman Allan Richardson delivered a highly absorbing set of his own songs. Cleverly constructed and punchily delivered. All of them-even the more recent ones-tinged with a faint hint of irony and nostalgia for things lost. “The Clerical Worker's Song” “Hatfield” “Games In London,” the epic “Moving On” and the witty “ Air Shanty” were highlights. All with easy choruses and some funny one-liners. I was so impressed, I bought three of his albums!

        Plenty to sing along with too,as Katherine Fear followed. She was billed as solo but she'd had a horrible day at work and had recruited the rest of Daisybell to join her. A real bonus for the audience, who were really enjoying themselves now. The Ladies were excellent as usual. Anya and Ginny's meticulously orchestrated harmonies complimented Katherine's clever songwriting perfectly-“Miners Winter ” and “Foxes” were the highlight in a fine set of songs,for me.

         Up came Thrup'nny Bits to carry forward the momentum. In fine voice as ever,and with a new festive CD timed (hopefully?) for release in December. (But where was Spangle?). They carried on the theme admirably,with their usual élan and finely-wrought three-part harmonies. And with the interesting addition of Gareth and Des covering the Bee Gee's “New York Mining Disaster.”

          It was left to our hosts Campbell and Jan to close what had been a very successful and enjoyable  evening,with the whole Cast joining  with them on a final song,"The Golden Vanity." Nice..

Shining On with John Richards

       A lot of water has poured under a lot of bridges over the last few weeks and to my utter horror, I see it is exactly a month since I last posted on here.  Quite apart from John Kearney and I  appearing at Bedduff Rugby Club and Sly Old Dogs (to name a few) during this time, there has been a lot of work going into recording "Anker Folk",  writing new material,rehearsing with Nunc, reviewing CDs and networking with future NFC guests.

      So: just the one month on from Phil Hare's epic performance in September (and amidst considerably more ambient temperatures), last night we welcomed John Richards for the first time, to Nuneaton Folk Club. Of which (considerably) more later.

It'll end on the rope in the morning..

      It was a  gratifyingly large turnout for our First Wednesday, considering there were counter attractions down the A5 and apparently somewhere out in The Algarve. Where part of The North Warwickshire Massive had mobbed up to O.D. on Sangria and watch some old boys called Show of Hands.  
       The night started badly, with parking spaces nearby at a premium, and the gear having to be ferried across the busy road in relays. ( Conscious that Mick Stanley likes to take on passing traffic at this point, I was very wary of speeding cars as I shuffled mike stands boxes of leads and Raffle prizes to and fro  across the road).

       I am grateful to eagle-eyed Doreen Tiernan for reminding me beforehand that last night would mark  our Second  Birthday. Our initial launch at The Crown was the First Wednesday in October 2014. Last night was the 26th NFC shindig (we squashed in a couple of extra ones along the way). When it all began, parking was not a problem,but such is the success of the club and the Fitness Centre next to Dunelm that spaces in the area are now at a Premium. Even stars of stage and screen like me cannot park at the venue:I had to take my chances with the Lycra-clad ladies pouring in and out of the Gymn. The Law of that nice Mr. Sod dictated that the only space I could find there was virtually on the railway Overbridge.

        On one of these long journeys from car to pub I met John Richards (who was suffering a similar logistics dilemma) and the full complement of Away With The Fairies. Who, I confess, I had not been expecting until November. Having also mislaid the Club Banner and getting into a foul mood before even leaving home, I was as a host,struggling a little as 7pm drifted lazily by.

        Still, by a minor miracle, we found the banner,(Ta Jules!), found John Richards, and found a slot for AWTF. We got the P.A. rigged up in time for openers,thanks to not one but two Sound Engineers, Matt and Liam. ( Both very sound. Believe me). By 8pm the Stage Lights were frying artistes to a crisp golden brown and Nunc got the ceremonies under way by leding The Company in singing "Happy Birthday."

          John Kearney effortlessly won the battle of the Nunc shirts with a blindingly garish number featuring various Macaws. I would have killed for a shirt like that when I was in Black Parrot Seaside. Round Two is tonight at Warwick Words Festival. We shall see. I'm after you, Kearney.

John Kearney  nails the dodgy shirt contest

     Rising to John Richards's challenge to match the audience singing at Warwick Folk Club the other week, we got our crowd of reprobates going with " Twas On an April Morning,"  Richard Thompson's  " Down Where The Drunkards Roll," and "We Shall Overcome."

Nunc Bringing It On Home

          We then had an exciting NFC exclusive-the debut of The Wright Brothers. No...not the ones who first flew at Kittyhawk, (although Max and Chris are only a few years younger). Max is an NFC regular, and I know he was chuffed to have persuaded Chris back into the Nuneaton Folk circuit after such a long time away. Both once used to be in a band called The Nuneaton Wrakes. Disillusioned by the opening of The Suez Canal and the onset of The Boer war, they disbanded. 

Chris and Max Wright. Who needs Noel and Liam?

        I then wrongly introduced Pete McParland as The Polesworth Nightingale, whereas everyone knows that this is actually Mick Stanley. The Astley Avocet it was, who performed two songs of the usual quality. Mmm. Nice Waistcoat,Pete.

Pete Mac. The Ansley Avocet. (Or was it Astley?)

        David Parr ,doyen of the soon to be released album "Songs of Sex and Death," bounced up to give us a classic Rabbie Burns song  followed by a much loved version of "When I was a Little Wolf Cub."  David has a gift for delivering the raciest lyric in the most respectable and innocuous of tones.  Which just makes his delivery all the funnier.  This one definitely isn't appropriate for toasting one's sausage around a camp fire. David tells me the song is written by Party Roberts (no relation to Joe Roberts?)

David Parr. Naughty. Dib dib dib.

            Blues Division gave us two raunchy blues numbers and a nice arrangement of "Summertime"  which we all crooned huskily along with. Arnie spanked his guitar and Sophia looked at one stage as if she was going to spank Arnie, strutting her thang as she was, like a real Soul Mama.  

Blues Division give it some wellie. 

             Another debut thereafter, as Stockton Folk Club residents and multi-instrumentalists Away With The Fairies entertained us with three numbers and any number of dubious jokes about bus passes,Viagra and  Family Planning. A logistical challenge for us all this was some Fairies spurned the chairs provided at their request, whilst others sat down and then stood up again. Having told us all they didn't have much truck with modern Malarkey like microphones, they then muttered darkly about not having enough of them. A good Craic from them nevertheless,and three good songs. 

Away With The Fairies. Standing in this shot.

              Maria Barham, Saarfend songstress turned local (Coleshill) was on next. The ubiquitous Maria (She'll have to look that up-check it isn't defamatory), did a  version of "Eleanor Rigby"  which was was just delightful. Fresh from her  feature spot up the A444 last week. ( At Bedworth Folk Club-not actually on the Dual Carriageway), she always seems to conjure up something new or different. 

What are we going to do about Maria?

                 John Richards was our star guest, and he did two sets packed with excellent songs. The first one finished the first half. Ballads,songs of hope, adaptations,originals-no wonder so many other artistes admire him and cover his songs. Wonderful work on 
                     Nunc and a Jumbo raffle followed. (For the literal-minded,and for Karen Jones, no elephants were harmed during the latter). Thanks to the generosity of audience members who had donated prizes, we raised a lot of cash for a good cause,and a few people went home carrying a few more artifacts than they had arrived with.
                      And so it was left to John Richards to round off another superb evening with more wonderful songs. This Home's Got a Heart: Polly: The Deserter: Roaring Water Bay: If You Can Dance: Foundryman's Daughter.... no wonder there is always an army of performers eager to cover John's songs. No wonder there is always a queue of people eager to perform with him. On which note, what an honour it was to take to the stage with him for a rousing Finale and encore: the inspirational "Shine On", belted out enthusiastically by the audience, and sung together on stage by John Richards,Max,John Kearney, Maria and myself. A veritable SuperGroup..

John,Max,another John,Maria and Geoff. The Shining

                My thanks again go to the usual unsung heroes. The bar staff: Matt (and Liam) for Sound mixing and moral support: Flossie and Mags for operating the raffle so much more efficiently and more prettily than I ever could.

Flossie-whilst not selling raffle tickets

      Maria for helping us to clear the room afterwards. Jules for letting us have so much fun up there. John Smith, Max Wright ,Ray Buckler John Kearney and all those others who take such brilliant photographs. And of course, all those lovely people who keep turning up and who continue to say such nice things about the club. Upwards and Onwards. Into Year Three, then! 

Matt and Liam. Sound young men.