A CONCERT FOR JUDITH-JUNE 28TH

MAUDSLAY HOTEL, COVENTRY, SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 2009. FREE ADMISSION. STARTS 8PM

RAFFLE AND COLLECTION IN AID OF MYTON HOSPICE

ALREADY APPEARING:

NORMAN WHEATLEY....LAZYMANZFLUTE...MAGGIE COLEMAN....TANZA.....PHUTNOTE...ROD FELTON...BLACK PARROT SEASIDE.....

A brief REMINDER here about what we (Black Parrot Seaside) are doing, and why.

Many of you know we've been around as a Folk Band since the late 1970's. ( O.k. we had a Gap Decade or two, but in 2006 we accepted an invitation to reform for a one-off Charity Fund Raiser in Brinklow). But it wasn't a one off. We got back into the swing of things,and many local venues began to book us. We did floor spots elsewhere when and where we could. Our four-way work commitments meant that we were a little more elusive than some artistes, and when there are four of you, logistics in accepting a booking are four times more difficult. But Things were going well. Festivals, Radio, a CD-it was a lovely second chance for four Old Fogeys which we never thought we'd have.

We are a close unit. We have known each other as friends for over 35 years. The guitarist and I have known each other since 1961. So we were devastated to hear at the start of this year, that his wife Judith was terminally ill. The diagnosis was sudden: the decline brutal: the ending in February of this year was swift, but very traumatic for all of us.

It looked as if we would fold again, but amongst Judith's last instructions were,
" Don't let the boys down." So he's gritted his teeth and wiped away his tears and forced himself to get back into music. Some of you may have seen us since we finally got back into public performance. We've appeared as a two-piece, a three piece, as solo artistes and as the original four piece line Vinyl up. It was really hard at times, to be honest. But several Folk clubs-and Bedworth in particular-have been VERY supportive to us.

We agreed when we got back together a third time, to organise a Concert For Judith this summer, as a Fundraiser. This would have the effect of supporting Myton Hospice where she died, and celebrating her life.

Judith's ashes are being scattered somewhere on the Roseland Peninsula at this very moment-another late pledge they made to each other. It's an odd thought. We played and entertained at their wedding only a couple of years ago-and now this.

Please help us if you can, to put something back into a very worthy cause, and to remember a really nice lady. Come along in droves, drink lots of beer, listen to some ace music and buy loads of raffle tickets.

Thanks for reading.

Keep On Squawkin'

A busy week this week. Mondays rehearsing (Yes we do, whatever people might think of our live appearances!) And Tuesday out to The Green Man at Long Itchington. It was not my first time at this pub. I rather overdid the circuit on the Long Itchington Beer Festival in 2008 there and had a little bit of Tickers Tummy afterwards. But this was our first time at the Folk Club there, and I enjoyed it. It was as you youngsters would say, absolutely rammed:packed to the gunwhales, with steam trickling down the windows. Just how Folk Clubs used to be.

A good programme, featuring Alan Sprung first and our old mates Malc Gurnham and Gilly, second. Alan turned out to be an old mate too, as it happened. We discovered we went to the same school as him. In the same Year Group in fact. A very high standard of floor singers, so we were lucky to get a spot, even having made a fifty mile round journey to get there. Being without our multi-instrumentalist Mick, we did " The Odeon" and " Requiem For Steam." Both were a bit serious for us, and in stark contrast to the superbly hyped up intro which Martin had given us. (Thanks for that Martin-we'll try to be a lot sillier next time). Both went well. There were quite a few people there who'd seen us before, so the choruses to The Odeon were particularly rousing.

Excellent performances from compere Martin (Warwick Folk Club) and Pam (host/organiser,) were followed by Guitar dexterity from Styvechale Folk Club's Rob, and Dave Fry having a bit of a knees up. Sorry Dave-I'm sure the surgery will hold up. A band new to me, "Green Man Rising " virtually filled the place on their own and did three numbers featuring so many instruments I lost count. Alan did his bit, with some thought provoking material and Maggie Coleman added her contribution.

On Wednesday I did a solo spot at Bedworth Folk Club. Geoff Higginbottom was the featured act and he was excellent. Something for everyone there. Traditional, comedy, everything from Sea Shanties to Richard Thompson. I did three Parrot Songs that don't feature that often in setlists, but which do have a place in our history.

I started with a traditional song "The Lincolnshire Poacher." We used to do four part harmonies on this, but I sang it alone and unaccompanied. "Bonio Romeo" followed-one of our own we haven't done since John Walker on electric guitar days. It was a dogged performance, even though I was terrier-fied. I finished with one of the Blues songs we do," Struggling Again." Being an Anker Delta worksong featuring Morris Marinas and monthly pay, although this has a traditional 12 bar form, the lyrics are as you might expect from a band of our genre. I greatly missed Blind Boy's Fender thrumming along behind me, and perhaps I should have brought the harmonica. Anyway it all got polite applause, and nobody walked out.

We were also able to confirm that all four of us-The Full Black Parrot Seaside package in all its glory-will be hosting BFC's Christmas Party at Bedworth Rugby Club on 16th December. You have been warned. Another Rugby club nearer home is Newbold, where we are featured on July 19th. We're at Bedduth again in a couple of weeks time, and at The Maudslay in Coventry on June 28th. Of which more on here later.