Good to be back in the welcoming arms of The Bell Inn for another Sunday Night "Sly Old Dogs" ( and friends) session over the weekend. The Sly's were pretty well at full strength, with only Nigel Ward missing. Paul Kelly was missing to start with, but arrived late, making a spectacular and noisy entrance.
Supplemented by various other musicians, we ran (barked?)through three halves of mostly (but not exclusively) traditional music. Aside from the excellent and mostly ribald SOD's repertoire, Rob Halligan, Banjo Dave Paterson, Cheryl, and myself added a few extra numbers. Highlights for me included Bob Brooker's emotional performance of Eric Bogle's classic "Waltzing Matilda"-poignant for obvious reasons, with Gallipolli fresh in everyone's minds. I always admire too, Richard Ryder's epic long sustained single note on his tuba and I also enjoyed an enlightening and educative rant by John McIntosh, who railed (quite justifiably) against Stratford Council's pernicious attempts to derail the excellent and benign Long Itchington Beer Festival. ( I've been to them-there is no disorder! Except when John has forgotten his house keys). Another high spot (obviously-he told me to say that) was The Bell landlord Paco, expertly playing the spoons during a couple of numbers.
It was good to see Mick Stanley and other Comharsa members in the audience. It was Mick who was seriously injured in an RTA outside Nuneaton Folk Club last November. Mick has already ticked off The Larder, Atherstone Folk Club and Beduff on his long road back to full mobility, and he has made one of his convalescence targets getting up the stairs at The Crown for Sean Cannons debut (and Comharsa's) there in July.
Thanks to my Minders, Steve and Martyn, I was able to enjoy the full evening without having to leave early. I sang "Raglan Road" and at last had a chance to air "Lord of The Dance" there. I continue to practise this song solo before it is added to Nunc's growing repertoire. I was honoured to be invited to conclude the evening by leading the Company in a rousing version of "Black Velvet Band." It is always a pleasure to warble this song accompanied by a substantially gifted Folk orchestra and an enthusiastic audience. We even had time to add on " Go Lassie Go," leaving (nearly) everyone toddling home happy.
