Unicorn Magazine Issue 132 by Unicorn Folk

am sure we speak for many of us, when we say that yet again we are amazed how quickly this year has come and gone!

It’s been a busy, music- and dance-filled roller coaster of a ride for many of us, not least Simon and myself of the Unicorn Team. Issue 128 (from this time last year) seems a distant memory, and we are delighted that we are still managing to knock out the magazine pretty much on target, on time and to the same high specification that we strive for each time. As we put this latest issue to bed (the 10th one we have produced since taking over the publication from Alan and Theo), we are struck at how enjoyable the whole process remains, albeit it peppered with the usual headaches associated with finding the time, energy and resources that each issue often requires.

We are more devoted than ever therefore to make sure Unicorn is the magazine that you, the readership, want it to be. Hopefully the addition of such things as our Blog, the new YouTube Channel and our website forms – let alone chance meetings at gigs, barndances and the plethora of folk events that occur in our area – are making it easier than ever for you to let us know your thoughts and for us to keep a finger on the pulse of what’s wanted / needed. 2016 promises to be an even busier year, and we have plans up our sleeves to keep the magazine fresh, vibrant and moving forwards, whilst always keeping true to the traditional and ethos that it has represented over the past 30 years or so. We wish you all a very happy, safe and prosperous Festive season as the year come to an end, and look forward to a folk-rich diet in the New Year!

None of this activity would be possible without the contribution of you great people out there in the folk scene, of course. We are constantly delighted to keep being sent your adverts, gig listings, reviews, features and suggestions...

As ever, we hope to see you round the clubs! Simon & Clive

Editorial

Tune: The New Pond at Watford

Contents

Advertiser Information

Chatterbox

Round the Clubs

Feature: Sessions... Where the Folk Music Thrives & Grows | Part 2 CD Review: Mark Gamon

The Morris Page

Feature: Band Profile: na-mara

Event Review: FBO, Towersey, London Acoustic Show

Broadside by Long Lankin

CD Review: Fraser & Toots / Mike Ruff

Folk Bloke

Sessions

Shall We Dance?

Club Profile: The White Horse FC

17 19 – 21

Unicorn Diary

Club Index

Editorial Staff: Simon Bailes 07807 535110 unicornmagazine @hotmail.co.uk Clive Batkin 07771 822414 clive@cbatkin.plus.com Contact address: 10 Chapel Street, Dunton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RW Printed by KJB UK Ltd

Front cover photo by Al Rogers (www.alanrogersimages.co.uk)

Instrument In Peril #5: “The Hornblower’s Lament”

Visit our website at www.unicornmagazine.org Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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Unicorn Ceilidhs: After a change of venue for Friday September 25th’s event, Unicorn Ceilidhs have moved to St Mary’s Hall permanently except for the October dance. News of a special benefit concert for Pirton Joycare Charity, open to all ages on Saturday 3rd October at Pirton Village Hall, SG5 3PS. The concert features Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar + special guest Kelly Oliver. Tickets priced £10.00 are available from Pirton Village Store or online at www.wegottickets.com. Doors open at 7.45pm, concert starts at 8.00pm: all inquiries to Steve Smither on 01462 712864. As we mentioned in Issue 131, Sunday June 14th saw a memorial concert for ‘Uncle’ Bob Scruton. Held in the Horn of Plenty pub in St Albans, this was a fantastically attended night, which went to show just how well-loved and respected Bob was on the local music scene. The whole event was brilliantly compèred by Nick Holland, and a huge number of musicians were there to both pay their respects, swap anecdotes and recollections of working with Bob, as well as play in an evershifting line up of musical tributes. I am sure that if Bob had been there himself he would have been thrilled and overwhelmed by the numbers of people who had turned out. His unique blend of old-time blues guitar playing, singing and kazoo accompaniment will never be heard again and the world is a duller place as a result.

Caz Forbes: Although born in Australia, her love for the English tradition shines through. Her solo singing embodies both serious beauty and understatement. With Ste Moncrieff she performs English folk song, weaving beautiful traditional songs with their own unique style. Pete White: a singer / songwriter and member of “Navaro” who is highly respected on the local folk / acoustic scene. This is always a popular event, so mark the date in your dairy for the Grand Final on Friday 13th November 2015. Black Fen Folk Club are in the middle of moving venues and haven’t finalised their plans for the autumn – as of late September, they’ll be at the Boathouse, 14 Chesterton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 3AX every Sunday but do contact them for more information.

REDBOURN FOLK www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk

Oct. 8

Oct.29

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

A reminder that Aylesbury Folk Club now runs every Friday from 8pm at Queens Park Arts Centre. Their Launch Night of Friday 11th September marked a run that continues through to Friday 18th December, with Folk in the Annexe (1st, 3rd and 5th Friday of the month), Open Mic Nights (2nd Friday of the month) and Guest Nights (4th Friday of the month). Watford Folk Club’s third Folk Song Competition is well under way and they now have more entries than at this time last year!

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

JEZ LOWE

Oct.15 Open Stage featuring Daisy Vaughan

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Unicorn news: Please see the piece bit on our CD review policy on page 26 – we’d love to know your thoughts, and especially if you would like to see more (if slightly less relevant to our area) reviews.

Graeme Meek: who performs songs from the tradition, songs he has written in the traditional idiom and has played to audiences the length and breadth of the country.

Nov.19 Dec.3

FRED’S HOUSE RHEINGANS SISTERS

FOXGLOVE TRIO RANAGRI

Dec.10 JAYWALKERS other dates are Open Stage nights Thursdays 8.00pm, Hollybush, Church End

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NEW MEN AND WOMEN, DANCERS OR MUSICIANS, ALWAYS WELCOME NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED We practise Monday evenings in St Albans. Taster Session: Monday 28th September 8pm & Monday 9th November 8pm CONTACT: Andrew Torrington 01727 833028 WEBSITE:

www.stalbansmorrismen.org.uk

UM132 UM3 St Albans Morris Ad 1.indd 1

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Ely Folk Club presents

wlwww.englishmiscellany.com

Wednesday 14 th October

Saturday 31st October 2015

Gren Bartley Trio £10 (£9 advance)

Mixed North West Clog Morris

Wednesday 18 th November

Do you enjoy. . .

Pete Morton

keeping fit, making new friends, visiting new places, weekends away and, above all, dancing and music?

Wednesday 16 th December

Then come along to High Cross Village Hall (Ware) on Thursday evenings between 8.00pm and 10.00pm where you will get a warm welcome! For further details , please ring Phil on 01992 625124 www.hertfordshireholly.org

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£10 (£9 advance)

St George’s School, Harpenden, AL5 4TD

Cupola

Old Dispensary, 13 St Mary’s St., Ely CB7 4ER www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

Barn Dance

Music from: Fat Harry Caller: Barry Goodman

£11 (£10 advance)

01353 740999/664706

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

From 8.00 - 11.00pm

Bar Opens at 7.30pm

Tickets £10.00

Under 16’s £6.50

TiTickets

available from: Brenda on 01582 629732 or Helen on f020 8386 3779 Brenda on 01582 62

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Fraser & Toots “Out of Step”

s an accordion player, all I have to say is that there is plenty of accordion on this CD. What more do you need to know. Rush out and buy a copy now. Seriously though, the Buckinghamshire duo of Fraser and Susanne Winterbottom expertly blend their guitar and accordion with Fraser’s vocals to produce a full, pleasing sound. This isn’t a CD to challenge the senses or to introduce you to something that you haven’t heard before. It isn’t going to whisk you into a frenzy of wild dancing or leave you in a trance mesmerised by driving rhythms. It is, never the less, a good CD. I didn’t know what to expect when I put the CD into the car CD player on one of my endless trips across the UK but by the time I had reached my destination I had listened through two or three times and that, to me, is the measure of a good CD. I am rather intolerant of stuff that doesn’t grab my interest and then maintain it, so the fact that I got through it nearly three times is a real recommendation. I have the CD playing as I write this review and I am thinking warm thoughts. Best slippers and favourite cardigan type thoughts. And that is causing me concern because my family use those metaphors when referring to me in a rather derogatory way and that isn’t at all what I mean to convey. If you can imagine going for a walk on a wet and windy day, getting home to a roaring log fire and cosying up in front of it with your current squeeze and a glass of something fortifying. Perhaps with a nice pork pie and a piece of cheese. Those are the sorts of thoughts that this CD invokes. And that is a good thing in my book. More information and the CD can be obtained from here: www.ragnrollmusic.net. Simon Bailes

Check out another CD review on Page 32, as well as a short musing on our CD Review Policy on Page 26.

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

Mike Ruff “Songs for the Farmland Museum”

his CD comes from yet another very well known face of the local folk scene. Mike is a busy guy musically, and many know him from the band Quicksilver, his duo work with Allcock and Brown, his Maypole tuition... the list goes on. This CD shows him in ‘solo mode’, and it’s an intriguing piece of work. Produced in conjunction with the Denny Abbey Farmland Museum (www.dennyfarmlandmuseum. org.uk), this collection of 17 songs has been compiled by Mike to reflect and celebrate aspects of the Museum’s heritage and collections. Most of the tunes are arrangements of traditional tunes, but there are a good few originals in there by a range of composers and artists. The CD has been recorded in a very ‘natural’ sounding way, which I personally really liked and I think reflects the subject matter very well. Mike’s delivery both musically and vocally comes across as very ‘live’ and from the heart – overall it gives a very honest suggestion of how many of the songs may have been originally played and heard (there are even a few sound effects on there for added atmosphere). Although the CD stands up as very much a projectbased piece of music, I am sure that fans of Mike’s other work will not be disappointed by the overall sound and style. Mike credits and thanks many other musicians, organisations and sources who have had a hand in producing the recording, and I think the CD is very rich as a result. The Farmland Museum website suggests that the CD is just the first part of an ongoing project. Further funding will allow the tracks on the CD to be used in the displays within the Pig Sheds and Stone Barn, and as a teaching resource with schools and groups. More information and the CD (£10.00 + P&P) can be obtained from here: www.mikeruffmusic.co.uk Clive Batkin

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Jim boyes with Belinda o’hooley: sensations of a wound

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

Sunday Evenings A STON CLINTON • Oak PH, 8pm (3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 M ILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot. com (Weekly) M ILTON KEYNES • New Inn, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 O LD STRATFORD • The Swan (3rd), Cliff Burt, 01908 564392 S T ALBANS • Farmers Boy, London Rd (1st): Nick, 020 8953 5231

Monday Evenings A SHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091 C HATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 S OHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 S TEVENAGE • Our Mutual Friend (2nd): Gary Moyle, 07960 953778 T OTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (8.30pm, weekly): Contact, 01582 661294 (pub)

Tuesday Evenings A BINGTON PIGOTTS • Village Hall, SG8 0SH (8-10.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 D UNSTABLE • Globe, Winfield St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300 D UNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub) G T WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280 H ISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553 M ARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868 R ICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (2nd): Michael, 01923 770425 S T ALBANS • King Harry, King Harry Lane (1st, songs & tunes): Jenny, 01582 793164, Alison, 01727 852111 T RING • Kings Arms, (8.30, 1st, trad Irish songs & tunes, led by Chan Reid/fiddle, John Devine/pipes, Neil Stanton/guitar): Rob Muirhead (landlord), 01442 823318 W OOTTON (Beds) • The Cock MK43 9JT (8pm, broad acoustic & folk): Mike Carter Jones, 01234 768555, Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

Wednesday Evenings BARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, fortnightly): Ann 01582 560815 BENINGTON (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, 02354 652868 MOGGERHANGER • Moggerhanger Village Hall (7.30pm, 1st): Chris, 01767 640 242 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 TEBWORTH • Queens Head, LU7 9QB (every 4th Monday): Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 TOWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8, 3rd): Andrew Leleux, 01296 615160 WELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758

Thursday Evenings CROXLEY GREEN • The Shed, rear of Sportsman PH (8.15pm, 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 • The Boot (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 AYLESBURY • Queens park Arts Centre (1st, 3rd and 5th): Amanda Diamond, 01296 424332 ST NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (2nd, 8.30pm, tunes): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org STEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales MK18 2NP (2nd, Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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Autumn 2015 2 Oct Wendy Harrup and The Gallows Hillbillies 9 Oct Colin Hume and FF Band 16 Oct Paul Garner and Spring Greens

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.

17 Oct Saturday Dance at Sam Ryder Mary Devlin and Wild Ride

Meeting Fridays from 7:45 to 10:00 pm at The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk – 01727 856508 UM2 Quarter Friday Page (portrait) STACEY Standard admission £3BANJOS 2.pdf

STACEY BANJOS

Redbornstoke Morris Are looking for new recruits C

No experience necessary Friendly tuition given Help keep the unique Ampthill tradition alive and join the team in our 40th anniversary celebrations in 2016.

23 Oct Dance through History with Mike Ruff 30 Oct Bob Barrett 6 Nov Suzanne Farmer and FF Band 13 Nov Frances Oates and The Turnabouts 20 Nov Dave Kerridge 27 Nov Cajun with Tim and Madeleine 4 Dec Mark Elvins and FF Band 11 Dec Christmas Special with Mike Bennett and Cloudburst 18 Dec Carol singing around 24/4/13 11:32:08 St Albans

CMY

REPAIRS SET-UPS & RESTORATION TO: ACOUSTIC GUITARS ELECTRIC GUITARS CLASSICAL GUITARS BANJOS & MANDOLINS

The Star & Garter, High Street Silsoe, Beds. MK45 4DR 6 October – Hunter Muskett 3 November – Holler ‘n Duck 1 December – Christmas Singaround

BANJOS BUILT TO ORDER

We practise on Monday nights during winter months at Redborne Upper School, North Site, Ampthill, MK45 2NU from 8.15pm. We have a “Give it a try” open night on 12th Oct - so come and have a go with no obligation! For further details contact Charlie: t: 01234 750829, e: chas.redbornstoke@btinternet.com See www.redbornstoke.com for further details or follow us on Facebook

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

DAVE STACEY 19 FIELD LANE LETCHWORTH HERTS SG6 3LF 01462 683074

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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Fri 2 Sat 3 Fri 9 Fri 16 Sat 17 Fri 23 Sun 25

Fri 30 Sat 31

Wendy Harrup and the Gallows

Hillbillies • FF Stradivarious with caller Ron Coxhall • SCD Colin Hulme and FF Band • FF Paul Garner and Spring Greens • FF Toucan Play with caller Madeleine Smith • CFD Wild Ride with caller Mary Devlin • FF Playford Liberation Front with caller Lisa Heywood • FCS M ary Devlin and Wild Ride • FF D ance Through History with Mike Ruff • FF T oucan Play with callers Val and Ian McFarlane • CFA K elly’s Eye with caller Frances Richardson • SCD (workshop during the day) T he Valliant Dance Band with caller Barry Goodman • UCB B ob Barrett • FF B arney Ceilidh Band with caller Janice Dickson • BCB M oonlighting with caller Mary Devlin • NC

Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 28 Thu 31

BCB B arney Ceilidh Band High Cross Village Hall, North Drive, High Cross, Near Ware, Herts, SG11 1AN • Janice Dickson 0208 805 1254 BFC B edford Fine Companions: Newnham Middle School, Polhill Ave, Bedford MK41 9DT • David Cooke 01234 823 920 BFD B edford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford, MK41 8EB • Ron Law 01234 825 574 CFA Chiltern Folk Ass: Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH • Judith Inman 01628 486845, www.chilternfolk.org.uk

Fri 20 Sat 21 Fri 27 Sat 28

Fri 4 Sat 5

S uzanne Farmer and FF Band • FF F rances Oates and The Turnabouts • FF M asquerade with caller Frances Richardson • BFC D ave Kerridge • FF N arrow Escape with caller Carol Hewson • BFD P anjandrum with caller Gordon Potts • UCA C ajun with Tim and Madeleine • FF P ortland Drive with caller Colin Hume • LFD T he Occasional Few with caller John Green • NC

M ark Elvins and FF Band • FF F olkus Pocus with callers Kathryn and David Wright • SCD

Music type: All styles, trad, contemporary, blues & old time. Meets: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month all year. 8.00pm until 11.00pm, upstairs in a reserved room. Admission charge: Absolutely free, we sometimes have to double this for bigger guests! We don’t charge at the door, don’t pay for the room and don’t pay guests. Guests: Established and new local acts and visits from established national acts too. Venue name: The White Horse Venue address: Castle Street, Hertford, SG14 1H Parking: Very limited on the street but ample in the multi storey in Gascoyne Way. Club contact: Pat Crilly • 07971 804418 • patcrilly@hotmail.com

The club is inclusive but traditional and contemporary roots music is preferred. Hertford is blessed with an abundance of excellent folk musicians – the club particularly encourages female acts to headline. We start at 8pm, with the first hour usually open floor (no pre-booking and two songs each) followed by the first of the headline half hour spots, a 15 minute break, another 45 minutes open floor and the last headline spot of thirty minutes finishing at 11pm. We try to accommodate all floor singers but, with sometimes upward of 15 performers, we may have to say sorry. The room is very small with a capacity of about 25 and instruments are stored in a separate room. It is a purely acoustic venue no amps or p.a. The bar is downstairs in this very well respected real ale pub.

CFD Chesham Folk Dance Club Guide HQ, Bury Lane, Chesham, HP5 1HX • June Pearce 01494 785 191 FCS F riends of Cecil Sharp House: Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London, NW1 7AY • Liz Hall, 020 8731 8083, 07896 465 848848 FF

Fri 6 Fri 13 Sat 14

C hristmas Dance - Phyllis Chapman and The Forest Band • SAA C hristmas Special with Mike Bennett and Cloudburst • FF O ck’n’Dough with Caller Jo and Janis Zakis • NC T he Simon Care Trio with caller Barry Goodman • UCA

ormed in September 2013 the club was established after a conversation between local musicians Pat Crilly and Ian Bembridge (Ian ran the Ware Folk Club in the 70’s and 80’s) about a lack of local folk music. There were plenty of local open mics but no local folk club. So, the seeds were sown! Pat and Ian share compèring of the evenings.

riday Folk F The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG • www.fridayfolk.org.uk, 01727 856508

LFD Linsleighders Folk Dance Club Wing Hall, Wing, Bucks, LU7 0NN • Elizabeth Corser 01525 378 010 NC

orthampton Ceilidhs: N Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL • John Green, 07760 197921, 01933 397767, www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk

SAA Saint Albans Abbey Folk Dance Club Homewood Road United Reform Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4BH • Brian Hancock 01767 834 977 SCD Staplers Country Dance Club St Ippolyts Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 7RB • 01582 881 966 UCA Unicorn Ceilidhs St Mary’s Hall, Church Street, Baldock, SG7 5AE • Tel: 01582 724261, 07946 439095, www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk UCB U nicorn Ceilidhs: Town Hall, High St, Baldock SG7 6AX • Tel: 01582 724261, 07946 439095 www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

FOLK SONG COMPETITION 2015 Could you write a new folk song? Well here is your opportunity… The 2015 Watford Folk Club Folk Song Contest is on now! This year's theme is "Lovers and Losers- the highs and the lows of loving". Full details and competition rules are on our website. http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com Closing date for entries is Friday 16 October 2015. Grand Final on Friday 13 November 2015.

Celebrity Judges now confirmed as Graham Meek, Caz Forbes and Pete White See our diary entries for FUTURE GUEST ARTIST dates including ROSIE HODGSON, Where’s Spot Band and LUCY WARD Don’t forget our LEGENDARY SINGAROUNDS too! Find us on Facebook and Google or contact us via email: WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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UC advert Sept-Nov 2015:Layout 1

12/8/15

15:04

Page 1

FRIDAY 30th OCTOBER

Dance the night away . . . (NEW VENUE)

Diatonics

C E I L I D H S

with caller

FRIDAY 27th NOVEMBER

Barry goodman

with caller

lisa heywood Diatonics are a lively and energetic band playing music fused from their musicians’ history of playing for many years in great bands such as The Committee Band , Random band, Gas Mark 5 and Tarrantella Ceilidh Band, to name but a few! www.diatonics.co.uk/ Lisa has been around the folk scene for most of her life, and has a great repertoire of exciting dances. We’re looking forward to a great start to the new season!

Katie Howson (melode , Liz Giddings (fiddle), Rogeron) by (anglo concertina), Rob Dig Nea (cello) and John Howson l (banjo) together create a ban which plays unusual but d rhythmic tunes. Hugely experienced! Barry has been calling and playing in his own band for many years, and has called with most of the country ’s best bands. A top evening in stor e!

LAST FRIDAY IN TH E

MONTH www.unicornce ilidhs.org.uk

Tickets only £10.00 - Singles & groups welcome Sept & Nov: St Mary’s Hall, Church St, Baldock SG7 5AE Oct: The Old Town Hall, High Street, Baldock SG7 6AX NYE 2015 A5 lflt - advert:Layout 1

Unicorn

the valiant dance band

FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER

14/8/15

11:38

(NEW VENUE)

um Panjandr with caller gordon potts

Panjandrum play for English ceilidh dances with the emphasis on providing the most danceable, foot-tapping music. Their tunes come from all over:England, Italy, France, Sweden, Finland, Northolt – in fact anywhere that can provide memorable melodies. http://dedics.co.uk/Panjandrum Gordon plays with the band, and has called with the best. Not to be missed!

REAL ALE BAR

Page 1

Dance the night YEAR away on New Year’s Eve at THE BIG CEILIDH . . . er 2015 Thursday 31st Decemb . a.m .30 8.00 p.m. to 12

the Simon care trio barry goodmar favnourite caller with caller

p bands with ou it! One of the country’s to to the year. Don’t miss bring us a superb finish

� Grand Champagne Raffle � Free tot of whisky at midnight www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk St Mary’s Hall, Church Street, Baldock SG7 5AE

Doors open 7.30 p.m. Dancing 8.00 to 11.30 p.m.

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Unicorn C E I L I D H S

TICKETS: Adults: only £18.00 Children:

(under age 16 on the night)

only £10

BOOK NOW - limited to 80 places! Phone Alan on

07946 439 095 or 01582 724 261 or email

alan@creamer.me.uk Tickets also available at the Sept, Oct & Nov ceilidhs

REAL ALE BAR

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

Thu 1 BISHOP STORTFORD • Roy Clinging REDBOURN • Open Stage BEDFORD FDC • Caller Roger Dover BEDFORD • Singers Night Fri 2 WATFORD • Spotlight singaround with Ady Shaw FRIDAY FOLK • Wendy Harrup and the Gallows Hillbillies BENSLOW • (3 days) The Clarsach Course and Fiddle Music of Scotland and Ireland BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Chris Fox Sat 3 WICKET BROOD • Royal Oak Morris 30th Anniversary, Eydon/Byfield, Northants HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: Cock and Bull, Fee Lock, Boots and Banjos HADDENHAM • Concert: Life and Times and Tim Brooks Sun 4 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice HITCHIN • Chris Leslie plus Maz O’Connor Mon 5 HITCHIN STAPLERS • AGM LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • English Country Dance Session WALTHAM ABBEY • Scold’s Bridle Tue 6 ST NEOTS • Ben Sands Wed 7 WOODSIDE • Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, Players and Listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice Thu 8 BISHOP STORTFORD • Dick Miles BEDFORD FDC • Caller John Green BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Jez Lowe Fri 9 WATFORD • Rosie Hodgson ROYSTON • Showcase Night – six artists including Wildwood Jack FRIDAY FOLK • Colin Hume and the FF Band CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Blueflint Sat 10 BENSLOW • Accordion Day BEDFORD MORRIS • Bedford Beer Festival (1pm) Sun 11 WICKET BROOD • Pitstone Green Museum, LU7 9EY HITCHIN • Clive Carroll plus Ben Smith Mon 12 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Guest Caller Adrian Bescent LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 13 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm BEDFORD PLACE • Jonathan Byrd, support My Girl The River ST NEOTS • Landermason HERTFORD • The Original Badmen and Rob Eaton Wed 14 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice ELY • Gren Bartley Trio (support Martin Kaszak) Thu 15 BISHOP STORTFORD • Vikki and Johnny (provisional)

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

BEDFORD FDC • Caller Ann Gibson BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Open Stage featuring Daisy Vaughan Fri 16 WATFORD • Singaround FRIDAY FOLK • Paul Garner and Spring Greens BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Young Singer / Songwriter Showcase Sat 17 WICKET BROOD • Frithsden Vineyard Autumn Fayre, HP1 3DD Sun 18 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice BEDFORD MORRIS • Bromham Apple Day (see website for times) CAMBRIDGE • Mike Tickell (and Daughter) HITCHIN • Chris While and Julie Matthews Mon 19 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Guest Caller Colin Hulme with music from Spring Greens LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Louise Jordan ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 20 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Louise Jordan Wed 21 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller Ted Morse ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice Thu 22 BISHOP STORTFORD • Bram Taylor BEDFORD FDC • Caller Charles Day BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 23 WATFORD • Spotlight singaround with Nigel Moorcroft FRIDAY FOLK • Dance Through History with Mike Ruff BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Julie Felix Sat 24 UNDER THE BRIDGE • A Celebration of the Acoustic Guitar Sun 25 HITCHIN • Nancy Kerr and James Fagan Mon 26 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Ann Gibson HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night BENSLOW • (3 days) An Introduction to Story Telling WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 27 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Round the Room HERTFORD • The Sedbuskers Wed 28 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Club Practice Thu 29 BISHOP STORTFORD • Phil Hare BEDFORD FDC • Caller Lyn Whapples BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Fred’s House Fri 30 WATFORD • Where’s Spot Band ROYSTON • Triple Header Concert – Thursday’s Band, Martin Kaszak, Floyd Hartwell Hines FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • The Askew Sisters

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Sun 1 HITCHIN • Urban Folk Quartet Mon 2 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • English Country Dance Session WALTHAM ABBEY • Trevor Hiscock and Rog Trevitt Tue 3 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Rosewood Wed 4 WOODSIDE • Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, Players and Listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice Thu 5 BISHOP STORTFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller Jane Edmett BEDFORD • Guy Fawkes Singaround REDBOURN • Rheingan’s Sister Fri 6 WATFORD • Singaround FRIDAY FOLK • Suzanne Farmer and the FF Band CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with The Emergers Sat 7 HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: Diatonics and Sheena Masson HADDENHAM • Concert: Vin Garbutt with Jane Stovold and Brian Fattorini Sun 8 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice HITCHIN • Anna Massie and Mairearad Green plus the Black Feathers Mon 9 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Guest Caller Frances Oates LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 10 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Jez Lowe HERTFORD • Hannah Sanders Wed 11 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice Thu 12 BISHOP STORTFORD • Karen Johnson and Tony Clark BEDFORD FDC • Caller Kevin Prigmore BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 13 WATFORD • Song Contest Grand Final ROYSTON • Showcase Night – six artists including the John Meed Band FRIDAY FOLK • Frances Oates and the Turnabouts BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Dave Ellis and Boo Howard Sat 14 CAMBRIDGE • Na-Nara and Kiss the Mistress Sun 15 HITCHIN • John Tams and Barry Coope Mon 16 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 17 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Archie Fisher Wed 18 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller Mark Elvins (tbc)

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice ELY • Pete Morton (support tbc) Thu 19 BISHOP STORTFORD • Adrian May and Murray Griffin BEDFORD FDC • Caller George Hearnden BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Foxglove Trio Fri 20 WATFORD • Singaround FRIDAY FOLK • Dave Kerridge CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Showcase: Hannah Sanders, Oka Vanga, Katus Young Sun 22 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Clive Gregson and Liz Simcock Mon 23 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Cub Evening LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Paul Ballantyne Tue 24 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Round the Room HERTFORD • Steve Ingrey and Keef Jackson Wed 25 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice Thu 26 BISHOP STORTFORD • Tims Band BEDFORD FDC • Caller Terry Elvins BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 27 WATFORD • Spotlight singaround with Tim Brooks and Friends ROYSTON • Concert – Serpentine, support by Kara FRIDAY FOLK • Cajun with Tim and Madeleine BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Mick Ryan and Paul Downes Sun 29 HITCHIN • Megson plus Annie Dressner Mon 30 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Anglo / Scottish Evening – Hilary Andrews with music from Roger Nicholls LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround

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.

Please mention UNicorn Magazine when replying to ads

Even small deliveries will help reduce the crippling postage & petrol bills!

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

Tue 1 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm BENSLOW • (3 days) Playing Klezmer From Music ST NEOTS • Nick Dow Wed 2 WOODSIDE • Practice MOGGERHANGER • Singers, Players and Listeners LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris Practice Thu 3 BISHOP STORTFORD • Pat Crilly BEDFORD FDC • Caller Kevin Prigmore BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Ranagri Fri 4 WATFORD • Lucy Ward FRIDAY FOLK • Mark Elvins and FF Band CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Ian Roland Sat 5 BEDFORD PLACE • Bridie Jackson and The Arbour HADDDENHAM • Festival (see advert p24) Sun 6 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Country Practice HITCHIN • Bob Fox Mon 7 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage ETCETERA • English Country Dance Session WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 8 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • Open Stage HERTFORD • Karen Johnson and Tony Clark Wed 9 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country Practice Thu 10 BISHOP STORTFORD • Christmas Party BEDFORD FDC • Caller Keith Harrup BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Jaywalkers Fri 11 WATFORD • Ellie Hill and Folky Friends ROYSTON • Showcase Night at the Bungalow (phone for details) FRIDAY FOLK • Christmas Special with Mike Bennett and Cloudburst BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Nick Barraclough’s Brokedown Palace Sun 13 HITCHIN • St Agnes Fountain Mon 14 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening LEASIDERS • Christmas Party HERGA • Les Barker ETCETERA • Morris Practice Night WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 15 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS • The Churchfitters Christmas Show Wed 16 WOODSIDE • Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller Keith Harrup ELY • Cupola (support by The Management) BEDFORD MORRIS • Border Tour (see website for venues and times) CAMBRIDGE • Churchfitters Christmas Special Thu 17 BEDFORD FDC • Caller John Green BEDFORD • Christmas Carols Night

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

REDBOURN • Open Stage Fri 18 WATFORD • Christmas Singaround FRIDAY FOLK • Carol Singing around St Albans CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage Sun 20 HITCHIN • Albion Christmas Mon 21 HITCHIN STAPLERS • Party Evening – Club Callers HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY • Yuletide Celebration Tue 22 ST NEOTS • Club Christmas Party HERTFORD • George Pornby’s Christmas Special Sat 26 WOODSIDE • Cricketers, Sarratt, WD3 6AS BEDFORD MORRIS • Opposite Embankment, Hotel Bedford (10.45am) then the Swan Hotel, Bedford (11.30am)

January, February, March 2016

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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

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

BEDFORD MORRIS • Bedford Morris Men Contact: Ian Daye, 01582 883 009, www.bedfordmorrismen.org.uk

LEASIDERS • Leasiders Folk Dance Club Blenheim Baptist Church Hall, Blenheim Cres, Luton LU3 1HB Contact: Brian or Liz Patrick, 01582 732656

BEDFORD PLACE • The Place Theatre Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE Contact: 01234 354321, www.theplacebedford.org.uk

LINSLADE • Linsleighders Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade LU7 2NR Contact: Mrs E.A. Corser, 01525 378010

BENSLOW • Benslow Music Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RB Contact: 01462 459 446, www.benslowmusic.org

MOGGERHANGER • Village Folk Moggerhanger Village Hall, Blunham Rd, Moggerhanger, MK44 3RD Contact: Chris Bashford, 01767 640242 chris@mainlinksystems.co.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 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 ELY • Ely Folk Club The Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4ER (no bar) Contact: Ruth Bramley / Andy Wall, 01353 740999 / 01353 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 ETCETERA • Etcetera Morris Men Chase Community School, Churchbury Lane, Enfield, EN1 3HQ Contact: Jeff Hopwood (Bagman), 020 8366 0637, bagman@ etcmorrismen.org.uk, www.etcmorrismen.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 HADDENHAM • Haddenham Ceilidhs & Concerts, Festival Haddenham Village Hall, near Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8EE Contact: John Heydon, 07717 047 039, john@actionfolk.co.uk www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk HERGA • Herga Folk Club Greenwood Hall, 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

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 NEOTS • St Neots Folk Club Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots PE19 2BH Contact: Roger Pitt, 01234 376278, www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk UNDER THE BRIDGE • A Celebration of the Acoustic Guitar Skoulding Suite, March Town Hall, Market Place, March, PE15 9JF Contact: 01354 651 396 WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk Club Royal British Legion, Brooker Rd, Waltham Abbey EN9 1HY Contact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987, 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 WOODSIDE • Woodside Morris Men Pump House, Watford, WD17 2JP Contact: Nick Wilson, 07860 663033, www.woodsidemorrismen.com

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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

Sparrow

A final chance to see two great acts which are both ending their partnerships at the end of this year

Violins

The New Rope String Band

Life and Times

Sunday 11th October 3pm

Sunday 8th November 3pm "Where the Working Boats Went"

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

£10 Ticket includes tea or coffee & cake in the interval advance reservation recommended Enquiries to ALConcerts@gmail.com Or call Tim and Lesley Brooks on 01923 264536

www.sparrow-violins.co.uk www.facebook.com/SparrowViolins

HADDENHAM FESTIVAL Saturday 5th December 2015

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

A fantastic day of music dance & song

Oct 3 Cock & Bull + Fee Lock + Boots & Banjos Nov 7 Diatonics + Sheena Masson Dec 5 Festival (see separate advert) Jan 2 Asha + Simon Loake + Simon & Jo Harmer

Haddenham Village Hall, near Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8EE From 3pm to 11.30pm – Doors open at 2.15pm

Coope, Simpson, Fraser & Freya

with Hark Hark – a festive feast to send you into Christmas with a feel good factor Pete Morton Gavin Davenport & Tom Kitching The Rachel Hamer Band + a ceilidh featuring Barry Goodman calling for The Old Swan Band Tel: 07717 047 039 • e-mail: john@actionfolk.co.uk

www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk

HADDENHAM CEILIDHS

CONCERTS

Oct 3 Life & Times + Tim Brooks Nov 7 Vin Garbutt + Jane Stovold & Brian Fattorini Dec 5 Festival (see separate advert) Jan 2 Ninebarrow + Out of Hand For more details telephone 07717 047 039 or email john@actionfolk.co.uk

www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

The Priory Centre, St. Neots, PE19 2BH Every Tuesday 8.00pm

Email – stneotsfolkclub@aol.com Telephone - 01234 376278 www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk

Oct Oct Oct Oct

6 Ben Sands 13 Landermason 20 Louise Jordan 27 Round the Room

Nov 3 Rosewood Nov 10 Jez Lowe Nov 17 Archie Fisher £9 & £8 Nov 24 Round the Room Dec 1 Nick Dow Dec 8 Open Stage Dec 15 The Churchfitters Christmas show. £11 & £9 Dec 22 Club Christmas Party Dec 29 Club Closed

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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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.

This tune was written to commemorate the new developments around the historic pond in the Parade at Watford. A video of Alison performing the piece can be seen here: http://youtu.be/GpXD889_7f0. Many thanks to Alison for yet another great tune!

huge thank you to everyone out there who sends us their CDs for review and comment. We constantly get sent a good number and are sorry to have such limited space in each issue for reviewing them. To help in that regard, we have a (relatively) strict policy for which CDs we review. As with most

areas of the magazine, we tend to only feature recordings made by artists living in, working in or having a significant link with our covering area. When you send in CDs, it would therefore help us greatly if you could outline how your offering fits within that criteria. Alternatively, would people like us to briefly review all CDs received , posting the results on our blog rather than within the magazine itself... Let us know!

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listening quietly or joining in on a song. Or even by offering one themselves.

Here’s the second part of Doug’s featurette, continuing on from Issue 131...

nd then there are the visitors. When a session gets a name, accomplished musicians from further afield will sometimes drop in to play, enriching the proceedings in the process. This now happens on a regular basis at our session. As far as the makeup of our gathering goes, in the words of Mr Gump: ‘ya never know whut ya gun git.’ The other key element for me are the listeners. I’ve been to plenty of enjoyable sessions consisting solely of the musicians. But the wider performance element that a full pub offers can lift the music to a new level. It’s true that none of us are on stage here; we are musicians playing what we damn well want to play, but others in the venue are in earshot, and sometimes they choose to respond by

If, however, you’re operating a session in a public venue where the locals are antithetic to the music, you should probably think hard about moving, because there’s never going to be a way to solve this innate conflict. But if you end up moving into a hall, or someone’s living room you then have a closed session, with a different kind of dynamic altogether.

FOLK MUSIC COURSES JOHN PLAYFORD WEEKEND, CLARSACH, FIDDLE MUSIC OF SCOTLAND AND IRELAND, ACCORDION DAY, SUMMERTIME KLEZMER, THE SOUL OF HUNGARIAN GYPSY MUSIC, FOLK FIDDLING AND MORE...

I’ve seen some online discussions of sessions aimed at answering the old – and somewhat tiresome – question: ‘what is folk music?’ A while back, interestingly, we had an acoustic duo blow into the session from Berlin. There’s no way that this pair would ever label their music ‘folk’, but they blended in really well and gave the whole thing a lift. So there you are, yet more evidence of the futility of searching for definitions. Probably better to just get your instrument out and get on with it. Doug Jenner

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

Keep�the Tradition�Alive

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www.karendesigner.uk SPECIALIST WEBSITE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND DESIGN SERVICE FOR MUSICIANS, BANDS, TEACHERS, FOLK CLUBS AND VENUES.

We're�a�friendly�bunch�and�will�make�you welcome�whether�you're�a�newcomer�or have�years�of�experience�of�playing�or dancing�Cotswold�Morris. In�the�winter�we�practice�on�Fridays in�Holwell�Village�Hall�so�…

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Graphic Design

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

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The Milkmaid Folk Arts Centre CIC

4 Baxter Court, High Baxter Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1ES Tel: 01284 488279….Mbl: 07749 299377….E: milkmaidterry@yahoo.co.uk

PLEASE help us raise money to refurbish part of Bury St Edmunds railway station and turn it into a Folk based Arts Centre for the Region. It will accommodate people with disabilities and mental health issues and help them access folk music, song and dance during the day. Evenings and week-ends will be for the whole community to enjoy.

The specially designed and bespoke venue will seat 120 people and have 3 workshop areas for various activities and a refreshment area which will be licenced. The whole cost of the refurbishment is £540,000 and we have raised £175,700 so far. Donations can be made through our website www.milkmaidcentre.com or go straight to https://milkmaid.charitycheckout.co.uk/ You can donate a ‘one off amount’ or sign up to a monthly standing order which will give us a regular amount coming in through the year. Anything you can afford from £1 – millions will be gratefully received. Go on our website www.milkmaidcentre.com to see the work we do with disadvantaged and vulnerable people. www.milkmaid.charitycheckout.com 30

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;9-!U91$-!,573-!W50E!`0#6! `.3$0-!A$7--$! ,-7$B57/Q!AK)Z!),,!

Mark Gamon “Deck” CRLP009

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ark Gamon is a familiar face on the local folk scene, not least through his involvement in helping to run the Royston Folk Club. Deck is his second solo release – his first, Layer, was reviewed in Unicorn some time ago and we were intrigued to receive his next outing.

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Instantly Deck exudes quality. The presentation of the CD is very high – a beautifully packaged, matt laminated double card wallet contains both the CD and a booklet. Some very classy photography has been combined with great visual design, with song lyrics and full listings of contributing musicians making for useful and informative companions to the music itself. That neatly brings us to the next two features – the words and the music. Words are clearly very important to Mark (his website informs us that he is a copywriter by profession) and all his songs have a heavy reliance on interesting and (sometimes unusually) complexly scanning lyrics. The music itself is equally skilful. The CD uses the services of other musicians, mainly members of ‘The Thursday Band’ (another of Mark’s projects) to accompany Mark’s guitar playing and singing. Each member brings something to the party, and there is some great melodic playing on there. Numerous other musicians also feature – again the CD cover gives us full details of both who and when they appear! The songs themselves run the gamut of subject matter, and there is something on there for every listener to pick their favourites. To be honest, the music on Deck is not the sort of thing that I would usually listen to – the fact that I really enjoyed it therefore I think speaks volumes. More information on Mark and the CD (£10.00 is available from his website (www.markgamon. com) or the record company site (www.clunkandrattle.com). Clive Batkin

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WHITTLESEA STRAW BEAR FESTIVAL 15, 16 &17 January 2016 Follow the bears on Saturday with lots of dance teams visit the ‘Straw Bear’ web site www.strawbear.org.uk or ring 01733 208245

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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oxing Day is traditionally the day for getting out for a breath of air and some exercise after the excesses of Christmas Day itself. Often these outings will include watching some Morris dancing at a local pub. These performances are often as traditional as the Boxing Day sporting events or Hunt meetings. Even Morris sides that do not have specific winter dance traditions or do not usually dance out during winter, are likely to be performing on Boxing Day. The dance spots tend to be the same every year and knowledge of them spread by word-of-mouth as much as by publicity. These dance spots may also involve a Mummers’ Play. There a number of different sorts of play or plot lines, some associated with specific times of the year, however the most common and most frequently associated with the Christmas / New Year period, is the Hero Combat play. This usually involves: • Father Christmas, who calls the audience to order and provides an introduction • St George, King George or some other hero. • An antagonist (at least one) who may be Bold Slasher, the Turkish Knight or even the Dragon, who fights and slays, or is slain by, the Hero • Old Mother who mourns the death of whichever of the two above gets killed • A Doctor who cures the slain character and brings him back to life. • Beelzebub, or other impish character, who comes on at the end to collect the money from the audience. The cast may be augmented with other characters depending upon the script and the availability of the players. It often starts with a song and finishes with another song or else a dance involving the players. The plays are usually based upon traditional scripts and the main theme is of death and resurrection. This has led some to place a neo-pagan meaning to the plays, others a Christian one. However, the origins of Mummers Plays seem to be in the early 18th century and probably spread through the publication of chapbooks and broadsides. Since then they have probably been overlaid with other influences such as pantomime and television.

Like most winter traditions it probably originated with local labourers touring neighbouring villages and the “big houses” in the locality, performing for money or gifts of food and drink. This was simply to get treats and take advantage of Christmas goodwill, or to supplement for the lack of work (and thus income) during the winter. Today the performances are usually for charity but, if it is not made clear, it is worth checking when they come around to take the collection. So if you are at a loose end on Boxing Day here are some options (check relevant websites etc nearer the time for confirmation of venues and timings): • Fenstanton Morris will be dancing by the Clock Tower (12:00 noon), Fenstanton, Cambs. • Bedford Morris Men will be dancing in Bedford Town: on the Embankment (10:45am) and then outside the Swan Hotel (from 11:30am) before the Boar’s Head ceremony there. • The Brafront Guizers will be performing their Mummers play on the High Street, Silsoe, Beds supported by Redbornstoke Morris and Hemlock Morris. Dancing starts about 12:00 noon with the play around 12:40pm. • Letchworth Morris will be strutting their stuff in Willian, Herts: at the Fox (12:30pm) and Three Horseshoes (1:30pm) • St Albans Mummers will be touring St Albans: at the Town Hall (11:30 am), The White Hart Hotel (12:15 pm), West End, St Albans Abbey (1:00 pm), The Fighting Cocks (1:45 pm), The Clock Tower (2:30 pm) • Woodside Morris will be dancing and presenting their Mummers play along with Whitethorn Morris and Wicket Brood in the Watford / Rickmansworth area. Check their website for the actual venue. There are plenty of other opportunities to see Morris dancing and/or a Mummers’ play during December and into January so keep an eye out for them. If you are really keen there is a national festival of Mummers in Stroud on 8th & 9th January 2016, with performances by various groups around the town on the Saturday. More information about Mummers’ Plays can be found on the Master Mummers website: www.mastermummers.org. Chas Leslie

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

Autumn Highlights Reg Meuross Thursday 8 October, 7.30pm £14

Shirley Collins’ Birthday Bash Saturday 31 October, from 4pm £35 full event (limited) | £30 evening only

Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party Thursday 5 November, 7.30pm £16

Sweet Liberties Saturday 28 November, 7.30pm £18

Booking fees apply.

Featuring Martyn Joseph, Nancy Kerr, Sam Carter and Maz O’Connor with Patsy Reid and Nick Cooke

cecilsharphouse.org | 0207 485 2206 Promoter

Supporters /cecilsharphouse

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Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

Band Profile: na-mara

ver the past few years Paul McNamara and Rob Garcia, better known as na-mara, have become increasingly well known to folk audiences across the south-east and beyond. They first got together in 2006 having been friends for many years before that. Both have lived in St Albans for a long time albeit neither was born there. Paul hales from Middlesbrough, reaching St Albans after living in Edinburgh and Oxford. Rob was born in London but has over the years lived and worked in Spain and Sweden before settling in Hertfordshire. In recent years they have developed four distinct strands to their work. While their act contains traditional material from the British Isles they are probably best known for their translations into English of songs from the French tradition, their playing of tune sets from Galicia, Asturias and Brittany and, increasingly, their own songs about contemporary and historical topics. Once a professional classical guitarist, Rob is the son of Basque child refugees evacuated from Spain in 1937 and it is, therefore, perhaps understandable that Spain and the Spanish Civil War and its ramifications play an important role in his music. He and Paul are often invited to play at events run by the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) and Rob recently narrated a BBC Radio 4 programme on the experience of the ‘Niños Vascos’. However, Rob and Paul are keen to point out that although they are probably best known for songs like ‘The Bite’, ‘Only For Three Months’ and ‘The Silver Duro’, they are not defined by their Spanish Civil War material. As their newest album Navajos & Pirates shows, they are equally concerned to tell stories about contemporary and historical social issues. Reviewers have described Middlesbrough-born Paul’s song-writing as “ingenious” and “heartfelt”. Themes of social justice, resistance and irony dominate and all are present on Navajos & Pirates where, for instance, ‘The Garden of England’ tells of slavery in contemporary Britain; the title track ‘Navajos and Pirates’ remembers how the Edelweiss Pirates and Navajos gangs of the Ruhr Valley resisted Nazi oppression in the 1930s and

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

later; and ‘Avery and the Merchants of Bristol’ describes how one of the most fearsome pirates of his day was robbed on land by his own bankers. Their international music interests have afforded them some overseas adventures. Following links with French group BandaBero, their album The Bite reached French folk superstar Gabriel Yacoub of Malicorne fame, resulting in them being invited to participate in the local music festival he was organising and where they performed with members of Malicorne and others. Similarly, their IBMT connections led to them being invited recently to play before a packed town hall in Logroño in Spain, with Scots folk singer Ewan McLennan. They are also increasingly spreading their wings in the UK. Having travelled west in the past to perform in south Wales, south to play various clubs in Sussex and Kent and east to play clubs and festivals in Essex and Suffolk, they took great pleasure in travelling north in late 2014 to Paul’s home area in the north-east after being selected to perform in a Folk 21 showcase event and from which gigs in the region are beginning to emerge. Looking forward, Rob and Paul remain keen to take their music to clubs and festivals in new areas whilst maintaining the excellent links they have built up with audiences in the south-east. Both are continuing to write and assemble new material and the next album is already a twinkle in their eye. Chapstone Barre

Rob Garcia

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Paul McNamara

Main background image: Kai Tonjes acoustic guitar All write ups & photos by Clive Batkin

he 2015 Folk By The Oak at Hatfield House was its usual glorious occasion this year, helped greatly by both a stellar line up and perfect weather.

www.folkbytheoak.com

Anyone who has attended this event before will know what to expect from this ‘boutique’ festival. A perfect setting, an excellent main stage with matchless sound and lighting, a well-sited secondary stage, a good selection of food stalls and craft / shopping marquees, not to mention an extremely efficiently run beer tent. Need we go on...? The selection of acts was particularly good this year, not least from the smaller ‘Acorn Stage’

L www.towerseyfestival.com

ike a lot of people, I was probably a bit nervous at the prospect of this year’s Towersey Festival – in that after 50 years of being in the same location, this year saw the move of the festival to a new home. I shouldn’t have worried. The new site, a few miles from Towersey village towards the larger settlement of Thame, admittedly did present the Festival with a very different atmosphere, but the team at Mrs Casey Music brought their usual flair and expertise to running the new location The selection of venues at the festival, both large and small, were excellent– as were all the

T www.londonacousticshow.com

his trade show is run by Acoustic Magazine www.acousticmagazine.com) and is a veritable smörgåsbord for the acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo or ukelele fan! Taking over a whole upper floor of London’s Olympia complex of exhibition halls, its a very slickly run affair. Stands and demonstrations from top instrument makers (both large firms and small one-man-band luthiers alike) abound, with the chance for ‘us punters’ to try out as many of these fine instruments as we liked. A well-constructed programme of both concerts and masterclasses was scheduled, with a lot to interest players of all genres and persuasions. A small acoustic stage also allowed relative

which was very effectively utilised to cover the down-time between main act change overs. In our humble opinion, FBO is a perfect way to spend a day (even for those people not normally accustomed to festival going), not to mention being excellent value for money.

October 2:

“The voice of a new nation: the life of Australia’s Henry Lawson in story and song” with Martin Wyndham Read, Doug Jenner, Roland Taylor, Iris Bishop & Jon Wigg

Visitor attendance was at an all time high for the event this year, and we look forward to the seeing how the 2016 festival continues this trend – many congratulations for the team at JSL Events for putting on such a good event!

October 30:

John Kirkpatrick plus New Roots 2015 finalists Tim’s Band

October 31:

Workshops with John Kirkpatrick

2016’s FBO date is: Sunday 24 July 2016.

December 4: Life & Times last appearance in St Albans plus New Roots 2015 finalists The Rachel Hamer Band 8.00pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Tickets £10.00, Student concessions £8.00, Under 18 £6.00 from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo, 0844 870 0887

sound and lighting installations within them. As we have come to expect from this most friendly of festivals, the range of workshops, informal sessions, craft and shopping opportunities, dance displays and food and drink vendors were fantastic. A tremendous selection of music and dance acts brought fun and frolics to the entire affair – despite the usual British weather doing its utmost to drench everything.

St Albans Tourist and Information Centre 01727 864511 or on the door

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

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If you are under 25 and play traditionally based music, this is for you...

The few teething problems that did present (plumbing, access, mud etc) were quickly corrected, and I am sure that the Festival will run even more smoothly next year – I look forward to 2016’s affair (26th–29th August 2016).

newcomers to the acoustic scene a chance to perform to an appreciative and attentive audience. My only slight gripe was down to the overall volume levels within the halls – a low level drone of noise is pretty much constant, with bouts of louder interruptions when people were allowed to play instruments through small amplifiers or when a particularly loud stage performance was under way. I’m not sure how this could be overcome (the venue cleverly supplied ‘quiet rooms’ for genuine buyers), and certainly it did not spoil my overall enjoyment of this event.

Closing date: January 31 2016 Finals: April 2016 @ Trestle Arts Base, St Albans www.new-roots.org.uk info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

For anyone interested in acoustic instruments or performances, I’d not hesitate to recommend it.

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There are two categories: under 18 and 18 – 24. The judges will give helpful advice and award performance opportunities. To enter, send a CD with up to 15 minutes of your music to: Alison Macfarlane 40 Warwick Road St Albans Herts AL1 4DL

Closing date January 31 2016 39

Long Lankin Laments . . . .

y the time you are reading this you will probably be worrying about what to give Great Aunt Ethel for Christmas – or what Great Aunt Ethel is going to be giving you. You may also be dreaming of chestnuts roasting by an open fire, though most of us don’t have open fires anymore and can’t be bothered to roast chestnuts anyway. Decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping presents, stirring the Christmas pudding, we all have our own favourite images of the build up to Christmas. One of my favourite images is of carol singers: in my mind’s eye I am standing by the front door, cup of mulled wine in hand, listening to the carollers gathered together under a nearby street lamp. It is a picture that stays in my imagination. It stays in my imagination because it doesn’t seem to happen anymore. You get school and church choirs in the shopping centres on a weekend and some places, such as Toddington, have communal carol singing on the village green, but these are all organised events. You do get carol singing in pubs – impromptu by a table of high spirited drinkers, organised by the landlord to encourage custom, or traditional as in some of the pubs around Sheffield. What you don’t get are small groups of carol singers going around the streets, singing carols and knocking on doors. I remember being in a folk club in the run-up to last Christmas and the interval discussion turned to this very issue as an example of how we have become the passive receivers of Christmas in its wider sense rather than active participants. Maybe I am becoming a Grumpy Old Man. When I was a kid groups of us: me, my brother and sisters and some friends, with or without an adult in tow, would find a suitable spot and start singing carols while the younger ones knocked on nearby doors. We would usually sing three carols while they collected money or sweets from the houses in earshot and then move on further down the road.

More recently we used to get a few kids knocking on the door and when you answered they sang a quick chorus of We Wish you a Merry Christmas (usually out of tune). They would then expect payment. Today all we get is the local Round Table or Rotary Club with a car pulling a trailer with somebody dressed up as Santa sitting in it and a PA system blaring out Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. Reading Hardy or Dickens there was a time when you had groups of adults, or adults and children, visiting the big houses in the neighbourhood to sing carols. This sort of thing is even reflected in the Christmas scene in The Wind in the Willows. Christmas cards are still full of such scenes: a small group of carollers (usually in Victorian garb) under a lamp or holding lanterns, gathered by the side of a door while the householders and their family, silhouetted by the house lights, gather in the doorway to listen. Maybe it never happened. Just as many of our “Christmas traditions” were created by the Victorians, maybe this image was too. It is though a pleasing image, one that remains in the popular picture of Christmas and one that could be created for real if a few people took the initiative. What is to stop some of the folk clubs in the region gathering up its resident musicians and floor singers and going out into the night armed with lamps, torches and song sheets to sing and collect for some selected charity? Why not do something to reinvigorate Christmas as something we all take part in rather than sitting there bemoaning the absence of these traditions and how everything has to be “organised” – just do it! Christmas? Humbug!

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Long Lankin

Unicorn Magazine: issue 132

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