A CONCERT FOR JUDITH-JUNE 28TH

MAUDSLAY HOTEL, COVENTRY, SUNDAY 28TH JUNE 2009. FREE ADMISSION. STARTS 8PM

RAFFLE AND COLLECTION IN AID OF MYTON HOSPICE

ALREADY APPEARING:

NORMAN WHEATLEY....LAZYMANZFLUTE...MAGGIE COLEMAN....TANZA.....PHUTNOTE...ROD FELTON...BLACK PARROT SEASIDE.....

A brief REMINDER here about what we (Black Parrot Seaside) are doing, and why.

Many of you know we've been around as a Folk Band since the late 1970's. ( O.k. we had a Gap Decade or two, but in 2006 we accepted an invitation to reform for a one-off Charity Fund Raiser in Brinklow). But it wasn't a one off. We got back into the swing of things,and many local venues began to book us. We did floor spots elsewhere when and where we could. Our four-way work commitments meant that we were a little more elusive than some artistes, and when there are four of you, logistics in accepting a booking are four times more difficult. But Things were going well. Festivals, Radio, a CD-it was a lovely second chance for four Old Fogeys which we never thought we'd have.

We are a close unit. We have known each other as friends for over 35 years. The guitarist and I have known each other since 1961. So we were devastated to hear at the start of this year, that his wife Judith was terminally ill. The diagnosis was sudden: the decline brutal: the ending in February of this year was swift, but very traumatic for all of us.

It looked as if we would fold again, but amongst Judith's last instructions were,
" Don't let the boys down." So he's gritted his teeth and wiped away his tears and forced himself to get back into music. Some of you may have seen us since we finally got back into public performance. We've appeared as a two-piece, a three piece, as solo artistes and as the original four piece line Vinyl up. It was really hard at times, to be honest. But several Folk clubs-and Bedworth in particular-have been VERY supportive to us.

We agreed when we got back together a third time, to organise a Concert For Judith this summer, as a Fundraiser. This would have the effect of supporting Myton Hospice where she died, and celebrating her life.

Judith's ashes are being scattered somewhere on the Roseland Peninsula at this very moment-another late pledge they made to each other. It's an odd thought. We played and entertained at their wedding only a couple of years ago-and now this.

Please help us if you can, to put something back into a very worthy cause, and to remember a really nice lady. Come along in droves, drink lots of beer, listen to some ace music and buy loads of raffle tickets.

Thanks for reading.

Keep On Squawkin'

A busy week this week. Mondays rehearsing (Yes we do, whatever people might think of our live appearances!) And Tuesday out to The Green Man at Long Itchington. It was not my first time at this pub. I rather overdid the circuit on the Long Itchington Beer Festival in 2008 there and had a little bit of Tickers Tummy afterwards. But this was our first time at the Folk Club there, and I enjoyed it. It was as you youngsters would say, absolutely rammed:packed to the gunwhales, with steam trickling down the windows. Just how Folk Clubs used to be.

A good programme, featuring Alan Sprung first and our old mates Malc Gurnham and Gilly, second. Alan turned out to be an old mate too, as it happened. We discovered we went to the same school as him. In the same Year Group in fact. A very high standard of floor singers, so we were lucky to get a spot, even having made a fifty mile round journey to get there. Being without our multi-instrumentalist Mick, we did " The Odeon" and " Requiem For Steam." Both were a bit serious for us, and in stark contrast to the superbly hyped up intro which Martin had given us. (Thanks for that Martin-we'll try to be a lot sillier next time). Both went well. There were quite a few people there who'd seen us before, so the choruses to The Odeon were particularly rousing.

Excellent performances from compere Martin (Warwick Folk Club) and Pam (host/organiser,) were followed by Guitar dexterity from Styvechale Folk Club's Rob, and Dave Fry having a bit of a knees up. Sorry Dave-I'm sure the surgery will hold up. A band new to me, "Green Man Rising " virtually filled the place on their own and did three numbers featuring so many instruments I lost count. Alan did his bit, with some thought provoking material and Maggie Coleman added her contribution.

On Wednesday I did a solo spot at Bedworth Folk Club. Geoff Higginbottom was the featured act and he was excellent. Something for everyone there. Traditional, comedy, everything from Sea Shanties to Richard Thompson. I did three Parrot Songs that don't feature that often in setlists, but which do have a place in our history.

I started with a traditional song "The Lincolnshire Poacher." We used to do four part harmonies on this, but I sang it alone and unaccompanied. "Bonio Romeo" followed-one of our own we haven't done since John Walker on electric guitar days. It was a dogged performance, even though I was terrier-fied. I finished with one of the Blues songs we do," Struggling Again." Being an Anker Delta worksong featuring Morris Marinas and monthly pay, although this has a traditional 12 bar form, the lyrics are as you might expect from a band of our genre. I greatly missed Blind Boy's Fender thrumming along behind me, and perhaps I should have brought the harmonica. Anyway it all got polite applause, and nobody walked out.

We were also able to confirm that all four of us-The Full Black Parrot Seaside package in all its glory-will be hosting BFC's Christmas Party at Bedworth Rugby Club on 16th December. You have been warned. Another Rugby club nearer home is Newbold, where we are featured on July 19th. We're at Bedduth again in a couple of weeks time, and at The Maudslay in Coventry on June 28th. Of which more on here later.

BACK ON THE PERCH

Belatedly, here is an account of our first full gig in almost five months-a rousing Tuesday night session at The Merchants Inn, Rugby. Most Parrot Bloggers will be aware of exactly why tragic circumstances had sidelined us since November, but if any reading this are not-just scroll down. It’s all here.

What a fine pub this is! That was my opinion before we played it-and it remains my opinion afterwards. Being part of their Annual Beer Festival, we were looking forward to sampling some of the wares on sale, but alas, as it turned out, three of us were driving. Ah well: another time. It’s a pub we know well!

The place seemed as busy as ever. We set up in the fag machine corner and caused a spot of consternation by shutting the external doors there and playing in the area normally reserved for those who wish to nip outside for a quick drag. We had taken the precaution this time of having someone other than us drive our P.A.-and this helped the sound levels enormously.

The crowd were noisy, enthusiastic and erm, predominantly “relaxed.” Not unlike The Tuns gig we played in Coventry last year-except there were a lot more punters here. The Merchants was also a very mixed age group whereas the Tuns crowd were predominantly youngsters. This might have intimidated some Senior Folkies, but not us. We’ve played The Cross The Dive Bar, and various University Bars. We can deal with good natured raucousness. In fact, we can give it back. Our first half set was as follows:

1. BEING NOT WELL
2. SALT OF THE EARTH
3. REQUIEM
4. BEDDUTH BANK
5. BLACK JACK DAVID
6. WAG of SHOP 14
7. HOOLIGAN’S HORNPIPE
8. BONNY BLACK HARE
9. DIRTY GERTIE
10. BLACK VELVET BAND
11. THE WHISTLER

“Salt” was a particularly good version, well received and with good chorus singing from the audience. With The Strawbs having reformed, our riposte to “Part of The Union” continues to raise wry grins, and helps redress the balance a little. After all, crushing the Unions and selling off The Family Silver didn’t really get any of us very far did it?
If the crowd did not know what they were in for, they did by “The Wag,” which we managed to do in full theatrical mode. That is, with the Ryton Spanner Dance performed out on the floor, in a sort of mosh pit between us and the Real Ale casks, and with me sitting on a chair reading the Daily Mirror whilst the boys bashed out some jigs n’ reels. “It’s like the Edinburgh Festival,” one luvvie twittered enthusiastically, afterwards. ( I wish-but very flattering!).
Spurred on by the dozens of real ales available, Black Velvet Band seemed to get the whole pub singing, and the crowd whistling in The Whistler to finish the first half wasn’t bad either. Julian from The Crown in Nuneaton had turned up to run the rule over us, and he seemed well impressed by the first half. (He’s offered us a gig there, anyway).

The second half was:

REAL ALE
MAGGIES FARM
WARWICKSHIRE LULLABY
RAILWAY MAGAZINE
AT THE SEPTIC MONKEY
THE ODEON
THE BOLD PIRATE
MANURE
ALBERT BALLS
I’M ONLY A POOR LITTLE RHINO
MIDNIGHT HOUR BLUES
COCKNEY POWER
D.I.Y.

(ENCORE)- VACUUM CLEANER

Maggie’s Farm was the first public performance featuring all four of the band and was well received. As was the rest of the material. More enthusiastic vein-busting singing for “Railway Magazine” , and “ Cockney Power “ which made a lot of people chuckle.

We did not have to play for an encore-we had earned one. By this time the audience had really latched on to the full mixture of irreverent, slightly naughty punk Folk that is vintage parrot, and they had no qualms about holding their mobiles aloft and howling along with the chorus John Peel liked so much:

“ I am a Vacuum Cleaner with the Brain of a Bird/
I’ve heard of reincarnation but this is absurd. “

(What will they think when they play that back next morning?)

Many thanks to Scott and all at The Merchants for inviting us, to Lee for his help in Sound mixing, and to the Real Ale drinkers of Rugby for giving us such support. Hope to be back soon?

Jeff Powles R.I.P.

More sad news. Jeff Powles, our second drummer,died last week. He was only 56.

After we parted company,quite early on in the Electric Parrot days, Jeff went on to become a music agent. I didn't see him for years, but then I bumped into him, in about 2005, at a Doors Tribute night at the (alas!) now defunct Nags Head in Nuneaton.

Jeff was a really nice bloke. I think he struggled at times to get his head round some of the crazier stuff we did, but some of my fondest memories of those years include him bashing away at the Kit at some classic Rock Gigs. He had quite a temper, and could fly into a rage over something quickly. At such times his mane of hair would fly around as he flounced off-hence we nicknamed him "Queenie." In fairness though, he also came out of those rages very quickly. He also had a much nicer Galunian name-Jallin N'gara-which he seemed much fonder of.

The only photo I can find featuring Jeff shows us rehearsing at The Woodlands School, round about 1976, when we all had hair-some of us lots of it! L. to R. it's Barry Ousby on base, Jeff Powles on drums, Arnold on guitar, other Geoff singing (with a fag on?) and Mick Harris on the electric piano. Classic stuff. happy days. Rock on JGP.

BPS (Back) on The Road

It’s been good this week to get back on the Road again in any format, after the long lay off and circumstances which no-one would have wished for. At one stage the whole future of the band hung in the balance, but we seem resolved now to carry on, as long as people will have us.

On Monday, I was at Warwick Folk Club, where Norman Wheatley was the featured act. Norman had asked me to join him and Martin in a song called “We’re Still Angry Now.” Other than a Private Party in January, where three of us had run (shakily!) through some Parrot material, this was the first time I’d performed publicly since Bedworth Folk Festival in November 2008.
Norman played two typically entertaining and varied sets. He certainly mixed things up, with his own material, Tom Lehrer, Beatles, James Taylor and Dylan covers included. And the excellent Jake song "La Di Dah" which Norman does so well. Plenty to sing along to. He sprinkled other guests in with the repertoire too, adding musical accompaniment, vocals or both.
I usually manage to park o.k. at Warwick, quite near the club, but this time I couldn’t. I ended up scratching the car, in a Public Car Park, and skittering through unfamiliar streets to try to get there in time. I won a bottle of Leffe in the raffle, so all was not doom and gloom. And my part in Norman's song added to a rousing performance by the three of us which the audiencel seemed to enjoy.
As always, the other floor spots offered some interesting contrasts, though most concentrated on the one man and his guitar format. This still lead to a pleasing variety of material. In particular, it was good to hear my favourite Billy Bragg song “ Between The Wars” done justice. It seems so apt again, nowadays.
The People at Warwick were genuinely nice. Several asked how Arnold was bearing up since the bereavement, and Dave Fry the compere for the evening asked me on the Club's behalf to pass on everyone’s thoughts to him.

Then on Wednesday night two of us went along to support the Macmillan Nurses Fund raiser at Bedworth Rugby Club. This is basically an extension of Bedworth Folk Club, with Jill and Malc Gurnham hosting. This was to be Arnold’s first public performance since the Folk Festival last November. We’d asked if we could do a couple of numbers, but ended up closing the evening. (Of which more later).

These sessions tend to be a real shop window: a friendly, jolly, relaxed almost “workshop” atmosphere, and a real cross-section of performers. My goodness, I can’t remember all the songs, but we had spirited renditions from many different kinds of performers, of much loved works by artistes as diverse as Donovan, Lonnie Donnegan, Alison Krauss, Eric Bogle and John Martyn. Malc and Jilly were as pleasant to listen to as always, and I also enjoyed the very thoughtful mix of songs put together by the trio “Footnote”.
We were honoured to be invited to close, though without the instrumentalism of Mick and Eddie, both of us struggled to remember what the missing sections sounded like! Arnold fondly unveiled his brand new guitar, and we started off with “The Odeon” -which most people knew and sang along with. We followed that with a second airing of a new song, “Albert Balls.” (Last performed at the Festival) I think by the end of this, the few people who hadn’t seen us before had worked out that our material isn’t always entirely serious.
We then performed “Midlands Lullaby”, which also got a few smiling. Though it would have been punchier with that lovely East European medley we do at the end. We finished off with “ The Bold Pirate.” I had come cutlass-less, but a member of the bar staff fetched me one from another room! ( What do you expect in a Rugby Club?) The surprise ending caught a few out, and I bodged the words up twice, but basically we winged it.
The event had raised a fair old sum for Macmillan Nurses, and at the end of proceedings, Malc very kindly handed it over to Arnold. This will kick-start our “Concert For Judith “ campaign, where we hope to put our heart and souls into raising money to help others to make life comfortable for those who suffered like Judith.

Back on The Perch

Those of you who know the band (or of them) may well be aware of the tragedy that hit us amidships in February 2009. We cancelled all bookings, stopped rehearsals and really, for a while, it looked as if (for a second time), the band might fold. But I am delighted to say that we got together musically for the first time in 2009 last Monday. Mick and Arnold have bought new instruments, and it's all systems go again.
The wounds will take a long time to heal, but music will help.

We played some 17 songs, including some new material which is eventually destined to join the set list. "Maggie's Farm," for example, we'd been working on for a while. This will be our first Dylan cover since "Knocking on Heaven's Door," which we used to do in the 1970s and 1980's. We also returned successfully to " Man of Constant Sorrow."

There are a couple more Blues songs we'd like to do also-but we haven't neglected our Comedy roots either. "Poor Little Rhino " and "Albert Balls" are Northern parodies which we did at Bedworth Folk Festival in November. We consider them set regulars now. And we haven't given up completely on being the first Folk Band to do a Beyonce cover. Our haunting tribute to her, " If I were a Goat" is shaping up nicely.

Our first gig since Beduff will be at The Merchants Inn, Rugby on Tuesday April 21st. This evening is part of their Beer Festival-so it will be a damn good night all round. We'll be doing two sets, the first at around 9.15, the second starting around 10.30. Thanks to those in the Folk community who have given us such solid support during this bleak period. Judith wanted us to carry on after her untimely death, and that's exactly what we'll do. This one's for her.

Judith Chave R.I.P.

In what has been a terrifyingly quick chain of events, Judith, the wife of our guitarist Arnold, died peacefully in Myton Hospice only a few weeks ago. Her funeral was yesterday, and many Black Parrot Seaside followers were amongst a large congregation who attended.

For a while it had looked over the last few months as if the band would fold completely. But it was one of Judith's last wishes that "The Boys" as she affectionately called us, would continue. So we will.

We will be getting back together soon to rehearse, and as soon as we are back up to speed we will begin to fulfil bookings again. We have cancelled all performances but the one scheduled for the Merchants Inn on April 21st 2009-that will be effectively when we "get back on the horse"-and others will follow.

We intend to dedicate quite a bit of future time to fund raising for Myton Hospice and Macmillan Nurses. As part of the healing process we would like to commemorate Judith's brief life through a "Concert For Judith" to be held somewhere locally during the late Spring or Summer. Already, local artistes and Club organisers such as Kristy Gallagher,Norman Wheatley, Pete Willow, Gill Gilsenan and Malc Gurnham have pledged support. Anyone else interested in helping out should contact one of us through the usual channels. Judith loved her music, and this event will celebrate that.