Bedworth Folk Festival 2014

No, you read the title above correctly. Tomorrow sees the 2013 Festival kick off, all right:  three days of Love, Peace and Good Vibes, man. (And woman) (And Ferret).  But last night saw 13 different acts raising the first funds towards next year's 2014 Festival.  (It helps to be prepared).

      Bedworth Folk Festival is unique in several ways. It is probably the U.K.'s  biggest Winter Festival. It is certainly a rarity, in being entirely Indoors. (No wellies are required except to access the Car Parks at a few of the venues beyond The Civic Hall. It includes Nationally known and loved and local acts. Without fear, favour or discrimination. That is, unlike some regional Folk Festivals, Bedworth  does not operate an unwritten Folk Apartheid Policy excluding anyone who is not part of some cosy Inner selection Cabal. And it sees "Warwickshire" as just that-not one small South-Eastern corner of the heavenly County.  Thus,  besides the visitors from afar you  can get to see an immense diversity of eclectic material at "Bedduff" and that is why performers and festival-goers embrace it each year so warmly.

      Last night saw Justin Archer, Joe Roberts, Dave Parr, Black Parrot Seaside, Maria Barham, Thru'ppnny Bits, John Kearney, Claire Latham, Terry Wisdom, Dave Fry , Phil Benson,  Malc and Gill and Brian and Marie Phillips crack on from 8.30 until late. Quite breathlessly at times. Both Justin and Claire I believe were that rare item "a Bedworth Virgin"-i.e. they appearing at a BFC venue for the first time. Justin sang one of my personal favourites from The Boss-"I'm On Fire"-and also gave us an interesting adaptation of an early Crystal's hit. Which most of us were old enough to be able to sing along with.   Joe sang  "Wabash Cannonball"  and I'm not quite sure what the other song was.

    That modest icon Terry Wisdom noodled quietly away in that inimitable, self-effacing way he has, singing "Ain't Misbehavin" and other nostalgic  classics with panache, elan and style. He and Jan are going to be doing a Black Bank Session in 2014. One not to miss. 

 

      Dave Fry had the audience rocking the walls and ceiling with a thunderous chorus of "Sweet Rose of Allandale."  Dave Parr performed solo and also later performed with two other acts. He did two slightly naughty songs solo- one of which was in every way Camp. Someone told me it was by Paddy Roberts-but I've not tracked it down yet.  I didn't have my pencil with me so I missed writing down all the other songs by other performers.But the mix was just stunning.

 

    The Black Parrot Seaside Bigger Band (us three,  supplemented by Dave Parr and Malc Gurnham)  knocked out ribald versions of "The Odeon" "Albert Balls" and "What a Folking Liberty" . It really did get rather noisy, with the chorus singing probably audible in Exhall.  However our rehearsals together have paid off- and the audience were able to laugh as much at the lyrics as at the missed chords.  I didn't miss a single cue this time, and we spent a lot of time in the right key(s).

 

   On then to the 2013 Festival, of which more later, and a busy 7 days for the various Parrot line-ups.  Do look us up if you're out and about.  And "Thrrrpppp!" to you, if you are not.
  

Over the hills and (not so) far away

      Another  gathering of the Sly Old Dogs and Friends last night, over at Monks Kirby. Earlier in the month than usual-timed so as not to conflict with the imminent Bedworth Folk Festival. http://www.bedworth-festival.info/       As it turned out, only a few of us performing there last night will actually be involved in this week's doings. 

 

    Stayaways last night  may have enjoyed X Factor and "Help I'm a Nonentity", but  they missed three bonus goodies, in the shape of Paco's Spoons, Paco's Stand-Up and Paco's Roast Potatoes. There was also (as always) some good music, a broad canvas of acoustic songs and plenty of healthy banter. Plus a hard stare from the Pub Alsatian, (probably potato-induced?), a remarkable display of ragtime guitar from a guest who sadly left after one song, and atmospherics provided by the power dipping periodically.

      

      The Dogs themselves,led by Pete Willow,  were pretty near at full strength with the exception of Richard Rider who was absent. And hadn't sent a note. They were certainly in fine fettle, and supplemented by Banjo Dave Evans, played some foot-stompin'  tunes with plenty of The Craic. They also added a few very mellow tunes also. Our audience slept fitfully, pounded the tables, read newspapers and returned choruses with only the enthusiasm a Sunday Night Bell crowd can do. Colin Squire and Martin Bushnell got very intense with something called The troll Walk. This involved real sheet music, and someone spotted the word "stave," which impressed all present. The troll took a little stumble over one very high rickety rackety bridge, but overall it was pretty impressive.

  

        Bob Brooker, as ever the  Fashionista, wore a very fetching Severn Valley Railway ensemble. His opening gambit was to slip the rug from underneath my feet by doing his own and very individual version of "Black Velvet Band." I am indebted to him for this, as it forced  me to sing something else and I'd  become lazy and over-reliant on using this as a crowd-pleaser/show stopper. And it's only really like me doing "Over The Hills" on evenings when Tony Super had intended to air it.

     So, having enjoyed Bob's "Kitten on helium" version of BVB, which fairly romped away, I introduced my first song by announcing that I was undecided on whether to start with "Bonny Light Horseman," or "Bridlington Quays." One of those is a Barnsley Nightingale song much beloved of Bob and the other is one of his. This was meant to be heavy irony . But Bob  was busy peering down the necks of various instruments  and missed this witty rejoinder entirely. I moved on to congratulate Colin Squire on singing something which had added Decorum. There were a few knitted brows at that, until I explained that this was just the Latin Name for Newcastle. I did "Peggy Gordon" for starters anyway, in case Bob had it lined up for later in the evening.

 

    Phil Benson had come along and between us we shamelessly plugged Black Parrot Seaside's Christmas Party at Atherstone Folk Club's on the 18th December. (Have I mentioned that?). He also did a couple of Keith Marsden songs. He likes KM does Phil.  

     Later,and inspired by one of Paco's  funny stories about a Spanish gentleman and his inability to differentiate between a Ram and a motorcycle, I  mused on Nuneaton Town's many jousts with Welsh football teams. I spoke some Welsh (I am  fluent in at least two phrases), and observed that any football supporters' songs about Sheep or wellingtons could nowadays get you arrested-anywhere from Wrexham to Newport. I also confided that my favourite animal joke concerns a Bear and a Rabbit, but is absolutely filthy. John Lewis  material it is not. I told them that we did a Beyonce cover about a Goat, and then with the audience now suitably baffled, I gave them a rendition of "Raglan Road." This time in a very high key, just to keep them all on their toes.

    We positively romped along through the third of three halves, and I finished my own contribution with " Lakes Of Ponchartrain." It was during this very moving rendition that the silver salver of (free!) Roast Potatoes arrived. Via the kitchens and  unseen by most of the audience. The other musicians couldn't reach them without pushing me aside,  and so without breaking stride or verse, I moved to the plate,  swept up a Roastie and a serviette, and deposited them both back on the table where I'd been sitting. That got a laugh. But then...I meant it to.

     

Ridge Lane Military Two Step

     Another wild and windy trip last night,  back across the Nuneaton Alps. For November's session at Atherstone Folk Club. Where the Featured Guests were Thrup'nny Bits.  On arrival, I parked up The Saladdin, hastily removed my bearskin and entered the premises.I soon discovered I had been duped by Club Organiser Phil Benson's into believing his Cock and Bull story about this month's session being entirely  military themed. This turned out to be not universally adhered to. Unless Donovan's "Colours" has some kind of reference to Tobruk in it, which I've somehow missed. Few songs anyone performed last night  had a direct link to the Military, although Resident House Band Finger in the Jar gave it a decent shot, in their two spots.  What a good job it was then, that I had  resisted the urge to wear full Gordon Highlander Dress Uniform whilst doing my "floor spot."

 

     Like a fool however, I had conscientiously prepared and rehearsed two appropriately martial songs, with the poignant proximity of Remembrance Sunday still fresh in my mind. I wasn't going to abandon all that  work I'd put in beforehand. I would not simply resort to some safer and more familiar Diddley Diddly music. Oh no. Edgy Leftfield material-as always.

    I thought I'd learned the words to Billy Bragg's "Between The Wars," sufficiently, but as it happened, the work I'd put in on this wasn't quite thorough enough. I sang it o.k. but I had to resort to the comfort of a lyric sheet on a nearby music stand more than once. Troubled also by a slight bout of Ridge Lane Flu (probably the altitude?) my larynx dried out so badly whilst singing this, that I had to take a slug of Goat's Milk (3.8%) to fortify myself before continuing. 

 

     Suitably recovered, I plugged several up and coming events featuring  many of  those present. I then set about  regaling the audience with "The Old Barbed Wire." What could go wrong with that trustworthy old Army standby? I sang the truncated and bowdlerised version which BPS used to perform in the 1970's. It went well enough, with the audience  singing verse and chorus along with me.  I felt that the full 20 minute version (the one where the role of each rank serving in the trenches of WW1 is individually visited and scrutinised, and ultimately, the whole Battalion end up impaled) was not suitable. However,I was reprimanded afterwards for not doing the version so beloved of NAAFIs from Catterick to Bovey Tracey.  Wikpedia confirms that there are actually several variants of OBW (besides ours), and even that Chumbawamba recorded a version  in 2003. The only commonality in all these versions is that Officers did not like it.  Apparently. 
  Sometimes, you just can't win.  I should have  done "Chicken on A Raft " instead. I had it in my pocket. (The words-not a fried egg on fried bread, which is Royal Navy Slang for this delicacy- hence "Chicken on a Raft" ).    I guess I'm on a charge, now. Jankers for me.

Here's a Mark Rider photo of me ruining Barbed Wire. You can see the back of my head as well. it's a wonder they weren't all blinded by the reflected light. That's a pukka Church End Brewery ad. on the wall in the background, by the way  

 

    There were some collectors items last night. A club debut from Peter McPartland, a singer with a really nice voice and a pleasing guitar style.  A song from Steve Beeson that was under eight minutes. (Sorry, Steve!). Two and a half songs from lovely local girl (via Saarfend), Maria Barham.  And the novelty of seeing Malc Gurnham and Gill Gilsenan heckling on the front row. When one is more used to that situation being reversed. A return to the Folk circuit for that demi-Legend John Meacham. John's had  an even longer break away from it than we had. It took several pints of Sadler's in the Felix Holt to persuade him back. John's now on a promise to join the BPS Collective for a tune at Ridge Lane next month.

 

    Two songs from a substantial portion of Green Man Rising-Steve Bentley and Andrew-preceded my little cameo.  Rousing stuff as ever from the Risings, with keeping one's feet still an impossibility throughout their slot. The Thrup'nnys then returned for a second feature. Gaz, Babs n' Dez (they'll kill me for that!)  did two excellent slots, whilst various members of the audience virtually fought over who could have custody of the dog each time they performed. It was light and shade stuff from them. Some stirring ballads: one very rude (but clever) song superbly enacted, and even a rather lovely early Christmas Carol.   The audience were also treated to not one but two separate renditions of a Sydney Carter classic, "John Ball."  One from The T. Bits and one from The Fingers. Hopefully those two bands will never merge. "Finger in The Bits" is just wrong on so many counts. Both very different: both equally enjoyable: each one having a different bird doing the carolling in the morning.  

 

   Only one tiny grumble over an otherwise totally enjoyable night-the miserable crew who slunk out at the interval so they wouldn't have to buy a raffle ticket. Not the first time they've done this-they have previous form!  Scrooge Lives! I won the raffle for them, but decided to re-donate the prize for next month's do at Atherstone. Which, I can reveal as an Exclusive here will see all proceeds that night donated to Nuneaton's Food Bank. http://nuneaton.foodbank.org.uk/

 

Now sod the John Lewis advert and their soppy cartoon bear-can you possibly get any more Christmassy than that?  Can't wait for December's session-who's on that night?

Bedworth Folk Festival and December 2013 Appearances/Updates

Bedworth Folk Festival 2013 http://www.bedworth-festival.info/

 

Hot-off-the-Press  information for any Bedworth Festival goers. We are making two appearances here, both on Saturday 30th November. One is early Saturday afternoon, in  the FM Lounge, upstairs in  The Civic Hall from 12.45 to 1.25. That's 40 minutes in old money, so do look us up if you're out and about. The same date, but in the  evening, we are part of a show compered by Bill Bates, appearing at Bedworth Rugby Club. We're scheduled to be playing for half an hour there, some time around 9.10pm.  It seems highly likely that for both of those slots, our usual three-piece format will be supplemented by BPS Collective members Dave Parr and Festival organiser Malc Gurnham.

 

Hinckley Act http://hinckleyact.co.uk/

  Only a  few days after the Festival,  Wednesday December 4th ,Black Parrot Seaside will be hosting the "Club Night"  at Hinckley Act. This should mean an extended slot from us and some fair banter whilst introducing the other guests. This is a decent club with excellent facilities, and it's easy-access/parking, off the A5, in a modern Industrial unit rather than in Hinckley itself. Admission is £3 members £4 non-members. There is a strong possibility that we will be joined on stage that night by Malc and Dave. Earlier that same day, there's the threat of some Cabaret which may involve some BPS members, at The Larder, a WW2-themed café   in Atherstone.

Atherstone Folk Club: http://www.atherstonefolkclub.org.uk/

    And for a December finale...on Wednesday December 18th, Black Parrot Seaside are honoured to be  leading Christmas Festivities at Atherstone Folk Club, which is based at The Church End Brewery Tap, Ridge Lane Nuneaton.     Again, this event is likely to feature the fully extended BPS Big Band sound-we've  already had a promise from John Meacham to make a guest appearance, for example. Can you really afford to miss some very special adaptations  of Christmas Songs and carols that night? Or Festive versions of  "The Whistler", and our twin homages to Folk Clubs and Folk Musicians? In which Audience participation is not only  guaranteed-it is mandatory? And wherein appropriate Seasonal Fancy Dress is recommended/advised?  If all this sounds like a little too much excitement,  you could always just sit and drink the excellent beer in the other room, and listen to the mayhem.  Despite the massive entertainment level, this event is FREE-the only one of the above (other than the Café) to be so.