With The War Gamers advancing on Waterloo,
and Manchester City slugging it out with PSG on the big screen
downstairs, many Folk Clubs might consider themselves really up against it
on a wet and windy Wednesday night. Not so at NFC when the return of
the redoubtable Sean Cannon drew in another large audience yesterday.
Somehow Jules and Sam had. conjured up even more chairs,but even so
with another huge audience it was standing room only towards the
back.
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| Sean Cannon (right) contemplates,as the floor spots get under way |
A lot of planning and
organisation weeks beforehand is aimed at reducing stress on the
actual night. Yet I know from a few conversations with audience
members in various venues that some people think the whole thing
looks dead easy. If you have never tried compering or performing in a
Folk Club, I can assure you it isn't. Like all local Folk Clubs, NFC exists only through the goodwill of its
volunteers,and the generousness of its audiences. There is a lot of
teamwork going on beforehand, and a lot of adrenalin is shed during the
actual evening.
Yesterday for example, I went into The Crown at lunchtime to try to give myself extra time in
the evening to meet and greet guests and to mix with friends old and
new as they arrived. The pub staff were already busy at that time too, getting
the room ready. I then went on to a (very enjoyable)
afternoon music session in Atherstone. Home by 4.30, It was a quick
turnaround before my good lady and I were back on the road together.
We arrived at The Crown early,
(as did our Sound Man Matt), but a little mix-up (mine!) over car keys, with less
half an hour to go meant that we were struggling at the start, and
only just got proceedings under way on time. The room was already near full, so it was
important to keep to the advertised timings. What a tribute to all
those giving up their time for free, that every artiste doing a floor
spot kept to time,and we hit the interval bang on schedule. Not only
that, but we got the raffle done quickly, got the housekeeping and
“future events” announcements flowing and got Sean back up on stage for
his second set right on time.
It is in the nature of creative
events, with an element of spontaneity, for things to go awry
occasionally,and Folk evenings at The Crown are no exception. Both Tom and
Matt his successor, do a sterling job as Sound Engineers, driving the desk from the back and then rushing
forwards from it ( a long" rush" upstairs at The Crown) when leads come adrift or connections become suddenly and
inexplicably temperamental. It's a mix and match sound set up at present and not to everyone's personal liking, but I can assure you that the feedback from the audience was that they had another cracking night of free entertainment.
I opened events with a request (and it wasn't to go home). So I (sensibly) shelved "Raglan Road" and did one of my own songs, "The Bold Pirate" instead. With some very game interaction from the audience.And including a "live" phone call to interrupt the proceedings courtesy of Malc Gurnham.
It was then a thankless task for John Wright to follow me in the "dead spot," warming up a jovial crowd but one who were still settling down. But he did an atmospheric blues, and added a second song which won warm applause.
We had to make several adjustments to the running order beforehand,but Dave Parr,Brian Phillips and Malc Gurnham then all followed John on and off the stage in quick succession. Bob Brooker, as a promo for "Sly Old Dogs" was allowed three songs,and then Jan and Terry Wisdom were accorded the same privilege. Sean Cannon then delivered his first set with style aplomb and great warmth. He does this club as a favour. We are so lucky to get him to do so. Long may it continue. People had come from as far afield as Yorkshire Staffordshire and Brum to see him and they were not disappointed.
It was then a thankless task for John Wright to follow me in the "dead spot," warming up a jovial crowd but one who were still settling down. But he did an atmospheric blues, and added a second song which won warm applause.
We had to make several adjustments to the running order beforehand,but Dave Parr,Brian Phillips and Malc Gurnham then all followed John on and off the stage in quick succession. Bob Brooker, as a promo for "Sly Old Dogs" was allowed three songs,and then Jan and Terry Wisdom were accorded the same privilege. Sean Cannon then delivered his first set with style aplomb and great warmth. He does this club as a favour. We are so lucky to get him to do so. Long may it continue. People had come from as far afield as Yorkshire Staffordshire and Brum to see him and they were not disappointed.
After the interval, John Kearney joined me for " Dublin In The Rare Ould Times" and then warmed up for Sean. The audience had grown (again!) and the chorus singing was robust verging on emotioal as The Man led us through anecdotes, a beautiful song about Whales and some rousing traditional stuff like "Liverpool Lou" and " The Irish Rover."
We'd got through again,and all thanks to Mags, Matt, Sam, Jules and Kadie, John Kearney, Malc Gurnham and David Parr ( both of whom I saw several times aiding musicians) working away "behind the scenes" and without whom the whole event each month would not go as erm.."smoothly" (rofl) ...as it does. Next Month (May 4th) is another opportunity to share The Craic a second time ,with the return of Sly Old Dogs. A six piece,with a shopping list of mikes and di boxes I will need a bank loan for. Onward and Upward!
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| David Parr |
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| Brian Phillips |
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| Jan & Terry..(or is it Terry and Jan?) |
