Three of us are hoping to make a cameo appearance at a relatively new venue The Miner's Arms in Bedworth tomorrow. Part of a recently-launched "Free and Easy" Folk session.
One of the difficulties with being a four-piece band (as opposed to a solo singer-songwriter), is matching availabilities to gigs offered. You don't need to be a mathematician to work out that this quadruples the variables for us, making the probability of accepting a date much more hypothethical. Framed in clearer English-we find it tough finding days each month when we can rehearse/play a venue. We have to operate a matrix in fact, with all holidays,family commitments,work schedules, gigs etc, inked in, months in advance. It doesn't leave much free time for Folking about.
For example, at one time this summer we potentially had ten places who had either offered or requested an appearance from us. (This is besides those venues who have asked us to get back in touch with them for a return spot) Both The Crown and The Horseshoes in Nuneaton are cracking Real Ale pubs for example, who put on Live Music. Julian and Mark have both said they'd like to put us on at their pubs. The Boat in Newbold would like us back after our erm, triumphal debut there last month. (See below). The Blue Pig in Wolvey is always ready to welcome us back. Plus we had invites to four private Summer functions, (all declined) and longstanding floor spots offered at Hinckley Act and The Miners Arms in Bedworth which we've yet to take up.
Personally, I really regret us not being able to play together publicly more. It seems so ironic that we got back together in 2006 after a huge gap (30years) and we're now writing and performing together as well as ever. If not better. It's very frustrating that we cannot do more. Also, being so evasive doesn't go down well with some publicans and/or promoters-I quite understand that. Speaking for myself I'd be much happier doing at least one floor spot a week. However, the other three lads cannot manage that and as I don't play an instrument that leaves our options fairly limited.
However: besides the Miners, two new diary dates are confirmed for the Autumn. Like London buses-suddenly two come along at once. We are definitely on the bill for Bedworth Folk Festival in November. We don't know on which days or where. As soon as we do I'll put more info on here. And we're delighted to reveal that we'll be taking a fuller Parrot Show back to The Boat on November 21st.
I think we've proved with our floor spot format wherever we go that we can do traditional and comedy folk combined. However, floor spots mean that you have to minimise the visual, cut down on the gags and keep introductions short and sweet. Hopefully at The Boat and Beduff we'll be able to share once again with an audience, numbers such as "The Wag of Shop 14" with the immortal Ryton Spanner Dance, and that homage to Folk Clubs everywhere " The Septic Monkey" with its spoof raffle. It would be nice also once more to air (if you'll forgive the pun)"Manure." And "The Bold Pirate" alongside a canal would be apt. (Or should that be "aft"?) Doesn't everyone love a watery swipe at over-cautious Health and Safety bureaucracy?
