A (Second) Hair of The Dog

      The Sunday Night Shenanigans out at the aptly named Willey proved to be every bit as good an evening as the first one. Last night at The Wood Farm Brewery Tap, many there I think, had spent a merry family Sunday, and everybody except the bar staff was on holiday. 
    I had been to a Fancy Dress Party until 3am Sunday morning (see below) and then after a few hours of sleep we later indulged various sons & daughters all day Sunday in an orgy of Pinot Noir, Real Ale, Roast Lamb and Lindt. (Though not all at the same time). During a boozy afternoon a greyhound and a tractor were bought online, we had a guided tour of The Wormery and AC/DC's "Back In Black" proved to be an odd start to a bout of spontaneous community singing. It was frankly a relief when Kearney Taxis drew up outside at 8pm and whisked me away from all this mayhem to a saner, gentler kind of merriment.

Ready to sing some gentle Folk Music

     The Orchestra itself was depleted-no Paul Kelly,no Nigel Ward and no Martin Bushnell. This had little or no effect on the output over three halves. We still got-and sang-all the old favourites, and travelled from Allendale to Mourne ,from Carolina to the North Sea and back. Paco, looking ten years younger since retirement from The Bell, even travelled "Up The Hill" to play spoons on " Gypsy Laddie-O" 

        Bob Brooker  seemed miffed because John Kearney and I duetted together early doors on " Dublin in The Rare Ould Times," which he claimed loudly afterwards was his song. I thought Pete St. John wrote it, so you live and learn. Bob retaliated coquettishly by doing "Black Velvet Band" which is my song. Everyone knows The Dubliners pinched it from me. I get more requests for that than he has had for "Close The CD Case,Now,Bob." 

      Talking of audience requests,John Kearney did "Dont Worry/ Irish Rover" and "DownTown"  both of which are popular wherever he goes.  Max Wright had brought in family reinforcements and he sang us an excellent version of "Putting On The Style."   

The audience enjoying Colin Squire's opener. Well I am. 

     Someone who I only know as Tim from Rugby sat next to Allan Birkett. Tim sang a self-written song about a Fishing disaster in King's Lynn in the old days. Allan sang a couple including "The Spinning Wheel"  Someone else I only know as a different John,with a clear, well-defined voice, sang a couple of traditional unaccompanied songs flawlessly. One of which was a good version of "John Barleycorn."   Elizabeth Ryder hit notes none of the rest of us could as she duetted with Richard on Fear a Bhata. Easy for you to say.

Drunkard's panorama from the bar

      John McIntosh ( seemed to be a room full of Johns last night),told two jokes,neither of  which were remotely politically correct,  but one of  which was actually  quite funny. ( A Collector's Item which caused quite a stir). Richard Ryder brought along his giant bell-end and blew deep farty noises out of it. Impressive-though he seemed a bit breathless on the long sustained note in the showpiece instrumental. ( Pass The Port and Cigars?) 

M4M

   And so now on to two worthwhile causes this week, both of them more fund-raising for Music 4 Matt. (Bates).  Tomorrow  night I'm out and about with Nunc at Stockton Folk Club. (No not that one-though it's an easy mistake to make!).  Along with  Norman Wheatley, Rik Middleton, Away With The Fairies,John Kearney and Dan Gascoigne.
    On Wednesday, at Bedworth Rugby Club,Anna Ryder tops a star-studded line-up including Brian Phillips, Bob Brooker and John Kearney. £5 admission with lots of fun and included. See you all there.