# You Ignored it. You Lost it

            It's a sobering thought that the first song I ever sang fronting a band was John Lee Hooker's "Dimples," and  the last song I sang, fronting one of the many collaborative sessions at The Anker Inn Blues Sessions,43 years later,was the same song. I don't suppose our paths will ever cross again now, which is a shame. I loved this venue and the musicians I shared a stage with there. Autumn,Spring,Summer,Winter.Through heatwaves,Beasts from The East and falling leaves we made our way there. As an audience member or  backed on stage by some fine musicians,the Anker Jamm Blues nights were just bloody good FUN!

Blues Jamm

         Yeah. I know. FUN! In a small Tory-returning  provincial town with airs above its station and a serious apathy problem. Not supposed to happen,beyond your four walls, is it? Fun is something you have watching Premiership Football on your Sky T.V. Or gawping at some X Men crap on your iPhone. Nibbling your Kentucky Fried Chicken or Chinese Takeaway.

Tom Young

Or noodling secretively away on one of your very expensive imported mail order guitars at home whilst singing into your hairbrush-that's FUN,yeah?   Not enjoying real "live" music played with fire and passion in a pub. Surrounded by other,living breathing people. No holograms,no transiently flickering images on an HD screen.  Just raw energy and a good laugh. 

Michael Luntley

          I met John Lee,briefly,once. Shared a cup of coffee with him. All I learned was that regardless of skin colour, if you don't have The Hurt, you can't sing The Blues. Not even worth trying. Apparently he told this to everyone he met and its quoted in all his biographies. But he was absolutely right. You can't sing or play the Blues unless you've known grief,hunger,sorrow,longing,oppression or all of those things. 

John Kearney

         Which is perhaps why dwindling audiences and a virtual boycott by musicians has finally closed the Blues Jamm. I'm going to miss it. Which is selfish,I know. I met some really good people there,and a whale of a time. So all kudos to those who DID try to support it, and Yah! Boo! to those who gave it a wide berth,presumably intent on maintaining their precious egos and fragile reputations.  

Dragonhead

             So step forward Michael Luntley,John Kearney, Anne and John Harris,Lesley Wilson,Flossy McDougal,Paul Moore Peter McParland,Angus Ellis,Jon Harrington, Simon and Sally Anne Veasey, Greg Daffern, Dr Bennett,Dan Gascoigne, Tom Young ,Miles Walker,Rob Oakey, Wes Hall,Max and Chris Wright et al. Plus the few people who just turned up like The Lone Ranger, had a busk and then slipped away again into the night. You at least, gave it a go.  And if I missed anyone out,apologies. I lost a good friend tonight and the grieving is distracting me. Message me privately and I'll add you to The Roll of Honour. 

Lesley Wilson

               This excellent venue,in a pleasant town pub, serving decent beer, survived several management changes. All those in charge did their level best to create a welcoming atmosphere and to support Live music.  The stage was fab,the acoustics were great,the P.A. was splendid,and what audiences we pulled in were knowledgeable and enthusiastic. 

            Now it's gone the rest of you can go away and drool over your Bellowhead albums. Or put your Ed Sheeran collection into alphabetical order on Tuesday nights. Or write swingeing "Dear Sir" letters to post on Facebook or Folk 21.   

Miles Walker

          

                                                               Blues Jamm

It goes without saying that the October 2018 gig there featuring Drunc Monkey is cancelled.But there is a legacy which we owe to The Blues Jamm at The Anker. For had we not all jammed and improvised and larked about together,then the band would not have morphed from that little wooden stage to become a half-decent band, way beyond Nuneaton's sunny shores. 

Drunc Monkey

A Classic night out at The Queens

         It's alway illuminating after another NFC evening at The Queens Hall  to retrospectively read the reviews,study the feedback and admire the photography. We are blessed in this region by having several outstanding photographers of the highest quality to record our venues and artistes for posterity. People like John B.Smith,John Wright,Andy Jones and Ray Buckler. Or Jon Harrington, John Kearney, John Neal,Mark Taylor and many,many more. Their work does justice to the drama of the venue. Surroundings which (as on Wednesday seem to lift performers to new and exciting heights. I have been overwhelmed by the public reaction to Wednesday. It has exceeded all expectations. Take a look at the NFC Facebook page-it's astounding-as are the portfolios of breathtaking photographs.      

DruncMonkey by Mark Taylor

       Such analysis provides pointers to what we get right on each night and what if anything needs attention It's good practice to be self critical and reflective when one shares music with the public. However small and insignificant a part we may play, it is a cog in a living machine. If we all tread blindly down a common route ,without the capacity to change, adapt, renew and innovate,then "Live" music and Folk Clubs (and consequently Folk Music) are doomed. The majority of "Folk" music is first aired,in a Folk Club or a licensed premises of some kind. Whether rearranged Trad. Arr.  songs, newly written material or the music of a thousand regions and a dozen genres, this is where a lot of stuff gets performed,

DruncMonkey by John B.Smith

             On a warm Wednesday night in August we knew beforehand that we had assembled a good line-up.  they are all good,but this one looked to be exceptional. Each one of those on the bill could be ( and indeed have been) the headline act elsewhere. Don't take my word about it. Just read what people said about them below. Rather than me tell you about it let the audience speak. At the bottom of the text there are some musings on why a few ex-regulars continue to stay away. Each to their own. 
            Those who came,(in larger than average numbers) liked Wednesday a lot. They liked the variety,  the quality of the performances and their diversity. They liked  having the choice of sitting down or standing up. They polished off sausages onions and chip butties provided by Guvn'or Richard Burlingham. They had asked for more Real Ale and they got Coffin Dodger Stout brewed by Champion Brewers Church End. They had 100% visibility wherever they were because of the elevated stage. And, after a sweaty start,the air conditioning switched in,making it comfortable for all.  
     "What a stunning night …. so much talent on stage giving a wonderful mix of styles … great sound and lighting … fine food and Church End Stout Coffin on the bar... Thanks to all."-Ray Buckler-a regular at NFC and at Atherstone. 
             Here's what our featured Guest, the beautiful and talented Kristy Gallacher had to say:
            "Enjoyed playing at Nuneaton Folk Club so much last night. Was so great to see so many faces I haven’t seen in a while, thank you for coming. All of the sets were superb. Got that music buzz again! Fabulous night! Nunc monkey on cracking form! Loved every act. Thanks for the music ."

photo by Ray Buckler

              It had been a while since we had last seen Kristy.  Check out  an independent review of her performance and an overview of the club by local writer Pete Clemons.  http://coventrygigs.blogspot.com/
            Here are the views of Hilary Wilson and John Wright. As Wilson Wright, they were making one of their last appearances locally before relocating to Scotland. :
        " Fabulous set Kristy and thanks for the wonderful music. Brilliant night. What a way to say farewell to Warwickshire."    (Hilary)
          Hilary's partner in Wilson Wright wrote:
         "Absolutely enjoyed the evening and a big thanks for all the hard work you put in to organise and run this fine club. A great venue brings out the best in you, I feel. Fond farewell, but we will visit at some time in the future."-John Wright
           They were outstanding. How we'll miss their sophisticated arrangements,Hilary's songs and John's magnificent photography.

photo by Jon Harrington

         DruncMonkey kicked off the evening. We felt good, we felt wired in fact. Starting with "When Love Comes To Town" a duo of CSNY songs segued and "Knocking On Heavens Door" warmed the audience up a little concluding our first cameo. We got a good response from them. Thanks,guys. 
                Ian Bourne followed us. He was a late call-up and (as always) he rose to the occasion with a quality perfomance. Highlight for me was his interpretation of the Gretchen Peters song Hello Cruel World. Ian writes his own material but his covers when he does them are first class. 

                                          Ian Bourne.   Photo by Ray Buckler
                Maria Barham followed Ian. The Gremlins were out for her but,as energetic and as enthusiastic as ever the stage became a little damp in places as her drink got displaced. Our Sound Crew went to work around her as poor Maria became thwarted by a malfunctioning battery in a guitar and various Knights in less than shining armour rushing to her aid. Eventually she delivered three songs of the usual high standard. As one of our audience members said:"We were definitely spoiled last night. Some great music, and laughs. Maria always make me smile."

Maria Barham snapped by Andy Jones.

            Each of the successive support acts built on a tension which was palpable, feeding from each others' adrenalin rush and enthusiasm. Unpaid, they got up on that stage and delivered powerful performances. 
                     The wonderful Paper Circus, continue to go from strength to strength based on Jennian's stunning voice and the Boys' unique instrumental support. Playing to a crowd like this was a good rehearsal for their forthcoming debut at The Cornish Folk Festival. 

Paper Circus at NFC. Photo by Andy Jones

         This week, after several years I finally enticed  Ian Bland, out to NFC whilst he was here on one of his whistle stop U.K. Tours. Visiting here on a biennial visit away from his native Oz. Ian's a popular festival turn and is in constant demand whilst over here. So it was a bit of a coup to get him out to deliver three typical songs with confidence,charisma and style. It was bonzer,mate!

Ian Bland by Ray Buckler

           And finishing a memorable first half, we at last also persuaded Rob Halligan to join us. .Another name I've been pursuing and trying to introduce to an NFC audiences since the club re-opened. He led us up to the Interval with a measured, electric performance, powering out his great songs with immense presence and bags of  confidence. Rob,besides being a prolific recording artiste,has championed Folk and Roots music in Coventry and Warwickshire,notably at The Godiva Festival and MotoFest. He is one of the driving influences behind CV21 the organisation committed to having a Folk Input into Coventry's year as The U.K. City of Culture. It was an honour to have him there.

                                              Rob Halligan   Taken by Ray Buckler.
     A tiny minoruty of those present last night see themselves as critical friends,who will always tell me candidly what needs improving. (Even though everyone working in NFC is unpaid and voluntary). So there were a few grumbles about the temperature,(it has air conditioning!) the lighting,(it's brilliant!) the sound,(our crew work so hard and are never beaten)  the Guest beer, (a potent Church End Brewery Stout) the hold-ups (it's life) and the noise from downstairs-(some bloke from Wishbone Ash,apparently)  
      But the overall consensus was that it was bloody good entertainment,for free,in a setting far more welcoming than the previous one. Here's the view of another Midlands Folk Club organiser,a first time visitor and one who has been hosting far longer than I have and whose judgement I respect tremendously: 
"Fab evening! A venue to rival the Red Lion Folk club at Kings Heath! Better stage lighting at your club and a wider stage."
           John B. Smith, one of our fabulous photographers who records everything and never misses a night wrote:
     " Absolutely fantastic. Well done for organising a brilliant night's, quality entertainment; as always really, but you excelled yourself this time."
          And yet, a few once familiar faces were again missing. (Surely they can't all be permanently on holiday or gigging elsewhere?) Perhaps  with the venue changing, they don't want to bother travelling the extra quarter of a mile round the Ringway to  the new one. People can be very perverse. What exactly is it that the absentees miss about the old venue. What are the drawbacks about attending the new one? What factors make the stayaways stay away? 

        Perhaps they resent having free food provided for them, maybe finding it patronising or invasive?  Would they prefer to buy their own?  At the old venue they didn't do  food ,so if anyone was hungry they had to walk round to Asda and buy a sandwich. Who wants chip and sausage butties, Chilli Con Carne  or ham sandwiches laid out  for them? (We do!) So thanks to Richard and Jenna for continuing to provide tasty bar snacks like they do.

         Previously, if the needs of nature called, could it be that some hardy fellows with strong bladders actually preferred the long trek downstairs and through a roomful of War Gamers before relief was at hand? Do some traditionalist diehards miss the luxury of having "facilities" so far away. Queen's Hall has that rare commodity in local pubs, running hot water and flushing toilets. Admittedly, you cannot stand and watch rainwater trickling through the roof whilst performing so I suppose  if Troopship Holds are your thing men of a certain inclination or age might miss that.  

          Perhaps those few still operating their lonely boycott prefer to pay to get in (or play!) and have gone elsewhere, on the premise that free admission is somehow common or degrading? Perhaps having clean tables, (indeed,having a clean room to sit in) is,an anathema?  I used to clean the previous room myself, on arrival,often found that  during the intervening month,no-one else had bothered.Unwashed beer glasses on the tables,food on the floor and furniture sticky with beer. I had to move all the furniture back sometimes and once or twice had to remove an entire Sound System from the stage before even being able to set up our own P.A. I took in my own broom,mop, black sacks and cleaning cloths. Personally  I don't miss that at all. 

       The stairs at The Queen's Hall are much more forgiving than at the previous venue. There are less of them and they are wider. They are definitely cleaner,and there is no view of a flat roof littered with waste material to contemplate, as you stopped and struggled for breath half way up. Sometimes I found the stairs at the previous venue barricaded when I arrived, and had to move stacked furniture away just to access them. Some people like a challenge. Me? I'm all for the easy life. Our "new" venue is not so new now,professionally run, well staffed and an inspiration to acts performing there. SPREAD THE WORD!

What's in a word?

        The last weekend in July for me is always a melancholy time of year. I tend to get depressed. Some relief is brought by Birthdays and anniversary celebrations right at the end of the month. Made better when they are spent abroad or far from home. Much of this annual gloom concerns the word “Warwick.” Mention of this latter day Deadwood makes me by turns angry,sad and uncomfortable. The end of July usually helps lift the end of this seasonal depression caused by my county town.Some of my “friends” understand this,some think it hilarious,a few resent it bitterly and take offence at me even daring to comment on it. Most coudn't give a flying f***.

       Warwickshire is a county in which paternal generations of my family have lived in for over four centuries and to whom our Council Tax is still paid. My father and grandfather served in The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. My grandad fought on The Somme and as a Military Policeman my dad was billeted in Warwick during part of WW2, defending it against the menace of an Invasion which never came.

          Those of you expecting another annual rant over the musical Apartheid known as Warwick Folk Festival may be disappointed. My views on this cosy celebration of mutual back-slapping,social exclusion,snobbery and smugness, rigorously controlled and policed by Folk Royalty, are already well documented elsewhere.

            Don't get me wrong. In various bands and solo I've been very welcome at Warwick Folk Club and Warwick Words Festival. Appreciative and discerning audiences who have always added positive comments afterwards. I like the Town Centre and The Racecourse. But the place also seems to generate unfairness and injustice at times. For example,on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme recently I heard that it was broadcast “ live from Warwick University.”  I didn’t listen to all of it,but I expect that,(as the Media so often do),mention of its actual geographical location was studiously and meticulously ignored. Warwick University of course, is not actually in Warwick. It sits firmly within the City of Coventry,one of two award winning Universities sited within the boundary of The U.K. City of Culture 2021. I have little doubt that mention of the “C” word was carefully avoided by the BBC throughout transmission however.

         And have you enjoyed this glorious summer? Yes the lawns are parched and the songbirds are struggling,but for a while it’s been like the Mediterranean climate has come home to  Warwickshire. Gazebos on patios.Outdoor meals.Windows wide open to aerate the house. Barbies and parties and sitting outside late with a cafetiere,reading a book, listening to birdsong as the twilight and evening peace descends. But that last Sylvan scene was not for us on weekdays throughout June and July.  Before 10pm, all doors and windows had to be closed. Regardless of the humid,hot sticky nights we've all been experiencing. Our large and beautiful garden was deserted past 10pm. Why? For our County Councillor,(also a Parish Councillor)  a Mr. Warwick (I'm not joking) is one of many who rubber-stamped the nightly closure of the M69 weekdays from 10pm-6am the following morning.Needless to say he doesn't live near the B4109 which runs past our back garden. 

          The diversionary route in force whilst these closures are in effect sets itself. Chosen by Highways England and endorsed by Warwickshire County Council it means that the single carriageway road at the foot of our garden has to carry three lanes of motorway for each eight hours of closure. The speed signs and limits are ignored overnight so as to greater facilitate the wheels of commerce and industry roaring onward. By day. the sad man with a mobile camera still occasionally hides in the back of the police van parked outside the Nature Reserve at the foot of the hill. Woe betide any tractor driver, horse, or pensioner exceeding 30 mph down this hill in daylight. But by night the Rule of Law is suspended. Anything goes.

           Some nights it is the northbound section of the M69 between Junctions 1 and 2 which is closed for a “routine maintenance” which has lasted six months. Other nights it is the southbound carriageways. As yet, it hasn’t been both, but I have no doubts that the worthies over in County Hall will eventually try that one out. Probably durinbg the next hot spell. 

       The juggernauts of DPD and Stobart and all the other "Logistics" (lol) companies  thundered relentlessly through the village (and others on the route) all night every night except weekends. Saturday and Sunday nights we were allowed a brief respite. Traffic during the day is busy,but this ludicrous situation resulted in our night time traffic being heavier than during the daytime. No wonder houses here aren't selling.

       So,like The Sheriff of Nottingham, my County Town enforces stiff taxes, but offers little other than misery and discomfort in return. It seems ashamed of the large vibrant city within its midst and has unceasingly tried to offload it onto other Metropolitan Boroughs such as  the lurking behemoth West Midlands. On the annual weekend when some of you were invited to occupy its stages and fringe venues, or strolled  its venerable streets admiring its fine buildings remember it is excluded Serfs and Villeins like us,unwelcome and uninvited,hanging onto our prized ornaments and framed pictures each time a tanker or car transporter rumbles past, who are subsidising your alfresco pleasures. As you sat in your tent or motor home,watching the sunset, strumming a lute or humming along with some Hungarian Nose Flute Ensemble, did you spare us ostracised and excluded Plebs a thought?

Tump

         At a time of year when the local folk community is annually reminded of what divides us (rather than what unites us),it is an uplifting experience to revisit the kind of local institution which is the lifeblood of "live" grassroots music. Tump Folk at The Humber Hotel in Coventry is one of the area's oldest established folk clubs. Presided over by the gentle and generous leadership of Karen Orgill it has continued for 15 years to operate no exclusions with a "Come All Ye " approach to performers. Regardless of their background and material, all are made welcome  

            The Tump seems to be on the up again. Some sessions are held next door in the concert room,but the singer sessions occur in the front lounge. It's a very democratic kind of place,where you can workshop new material or resurrect old favourites without being judged. If things go wrong and you forget a line or miss a note, there is just a friendly nod. A shared cameraderie. All in this together. 

          It says much about the vibe there that the amiable Ian Bland,an international "star" (he'll probably hate me saying that), on a biennial visit from his native Australia,had dropped in to rub shoulders with nonentities like me. He just took it in turns with the others,delivering a collection of well written and occasionally waspish songs. His strong voice and polished guitar style are hallmarks of a respect that is well merited. We'll try and get him out to Nuneaton Folk Club some time.  

              Sharing a settee with Ian was Keith Parris.Better known perhaps as a Sound Engineer and a familiar figure at many Folk Clubs and festivals.He passed on several invitations to sing but was eventually persuaded to get up and do an unaccompanied number about Poachers. I didn't recognise him at first. He wasn't wearing glasses last time I saw him,had a different hat on and last night he was sporting a very natty pony tail

         Whispering Campbell McKee sat in a pair of shorts on another settee in a bay window. Another loyal regular of The Tump, he doesn't go to most other local Folk venues,although we still occasionally try to persuade him to do so. Next to him sat his wife Jaqui, crocheting and listening to the music. This gave a cosy  "at home" front parlour kind of vibe to proceedings.You half expected an old tabby cat to be snoring away on one of the (many) comfy chairs. Campbell sang an Uncle Len standard "Hey That's No Way to say Goodbye " which helped break  the ice. He sang a couple more songs,did not mention India once and then left early as he had to be up by 6 am. Rock and Roll. 

            One wag later wrote on Facebook, "you never usually see one Campbell at a Folk Club and then two come along together." Campbell Perry and Colin Squire have evidently been working very hard on rehearsing material in the guise of "Poacher's Pocket". Setting aside the fact that a poacher's pocket is a large baggy receptacle for keeping wet,smelly dead things in,their work is becoming very polished. Nice harmonies, well-arranged and with some fine instrumentation. Nice to hear some of the songs Campbell and Jan used to perform together being aired again,too.Jan would approve I'm sure. Campbell, wearing what looked like the top half of a very camp pair of pyjamas, had the cheek to criticise my attire. Two nice chaps,delivering nice stuff. Well done, fellas.

 

        Rob Oakey has hosted and guested music sessions at places since the days when the wheel was first invented. Rob has a sense of humour that is dryer than an old sandal in a Saharan wadi. Last night he seemed in a very mellow mood, including a couple of Simon & Garfunkel numbers in his repertoire.

               Rob can often be found in the company of Christina,a lady who writes her own poetry and recites the work of others. Much of her work is about Inland waterways. Last night she had to be coaxed, cajoled and persuaded for oh,two or three seconds before treating us to a reading. One of them was Albert and The Lion. I don't think that has a connection with the Oxford Canal. But you never know. 

       Adam likes Neil Young. No shame in that-our current set list has three Neil Young songs in it. He seemed a little ill at ease with this initially,but there was no need to be. The timbre of his voice was well suited to some excellent NY cover versions. And for good measure, he added a Marc Bolan song second half! At the interval Adam showed me his current set list. Some very ambitious titles there,none of which would be considered by fanatics as Folk music,but ones which had every right to be there. Barriers are coming down and Neil Young himself has embraced many different genres on a long musical journey. He is respected by many in the Folk and Roots world-even Lynrd Skynrd have forgiven him. Here you can see Rob photo bombing as Adam does his stuff. 

         The ubiquitous Max Wright is home at last,returned from another of  his many forays abroad. When at home, he is a stalwart supporter of all our local Folk venues. I'd last seen him a fortnight ago,when he had trekked all the way out to Napton On The Hill to catch Drunc Monkey closing the Folk On The Water Festival there. On Wednesday he was out at Baxterley,documenting all the goings on at Atherstone Folk Club. 
        If Max,Ian and The McKees were to pool their travel experiences to write a book, it would be a substantial volume. Max also takes lots of excellent photos. He took all of those I've used here. But not one of himself. (How could he without a selfie) So here,for the sake of balance is one I took earlier. Max had his banjo with him and regaled us with some traditional music including a bit of gospel. Yes Lord. 

               Another all round good egg is Nigel Ward. You never know with Nige which instrument he is going to bring along. Last night it happened to be the fiddle. i was pleased by that as I happen to consider him one of the best players around. he is also one of the fastest. At one stage,having invited Colin Squire to accompany him,it seemed as if Colin's guitar strings would catch fire as Nigel upped the ante and increased the tempo. 

                          As for me, I'd been a little poorly and I was very disappointed by having our weekend slot at Stonefest cancelled because of a World Cup Final. I was feeling ring-rusty and just needed to get out and sing somewhere. I did "The Odeon," "Albert Balls" and "Impromptu Irish Band," as being in a band nowadays I don't often get a chance to do my own stuff. I also sang "Vigilante Man." 

                Elsewhere within the week,festivities will commence just up the road at a very different kind of event. The involvement of local performers there will be highly selective and chosen by a small and exclusive elite.. In direct contrast to The Tump, admission won't be free.  If you do want to perform there,whether Main Stage, subsidiary attraction  or simply  Fringe,if you rock the boat you will not be welcome. Not this year or any other. Fair enough. Good Luck to them all. Those of us on the outside, whether it be for having the impertinence to protest about  annual musical apartheid or because we are considered not good enough (or both!) will just continue to ignore it. It is the Folk equivalent of Brexit. You either love it or loathe it .And besides...I'm only jealous. Of course I am. 

              The Tump is everything the other event is not. All are made welcome at The Humber. All forms of music are embraced:ability is counted as more important than who you know. Incidentally one shot last night shows me on my phone. It looks rather rude but what I was doing was writing down everyone's name and trying to record the song titles they were doing .I'm so absent minded nowadays that if I don't do that I'll forget  er....I'll forget....um...now what was I saying?

Folk On The Water 2018

        One beautiful Saturday morning in May,three years ago, I sat alone in a car park in The University Hospital Coventry and cried until  I had no more pain or emotion  left to give. No-one saw me:it was a private moment. I had just said farewell to the second of two tiny,premature babies in their incubators. The nurses and doctors were fabulous and all the family were very brave. But there was nothing that anyone could do further to help them. My son's tiny boys survived long enough only to be registered. Shortly after a bleak funeral a few weeks later. I learned that almost simultaneously, my daughter had also miscarried. Three grandchildren lost in a matter of days. It was a horrible time. I won't ever forget it. 

       Now,miraculously I have two bonny,strapping grandchildren,a boy and a girl, Both are just beyond or approaching their second birthdays.Their arrival and subsequent development helped soften the grief and emptiness of those initial losses. So I was both honoured and proud that Nunc,had been invited  to bring down the curtain on this summer's Folk On The Water Sessions. Now in its tenth year the FOTW season sees a  long series of waterside concerts and events across South Warwickshire. All to raise funds for the marvellous children's charity, Zoe's Place.

        We'd played at fundraisers for them before but I had not been back to Napton on The Hill since I myself was a boy. It was a magical place then, but on a blissfully warm Summer's night in 2018 ,in a natural amphitheatre,the fields around The Folly Inn pub seemed imbued with an almost magical quality. Hosted. presented compered and organised by Dutch Van Spall, the final concert  was a triumph all round. 

        The stage was a fantastic and imposing  piece of stepped wooden architecture. The field was dotted with marquees,food stalls and an impressive outdoor bar. The three car parks were full and the pub was doing a roaring trade,its hardworking staff flat out to try and assuage all thirst and hunger. The audience were scattered across the area,with more arriving (and leaving) by a picturesque humpback bridge throughout the evening. Some had followed the event via narrowboat,many more had made their way along the delightful,rustic, country lanes. It all helped to give it a sense of Hobbiton and The Shire. 

       Our good friends Wilson Wright were on the same bill. Alas we will be seeing far less of them from now on as they relocate to the North of Scotland soon. Their close harmonies, John's fine guitar work,Hilary's flute and the sensitive arrangements with some beautiful singing  helped build the atmosphere. There was an added poignancy to their mellow groove as we  all sang along to the chorus of "Ride On" with them. "Ride on:See you. I could never go with you no matter if I wanted to to."   Very apt. 

                  Other acts on included FOTW resident singer and coxswain, Elan Marie,  Napton Sound Man Kieran Taylour with Nicky Stewart,Lorna Dea and Roz Bruce. Roz was a feisty combination of Lily Allen and Janis Joplin. She had a proper rock voice,no doubt about that and her own songs carried some very inventive lyrics. She also had a penchant for reworking Leonard Cohen,finishing with "Allelujah."

       The headline act was the much admired and highly respected Jack Blackman. We were treated to some masterful and inspired slide and guitar picking from this talented young man. What  with the heat and all, we could have been out on the Mississippi Delta rather than scattered alongside the Oxford Canal. Jack's act came to a bit of a sudden end when a guitar string snapped on a first encore. He carried on after accepting the loan of a guitar from Dutch, but without time to fit a replacement, his Pride and Joy was unable to continue and Jack waved goodbye, to generous and well-deserved applause. 

         And then finally it was up to us to bring the evening to a close. we opened, after a more than generous introduction from Dutch. We had finally persuaded Paul Moore to wear a daft shirt,and so with Flossy in a flowing floral number  we certainly stood out, as you can see. John and Paul with their Elwood Brothers hats added a further dash of country as we zipped into a Casey Chambers stomp to start. That's not a stove with a chimney by the way. It's a very natty single P.A. stick like the one Malc uses at Bedworth Folk Club. The sound it produced,driven by Kieran, was magnificent. 

               As you can see from the later photos, other than those dotted about in the tented pavilions like exiled Lannisters enjoying a tournament, a lot of the audience were quite a long way away,and were spread about the site. At the bars,at picnic tables,in the pub garden:it took a bit of work to engage with them and get them singing. Our segue of the CSNY songs "Find The Cost of Freedom/Ohio" helped whip up a bit of emotion,and with John and Paul whacking out a percussive lead and rhythm section,feet were definitely tapping already. Aided no doubt by the plentiful supplies of Hook Norton beer and artisanale ciders on offer. (Notice that  glass of Hooky, handily situated by my left foot?)  

       We kept the Americana/Roots thing going as Flossy tore into John Prine's "Angel from Montgomery"-and with these temperatures it was meteorologically more like Alabama than Warwickshire. Some of our regular chorus songs helped warm the audience up further. A couple of Richard Thompsons and then, to our immense satisfaction, people started dancing as we launched into "Perfect." They kept on going through "Weather With You" and "When Love Comes To Town,"and we had them in our pocket.  

         It was broad daylight when we started but as the set evolved a sunset bathed the area and as we finished, the stars were twinkling up above.all our heads. We had to drop the tempo down before someone passed out, so we did "Bring It On Home" and Randy Newman's "Guilty"-both well received. Here you can see me,as the dusk draws, in pointing rudely at ace photographer John Wright and delivering the ultimate verse of Bring It On Home: " You know I tried to treat you right/but you stayed out.you stayed out every night."  Typical John. 

            We finished the set as planned and timed,with "Knocking On Heaven's Door,"  When we stopped playing the chorus and handed it over to the audience,they took it up wonderfully and it echoed around the fields. Amazing what a few beers in the sunshine can do. There was time  for an encore so  we treated them to " The Wild Rover" segued with Bob Marley's Three Little Birds. Cue more dancing. 

         We had a fantastic time. This was our third fourth outdoor gig in a row. The fine summer has certainly helped created a vibe,but this one was extra special. A responsive crowd,splendid Hook Norton beer,good food, surrounded by friends, and a small but noisy Nunc following, we were all buzzing when we ended and left the stage. Could have been those midges I suppose, but we were definitely buzzing.

           There were logs blazing in a fire pit and the partygoers were still sitting cosily around it  when we left.  And  it seemed to me that part of that Napton magic,with the music and the setting and the sunset and the stars,was magnifying a feeling of well being. Rob and Ray,named after musicians themselves,may not have had long to dwell on this earth. But they were out there,listening and watching,somewhere. 

Home From Home

             "Fabulous Night. Top drawer entertainment and lovely vibes."

     There was very much a home-grown feel to last night's events at NFC. Remarkably, every act had a Nuneaton connection of some sort. This was all the more remarkable as some people had to set out well before dawn to get there at all,owing to the total gridlock currently imposed on the town by various lunatics with barriers. With Eastborough Way and Coton Arches already sealed off, someone had evidently told the Authorities that motorists were still slipping into town via  the Long Shoot. Cue YET ANOTHER! set of four way lights to protect  a hole in the pavement the size of an umbrella

           Though we still have some nice photos to share with you it was a shame to see that several of our key photographers were missing. John Wright was still presumably up in the Highlands somewhere pestering Gannets and harassing Oystercatchers. Max Wright is on a permanent holiday as he travels around Europe taking snapshots of pub restaurants. And one can only assume that John B Smith, traumatised by a frankly weird parking incident earlier in the day,was sleeping it all off somewhere under the beady eye of a Custody Sergeant. So my thanks to those who did take snaps including Sue Sanders,Flossy and Mags.

      But a good turnout,a fun evening and a very friendly, homely atmosphere,even though many regulars were missing. Our own John Kearney, for example away sunning himself far away in the South of France. Our own Paul Moore,off rehearsing with another band. So it was yet another line-up to start us up-myself and Flossy from Nunc,John Harris from Dragonhead and Jon Harrington from Blues Monkey. Making a tidy sound though, I have to admit.  We returned in the second half, this time additionally roping in Dave Parr to play along in an extended version of "How Long Blues." 

       Residents aside, our first guest spot featured the very welcome return to NFC of Ian Bourne. Last time we'd seen him was at That Other Place That Closed Suddenly.  He's come through some tough times health-wise since then, so it was good to see him back on the horse,and his strong voice sounded as good as ever.

           Ian was followed by another of Nuneaton's many home-grown troubadours, Dave Parr, who we don't see half often enough. Dave delivered three typically laid back songs with a wry humour,and some very nifty guitar playing. His broken capo managed to last him through the evening.

               Our good friend and loyal supporter of local Folk Clubs Maria Barham played three numbers packed with verve and energy. So much so that actually capturing her on film without blurring was difficult, as she swung about the stage. She was on top form, and started with a version of Californian Dreamin' which was returned beautifully by the audience. Always a very enjoyable experience that.

             Dragonhead returned to NFC with John Harris one of the busiest musicians in the area at the moment. As I explained during my introduction,Nunc have been messing with his head at present,introducing him to whole new areas of Folk and Roots whilst utilising his expertise on bass and steel guitars. So it was good to see that this had not affected him too much. Even though he did start with a number from Jungle Book. A Mavericks favourite got everyone singing again, and it looked as if John had settled again until he confessed( to Anne's visible amusement)," I'm not quite sure that was the version Anne expected to hear."  The Mexican Wave they introduced was remarkable. Beer was spilt and hearing aids flew in all directions.

           I had inadvertently missed Pete McParland off the night's proceedings,partly because he has yet to embrace fully the technological wonders of the Internet and Social media. But Dragonhead called him up to join them on one of their numbers. And here's the evidence...

        There were elements of uncertainty about whether or not Malc & Gill would make it to the stage which added a frisson to proceedings,but they did, to everyone's relief and warm applause.   It was unfortunate that just as they began singing, the free grub (which has become a hallmark of NFC,kindly provided each month by Richard the Guvn'or),appeared on the bar counter. Someone very kind (me!) managed to grab a plateful for them, so that there was a bit left to snack on when they got back to their table. They were in fine voice and Gill looked very glamourous. (Not that she doesn't always of course). They coaxed Jon up to tootle along with them on the Kate Wolfe song that is a regular part of their repertoire. 

               And what can you say about our headline act, Brian Phillips? Star quality in every department. Raconteur, Naturalist,Comedian, ace guitar player,great singer and an all round good egg. Drafted in to replace his mate Kev Dempsey who had had to rearrange his June appearance, Brian was well up for it,treating us to two sets of varying length but unremitting entertainment.

            Amidst the music We learned more about the continuing saga of Whelk Wars and Seagull feuds. Brian read to us from his not so little Red Book,mused on the meaning of armpit hair, made continual and slightly disturbing references to the female tennis stars he was picking up on his iPad and also performed songs occasionally. His dry delivery and skillful handling of banter and friendly heckling was a joy to behold. Through it all, Brian retained the stage personna of a slightly anxious Frankie Boyle. Brilliant.