Sunday, 11 December 2022

Felix Have Me Dad

( One of the classic Donnelly festive parodies from Keith's new Christmas album) . A song which is an homage of sorts to Jose Feliciano and the Three Tenors wishing us a Happy Christmas in Spanish/English. Of which more later.

There were many counter attractions competing for an audience at NFC on Wednesday. Elsewhere a hardy bunch of locals had braved the snow to trek North to Aviemore for some Costa Del Cairngorm thingy. There was apparently football on the telly, late night Christmas shopping, (though not in Nuneaton),the usual parking confusion (see next paragraph below) and various malicious continuations of seasonal Lurgies (great name for a band?).  Plus, the temperature outside had plummeted below zero well before the doors were even open.

As regards parking confusion, I need to point out again that there are two free car parks (Victoria Street One and Victoria Street Two), just across Roanne Ringway from The Crew, almost on the junction with Queens Road and The Ring Road itself.. Indeed the building itself is within eyesight once you get out of the car.  Both of these car parks are within a two minute walk of The venue.  We always use these two even though there is apparently also free parking (when there are spaces!) at the Abbey Theatre. To access the Victoria Street Car Parks, instead of turning up Queens Road towards Lidl, The Crew and The Theatre, turn left  (if coming round it from the North). Or turn right if coming to the lights along the A444, from the South. Follow this short spur of Queens Road past Johnsons the Jewellers, Iceland. The Lord Hop Micropub,The Co-op Club, Salvation Army H.Q. and the back of Rope Walk Shopping Mall on this two minute journey as it curves round to the right, almost a 360 turn before  It quickly becomes Dugdale Street and then Victoria Street. At the end of Victoria Street you can park free  6pm-8am  and virtually next to that four way junction just described. ( For Satnavs the car park postcode is CV11 5GE). Step out of the car and you are back next to Johnsons The Jewellers. Within under a minute on foot you are back at the junction where you turned, with its plethora of pedestrian crossings. The Crew (and so The Queens Hall above it) is visible, diagonally opposite where you have parked.  Try this link or just look it up on Google Maps. carparkmaps.co.uk/carparks/view/18630

    Right. That out of the way,  the Queen's Hall was warm and cheerful inside. The Church End Fallen Angel was frankly divine and thankfully,  enough people turned out to make the trip worthwhile for those who were performing. Not as many as in the Olden Days when local people supported their Local Folk Clubs everywhere, but fortunately our numbers were swelled by people coming in from Coventry and Birmingham. 

   Top of  the bill we had Lauren South and Keith Donnelly, seen on stage together at NFC for the first time . We had a debut feature from Folk rockers Fables and Lies and a classic traditional Seasonal set from our old friends Thrupp'nny Bits. 

Late last Wednesday I wrote on the NFC Facebook Page Last night was an eclectic cornucopia of Festive and traditional Folkie entertainment." A fair and accurate summation of what went on. Fables and Lies were making their NFC debut. An affable and friendly crowd of musicians, I'd got it in my head that they were from the far South of the County but far from it. They were from Rugby, Coventry, Corby and all over.. And Corby isn't even in Warwickshire. (Yet). They brought in a fully miked up drum kit, electric bass, electric lead, fiddles and all sorts of anciliary items. I'm sure there was a wardrobe being carried up the stairs somewhere. Ross, our techie, watched all this nonplussed. He's seen it all, and the sound check seemed to go well. They certainly woke the audience up with a robust and energetic opening set.

Thrupp'nny Bits then quietened things down a little with a selection of their Christmas and Seasonal songs. Most (if not all) of which, are available on CD. We had Shepherds Arising and those poor Wrens pursued, and Wassails of various shapes and sizes. Plus my personal favourite, The Pudding Hunt. Tally Ho! Nothing like the TB's to get one persuaded that its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Which led us to the interval. A quick jug collection and a chance for a wee break before we romped off again. Some bloke dressed as a grumpy elf ,who'd been compering the evening read out his now infamous Christmas Notices and Answers to The Christmas Quiz. Then mercifully, it was back to proper entertainment. The photo of this idiot below is by Kevin Hargraves. There were none of our usual photographers there on Wednesday although I did spot a welcome (and newly shorn) Andy Jones later on, and he was busy snapping away. I've not seen any of his work yet.so the photographs here, other than Kevin's, are I'm afraid...mine.

We had originally got Phil Hare to come and headline this December 2022 spot, but given the weather, the long return journey and our attendances recently, I'm glad we agreed to rearrange and that Lauren and Keith were able to step in. Phil will now be playing in September next year. When (hopefully) there won't be any frost and snow. Although in this country...you never know...

Both Lauren and Keith were in fine voice. I'm not going to reveal  too much about Keith except to say that he was very good, did lots of jokes, was very festive and very often, funny. ( Sometimes intentionally). This is because he's on at Atherstone Folk Club on the 21st December. So if you are not dancing naked round a bonfire that night (it's The Winter Solstice), get out there, support your local Folk Club and have a good time. Besides, if you weren't at NFC last Wednesday it will present you with another opportunity to purchase Keith's EXCELLENT new Christmas Album. Everything you would expect from this maestro of parody. The perfect late gift for that special Folkie in your life. 

     Lauren is a fine musician and has an immaculate voice. She is an accomplished writer (as is Keith) and as well as doing some favourites together they also showcased some thoughtful and tastefully arranged new material. As a duo it's an interesting combination of voices and content but it somehow works. It's a bit like Pork and Stuffing or Ice Cream and Strawberries. I'm not daft enough to identify which one is which but do try to get along and see them so you can decide for yourselves.

Finally a thanks to all those whose hard work during 2022 continued to keep NFC surviving in what have been at times challenging circumstances. Most importantly, audience members and performers. Then let's have a round of applause for Rich Burlingham for his ongoing support and wonderful husbandry of beautiful, locally brewed Church End Beers. Jenna and Pete Willow provide invaluable help with advance publicity.  Aaron and new kid on the block Evelyn, keep the audiences provided with refreshment, help putting the chairs out and just keep on smiling. Thanks also to Ross for his sound work (see what I did there?), mixing, adjusting levels, stage swapping and all round general expertise. And Maggie my right hand woman who despite sometimes being poorly, faithfully puts her hand to helping out with, well,  everything. God Bless Us Every One!

 A few people have chosen to turn their back on us this year and a few others continue to stay away. I regret that and hope that some of them  can see it in their hearts  to return one day. Christmas is after all, supposedly a time of forgiveness, Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All.