o u nd r a
ke nt folk Issue 99 June / July 2020
Your FREE Guide to Folk Events in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond
Published by Tenterden Folk Festival, Charity No 1038663 Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.
AKF 99 June / July - Special editorial What does the future hold for the folk scene in Kent, Surrey and Sussex when the current COVID-19 pandemic ends and when will that be? At the time of writing all folk club meetings, sessions, gigs, and festivals have been cancelled at least to the end of May. Hastings Jack in the Green, Rochester Sweeps, Pigs Ear Folk and Ale all cancelled. Many events in June and July have also been cancelled and the future of events in August is uncertain so will Sandwich Folk and Ale, Chickenstock and Broadstairs Folk Week be able to happen or not. At present we are hoping that by September the current restrictions may be able to be safely lifted and that Tenterden Folk Festival may be able to be held. Nothing is certain. The knock-on effects seem endless. Here at AKF we will not have events to advertise during the lockdown and will face a drastic reduction in income. Most copies of the magazine are distributed through local folk clubs which are closed. This issue will be published online and we will try to get a small number printed so send out to subscribers. Most folk clubs and sessions take place in pubs or clubs which even before this crisis were suffering as a result of the very difficult economic climate and a record number were closing. After months of closure, even with the government’s support packages, business rate relief and other schemes in place, how many of our regular folk venues will not reopen? Even if the venues reopen will all the folk clubs be able to pick up where they left off? Many of us who are involved in organizing or attending folk events are probably in the higher risk groups due to age or other health problems as are a good number of folk club guests and performers. I do not want to even think further about that. Whatever happens things will be different. Some folk clubs, like Deal, are starting to hold meetings on platforms such as Zoom. Touring musicians with no work and therefore little or no income, are recording and uploading free electronic gigs, videos and music on internet sites such as YouTube, etc. The bigger more commercial venues and promoters may benefit from extra grants and funding such as the schemes recently announced by Arts Council England, but such schemes are unlikely to benefit small, local, volunteers run folk clubs or festivals. This all sounds very negative and I did not mean it too. I’m sure our song, music and dance will survive and continue to be sung, played and performed. It has survived for hundreds of years, two World Wars, the introduction of radio and TV, the changes in the recording industry such as CDs and downloads and many other changes. I’m sure it will survive this but there are sure to be changes. Alan Castle (Editor) Since writing this we have heard that Sandwich, Chicken Stock and Broadstairs Festivals have also been cancelled for 2020.
Find us online at www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk and on Twitter as @AroundKentFolk, where you can always find a link to the latest and past issues of AKF. Please pass this link on to your mailing lists and place it on your social media so that as many as possible of our regular readers can find AKF online until we are able to get back to a full print run and physical distribution of the printed magazine. Stay well and take care in these difficult times
Scene & Heard • Well, what a month... So much planned, so much time now to practice... Thoughts go out to so many of our friends who are working to confront the crisis, to all who have fallen ill and to all who have lost friends or family. The only way out is through... as I believe Anne Lister expressed it. • To festival organisers everywhere and to all performers whose diaries are thoroughly disrupted, appreciation of the work involved in unravelling so many events at short notice. The support for artistes and planning for 2021 has been very evident, with many patrons generously donating to keep the infrastructure intact as far as it can be. Here’s hoping that we shall again be able to gather and enjoy better times beyond. • What has come of this is the determination of singers and musicians in Kent and Sussex to find ways of keeping in touch and somehow sharing songs and tunes together. I’m sure I’m not the only one to whom Zoom was a garish 60s ice lolly.. For those of us averse to screens not so much a learning curve as a dunk in the deep end... If anyone finds a platform without a latency problem please let us all know! Mind you, the singing of choruses two seconds behind is not unknown in real time :-) I’d better thank/mention Jon Dean from Deal Folk Club who pioneered all the settings needed for Zoom in double quick time, made it easier to get good sound... also Morrigan, who pop up virtually all over the place ! • Heartening to see the versatility of means to see our favourite artistes. A great many gifted their concerts early on, wonderful for us all, and others offered free music lessons online right off the bat to give children at home a sustaining interest. Though there have been mutterings that this might hazard professional group leaders it seems clear that the scale of need went beyond supply, and making music being such a comfort to those locked down, there’s really no undercutting, merely generousity. Those who can afford to pay doubtless will. • Within days the Folk Clubs began meeting - not just the Covideo site and the various artistes promoting their wares but the local networks in Deal, the Drum and Faversham and around Tonbridge to my knowledge, most likely elsewhere too. Ian Petrie has been particularly prolific with uplifting and thoughtful ideas, while Sally Ironmonger & Brian Carter put out a daily choice from their forthcoming CD to cheer us up. I enjoyed some smart songs from Andrea Crosse... Not to mention Joe Whittaker’s jokes... Almost as bad as David Pleasants’... Respect to all who find a positive angle to raise a smile. • All best wishes to Ernie Warner, who is recovering from a sudden illness in Faversham- his expertise and nous saw the local club up and e-running in no time. Get well soon, Ernie, back on your head.… • Before the lockdown JIB played Faversham, and what a night it was! Moving and powerful songs put over with great stage presence, just like the old days! • Congratulations to Peter Collins on his 80th birthday... a good friend to folk song and onetime rescuer of Broadstairs Folk Week, now also a heritage plaque... all the best! • Fascinating to see Facebook posts with evocative old bills... (picture that)... Doug and Sue Hudson in Manhattan, all over the US in fact... and memories in 10 album covers, each one a gem. Among others I went for Tundra, Bob Lewis, Wild Oats and Derek Sergeant & Hazel King... strong singers and entertainers all... grand times! Who’d be yours? Bob Kenward ALAN COLLS - Dartford Folk Club It is with great sadness we share the news that on Thursday 16th April 2020, Alan Colls, cofounder of the Dartford Folk Club, passed away after a long battle with a number of serious health issues. In January, he celebrated his 85th Birthday. Alan survived his beloved wife Pam, by just over four years and, until about 18 months ago, he remained at the helm of the club, overseeing the artists booked and providing a superb PA sound system for the weekly guests. Last May, when his health deteriorated,
Alan formally retired from the club but continued to be an occasional visitor. In his final months, he was supported by a fantastic team of health carers, family and close friends, all of whose support enabled him to stay in the comfort of his own home. Alan and Pam set up and ran Dartford Folk Club together for around 45 years, booking an amazing variety of artists within the Folk scene, additionally giving many ‘new’ performers the opportunity to play their first gig. They encouraged and assisted artists to reach their potential in music, develop confidence and build up self-esteem through involvement with the Club. Over the years they helped to launch and develop the music careers of many singers and musicians from both the local area and further afield. Through their faith in individual performers and willingness to ‘take a risk’ in booking an eclectic range of artistes, Dartford Folk Club soon became well known throughout the UK and widely overseas as a successful and vibrant live music venue. The Club continues regularly to feature performers from USA, Canada, Australia and Europe as well as from across the whole of the UK. Additionally, Pam and Alan caringly fostered a sense of community, friendship and mutual support amongst regular attendees that extended far beyond the weekly meetings of the Club. Over the years, there have been a number of marriages and partnerships formed from within its membership. In 2008 the Club won the BBC Radio 2 “Folk Club of the Year” Award and, in 2013, Alan and Pam were presented with a DARTFORDIAN AWARD for their services to Music and the local Community! The Dartford Folk Club will continue to run, when it is safe to do so, in memory of and as a legacy to both Alan and Pam’s amazing love for music. Dartford Folk Club Adventures of an Old Folkie Interesting times we’re living in at the moment; I’m writing this halfway through the fourth week of the Govt-imposed “lockdown” as a reaction to the development of the coronavirus pandemic, and I must say I feel rather more fortunate than certain other members of society currently. For a start, I’m retired and have a regular and reasonable income, plus savings. I also have no children or other family dependents to worry about. I know that there are many people experiencing real pain, both physical and mental, but hope that this pandemic will have certain beneficial social effects on the future, the most important one being that people will realise who the really important workers are in our society and economy; not the bankers and politicians, but the key workers – the nurses, doctors, carers, teachers, waste operatives, among many others, and will reward them appropriately financially in the future. Indeed, there is going to have to be more social fairness in future, resulting in a new model of capitalism, able to reward the people who deserve to be rewarded, as opposed to those people who just want to make as much money as possible. But back to music; the main things I have missed during lockdown are the atmosphere, bonhomie and camaraderie of a typical session at an open mic or folk club. I know that some clubs have tried to keep going virtually, through the use of apps like Zoom; indeed, my own local club, Folk-at-The-Drum, has been running such sessions for the last two weeks. I tuned into the first one, but it just wasn’t the same as the “real thing”; well, I suppose it’s obvious that it wouldn’t be, and the people who’ve organised these sessions should be applauded for their imagination Continued Overleaf...
and resilience, but, in my experience, it is very dangerous to rely on anything to do with modern information technology; for instance, last week I was sent an internet address which, apparently on clicking on it, would send me straight to the right place on the Zoom site. Of course, it didn’t, and I couldn’t be bothered going through all the hoops necessary to do so, therefore missing last week’s session. I don’t blame the person who sent me the address; they obviously thought that, in all honesty, it would lead me to the right place. It’s the technology itself that I blame; it’s so un – “user-friendly” and screws up so often, yet very rarely gets any blame or accountability for it. If a human being was so unreliable or made so many mistakes, they would soon be in trouble, but – oh, no – it’s, “Oh well – it’s just problems with IT – can’t be helped”. I’m currently trying to make up my mind as to whether to attempt to access and, indeed, participate in tomorrow night’s Folk-at-The-Drum session; if I come up against problems caused by wayward IT issues, I shall give up very quickly. As regards our music scene, the people I feel really sorry for are those who normally make their living out of performing live, in pubs, clubs or other venues; they must be really struggling at the moment. At least it’s just a hobby for me and I don’t have to worry about the financial side of things. Unfortunately, it looks as though live performance venues will be among the very last to come out of “lockdown”; I just hope that as many of them as possible will still be viable concerns when we, at last, come out of it. Stay safe and healthy! Jeff (JR) Hartley
STOP PRESS AKF is already aware of some events being cancelled due to the Covid-19 virus. Please check before travelling to venues and follow government and NHS advise and help keep the folk scene safe. Good luck everyone.
Dartford Folk Club BBC Radio 2 Best Folk Club of the year 2008 www.dartfordfolk.org.uk 01322 277218 hawleymkm@aol.com
FLOOR SINGERS WELCOME (PLEASE BOOK) RESIDENTS: DARTFORD RAMBLERS - ROB MITCHELL TRIO - IAN PETRIE
FEATURED GUESTS 2nd June * STEVE ASHLEY 9th June DAN WALSH 16th June * UNION JILL 23rd June JAMES FAGAN & NANCY KERR 30th June DAVE ELLIS & BOO HOWARD 7th July VICKI SWAN & JONNY DYER 14th July HARP & A MONKEY 21 July * THE LOCAL HONEYS 28th July TIM EDEY * Rescheduled for 2021 Coming up: Fagan & Kerr, Ellis & Howard, Swan & Dyer
To receive regular updates: Email (put ADD on subject line) dartfordfolk@googlemail.com
DARTFORD WORKING MENS CLUB Essex Road EVERY TUESDAY 8.30 TILL 11.00
EGERTON FOLK AND BLUES CLUB Meets every last Tuesday of the month, at The Barrow House, Egerton, TN27 9DJ, from 8pm. Folk. Blues and beyond. No guests, just residents and itinerants. All welcome. Hat collection.
Once normality returns Contact Jerry Hatrick (07387) 382050.
Foots Cray Social Club Waring Road Entrance, DA14 5BY
Open Music and Song Session in the Bar every Monday 8.00pm11.00 p.m. times every Monday 8.00 11.00 in normal www.crayside-folk-club for more information All genres- – Mainly Acoustic, but quiet electric guitars with battery amp allowed- must be compatible sound level. Beginners Encouraged. Experience is gained through jamming along. Occasional Open Mic Evenings and Guest Nights. Players, poets, storytellers, and listeners welcome. Free Entry – Please support our raffle, which pays our running costs.
CD Reviews Brian McNeill - No Silence - Greentrax CDTRAX 412 He is a man of many talents; a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, bouzouki, fiddle, octave fiddle, concertina, mandocello, baritone guitar leaving only the bodhran to Tad Sergeant; he is a fine singer and all the songs that show such fine tunes and well-constructed forceful and committed lyrics are written by him. Then we need to consider his performing career which now extends over fifty years. He first came to prominence at the end of the 1960s as a member of the Battlefield Band. After many years in which they became Scotland’s top folk band. This was followed by a successful solo career and other bands including Clan Alba and Feast of Fiddles before he changed direction to be appointed of before head of Scottish music in the institution that was to become the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow - Whew! He has also been responsible for recording the many aspects that go into making up this album. Much care has been with each of the multi-tracked elements. At times there is the suggestion that a little to much has been put into the mix and too many electronic effects added to instruments so that the simplicity of one of the instrumentals, “The Burning of Auchindoon” on baritone guitar stands. The outstanding parts of this many-faceted album are the wonderful tone and clarity of his fiddle playing and the power of words in songs like “Two Minutes Silence”, “Prince of Darkness” and “Sell Your Labour, Not Your Soul”. www.greentrax.com Vic Smith Billy Was A Miner & Other Northern Songs - JIB 16 tracks (BITCD347) A standout performance at Faversham and I bought this one: for who could resist the powerful singing and entertainment value of Jim Mageean with Barrie & Ingrid Temple? The trio bustle through robust original songs from Barrie, some like Old Jackie Frost heard before but newly arranged, some,like the title track, recent and extremely earwormish. They’ve captured the verve of live harmony, picking up Bright Phoebus, and Whitby features in songs by Stan Graham and the trad Fisher Lad. Sealegs, Boots And Tarpaulinis a celebration of Lillian Bilocca, who fought for safer working conditions among the fishing communities; the conclusion of Nee Work brings home the reality of life in the North-East over the past four decades. It’s a by now familiar story but freshly told with real commitment. A lasting souvenir of a great evening, as all there agreed. Buy it though- it repays the relistening. There’s a whole lot of craft behind the wit and banter. Bob Kenward
LEWES SATURDAY FOLK CLUB By Valmai Goodyear Lewes is the county town of East Sussex. It has a Norman castle, a Georgian brewery, a Napoleonic prison, a fierce tradition of blowing things up and at least a dozen folk music events a month, which isn’t bad for a place with a population of 16,000 including the outlying villages. Lewes Saturday Folk Club meets every Saturday night in the Elephant & Castle in Lewis, stopping only if Christmas or Bonfire fall on a Saturday. We mostly sing and play traditional music from the British Isles but we enjoy other styles as well, particularly those that draw on traditions. We always start off with some dance tunes for anyone with an instrument to join in. We like everyone who wants to sing to have the chance, because we believe strongly that the social aspect of the music is essential, so we encourage floor singers and try to give them confidence. We’ve been running since 5th. December 1987. What has made the biggest difference to us is the introduction of all-day workshops with an evening performance by the tutor. Lewes Saturday Folk Club workshops – 280 and rising Our workshops started about 24 years ago when the club wanted to book Chris Bartram, the traditional fiddler and singer from Abingdon Morris. In those days the pub we were in had no entertainments licence so we couldn’t charge a set entrance fee, and we couldn’t make it worth his while travelling to Sussex. He suggested doing a workshop for fiddlers in the daytime and advertised it a little bit himself. About eight people came to that. We did it again a couple of years later. Then we wanted to book another musician from a distance away and did the same thing. One of the Committee got over-excited and suggested booking John Kirkpatrick to do a workshop and evening performance. We thought, being then a very small outfit surviving on hat collections, that his agent would give us a polite or even impolite refusal, but the agent saw the possibilities and took a chance on us. Naturally, the workshop sold out and so did the evening at the folk club. Everyone who came to the workshop was thrilled and inspired. We plucked up courage and asked other singers and players on the same terms. Once we’d advertised workshops with John Kirkpatrick, Tim Laycock, Andy Turner and Cockersdale within a short space of each other, musicians started calling us to offer their services. Eleven years ago we moved to the Elephant & Castle which has a larger room with better acoustics and a full entertainments licence. We’re now putting on fifteen to eighteen allday workshops a year with top-class musicians who are then the guests at the club in the evening. John Kirkpatrick has done the most workshops for us, and, viruses permitting, he should be back in September this year with a full day on instrumental music on Saturday 12th and a day on singing on Sunday 13th. We’re rebooking workshops postponed because of coronavirus – for example, Daoirì Farrell’s bouzouki workshop will now be on 24th. April next year. Ballad forums A sub-group of the workshops is the all-day ballad forum – six hours of sex and death on licensed premises with an hour for lunch. In advance of the day, participants nominate a traditional ballad to sing and discuss with the group. It’s led by a respected performer of ballads (Martin Carthy, Pete Coe, Brian Peters, Chris Coe) who will sing themselves and lead discussion on any aspects of ballads – the history, the style, what drives the plot and motivates the characters, the folklore. All our workshops are mixed ability and there is no
pressure on anyone to do something they’re not ready for, although they will certainly get ideas for things to aim at. Most of them cost £35 for a maximum of twenty people. Seasonal nights with traditional food Let’s look at some of the other things that make us a bit different. We usually have guest performers with floor singers, but on about twelve Saturdays a year, including all of those in August, we run singarounds. About four of these are linked to a seasonal theme and we take the opportunity of serving traditional food and drink at them. It’s very popular and always brings in people who wouldn’t normally come to a folk club. The Lewes Favourites Tunes Practice Sessions There are a lot of English tunes sessions in Sussex. About twelve years ago, three people (Andy Warburton, who alas is no more, Bryan Creer and Valmai Goodyear) decided that we needed a sort of nursery slope to learn some of the tunes. We made note of the ones that came up most often, bashed them into computer software in the versions that were being played locally, booked a pub room once a month and invited people to join us. It turned out that there was a big demand for this sort of thing and we took the sessions to festivals, notably Chippenham. At first the tunes were copied by what Andy memorably called ‘furtive reproduction’ but the huge piles of paper got unwieldy and we published them as two books, The Lewes Favourites Volumes 1 and 2. Volume 1, now sold out, inspired Barry Callaghan to produce the national collection ‘Hardcore English’ for the EFDSS, using the same principle of gathering up the tunes current in sessions up and down the country. We still meet every month to share tunes, playing through them slowly over and over again until they stick, and we think of ourselves as a self-help group rather than a course of instruction. Concertinas Anonymous: Before the Lewes Favourites got going, Bryan Creer had the bright idea of starting a monthly free session for concertinas only. This was partly so that we could all hear ourselves without melodeons and also to give people interested in the instruments a chance to find out about the different systems, handle instruments of different quality, and discuss them as well as playing them. We usually spend some time playing three-part arrangements of traditional tunes and songs, some from published collections and some we’ve perpetrated ourselves. Monthly tunes sessions at the Volunteer and the John Harvey Tavern Having learned all the tunes, there are opportunities to play them at full speed in our two monthly tunes sessions. Bryan Creer runs one at the Volunteer on the first Sunday of the month from noon and there’s another which anyone is welcome to run at the John Harvey Tavern. Annual Sussex All-Day Singaround, Barcombe We inherited the running of this about ten years ago when the original organiser, Jerry Jordan, decided to step down and the thought that it would perish caused great dismay. After a change of regime at the Ram we moved to the Royal Oak, Barcombe. It’s held on the third Saturday in January. People travel a long way to take part and it can take three hours to complete the circuit of the room. The atmosphere is warm and the harmonies grow to a beautiful tapestry of sound. We always finish with a generous hour of glorious choruses and there’s a tunes session from noon in the Elephant & Castle on the Sunday. Shepherds Arise: Old Sussex carols & dance tunes Eight years ago one of our residents, Stuart Walker, decided to revive the collection of old Sussex West Gallery carols made by Dr. Vic Gammon in the 1980s, and used club regulars as the main source of singers and musicians. The band includes fiddle, flute, bassoon, clarinet, English concertinas, and a serpent. In our first
Continued Overleaf...
two years we were delighted and honoured to have Shirley Collins adding her own special magic to the performances as our compere and reader. ‘Shepherds Arise’ also includes our own arrangements of dance tunes from old Sussex manuscripts held by the Sussex Archaeological Society, and a Sussex mummers’ play. We have done five performances to packed houses each winter and look forward to doing more in 2020. Residents: Brad & Carole Chick, Bryan Creer, Dave Earl, Valmai Goodyear, Carole Hanson, Don Morgan, Derek Seed. www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org For a longer version of this article see www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk
CD Review Sally Ironmonger & Brian Carter - Sketches (12 Tracks) Widely performed live and previewed on Facebook, Sally and Brian’s new CD is well worth listening to with fresh ears. As with their gigs, the lyrics hit you first, always clear and sung with intent. Second listening brings appreciation of the instrumental work, full of skill and complexity, which ties but never dominates each song. Harmonies and bonus backings take the whole into another, highly listenable, dimension. Their knack, well-honed now, of recalling phrases which sum up a locality or workplace is everpresent, as is their ability to say something which gains significance as the song progresses. A bold start, ukulele, strummed and into Just A Song, which in its 3 minutes turns expectations twice around. Setting the tone: what’s important is the storyline, moving briskly on. These sketches have the freshness and vigour of quick captures, but I bet they weren’t. It takes a lot of craft and skill to come up with art that sounds this natural. Dickens’ observations of life in Victorian times are explored in Sketches By Boz, and so is, without labouring the point, today’s austerity. Switch to local favourite Ian Petrie for his 50 Years, reminiscence with a point: we’ve been a lucky generation, our wars have been elsewhere thus far. I particularly like Backyard, which could have been an exercise in observational botany but highlights the kaleidoscopic benefit of flora from elsewhere. Point made. The popular Threadneedle Street, with its undeniable vision of today’s tax-haven pirates in the refrain, may not convert those who are undecided, let alone those who admire their piracy: maybe I’m too sensitive or else I’m getting soft. For me, Montgomery is the stand-out track, a multi-faceted lyric with the authenticity of Medway seaway and an underlying power which creeps up beneath like a rising tide. It’s real people who will face the bombs going off, if/when they do. Not Enough Emilys will resonate with women even now unequally rewarded, as will The Bitter End with workers of both sexes who make the very thing which binds them. Nostalgia for the old days of gathering in pubs to drink and sing (up to last January) haunts Backstreet Boozerall who cherished the Good Intent will recognise the warmth and sincerity and admit that one of the funniest lines I’ve heard in a long time is richly accurate. Then there’s a change of mood: Chumbawumba’s El Fusilado and the trad Willy O’Winsbury sandwich Broken, which isn’t simply about a household event. Sally’s vocal combines the anger and despair so many of us share. An important collection, this. Sketches they might be, but they are fully formed songs impeccably arranged and taken to a new plane with overdubs and fine production. Get your hands on one if you can! Bob Kenward
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THE TALENTED RAT (Spoken Monologue)
Now a tale I will tell you, a strange one I fear, Each word is the truth, sir, as I do stand here; This yarn’s not a lie, sir, don’t ever think that: It speaks in high praise of a little grey rat! In an alehouse I visited, a young man drew near, And a show he then gave in exchange for free beer. Such fine en – ti – tainment would surely have graced A setting more salubrious than the one where we was placed. From out of a matchbox, this young man did draw A min – i – ture pi – anner, sir, the smallest I saw; Its keyboard complete with each sharp and each flat, And there on the stool perched this little grey rat. Now his whiskers were trim, sir, and beady his eye, But his claws were quicksilver, no word of a lie; Playing jazz by the Duke, jaunty ragtimes by Scott, Then a minuet by Mozart for to round off the spot. Now those who was present all gaped in amaze, That a rodent so gifted was there in our gaze; As the ivories tinkled we all marvelled at The dex – tri- ous virtuosity of the Talented Rat! From the very same box flew a round bumble bee, Who sang high soprano, for female was she; Top C’s they cas – cade - i – yied as sweet – li - y she trilled, Accomp – I – yied on the pi - a – no in a manner most skilled . . . . By that narrow-tailed maestro, whose phrasing so choice, Right ably set orff that melodious voice. Accomp – I – ment’s an art, sir, some folks don’t know that: And a very fine accomp – i – yist was the Talented Rat! Through the crowd loud applauding came another that night: ‘Twas a gent from Amerikay in a state of excite. “Your show I would purr-chase, don’t answer me nay: Just name your own price, sir, and gladly I’ll pay!” Young man looked reluctant, but money talks rash: ‘Twas a million fine dollars, sir, all paid in hard cash. Then away went that gent with the bee in his hat, Who’s pocketed the pia-no and the Talented Rat. Now it happened but recent, this youth passed me near, All dressed as befitting a new million-eer; And, shamed in the face, he admitted to me That he’d cheated that gentleman from over the sea. The pia-nner was real, he was quick to explain: Each note could be played and would sound the right strain; But the bee was a fraud, sir, who can’t sing a note, And the cola – tury flourishes all came from the throat Of that versatile star of rodentical shape, Whose skills so ex – travy – gent had left us a-gape; He’d run the whole show from the stool where he sat – For a very fine ventril – i– quist was the Talented Rat! Bob Watson 1986 9 Compton Close Earley READING RG6 7EA UK watson.bob@tiscali.co.uk
CD Reviews Na Mara - Sisters And Brothers (12 tracks) Rob Garcia and Paul Macnamara have a rare intensity. Right from the off we are facing global issues, the kind which for many years this country has been fortunate not to confront at home. Abuse of workers and their personal tragedies in supplying a world of consumers with cheap, profitable produce is surely a fit subject worth tackling, and the combination of hard hitting lyrics, guitars and mandolins conveys an appropriate percussive menace. This tone continues with songs of gambling addiction, refugees and love across barricades, leavened with some delightful Québécois and Breton tunes. French and Scottish influences provide If I Had But One True Love and Time Wears Awa’, each deftly arranged. I particularly liked the weave of mandolin, here a melodic companion rather than a chatter of demisemitones... I’ve admired their stance in the marketplace which can demand the light touch. This CD will make the listener think and possibly change minds. Bob Kenward Will Pound - A Day Will Come (Lulubug005) Harmonica and melodeon player, Will Pound spent the summer of 2019 travelling across Europe listen to the local music played by the local musicians. He then composed and arranged these 14 tunes based on what he had heard. He is joined on the album by a variety of guests ranging from Dame Evelyn Glenn on percussion to Dunja Bahtijareviv on vocals and many others. The countries represented by the tunes include Ireland, Latvia/Belgium, Poland/Finland, Malta/Estonia, Romania/Bulgaria and many other EC counties. Will seems to have managed to catch the atmosphere of the countries music and has certainly come up with an album well worth listening to. The booklet included with the CD tells you what inspired the tunes and also tells you about the musicians playing on each track. The album was produced with the support of Arts Council England. Find out more at https://willpound.com/projects/a-day-will-come/ Alan Castle (Editor)
Big announcement! After the success of the first #FrontRoomFest, people asked for another one - so here it is! There is an equally amazing line up of artists on Folk on Foot, Front Room Festival 2. Find out more at https://folkonfoot.com/festival
in normal times
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EĂŵĞ ŝŶ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ͗ zĞƐ ͬ EŽ
, Z/dz '/&d / > Z d/KE / ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ 'ŝĨƚ ŝĚ ŵLJ ĚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ dĞŶƚĞƌĚĞŶ &ŽůŬ &ĞƐƚŝǀĂů ;ZĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ĐŚĂƌŝƚLJ EŽ͘ ϭϬϯϴϲϲϯͿ ŽĨ ά͙͙͙͘ ĂŶĚ ĂŶLJ ĚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶƐ / ŵĂŬĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ Žƌ ŚĂǀĞ ŵĂĚĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ĨŽƵƌ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ / Ăŵ Ă h< ƚĂdžƉĂLJĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝĨ / ƉĂLJ ůĞƐƐ /ŶĐŽŵĞ dĂdž ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ĂƉŝƚĂů 'ĂŝŶƐ dĂdž ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ŐŝĨƚ ŝĚ ĐůĂŝŵĞĚ ŽŶ Ăůů ŵLJ ĚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĂdž LJĞĂƌ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŵLJ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƉĂLJ ĂŶLJ ĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ͘ ŽŶŽƌ͛Ɛ ĚĞƚĂŝůƐ ʹ Ɛ ĂďŽǀĞ ^ŝŐŶĂƚƵƌĞ ͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͘ ĂƚĞ ͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙͙ WůĞĂƐĞ ŶŽƚŝĨLJ ƵƐ ŝĨ LJŽƵ͗ tĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐĂŶĐĞů ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞĐůĂƌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ x ŚĂŶŐĞ LJŽƵƌ ŶĂŵĞ Žƌ ŚŽŵĞ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ x EŽ ůŽŶŐĞƌ ƉĂLJ ƐƵĨĨŝĐŝĞŶƚ ƚĂdž ŽŶ LJŽƵƌ ŝŶĐŽŵĞ ĂŶĚͬŽƌ ĐĂƉŝƚĂů ŐĂŝŶƐ x /Ĩ LJŽƵ ƉĂLJ /ŶĐŽŵĞ dĂdž Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ŚŝŐŚĞƌ Žƌ ĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶĂů ƌĂƚĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶĂů ƌĞůŝĞĨ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ LJŽƵ͕ LJŽƵ ŵƵƐƚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ Ăůů LJŽƵƌ 'ŝĨƚ ŝĚ ĚŽŶĂƚŝŽŶƐ ŽŶ LJŽƵƌ ^ĞůĨͲ ƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚ ƚĂdž ƌĞƚƵƌŶ Žƌ ĂƐŬ ,DZ ƚŽ ĂĚũƵƐƚ LJŽƵƌ ƚĂdž ĐŽĚĞ
Rosslyn Court Live acoustic music in the heart of Cliftonville Live concerts and effective, fun, friendly voice/music/dance workshops +…
MISS YOU! …and our programme is in flux… I hope you are keeping well. At present we don’t know what will be happening in June and July But are looking forward to having some great live music and workshops here when this is behind us. I have re-scheduled most of the performers who could not work here recently - please support them. This is our June/July programme… if we can open again. Concerts doors 7.30 – 10.30 usually £10…please check June 13 - Jeni Hankins Appalachian songs…and quilts! Jun 18 - Brown Boots-Facebook “Tuneday Tuesday” return! Jun 27 - Sally Ironmonger/Brian Carter genius songwriters July 2 - Skinner and Twitch “A pair of comic geniuses” July 11 - Fran and Flora Beautiful tunes, voices, violin, cello July 18 - Lizzy Hardingham Sings straight to the heart Jul 25 - Glymjack high energy, harmony-rich folk trio Aug 1 - IOTA Beautifully crafted. 3 talented, witty women Sep 6 - Magpies Celtic bluegrass fusion- fabulous foot tapping talent www.RosslynCourt.com or Facebook latest list. book: wegottickets Licenced micro bar, hot and cold soft drinks + cake! available Fun and Friendly Workshops. Usually £12, 2 - 4pm Krista Bubble’s regular Fiddle club 2.30 – 4.30 -call for dates 1st Wed 6-7.30 £10 Clog/Step tasters monthly Lesley Riding and banjo Dave Mandolin & Ukulele- Dick Smith- beginners/unconfident call for dates Last Sunday French, Breton, Flemish music, dance, shared lunch.12-5 £5 Jun 13 - Appalachian trad quilting&songs materials/tools Jeni Hankins* Jun 14 - Aug 30 Harmonica with Nigel Feist -beginners/Unconfident Jun 27 - Comic songwriting Sally Ironmonger/Brian Carter Jul 11 - Nigunim & Yiddish song/tunes Fran andFlora* Jul 19 - Lizzy Hardingham workshop tba
Advanced bookings: WeGotTickets Facebook/Rosslyn Court or 07902140248 62 Sweyn Rd, Cliftonville, CT9 2DD * = +eve concert Please use the 8/33/Loop bus -try to park on the sea front-unless your mobility is limited. £189 for 6 entries
Faversham
Every Wednesday 8.00pm Doors open 7.30 www.favershamfolkclub.net
Folk Club
The Limes Preston Steet, Faversham ME13 8PG
June - July
There’s still music at Faversham Folk Club every Wednesday! It’s just temporarily online... We meet on Zoom at 8pm for a session of traditional and contemporary songs and the occasional tune.. the indomitable Ernie Warner is our initial host, with help from t’commitee... if you’d like to join us please contact Pat or Bob below, and we will forward your request to the Keeper Of The List. We all wish Ernie a swift recovery from his recent contretemps. We can also share hints and optimum settings for Zoom, especially if you are accompanying yourself... default settings often result in free phaser in a fishtank moments... the latency issue means at present that we all sing along in muted isolation... doubtless something better will emerge... we’ll keep looking... better than nowt... at least we sing... Like everyone else, we had a full guest list planned and shall be hoping to reinstate it asap: we shall be following the science... modelling the format of what we shall be allowed to do is engaging everyone at the moment. Meanwhile many of our guests are online with their own concerts, so please do support them through these tough times. There’s no doubt the internet experience is less satisfying than a live performancewe’ve been fortunate over the years to have most of the very top performers at the club. I did a stunning night in Jan but modesty forbids... Our last guest nights before lockdown were in February with JIB and Helen North stood one for Liz Simcock at the beginning of March, both were grand occasions. The room was buzzing from the off and their good-natured warmth is a lasting memory to keep us going until (I’m writing this on VE Day) We Meet Again..
All other Wednesdays Singers Nights, all welcome to perform or listen and only £2! Under 18/ students free Unless otherwise stated, admission to guest nights is £6 members, £7 non-members Chairman/ Bookings: Pat on 01795 423674 or rjpmailbox pat@yahoo.co.uk Press/ Radio Publicity:Bob on 07885 642763 / bobkenward21c@gmail.com
CD Reviews Sandra Kerr - Rebel With Her Chords - Own Label SKCD2019 Sandra has been involved in the folk scene in a multiplicity of guises since the 1960s and at an age when most people are slowing down their contributions, she brings out an album that is full of variety, vitality and verve. Variety - Though Sandra is a multi-instrumentalist, apart from the one track where she plays guitar, she plays the English concertina; the instrument that has primacy in her musical thinking these days. The variety comes in the way she uses it. The dance tunes are widely differing from a sparkling set of 3/2 hornpipes through lively jigs to a lovely thoughtful languorous waltz, “Solace”, one of a number of her compositions on the album. On the dance tunes, she is generally in the company of daughter, Nancy and son-in-law, James and his sensitive piano accompaniment to the waltz shows a different facet of his shining talent. The verve and vitality are present throughout as she shows a mastery of singing both traditional songs, including a haunting interpretation of “Must I Be Bound” and modern songs by Randy Newman and Robb Johnson as well as several by herself. The album starts with the huge impact of one of these; “Young Girl Upon The Road” adapts a traditional ballad to forge a paean of praise to Greta Thunberg. The excellent recording and production by Tom Wright deserves a mention and it was he who came up with the album’s title which inspired Rosie Hood’s concertina-playing ‘Rosie the riveter’ cover design. www.sandrakerr.net Vic Smith Daphne’s Flight - On Arrival 10 tracks 40 min. (FATCD043) A variety of approaches here from 5 well-established singer/songwriters. The opening track by Helen Watson will strike a chord with many of us, Turn The Microphone Off... A plea to live our lives in reality rather than virtually. Arrangements throughout are thorough, plenty of strong and active harmonies as you’d expect from Julie Matthews, Christine Collister, Chris While and Melnie Harrold. Be Amelia has a haunting quality, urging young women to reach their aspirations, very JM, and each writer in turn brings a fresh facet to the party. I liked Saturday With Mr Rameer for CW’s observation ( how often does burned toast feature in a tune about the tango? ) and for the pizzazz with which its put across. CC’s So Brave is characteristically strong, apparently written locked in a caravan. You’ll enjoy the bold engagement and confidence here; it’s not folk but it is a committed foray into other pastures, if anything a CSNY kind of unity which will justifiably appeal to their many fans. Bob Kenward
ELSIE’S
FOLK-AT-THE-DRUM The Club meets every Thursday at ‘The Drum’ Inn at N. Stanford, Stone Street (Between Cant’ & Hythe) June postponed 3 June 2021 144th June - Keith until Kendrick HILARY SPENCER and Sylvia Needham 16th July postponed until 15 July 2021 LOCTUP 12 July - GeoffTOGETHER Higginbottom 15th October - TOM LEWIS 23 August Peter Collins 22nd October - DEBRA COWAN
All other evenings Singers Nights Guest Nights 8.00 p.m. Singers Nights 8.00 p.m. Members, Guests & visitors are always During the lockdown find us on welcome to play, sing, listen or do all three! from 7pm. On ClubZoom Nights everyone who wishes gets a spotFor to perform. Guest Nights detailsOnsee there is limited time for ‘floor artists’ butwww.folkatthedrum.co.uk a phone call usually gets you a spot. Tel: 01797 320518 mobile: 07890 292467 or email: david@plesbit.net www.folkatthedrum.co.uk
The Queen’s Arms, on the B2026 midway between Edenbridge and the A264, Tunbridge Wells - East Grinstead Road 8 - 11 pm
Due to the Coronavirus Emergency our “Sing & Play Evenings” are suspended until further notice. We sympathise with all our booked guests whose visits have been cancelled but we look forward to them being with us when things get back to normal.
www.elsiesband.com
Tonbridge Folk Club (Nellie’s) The Beer Seller, 64 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1EH First and third Mondays of each month, 8 - 11 pm
The Rosecroft Social Club 269 High Street, St Mary Cray Orpington, BR5 4AR
JUNE:
4th
1st June 15th June 6th July
Vic & Tina Smith Impressed Skinner & T’Witch
20th July
Martin Ledner
3rd August
Malcolm Ward
17th August
Ian Petrie
Subject to the Covid 19 emergency, please check the website for the latest information
Four Gone Confusion
Play and sing a range of very eclectic material from traditional folk songs, to classical guitar duets and more contemporary music
11th and 18th Singers & Musicians Night 25th
Sandy Brechin & Ewan Wilkinson
JULY:
2nd
John Ward Trio
9th, 16th and 30th
Singers & Musicians Night
23rd
Elizabeth & Jameson
Tel: 01892 822945
Thursdays @ 8.15pm 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513
info@tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org
Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail: orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com
CD Reviews Various Artists - Sgoil Chiùl: Na Gàidhealtachd - Own Label - SCGC019 (Double Album) There is nothing like this in England, probably nothing comparable in these islands, nor anywhere else in these islands or the world for that matter , so Scotland shines the brightest of all. The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music is in Plockton on the West Coast of Scotland, a residential addition to Plockton High School where the pupils’ general education is augmented by their studies and tutoring in a wide range of the Scottish tradition. That great piper, Dougie Pincock, once of the Battlefield Band became its first director in 2000 and is still in post. Looking through the list of lead instrumental tutors on their website is like listing the finest on their instruments in recent Scots musical history. Detailing the 28 tracks for around 20 adolescents would be an impossibility but it is clear that exciting music of a high standard shines through with the elements that stand out being the Gaelic singing and the innovative playing of the accordions - lovely light touches - and the whistles. Having said that the track that resonates most after several playings is the lovely Norwegian waltz played by on fiddle and piano by two very young looking musicians that ends the first album. Some other general impressions would be how melodic it is overall, how creative and unfussy the arrangements are and how these teenagers have learned that understatement and gaps are important to traditional music and song. Listening to these albums is an uplifting experience. www.birnamcd.com Vic Smith Peter Knight’s GIGSPANNER BIG BAND - Natural Invention GSCD007 I’ve seen Gigspanner several times and always thoroughly enjoy their gigs so I was really looking forward to hearing the debut album from the Big Band where Peter, Roger Flack, Sacha Trochet and John Spiers are joined by Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin. The album features 10 traditional folk songs all arranged by the band and lead by Peter’s fiddle. When I heard the first track, Awake, Awake, I thought I was going to be disappointed but when the CD moved on to Long a Growing, I was well and truly hooked. The arrangements are clear with vocals given prominence and every word clear and the instruments individually well balanced as you would expect from Peter. At the live gigs, Daddy Fox always goes down well with audiences and the upbeat version on the album is not a disappointment. The 10th track is The Star of Munster and The Reel du Tricentaire and this lively and long instrumental is sure to get audiences up and dancing at the end of the band’s gigs. A modern developments is that the album was partly funded by a crowdfunding campaign. The band are on tour in April and May and will be playing in Hythe on 1st May and in what for some of the band is their hometown of Hastings on 2nd May as part of the Jack in the Green Festival. Alan Castle (Editor)
Deal Friday Folk Club meets 8pm every Friday at RMA Club (upstairs) 37 The Strand, Walmer CT14 7DX
Deal Folk Club is sorry that we have had to close our doors at present and we hope to re-arrange acts who should have appeared in June/July 2020 to next year. We are currently holding weekly Singers Nights online. See website for up-to-date information. We look forward to seeing you all again in person as soon as we can! Guest Nights £5, Singers Nights £2 www.dealfoIkcIub.org.uk or ring Sue on 01304-360877
Moore OR Less Folk Club Oast Community Centre, Granary Close, Rainham, Kent, ME8 7SG (next to Rainham railway station)
Second Friday of each month The club always welcomes new performers, of any ability, and audience who just wish to listen. We are hoping to arrange a weekly on-line sing-a-round via the Zoom software. Participants will be invited to join the sessions by e-mail. Would anyone interested in being invited please send your name and e-mail address to Chris Wilkin at cwilkin6@sky.com. We are looking forward to resuming normal club nights once the lockdown eases and the venue is open. In the meantime keep safe and well.
Guest nights as advised but generally £4.00 / £5.00
All Club Nights 8.30 - 11.00pm Doors/bar open 7 for 7.30
Doors/bar open 7 for 7.30 Enquiries Chris Wilkin 01634 366155
TENTERDEN
olk festival 2020 Thursday 1st October
The Thursday Concert supported by AKF
folk festival
TENTERDEN
Town Hall, High Street, Tenterden 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. (Doors open at 7.00) All tickets £10.00 until 31st May £12.00 from 1st June WE HOPE THIS MAY STILL HAPPEN Check for details www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk
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Tenterden
“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”
CD Reviews Rattle On The Stovepipe - Through The Woods Wildgoose - WGS432CD The talented, popular trio bring out their sixth album for this label (or the seventh if you also count Return Journey which was the Dave Arthur album that led to the formation of the group). The high standards of the earlier releases is maintained here; in fact this is probably the best of the bunch. There are a few changes and developments here to show that the band continue to make progress. More is heard of Pete Cooper taking the lead vocal role; a good move because he is a fine singer. The singing is shared with Dave Arthur, who contributes the first song composed by him to reach their repertoire, Hungry Cotton Mill Blues. They have always tried to find a place for songs and tunes that have made the journey across the Atlantic from Britain, but this album includes two that have made the much rarer reverse journey; one is the well known Lakes of Pontchartrain and the other is Old Bob Ridley. Alfred Williams only collected the words for this so Dave follows Bert Lloydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s example of singing this to the tune of Turpin Hero. The banjo-playing of Dan Stewart continues to be a delight whether he is accompanying the singing or playing the tunes and as ever Pete Cooper covers a range of moods and emotions in his fine fiddling. Another constant of their albums is the high quality of their well-researched booklet notes, these are not credited but bear the hallmark of Daveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wide knowledge. www.wildgoose.co.uk Vic Smith Peter Croft WITH Mark Jones and Hazel Fairbairn Button Box Breakdown AWC2071916 I do not think I had heard of Peter Croft until I got this album in the post from BirnhamCD. Peter started playing traditional music in the later 1960s when he took up melodeon after hearing Tony Hall at Ipswich Folk Club. He started by learning tunes from East Suffolk and later, like many others, moved on to reels, jigs, hornpipes and waltzes from the Celtic tradition. In 1963, he says, he heard The New Lost City Ramblers, Mike Seeger, Tom Paley and John Cohen, and became interested in American Old Time Music. Most of the tunes on this album come from the American traditions and include titles such as New Oklahoma Rag, Creole Blues, Lafayette and Port Arthur Blues. However to complete the selection the last track sees Peter playing Caterpillar Valley and Speed the Plough. A well played and interesting album. Alan Castle (Editor)
TENTERDEN
olk festival 2020
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Tenterden
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tenterden the Jewel of the Wealdâ&#x20AC;?
Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th October Folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions
WE HOPE THIS MAY STILL HAPPEN Check for details www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk
Guests confirmed so far: Bill Jones, Bob & Gill Berry, Brian Peters, Broomdasher, Dick Miles, Graeme & Heather Knights, Jeff Warner, Morrigan, Pete Castle, Peter & Barbara Snape, Scolds Bridle, Tom Patterson, The Tonic with Fee Lock, The Wilson Family More still to be confirmed Plus up to 50 Morris sides and dance display teams
Free music stage & showcase guests Ashford Folk Band, Broomdasher, The Kukes, New Frontier, Nunhead Folk Circle, Open Water, Direction Carsairs, The Yardarm Folk Orchestra. More still to confirm Local and regular guests Bob Kenward, Chris Roche, Gavin & Julie Atkin, Jerry Crossley, John & Di Cullen, Malcolm Ward, Peter Collins, Roger Resch, Spare Parts, Sue Watson, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith, Vic Ellis one man band
CONTACT INFORMATION: Festival director: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA E: alan@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Crafts & stalls: Margaret White, E: info@tenterdencraftfair.org.uk Chief steward: Sally Argent E: chiefsteward@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Dance co-ordinator: Spud Jones E: dance@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk
Tenterden Folk Festival Registered charity No. 1038663
T N E K RADIO W
O H S K L FO Sunday 9 - 10 pm Presented by Doug Welch mw 96.7 (west) 104.2 (east) Live show featuring guest performers and artists appearing in Kent venues. Send info to: kentfolk@bbc.co.uk 0345 9811 111 Radio Kent Folk Show The Great Hall Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QQ
Singdanceandplay We’re all missing our regular events and our friends. We’re particularly missing: x lastt Sunday of the month Castle Inn,, Brenchley song and tune sessions with guests x lively mainly En nglish tunes sessions at the Gun,, Brenchley x popular workshops for tunes players x twice--yearly barndancess We’re greatly looking forward to normal life resuming. Until then, we’re running weekly online Sunday night song and tune sessions from 7.30 to 9.30pm, focused as usual on the trad, the old fashioned and the entertaining. To join us, go to Singdanceandplay.net and sign up to receive our emails.
WANTED LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs
Folk, Blues, reggae, jazz and rock Collections or smaller items, best prices paid Ring Collin 07860 354 135
CD Reviews George Belton - A True Furrow to Hold - Musical Traditions - MTCD378 Those who frequented folk clubs in Sussex in the years before 1980 or who attended the National Folk Festival in the years before then will probably remember George. He was one of a dying breed; a genuine traditional singer who learned his songs from his family or from fellow ploughmen and carters in the farms that he worked on in West Sussex. When folk clubs came along he was taken to one in Horsham and quickly found a new audience for the songs that he had known all his life. His cheery disposition and excellent singing voice made him a popular figure in these venues, particularly his local Chichester club where he was to be found nearly every Friday. Now, forty years after his death Rod Stradling has gathered together recordings of his songs made by a number of enthusiasts, mainly from this area. The CD consists of 26 songs sung by him as well as an extract from a radio interview with him and somehow, it manages to run for over 81 minutes. In the main they are traditional songs but there are some from the Music Hall and parlour ballads and all are delivered with the verve and commitment that made him such a well loved figure. The 40-page booklet has transcriptions of interviews of him talking about his life from interviews with Mary Aitchison as well as the words of all the songs. When you are listening to him singing The Bold Fisherman in that rolling 5/4 rhythm, you are listening to one of the finest recordings of English traditional singing. www.mtrecords.co.uk Vic Smith Tom Kitchen - Seasons of Change (TCCD 2001) www.tomkitchen.co.uk If you like fiddle music then this is the CD for you. The making of the CD by this one time BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards finalist was inspired by his recent 18 month busking tour of the UK and was supported by the EFDSS and Arts Council England. Tom plays fiddle and Mandolin and is joined by Marit Falt on Nordic Mandola and Citern and by Jude Rees on English Border Bagpipes. The tunes on the CD are a mix of traditional and more recently written tunes from Tom himself as well as Gavin Davenport, Nigel Eaton, Melanie Briggs and others. All are worth hearing. The traditional tunes include Old Molly Oxford, Grimstock / Greensleeves Morris, and Staines Morris / Trip to Paris. Alan Castle (Editor)
Harwich International Shanty Festival 2020 8th - 11th October 2020
This issue of Around Kent Folk was produced by Alan Castle and Andy Wood on behalf of Tenterden Folk Festival. Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions. Registered Charity No 1038663 Issue No. 100 August/September COPY DATE: 18th June Then … 18th June 2020 – August / September 18th December 2020 – February / March 18th August 2020 – October / November 18th February 2021 – April / May 18th October 2020 - December / January 18th April 2021 – June / July
ADVERTISING RATES: With both printing and postage costs continuing to rise we have reluctantly decided to increase some of our advertising rates with effect from issue 91. The new rates are as follows: Full colour: Back cover: £85 Inside front or back cover: £75 Full page run of issue: £65 Half page (run of issue): £40 **NEW**
Grayscale: Full page (run of issue): £39 Half page (run of issue): £28 Quarter page (run of issue): £18
Series discount: 15% if you pay in advance for a series of six adverts. You can still submit new artwork for each issue. Artwork: Copy for new advertisements should be supplied as camera ready artwork by email as a high-resolution PDF, JPEG, or TIFF. Existing, regular advertisers need only send in new copy to update existing adverts. A minimum extra charge of £10 will be made if you cannot submit your artwork in the correct format or sizes. Adverts and listings should be sent to akf@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk with a copy to anmarprintingservices@gmail.com Payment: Cheques payable to Tenterden Folk Day Trust (not Tenterden Folk Festival or Around Kent Folk). Send cheque and hard copy of adverts to: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3HA You can also pay by BACS or internet banking. Ask for details. REVIEWS AND NEWS ITEMS: AKF also includes CD and book reviews. Please send items for review to the address above. AKF also welcomes reviews of live gigs and festivals that you have attended and other folk news which you can email to us at akf@tenterdernfolkfestival.org.uk WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA: www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk twitter.com/AroundKentFolk ● facebook.com/AroundKentFolk Around Kent Folk Subscription Form Name ....................................................................................................................................... Address .................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................. Telephone: ......................................................... Email: .......................................................... SUBSCRIPTION £9 for 1 year (6 issues) Cheques payable to “Tenterden Folk Day Trust” Send to: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA
