NFC Wednesday 3rd January

        Several times in the all too frantic lead-up heading towards the first NFC session of 2018 at The Crown, I felt (again) at times like just walking away from it all. To say a small crew of us moved mountains to ensure that another very successful night took place is only just an exaggeration. We only made it, literally, within minutes of opening time. Dave Smart, Mags and I were at work by midday Wednesday, setting the sound up,preparing posters,helping to clear the room and getting the stage ready. 

       Least of our worries beforehand was the ever reliable,value for money entertainer who was our Guest-the very talented Geoff Higginbottom. Making his second visit to NFC, he is an organiser's delight. Funny,professional, with voice projection that would reach all corners of a big room like ours,amplified or not, he is a safe bet. The end of 2017 was not always kind to him but we kept in touch so I knew well before Wednesday that he was still coming and raring to go. Despite travelling from (and back) to Stockport,he was there well in time for a sound check, kept to time  and kept our audience thoroughly entertained and amused.

            There was a little bit of excitement among the other performers beforehand, with rehearsals cancelled,re-arranged or hastily reconvened.  Yet a whole host of flexible and supportive musicians co-operated to make sure that the various collaborations which had looked good planned out on paper, finally  for the most part,actually happened.

       As NuncMonkey will be featured guests at The nearby Anker Tavern later this month, we thought as an opener, we could share part of our set list with the audience. Flossy was

unfortunately poleaxed again by illness,so we had to hastily rearrange what we had planned. We did manage to assemble four of us :Jon Harrington (harp) and Paul Moore (guitar) from Blues Monkey, supplemented by John Kearney and myself from Nunc.  

NuncMonkey.  Howlin' The Blues

         With no prior rehearsals,  together we just managed to scramble on stage by 8pm We did “Bring It On Home,” “Knocking on Heaven's Door” and “How Long Blues,” sharing the vocals and choruses out in Flossy's absence, and with some sterling vocal support from a sizable audience.

             Jon and Paul then stayed on, as JK and I took our leave to thunderous applause. (Well..polite clapping, anyway).   Paul was booked to do the second floor spot. More harp blowing from Jon and excellent guitar work followed.

              Nuneaton's Dragonhead-in the shape of John and Ann Harris then arrived on stage and gave us a few energetic Rock and Roll songs including an Elvis cover. It  was uncannily like The King himself had it not been for the fact he seldom wore a flat cap. 

               Bob Brooker was also in excellent form and started his little cameo with an immaculate hornpipe which he had composed himself. That certainly got feet tapping,and Bob continued the nautical theme with a song about his beloved Whitby. He also wore a flat cap and we were beginning to suspect that some of our guests were under the influence of the Peaky Blinders. A rumour went round that Bob had a dangerous weapon sewn into the lining of his hat. A plectrum. He finished his spot with "That was before I met you." Bob later confided that, with it being such a jamming type of evening, he had previously accompanied Nunc on "Knocking On heaven's Door in several venues,and was halfway onto his feet before realising he was going to sit that one out. . He's quite right. We forgot to ask him up. 

Peaky Brookers

       Those mischievous imps Colin and Karen, aka KC Jones, followed on, maintaining the momentum with their delightful version of the achingly mournful Mary Black song, "Sunny"  One of my favourite KCJ numbers. One of Karen's own songs "Destiny" followed, before they sprang a nasty surprise on everyone in the room but me. A few days previously they had invited me to a rehearsal and suggested that I joined them as guest vocalist on the Carole King song " Will You Still Love Me?" .  We had a brief and secret run through on New Years Day, as, although it is a part of their repertoire, I've never sung it in my life before. A very game gesture on their part, I felt. So here's the proof. And I still had my hands in my pockets! 

The Old KCJ and G

      Well the audience were ready for anything now,and that was exactly what they got. Malc Gurnham. He started solo...but not for long. 

On his second song..up came John Harrington again. .And on his third number,,always keen on surrounding himself with The Ladies, Malc called up Karen Jones and Kathleen Fear to add harmonies to a new venture. And here they are.

      No wonder Malc was smiling

. The audience were  by now thoroughly warmed up and ready for Geoff's first set, the shorter of the two. He roared into his opening number and maintained a quickfire pace as he delivered songs,quips, puns, asides,stories, anecdotes and a few poems what he wrote. Suffice to say these made Brian Phillips and John B. Smith seem like W.H.Auden and T.S. Eliot. 

         There was barely time to catch one's breath, with a raffle and a beer break, before we were off again at breakneck speed with the same heady mixture. Out came Woody, the little dancing Man (and that's not a euphemism), as Geoff pounded away at his plank (and neither is that) whilst the pair of them gave "South Australia" the full works.

          We had "Copperhead Road"  "Vincent Black Lightning " and many more favourites. No wonder he got a fully deserved encore and a virtual standing ovation. His unique version of "House of The Rising Sun " featuring two Geoff Higginbottoms, was truly memorable.      

           It is a tribute to the success of Nuneaton Folk Club that in among the audience (as there often is) I counted more than a dozen quality musicians, scattered about the room. Not drawn in by a floor spot but they were there supporting a local Folk Club and just  determined to enjoy the fun. Dave Cook, Wes Hall,Kathleen Fear,Sue Sanders,Brian Jordan Alan Birkett,and Max Wright all there, for example.  Hopefully we'll  be able to entice a few more  up onto the stage during 2018. 

        Aye, it were a grand night. The photographs are courtesy of Ray Buckler,Max Wright and Sue Sanders.. Here finally, to capture the happy ambience of the evening is my favourite. Left to right,Bob Brooker,Malc Gurnham and Geoff Higginbottom in party mood. Or is it the remake of Last Of The Summer Wine?