Mayday! Mayday!

      Well not quite. But it was a Spring Bank Holiday, in May and a lovely one, when the weather was extraordinarily kind. Actually we experienced  no emergencies,just  two thoroughly enjoyable outdoor gigs in very contrasting circumstances, in 24 hours. Both put  a smile on all our faces and a song in our hearts.It's always nice to be wanted, whenever and wherever  Nunc and chums are.   

L to R:Paul Moore,JK,Flossy,John Harris,Moi and Jon H. 

         Back in the depths of winter, we had been offered a couple of gigs on consecutive days towards the start of May. As the blizzards raged and the Permafrost gripped the lawns  it seemed a good idea to say yes at the time to  both. It also seemed a good idea to beef up the personnel beforehand a little by drafting in Paul Moore and Jon Harrington,our old friends from Blues Monkey. Somehow,as The Beast from the East attacked further,things snowballed (if you'll forgive the pun!) and we added Dragonhead's John Harris to the mix. We'd all jammed together at John's  Anker Blues Sessions at the Anker Inn on Tuesdays, and we had enjoyed lots of fun times there.

      I was then inconveniently ill throughout most of April. There were holidays house purchases and job interviews and all kinds of other obstacles in the way of getting together and rehearsing much. But it's always these spontaneous decisions that turn out to be the best sometimes.And so it was to be as we rolled up at The Angel Inn in The Square,Atherstone, on Sunday 6th May. 

So who forgot a mike stand?

       A fine pub.much loved by CAMRA, we'd been asked to provide the afternoon background to a Beer Festival which Shane and Carol were organising there. We played Stonefest there last year,in the pub garden.There were a few logistical conundrums leading up to it this time,but by 3.15pm on Sunday we had cobbled a sound system together and were under way,crammed into the shelter at the end of the pub garden.  Two 45 minute sets followed,punctuated by a comfort. break. it was hot:very hot-but mercifully, we were under under cover whilst the audience sweltered out at the picnic tables. 

        I have to say that despite being a CAMRA member myself, I ignored the festival fare and kept only to the magnificent Oakham Citra and Salopian Oracle which is regularly available in the bar. It is so well kept it would have been rude not to. Below you can see that Flossy kept a pint of Oakhan within reach throughout the gig. And occasionally I dropped off whilst clinging onto a hand mike.

Niece and Uncle. (NUNC)

    Twenty four hours later we were at Earlsdon Festival in Coventry. A prestigious gig for us and a bit special as both Flossy and Jon are currently Earlsdon residents. Indeed,Flossy was broiling away on an allotments stall well before most of us even got there. I suspect a few people may be thinking wtf? So I'll just leave a panoramic view of the street we were playing in here. There were a few people there.

      As we arrived a full marching band were doing their stuff up and down the apron-the street being fully closed off and barriers erected around the stage. Some people felt this was a security measure to keep excited spectators from rushing the stage. But we knew it was to stop us escaping once were under way. 

         We made a very sweaty rendezvous in an absolutely rammed City Arms. Where a couple of Punk IPAs  helped stiffen the resolve and calm the nerves. Alchemista were both compering and providing the sound system through the day. They were also on before us. They have been good friends to Nunc-and we knew we would be in good hands with them. Having done all the sound ourselves the day before it was a real luxury to have the reassurance of everything being laid on for us. (So Big Love to Colin and Caroline. Here they are).

          Although the noise level inside Wetherspoons was near life-threatening,we could hear Mark Nisbet's bass guitar shaking the beer glasses and pumping out the chords to "Nights in White Satin," way out yonder in the High Street. Alchemista were under way so we fought our  way out to catch their act and to lean over the barriers shouting friendly abuse at them as they finished up.

          Once set up and under way,in all modesty we absolutely tore the street up by opening with a very punchy version of  "When Love Comes To Town." This got people running down the street. (Towards us rather than away-always a good sign). We drew in a decent crowd around the barriers including quite a few of The Earlsdon Massive that I recognised.  Let's hear it for Nigel Ward,Paul Monks,Peter Reutt  and Sammie Snailbucket. So photogenic was Sam's parasol that this snap appears on the Festival website!

        And a shout out also to Marion,Martin, Kim,John Wright and Hilary Wilson. It was good  to see ex-Pennyroyal Linda Dickson again. Linda,with her copper-coloured hair big guitar and beautiful voice was once  a very popular performer on the Midlands Folk circuit. A cruel illness struck her down and she is no longer well enough to perform. She still lives just round the corner. Although very poorly of late, she was there, bopping around in her wheelchair throughout the set. 

       Got to say that, despite the heat,playing the main stage at Earlsdon Festival was an absolute honour and a total blast. I would like to thank Colin and the Gang for driving the P.A. and mixing the sound,and to my fellow DruncMonkeys,John H, John K,Jon H,Flossy and Paul for enhancing  the Nunc experience. Above is a shot of us without Jon Harrington  in it. He was there but was so far over to the left-he is out of shot. Conveniently this was nearest to the Wetherspoons Pub garden. However, rumours that he kept nipping over the low hedge are untrue. Here he is in full cry and demonstrating the Javid akimbo stance.             Aficionados of the Nunc dress code will note that it was so hot, even the daft beach shirt had to be discarded. And yes,that is a Twisted Barrel Brewery t-shirt I'm wearing. And finally, we'd all done risk assessments and all wore hats. Some decidedly dodgier than others. 

Jon demonstrates power harp.

           Finishing with "Knocking on Heaven's Door," we then handed the stage over to Whizzy as swiftly as we could. A few of us went back to Wetherspoons for a swift top-up. The guys on the door stopped us as we went back in and I feared the worst.. But they told us they loved our set and  asked us where we were on next. I thought they were joking but straight up,they are coming to see us at MotoFest in June. No pressure then. Although if anything kicks off, with them in the audience, we'll be safe. 

Lone Ryder

" This venue is groovy fab and cool. It's a folk club in a rock gig venue."-Anna Ryder
And a selection of comments from audience members, posting on Facebook:
"Fantastic night at Nuneaton Folk Club."
" Wasn't it good!"
"Absolutely brilliant."
"Incredible! Loved all of the musicians!"
"Great Evening all round."
" Absolutely great night,top entertainment all round."
" What a super evening"
      Yet last night,(frustratingly), we had  a  lower NFC turnout than last month.For another original guest of great quality. Plus a diverse supporting line-up, free food laid on, free parking nearby and a bar in the room. We still had numbers that many other Folk Clubs would envy,but there were gaps and empty tables.

        Let's reflect on last night in reverse order-leaving the performers till last. Not because they weren't the best things on--they always are. But because without the others-the audience,the Sound Guys,the pub staff,the photographers and the volunteers helping with setting out furniture,security, logistics and the Raffle,the performers would have one less place to play. As for Richard Burlingham-he's just gone all out to make us feel welcome and at home. Top bloke. 
Photographers

       We always get great pictures from NFC nights,but if John Smith or John Wright are there we know it's going to be exceptional. Both were present last night and whole portfolios of their work,capturing every moment is currently appearing  on Social media sites. They ask no favours for any of this-they just do it because they like recording such music venues and their followers for posterity. Imagine the coffee table book that these two could produce! At one stage Anna got them laughing so much they couldn't operate their cameras. I could see their shoulders shaking!

Sound Guys

       It was the third NFC night at The Queen's Hall and we are still getting used to the changes. There is a whole lot more to be grateful for compared to previous venues. Not least the fact that the sound is so much easier for us to manage. No more lugging entire P.A. systems up and down stairs. The young James Gang led by Tom,deal with diplomatically with those performing each month. With courtesy,calmness and great tact they do their very best to reassure everyone and set them at ease. Our own Dave Smart has has become virtually redundant. (But let no-one doubt that, for a long time, he kept NFC afloat when no-one else was prepared to step in! ).

      When I arrived there early last night,Tom was already at the desk. He'd had the horrors with a few early gremlins. Such is the nature of taking over a central desk which is driven separately by several different bands a week. He'd finally persuaded the sound to come back cleanly out of the Hall Speakers,rather than just through the foldbacks. On the vast stage are two enormous cupboards full of leads,mikes,stands and probably Shergar and Lord Lucan as well. The chaps pluck goodies from these throughout the evening.If something fails or plays up-they know how to replace the guilty item.Performers and audience members rarely see this effort in getting the magnificent sound ready beforehand. It doesn't happen by magic. It happens via skill and sheer hard work. 

        Despite most of  the performers arriving early,the sound checks took longer than usual,delaying the start. An orderly queue formed-although I think this is something we are going to have to look at and revise. As often happens,there were a few glitches and gremlins through the evening-all dealt with patiently by Tom or his crew. 

Nunc

Kicked off with "When Love Comes To Town" -something we are still working on. We followed that with "Bold Riley," (ditto) and finished with "Bring It On Home,"-Paul Moore joining us for that and "Guilty" which we started the second half with. 

The Wright Brothers
What can you say except they've come a long way since Kittyhawk?. It is always invidious taking the "dead spot" after the residents have ballsed up the beginning,but they patiently produced  three numbers which were probably around when they first flew. Thanks,guys! 

Tom Young
            Anyone who has been to the excellent "live" sessions run by John and Anne Harris at The Anker Inn across town will have seen the remarkable Tom Young.  Not enough venues are prepared to take a risk with new people.  A few get stuck in a niche,repeating the same acts at every session.NFC has always taken gambles. We were prepared to share them with a wider audience and they won hearts everywhere,cornering a niche with a their unique style.  We had a "Paper Circus moment" with Tom last night.Tom is a modest quiet lad who perches on a stool and then skillfully whacks out atmospheric (and fairly obscure) American Blues using a guitar without a strap. Jaws dropped open as he made that machine transport us all across a century and over the Atlantic until we were all tapping our feet in a juke joint somewhere north of the Mississippi.

Lesley Wilson 

Lesley is a well known performer from the Nuneaton area.She is also a regular at The Blues Jamm over in Weddington on Tuesdays and at The Fox Sessions in Attleborough on Monday nights  She has a strong voice,,plays guitar well and is confident enough to really shake up her material. It's taken us a while to persuade her to take to the stage but we're glad she finally did. Her tribute to Dolores Kean was excellent and JK joined her on "Ride On."  (JK is anybody's for a shiny sixpence! Such collaborations are commonplace at The Anker! You can just about make out JK here through the blue smoke generated by Lesley's guitar. 

Michael Luntley

 He's also been at The Anker Inn sessions. Michael had joined us at the old venue too, both solo and with his band. Such is his dedication, that because he was in a high sided van,he parked in the old venue space near Dunelm, as it had no height restrictors. He then walked right across town with his guitar-and all the way back afterwards. He's a fine guitarist,a good songwriter and someone who has put a lot of work into refining his talent. 

FInger In The Jar

Atherstone Folk Club's residents,reduced to just "Finger In," last night. They were without the Jar with Phil being indisposed. Anne and Steve took the last spot before Anna. FITJ are improving all the time. Two really nice people who work very hard on arrangements and harmonies, they took us back to earlier times with some nostalgic cover versions by Bread and other icons of the era.  

Anna Ryder

          I'd seen Anna Ryder before,and so I knew what to expect. Not sure all the audience had seen her but they loved her anyway,as I thought they would. She is a good natured goodhearted lady of great talent. She writes songs that are by turns funny,emotional,jaunty and haunting. She is a great multi-instrumentalist and she has a voice that is easily adapted to many different vocal styles. When she does do covers it is most often Blues or Jazz interpretations. I have always been fondest of her Bessie Smith number-the one she opened with last night. It is a feisty, ballsy song with some quite racy lyrics. If that were not enough, the sight and sound of Anna simultaneously playing trumpet and accordion whilst also singing it is an image that stays in the mind for a long time. Added to that her inclination to encourage the audience to join in with improvised jazz licks on imaginary trombones and cornets and you have an unforgettable experience. 

 

.           Those who hadn't seen her before were entranced by her versatility and delivery. Even her sound check brought the those present into silence,as she filled the Queen's Hall with her voice,and her nimble keyboard skills. Later we would learn of her empathy with feathers and inanimate objects, her love of Orange Creams (particularly those resident in a Black Magic chocolate selection),and her tendency to annoy her daughter.

       Her introductions are very often every bit as entertaining as her songs. Here is her self portrait of last night. Those Orange Creams must have been psychedelic. 

           You could not ask for any better Finale than the team-building encore exercise of collectively yodelling along with Anna "The Lonely Goatherd ," from the Sound of Music. Complete with complex sub yodels and goat noises. What a splendid way to finish the evening. It all seemed somehow.....appropriate. And very scary, the effort some audience members were putting into it...
      I was  tempted to start this review  by bemoaning another  missing cast of thousands who had more important stuff to do last night. Some were working. Some were abroad or travelling back. Some were busy elsewhere.Some perhaps preferred to stay in their armchairs and watch Liverpool play Roma rather than going  out to support live music. It is easy to take their absence personally but others will tell me that I am being oversensitive. Maybe I am. 
                  The area is rich in talented musicians.Many were there last night, performing or just watching. Many  were not. The facts are that in Nuneaton over the last ten days, the public have had Maddy Prior,Sarah McQuaid and Anna Ryder performing "live"  at  separate venues in the Town centre. At each one,  there were empty seats.  It remains a case of # use it or lose it-and in Treacle, the personal preference for a few seems to be indifference.  A bit like the Town's senior football club.