I'd set a bit of a challenge to NFC Facebook Page members before Wednesday night's extraordinary attendance. We have 472 members and I'd suggested that maybe if only a tiny fraction of those expressing an interest in the club turned out, we'd have a night to remember. Folk took up the challenge and filled the place. And we did have a night to remember. But don't just take my word for it. Just read the reviews!
"A great nights entertainment, three top performances." (Wes Hall)
"Great Evening at NFC with a packed house and the audience in good voice." ( Max Wright)
" It was brilliant" (John B. Smith).
" We had a blast." (The Lost Notes)
"Excellent Talent all round." (Les Jones)
" A brilliant night out." (Doreen Tiernan)
.... "Just absolutely Five star from start to finish. It doesn't get better than this," (Bobby Brooker )
" Great evening all round...brilliant entertainment." ( Geoff Hardy)
" It was a cracking night." (Michele Kondakor).
"Another cracking show last night. many thanks to all involved." ( Ray Buckler)
" Lovely Crowd in last night. Superb sound system. great atmosphere." (Steve Redshaw.)
" If you've not been to this club then you have no appreciation of what a good club it is. Superb venue, great selection of beers, lagers & ciders, ensuite toilets, brilliant sound system manned by skilled experienced people. Go on give it a try!" ( John B. Smith)
There are three recurring words here. From comments made online by audience members and performers. Not me. "Brilliant," " Entertainment" and "Show." NFC isn't always for the purists. There are no candles in old Chianti bottles and soloists don't always stick their fingers in their ears when singing. We embrace every form of Folk Blues and Americana and we don't have Floor Spots. But what you do get is a show, every month. We try to mix up the artistes appearing so that (a) you don't always see all of them everywhere else all of the time and: (b) they are not all the same genre. We do have amplification and electric instruments sometimes, but it's a big hall and a big stage. It needs filling. People rarely drop off to sleep in the auditorium very often but that's how we like our music.
Our evening started with an NFC debut from Steve Redshaw. Actually billed as Steve 2 or The Steves, unfortunately, Stephen Boyer was too poorly to attend.( Hope you are better very soon Stephen). So Steve singular was chucked in at the deep end and he did a masterful job. More front crawl than doggy paddle he cleaved through the set causing many a ripple and that's the end of the nautical analogies. Having been to the club previously as an audience member, he took to the stage like a seasoned regular and ran through a fabulous thirty minutes of songs. Well chosen and well arranged with a few stamped with an individual new take on an old format. Steve has a really pleasant voice and a deceptively relaxed guitar style. My personal favourite was "Lakes of Ponchartrain." I love that song. It has an Irish American heritage dating back to the days of The Civil War. I first encountered it through the work of Paul Brady. I've performed it myself in several venues and with different line-ups so I know it's not an easy one to get across. Steve did it justice. He left that stage to deserved applause. We'll certainly get him back. He flew the flag for Steves everywhere. ( Mr. Boyer: he did not let you down). Photo by John B. Smith
A highly anticipated debut from the 3/5 version of The Lost Notes followed. Quite a coup to get them and John Richards on the same bill together, reflected in the room being near full before they started. Energetic, lively and very polished, they set to work with a highly organised collection of songs. Most if not all self-penned. Oli had a few minor problems with guitars which got Ross our Sound (very sound) man scrambling across the stage initially before the problem settled. It didn't affect the performance one jot. They finished to rapturous applause. Local Folkies can see them agaim almost immediately as they are on a Beduff next week supporting Paper Circus. I rather think they might be on at Atherstone in the future, too. They performed examples from a newly released album "Lowlifes and High Times." Their versatile vocal styles covered many genres with the fireworks on the last one making me describe as Folk's Tony Hadley. (Sorry ,mate!). Can't WAIT to see the five piece version. Photo by JBS
The second half began, (much against my better judgement) with me joining the JRB for a first crack at "Chimnea." This is a song written by John and I. He very kindly supplied the tune to my lyrics. it was his idea at first and then my own vanity spurred me on. I am tremendously grateful for being honoured by being offered that opportunity. It's a song about some of the indignities we've all had to put up with over the last few years, mainly because of the input (or lack of it) of various Governments. All written whilst swigging a bottle of Pinot Noir on Summer Solstice and enjoying a clear quiet night outside around a log fire. I'd rehearsed it singing along to an MP3 of the tune JR emailed me. I was so nervous and tongue tied I sang it very badly. If you look at the photos I'm rigid with fear. Not usually like the swaggering braggart that I often am on stage. Oh well. perhaps I'll get another chance one day. People were very kind about it but I have to watch my vocal performance from behind a settee. Photo by Max Wright.
Fortunately things soon bucked up again. The JRB continued with a further cross section of old and new material. "If You can walk you can dance" was a popular show stopper. I'd forgotten that John's daughter Em was so poorly with Covid last time they came to NFC that she couldn't appear. Gren Bartley stepped in and did a fine job. Nevertheless It was good to hear and see Emma back again, though. Photo by JBS
Jim did a couple of very natty bass solos and some sterling work on the Keyboard. He's a very understated and versatile musician: his work adds a lot to the overall sound. His bass guitar had what looked like washing line for strings but it gave a marvellous thumpy sound. And I loved his keyboard work in a song which reminded me very much of a Magnum Opus by Mr. Fox "The Gypsy" Photo by JBS 
I had been very measured and controlled over finding that some of my favourites were missing from the overall set list. I love "Polly," "Washbourne Road," " Billy Shaw," and "The Deserter" to bits for example. I was going to let their omission go until I heard an ugly rumour that "Shine On," would not feature. I'm afraid that during several encores wisdom prevailed and people power took over. Bob Brooker and I were invited to go up sing with the JRB. The audience singing was simply stunning. You just cannot let a song as good as that go. Even the bar staff were singing the choruses-and they'd never heard it before. Probably not even born before it was first recorded-but quality transcends generations. Photo by JBS
The usual accolades must be accorded to Ross Tidmuss on sound (great to have him back),and to Holly, putting in a really tough shift behind the bar serving a larger than usual audience. And big thanks to Rich Burlingham, The Crew Guuvnor. He continues to support Folk Music in the Town and lays on decent real Ale for us like last night's special " What The Foxes Hat?"
Finally congratulations on another NFC innovation: Claire Botterill became our resident artist by setting up a merchandise stall just inside the door and demonstrating wax resist painting in the auditorium during the interval. We hope to make this a regular feature. Claire is Nuneaton based. She runs courses, designs cards and teaching worksheets and will do special commissioned paintings of your favourite pets. Although I'm told she might draw the line (see what I did there?) at any life sized portraits of Bobby Brooker's Warthog, Montmorency Kingdom The Third.
Next month we continue this momentum with the return of Bird In The Belly. All the way from Sussex although vocalist Ben is a Nunny exile. Winners of Anker Folk's "Treacle Trophy" last month for being voted their 2022 Album of The Year, they are musically and vocally outstanding. Note the full house in this picture taken last February.
