An August Occasion

    The Forecast was dire and our expectations had been lowered by some very disappointing turnouts recently. We were also worried that perhaps the weekenders at Warwick Folk Festival had been exhausted. Would people stay away? No. Last night was highly enjoyable with lots of faces old and new having fun, being  entertained and helping to  raise a magnificent £155 for Anker Radio in the process. 

   The hospital Radio station, displaced from the George Eliot Site, has had to record and transmit a 24/7/365 service from home over the last year or so. Including twice monthly shows like "Anker Folk" which continues to serve the Folk Community. 

    That sum raised will go towards completing a new studio in nearby Beduff-at The Saunders Club which has given us excellent support during our exile. It looks like becoming a fruitful partnership for the future. Good to see that some institutions in the Borough at least have a conscience when it comes to supporting charitable institutions near to home. Look at their screens! Never had this at the GEH!

  The weather forecast turned out to be nonsense.  The BBC issued a 12 hour Weather warning with a long line of its ubiquitous cloud and raindrops symbols filling their website page for the area. We were told that the area would be lashed by gales and storms. Didn't happen. Nunny basked in sunshine. The thermometers registered 22c by mid afternoon and shoppers in shirtsleeves and summer frocks were strolling about the market. 

      We had several new performers who had offered or requested a floor spot for last night. Singers Nights are often a problem for venue organisers. Trying to organise a running order and attempting to keep to timings is at times like herding cats. As we got under way a few artistes had declined a sound check so that  helped greatly in starting promptly and then keeping to a semblance of the original  timetable. 

         Yours truly kicked the night off with a trio of songs delivered acapella. Not by choice-but because (not playing an instrument), if I want to keep performing nowadays, that's how the cookie crumbles. I began with Dominic Behan's Auld Triangle and I have to say that from the off, the audience sang along with me gamely.

          As a promo for The Hawkesbury Trawlermen's appearance at The Triumph Brewhouse in Coventry this coming Sunday ( and to advertise our growing portfolio of gigs and set lists), I followed with "Donkey Riding."  Not the sanitised version which many of us had learned at school via BBC Radio broadcasts. No it was  a much saltier version which would have raised the coiffeured eyebrows of my Primary School music teacher. This was again well sung by the audience. 

        I concluded with a tribute to the 52 blissful years which my good lady and I have now shared together. "Need Your Love So Bad," was our first dance at our wedding Reception. For anyone keen at having a go at singing unaccompanied this is a good yardstick for you to try if you wish to ascertain if you are suited. On the Fleetwood Mac cover of the Little Willie John song there are large gaps filled by a lush string arrangements and also by Peter Greens superb guitar solos. Alone, on a stage, you have to imagine those, to keep the timing right. On the Queen's Hall stage which is (literally) a bit sticky at present, tapping your feet ( an essential requirement for singing unaccompanied ) requires more effort than usual. As the picture below by Max Wright demonstrates. 

          Talking of photographers, we were blessed last night. Our two regulars Max and Ray Buckler snapped away throughout but we were also delighted to welcome back John B. Smith. Photography wizard. Having successfully negotiated what he described beforehand as "the North Face of The Eiger," (our stairs) it was great to see JBS in familiar pose after a long absence away due to hospitalisation and convalescence. And (we must assume) he got back down those stairs safely at the end too, because I didn't get time to say goodbye and we were the last to leave.

         With a bit of juggling of the running order Stephen Tate kindly agreed to follow me. I'd seen Stephen perform  previously at a few other venues and he has often turned up at NFC to watch. Health was he has also had a fair amount of personal challenges so it was great to finally get him up there doing what he does. Which is to play with a lovely picking style and singing with a very strong Cov-influenced vocal style similar to Messrs Dempsey Stuart and Felton. 

         Including Stephen we had no less than FOUR performers making their debut at NFC last night. Kyle Boswell was not a stranger to The Crew as he helps out with their Radio Station. But he had offered to come downstairs (their studio is above the Queens Hall) and share some of his own compositions with us. Playing a standout red Gretsch guitar, Kyle delivered three songs with style and great confidence. He also opened a door into new pastures for some of us by explaining that his recorded material was available to download or stream on social medal platforms. For those Folkies still trapped in the era of the wax cylinder this caused a few raised eyebrows but I can assure you that Kyle's stuff is available to view or listen to via most of these media forms. Check him out on You Tube if you want to sample his material. But not on Wax Cylinder. he hasn't released one of those. or an eight track cartridge. Photo by John B. Smith.

           Not really a newcomer but under a different stage name came Matt's His Name. When we were at The Crown, aka Matt Mallen, Matt stepped in over there to help out by mixing the P.A. and running the sound  for a while. When BPS eventually split up our original tripod P.A. became surplus to requirements Matt bought it off us. And he turned his hand to performance. In fact I think he featured on Anker Folk's (so far) one and only "Live Lounge" sessions where we recorded and after broadcast a succession of local artistes. Matt's guitar picking has certainly proceeded to "Wow" territory since we saw him last-he provided a pyrotechnic background to accompany his self-penned songs. Photo by John B. Smith

            It was good to have a few younger performers in. Just  like Kyle, Matt  has material available to hire rent or buy on all kinds of Fancy dan interweb Malarkeys.  Bob Wilkinson soothed any troubled brows however by following with three songs. Bob had  visited NFC as an audience member previously but this too was a debut appearance. With a background in many bands including Little Mountain he is an accomplished guitar player and singer. Bob sang three self-composed songs. He has travelled a bit and so he took us on a journey around the world which stopped off in Argentina and  parts of Africa. Photo below by John B.Smith

        Gareth and Barbara Wyatt are not actually joined at the hip to their grandfather, Des Patalong. Together the three of them go out as  Thruppenny Bits. The TBs are regulars at NFC and on Anker Folk. Des was unavailable last night so Barbara announced mischievously announced that the two of them would be appearing as "Two Coppers." Whatever the appellation their performance can only be described as delightful. Three newish songs performed acapella with the usual impeccable harmonies. Light and shade as a contrast to the contemporary and traditional styles so far received and adding to the enjoyment of what was turning out to be a most eclectic evening. Photo courtesy of John B.Smith 

           Jane Moss is the pocket battleship half of Yonderland. Paul Monks was otherwise engaged, but Jane is easily able to hold an audience engaged on her own with her soaring vocals and with some excellent Ukulele playing. For her finale she very kindly invited me up to join her singing a duet of a song we have co-written recently together. By email as it happens, but it still seemed to work.. "Goodbye Stan" was an homage to a much loved cat we once owned. It seemed to bring a little water to a few eyes and that wasn't just because I was glued to the stage again. All thoughts of decapitated sparrows and hidden treasures deposited in the raised beds were forgotten. Aww!!  Photo below by Max Wright.

             And by now having whipped the audience into a near unbearable frenzy, what else could we follow that with but  that old War Horse Dave Fry who brought the first half to a close. Concluding with an old Strawb's hit the timeless if misguided "Part of The Union." Sung boldly by sections of the audience, as Dave led us across the picket lines, fists raised in exultation. This isn't the best picture of Dave. But it is by a country mile the funniest. It really made me laugh He looks as if he's trodden on a spike here. Photo by Ray Buckler

            Dave dresses so well in dapper shorts and usually takes a good photo. Just to put the record straight here is another one this time  by John B. Smith 

 Another good friend of NFC, Adam Wilson got our second half under way. Adam has a new album in preparation so he treated us  to  three of his own  songs. We had not a whiff of Neil Young but Adam is no one-trick pony.  He's a fine writer and I'm not just saying that because he is another I've co-written with. ( The Boy On The Beach,2021 He finished with an emotional performance of Your Daddies Girl which is from his Singer Songwriter and Sewing Machine album. Photo courtesy of John B. Smith.

                Malc Gurnham then ran us through a thoughtful selection of new songs including a John tams one and a cover of one written by Reg Meuross performed with his full blessing. Malc's powerful vocals certainly fill a room that size so much so that at times the P.A. seemed superfluous.  Photo by Max Wright

               KC Jones closed what had been a lovely night. Colin and Karen must be quite exhausted by all the public appearances they have been making lately, promoting their new album "Roots." Indeed they originally intended to come along and have a rest by masquerading as an audience. Fortunately they were persuaded to close the show. They opened with "Sonny"- a wise move as although the audience was tiring a bit by now this got them singing again-as it always does wherever they perform it. They followed up with another popular choice-The Ivory Battle. Also a request. Photo by Ray Buckler.

                And there was no other way to close a splendid  evening but a long rendition of what is rapidly becoming an earworm for some of us " Time for Us To Leave You." Sung along with enthusiastically by the audience. Eventually everyone  toddled off into the nights some of them clutching prizes.  Thanks to the performers, Evelyn behind the bar , Ross for mixing the sound, Mags for all her help with raffles fliers and banners  and to Rich for providing the venue and always laying on some lovely Church End real Ale sourced from just up the road at Ridge Lane. 

      

Nobody lives here any more.

That title is a line from "Carolina Pines"- a rather lovely Kate Wolf song. Malc Gurnham and Gill Gilsenan do a very nice version of it. 

I started Wednesday  evening by (literally) groaning out three unaccompanied Blues numbers. First Robert Johnson's epic Love in Vain. A recording  exists of Brian Phillips and I doing this cover and I based my version on it. I followed it with a Muddy Waters song: Standing Round Crying and finished with the Little Willie John Classic Need Your Love So Bad. I sang all three songs in tune: in the right key and I got most of the words in the right order. My voice didn't break down either. Photo by Des Patalong. That's Tool's Double bass btw. It's not mine.

Nowhere Club have been on the circuit a while. I last saw them at The Temperance Club in Leamington. Trying as we do to continue to bring new acts into NFC they put together a measured and accomplished set. Their harmonies are cleverly arranged their togetherness is evident and their material is original. I hope they won't mind me saying that they reminded me of Fleet Foxes and Simon and Garfunkel. Photo by Ray Buckler.

Nowhere Club were followed by Willow and Tool Lite. Lite. Initially the whole band were going to come but Lolly was poorly which is a shame as her vocals definitely add an additional dimension  to their sound. And Simon was otherwise engaged elsewhere so there were none of his fine harp solos. Nonetheless they did an excellent set which was well received. It was great to hear Pete Willow's vocals back to their previous strength again. ( Pete has had quite a few issues lately: suffice to say he's now part Bionic).  He's a top bloke-active in promoting Folk Music around our area and also very supportive to NFC by helping us out with advertising and promo. They did a couple of foot tapping Ry Cooder numbers and a few of their own. It was an opportunity for Lewis to air his excellent vocal and instrumental skills. My favourite was "How Can a poor man stand such times" which never loses its relevance. Photo by Geoff Veasey.

In a departure from the norm, we then held the interval earlier than usual and initiated the unusual move of having the jug collection. This  in the unique position of the audience not having heard the guest before contributing. I had heard and seen Sunjay several times so I knew they wouldn't be disappointed. It didn't take that long :it's a matter of minutes to take the jug round to 20 or so people scattered around a large hall.

In another departure from our usual format, Sunjay suggested doing a single set after the interval rather than the usual two slots we ask from guests. This gave the second part of the evening a more intimate "in concert" feel especially as he also decided to perform on the auditorium floor without a P.A.  Photo below courtesy of Paul Monks.

This worked well. He is a polished performer, an outstanding musician and a great entertainer. In between songs he took us through anecdotes about his professional career including his time playing the lead role in a stage music show  about Buddy Holly. Sunjay has a wry, witty sense of humour so these stories were delivered with great panache. His  own material was by turns funny, emotional and heartfelt. We were also treated to innovative covers of songs originally recorded by Chuck Berry (Tulane) and Buddy Holly (Not Fade Away). It says everything about Sunjay's enthusiasm and wide appeal that he got the room singing. (Really well, actually). 

Kudos to Ross for another expert demonstration on how to mix sound, to Jane for serving behind the bar and to Rich for always offering NFC his unflagging enthusiasm and support. We had two new acts making their debut. We had the return of the Willow and Tool Band. and as usual we had a fresh, locally brewed Real Ale drawn through and served on hand pulls. Would it draw in any additional audience?

No. It did not.  We actually had one less attendee than last month. A pattern is definitely emerging.  Seven musicians and 15 wonderful people  came along to enjoy top class live entertainment. We even had one bloke who had travelled over from Nottingham. We had 15 in last month too-but this month we were one less on musicians. Can we go on inviting National figures to travel long distances across the country to entertain the Folk audiences of Coventry and Warwickshire? When our audiences cannot surpass the 15 mark?  Long term this is probably unsustainable. Time for a rethink.

On which note-next month (August the Second) is a singers night. Last year only nine people turned up to see our booked August guest Mike Reinstein. He had travelled up from Sussex and had booked overnight accommodation.  Mike was professional and played a blinding set to a virtually empty room. If I could choose one word to describe that experience for me as an organiser it would be "embarrassing."   So we took the decision there and then to make this year's August Session a Singer's night. Fifteen minute slots only-as many as we can fit in-and the return of the  Raffle. Already booked in are Dave Fry, Jane Moss, Bob Wilkinson and Barbara and Gareth Wyatt. 

Jane joins in June

 I will deal with other issues on Wednesday night elsewhere in a separate Blog post. As usually happens, NFC reached the same high standards of public performance. All three guest acts were superb. I wasn't bad either. As you can see, thanks to this photo by Max Wright, Summer shirts are back in and the t-shirt says "King of The North." It's an homage to Greggs v. Pret A Manger. I sang  Thirty Foot Trailer and Peggy Gordon for openers, with the audience gamely crooning the choruses with me. I got the words right but time keeping was difficult as the floor was so sticky I could not tap my feet! 

   Craig Sunderland initiated the first thirty minute set. As always he was professional, entertaining and very accomplished. He did a great rendition of  The Diggers Song and an exemplary cover of The Galway Shawl. What a beautiful song that is, played and sung so sensitively. He demonstrated instrumental versatility by employing both guitar and cittern (though obviously not both at the same time.). Cittern envy seems to have broken out in the Folk Fraternity lately. It seems to be (after the Shrutti box) the latest must have. He had a go at a Nic Jones number which should correctly be retitled Seven gentlemen from The Travelling Fraternity. His enthusiasm for Folk music is infectious. Craig runs the Wurzel Bush at Rugby on Tuesdays which is well worth a visit.  Check it out. He's got some good guests on and the floor singers are often interesting too. 

Mick Bisiker had brought along Chris, his very cool and laid back electric bass player and they were joined, just as Craig was finishing, by Johann a new and frighteningly young fiddle player, hotfoot from a work commitment in Warwick. (See S.Warwicks folks? It's an easy journey up the A46 at this time of night: nothing to be scared of!).  Together they made an engaging sound. They got feet tapping and tables pounding with a few spirited jigs and reels plus a few of their own compositions. And they also added in a few popular Trad Arr. numbers. Despite being Nuneaton Virgins all three, they appeared very at home and seemed to have a whale of a time. 

The Paper Circus completed the first half with a typical cross section of traditional and contemporary numbers. Jennian's sublime singing backed by the smart instrumentation of Siraj and Merlin on guitar and bass (electric and double) respectively. We had a Beatles cover "Here Comes The Sun," some Rammstein (one for the old finger in the ear brigade there), and some of their own material. 

After the break I did a couple more acapella tunes:( "The Ould Triangle" and "The Poacher") before we returned to the proper stuff. "Golden Lady of The Sea," (she's an old romantic at heart really, Jenn is), and two requests from me Into Dust. and Teardrop. There were a couple of Mac/Stevie songs including Dreams. and Gold Dust Woman. Also My Laggan Love and the ominous "Desert" which was once recorded by Brand New.  A sentimental finish was completed with Parting Glass and  Those Were The Days as an encore. 

Praise Be to new barmaid (bar woman?),  Jane, to Ross and his immaculate mixing from the gallery up above and to Rich for putting up with us and always getting some Church End in. Oh and to Mags who has been on two courses of antibiotics since May's NFC night-and still comes out to offer support and love and tidying up skills. Plus she drove so I could pay proper attention to What The Foxes Hat? What a woman! 

Cheers Big Ears

 It was for us an average seven days' build up leading up to the May NFC night. Three hospital visits  (some planned some not). Builders on site  throughout.  Skips, portable dunnies and tipper lorries everywhere. One (lost) play-off final, School runs and sleepovers (which at our age can be quite a culture shock). And to add a little bit of extra anxiety my Right Hand Woman was really poorly, on antibiotics and unable to attend. Those who know the club well will understand what a loss to a smooth evening that is. I was absolutely frazzled by the time I got there, delayed by traffic hold ups temporary signals and fencing contractors who simply did not want to leave. I could hardly walk due to various forms of arthritis and when I "popped" into Iceland to get a pint of milk it was closed. Oh! How I Laughed!  

 We started the evening by raising a glass to pledge allegiance to Nuneaton Folk Club. With a Kingly weekend coming up, it seemed only right to do something apt to commemorate You Know What on Saturday using  Church End's specially brewed and aptly named "Cheers Big Ears" as a prop.  I even thought of doing a medley of King's greatest hits to start with-Love and Pride followed by Alone With Out You ,The Taste Of Your Tears and ending with Wont You Hold My Hand Now?  But frankly they don't transpose well to the unaccompanied Folk genre and I couldn't get the boots on. 

Nevertheless we had a right royal evening. ( You can expect that kind of corny analogy and awful punning to run right through this account of the evenings events).   Andi Wolf, MC  of Temperance in Royal Leamington Spa (see what I did there?)  made a positively regal debut. I had already dropped the NFC banner twice, forgotten to put all the table leaflets out and neglected to email Ross the tech specs in advance so a measured, chummy set from Andi helped settle things down somewhat.

 I had not intended to sing at all and I kind of wished I hadn't after a half hearted and feeble rendition of "Albert Balls," during which my voice went completely several times. (Am I selling it to you?) Time perhaps to drop the comedy and go back to acapella unaccompanied  Folk songs. The band split is a year old now (did you send a card?) so it is time to get over it. Move on or move out. Anyway I had to fill in as I'd run out of waffle so I almost curtsied when Mr. Wolf loped onto stage. Here I am surrounded by two ghostly apparitions. 

 Our audience were surprisingly well behaved (at this point anyway) so all refrained from calling out "What's the time Mr Wolf?" He was very good. I thought he might be. There were some gentle bants with the assembled courtiers-both audience and staff-whilst he got the measure of the room, ( another thinly spread out audience) and Nuneaton's cryptic humour.  An audience that size would ensure "room full" signs at Temperance but distributed about  the cavernous interior of the Queens Hall it sometimes looks slightly intimidating from that huge stage. Andi's material and delivery was very  polished however and so was his guitar playing. I liked Andi's  songs, his voice, and particularly his natty Taylor guitar. Those in the know tell me it is a parlour guitar. It looked the shape and size which even gnarled and crooked fingers like mine could still actually make chord shapes on. Too late for me now, alas.  

It was good to welcome back Adam Wilson. A staunch and loyal NFC supporter, a fine songwriter, an excellent singer with a huge vocal range and a handy guitarist. He did a few older songs, one very new one and then finished with Neil Young's "Old Man." As I doddered back to the stage to thank him for an engaging half an hour, never had that title seemed more appropriate. 

Si then swaggered  up to take the stage for his first set. Actually that's very cruel. He really didn't. A more  modest, pleasant unassuming guy like Si you won't see the like of every day. He definitely  doesn't do swagger although he would be entitled to though.  His guitar playing and his arrangements alone are both extraordinary. Add to that a most distinctive singing style and there we have  a stage presence which is both engaging and attractive. I know for a fact that he puts a lot of time effort and research into selecting each song. He has a broad repertoire which is mostly (but not exclusively) traditional. It was good to hear some old personal favourites like "Copper Kettle," "The Blacksmith" and "Lovely On The water" given a new treatment. 

We should perhaps have finished the evening by standing and singing The National Anthem but why should we? Chaz and Cams have never been to us. They haven't even joined the NFC Stalkbook page yet. 

There were a few minor glitches last night and one slight problem with a noisier than usual audience member, (later remedied). A Court Jester turned up but not quite in the manner anyone had anticipated. The one thing he wasn't was funny. 

Rather than me banging on any more about last night here are some independent views from social media. 

" Yet another cracking night ..... quality songwriters, singers and beer: what more can you want? Many thanks to all concerned."- (Ray Buckler)

" Si Barron on stunning form as usual with mesmerising guitar playing and a well chosen set list.Great support from Andi Wolf and Adam Wilson. A night to remember." Max Wright

"...it has been a few years since I have seen and heard such a brilliant and talented English traditional folk singer !! Si tonight was breath-taking. Words are inadequate to describe his brilliance. " -Bobby Brooker

" Si was excellent as usual, but a big shout out to Andi Wolf, first time I have seen him, he was funny, Great tunes sung well and talented guitar player. ( A return to NFC soon please ). Last but definitely not least, one of my personal favourites Adam Wilson. Great songs and a fabulous voice, nice guy too  .Another excellent night. "-  Geoff Hardy 

All true. Thanks once more to Ross for expert sound control, to the lovely Holly for her patience and kindness in dealing with customers, and to Rich Burlingham and his staff for support, back up and just generally being there. The photos here are by Ray Buckler, Max Wright and moi. 

Si followed me back home after we closed up, as he was breaking the long journey back to Devon by staying overnight. Through Nunny's own Beverley Hills Area we wove, in convoy. Out towards Bramcote and getting a crack on before all the streetlights went out and I turned back into a frog. I'm sure I saw a milkman en route but perhaps the tiredness was making me hallucinate. 

We had a can or two of Beavertown Neck Oil before turning in. Si said he was planning to get up early and boy did he. The Dawn chorus woke me up but Si was already gone. En route for Devon and the peace of Dartmoor. I don't blame him. It must seem like heaven after a night in Treacle Town.

It's Good Wednesday

Good Wednesday is the Wednesday before Good Friday and The Easter Bank Holiday. ( I've just decided). Echoes in that title of Eric and Ern. "It's Good Friday," Ernie once opined slightly piously.  -"It's good any day" chortled Eric, slapping his comedy partner affectionately and with a cheeky side wink to camera.  Red Shoes were our guests on Wednesday and KC Jones along with Urban Fox supplied further entertainment. Our attendance was only slightly down on last month but respectable given the struggles still going on elsewhere, post Covid.  See how full and atmospheric the Queens Hall  looks and how far away the stage seems in this photo. 

Being band-less I don't always open with anything nowadays, but I kicked off the evening at 8pm with "Lord of The Dance." unaccompanied. It seemed appropriate to the time of year. I have always enjoyed singing it, but as I so rarely get back on the horse nowadays I had to keep referring to a song sheet. The audience gave it a fair go with the choruses so that went quite well. I then bottled it with "Twas On an April Morning," which I had rehearsed and fully intended to do. Nunc used to cover it but instead I sang Vigilante Man an old favourite which never dates due to "free" Nations' propensity for persecuting the Poor and the Homeless.  It's amazing how you can insert "Have you seen Suella Braverman?"  into the first line. (Try it!). She would have made a fabulous Railroad Bull in Woody Guthrie's day. Picture below by Karen Jones. 

That bit safely over with, Urban Fox stepped up to make their debut. I'd seen them at a few clubs locally and they'd got better each time I saw them so I was delighted to see that they embraced this opportunity with a lively set. A combination of Nigel's songs and jolly instrumentals got the audience warmed up. Two fiddles definitely creates a good sound. Their harmonies were well arranged and well sung too. An excellent start. We'll return to the Vulpine theme later in the text. "Coventry Weavers,"  " The Reluctant Sailor "  and their concluding fiddle medley were highlights for me. 

Local outfit KC Jones have been itching to get their new album "Roots" finally released. and their set included some new songs from it and a few crowd-pleasers like "Sonny" and "Ivory Battle." They included "Cut Throat Jack"  and "Stronger" among the newer songs, roping in Nigel Ward from Urban Fox for one of them. And also a cover (was it?) of a certain Adele song with a bit of James Bond theme picked out by Karen at the end. They finished  cannily, with  "Time For Us To Leave You." Which by then of course it was-that half hour or so had flown by. As pictured below they had drawn Nigel up to guest. It was that kind of "sharing" night and with our three acts coming from Coventry Nuneaton and Birmingham respectively there was a pleasing geographical symmetry to proceedings. 

Red Shoes had only last week celebrated their 40th anniversary of performing on the road. They stepped up to do the shorter of two sets to take us up to the interval. Carolyn, Mark and original bassist Derek  really have been together for that long. They had  played The Crew before-downstairs during a Ragged Bear Festival-but this was their first time upstairs on the mighty Queens Hall stage.

In the second half they declined to include their (excellent) and well-loved version of The Move's Blackberry Way but still showed they could rock out a good arrangement of a classic cover with Dylan's "You Ain't Going Nowhere."  The atmospheric homage to a Briar Rose ( a fine Brum pub: I know it well)- "All The way to Troon," featured Mark taking the lead vocal. proving that they both have fine voices. Derek's not bad either-proving that like Urban Fox they can handle nice three part harmonies. It wasn't actually about Wetherspoons-that's just my little joke. It's actually a rather sweet love song. 

 Red Shoes delivered a seemingly effortless sequence of songs about Love and Hope, Cruelty and Forbearance.  And eventually returned to that  vulpine theme. They actually once covered Reynardine , a favourite song of mine which I'd already discussed with Urban Fox members earlier in the evening. The Shoes did it justice I have to say. It featured on their double CD  "It Isn't Over Yet."  The Guest Beer on Wednesday was (appropriately and yet entirely coincidentally),Church End Brewery's "What The Foxes Hat," and only the night before, Mark Evans's beloved Villa had put those Foxes up the M69 into the bottom two of the Premier League. 

My own Grandad, Edgar Oldfield, once rescued and cared for a young orphaned fox cub. It became imprinted of course, and would not leave him, probably looking upon him as Mama Vixen. Some of his neighbours and relatives were scandalised by this sort of (what they judged to be) eccentric behaviour, especially when he took young Reynard out for walks on a lead. But those of us who preferred looking at foxes to killing them found it completely normal and very appealing. I loved him for it.  Carolyn has become both renowned and admired for the work she has put in to nurturing stray ones, poorly ones and those who just need help. Urban Fox were there on the night.  So after an instructive and interesting aside about foxes and why they scream at night (it's often family disputes as much as cries of ecstasy), we had Red Coat Ride an articulate song about the (non) glory of The Hunt.  

They gave us the  anthemic Celtic Moon. Covered by Fairport Convention and played on Radio One no less. And "Swansong" a tremendous finale/encore in which anyone who had an instrument was inveigled up onto the stage and invited to join in. What a way to finish. An inspiring sight and a beautiful sound. 

So let's hope it wasn't a Swansong or a Finish. Because I'm not sure that it's time  yet. The Folk Circuit needs its Red Shoes. Aye, and its KC Jones Duos and  Urban Foxes. Such is the demographic of most Folk Clubs  that there were many in an average audience (and a few on the stage!) who have felt the rigours of playing and performing regularly taking its toll over recent years. Certainly post-Covid There have been several times when Mags and I have discussed packing it all in. It's not just the travelling and logistics. Not just the toting kit up flights of stairs which brings pain into tired bones and worry into troubled minds in the middle of a sleepless night. It's families and friends: illness and the anxiety of modern living and the uncertainty and additional pressure they sometimes bring.  

Stagecraft. Competent musicianship. Carolyn's passionate vocals. Their well crafted and at times intense songs. Can we afford to lose all that? They are threatening to return after retirement to semi-retirement "playing for fun and sharing a few beers with friends," as Carolyn puts it. It's a nice thought which I completely understand.   Perhaps the Red Sandals? Or the Red Espadrilles? Or even...the Red Foxes? I hope so. I hope we see them again in some format or other. The Folk World isn't ready to say goodbye just yet. 

The Ides of March

       Who would have thought that five years have elapsed since Nuneaton Folk Club was made homeless overnight by the sudden closure of The Crown?  On learning one Monday morning  (via Facebook!!) that we no longer had a venue, I drove into Sunny Nunny shuffling options through my head as I parked up.  Because of previous conversations I decided to try The Crew out first.  Rich Burlingham was sitting on a bar stool in there and our first conversation was along the lines of " About time! I've been expecting you!"

        Rich and The Staff of The Crew could not have made us more welcome. Rich and co have gone out of their way to help promote Folk and Roots music in the town. By putting on the Annual Ragged Bear Festival. By staging one off concerts by artistes we could not possibly afford-Fairport Convention and the excellent Peatbog Faeries for example.  And by giving NFC five years of solid, generous support, helping us out with everything from promotion and publicity to linking up with local breweries so that locally brewed award winning Real Ale is available on draught on most Folk Club nights.  

        This partnership is truly something well worth celebrating, so we pushed the boat out. With a two hour "Anker Folk" Radio special reflecting some of the 100+ artistes who have trod the boards during that time. Broadcast on the night before and the night after the Folk Club itself. ( A playlist will be added at the bottom of this post. We hope to have The Special available somehow in a Listen Again format for those who missed it but would still like a listen. 

            We began the evening by sharing a special award presented to John B.Smith for his tireless work in capturing the essence of all our local Folk Clubs on camera. This was presented to John during a Folk Day at The Temperance Folk Club, Leamington, last Sunday. Most of the local organisers contributed to this surprise award. 

           We also reminded people that local artist Claire Botterill had set a stall out at the back of the room. selling prints, cards, worksheets and tuition, Claire also holds 5 week two hourly classes at her Garden Studio. For contact details see the "Links" button on the Home Page of the NFC website.  

          Then Malc Gurnham and I opened up the evening proper with three comedic songs. This was our third appearance at three different Folk Clubs inside a week, so unsurprisingly we were beginning to get things right by then. It was Malc who first talked me into relaunching a Folk Club in Nuneaton, which finally got under way in 2014. Malc has played along with me in Black Parrot Seaside and Mac Awe On Tour, so although I'm a bit ring rusty we seemed to please the audience with "Albert Balls" "The Odeon" and "Di Di The Ice Cream Man. " Whilst The Odeon was issued on a previous album, Albert and Di Di were going to be part of a new solo Album which Malc and I were working on just as Covid struck.    Who knows? perhaps we'll get it finished now! This photo by Max Wright is my favourite as it does show both of us smiling and evidently having a good time.

             Poachers Pocket were making their Queen's Hall debut, though I seem to recall Campbell Perry and Colin Squire making appearances individually or in other line ups at The crown. Supplemented by Carole Gillespie they gave us a very entertaining first feature length spot. Guitars, Banjos and Accordions all figured as they romped through an enjoyable set. [ photo by John B. Smith]

               Next up came an NFC favourite, Kevin Dempsey. A popular stalwart of the local and national Folk scene for many years. Although not 100% fit, Kev showed no sign of that affecting his performance. Most of us knew what to expect as he ran deftly through "Leaving in a Hurry Blues", "Love is Just Around The Corner" and "All For You." Always good fun though, to roam the room watching jaws drop as Kev's pyrotechnics. Photo below by John B.Smith

            Whipping a frenzied audience up into a crescendo, before we allowed Bird In The Belly to commence their first set, it was time to present them with the Treacle Town Trophy, awarded to them for topping the Anker Folk 2022 Album Charts with "After The City." Beating off formidable opposition such as The Magpies, Trials of Cato, The Unthanks, Lady Maisery and Thorpe and Morrison was no mean feat. Laura seemed a little nonplussed by The Poundland Egg glued onto a Poundland garden ornament, but she wore her crown proudly for the rest of the evening. BITB may well have been performing at Coventry Cathedral the following evening but I bet they were not honoured like this. If you look closely at this photo by John B.Smith she's also clutching the trophy itself. Clearly very deeply moved. Not the first time they've won this either, as "The Crowing" won the same accolade in 2018. 

           Then off we danced through a profusion of Victorian and Edwardian misery. Painstakingly researched material beautifully arranged. We had graveyards, workhouses, addiction,poverty, famines Plagues and battlefields. The body count rose progressively as BITB kindly obliged with a few requests such as the outstanding "Give me Back My Heart Again." and "Bright Light. " Photo by John B. Smith

          Following a brief break BITB continued their heart rending trawl through a succession of elderly songs given new life. How many times did we nod our heads sagely at our ancestors' wisdom whilst reflecting " You see? Not much has really changed. Will we ever learn?" Both Ben and Laura sing with a powerful emotion that is startling in its intensity at times. The band as a whole are tight-and I don't mean they won't spend money. Their musical togetherness was a comment I heard a lot during the evening and afterwards-just how well the harmonies work together and how well the musicians weave their patterns using a broad variety of instruments and effects. Here Laura demonstrates her versatility with the flite. And look! She is (as promised) still wearing that crown! 

             Included in the BITB repertoire were two newish songs commissioned by Coventry City of Culture-bringing (no less) a gardener's ancient diary back to life again. He had problems with cultivating growing and harvesting tomatoes too even back then. Bless. And so the evening came to a close. Don't forget to spread the word and here to help you is our latest flier, designed by Pete Willow and produced by The Crew. Next month we have an NFC debut from Red Shoes. Most famous for one of the finest covers of Blackberry Way, so well done that Bev Bevan sings on the album version! 

Finally thanks to Rich,Jenna, Holly et al, to Ross for his fine work on the mixing desk, and to my nearest and dearest Mags for all the work she puts in to help NFC swing along its merry way. And now that Anker Folk set list as promised. Apologies for the layout-cut and paste job which appears to have a mind of its own! 

song 1 Fosters Mill Dom Pragg 

song 2 Issi Come Down Bob Brooker 

song 3 Old Man  (Adam Wilson)                                           

Song 4 The Laundry Shanty (Des Patalong) 

Song 5 Foxy Lady  (Benji Kirkpatrick)                                

Song 6 Blackleg Miner (Craig Sunderland ) 

Song 7 Like a River (Brian Price)                                         

song 8 The Wild Goose  (Greengrass)                                      

song 9 Subconscious Cry for Attention (Keith Donnelly ) 

Song 10 Captive (KC Jones Duo)                                                       

Song 11 Chester Fiesta (Thorpe & Morrison) 

Song 12 What matters most (Jan Richardson) 

Song 13 Mrs. Allcock’s Millionaire (John Richards Band)

Song 14 Don’t Think Twice (Kristy Gallagher) 

song 15 Handsome Molly (Kevin Dempsey) 

Song 16 Always putting me foot in it (John Mosedale) 

Song 17 I’ve got my country back (Phil Hare)

Song 18 Just for you (Wilson Wright) 

song 19 Bees ( Bird InThe Belly) 

song 20 Candlelight Fisherman (Si Barron)                                

song 21 The List (Sally ironmonger) 

Song 22 I cannot remain (Winter Wilson) 

Song 23 The Doffing Mistress (The Redhills) 

Song 24 Gallows Pole (Scarecrow )

Song 25 Carolina Pines (Malc Gurnam & Gill Gilsenan)

Song 26 Turn to Blue (Steve & Julie Wigley)                        

Song 27 This changes everything (Gren Bartley) 

Song 28 Turn of the Tide (Jane Moss)

Song 29 Chicken (Tom Young) 

Song 30 Diggers (Thrupp’nny Bits )

Song 31 Bedlam Boys (Greenman Rising) 

song 32 It’s Come to This (Mike Reinstein) 

Song 33 Wild Mountain Thyme (Paper Circus) 

 

Gauntlet Accepted

      I'd set a bit of a challenge to NFC Facebook Page members before Wednesday night's extraordinary attendance.  We have 472 members and I'd suggested that maybe if only a tiny fraction of those expressing an interest in the club turned out, we'd have a night to remember. Folk took up the challenge and filled the place. And we did have a night to remember.  But don't just take my word for it. Just read the reviews!

"A great nights entertainment, three top performances."  (Wes Hall)

 "Great Evening at NFC with a packed house and the audience in good voice." ( Max Wright) 

" It was brilliant"  (John B. Smith).   

  " We had a blast."    (The Lost Notes)  

"Excellent Talent all round." (Les Jones)   

" A brilliant night out." (Doreen Tiernan) 

 .... "Just absolutely Five star from start to finish. It doesn't get better than this," (Bobby Brooker )  

" Great evening all round...brilliant entertainment." ( Geoff Hardy) 

" It was a cracking night." (Michele Kondakor). 

"Another cracking show last night. many thanks to all involved." ( Ray Buckler)

" Lovely Crowd in last night. Superb sound system. great atmosphere."  (Steve Redshaw.) 

" If you've not been to this club then you have no appreciation of what a good club it is. Superb venue, great selection of beers, lagers & ciders, ensuite toilets, brilliant sound system manned by skilled experienced people. Go on give it a try!"           ( John B. Smith) 

       There are three recurring words here. From comments made online by audience members and performers. Not me. "Brilliant,"  " Entertainment" and "Show."  NFC isn't always for the purists. There are no candles in old Chianti bottles and soloists don't always stick their fingers in their ears when singing. We embrace every form of Folk Blues and Americana and we don't have Floor Spots. But what you do get is a show, every month. We try to mix up the artistes appearing so that (a) you don't always see all of them everywhere else all of the time and: (b) they are not all the same genre. We do have amplification and electric instruments sometimes, but it's a big hall and a big stage. It needs filling. People rarely drop off to sleep in the auditorium very often but that's how we like our music. 

     Our evening started with an NFC debut from Steve Redshaw. Actually billed as Steve 2 or The Steves, unfortunately, Stephen Boyer was too poorly to attend.( Hope you are better very soon Stephen).  So Steve singular was chucked in at the deep end and he did a masterful job. More front crawl than doggy paddle he cleaved through the set causing many a ripple and that's the end of the nautical analogies. Having been to the club previously as an audience member, he took to the stage like a seasoned regular and ran through a fabulous thirty minutes of songs. Well chosen and well arranged with a few stamped with an individual new take on an old format. Steve has a really pleasant voice and a deceptively relaxed guitar style. My personal favourite was "Lakes of Ponchartrain."  I love that song. It has an Irish American heritage dating back to the days of The Civil War.  I first encountered it through the work of Paul Brady. I've performed it myself in several venues and with different line-ups so I know it's not an easy one to get across. Steve did it justice. He left that stage to deserved applause. We'll certainly get him back. He flew the flag for Steves everywhere. ( Mr. Boyer: he did not let you down). Photo by John B. Smith

    A highly anticipated debut from the 3/5 version of The Lost Notes followed. Quite a coup to get them and John Richards on the same bill together, reflected in the room being near full before they started. Energetic, lively and very polished, they set to work with a highly organised collection of songs. Most if not all self-penned. Oli had a few minor problems with guitars which got Ross our Sound (very sound) man scrambling across the stage initially before the problem settled. It didn't affect the performance one jot. They finished to rapturous applause. Local Folkies can see them agaim almost immediately as they are on a Beduff next week supporting Paper Circus. I rather think they might be on at Atherstone in the future, too. They performed examples from a newly released album "Lowlifes and High Times." Their versatile vocal styles covered many genres with the fireworks on the last one making me describe as Folk's Tony Hadley. (Sorry ,mate!). Can't WAIT to see the five piece version. Photo by JBS

   John Richards and his band minus fiddle player followed. They too are working on a new album and they understandably wanted to showcase some of it. Thus we had a mixture of songs old and new, all with that distinctive JR style to them. "Did You Enjoy The Battle Sir?" was a popular early example of material. Covered by Robin Dransfield and Downes and Beer, no less. 

     The second half began, (much against my better judgement)  with me  joining the JRB for a first crack at "Chimnea."  This is a song written by John and I. He very kindly supplied the tune to my lyrics. it was his idea at first and then my own vanity spurred me on.  I am tremendously grateful for being honoured by being offered that opportunity. It's a song about some of the indignities we've all had to put up with over the last few years, mainly because of the input (or lack of it) of various Governments. All written whilst swigging a bottle of Pinot Noir on Summer Solstice and enjoying a clear quiet night outside around a log fire. I'd rehearsed it singing along to an MP3 of the tune JR emailed me. I was so nervous and tongue tied I sang it very badly. If you look at the photos I'm rigid with fear. Not usually like the swaggering braggart that I often am on stage. Oh well. perhaps I'll get another chance one day. People were very kind about it but I have to watch my vocal performance from behind a settee. Photo by Max Wright.

     Fortunately things soon bucked up again. The JRB continued with a further cross section of old and new material. "If You can walk you can dance" was a popular show stopper. I'd forgotten that John's daughter Em was so poorly with Covid last time they came to NFC that she couldn't appear. Gren Bartley stepped in and did a fine job. Nevertheless  It was good to hear and see Emma back again, though. Photo by JBS

 Jim did a couple of very natty bass solos and some sterling work on the Keyboard. He's a very understated and versatile musician: his work adds a lot to the overall sound. His bass guitar had what looked like washing line for strings but it gave a marvellous thumpy sound. And I loved his keyboard work in a song which reminded me very much of a Magnum Opus by Mr. Fox "The Gypsy" Photo by JBS I had been very measured and controlled over finding that some of my favourites were missing from the overall set list. I love "Polly,"  "Washbourne Road," " Billy Shaw," and "The Deserter" to bits for example. I was going to let their omission go until I heard an ugly rumour that "Shine On," would not feature. I'm afraid that during several encores wisdom prevailed and people power took over. Bob Brooker and I were invited to go up sing with the JRB. The audience singing was simply stunning. You just cannot let a song as good as that go. Even the bar staff were singing the choruses-and they'd never heard it before. Probably not even born before it was first recorded-but quality transcends generations. Photo by JBS

The usual accolades must be accorded to Ross Tidmuss on sound (great to have him back),and to Holly, putting in a really tough shift behind the bar serving a larger than usual audience. And big thanks to Rich Burlingham, The Crew Guuvnor. He continues to support Folk Music in the Town and lays on decent real Ale for us like last night's special " What The Foxes Hat?" 

             Finally congratulations on another NFC innovation: Claire Botterill became our resident artist by setting up a merchandise stall just inside the door and demonstrating wax resist painting in the auditorium during the interval. We hope to make this a regular feature. Claire is Nuneaton based. She runs courses, designs cards and teaching worksheets and will do special commissioned paintings of your favourite pets. Although I'm told she might draw the line (see what I did there?) at any life sized portraits of Bobby Brooker's Warthog, Montmorency Kingdom The Third. 

      Next month we continue this momentum with the return of Bird In The Belly. All the way from Sussex although vocalist Ben is a Nunny exile. Winners of Anker Folk's "Treacle Trophy" last month for being voted their 2022 Album of The Year, they are musically and vocally outstanding. Note the full house in this picture taken last February.