Off With Her Head

          Still gaining momentum,the Off With Her Head Tour continued apace last night as Nunc rolled South and into the heartlands of The Shire and Hobbiton.  Both John and I live in adjacent Tory-held strongholds,so it was nice to mingle with the clog-wearing,pipe smoking, basket weaving artisans from The Republic of South Warwickshire. As yet no Visas or Checkpoints are required to travel  the A423 beyond Long Itchington in such a brazen manner. (At a guess it's only a matter of time).

          A triumphant return for us to The Nelson Club, to present  an hour of NuncFoolery. Courtesy of an invite from Colin,and The Gang, who constitute the resident band  Away with The Fairies.  As is our tradition,we arrived there pitifully early,and found an almost empty room. Happily it filled up rapidly, and to our great surprise and pleasure, virtually everyone stayed, right through to the last Encore and House lights up. 

          Quite a trip for the Tour bus driver, one Mr. Kearney, from Nuneaton to Wolvey and thence Coventry and finally Long Itchington. Along a route which was a nostalgic trip through the past. holding many memories for me. Passing under the long disused railway viaduct crossing the A423. Threading through Marton which long ago had a scrapyard with tantalising glimpses of old buses awaiting the Cutter's torch. Over the hump back canal bridge alongside The Blue Lias. With its De Havilland Vampire in the car park. In the days when I used to go fishing there with my dad.

        Things got off to a good start when,upon entering the large Lounge downstairs I espied a couple of young men wearing even more outlandish shirts than John and I. (Takes some doing,that.) I also noticed from the t.v. in there that England's U-21 footballers had just been denied the semi-finals of a European Final by flunking a penalty shoot-out with the Germans. Talk about Groundhog Day. Plus ca change.

          Upstairs, in a grand room, with fine acoustics, we were given a warm welcome before settling down to enjoy the preliminaries. Alas, no Rik Middleton with his enigmatic songs and interesting stories. But The Fairies themselves were on fine form,battling through the rigours of Hay Fever to deliver a whole clutch of songs which got feet tapping and voices raised. I enjoyed particularly their versions of "Ride On" and "Step It Out Mary"-two of my own favourites.

           Bob Brooker would empathise with the fact that Peter McDonald  took a lot of stick over wearing shorts.But as the night darkened and the rain thundered down outside,he remained impressively defiant. Versatile too, as he played a guitar, a Ukulele and an accordion, (although not simultaneously). He regaled us with some clever arrangements and a Sid Kipper song about the uses of fag packets. 

          Peter Wimpenny played a see-through banjo rather well (as he often does-I've seen him at Warwick Folk Club before). Then we had an excellent mini-set from the unlikely-named duo Unlikely. Who were actually rather good, with some finely pitched vocals and some very accomplished guitar playing. 

           By now there was some kind of Death/Thrash/Funk Metal disco going on in the room directly below. I could feel the vibrations through my feet as I took to the stage with Flossy and JK. There was a bit of background noise initially from that, but it was drowned out immediately by the strident chorus singing and we never heard from Red Hot Chili Peppers again. 

        Our planned set worked perfectly,and we finished right on time, including a glorious encore of "Don't Worry/Wild Rover."  I spent a long time introducing one song with a long rambling anecdote only to realise that we were actually doing something entirely different,and accidentally ran our two Richard Thompson songs back to back. I had a minor voice malfunction during "When I Get To The Border,"  but no Halls Mentholyptus mints were damaged and my windpipe remained mercifully unblocked. 

          A cracking club , with hospitable hosts  and a friendly audience. Look forward to being invited back. 

Wuff Justice.

             En route with John Kearney to Brandon last night for a Sly Old Dogs and Friends Session, I peered at my watch. It had reverted to the year 2005 and showed the time as midday. A portent, perhaps. Maybe we should have turned back then.

          Last month the place was packed.(A Bank Holiday?). Cheese batches had been flowing off the counters then, like the River Avon still slurped lazily  beneath nearby Bretford Bridge. Last night John and I were there first,to find a virtually deserted building. We amused ourselves by setting the chairs out.

         It was a depleted Sly Old Dogs crew, with one or two notable absentees. Only Bob Brooker, Richard Ryder,John McIntosh,Pete Willow, Nigel Ward and Colin Squire were mustered  They all seemed pretty knackered on arrival, having already played at Monks Kirby that afternoon. We  thought at first they might just lie panting on the floor with their tongues hanging out. But a few bowls of Bass revived them.  

       It was  a depleted audience, too. And several other regular performers were missing. This just left the stalwarts to entertain. This had an advantage though as, we got to hear Liz Ryder. And Rob Halligan. We also got to hear Dave Sampson. I'm still mulling over the advantages, if any, of that one. 

          All went well for me personally, as I went for the safety of "Peggy Gordon" for my first number. I introduced it with a witty rejoinder about the mess I'd made of "Lakes of Ponchartain " in that same hall last month. I pointed out that I was taking no risks this time. I had my pitch pipes,I had an accompanying musician, I had the words on an adjacent table.  (Not needed but a useful crutch to lean on). I remarked on how Dave Grohl had furiously chewed gum throughout the Foo Fighters televised Glastonbury set on Saturday. Snickering childishly I then held aloft my Halls Extra Strong Mentolyptus mints-conjecturing whether I should suck on one as I sang. A visual gag which would later come back to haunt me. 

      I remembered all the words, pretty well in the right order. Having warmed up comprehensively beforehand, my voice did not go awol and I stayed pretty well in the same register. (Roughly in the key of Geoff). The band caught up with me eventually(bless them)  and I sat down to what I thought was generous applause. 

        Second half, flushed with success (and a pint of Bass) ,my second song came round rather more suddenly than I had anticipated. As I rose to my feet to introduce "Di Di The Ice Cream Man," a large and hitherto silent Chocolate Labrador, previously supine (that means asleep) leapt to all four feet and began barking. This was a new experience for me as I have often been heckled by humans, but never before by a dog. I usually get on well with dogs. But this was a real bitch. There was obviously a bone of contention. This animal was barking up the wrong tree. 

       " It's your shirt mate," the embarrassed owner apologetically explained. As my hilarious introduction continued to be interrupted by barking even more furious than Dave Grohl's,  I took the offending garment off. To gasps and a sprinkling of applause. A bit like The Full Monty for Senior Citizens. Eye Candy for the over-Nineties.  Luckily, I had a t-shirt on underneath. This seemed to placate the dog. (Good job it hadn't taken umbrage at my trousers). 

      However, flustered by this unexpected canine accompaniment,I had forgotten, before singing the actual song, to remove the  Halls Extra Strong Mentolyptus mint I had been carelessly sucking on beforehand. I launched confidently into the chorus, then began the first verse. As the Milkman's cart hove into view however, I drew in a fresh breath and the dissolving mint lodged in my windpipe. Seizing me up immediately. The audience roared appreciatively as I struggled for breath. This was a third visual gag and it was much appreciated. 

         John Kearney was damn near crying by this time. He was not alone. I was completely halted in my tracks.The bottles stayed on the cart. The horse remained unflatulent. ( Spell check really did not like that word!). I grabbed a gulp of Bass and looked round imploringly for anyone who might be proficient in the Heimlich manoeuvre. Deciding that there was no-one in the room I wanted to encircle me with their rugged arms,I took the lead, and struggled doggedly on. Coughing, between lines. I had been terrierified but few seemed to cur. 

        After this fiasco, John wisely chose to do his Bob Marley/Dubliners segue "Dont Worry." This calmed everything down a little and got everyone singing. It gave the audience some recovery time. Eventually the sweet dissolved. During the next interval, a pint of Butty Bach helped soothe those chafed vocal chords.

        Was this the only incident of mirth? Not quite. Earlier, and during a  hauntingly beautiful ballad from Colin Squire,John Kearney suddenly woke up, kicked his guitar stand and his beloved Martin crashed noisily, like a thing possessed, onto the dance floor. Doughty old stager Colin barely registered,recovered and continued. John gave Martin first aid, (JK fans will be thrilled to hear that no permanent damage to either of them was incurred). 

         The dog continued to glare at anyone who dared to go past it to the bar or to the toilets. Richard "should have gone to Specsavers" Ryder,exposed and centre stage, searched pitifully for a missing plectrum before Liz, (who must have excellent eyesight), left her place in the audience, retrieved it from beneath his chair and put it in his hand. A touching moment.

         John McIntosh had recently been to Greece, apparently. ( A good job he didn't mentioned it). His secondary career as a stand up comedian continued to wane as he told a series of unfathomable jokes,to the background of loudly drifting Tumbleweed. Some people laughed politely,but I, traumatised as I was by my near death experience, understood little of the build up or the punch lines. With their recurring images of willies, gonads and Thai girls,it is a world I know nothing of. Still,in fairness, he plays a mean bass line. So we'll let him off. Over France somewhere, from about 37,000 feet. 

         Rob Halligan, Cheryl, Liz Ryder,Jackie and JK raised the standards with some accomplished playing and singing. Liz with "Somewhere Along The Road" and Rob with two of his own compositions.  Awakening from their travel lag (its a good five miles from Monks Kirby to Brandon),The Sly Old Dogs got into their stride and gave us some rousing performances. We even had "The Bonny Black Hare" from Nigel Ward-a song I have done myself many times,solo and with Black Parrot Seaside. Excellent.

            More classic comedy came, from The Wurzel Bush of Dave Sampson. Some of which he intended. A song about dropping manure from a Sopwith Camel onto someone having a barbecue. In Bridgewater, I think. (Knowing that town as I do, that must have made it smell a whole lot better). And a second classic about all the things he'd like to do to those who have annoyed him. (It's a long list). Ventriloquists,dogs,publicans and the constabulary featured in the introduction. Those of you who know Dave can fill in the gaps. 

             With time (and most of the audience) running out, this left John Kearney and I to double up on a song which has come from nowhere to become part of Nunc's Set List. "Knocking On Heaven's door" by the Nobel Prizewinner himself. Now I know where Dylan's growly voice really came from. Must have swallowed a Spangle somewhere in the middle of " Maggie's Farm?" 
              The Dogs ( Choclab excepted) led us in a final, communal howl of "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live? " Well indeed. Then we all climbed into our Range Rovers and Maseratis to drive home. To Barking, Kennelworth and The Isle of Dogs no doubt. 

Next time there, I'm singing "Bonio Romeo." (It's a real song). One of mine. Not by Les Barker.

Seven Go off to Keep?

             It was quite a while ago (March) that Simon Winterman of Nuneaton’s Sudden Impulse Theatre Company had kindly asked me if I would be able to rustle up an afternoon of acoustic music one Saturday in June. This would be for an Astley Castle Open Day.  Simon’s Cast of Young Thespians would be there as part of  a Mini Tour, staging an alfresco Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. A mystical play performed in idyllic surroundings.  All this courtesy of The Landmark Trust. They do a fabulous line in restoring old ruined buildings and then putting them back to use as luxury self-catering accommodation. 

Our banner....

                And I’m so glad that he did that. In various bands, I’ve played some remarkable venues.Marquees,Theatres, Breweries,Schools  and Minstrel Galleries. Foyers,Auditoriums, cafes and bars. But this was one of the most esoteric I’ve ever played in. More a fortified house than a castle, it was home in the past for three Queens of England. Elizabeth Woodville, who  became Edward IV's Queen. Her daughter  was Henry VII's wife. And Henry VIII’s ill fated wife Lady Jane Grey lasted nine days on the throne. 

       Astley Castle also hosted  a Parliamentary Garrison during the Civil War and was well known to George Eliot. Even with the moat now  partly overgrown and some of the windows still gaunt skeletons, the place just oozes History. The grounds are magnificently landscaped and lovingly maintained. 

Astley....oozing history

       Elsewhere, the fragrant ladies of the village were serving teas, scones and sarnies in the bunting-arrayed Reading Room.Over in the shade of a tree, Kasia was plaiting Fairy Garlands. (We never got round to wearing one). Upstairs in the mighty Lounge, where we set up,there were wonderful views from all sides. With  floor to ceiling glass and sumptuous furnishings, it was like playing in Simon Cowell’s kitchen.

Where we set up. Gorgeous.

     For a laugh we put a hat on floor in front of us, in the style of street Busking. To our surprise, visitors began to fill it. When we emptied it, whilst packing up afterwards, we found £69 in it. Which we have added to John Neal’s proceeds from a genuine  busking marathon in the sultry heat of Nuneaton Town centre last week. All will be going towards the Red Cross Fund for victims of the Grenfell Tower Disaster. 

The hat begins to fill...

          Our Company comprised myself, John Kearney, Flossy McDougall, John Neal,Paul Moore,Sue Sanders and Bob Brooker. All regulars at NFC and four of whom were Nuneaton residents.  After a very civilised cup of tea together,( in bone china no less), John Neal kicked us off with a seamless, reflective set featuring much Ralph McTell and a lot of well-loved Beatles Tunes. There was much interplay, with musicians joining in and supporting each others' solo spots by weaving subtle backing instrumentation,or beefing up the choruses. So doughty are these old warhorses, that Paul was going on to play in a Ceilidh band in Foxton later that night, and Bob would be appearing twice with Sly Old Dogs on Sunday-at Monks Kirby and Brandon. (How lovely to be wanted and needed!)

Bob and Paul collaborating

       Paul Moore followed John Neal. He was suffering a little from the heavy pollen count, but worked his way expertly through an entertaining set of Blues, Folk and contemporary material.  Including a personal favourite of mine, his adaptation of "Sitting On Top Of The World."  

Paul Sitting On Top of The World.Or a Cajon,maybe?

Sue Sanders then employed her fiddle to great effect and played some very atmospheric mood music including some appropriately historically weighted instrumentals. She took us on a journey around the country and overseas, using her fiddle as a musical Tardis.  

Sue and her musical Tardis.

Bob Brooker and his Bazouki stepped forward next and Bob led us through a sequence of fascinating songs including "The Wild Geese," and "Fiddlers Green." 

Bob getting into The Wild Geese. 

     Nunc finished off the afternoon's proceedings with an extended set and then with a bit of a jam session at the end. Everyone joined in with "Knocking On Heaven's Door," and John Kearney's extraordinary homage to Petula Clark "DownTown." 

Nunc are Going to The Border

     This togetherness seemed to somehow encapsulate the co-operative atmosphere of the afternoon. And it was lovely to see that some familiar faces from Nuneaton Folk had turned up-and they stayed pretty well throughout. (Thanks, Folks!). By 4pm we had finished, and left for our various destinations. Leaving the site to Sudden Impulse and A Midsummer Night's Dream....

Coo! This one's a bit arty. There was an audience..honest!

Mac Awe On Tap

       The annual bash at Nuneaton Beer festival saw a few personnel changes for this year's Friday Night entertainment. Upstairs in the mighty Co-op Hall, Dugdale Street, this fluid co-operative (made up of Nunc and Blues Monkey this year), did two 50 minute sets, serenading Tickers and Topers alike with an eclectic mix of music. 

          Yes it's that time of year when, courtesy of Ray Buckler Roger Brown and Barry of Nuneaton CAMRA,  this loose collective of musicians known generically as Mac Awe On Tour changes from a virtual band to a real outfit.  Courtesy of NFC Sound Men Matt Mallen Allen (loaning the equipment) and  Dave Smart (driving it).  

      Quite a lot of local musicians have guested for MOT since we started doing this a few years back. This year's line-up had (back from previous line-ups) Flossy McDougal. Geoff Veasey and John Kearney, all from Nunc. Jon Harrington (Harp) and Paul Moore (lead guitar) from Blues Monkey joined us, and John's son Brendan flew in from Cork to play bass ,cajon and sundry other instruments.  

Dave Smart supervises the Mix. Look carefully and you'll see Brendan.

     As before, the two sets comprised a mixture of Blues,Folk Country and contemporary music. Our playlist included two Robert Johnson songs as well as blues from Leroy Carr Little Willie John and Jimmy Reed. Folk music included examples of songs written by Woody Guthrie, The Incredible String Band and Richard Thompson.

Paul is about to Duck Walk. Or he's trapped his finger.

      From a general pop category we  included hits by  Bob Marley, Petula Clark, Eddie Reader,Bob Dylan, two songs originally recorded by The Everley Brothers and Buddy Holly, The Beatles and The Stones. Some of which will have been subjected to the infamous Nunc 'Mash-Ups' -running one song into another at an unexpected tempo or offering  a very different arrangement to the original. 

       Country, and U.S. influences mean we'll probably be doing songs by Casey Chambers, two from Neil Young, and others originally recorded by John Prine. We had a great night and the beer wasn't bad, either. Most of us  sampling the provenance. Nuneaton Folk Club were among local organisations sponsoring a barrel, and their choice, Cwtch,provided  by the Welsh Tiny Rebel Brewery got lips smacking all round. Local breweries represented included Byatts,(Coventry)  and Church Farm, Church End (confusing,eh?) Kendricks and Sperrin (all from Warwickshire.

Dave Smart's gone off to top up his beer.

   "For those who like this kind of thing,"  (courtesy of Fred Bison) here's the complete set list.

How Long Blues
 Black Jack David
Vigilante Man 
Need Your Love So Bad 
Shame Shame Shame 
After The Gold Rush 
Rave On/Everyday 
When will I be loved/Bye Bye Love 
Love In Vain 
I saw her standing there
All Over Now 
DownTown 
If I had Possesssion
 When I get to the Border 
Sitting on Top Of The World
Cold Haily Windy Night 
Standing Round Crying 
Weather With You 
Down Where The   Drunkards Roll 
All Gotta Die Some Day 
Angel from Montgomery 
Bring It On Home
Perfect 
Don't Worry/Wild Rover
Knocking On Heaven's Door

Pre-Election Rave-Up

       Apologies for the delay in posting this review of last Wednesday's Nuneaton Folk Club evening. Something even bigger was going on the next day and my sleep patterns got a little disturbed. Added to which,I had to collect all of the NFC's considerable collection of Sound equipment the next morning,in readiness for Mac Awe On Tour's appearance at the CAMRA Beer Festival on June 16th. Of which,more later. 

     Anyway. It was another simply stunning night upstairs at The Crown on June 7th. All superbly masterminded and driven from the desk of Sound man Dave Smart.  Despite foul weather all day, and with many familiar faces missing,it was again,standing room only. We were treated to outstanding entertainment from all who took to the stage.

     Nunc kicked us off, with a new segue of CSNY's  "Find The Cost of Freedom " into Neil Young's angry homage to the slaughter of innocents at Kent State University, "Ohio." They followed that with  "Angel from Montgomery" and concluded with "Bring It On Home To Me."  Gratifying to hear the audience singing along with these three so enthusiastically.

     Maria Barham followed, showcasing three typically brilliant songs from her excellent repertoire. Including a particularly fine rendition of "Sirens." Maria is the Guest at Bedworth Folk Club next week-another opportunity to catch up with a gifted performer who gives unstinting support to Coventry and  Warwickshire Folk venues. 

      Andrew Buckley,making the short trip over the County Line from Leicestershire  then made a very capable and assured debut. He entertained us with three songs from his latest album, "Mainly Blue."  Expertly sung and played. 

Andrew Buckley

       From a new friend then, we moved on to two old ones, as Malc Gurnham and Gill Gilsenan, hosts at Bedworth Folk Club did an accomplished spot  ( I had to get a towel to mop it up).   Their openers  included reference to the very recent loss of Vin Garbutt and they finished off with that nagging earworm "Down By The Dockyard Wall."  This is an adaptation of  "Watch and Chain" with different words,originating from Shep Woolley. The audience  belted that one out with real vigour.

Malc and Gill

            More debutees,then. Sam Shemmell and Jesse Desai followed. Not quite as planned, for Sam very generously left the stage after two numbers, and invited Jesse to borrow a guitar and give us a third tune, solo.

Jesse Desai 

      Sam's powerful, passionate vocals won the Crown faithful over immediately, and Jesse's confident performance also drew warm applause from them. We'll certainly invite Sam,Jesse and Andrew back.

Sam Shemmell

          Sam's spot was the perfect platform from which to launch the first of two rousing,entertaining sets from the thoroughly exemplary Duncan McFarlane and Anne Brivonese. Duncan's percussive guitar work and strident vocals, counterpointed well with Anne's superb fiddle playing and accompanying vocals. They took us to the interval with a rapid set of songs from their impressive catalogue of traditional and self-penned work. 

Anne and Dunc at work

         After the interval,the raffle and two more songs from Nunc, Anne and Duncan stepped back up again and picked up where they had left off,their energy seemingly unabated. . They treated us to the romping "Bed of Straw" and their own version of " A-Begging I will Go," The poignant "Circle For Danny," and the heartwarming "Turn The Bones Around." Capped off with a storming encore-the hilarious finale-"Drinking Song." All introduced and linked by Duncan's very personable and cheerful banter. 

        Now I've seen this duo before,and I have the good fortune to own several of their albums. Their CD's are wonderfully produced and expertly mixed-but good as they are,they do not fully reproduce the quality of Anne and Duncan "Live." I knew they'd be good, and the NFC audience adored them. If anyone gets a chance to see them locally-I cannot recommend them highly enough. You'll tap your feet,sing along and come home feeling thoroughly positive.