You could hardly move for cameras at this Bedworth Folk Club Session at The Rugby Club venue last night. There were so many lenses snapping ( "do lenses snap?"-Ed.) that last night was like performing in the front window of Jessups or Dixons. (Ah! Great High Street names from the past!). They must have known we were coming. ( Actually, a few people did, as local Radio had already given some airplay earlier in the day to, "Midlands Lullaby." Part of an interview with Malc Gurnham, promoting the Festival. Someone in the club last night told me that the presenter had declared on air that my singing was better than Cilla Black's version. .I'm still thinking about that.
The place looks empty in this shot, which proves how the camera can lie sometimes. The evening was intended as a Festival Fund Raiser, and things went pretty well on that front. It was actually a good turnout. We are (sensibly) sited at the far end of the room, next to the Fire Exit just in case things turn nasty. ( It is Beduff, remember). The audience are all (sensibly) clustered round the bar, or gathered at the opposite end of the room near the main exit. Must bring some WD 40 with me next time I play this club, for that damn door. Nothing as off-putting, during a lovely haunting ballad, as a loud farting noise when someone tries to sneak out to the toilets. Spoils the moment completely.
There were some real Collector's Items at last night. First half, they included Atherstone Folk Club host Phil Benson doing a solo spot: the inimitable Joe Roberts proving that his heckling is every bit as loud and unfathomable as his singing and Dave Fry-still in shorts. Also we saw and heard temporary Pom Ian Bland doing a couple of songs-one light..one ooh...just a little dark!
We had Nigel singing his first number impeccably, then corpsing his way through a Nic Jones song about Napoleon. And Maria Barham, local Folk Diva, separated from Siamese twin Carole Palmer, and looking tanned and relaxed. Except when searching for plectrums and spotting (half way through a number) that the capo had been clipped to the guitar neck perhaps a little too casually. Maria's stuff was as always impeccably delivered. So much so that we had a few more tunes from her second half.
We had Dave Parr (second from right on the photo), grumbling about the onset of Winter and then doing a second half solo recitation of The Rawntenstall Fair. We had Malc and Gil taking us through their repertoire of songs. And a surprise guest spot from the nationally known Tony Portlock, who is due to appear at the club again shortly.
We all have excruciating moments, and one of mine last night was greeting Tony effusively, and reminding him that I compered a show featuring him and several other notables at a Fol Festival last Autumn. He did not greet me effusively back. He glared down at me suspiciously (He's a Big Unit is Tony), and you could see him thinking, " who the **** is this dickhead?" Obviously, I'd had a big affect on him.
We were on late in the second half. Warming up for Malc and Gill to finish the evening. We commenced with "Lakes of Ponchartrain." To follow, after several baffling false starts, we finally got "Need Your Love So Bad" under way. "Bad" being the operative word. We then concluded with old BPS standards "On Bedduth Bank" and " What a Folking Liberty." Onwards and upwards. (Get back into bed, Mr. Crockett).
