Around Kent Folk issue 104 for April / May 2021 by Tenterden Folk Festival and Around Kent Folk

o u nd r a

ke nt folk Issue 104 April / May 2021

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.

ISSN 2634-7830 (Print) ISSN 2634-7849 (Online)

Welcome to issue 104 April/May 2021 issue of Around Kent Folk As Bob Kenward says in his Scene & Heard column, many Folk Clubs and events continue to take place online. I attended the Association of Festival Organisers online conference in February for which they used a very upmarket conference package. Delegates sat at virtual tables for networking sessions so we could chat with other festival organisers from across the country and move round the room to talk to others. Formal conference topics ranged from training volunteers online to greener festivals and carbon reduction as well as sessions on diversity, social media and of course Covid safe events. Did you know that by far the biggest negative effect of festivals is the amount of carbon that travelling to and from the festival by car creates? The use of public transport (where it exists!) cycling, walking and car sharing can drastically reduce this. There was also music from Joe Topping, Tschebberwooky (Austria), Los de Abajo (Mexico) and Merry Hell. Ten hours well spent. A few days after the conference we got the publication of the pathway out of lockdown from the government. If it goes to plan the highlights for us could be: No earlier than 12th April •

Outdoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs can reopen.

•

Drive in events, such as cinemas, theatres and other performances can re-start subject to conditions.

•

Starting in April, the Government will run a scientific Events Research Programme. This will include a series of pilots using enhanced testing approaches and other measures to run events with larger crowd sizes and reduced social distancing to evaluate the outcomes.

No earlier than 17 May •

Indoor entertainment and visitor attractions will reopen. This will include cinemas, theatres and concert halls but there will still be strict limits on capacities which could make them un-economic.

•

Remaining outdoor entertainment events, such as cinemas, theatres and other performance events will also be permitted subject to specific conditions

No earlier than 21 June – the one we are all waiting for! •

Subject to the outcome of the Events Research Programme referred to above and a review of social distancing measures, we should see the lifting of the remaining restrictions on social contact and large events. This could mean that folk clubs and festivals can re-open if they can do so in a Covid safe way.

Most of us have had the vaccine or will have done by the summer, but the question that remains is will we have the confidence to attend crowded events including festivals. You will find an update on which local festivals have already been cancelled, postponed or moved online elsewhere in this issue. Some like Broadstairs were at the time of going to press, still undecided but others like Southdown and Tenterden are hoping to go ahead. Those that are able to go ahead may still be a bit different this year! Alan Castle (Editor) PS: You can make a donation to Tenterden Folk Festival or this magazine via our websites or by post (see payment details on last page). Thank you. www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk

Scene & Heard Daffodils in mid-February??? We are ahead of ourselves… Here in the sunny South as March unfolds, it’s eight o’clock, it must be welcome to the Zoom Room, where we folk with unprecedented access to like-minded world friends… Transatlantic hurdy-gurdy made it to the Drum recently, with a virtual background from Stanford! Every day of the week now there is a Kent-based session, and the astonishing range and sheer quantity of quality available amazes. Zoom updates are more frequent than parodies of the Wild Rover, and there has been much debate about optimum settings. Certainly it helps to open the Audio settings window and tick the box which says ‘Show in meeting option to Turn On Original Sound’, which seems to generate further options including High Fidelity Music Mode. If you can see this it’s well worth ticking. It turns off the Windows audio device drivers which are trying to influence your output for the length of the meeting. When you return to the main screen there should be a small rectangle which mentions Original Sound… click it until it turns blue. As to the Video Settings Touch Up My Appearance button… I leave that to you… continued thanks to all those like Johnny Dean at Deal, Ernie Warner in Faversham and Peter Collins of deepest Wadhurst who are keeping tabs on new developments. Things are improving. Likewise, we are learning how to use Zoom to its strengths. It doesn’t much like strumming, which tends to go phaser across the lyrics, but picked guitar seems to work well. John and Di Cullen impressed me recently with guitar/ bowed psaltery together and their own harmonies coming over clearly and well balanced. Single voices, as you’d expect, are almost always clearer than accompanied. A lot seems to depend upon microphones- if we are singing regularly a condenser plug-in mike is preferable to the inbuilt variety. Headphones too, although echo cancellation has improved against the feedback ring. I reckon, 5 zooms a week over a year, the basic gear comes out about 30p a session! For those concerned about the recent PRS issue, where online ticketed events were to require a license, all we can do at present is await clarification. I’ve had nothing direct from PRS, though guidance has been offered online. Changes were made almost immediately, so keep watching that space. As far as I can see, online free events are not affected, but don’t quote me on that… Enough tech’n’legality… plenty of good sounds over the last two months. Great to hear Derek Moore and Chris Wilkins in fine flow, their Monday club details available from them, and catch Mike Wheeler and Ruth Cronk in full squeeze at Faversham on Wednesday. Mike has kept his tune sessioneers on their toes with a variety of quizzes and suggestions new to me… we will be much better informed when we play together again… Gavin and Julie Atkin’s Sunday session has regulars from around the country and beyond, as do Faversham, Deal and the Broadstairs Woodshed. I particularly like the variety of, say, a ballad followed by a bawdy music hall song or a contemporary song by Annie Lennox-Martin. Bill Howarth’s hammer dulcimer, Paul Steele’s powerful interpretations, many banjos, ukuleles and Morrigan’s individual talents- Ros’s excellent songs and Chris’s tunes with his ‘guess when I start playing the drum’ moments- enliven many an evening. Ted Handley on squeezy saxophone is well worth the admission… Paul Green’s valiant Orpington Lib Club is virtually featuring slots from well-known singers like Dean Tainio, Roger Resch, Linda Smith and Alan Austen… There’s a freshness which brings out the best, available every night. As regards guests, I hear that all Deal Folk Club Zooms have been free of charge including the occasional 30 minute extended floor spots for future and past guests to promote CD

sales/ downloads for the artists concerned. The Drum’s events have voluntary contributions to maintain their guest list, proceeds to the performers. We are feeling our way through this, I guess all of us wishing to help performers now trying to make ends meet. Morag at Rosslyn Court has a fine guest list planned, including an evening of Womens’ Songs- check out the guest list for March 5 – and the Hut People on the 20th. She is, I hear, developing a new skill: deflecting questions about model railways… Joe Whittaker has been keeping us up to date with concerts he’s earmarked on the wider net- I know Edwina Hayes and Anne Lister have been regular podcasters, and of course Doug Hudson has been reading from his new book, highly recommended. One of Joe’s spots was the Marsh Family’s take on sea-shanties... on Youtube… personally I think it’s all to the good in the end, for every fantasy pirate, grant-seeker and virtual bowline-tugger there will be some who discover the whole gamut of traditional music and grab it with genuine enthusiasm. Some of us have ELP LPs… Please do let us know if there are events planned, as there seems to be the possibility of some gathering in the summer to perform and to join at festivals, albeit in a modified format. Sadly the Sweeps has again been cancelled; and a few more. I’m deeply impressed by the number of musicians and songwriters who have used their time and talents to brighten and interpret the past year. I’m the slacker in the gym… my sole output a whimsy about a lonely little lightbulb… Keep well everyone… Bob Kenward Front cover this issue: “Cover pictures from old postcards of May Day events in Hamstreet, Great Chart and Wye”

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.

In the past May Day celebrations were more of a big occasion for villages and schools. This selection of pictures were taken in Great Chart and Hamstreet near Ashford. Note the time and care they have taken with their costumes and floats, etc.

CD Reviews

Dora Darling - The Quest 10 tracks doradarling.com ‘She carries in her heart and soul/ the breath of mossy earth’: delicately sung and accompanied, Dora’s collection of self-penned and traditional songs harks back to an era of myth and legend. Pre-Raphaelite painting and Victorian poetry come to mind. It’s pastoral in that her voice captures the countryside: ‘where the birds do sing’, as expressed in her song Sunshine. Nods to Thomas Hardy, well set with flowing violin, and reflections upon King Arthur and the Lady Of The Lake guide perhaps to an intention to revisit the myth pool and make it relevant once again. Respectful settings of Lord Rendal, Three Ravens and Saucy Sailor carry forward the tradition of ‘story first’, an admirable trait. I should like to hear Dora sing some of the melodies from the Hammond and Gardiner manuscripts; she captures the gentle timeless note. If Bill Caddick can write about Unicorns that’s good enough for me: Dora’s take on that theme is a personal journey, a pursuit, invoking a magical rebirth. The title track might equally well have been four or five songs, the narrative twists and turns of storytelling against a mesmerising tune weaving steadily through the weft of acoustic guitar and whistles. Watery graves, bonny grey mares, love like a moon, naked heroines, dragons. The dynamic tension comes from nightmarishness and resolution sung in the reassuring tones of a lullaby. It’s a crowded field for singer-songwriters out there, yet Dora provides good evidence that the resonance of tradition is always in fashion. 10% of profits from this CD are to be donated to Tree Sisters; Women Seeding Change. Luke Jackson - Of The Time 7 tracks First Take Records FT005 I’ve played Luke’s new promo several times now and it’s growing on me. His previous ‘Journals’ signalled a bleak outlook and I recall commenting that he might well be right. And yet, in these lockdown songs, there is hope. The incomprehensible scale of imposed changes is well expressed in the bare soundscape of I Am Not Okay With This, solitary voice and minimal guitar: ‘nothing here is clear’. Luke could have written much more along these lines, probably did, yet follows with Keep It Down, a robust rebuttal of doom-mongering, strummed and driving. Elliott Norris, bassist Andy Sharps and Lizzie White contribute strongly; present but never dominating. The lyrical strength demands this. From within Tiny Windows Luke retains a world view, guitar pattering like rain, and a punchy vision of Milk And Honey sets up the return to Retrain, where Luke reflects on where the answers proved not to be. He allows himself a Dylanesque howl in Nothing But Time: rather than watching the river flow, he’s watching the kettle boil... for the hundredth time. Blinding has a limpid, expressive guitar, acceptance or resignation? Seven tracks to this EP and a fair range of styles on show; more importantly Of The Time captures a generation’s frustration at the loss of liberty and livelihood. Luke foresaw this, maybe not quite as occurring but somehow, and he’s got down the way it is happening now. Voices like Luke Jackson’s come along rarely. Listen up. Bob Kenward

Rosslyn Court

Mainly Live music -despite everything- in the heart of Cliftonville’s Cultural Quarter

Magpies – powerful vocals and glittering instrumental ornamentation YouTube/Rosslyn Court every Saturday 7.30 - 8.30 - Free live streams All donations go to performers 10/4 Ian Brown, 15/4 The Magpies, 17/4 Steve Turner, 24/4 tba, 1/5 tba 8/5 Beard Conspiracy, 15/5 Oka Vanga, 22/5 Jeni Hankins, 3/6 Steve Ashley Please check for changes on the website www.RosslynCourt.com/events-full list +links Facebook/RosslynCourt for past events Miracle? Audience? book: www.WeGotTickets/RosslynCourt or ring 07902140248 62 Sweyn Rd, Margate, CT9 2DD No licenced bar, hot or cold soft drinks or cake atm! No table service. No workshops. Just the music

www.tombthumbtheatre.co.uk www.wegottickets.com or phone 01843 221791

Deal Friday Folk Club meets 8pm every Friday at RMA Club (upstairs) 37 The Strand, Walmer CT14 7DX

26this - Granny's Attic to- 3meet incredibly talented DealOctober Folk Club continuing online for young men who have taken the folk world by storm in weeklyrecent singarounds via Zoom every Friday evening. years Covid has meant the cancellation of Guest Nights November 9th - Singer's Night we with Remembrance for the time being, although have had several theme (Armistice Day Centenary) very enjoyable extended floor spots by past Guests. November 16th - Quicksilver see - Grant & For the latest information ourBaynham website Hilary Spencer entertain and delight with virtuoso www.dealfolkclub.org.uk. We look forward to seeing guitar and amazing voice you all again in person as soon as we can!

REVIEW Proper English

Guest nights - £5. Guest Nights £5, Singers Nights £2 Singers Nights - £1.50 Singers, £2 Non-singers www.dealfoIkcIub.org.uk or ring ring Sue Sue on on 01-304-360877 01304-360877 www.dealfolkclub.org.uk or

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. The venue remains unavailable, until further notice, but we have arranged weekly CLOSED during August Zoom sing-a-rounds each Monday evening between 7.45pm and 10.00pm. Please e-mail Chris Wilkin at cwilkin6@sky.com to be included in the weekly invitation. 14th September

We are looking forward to resuming normal club nights once theraffle) lockdown eases Singers night - Entrance £3.00 (including and the venue is open. In the meantime keep safe and well.

All singers nights are £2.00 members and £3.00 non-members 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

Festival News

Breaking News! 28th -31st May 2021 Chippenham & Chester combine for one amazing online Folk Festival experience in May! Every year on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, two communities of like-minded people usually celebrate all things Folk 175 miles apart. Not this year. We are thrilled to announce that this year we are combining forces to bring to you the best of both worlds in an online extravaganza jointly organised by Chippenham Folk Festival and Chester Folk Festival. Whilst we all look forward to a time when we cram ourselves into a concert, or even a pub, the global pandemic has meant we’ve had to be more innovative in how we can still get that folky fix. This year we have decided to take advantage of the opportunities of going online to create a collaboration which will have you singing, dancing and playing your socks off, all in the comfort of your own home! There are some real benefits to going online, geography is no longer a boundary, we’re not just able to combine two folk festivals, we can have a global reach, bringing communities together wherever they are in the world. On hearing the news, John Kirkpatrick, the patron of Chippenham Folk Festival said: “This is such an exciting idea - two great festivals pooling their resources to make one mighty weekend that can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world. In these strange times, it’s so impressive to see how constantly resourceful and inventive the folk community can be to keep the music alive and kicking.” And BBC Radio 2 Folk Award presenter and long-time supporter of Chester, Mark Radcliffe commented “In these most trying of times for live music I think my old friends at Chester and new friends at Chippenham may be ahead of the curve here. What a brilliant idea to pool the resources of two seasoned and respected events which normally happen simultaneously. I think this will bring a harmonious and heart-warming ‘Two Way Family Favourites’ flavour to the joint event. All hail Chestenham. I’m sure others will follow your lead”. We are working on a cracking line up of artists, callers and dancers from around the world. All hail Chestenham, or should that be Chippster! Watch this space.... Chickenstock Music Festival 2021 Hello Chickenstockers! We hope that you are keeping safe and well. We would like to give you an update regarding Chickenstock Music Festival 2021. We are confident that the festival will go ahead this year - in fact, we do have a social distancing plan in place should it be necessary by Summer. Fortunately, due to the size of our festival, we have the capacity to execute a COVID safe festival by taking extra precautions. Should this be the case, here’s the kind of thing to expect:

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- The festival arena will be split up into a ‘pod’ style grid structure, where you can enjoy the music from your own designated space. The amount of people allowed in these ‘pods’ will be subject to Government guidelines at the time. - There will be a one way system in operation around the event space. - If you leave your ‘pod’ at any time, for any reason, a face covering will be required. We will have additional security staff available to ensure that this rule is followed. - When purchasing food, drink or festival merchandise you will have a couple of options; You can leave your ‘pod’, wear a face covering and queue to order your food, drink or merchandise at the designated stand(s). - You will also be able to order food, drink or merchandise via an app. You will then be notified when your order is available to collect. This will allow us to minimise queuing times, and means that you can spend more time in your ‘pod’ enjoying the entertainment. - At the bar, there will be a one way queuing system. We will require you to vacate the bar area when you have been served. - We will be creating a ‘retail village’ for all food vendors and stall holders. This will allow us to create more space in the festival arena for our social distancing grid structure. - Food vendors and stall holders will be responsible for maintaining social distancing on their stall at all times. - There will be plenty of sanitising facilities around the festival arena. We would encourage to use these frequently, regardless of the situation at the time. -We will be following Government guidelines at all times, and our safety policy is subject to change depending on these guidelines. The safety of our staff, performers and guests is paramount at all times. We reserve the right to refuse service or entry to anybody not following the guidelines at the event. Please continue to stay safe at home. We are working so hard behind the scenes to ensure that Chickenstock Festival 2021 can go ahead, we have some amazing acts booked and we cannot wait to be back outside, enjoying live music once more. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, Kind regards, Team Chickenstock Broadstairs Folk Week We hope all our friends and supporters are safe and well. Folk Week has had a challenging year, like everybody else. With the publication of the government’s planned road map out of the pandemic, there has been a wave of anticipation about this year’s Folk Week and it’s very encouraging that there are so many people out there eager to return to Broadstairs. As most of you know, it is a year- round task to organise the festival and circumstances are

very different to previous years. Our major concern is the safety of our festival goers and that will influence our decisions on the format of Folk Week in 2021. We are communicating with the Events team at Thanet District Council as many sites we may use are operated by them and they need to be confident in our plans. Folk Week is also waiting for news of various funding applications, including the Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund. We are a registered charity that does not make a profit but brings enormous economic benefit to the town and we sincerely hope that we will be able to go ahead in 2021. We are hoping to be in a better place to give details of our plans by the end of March at the latest. It is true that we are being cautious, so we want to be flexible enough so if the planned government road map stalls, then Folk Week will still have options. What is certain is that we will need the support of our Friends, festival goers, local authorities and the business community to make Folk Week happen. Our team of volunteers, including the Folk Week committee have continued to work together throughout the past year to help keep the festival alive and we hope that this will be the year that even more people are motivated to join us in organising this amazing event. So, sorry we can’t give any more details other than that we are keeping 6 -13th August as the proposed dates for Folk Week 2021 and as soon as we can give you more news, we will. Watch this space! Hope that’s OK All the best Jo

Other Local Festivals Hastings Jack in the Green Friday 30th April - Monday 3rd May 2021 Following the cancellation of the main outdoor JITG celebrations last year, 2021 now sees a different kind of May Day celebration.

Similar to 2020, the 2021 event will still be held... sort of. Although there won’t be the normal large outside gathering of attendees this year, you can still celebrate Jack in the Green, Hastings 2021 ONLINE. The event organisers are working closely with local community group Isolation Station Hastings and will be streaming a series of events via theirs and Isolation’s Facebook page. As such, you’ll be able to watch the sunrise ceremony via the internet and, similar to last year, they’ll also be live-streaming other entertainment during the festival which is likely to include the famed Morris dancers as well as other musical entertainment and drumming. Rochester Sweeps Festival 2021 cancelled In line with government advice to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to cancel Sweeps Festival 2021. While we appreciate that this will be disappointing news, we hope

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you understand that the health and wellbeing of our customers and staff is of the utmost importance to us. There are no plans to reschedule this event. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Medway Council.

Pig’s Ear Folk Ale We’re going on-line! Well, it looks like we’re not going to be able to gather in person any time soon, so rather than hang around waiting for Covid-19 to be shown the door, we’ve decided to take Folk Ale on-line. The Virtual Folk Ale will take place on Saturday 5th June, and will be facilitated by our new Folk Ale partners, Powder Mill Productions. Details to follow. We aim to be back in the real world in 2022! From the Pig’s Ear Folk and Ale website. Broadstairs Folk Week See press release Tenterden Folk Festival See advert

Lewes Saturday Folk Club Traditional music every Saturday night

Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ 8.00 – 11.00 www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org valmaigoodyear@aol.com 01273 476757 Loyalty card: 6 evening visits = £5 off an evening All events suspended & dependent on public health guidelines at the time WORKSHOPS 2021 (10.45 am – 4.45 pm) MORE TO COME The tutor performs at the club in the evening. Booking forms from club website. Half-price places for 2 under-25 year-olds. 10 April Rheingans Sisters

Fiddle NOW 9 April 2022

17 April Andy May Northumbrian pipes Sophy Ball Fiddle Ian Stephenson Guitar ANDY MAY TRIO evening 24 April 15 May 19 June 3 July 4 July

Daoirí Farrell Bouzouki NOW 30 April 2022 JIB (Temples & Jim Mageean) Sea songs Emmanuel Pariselle & Didier Oliver Gascon trad John Kirkpatrick Tune arranging John Kirkpatrick Vocal harmony

24 July

Alistair Anderson Northumbrian tunesmiths Dan Walsh Clawhammer banjo ALISTAIR ANDERSON & DAN WALSH evening

16 Oct

Andy Cutting Melodeon Rob Harbron English concertina Sam Sweeney Fiddle LEVERET evening

20 Nov

Riley Baugus

Banjo

Jeff Warner As we start to dare to hope that we are putting this awful pandemic behind us, our thoughts turn to what this summer and autumn might offer. One of many hopes that I have is that my friend, Jeff Warner, will be returning to the UK and be at Tenterden Folk Festival. He was last there in 2017 which was also the year that I wrote this article about Jeff and his parents which was published in “English Dance & Song”. - Vic Smith. “I think that Tim Erikson put it well when he said that the Warners collected people first…..” Jeff is talking about the song collecting work undertaken by his parents, Anne & Frank, on the eastern seaboard of the USA. Anne wrote, “Our song collecting began inadvertently in the late 1930s.” It carried on for nearly thirty years and work on the fascinating, invaluable book, Traditional American Folk Songs, was underway before Frank died in 1978. This gives 195 of the thousand-plus items that were collected by the couple. No funding, no training in field work, no ethnomusical background, this pair were inspired by the songs and music that they heard to devote much of their spare time, weekends and holidays to this shared enthusiasm. The combination of Frank’s great social skills with all classes of people and Anne’s meticulous secretarial skills with notebooks and notation meant they have left us a huge and valuable harvest. Tim’s point is also important; the Warners visited and revisited their informants and they became family friends which continued over generations. Inexperienced amateurs they may have been initially, but in their book’s foreword, Alan Lomax lavishes praise on their methods and achievements. It’s clear that many of the singers in remote area, including his best known informant Frank Proffitt gained much from contact with the Warners. Frank gave hundreds of talks and presentations on his collection and Jeff carries this work on. In recent years this has been developed into a full multimedia show, From The Mountains To The Sea, with many contemporary photos to illustrate the talk and recordings of the singers interspersed with live performance from Jeff. I feel honoured to be part of the presentation of this show which has already been seen at a number of leading festivals and other venues. Booking this show at festivals is usually part of a package that will see Jeff also leading workshops and giving concert performances and he is finding that this is a good way of broadening his reputation. “People are saying that you have to get the festivals to get the

clubs. The organisers of the clubs are at the festivals and that is what I am finding.” There are a number of Americans for whom the British folk club format is ideal. Folk clubs snap him up because he has got just what folk clubs need; variety of material and instrumentation – banjo, guitar and concertina – and a really interesting and broad repertoire much of it from the Warner collection. Songs and tunes are presented in an easy, informative and communicative way and sung in a very pleasing voice. There are a number of Americans that can do this – Sara Grey, Bayou Saco and Jeff Davis amongst them - and they fit perfectly into folk clubs. The feeling is mutual; Jeff relishes folk club work and it contrasts with much of his work back in the USA. “I don’t want to say that I never get a chance to do normal folk revival work, but I am often working with audiences who don’t understand this music.” The current appearance list on his website includes churches, libraries, bookshops, schools, a guest lecturer at a university and even a farmers’ market! Mention of Jeff Davis takes us back to the early part of his career. After a period in the navy, he worked in editing, then gradually presenting and performing folk music became his main focus. Sometimes two were needed and an old friend Jeff Davis moved from being an occasional to regular partnership and they worked together for over a decade. The two Jeffs’ first British tours were together. Was I right in thinking that he was spending an increasing amount of time in the UK? “Well, that’s true but I have to balance it. I am working with the Humanities Council in New Hampshire quite a bit, going to small towns all over the state – and it can be very rural, up on the Canadian border and all, talking about New Hampshire and New England history. As that door opens up, I am doing fewer programmes with kids; I don’t know why. But I’ll take it…. I’ll take any door that opens for me. I’m almost becoming like an old sage, I’m almost collectable!” Vic Smith

FOLK-AT-THE-DRUM The Club meets every Thursday at ‘The Drum’ Inn at N. Stanford, Stone Street (Between Cant’ & Hythe)

1415th JuneApril - Keith Kendrick - John Conolly Sylvia Needham 13th May -and Martyn Wyndham12 July Higginbottom Read- Geoff with Iris Bishop 233rd August Peter Collins June - Hilary Spencer

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 usthree! on welcome to play, sing, listen orfind do all Zoom from 7pm. On Club 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

Tonbridge Folk Tonbridge FolkClub Club(Nellie’s) (Nellies) The Beer Seller, 64 High Street, The FlyingTonbridge, Dutchman TN9 118 Tonbridge Road, 1EH Hildenborough, Kent TN1 9EN First and third Mondays of each month, First and third Mondays of each month 8-11pm 8 - 11 pm

Monday 4 June: John & Di Cullen Expect an eclectic mix of robust, reflective

Subject to thesongs Covid and humorous . 19 emergency, please check our website for the Monday 18 June: Chris Cleverley latest information: An extremely talented singer-songwriter tonbridgefolkclub.org with many diverse topics in his songs, accompanied by accomplished finger style guitar Ourplaying. provisional programme is:

Monday 2 July: Consort of One

Monday, 19th April Nick Dow Lizzie Gutteridge combines medieval and renaissance music and song, on traditional Monday, 17th May Fisher instruments, with 21stC loopingDavid technology.

Monday July: Triage Monday, 7th 16 June Vic & Tina Smith Welcome return of this popular local band who made a good impact last time. Expect lively renderings of tunes and songs with various instruments. Tel: 01892 822945 info@tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

ELSIE’S

Farnborough Social Club

We have found a new home and as from this 15th we will beon at the B2026 TheOctober Queen’s Arms, the Farnborough Social Club. We will not be able to have midway a club meeting as yetbetween but expect toEdenbridge in the near future.

and the A264, Tunbridge Wells - East APRIL

1st, 8th, 15th,Grinstead 22nd, 29th Road Singers & 8 - 11pmMusicians Nights MAY

6th, 13th, 20th,9th 27th June Singers & Musicians Nights

Roy Clinging

See website for last minute changes.

Another welcome return

Orpington Folk Music and Song Club exists to promote folk music and song. It is a non profit making organisation 14 and is for those who wish to listen to or take part in an informal evening of folk music and song. For those who wish confirmation of guest(s) nights see the website or contact the telephone numbers for details

th July Martin Wyndham-Read

Thursdays @ 8.15pm 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513

www.elsiesband.com

Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail: orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com

ORPINGTON FOLK CLUB

of Horses Sthe inChange gdaVillage, ncOrpington eandplay Farnborough We’re June:all missing our regular events and our friends. particularly missing: 7th JimWe’re Mclean a composer, acoustic-based musician and singer/songwriter.

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promising an entertaining evening of poplar, self-penned and folk songs.

We’re th greatly looking forward to normal life 19 Singers & Musicians Night resuming. Until then, we’re running weekly 26th Reg Meuross one of the premier singer/ online Sunday night song and tune sessions songwriter’s on the folk scene. Described as "a warm from 7.30live to entertainer 9.30pm, focused asofusual on the engaging with songs love, longing trad, thelife oldstories" fashioned and the entertaining. and true join us, go To to Singdanceandplay.net and Thursdays @ 8.15pm 532754 020 8325 6513 sign up 01959 to receive our emails. www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail: orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com

CD Review

Ninebarrow – A Pocket Full of Acorns Ninebarrow are Jon Whitley and Jay LaBouchardiere, and ‘A Pocket Full of Acorns’ is their fourth album. As with their previous offerings, it is a mixture of their own compositions and traditional material, all presented with the care, attention to detail, gentleness, and just plain love of the music that those of us who have become acquainted with them have come to expect. On this album they are joined by Lee Mackenzie (Cello), John Parker (Double Bass) and Evan Carson (Percussion), collectively known as the Ninebarrow band. Combined with Jon and Jay’s beautiful vocal harmonies, the quality musicianship brings an added dynamic to their already wellestablished reputation. The title track refers to Lord Collingwood, who was second in command to Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. At the time of the Napoleonic Wars, the ships of the Royal Navy were built from mighty oaks (Indeed, ‘Heart of Oak’ was, and still is, the official march of the Royal Navy). Concerned that forests were being depleted to supply the demands of the Navy’s shipbuilding, Collingwood took to carrying acorns in his pockets, planting them in suitable places as he went on his rambles. Says Jay: “The story really touched us. The notion of using one’s time on earth to help secure a future for those who come after us seems to have been lost in modern times.” Ninebarrow have put their money where their mouth is, and are in the process of planting their own woodland in their native Dorset. Jon and Jay have the glorious ability to combine ancient and modern. ‘Under the Fence’ highlights the plight of the refugees in Calais, and weaves the tune and lyrics of ‘Cold Haily Windy Night’ into the story. ‘Farewell Shanty’ was originally sung by Mervyn Vincent of Padstow, who said of it, “It’s my song in as much as I found it in a book. And I couldn’t read the music, so I got some bugger to tell me the tune. And I was hoping that one day they’d put it on a record ‘ cause it’s ‘ansome!” Well, Ninebarrow have, and the harmonies on their rendition of the song are simple, exquisite, and indeed ‘ansome! Spiral Earth describe them as “An impressive excellence in writing, performing, musicianship, recording and creativity – these guys don’t seem to have any rough edges nor do they seem to accept anything but perfection in their work” – I’ll drink to that. All in all, this is a thoroughly delightful album, every track a joy to the ear. A Pocket Full of Acorns is released on the Winding Track label on Friday, March 5 (CD and DL format), exclusively available from the Ninebarrow website www.ninebarrow.co.uk. Dave Masterson

in normal times

DVD Review

The Dartmoor Midwinter Sessions – Show of Hands & Friends Originally broadcast online as a concert in December 2020, the Dartmoor Midwinter Sessions has now been released as a DVD. It is a celebration of the Solstice with seasonal songs and carols, set in a barn with a cosy atmosphere, and all of the participants look as if they’re having fun and enjoying each others’ company. Show of Hands have been very active online during the pandemic and the “Friends” joining them on this DVD are all well-known performers from the West Country – a gathering of excellent singers and musicians all performing separately and joining in each others’ choruses. The songs are a lovely varied mixture of popular carols and some contemporary songs which were new to me. Local songs such as the atmospheric Old Lynch Way and jolly Dartmoor Wassail (performed by Jim Causley) and country-style West Country Boy by James Studholme (watch out for Geoff Lakeman on the spoons!), mix with traditional carols The Holly and the Ivy sung a capella, In the Bleak Midwinter (with Seth Lakeman on fiddle), Down in Yon Forest and a beautiful duet of Coventry Carol sung unaccompanied by Miranda Sykes and Chris Hoban, along with Americana from Geoff Lakeman and Rob Murch - Wide Wide River and O Mary don’t you weep. Jim Causley performs Charles Causley’s poem Song of Truth which he has put to music. There are contemporary songs such as the Innocents Song/Gwithian, Song for Loders (a duet from Phil Beer & Odette Michell), First Christmas Alone and two beautiful songs written by Chris Hoban, The Christmas Truce and Hallows Eve, and Paul Downes singing a fun version of Mick Ryan’s song Father Christmas (Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho, Ho!). This is basically a group of very talented friends meeting up together and each performing from their own repertoire, joining in choruses of each others’ songs with wonderful harmonies and playing along together, just as we all would in sessions. A lovely seasonal DVD to keep and watch every December. Sue Watson

John Breeze John ‘The Padstow Busker’ Breeze will be familiar to those in the West for his robust and diverse range of song. The ‘busker’ tag is a useful trademark but a tad misleading: the guitar-work here is finely played in a variety of styles and the vocals are strong and expressive. Many songs seem to have been recorded live, which adds to their fluency and appreciation from the audience. There’s bags of experience in the delivery. Here are the staple songs of the past few decades, redefined and brought alive- I was reminded of Jerry Jordan’s powerful gift for making listeners feel they’re hearing the song for the first time. Fiddlers Green breathes again; Row On has a kind arrangement; If Wishes Were Fishes stands out for its emotional charge. Dan McKinnon’s Sea Of Change lingers in the mind. John’s made 40 Cassettes/CDs apparently, recording from 1971-2020; his vol 31 has Richard Digance’s Letter From Afghanistan and Dougie Maclean’s Garden Valley as well as hailing the 1st of May, and a couple of songs which were new to me. Catch him at Zooms for a taste of the right stuff. Bob Kenwood

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

PRE-BOOKED GUESTS Please note that due to Covid-19 restrictions: All April and May acts have been rescheduled as follows:

06 Apr 2021 The Trials of Cato (Rescheduled to 05 October 2021) 13 Apr 2021 The Magpies (Rescheduled to February 2022) 20 Apr 2021 Liz Simcock (Rescheduled to January 2022) 27 Apr 2021 Dan McKinnon (Rescheduled to June 2022) 04 May 2021 Geoff Lakeman & Rob Much (Rescheduled to March 2022) 11 May 2021 Hunter Muskett (Rescheduled to 19 October 2021) 18 May 2021 Winter Wilson (Rescheduled to March 2022) 25 May 2021 Belshazzar’s Feast (Rescheduled to May 2022) During these uncertain times, we are keen to keep pre-booked artists in our diary and will reschedule gigs as and when appropriate. Please check our Website and Facebook pages for updates.

To receive regular updates: Email (put ADD on subject line) dartfordfolk@googlemail.com

DARTFORD WORKING MENS CLUB Essex Road, DA1 2AU EVERY TUESDAY 8.30 TILL 11.00

BECOME A FRIEND OR SUPPORTER OF YOUR FESTIVAL Tenterden Folk Festival

You can help us continue to promote folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions by joining the supporters group. You may like to come to the festival; benefit from the influx of people into Tenterden; run a hotel or B&B; be a Morris dancer, musician, singer, craft person, etc. Whatever your reasons you can become a friend and supporter of the festival. Commercial supporters: make an annual tax deductible donation of at least £25.00 and your business will be listed in the souvenir programme (also included on website) and receive a window sticker, special newsletters, etc. Individual supporters: make an annual donation of at least £10.00. If you are a UK taxpayers you can do this under gift aid and we can then reclaim £2.50 from HMRC making your donation worth £12.50 to us. Individual supporters will be listed in the festival programme (unless opted out), received a window sticker, newsletters, etc. Complete this form and send it, with your cheque made payable to Tenterden Folk Day Trust, to Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Festival, 15 Repton Manor road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA. T: 01233 626805 E: info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

I have pleasure in enclosing a donation to Tenterden Folk Festival of £………………... Title: …………… First name: ……………………….…… Last name: ………………………………………… Business Name (if applicable): ………………………………………………………………………………….. Address: ………………………………………………….……………………………………............................... ……………………………………………………..…………………………… Post code: …………………………… E: …………………………………………………………………………… T: …………………………………………… Please send an A5 s.a.e. for your window sticker and receipt Gift Aid: Yes/No If yes please complete the declaration below

Name in programme: Yes / No

CHARITY GIFT AID DECLARATION

I want to Gift Aid my donation to Tenterden Folk Festival (Registered charity No. 1038663) of £………. and any donations I make in the future or have made in the last four years. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. Donor’s details – As above Signature ………………………….…………………………… Date ………………………………………… Please notify us if you: Want to cancel this declaration,  Change your name or home address  No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains  If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rates and want to receive the additional relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Self‐Assessment tax return or ask HMRC to adjust your tax code

Tenterden Folk song and music sessions IN NORMAL TIMES AT The William Caxton West Cross, Tenterden TN30 6JR The second Tuesday of every month 8.00 for 8.30 p.m. Free, sing-a-round style folk club Floor singers, musicians storytellers, step dancers, etc. always welcome Information: E: info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk W: www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk T: 01233 626805 Tenterden Folk Club has been running consistently since 1993 Tenterden Folk Club is part of Tenterden Folk Festival (Charity No 1038663) Promoting folk song, music and dance

Collections or Best prices paid 354 135 Ring Collin 07860

WANTED

LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs

Folk, Blues, reggae, jazz and WANTED rock LPs, EP

s, 45s, CDs Folk, blues, reggae , jazz and rock Collections or small er items

Collections or smaller items, best Best prices paid prices paid Ring Collin 07860 354 135

Ring Collin 07860 354 135

CD Reviews

John Smillie - Superman’s Lament 12 tracks www.johnsmilliemusic.com A real knack for the wry phrase is always welcome. Here’s a delightful collection of John’s own songs, which you probably know already from their memorable hooks rather than their titles. ‘Shopping With Your Wife’ : an instantly recognizable scenario at which audiences sit up, nod, laugh, prod each other ‘that’s you, that is’… Their response to John’s set-up; this is a CD of surprises and best heard without a drink in hand, you’ll spill it. Hard to represent without revealing punchlines; suffice it to say John had my full attention throughout. Admirable guitar of ragtime mien and studio production with the likes of Brian Carter and Shaun Murray on frets, Jim Riley (bass) and Ben Jones (keyboard) make for a highly professional backing, though as Zoomers know John’s individual guitar work is pretty damn slick. Quick wit: Eccles Cakes, the Prostate (check the opening line!), Skiing, all in the good old tradition of sideways looks. The moving Diamond In The Rough has lines both deeply felt and exactly expressed. Once heard, you’ll never forget ‘Lucky In Love’… Superman’s Lament is a most collectible and affectionate souvenir of how it feels to be alert and alive today. What’s more, all UK profits have gone to MENCAP and other charities abroad have also benefitted. All the more reason to treat yourself. Bob Kenwood

Tenterden Folk Club: a brief history so far 1992 to 2021

The Eight Bells Folk Club was started in 1992 by Alan Castle who had been involved in running folk clubs in and around Ashford since the mid 1970’s. The first club Alan ran was at The Victoria Hotel opposite Ashford Station which ran for several years and booked various professional and semi-professional guests. One of the first resident groups at the Victoria was led by a local school boy Andy Turner, who went on to establish himself as a well know name on the national folk scene. The club moved home several times including a brief spell at the Woodland Inn in Charing where it thrived and was able to book the top names on the folk scene including Martin Carthy, Dave Swarbrick, Vin Garbut and Jake Thackeray. Following the sudden closure of the Woodlands the club moved on to several village pubs and changed to be mainly a performers club. In 1992 Alan and a group of friends were looking at holding regular folk events in Tenterden. At about this time a new landlord took over the Eight Bells pub. Jerry Smith invited them to run a folk club in the pub which quickly developed into a popular venue for singers and musicians from the local area and also attracted supporters from across Kent and Sussex. The success of the folk club in the Eight Bells went a long way towards helping to establishing Tenterden Folk Festival. Regular singers and musicians

at the Bells included Bo Foaks, Bob Kenward, Chris and Alan Davis, Shaun and Trooper, Ian Wookey, Gareth Thompson, Margaret Gibson and many more. Ray Styles regularly finished the evening with a rendition of “Dancing with bears”. Up until 2001 the club met twice a month and sometimes was so busy it moved into the large function room upstairs where special guest nights were also held. Tenterden being a tourist town the club often had overseas visitors and the nights we were joined by Canadian, Dutch, Italian and German musician are fondly remembered. When the Bells closed for refurbishment the club moved temporarily to The White Lion but soon returned to the Bells and stayed while Tony Mountfield and then John and Jane Levis were the landlords. The club final left the Bells in 2007 as John was giving up the tenancy and Café Rouge were taking over the premises. The club was able to relocate to The Vine Inn and became mainly a singers’ club as there was not the facilities to hold concert type evenings or book guests in Vine. In 2008 the club again moved, this time to the Woolpack Hotel where it remained through at least three landlords and regained much of its vitality. One evening John Connolly dropped in and joined the session. During this period the club maintained its relationship with The White Lion and held numerous special guest nights in The Saddlery sometimes in partnership with other folk clubs. Guests included Tom Lewis, David Jones, Nora Rendell & Brian Miller and Adrian O. One evening the then landlady of the Woolpack hinted that she was leaving and that the pub could be closed so in April 2011 the club moved again to the William Caxton at West View, the other end of the High Street where it has been running its song and music sessions on the second Tuesday of every month for the last ten years. The Caxton has changed landlords at least three times in that ten years but the current landlord, John Gilfoyle, makes the club very welcome. The current format is that of a song and music session in the bar and we hope that once the Covid -19 pandemic is

Continued Overleaf...

over and life reverts to more like normal the pub and club will be able to re-open again and we can celebrate ten years at The William Caxton. Tenterden Folk Club, song and music sessions are part of Tenterden Folk Festival, registered charity number 1038663. Alan Castle Trustee and Festival Director STOP PRESS Some outdoor events and a few socially distanced indoor events MAY start again in the next couple of months Please check before travelling to venues and follow government and NHS advise and help keep the folk scene safe. For the latest news of online folk events check out The Folk Forecast at thefolkforecast.substack.com lots of interesting stuff there. Around Kent Folk, the independent folk magazine for Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond, which is now published six times a year by Tenterden Folk Festival, edited by me with the invaluable assistance of Andy Wood from Anmar Printing Services. 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

CD Review

Milton Hide - Temperature Rising 12 tracks Howdy Records Howdy4 Josie and Jim Tipler return with a dozen impeccably presented original songs for our times, featuring their own talents on guitar, piano, clarinet, cajon, xylophone... and their excellent blend of meaningful harmony. From the outset they don’t mince their words. The title track builds into a full-on vision of burning bridges and walls put up against democracy, a powerful arrangement driving on with a bevy of supporting musicians bass, lead guitar, think Springsteen, Bruce Hornsby... superbly done. Ragtime acoustic guitar follows, appropriate to A Little Piece Of Mind, with a nod to Freight Train, and almost the flipside of Daydream Believer in Littlefield, exploring the darkness. Josie’s vocal throughout is clear and compelling. A whole range of influences here, sometimes EngFolk, sometimes pedal steel, sometimes Fleetwood Mac’s knack for hooks of simple phrasing. Little Henry is doing fine... is a key phrase in the story of Paul Mayer, the USAF mechanic who stole a Hercules to fly home from England to find his family, heart-wrenching. A black dog day also makes a fine song, something loping along the South Downs, more Graham Greene than Bob Copper. There are discernible hints of traditional music in the variety of styles explored, and yet Milton Hide have their own identity. I’ve enjoyed their duo sets at the Sweeps Festival, brisk, varied and expertly presented. Temperature Rising repays the listening. Bob Kenward

ARIES Words & Music by Bob Watson

ARIES Words & Music by Bob Watson 1

Well I was born in the month of April, as the earth turned warm and dry, And new green grass grew on the hillside, and old Aries in the sky; Bursting life at the start of springtime, so impatient to be free, We never waited to watch for the weather, old Aries the Ram and me.

Chorus: And they told me to take life easy, Let it happen as time goes by; But rams aren’t noted for patience, and nor am I.

There’s a wind in the month of April blows adventure through the air, We’ve been kicking our heels all the winter, now it’s time to do and dare; Ale of April and wine of springtime, they’re as potent as can be, And we drank our fill from the bumper, old Aries the Ram and me.

Chorus: 3

Now a wise man can say what happens, when a fool goes blund’ring in, And that’s why those angels tread wary, don’t pick fights they cannot win; Being careful is not for Aries, and it takes too long for me, And there’s some folks think that’s the reason for the fool I’ve turned out to be.

Chorus: 4

Every year come the month of April, when that spring wind starts to blow You can feel old Aries get restless, fiery blood begins to flow; Who’s to say where his hooves’ll lead him, only one way for to see – And we’ll count the cost come tomorrow, old Aries the Ram and me.

THE PERILS OF ZOOM Now every time these lousy Lockdowns loom, We all retreat indoors it seems; But now we keep in touch by using Zoom, Or video conferencing on Teams. The use of such software has seen a boom; I had thought Skype the stuff of dreams, Until that troubled time in my bathroom, When all enjoyed my own live streams. When you’re on screen now everybody looks, At what’s behind you on your shelves; There might be unused tomes by TV cooks, That say so much about ourselves. So I’ve ensured all my prestigious books, Of which I’ve nearly ten or twelve, Conceal Dan Browns plus my ‘Mad Monster Trucks’ By ‘Fifty Shades’ and ‘Tolkien’s Elves’. I join Zoom lectures on Music and Arts, Today’s composer’s Viennese; From face to face the image swiftly darts, Should anyone just cough or sneeze. I check the dog’s been fed before it starts, Who sleeps off-screen beside my knees; But every time my faithful friend then f...fidgets, It’s me on screen each person sees. I shuffle Stage Left to vacate the scene, My phone’s ringtone just then imparts The ‘We will, we will rock you’ one by Queen, Which some now think one of Mozart’s. The dog jumps up and knocks the laptop screen, Revealing me sat scoffing tarts, Whilst he remains completely there unseen, And sounds a fierce fanfare of... Far too much noise. JJ Crossley 2021

Faversham

Every Wednesday 8.00pm Doors open 7.30 www.favershamfolkclub.net

Folk Club

The Limes

Preston Steet, Faversham ME13 8PG

Apr - May

There’s still music at Faversham Folk Club every Wednesday at 8pm! It’s just temporarily online… We meet on Zoom for a friendly evening of traditional and contemporary songs and a few tunes.. hosted by Ernie, Bob and Al with support from the Committee- and no chairs to put away… If you’d like to join us please contact as below and we will forward your request to the Keeper Of The List. Hints and tips on the everchanging Zoom are available to optimize your sound… it varies so much according to platform, connection and whether the guy manning the radar dish is cycling fast enough. We like to sing along with chorus songs, muted of course to reduce th latency issues, and it’s fine to play along too. Signing to singing and other participation such as dance are also encouraged, they’re your neighbours… We are keeping tabs on the developing situation regarding reopening; for now we are looking at booking a few free guest showcases, although our main emphasis is on our weekly singarounds which are always entertaining. Drop in and join uswe’re easy to find! Keep well and see you over the summer.

We meet every Wednesday for Singers’ Nights: all are welcome to perform or listen Please contact Ernie, Bob or Pat for the access code to our Zooms. Chairman/ Bookings: Pat on 01795 423674 or rjpmailbox pat@yahoo.co.uk Press/ Radio Publicity:Bob on 07885 642763 / bobkenward21c@gmail.com

CD Reviews

Steve Tilston - Such Times Riverboat Records / World Music Network TUGCD1128 There are not, in my opinion, that many singer songwriters on the folk scene who can consistently, time after time, produce relevant and interesting contemporary songs that stand the test of time, but Steve is one and this album marks the 50th anniversary of his first album An Acoustic Confusion which came out in 1971. This new album includes 14 of Steve’s songs plus one from the pen of Antonio Carlos Jobim from Brazil. On some of the tracks Steve’s guitar or banjo is backed by Dave Crickmore on piano, autoharp, dobro slide or percussion and Hugh Bradley on double bass or flute, but the arrangements are always pure and simple and Steve’s distinctive voice is always front and centre where it should be. Steve is a bit of a social commentator and the songs are topical and relevant covering topics from homelessness to rambles on the moors. Definitely an album worth listening to. Dave Townsend - Concertina Allsorts The Serpent Press SER015 Dave has been a well-known concertina player since the 1980’s and his time playing with the folk rock band Jumpleads. He is also a founder member of The Mellstock Band and the West Gallery Music Association. He currently plays in Tyburn Road as a duo with Ian Giles and also a music hall trio, Auntie Mary’s Canaries. This will give you an indication that Dave is not limited to just one style but can turn his hand to many styles of tunes on English concertinas. This album is a collection of 20 solo tunes ranging from the 16th to the 21st century and includes baroque, classical, Victoriana and folk. The acoustics make some of the tracks sound rather church organ like which only adds to the effect. The album starts with the Lunsdale Hornpipe and travels through Gavotte and Rondeau to Home Sweet Home, and continues on with Georgia on My Mind, The Princess Royal and Old Tom of Oxford, Kemps Jig and Packington’s Pound and finishes with Farewell Old Friends, one of Dave’s own compositions. If you are interested in the English concertina and want to hear many of the things it is capable of being used for this could well be the album for you. Alan Castle (Editor)

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

olk festival 2021

The Thursday Concert supported by AKF Thursday 30th September 2021

Town Hall, High Street, Tenterden 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. (Doors open at 7.00) Very early bird tickets £10.00 until 31st December 2020 Check for latest details: www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Jeff Warner and Scolds Bridle

folk festival

TENTERDEN

TICKET AVAILABLE FROM: Festival director: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA E: alan@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk T: 01233 626805 Or online www.musicglue.com/ tenterdenfolkfestival/tickets/

Tenterden Folk Festival Registered charity No. 1038663 Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions

CD Reviews

Jim Causley - Devonshire Roses HROC05 This is very much an album of well-known songs from Devon sung in the pure west country accent of Jim Causley. Like most new albums at present it was recorded at home during lockdown with Jim playing piano accordion, button accordion, accordina, piano and keyboards. Jim is also still joined by Matt Norman on vocals, mandolin, banjo and mandola, Nick Wyke on vocals, violin, guitar, glockenspiel and ukulele, Josephine and Rose Causley on Vocals. He is also joined by sea gulls, church bells and the sound of the wind on some tracks! Tracks include Bampton Fair, Old Cobley, Devon Glorious Devon, Twenty One Years on Dartmoor, Tavistock Goozey Fair, Rounding Cape Horn and of course Widecombe Fair so virtually every aspect of Devonshire life is covered from seafaring to farming, cider to leisure and everyday life albeit a somewhat tongue in cheek idea of what life may have been like. Jim has given the songs his own arrangement but stayed very true to the traditional sound we expect from him. The album comes in a gate sleave cover with details of the 20 tracks including composer, dates and historical notes and was designed and illustrated by Karen Cater. This is a great package of songs and music and information which I know I will be dipping in and out of for months to come. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne - Rakes and Misfits Grimdon Records GRICD003 This is one of my favourite albums of 2021 so far and I’ve listened to quite a few. It is a solo album without a score of guests or backing musicians and Cohen plays and sings all the tunes and songs as live with no double tracking. Cohen is one of the small number of younger folk musicians who are singing traditional songs in a traditional style without having to completely rearrange them and add a lot of unnecessary over production and effects. Cohen plays various melodeons and concertinas so there is still a good variety of sounds on the album. The theme of the album is outcasts including criminals and people with a different outlook on life from highwaymen and eccentrics to lovers. Most of the materials is traditional from the Roud and Child Collections. The 12 tracks include New Barbary, The Female Rake / The Drunken Drummer, The Dancing Tailor, The Worcester Farewell and more surprisingly From Marble Arch to Leicester Square, an old music hall song from the repertoire of Vesta Tilley. One of the few songs Cohen has written is Tom King, the story of a highwayman in the 1700s in the style of a broadside ballad although he admits to borrowing a few lines from traditional songs. Alan Castle (Editor)

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2021

folk festival

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

Thu 30th Sept to Sun 3rd October Folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions

www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Guests: Bill Jones, Bob & Gill Berry, Brian Peters, Broomdasher, Dick Miles, Graeme & Heather Knights, Jeff Warner, Morrigan, Pete Castle, Peter & Barbara Snape, Scolds Bridle, Steve Turner, Tom Patterson, Tom Perry & Clive Brooks, The Tonic with Fee Lock, The Wilson Family More still to be confirmed Plus up to 50 Morris sides and dance display teams

Local and regular guests Bob Kenward, Chris Roche, Gavin & Julie Atkin, Jerry Crossley, John & Di Cullen, Malcolm Ward, Marsh Warblers, Peter Collins, Portside, Roger Resch, Spare Parts, Sue Watson, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith, Vic Ellis one man band Free music stage & showcase guests (TBC) Ashford Folk Band, Broomdasher, Highworth Folk Band, The Kukes, New Frontier, Nunhead Folk Circle, Open Water, Direction Corsairs, Yardarm Folk Orchestra. More still to confirm...

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 Williamson E: chiefsteward@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Dance co-ordinator: Spud Jones E: dance@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Tenterden Folk Festival Registered charity No. 1038663

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. 105 June/July COPY DATE: 18th April Then … 18th April 2021 – June / July 18th October 2021 - December / January 18th June 2021 – August / September 18th December 2021 – February / March 18th August 2021 – October / November 18th February 2022 – April / May

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