New Toys!

Not only did Sally host an excellent evening last week, but she also had a new toy… an appalacian dulcimer (apparently made in Romania) which led to some interesting discussion about Eastern European relatives of this instrument. Good to have a story from Hajni as well – we’ve missed those lately.

Next week we go to Belinda’s (drop me a note if you need directions) and just a reminder that the Christmas party looms on the 19th (we have the memorial hall for that). We will be running on Boxing Day as well – Dave has already offered to host that one, and I will definitely be there, so if you’re heartily sick of the festivities, we can do murder ballads and the such. Nothing like a bit of seasonal gloom and doom.

A good night in.

On the 14th we were pretty much thwarted by diseases, but last night (21st) we gathered at Dave Simpsons, for what turned out to be a very good evening. Bill (less than perfectly sober) provided a lot of laughs. We had Loreena McKennit’s ‘The Highwayman’ from Belinda, and Jonathan sang ‘Tam Lyn’ but the night was rather stolen by Beau. (He’s too cute, he has the best whiskers, and everyone wanted to stroke him.)

Next week we will be taking over Sally’s house.

Catching up

Dempsey’s Lot were great – Tommy Dempsey, Nick Evans and John Rose gave us a lively evening, plenty to tap toes to, great tunes, and a wide range of material. Some of us even danced! (I have got to teach James a way of dancing that does not involve just going round in circles) The Coven aired a new song (People of the Earth by Jehanne Mehta) and a good time was had by all.

This week we shall be gathering at Dave’s house to share some songs. The next big event on the calendar is the Christmas party – 19th December, when we should have Dave and Sue Emery with us. That’s up at the hall, everyone welcome, and we’ll do some communal catering!

The next bg job is to explore the possibility of folk club t-shirts, using the logo Tom Brown designed for us. I think it would look great on a black T, and there’s rumours of a local t-shirt printer, so as soon as time permits I shall get on with that one. As ever, watch this space for updates!

Dempsey’s Lot

Saturday the 7th November we will be at the Memorial Hall, Evesham Road, Headless Cross, with Dempsey’s Lot. Tommy Dempsey, Nick Evans and John Rose are a great combination – talented musicians, lively, and good fun. Lots of traditional music, heavy on the Irish, plenty to tap your feet along to. I’ve booked this trio before – and they do an excellent night.

We start at 8pm, tickets £5 on the door.

October

We had a great night with Sally last week, and much silliness. I think the silliness was mostly Bill’s fault – it usually is.

This week finds us at Dave’s house with Sarah Jones, which I’m very much looking forward to. My being away in the middle of the month is going to make the organising interesting… but hopefully we’ll figure something out. Worst case scenario it might all be a bit last minute.

There’s a lantern walk at Arrow Valley countryside centre on the 30th – always fun, and The Coven should be singing afterwards, then anyone who wants to can pile back to mine for soup and whatnot. As Halloween falls on a Saturday, there should be lots of fun with costumes that week.

PF West Midlands

On Saturday the 26th, The Coven sang at the PF West Midlands conference in Stourbridge. The Coven are an all female singing group, very much attached to the folk club (Bryn, Pauline, Belinda, Lyn and Carol) doing a mix of folk and pagan stuff – there’s plenty of overlap, and dabbling with Medieaval Babes, and the occasional slightly new agey thing – all unaccompanied harmony singing so no matter where we got it from, it all sounds a bit folk by the time we air it!

This was the biggest event we’ve performed at so far, and we sang for slightly less than an hour – went well, people were nice to us and said encouraging things, and liked the harmonies, so we were all very happy. It was a good event. Now we have to polish up the halloween material ready for the Lantern Walk on the 30th October.

Speak like a pirate day!

Next Saturday is speak like a pirate day, so anyone going to Belinda’s house, dig out your musket, parrot and your rum! fancy dress is optional (in the sense that anyone who does not take that opportunity to dress up will of course have to walk the plank) bring pirate songs, sea songs, and other rogues and villains!

It’s ok to turn up without pirate stuff. We may have to pillage you a bit, but it will be fine!

Gerry

We had an excellent night with Gerry – a fine mix of his own songs, trad and material from other songwriters. Plenty of toe tapping and singing along, and a lot of fun. I have a CD to listen to, so will post some thoughts on that in the not too dim and distant!

Gerry McNiece

Gerry will be with us on the 5th of September for a house concert. This is not a public event, but old friends, friends from other clubs and from the wider folk world are always welcome to get in touch.

I will get the list of guest night’s up very soon, with links to websites. There’s some really good stuff in the offing. I’ll also list events where groups or individuals from the folk club are playing out, and any other local events that might be of interest. The Redditch music scene seems to be having a bit of a ressurgance at the moment – long may it continue so!