9 minute read
October - Jackie Oates & Mike Cosgrave
Brunch, a new format which gave slots to 21 local ‘below the radar’ acts as well as a main guest- I have to say that both this and Morag’s afternoon Folk Club showed just how much talent there is behind bushels in the South – well worth seeking out. Sally and Brian’s lunchtime guest spot too meant the Sailing Club was always full of good sounds. The absence of Tom & Barbara Brown and Mike Nicholson, alongside the passing of Peter Collins, was sure to leave big boots to fill in the singing sessions- how could it not be so? Yet all the hosts this year were long-established singers who knew the ropes and ensured the spirit of absent friends endured. Lesley, Tony, Giff, Jim, Chris, Keith, Sylvia, Lynne and Pat all ensured fair play… and all week proved that folk song has surprising durability and relevance in changing times. Songs from centuries past seem to chart our present somehow… With Paul’s Irish session running also at lunchtime, the retiming of the Woodshed at the Wrotham Arms made for plenty of choice. A shame, for sure, as many performers happily hopped between sessions as the first ended- however commercial pressures can’t be ignored these days. Many popular folk acts like Skinners Rats, Triality and Hobo And The Hippies toured the venues, cheek by jowl with blues and flags of all nations, to overspilling crowds of enthusiastic musos. Canny teenagers chanting Santy Anna on the moonlit prom as Hot Rats reeled them in…. Foot Down ramming the 39 Steps in broiling sun… I unashamedly head for the sessions myself, where in song or tune forty or so meet to make harmony together. Interesting to hear Malcolm Ward reminisce about the first knockings of song as the original dance festival embraced it. For those of us left who can recall Tiny Craig et al, and The Bonny Ship The Diamond, the Nep will always be revered. It was where you went to sing, and to learn to sing. Latterly the Irish and Woodshed sessions added the same for instrumental and accompanying musicians… and it’s pleasing to thank the festival for maintaining their support for what is now a very small financial element of the week. I’d guess that many attenders have season tickets and come for the buzz daily as part of the whole experience. Guests of the calibre of Tim Edey, Ben Paley, Keith Kendrick, Sylvia Needham, Luke Daniels, Steve Turner, Pip Ives all rolling up to generously share their skills and carry us along with them excite even hardened old hacks… as the sound swells… with added mbira… Of the Arena evenings I enjoyed the Show Of Hands and Spiers and Boden most- command of their material and rapport with audience to the fore. I was sad to miss Brown Boots, see review of Will Allen’s CD English Fiddle… as the homespun Music Hall beckoned, a cornucopia of Ladies Heraud and Turner’s devising… slap, tickle and a turn on the trumpet… I concur with the view that the Chairman proved a right turkey… and was delighted at the Southern Rambles show, original songs from John & Di Cullen, Sue Watson and the usual suspect, trad tunes delightfully blended by Sue Evans, Laurie Jeal and Graham Knibbs… hiking gear and all.. to a full, hot and merry Crampton. A few moments to savour: Annie Winter and Paul Downes, both with so much in reserve in terms of traditional repertoire and skill, showing how to create atmosphere and depth… Sue Hudson’s delicious vocals… Mossy Christian’s virtuosity and old-fashioned song selection… Ruby Tipple’s clear young voice… and many more… and that’s without the thriving dance, the campsite tuition and those I missed… so many choices… All too soon the rush and bustle became Friday, so much seen and so much missed. One more (ok 2 ½ more) goes at the outstanding spicy sausage and sauerkraut … thank yous to the festival organisers, who had survived with smiles all round, and what do we do now? Truly a triumph, Broadie 2022, one which sets another benchmark.
Peter the Punter
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Sussex Folk News
There are now fewer weekly folk clubs in Sussex regularly booking guests than at any time since I first became involved in music in the county in the 1960s but of the ones that are still operating there is still a great vibrancy as the events in the county and the programmes months of October and November in the county reflect this. The most attractive evening to me would seem to the visit of Leveret to Lewes on 15th October. This unique collaboration between three of England’s finest folk musicians. Andy Cutting (melodeon) Sam Sweeney (fiddle) and Rob Harbron (English concertina). Together their performances combine consummate musicianship, compelling delivery & delightful inventiveness. A glorious flood of relaxed, natural & inventive music, truly spontaneous and yet deeply timeless. Not only will these three be performing in the club in the evening but they will also each be running separate All-day workshops on their instruments on their instruments in the town. This is not the only very attractive night that the Lewes Saturday Folk Club will be hosting in October. On the following Saturday, the 22nd Sara Grey will be making yet another visit to Lewes. With her captivating traditional US Old-Time style singing and playing of banjo, dulcimer & autoharp, Sara is also a scholar & researcher of this music with a fund of fascinating stories & many unusual songs. I would not be able to count all the many times that she has played in Sussex but I can tell you that her first one was at a club in Brighton that Tina and I ran. Three great nights in a row are assured when they have booked Ben Paley for the 29th. With his fiddle playing of American old-time, Swedish, English & Irish traditional music, Ben is an enchanting performer. For years he played with his father Tom Paley, one of the greatest influences on American traditional music. As well as playing & singing solo, he performs with The Long Hill Ramblers, The Servants’ Ball, The New Deal String Band & The Sussex Pistols. Ben is another performer who will running an all-day workshop on fiddle playing. For all these workshops, you will need to book a place in the evenings and reserving your place for the evening performances is also advised. Details for all the Lewes events from their website at http://www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org/ indexLSFC.html . The home of Eastbourne folk club is at the Lamb in the Old Town and their presentations take place on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. On 5th October Winter Wilson will be bringing a sense of intimacy to this club, blending superb, often hard-hitting original songs, stunning harmonies and musicianship with sometimes hilarious humour. Then on 19th of the month, one of the favourites from Kent will be their guest. Sally Ironmonger with Brian Carter put on a brilliant show, firmly rooted in the folk music tradition, but including some hints of jazz and blues and other genres. They perform mostly selfpenned, their songs were moving and funny and quite catchy. Another night there brings some newcomers to the club; two rising stars of the UK acoustic music scene. Hannah Elizabeth and Griff Jameson have joined forces to create an indie-folk sound which encompasses both their individual musical backgrounds. Hannah’s influences are firmly planted in traditional folk-roots, whilst in contrast Griff has formed his musical reputation within folk pop/rock genres. The website is at https://lambfolkclub.co.uk/ The other club that I am going to mention is the Sunday night Horsham folk club at the Normandy Centre Denne Road, Horsham. The top attraction at this club sees the return of the new star of the English folk scene, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, who burst onto the folk scene in his teens with the energetic trio Granny’s Attic, along with schoolmates George
Sansome and Lewis Wood, and in recent years has embarked on a solo career alongside this. Cohen’s solo repertoire is rooted in the English folk tradition, celebrating the age-old musical heritage of this broad and diverse land, with a particular interest in the music of the West Midlands, where he spent many of his formative years. This takes place on 30th October and other promising nights will feature Bof! playing as a four-piece band specializing in traditional French and Breton music on 2nd October and LunaBarge offering a banjo, guitar and vocal harmonies to bring you their quirky songs and tunes on 20th November.
Vic Smith
CD Review
Bosun Higgs - A Most Particular Vintage Wild Goose Records WGS439CD
Bosun Higgs describe themselves as an English Country Dance Band and bring back memories of Flowers and Frolics. The band members include Taz Tarry, Carly Rose, Keith Holloway, Neil Gledhill and Martin Banks who, between them, have previously played with some of the best barn dance, ceilidh bands and folk groups around including The Old Swan Band, Token Women, Random and Grand Union. The instruments played by the band members include percussion, melodeons, banjo, autoharp, bass saxophone and fiddle. The 14 tracks featured on the CD include Babes in the Wood, Wigan Peer, Quigley’s Reel, Wakes Barn Polka, and a Trip to Bavaria. The CD comes in an old style plastic case with comprehensive sleeve notes. This is definitely an album which will be enjoyed by musicians and dancers.
Alan Castle (Editor)
CHURCHFITTERS CHURCHFITTERS Fri 7 Oct Tickets £14.00 Fri 7 Oct Tickets £14.00 Otford Memorial Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks Hall, Sevenoaks
TREETOP FLYERS
Sat 22 Oct CHURCHFITTERS The Vestry Hall, Cranbrook
SALT HOUSE SALT HOUSE Fri 21 Oct Tickets £16.50 Otford Memorial Fri 21 Oct Tickets £16.00 Hall, Sevenoaks Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER PETER KNIGHT’S Fri 4 Nov
GIGSPANNER
Tickets £18.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks Fri 4 Nov TICKETS & INFORMATION AT: Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks www.stedithfolk.co.uk
Fri 7 Oct Tickets THE CURST SONS£14.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks SALT HOUSE with Les Elvin Fri 21 Oct Tickets Fri 2 Dec Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks £16.50 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER Fri 4 Nov Tickets £18.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks TICKETS & INFORMATION AT: SALT HOUSE Fri 21 Oct Tickets £16.50 Otford Memorial PETER KNIGHT’S GIGSPANNER Tickets £18.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks TICKETS & INFORMATION AT: www.stedithfolk.co.uk
LewesSaturdayFolkClub TraditionalmusiceverySaturdaynight
Elephant&Castle,WhiteHill,LewesBN72DJ8.00–11.00 www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org valmaigoodyear@aol.com 01273476757 Loyaltycard:6eveningvisits=£5offanevening
Oct1 SongsoftheSeawithDonMorgan
Oct8 CelebratingAndyWarburton Aspecialtunesnight Oct15Leveret AndyCutting,RobHarbron,SamSweeney: Oct22SaraGrey USOld-time,voice,banjo Oct29BenPaley USOld-time,Swedish,Irish,Scottishfiddle
Traditionalsongs,voice,flute,guitar Nov19RileyBaugus USOld-timesongs,banjo,guitar
Nov26MissingRichard(TomEvans&HarrietBarton)
Accordion,fiddle,tunesfromroundtheworld,songs
WORKSHOPS(10.45am–4.45pm£35) Thetutorperformsattheclubintheevening.Bookingformsfrom clubwebsite.Half-priceplacesfor2under-25year-olds. Emailvalmaigoodyear@aol.comtoreserveplaces
15Oct ANDYCUTTING MELODEON ROBHARBRON CONCERTINA–allsystems SAMSWEENEY ENGLISHFIDDLE 29Oct BENPALEY SWEDISHFIDDLE 19Nov RILEYBAUGUS CLAWHAMMERBANJO 11March JEZLOWE SONGWRITING 1April THEWILSONS VOCALHARMONY 29April WILL&PIPPANOBLE BALLADFORUM
