Unicorn Magazine Issue 130 by Unicorn Folk

hen not being famous philosophers, we reckon both Heraclitus and / or Diogenes Laërtius must have published a small independent folk magazine when they came up or used with such words...? In the comparatively short time since Issue 129 came out, a surprising amount has changed in the offices of Unicorn Magazine. Firstly, as briefly mentioned in 129 Chatterbox, this is the first issue that we (ie Simon & Clive) have put together since the departure of editor Mike. Publishing Unicorn is a hugely satisfying and enjoyable task, but it’s also incredibly time consuming at times – and sometimes life simply gets in the way. Mike is very busy juggling a job, family life and of course playing in the excellent Ragged Staff, so he has a lot to keep him occupied! We are delighted he’s still on board as a contributor, reviewer and distributor of course, so we don’t feel like he has gone forever. Other changes within the magazine follow hot on those heels. We are debating the continuing existence of some features (see the note about Shall We Dance on Page 20), whilst simultaneously ushering in some new and exciting developments (see the snippet about our

new YouTube and Soundcloud accounts on Page 34). All these changes are designed to maximise the exposure that the fantastic folk music, dance and the folk artists living and working in our catchment area receive – whilst hopefully keeping our growing list of readers, advertisers and contributors interested and involved. Other changes are less well formed in our minds at the moment, but see this issue’s Chatterbox for some teasers and how you can contribute your thoughts and ideas. This issue shows a huge number of new gigs occurring, a host of new venues popping up, and a plethora of Morris events happening over the next few months (another gargantuan three page version of the Morris Diary proves this!) so all in all we think all things ‘folky’ are looking very positive in the Unicorn area. Finally, during the production of this issue, sadly both Clive & Amanda (Simon’s wife) lost their fathers (Charles & Simon respectively) so we dedicate this issue to them. Change does indeed determine the birth of the world… See you round the clubs! Simon & Clive

Editorial

Club Profile: Dunton Folk

Contents

Tune: Wallander’s Holiday

Chatterbox

Unicorn ‘YouTube’ Channel

Round the Clubs

Advertiser Information

Feature: Life & Times, The Last Lap

CD Reviews

Sessions

Feature: Folkstock Records Update

Feature: Workshops at the MKAMC

Morris Diary

Shall We Dance?

Feature: St Michael’s Street Folk Evening 46

23 – 25

Unicorn Diary

Club Index

40 – 42

Editorial Staff: Simon Bailes 07807 535110 unicornmagazine @hotmail.co.uk Clive Batkin 07771 822414 clive@cbatkin.plus.com

CD Reviews

Contact address:

Broadside by Long Lankin

10 Chapel Street, Dunton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RW

Front cover photo by Al Rogers – “Everybody Hurts... (knock)... Sometimes”

Printed by KJB UK Ltd

Visit our website at www.unicornmagazine.org Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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Shrewsbury Folk Festival @shrewsburyfolk >> CEILIDH BANDS >> MORRIS TEAMS >> REFOLKUS for 11-20 year olds >> CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL >> WORKSHOPS >> CRAFT FAIR >> CATERERS >> SINGAROUNDS & SESSIONS >> REAL ALE BARS >> GREAT CAMPSITE

Tel: 01743 892 800

Shannon n o r a h S te n ria La Bottine Sou d Special n a b r te s y O Kate Rusby nightley K e v te S s ie r e a John Jones and the Reluctant Ramblers The Peatbog F Nancy Kerr and the Sweet Visitor Band a it e ckou K e S & h c Lucy Ward New Rope String Band in F in Catr s t Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson h ig L e O’Hooley & Tidow Oxford Girl Chorale Fals ’s n e M y k o o p S Gordie MacKeeman & His Rhythm Boys Britain t a e r G f o a The Wilsons Young’uns Mawkin tr s Ukulele Orche

onium ! P@ndem Children’s Festival

Patsy Reid Boundless Brothers Mary Humphreys & Anahata Folk Nations Amadou Diagne Barra MacNeils Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke Band Granny’s Attic Gren Bartley Harare Jack Harris Paula Ryan Peace Concert Piva Roaring Trowmen Teacups Ten Strings and a Goat Skin Winter Wilson

year old s 0 2 1 1 r o f

Dance Bands: Blowzabella Whapweasel Glorystrokes Florida Discussion Topic Liam Robinson Band Vertical Expression

more acts to be announced! see website for latest...

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Unicorn news: As briefly mentioned in the opening Editorial, lots of things are afoot here at Unicorn Magazine. Here are a few things that we hope will help keep you in touch with them all: • Remember to check our blog (www.unicornmagazine.wordpres.com) for updates on new gigs, changes to dates and venues, breaking news etc that occur in between publication dates. We are getting more and more submissions to this feature so feel it will rapidly become a highly valued adjunct to the printed magazine. Better yet, ‘subscribe to it’ (a simple button at the bottom of each post page) and you will get an email alert direct to your inbox every time we add an item. •W e also have an excellent mailing list, so again please remember to subscribe to this (you can do so at this page or via our website, www.unicornmagazine.org). We won’t bombard you with news (or spam!) via this, but we do send selected posts that are relevant to the production of the magazine (copy deadlines, publication dates, requests for submissions etc). •A s well as the printed magazine and the static PDF download, you can now also read the magazine online with at the excellent ISSUU.com website. Visit our page here (http://issuu.com/ unicornmagazine) where you get an animated ‘page turning’ version of the online publication! •F inally, as ever we are constantly on the look out for interesting and relevant contributions of content (be they features, gig / CD / equipment reviews, general folk-related things etc) so do send us anything / drop us a line to discuss any ideas yo may have. As always, please send all editorial correspondence to Unicorn HQ at 10 Chapel St, Dunton, Biggleswade, Beds SG18 8RW or email: unicornmagazine@hotmail.co.uk. Whitby Folk Week Young Musician Award: ‘tho completely off our patch geographically, we have been asked to include the following since it is open to young performers from everywhere: “ This award is open to all young musicians from the ages of 16 to 21, either as a solo performer or as a group. To enter, please submit a demo disc to Whitby Folk Week, 51 Katrina Grove, Featherstone, West Yorkshire, WF7 5LW, to arrive no later than 30th April 2015.

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

With your disc please supply a brief written description of your style of music, your aims and aspirations along with your full name and age. Alternatively you could send entries by email with attached MP3 files to barry@whitbyfolk. co.uk.Finalists will be notified shortly after 30th May 2015. The final will take place during Folk Week 2015 from the 22nd – 28th August (see their ad on Page 19). Each finalist will be expected to perform two songs or music pieces in concert; The winner will be announced at the end of the Finalists Concert. The prize for the winner will be a full week’s booking at Whitby Folk Week the following year”.

A note to everyone from Mike Blair of Bedford Folk Club. “Please note our new venue at the Kempston Hammers Sports and Social Club. Hope we’ll still be there by the time Unicorn comes out!” Watford Folk Club have a special event on Friday 8th May. They present Pete Coe & Alice Jones performing their show “The Search for Five Finger Frank”. Presenting ballads, broadsides and dance tunes from Leeds folk song collector Frank Kidson 1855–1926, a man whose contribution to the folk collecting movement has been forgotten by many, in the wake of later and more prominent folk song collectors. The show features new arrangements of both classic and rare folk songs unearthed from the Frank Kidson collection – it celebrates and commemorates the incredible legacy of a man regarded as “a pioneer of the folk song revival”. Pete and Alice have had full access to his original manuscripts and broadside collection and even had help from Kidson’s descendants along the way! Audiences will be amazed to learn that many of the songs now popular in the folk repertoire of today were initially collected and published by this founder member of the Folk Song Society and key figure in the folk movement of the early 1900’s. An encouraging testimonial we have received...

Advertising in Unicorn is a major part of our publicity programme and you guys are doing a great job. I’ve seen how much the magazine has evolved – keep it up and thanks for your support with publishing the news / information we send. Many thanks! Feedback like this makes it all worthwhile!

www.unicornmagazine.org

ife and Times (Graeme Meek and Barry Goodman) will cease performing as a duo in December 2015. Having performed at most of the major UK folk festivals and at folk clubs the length and breadth of the country, Barry and Graeme have decided to call it a day at the end of the year.

song; Collaborated with Redbornstoke Morris in “The Singing, Dancing Year”, and participated in the EFDSS “Full English” folk education project, among many other highlights over the past three decades. They were awarded the Fatea “Tradition” award in 2009 “presented to the act that have traditional folk at the root of their sound and use it to inspire new songs, tunes and arrangements”.

Their two recordings on the Fellside label (“Strawplait & Bonelace” and “Shropshire Iron”) were followed by releases on their own Wixamtree label (“Charivari” and “Where the Working Boats Went”) and a limited edition recording, “Marston Vale”, made with the choir from Marston Vale Middle School. During their career Barry and Graeme have recorded film title music (The Bedfordshire Clanger); worked in primary schools with their “Hats Off to History” shows; written and performed “Where the Working Boats Went”, the story of the Inland Waterways of Britain in drama, music and

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Traditional & Contemporar y Folk Music For more information about Ragged Staff, or to make a booking, please contact:

Ned Lawton T: 01525 860846 / 07818 812978 E: ned.raggedstaff@hotmail.co.uk W: www.ragged-staff.couk

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Wednesday 15 th April

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Wednesday 13 th May

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Simply tell us what size advert you want, supply all the relevant content (text, photos, contact details etc) and for just £20.00 per ad we will create an eye-catching and effective design – no more worries about sizing, specifications or artwork technicalities...

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Contact the Unicorn Team for more information or to discuss your requirements. Or visit our website www.unicornmagazine.org for full details and examples of what we can do for you.

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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Sunday Lunchtimes STONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar (Weekly): Jane Armour, 01908 566407

Sunday Evenings ASTON CLINTON • Oak PH (8pm, 3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 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 564392 ST ALBANS • Farmers Boy, London Rd (1st): Nick, 020 8953 5231

Monday Evenings ASHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091 CHATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 01354 652868 SOHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 TOTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (8.30pm, weekly): 01582 661294 (pub)

Tuesday Evenings ABINGTON PIGOTTS • Village Hall, SG8 0SH (8–10.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 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, Alison 01727 852111 TRING • Kings Arms, (8.30pm, 1st, trad Irish songs & tunes, led by Chan Reid/fiddle, John Devine/pipes, Neil Stanton/guitar): Rob Muirhead (landlord), 01442 823318 WOOTTON (Beds) • The Cock, MK43 9JT (8pm, broad acoustic & folk): Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

Wednesday Evenings ALDOCK • Orange Tree, (8.30pm, sessions: 8/4, 6/5, B 3/6 open floor: 22/4, 20/5, 17/6): Al Hewson 01767 683583 BARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, fortnightly, 7/1, 21/1, 4/2, 18/2, 4/3, 18/3): Ann 01582 560815 BENNINGTON (Stevenage) • The Bell (1st): Kit Burgess 01438 869435 CAMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2nd, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 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 RADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Cobden Hill, WD7 7JR (8pm, 2nd): Nick, 020 8207 3057 ST ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (8.30pm, weekly, mainly music): Rick Payman, 01727 852976 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 & 4th): 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 OYSTON • Old Bull Inn SG8 9AW (2nd): R Michael Farrow, 01763 249296, www.roystonfolk.org ST NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (2nd, 8.30pm, (no session January, 13/2, 13/3), tunes): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org STEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales, MK18 2NP (2nd – Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062

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playing together. Once the standard is good enough we’ll post that to YouTube.

Workshops at the MKAMC

ilton Keynes Acoustic Music Center is an ongoing series of workshops where people can learn ‘roots’ guitar, fiddle and penny whistle. The aim is to help players at all levels learn new solo and accompaniment instruments, improve existing skills and find their own styles. We hope it can be kept at a low cost so that players from all walks of life may benefit. As attendance has become more popular we have started some long term projects, including a ‘starter’ céilidh band to play at schools, giving members experience of playing live. We teamed up with Val Symon who has both local youth and calling experience, already working with that age group. The plan is to develop this into a ‘proper’ band and hold our own céilidhs, whilst still keeping a ‘starter’ band for newer players. Other projects that we hope are exciting for members include an arrangement of Bonaparte’s Retreat, with each section playing a part, as well as

We plan to look at different fiddle / whistle / guitar styles, including Irish, Cajun, American, Canadian, and English. Though folk styles dominate, there are several talented players from different backgrounds, so we also learn blues guitar and hope to introduce others soon. There are many students of different levels; we have recruited tutors from amidst our members, with more tuition in small groups. These and oneon-one are the fastest way for players to progress, and teaching is also a great way to learn. We aim to challenge ourselves, and have booked our first slot at The Stables, to give us the experience of playing in front of a listening audience. I would like to thank our student helpers, Janice Miller, Graham Tait, Ian Walker and Jackie Allen for the help they have provided. In particular I would like to thank Janice for her assistance with the Center and her contribution in organising events. Please visit www.mkamc.co.uk. Caroline Riches

FOLK MUSIC COURSES FOR 2015 SUMMERTIME KLEZMER, BALKAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN JAZZ, JOHN PLAYFORD WEEKEND, CLARSACH, FIDDLE MUSIC OF SCOTLAND AND IRELAND, ACCORDION DAY, INTRODUCTION TO STORYTELLING AND MORE...

www.benslowmusic.org Benslow Music, Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RB T: 01462 459446 E: info@benslowmusic.org A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England no 408404. Reg Charity no 313663

Unicorn Mag_Dec Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to adsEd.indd 1

12/02/2015 Unicorn Magazine: issue11:38:10 130

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Tenterden folk f

2015

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tenterden, the Jewel of the Wealdâ&#x20AC;?

Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 October

Ticketed events include concerts, barn dance, workshops, meet the guests, folk clubs, etc. Free music sessions, sing-a-rounds, street theatre, etc. Guests include: Askew Sisters, Bing Lyle, Dick Miles, Gordon Tyrrall, Jim Bainbridge, Mick Ryan & Paul Downes, Paul & Liz Davenport, Pete Castle, Phoenix Dance Band with caller Vic Smith, Roy Clinging, Scoulds Bridle, Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer with more to announce. Thursday concert: Jez Lowe, Hudson & Cutler and Mark Gibson Marquee & other showcase guests: Corner, Kim Lowings & The Greenwoods, Yardarm & Sussex Folk Orchestras, with many more to be announced. Plus our popular regular/local guests: Bob Kenward, Chris Harrison, Chris Roche, Gavin & Julie Atkin, Hard Pressed, Malcolm Ward, Mark Gibson, Marsh Warblers, Morrigan, Peter Collins, Roger Resch, SkynFlynt, Spare Parts, Sue Watson & Lizzi Stephens, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith, Vic Ellis Plus up to 60 Morris sides, Appalachian dancers and other folk dance display teams CONTACT INFORMATION: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, TN23 3HA Paul Cumberland T:01795 532370 E: paul@birdsbirdsbirds.co.uk Chief stewards: Kathy & Bob Drage, Dance co-ordinator:

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REDBOURN FOLK www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS 9 Apr 23 Apr 7 May

Andy Irvine Daniel Nestlerode na mara

14 May

Steve Turner

28 May

Bruce Molsky

14 Jun

Folk on the Common

18 Jun

The Star & Garter, High Street Silsoe, Beds. MK45 4DR 7th April – Linda Watkins Band 5th May – Louise Jordan 2nd June – Oka Vanga

Zoe Wren

Other dates are Open Stage nights Thursdays 8.00pm in the Old School Room Hollybush Pub Church End Redbourn

Admission £2.50. Starts 8pm. Floor Singers always welcome. Contact Ned: 01525 860846

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W: www.duntoncider.co.uk E: duntoncider@hotmail.co.uk T: 07825 077 053 (Andy) 01767 310 424 (Simon)

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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HURDY-GURDY LESSONS 08 April Sam Carter 27 May Belshazzarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Feast 10 June Spiro 22 July Artisan New monthly folk events Bedford Online booking www.ThePlaceBedford.org.uk

Michael Muskett Co-author The Hurdy-gurdy Method

Milton Keynes michael@muskettmusic.co.uk

WANTED For folk band performing original material... Ideally we are looking for a female who can provide second vocal but male players who can sing should not be discouraged. We work mainly in the Midlands â&#x20AC;&#x201C; most gigs paid. Contact Kevin on: 01280 702300 or email: kevinoregan54@btinternet.com for more information

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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HADDENHAM CEILIDHS at Haddenham Village Hall Near Aylesbury, Bucks. HP17 8EE

Apr 4 The Watch with Lisa Heywood May 2 Liam Robinson Dance Band with Liam Robinson plus Manx Folk Dance Society Jun 6 The Nina Hansell All Stars with Aiden Hansell plus Thrales Rapper

CONCERTS

Apr 4 Dan McKinnon May 2 Tom McConville Jun 6 Martyn Wyndham-Read For more details telephone 07717 047 039 email john@actionfolk.co.uk or write to Haddenham Ceilidhs, Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House 5 Church Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 2QP

www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk

Abbots Langley Winter Acoustic Concerts http://www.oldtimetim.com/alwac.htm

Afternoon of Sunday 10th May 2015 at 3pm - ÂŁ10.00* a special additional concert with New England Fiddler

Rodney Miller's Stringrays

A rare opportunity to hear Rodney live in concert in the UK. Max Newman on guitar and Stuart Kenney on upright bass and 5 string clawhammer banjo complete the trio Rodney Miller is widely considered to be the foremost exponent of New England style fiddling, a unique blend of US, French Canadian and Celtic influences.

Abbots Langley Community Centre Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0AP

CRAFT STALLS Sunday 12th October * Ticket includes tea or coffee &Afternoon cake in theofinterval advance reservation recommended

Enquiries to ALConcerts@gmail.com Afternoon of Sunday 9th November Or call Tim and Lesley Brooks on 01923 264536

The Yo

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Sat 11 Sat 18 Fri 24 Sat 25

Sat 9 Sat 16 Fri 29 Sat 30

Sat 13 Wed 24 Fri 26 Sat 27

J udith Inman, 7.30pm • WFD The Night Before, caller Andrew Swain • FCS Fendragon, caller Alison Giles, 8.00pm • UC Tautus Roc, caller Julie Bubbles • NC

John Wood, 7.30pm • WFD Geoff Cubits and Keeping Thyme,

7.30 – 10.30pm • MFD Kelly’s Eye, caller Barrie Bullimore • BFD Threepenny Bit, caller Phill Moxley, 8.00pm • UC Deo Volente, caller John Turner • NC

Ron Coxall, 7.30pm • WFD Come All Ye, 8.00 – 10.00pm • CFA

(note venue change) The Pigeon Swing, caller Barry Goodman, 8.00pm • UC Ali. Meg and Bill from Momentum, caller TBC • FF

BFD Bedford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron Law: 01234 825 574 CFA Chiltern Folk Association Old Barn Hall, Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH Contact: Judith Inman, 01628 486845, www.chilternfolk.org.uk FCS Friends of Cecil Sharp House Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 7AY Contact: Liz Hall, 020 8731 8083, 07896 465 848 FF Friday Folk Samuel Ryder Academy, Drakes Drive, St Albans, AL1 5AR Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 MFD Marlow Folk Dance Club Hazelmere Community Centre, Rose Avenue, High Wycombe, HP15 7UB Contact: Janet, 01494 531 716 NC Northampton Ceilidhs Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL Contact: John Green, 07760 197921, 01933 397767 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk UC Unicorn Ceilidhs: Town Hall, High St, Baldock SG7 6AX Contact: 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 (Also Tue mornings 10–12 noon, Grange Park Methodist Church N21) Contact: John Wood, 020 8926 7293

A few queries & notes from the Unicorn Team on future things...

e have noticed that we are getting fewer and fewer entries for the Shall We Dance feature each issue. We were wondering therefore, as a readership, if there is still an interest in continuing with this particular feature? If not, is there something else that you would prefer us to have a feature on instead? Please get in touch with us (unicornmagazine @hotmail.co.uk) and send us your views on this (or indeed any other) aspect of the magazine...

Our Blog Since the magazine only comes out every three months, please remember to regularly visit (or better yet ‘subscribe to’) our blog, where we now post up the latest news of gig amends, cancellations, erratums or recent happenings that occur between publication dates. Please feel free to send us any relevant content and we will add it to the Blog when we can: www.unicornmagazine.wordpress.com

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The White Horse Folk Club Castle Street Hertford, SG14 1HH

2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the Month.

Floor Spots available.

Music starts at 8pm FREE ADMISSION Contact Pat Crilly 07971804418 Email - patcrilly@hotmail.com

Spring 2015 - Headline Acts

April 14th –Sea Song night with Shanty Keith

Hertford’s leading shanty & military songster Keith Acheson leads us an evening of salty sea songs.

April 28th – David Cambridge / Red Velvet

David performs his own excellent arrangements of traditional songs; Red Velvet are Cambridge duo performing original and trad. songs in a contemporary style .

May 12th – Woodcut / Hannah Sanders

Woodcut perform original, contemporary material on �iddle & guitar Excellent & rising folk superstar Hannah performs songs from her new album

May 26th – Malcolm Hobbs

Malcolm performs traditional songs playing bouzouki, mandola & guitar

June 9th – Jeremy Harmer / Ethan Barnett (tbc)

Jeremy performs traditional & contemporary songs on guitar : Ethan plays traditional and contemporary American folk songs on guitar

June 23rd – Jason B Hollis / Bubbles

Jason performs his original songs with guitar accompaniment: Bubbles plays traditional songs with a humorous bent accompanying herself on accordion & concertina.

July 14th – Gemma Khawaja

Gemma comes all the way from Cromer with a beautiful voice to sing traditional songs accompanying herself on tenor, six string guitar or “a cappella”.

July 28th – The Fog

The Fog are an acoustic trio from Bishop’s Stortford performing an eclectic mix of original, blues & surprising fun covers. Virtuoso taro patch & ukulele playing.

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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UM2 Quarter Page (portrait) STACEY BANJOS 2.pdf

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Wed 1 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Gren Bartley Thur 2 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Charles Day BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle Fri 3 BEDFORD FINE • Easter Holiday CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Alison and Jack WATFORD • Closed Sat 4 HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: The Watch with Lisa Heywood plus Westminster Morris Men; Concert: Dan McKinnon Sun 5 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Liz Simcock and Dave Ellis & Boo Howard Mon 6 HERGA • Closed HITCHIN STAPLERS • Closed LEASIDERS • Closed ST ALBANS MORRIS MEN • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Closed Tue 7 ST NEOTS • Askew Sisters Wed 8 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice BEDFORD PLACE • Sam Carter LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Session Thur 9 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Roger Dover BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Steve Mills REDBOURN • Andy Irvine Fri 10 BEDFORD FINE • Easter Holiday CAMBRIDGE • Dave Swarbrick CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Bennett and Spring Greens ROYSTON • Showcase feat. The Malingerers WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Clive Carey Sat 11 ST ALBANS FOLK • Alistair Anderson (Maltings) Sun 12 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Paul Downes and Phil Beer ST ALBANS FOLK • New Roots Finals (Trestle) Mon 13 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller ST ALBANS MORRIS MEN • Morris Practice WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 14 HERTFORD • Sea song night with Shanty Keith ST NEOTS • Gavin Davenport and Tom Kitching Wed 15 ELY • Andy Cutting ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Caller Judith Inman BALDOCK • Malinky’s Fiona Hunter and Mike Vass Thur 16 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Lorraine and Ced Morgan BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Michelle Holding and Bonz

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle Fri 17 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Tom Conway, Mary Humphries and Anahata, John Mead FRIDAY FOLK • Nigel Close WATFORD • Singaround Sun 19 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice HITCHIN • The James Brothers Mon 20 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller ST ALBANS MORRIS MEN • Morris Practice WALTHAM ABBEY • Three Sheets to the Wind Tue 21 ST NEOTS • Round the Room Wed 22 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Open Floor and Performers Night Thur 23 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Kevin Prigmore BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Sarah McQuaid REDBOURN • Daniel Nestlerode Fri 24 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Fran and Mike Burke CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Barrie Bullimore and Friday Folk Band ROYSTON • Mike Silver; Support Black Scarr WATFORD • Na Mara Sun 26 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Gig TBC HITCHIN • Steve Knightly Mon 27 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Talent Evening ST ALBANS MORRIS MEN • Morris Practice WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 28 HERTFORD • David Cambridge/Red Velvet ST NEOTS • Artisan Wed 29 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Club Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Sunjay Thur 30 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: George Hearnden BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night

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Fri 1 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Brian Cleary and Hugh Boyde FRIDAY FOLK • Maypole Dancing with Mike Ruff WATFORD • Singaround ST ALBANS • Folk at the Maltings Sat 2 HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: Liam Robinson Dance Band with Liam Robinson; Concert: Tom McConville Sun 3 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Gilmore and Roberts plus Rosie Hood Mon 4 HERGA • Closed HITCHIN STAPLERS • Closed LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Closed Tue 5 ST NEOTS • Na Mara Wed 6 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Session Thur 7 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Terry Elvins BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Martin Curtis MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle REDBOURN • Na Mara Fri 8 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Mawkin CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Wendy Harrup and Friday Folk Band ROYSTON • Showcase Floyd Hartwell Trio WATFORD • Pete Co and Alice Jones Sun 10 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman plus Alma Fiddles Mon 11 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Big Ian Petrie Tue 12 HERTFORD • Woodcut / Hannah Sanders ST NEOTS • Martin Curtis Wed 13 ELY • Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • 4Square Thur 14 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Roger Dover BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Rick Christian Fri 15 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • The Young ‘Uns FRIDAY FOLK • Dave Parsons WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Linda Birmingham Sun 17 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Hannah Martin and Phillip Henry plus Enda Kenny Mon 18 HERGA • Enda Kenny

HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 19 ST NEOTS • Kieran Goss Wed 20 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Clubs Practice for Gutersloh LINSLEIGHDERS • Caller Peter Bridgman BALDOCK • Open Floor and Performers Night Thur 21 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: John Green BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Fools Gold MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle Fri 22 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Bob Fox CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Closed WATFORD • Singaround Sun 24 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar plus Kirsty Bromley Mon 25 HERGA • Closed HITCHIN STAPLERS • Closed LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Closed Tue 26 HERTFORD • Malcolm Hobbs ST NEOTS • Round the Room Wed 27 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice BEDFORD PLACE • Belshazzar’s Feast LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Pyrates Thur 28 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Keith Harrup BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Four Coats Colder REDBOURN • Bruce Molsky Fri 29 BEDFORD FINE • Half Term No Club CAMBRIDGE • 50th Anniversary Singer / Songwriters Concert FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett and Spring Greens ROYSTON • Hannah Sanders, Ben Smith, Schrodinger’s Strings WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Martin Olyett Sun 31 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Gig TBC HITCHIN • Richard Digence

We desperately need help to distribute copies of 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.

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Mon 1 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 2 ST NEOTS • Enda Kenny support Wildwood Jack Wed 3 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players and listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Session Thur 4 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Jane Edmett BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Louise Jordan MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle Fri 5 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Lucy Ward CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Suzanne Farmer WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Hamish Currie ST ALBANS • Folk at the Maltings Sat 6 HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: The Nina Hansell All Stars with Aiden Hansell plus Thrales Rapper; Concert: Martyn Wyndham-Read Sun 7 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Slaid Cleaves Mon 8 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 9 HERTFORD • Jeremy Harmer / Ethan Barnett (tbc) ST NEOTS • Winter Wilson Wed 10 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice BEDFORD PLACE • Spiro LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • My Sweet Patootee Thur 11 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: George Hearnden BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night Fri 12 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Two Coats Colder FRIDAY FOLK • Brenda Godrich and Friday Folk Band ROYSTON • Showcase Red Dirt ST NEOTS • Folk Festival WALTHAM ABBEY • Summer Sing Weekend WATFORD • Singaround Sat 13 ST NEOTS • Folk Festival WALTHAM ABBEY • Summer Sing Weekend Sun 14 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN • Chris and Kellie While plus Tinderbox REDBOURN • Folk on the Common WALTHAM ABBEY • Summer Sing Weekend Mon 15 HERGA • Pete Coe HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Tue 16 ST NEOTS • Kara Wed 17 ELY • Bob Fox ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Caller Norman Hayes BALDOCK • Open Floor and Performance Night Thur 18 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Kevin Prigmore BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Steve Turner MILTON KEYNES ACOUSTIC MUSIC CENTRE • Roots guitar, fiddle & whistle REDBOURN • Zoe Wren Fri 19 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Adrian Nation CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • American Contra Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Chris Turner WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Tom Lavin Sun 21 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Mon 22 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 23 HERTFORD • Jason B Hollis/Bubbles ST NEOTS • Kevin Dempsey and Rosie Carson Wed 24 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Bob Fox Thur 25 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Lorraine and Ced Morgan BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Daria Kulesh (Solo) Fri 26 BEDFORD FINE • Club night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Mentes Maskent Trio (Hungary) FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Band ROYSTON • The Willows support Foxglove Trio WATFORD • Singaround Sat 27 FRIDAY FOLK • Ali, Meg and Bill (Samuel Ryder Academy) ST ALBANS • St Albans Folk Festival Sun 28 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Gig TBC ST ALBANS • St Albans Folk Festival Mon 29 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Caller WALTHAM ABBEY • Steve Tyler and Andy Clarke Tue 30 ST NEOTS • Round the Room

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BEDFORD FDC • Bedford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574 www.bedfordfolkdanceclub.com BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Music Club Kempston Hammers Sports and Social Club, 134 High Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire MK42 7BN Tel: 01234 853262 Contact: Mike Blair, 01525 404513 – see us on Facebook BEDFORD • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance Club Hazeldene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford MK41 9AT Contact: David Cooke, 01234 823920 www.finecompanions.synthasite.com BEDFORD PLACE • The Place Theatre Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE Contact: 01234 354321, www.theplacebedford.org.uk BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Stortfolk Royal British Legion, 28 Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2NG Contact: Jon & Hilary McNamara, 01279 656664 www.beerfordbury.co.uk BRICKET WOOD • 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 CAMBRIDGE • Black Fen Folk Club Hot Numbers Café, 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 • Cambridge Contra Dance St Andrew’s Hall, St Andrew’s Rd, Chesterton CB4 1DH Contact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641, www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra CHESHAM • Chesham Folk & Acoustic Music Club Whitehill Centre, Chesham HP5 1AG Contact: Bob Templeman, 07771 727943 www.cheshamfolkclub.org.uk ELY • Ely Folk Club The Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4ER (no bar) Contact: Ruth Bramley / Andy Wall, 01353 740999 / 664706 www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

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 LINSLADE • Linsleighders Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade LU7 2NR Contact: Mrs E.A. Corser, 01525 378010 MILTON KEYNES • Milton Keynes Acoustic Music Centre Community Centre, Britten Grove, Old Farm Park, MK7 8QU Contact: John Timpany, 07981 161261, www.mkamc.co.uk 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 School Room, 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 (showcases) 07738 183158, Chris Walls (concerts) 01763 260 556, www.roystonfolk.org ST ALBANS • St Albans Folk Music Maltings Arts Theatre, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans AL4 0JQ Old Town Hall, Market Place St Albans AL3 5DJ Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111, www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk ST. ALBANS • St. Albans Morris Men (Men’s Cotswold) Riverside Road, St Albans Contact: Bagman, Andrew Torrington, 01727 833028, www.stalbansmorrismen.org.uk

FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance Club Methodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XG Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508, www.fridayfolk.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

HADDENHAM • Haddenham Ceilidhs Haddenham Village Hall, near Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8EE Contact: john@actionfolk.co.uk www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk, 07717 047 039

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

HARPENDEN • English Miscellany East Hyde Village Hall, Lower Harpenden Rd (B653), nr Luton LU2 9QB Contact: Helen Stamp, 020 8386 3779 www.englishmiscellany.com

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

HERGA • Herga Folk Club Pinner Green Social Club, Rickmansworth Rd, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3TJ Contact: George Papavgeris, 07747 768868 www.hergafolk.org

HERTFORD • The White Horse Folk Club White Horse PH, Castle St, Hertford SG14 1HH Contact: Pat Crilly 07971 804418, patcrilly@hotmail.com

WATFORD • Woodside Morris Men Pump House, Local Board Rd, Lower High St, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Nick Wilson (sec), Pete Bradshaw (publicity) 07860 663033, www.woodsidemorrismen.org.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Music type: Folk, well known artists, PA only for certain guests. Meets: Every month, on Saturdays Admission charge: All of our concerts are £12.00 per person. Accompanied children under 16 are admitted free. Guests: One main guest a month plus a support. Venue name: St Mary Magdalene Church Venue address: Church Street, Dunton SG18 8RR Parking: Plenty nearby Club contact: Simon Bailes • 01767 310 424 • duntonfolk@hotmail.co.uk • www.duntonfolk.co.uk

unton Folk is organised by Simon Bailes with assistance of the Friends of Dunton Folk. Concerts are held almost every month in the beautiful St Mary Magdalene Church in Dunton, (nr Biggleswade), with music sessions in the March Hare pub in Dunton on the first Tuesday of every month and a wassail every January (in association with Dunton Cider, also run by Simon!). We started in 2012 with the aim of bringing live music to Dunton. The concerts have gone from strength to strength and 2015 sees a cornucopia of local and national performers The acoustics of the venue are perfect – we barely need amplification, but we have a full PA and sound desk to ensure that we get the right balance for performers. We have a full bar at each of our concerts provided by the March Hare pub – real ales, ciders, wine and soft drinks. Doors open for the concerts at 7.30pm and the support act starts at 8.00pm. We are usually finished for the evening around 10.30pm.

ENQUIRIES FROM DANCERS OR MUSICIANS ALWAYS WELCOME: WE PRACTICE MONDAY EVENINGS SCOUT HUT, RIVERSIDE ROAD, ST ALBANS Contact: Squire Trevor Adams ( 01707 883476 ) or Bagman Andrew Torrington (01727 833028) UM130 UM3 St Albans Morris Ad 1.indd 1 Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

20/2/15 19:13:28 www.unicornmagazine.org

The Old Bull Inn 56 High St, (car park Market Hill)

Royston SG8 9AW 7:30 for 8pm till 11pm

www.roystonfolk.org Concert Nights

Showcase Nights

LAST Friday of the month

SECOND Friday of the month

Friday 24th April 2015 Concert Mike Silver Support is Black Scarr £12 (£10 in advance) £2 under 25s

Friday 29th May 2015 Concert “Triple header” Hannah Sanders (pictured) Ben Smith Schrodinger’s Strings £11 (£9 in advance) £2 under 25s

Friday 26th June 2015 Concert The Willows Support is Fox Glove Trio £15 (£13 in advance) £2 under 25s

Friday 31st July 2015 Concert “Triple header” Garry Smith Oka Vanga (pictured) Jackson Creek £11 (£9 in advance) £2 under 25s

Friday 28th August 2015 Concert Josienne Clark and Ben Walker Support is Thursday’s Band £15 (13 in advance) £2 under 25s

Just £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s

Friday 10th April 2015 Showcase The Malingerers (band) Daniel Nestlerode Tom Ryder David Savage Andy Mathewson Maiden Jeans

Friday 8th May 2015 Showcase Floyd Hartwell Trio (band) Peter Webster Steve Warner Akos Hasznosa Mary and Anahata Jeremy Reynolds Caxton and Hilton

Friday 12th June 2015 Showcase Red Dirt (band) Na-Mara Ian Roland Phillip Rundall Liz Cotton Lizzie J Taylor

Friday 10th July 2015 Showcase Sky West (band) Tom Marty Bill Tarran Jess Lambert Steve Logan Melody Causton

“For FOLK Music read ... GREAT Music”

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Saturday June 27th St Albans Old Town Hall • Free showcases and sessions plus singarounds in the cells.

Festival Concert 7.30pm • FFeaturing Brass Monkey

in its ﬁnal year as a band plus Hartwell, Floyd and Hines singing Bob Hinesʼ song from Watford Folk song writing competition plus New Roots 2015 ﬁnalists

Day of Dance in City Centre

Sunday June 28th

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ST ALB June 27

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Concert tickets £20.00, £16.00 concessions from www.allaboutstalbans.com or St Albans Tourist Information Centre, 01727 864511 or on the door if still available For further details of St Albans Folk Festival events: • info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk • www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk • 01727 852111 / 833028

• Sessions and performances at ʻLarks in the Parksʼ

UM130 UM3 SAFF.indd 1

8/3/15 20:23:52

Sat Apr 11

Alistair Anderson, Tom and Jess, others tbc

Fri May 1

May day concert with na mara, Bob Wakeling and Sue Farthing

Fri June 5

Run of the Mill, Moses and the Ref, others tbc

8.00pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Tickets: Concerts £10.00, concessions £8.00 for students, under 16 £6.00: Online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo, or from St Albans Tourist & Information Centre, 01727 864511

Further information: W: www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk E: info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

www.unicornmagazine.org

On Friday 8th May, we are pleased to present

PETE COE & ALICE JONES

“The Search for Five Finger Frank” A very special night with Pete Coe & Alice Jones performing a highly acclaimed concert featuring the songs collected by Frank Kidson. Pete & Alice have kindly added this date so that they can include Watford Folk Club in their schedule and we very much appreciate them doing so. This is a rare opportunity to hear ballads, broadsides and dance tunes from the collection of Frank Kidson, a folk-song collector from Leeds, performed live by two exemplary interpreters of traditional folk song. A double CD released in April 2014 has had great reviews and will be available on the night. Do make the effort to come – this will be a one-off, never to be repeated event. See diary entries for FUTURE GUEST ARTISTS dates & our LEGENDARY SINGAROUNDS Email: WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com www.facebook.com/groups/watfordfolkclub/ http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com

www.karendesigner.uk SPECIALIST WEBSITE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN SERVICE FOR MUSICIANS, BANDS, TEACHERS, FOLK CLUBS AND VENUES. prices start from £300

Website Design Photography Graphic Design

Karen Donnelly E: karendesigner@hotmail.com M: 07775 997248 www.karendesigner.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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n a bid to get even more publicity for those acts we feature, or who hail from our target area, we have started our own dedicated Unicorn Magazine YouTube channel. The idea is to host one video from each act in a single dedicated spot, so that at a glance people can get an idea of the wealth of talent that exists in the Unicorn catchment area – and hopefully discover new acts that they might not have previously encountered. If you are interested in having your video added, please send your details to Clive (clive@cbatkin.plus.com), plus any information you may like included with the vid (a bit about the band / act /clip, web address etc). We will also try to include other relevant content on the YouTube Channel – we may even do a video podcast Copyright © 2014 Liz V. Lawley introducing each new edition of the Magazine as it comes out! As ever, let us know your thoughts on this idea.

(We may also replicate this idea with a UM Soundcloud channel for audio, if we get sufficient take up / interest...)

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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 download 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 – preferred formats are high res (300dpi) PDFs, 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 130

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Malcolm Hobbs “Once More With Feeling”

his is the second release from Malcolm, who many will recognise as a regular performer at clubs such as Redbourn and Baldock. I’ve known Malcolm for more years than either of us probably want to remember (he was my biology teacher at school, believer it or not!) and I was amazed when, what seemed like several lifetimes later, I bumped into him again on the folk scene. I openly mention this rather tenuous link since I didn’t want anyone thinking it was this prior association (not exactly nepotism but close enough!) that makes me give his new CD such a glowing review. I’d already been a fan of his live work, and his first CD ‘Time For Another’ for a period became my favourite summer car driving CD. I was really looking forward to the second one, and in no way am I disappointed! Initially ‘Once More With Feeling’ seems a very similar offering to ‘Another..’, but even a cursory listening shows a greater depth and maturity to the new release. The choice of material is very ‘Malcolm-eske’, but certainly none the poorer for that. Every tune suits his voice and playing style to a T, and his delivery is very accomplished and confident as a result. The recording quality is excellent, with good clarity and balance between all the instruments and his voice. Malcolm has broadened the range of both the instruments he uses to add embellishments to the tunes, and the multi-tracking and use of deskeffects (but without swamping the overall sound or detracting from the his natural sounding delivery). My personal favourite tune is the opening ‘Last Rose of Summer’, but many of the tunes have an addictive atmospheric and evocative tone.

Dan Evans “Au Vieux Moulin”

his album is Dan’s fifth and is a success from start to finish. Recorded predominantly in Wellingborough with a sprinkling of tracks recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, this album showcases Dan’s skills on the mountain dulcimer. It amazes me how such a simple instrument as the mountain dulcimer can be made to produce such beautiful sounds. It only has three strings and two of them are tuned to the same note, for goodness sake! Dan is ably supported on the album by Andy Crowdy on guitar and bass with Rebecca Hallworth on vocals. He is also joined on a couple of tracks by the American dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert. I have been listening to this CD for a couple of weeks while trying to make up my mind why I like it so much. I’ve had it playing in the office, in the car and, while I’m writing this review, on a train. It has struck me that the arrangements of the tracks are simple and the tones of the instruments and voices very clear. The collection of tracks runs for over forty five minutes and I find myself lost in an almost meditative state through the whole album. The album has a number of my favourite songs on it which always helps but to my mind you can’t get much better than Dan’s version of Amazing Grace. The blend of Dan’s dulcimer, Rebecca’s voice and Andy’s guitar works perfectly. I would also point you to Bullet Train one of the instrumental tracks on the album. It describes a modern Japanese train whooshing past medieval villages to its destination. It has a Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells sound that I think is great. I thoroughly recommend this album. More information from www.english-dulcimer.com.

Malcolm launched the CD at the February Folk at the Maltings gig and it was a delight to hear him deliver many of the tunes live, all presented by his usual humorous enthusiasm. Definitely go buy his CD – I am already itching to hear the third!

Simon Bailes

Clive Batkin

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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At the heart of English folk 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY

Now on sale Beyond The Marches Monday 4 May, 7.30pm, £15 Artists Georgia Ruth Williams, Elan Rhys, Patrick Rimes, Lucy Ward, David Gibb, Archie Churchill-Moss

The Full English Sunday 10 May, 7pm, £22.50 Featuring Fay Hield, Seth Lakeman, Martin Simpson, Nancy Kerr Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron and Ben Nicholls.

Emily Portman Trio Saturday 27 June, 7.30pm, £14

Booking fees apply.

/cecilsharphouse

@cecilsharphouse

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

olkstock has been as busy as ever during the winter months and has a number of releases coming out, following on from Daria Kulesh’s debut album Eternal Child, released on January 31st. Kelly Oliver has been enjoying some great feedback about her album and in addition to two BBC Radio 2 plays for her single with Luke Jackson, gained an Album of the Year award from FolkWords as well as a short listing in the prestigious FATEA awards for best debut album. Some achievement for the 24 yr old from North Herts, as well as the 19 yr old producer Lauren Deakin Davies we would say. The Armistice Pals charity single of Pete Seeger’s Where Have All The Flowers Gone sung by over 100 voices from the world of folk, which Folkstock Records also released late last year in association with the band Merry Hell, won best EP / Single from FATEA and best traditional song from Talkawhile, the Cropredy Folk Forum. February saw the release of a single Weathered the Storm from a new signing to my label, Pete Guy. The optimistic track received this remark from R2 Magazine ‘Pete Guy has the folk / Americana thing down to a T’ and they’ve added it to their coveted cover disc no less. March 8th saw the release of The F Spot Femmes Fatales which is an all female album released on International Women’s Day to make a point – namely that only 13% of songs registered with PRS are by women. Even fewer female producers and labels are run by women, and Folkstock wants to encourage those who might be hiding their light under the proverbial bushel. The final release of the spring is from Tobias Ben Jacob (who you may know from his time with Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, as songwriter / lead singer in The Roots Union) and Lukas Drinkwater (one third of the popular Three Daft Monkeys). A double A side of ‘inventive and thrilling’ songs – according to R2 Magazine again – is being released on March 24th and R2 have included in their cover mount cd. So 2015 got off to a flying start for Folkstock Records, and what with Kelly’s collaboration with producer Nigel Stonier and Ciaran Algar on her next single coming out early April, it doesn’t seem like the pace is going to let up! Helen Meissner

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Practice at the Pump House, Watford WOODSIDE • Practice at the Pump House, Watford

Wed

8pm

Fri

Weekend

BALDOCK • Isle of Wight Tour

Sat

Weekend

BALDOCK • Isle of Wight Tour

Sun

Weekend

BALDOCK • Isle of Wight Tour

Mon

Weekend

BALDOCK • Isle of Wight Tour

Wed

8pm

Sat

Thu

Fri

WICKET BROOD • Oxford Folk Weekend All Day

BALDOCK • Oxford Traditional Fair and Games

Afternoon

WOODSIDE • Dancing in London on South Bank

8pm

BALDOCK • St George’s Night, Orange Tree, Baldock

5am

WOODSIDE • Dancing the Dawn, Cassiobury Park followed by venues in Watford

5.25am

REDBORNSTOKE • Catherine’s Cross, Ampthill Park (with Beds Lace & Hemlock Morris)

7.45am

REDBORNSTOKE • Queens Head, Ampthill, MK45 2HP

6.15am

LETCHWORTH • Ickwell Green, SG18 9EF (with Bedford and Offley MM)

7am Sat

Sun

Mon

BALDOCK • Baldock High Street / Woolmer Green Home Education

All Day

REDBORNSTOKE • Hastings Jack in the Green Festival

All Day

BALDOCK • Rochester Sweeps Festival

1pm

WOODSIDE • Harrow on the Hill

All Day

REDBORNSTOKE • Hastings Jack in the Green Festival

6.30am

WHITCHURCH • Coombe Hill Monument, Wendover, SP849066

9am

WHITCHURCH • The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden, HP16 9RQ

10.30am

WHITCHURCH • World’s End Garden Centre, Wendover, HP22 6BD

Noon

WOODSIDE • Practice at the Pump House, Watford

WHITCHURCH • Whitchurch May Fair, HP22 4JG

2.15pm

WHITCHURCH • Pitstone Green Farm Museum, Pitstone, LU7 9EY

All Day

REDBORNSTOKE • Hastings Jack in the Green Festival

Tue

8pm

WICKET BROOD • Elephant and Castle, Amwell, AL4 8EA

Thu

8.15

LETCHWORTH • March Hare, Dunton, SG18 8RN

Fri

8pm

OFFLEY • Red Lion, Great Offley

Sat

Sun

WICKET BROOD • Hatfield House Living Crafts Fair Noon

LETCHWORTH • Ashwell at Home, Ashwell Primary School, SG7 5QL

1.30pm

LETCHWORTH • The Rose and Crown, Ashwell, SG7 5LY

2.30pm

LETCHWORTH • The Museum, Ashwell, SG7 5NY

3pm

LETCHWORTH • The Bushell and Strike, Ashwell, SG7 5LY

Tue

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Angler’s Retreat, Marsworth, HP23 4LJ

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Jolly Cricketers, Seer Green

Fri

8pm

OFFLEY • Rising Sun, Halls Green

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Sat

WOODSIDE • Chesham Prep School fete All Day

WICKET BROOD • Baldock Midnight Morris Day of Dance, Baldock

All Day

LETCHWORTH • Day of Dance, Baldock

All Day

BALDOCK • Baldock Midnight Morris Day of Dance, Baldock

Sun

Afternoon

Mon

8pm

LETCHWORTH • Walsworth Festival, Walsworth Common, Hitchin, SG4 0AL REDBORNSTOKE • The Fox, Pirton, SG5 3PS

9pm

REDBORNSTOKE • The Motte and Bailey, Pirton, SG5 3QD

Tue

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Sun Inn, Lemsford, Welwyn, AL8 7TN

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Plough, Cadsden, HP27 0NB

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Old Palace, Kings Langley

Thu

8.15

LETCHWORTH • Crown, Buntingford, SG9 9AB

9.15

LETCHWORTH • The Sword Inn Hand, Westmill, SG9 9LQ (with Standon MM) OFFLEY • Bird in Hand, Gosmore

Fri

8pm

Sat

All Day

WHITCHURCH • Yorkshire Dales as guests of Leeds Morris Men

Sun

Lunch

WOODSIDE • White Horse, Hedgerley

All Day

WHITCHURCH • Yorkshire Dales as guests of Leeds Morris Men

Tue

8pm

BALDOCK • Robin Hood, Tonwell

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • The Falcon, Denham

Fri

8pm

OFFLEY • Wagon and Horses, Graveley

Sat

All Day

WOODSIDE • Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting

All Day

WHITCHURCH • Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting

All Day

LETCHWORTH • Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting

Sun

Tue

Wed

LETCHWORTH • Thaxted Morris Ring Meeting

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Green Dragon, London Colney, AL2 1RB

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Bell, Hardwick, HP22 4DZ

8pm

BALDOCK • The Crown, Shillington

8pm

WOODSIDE • Red Lion Penn

9.15pm 8pm 8.30pm

Thu

WOODSIDE • The Squirrel, Penn Street REDBORNSTOKE • Queens Head, Ampthill, MK45 2HP (tbc) REDBORNSTOKE • Prince of Wales, Ampthill, MK45 2NB (tbc)

9pm

REDBORNSTOKE • The Old Sun, Ampthill, MK45 2NQ (tbc)

9.30

REDBORNSTOKE • The Albion, Ampthill, MK45 2JT (tbc)

8.15

LETCHWORTH • The Cock, Broom, SG18 9NA

9.15

LETCHWORTH • The Five Bells, Henlow, SG16 6AE

Fri

8pm

OFFLEY • Bright Star, Peter’s Green

Sat

1pm

WOODSIDE • St Leonard’s Fete, Wendover

Unicorn Magazine: issue 126

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Sun

Afternoon

LETCHWORTH • St Francis Country Fair, Letchworth, SG6 3PJ

Mon

8pm

REDBORNSTOKE • The Crown Inn, Shillington, SG5 3LP (tbc)

9pm

REDBORNSTOKE • The Musgrave Arms, Shillington, SG5 3LX (tbc)

Tue

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden, HP16 9RQ

8pm

BALDOCK • The Fox, Pirton

8pm

WOODSIDE • The Plough, Sleapshyde

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

9.15pm

WOODSIDE • Crooked Billet, Colney Heath

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • The Fox, Willian, SG6 2AE

9.15pm

LETCHWORTH • The Three Horseshoes, Willian,SG6 2AE REDBORNSTOKE • Mortimer’s Morris Weekend of Dance, Nottinghamshire

8pm

OFFLEY • Cricketers, Weston

tbc

WOODSIDE • Yamaha Owners Club, Met Police Club, Bushey REDBORNSTOKE • Mortimer’s Morris Weekend of Dance, Nottinghamshire

Tue

All Day

LETCHWORTH • Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre

All Day

BALDOCK • Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Waggoners, Ayot Green, Welwyn, AL6 9AA

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Half Moon, Wilstone, HP23 4PD

8pm

WOODSIDE • White Hart, Whelpley Hill

Wed

Fri

8pm

OFFLEY • Plume of Feathers, Ickleford

Mon

8pm

REDBORNSTOKE • The Stone Jug, Clophill, MK45 4BY

9pm

REDBORNSTOKE • Star and Garter, Silsoe, MK45 4DR

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The George and Dragon, Quainton, HP22 4AR

8pm

BALDOCK • The Lytton Arms, Knebworth

8pm

WOODSIDE • The Cock Inn, Sarratt

9.15pm

Tue

Wed

9.15pm Thu

Fri

Sat

Tue

8pm

WOODSIDE • Black Horse, Chorleywood LETCHWORTH • The Rose and Crown, Ashwell, SG7 5NQ

8.45pm

LETCHWORTH • The Three Tuns, Ashwell, SG7 5NL

9.30pm

LETCHWORTH • The Bushel and Strike, Ashwell, SG7 5LY

8pm

OFFLEY • Robin Hood and Little John, Rabley Heath WICKET BROOD • St Albans Festival of Folk

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The White Swan, Whitchurch, HP22 4JT

8pm

BALDOCK • Lordship Arms, Bennington

BALDOCK Midnight Morris – Cotswold, Border, Mixed Contact: Anna Draper • 07957 035 469 www.baldockmidnightmorris.org.uk LETCHWORTH Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Andrew Harper • bagman@letchworthmorris.org.uk www.letchworthmorris.org.uk

WOODSIDE • The Swan, Ley Hill

OFFLEY Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Godfrey Leak • 01462 790 343 www.offleymorris.org.uk REDBORNSTOKE Morris – Men’s Cotswold Contact: Charlie Leslie • 01234 750 829 chas.redbornstoke@btinternet.com, www.redbornstoke.com WOODSIDE Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Nick Wilson • 07860 663 033 www.woodsidemorrismen.com

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WHITCHURCH Morris Men – Cotswold Bagman: John Bush • 01296 641 382 info@whitchurchmorris.org.uk www.whitchurchmorris.org.uk 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

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Summer 2015 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. Meeting Fridays from 7:45 to 10:00 pm at The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 01727 856508 Standard Friday admission ÂŁ3

3 Apr Closed for Easter 10 Apr Mike Bennett and Spring Greens 17 Apr Nigel Close 24 Apr Barrie Bullimore and Friday Folk Band 1 May Maypole dancing with Mike Ruff 8 May Wendy Harrup and FF Band 15 May Dave Parsons 22 May Closed 29 May Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 5 Jun Suzanne Farmer 12 Jun Brenda Godrich and Friday Folk Band 19 Jun Chris Turner 26 Jun Friday Folk Band 27 Jun Saturday Special Dance at Samuel Ryder Academy with Ali, Meg & Bill from Momentum

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

Baldock & Letchworth Blues, Folk & Roots 8.30pm Wednesdays accompanied under 16’s free See website for full artiste info

Apr 1 Gren Bartley £8/9/10 www.grenbartley.com ‘An exceptional songwriter and ﬁnger-picking guitar & banjo player’ R2 Magazine Apr 8

Session £2

Come along and join us, whether you sing, play, or listen!

Apr 15 Malinky’s Fiona Hunter & Mike Vass £8/9/10 mikevass.com Fiona: lead singer with Folk Band of the Year 2010 Malinky, & twice Singer of the Year. Mike: one of Scotland’s finest fiddle players, Mike plays with international supergroup Fiddle Rendezvous, featuring Bruce Molsky & Gerry O’Connor. Winner of Composer of the Year award at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2012 Apr 22 Open Floor Performers £2 audience £3 Spots can be booked in advance by phone or email Apr 29 Sunjay £8/9/10 www.sunjay.tv A superb award-winning blues influenced singer/songwriter. He has a terrific voice & his guitar playing has been hailed as “superb, brilliant, experienced, intricate & faultless” May 6 Session £2

Come along and join us, whether you sing, play, or listen!

May 13 4Square** £8/9/10 www.4squaremusic.co.uk They’ve played at festivals in the UK, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Norway, Czech Republic and Sweden. 4Square’s music has ﬁre & virtuosity; ﬁddle, clog dancing, mandolin, accordion & 3 part-vocal harmonies "Stunning" - John Tams May 20 Open Floor Performers £2 audience £3 (see Apr 22nd) May 27 Pyrates £8/9/10 www.pyrates.co.uk Seafaring band of musical marauders, dressed in full pirate costume an’ all in tha' quay of ARRRR! Jne 3

Session £2

Come along and join us, whether you sing, play, or listen!

Jne 10 My Sweet Patootee £8/9/10 www.mysweetpatootie.com Ontario-based trio bringing vocal harmonies, monstrous ﬁnger-style guitar, ﬁddle, percussion and laughs! They deliver a show that Driftwood Magazine describes as "two parts exemplary musicianship, one part vaudeville comedy" Jne 17

Open Floor Performers £2 audience £3 (see Apr 22nd)

Jne 24 Bob Fox £8/9/10 www.bobfoxmusic.com The longest running ‘Songman’ in the National Theatre’s Warhorse; a witty and engaging performer, a superb guitarist and singer and a club favourite Jly 1 Life & Times - the ﬁnal visit! www.lifeandtimes.info Self-written songs in the traditional idiom; great music great song, great fun!

The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact us: 01767 683583 or alan@madnanny.co.uk

Unicorn Magazine: issue 130

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in, doing maypole dances in their lower school playground. The Ver Players, a ukulele club, now plays in the Rose and Crown car park.

raffic will give way to music and dancing on Wednesday 1 July when St Michael’s Street, St Albans will be closed from 8–10pm for the 28th St Michael’s Street Folk evening. After the street re-opens, music and singing will continue until closing time in the Street’s two remaining pubs. Since 1988 when it first started, this event has been held every first Wednesday in July, except in years when has it moved by a week, to avoid clashing with major international football matches. It is now firmly established in the local calendar, we usually have good weather and the street is packed with people. The idea for the event came when St Albans Council held the first of a series of two-yearly arts festivals. The self contained area of St Michael’s village, with its four pubs, was a natural venue for an evening of music and dancing. We had to start by getting the local residents on board. Liz Rose attended the AGM of the St Michael and Kingsbury Society, which did not express great enthusiasm but did give its agreement. The Council, it arranged the necessary street closure and bus diversion free of charge under the Town Police Act of 1847. The first evening was a great success and we immediately decided to make it an annual event, even though the arts festival continued on a two yearly basis and no longer occurs, while the folk evening continues, with strong but nonfinancial support from the Council and the St Michael’s and Kingsbury Society.

To all appearances, St Michael’s Street Folk Evening is a spontaneous event. This is deceptive, as it would never happen without organisation, provided very efficiently and quietly by Trevor Adams of St Alban Morris Men, who has carried on organising it year after year as well as dealing with new challenges. Two years ago, the Black Lion closed, leaving the Swan Vestas without a venue until St Michael’s Church invited them to play in the churchyard. This, in turn, disrupted the activities of St Michael’s bellringers, whose weekly practice had always formed a backdrop to the event. This year, however, they will be ringing for an hour from 7pm and will then be on hand to explain the traditional art and science of change ringing. Last year, a second pub, the Blue Anchor, closed in late June and Trevor is now looking for a new place for Redbourn Folk Club to sing. Also last year a council official thought more modern legislation should be used for the road closure, at a cost of £436. As no one collects or charges money on St Michael’s night, except of course the pubs, we didn’t have this money. We successfully lobbied local councillors to persuade the official to stick to the old legislation and close the road for free so the music and dancing could go ahead, as it will again this year. So come and join us on Wednesday July 1. Alison Macfarlane

Since the outset, the main participants have been local Cotswold, North West and Border sides, plus English Miscellany, and Scottish dancers from the Hiel and Toe Club and rapper by Stevenage Sword. In recent years, Tappalachian has added a transatlantic flavour. Singers and musicians came from the Redbourn Folk Club, the musicians from the Thursday night sessions which used to take in the Rose and Crown got together with the talented young Irish musicians from Comhalthas Ceolteori Eireann. More recently, others have joined us. The Black Lion started to book the Swan Vesta Social Club, ‘The inauthentic sound of Cuba.’ Pupils from St Michael’s School, have joined

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Grae J Wall “December Songs”

his release of six tracks comes from Grae J Wall, who many will know as the front man of the St Albansbased Trailer Trash Orchestra and Los Chicos Muertos. This solo CD contains a set of songs that mix and blur the lines of country, blues, Americana and folk, all delivered with Grae’s Dylan-ish tone and style. The songs feature an interesting mix of instruments, including acoustic guitar, banjo and harmonica to augment the vocals, with a few snippets of snare drum here and there. The CD has a very raw / live sound, and I should think gives a pretty good representation of Grae playing a real gig. The packaging reflects this overall ‘realistic feel’ with a simple black and white graphic and a nicely ‘self-produced’ vibe. Two of the six tacks are traditional tunes (‘Christmas Am a Comin’ and Mary of the Wild’) with the rest being self-penned by Grae and clearly reflect his love of murder ballads, road trips, tales of down and out sides of life... and Christmas! Well worth a listen, the CD is available from www.trashville.co.uk and all major download sites. Chapstone Barre

Hunter Muskett “That Was Then, This Is Now”

riginally formed way back in the years 1968 – 1974, Hunter Muskett released two albums on major labels, did all sorts of gigs and tours and generally seemed to have lived the life of working musicians. Fast forwarding to 2010, the band reformed after the re-release of one of the original albums, and now continue to regularly gig around the scene. Their latest CD is a very classy affair, in both looks and sound. The packaging is instantly an eye catcher – a very classy booklet is packed with wonderful photos from all periods of the group’s history (how fashions and hairstyles do change!?) as well as comprehensive lyrics and band info. The band seems to mainly play now as an acoustic / electric four piece (vocals, harmonies, three guitars and bass) but the CD is very much a full-on larger band affair. The sound production is very ‘studio’ with lots of additional musicians called in here and there to add texture and interest. The CD has 11 tracks, 10 originals plus once cover (Walk Away Renée), of which my overall favourite is the wonderfully evocative Waiting for Sonny. Fans of guitar based folk / country / folk rock will love this CD, I am sure – the overall sound reminds me of CSNY (to name but one act), but any of those bands formed of clearly accomplished vocalists / musicians would serve as comparisons! I would like to see them do it all live of course, but I have a gut feeling that these guys can reproduce the recorded stuff pretty much note for note.

If you have a recent CD which you feel might interest our readers (and you are within our catchment area) please send a copy to: Unicorn Magazine CD Reviews 2 Hill Close, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5JE We have a bit of a backlog at the moment, so if your CD did not make it into this issue, please bear with us or check the blog where we also post content in-between issues.

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Their website contains a wealth of additional information, and I enjoyed reading it as I listened to the CD to help put everything into context. All in all, an excellently produced, clearly professional product! More information from www.huntermuskett.com.

Clive Batkin

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Dr Lankin’s Post Bag

orris dancers have some serious problems, a few of which are related to Morris dancing itself. The risk of injury is a recurring topic in my postbag. Having studied such things for some years at my Great Aunt Bertha Clinic and Residential Home for Infirm and Insane Morris Dancers (and let’s face it –what Morris dancer isn’t at least one or the other), I am well suited to offer advice on the subject. The best way to avoid dance related injuries is to avoid dancing. Becoming a musician is one obvious option, though this does leave you at risk of a repetitive strain injury as well as hearing loss. Alternatives are to offer to take the hat or collecting tin around; deliberately get stuck at the bar while ordering some drinks; feign absorption in a discussion with some of the audience about the origins and meaning of Morris. Recruiting others is another option, the aim is to recruit so many people that your own opportunity to dance is reduced to a point where it is not worth offering thus removing any risk of injury. Many authorities recommend stretching exercises before dancing but this seems to be tempting fate since you are exercising and so putting an additional demand on the very muscles you use and are at risk of straining when you dance. Why do more than you have to? Another error many dancers make is to dance too energetically. Extreme movement places unnatural stresses on the body – moderation in all things should be your guiding principle. Some so-called experts on Morris stress the “manliness” of high leaps and stepping, claiming that it is a demonstration of youthful health and vigour, demonstrating your health to would-be suitors of the opposite (or even the same) sex. This may be so but it won’t say much about your health and vigour or general attractiveness if you end up sitting on the bench with your ankle strapped up and a packet of frozen peas tied to it.

Less well documented is the risk of mental strain. I have seen many dancers suffering from PMT – Post-Morris Trauma, symptoms of this is making mistakes and constantly grinning (or in extreme cases smiling and laughing) while dancing. This is brought on by the stress of trying to remember the intricacies of figures and style and too much in-depth post dance analysis of what went wrong. As an injury it is more common in Cotswolds sides and those that have created their own dance traditions. Most dancers manage to avoid such injuries by not thinking at all while dancing, but if you find you cannot do this I would recommend joining a Morris Ring side or confining yourself to dancing Border Morris. On the other hand with the growing use of drums amongst Border sides they do run a greater risk of hearing loss so a good set of ear plugs are advised. Many dancers develop their own coping strategies to cover or deal with the physical and mental damage Morris dancing causes the body. This is a dangerous route to take: it addresses the symptoms and not the root cause which is the whole culture of precision and excellence that has corrupted Morris over the past twenty years. Personally I blame the foremen - they place too much emphasis on stepping together, lines, patterns, extending the arms etc. This is just piling on the pressure which many dancers cannot deal with, perhaps it is time the Morris Associations took action before the insurance claims start rolling in. Next issue I will be answering letters on the health risks of wearing breeches rather than trousers for dancing the Morris – letters of your own experiences would be welcome.

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Long Lankin

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A festival of folk’s finest acts gathered in beautiful leafy parkland for one uplifting summer day of music.

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER

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MOULETTES • THE YOUNG’UNS BLAIR DUNLOP • JESS MORGAN PLUS MORE ACTS...

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