...First of The Month. ( And no returns. Though we hope the newbies will give us another shot next month, after what was another highly entertaining evening).
It was the Wednesday after The Ragged Bear weekend at The Queens Hall. We were hoping we might use that momentum as a springboard to nurture further the modest green shoots now appearing at NFC. And so it proved. Just around the 40 mark attended and whilst nothing like we used to pull in, that was encouraging as Storm Ciaran raged outside. It was nice to see one or two new visitors and some old friends like Keith Donnelly, Des Patalong, Bob Brooker, Jon Harrington Steve Redshaw and Andy Jones returning. It's encouraging to see such artistes and performers among any Folk Club audience.
There were still gaps and missing faces as we began but small steps as they say. Winter Wilson were the star attraction on Wednesday -and they they certainly were that-Star quality through and through. After a Canadian Tour and a triumph at Costa Del Folk (where they had joined Benjii Kirkpatrick our October guest), Kip Winter and Dave Wilson are rightfully a big name on the National and International Folk Scene. In most towns their appearance would be a sell out. But this is Nuneaton. Even so it was nice to see most of the tables filled before the night got fully under way.
With Phil Benson indisposed, Bits and Pieces took a rest and I opened solo, sporting a huge baseball cap which was not to maximise stage presence but to protect a head wound. I am currently having medical treatment for an unwanted lump. ( No: I have not been kidnapped by aliens). Yet. I sang "If It wasn't For The Houses in between," "Donkey Riding" and "Vigilante Man." Music Hall, a Shanty and a Woodie Guthrie Protest. song. Light and shade indeed. That's a poppy on my cap by the way. I couldn't think where else to pin it. 
Tyburn is now a duo. Hedley and Jan still create a lovely sound though with Jan's excellent vocals complimented by Hedley's wonderful fiddle playing. They played a mixture of covers and Jan's original material. She's a talented songwriter and a very underestimated singer in my opinion. A deceptively mellow style but she does occasionally let go to reveal the Inner Rock chick. This was the best I'd ever seen and heard them. A good mix of songs, carefully arranged. They had a deserved ovation at the end of their set. This photo below like all those featured here is by Ray Buckler. An NFC stalwart. 
Craig Sunderland followed. He was just recovering from a heavy cold and The Toon were playing away at Old Trafford. Even so he gave all that up for us. How kind! We kept him supplied with scoreflashes as he introduced us to his latest acquisition a rather impressive Cittern. Bob Brooker seethed away silently. in the auditorium Bob has also been poorly and has also bought a Cittern. Fingers crossed we'll be hearing that one too soon. Imagine: Twin Citterns! It will be like Wishbone Ash or Thin Lizzy, won't it! As I said there were newcomers in the audience and any who played guitar were forewarned that they might want to burn them after seeing Craig's speed picking . I loved his version of Barrack Street and The World Turned Upside Down. We all forgave him stumbling over a line in a new working of an old song. After all the Magpies were three up at half time. Craig outlined the pressures of having a surname like his when following Newcastle. "I come from Sunderland," heckled Keith Donnelly from the auditorium, adding with heavy irony " So I don't like football."
Then it was time for Winter Wilson's first set. They are a tremendously versatile couple. Kip plays accordion, guitar and flute whilst Dave plays guitar and Banjo. Not all at the same time of course: that would be silly. Here is Dave with a banjo and Kip on guitar. After a short break they took us onward and up to the end of the evening with a selection of songs that have pleased audiences world wide. Their harmonies are wonderful-so carefully arranged. Dave is a really good blues guitarist and a fine vocalist with a deceptively relaxed style. He could be from Kentucky or Georgia rather than Sleaford. Kip's voice although Blues and Jazz oriented, suits all genres. They can therefore tackle any subjects and inject pathos, sadness or a little bit of humour into any subject matter. No wonder so many famous musicians queue up to play on their albums and invite them to support them on tour.
They finished with some audience participation during "What Would Johnny Cash Do Now?" and their encore returned to the same theme with " Still Life in The Old Dog Yet." Is there though? Let's hope those words are right. It's been a tough year for some Folk Clubs, especially during a Cost of Living crisis. NFC is no exception. We get the room, the bar and the Sound Engineer for free. He does his best to provide locally brewed real Ale very month. But that does not mean it isn't at cost. Bar staff and sound engineers draw a wage. Rich Burlingham has to pay heating and lighting bills for a 400 capacity Hall. He continues to offer us massive support and even pays for our fliers. But this cannot be a bottomless purse. Use it or Lose it continues to be a motto which needs to be remembered.
It's not even just about money. Phil Hare came over to us from Cambridge. Winter Wilson came across from Lincoln to play for us. I can tell you from my own time in a band-for a performer it is depressing travelling a long way to play to a room which is only one third full.
Some would no doubt celebrate the demise of NFC at The Queens Hall. In the New Year Winter Wilson return to Australia for another tour. It is rare indeed to get them in our area at all. A real treat. Remarkable then, that of the thirty or so musicians living within ten miles, only one turned up on Wednesday to learn something new about delivery, song writing and and stagecraft. Or just to enjoy the craic. Let's hope there is still a venue like ours to return to next time Kip and Dave are in the area. Fingers crossed, eh?
