Barnstorming

     Sunday night,the last one in June and suddenly it's time for a midsummer lark out Willey way. ( Oo-er matron!) The Sly Old Dogs are in monthly session again,with their coterie of accompanying musicians. Having missed a few of these entertaining end of month sessions recently  because of other music commitments,it was good to join a group of like-minded people and let off a bit of steam again.

     The Dogs went through their usual repertoire of traditional songs with as much gusto as always. The solo turns were varied, interesting and entertaining. I lost a bet because Bob Brooker didn't sing his new(-ish) song "Tanner for a Herring" Or the "Wild Geese." A shame.He did Stockton Town instead. Which is not bad,either.  

      Craig Sunderland put us all to shame with a magnificent version of "Galway Shawl." I could have spat. It's taken me two years to perfect learning the words to that song. Now I can never perform it there again.He also did a cracking cover of one of my favourite Nic Jones's songs."Little Pot Stove." It carries a clue in the lyrics revealing why Nic named his best selling album accordingly. Beautiful melody,beautiful song,haunting chorus,beautifully sung.  

         Poachers Pocket,always a canny pair,have made a constructive move by importing Carol Gillespie into their line-up and becoming a trio. This has also had the benefit of making them considerably better looking. It also extends their sound and their repertoire. Added to some pretty funky  instruments which have an air of Ikea about them,there was an intriguing look and feel about the new incarnation of the band. The day before, they had been over the fence in my neighbour's back garden, apparently.( I missed them then because we were out. But I would have waved)..

        Colin  managed to take a high profile as a SOD and was also Jackie Elmer's accompanist. This meant he was rarely off our screens. Together they did a couple of songs,with the favourite "Last Thing On My Mind" being particularly well received.   

               John Kearney and I had Sue Sanders sitting between us. We weren't sulking but decided instead to do separate numbers. John did his inimitable segue of "Three Little Birds" and "Wild Rover." Later he added a powerful composition of his own.
            Sue Sanders did one fiddle instrumental and a vocal, Max Wright stuck to guitar rather than banjo (no comments please!) and I chose to do " Bedduth Bank" in the first half and " Vigilante Man" second.  

            Brian Jordan put his distinctive plant  on a couple of traditional songs including a beautifully sung and played "Sligo Reel." I think NFC crowds would enjoy his unique style. Brian's been along to The Queens Hall to have a look but we've not persuaded him to get up on the stage and perform yet!!

             Allan Birkett also has a recognisably different style. Among his two numbers was a version of "Matchstalk Men," by Bryan and Michael. It was uncannily close to the original. Most of the audience had heard my parody of this,"Albert Balls" and Craig (who was sitting next to me) seemed puzzled by their reaction. A few even sang my version of the chorus rather than the original. Alan ploughed doggedly on and finished a creditable version. He also does "Spinning Wheel"-so I'd better not do my parody of it "Sid's Bags" if Allan is there. 

         All in all another good night,good beer and good music. Incidentally, the eagle eyed among you might have noticed that few if any of these photos were actually taken last Sunday. They are from Volume 37a of the John Smith portfolio. It wasn't dark at any point on Sunday night  in fact,with the sun taking its time setting over Cloudseley Bush crossroads,some of the photo opportunites were lost due to the halo effect.