Dorking Folk Club

Meets at Dorking Golf Club, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking RH5 4BX Wednesdays 8:30pm: Doors 8pm.

www.dorkingfolkclub.org.uk

7th JuneSingers’ Night £5

14th JuneCohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne £10

21st JuneSingers’ Night £5

28th JuneSi Barron £10

5th JulySingers’ Night £5

12th JulySingers’ Night (with an extended showcase of 3 local performers in the second half).£5

19th JulyJohn Ward Trio £12

26th JulySingers’ Night £5

Summer Break ; Club re-opens on 13th September

Coming up later in the year: Geoff Lakeman & Rob Murch (20th Sept); Richard Digance (4th Oct); Bob Fox (18th Oct); Chris Leslie (15th Nov); Steve Tilston & Hugh Bradley (29th Nov).

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 payments in cash on the day please

June 3 Come All Ye: no theme £5

June 10 Emmanuel Pariselle & Didier Oliver French traditional & new songs & tunes with melodeon & fiddle. Email to reserve tickets (£12)

ALL-DAY WORKSHOP: MORE TRADITIONAL DANCE MUSIC FROM GASCONY FOR ANY INSTRUMENT – email to book

(10.45 am – 4.45 pm £45 2 under 25-year-olds £22)

June 17 Nancy Kerr & James Fagan New & traditional songs with fiddle, bouzouki & guitar. Email to reserve tickets (£15)

ALL-DAY FIDDLE WORKSHOP – email to book

ALL-DAY BOUZOUKI & CITTERN WORKSHOP – email to book

(10.45 am – 4.45 pm £45 2 under 25-year-olds £22)

June 24 Come All Ye: no theme £5

July 1 Keith Phillips & Pete Rogan £7 Bijou booking: Tunes from Britain & Europe with fiddle, melodeon, bassoon

July 8 Ben Paley US Old-Time, Swedish, Irish & Scottish fiddle music. Email to reserve tickets (£12)

ALL-DAY FIDDLE WORKSHOP – email to book

(10.45 am – 4.45 pm £45 2 under 25-year-olds £22)

July 15

Sound Tradition £10

Traditional & new songs in four-part vocal harmony

July 22

Celebrating Sandra Goddard: Come All Ye £5

July 29 Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner £10

Traditional & new songs in vocal harmony

Sussex Folk News

The Sussex Village of Rottingdean will always have an important place in the history of English folk music for it was there that in 1896 Mrs Kate Lee notated some fifty songs from James “Brasser” and Thomas Copper which she went back to London and then played to the small band of growing enthusiasts for the traditional songs of this country. It led to the formation of the Folk Song Society two years later and when the first edition of the Journal of The Folk Song Society two years further on.

One of Brasser’s grandsons was Bob Copper who became the iconic traditional singer of the post World War II folk revival and achieved great fame as a singer, writer and broadcaster. Quite a few artefacts of farming and rural life have been contributed to the museum rooms at the Grange and now the Rottingdean Heritage Society has decided to put on four folk music events during the summer. The first will have Taken place before this is published (18th May) but very appropriately will feature the Copper Family and will feature a combination of various children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a sonin-law of Bob Copper The two events that take place in the AKF diary period are also on Thursdays. On Thurs June 22nd it will be a dance in their lovely garden with THE LARKS (Bing Lyle, Tina and Vic Smith) in the event of inclement weather, this will be song event inside the Grange. The July event is on the 27th with the hugely popular local band, THE LONG HILL RAMBLERS (Laura Hockenhull, Ben Paley, Dan Stewart).

The folk clubs now: -

Chichester Folk Club meets on Mondays at the Chichester Inn at 38 West St, PO19 1RP. They seem to be limiting themselves to one guest a month at the moment and given the high standard and large numbers of regular singers, they scarcely need book more guests. However, on 12th June they will be presenting James Patterson & John Dipper. This brings together James, one of the folk scene’s most lyrical singers with an instantly recognisable voice and John, one of its most sophisticated and skilful musicians on fiddle. Got to see them and you are in for an unforgettable treat. On Mondays 5th and 19th they will be having Club Singaround evenings where everyone gets a chance to perform. Then on May 26th there is themed evening where singers are on this occasion asked to chose songs around the subject of “Friendship.

Eastbourne folk club has had its base at The Lamb Inn, High Street, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN21 1HH and meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, in the upstairs room there. On 7th June they will be presenting Linde Nijland who is on tour from Holland. Linde tours all over Europe with her crystal clear voice and pure performance. She is partly known for her sincere renditions of Sandy Denny song material and made a lovely and fresh record that shows off her beautiful voice as well as her good taste’. Their other meeting in June is on 21st June is an Open stage Evening with singers and musicians; all welcome and it will be free entry.

Horsham Folk Club next and that meets on Sunday evenings at the Normandy Centre in Denne Rd, Horsham RH12 1JF. They also have only one guest evening in June and that is on June 7th with The Churchfitters, a folk band like no other. A double bass made out of a saucepan! Heart-wrenching vocals accompanied by a musical saw or a glass harp. Foot-stompingly fast fiddle mixed with infectious funk-rock rhythms. And traditional tunes reinvigorated with mesmerising jazz sax.

The three virtuoso musicians from England and France strut their stuff on a stage that bristles with instruments - adding flute, banjo, dulcimer, tin whistle, guitar, ukulele, electric hub-cap bass-bouzouki and a sackful of percussion to their ensemble. On the three following Sundays in June (11th, 18th and 25th) they have Open

Floor nights which are an opportunity for anyone to try a song, a tune or a poem knowing they have a sympathetic audience, although there is no obligation to perform, and those who simply like to listen (and taste the excellent and inexpensive beer) are welcome. The Horsham Folk Club are one of the few folk clubs that still combine dance evenings as well as song events in their programme and 2nd July will see them holding on of their song and dance evening with the evening offering songs, tunes and poems from members and guests plus dancing to their excellent ceilidh band. Beginners and experts alike are welcome and experienced callers ensure everyone can work their way through the dances with enjoyment.

Finally it’s the Lewes Saturday night folk club which meets at the Elephant & Castle in White Hill. They have two duos bringing the highest quality of performances to their evenings as well as running daytime workshops On 10th June they present Emmanuel Pariselle and Didier Oliver. Email to reserve tickets, pay cash on the night

Emmanuel is one of the best melodeon players in France, a singer & an expert in French regional dance music. He also plays a specially designed ‘Franglo’ concertina. He has taught at Hands-On Music & regularly leads melodeon-building weeks in England. Didier is a superb fiddler & also dazzles on mandolin, boha (Gascon bagpipes and guitar. They are favourites at the National Centre for Folk Arts at Halsway Manor. Both are wonderful singers.

Then, the following Saturday, they have two of the top names in folk music; Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. Nancy is a brilliant fiddler & singer of traditional songs. She’s also a fine songwriter. James is a fine singer & thrilling bouzouki player. Their performances are always beautiful, exciting, & filled with invention & exhilaration.

Here are the details of the three workshops that they will be holding. On the 10th Emmanuel and Didier will lead an all-day workshop on French traditional music and any instrument will be catered for. Then there are two workshops on 17th with James leading one for cittern or bouzouki and Nancy offering on for the fiddle.

Looking ahead to July, on 8th of that month, the outstanding Brighton-based fiddle player, Ben Paley will be their guest performer in the evening as well as another fiddle workshop during the day. All these workshops in Lewes do require advance bookings which you can arrange via this email - valmaigoodyear@aol.com

That just leaves the evenings of 3rd and 24th June to mention, and they will both be Come All Ye evenings.

Vic Smith

The first ever European Folk Day will take place on Saturday 23 September 2023

The European Folk Day 2023 is a pilot project conceived and coordinated by members of the European Folk Network (EFN) with funding from the European Union via the MusicAIRE programme. The intention is to establish the European Folk Day as a key date in the folk annual calendar.

Background and objectives

The idea of the European Folk Day emerged during conversations within the EFN. It is an event directly related to one of the objectives of the network: to demonstrate the existence of a critical mass of people all over Europe, involved, in one way or another, in the traditional performing arts including music, dance, and storytelling.

Participation is open to any individual, band, institution, company, community, workshop, local group - indeed anyone who wants to join in with an activity related to folk music, dance or storytelling, either on-site or online. EVERYONE is welcome, whether or not they are members of EFN.

Participation can be as simple as recording a video with an old or new song, uploading it to social media and tag it with #europeanfolkday. As elaborate as a festival with several artists performing, on or around the time of 23 September and publicising it as part of the European Folk Day.

To find out more check out the new website at www.europeanfolkday.eu

The European Folk Day is by you, for you, for us!

Counting the number of musicians and dancers who flood into Broadstairs during Folk Week is a daunting task. But it’s safe to say – there are hundreds!

There are lots of venue choices of where to see them – if you prefer small acoustic venues – there’s the Sailing Club and Crampton Tower Museum.

For the headline concerts, the Baptist Centre auditorium has full PA, comfy chairs, air-con, proper toilets, an on-site café and small bar – and a lift.

Morris dancing displays take place around the town and at the Bandstand, as well as at the opening parade on Saturday 12.

Or there are plenty of joining in opportunities, from the daily Singalongs, Playalongs, music, dance and song workshops, mayhem at the Family Hobby Horse Club, Poets’ Breakfast, and of course, volunteering!

Dance News

The Sarah Thorne Theatre is once again the venue for dances and ceilidhs in 2023. On the Saturday 12th August, there’s a special celebration.

Ramsgate Folk Dance Club was formed in 1973 – 50 years ago this year - after moving to Broadstairs for a few years, it was sadly disbanded around 2002 through lack of new members. They have had a few reunions over the years and many members have kept in touch. There were a lot of really good years of dancing, much travelling and many friendships formed and retained.

Some of the driving forces in starting up this dance club then went on to get very involved in Broadstairs Folk Week, as one led to the other, with Bernie Porritt, Pam [Porritt] Wells and Linda [Wood] Owen, standing back from the club organisation as they got more heavily involved in Folk Week in the 1980s.

“Broadstairs Folk Week has very kindly agreed to mark the 50th year of the forming of RFDC with a dance on Saturday 12th August at the Sarah Thorne Theatre [Hilderstone College hall] with our very own RFDC member Mic Spenceley as the caller and musicians, old friend Brian Stone with Elaine Meecham as the band Portland

Drive Duo.” Pam

The rest of the week has daily lunchtime and evening ceilidhs with the Hot Rats, the Hill Top Ceilidh band, Banter, the Relentless Ceilidh Band, Paul Hutchinson and Karen Wimhurst, Crowdy Kit, the Rejigged Ceilidh Band, the Tonic Ceilidh band and a visit from the EFDSS Workshop Ceilidh band from Cecil Sharp House- lots of young musicians having a ball! Callers include Brian Stanton, Alison Rowley, Doug Hudson, Mic Spenceley and Ernestine Lawrence.

Madeleine Smith is the Dance Director and more info on the series of special Country Dance workshops can be found on the Folk Week website.

You can swing your partner at ceilidhs, let your hair down with Buffo’s Wake and Elvis Fontanot & the Sugar Bees, brush up your Appalachian clogging and dip a toe into French, Breton and Flemish dance.

Workshops

Join the Festival Choir, the Ukulele all-rounders, sing with Sarah Westcott, Ben & Dom, Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham and Chan Reid; learn African drumming with Rich Rhythms and many others for all levels and abilities.

James Kerry of the Hill Top Ceilidh band invites young people between 10 and 18 – to join him in creating the Band in a Weekend to create a musical journey together – of any type of music – just see what happens!

The Souvenir Programme will be published in mid-June – order online or phone 01843 604080 – it’s £7.50 including postage and packing and is packed full of information about the bands and daily events – plus it’s an important fund-raiser for Folk Week.

Join in and Dance, Sing, Play, Volunteer….

Folk Week is a community event, a registered charity and we ALWAYS needs volunteers!

You can be anything from 18 to 75 – and the mix of the generations is one of the great strengths of the festival.

In return for just 35 hours a week you will have the opportunity to explore this amazingly diverse festival, plus free camping. When you’re not working, there’s a huge range of concerts, workshops and dances for you to enjoy as part of your festival week ticket. So – if you’d love to experience the full festival week on a limited budget – this is the way to do it!

Visit the Folk Week website – www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk and check into our online portal where you can fill in the form. Or email us on info@broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk or call us on 01843 604080.and we’ll send you a form.

We’re looking forward to seeing you in August!

The AFO Conference 2023 postponed

For some time now the Association of Festival Organisers has been advertising the fact that they will be running a face-to-face Conference in early November 2023, the first for over two years. However, they are in the middle of a membership campaign, talking to members about the cost of running AFO and membership fee changes. They are also talking about subject matter and issues that festivals and events are now having to deal with. To this end they have decided that November is too early to put in place a whole Conference based on the experiences of the 2023 season. So, the Conference has been moved 10th February 2024. If you are involved in running a festival put that date in your diary now, Saturday February 10 from 10am to 6pm in a venue in the Midlands for the first face-to-face Conference since before Covid. Keep an eye on their website at www.festivalorganisers.org/conference for more details as it happens.

Always great live acoustic music

62 Sweyn Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2DD 07902140248

Doors 7pm Bar, Seated concerts, on one level

£12 if you can afford it please, otherwise £6 ,no questions asked

1st hour only livestreamed 7.30 YouTube www.rosslyncourt.com/concerts

June 1 annA rydeR original & inventive... + a song or two from Gerry Colvin

June 8 Shake Me Up Sally - Sally Ironmonger, Brian Carter, Tony & Lesley Petty cool harmonies

June 15 Na Mara -Return! incisive stories in song.

June 22 Charlie Hannah Catchy choruses, humour

June 29 Snottledogs - glorious inclusive shanty singing

July 13 English/US folk songs &tunes. Foot tapping great

July 20 Ben Paley - possibly the best fiddle player you will hear this year. Songs and wit. Perfect

July 27 tba

Monthly...

Every 3rd Tuesday Irish session 8pm pay what you can

Every 3rd Wed Jazz at 8 with Tony Hudd and guests/ £10

Every last Monday Scratch band with James Kerry 6-8 £10 all instruments all levels, fun session in the bar

Every last Sunday French Connection -play or dance, £5

French/Flemish/Breton dances - live music & caller 12-4.30