The title "Folk Club" scares some people away still,with its connotations of knitted ties, pipe-smoking sandal-wearing beatniks and crusty old warhorses still murmuring long-forgotten tales of woe or bellowing out shanties. People sitting in circles,or in rows, perhaps knitting as they nod their heads wearily in time to the music. In truth I don't know of many places like this, but that myth still scares away some potential audience members,and it makes some relatively new performers think that,well ,maybe their material might not meet with audience approval.
We gave a lot of thought to naming our club before the launch in October 2014,but we went for simplicity and just hoped they'd come. Boy, did they! Another full house last night. Beforehand we had doubts about the weather. Remembering a July night at The Crown when Sean Cannon had them queuing to get in,despite it being 36 degrees centigrade outside even before we got under way.
Once again we had a few logistical problems beforehand, and a few who did not make the final team sheet because late illnesses had poleaxed them. And although The Crown has its assets,it is not always an easy room to manage,with its stairs, the heavy traffic outside and a long trek to the bar. But as we so often do, in the teeth of adversity, we provided a first class FREE entertainment for those who came along. And yes, it was hot by the way. Inside and out,but once the sun had gone down and we'd flung the fire escape doors open, the background rustle of Folk Monthly magazines employed as fans subdued to a murmur.
We have never shied away from showcasing new talent at Nuneaton. Young, fresh talent. With Nunc having done a fair amount of Open Mic as well as Folk Clubs, we have come across relatively youthful performers on our travels who employ innovative and precocious skills to give older material a new face to wear. Rarely has this not worked for us, and last night was a prime example. Combining the best of the local scene in terms of experience and tradition, and adding to it a dash of fresh air, this is a heady recipe guaranteed to stir up a night of pure enjoyment.
Of the former, you won't get much more grizzled and experienced than John Kearney and Geoff Veasey, two thirds of Nunc pressed into service as the divine Flossy McDougall was taken ill shortly beforehand. In a hastily re-arranged opening, we cobbled together a combination of our own songs which have served us well when appearing as a duo. Fortunately they are songs a lot of the audience know and enjoy singing. They did not need "warming up"-far from it-but that's what we did. And so it was that "Albert Balls," "Di Di The Ice Cream Man " and the shamelessly filthy "Folking Liberty " got them singing straight away.
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| John and Geoff modelling modest sunwear |
JK stayed on to keep up the momentum with " Jolly Boys" and a song he dedicated to his Appraisal meeting earlier in the day. He then stayed on stage to accompany Sue Sanders. They got the feet tapping and the hands clapping with some robust guitar and fiddle magic. I'm sure I heard "Marie's Wedding " and "Captain Pugwash" in there somewhere. Given the long road Sue has travelled, she has shown remarkable courage resilience to bounce back. It was lovely to see her back on a stage again and to hear the magic she coaxes from the bow.
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| Sue Sanders. John is there. But you can't see him. |
We had to give JK a rest then before he passed out. Bob Brooker,a popular visitor, and bravely eschewing his beloved shorts, climbed onto the stage and entertained us with two songs and an instrumental. "Wild Geese" was a request. I had thought to ask him to do "Stockton Town"-another cover of a Sean Cooney song he does full justice to,but I had no need, as that followed second.
And then he pulled off one of the comedy stunts of the evening by announcing "I always like to name this after the town I'm playing in," and then mischievously introducing it as " The Beduff Hornpipe " to a storm of theatrical pantomime hissing and boos from Nuneatonians..
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| Bob Brooker. He's a right Wag. |
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| Blues Monk-Jon and Paul. (Where's Ringo?) |
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| Glyn on a chair. dave behind trying to free the di lead. |
Glyn's Rock God cameo was the first musical piece we had seen from someone playing whilst actually standing on a chair. (Most of our guest musicians tend to just sit on them. Or stand up. A few could not ever get onto a chair. let alone get off one again). The first of several historic and groundbreaking firsts last night. Jennian King,decided (wisely) to forego her boots, and performed barefoot. A brave decision. Had she seen that stage before i swept it at lunchtime. Well....she might have decided otherwise....
For, with another personnel change (one of three trios on that night who had done some late juggling), it was then Paper Circus time. I just love watching faces in the audience when Jennian starts singing. You can easily pick out those who have not heard her before. Their mouths drop open. With masterful musical accompaniment from Siraj Nagar and Stephen Clarke (and a spot on the electric piano herself), she employed that beautiful,flawless voice to pick out classics such as "Wild Mountain Thyme" and " She Moved Through The Fair." And still managed to have a go at a Massive Attack. Introducing it as apologetically as "not Folk." Yes it is. Not traditional maybe-but teardrop as they did it was delicious.
It was one of those moments. It must be how audiences felt when they heard a young Sandy Denny/ The Circus and their ebulient following the Paper Clipettes, tore the house down with haunting,melodic music. "Lagan Love" : " I am stretched on your Grave." And another first- "Dacw Nghariad," a song sung mostly in Welsh. I wonder if tpaper Circus realise quite how good they are? Mesmeric. Even The Folk Monthly improvised fans stopped flapping.
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| Suraj, Jennian and Stephen |
With the audience almost punch drunk at their good fortune, we had a brief interval before an improvised House Band opened the second half with "Knocking On Heaven's door." This song has just emerged to become a staple item of Nunc's set list,and is characterised by wonderful audience chorus singing at every venue we've played. NFC audiences are renowned for their singing-but last night was exceptional. They must have heard Dylan's anthem over in the Bus Station.
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| The Astley Castle Collective. And Fan. |
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| Bob does Seasick Steve |
It was then time to hand the evening over to the temporarily fragmented Daisybell for them to take us on home. At the end of quite a tour, they had virtually run out of CD's and had also lost Anya somewhere along the way. This not detract from their performance, but did mean that they had to re-arrange their set list at late notice. This was at its most evident when they did "Miners Winter." Those of us who see The 'Belle regularly know that Anya does a solo in that,but Katherine and Ginnie were sure-footed,exchanging a grin before moving seamlessly on to the second part of the song.
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| Daisybell. Far Out. Man (or should that be Women?) |
There was a tense moment when Katharine seemed to be disappearing underneath a spaghetti of stage cabling. This caused a stir among the younger faction at the back of the room as Katherine squealed " OOH! I'm Tripping!" ( I don't think she meant it quite like that m'dears!) By her own admission she can be accident prone at times,but the moment was rescued.
Their well-deserved encore was the excellent Dave Taylor cover of a song about a Pirate Crew which was (definitely) more than it seemed. Very funny and very entertaining. Daisybell, whether depleted or not, always work hard, and deliver a varied catalogue of songs. They play loads of instruments, including Son of Ukele and Ginnie's Bongos-which have always drawn gasps of admiration from a certain contingent. They sing and play songs that make you think, songs that make you tap your feet, sing along and smile. (Though not necessarily always at the same time). They may well have run out of CD's and are going for a re-pressing-but you can still order them online or via Facebook.
Their well-deserved encore was the excellent Dave Taylor cover of a song about a Pirate Crew which was (definitely) more than it seemed. Very funny and very entertaining. Daisybell, whether depleted or not, always work hard, and deliver a varied catalogue of songs. They play loads of instruments, including Son of Ukele and Ginnie's Bongos-which have always drawn gasps of admiration from a certain contingent. They sing and play songs that make you think, songs that make you tap your feet, sing along and smile. (Though not necessarily always at the same time). They may well have run out of CD's and are going for a re-pressing-but you can still order them online or via Facebook.
Exhausted, we all flopped out into another sultry Costa del Nunny night and made our way home to soak in an ice bath. Get well soon Flossy and Anya. You are loved and you were missed.
