pring brings the promise of new life and rejuvenation. All around our patch, Morris sides are girding their loins for a new dancing season, and in this issue our roving reporter looks into Morris on May Day, tracing its history back to its origins in ancient fertility rituals. Folk music itself continually needs new blood, and in our last issue we took pride in the healthy state of recruitment – the Radio 2 Folk Awards, where emerging talents competed on broadly equal terms with more established artists, justified our optimism. Folk music has benefited from an education system which provided a steady stream of recruits, many with a good general grounding, some with advanced musical proficiency. However, student numbers in formal music education – GCSE and A-level, instrument grades, youth orchestras and bands – have been steadily falling. Teachers suggest various reasons, such as the rival attractions of sport and socialising, the easy thrill of computer games, and of course the recession. To these factors must now be added the marginalisation of music in the school curriculum, and the consequent reduction in funding.
A recent Ofsted report found that only a minority of pupils now receive a good-quality music education, suggesting that in future folk music may have more difficulty in passing the baton to the next generation. One established and highly effective way of passing on the techniques and the ethos of folk music is informal coaching at the local club, but we also need to replace at least some of the formal tuition previously provided by schools. Many of you already participate in training schemes, some of which involve working with schools (as EFDSS does), while others are led by private concerns like the Stables, by music trusts and foundations such as Folkstock, or by the many independent teachers in our region. We believe that education and training will become a continuing strand in Unicorn, and we begin with some thoughtful observations from readers (see our blog), a news snippet in Chatterbox, and of course with the forthright views of Long Lankin. If you’d like to join the discussion, drop us a line. Meanwhile, we’ll see you round the clubs and the maypoles. Simon, Clive & Mike
Editorial
1
Unicorn Diary
Contents
1
Club Index
26
Interview: The Foxglove Trio
3
Tune: St Anne’s at Sunset
29
Chatterbox
5
Feature: St Albans Folk Festival
31
Club Profile: Royston Folk Club
7
Shall We Dance?
34
Book Review: English Folk Tunes for Uke
8
Feature: Towersey Folk Festival
39
Sessions
10
Interview: Nikita Strange, Limelight
42
Feature: Morris on Mayday
13
Advertiser Information
43
14 – 15
23 – 25
Feature: Folk on Internet Radio
44
Feature: Said The Maiden
19
Interview: Dan Evans
47
CD Reviews
20
Broadside by Long Lankin
48
Morris Diary
Front cover photo by Al Rogers – “The Dudley Fighting Guitar” Resonator guitar courtesy of Peter Phipps
Editorial Staff: Simon Bailes 07808 535110 unicornmagazine@hotmail.co.uk Clive Batkin 07771 822414 clive@cbatkin.plus.com Mike Nacey 07879 024193 mi.ken@hotmail.co.uk Contact address: 10 Chapel Street, Dunton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RW Printed by KJB UK Ltd
© Unicorn Magazine 2014 CB1069 • April 2014
Visit our website at www.unicornmagazine.org Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
1
2
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
The Foxglove Trio
T
he Foxglove Trio make an instant impression. Seeing them for the first time at St Alban’s Folk Day last year, I was struck by their rich sound, their inventive arrangements, and most of all by their assured approach to performance. Catching up with them in February at NAF Club, Silsoe, we chatted about what goes into creating their distinctive performances. The Trio comprises Cathy Mason on guitar and cello, Ffion Mair on whistle and bodhran, and Patrick Dean on melodeon, cello and concertina; all three also sing. The cellos are deployed in a style which evokes a string quartet, whether using double-stopping to create full chords, or weaving a sinuous counterpoint around the melody. Add to this Ffion’s precise vocal phrasing and articulation, and the carefully balanced structure of their material, and the classical influence is clear. How has their formal training contributed to their sound? Ffion suggests that it builds confidence, Cathy adding that it instils discipline in preparation and performance, but they feel strongly that a more important factor is their immersion in music-making from an early age. Ffion began singing in public aged three, entering competitions and rising to the level demanded by the International Eisteddfod. She thus gained a thorough grounding in the folk tradition, while working through the grades in oboe, harp, piano and recorder. Cathy started at about 6 on piano, moving quickly to cello in the school orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Wales. Patrick was a late starter, reaching the grand age of seven before embarking on cello grades, and like Cathy he moved into folk at 6th form and university. What musical influences help shape the sound? Ffion is wary of the question: “We try not to base our sound on any one band or musical style.” Patrick amplifies her point, saying “We are as likely to draw inspiration from Radiohead as from Bellowhead”, while Cathy cites pop band Muse, who “in their use of orchestral interludes and piano solos inspire me not to be scared of experimenting”. Yet they do admit to some folk influences. Ffion admires singers Julie Murphy and Kris Drever for their voice quality, “genuine, understated and always clear”. Patrick’s favourites include Bellowhead cellist Rachael McShane and
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
melodeon maestro Andy Cutting, plus Oysterband, Faustus, Lau and Peatbog Faeries. Another factor, less tangible but equally important in creating a coherent sound, is that the Foxgloves are entirely comfortable in each other’s company, both musically and personally. Ffion and Patrick were friends at Durham University, and are now married, while Ffion and Cathy began playing together at 6th form college in south Wales. Ffion went solo after reaching the New Roots finals, and turned naturally to her comrades when the band formed in November 2010. The Foxgloves plan to release their first full CD in late summer or autumn. Patrick explains that they intend to include more self-penned songs and reworkings of traditional material, alongside some well-known singalong favourites. Meanwhile Ffion, a native Welsh speaker, has started a blog to explore the rich seam of Welsh song, focusing on less well-known traditional material. The Foxglove Trio are right to assert that their music resists categorisation. This elusive quality reflects the sheer diversity of their influences, drawn from their classical training, allied to a keen appreciation of folk music, and informed by eclectic listening tastes. This potent blend encourages an approach to innovation which respects convention without being hindered by it, and I for one look forward to discovering where this will take them next. Mike Nacey Foxglove Trio website: www.thefoxglovetrio.co.uk Welsh folk song blog: caneuongwerin.wordpress.com
(L to R) Patrick Dean, Ffion Mair, Cathy Mason
www.unicornmagazine.org
3
The George, High Street, Silsoe, Beds MK45 4EP 1st April 6th May 3rd June 1st July 5th August
KARA Singaround Kelly Oliver Singaround Leon
Admission ÂŁ2.50. Starts 8pm. Floor Singers always welcome. Contact Ned: 01525 860846
4
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
The Full English in MK: Barry Goodman and Graeme Meek (Beds / Herts based duo Life & Times) are working with Patrick Dean (The Foxglove Trio) on the EFDSS Full English project, using the society’s recently digitised archive of traditional material to inspire workshops around the country. At Loughton School, Milton Keynes, their workshops are augmenting the school’s own work on local history. Patrick will help Barry with the dance element, teaching children a local May song collected by Douglas Kennedy; Graeme will prepare May celebratory paraphernalia such as a hobby horse and May garlands, for Year 3 children to decorate. Graeme and Barry will then work with each class to write songs about the area, set to traditional tunes. The project ends in June at Birmingham Town Hall, when all 18 participating schools in England will present a short performance, backed by a house band including Graeme and led by John Kirkpatrick. Folk by the Oak: Tickets are on sale for the 7th annual festival on Sunday 20 July – for early bird tickets see www.folkbytheoak.com. Lineup includes Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Kathryn Tickell and The Side, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. Also, the Elizabethan Session will create new music inspired by the Elizabethan age, rounding off a project commissioned by Folk by the Oak and EFDSS – see www.folkbytheoak.com/TES. Folkstock: The recent Herts-based Love Folk Live events drew an impressive array of talented local acts, awards going to musicians ranging in age from 16 to 64, and including six female solo and duos, five male solo or duos, and five mixed acts. Next up is Dave Swarbrick’s solo national tour. Herts-based trio Said the Maiden will open for Swarb, and there is still time for another young local act to feature in the concert on 24th May at Harpenden Public Halls – but hurry! www.folkstockartsfoundation.com/daveswarbrick-tour/
Dave assures us that his mainspring is still in good order, and he plans to spend more time playing his trusty guitar – perhaps with banjo or mandolin as a new sideline. His many customers will miss his enthusiasm, unfailing good humour and excellent service, and will no doubt join us in sending him our best wishes. Puzzles & competitions: Unicorn reader Clive Brittain muses, as he does, on whether Unicorn could become more interactive. We must admit that our blog-based photo contest – Unicorn in farflung places – is not over-subscribed, but would readers be more interested in quizzes or puzzles? And if so, do any of you have skills in that field? Answers, inevitably, on a postcard… CD reviews: While in feedback mode you may like to comment on our policy, established by Alan & Theo, of reviewing only CDs by locally-based artists. We have no plans to abandon this local focus, but we receive a steady stream of CDs from artists outside the region – when time and space permit, would you like us to review the pick of these?
Black Fen FC (formerly Cambridge Portland FC) has settled at the new venue, Hot Numbers Cafe, Gwydir St, Cambridge, and continues to run club nights on Sundays – see Unicorn Diary (P23-25). Unicorn Ceilidhs welcome Panjandrum with Gordon Potts on 27th June. The musicians are ex-Committee Band members who have a good following, and Gordon is one of the UK’s top 10 callers. Watford FC’s Song Competition is now firmly established, attracting a record number of entries in 2013. They look forward to even more this year, when the theme “War & Peace” will mark the centenary of the start of WW1. For details, see the ad on page 32.
Hobgoblin branch closes: Hobgoblin’s Newport Pagnell shop closed on 28th February, when proprietor Dave Soulsby retired. Dave told Unicorn that he had thoroughly enjoyed running the shop, but after 10 years – his longest spell in a job – he felt ready for a change. Awaiting him is, “apparently, a list of domestic things that I must follow, long enough to see me through to 2044 or when my mainspring goes, whichever is sooner”. Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
5
A FESTIVAL OF FOLK’S FINEST ACTS GATHERED IN BEAUTIFUL LEAFY PARKLAND FOR ONE UPLIFTING SUMMER DAY OF MUSIC.
RICHARD THOMPSON SETH LAKEMAN KATHRYN TICKELL & THE SIDE THE ELIZABETHAN SESSION CATRIN FINCH & SECKOU KEITA JOSIENNE CLARKE & BEN WALKER
!#/2. 34!'%
PAPER AEROPLANES
KESTON COBBLERS’ CLUB JAYWALKERS • SALT HOUSE MAZ O’CONNOR LONDON YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE BRING A BOTTLE AND A PICNIC! FAMILY FRIENDLY • CRAFT TENT MUSIC STALLS • RECYCLED GIFTS DELICIOUS FOOD STALLS REAL ALE BAR CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES STORYTELLING
WWW.FOLKBYTHEOAK.COM OR CALL THE BOX OFFICE ON: 01432 355 416
I
Music type: Any type of acoustic music within reason Meets 2nd Fridays (Open Mics); last Friday (Concerts) Admission charge: Open Mic: £4, £3 performers, £2 under 25s; Concerts: usually £10, £8 in advance, £2 under 25s Guests: Nationally known artists; the cream of local artists showcased at support slots and Open Mics Venue name: The Old Bull Inn Venue address: 56 High St, Royston, Herts, SG8 9AW Parking: Limited venue car park, plenty in car park outside Club contacts: • Chris Walls (Concerts) / Mark Gamon (Open Mics) • Chris: 01763 260556 / Mark: 07738 183158 • chris.r.walls@hotmail.co.uk / markg@markgamon.com
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
n 2012 Mike Farrow resurrected the defunct Royston Folk Club – to immediate acclaim. Since then the club has gone from strength to strength, Piefinger with concerts and open mics alternating every two weeks throughout the year. The venue is spacious and salubrious; the sound consistently good and the audience delightful. Our concert artists vary from the nationally known (eg Gordon Giltrap & Richard Digance) through to local breakthrough performers like the Ben Smith Band. Our Open Mics have begun to achieve legendary status – popular among artists because we try and give everyone a fair crack of the whip; and popular with the audience because Royston seems to be packed with people who like nothing better than a regular potpourri of fine acoustical music. Open Mics tend to book up early, so new performers need to get in touch well in advance, but they’ll always be sure of two turns (and four songs) in the spotlight. www.roystonfolk.org or www.facebook.com/groups/621216324567881
www.unicornmagazine.org
7
h Folk Tunes
r Ukulele
Colin Tribe
English Folk Tunes for Ukulele – 37 Traditional Pieces
ES
ING ING
Colin Tribe Schott ED13569
ED
I
had a lot of fun with this book, and look forward to more enjoyment from it over Edition with CD | ED 13569 | £11.99 the coming weeks and months. As you’d expect, the book mostly comprises transcriptions of folk tunes in standard notation and tablature. They’re all very well-known ludes titles for Violin, Accordion, Flute, Guitar & Piano andforthe are easy to follow, even for hott-music.co.uk morearrangements details a simple strummer like me, so it’s a great way to explore the world of finger-picking and melody For more information: chott-music.com on the uke. That is really its strength: introducing ough Street, London W1F 7BB some useful techniques in a very accessible way.
The tunes are presented in a sensible order, gradually bringing in new fretboard tricks, and the layout is clear and legible. The accompanying CD demonstrates all 37 tunes as written, so if you’re not sure how they’re meant to sound the recording provides the answer. With a pithy introduction and notes about the provenance of the tunes, it’s a pretty comprehensive package. I have minor quibbles. The recording quality is a little variable, and while most tunes are very good, there are a couple where the sound isn’t so hot – and there’s no excuse for the one or two where the uke is not in tune. (“How can you tell? It’s a ukulele” I hear the Philistines mumble.) Also, some arrangements might be judged pedestrian, but that would do a disservice to the book’s purpose of introducing melody and fingerpicking to humble strummers like yours truly. Recommended.
UM2 Quarter Page (portrait) STACEY BANJOS 2.pdf
Hamish Currie (Founder and leading light of Berkhamsted Ukulele Random Players (BURP) – www.BURPmusic.com) 24/4/13
11:32:08
STACEY BANJOS REPAIRS SET-UPS & RESTORATION TO: ACOUSTIC GUITARS ELECTRIC GUITARS CLASSICAL GUITARS BANJOS & MANDOLINS BANJOS BUILT TO ORDER
‘For folk music... read good music...’ Contemporary. Traditional. Folk. Blues. Bluegrass. Country. Songwriters. Singers. Instrumentalists. Footstomping dance bands. Even a well-tempered electric guitar if it fits... Open Mics: second Friday of the month Concerts: last Friday of the month
DAVE STACEY 19 FIELD LANE LETCHWORTH HERTS SG6 3LF 01462 683074
8
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
www.roystonfolk.org Open mic bookings: 07738 183158 markg@roystonfolk.org
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
9
Sunday Lunchtimes STONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar (Weekly): Jane Armour, 01908 566407
Sunday Evenings ASTON CLINTON • Oak PH (8pm, 3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 ELSTREE • Waggon & Horses (last, 5 – 8pm): Nick, 020 8953 5231 MILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com (Weekly) MILTON KEYNES • New Inn, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 OLD STRATFORD • The Swan (3rd): Cliff Burt, 01908 564932 RADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Watling St (5pm, 4th): Nick, 020 8953 5231 ST ALBANS • Farmers Boy, London Rd (1st): Nick, 020 8953 5231
Monday Evenings ASHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091 BERKHAMSTED • George & Dragon, Northchurch (1st & 3rd – Open Mic): Mick, 01442 864533 (pub) CHATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 01354 652868 COTTENHAM • The Chequers (2nd): Nigel, 01954 789751 SOHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 TOTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (9pm, weekly): 01582 661294 (pub)
Tuesday Evenings BENINGTON • The Bell (4th): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 DUNSTABLE • Globe, Winfield St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300 DUNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub) GT WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280 HISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553 MARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868 RICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (3rd): Michael, 01923 770425 ST ALBANS • King Harry, King Harry Lane (1st, songs & tunes): Jenny, 01582 793164 TRING • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, HP23 5QE (1st, Trad Irish): Chan Reid, 07962 424 666 WOOTTON (Beds) • The Cock, MK43 9JT (8pm, broad acoustic & folk): Pub (Karen), 01234 930034
10
Wednesday Evenings MPTHILL • Albion, MK45 2JT (2nd), A trad English music: Taz: taztarry@btinternet.com, 0787 028 1945 BARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, 2/4, 16/4, 30/4, 14/5, 28/5, 11/6, 25/6): Ann 01582 560815 CAMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2/4, 14/5, 11/6, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 ELSTREE • Waggon & Horses (2nd): Nick, 020 8953 5231 ELY • Kings Arms , St Marys St (last): Liam, laimdebrun@outlook.co.uk, 07905 044932 MARCH • March Folk Club, Royal British Legion Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, PE15 8DP (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 01354 652868 ST ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (8.30pm, weekly, mainly music): Trevor Hacking, 01923 351739 TOWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8pm, 3rd): Linda Dorman, 01296 613742 WELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758
Thursday Evenings ROXLEY GREEN • The Shed, rear of Sportsman PH C (8.15 – 11.00, 1st, song & acoustic music): Paul K, 07970 188026 HERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd): Keith Acheson, 07979 841079 HUNTON BRIDGE • King’s Head (4th): Tim, 01923 264536 KIMPTON • White Horse (2nd): Doug, 07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com LUTON • Castle PH, LU1 3AA (weekly): Nigel Bailey, 07788 431470 TOWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322 WOBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660
Friday Evenings OTTON • Red Lion (8.30, 3rd): P Phil & Jan, 01767 260041 ROYSTON • Old Bull Inn SG8 9AW (2nd): Michael Farrow, 01763 249296, www.roystonfolk.org ST NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (11/4, 9/5, 13/6): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org STEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales, MK18 2NP (2nd – Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
‘The one indisputable young star of British folk’ - The Times
Eliza Carthy
&
Saul Rose
Sunday 27th April 2014 at 8pm St George’s Church Headstone Pinner View Harrow HA1 4RJ www.stgeorgeheadstone.org.uk
Admission £20 Box Office: 0208 863 8937 megpointer@supanet.com
Sponsored by The
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Harrow Hotel www.harrow-hotel.co.uk www.unicornmagazine.org
11
12
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Some more historical stuff
Morris on May Day – why do we do it?
M
orris dancing on May Day was first recorded in mediaeval times, and was certainly well established enough by Shakespeare’s time to warrant a mention in All’s Well that Ends Well. But in our Morris revival age, with only the most tentative links to the ancient, what are people getting up to?
Morris teams and their recent customs Bedfordshire’s Redbornstoke and Bedfordshire Lace have danced at dawn at Katharine’s Cross, Ampthill Park, since the mid-1980s. Jenny Howard commented on their choice of location: “I think just because it’s high up, which seems to be desirable; we actually have a dance called ‘Katharine’s Cross’ that we never do there!” At the other end of the spectrum, Pig Dyke Molly can be found at Holme Fen, the lowest point in England. Tony Forster explained: Since 1 May 1988 I have been at Holme Fen at 5.15 am. We have no idea why… except that it is nice to get up at sunrise and it is easy to remember 1 May. The bucks fizz and breakfast are good... the woods are beautiful… that is reason enough.” Across the country, similar celebrations take place. Paula Lazar of Silhill Morris told me about their “spring rites” in the grounds of Packwood House: “Dancing on May Day / Beltane wakes the ground to welcome nature to its fullest… then it’s back to someone’s house for breakfast.”
It’s easy to see why May Day was the choice for festivities: the crops were planted; it was the first day of summer in the pre-1752 calendar; it falls in the first week guaranteed to be after Easter (important in the days of rigorous Lenten fasting). George Long, writing in 1930, suggests that “Maying” might go back to the earliest days of agriculture: “…simple rites were performed to ensure the safety of the harvest, fertility of flocks, or the success of tribal hunting. …the re-birth of nature was a time which naturally appealed.”
Dancing at dawn – a new tradition? Despite all this, it seems that dancing at dawn may not be as “traditional” as we might have thought. A survey conducted by the Morris Dancing Discussion List discovered that “the custom arose more or less spontaneously all over the country during the 1970s as teams began to feel it was the ‘thing to do’. It seems to have actually started in Oxford in the 1920s to accompany the other Oxford early morning celebrations, but only became widespread in the 70s”. Pilgrim Morris’ website tells a similar tale, saying: “The first recorded incident of Morris dancing at dawn on May Day is from 1923. In that year the Oxford Morris Men decided to join in the May Day Dawn celebrations at Magdalen College.” The Oxford tradition stems from the 17th Century and the composition of Hymnus Eucharisticus by a Fellow of Magdalen College. Since then, the college’s choir has sung it on the bridge at 6.00am on May Day – perhaps it’s inevitable that the Morris tradition cottoned on to the chance to have a good time and incorporated their own revelry. Maybe the only surprise is that it took so long. Sarah Sennett
Kennet Morris Men used to dance at Reading Abbey, believed to be the birthplace of the May Day song “Summer is Icumen In” – a manuscript from 1240 was found at Reading and a stone tablet in the Abbey ruins bears an inscription of the song. Sadly, the Abbey has fallen into disrepair and is no longer accessible, but there is the possibility of a Lottery grant on the horizon to enable restoration work.
Photo by Clive Batkin
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
13
Tue
1
8pm
4–6
Weekend
Sat
5
All day
Tue
8
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice
Thur
10
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Keats House, Hampstead NW3 2RR with John Hegley
Tue
15
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice
Tue
22
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice
Wed
23
8pm
BALDOCK • Orange Tree, Norton Road, Baldock
Fri – Sun
LETCHWORTH • Devil’s Dyke Morris Meeting BALDOCK • Thriplow Daffodil Fair, with Bunnies from Hell
7.30pm
OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Unicorn Ceilidh Interval Spot
Fri
25
9.15pm
Sat
26
Day
LETCHWORTH • Hook Norton Brewery Tour
Tue
29
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice
Thur
1
7.30am
BALDOCK • High St, Baldock, then local schools
6.30am
LETCHWORTH • Ickwell Green - with Bedford MM and Offley MM (Followed by tour of Letchworth Schools) BALDOCK • Rochester Sweeps Festival
Sat
3
All day
Mon
5
12 noon
LETCHWORTH • Crown, Northill, with Bedford MM, then Ickwell May Fair
6.30am
WHITCHURCH • Coombe Hill Monument near Wendover SP849066
1pm
9am 10.30am 12.00 noon
OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Campbell Park, Milton Keynes
WHITCHURCH • Hampden Arms, Great Hampden HP16 9RQ WHITCHURCH • World’s End Garden Centre, near Wendover HP22 6BD WHITCHURCH • May Fair, Whitchurch HP22 4JG
2.15pm
WHITCHURCH • Pitstone Green Farm Museum LU7 9EY WICKET BROOD • Rising Sun, Berkhamstead HP4 3EG
Tue
6
8pm
Thur
8
8.15pm
LETCHWORTH • March Hare, Dunton
Sat
10
All day
BALDOCK • Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance, Cambridge
Day
14
WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice
LETCHWORTH • Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance, Cambridge
Sun
11
12–4pm
Mon
12
Afternoon
LETCHWORTH • Ashwell at Home
Tue
13
8pm
WHITCHURCH • Angler’s Retreat, Marsworth HP23 4LJ
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Cricketers, Redbourn AL3 7ND
Sat
17
All day
Tue
20
8pm
BALDOCK • Lytton Arms, Knebworth SG3 6QB (tbc)
8pm
WHITCHURCH • Plough, Cadsden HP27 0NB
LETCHWORTH • Walsworth Festival, Hitchin
BALDOCK • BMM Day of Dance, Baldock
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
8pm Thur
22
WICKET BROOD • Cat & Fiddle, Radlett WD7 7JR
8.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Bucks Head, Little Wymondley (tbc)
9.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Green Man, Great Wymondley
Sat
24
Mon
26
Tue
27
8pm
BALDOCK • Fox, Pirton SG5 3PS (tbc)
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Green Dragon, London Colney AL2 1RB
Thur
29
7.30pm
LETCHWORTH • Standalone Farm, Letchworth
8.30pm
LETCHWORTH • Three Horseshoes, Norton (tbc)
Fri–Sun
30/5 – 1/6
Sat
31
Tue
3
Thur
Tue
Thur
5
10
12
WHITCHURCH • Yorkshire Dales, hosts Leeds Morris Men WHITCHURCH • Yorkshire Dales, hosts Leeds Morris Men
Weekend
LETCHWORTH • Thaxted Ring Meeting WHITCHURCH • Thaxted Ring Meeting, hosts Thaxted Morris Men
8pm
BALDOCK • Jolly Waggoner, Ardeley SG2 7AH (tbc)
8pm
WHITCHURCH • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne HP23 5QE
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans AL3 4HE
8.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Cock, Broom
9.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Five Bells, Henlow
8pm
BALDOCK • Bushel & Strike, Ashwell SG7 5LY (tbc)
8pm
WHITCHURCH • Hampden Arms, Great Hampden HP16 9RQ
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, Tring HP23 5QE
8.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Fox, Willian
9.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Three Horseshoes, Willian
Sat
14
Afternoon
Tue
17
8pm
BALDOCK • Lordship Arms, Bennington SG2 7BX (tbc)
8pm
WHITCHURCH • George & Dragon, Quainton HP22 4AR
Thur
19
LETCHWORTH • Morris Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre
8.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Strathmore Arms, St Pauls Walden
9.15pm
LETCHWORTH • Red Lion, Preston
Sat
21
Afternoon
Mon
23
7.30pm
Tue
24
8pm
BALDOCK • Waggoners, Ayot Green AL6 9AA (tbc)
8pm
WHITCHURCH • Oak, Aston Clinton HP22 5EU
8pm
WICKET BROOD • Three Horseshoes, Winkwell HP1 2RZ
8pm
LETCHWORTH • Ashwell Tour
Thur
26
BALDOCK Midnight Morris – Mixed Cotswold Contact: Joyce Ormrod 01525 630 546 • 0759 280 0984 info@baldockmidnightmorris.org.uk LETCHWORTH Morris – Men’s Cotswold Bagman: Theo Thomas • 01582 882 831 www.letchworthmorris.org.uk
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
BALDOCK • Buntingford Carnival OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • The Hub Piazza, Central Milton Keynes (tbc)
OLD MOTHER REDCAPS – Garland, Manx Folk Contact: Catherine Held • 01908 667112 https://sites.google.com/site/ oldmotherredcapsmorris/ WHITCHURCH Morris – Men’s Cotswold Bagman: John Bush • 01296 641 382 info@whitchurchmorris.org.uk www.whitchurchmorris.org.uk
www.unicornmagazine.org
WICKET BROOD – Border Morris St Stephen Parish Centre, Station Rd, Bricket Wood AL2 3PJ Contact: Gill Clough bagman@wicketbrood.org.uk www.wicketbrood.org.uk
15
An evening of English and Irish Contemporary and Traditional Folk Music
(including nibbles)
As seen at festivals, folk clubs & pubs with a host of tunes using a broad range of instruments
A dynamic trio with original songs of love and hope mixed with classic Irish songs and traditional Irish music
Profits to be split between Parkinson’s UK and Town Mayor’s Charities Bar Available Box Office 01525 631900 Organised by Flitwick Town Council www.flitwick.gov.uk info@flitwick.gov.uk
16
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
music dance education library art cafe bar
At the heart of English folk 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY cecilsharphouse.org | 0844 888 9991
Summer highlights The Patsy Reid Band
Jez Lowe
30 April, 7.30pm
Pared back, acoustic and unmissable. Don’t miss this stalwart of English folk music performing in Cecil Sharp House’s most intimate space.
Up Close and Acoustic 18 May, 7.30pm
Highly accomplished Scottish fiddle player Patsy performs songs from her latest album, The Brightest Path.
Tickets* £12
Tickets* £14
May in a Day!
Blair Dunlop
10 May, 2 - 5pm Tickets* £6 adults | £4 under 18s | Under 2’s free | Family group £18*
31 May, 7.30pm Celebrating the launch of Blair’s highly-anticipated second album, House of Jacks.
Tickets* £14
*A group of 4 including at least one child and one adult.
Folklore in England: Level 1
Bella Hardy & The Midnight Watch
14, 21, 28 May | 4, 11, 18 June, 7 - 9pm Fee £66 | £54 concessions education@efdss.org
5 June, 7.30pm Join Bella (BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year) as she celebrates her 30th birthday and career highlights to date.
Tickets* £12
Martin Simpson
Get your Folk on! Juniors
17 May, 7.30pm
*Booking fees apply.
One of the world’s greatest acoustic and slide guitar players performing his Prodigal Son and Kind Letters albums, in their entirety.
11 - 15 August, 2 - 4.30pm An exciting week long introduction to folk music.
Fee £40 | £32 concessions education@efdss.org
Tickets* £15
/cecilsharphouse @cecilsharphouse
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Step-free access now available
Promoter
Supporters
www.unicornmagazine.org
17
Tam Lin & caller Al Hewson Celebrate 15 years on the road from Dorset to the Shetland Isles and welcome you to a
Ceilidh/Barn Dance Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre, High St, Baldock SG7 6AR
Friday April 11th 8 - 11pm Adults £10 under 18s £5 Licenced bar
Info/Tickets:
Alan & Sue 01767 683583
alan@madnanny.co.uk
*************************************************************
Baldock & Letchworth Folk Club Unless otherwise stated: £6 member cons ≤£7 members ≤ £8 non-members ≤ under 16s free 8.30pm Wednesdays See website for full artiste info
Apr 02
Joe Topping
www.joetoppingmusic.com
Exceptional singer songwriter; a lovely melodious voice & a very fine guitarist.
Apr 09
Evie Ladin & Keith Terry
www.evieladin.com
Bursting with talent ; energetic & electrifying clawhammer banjo, bass, percussive dance and songs with nuanced and emotive vocals.
Apr 16
David Newey & Shona Kipling
www.davidandshona.co.uk
Accordion, guitar, voice, & two of the finest young musicians in the country.
Apr 23
Club’s 15th birthday featuring:
Chris Sissons, Dorrie Randall, Dave Stacey, Pat Crilly, Richard Harradine, Robin Harper, Viv Lucas & more
Apr 30
Jez Lowe
www.jezlowe.com
One of the most engaging & entertaining singer song writers in the folk genre.
May 07 Pyrates!
www.pyrates.co.uk
Dressed in pirate costume; sea faring songs an’ all in tha' quay of ARRRR! Wonderful!
May 14 Sarah McQuaid
www.sarahmcquaid.com
Lovely guitar & a voice like malt whiskey, melted chocolate & “honey poured into wine” Minor 7th
May 21 John Doyle
www.johndoylemusic.com
Considered one of the most important guitarists in Irish and acoustic music worldwide, he is also lauded for his singing & songwriting talents.
May 28 Louise Jordan
http://louisejordan.co.uk
“Absolutely, totally and completely brilliant” Mike Harding, BBC
Jne 04
The Devine Family
www.johndevinemusic.com
Irish music with Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Vocals, Sax, Tenor Banjo, Guitar & more.
Jne 11
na-mara
www.na-mara.com
Traditional & self penned material; great songs with mandolin & guitar.
Jne 18
John Kirkpatrick
www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk
BBC Folk Musician of the Year 2010 and England’s best love master of the squeezbox.
The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact us: Tel: 01767 683583 email: alan@madnanny.co.uk
18
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Local Band ‘Said The Maiden’ to Tour with Dave Swarbrick
S
aid the Maiden are the new girls on the block. Friends since school, they started performing at Redbourn Folk Club and were astonished at the reaction. This spurred them to learn more songs, and bookings at festivals and clubs across the country soon came their way. Their voices meld into one in unison singing, and their harmonies bring traditional English songs to life. A capella jostles with guitar, fiddle and flute to provide an exciting fresh take on these traditional songs.
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
This year, Dave Swarbrick embarks on his first solo UK tour, using it as an opportunity to showcase up-and-coming folk and acoustic talent. Through his role as Patron of the Folkstock Arts Foundation, Dave has discovered a huge pool of new and exciting musicians, and he is keen to involve some of this new talent in his performances. ‘Said The Maiden’ have been asked by Dave to tour with him as his support act; this will be the group’s first tour. Swarbrick has also enabled local acts to get involved, by choosing soloists or duos to open the shows at selected venues with a three-song slot.
were recorded by the artists, then sent to Dave to embellish with his incredible fiddle playing. The evening will be a slight departure from the normal concert, because we are incorporating an interactive session with Dave, in which he shares anecdotes, plays fiddle and answers questions from the audience in his most accessible tour yet. Details on tickets and times can be found at www.folkicons.co.uk/ swarbmenu.htm Jess Distill
On top of all this, Dave and Folkstock are producing an EP, which will be available to buy from Dave on the tour, featuring songs from some of his favourite new musical discoveries. The songs
www.unicornmagazine.org
19
“More than a little guitar” By Daniel Nestlerode
“Fire & Fortune” Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker Navigator 082
I
wondered why I had not heard Daniel before. With no help from sleeve notes, but rather his excellent website, I now know he is American, and only settled in Cambridge (UK) in 2012, having been born in Pennsylvania, and “seasoned” in California, as he puts it.
T
This goes a long way to explaining the sound and feel of the five self-penned songs included in this selection. He is chiefly a mandolinist – and a very good one – hence the album title. With due respect to the play on words, there is also more than a little guitar on this CD, again skilfully played by Daniel himself.
Their fundamentals are Josienne’s vocalising, emotionally expressive and technically exact (almost at times to the point of being mannered in its articulation and phrasing), and Ben’s guitar playing which is exemplary and exquisite in its sensitivity and symbiosis with the songs. I challenge anyone to find greater nuanced delicacy and subtlety in a guitar supporting role both in recorded and live performance.
In fact, except for a small vocal contribution from his producer, Daniel does everything. He sings very well, and plays guitar and three types of mandolin on one of his compositions, “Virginia Claire”, a dark song about a murder. I also like his own “A Winter’s Night”, with a very Denveresque arrangement, thanks to the mandolins. Good to hear some chopped mandolin on the up-tempo “Bury Me Beneath the Willow” – pure bluegrass. “Red River Valley” and “Long Black Veil” are a mite slow for my taste, but we Brits do tend to speed things up! If you haven’t seen him yet, you will. He visited dozens of local folk clubs last year, either as guest or support. And in case you’re wondering, he performs most of these songs live and brilliantly with just a mandolin. More info from www.nestlerode.co.uk. Mike Blair
he second full-length album release, following EPs The Seas are Deep and Homemade Heartache, by this young duo is refined, graceful and intense. Seven new compositions, musing mainly on love’s labours, fit comfortably with evocative interpretations of five traditional pieces.
The arrangements draw on evident classical training and experience in their elegance and sophistication but also include tinctures from jazz, flamenco and elsewhere. Josienne’s use of recorder and saxophone on two pieces and guest contributions of cello (Jo Silverston), double bass (John Parker) and violin (Basia Bartz), in particular (there is also some piano, drums and bodhran), contribute to the carefully calculated pace and space, textures, warmth and depth of the songs and, above all, their dramatic setting and atmosphere. So, if you like purity and honesty in the presentation of the song, June Tabor-esque timbres, and melancholy as your prevailing moods, you’ll find plentiful moving and haunting pleasure here. Very excellently recorded and mixed, with much clarity and brightness, in ‘Ben’s Room’, these two are surely destined for folk fame and fortune. Kevin T. Ward
20
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Exploring Folk Fiddle by Chris Haigh
An Introduction to Folk Styles, Techniques and Improvisation
m ! PRACTICAL DOWN TO EARTH AND IN DEPTH TUTOR BOOK COVERING ALL ASPECTS OF FOLK VIOLIN TECHNIQUE
m %XPLORING A HUGE VARIETY OF TECHNICAL ASPECTS INCLUDING ORNAMENTATION MODES AND SCALES AND IMPROVISATION
m ! BROAD SELECTION OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC STYLES AND CULTURES ARE PRESENTED
m )DEAL FOR THE DEVELOPING FOLK MUSICIAN OR CLASSICAL PLAYER LOOKING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENTÜ
Edition with CD | ED 13460 | £16.99
m )NCLUDING A #$ OF DEMO AND PLAY ALONG TRACKS
Available from all good music shops. For more information: T: 020 7534 0740 | E: marketing@schott-music.com Schott Music Ltd, 48 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7BB
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
21
FRIDAY 25th APRIL
the new slide with
alex cumming The New Slide are a new young southern English ceilidh band who play English and French-Canadian tunes. The band consists of Matt Quinn (Melodeons), Tom Redman (Bass Guitar), Nathan Armstrong (Piano) and Alex Cumming (Caller). They provide dance music that is lively and energetic, yet still maintains a very traditional sound. www.mattquinnmusic.co.uk http://alexcumming.webs.com/bands. htm
Interval: Old Mother Redcaps
Dance the night away . . . FRIDAY 30th MAY
ethel’s cats
C E I L I D H S
with
alison giles
FRIDAY 27th JUNE
Ethel's Cats are a three piece ceilidh band operating mostly around Peterborough and East Anglia. The name comes from one of the dances of Pig Dyke Molly, of which the band are all members. They are: Anahata: melodeon, Mary Humphreys: English concertina and Dave Parker: Sousaphone. Their music ranges from traditional to modern, but it's all superbly arranged and played, with the emphasis on danceability!
www.ethelscats.co.uk
E MONTH LAST FRIDAY IN TH idhs.org.uk www.unicornceil
Unicorn panjandrum with
gordon potts Rising from the ashes of the now sadly defunct Committee Band, Panjandrum are a band playing for English ceilidh dances with the emphasis on providing the most danceable, foottapping music. Their tunes come from all over the place: England, Italy, France, Sweden, Finland, Northolt – in fact anywhere that can provide you with memorable melodies. www.panjandrumband.co.uk
Tickets only £10.00 - Singles & groups welcome The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JH
22
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
REAL ALE BAR
Doors open 7.30pm 8.00pm till late
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Tue 1 ST.NEOTS • Open Stage Wed 2 BALDOCK • Joe Topping ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners Thur 3 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Keith Harrup BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Debra Cowan REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 4 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Tim Edey CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett & Spring Greens WATFORD • Malcolm Hobbs Sat 5 HADDENHAM • Steamchicken with Liam Robinson plus Taeppa’s Tump Sun 6 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Country Practice HITCHIN • Nancy Kerr & James Fagan plus Tom Ryder Mon 7 CHESHAM • Jim Causley HERGA • na-mara HITCHIN STAPLERS • ‘Zesty Playford’ evening, Colin Hume & Spring Greens LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 8 ST.NEOTS • Tannahill Weavers Wed 9 BALDOCK • Evie Ladin & Keith Terry ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 10 BEDFORD • Local Singers & Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Charles Day BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Steve Turner REDBOURN • Garry Smith Fri 11 BEDFORD FINE • Easter holidays – No club CAMBRIDGE • Dave Swarbrick FRIDAY FOLK • Ron Coxall & FF Band ROYSTON • The Legendary Royston Folk Club Open Mic! WATFORD • Maggie Boyle & Paul Downes Sun 13 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, plus Joe Topping & Scott Poley Mon 14 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Easter ‘All Come Ye’ LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Abbie Rechert, New Roots finalist Tue 15 ST.NEOTS • Bram Taylor Wed 16 BALDOCK • David Newey & Shona Kipling ELY • Vin Garbutt ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller: Judith Inman
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Thur 17 BEDFORD • Easter Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: John Green BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Billy Hill & Friends (TBC) REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 18 BEDFORD FINE • Easter holidays – No club CAMBRIDGE • Louise Jordan FRIDAY FOLK • Closed for Easter WATFORD • Good Friday - Closed Sun 20 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Ben Paley & Tab Hunter HITCHIN • Liz Simcock and Dave Ellis & Boo Howard Mon 21 CHESHAM • CLOSED - Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED – Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED – Public Holiday LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • CLOSED – Public Holiday Tue 22 ST.NEOTS • Where’s Spot Band Wed 23 BALDOCK • Club 15th Birthday (see advert p18) ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 24 BEDFORD • Come all Ye – everyone welcome BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Graham Foster BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Tinderbox (TBC) REDBOURN • Jed Grimes Fri 25 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Saul Bailey FRIDAY FOLK • Colin Hume & Mollie K ROYSTON • Richard Digance, support Ramon Goose WATFORD • Saul Rose & James Delarre Sun 27 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Mairearad Green & Anna Massey, plus The Carrivick Sisters Mon 28 CHESHAM • Singers Night featuring Hannah Saunders HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 29 ST.NEOTS • Round the Room Wed 30 BALDOCK • Jez Lowe LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers
www.unicornmagazine.org
23
Thur 1 BEDFORD • May Day Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Richard Spendlove BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 2 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Mentés Másként Trio CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett & FF Band WATFORD • Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer Sat 3 HADDENHAM • Burlesdon Village Band with Hugh Rippon plus The Bar Staff Sun 4 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Jim Causley Mon 5 CHESHAM • CLOSED – Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED - Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED – Public Holiday LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • CLOSED – Public Holiday Tue 6 ST.NEOTS • Anthony John Clarke Wed 7 BALDOCK • Pyrates! ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners Thur 8 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Kevin Prigmore BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Kyle Carey REDBOURN • Tom McConville Fri 9 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Romy FRIDAY FOLK • Rachel & Thomas Bending ROYSTON • The Legendary Royston Folk Club Open Mic! WATFORD • Singaround Sun 11 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Hannah James & Sam Sweeney Mon 12 CHESHAM • Eileen McGann & David K HERGA • Chris Flegg HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Chris Parkinson & Richard Grainger Tue 13 ST.NEOTS • The Young ‘uns Wed 14 BALDOCK • Sarah McQuaid ELY • Adrian Nation ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 15 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: John Green BISHOP’S STORTFORD • na-mara REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 16 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Fern Teather Band, Paul Goodwin, The Broadside Boys 24
CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Ced & Lorraine WATFORD • Simon Kempston Sun 18 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Guest night tbc ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Katherine Roberts & Sean Lakeman plus Kirsty Bromley Mon 19 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 20 ST.NEOTS • Terence Blackler Wed 21 BALDOCK • John Doyle ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller – Peter Bridgman Thur 22 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Roger Dover BISHOP’S STORTFORD • David Gibb REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 23 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Belshazzar’s Feast FRIDAY FOLK • Closed WATFORD • Singaround Sun 25 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Les Barker Mon 26 CHESHAM • CLOSED - Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED - Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED – Public Holiday LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • CLOSED – Public Holiday Tue 27 ST.NEOTS • Round the Room Wed 28 BALDOCK • Louise Jordan ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 29 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Terry Elvins BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Issy & David Emeney with Kate Riaz REDBOURN • GBH Fri 30 BEDFORD FINE • No Club – Half Term CAMBRIDGE • Matt Woosey, Holly Taymar, John Meed FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Bennett & FF Band ROYSTON • Issey & David Emeney, support Terry Emm WATFORD • Piefinger
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Sun 1 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Club Practice for Nevers HITCHIN • Phil Beer Mon 2 CHESHAM • Fabian Holland HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Russ Chandler Tue 3 ST.NEOTS • Maggie Boyle & Paul Downes Wed 4 BALDOCK • The Devine Family ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners Thur 5 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Lorraine & Ced Morgan BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Two Coats Colder REDBOURN • Jeff Warner Fri 6 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Dave Kerridge WATFORD • Singaround Fri/Sat 6/7 ST.NEOTS • Festival of Music, Dance & Song (see advert p45) Sat 7 HADDENHAM • Gareth Kiddier All Stars with Aidan Hansell plus Crooked Moon Sun 8 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Steve Knightly Mon 9 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 10 ST.NEOTS • Barron Brady Wed 11 BALDOCK • na-mara ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 12 BEDFORD • Come all Ye – everyone welcome BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Keith Harrup BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Rosa’s Very Beautiful Daughters REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 13 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Dave Ellis & Boo Howard FRIDAY FOLK • Mark Elvins, Barbara Burton & Martyn Boardman ROYSTON • The Legendary Royston Folk Club Open Mic! WATFORD • Kara Sun 15 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Guest night tbc ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Chris & Kellie While plus Christene Ledoux Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
REDBOURN • Folk on the Common, free outdoor concert 2–6pm Mon 16 CHESHAM • Broken Boat HERGA • Steve Turner HITCHIN STAPLERS • Maypole Evening, Pirton, Chris Turner & Cloudburst LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 17 ST.NEOTS • John Conolly Wed 18 BALDOCK • John Kirkpatrick ELY • Chris Sherburn & Findlay Napier ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller – Norman Hayes Thur 19 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: George Hearnden BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Black Scarr Fri 20 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Showcase for Young Artists CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett & Spring Greens WATFORD • Singaround Sun 22 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage Mon 23 CHESHAM • Singers Night featuring KARA HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 24 ST.NEOTS • Round the Room Wed 25 BALDOCK • Session ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thur 26 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Richard Spendlove BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Victoriana Gaye (TBC) REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 27 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Winter Wilson FRIDAY FOLK • Paul Garner & FF Band ROYSTON • Gordon Giltrap, support Carrick WATFORD • Liz Simcock Sun 29 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage Mon 30 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround
We desperately need help to distribute copies of our new Unicorn Magazine to the 60 or so distribution locations on our list. If you could help by taking copies to your club, session or venue every quarter, please contact us. Even small deliveries will help reduce our crippling postage & petrol bills!
www.unicornmagazine.org
25
BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact: Tel: 01767 683583 Email: alan@madnanny.co.uk BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Music Club Daley’s Club, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8BB Contact: Mike Blair, 01525 404513 or 01525 404304 See us on Facebook BEDFORD FDC • Bedford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574 BEDFORD FINE • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance Club Hazeldene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford MK41 9AT Contact: David Cooke, 01234 823920 www.finecompanions.synthasite.com BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Stortfolk Royal British Legion, 28 Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2NG Contact: Jon & Hilary McNamara, 01279 656664 www.beerfordbury.co.uk BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB Hot Numbers Café, Units 5 / 6 Dales Brewery, Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ Contact: Robin Gillan, 07847 680560 www.blackfenfolkclub.com CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk Club Golden Hind PH, 355 Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 1SP Contact: Marion Treby, 01638 603986 www.cambridgefolkclub.org CAMBRIDGE CONTRA URC Hall, Cherry Hinton Rd, Cambridge CB1 7UB Contact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641 www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra CHESHAM • Chesham Folk & Acoustic Music Club (Tudor Folk) Whitehill Centre, Chesham HP5 1AG Contact: Bob Templeman, 07771 727943 www.tudorfolkclub.org.uk ELY • Ely Folk Club The Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4ER (no bar) Contact: Ruth Bramley 01353 740999 / 664706 www.elyfolkclub.co.uk ENGLISH MISCELLANY East Hyde Village Hall, Lower Harpenden Rd (B653), nr Luton LU2 9QB Contact: Helen Stamp, 020 8386 3779 www.englishmiscellany.com FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance Club Methodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XG Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 www.fridayfolk.org.uk HADDENHAM CEILIDHS Haddenham Village Hall, nr Aylesbury Contact: 01296 415333, john@actionfolk.co.uk HERGA • Herga Folk Club Pinner Green Social Club, Rickmansworth Rd, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3TJ Contact: George Papavgeris 07747 768868 www.hergafolk.org
26
HITCHIN • Hitchin Folk Club Sun Hotel, Sun St, Hitchin, SG5 1AF Contact: Maureen Jones, 01462 812391 www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk HITCHIN STAPLERS • Staplers Country Dance Club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Rd, Hitchin SG4 9JP Contact: Cecilia Mills, 01582 881966 www.staplers.org.uk LEASIDERS • Leasiders Folk Dance Club Blenheim Baptist Church Hall, Blenheim Cres, Luton LU3 1HB Contact: Liz Patrick, 01582 732656 LINSLEIGHDERS: Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade LU7 2LW Contact: Mrs E.A. Corser, 01525 378010 MOGGERHANGER • Village Folk Moggerhanger Village Hall, Blunham Rd, Moggerhanger, MK44 3RD Contact: Chris Bashford, 01767 640242 chris@mainlinksystems.co.uk REDBOURN • Redbourn Folk Club Old Schoolroom, Hollybush PH, Church End, Redbourn AL3 7DU Contact: Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk ROYSTON • Royston Folk Club Old Bull Inn, 56 High St, Royston SG8 9AW Contact: Mark Gamon 07738 183158 www.roystonfolk.org STONY STRATFORD • The Song Loft Cock Hotel, High St, Stony Stratford, MK11 1AH Contact: Jane Armour, 01908 566407 www.thesongloft.co.uk ST.ALBANS • St Albans Folk Music The Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk
ST NEOTS • St Neots Folk Club Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots PE19 2BH Contact: Roger Pitt, 01234 376278 www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk Club Royal British Legion, Brooker Rd, Waltham Abbey EN9 1HY Contact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987 or 07799 407363 www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com, see us on Facebook WATFORD • Watford Folk Club Pump House, Local Board Rd, Lower High St, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Julian Mount, 07778 526489, watfordfolkclub@ outlook.com, www.folkatthepumphouse.webs.com, www.facebook.com/groups/watfordfolkclub/ WICKET BROOD • Wicket Brood Border Morris St Stephen Parish Centre, Station Rd, Bricket Wood AL2 3PJ Contact: Gill Clough, bagman@wicketbrood.org.uk www.wicketbrood.org.uk
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
27
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
29
April 4th
Tappalachian in “Across the Pond & Back Again” plus ‘Uncle Bob’ Scruton
May 9th
Katrina Gilmore & Jamie Roberts plus New Roots finalist
June 6th
Songs collected in Chiswell Green from the Page family and Emily Joiner sung by Steph West, Chuck & Angela Silverman, Irene Shettle & Brian Pearson
8.00pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Tickets £10, student concessions £8 from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo 0844 870 0887, St Albans Tourist & Information Centre
Further information: W: www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk E: info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk
Concert Tickets: £14, £8 student concessions. Available from Tourist Information Centre, Tel 01727 8645111 or online from www.allaroundstalbans.com
Saturday June 21st
TIVAL FOLK FES
S ST A2L1 B&A2N2 2014
126 Folk at Maltings Quarter Page (portrait).indd 1
June
• Day of Dance in St • Concert, 7.30pm Albans City Centre Jim Moray, Haddo, plus Emma Scarr, • Old Town Hall Folk Day winner of Watford Free events during Folk Club songwriting the day with showcase competition & in the Old Court New Roots 2014 Room & singarounds finalist (tba) in the cells. Sessions in the White Swan, Dagnall Street.
st
nd
10/2/14 10:28:1
Sunday June 22nd • Sessions & singarounds being arranged
Wednesday July 2nd • St Michaelʼs Street folk evening Dancing in the street & music in its three pubs
Enquiries: 01727 852111/ 833028 Email: info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk • Web: www.stalbansfolkfestival.co.uk
30
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
St Albans Folk Festival
S
t Albans Folk Festival started in the 1990s as ‘Folk at the Festival’, attached to a Council run arts festival, but over the past few years, the arts festival has disappeared and we have become a free-standing event. All the events take place in the historic City Centre. This year the festival will be taking place on the weekend of June 21 and 22, now known as the Albantide weekend, as the Sunday is St Albans Day and on the Saturday the Abbey’s giant puppets will be in the City Centre reenacting Alban’s life and death.
Sunday June 22 will be a less eventful day with sessions and singarounds, alongside a Council run event, still at the planning stage, to round off the Albantide celebrations. For full details of the events, please see our web sites, www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk and www.stalbansfolkfestival.co.uk. Alison Macfarlane
Most of our events will take place on Saturday June 21, when our base for the day will be the Old Town Hall in the Market Place. There will be free music during the day and a concert in the evening. We have an exciting line-up for the concert, with Jim Moray, Haddo, Emma Scarr, winner of Watford Folk Club’s song writing competition and a New Roots finalist, to be selected at the finals on Sunday April 6. SAID THE MAIDEN
Demand for spots in the all day free showcase, to be held in the historic 1831 Court Room has been considerable and we now have an excellent mixture of top local performers along with others who are new to the festival. Down below, in an atmospheric candle lit area by the cells, there will be an opportunity to take part in singarounds. Upstairs in the Assembly Room during the afternoon, there will be a chance to meet local dance groups and try to do one of their dances. This year, the festival is expanding into the nearby White Swan in Dagnall Street, now a regular session venue, and there will be sessions between noon and 5pm.
l a v i t s e F k l o F s n St Alb&a22 2014
This year the Day of Dance will move back onto the same day as the other main events. It will start with a massed display outside the Alban Arena before the dancers move on to st the Maltings, Christopher Place and the Clock Tower.
June 21
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
nd
www.unicornmagazine.org
31
Spring 2014 If you enjoy a lively barn dance, you'll find Friday Folk is a great way to meet like-minded people and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome. And there's no need to bring a partner. From 7:45 to 10:00 pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk – 01727 856508 Standard Friday admission £3
4 Apr Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 11 Apr Ron Coxall and FF Band 18 Apr Closed for Easter
Summer 2014 25 Apr 2 May 9 May 16 May 23 May 30 May 6 Jun 13 Jun
Colin Hume and Mollie K Bob Barrett and FF Band Rachel and Thomas Bending Ced and Lorraine Closed Mike Bennett and FF Band Dave Kerridge Mark Elvins, Barbara Burton and Martyn Boardman 20 Jun Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 27 Jun Paul Garner and FF Band
28 Jun Saturday Dance at Sam Ryder Colin Hume and Stick Shift 4 Jul Friday Special: American Night Adam Hughes and Quicksilver
FOLK SONG COMPETITION 2014 Could you write a new folk song? Well this is your opportunity… Watford Folk Club invites entries for its 3rd annual song writer’s competition Our theme for 2014 will be: "WAR AND PEACE" Entry details, forms and competition rules are available at: http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com/songcompetition2014.htm Entries open 28/3/14 & Close 17/10/14. Grand Final on 14/11/14 FUTURE GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDE: James Findlay, Gren Bartley, Saul Rose & James Delarre, Vicki Swann & Jonny Dyer, Simon Kempston, Piefinger and Liz Simcock. Don’t forget our LEGENDARY SINGAROUNDS on non-guest nights! Further details at: http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/watfordfolkclub/ Email : WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com
32
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Tel : 07778 526489
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
33
Fri 11
C eilidh / Barn Dance: Tam Lin & caller Al Hewson celebrate 15 years on the road, Adults £10, u18s £5, Licensed bar, 8 – 11pm • BLFC
Sat 12
V al & Ian McFarlane, 7.30pm • WFD
Fri 25
T he New Slide with Alex Cumming, 7.30 for 8.00pm • UC
Sat 26
S t George’s Day Celebrations, Drake Hall, Amersham HP6 5AH. Caller Madeleine Smith, music Maggie Fletcher & Ruth Rose, 7.30pm • CFA
Sat 26
G entlemen’s Relish with Caller Fee Lock, 8 – 11pm • NC
Sat 10
F riendly Folk with Caller Chris Turner, 7.30 – 11pm • BFC
Sat 10
A nne Dunn, 7.30pm • WFD
Sat 17
B rian McMinn & Mike Green, Caller Frances Richardson • BFD
Sat 17
S pring Dance with the Forest Band, 7.30 – 11pm • SAA
Fri 30
E thel’s Cats with Alison Giles, 7.30 for 8.00pm • UC
Sat 31
C ontra Dance Band: Folkus Pocus with Caller John Turner, 8 – 11pm • NC
Sat 7
A nniversary Dance, 100 years EFDSS Cambridge branch, 20 years Harston club. Hugh Stewart + Dennis Owen calling with Worm-Upping band, 7.30 – 11pm • CC
Sat 14
S ue Needham, 7.30pm • WFD
Mon 16
Maypole Evening, Pirton Village Green,
nr Hitchin SG5 3PS, 7.30pm. Cloudburst with Chris Turner • SCD Fri 27
Panjandrum with Gordon Potts,
Sat 28
Stick Shift with caller Colin Hume • FF
7.30 for 8.00pm • UC
BFC Bedford Fine Companions: Newnham Middle School, Polhill Ave, Bedford MK41 9DT Tel: 01234 823920 finecompanions@huntspath.plus.com BFD Bedford Folk Dance Club: Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron Law, 01234 825574 BLFC Baldock & Letchworth FC: Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre, High St, Baldock SG7 6AR Info / Tickets: Alan & Sue, 01767 683583 alan@madnanny.co.uk CC Cambridge Contra Dance Club: Harston Village Hall CB22 7PX Contact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641 www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra CFA Chiltern Folk Assoc.: Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH Contact: Judith Inman, 01628 486845 FF Friday Folk: Samuel Ryder Academy, Drakes Drive, St Albans AL1 5AR Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 NC Northampton Ceilidhs: Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL Contacts: Ruth 01933 397767, Valerie 01604 711536, John 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk Adults £9, Students £5, Accompanied u-16s FREE, Group of 6 (paying) one free Licenced Bar, Free Car Park SAA St Albans Abbey FDC: Homewood Rd UR Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4BH Tel: 01727 834977 SCD Staplers Country Dance Club: Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St. Ippolytts SG4 7RB Tel: 01582 881966 UC Unicorn Ceilidhs: Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Rd, Biggleswade SG18 8JH Tel: 01582 724261, 07946 439095 www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk WFD Winchmore Folk Dance Club: Trinity Church Hall, Church St/Gentleman’s Row, Enfield EN2 6AN Contact: John Wood 020 8926 7293 Membership £7 plus £4.00 per Dance, Guests £6.00 per Dance Dancing also Tuesday 10am-12noon Grange Park Methodist Church N21 2EU
34
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
36
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
37
Towersey Festival – the Oxfordshire festival celebrates its Golden Jubilee in 2014 Famed independent festival Towersey celebrates its 50th anniversary this August (Thursday 21 – Monday 25 August 2014) with a very special five-day event.
A
mong those taking to part in the festival’s halfcentury birthday celebrations are folk legends Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman and Lau. They’ll be joined by Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Georgia Ruth, Dick Gaughan, John Smith, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, The Urban Folk Quartet, and many more, including The Bootleg Beatles, who’ll be headlining the opening night spectacular. It was way back in 1965 that locals, looking for ways to fund urgent renovations to the village hall, decided to launch a festival. From a one-day event, it was soon expanded to three days and a major, arts festival was born. Music has always been at the heart of the festivities, but the modern day Towersey Festival also embraces poetry, comedy, theatre, circus performers, visual arts, films, workshops, dances, storytelling and great food. Towersey’s Children’s Festival is a major attraction, featuring everything from drop-in craft activities to baby reflexology, while other highlights include Shooting Roots, a programme of activities dedicated to, and run by, young people, and a Real Ale and Cider Festival, featuring a range of artisan beers and ciders, many from the surrounding area.
His songs have been recorded by such acts as The Corrs, REM and Elvis Costello with The LA Times describing him as “the finest rock songwriter after [Bob] Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix.” He was made an OBE in 2011. Over the last decade, Seth Lakeman has released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including the Mercury Prize nominated Kitty Jay. 2014 sees the violinist and multi-instrumentalist release his sixth studio album, Word Of Mouth. A stunning live act, three-piece Lau have won the Best Band title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards four times (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013), their subtle blend of traditional instruments with loops and effects pushing the folk genre into new exciting directions. Tickets for the full festival start from £55–£120, with under 5s free. Camping available. Day tickets (Fri–Mon) £10–£40. For further information and to book tickets, call 023 8071 1818 or see: www.towerseyfestival.com.
“We’re very proud indeed to be celebrating Towersey Festival’s Golden Jubilee,” says Festival Director Joe Heap, whose grandfather was one of the festival founders. “The annual event has grown considerably since those early days, but it remains one of the most welcoming and friendly festivals in the UK. “We’re looking forward to marking 50 years with some very special guests and announcements, and also welcoming friends both old and new.” A cornerstone of British music since the 1960s, guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson found fame as cofounder of Fairport Convention.
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
RICHARD THOMPSON
www.unicornmagazine.org
39
Alec Anness Luthier
Maker of fine stringed instruments since 1980 Custom made chromatic & diatonic autoharps, hammered dulcimers & banjo’s. Made from high quality quarter sawn tonewoods & fittings. Accessories including hard cases, tuning wrenches, hammers, fully adjustable stands, damper bar systems for hammered dulcimers & sets of strings. Chord bar felts, tuning pins & sets of strings for autoharps. Restoration of vintage instruments, custom inlays,re-fretting, re-finishing & set ups.
[t]
01353 863 442 [m] 07837 507 425 www.alecanness.co.uk
Alec Anness - Unicorn Magazine.indd 1
20/12/2013 09:07
Bedfordshire Lace Morris
Fri 11 Apr – 8pm LUCY WA ARD
Will be dancing this Spring and Summer. Come and see us dance — you may be enthused to join us next September for our Winter Practice Season!
W Winner of Horizo n Award at R Radio 2 Folk Aw wards 2012 £12 2.50 / £10.50 co oncessions
Fri 16 May – 8pm DAVE SWAR RBRICK
Th he legendary ma aster fiddler £12 2.50 / £10.50 co oncessions
Look at our website for details of where we are dancing. www.bedfordshirelace.org.uk
Sat 14 Jun – 8pm
WIILD WILLY BA ARRETT’S FR RENCH CONN NECTION
The Fre enchified alterna ative folk quarte et £13 3.50 / £11.50 co oncessions
Contact Lesley on 01234 293532 email:secretary@bedfordshirelace.org.uk
40
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
since 1976
BRITAIN’S FOLK & ACOUSTIC SPECIALISTS Our nine shops stock all kinds of acoustic & folky musical instruments from Britain and around the world! Expert staff are always on hand to give you free, friendly advice. Try the intruments for yourself! Each shop has a huge and varied stock of new and secondhand instruments SUPPO R MUSIC TING LIVE Sidmo FESTIVALS u Crawle th, Cornwall , y Riseley , Oxford, BM , Ten G, Broads terden, St Ive tairs an s d more ,
BIRMINGHAM | BRISTOL | CANTERBURY | CRAWLEY |LEEDS LONDON | MANCHESTER | MILTON KEYNES | WADEBRIDGE
Order online or call 0845 130 9500
www.hobgoblin.com
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
41
Interview with Nikita Strange, Marketing Manager of the Queens Park Arts Centre and Limelight Theatre
I
met up with Nikita on a rainy day in November. I hadn’t been to the Arts Centre before and I was taken aback as I drove into the car park that the building looked just like an old school. I hoped that the inside didn’t continue to give off that image, but as Nikita showed me round I saw that although the building is unmistakeably an old school (it still has the parquet flooring that many of us sat cross legged on as children) the innovative use of the hall, classrooms and offices has developed an atmosphere of creativity and energy that was almost tangible. We chatted in the coffee bar which, Nikita explained, doubles as a bar serving wines, beers and soft drinks on nights when the Limelight Theatre is being used. The Queens Park Arts Centre and Limelight Theatre are based in the former Queens Park School in the centre of Aylesbury. Founded in 1980 the Arts centre had a mission to provide, promote and develop participatory arts to the people of Aylesbury and the surrounding areas. Pay as you go workshops were set up with the support of paid tutors and volunteers and these have continued for over thirty years providing opportunities for people of all ages and levels of expertise. Some time later the Limelight Theatre was developed in the old school hall providing a120 seat theatre for productions of all sorts. There is raked seating running down to either a flat or raised stage depending on the production. When not is use the seating folds back to allow the hall to be used for other activities. Lighting and sound engineers are provided by the Theatre for all events.
about the place. As Nikita took me through the art exhibition areas, into the theatre and then on a tour of the various workshops on the site, people were bustling about. Some of them busy, some merely chatting, some working hard and others relaxing, but all of them contributed to the feeling of well being at the Centre. I stopped and chatted with Pippa North who has been selected as the Artist in residence developing a participatory arts experience called the Wander House and she explained that she will create a variety of hand crafted items made from sustainable materials which will then be used as part of a mobile unit that will deliver participatory experiences to both large and small audiences. This seemed to sum up what the Arts Centre is all about. With workshops in lace making, pottery, circus skills, children’s activities there is literally something for everyone. I came away thinking that this was the perfect use of an old school building tucked away in the middle of a residential area. It is a fantastic resource for the residents of Aylesbury and the surrounding areas. Although partly funded by grants, the majority of the funding is raised by the workshops, classes and theatre events. There are more than eighty volunteers involved with the Centre which is testament to (or possibly the cause of) the great atmosphere and positive energy of the place. As they say in their publicity; “The fact that the Centre is so treasured in this way, is truly something the celebrate.” For further details have a look at the Arts Centre web site www.qpc.org. Simon Bailes
Most Fridays and Saturdays see music, comedy or theatre productions at the Theatre covering a wide range of genres. The music covers folk, blues, rock and soul and is an eclectic mix of styles with artists such as Lucy Ward, Dave Swarbrick and Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston due to perform during 2014. The energy of the Centre comes from the people in it and the activities taking place. Even on the mid week afternoon that I visited there was a buzz
42
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Sparrow
Violins
A folkie Luthier for folkies Set-Ups and Repairs for Fiddles, Violas, Cellos and Hardanger Fiddles. Fiddles and Hardangers made to commission. Hand made contemporary Fiddles for sale. Tim J. Sparrow
St.Neots, Cambridgeshire (Workshop open by appointment) Tel: 07704 836 170 Email: timjsparrow@aol.com
www.sparrow-violins.co.uk www.facebook.com/SparrowViolins
For a complete guide to advertising with us, including a full set of technical specifications and suggestions to ensure your ad looks as good as possible, please downlaod a copy of our Media Pack, available from our website. Advertisement Sizes: Please note that from March 2013 we changed our adverts sizes and prices to the following shown below.
• With border: Trim size: 148mm (W) x 210mm Bleed size: 154mm (W) x 216mm (H)
Prices are for supplied, correctly-sized, press-ready artwork:
Back Cover (with or without border) • No border: Trim size: 134mm (W) x 196mm (H) • With border: Trim size: 148 x 210mm (no bleed) Bleed size: 154 x 216mm
£75.00
Front Cover Banner Trim size: 148 x 50mm Bleed size: 154 x 56mm
£50.00
Quarter page (portrait) Trim size: 63.5mm (W) x 92mm (H)
£22.00
Half page (landscape) Trim size: 134mm (W) x 92mm (H)
£35.00
Half page (portrait) Trim size: 63.5mm (W) x 191mm (H)
£35.00
Full Inner page (no border) Trim size: 134mm (W) x 191mm (H)
£55.00
Full Inner page (with border) Trim size: 148 x 210mm Bleed size: 151 x 216mm
£60.00
Inside Front or Back Cover (with or without border) • No border: Trim size: 134mm (W) x 196mm (H)
£67.00
All artwork is printed in mono / grayscale – preferrred formats are high res (300dpi) PFDs, with all fonts embedded (see the Media Pack for more information). Please note that we will be adding the black line around ad box shapes in-house – please leave any border lines off youR ad design. Diary Entries These include free entry in the Club Index. Price per quarter: £13.00
Take advantage of our 10% discount for four issues booked & paid for in advance – any size! Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
43
Folk on Internet Radio
N
ever one to leap courageously into the scary world of technology, I recently surprised myself by taking an instant shine to the feast of musical delights that is the internet radio folk show. I suspect many of you share my increasing disenchantment with mainstream stations who regurgitate performers from a select, established menu, but a plethora of community and independent stations are eager to serve up an appealingly diverse array of distinctive dishes. Enough of the analogy but hopefully you get my drift. My first encounter with internet radio was the John Devine Irish Traditional Show on Radio Verulam. Our band had a new album to promote, so John invited us into his bijou studio and was the perfect host. I know the station airs on FM92.6 but the signal hasn’t the strength to rise above Sharpenhoe Clappers so dies horribly before reaching my crystal set in distant Silsoe. Picking up our interview later, via the ‘Listen Again’ feature on the Verulam website, was a revelation and immediately hooked me on this user-friendly, flexible form of entertainment. An interview on Radio Dacorum soon followed, with the lovely Daria Kulesh - how can one individual possess so much energy? No faffing with Frequency Modulation for this Folk DJ, here we had the full-blown, listen now or listen later experience – as she succinctly put it, “why do I need FM when so many people own computers?” This while taking a digital photograph of us, and simultaneously interacting with her audience via Facebook, text, twitter and the next befuddling communication thingy that I haven’t yet heard of. Oh, and for good measure she also accompanied us on bodhran as we thrashed out ‘The Star of the County Down’ – ‘Star of the Internet DJ’s’, more like. Spurred on by the sheer accessibility of internet radio and its accommodating DJ’s who love to encourage emerging bands and soloists, I searched the ether for more cyber folk. Forget that the show may come from
44
Warwickshire, Falmouth or indeed Canada, they are all available at your convenience. Furthermore, the presenters can never be charged with coming from the same mould – John Devine as good as cuddles you as he invites you to share his passion for jigs and reels, while Daria’s approach is lively, infectious and altogether inspiring. Don’t let me stop you there. Try Tamsin Rosewell on Radio Warwickshire and be impressed by her talent to educate and to explain the context; her themed shows are so well crafted that they make you proud to be involved ‘at the other end’. Or sample Brian Player’s ‘Acoustic Cafe’ as he spreads his soothing tones and respected views across multiple on-line sites, including Radio Basingstoke and Acoustic Spectrum. I won’t go on [Too true. Ed.] because half the fun is trawling the search engine of your choice and discovering some new, enlightened Folk DJ extolling the virtues of some talented local band. I was late coming to all this, but just try and stop me now, Mr. Radcliffe. Ned Lawton
John Devine, Radio Verulam: Monday 7 – 9pm • www.radioverulam.com ‘Listen Now’ or ‘Listen Again’ on the website. Daria Kulesh, Radio Dacorum: Sunday 5 – 7pm • radiodacorum.org.uk ‘Listen Now’ or later on Mixcloud www.mixcloud.com/dariakulesh. Tamsin Rosewell, Radio Warwickshire: Wednesday 8 – 9.30pm • www.radiowarwickshire.com ‘Listen Live’ or later on Mixcloud, www.mixcloud.com/tamsinrosewell. Brian Player: www.brianplayermusic.wordpress.com.
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
45
Shrewsbury Folk Festival @shrewsburyfolk >> CEILIDH BANDS >> MORRIS TEAMS >> REFOLKUS for 11-20 year olds >> CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL >> WORKSHOPS >> SINGAROUNDS & SESSIONS >> CRAFT FAIR >> CATERERS >> REAL ALE BARS >> GREAT CAMPSITE
Bellowhead The D Lau
Seth Lakeman hol Foundation
Tel: 01743 892 800
Four Men and a Dog Martin Simpson Karine Polwart Steve Tilston Trio Bella Hardy Molotov Jukebox Moulettes Madison Violet Duncan McFarlane Band Huw Williams & Maartin Allcock Megson Andy Cutting Rex Preston & Miranda Sykes Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin Matt Gordon & Leonard Podolak Cara Luft J P Hoe The Wilsons The Young‘uns Sunjay Brayne Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar Steve Turner The Harvesters Carole Palmer & Maria Barham Sue Brown & Lorraine Irwing Cupola Take Two Dance Bands: Old Swan Band Peeping Tom Blackbeards Tea Party Polkaworks
the Union e k a W ’s y e tl h Steve Knig The Chair h s li g n E ll u F The
more acts to be announced! see website for latest...
w w w.shrewsburyfolkfestival.c o.uk SFF 2014 Unicorn Magazine Advert.indd 1 46
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
06/02/2014 13:47 Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
Dan Evans
A
native of the northeast, Middlesbrough, to be precise, Dan Evans has lived in Olney, Buckinghamshire for the past twenty years. During more than thirty five years as a performer Dan has developed his own style of finger picking on both the guitar and mountain dulcimer. Since making his first dulcimer, at the age of fifteen, while at school Dan has become the UK’s foremost dulcimer player, having toured both the UK and USA. Influenced by luminaries such as John Martyn, Gryphon and the Pentangle, Dan has recorded four CDs and a fifth is in production. He also teaches guitar, dulcimer and singing. Having cut his teeth in the UKs folk clubs while still holding down a proper job, Dan became a professional musician in 1992 primarily as a guitar playing singer. Over time, however, he developed the dulcimer content of his performances until the dulcimer became his primary instrument. Dan’s first four albums are a collection of instrumental and vocal tracks covering well known tunes, self penned items and other traditional titles. I like the simple nature of the dulcimer, brought to life by Dan’s playing supporting his confident, baritone voice. He often collaborates with other musicians on these recordings to give a varied tone picture. If you haven’t come across Dan’s CDs they are well worth listening to. They are available on iTunes and Amazon as well as directly from Dan’s web site.
for the album in Nashville with American dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert. Another of the strings to Dan’s bow are the workshops that he leads on singing and performance techniques. Dan’s philosophy follows that of the Chinese proverb that a teacher should open the door but the pupil must enter of their own accord. He is careful to avoid criticism but instead builds on the energy of the music, feeding on the creativity of the individual singers. He creates a supportive atmosphere where singers of all levels are able to bloom and develop their confidence thereby developing their singing talents. What struck me most when chatting to Dan was his energy and enthusiasm for what he was talking about. When you discuss something with someone who is so obviously passionate about the subject their enthusiasm is infectious. I only talked to Dan for an hour or so but I came away wanting to sing all the way home, to grab my guitar or my accordion and practice for the five or six hours a day that Dan says he practiced to develop his completely self taught style. Some people have the ability to enthuse others with their positivity. Dan has this in bucket loads. I haven’t been on one of his singing workshops but I intend to book one this year (if there are spaces - there are often waiting lists). To top this all off, Dan is a nice chap. Simon Bailes
Recording for Dan’s new and fifth CD entitled Aux Vieux Moulin is under way. Inspired by an old French water mill that he recently stayed at and the time he spent in France as a child. The new CD will include some recently penned French tunes along with some English and American songs and tunes. In collaboration with international jazz bass player & guitarist Andy Crowdy and actor & singer Rebecca Hallworth Dan has already recorded some of the tracks with the remaining tracks to be recorded and then mixed during the spring and summer. Dan has a summer tour to Kentucky and Tennessee where he will record the final tracks
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org
47
Once more unto the classroom! Long Lankin returns to the chalkface
T
he problem with schools and education is that we have all been through it and so we all think we are experts in it.
“Let’s put folk music back in the classroom!” I hear people cry. What they really mean is that teachers should be making more use of it. For what? The syllabus, even in primary schools, is so closely controlled that it is difficult to pursue personal interest. Even if a teacher wanted to there is little teaching material around that makes use of folk song, music and dance in a way that is applicable, and with the planning, marking and recording they need to do, most teachers do not have time to develop their own materials. Of course teachers would use folk music if the teaching resources using it existed and their pupils found it interesting and stimulating. Face it – folk music is just one of many genres of music, and not one that is widely heard in the popular culture. If kids are not familiar with it how can we expect them to relate to it? And most teachers are not going to be that familiar with it either. If it is to be used in the classroom teachers need to be shown how it can be used in relation to the things they need to teach the children, and then it needs to be introduced to the children in an appropriate way. Furthermore, the teaching of music itself has suffered with successive governments squeezing it out of the curriculum. Recent government funding cuts have not helped, as councils have reduced funding for discretionary activities (incl. music teaching) in order to focus on things they have to do by law. If the teaching of music generally is under threat how can we justify special pleading for one particular genre?
has even led to the children performing in public as part of a folk event. Though laudable, these are isolated activities which have little impact beyond the schools directly involved. If we are going to get folk music into the classroom to encourage and motivate a new generation it needs to be done much more systematically and strategically – and it has to be on a national basis because that is the level the education system operates at. We need to develop and promote materials and approaches relevant to the Key Stages and to subjects that can be used by teachers themselves. Of course, the alternative is to forget schools and focus on other organisations providing child and youth activities. Let’s get the Woodcraft Folk performing mummer plays; let’s get a folk tradition badge for the Scouts and Guides; let’s get the Bedfordshire Music Trust to form a youth folk band and run classes on how to play the melodeon and concertina. But ultimately it is us “folkies” who will have to do it with them, by providing the instructors and tutors. When people complained to my Great Aunt Bertha Lankin about the poor quality of her note-taking as secretary of the parish cesspit inspection panel, her response was always to offer to resign saying “Put up or shut up.” And the same rule applies. If you are not willing to do something practical to get children involved in folk music, either through schools or youth groups, don’t moan about other people not doing it. Class dismissed!
There are some good examples of what can be done. Folk songs related to history topics and singers going into the school to perform as part of a show to stimulate further classwork. Morris dancing has also been taught as part of Culture projects or performance art and Mumming plays have figured in drama classes. In some cases this
48
Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads
Unicorn Magazine: issue 126
www.unicornmagazine.org