Host Pete Willow last night jokingly referred to a " Shrewsbury Fringe ," at the monthly gathering of Sly Old Dogs and Friends at The Bell Inn in Monks Kirby. Numbers were down, with it being a Bank Holiday. Certainly, one or two notable faces (and beards) were missing, but that did not detract from a broad selection of songs and tunes on offer from the assembled Company. Nor some robust singing from an enthusiastic and "lively" (in the educational sense) audience. Oh dear me no.
Quite apart from whole quaysides of traditional tunes, regiments of woeful soldiers and complete encampments of travelling folk, we had contemporary stuff too. The work of Leon Rosselson, Dougie Mclean, Bobby Womack, Pink Floyd, Sandy Denny, Graham Nash and Paul Brady were all represented. There were several "firsts," too from performers, with Pete Willow, Bob Brooker and myself amongst those trying out new material. In my case, Black Parrot Seaside are tinkering in the workshops with (finally!) doing some 'Stones and Beatles numbers. We'd practised a pretty different arrangement of an early Stones hit-"It's All Over Now," last week and so I thought I'd give a version of it an airing last night at The Bell. I also sang "Lakes of Ponchartain," and the perennial "Black Velvet Band."
Mick Barwell, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist sat next to Bob Brooker-who is another one. Between them they added depth to the triple guitars of Pete, Richard Rider and Cheryl. I've not seen or heard a lot of Mick previously. I was suitably impressed. Nice choice of songs from him, too. It was left to myself and Tony Super to do the unaccompanied stuff, although at these events once the " House Orchestra " has assimilated the key, tone,speed and pitch (in my case!) of a number, they will cheerfully plough along providing an accompaniment.
During the first of three halves, a guy whose name I didn't quite catch came up and, borrowing Pete's guitar, he sang and played a very good version of "Dirty Old Town." He got deserved applause for that. No guest appearance though last night, from Mine Host, Paco. He was most probably occupied serving up the Roast potatoes which were provided for us all as a welcome (and free!) snack during the final "half."
Late on there was a highly enjoyable romp through the instrumental "The Trumpet Hornpipe," better known as The Captain Pugwash theme. A few people said afterwards how much they enjoyed hearing this tune again, and how it was a shame that no-one does it any more. I was too shy to point out that we've been doing it for about 30 years now, as the accompaniment to "The Wag Of Shop 14." This song, complete with a Lathe Shanty and the Ryton Spanner Dance included when we do it "live," is a look back at when towns and cities in the Midlands actually had a manufacturing Industry. It's probably the only version to be performed in a cowgown.
