The Mac Awe On Tour Music Awards 2016

Nominations and Winners of this years MAOTMAS. As voted for by both our readers.

Performer of The Year

-Seriously? Shut The Front Door! I'm not going to alienate 130 artistes and almost a dozen venue hosts by singling out any one band or individual. The rest would never speak to me again. They were all bloody brilliant. So they are all winners. Including Nunc. (who?) 

Folk Newcomer  of The Year     

     However, during 2016 I saw and heard (Genuinely) lots of people I'd not seen before  Glyn Finch made his debut at NFC. A guitarist of great style and passion. Elsewhere, Charlie Hart ,Paper Circus and Izzie Derry were amongst new acts who impressed me. Alan Richardson was so good at Warwick's “Back In The Day” concert that I bought all of his albums in one fell swoop. But he's about 90,so hardly a newcomer. The Wright Brothers although similarly ancient, carved out a new niche for themselves across the region and bore all my puns about Kittyhawk admirably.  Matt Mallen Allen left his Sound Desk and came up onto stage both as a solo performer and guesting for Nunc during a song we'd nicked from his set list. The Hawkesbury Trawlermen showed promise but really must try harder to stay awake during performances. But for sheer impact, this award goes to David Goody. Great Hat,great lyrics, and completely off his trolley. 

The Craic Award For Having a Bloody Good Time

goes to.....Sly Old Dogs. Wherever they may be. But when (oh when?) can I sit alongside Messrs Brooker,Kenny Ryder and Willow and stop slumming it out with the Plebs as just a Friend in the audience?

The William Shakespeare Poetry Prize

Brian Phillips. Simple as. No one does poems like what he does. And that's the truth.

Eddie The Eagle Prize For Services to Comedy

Someone must have once told John McIntosh he was good at stand up but I fear he misunderstood this remark. Ditto Dave Fry His quips and puns were mildly superior to the wordplay of Bob Brooker and John B. Smith. Which took online jollity to a new level. Literally. Max Wright's daily contribution to Facebook makes him a runaway winner. Wonder where he will run away to? Eye watering.

The Paul Kossof Most Pained Expression whilst playing a Guitar.

Phil Hare, Dan Gascoigne and Glyn Finch were all strong runners here, but it has to go to John Richards who often looks as if he is in pain. And most probably is.

Folk Album Of The Year   

   Well now, seriously, I do get the opportunity to review quite a few,courtesy of Folk Monthly. Kate Rusby's "Life in a Paper Boat" was simply outstanding.

Local Folk Album of The Year  Although Bob Brooker nominated 17 of his own, the judge's panel were not sure exactly how many had been made in 1916 and how many actually were from 2016. Thrup'nny Bits made a sly move by sneaking theirs out right at the end of the Year. So I guess it goes to them with "Old Christmas" . Although bits of Daisybell's “new” CD kept slipping out online throughout the year. Not really sure if it's finished yet. But the new format (like the old one) sounds very good. Well done girls. Great name,by the way.

The Don Corleone Impresario of The Year Award

   So many Turf wars were fought out during 2016 that it makes The Godfather look like Teletubbies. Tori Rushton has carved up Stratford for herself. Pam has made Hinckley her own Manor. Norman and er...Norman continue to rule Warwick. Nuneaton remains a plum prize, fought over annually by yours truly, Phil Benson and Steve Bentley. Pete Willow also has a fair few strings to his Ocarina, over in Warwickshire's notorious East Side.. But Malc Gurnham at one time, was running three speakeasy joints a month (including one in a tent) organised a festival, compered at dozens (hundreds?) of other venues as well as broadcasting, recording, travelling abroad and singing virtually where anyone would have him. Does he ever sleep?

Folk Publication of The Year

Folk Monthly. Because they publish my CD reviews. A commendation also however for The Nuneaton News who in contrast to their bigger neighbours seem to have no problem whatsoever with running stories about Folk Music.

Self-Penned Song of The Year

The award is shared between Des Patalong's "Ironing Shanty" and David Goody's "Straight Out Of Earlsdon" Which got Da House well pumpin' in December. 

Folk Photographer of The Year  

Judged on output alone, the prolific John Wright and John B Smith would surely have tied for this? Ray Buckler, Max Wright, Sue Sanders put in some good work too. Their work has featured highly in this Blog. And elsewhere. But for pure surrealism, John Kearney's “Shot of The Floor in Sepia” won him the award.

The Frankie Boyle Heckler of The Year

A tough category here,with some strong contenders. For sheer number of outbursts per session, Gill Gilsenan would be hard to beat. If there was a team prize it would have to go to The Old Uns, each one of whom gave as good as they got from every direction when I compered them in November. Dragonhead's John Harris can be a tricky customer, adding his two penn'orth not only from the wings but also whilst on stage. But winner Joe Roberts is loud, persistent, and difficult to cope with if you are in the middle of a song. His Hearing Aid at full power can be a show stopper. Literally.   

The Darcy Bussell Award for Onstage Poise Balance and Grace

We saw several attempts by some musicians to take out stage fittings and some of the audience with exuberant stage movements. Maria Barham is always a strong contender for this category-her expertise in hooking Christmas Decorations on the neck of her guitar at The Larder is etched in many of our memories. But Steve of Moses and The Ref clinched the top spot by falling onto the stage at NFC in December. So many performers fall off it-this was a stunningly original new variation. Well done, Steve

Folk Club of The Year   

Clearly, those few courageous enough to allow any of us through their doors,during 2016, let alone granting us access to their audiences are in the front running. Stockton Folk Club, Warwick Folk Club  and Willow and Tool's (Or is it Tool and Willow's?)  Music Parlour  out at Long Itchington get honourable mentions.  As always,Bedworth (both venues), Atherstone Folk Club and The Tump all proved to be hospitable and generous in the time they afforded to us. But come on. I'll get lynched if Nuneaton Folk Club don't inexplicably just pip all the others past the Winning Post. 

Festival of The Year

The Mac Awe shortlist included Nuneaton's CAMRA Festival, The Ragged Bear,and Warwick's "Back In The Day " Festival.  Principally because we got invited to them. But once again, Bedworth Folk Festival scooped the Prize spot. Purely because Malc Gurnham is a legend and remains the only organiser (as yet-another 30 years to go?) to book Mac Awe members solo together or in various combinations (some long,some knitted), on an annual basis. 

Venue of The Year   

Aside from The Crown, Nuneaton (which obviously, I could not possibly comment upon), Draper's Bar in Cov. was a front runner up to late Summer. When it suddenly shat in its own pants by inexplicably scrapping their Sunday sessions. Just as we'd really started to enjoy them. Their beer was too expensive, anyway. The Broomfield Tavern was a new one for us. We enjoyed playing there but the sleeping dog on stage was a trip hazard.  We returned to The Abbey Theatre during the Ragged Bear Festival,for a Fringe concert which was so fringe hardly anyone turned up. We enjoyed it though. The Weaver's Arms out at Fillongley, ably hosted by the lovely Jan Richardson was fun,too.

Jan and Campbell Perry introduced Mr. Kearney and I to the delights of Warwick's Wild Boar in October. The Hawkesbury Trawlermen were well treated in their two appearances at hospitable The Lord Hop.  I did not get to The Larder very often, but it remains delightful and unique. Sly Old Dogs uniquely tried three venues for their monthly sessions.

  However, the winner by a barrel of Sine Qua Non is the Twisted Barrel Brewery Tap in Fargo Village,Coventry. Noisy audiences,brilliant bar staff, excellent acts, and I rarely have to buy a drink in there. No need at all to mention The Accident however. I am virtually healed now and the scars will fade eventually.

The Tony Blackburn Radio Gong Award

  C'mon! Radio Two? Who they? Yeah, everyone's doing it now. Even The Wedge, who spun a few platters on CWR this morning at 5.30am. And Tori over at Stratters. But we ALL know who the best Folk Jocks are on air, don't we? The Eliot's Smashey and Nicey, that's who. If you wanna get played let me hear you shout "Yeah!"

The Singing Postman Hall of Fame

Induction this year Goes to Comharsa's lead man Mick Stanley. For services to music. He has created a band whose personnel numbers so many that by his own admission, when they all rehearse together they have to play in adjacent rooms They take longer to get onto and off a stage than anyone else,and have established themselves as The Mariah Carey of Folk-a sort of Polesworth version of Bellowhead. Mick is one of the few performers who has actually shed blood for Folk music,and has even lain down in the middle of a main road to draw attention to himself. The man even supports Aston Villa-he is just an absolute hero with the heart of a Lion. And probably one or two others. Watching Villa get relegated alone (the best way) deserved an award all on its own-well certification of some sort, certainly. Step up Mick and take the Golden Sack. 

Christmas Requests (1)

Yes...I do get a few requests. Mostly for me to shut up and get off the stage. But very occasionally, something I have written tickles someone else sufficiently for them to ask for a copy of song lyrics.  Or to ask if I would sing a particular song again or ( even very occasionally) (long ago),where they could get a recorded copy from. 

2008 album-all sold out, I'm afraid! 

       I have run out of copies of "HEY! It smells Like Christmas," which does not feature on any album. However, I have given away so many copies, I fondly imagine it being sung at several Office parties-with unemployment following swiftly afterwards,perhaps. I wrote it in 2014 and with a few tweaks,it has exactly the same seasonal references in this year. I don't mind if anyone wants to cover it. The tune is mostly derivative of Terry Scott's "My Brother" and it is an easy chorus song, as I stop and get the audience to shout out "HEY! It smells Like Christmas!"  They seem to enjoy that.

                              Hey! It Smells Like Christmas!

What’s that smear on Grandad’s shirt? What’s that stain on Grandma’s skirt?

What’s that steaming in the dirt?

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Lots of cheerful festive booze, fighting in the shopping queues

Just disasters on the news

Hey! it smells like Christmas!

Pine trees oozing pungent sap, Polar bears and penguin crap

Fido drinking from the tap

Hey! it smells like Christmas

Easter Eggs and Winter Sales, waistbandwider than two whales

Body Odour, armpits stale

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Where’s it come from? That’s the question,

Flatulence and Indigestion:

Christmas Trees and Christmas Bells

Lots of awful Christmas smells

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Cinammon and Tangerines, Brussel sprouts and Christmas greens

Vampires on The Multiscreens

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Same old rubbish on t.v. Ants inside the Christmas tree

Rudolf!.....  is that.... Reindeer wee? Or:

(Hay? )... it smells like Christmas!

Pounding pavements, stinking feet, socks that whiff of rotting meat

Wheelie bins all full for weeks

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Rats and Plague and flies abound, Slush lies melting on the ground

Unwanted dogs and cats are drowned

Just because it's Christmas

Santa Claus has foetid breath The news is full of war and death

My neighbour's Brewing Crystal Meth

Hey! it smells like Christmas!

The motorways and railways jam, my mailbox fills with dirty spam

Everyone hates Uncle Sam

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Flu transmitted by the birds, carols full of empty words

Pavements cluttered with dog turds

Hey! It smells like Christmas!

Insurgents play with guns and swords, Norovirus shuts the Wards

The Malls are full of sweating hordes

-It must be Boxing Day!  

Jingle All The Way

       Gosh, what a hectic week (or so!) it was, musically.  Not one but several recording sessions finally completed at Anker Radio studios, of “Anker Folk.” Which I know, from conversation on line and in person, some people are actually listening to. (Thank you!) Three hours of broadcasting now “in the can” and ready for transmission. Next one goes out on air on 8pm Boxing Day-but if partying that night-it's available on Listen Again-as are most of the other shows. Our latest session on Monday included a few surprises for listeners, plus tracks from Pentangle, Lindisfarne,Shirley Collins, KC Jones, Show of Hands,Dougie McClean,Si Barron, Tim Hardin, Kate Wolfe and Phil Hare.

     Family commitments meant I missed (again) Steve Hicks and Lynn Goldbourne at Bedworth Folk Club last Wednesday night. One day I'll catch them-but I understand it was another good night.

    Last Thursday, The Hawkesbury Trawlermen finally made their first recording- a bit of “Blow The Man Down” performed “live” at The Lord Hop in Nuneaton. Whence we had settled,following the Annual Works Christmas Dinner of The Nuneaton & District Elderly Gentlemen's Binge Drinking Society (Folk Club Branch). Held this year at The Cedar Tree instead of Wetherspoons. It was a  good turn out, health and family ties considered, but really, if you are not going to have any Real Ale on,with three pump clips turned round before 1pm and nearly a dozen grizzled Old Folkies in, you are looking for trouble. No tip for them-except get the barrels on earlier. 

NADEGBDS  All smiles before the trouble started. 

    By the time we'd decamped to The Hop, we'd already carelessly lost a couple of personnel, but, lubricated by some of Barry's fine collection of Cask Ales, we rehearsed upstairs, bellowing our way through “South Australia,” “ Hanging Johnny” “Haul On The Bowline,” “ John Kenakanaka” and many more. To my surprise, the customers were quite impressed. We got several plaudits before Ale,Turkey,Sprouts, Roasties,Stuffing  and Yorkshire Pud began  taking to their toll. The Hop had kindly left out a tray of Stilton,black pudding and other titbits, and soon a few Trawlermen began to nod off. 

David Parr as Father Jack.

     John Meechan and Phil Benson then left,depleting us even further, but when Film Director Lee Price arrived, we managed to get a soundtrack done for his Feature Film “Frettin'” first take. Good job really.   John Kearney and I had rehearsed and then recorded “Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy,” with Lee the week previously. That was also a quick run through and again: job done, first take. You could see Lee was chuffed on both occasions. The World Premiere of “Frettin' “ takes place at The Abbey Theatre in March. An all-ticket event where, I'm delighted to reveal, Nunc will be providing  musical entertainment “live.” Including as many songs with Nancy in them as we can find.

JK toasts another successful recording

       Next up was Friday night and it was Hawaiian shirts out again although,this time with a Christmas motif,for Nunc returning once again to The Twisted Barrel in Coventry.. A cracking night all round at Fargos Village, with excellent contributions from Glyn Finch, Laurence Lam, James Richards,Tom Wilson,Izzy Derry and David Goody.

         David's business cards describe him as a “Purveyor of Ukele Based Absurdity “ and his set list did not disappoint. A racy version of “Straight Outa Earlsdon,” and a raging lament about why Batches are called batches but only in this part of The Midlands. Caustic comment on the rape of Coventry City by Hedge Funders and a song about The Ring Road followed. All good, local, witty stuff, confidently delivered at a hell of pace, with furious chords punched out from what appeared to be a home made guitar. Kind of like the bastard Hellchild of a union between John Cooper Clarke,Seasick Steve and Sleaford Mods.

David Goody. Nice hat.

         Nunc mixed up some Christmas songs with stuff from the current set. “Fairy Tale of New York”, “Bring It On Home,” “All Gonna Die Some day” and “Angel from Montgomery” were among songs well received.

Happy Nuncmas

      Tom and James each ranged through an eclectic range of material before Izzy sang some songs, which got the audience singing along nostalgically. Nicely crafted arrangements of “Ring of Fire”, “Big Yellow Taxi” and “ Valerie” for instance. We've persuaded her to come out to NFC in February, for a floor spot.

Izzy Derry

        Sunday night saw John Kearney and I joining the throng at the Wood Farm Brewery for a Festive Sly Old Dogs and Friends session. The Full Pack, with Pete Willow,Paul Kenny,John McIntosh, Richard Ryder, Bob Brooker, (eventually), Martyn Bushnell and Colin Squire. All on top form,so The Craic was well maintained. This time they did not run out of beer,(though none of their own). The Hobgoblin,I have to say, was very well kept. 
     Lots of guest performers besides us. Good job I did not do "Syd's Bags" or "Albert Balls" as Alan Birkett did the original versions of both! I did "Dublin In The Rare Old Times" and "Smells Like Christmas". ( Of which-by request-more later). It was lovely also to see (and hear) John Morris again and to meet some of his family. John was in fine voice, and gave us two wonderful songs exercising that distinctive voice of his.  

Moses,Refs and Flaky Tarts

      The dedications for last night read like a nomination for an Awards ceremony. But as we reach the end of our third calendar year at The Crown, perhaps it is appropriate to pay tribute to those attending last night (and to absent friends) for the effort they regularly put in towards keeping “live” music   music going in the heart of Nuneaton. So many other bits of the town's fabric have been lost, with three Department Stores torn out of its centre, the football club in free fall and the Hospital under threat, that it is heartening to see townspeople rallying together to keep something worthwhile and dynamic alive. Last night we heard Pop, Folk, Blues, Cajun,Traditional,Country, Contemporary,and Acoustic. A little bit of everything for the most eclectic tastes.  

      The odds were stacked against us attendance- wise, as illness had knocked out some of our potential audience beforehand. I sent out Press releases to all local media,( I always do), but only The Nuneaton News (God bless them!) felt able to use them. And also,at the start of the Christmas Social Calendar, school events and Social functions cut into the commitments of some regulars. 

    The stairs at The Crown themselves are also a daunting obstacle for some. As one troubled often by arthritis myself and still recovering from a recent fall, I can tell you that I shared the pain of those finding them a bit of a climb last night. But once at the top,with the wonderful, unflappable Matt Mallen Allen at the Sound desk, and a host of excellent performers on stage, it was worth the effort.

        The inestimable Mr.Kearney, with our Flossy still convalescing, still found time to join me up on stage to kick off proceedings,in our festive rendition of that Geezinlaws  classic, “Lighten Up It's Christmas.” And we carried on that theme with “Here it Is”, an irreverent tilt at Slade's ubiquitous Christmas hit. The man is a true saint. He continues to supply me with outrageous shirts with which to enhance our stage appearances together. He adds finesse and calm to Nunc rehearsals and performances with his guitar work,songwriting and arrangements. He is an exemplary solo artiste and yet still finds time to rehearse,write and collaborate with others. He donates carrier bags full of raffle prizes to NFC,knows all the songs that everyone sings, and keeps smiling even after a very heavy days work. He is the quintessential essence of Folk.

The Christmas shirt Flossy bought me for my birthday

         Both our featured Guests, Flaky Tarts, and Moses and The Ref, were making their NFC debuts. Both traveled from far afield. The Tarts from Staffordshire, and Steve and Christine from Ruislip and St.Albans. I had seen both acts before,at Bedworth Festival and in local clubs. I knew that if I could persuade them both to come along,our Crown audience would enjoy their work. The only way I could squeeze them into our annual programme however, was to lump them together on one night-a set each-which barely did justice to their excellent repertoire.

      Christine and Steve (he is the ref!) finished our First Half. Their performance from start to finish was immaculate, including Steve's impressive stage entry,which he pretended was not part of the act. One he had righted the fallen mike stand, they launched into their hauntingly beautiful interpretation of a Tom waits song, The Briar and The Rose, done acapella. It had the audience spellbound. Two fine voices,excellent arrangements and gifted musicianship. We'll definitely have them back.

Moses and The Ref

The Flaky Tarts finished the evening,with a mixture of self-penned songs and covers.I had seen them previously but not in this three man format. Their cheeky banter and dry Black Country humour forged an immediate bond with the Crown Faithful. I could see that the guys were delighted with the response. Their tender version of Christy Moore's “Ride On” was a highlight for me. Unusually, they perform their whole act perched on stools, which lends an intimate Dave Allen/cabaret feel to the evening but means that our small stage looks like a Pickfords warehouse. Of their own material, I very much liked "Christina" and "Emily Jones"-both had  very catchy choruess-as many of their songs do.

The Flaky Tarts

         Earlier, the audience had been warmed up by some masterful floor singing. David Parr, jocular and full of fun, gave us some saucy songs. The constantly improving Wright Brothers got the audience singing.

David Parr issuing instructions

      Bob Brooker made Herculean efforts to attend last night. His effort to reach the venue in time involved missed buses and uncooperative taxi drivers. It had him puffing up the stairs like those Lincolnshire steam engines he used to love as a nipper. He had the briefest of recovery times before we threw him on stage, where he proceeded to dish out a typical example of Brooker art. Protesting and apologising because he missed a few words, his performance never dropped below excellent. Yet he was mortified, until a few beers, some classic chorus singing and John Kearney winning the CD he had donated cheered him up.

Dragonhead were as raucous, accomplished and fun-loving as always. “Cajun Queen” simply rocked, and their finale, a well known Mavericks song got everyone's feet tapping.

Dragonhead swing their pants

       The Thrup'nny Bits, regular visitors,gave us three songs from their excellent newly released album,”Old Christmas or What You Will.” Including another splendid TB parody, ”Gaudy Tree.”

      My lovely wife Mags was poorly last week, and I was so glad to have her there with me last night. She works so hard on coordinating the Raffle,getting the room ready and tidying up afterwards. Her work towards ensuring NFC goes ahead each month, and into making sure I stay sane cannot be underestimated.