A lot of water has poured under a lot of bridges over the last few weeks and to my utter horror, I see it is exactly a month since I last posted on here. Quite apart from John Kearney and I appearing at Bedduff Rugby Club and Sly Old Dogs (to name a few) during this time, there has been a lot of work going into recording "Anker Folk", writing new material,rehearsing with Nunc, reviewing CDs and networking with future NFC guests.
So: just the one month on from Phil Hare's epic performance in September (and amidst considerably more ambient temperatures), last night we welcomed John Richards for the first time, to Nuneaton Folk Club. Of which (considerably) more later.
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| It'll end on the rope in the morning.. |
It was a gratifyingly large turnout for our First Wednesday, considering there were counter attractions down the A5 and apparently somewhere out in The Algarve. Where part of The North Warwickshire Massive had mobbed up to O.D. on Sangria and watch some old boys called Show of Hands.
The night started badly, with parking spaces nearby at a premium, and the gear having to be ferried across the busy road in relays. ( Conscious that Mick Stanley likes to take on passing traffic at this point, I was very wary of speeding cars as I shuffled mike stands boxes of leads and Raffle prizes to and fro across the road).
I am grateful to eagle-eyed Doreen Tiernan for reminding me beforehand that last night would mark our Second Birthday. Our initial launch at The Crown was the First Wednesday in October 2014. Last night was the 26th NFC shindig (we squashed in a couple of extra ones along the way). When it all began, parking was not a problem,but such is the success of the club and the Fitness Centre next to Dunelm that spaces in the area are now at a Premium. Even stars of stage and screen like me cannot park at the venue:I had to take my chances with the Lycra-clad ladies pouring in and out of the Gymn. The Law of that nice Mr. Sod dictated that the only space I could find there was virtually on the railway Overbridge.
On one of these long journeys from car to pub I met John Richards (who was suffering a similar logistics dilemma) and the full complement of Away With The Fairies. Who, I confess, I had not been expecting until November. Having also mislaid the Club Banner and getting into a foul mood before even leaving home, I was as a host,struggling a little as 7pm drifted lazily by.
Still, by a minor miracle, we found the banner,(Ta Jules!), found John Richards, and found a slot for AWTF. We got the P.A. rigged up in time for openers,thanks to not one but two Sound Engineers, Matt and Liam. ( Both very sound. Believe me). By 8pm the Stage Lights were frying artistes to a crisp golden brown and Nunc got the ceremonies under way by leding The Company in singing "Happy Birthday."
John Kearney effortlessly won the battle of the Nunc shirts with a blindingly garish number featuring various Macaws. I would have killed for a shirt like that when I was in Black Parrot Seaside. Round Two is tonight at Warwick Words Festival. We shall see. I'm after you, Kearney.
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| John Kearney nails the dodgy shirt contest |
Rising to John Richards's challenge to match the audience singing at Warwick Folk Club the other week, we got our crowd of reprobates going with " Twas On an April Morning," Richard Thompson's " Down Where The Drunkards Roll," and "We Shall Overcome."
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| Nunc Bringing It On Home |
We then had an exciting NFC exclusive-the debut of The Wright Brothers. No...not the ones who first flew at Kittyhawk, (although Max and Chris are only a few years younger). Max is an NFC regular, and I know he was chuffed to have persuaded Chris back into the Nuneaton Folk circuit after such a long time away. Both once used to be in a band called The Nuneaton Wrakes. Disillusioned by the opening of The Suez Canal and the onset of The Boer war, they disbanded.
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| Chris and Max Wright. Who needs Noel and Liam? |
I then wrongly introduced Pete McParland as The Polesworth Nightingale, whereas everyone knows that this is actually Mick Stanley. The Astley Avocet it was, who performed two songs of the usual quality. Mmm. Nice Waistcoat,Pete.
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| Pete Mac. The Ansley Avocet. (Or was it Astley?) |
David Parr ,doyen of the soon to be released album "Songs of Sex and Death," bounced up to give us a classic Rabbie Burns song followed by a much loved version of "When I was a Little Wolf Cub." David has a gift for delivering the raciest lyric in the most respectable and innocuous of tones. Which just makes his delivery all the funnier. This one definitely isn't appropriate for toasting one's sausage around a camp fire. David tells me the song is written by Party Roberts (no relation to Joe Roberts?)
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| David Parr. Naughty. Dib dib dib. |
Blues Division gave us two raunchy blues numbers and a nice arrangement of "Summertime" which we all crooned huskily along with. Arnie spanked his guitar and Sophia looked at one stage as if she was going to spank Arnie, strutting her thang as she was, like a real Soul Mama.
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| Blues Division give it some wellie. |
Another debut thereafter, as Stockton Folk Club residents and multi-instrumentalists Away With The Fairies entertained us with three numbers and any number of dubious jokes about bus passes,Viagra and Family Planning. A logistical challenge for us all this was some Fairies spurned the chairs provided at their request, whilst others sat down and then stood up again. Having told us all they didn't have much truck with modern Malarkey like microphones, they then muttered darkly about not having enough of them. A good Craic from them nevertheless,and three good songs.
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| Away With The Fairies. Standing in this shot. |
Maria Barham, Saarfend songstress turned local (Coleshill) was on next. The ubiquitous Maria (She'll have to look that up-check it isn't defamatory), did a version of "Eleanor Rigby" which was was just delightful. Fresh from her feature spot up the A444 last week. ( At Bedworth Folk Club-not actually on the Dual Carriageway), she always seems to conjure up something new or different.
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| What are we going to do about Maria? |
John Richards was our star guest, and he did two sets packed with excellent songs. The first one finished the first half. Ballads,songs of hope, adaptations,originals-no wonder so many other artistes admire him and cover his songs. Wonderful work on
Nunc and a Jumbo raffle followed. (For the literal-minded,and for Karen Jones, no elephants were harmed during the latter). Thanks to the generosity of audience members who had donated prizes, we raised a lot of cash for a good cause,and a few people went home carrying a few more artifacts than they had arrived with.
And so it was left to John Richards to round off another superb evening with more wonderful songs. This Home's Got a Heart: Polly: The Deserter: Roaring Water Bay: If You Can Dance: Foundryman's Daughter.... no wonder there is always an army of performers eager to cover John's songs. No wonder there is always a queue of people eager to perform with him. On which note, what an honour it was to take to the stage with him for a rousing Finale and encore: the inspirational "Shine On", belted out enthusiastically by the audience, and sung together on stage by John Richards,Max,John Kearney, Maria and myself. A veritable SuperGroup..
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| John,Max,another John,Maria and Geoff. The Shining |
My thanks again go to the usual unsung heroes. The bar staff: Matt (and Liam) for Sound mixing and moral support: Flossie and Mags for operating the raffle so much more efficiently and more prettily than I ever could.
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| Flossie-whilst not selling raffle tickets |
Maria for helping us to clear the room afterwards. Jules for letting us have so much fun up there. John Smith, Max Wright ,Ray Buckler John Kearney and all those others who take such brilliant photographs. And of course, all those lovely people who keep turning up and who continue to say such nice things about the club. Upwards and Onwards. Into Year Three, then!
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| Matt and Liam. Sound young men. |
