Unicorn Magazine Issue 134 by Unicorn Folk

t finally feels like winter is on the wain here at Unicorn Central! It’s seemed like a long, hard slog over the few months since the last issue came out, but things now seem to be getting brighter generally – in all respects.

We also see the regular seasonal return of the Morris Diary in this issue (pages 48–50: a whopping three pages of Morris-related fun and frolics), another surefire sign that warmer times are on their way...

We are delighted to say that this issue marks our largest outing to-date – a mammoth affair of 56 information-packed pages! We nearly had to go to 60 pages but avoided this by some judicious culling of normal material: no song / tune or advertiser information this time around unfortunately... but fear not, they will return in issue 135!

Our solitary CD review (the next offering from local trio Said The Maiden) shows that we had far fewer CDs submitted for review this time around. This may a result of our rigorous ‘local only’ policy for reviews finally hitting home, or simply a one-off dip in new releases. We are always looking for guest reviewers for any CDs that do come in however, so please get in touch if you fancy being on our list of contacts.

This issue welcomes lots of new advertisers and contributors joining the usual Unicorn family, plus the return of some familiar faces such as PJ Music (see his ad on page 5). This mix of the old and new coming together into a coherent whole is one of the delights of putting together a magazine such as this – as well as being a rather convenient allegory for the convergence of tradition and innovation that so often happens in the world of folk.

Finally, we are pleased to say that our recent call for help with distribution evoked a very positive response, with many people offering their support and practical assistance. We thank you all, particularly with this heavy issue hot off the press and eager to reach your club or session! As ever, we hope to see you round the clubs! Simon & Clive

Editorial

Shall We Dance?

Contents

Club Profile: Strummers Folk Collective

Chatterbox

Unicorn Diary

Round the Clubs

Club Index

CD Review: Said The Maiden

Feature: 25 Years of Burwell Bash

Feature: 40 years of Redbornstoke Morris 10

Feature: Star of the Transatlantic Sessions 33

Folk Bloke

The Morris Page

Sessions

Morris Diary

Feature: Kimpton Folk Festival is Born

Broadside by Long Lankin

Feature: Singaround or Session?

42 48 – 50 52

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

* Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

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

25 – 27

Editorial Staff:

Instruments In Peril #7: Perfect Pitch: chucking folk instruments into a skip from 30 paces

We take great care to ensure all elements of Unicorn Magazine are accurate. However, we accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes that appear. The views and opinions expressed in submitted articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Any personal views expressed in submitted articles are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Unicorn editorial team. It will be assumed that any letters sent to the magazine are intended for publication unless otherwise obviously stated.

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Dunton Folk 2016 Fantastic Venue - Real Ale and Cider - Superb Music

30th April Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston 28th May

Dave Ellis & Boo Howard Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage

25th June Sam Kelly Trio 17th September Bob Fox 15th October Keith Donnelly St Mary Magdalene Church, Dunton, Biggleswade, SG18 8RR. Doors open 7.30pm Tickets available from Simon 01767 310 424

www.duntonfolk.co.uk

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NEW ALBUM OUT MARCH 4TH 2016

THE MALINGERERS WINE AND LIES Vintage dust bowl era Americana, British Folk and a sprinkling of early Country, Jazz and Blues influences February 14 - The Ostrich, Peterborough February 26 - Royston Folk Club March 20 - Tap & Kitchen, Oundle March 28 - Joules Yard, Market Harborough April 1 -The Swiss Cottage, Peterborough April 16 - The Palmerston Arms Peterborough May 10 - Hertford White Horse Folk Club June 1 - Baldock & Letchworth Folk Club June 29 - The Headland, Northampton July 1 - Flummoxed Festival near Bletchley July 2 - Bury Folk Festival July 16 - Extonbury Festival, Exton

AMERICANA UK 7/10

MAVERICK

UNCUT MAGAZINE 7/10

TEL:07525 184 941 E:INFO@THEMALINGERERS.CO.UK W:THEMALINGERERS.CO.UK F:FACEBOOK.COM/THEMALINGERERS T:@THEMALINGERERS

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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Baldock & Letchworth Blues, Folk & Roots 8.30pm Wednesdays accompanied under 16s free

See our website www.madnanny for detailed information Apr 06 Tom McConville** £8/9/10 h�p://www.tommcconville.co.uk Apr 13 Louise Jordon £8/9/10 h�p://louisejordan.co.uk Apr 20 Open ﬂoor performers free £3 audience Join us to enjoy an evening of music and song from local and not-so-local talent.

Apr 27 Twisted Routes** £8/9/10 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvs7bVb8g5U May 04 Baldock Fes�val Special: John E Cash with support £6 May 11 Feature night £6 h�ps://soundcloud.com/amiidawes Amii Dawes Greg Cave & Nick Ellison www.greggcave.com May 18 Mean Mary (USA) £8/9/10 h�p://meanmary.com May 25 Feature night £6 Ma� Kelly & Gary Woolley www.kellyandwoolley.co.uk www.saidthemaiden.co.uk Said the Maiden themalingerers.co.uk Jne 01 Malingerers £8/9/10 Jne 08 Michael Messer’s Mitra £8/9/10 michaelmesser.co.uk/michael-messer-s-mitra Jne 15 Gary Fletcher of the Bluesband £10/£12/£15 www.garyﬂetcher.net Jne 22 Open ﬂoor performers free £3 audience Join us to enjoy an evening of music and song from local and not-so-local talent.

Jne 29 Jez Lowe

£8/£9/£10

www.jezlowe.com

The club is sponsored by Tilly's Boarding Ca�ery h�p://�llys-boarding-ca�ery.co.uk/ Tilly’s Boarding Ca�ery is a high quality ca�ery in Bedfordshire, close to the A1. As cat lovers, we aim to provide a luxury ca�ery experience at affordable prices, because warmth, comfort, safety, care and a�en�on, and space to play are the very least that you should expect from a ca�ery. We believe we offer the ideal cat boarding experience. Have a look around our site for more about the ca�ery, the boarding facili�es, our boarding prices and of course about us, and why we’re the safest and best place to leave your cats while you’re away. We’d love you to come and look around the ca�ery, and see for yourself. To find out how we can help you, to arrange a visit or make a booking, call us on 01767 692654 or email sue@�llys-ca�ery.co.uk

The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW www.madnanny.co.uk 01767 683583

alan@madnanny.co.uk

** indicates underwri�en for ﬁnancial assistance by the Arts Council for North Her�ordshire.

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Unicorn News: Apart from the issue-specific amends mentioned in the Editorial (page 1), the main tweak we have made this issue is in regard to our A4 posters, used to tell readers, club-goers and the like that the latest issue is now available! Several users have asked us to incorporate a blank space on the poster that they can use to write specific instructions for collection of the magazine. Lo and behold... we have listened and responded! Let us know if you find this new feature useful? Acoustic Festival of Britain: (Uttoxeter, June 3, 4, 5 2016). The national acoustic and un-plugged festival returns to the racecourse in Uttoxeter this year over the second weekend of spring bank holiday, with another eclectic mix of artists. The festival theme this year is ‘Steam Punk’, and the Victorian Fantasia dress look will provide a very interesting look to this much loved family event. The organisers have made more emphasis on the festive arts and creative look than in previous years, and will see open aired morris, belly and clog dancing and dozens of hysterical colourful walkabouts, free body and face painting plus many craft workshops for the customers. The festival dates falling into the school holiday break creates an affordable outlet for families, as children are only £5 per day and only £1 for toddlers, with dozens of children’s facilities on hand. Tickets and info at www.acousticfestival.co.uk. See their ad on page 15 of this issue – it’s a bit off our normal patch but at least one of the bands appearing hails from our area, as the Swan Vesta Social Club (featured in Unicorn Magazine Issue 131) return to play there for the second year running.

Strummers Folk Collective: In addition to being the subject of this issue’s Club Focus (page 23) Strummers have just told us that there is a feature on them on Cambridge TV that says a lot about what they’re about. Watch it here: www.cambridge-tv. co.uk/the-mac-ep19 (the clip is about three and half minutes long and starts roughly a minute in). Watford Folk Club Song Competition: it’s that time of year again! Watford Folk Club are pleased to announce their fifth annual competition for songwriters, this year with the theme of “Crime and Punishment”. From April 1st onwards, they

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

are inviting songs of Highwaymen and Robbers, Murders and Executions! Indeed every facet of that dark underside of humanity. The competition will remain open throughout the summer with the closing date for entries on Saturday October 1st and The Grand Final being held on Friday November 18th. Details of how to enter and competition rules will be available on their website http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com from April 1st or contact them via Facebook and email: WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com. St Neots Folk Club’s Grant: The Club has been given a donation of money that they wish to use as a grant to be awarded to a local folk guitarist / singer to help develop their talent, such as with lessons, workshops or even assistance in purchasing an instrument. Anyone who feels they could put a grant to a suitable use, please contact Roger Pitt on 01234 376278 or via email on stneotsfolkclub@aol. com to discuss further details.

HADDENHAM CEILIDHS

at Haddenham Village Hall Near Aylesbury, Bucks. HP17 8EE Apr 2 Polkaworks + Aiden Hansell May 7 Albireo + Lisa Heywood Jun 4 All Stars Event with MC Gareth Kiddier + NYFTE Musicians + Aiden Hansell

CONCERTS

Apr 2 Andy Cutting May 7 Jeff Warner + Joe Allen & Friends Jun 4 Jackie Oates with Tristan Seume Details 07717 047 039 • john@actionfolk.co.uk

www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk www.unicornmagazine.org

ST ALBANS MORRIS

MONDAY EVENING PRACTICE SESSIONS IN ST ALBANS UNTIL 25 APRIL. MEN AND WOMEN WELCOME TO DANCE MIXED COTSWOLD. COME AND TRY US OUT CONTACT: ANDREW TORRINGTON 01727 833028 OR TREVOR ADAMS 01707 883476 WWW.STALBANSMORRIS MEN.ORG.UK UM134 UM3 St Albans Morris Ad 1.indd 1

9/2/16 23:59:42

ENQUIRIES FROM DANCERS MUSICIANS ALWAYS WELCO WE PRACTICE MONDAY EVE NINGS

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The Best of Folk, Roots and Acoustic Music WHAT’S COMING UP: 1st April

Singaround -£4

8th April

Spotlight Singaround with Andrew Clewlow-£4

15th April

Spotlight Singaround with Piers Haslam - £4

22nd April

GEORGE PAPAVGERIS -£8

29th April

Singaround -£4

6th May

Spotlight Singaround with EMMA McGRATH-£4

13th May

FLOYD,HARTWELL,HINES -£6

20TH May

Spotlight Singaround with Steve Paige -£4

27th May

Singaround -£4

3rd June

Singaround -£4

10th June

GILMORE & ROBERTS - £10

17th June

Singaround - £4

24th June

JULIAN MOUNT -£6

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Said The Maiden “Of Maids And Mariners”

he lovely ladies of Said The Maiden emailed me the MP3 files for their recently released EP Of Maids and Mariners this morning, and what a delight their offering is. Just as you do at the start of a board meeting, I need to register an interest in Said The Maiden at the start of this review as I fear I am a little biased. We have had Said The Maiden at Dunton Folk twice, first as a support act when they blew the audience away with their youthful performance, and then as a main act when they went down a storm. On both occasions their performance held the audience (and me) spell bound. I hope we’ll see them at Dunton Folk again soon. So, having expressed a bias towards Said The Maiden I can now get into telling how great their EP is. On the basis that they were awarded the Isambard Folk Award in 2015 and were also voted Best Act by the audience at the Great British Folk Festival’s introducing stage, it is not a surprise that their recent release is more than competent. My only criticism of the release is that it is too short. I got the end of the EP’s four tracks and I simply wanted more. Still, I suppose the art of great performers is to leave their fans wanting more. I can’t wait for the next release from these talented women. The first two tracks are recorded in the studio (recorded and produced by Stu Hanna of Megson) and both are flawless and demonstrate the basic talent of the trio. The Soldier and the Maiden has also been filmed as a video that is worth having a look at. The acapella version of Dolly Parton’s Jolene is a triumph! The second two tracks were recorded at Redborn Folk Club and showcase their talents in a live setting. Even the audience managed to sing along in tune and in time!! The gig list this year is looking busy for Said The Maiden so there will be plenty of opportunities to see them locally. The EP is available from their web site (www.saidthemaiden.co.uk) at the bargain price of £5.00 plus postage. Simon Bailes

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

REDBOURN FOLK www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk th

APRIL 7

APRIL 21 th

MAY 5

PAT CRILLY & GREG CAMBURN SI BARRON TOM MC CONVILLE

ANDY MATHEWSON

NINEBARROW

MAY 26 JUNE 9

JUNE 12

FOLK ON THE COMMON

PETE COE

JUNE 23

other dates are Open Stage nights THURSDAYS 8pm The Hollybush, Church End, Redbourn

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40 years of Redbornstoke Morris

edbornstoke Morris celebrates 40 years of dancing in 2016. The team was started in 1976 by David Adcock, a teacher at Redborne School in Ampthill, taking its name from the old Bedfordshire Hundred of Redbornstoke. With help from Bedford and Whitchurch Morris teams, Redbornstoke learnt Cotswold traditions, including Fieldtown, Bledington and Adderbury. Redbornstoke continued to dance Cotswold traditions for a number of years, with an excursion into Rapper sword dance along the way. However, in the mid-1980s, the team decided to develop its own tradition and the distinctive Ampthill tradition was born. Whilst loosely based on the Cotswold traditions, it includes unique figures, often danced in groups of three, and the trademark Ampthill “hover”. After dancing one legendary Plough Monday, when it was so cold that the beer started to freeze, the team decided that lower impact dances were needed during the colder months. Thus a second tradition was developed in the mid-1990s: – Marston. Marston is based on the Ampthill approach, but with a distinctive twirl instead of the high leaps, and a different kit, with black, warmer clothes, coloured ribbons and black hat decorated with greenery.

Guizers, formed by members of the team. May Day is celebrated at sunrise at Catherine’s Cross in Ampthill Park, dancing overlooking the old brickfields 1st Dance Ou t at Redbor of Marston ne School 19 76 Vale. The legendary Toddington Tour takes place in July, during which Redbornstoke and their guests dance at all the pubs in the village. This was more of a challenge in the early days when there were 8 pubs in the village, though this has reduced to a more manageable five! The dancing year ends on Boxing Day, performing the Marston dances in Silsoe, with local villagers coming out in force to close the road, watch the dancing and the performance of a mummers play by the Guizers.

Redbornstoke Morris has arranged a number of events to celebrate 40 years. On the weekend of 1st – 3rd July there is a dancing weekend based in Ampthill, when the team will be joined by 150-200 dancers from around the country. On the weekend of 16-17th April, the team will be hosting “Les Danseurs Occitane” from Day 2009 Ampthill’s twin town in France, ay M k, ar ll P in Ampthi dancing around the local area. Hovering

Finally, the Scouthall tradition emerged in the early 2000s. This has more in common with the Cotswold traditions, though includes a few distinctive Redbornstoke features. Over the years, Redbornstoke have performed at many folk festivals, including Sidmouth, Whitby, Chippenham, Towersey and Shrewsbury. The team has also travelled overseas, with visits to Bruges in Belgium, festivals in Tralee and Brae in Ireland and most recently to Ampthill’s twin town Nissan-LezEnserune in the South of France.

Looking forward, Redbornstoke Morris hopes to pass their unique dances on to a new generation. With this in mind they recently taught their dances to students at Redborne School and hope that this might eventually lead to the formation of a youthful team to take on the dances and develop them further. If anyone is interested in being part of this exciting project, please contact the team. After 40 years of dancing, singing and playing in the pub, laughter, comradeship and friendship, we look forward to the next chapter of Redbornstoke Morris. For further information see www.redbornstoke.com or follow us on Facebook.

Locally there are a number of annual events that have become part of the team tradition. The year starts with Plough Monday at Pulloxhill, with dancing followed by the Plough Play performed by the Brafont

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Bagman – Charlie Leslie t: 01234 750829 e: chas.redbornstoke@btinternet.com

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Summer 2016 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

Unicorn Magazine: issue 134

1 Apr 8 Apr 15 Apr 22 Apr

Bob Lilley Colin Hume and FF Band Chris Turner & Spring Greens Bob Barrett and Mollie, Colin, Susan and Harold 29 Apr Mike Ruff and FF Band 6 May Nigel Close & Spring Greens 7 May Saturday Special at Samuel Ryder - Cis Hinkle (USA) and Mollie & Ali 13 May 20 May 27 May 3 Jun 10 Jun 17 Jun 24 Jun

Wendy Harrup and musicians Mark Elvins and FF Band Closed Paul Garner Dave Kerridge Mike Bennett and FF Band Bob Barrett

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Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL

Ceilidh

SATURDAY 26 March Band: Gig CB Caller: Chris Shaw

Ceilidh

SATURDAY, 30 April Band: Simon Care Band Caller: Will Hall

Contra

SATURDAY, 4 June Band: Double Dichotomy Caller: Mark Elvins _______________________

Dancing from 8pm to 11pm Adults £9; Student £5; Accompanied under 16s FREE ; Group of 6 ( paying) one free Licenced Bar

Free Car Park

Ruth 01933 397767, Valerie 01604 711536 John 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk

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Our callers KATHRYN & DAVID WRIGHT The musicians VICKI SWAN, JONNY DYER & JOHN DIPPER as PURCELLS POLYPHONIC PARTY. Special Guests KEN SHEFFIELD, JOHN GRAHAM & The Quarry Turners, PENNY KEMPSON’S FIRE CLOG DANCERS, HEADINGTON QUARRY MORRIS with JULIE & ALAN KIMBER-NICKELSON. No choices so nothing missed! An action packed weekend of Dance, Music & Song in the Heart of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.Two Special Events introduced by KATHRYN & DAVID; a celebration of the life of Oxfords’ WILLIAM KIMBER who inspired the work of Cecil Sharp, and a celebration of the work of our very own KEN SHEFFIELD whose new book ‘The Century Collection’ is shortly to be published by CDSS. Weekend Ticket £52 – includes lunches. efdss members will have a discount of £5 on the cost of the weekend ticket Saturday only Ticket £33 – includes lunch Sunday only Ticket £22 – includes lunch Friday Evening Ceilidh 8pm – 11pm £8.50 Saturday Evening Dance 8pm – 11pm £8.50 Sunday Afternoon Dance 2.15pm – 4.30pm - £6.50 CAMPING PERMIT 3 NIGHTS £12.00 PER UNIT Booking & more information stewart.nicholls@virgin.net or 01295 730271 The weekend programme can be found on www.stonesfieldfolkdance.danceorg.uk

Venue - Stonesﬁeld Village Hall, Field Close, Stonesﬁeld, Oxon. OX29 8EF

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

Sunday Evenings W ESTON TURVILLE • The Chandos (3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 M ILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com (Weekly) M ILTON KEYNES • New Bradwell Sports Club, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 S T ALBANS • Farmers Boy, London Rd (1st): Nick, 020 8953 5231 S T ALBANS • Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street (2nd): Pub 01727 855669 L EIGHTON BUZZARD • The Swan, Northall (1st)

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 (810.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 A MPTHILL • The Albion, Dunstable Street (2nd): Rod Ward, 01763 852 377 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 T RING • 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 W OOTTON (Beds) • The Cock MK43 9JT (8.00pm, broad acoustic & folk): Mike Carter Jones, 01234 768555, Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

Wednesday Evenings B ARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, fortnightly): Ann, 01582 560815 B ENINGTON (Stevenage) • The Bell (1st): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 C AMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2nd, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 E LY • Kings Arms, St Marys St (last): Liam, laimdebrun@outlook.co.uk, 07905 044932 M ARCH • March Folk Club, Royal British Legion Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, PE15 8DP (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 M OGGERHANGER • Moggerhanger Village Hall (7.30pm, 1st): Chris, 01767 640 242 R ADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Cobden Hill, WD7 7JR (8.00pm, 2nd): Nick, 020 8207 3057 S T ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (8.30pm, weekly, mainly music): Rick Payman, 01727 852976 T EBWORTH • Queens Head, LU7 9QB (Every 4th Wednesday): Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 T OWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8.00pm, 3rd): Andrew Leleux, 01296 615160 W ELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758 L ITTLE WYMONDLEY • The Bucks Head, Stevenage Road (1st): Kerry, 07877 930201

Thursday Evenings H ERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd): Keith Acheson, 07979 841079 H UNTON BRIDGE • King’s Head (4th): Tim, 01923 264536 K IMPTON • White Horse (2nd & 4th): Doug, 07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com L UTON • Castle PH LU1 3AA (weekly): Nigel Bailey, 07788 431470 T OWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322 W OBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660

Friday Evenings A YLESBURY • Queens park Arts Centre (1st, 3rd and 5th): Amanda Diamond, 01296 424332 S T NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (2nd, 8.30pm, tunes): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org S TEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales MK18 2NP (2nd, Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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can pinpoint the precise moment it hit home that our ambitious dream of staging a folk festival in the Hertfordshire village of Kimpton would become a reality. A few of us from the organising committee had been to a club to see the folk and bluegrass trio Jaywalkers, one of the acts we were interested in booking. They were brilliant. We signed them up during the interval, and at the end of the gig they announced to the packed audience that they’d be back in the summer – on Saturday, July 9 – to appear in the Kimpton Folk Festival. There was no going back now. Kimpton has a thriving music scene built around a nucleus of local musicians and singers but also attracting talented visitors from as far away as Australia and even Harpenden. Other small communities have staged highly successful folk festivals, so why shouldn’t we? How difficult could it possibly be? Well, quite difficult, it turned out. Scouting for acts, booking top performers like our headliners Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, or signing up great local talent like Kelly Oliver and George Papavgeris, was the easy bit. We quickly learned that there would be a thousand and one other things to sort out – our legal constitution, funding and sponsorship, staging, lighting and sound systems, ticketing, security, entertainment and bar licensing, first-aid, parking… Morris dancing. For many months now, about a dozen of us have been meeting fortnightly to try to design the festival. Meetings drag on for hours, but are held in our terrific local pub, The Boot, so nobody minds too much. There are endless questions to address. What venues should we use? Will the 1st Kimpton Scout Group suffice as security or do we need Hells Angels? How much should we charge? What happens if it rains? What do we do if it’s too hot? What if nobody comes?

and financial support from Kimpton Parish Council, North Herts District Council and even our own May Festival Committee. There’s going to be something for everyone. The main ticketed shows will be in the Memorial Hall and in our beautiful village church, but lots more entertainment will be free. Under a giant open marquee on the village green there will be local bands singers and musicians, a ceilidh band and Morris dancing. Other attractions include craft and food stalls, open mic sessions at The Boot and fiddle, guitar and ukulele workshops in the Dacre Rooms. We hope there will even be pony and trap rides around the village. We’ve made great progress with the arrangements, but there is still plenty to do. We’ve had a stunningly successful fundraising barn dance in the Memorial Hall and on Saturday, April 23 we’re staging a curtain-raiser concert with Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection, who will be returning to play in the main festival on July 9. It’s an ambitious project, and we hope that everyone who comes will have a great time and return the following year for an even bigger and better event. The argument over what exactly is and isn’t folk music rages on. I hope that in years to come people will say: “Folk music? It’s what they play at Kimpton Folk Festival”. Visit the website to find out more and book tickets: www.kimptonfolk.uk or email: hello@kimptonfolk.uk. Brian King

Slowly but surely the problems have been wrestled to the ground and a plan for an exciting multivenue event has emerged, receiving both practical

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Join us FOR the first EVER

A one day folk festival in the Hertfordshire village of Kimpton

Nancy Kerr AND James Fagan,

Wild WIlly Barrett’s LOOSE CONNECTION, Worry Dolls, John Dipper and Dave Malkin, Kelly Oliver, Jacquelyn Hynes Trio, EMILY SLADE, Will McNicol and Luke Selby, Jaywalkers, George Papavgeris, Ben Smith, The Foxglove Trio, BATKIN Hill, Bootcamp… ...and MorE Pub sessions, dancing, CEILidh street stalls, workshops

For tickets and information visit:

www.kimptonfolk.uk or email: hello@kimptonfolk.uk

Seth Lakeman • Show of Hands • Sharon Shannon and Band Martin Simpson & Dom Flemons • The John McCusker Band Oysters 3 • Kathryn Tickell & Superfolkus • Blazin’ Fiddles Le Vent Du Nord • Shooglenifty • Nancy Kerr & James Fagan n and Band no Martin Simpso an Sh n Sharo & Dom Flemo n ns The Watershed Band featuring Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin Riccardo Tesi & Banditaliana • Anna & Elizabeth • Lynched • Stick In The Wheel John Kirkpatrick • Blackbeard’s Tea Party • Manran • The Young ‘Uns • Jez Lowe • Kirkophany Robin Dransﬁeld • Melrose Quartet • Pete Coe • Lady Maisery • Whapweasel Jamie Smith’s Mabon • Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman • The Rheingans Sisters • Bob Fox Len Graham & Jack Lynch • Wizz Jones • Trio Dhoore • Three Cane Whale • Tymon Dogg Hot Vultures • Dead Rat Orchestra • Mad Dog Mcrea • Hannah James’ JigDoll • Brian Peters Robyn Stapleton • Talisk • Bayou Seco Hannah Sanders • Cock & Bull Band • Sam Kelly Trio • Ciaran Algar More headliners to be announced

••••••

Pre-Festival Specials Thursday 28 July Steeleye Span Friday 29 July Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends

••••••

Steeleye Sp

Concerts • Ceilidhs Folk Dances • Roots Parties Dance Spectaculars fRoots presents A Cellar Full of Folkadelia EFDSS presents Folk Rising Plus Children’s Festival • Huge Workshop Programme

Lynched

••••••

Early Bird Season Tickets available now. No Booking Fees.

www.sidmouthfolkweek.co.uk or call the box office 01395 577952

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Singaround Or Session?

magine the scene – you have spent hours practicing and perfecting a song; you’ve got the guitar part just right, learned the lyrics, and now feel ready for the local singaround. It comes to your turn, and you’ve just finished the intro when you hear a ‘plink-plink’ from somewhere in the room… you’re a bit distracted, but you carry on, then halfway through the first verse the ‘plinkplink’ starts up again – it’s someone with a ukulele, trying to find what key you’re in. Becoming more confident, he plays a little louder – not full volume, but enough to be distracting. Plus his instrument isn’t quite in tune, but he’s happy enough… Emboldened by this, a couple of guitarists hurriedly pick up their instruments - capos are adjusted, and more slightly-out-of-tune strumming ensues, half-drowning your own carefully arranged and rehearsed efforts. In the worst-case scenario, they are joined by a banjo, or even a squeeze-box… and your performance is drowned out by people who think for some reason that their ‘contribution’ will enhance your song… Now this may sound a bit extreme, but I’ve experienced similar things in the Unicorn area and beyond – on one occasion, I sat open-mouthed while the owner of an electric guitar thought it would be a good idea to play along with an unaccompanied ballad… So why do people behave in this way? Is it simply a case of showing off and boosting their own ego? This is surely part of it, but do they genuinely think they’re improving someone else’s performance, and that it’s somehow acceptable? And most importantly, how do they get away with it? The answer lies with the organiser – he / she should really make it clear whether it is a ‘singaround’, ‘round the room’, etc, or a free-for-all – the latter system works well when it’s a full-on Irish session, for example, but when people are trying to play more sensitive or quiet material it’s annoying and distracting, not to say downright RUDE (every bit as rude as talking while people are performing – but that’s another story…).

who don’t have what it takes to keep things under control – meaning the rude, insensitive types get away with it time and again. A simple rule would be: Please feel free to join in when invited to do so. At least you’d think that would be simple enough – but on more than one occasion I’ve invited everyone to “Join in on the chorus – you’ll soon pick the words up”, only to find this is taken as an invitation to thrash various instruments throughout the whole song…! Of course, if you’re part of a duo or trio it’s even more annoying, as you will inevitably have worked out more complex arrangements, harmonies, etc, only to have them drowned out in a frantic out-oftune ‘who-can-play-loudest’ contest... I have often fantasised about retaliating using extreme measures – if anyone played over me uninvited, I could wait for their next turn and then join in with a slightly out-of-tune accordion/ bagpipes/tuba at full volume… but then I’m too polite. Does anyone out there have any ideas? Son Of Barleycorn

Wow, controversial! Many thanks to ‘Son’ for sending us this bit of thoughtprovoking editorial. As ever we’d welcome comments / feedback on this, or indeed any item, that we publish. Simon & Clive

The trouble would seem to be that some folkie types who run singarounds are gentle, quiet souls

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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Sat 2 Sat 9 Mon 11 Mon 18 Fri 29 Sat 23

Sat 30

Sat 7 Sat 14

Sat 21 Fri 27

Sat 4

Sat 11 Fri 24

Polkaworks with caller Aiden Hansell

• HC The Forest Band with caller Arnold Stem • WFD Guest caller Chris Turner • SCD Guest caller Jeanie Byron-Williams • SCD Monty’s Maggot with caller Barry Goodman • UC Afternoon – Dutch crossing longsword workshop (Booking necessary) • CFA Evening – Mollie and Ali with caller Mark Elvins • CFA Simon Care Band with caller Will Hall • NC Mollie and Ali with caller Cis Hinkle

(USA) • FF Albireo with caller Lisa Heywood • HC Keeping Thyme with caller Ron Coxall • BFD The Forest Band with caller Andrea Stodell • WFD The Forest Band with caller Ivan Aitken • SAA Cock and Bull with caller Mary Panton • UC All star event with MC Gareth Kiddie,

NYFTE Musicians and caller Aiden Hansell • HC Double Dichotomy with caller Mark Elvins • NC The Forest Band with caller Bob Barrett • WFD Fat Harry with caller Adam Hughes • UC

BFD B edford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford, MK41 8EB • Ron Law 01234 825 574 CFA Chiltern Folk Association: Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH • Judith Inman 01628 486845, www.chilternfolk.org.uk FF Friday Folk The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG • www.fridayfolk.org.uk, 01727 856508

HC Haddenham Ceilidhs Haddenham Village Hall, Near Aylesbury, Bucks, HP17 8EE • John Heydon 07717 047 039, john@actionfolk.co.uk, www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk NC Northampton Ceilidhs Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL • John Green 07760 197921, 01933 397767, www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk SAA St Albans Abbey Folk Dance Club Homewood Road United Reform Church, Sandpit Lane, St Albans, AL1 4BH • Brian Hancock 01727 834 977 SCD Staplers Country Dance Club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Road, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9JP • Cecilia Mills 01582 881966 UC Unicorn Ceilidhs St Mary’s Hall, Church Street, Baldock, SG7 5AE • Tel: 01582 724261, 07946 439095, www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk WFD Winchmore Folk Dance Club Trinity Church, Church Street, Enfield, EN2 6AN • John Wood 020 8926 7293

The Swan pub at Flitwick is starting a

New Folk Club! Singers and musicians of all abilities come and practice and play!

Lets put the soul of Flitwick into the heart of Flitwick! Call Stepn on 07825448448 or Facebook The Swan at Flitwick

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Music type: Folk & acoustic music – special emphasis on the makers of “music with a social conscience” Meets: Saturday a month at CB2 plus occasional gigs at the Golden Hind. Admission charge: Normally £8.00 / £6.00 concessions Guests: Upcoming local, national and international acts Venue name: CB2 Cafe (The Golden Hind for larger gigs) Venue address: 5 Norfolk Street, Cambridge CB1 2LD (355 Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 1SP) Parking: No charge in the evening in the surrounding streets. The Grafton Centre car park is quite close Club contact: Les Ray 07903 521412 • lesliealexray@gmail.com www.strummers.org

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

ormed in January 2016, Strummers is passionate about music and the way it can enhance and change lives. With an emphasis on ‘music with a social conscience’, this new venture aims to promote enjoyable music, engage with the local community, foster links with other Cambridge folk venues and encourage local musicians, whilst at the same time bringing artists of national and international renown to Cambridge venues. Strummers launched on 30th January 2016 at CB2 with a very strong bill of local acts. Our second event was at the Golden Hind on 4th February, when we hosted Canadian indie-folk singer-songwriter Jenny Ritter and her band, supported by fine young local acts EdwardAlice and Holly Jean. Coming up we have gigs with Robin Gillan, Robb Johnson, Marina Florance and Grace Petrie. Strummers’ home is the basement at CB2, a small venue with a great atmosphere, holding 40 or so. However, for larger gigs we move to the Golden Hind, which has a capacity of around 100. Doors open 7.30, music starts at 8.00pm.

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Aspiring Concertina Players Wanted No experience required! The Chiltern Concertina Group based in Maulden, Beds. is looking for new members. We can teach absolute beginners to play English or Anglo concertina and we have a limited number of instruments for short term loan. We meet on the second or third Sunday of the month from 14:00 to 18:00 in Maulden Church Hall. Interested? Please visit our website www.chiltinas.org.uk for further information and exact dates of meetings. If under 18 you will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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Still interested? Contact Martin on 01767 627 566 or email martin_h@email.com

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Fri 1 CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Stella Hensley and Chris Newman FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Lilley WATFORD • Singaround Sat 2 HADDENHAM • Concert: Andy Cutting HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: Polkaworks and Aiden Hansell Sun 3 BLACK FEN • Mayflower folk club visit the Black Fen HITCHIN • Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston Mon 4 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Denise Devonald WALTHAM ABBEY • John Connolly Tue 5 ST NEOTS • Ninebarrow Wed 6 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Village Folk Session BALDOCK • Tom McConville Thu 7 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Roger Dover BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Pat Crilly and Greg Camburn ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Rosa’s Lovely Daughters Fri 8 CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Melody Causton FRIDAY FOLK • Colin Hume and FF Band ROYSTON • Showcase Session featuring Roughage Quartet WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Andrew Clewlew Sun 10 BLACK FEN • Open Stage HITCHIN • Luke Jackson, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar Mon 11 HERGA • The Skeptics HITCHIN STAPLERS • Guest Caller Chris Turner WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 12 HERTFORD • David Savage and Breakfast with Liz Taylor ST NEOTS • Quicksilver Wed 13 ELY • Lucy Ward ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Louise Jordan Thu 14 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Kevin Prigmore BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • David Gibb Fri 15 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome BENSLOW • Weekend Workshop – The Soul of Hungarian Gypsy Music CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Jess Morgan Trio FRIDAY FOLK • Chris Turner and Spring Greens FOREST FOLK • Tinderbox WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Piers Haslam

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

Sat

16 MALTINGS • Silent Sessions: Shakespeare’s The Tempest Sun 17 BLACK FEN • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming HITCHIN • Double Header: Dovetail Trio and Tinderbox Mon 18 HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Guest Caller Jeanie Byron-Williams WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 19 ST NEOTS • The Worthys and Karen Johnson and Tony Clark Wed 20 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Caller Judith Inman BALDOCK • Open Floor Thu 21 BEDFORD FDC • Caller George Hearnden BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Si Barron ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Joh Waterson (Fake Thackray) Fri 22 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Allan Taylor FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett and Mollie, Colin, Susan and Harold WATFORD • George Papavgeris Sat 23 BEDFORD PLACE • Quicksilver Sun 24 BLACK FEN • Booking TBC HITCHIN • Show of Hands (sold out) Mon 25 HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Bernard Higgs WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 26 HERTFORD • Na-Mara ST NEOTS • Around The Room Wed 27 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Twisted Routes Thu 28 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Charles Day BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Rob Barrat Fri 29 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • The Willows FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Ruff and FF Band ROYSTON • Concert – Brooks Williams WATFORD • Singaround

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Sun 1 BLACK FEN • Open Stage BEDFORD PLACE • The Clarion Two HITCHIN • The Askew Sisters Tue 3 ST NEOTS • Open Stage Wed 4 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Village Folk Session BALDOCK • Baldock Festival: John E Cash Thu 5 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Graham Foster BEDFORD • Spring Singaround REDBOURN • Tom McConville BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Beth Gifford and Friends BEDFORD PLACE • Blair Dunlop Fri 6 MALTINGS • Phil King plus others TBC BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Nicky VereCompton and Jeremy Harmer FRIDAY FOLK • Nigel Close and Spring Greens WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Emma Mcgrath Sat 7 HADDENHAM • Concert: Jeff Warner with Joe Allen and Friends HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: Albireo with Lisa Heywood Sun 8 BLACK FEN • Jeff Warner HITCHIN • Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker Mon 9 HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 10 HERTFORD • The Malingerers ST NEOTS • Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith Wed 11 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Feature Night: Amii Dawes, Greg Cave and Nick Ellison Thu 12 BEDFORD FDC • Caller John Green BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night Fri 13 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Landermason FRIDAY FOLK • Wendy Harrup and musicians FOREST FOLK • 1st Anniversary bash with Sicknote Steve ROYSTON • Super Showcase Session featuring Thursday’s Band WATFORD • Floyd, Hartwell, Hines Sun 15 BLACK FEN • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris and Mumming HITCHIN • Gilmore and Roberts Mon 16 HERGA • Sally Ironmonger LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Delta Ladies and Alan Glen Tue 17 ST NEOTS • Clive Gregson

Wed 18 ELY • Ange Hardy and Lukas Drinkwater ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller Peter Bridgman BALDOCK • Mean Mary (USA) Thu 19 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Lorraine and Ced Morgan BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Stanley Accrington BEDFORD PLACE • Belshazzar’s Feast Fri 20 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Bright Season FRIDAY FOLK • Mark Elvins and FF Band WATFORD • Spotlight Singaround with Steve Paige Sun 22 BLACK FEN • Booking TBC HITCHIN • Brooks Williams Mon 23 HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 24 HERTFORD • Causation Walker ST NEOTS • Jeff Warner Wed 25 ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Feature Night: Matt Kelly and Gary Woolley, Said The Maiden Thu 26 BEDFORD FDC • Caller TBA BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Andy Mathewson ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Two Coats Colder Fri 27 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Barluath ROYSTON • Double Header Concert: Hannah Sanders and Sheri Kershaw WATFORD • Singaround Sun 29 BLACK FEN • Open Stage HITCHIN • Lady Maisery Tue 31 ST NEOTS • Round The Room

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 134

Wed 1 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Village Folk Session BALDOCK • Malingerers Thu 2 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Jane Edmett BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Kara with special guests Fri 3 MALTINGS • Where are the Barricades – Leon Rosselson BENSLOW • Weekend Workshop – Folk Fiddling by Ear CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Bertie Buck FRIDAY FOLK • Paul Garner WATFORD • Singaround Sat 4 HADDENHAM • Concert: Jackie Oates with Tristan Seume HADDENHAM • Ceilidh: All Stars Event with MC Gareth Kiddier, NYFTE Musicians and Aiden Hansell Sun 5 BLACK FEN • Open Stage HITCHIN • Chris and Kellie While Mon 6 HERGA • Jeff Warner LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 7 ST NEOTS • Pete Morton Wed 8 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Michael Messer’s Mitra Thu 9 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Keith Harrup BEDFORD • Singaround REDBOURN • Ninebarrow ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Pete Morton Fri 10 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Showcase: The Lights, Steve Logan, Liz Cotton FRIDAY FOLK • Dave Kerridge ROYSTON • Showcase Session featuring Ben Smith WATFORD • Gilmore and Roberts ST NEOTS • Folk Festival Sat 11 ST NEOTS • Folk Festival Sun 12 BLACK FEN • Folk Day TBC REDBOURN • 12th Folk on the Common HITCHIN • Martyn Joseph ST NEOTS • Folk Festival Mon 13 BENSLOW • Workshop – Summer Klezmer Course HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Fools Gold Tue 14 HERTFORD • Sam Inglis ST NEOTS • Dave Gibb Wed 15 ELY • Jez Lowe LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller Norman Hayes

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

BALDOCK • Gary Fletcher of the Blues Band Thu 16 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Kevin Prigmore BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Chris Flegg Fri 17 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Pete Coe FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Bennett and FF Band FOREST FOLK • Artist TBC WATFORD • Singaround Sat 18 MALTINGS • Lady Maisery, Black Scarr and New Roots Finalist MALTINGS • St Albans Folk Festival Day of Dance MALTINGS • St Albans Folk Festival – performances, singarounds and sessions in local pubs Sun 19 MALTINGS • St Albans Folk Festival – singarounds and sessions in local pubs BLACK FEN • Open Stage Mon 20 HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 21 ST NEOTS • Talisk Wed 22 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Open Floor Thu 23 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Roger Dover BEDFORD • Midsummer Singaround REDBOURN • Pete Coe ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Face Furniture Fri 24 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night, Visitors Welcome BENSLOW • Weekend Workshop – Tango Techniques and Style BENSLOW • Weekend Workshop – Folk Orchestra CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • Dance Night CAMBRIDGE • Tim Edey FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett ROYSTON • Concert: Richard Digence WALTHAM ABBEY • Summer Sing Weekend WATFORD • Julian Mount Mon 27 HERGA • Open Stage LEASIDERS • Club Caller HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Evening WALTHAM ABBEY • Singaround Tue 28 HERTFORD • Phil Hewett ST NEOTS • Round The Room Wed 29 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK • Jez Lowe Thu 30 BEDFORD FDC • Caller Ann Gibson BEDFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open Stage ROUNDABOUTERS • Club Evening BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Richard Grainger (TBC) BEDFORD PLACE • Jonathan Byrd and My Girl By The River

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BALDOCK • Baldock and Letchworth Blues, Folk and Roots The Orange Tree, Norton Road, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact: Alan Hewson, 01767 683 583, alan@madnanny.co.uk 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 MORRIS • Bedford Morris Men Contact: Ian Daye, 01582 883 009, www.bedfordmorrismen.org.uk BEDFORD PLACE • The Place Theatre Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE Contact: Laura Pottinger, 01234 354321, www.theplacebedford.org.uk BENSLOW • Benslow Music Benslow Lane, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG4 9RB Contact: 01462 459 446, www.benslowmusic.org BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Stortfolk Royal British Legion, 28 Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2NG Contact: Jon & Hilary McNamara, 01279 656664 www.beerfordbury.co.uk BLACK FEN • Black Fen Folk Club The Boathouse, 14 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX Contact: Robin Gillan, 07847 680 560, 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 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: Eileen Heylin, 01442 255862 www.englishmiscellany.com FOREST FOLK • Forest Folk and Roots The College Arms, College Road, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, MK43 0SR Contact: Trevor Dove, 07931 859 737, www.forestfolkandroots.weebly.com FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance Club Methodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XG Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 www.fridayfolk.org.uk HADDENHAM • 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 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: Brian or Liz Patrick, 01582 732656 LINSLADE • Linsleighders Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade LU7 2NR Contact: Mrs E.A. Corser, 01525 378010 MALTINGS • Folk at the Maltings and St Albans Folk Festival Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852 111, www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.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 ROUNDABOUTERS Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, SG1 1UP Contact: Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727 293, roundabouters@live.co.uk, www.roundabouters.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, WATFORD • Watford Folk Club Pump House, Local Board Rd, Lower High St, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Julian Mount, 07778 526489, www.folkatthepumphouse.webs.com,

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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

Spring-Summer 2016

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Wednesday 13 April, 7.30pm, £12

Wednesday 4 May, 7.30pm, £12

Lucy Ward

Tom Robinson: Home in the Morning Tour

Wednesday 20 April, 7.30pm, £12

Thursday 12 May, 7.30pm, £25

John McCusker 25th Anniversary tour

Simpson Cutting Kerr Thursday 16 June, 7.30pm, £17

Andy Cutting, Adam Holmes, Innes White & Toby Shaer, with Heidi Talbot & special guests

Booking fees apply.

Thursday 28 April, 7.30pm, £16.50

cecilsharphouse.org | 0207 485 2206 Promoter

Supporters /cecilsharphouse

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@cecilsharphouse

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

25 Years of Burwell Bash

n 1991, a group of fenland fiddle players inspired by the teaching of renowned Shetland fiddle player Tom Anderson set up a summer school in rural Cambridge. Based in the idyllic village of Burwell, they spent 5 days of the year coming together and learning from master musicians in the grounds of the majestic Burwell House. Having come from the social musical experiment of Duxford Workshop, the radical musical innovators quickly built up a strong base of members from all over Britain, and in time all over the world.

See their the ad on page 40 continues to promote the course and support the community of players, mentioning his very favourite week whenever possible. He and the fraternity of players continue to be proud of all they have accomplished together. Ellie Smith

While Tom Anderson was the original inspiration, his passing in 1992 meant that he never made the trip to Burwell. For a number of years his protĂŠgĂŠ Catriona MacDonland was the tutor, however over time the course evolved bringing more musicians and more instruments to the course. In 1992, piano accordions came under Ian Lowthian, followed by flutes and whistles with Brian Finnegan in 1994 and guitars with Ed Boyd in 1998. Since then such names as Nancy Kerr, Kathryn Tickell, Zoe Conway, Liz Doherty, Sam Pirt and most recently Jock Tyldesley, Tola Custy and Andy Cutting have carried the torch for the course. A family affair, the course has been run by and for families with adults and children learning side by side with all ages and abilities catered for. It is a common sight to see children, including those of the tutors, playing in the grounds of the house. Initially run by Hazel and Greg Smith, the course changed hands a number of times before being taken by Stephen and Marian Bardwell and their family in 2001 who made it their own. After fifteen years of happy guardianship they parted from the course last year bringing in a new team of loyal volunteers to take on the task of running the course, securing its future for many more years to come. While remaining steadfast in its constant belief that music is, and should be, for everyone the course has evolved over the years, taking on new challenges and ideas and even inspiring groups such as The Rheingans Sisters and the Teacups. As it approaches its 25th anniversary this coming August the tutors and members remain dedicated to this very special and entirely unique course. Brian Finnegan, a tutor from the very beginning,

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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

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

Evening of Monday 4th July 2016 at 8pm – £10.00 In conjunction with the Royal British Legion as part of the Abbots Langley Festival of the Arts

John Kirkpatrick

Tunes from the Trenches Abbots Langley & District Men's Club

21 Trowley Rise, Abbots Langley, Herts WD5 0LN Licensed Bar

Enquiries to ALConcerts@gmail.com Or call Tim and Lesley Brooks on 01923 264536

Ely Folk Club presents

Wednesday 13 th April

Lucy Ward

£11 (£10 advance)

Wednesday 18 th May

Ange Hardy and Lukas Drinkwater £11 (£10 advance)

Wednesday 15 th June

Jez Lowe

£11 (£10 advance)

Old Dispensary, 13 St Mary’s St., Ely CB7 4ER 01353 740999/664706

www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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a tidal wave of enraptured applause at the end of each of her sets. Her first song introduction forged an instant emotional connection – an intimation of the difficulty of singing about the slave era in the deep South. Then came the song ‘Julie’ – and wham! Her voice, all ferocity and perfection, matched a completely compelling stage presence. It is fair to say that we all ‘got’ the song.

ith its cavalcade of traditional music luminaries performing under the masterful direction of Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, the 2016 Transatlantic Sessions concert at The Southbank Centre was never going to be anything other than a joy to be at. In fact, I thought it was the most entertaining Transatlantic Sessions – live or on TV - that I’d ever seen. Also on the stage that night was a person unfamiliar to me – a black woman in a red dress, who went on to set the whole show alight. You probably who I’m talking about – Rhiannon Giddens, of The Carolina Chocolate Drops. I know who she is now, as does every member of that audience, almost all of whom leapt to their feel in

Reflecting now, I guess that’s really the aim of all singers, particularly in this traditional genre. We have stories to tell and in telling them, we are conduits. The stories are ours to put our mark on, without ever being about us. I would argue that while it’s not impossible, it’s certainly very hard to do this when you’re reading words from a piece of paper. You need the lyrics in your head and in your heart – then you’re free to concentrate on other dynamics of performance. But I may be wrong. If, next year, we see Karen Matheson, Cara Dillon or John Doyle walk out to the front of the stage carrying a music stand, I guess I’ll just have to eat my words. Doug Jenner

Frog on a Bike

Ceilidh Band

Energetic English folk music that’s guaranteed to get you up and dancing. Call: 01775 640585 www.thefrogonabikeceilidhband.moonfruit.com www.facebook.com/frogonabike http://frogonabikeceilidhband.bandcamp.com

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

DAVE STACEY

LETCHWORTH HERTS SG6 3LF 01462 683074 staceybanjos@hotmail.com

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ummer belongs to Cotswold Morris. This is the Morris style most people think of as “Morris dancing” and the one most likely to be revered or ridiculed in the public mind. The earliest mentions of Morris (or Morrisk, Moreys, Morisse) are 15th century, as part of a court entertainment, and spread down the social scale, however William Kempe’s nine day Morris from London to Norwich in 1600 was not a dance as such but a series of various steps – a sort of improvised jig. The style of dancing is typified by a mix of double and single stepping often with jumps and more complex and showy steps such capers and hook-legs. Arm movements are also an important part of the style usually with large handkerchiefs held in the hands to accentuate the movement. Usually for six or eight dancers the figures are common to other forms of traditional dance or country dances: back-to backs, heys or reels, lines crossing over etc. The set dances we now know as Cotswold Morris developed over the 17th–19th centuries and were collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in villages in and around the Cotswold Hills. Today the term it is also applied to the general style of dancing, thus teams may describe themselves as dancing Cotswold Morris or dancing in the Cotswold Style. This distinction may not be apparent to most audiences but they are formed by two opposing pressures on the teams: on the one hand there is the desire to preserve dances and traditions, on the other is the desire to create something distinctive from what everyone else is doing. At one extreme are teams that perform sets of dances collected from particular villages and seek to follow as closely as possible the original collected notation, at the other are teams that have created their own sets of figures and dances. Most teams lie between these two: performing the collected dances but take a freer line in interpreting and adapting the steps and figures or doing a mix of collected and created dances.

The basic costume is usually either all white or white shirts with black, or coloured trousers or breeches. Most sides have waistcoats and/or baldricks . Some sides wear hats decorated with ribbons. The general appearance of a Cotswold side is usually much more uniform than that of a Border Morris or Molly side. In mediaeval times May Day processions would have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary: her statue would be taken out of the parish church, crowned and decorated with flowers and then paraded around the streets. Over the centuries this has been adapted and secularised into the May Queen and other practices and associations have evolved with garlands, jacks-in-the-green and chimney sweeps. Some events, particularly the larger ones, have shifted from May Day itself to the early May Bank Holiday creating a further shift in the tradition. Whether any of these events and traditions have a direct link back to the preChristian Beltane celebrations is a matter of debate and conjecture. Although Morris dancers often appeared as part of the May Day celebrations they were never central to it. Dancing at sunrise is a comparatively modern tradition –for those who like an early rise and a pub breakfast it is an opportunity to indulge! Here is a list of some May Day morning events in order of (approximate) start time. 5:00am: Cassiobury Park, Watford, Herts – Woodside Morris Men 5:30am: Brackley Town Centre, Bucks – Brackley Morris & Northampton Morris 5:30am: The Red Lion, Penn, Bucks – Grand Union Morris Men & Whitethorn Morris 5:45am: Ampthill Park (by Catherine’s Cross), Ampthill, Beds – Redbornstoke Morris & Hemlock Morris 6:00am: Town hall, St Albans, Herts – St Albans Morris Men 6.15am: “By the pond”, Aldbury, Herts – Aldbury Morris men 6:30am: Ickwell Green, Beds – Bedford Morris, Letchworth Morris, Offley Morris Chas Leslie

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“One of the most bravely adventurous festivals” The Guardian

Billy Bragg • MIDGE URE The Wonder stuff • Kate Rusby

THE Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Tom Robinson BanD • Nizlopi • Andy Kershaw

Nell Bryden • Kris Drever & Ian Carr • Edward II

9BACH • TradArrr • Nancy Kerr & James Fagan • Lynched Chris Sherburn & Denny Bartley • Steve Tilston & Jez Lowe Rory McLeod & The Familiar Strangers • Damien O’Kane • The Elephant Sessions

Topette • Bob Fox (Warhorse Songman) • Rusty Shackle • The Young’uns • Urban Folk Quartet

Whapweasel • JosieNne Clarke & Ben Walker • Conservatoire Folk Ensemble • FARA • Roy Bailey • Tickled Pink

and much more

The Original Independent Festival Where Music Has Roots

www.towerseyfestival.com 01629 827016 Coverage on

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Tenterden folk f

2016

“Tenterden, the Jewel of the Weald”

Thursday 29 September to Sunday 2

October

Ticketed events will include fundraising concert, more concerts, barn dance, special shows, workshops, meet the guests, folk clubs, etc. Free events stage, dance displays, procession, song and music sessions, street theatre, etc. Guests so far: The Claque, Jim Mageean & Graeme Knights, Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, Mike Wilson & Damien Barber, Nick Dow, Pete Castle, Phil Hare, Scolds Bridle, Steve Turner, The Tonic with caller Keith Leech plus more to conﬁrm Thursday concert: To be announced shortly Free music stage & other showcase guests: sairs (Belgium), Earwig Corner, Endless Knot, Invicta Ukulele Club Band and many more Plus our popular regular/local guests: Adrian O, Bob Kenward, Chris Roche, Gavin & Julie Atkin, Malcolm Ward, Mark Gibson, Marsh Warblers, Morrigan, Peter Collins, Roger Resch, Spare Parts, Sue Watson, & Lizzi Stephens, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith and more to conﬁrm. Plus up to 60 Morris sides, Appalachian dancers, other folk dance display teams and street theatre. Morris sides and dance display teams:

CONTACT INFORMATION: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA Paul Cumberland T:01795 532370 Chief stewards: Kathy & Bob Drage, Dance co-ordinator:

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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Sat

12pm

BALDOCK • Thriplow Daffodil Festival

Tue

8pm

WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Morris Practice

Tue

8pm

WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Morris Practice

Sat

All Day

WICKET BROOD • Folk Weekend, Oxford

Tue

8pm

WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice

Wed

8pm

WOODSIDE • Morris Practice

Sat

All Day

WHITCHURCH • Day of Dance, Aylesbury

All Day

WOODSIDE • St George’s Tour, South Bank, London and Lords Cricket Ground

Tue

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Angler’s Retreat, Marsworth

8pm

WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice WOODSIDE • Morris Practice

Wed

8pm

Sat

All Day

BALDOCK • Rochester Sweeps Fair

Sun

BALDOCK • Letchworth and Baldock

6.30am

Mon

Wed

2pm

LETCHWORTH • Letchworth May Festival, Howard Gardens, Letchworth

5am

WOODSIDE • Cassiobury Park, Watford

12.30pm

WOODSIDE • Harrow on the Hill Trust May Day Festival

6.30am

WHITCHURCH • Coombe Hill Monument near Wendover

9am

WHITCHURCH • The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden

10.30am

WHITCHURCH • World’s End Garden Centre, Wendover

12.00pm

WHITCHURCH • May Fair, Whitchurch

2.15pm

WHITCHURCH • Pitstone Green Farm Museum, Leighton Buzzard

7.45pm

BEDFORD • Fox and Hounds, Riseley

8pm Thu

WOODSIDE • Morris Practice

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • March Hare, Dunton

Sun

All Day

LETCHWORTH • Ashwell at Home

Tue

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Five Elms, Weedon

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Sun Inn, Lemsford

Wed

7.45pm 8pm

BEDFORD • The Anchor Inn, Great Barford WOODSIDE • Falcon, Denham

Thu

8.15pm

Sat

10-4

BALDOCK • Baldock Day of Dance

10-4

LETCHWORTH • Baldock Day of Dance

8pm

BALDOCK • Robin Hood Tonwell

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Chandos Arms, Weston Turville

Tue

LETCHWORTH • Ickwell Maypole

LETCHWORTH • Lytton Arms, Knebworth

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8pm Wed

7.45pm 8pm

Thu

WICKET BROOD • The Rising Sun, Berkhamsted BEDFORD • Bell and Bear, Emberton WOODSIDE • Red Lion, Penn

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Cricketers, Weston

9.15pm

LETCHWORTH •Rising Sun, Halls Green

All Day

WICKET BROOD • Private Workshop

Sat

Sun

LETCHWORTH • Walsworth Festival, Hitchin

Tue

8pm

BALDOCK • Lordship Arms, Bennington

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Black Boy, Oving

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The White Horse, Harpenden

7.45pm

BEDFORD • Busking in Bedford, locations TBC

Wed

8pm 9.15pm Thu

WOODSIDE • King’s Head, Hunton Bridge WOODSIDE • Old Palace, Kings Langley

8.15

LETCHWORTH • Crown, Buntingford

9.15

LETCHWORTH • Sword Inn Hand, Westmill

Sat

Weekend

WHITCHURCH • Yorkshire Dales hosted by Leeds Morris Men

Tue

8pm

BALDOCK • Bushel and Strike, Ashwell

8pm

BEDFORD • The Fox, Carlton

8pm

WOODSIDE • Plough, Sleapshyde

June Wed

9.15pm Thu

Sat

Tue

Wed

Thu

Sat

w/e

BALDOCK • 20th anniversary celebration, Exeter, Devon.

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Cock, Broom

9.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Five Bells, Henlow

All Day

WHITCHURCH • Thaxted Ring Meeting

1pm

WOODSIDE • St Leonard’s Fete, Tring

8pm

BALDOCK • Stone Jug, Clophill

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Papermill, Apsley

8pm

BEDFORD • The Cricket Club Pavilion, Ickwell

8pm

WOODSIDE • Full Moon, Hawridge Common

9.15pm

WOODSIDE • Blue Ball, Asheridge, Chesham

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Plume of Feathers, Ickleford.

9.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Old George, Ickleford

All Day

LETCHWORTH • JMO Regional Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre

All Day

WHITCHURCH • JMO Regional Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre

Weekend

Unicorn Magazine: issue 134

WOODSIDE • Crooked Billet, Colney Heath

WICKET BROOD • Wimborne Minster Folk Festival

www.unicornmagazine.org

Tue

Wed

Thu

Sat

Tue

Wed

Tue

Wed

8pm

BALDOCK • The Fox, Pirton

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The White Swan, Whitchurch

8pm

BEDFORD • The Bell, O’Dell

8pm

WOODSIDE • Swan, Ley Hill

9.15pm

WOODSIDE • Hen and Chickens, Botley

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH • Crown, Shillington

9.15pm

LETCHWORTH • White Hart, Campton

All Day

WICKET BROOD • St Alban’s Day of Dance

All Day

WOODSIDE • St Alban’s Day of Dance

8pm

BALDOCK • The Lytton Arms, Knebworth

8pm

LETCHWORTH • John Bunyan, Coleman Green

8pm

WICKET BROOD • John Bunyam, Coleman Green

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Plough, Cadsden

8pm

BEDFORD • The Polhill Arms, Renhold

8pm

WOODSIDE • Case is Altered, Eastcote

9.15pm

WOODSIDE • Old Orchard, Harefield

8pm

BALDOCK • The Half Moon, Hitchin

8pm

WHITCHURCH • The Rose and Crown, Wingrave

8pm

WICKET BROOD • The Spotted Dog, Flamstead

8pm

BEDFORD • The Bedford Arms, Souldrop

8pm

WOODSIDE • Rising Sun, Berkhamstead

BALDOCK Midnight Morris – Cotswold, Border, Mixed Contact: Julie Dawson • 01462 712 818 www.baldockmidnightmorris.org.uk

LETCHWORTH Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Andrew Harper • 01462 440 683 bagman@letchworthmorris.org.uk www.letchworthmorris.org.uk

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

BEDFORD Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Ian Daye • 01582 883 009 / Phil Nicholson • 01234 772 295, www.bedfordmorrismen.org.uk

WOODSIDE Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: Nick Wilson • 07860 663 033 www.woodsidemorrismen.com

WICKET BROOD – Border Morris St Stephen Parish Centre, Station Rd, Bricket Wood AL2 3PJ Contact: Penny Simpson Giles bagman@wicketbrood.org.uk www.wicketbrood.org.uk

Unfortunately, due to space restrictions in this issue, we have had to remove our normal section showing ad sizes, prices and formats. If you need this information, please visit our website and download our Media Pack for complete details, or just drop us a line.

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 134

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The Connected Thoughts Of Long Lankin

ne of the odd things about visiting Great Aunt Dorcus is that the conversations can set off such strange lines of thought. The obituary column is one of her great delights, so that she can tick-off who she has outlasted – people who are significantly younger than her give her most pleasure. So it was that I was reading the paper to her over her afternoon bowl of breakfast cereal and mentioned that somebody or other had passed on. “Is he dead?” she replied, “I didn’t even know he was alive.” It made me think back to a visit to a sing-around at a folk club when one of the performers mentioned in his introduction that he was singing a particular song as a tribute to somebody or other who had recently died, my immediate thought was that I had no idea who he was talking about. It then made me think that we each have our own heroes, people who have` influenced the songs we sing, the music we play and the way we perform them. That in turn made me realise that my twin uncles Cain and Abel (the family has always been keen on biblical names) must have been more influential on the folk scene than I had thought. I am thinking specifically of the habit of having an instrumental “break” in a song, usually before the last verse, or every ten verses in the case of a Child ballad. This seems to be a common habit today, especially amongst those guitar players favouring blues or contemporary folk material.

angular concertina, maracas and any drugs he could get hold of) were part of the folk duo known as “The Genesis Four”. Their usual arrangement, in an attempt to avoid sibling rivalry, was to split the song between them but because of poor memories they often forgot to come in and would continue to play while they argued over who was meant to sing the next verse or looked up the words. Their instrumentals were not especially good but they were welcomed by the audience: the arguments were entertaining and it at least provided relief from their singing. Anyway, Cain and Abel also came to realise that because of the vagaries of folk club organisers, they were paid by length of the spot, not the number of songs in the set. By inserting instrumentals they could drag out the material they had and thus save themselves the bother of learning too much new stuff. They once tried to get into the Guinness Book of records with a 49min performance of Mary Hamilton (Child 173), but failed because it had been split by on-stage fights over which variant they were singing and whose turn it was to play the instrumental break. Since realising all this I have been playing a guessing game, which you can also try next time you are at a folk club or a song session. When a performer does an instrumental break try working out whether it is a vanity project to show off a new fingering skill, whether they have simply forgotten the words, or whether they have worked out that they won’t get another turn that evening and are trying to extend the turn they have.

Uncles Cain and Abel, who were doyens of the Folk revival back in the 1950’s and 60’s, probably pioneered this practice. Cain (playing ukulele, descant banjo and nose flute) and Abel (on the

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Long Lankin

Unicorn Magazine: Issue 134

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

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CALAN • LYNCHED • CARDBOARD FOX THE RHEINGANS SISTERS • KELLY OLIVER LONDON YOUTH FOLK ENSEMBLE BRING A BOTTLE AND A PICNIC! Family friendly • Craft tent Music stalls • Recycled gifts Delicious food stalls Real ale bar Children’s activities Storytelling

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