Update-gigs tomorrow next month.... and December.

   Apologies (again) for the gap between this posting and the last one. This is largely due to 2/3 of us being away on holiday. We actually last played together at Hinckley Act, on June 5th. We performed "Lakes of Ponchartrain " together in public for the first time-although I've done it solo in a few places. We also did some less sensible, rather silly stuff. Seemed to go down well. 

 

   Usually I would have blogged a more detailed account of this the following day. However  I was on a flight to Crete and that proved impractical. But it was a good night and it is a good club, with one or two rather endearing quirks-and highly recommended. The attention to detail shown by Pam who drives the Sound System is amongst the best and most professional approach I've ever come across. If anyone reading this has ever done Bedworth Folk Festival in the Civic Hall-it's THAT good!    They also have a separate room for musicians to tune up in.  (Didn't seem to help Arnold much! He has so many guitars I think he gets confused at times). I blame Dave Parr.

 

Other artistes on there  that night included Steve Adams, Dave Fry  and Rob Armstrong. And a phenomenal guitarist whose name I've since forgotten. I must single out Dave Fry for his very audible vocal support from back in the seats. I had no idea he knew all the words to our songs so well.  Cheers, Dave. Very much appreciated. And a name check for us during your spot.

 

As I flew back into Blighty later in the month,  Arnold was already sunning himself in Malaga in his Spandex Mankini. So we've only managed one rehearsal since our HACT appearance. But we ARE  involved in "Bedworth Night" at The Tump Folk Club, Humber Road, Coventry,  tomorrow (Thursday). So-named because several of the featured artists appearing tomorrow (including us) are regulars at the excellent Bedworth Folk Club. A really high standard there-if you're a Folkie (or a Bluesie) and you've not tried it out yet-you really should go along.

 

Next month we're appearing at The Rail Ale Festival at Market Bosworth. So named, because the Goods Shed we're playing in backs on to The Battlefield Line-an excellent Heritage Railway. We're actually organising the Saturday Afternoon part of the music side, and providing the P.A. We hope to do at least an hour-so this will see a few more old favourites than usual aired. We've got Maria Barham, Carole Palmer, Dave Parr and Cyder Annie helping us out and doing spots too.

 

 I would point out that although entry is £3, we are playing for free. beer. That's just the likeable, loveable chaps we are. Plus, our ex Fiddle Player, Eddie Jones, drives the big engines on The Battlefield and he asked us to do them this favour ages ago. Here he is fiddling away on the platforms, up the line at Shackerstone. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttWIKimObdk  The engines working on 27th  July are MUCH bigger than the one in this video, btw. And CAMRA are doing the beer-so it's going to be proper good stuff.

 

 (Actually-if you buy us beer, you'd find us very flexible about gigs involving Charities and/or Good Causes).

 

   Finally-an advance plug for a new Folk Club in North Warwickshire-Atherstone Folk Club. My old mate Phil Benson is amongst the good people (re-)launching it. They have pulled off a coup by siting it at The Church End Brewery Tap in Ridge Lane. Postcode is CV10 ORD. . They open on the 18th September with Maria and Carole. Malc Gurnham and Gil Gilsenan are the guests in October and Thrup'penny. Bits will be there in November. 

 

 And on the 18th December, some bunch of loonies called Black Parrot Seaside will be leading the assembled company in a Christmas Party.  If you ever saw and enjoyed  the legendary Bedworth Christmas Party in 2007-you will have another chance to hear some interesting new adaptations of familiar Festive Tunes. And to join in with a Christmas Whistler. That IS Norman Wheatley donning a pair of dashing red antlers in the foreground, by the way.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-pciVPeybs   Do yourself a favour and hire a minibus. You can then enjoy some of the finest Real Ale in the country, have a good laugh and get safely back home. They already have a Facebook Page, and can be found here on their website.  www.atherstonefolkclub.org.uk

 

 

Ding Dong at The Bell

     It nearing the end of the month, I spent last night once again just over the hill road, in the company of Sly Old Dogs and friends, at The Bell, Monks Kirby.  (Is it me? Or are the SODs and their "friends" getting just a little bit prettier?) Anyway, they were ably led and choreographed by Doctor Willow.  (Which sounds like some 1970's kid's t.v. cartoon).

     We were just a little thin on the ground in places,presumably because of the Bank Holiday. At one stage the musicians outnumbered the audience. This is common in many folk venues but quite a rare spot here. And speaking of a  rare spot, Paul interrupted one song intro  by enquiring of Bob Brooker which bird was bothering him as he tried to sleep during the previous night. He added hastily that the nuisance was being caused by something "hooting." He then gave an eerie and frankly  fairly frightening impression. Bob opined that it was either a Raven or something objecting to an owl. I disagree. ( I haven't shared with Bob yet, that I am an RSPB member). Setting aside all possible double entendres about birds bothering men in their sleeping chambers,my guess would be a coot, a  moorhen, or Canada Geese.  All have calls which can carry quite a long way on a still, calm night like Saturday was. I expect Paul slept with the window open. Partly to get some fresh air, and partly as a potential means of escape. Most waterfowl are feeling pretty frisky at the moment, and their mournful lovelorn cries would carry quite a long way. No charge for that advice,Paul. Just send me the Bill.

  

     Ever the daring, crazy Loon, I made my first contribution by singing what is usually the final song of the night. An alternative version of " Wiil Ye Go Lassie Go. "  Being quite early in to the first of three halves, this got a few people confused. The Pub Dog went out for a wee, and Paco started stacking the chairs. I just wanted to make the interesting point that variations of so many songs exist. The version I did  is one I picked up from Alex Campbell. Not, (unhappily), in person, but on disc. It has an additional verse to some versions which  I've heard locally.  And a few very Scottish-sounding phrases about "dear glens sae drearie", " I will twine for thee a bower," " wi' all the fleurs o' the mountain."  Och, yes.  Another little known fact about this fine old song is that it was written about a disobedient ( but beautifully groomed) collie, who (like Doctor Willow) featured on childrens' television. She kept turning up at the ranchhouse door and barking. And this horrid little kid with a brace and a check shirt used to keep shouting the title line at the dog.  Try it. But use an American accent. ( Makes sense,now,  right?). 

     Anyway, there was some stirring stuff for the audience to savour. Rousing performances from "The orchestra " of classics such as Wild Rover  and Rose of Allandale. Pete in particular had a positively Richie Havens moment, spanking the axe and plucking the guitar strings with a speed and aggression during a Jackson Browne number, "Before the Deluge". The recently departed (alas!) Old Boy himself would have approved of such delivery.

   As a reward for the singing along with me during Go Lassie Go, and because Sean Cannon wasn't there, I aired "Black Velvet Band," my guilty pleasure, as my second piece. Always well-received.   By this time, Cheryl had arrived, and she contributed a real crowd pleaser, "Drift Away," the anthemic Dobie Gray song. Got everyone singing in a wistful kind of way. After a lengthy promo for Coventry Songwriters circle, Bob did one of his own songs, the newly penned "Bridlington Quays." Nicely sung and nicely played, with a haunting little whistle accompaniment. More wistful singing also accompanied Paul's  60's classic "Colours." When he'd finished, Bob executed perfect comic timing and brought the House down by adding, pensively, during a pregnant silence, " I always liked that Jason Donovan."

   Other highlights were the always greatly enjoyable "Yarmouth Town," performed by Colin Squire and his accompanist Paco, on hot spoons. (Because he'd fetched them from the dishwasher). A rousing song, this,and performed at a mischiveously rousing pace.  And that Sue Sanders is a bit of a dark horse. Having seen BPS and Bill Bates tearing up the house at Beduff just a few days back-there she was again.Sitting opposite me,last night. And only playing the fiddle! Rather well, actually. Performing solo and adding some nice stuff to other people's work.

   I'd sat next to Tony Super and his wife, and so I was able to crank him up and get him re-started during a stall half-way through "Over The Hills." Tony and I usually have a pre-gig chat nowadays, so we don't duplicate each other's repertoire. As a result, neither of us sang Peggy Gordon! But he did do "Marie's Wedding."  I have sung this in public previously-but only once. Lovely tune.

   For my third choice, I couldn't make my mind up whether or not to do "Lakes of Ponchartrain," or "Need Your Love So Bad." Both songs I really love. I chose the latter as it is considerably shorter than the six verses of "Lakes." I had a feeling that the SODs wanted to rip things up a little, and I didn't want to delay things. I wasn't wrong.  Fabulous finish,boys!

AND THE NUTS WERE DULY GATHERED

LAST NIGHT'S BEDWORTH FOLK FESTIVAL FUND RAISER

BEDWORTH R.F.C.

        Over the years, we've tried to mellow, as you can see from a Zama Records Company Promo photo (above). We've tried to introduce more traditional Folk songs and some Blues, into our act. However. There's no getting away from it: some people genuinely seem to like us mucking about a bit  a lot-both lyrically and otherwise. Club organiser Malc Gurnham certainly built up expectations beforehand, with his imaginative titling of this event . So we disciplined ourselves to splitting the evening between us and our good friend Bill Bates. And agreeing to do only erm, (intentionally!) "humourous material."

       I was really psyched-up beforehand. The local paper had billed  the Live Music attractions available that evening as:  Muse, The Specials, Bill Bates and Black Parrot Seaside and The Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. Exalted company eh? Bet Muse don't get that every day! My heart leapt as I arrived. The Rugby Club Car park was totally full. Wow! Had they all read the advertising, and come to see us, because the Ricoh was full? No. They'd come to see the model car racing next door. Oh well.

      We began  a night of three halves with a mix of excellent floor spots. Malc and Gil, Dave Fry and Maria Barham, a debut from the Robinson-Stone Brothers, and a rare outing for Phil Benson. Dave, bless him, had been unprepared for the slightly nutty theme, but to make him feel at home, we laughed at him anyway .Firstly for forgetting that in the first place and secondly when he suddenly realised that he'd been playing with what appeared to be a business card (found in a telephone booth?)  inserted behind the strings on the neck of his Guild. I'd wrongly assumed that this was some new economy capo, intended to dampen the sound.

 

    Maria had arrived clearly (and as always!) ready to enjoy herself. Gil's desperate attempts to get a photo of Maria  windmilling her guitar about were also amusing. Through her second number, Maria created such a downdraught that an entire stack of Chester Folk Festival leaflets tumbled one by one and rather eerily, to the floor. (It was probably a poltergeist, so I'm not going there). The debutantes played three thoughtful and musical numbers including an Eagles cover,using the interesting combination of guitar and electric keyboard. Phil delivered an enormously long anecdotal song about a marathon pub crawl. I'd heard someone do it a few weeks ago somewhere else. The chorus, which grows longer by the verse, remained utterly unfathomable to me.

  The second half began with Bill delivering some of his own songs. I have to say that one or two of them  every one was quite rude. Bill is a fine guitarist, a great raconteur and a writer of songs which just pack in the jokes. (He told me to say that).  He starts quite a few  of them with " I knew a girl called Rita,". Or Cheryl. Or Susan.  Or whatever. He was once in Hi De Hi. Or a Butlin's Redcoat. Or something. I was very disappointed to find that, although he sang his infamous Chocolate Bar Song, there were no free samples available,as previously. Obviously Santander are tightening the screw on him. Thank God he hasn't (yet?) written a song about prophylactics

   A difficult act to follow,then. Arnold had been riding the Duchess of Hamilton earlier that afternoon. Apparently,with a tender behind, and a full head of steam up, she'd got quite hot whilst he was doing so. Possibly why he was certainly looking quite dishevelled when he arrived (late!) from Nuneaton Station. We wobbled (rather than launched) our first set with our first* single- "The Whistler." (*Our only single.) Joe always likes to tell us at this point that he picked the single up for 75p in a Charity shop. I like to reply that I was offered £150 for one by a collector last year. That makes him go quiet. (Though not for very long). I had distributed a bag of whistles, tooters and squeaky dog toys just before commencing, in the hope of recreating the atmosphere on that legendary You Tube clip of " The Whistler,"at a BFC Christmas Party in 2007. Oh you know...the one where Norman Wheatley is wearing a pair of antlers....

   "Cockney Power" then followed,with the audience gamely attempting the convoluted chorus. This was to be one of our three Cosmotheka-inspired numbers, so we felt it apt to follow up with a debut number. Our version of "Houses in Between." Which owed more to Al and Dave Sealey than Gus Elen. However, there were some "technical" problems, and so we scrapped that hurriedly bringing  forward "The Odeon." Another popular chorus song. By this time, Joe, perhaps disturbed by not having a floor spot, became more exciteable than I'd ever seen him. Even at the Boro' Play-Off Final he wasn't this animated. Whatever he's on, I want some of it. We concluded the second half with our homage to all Folk Clubs everywhere-"At The Septic Monkey." That got lots of laughs. Most of which we'd intended to happen.

    Our mock raffle concluding this gentle parody caused some confusion. Especially as the real raffle followed, and at one stage there were two separate sets of tickets flying about. Maria kept  her  " We Love Our Westie " 2012  Annual, but Bill wisely left behind his copy of "Thin Bitch in The Kitchen." Although I try hard to make our raffle prizes so unpleasant they are unkeepable, several happy punters took them home.  Always gratifying, that.  Some kept their  whistles,too. Though Dave Fry kindly returned his squeaky adjustable wrench.

 

     After another break, and a sensible raffle draw, we were tasked with starting the final half of three thirds. Bill would conclude the evening. Malc kindly re-introduced us by recalling a conversation he'd had with local radio's Keith Wedgbury earlier in the day. " Black Parrot  Seaside," Keith had exclaimed," Gosh! They are so slick, aren't they?" Got the biggest laugh of the evening. Thanks for that, Malc! (Or was it "sick"?) Anyway, keep taking the tablets, Keith.

    "The Bold Pirate," went well, with further excellent audience participation.  Must admit, Rugby Club audiences can be lively, but I've rarely seen a Beduff audience quite so animated as this. What a crowd! "Albert Balls" followed, and by now Joe was not alone in looking as if he might not last the evening. (He knows the words better than we do, which is always useful). Arnold got a little carried away with his Duck Walks, Angus Young impressions and exotic guitar licks During this number,he makes The Ramones seem tame when he's in the mood.  The extended re-mix of "On Bedworth Bank," was received well. (Obviously, no-one in from Rugby, Kenilworth, Warwick Stratford, Leamington or Atherstone).

 

    "What a Folking Liberty!" seemed a somehow appropriate way for us to finish our contribution. Soon it was time for a rather more genteel (but still quite rude) Bill Bates to bring back a little decorum. ( He's always had a little decorum, Bill-he told us). Then. as a final, final encore, both of us led The Company in a rousing version of the B-side of our first* single-"I am a Vacuum Cleaner With the Brain of a Bird." Featuring a guitar duel at the end where neither Bill nor Arnold would accept the finishing flourish. Epically sung, with some good gospel work in the Acapella Section. 

 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWhx251CSq4    

 

Does this make Bill, as with Dave Parr, Malc Gurnham, Pete Willow, Keith Donnelly,Jon Harrington  et al, an honorary Parrot, now? Sadly, Bill, I think it does.

 

 Were people singing especially enthusiastically? Or just eager for us to let them go home? You see what you miss, folks, when you leave early? Tsk!

 

Join us for "NUTS IN MAY" in Bedworth tomorrow night!

And here's a line-up you won't see every day!

Here we have the CD-Format Black Parrot Seaside, on stage at The Maudslay Hotel in Coventry. Left of Arnold is the great Roddy Felton. Next to Eddie are Brian and Marie Phillips. Behind Geoff you can just make out Norman Wheatley. We were all singing "Go Lassie Go," at the end of a very emotional Fund Raising Concert.

   Tomorrow night, in a night of three halves, ourselves, Bill Bates and loads of floor singers will be concluding the Spring 2013 Festival fundraising season at Bedworth Rugby Club. Admission is free, but jugs will be passed. (Oo-er, Matron!). We have promised to do some of our dafter stuff, including The Whistler, The Bold Pirate, At The Septic Monkey (with raffle), an extended (rude!) version of Bedduff Bank AND a fitting finale with "What a Folking Liberty." Audience participation is essential-and this will not just extend to chorus-singing.

Free gifts of a non-Mars Bar nature will be on offer. Although...you may wish to give some of them back....

The Archive Parrot Photo of All time!

Wow! Here's THE Orginal, and first ever Black Parrot Seaside  line-up,taken from our first EVER rehearsal early 1975. Just look at all that hair! Left to Right, Arnold Chave, (guitar and vocals), Geoff Veasey (vocals), Tez Tehergee (guitar) Dave Blundy (guitar). All ex-Caludon Castle lads.  At least three more ex-Caludon Old Boys would later join us: John Walker, Mick Harris and Graham Caldicot. 

     Dave Blundy rehearsed with us, and helped us out a lot with our sound in the Electric days.He was actually working a lot with Davey and The Starliners at the time. He did guest occasionally however, notably at the notorious  Smithfield Hotel (Coventry) gig . Later, after the various rock formats and the first Folk format had split up, we still often rehearsed or jammed  in Dave's flat in Coventry. John Walker would join in,and one of our ex-bassists, Martin Smalldon, would bring along a double base.

Rob Lockington joined us soon after, as our first drummer. Mick Harris came in on keyboards. and has been with us on and off ever since. Graham Caldicot became a second vocalist. Barry Ousby became our first bassist. The debut B.P.S. gig was in 1975/6 at Wolvey Village Hall. Geoff missed it, as he had Mumps!

A Dog Called Rover

     It had been over three weeks (25 days, precisely) since I'd last  got to my feet and sung in public. That was at the excellent  Hinckley Act, where 2/3 of Black Parrot Seaside had made their debut. We appeared to go down quite well there, but even whilst up on stage that night, I was aware of already incubating a most unpleasant and debilitating allergic reaction. One which I knew was beginning to affect my voice.

    Thereafter, and like something out of the film Alien, it  invaded my  respiratory system and  ultimately took posssession of  it. (I were proper poorly, like). I had a partial hearing loss, vision problems, couldn't breathe properly, totally lost my sense of taste, my sense of smell, and didn't sleep properly for a fortnight. It's taken three separate sets of medication and two visits to my G.P. since then, to at least get this invasive condition on the run. (Not literally: it wasn't that kind of infection!). 

    So it felt very good indeed, having come successfully through all that, and after a successful rehearsal on Thursday, to be back on my feet. With my bandmates away and up to mischief in Cornwall, it was to be a solo outing-my first one in ages. Nevertheless I felt confident enough last night to drive the handful of twilight miles across the Warwickshire Wolds and down the hill into Monks Kirby. Along Cloudesley Lane, where my Great Grandad William and Great Grandma Maria once lived. Past the church where they got married in 1878. For another Sunday Night session at The Bell,  in the company of The Sly Old Dogs and Friends.

  The SODs have a fluid and deceptively relaxed format, which belies a high standard   of musicianship and an encyclopaedic knowledge of Folk, Blues, Country and accoustic music. You can always count on there being different combinations-and I'm not just talking about Bob's Long Johns. Last night for instance, we had up to three banjos fulminating at one time. Previously, we've had the same number of fiddles,a tuba and even a full-sized Harp. You never know what's going to turn up.

    Good, too, to see Captain Pete (Willow) back at the helm, recovered himself, from an illness which had kept him away from the March session. The Bell is the best place (currently) I know of for audience singing. I'm not dissing other venues here-for many I know run it very close. Warwick and Bedworth, for example. But it must be a Sunday night thing at The Bell. The audience here are knowledgeable, relaxed, good humoured, and willing to back any singer who asks for their help.There is mild banter and heckling,and plenty of foot-tapping.  I think they like to take a little drop of the North East Warwickshire pocheen before coming out. Whatever the secret, it's impressive.

   As usually happens at a SODs session, we were taken around the world and across the centuries. We had songs from Wales. Songs in Gaelic. Old favourites like Rose of Allandale, Bonny White Horseman and Over The Hills. (Due to some pre-planning-Tony's version and , not ours!)  We sailed on brigantines, waited on quaysides, fought in battles and lamented on faraway hillsides. The entire room sang the full lyric of that lovely Mr. Leitch composition., "Colours," and we had some exquisitely sad instrumentals. We witnessed also, a remarkable um, "relaxed ", demonstration of Irish Dancing. The Ashphalting version. And Pete sang the timeless "How can a poor man Stand such times and live? " with real, post you-know-whose-funeral feeling. Written by Blind Alfred Reed in 1929, and most famously covered by Ry Cooder and The Boss. Speaking of the Boss, Paco himself (Mine Host), appeared from behind the bar, to join in and play the Spoons (very competently) during one medley.

   I was quite nervous. I'd put myself under pressure by selecting three songs which were still very experimental as far as the band are concerned. "Lakes of Ponchartrain," Gus Elen's "If It Wasn't For The Houses In Between" and our own "What a Folking Liberty." Lakes and Houses haven't yet featured in a set, though we've rehearsed them pretty close to readiness. "Folking" is probably our most recent self-penned song, and is gaining a bit of a reputation. . All three songs are vocally quite demanding. So this would test the pipes out all right. You lucky folk who play an instrument! You can accompany yourself, and if the instrument goes wrong you can change the strings, put a capo on, or simply trade it in. The voice needs only a clear set of passages,a half-decent ear, a bit of a sense of pitch and time, and away you go. If all or any of these sense become impaired-it makes things bloody difficult. " Use it or lose it," as the phrase goes.

   Anyway. "Lakes" went fine-I think I sang it there once before? I'd never done "Houses" publicly anywhere before, but that went well, too. As a band we've been influenced by lots of artistes-and Cosmotheka always featured highly. We'd always intended to do a song Dave and Al Sealey perfected-we just never got round to it. "Houses" is the one. I'm hoping that the full compliment of us will be doing it at Bedworth Folk Club on 22nd May.  

    I'm delighted to say that "Folking" went well, too. I've never heard the chorus returned in quite such a genteel manner,which leant a frankly rather eerie quality to what is a very ribald song. Not the first time we've done it at The Bell, which is possibly why people really appeared to grasp the inherent (but well-intended) naughtiness of it.

    We finished the evening with " Go Lassie Go." Secretly, I'd shortlisted my alternative rendition of this song as a possible performance number last night. I've heard it performed in so many different ways, in so many different venues. And always differently to the version I know. Which is an Alex Campbell one. Learned,not at his knee,but from vinyl,long,long ago.  (Understandably?) it is very scottish,this version and is one with an additional verse I've rarely heard sung elsewhere. It's a beautiful song and melody. Audiences always respond to that.

    One of the things that fascinates me about "traditional" songs is the way people know so many different versions. Whether you transcribe them from books, from sleeve notes, from the Internet,or from memory-things change sometimes in their transcription. Verses in different order (sometimes nerves makes one sing them in the wrong sequence-I can vouch for that!). Individual changes in dialect or pronunciation. Do all these different variations and interpretations demean the original? No. It's just the process of evolution, which is organic, and happens naturally, when songs are handed down or passed around.

Caught In The Act

        How refreshing (and unusual nowadays) to go to a new music venue and come away laden only with positives! And as a performer, not to be canonised, but just made welcome,and treated with equal  respect, regardless of any perceived "status."

          This club is probably my nearest,and yet for various reasons,it is one we've often intended to visit but never got round to it. One reason probably is guilt. The club base is just a  few doors up from what used to be the finest Transport Books emporium in the country. When it closed it  held a clearance sale, Arnold and I filled our cars up with stuff. I even went back again for a second load.  My shelves are groaning with cut-price bargains from Watling Drive!

       Certainly one of the more interesting venues from the outside. Inside,very professionally run. A well-heated building with a big concert room upstairs. With  nice seating and conveniently sited drinks tables,a good, well-lit stage, and a super P.A. system, lovingly and effectively monitored by a sound engineer who knows exactly what they are doing. A separate tuning-up room,and a separate room serving refreshments,and a "merchandising table."  Brilliant. No Septic Monkey here!

        It helped of course, to find our old partner in Parrothood, Bill Bates in charge of proceedings. Probably the first time in ages I've seen Bill without his trademark trail of chocolate bars- which he sometimes uses to woo an audience. No cliques or cronyism with Bill compering and everyone gets a fair crack of the whip. A further bonus-two old BPS friends from the past are also appearing-Steve Adams and Rob Armstrong.

   Steve is one of those hallowed individuals-someone who once recorded the Parrot. An exclusive brethren including both Zama and Spindrift Records, Chris King, Pathway Studios,(London), Monty Bird Studios (Warwick), Dave Blundy's Legendary "Woodlands Tapes"  and a studio session somewhere off the Ring Road in Coventry.  Which was interrupted by an odd phone call from someone saying a flying saucer was landing in their back garden. I kid you not. The majority of these archives have been wiped, erased or made into flowerpots. Our efforts long ago in Steve's delightful canalside cottage all these years ago seem also to have suffered that fate. Judging by his sheepish grin when I reminded him of them! 

   Floor sets booked in advance, options given on whereabouts one would like to appear on the bill, attentive adjustments to mikes and pick-ups for each individual performer-these are all  touches that make an artiste feel welcome. I also strongly believe that such attention ensures a better performance, reduces nerves and enhances confidence.  So everyone attending is immediately a winner.

     Bill performed several familiar songs, one of which has become a bit of an earworm for me, due to its percussive guitar backing and repetitive, plaintive chorus.  In which a very reluctant miner  pleads with his father, begging not to be sent back down the Pit again. Bill is a deceptive performer. He projects an image of affable absent-mindedness, but beneath that lurks a fine guitarist, an excellent songwriter and an all round good egg. His comedy is excellent, but like us, he throws in the occasional serious song, just for balance, and to show that life is not always a mere bundle of laughs.

     Though I've been corresponding with Steve through social networks recently, I'd not seen him perform " live " since he used to do spots for us at the Folk Club we ran  in Brinklow. It was reassuring  to see and hear that though we've both changed physically (!!), he's lost none of that edge which he always possessed. A talented musician, and a rasping, barbed vocal delivery which only serves to accentuate an almost Lehrer-like humour. New songs or old-all delivered with that  waspish wit. Excellent.

      Rob Armstrong and his legendary guitars we've all admired for years. Partnering Roddy in the Grunt Band, he first inspired us to develop a comedic side. He was on great form last night,pounding out solid tunes and good songs effortlessly on one of his own machines. Dennis added a differnt angle, with a collection of his and others songs. I'd not seen him before. I enjoyed his rendition of a Dylan cover, and his complex guitar picking.   

    We performed "Over The Hills"-I checked first-no-one else was doing it-(!!!) The Odeon,Courting is a Pleasure, and What a Folking Liberty. We finished with a rousing version of Albert Balls. The audience totally got all the humour, and listened politely to the serious stuff. What more can one ask for?