Bedworth Folk Club Wednesday 9th September
Scarecrow? Well frankly, they were a disgrace. I hated them. Their professionalism: their musicianship:their versatility: their harmonies.
No, evidently, I'm being ironic. I loved them. It is rare, being a grizzled old,cynical fogey like me, (one who has been on and off the Folk scene far too long and whose first band was the Woolly Mammoths), that any artiste(s) can keep me fully absorbed. Scarecrow managed to do this last Wednesday night. They had come to Nuneaton Folk Club in May to do a floor spot, and I booked them back on the strength of it. They were ruddy good then, but here, with two extended sets at BFC's swish new Newdigate Club base, a lively audience had ample time to appreciate in full, their talents. Duelling Flutes, Tin whistle and pipes battles, electric bass, mandolin, guitars and percussion-I lost count of the instrument changes. A broad, wide-ranging set list, featured an eclectic range of material and (understandably) they were unafraid to include instrumental pieces also. Quality entertainment.
With an affable, pleasant stage presence, and a detailed but suitably succinct explanation of each song's background, there was nothing not to like about them. I found myself wistfully thinking back to a time when four Parrots could occasionally kindle that kind of quality, but unlike Scarecrow, we could not, collectively, sustain it.
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| Scarecrow can get stuffed. (see what I did there?) |
Malc and Gill were in fine voice -it was good to hear "Caledonia " being aired again. Dave Webb gave us a couple of Narrations, one about his mate Albert, and another (just for a change) about Mining. Not local 'uns neither, but colliers from up North East Way. ( I think). Dave Parr treated us to some lovely guitar licks, and a very distinctive, original version of "Matty Groves". The Atherstone Contingent were all over the Club like a rash: first Phil did one unaccompanied then Steve and Anne joined him to give us a Finger In The Jar number, and finally, Steve was left to finish their slot solo with a Dylan Song. Brian Phillips made everybody's jaw drop with a Blues featuring some excellent musical dexterity, but would insist on treating us to another one of his um, poems. Brian punned away unmercifully, until the audience were virtually pleading for mercy.
I took the opportunity to do two songs with a local theme. "On Bedd'uth Bank" (the Workshop version), and a new one, " Bowling Along." With the floodlit green outside still in use as we opened, this anthem to the lads and lasses of Warwickshire who go out Crown and Flat Bowling, seemed particularly appropriate well received.
Scarecrow will be back at Nuneaton Folk Club on February 3rd 2016. If you can't wait until then, they are part of Bedworth Folk Festival's star-studded line up this November. Either way, I hope they bring Worzel Gummidge with them next time.
