Stylish Improvisation at BFC

        Most of us had gone along to the Newdigate Club, Bedworth, on Wednesday night just to get another hearing of the outstanding Kevin Dempsey and to enjoy more banter, poetry and fine musicianship from Brian Phillips. I'd also got some Folk Monthly magazines to sell and to add  to their Club Funds. And with surplus prizes left over from the previous nights Shenanigans at The Anker Blues session I wanted to donate a bottle of Chardonnay to the raffle. Strange how things turn out though, eh?

      When I arrived, just before 8pm I met Nigel Ward coming back out and hurrying into the car park. " That bad eh,Nige?," I quipped hilariously . " Kev's not playing," he explained,"I'm just coming out to have  a fiddle." (Good job you brought one eh,Nige?)

      Inside though,joking aside, it was all true. Kev had damaged his wrist and Brian was also unable to play. Both were there and looking concerned. Malc Gurnham was energetically readjusting a hastily-improvised running order and as things turned out, despite the disappointment of missing guitar fireworks from Brian and Kev we had a cracking evening. Including one or two real surprises. Off which more later. 

         Fortunately, there were plenty of musicians present some of whom had only come along originally intending to be spectators. Many were quickly roped in.  Malc and Gill (in fine voice and good spirits) launched the evening with some songs including.Shep Woolley's "Down By The Dockyard Wall." That got the audience warmed up and singing before Dave Webb was dragged out of the audience to give us a couple of recitations. Sam was summarily  told to pick up his rifle and Dave also reminded us of an unlikely meeting between an Angel and a Yorkshire Pudding. Heavenly. (Literally).  

              The Wigleys-Stephen and Julie-had travelled all the way over from Derby so Malc treated them to a neat little cameo of four songs. Some of which were written by Julie. Interesting stuff. 

           Nigel Ward, separated from the rest of the  Sly Old Dogs and his musical partnership with Mick Bissiker, stepped in next. He gave us a couple of songs and then finished with a fantastic bouncing medley of jigs and reels which got everyone's feet tapping. Nigel is coming out to the John Richards night at NFC next month so there is another chance to see and hear his flashing bow then! 

       David Parr was drafted in next and he was in fine voice. He got us all singing merrily once again with "Star of The County Down" and then tickled us all with his wonderful if slightly naughty Paddy Roberts song," When I was a Little Wolf Cub." Definitely music to wave your woggle about to. 

          During the first half Malc had asked me to do a spot in the second half. (Blimey,things must have been getting desperate-cheers Kev!).  I was sitting next to Arnold Chave at the time and during one of the acts changeovers I asked if he would like to join me in doing The Odeon together. Initially he declined,pointing out that he could not remember the chords or the words, but with a bit of persuasion,  a lend of Dave Parr's guitar and an impromptu half-time rehearsal,he agreed.

            So, after the interval Malc and Gill returned together before Malc did a couple of songs solo. Then I got up and did "Di Di The Ice Cream Man"  (unaccompanied)-for the second time that day . Amidst a fair bit of good natured heckling I then introduced "my young accompanist" and Arnie and I stumbled not only through "The Odeon," but finished with a classic version of "Albert Balls" as well. It had been four years since we had last performed these three songs together as Black Parrot Seaside -but (as they always do/always did) they each received warm applause. The audience knew the words to all three so the singing was magnificent, and muck chuckling ensued. 

       Follow that? Simple. Wheel out the Thrupp'nny Bits to conclude what had been,given the circumstances, a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Arnold and I discussed what Des keeps under his various hats and the way  Des and his beard seem to change appearance each time we see him,as they began.. (My opinion is-he wears extensions) They performed a selection of their many excellent traditional songs including "The Owl," and  a very cleverly arranged "Hal and Tow," concluding with a complex three part round of Summer is a Comin' In. They also added their popular and saucy bit of wordplay,"Bold Sir John," demonstrating ably that it wan't only myself and Dave Parr who could deal skilfully with a bit of smut. 
         All in all a very pleasant evening and all was not lost as (hopefully) Kevin Dempsey returns on March 28th with his guitar hand suitably repaired. Fingers crossed..(or perhaps not....?)
                                   All photographs courtesy of John B. Smith