Fund Raiser at Beduff

A grand night at Bedworth RFC clubhouse last night, as Blind Boy and myself made a late decision to attend Bedworth Folk Club's Fund Raiser.

It's good to see this venue so busy. BFC at the Con Club was never one of our favourite venues, and attendances were really dwindling last time we played it. (Not our fault, honestly). Last night it was rammed. Standing room only.

It was good to catch up on news and gossip, and touch base with old friends like Malc and Gilly, Brian and Marie and Pete and Chele Willow. Yes, BPS have still got plenty of friends in the Folk/Blues world!

Musically, there was a bit of everything on offer. Country, Blues, Trad folk, self-penned stuff, the inimitable Joe ("Up The Boro'!), Beatles and Buddy Holly covers. Well done to all.

Mick was away "golfing" (we reckon that's his euphemism for attending the Royal Wedding), so it was just Blind Boy and me. An opportunity for BPS to air their Blues repertoire again then, so we did " If I Had Possession" and "The Odeon."

"Possession" is a Robert Johnson original, also covered by some bloke called Clapton. It has several challenges for me as a vocalist. (No pressure then).

We don't do it that often so I had to brush up on the lyrics before I left home. It begins in an unusually high pitch for my range and if I don't hit that first note right it throws me and occasionally also temporarily fazes the Great Bluesman himself. I was born n' raised on this "Dust my Broom " riff,so I know versions by Elmore James (dozens!) Johnny Winter, PGFM, Taj Mahal, Spencer Davis Group, Cream, Bluesbreakers etc. All with various alter egos such as
" Rambling Pony" "Rolling and Tumbling" etc. All imprinted in my sad old head. I have to blank these versions out and concentrate on Arnie's magnificent Dobro intro to get that opening right.

Odeon went as it always did, although due to a surfeit of San Miguel I totally fluffed the lines about Ha'penny Chews and Sherbet Dips. Don't think anyone noticed though.


As a Blues Bonus we also joined in with Borderline Crossing's Finale, "Bring It On Home." I think I'm right in saying that BPS performed this glorious Sam Cooke song at the same venue last time we were there. Honoured to have Pete Willow describe my vocals in it as "like Dr. John." I am not worthy. Pete and The Parrot go back at least 30 years and we can prove it! He has championed our em, "distinctive" style and song catalogue throughout that time. In the Press, by booking us at venues,and by belting out our choruses at gigs. But rarely have we shared a stage together. He reckons the last time was at The Bulls Head Club we once ran in Brinklow. He could well be right. Let's not leave it so long next time, eh?

Parrot and Friends at The Sty Folk Club

Sunday May 8th 2011 sees the band doing a couple of feature spots each side of the interval at this venue in Coventry. It is a club we have visited before, and it marks a welcome return to our home town-our last appearances there being at The Maudslay "Reunion" in March 2011 and at the erstwhile Tin Angel last Autumn.

The full four piece format will perform the usual eclectic mix of traditional folk and blues numbers with some self-penned comedy songs and scathing satire. We guarantee to feature a few of our newer numbers not on the "Aint It Grand" album such as "Albert Balls," "Courting is a Pleasure" (Nic Jones) and "The Gravy Train" We also hope to air old favourites such as "The Bold Pirate" and " D.I.Y."

The friends we hope to bring along will include Malc Gurnham and Gil Gilsenan, and Phutnote.

For Nuneaton Town fanatic and singer Geoff, the evening will involve a cross-country rush back from a Conference play-off semi final somewhere in the U.K. Arriving breathless, and either demoralised or ecstatic depending on the final score. Hopefully not hoarse though, whatever the result.

Belated Match Report on The Maudslay

Another Interesting Sunday Evening March 27th at a Good Old pub in Good Old downtown Coventry. A venue we've played several times before.

Cancer Research Fund-raiser. Artistes appearing:

Pete Grassby:
Sarah Bennett and Friends:
A Finbarr who was billed as Furey but who turned out not to be:
Kev Dempsey:
Threepenny Bit:
Katherine Fear and Jon Harrington
Sean Cannon
Jan and that other blokey

and finishing the evening yours truly...Black Parrot Seaside.

Nice to be, um...headlining again..

We did:
The Gravy Train
Courting is a Pleasure:
Albert Balls
Midlands Lullaby