ISSUE 149
IN THIS ISSUE: l INTERVIEW WITH A STORYTELLER l JACK IN A BARREL FEATURE l FAREWELL TO ENGLISH MISCELLANY l CD REVIEWS
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JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH 2020
30 0 ev 0 co er pie yq s ua dis rte tri r but
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EDITORIAL
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr When novelist Jean-Baptiste commented on the upheavals in France in 1839, he couldn’t have imagined today’s even more turbulent world. But his quote reminds us that whatever changes, there will always be familiar elements. And that’s certainly the case for Unicorn as it’s ‘business as usual’ now that Clive has stepped down. He did a fine job during his tenure and we all wish him well. I’m sure we’ll see him at music events around the area. I have now taken over sole responsibility for the magazine and I very much appreciate all the kind messages of encouragement I have received. Thank you! Most of you already know me as Unicorn’s Co-Editor for the past few years, and as I have a background in marketing and publishing (and a lifelong love of all things folk), I’m well placed to keep the magazine going from strength to strength.
CONTENTS
You’ll find all the usual contents and some interesting features in this issue. In response to reader feedback, this edition does look a bit different and I hope you agree that it’s easier to read - let me know what you think. And please keep your news, adverts, gig reviews, tunes and other items flowing in - I want Unicorn to do everything it can to support folk music and dance in our area by including interviews, features and other news as well as promoting all the live events and festivals. Do come and say hello if you see me at a gig or festival, and I’d love to have your suggestions for anything you’d like me to include in future issues. Thank you for your continued support of Unicorn. Sandra
Editorial
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Feature: English Miscellany
14
Contents
3
Strumming & Dreaming
15
Feature: Kimpton Folk Festival
4
Feature: Storytelling
Chatterbox
7
Diary
Round the Clubs
7
Feature: Folk Events in St Albans
26
Feature: Jack in a Barrel
30
Sessions
8-9
Shall We Dance?
12-13
EDITOR
SANDRA LAWES
07939 541927 sandra@sandralawes.com unicornmagazine@hotmail.co.uk
CONTACT ADDRESS: 6 Holly Farm Close, Caddington, Luton, Beds LU1 4ET
20-23
CD Reviews
34-35, 37-38, 42
I take great care to ensure accuracy in Unicorn Magazine. However, I accept no responsibility for any misprints or mistakes that appear. The views and opinions expressed in submitted articles and advertisements are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Unicorn Magazine editor. I assume that any letters sent to the magazine are intended for publication unless otherwise stated. I reserve the right to edit any material sent to the magazine for style, content or length. Please note that I cannot print material previously published in other publications without express written permission from that publisher. I reserve the right not to publish elements of free listings information if they appear elsewhere in the magazine or where I have space restrictions. ‘If you don’t want to keep your copy of Unicorn Magazine forever, please recycle it responsibly.’
w w w. u n i c o r n m a g a z i n e . o r g © Unicorn Magazine 2019 and 2020
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BEHIND THE SCENES OF KIMPTON FOLK FESTIVAL Kimpton Folk Festival organisers will do almost anything to ensure that next year’s festival – on Saturday, July 4 - is an outstanding success. A proposal to ritually sacrifice its founding chairman, to ensure fair weather, was only narrowly defeated at a recent committee meeting. Preparations have begun with a comprehensive review of what went well, and what less well, at the 2019 festival. Plenty of things went very well. Record numbers of visitors flocked to the village to enjoy a spectacular range of acts on three stages, as well as the usual mix of workshops, sessions, buskers, dancing, storytelling and craft demonstrations. Highlights included an evening concert in the village church starring Kimpton Folk Festival’s patrons Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, joined by Jess and Richard Arrowsmith to perform as the Melrose Quartet. At the other end of the village, in the Memorial Hall, the wild foot-stomping gypsy rhythms of Sheelanagig had the entire audience up on its feet dancing; in the case of one festival trustee, so enthusiastically that she ended the night in hospital with a torn Achilles tendon. Definitely a health and safety lesson learned there. The festival has won many accolades over the years for the extraordinary standard of artists on show, and the sheer range of
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entertainment on offer across the village. But some visitors have also asked if it’s possible to stagger concerts so that ticketholders can get to see all the performers. So that’s exactly what we’re doing in 2020. Afternoon and all-day ticket holders won’t have to miss a single minute of the main concerts, but will still have the choice to drop in on the free music and dance events on the village green, or attend sessions or workshops. And three big headline acts are already confirmed; Scottish fiddle, piano and close harmony quartet Fara, Kimpton Folk Festival favourites, Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar and the hugely popular husband and wife duo Megson. Fara’s stunning blend of traditional and self-penned tunes and songs have won them international acclaim and a showcase at the Royal Albert Hall at the Radio 2 Folk Awards. Megson are Stu and Debbie Hanna, who delight audiences with their moving, bitter-sweet and often hilarious songs and Greg and Ciaran are simply one of the most sought after acts on the folk scene. More acts will be announced soon, but tickets and details are already available at www.kimptonfolk.uk
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Brian King
Jan.8th Jan.15th Jan.22nd Jan.29th
Open Stage / Singaround Lizzy Hardingham plus floor spots Open Stage / Singaround featuring Sarah Stock Green Mathews plus floor spots
Feb.5th Feb.12th Feb.19th Feb.26th
Open Stage / Singaround Said the Maiden plus floor spots Open Stage / Singaround Alden, Patterson & Dashwood plus floor spots
Mar.4th Mar.11th Mar.25th
Open Stage/ Singaround Luke Daniels plus floor spots Fred’s House plus floor spots
ALL OTHER THURSDAYS ARE OPEN STAGE NIGHTS
WEDNESDAYS 8pm – 10.45pm
Bedfordshire’s Premier Home Brew and Wine Making Specialists •
Comprehensive range of bitters
•
Large choice of wines
•
Wide selection of lagers
•
Excellent prices
•
Free advice
HOME BREW HELPLINE
01234 353856
contactus@thehappybrewer.com www.thehappybrewer.com Open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm Closed Monday except Bank Holidays
Roxton Garden Centre
@ The Black Cat Roundabout Bedford Road, Roxton, MK44 3DY
NCI SOCIAL CLUB Holland St, Cambridge.CB4 3DL www.blackfenfolkclub.com 5,12 19 26 2 9 16 23 1,8 15 22 29 5,12 19
JANUARY OPEN STAGE SPECIAL OPEN STAGE * OPEN STAGE FEBRUARY Geoff Lakeman & Rob Murch OPEN STAGE VALENTINE SONG COMPETITION Counters Creek MARCH OPEN STAGE Alistair Anderson & Ian A Anderson OPEN STAGE SPECIAL OPEN STAGE * APRIL OPEN STAGE Alden & Patterson
Admission
£4 Open Stages £8 Guest nights
A friendly, welcoming and supportive hub for folk and roots music in Cambridge. Every Sunday at 7.30pm. Floor spots available every evening * Check website for details
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hobad qtr vt 2019_Layout 1 20/06/2019 15:47 Page 1
since 1976
BRITAIN’S FOLK & ACOUSTIC SPECIALISTS
An Aladdin’s cave of treasures! Come and try the instruments for yourself. visit our shops and festival stalls!
BIRMINGHAM | BRIGHTON | BRISTOL CANTERBURY | EDINBURGH (SCAYLES)| LEEDS |LONDON MANCHESTER | SOUTHAMPTON | RED WING MN, USA
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Order online or call +44(0)333 800 9500 www.hobgoblin.com www.unicornmagazine.org
CHATTERBOX
We are very sorry to tell you of the recent death of Chris Bashford who ran the wonderful Moggerhanger sessions for several years. He was an enthusiastic and talented musician and a great asset to folk music in this area. He will be sadly missed but his widow Dorothy has agreed to continue to work with the Moggerhanger Village Hall Committee to continue the sessions on the first Wednesday of each month. A reminder that the closing date for New Roots is Friday 31 January 2020. This annual event which is for young performers of all styles of traditional or contemporary folk, roots or world music, whether they play traditional material or write their own. Categories are under 18 and 18-24. See www.new-roots.org.uk for more information.
After 44 years, English Miscellany has decided to close. You will find full details in their article on page 14. They have various dance props and other equipment that they are looking to re-home including: • • • • • • • •
books of dances Flamborough swords other swords short and long sticks books of jigs and dances clog CDs miscellaneous catering equipment Morris bells of various sizes
Please enquire through info@englishmiscellany.com before the end of January 2020 – be quick, because it’s first come, first served!
ROUND THE CLUBS There are big changes afoot at Hitchin Folk Club. The club has run weekly for the past 55 years, nearly all of them at The Sun Hotel. But due to ongoing difficulties at the venue over the past year, Maureen and Keiron Jones have now decided to run monthly instead of weekly from January 2020. Over the past year there have been constant changes of staff at The Sun, never enough staff, and double booking the ballroom twice on a Sunday evening! They have had many wonderful years at the hotel, but the situation has become untenable and so they have decided that a move has become necessary.
The new Pavilion Function Suite at Hitchin Cricket Club (SG5 2JA) will be the club’s new home and, with a lift and its own large car park, access will be available for everyone. To comply with NHDC regulations the gigs will be starting at the earlier time of 7.30pm and ending at 10.15pm. This news has been greeted with enthusiasm by the club’s
many members and supporters who have asked on numerous occasions in the past if the concerts could start and finish earlier – especially by those who have to go to work on Monday mornings! Here’s to the beginning of a new phase of Hitchin Folk Club and Unicorn wishes them great success and the very best of luck! (See their advert on page 9). Waltham Abbey Folk Club is now meeting in a new venue – upstairs at the Sultan PH in Sewardstone Road in a private room which is much more suitable for their singarounds and guests. Do pop along and see for yourselves. And finally, the Kings Arms pub across the road from the Ely Folk Club has closed so visitors to the club should bring their own drinks and glasses or buy bottles/cans from the nearby convenience stores to guard against dehydration.
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SESSIONS
We would strongly advise checking with the venue/organiser before attending any of the below since unfortunately we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of the information.
SUNDAY LUNCHTIMES
l HEMEL HEMPSTEAD • Leverstock Green Cricket Club,
l STONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar, High St
(Weekly, Lunchtimes): Jane, 01908 566407
SUNDAY EVENINGS
l MILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com
(Weekly) l MILTON KEYNES • New Bradwell Sports Club, New
Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 l ST ALBANS • Great Northern, 172 London Road,
AL1 1PQ 6pm Music but singers welcome. (Monthly fourth or fifth Sundays of the month. 26 January, 23 February and 22 March. Please see website or ring 01727 852111 for variations.) l LEIGHTON BUZZARD • The Swan, Northall (1st): Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 l MARSWORTH • Red Lion, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU (2nd): New Moon Morris and Friends slow and steady folk tune session for beginners and improvers. Louise, 07791 651199 l MARSWORTH • Red Lion, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU (3rd) 8.00 – 11.00pm. New Moon Morris and Friends open session. Squire.newmoon@gmail.com l MARSWORTH • Red Lion, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU (1st) 7.00 pm. Folk session. Jon Marks, jonmarks77@yahoo.co.uk
MONDAY EVENINGS
l ASHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler,
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01462 743091 CHATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 SOHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 STEVENAGE • The Marquis of Lorne (upstairs) (2nd): Gary Moyle, 07960 953778 TOTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (8.30pm, weekly): Contact 01582 661294 (pub)
TUESDAY EVENINGS
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WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
l PEGSDON • Live and Let Live, Pegsdon Way, Pegsdon,
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l ABINGTON PIGOTTS • Village Hall, SG8 0SH
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(8-10.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 AMPTHILL • The Albion, Dunstable Street (2nd): 8pm Rod Ward, 01763 852 377 DUNSTABLE • Globe, Winfield St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300 DUNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub) GT WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280
24 Bedmond Road, HP3 8LJ (1st Bluegrass and oldtime songs and tunes): Chris Lawrence 01442 215826 HISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553 MARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868 RICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (2nd): Michael, 01923 770425 TEWIN • Rose & Crown. (3rd evenings). Acoustic, vocal, instrumental. Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 TRING • 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 WOOTTON (Beds) •The Cock MK43 9JT (8pm, broad acoustic & folk): Mike Carter Jones, 01234 768555 Pub (Karen) 01234 930034
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Hexton, Hitchin SG5 3JX (8.30pm, fortnightly first session 8 January 2020): Ann, 01582 560815 BENINGTON (Stevenage) • The Bell (1st): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 CAMBRIDGE • Six Bells, 11 Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2nd, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 CHINNOR • Chinnor Methodist Church, 62 Station Road, OX39 4PZ (2.00pm to 4.00pm, 2nd, slow and steady but fun): Liz 01844 351565 ELY • Town Folk, The Town House PH, Market St, Ely. (2nd and last): Liam, 01353 659614 or 07468 240798 debrunliam@outlook.com HITCHIN • The Bucks Head, Stevenage Road, Little Wymondley, Hitchin, SG4 7HY (9.00 -11.00pm, 1st, Ramrugge Clog Morris): Kerry 07877 930201 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 (7.00pm for 8.00pm, 1st): Dorothy Bashford, 01767 640242 RADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Cobden Hill, WD7 7JR (8pm, 2nd): Nick, 020 8207 3057 ST ALBANS • The Robin Hood, Victoria Street, AL1 3TG (8.30pm, weekly): Music but singers welcome. No session December 25, afternoon session (2pm) January 1. Alison Macfarlane 01727 852111 ST ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (from 8.30pm, weekly, traditional Irish instrumental): Rick, 01727 852976 TEBWORTH • Queens Head, LU7 9QB (4th): Free food. Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220
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l TOWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8, 3rd): Andrew
Leleux, 01296 615160
HITCHIN FOLK CLUB
l WELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club,
THE CRICKET PAVILION LUCAS LANE HITCHIN HERTS SG5 2JA
AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758
THURSDAY EVENINGS
l HERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd):
Keith Acheson, 07979 841079 l KIMPTON • The Boot (2nd & 4th): Doug,
07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com
SUNDAYS 7.30 – 10.15pm
l LUTON • Black Horse, 23 Hastings Street,
LU1 5BE (weekly from 9.00ish) Acoustic music not specifically folk music: Nigel Bailey, 07788 431470 l TOWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322 l WOBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660
FRIDAY EVENINGS
l AYLESBURY • Queens Park Arts Centre (1st, 3rd and
5th): Amanda Diamond, 01296 424332 l WELWYN • Brocket Arms (8.00pm, 3rd) Doug,
07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com Organisers please note: we will continue to print all details as shown unless you tell us otherwise. Thank you.
Advert-Unicorn Jan 2020:Layout 2
8/11/19
NEW VENUE!
After nearly 40 years at The Sun we decided that a move was necessary. Hitchin Cricket Club have welcomed us, with open arms, to the function suite in their new Pavilion. There is a lift, so we can now welcome wheelchair users and the bar has clubhouse prices! To comply with NHDC regulations we will be running earlier, starting at 7.30pm and ending 10.15pm. Doors 6.30pm. 14:07 atPage 1
JANUARY 5th
DANCE THE MORRIS!
EMILY SLADE and ELLIOTT MORRIS
Friendly local Cotswold group welcomes new men... ...experienced or not, as dancers or musicians.
FEBRUARY 16th ALY BAIN & PHIL CUNNINGHAM
We practise at Radwell Village Hall
APRIL 19th
JANUARY 19th
PHIL BEER plus KIRSTY MERRYN STEVE KNIGHTLEY
MARCH 22th
(nr Baldock) SG7 5EW every Thursday from 8-10 pm.
RICHARD DIGANCE
All men welcome . . . . . . come & have a go!
DAPHNE’S FLIGHT
For more information see www.letchworthmorris.org.uk or call Andrew for a chat on
01462 440683
- LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN -
MAY 24th
If you would like a full copy of the programme, send us an email and we will put you on our emailshot list. For further details phone Maureen Jones on Hitchin (01462) 812391 goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk
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Dunton Wassail
Brafront Guizers
Bedford Morris Men
Saturday 4th January 2020 6.30pm, Church Farm, Dunton
March Hare Public House
www.duntonfolk.co.uk
St Albans Folk Festival, June 26-28, 2020 Saturday June 27 Day of Dance in the City Centre Free performances, sessions and singarounds
Festival concert at the Abbey Theatre, 8pm featuring
Fay Hield with
Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron
For further details and information about June 26 and 28, see web site
St Michael’s Street folk evening, Wednesday July 1 Dancing in the street and music everywhere
info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk www.stalbansfolkatthefestival.org.uk Enquiries 01727 852111 Concert tickets: see web site
Folk at the Maltings, St Albans
Jan 3 The Moorcrofters and Lizzy Hardingham Jan 31 Odette Michell plus Chris Fox Mar 6 Leyla Burrows and Paul Scourfield 8pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Tickets £12, Student concessions £11. Under 18 £7.50 from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo 0844 870 0887, in person at St Albans Central Library or on the door.
www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk
If you are under 25 and play traditionally based music, this is for you. There are two categories, under 18 and 18-24. The judges will give helpful advice and award performance opportunities.
Closing date January 31 To enter, send completed application form and 15 minutes of your music to info@new-roots.org.uk
See: www.new-roots.org.uk.
Final Sunday April 26
Trestle Arts Base, St Albans
SHALL WE DANCE? JANUARY
FEBRUARY
Wednesday 1
Saturday
1
Monday
3 • Club night • SFDC
• Dance with The Forest Band and caller Gillian West • WFDC
1
• Club closed • LFDC
Friday
3
• Dance with the Friday Folk Band and caller Colin Hume • FF
Saturday
4
• New Year Dance Val and Ian McFarlane with Pete & Sue Hall 7.00 - 10.30pm • CFA
Monday
6
• Club night • SFDC
Wednesday 5 • Dance with club callers • LFDC
Wednesday 8
• Dance with club callers • LFDC
Thursday
9
• Club night • NFDC
9
• Club night country dancing • RB
Friday
10 • Dance with caller Thomas Bending • FF
Saturday
11 • Dance with The Forest Band and caller Andrea Stodell • WFDC 11 • Dance with English Contra Band and caller Adam Hughes 8.00pm • LBD
Monday
13 • Club night • SFDC
Wednesday 15 • Dance with guest caller Marlene HarrisonJones • LFDC Thursday 16 • Club night country dancing • RB
Friday Monday
Thursday
6 • Club night country dancing • RB 6 • Public dance with David & Kathryn Wright & Folkus Pocus 7.45pm • NFDC
Friday
7
Saturday
8 • Club night • NFDC
• Dance with the Friday Folk Band and caller Barrie Bullimore • FF
8 • Dance with The Forest Band and caller Steve Russell • WFDC 8 • Dance with Fiddlechicks and caller Andrew Swain 8.00pm • LBD Monday
10 • Club night • SFDC
Wednesday 12 • Dance with club callers • LFDC Thursday
13 • Club night country dancing • RB 13 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
14 • Ceilidh: with the Bristol Ceilidh Quartet and caller Jethro Anderson • UC 14 • Dance with caller Dave Kerridge • FF
16 • Club night • NFDC
Monday
17 • Dance with Spring Greens and callers David & Rebecca Capron • FF 20 • Club night • SFDC
Wednesday 19 • Dance with guest caller Mike Ruff • LFDC Thursday
Wednesday 22 • Dance with club callers • LFDC Thursday
• Spring Dance with The Portland Duo and caller Lynne Render 7.30 - 11.00pm • SFDC1
23 • Club night country dancing • RB 23 • Club night • NFDC
17 • Club night • SFDC
20 • Club night country dancing • RB 20 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
21 • Dance with Mollie & Ali and caller Mike Bennett • FF
Sunday
23 • Family Dance Ted Morse with Neville Gardner & Friends 2.30 - 5.30pm • CFAV
Monday
24 • Club night • SFDC
Friday
24 • Dance with caller Suzanne Farmer • FF
Saturday
25 • Dance with Finality Jack and Zinguaresque and callers Bubbles and John Green 7.30pm • NC
Wednesday 26 • Dance with club callers • LFDC
27 • Club night • SFDC
Thursday
27 • Club night country dancing • RB
30 • Club night country dancing • RB
Friday
28 • Dance with caller Bob Lilley • FF
30 • Club night • NFDC
Saturday
29 • Dance with Lebedek and caller Simon Loake 7.30pm • NC
Monday
27 • Club night • NFDC
Wednesday 29 • Dance with club callers • LFDC Thursday
Friday
12
31 • Dance with club callers • FF
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ORGANISERS AND VENUES
MARCH Monday
BFD
2 • Club night • SFDC
Wednesday 4 • Dance with club callers • LFDC Thursday
5 • Club night country dancing • RB 5 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
6 • Dance with callers Andrew King and Alain Williams • FF
Monday
9 • Club night • SFDC
Bedford Folk Dance Club
St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Lane, Goldington, Bedford MK41 0HL • Ron Law 01234 825574 www.bedfordfolkdanceclub.com
CFA
Chiltern Folk Association
Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham HP6 5AH • Joyce Stace 01494 727512 secretary@chilternfolk.org.uk
CFAV Chiltern Folk Association Amersham Common Village Hall, 24 White Lion Road, Amersham, HP7 9JD • Joyce Stace 01494 727512 secretary@chilternfolk.org.uk
FF
Friday Folk
Wednesday 11 • Dance with club callers • LFDC
Verulam School Rear Entrance, Jennings Road, St Albans, AL1 4PA • Bob Barrett 01727 856508 www.fridayfolk.org.uk
Thursday
LBD
12 • Club night country dancing • RB 12 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
13 • Ceilidh: with King Kontra and caller Geoff Cubitt • UC 13 • Dance with the Friday Folk Band and caller Wendy Harrup • FF
Saturday
Monday
14 • Dance with English Contra Band and caller Mark Elvins 8.00pm • LBD
LFDC Linsleighders Folk Dance Group The Forster Institute, Waterloo Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, Beds, LU7 2NR • Elizabeth Corser Secretary 01525 378010 elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com
NC
Northampton Ceilidhs
Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Abington, Northampton, NN1 5LL • John and Ruth Green, 01933 397767 or 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk
NFDC Northampton Folk Dance Club
14 • Dance to Recorded Music and caller Keith Wright • WFDC
Christchurch Hall, 3 Christchurch Road, Abington, Northampton, NN1 5LL • Linda Pain, Secretary, 01604 711342 www.northamptonfdc.wordpress.com
16 • Club night • SFDC
The Friends’ Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage, Herts SG1 1UP. • Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727 239 roundabouters@live.co.uk www.roundabouters.org.uk
Wednesday 18 • Dance with guest caller Wendy Harrup • LFDC Thursday
The London Barn Dance Company
Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY • Andrew Findlay 01628 782565 https://www.barndance.org/
19 • Club night country dancing • RB 19 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
20 • Dance with caller Andrea Stodell • FF
Monday
23 • Club night • SFDC
RB
Roundabouters Country Dance Club.
SFDC Staplers Folk Dance Club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9JP • Gill Goodman, 01462 456811, gillagoodman@hotmail.co.uk www.staplers.org.uk
SFDC1 Staplers Folk Dance Club
Wednesday 25 • Dance with club callers • LFDC
St Ippolyts Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9RB • Gill Goodman, 01462 456811, gillagoodman@hotmail.co.uk www.staplers.org.uk
Thursday
UC
26 • Club night country dancing • RB 26 • Club night • NFDC
Friday
27 • Dance with The 20s and caller Karen Sweeney • FF
Saturday
28 • Dance with live band and caller TBC 7.30pm • NC 30 • Club night • SFDC
Monday
Unicorn Ceilidhs
St Mary’s Hall, Church Street, Baldock, Herts, SG7 5AE • Alan Creamer, 07946 439095 alan@creamer.me.uk www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk
WFDC Winchmore Folk Dance Club Trinity Church Hall, Church Street/Gentleman’s Row, Enfield, EN2 6AN • Loretta Marigold, loretta@themarigolds.co.uk or Gillian West on 0208 360 6226
WFDC2
Winchmore Folk Dance Club
The Village Hall, St Peter’s Church, Vera Avenue, Grange Park, London N21 1RJ • Loretta Marigold, loretta@themarigolds.co.uk or Gillian West 0208 360 6226
Copy Deadline for Issue 150 is 14th February 2020 Don’t forget to subscribe to both our blog and our mailing list for revised gig dates, news & updates between issues... www.unicornmagazine.org
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ENGLISH MISCELLANY
HANGS UP ITS CLOGS, BELLS, GARLANDS AND STICKS! Over the years we have been fortunate to benefit from the personal contribution of around 160 creative, artistic, practical and determined members with a remarkable level of collective skill – which was applied to all aspects of the club’s activities from performance repertoire and costume to organising the hosting and entertainment for our overseas visitors. Sadly, without enough new blood to offset the ravages of time and natural wear and tear, English Miscellany has decided to close. After forty-four happy, creative and eventful years performing various styles of traditional English folk dance - both within the UK and abroad, English Miscellany has made many friends and developed strong social links which I’m sure will continue. The song section of English Miscellany will continue as “Miscellany Folk Singers” and the mummers will form “The Common Mummers”. The display of traditional English dance, vigorously to show off its rich characteristics, requires a lot of energy and can be demanding. We look forward to newer, younger folk taking the same pleasure in performing as we have done. As a display group, English Miscellany’s intention has always been to show traditional English dance to the widest audience – an aim which enabled us to make friends in the UK, across Europe and in the USA. Making new friends and the joy of sharing cultures have always been high on our list of priorities. Taking part in festivals, dancing at summer fairs, seasonal outings and also performing at civic and corporate events, gave us the broadest stage for what we all loved doing.
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EM’s contribution to the promotion of English dance and song was supported by the weekly rehearsal of Cotswold & Northwest Morris, stepclog and, at our core, country dance. At many events, we were the only group to display this social dance form. Later, the club added song and mumming sections, but country dance always remained central to our performances. In practice, many members were active within two or more sections of the club, which gave great flexibility (and mid-show costume changes!) to our displays. There is no doubt that this also contributed to the club’s longevity. As English Miscellany closes, its membership will I’m sure remain active at local folk events and within other dance groups – continuing to enjoy performing traditional folk art. So, not such a sad turn of events for us as we all celebrate our collective achievement. Also, as a part of our legacy, it would be fitting for such of our equipment as may be useful, to enter the service of other clubs who may need it. Main items include clog boards, wooden (Flamborough) swords, metal (thatching needle) swords and some PA equipment. Please enquire through info@englishmiscellany.com before the end of January 2020.
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By Mike Heylin
STRUMMING & DREAMING MAKING MUSIC IS ITS OWN REWARD - AFTER ALL, IT HAS TO BE! I love doing my radio show. And why shouldn’t I? After all, I get to play the music I like, and for most shows I have talented guests who come into the studio to play their music and chat about the passion we share. It’s something I would do even if I hadn’t made the commitment to do it, as it’s always immensely pleasurable. And I know my colleagues at Cambridge 105 Radio feel the same way. Of course, it does have its perks, such as receiving great music, namely the CDs given to me by my fellow musicians when I’m out and about locally, the packages in the post and emails with mp3s and download links. As I say, I would do it anyway, but if I do, it certainly isn’t to get rich. The same also applies to most of the musicians I know, who play their music because they’re passionate about it, not because it’s in any way lucrative. Unless you happen to be Ed Sheeran, sadly there isn’t much money to be made from folk music these days. I’m sure most readers will have been amused by that old saying: “A musician is someone who loads £5,000 worth of gear into
a £500 car to drive 100 miles to a £50 gig”. But many a true word is spoken in jest; if it were just about making money then most of us would have given up long ago. So why do we do it? For me it’s for the pleasure of seeing a song I’ve written come to life through the contributions of the other members of my band, Red Velvet, through the creativity of the musicians and the emotion and expression of Deirdre, our singer and my musical partner. Then to take it out into the world at gigs, to receive some applause and - hopefully - nice comments. But maybe most of all, it’s hearing that song played on a radio station, perhaps in another country or continent, by another radio presenter not unlike myself. In short, to misquote Frank Zappa: “We’re not only in it for the money”. Les Ray les@cambridge105.co.uk http://cambridge105.co.uk/shows/strummers-and-dreamers/ https://www.mixcloud.com/StrummersandDreamers/
The Home of Cambridge Music Strummers & Dreamers
Live – Fortnightly on Mondays at 7pm Catchup – cambridge105.co.uk/strummers
Online | On Digital | On FMw w w . u n i c o r n m a g a z i n e . o r g
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THE HEART OF STORYTELLING SANDRA LAWES INTERVIEWS PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER URSULA HOLDEN-GILL Having attended one of Ursula’s brilliant workshops at Costa del Folk, Portugal, I was keen to learn more about storytelling and its links with folk music.
HOW DID YOU START STORYTELLING?
I’m a classically trained singer and actor (you may have seen me as Alice Dingle in Emmerdale, Carol in Teachers, or in other stage/TV shows) then through various twists and turns in my life, including moving to Yorkshire and joining a ladies’ Morris side, I met Christine McMahon – an internationally renowned storyteller. Under her influence I began storytelling, performing in theatres, festivals and libraries and doing therapeutic work in prisons and hospitals - like the children’s oncology unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
WHERE ARE YOU BASED? My home and office are in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, where I’m assisted by my Patterdale Terrier. I travel all over the UK, last year I was in China, this year Denmark and next year I’ve got bookings in Peru.
to be your real self. I break up my stories with music to make the material more accessible - I sing (very well), dance clogs (mediocre) and play the ukulele and shruti box (badly but with great enthusiasm!). I was particularly inspired by Alan Bennett and Victoria Wood who relished the power of the authentic spoken word. Like songwriters, I get inspiration from everyday issues and personal experience – underdogs, the environmental crisis, animal welfare, local folk tales, bullying, sexuality and unsung heroes.
HOW CAN FOLK MUSICIANS USE STORIES EFFECTIVELY? Folk songs and storytelling have the same roots, and people remember stories better than plain facts. So, by learning how to tell stories with
AREN’T STORIES JUST FOR CHILDREN? I love working with children, but storytelling is a very powerful ancient art that moves people to emotion and action. Recently it’s had a big renaissance and storytelling clubs for adults are springing up everywhere.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY?
The essence of good storytelling is ‘heart’ – to believe passionately in what you are relating and 16
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messages, songwriters and performers can enhance their own performance. They can use storytelling to build rapport with their audiences and fill those awkward moments when tuning or setting up. This comes with experience, but a musician can accelerate the process by attending storytelling workshops or clubs. I run a series of workshops called “Stories and How to Tell Them” for musicians, therapists, educators and even public speakers, as well as one to one sessions. With my partner Keith Donnelly, I also run a workshop called “Mind the Gap” on the songs between the stories and the stories between the songs. You can find details on the Education tab of my website. I also recommend world famous Drutsyla Shonaleigh’s workshops and courses – she is a wonderful storyteller in the Jewish tradition who learned her craft from her grandmother. Where can people see you in action? Two definite dates are the Festival at the Edge in Shropshire 17 – 19 July – the biggest storytelling festival in the UK with great music - and on 26 September at Bamford Village Institute, Bamford, Hope Valley, Derbyshire, S33 0DY there’s a unique collaboration with singer/songwriter Fay Hield and my version of “Midsummer Night’s Dream”. You can find out more about Ursula at www.ursulaholdengill.com email her at ursulaholdengill@gmail.com and on YouTube. Her workshops would be a real asset to any folk club or festival.
2020 Jan Fri 3 PERFORMERS’ NIGHT Fri 17 JACK RUTTER www.jackruttermusic.com w
Feb Fri 7 PERFORMERS’ NIGHT Fri 21 BEN WALKER and T
a
THOM ASHWORTH
a
www.benwalkermusic.com
Mar Fri 6
PERFORMERS’ NIGHT
Fri 20
CRAIG JOINER
h
a
h
http://craigjoinermusic.com
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at The Pump House, Local Board Road, Watford WD17 2JP
Folk, Roots and Acoustic Music at its best Fridays 8pm –11 pm 3rd January
CLOSED (Happy New Year everyone !)
10th January 17th January 24th January
Singaround SAID THE MAIDEN Singaround
£5 £12 £5
31st January
CHRIS FLEGG
£12
7th February
Singaround
£5
14th February
WINTER WILSON
£12
21 February
Singaround
£5
28th February
Spotlight Singaround
st
-
with
ELYE CUTHBERTSON & THEO DORMER
£5
6 March
Singaround
£5
13 March
SONGWRITERS CIRCLE
th
th
with
£5
LINDA BIRMINGHAM, TIM BROOKS &
CHRIS FLEGG
20
th
March
27th March
Singaround
£5
NA-MARA
£10
Please Note: Entry is by suggested minimum donation shown above
Visit us at: watfordfolkclub.co.uk Email: WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com Find us on Facebook: Watford Folk Club
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The Old Bull Inn 56 High St (car park Market Hill) Royston SG8 9AW 7:30 for 8pm till 11pm
www.roystonfolk.org Concert Nights
Last Friday of EVERY Month Nights Friday 31st January 2020 £13 (£11 in advance) £2 under 25s Daria Kulesh Trio “bold, exotic, impressive” With her striking voice and strong Russian heritage, a rising star and a unique character on the UK folk scene with Katrina Davies and Tristan Sueme
With support by Maisie Blades Friday 28th February 2020
£13 (£11 in advance) £2 under 25s Treble Headliner .. with Wickenwood Dusky Sunday and … I Claudia Three of our favourite showcase performers with 45 min each to wow and indulge us.
Friday 27th March 2020
£13 (£11 in advance) £2 under 25s Thursdays Band Mark Gamon, Nick Blishen, Matt Kelly and Lucinda Fudge … With their new album ‘Chittagong Tattoo’ and other favourites
With support by Bella Chipperfield
Showcase Nights
Second Friday of EVERY Month Nights Friday 10th January 2020
Luke James Williams Free Agents Kelvin Davies Lee Russell Pembroke Tennison (pic)
Friday 14th February 2020
The Medlars (pic) Vic Leonard Ross Burkitt John Meed Delta Ladies
Friday 13th March 2020
The Long Nights (band) (pic) Paul Chinnock and Dan Ketteridge Steve Warner Kevin Hunt
Showcases hosted by Mark Gamon or Brian Harvey entry is £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s Just arrive and pay on the door MARK IS NOW BOOKING SHOWCASE SPOTS FOR 2020
CONCERT NIGHT TICKETS FROM THE OLD BULL OR ON THE DOOR (or reserve 01763260556)
“For FOLK Music read … GREAT Music” www.unicornmagazine.org
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UNICORN DIARY Wednesday 1 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club closed Thursday 2 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • New Year Singaround Friday 3 FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • The Moorcrofters, Lizzy Hardingham 3 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Colin Hume and the Friday Folk Band 3 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open Stage with Jo Ash Trio 3 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Club closed Sunday 5 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage 5 HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Emily Slade and Elliott Morris 7.30pm at Hitchin Cricket Club Monday 6 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 6 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 6 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 6 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 7 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Suntrap Wednesday 8 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Karen Johnson & Tony Clark 8 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 8 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage/Singaround 8 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm New members especially welcome Thursday 9 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 9 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers’ Night 9 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 9 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 10 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Ben Smith and Jimmy Brewer; Wes Finch 10 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Thomas Bending 10 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase featuring Luke James Williams, Free Agents, Kelvin Davies, Lee Russell & Pembroke Tennison 10 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround Sunday 12 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Monday 13 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers featuring Daughters of Tradition 19.45 for 20.00 13 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 13 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 13 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 14 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Wednesday 15 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Rosewood plus support and floor spots 7.30 - 8.00pm Free entry (donations welcome) 15 ELY FOLK CLUB • Bob Fox 15 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • The Fog 15 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Guest caller Marlene Harrison-Jones 15 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Lizzy Hardingham plus floor spots 15 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm New members especially welcome Thursday 16 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 16 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singaround 16 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 16 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 17 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Nick Barraclough and All the Federales 17 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with callers David and Rebecca Capron and Spring Greens 17 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Said the Maiden Sunday 19 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Special ‘Curated’ Open Stage 19 HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Phil Beer plus Kirsty Merryn 7.30pm at Hitchin Cricket Club Monday 20 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Craig Joiner 19.45 for 20.00 20 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 20 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00
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JANUARY 2020
20 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Guests Rosewicke Tuesday 21 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Elizabeth & Jameson Wednesday 22 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Bernard MacGowan 22 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 22 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage featuring Sarah Stock 22 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm New members especially welcome Thursday 23 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 23 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers’ Night 23 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 23 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 24 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Showcase with Sally Ironmonger; Pembroke Tennyson; Dom Prag 24 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Suzanne Farmer 24 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround Saturday 25 NORTHAMPTON CEILIDHS • Ceilidh with Finality Jack & Zinguaresque and callers Bubbles and John Green.7.30pm Sunday 26 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Monday 27 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 27 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 27 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 27 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 28 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room Wednesday 29 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Odette Michell plus floor spots 7.30 - 8.00pm Free entry (donations welcome) 29 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 29 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Green Mathews plus floor spots 29 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm New members especially welcome Thursday 30 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 30 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Winter Singaround 30 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 30 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 31 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Liz Simcock; Winter Wilson 31 FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Odette Michell plus Chris Fox 31 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller club callers 31 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert featuring Daria Kulesh Trio with support by Maisie Blades 31 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Chris Flegg
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UNICORN DIARY Saturday
1 STAPLERS SPRING DANCE • with Lynne Render and The Portland Duo. St Ippolyts Parish Hall 7.30 - 11.00pm Sunday 2 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Geoff Lakeman and Rob Murch Monday 3 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers featuring Hemley Hillbillies 19.45 for 20.00 3 HERGA at the Castle • Guest night Matt Quinn and Owen Woods 3 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 3 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 4 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Camus Wednesday 5 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 5 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage/Singaround 5 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 6 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 6 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers' Night 6 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 6 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 7 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open Stage with Andy Wall 7 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Barrie Bullimore and the Friday Folk Band 7 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround 7 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Annual Woodside Ale by invitation. Please contact for details Saturday 8 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with David & Kathryn Wright & Folkus Pocus 7.45pm Sunday 9 ABBOTS LANGLEY WINTER ACOUSTIC CONCERTS • Belshazzar's Feast. 3.00pm £12 includes tea/coffee and cake 9 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Monday 10 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 10 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 10 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 10 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 11 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Terence Blacker Wednesday 12 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Songwriters Circle including Les Ray and Deirdre Murphy from Red Velvet 7.30 - 8.00pm Free entry 13 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround - (donations welcome) 12 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner 12 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Said the Maiden plus floor spots 12 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 12 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 13 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 13 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Local Singers and Musicians 13 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 13 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 14 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Showcase with Lester LloydReason; Kevin Hunt 14 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Dave Kerridge 14 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase featuring The Medlars, Vic Leonard, Ross Burkitt, John Meed & Delta Ladies 14 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Winter Wilson Sunday 16 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Valentine Song Competition 16 HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Steve Knightley 7.30pm at Hitchin Cricket Club Monday 17 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Said the Maiden 19.45 for 20.00 17 HERGA at the Castle • Extra Guest night Nanne Kalma and Ankie Van Der Meer 17 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 17 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Guest Martin Young Tuesday 18 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Eric Sedge Wednesday 19 CHEQUERS FOLK CLUB • Folk club with The Wick Trimmers & guests. Free entry (donations) 19 ELY FOLK CLUB • The Bailey Sisters
FEBRUARY 2020
19 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Guest caller Mike Ruff 19 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage/Singaround 19 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 20 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 20 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singaround 20 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 20 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 21 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Peter Knight and Jon Spiers 21 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Mike Bennett and Mollie & Ali 21 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround Sunday 23 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Counters Creek Monday 24 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 24 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 24 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 24 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 25 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • AGM & Round the Room Wednesday 26 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Americano plus support 7.30 8.00pm Free entry (donations welcome) 26 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Oka Vanga 26 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 26 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Alden, Patterson & Dashwood plus floor spots 26 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 27 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 27 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers' Night 27 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 27 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night and AGM Friday 28 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • David Youngs & San Inglis; Barbara Wibbelman; Mythopoeic 28 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Bob Lilley 28 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert featuring Wickenwood, Dusky Sunday & I Claudia 28 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Spotlight singaround with Elye Cuthbertson and Theo Dormer Saturday 29 NORTHAMPTON CEILIDHS • Ceilidh with Lebedek and caller Simon Loake.7.30pm
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UNICORN DIARY Sunday Monday
1 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage 2 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers featuring Webster Ferguson 19.45 for 20.00 2 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 2 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 2 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 3 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Tim Edey Wednesday 4 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage/Singaround 4 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 4 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 5 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 5 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singaround 5 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 5 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 6 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open Stage with Dave Jenkins 6 FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Leyla Burrows and Paul Scourfield 6 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with callers Andrew King and Alain Williams 6 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround Sunday 8 ABBOTS LANGLEY WINTER ACOUSTIC CONCERTS • Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell. 3.00pm £12 includes tea/coffee and cake 8 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Monday 9 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 9 HERGA at the Castle • Theme night Spring - Songs of nature and rebirth 9 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 9 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Guest Daria Kulesh Tuesday 10 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Wednesday 11 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Elizabeth & Jameson plus support 7.30 - 8.00pm Free entry (donations welcome) 11 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Kelvin Davies 11 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 11 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Luke Daniels plus floor spots 11 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 12 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 12 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Local Singers and Musicians 12 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 12 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 13 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Reg Meuross 13 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Wendy Harrup and the Friday Folk Band 13 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase featuring The Long Nights, Paul Chinnock and Dan Ketteridge, Steve Warner & Kevin Hunt 13 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Songwriters Circel with Linda Birmingham, Tim Brooks & Chris Flegg + singaround Sunday 15 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Alistair Anderson and Ian A Anderson Monday 16 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Judy Cook 19.45 for 20.00 16 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 16 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 16 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 17 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Judy Cook Wednesday 18 CHEQUERS FOLK CLUB • Folk club with Union Jill. £10 on door 18 ELY FOLK CLUB • Bill Jones 18 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Melody Causton & Bryan Causton 18 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Guest caller Wendy Harrup 18 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage/Singaround 18 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm
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Thursday
MARCH 2020
19 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 19 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singaround 19 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 19 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 20 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Charity Night at the Town Hall featuring a galaxy of local acts. Phone or see website for details 20 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Clare Hayes; The John Ward Trio 20 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with caller Andrea Stodell 20 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround Sunday 22 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage 22 HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham 7.30pm at Hitchin Cricket Club Monday 23 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers 19.45 for 20.00 23 HERGA at the Castle • Singaround 23 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 23 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 24 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Fake Thackray Wednesday 25 BALDOCK FOLK CLUB • Alan Hewson and friends 7.30 8.00pm Free entry (donations welcome) 25 FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Jeremy Harmer & Josh Lynch 25 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers 25 REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Fed's House plus floor spots 25 WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice 8pm Thursday 26 BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance - caller to be announced 26 BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Local Singers and Musicians 26 NORTHAMPTON FOLK DANCE CLUB • Club Night 8.00pm 26 ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing Friday 27 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Katie Spencer; Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke; 2 point 4 27 FRIDAY FOLK • Dance with callers John and Karen Sweeney and The 20s 27 ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert featuring Thursdays Band with support by Bella Chipperfield 27 WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Na-Mara Saturday 28 NORTHAMPTON CEILIDHS • Ceilidh with live band and caller TBC. 7.30pm Sunday 29 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Special 'Curated' Open Stage Monday 30 CHESHAM FOLK CLUB • Singers featuring Catherine Earnshaw & Storywheel 19.45 for 20.00 30 HERGA at the Castle • Guest night John Conolly 30 STAPLERS • Club night 20.00 to 22.00 30 WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround Tuesday 31 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room
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CLUB INDEX ABBOTS LANGLEY • Abbots Langley Winter Acoustic Concerts
Abbots Langley Community Centre, Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0AP Contact: Tim and Lesley Brooks 01293 264536, ALConcerts@gmail.com - www.oldtimetim.com/alwac.htm
HERGA • Herga at the Castle
The Castle PH, 30 West Street, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3EF Contact: Tim Brooks, 01923 264536 www.herga.club
HITCHIN • Hitchin Folk Club
BALDOCK • Baldock Folk Club
The Cricket Pavilion, Lucas Lane, Hitchin, Herts, SG5 2JA Contact: Maureen Jones, 01462 812391 www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk
BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Dance Club
The Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2NR Contact: Elizabeth Corser, 01525 378010 Elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com
BEDFORD • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance Club
Christchurch Hall, 3 Christchurch Road, Abingdon, Northampton, NN1 5LL Contact: John and Ruth Green 01933 397767 or 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk
BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Music Club
Christchurch Hall, 3 Christchurch Road, Abingdon, Northampton, NN1 5LL Contact: Linda Pain, 01604 787212 https://northamptonfdc.wordpress.com
The Orange Tree, Norton Road, Baldock, Herts SG7 5AW Contact: Brian Burke, 07768 274037 www. Baldockfolkclub.org St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Land, Goldington, Bedford, MK41 0HL Contact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574 www. bedfordfolkdanceclub.com Hazledene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford, MK41 9AT Contact: Chris Rutt, 01462 700451 finecomapnions.publicity@gmail.com https://finecompanions.wordpress.com
Kempston Hammers Sports and Social Club 134 High Street, Kempston, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 7BN Contact: Mike Blair, 01525 404513 – see us on Facebook
BLACK FEN • Black Fen Folk Club
NCI Sports and Social Club, 1 Holland Street, Cambridge CB4 3DL Contact: David Savage, 01223 424935, squeezer@ntlworld.com www.blackfenfolkclub.com
CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk Club
Golden Hind PH, 355 Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1SP Contact: Marion Treby, 01638 603986 www.cambridgefolkclub.co.uk
CHEQUERS • Chequers Folk Club
The Barn @ Cherry Tree Farm, Missenden Road, Great Kingshill, Bucks HP15 6ED Contact: Philippa Wallin, philippa.wallin@btinternet.com www.wicktrimmers.co.uk/chequers-folk
CHESHAM • Chesham Folk Club
White Hill Centre, White Hill, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1AG Contact: Ray Butler, cheshamfolk123@gmail.com www.cheshamfolkclub.org.uk
ELY • Ely Folk Club (no bar BYOB)
The Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs, CB7 4ER Contact: Ruth Bramley/Andy Wall, 01353 740999 / 01353 664706 www.elyfolkclub.co.uk
FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Folk at the Maltings
The Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3HL Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk
FOUR RIVERS • Four Rivers Folk Club
(formerly The White Horse Folk Club) The Hertford Club, Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT Contact: Pat Crilly, 07971 804418 patcrilly@hotmail.com
FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance Club
Methodist Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG Contact: Bob Barrett: 01727 856508, 07762 085629 www.fridayfolk.org.uk
LINLEIGHDERS • Linsleighders Folk Dance Group
NORTHAMPTON • Northampton Ceilidhs
NORTHAMPTON • Northampton Folk Dance Club
REDBOURN • Redbourn Folk Club
Old School Room, Hollybush PH, Church End, Redbourn, AL3 7DU Contact: Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk
ROUNDABOUTERS • Roundabouters Country Dancing Club
Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, SG1 1UP Contact: Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727 239 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
STAPLERS • Staplers Country Dance Club
St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Rd, Hitchin, SG4 9JP Contact: Gill Goodman, 01462 456811 gillagoodman@hotmail.co.uk www.staplers.org.uk
ST NEOTS • St Neots Folk Club
Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots, PE19 2BH Contact: Roger Pitt, 01234 376278 www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk
WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk Club
The Sultan PH (Private room), Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1PD Contact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987 www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com
WATFORD • Watford Folk Club
Colne River Room, Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre, Local Board Rd, Watford, WD17 2JP Contact: http://watfordfolkclub.co.uk
WATFORD • Woodside Morris Men
Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road Lower Watford High Street, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Nick Wilson, 07860 663033 or pete@iw2.co.uk http://www.woodsidemorrismen.com
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Abbots Langley Winter Acoustic Concerts http://www.oldtimetim.com/alwac.htm
Afternoon of Sunday 9th February 2020 at 3pm - £12.00*
Belshazzar’s feast
Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals), “one of folk’s odd couples”, have for nearly 25 years wowed audiences around Europe, The States and Australia, with virtuoso musicianship tempered by wry humour.
Afternoon of Sunday 8th March 2020 at 3pm - £12.00*
Bob Fox and Billy Mitchell
Two of the UK’s best known and loved singers, Billy Mitchell (Lindisfarne, Jack the Lad, Pitmen Poets) and Bob Fox (Warhorse Songman, Fox and Luckley, Pitmen Poets) are taking to the road together in Spring 2020 to tour their show "5 Star B&B"
Abbots Langley Community Centre Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0AP
* 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
Northampton Ceilidhs
Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL Tues, 31 December, N.Y.E. CEILIDH
If you fancy dancing North East Rapper or Yorkshire Longsword or Medieval Buffens join us on a Tuesday at 8.30-10pm in the Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, SG1 1UP or email bagman@stevenagesword.org.uk
(Dancing from 8pm to 12:30am)
Hobson's Choice w. Bubbles & John G Saturday, 25 January 2020 Finality Jack & Zinguaresque Callers: Bubbles and John Green Saturday, 29 February Lebedek w. Simon Loake Saturday, 28 March Band & Caller TBC Adults £9; Student £5; Accompanied under 16s FREE ; Groups of 6 ( paying) 1 free Dancing from 7:30pm until 10:30pm Licenced Bar
Free Car Park
Ruth 01933 397767, John 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk
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The Stables | Wavendon | Milton Keynes
The Ceilidh Experience is for anyone interested in traditional and folk music who would like the chance to play in a band and at a ceilidh. During the sessions you’ll learn tunes and come together as small ceilidh bands, getting ready to perform at a final event for dancers and folk fans of all ages.
Course dates: Sundays 19 & 26 January, 9 & 23 February, 8 March 2020, 10am-12.30pm; Sunday 15 March, 4pm afternoon rehearsal & 7.30pm evening performance
You’ll also have the opportunity to practice with a ‘caller’ and work on a stage with professional sound equipment.
Course fee:
The course is suitable for any instrument, but acoustic instruments are especially welcome.
To book a place call The Stables box office on 01908 280800 The Stables, Stockwell Lane, Wavendon, Milton Keynes MK17 8LU
Participants should be aged 15 or over, already be able to play tunes from memory, ideally at ’dance speed’ and be prepared to do some tune practice between sessions.
£92 (£72 students) for six sessions
box office 01908 280800 www.stables.org
FOLK EVENTS IN ST. ALBANS NEW ROOTS
The finals of the New Roots event for young musicians under the age of 15 will be on April 26 from 11am onwards at Trestle Arts Base, Russet Drive, St Albans, Herts, AL4 0JQ. New Roots first started in 2000, so this the 21st event and we are discussing the possibility of a celebratory event later in the year. A number of the performers who took part in past years are now well-established names on the folk scene. This year, the New Roots judges will be Rosie Hood, Tim Walker, Valmai Goodyear and Andy Stafford. They will give feedback to people they select to play in the final, who will also win performance opportunities. The closing date for entries is January 31. For further details, see advertisement.
ST ALBANS FOLK FESTIVAL
St Albans Folk Festival will take place from June 26-28, and full details will be found at www.stalbansfolkatthefstival.org.uk The main events will be on Saturday June 27. During the day, there will be a Day of Dance in the City Centre starting with a massed display outside the Alban Arena. There will be free showcase performances in City Centre pubs plus Waterstone’s bookshop and The Old Town Hall Court Room, plus sessions and singarounds. If you would like to give a showcase performance, please email info@stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk The festival concert at 8pm in the Abbey Theatre will feature Fay Hield with Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron with tracks from Fay’s new solo album, Wrackline. After releasing two solo albums, Fay took the lead on The Full English, a ground-breaking project 26
linked to the launch of the EFDSS’ database of songs and tunes from early twentieth century folk song collections. Fay’s work on The Full English led to an album which won Best Group and Best Album at the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and earned Fay a nomination for Folk Singer of the Year. Exploring ideas of the space between, Wrackline looks to ghosts, fairies, spirits and talking animals to understand what it is about the unknown that entrances us. Working with traditional materials and ideas, Fay explores the feelings they evoke and how they relate to her experience in the contemporary world. Shifting between lighthearted stories about drunks sitting with pigs, to darker questions about infanticide, Fay breaths life and meaning into old stories, presenting them with a fresh twist and with consummate musicianship from Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron including fiddle, concertina, guitar and banjo. The festival will continue on the Sunday, when we have been offered the use of St Saviour’s Church, complete with licensed bar, in the afternoon and the evening and planning is under way. There will definitely be another song writing competition. See Unicorn 150 and our web site for details.
ST MICHAEL’S STREET FOLK EVENING
The annual St Michael’s Street Folk Evening will be a few days later, on July 1, the first Wednesday in the month, with dancing in the street and music everywhere. Originally the street had four pubs, but since two have closed, the music has spread out into the churchyard and the garden of Kingsbury Manor.
www.unicornmagazine.org
Alison Macfarlane
The Stables | Wavendon | Milton Keynes
December to March highlights
world class music & entertainment
Cara Dillon 11 December
Greg Russell & Danny Pedler 17 January
The Local Honeys 31 January
Martyn Joseph 1 February
Fairport Convention 11 February
Maz O’Connor 14 February
The Fureys 3 March
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham 16 March
Richard Digance 19 March
box office 01908 280800 book online www.stables.org
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JACK IN A
BARREL name comes from the song New York Girls where Jack the sailor is separated from his money, gold watch and clothes by a lady of the night and is forced to wear a barrel to protect his modesty. Their style is one of perfection heavily decorated with mischievousness, irreverence, mirth and merriment. They are a pleasure to listen to.
The group formed in June 2018 to take part in a festival of Choirs in Turvey, north of Bedford. I came across them at the end of 2018 via a Facebook post about one of their performances. After an exchange of emails with the band, we managed to agree dates at Dunton Folk for the Carols at the Hare and Wassail events in December 2019 and January 2020 respectively. I then offered to write an article about them for the Unicorn Magazine but as a result of diary and work issues we only managed to get together in the middle of November this year. A couple of weeks ago I attended one of their weekly practices and was warmly welcomed at the door with an offer of gin…my sort of welcome! What then followed was an experience to cherish. I was treated to an evening of close harmony singing, the likes of which I haven’t heard since Artisan, Cockersdale, Coope Boyes and Simpson and The Young ‘Uns. Jack in A Barrel deserve to be put on the same pedestal as these Acapella greats, without a doubt.
Singing mostly Tim’s arrangements of songs they all enjoy, Jane, Kate, Tim, Mark, Poppy, Charlotte and Ed are embarking on what could be a very successful journey into performance. I strongly urge you to seek out one of their performances, you won’t be disappointed. If there aren’t any events near you, badger your local folk club, church or theatre to contact them and give them a try. If you can’t get to see them live, they have an excellent debut album, ‘I Know Not Where I Live’, available from their website, Amazon, Spotify and other outlets too I assume. Well worth a listen, and it is a permanent member of the CD collection in my car. www.jackinabarrel.co.uk www.duntonfolk.co.uk
A seven-piece band (though they were missing their bass Ed when I visited) with roots in various performing genres, they have come together through strong friendship and a love of performing to create a very warm, cohesive group. Their 30
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By Simon Bailes of Dunton Folk
P J Music Wayside Cottage, Chapel lane, Botesdale, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 1DT
Music Books, Instruments and Accessories Quick Draw Capo Never lose your capo again Never have to take it off Easily slides up and down fretboard Slides over the nut when not in use
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M e lo d e o n a n d A c c o rd io n re p a irs a n d tu n in g pjmusic@btinternet.com www.pjmusic.co.uk Unicorn Jan-Mar 2020:Layout 2 8/11/19 14:42 Page 1
Dance the night away . . . it’s a barn dance – or is it a ceilidh? A ceilidh (say
kayley) is your chance to dance English folk dances with others. The caller explains all the moves and walks them through – the band starts – and a great time is had by all! There’s usually a dance display in the interval and a raffle. Singles and groups are welcomed – just come and enjoy dancing to great music from top bands. Tickets only £11 - singles & groups welcome.
See www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk
FRIDAY 13TH MARCH
FRIDAY 14TH FEBRUARY
bristol ceilidh quartet with caller jethro anderson
St Mary’s Hall, Church St, Baldock SG7 5AE
king kontra
frog on a bike
geoff cubitt
andy rouse
with caller
Three English folk fiddlers and cellist make a big string sou a fab nd with loads of energy and drive. The y take great tunes and create exciting arrangements exploring the dyn range of the string quartet. amic www.bristolceilidhquartet.com Jethro is an experienced call er with a great repertoire.
FRIDAY 10TH APRIL
with caller
King Kontra are an exciting, unique and Frog on a Bike has over 100 yea musicianship between them rs of innovative band formed especially to repertoire is rooted in Eng . Their play for contra dance. They present a folk music, both traditional and lish blend of high energy American, Irish contemporary, however, plenty of Sco and original music set in a fusion of ttish, jazz, traditional, rock and western Irish and sometimes even Fren ch tunes are usually thrown into swing influences. the www.cbdb.co.uk/king-kontra just for good measure! mix www.frogonabike.co.uk Geoff is well known as a caller for American Squares and Contra. He has Andy is an enthusiastic caller called at many national dance festivals, dancer, and always transforms & and has considerable experience as a evening into a memorable occa the sion! dancer himself.
FULL BAR with REAL ALE
Tickets now available on line - see website for details
www.unicornmagazine.org
Doors open 7.30 p.m. Dancing 8.00 to 11.00 p.m.
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The Priory Centre, St. Neots, PE19 2BH Every Tuesday 8.00pm
Email – stneotsfolkclub@aol.com Telephone - 01234 376278 www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk
Jan Jan Jan Jan
Feb Feb Feb Feb
7 Suntrap 14 Open Stage 21 Elizabeth & Jameson 28 Round the Room 4 Camus Mar 3 Tim Edey 11 Terence Blacker Mar 10 Open Stage 18 Eric Sedge Mar 17 Judy Cook 25 AGM & Round the Room Mar 24 Fake Thackray Mar 31 Round the Room
Friday ev: Showcase night – artists tbc.
Saturday: Day of Dance
Sat. evening: Richard Digance
& The Salts Sunday ev. Ninebarrow & Tom McConville Tickets on the door or from the Club or ticket application form via web site or leaflet
The Priory Centre, St Neots, PE19 2BH
For more information see website: www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk
or ring 01234 376278
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Spring 2020 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 – 01727 856508 Standard Friday admission £4
3 Jan Colin Hume and Friday Folk Band 10 Jan Thomas Bending 17 Jan David & Rebecca Capron and Spring Greens 24 Jan Suzanne Farmer 31 Jan Club Callers 7 Feb Barrie Bullimore and FF Band 14 Feb Dave Kerridge 21 Feb Mike Bennett and Mollie & Ali 28 Feb Bob Lilley 6 Mar Andrew King and Alain Williams 13 Mar Wendy Harrup and FF Band 20 Mar Andrea Stodell 27 Mar The 20s with John and Karen Sweeney 3 Apr Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 10 Apr Closed for Easter 17 Apr New term begins
Ely Folk Club presents
Wednesday 15th January
Bob Fox
£12 (£11 advance)
Folk in the Annexe
Wednesday 19th February
Fri 10 January – 8pm Fri 14 February – 8pm
£12 (£11 advance)
£2.50 performers / £4.50 non-performers/ £3.50 concessions
Wednesday 18th March
Bill Jones
Guest Night Steve Knightley Sat 21 March – 8pm £15.00
The Bailey Sisters
£12 (£11 advance)
Old Dispensary, 13 St Mary’s St., Ely CB7 4ER 01353 740999/664706
www.elyfolkclub.co.uk www.unicornmagazine.org
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CD REVIEWS SASKIA GRIFFITHSMOORE ‘BAEZ, DYLAN AND ME’ Saskia Griffiths-Moore is a London based independent English singer-songwriter, known for her pure, clear voice and her nufolk style repertoire. She quit a potentiallylucrative job as a craniosacral therapist in Harley Street back in 2014 to successfully pursue her dream of being a professional singer-songwriter. She has appeared frequently at clubs and folk events in our area. Initiated by requests from fans to cover these songs, the album ‘Baez, Dylan and Me’ was released fifty years after Woodstock and is Saskia’s homage to the music which inspired her. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios it features several of
ADY SHAW AND JILL WATERSON ‘EQUAL RIGHTS FOR SHADOWS’ Ady Shaw is an experienced performer and Jill Waterson has a choral background and they have been playing together as a Watford based duo since 2017. He wrote all nine tracks on this album and his passionate feelings are clear in every note and every word of the lyrics. Jill provides harmonies, and plays recorder, glockenspiel and percussion and Ady accompanies his strong earthy voice with skilled guitar work.
the UK’s most well-known up-and-coming folk instrumentalists who provide depth to the songs without trying to outshine the singer. Her growing fan base is and always has been at the heart of her career and it shows in her three successful crowdfunding campaigns including for this album. Frequently compared to Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Eva Cassidy for her crystal-clear vocals, Saskia’s rather more gentle treatment of these well-known classics, including Blowing In The Wind, Diamonds & Rust and The Times They Are A-Changing, may not please some fans of the grittier originals. Find out more and buy the album at www.saskiagm.com Reviewed by Barry Guy
just for the listener - and the songs are evocative and poignant. I was particularly moved by ‘I promised Orient Express, I gave you crazy fairground ride’ in ‘Please Mind the Gap’ and ‘Bomb blackened stones which had been their home only yesterday’ in ‘Aleppo in Pieces’. The album cover is also very striking – featuring a series of powerful images illustrating the songs and a photo of the duo by Julian Mount. I haven’t seen Jill and Ady perform live but I shall certainly look out for them now.
The album has a fresh, stripped back feel – as though the artists are performing live 34
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Reviewed by Sandra Lawes
CD REVIEWS DAVID CAMBRIDGE ‘SONGTALES’ ‘Songtales’ is David’s debut solo album. It is a mix of traditional and contemporary songs, all of which have been re-imagined by David. It was launched on Friday 8th November 2019 at Cambridge Folk Club. David’s interest in the folk genera goes back a long way. He ran the folk club while studying science at Southampton University, where he also set to mastering finger style guitar. From a long-held interest in re-making songs, beginning by reducing them to the bare bones of tune and rhyme, a highly individual guitar style, and the extended horizons of open-tuning, together with a voice which he describes
WARD AND PARKER ‘ONE’ Both Cliff Ward (formerly of Nizlopi) and John Parker (founding member of The Willows) have impeccable pedigrees as musicians and came together as a duo after Stu Hanna invited them to be part of the Megson Band in 2016. The combination of John’s double bass and beatboxing style and Cliff’s guitar playing and gentle voice is poignant and memorable. With alternative, acoustic, jazz and pop influences, this 10-track debut CD album pushes the boundaries of the folk genre through upbeat pop to haunting
as ‘his grandfather’s legacy’, he creates the distinctive sound we hear on ‘Songtales’ This collection takes a long, loving look at hundreds of years of the essential, elusive craft of spinning songs, addressing subjects of love, loss, war and the various exploits men get themselves involved in. Harmonies from Hannah Sanders and Jenna Walker together with contributions from Anna Scott (cello), Ben Savage (guitars), Evan Carson (percussion) and Saul Bailey (melodeon) on various tracks add a subtle depth to the different arrangements. The album is available on www.Bandcamp.com or directly from David. Email him at davidcambridge@btinternet.com Reviewed by Barry Guy songs of love and loss. The songs are all performed to perfection by two musicians who clearly enjoy playing together. Ward and Parker have played gigs in the ‘Unicorn’ area, notably at Cambridge Folk Club and Ely Folk Festival, wowing audiences wherever they appeared. I hope they come back soon. Visit their website www.wardparker.com for more information and some tasty merchandise including T-shirts to celebrate the launch of this album.
www.unicornmagazine.org
Reviewed by Sandra Lawes
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Berkhamsted Campaign for Real Music
Saturday 15th February: Breabach. Best Group Finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017. "As polished as it was passionate, matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set." The Scotsman 2017 8 o’clock at The Vyne Theatre, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 1EH
www.bcfrm.com
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CD REVIEWS CHRIS FOX ‘FROM THE SHADOWS’ Award winning singer songwriter Chris Fox is an independent musician who has worked his way through the Cambridge music scene the past few years, each year acclaiming greater presence at an increasing number of stages and festivals, including Cambridge Folk Festival. His music reflects thought provoking topics and humorous insights on life with deep powerful vocals and varied and eclectic guitar styles that span Americana, Folk, Country and Blues. Chris’s spellbinding vocals ensure that every word of the lyrics is as clear as a bell.
DOM PRAG ‘YOUNG MAN ON A FERRY’ Dom Prag is a young singer-songwriter from Southampton. Since releasing an EP in 2015, he has ranged across seventeen counties and London, wowing audiences at festivals and clubs. This debut full 10 track CD, features seven self-penned and two traditional songs, plus a Keats poem he has set to music. Dom is clearly a competent, if somewhat Jekyll & Hyde, guitarist ranging from delicate fingerstyle with a classical feel to heavy strumming, sometimes in the same song!
His voice and acoustic guitar are supported on various tracks with instrumentation by Dan Wilde, John Parker, Jamie Welstead, Jasmine Watkiss and Stephen MacLachlan. Zoe Wren and Jamine Watkiss provide vocal harmonies. All ten tracks were written by Christopher Seaman. On the album cover, Chris acknowledges the support of folk clubs which have helped him to build his career – mentioning Cambridge and Royston in particular. You can see him at the Malting Arts Theatre in St Albans with Odette Michell on 31 January and at The Milkmaid in Bury St Edmunds on 7 February. See www.chrisfoxmusic.org for more information and gig dates. Reviewed by Sandra Lawes
with “Cold haily windy night” and “Blackleg miner” in a robust, forceful manner, but I was particularly drawn to the last two tracks. “My Grandpa, like so many” deals with the issues faced by soldiers returning from war and the difficulty they find interacting with family. “Old man’s song” certainly resonated with me, quite a perceptive song from such a young man! I think Dom’s lyrics will probably read well as an anthology of poems, but poems set to music don’t always make good songs, especially if it is freeform poetry. Dom Prag followers will love this CD. It is an honest reminder of live performances, just Dom and his guitar, with nothing added or taken away in the studio. www.domprag.com
Dom’s treatment of the Keats poem, ‘Meg Merrilies’ is commendable, and he deals
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Reviewed by Keiron Jones
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CD REVIEWS WINTER WILSON ‘LIVE AND UNCONVENTIONAL’ Kip Winter and Dave Wilson played parttime on the UK folk circuit for many years and they became full time musicians as Winter Wilson almost by accident when the global banking crisis left them both facing redundancy in 2012. In 2018 they were invited to make a guest appearance on Fairport Convention’s Winter Tour in 2018 and ‘Live and Unconventional’, their ninth album, was recorded live on the road during that tour. If you have seen Winter Wilson on stage you will know that they don’t simply sing the songs – they give a full performance - ribbing each other, making the audience laugh and explaining the back stories to the numbers.
MISHRA ‘THE LOFT TAPES’ CDs often arrive here at Unicorn stating that they feature ‘an exciting new band’. Mishra, a four-piece band led by Ford Collier and Kate Griffin, amply justifies that description. On their debut album, ‘The Loft Tapes’, Kate and Ford are joined by Joss Mann-Hazell on Double Bass, Bouzouki and Electric Bass and John Ball on Tabla. Ford and Kate wrote ten of the tracks on the CD which was released in December 2019 and put together a fascinating arrangement of the traditional ‘Angeline the Baker’. I found Kate Griffin’s voice and clawhammer banjo completely mesmerising and perfectly complemented by Ford Collier’s vocals and continent-hopping instrumental skills (Indian 38
This CD is very much what they do best – playing live and interacting with an audience. Listening to the album is like having this talented duo perform just for you, in your home or your car. A booklet in the colourful CD cover provides the thought-provoking words of the 15 tracks. Kip and Dave’s undoubted vocal and instrumental talents dominate the album and as a special treat for the listener, they are joined on three of the tracks by members of Fairport Convention. The album was launched at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in August 2019 where it received a rapturous reaction. Closer to home, you can see them at Cambridge Folk Club on 31 January. For more information see www.winterwilson.com Reviewed by Sandra Lawes tabla, African calabash, Irish whistle and guitar). The four musicians describe themselves as a global folk ‘collective’ and their enchanting music brings strong influences from Indian classical, Americana and jazz to their roots in UK folk. The band recorded each of the eleven tracks in a single take on analogue tapes in a farmhouse loft, aiming to capture the atmosphere and feel of a live performance and they most certainly succeeded. In 2018 they have played at Sidmouth Folk Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival where they won the inaugural Christian Raphael prize. I don’t know when they will be returning to our area but I certainly hope it will be soon. Find out more at www.mishramusic.com
www.unicornmagazine.org
Reviewed by Sandra Lawes
2 5 t h
A P R I L
-
1 s t
M A Y
2 0 2 0 FROM
£719pp DINNER B&B INCLUDING FLIGHTS!
IBIZA 2020
OYSTERBAND // EDDI READER
EDWARD II // THE URBAN FOLK QUARTET GERRY COLVIN BAND // STEVE KNIGHTLEY
THE HUT PEOPLE // GEOFF LAKEMAN AND ROB MURCH TRADARR // THE BAR STEWARD SONS OF VAL DOONICAN
RIC SANDERS & VO FLETCHER // CHRIS SHERBURN, DENNY BARTLEY AND EMILY SANDERS // LUKE DANIELS // ALDEN PATTERSON DASHWOOD THE MATHER ROBINSON BAND // SOUND OF THE SIRENS // YAN TAN TETHER
JOSHUA BURNELL & BAND // THE BROTHERS GILLESPIE // KATIE SPENCER // BANTER COMPERE: MIKE HARDING
C A L L 0 1 2 5 4 4 4 5 0 5 0 O R V I S I T W W W. C O S TA D E L F O L K . C O. U K
Cambridge Junction
SAT 11 JAN THU 16 JAN SAT 18 JAN TUE 21 JAN WED 22 JAN FRI 24 JAN TUE 04 FEB WED 05 FEB SAT 08 FEB MON 10 FEB MON 17 FEB TUE 18 FEB WED 19 FEB SAT 22 FEB SAT 07 MAR MON 16 MAR TUE 31 MAR
NEW ROUTES: THE SHACKLETON TRIO + ERIN BROWN & BARRY WATSON MARTYN JOSEPH SHAVE THE MONKEY THE EAST POINTERS DELLA MAE MEGSON MAZ O’CONNOR LISA O'NEILL NEW ROUTES: ALDEN, PATTERSON & DASHWOOD + JELLYMAN'S DAUGHTER SAM LEE SAM LEWIS: SOLO FARA BEAR'S DEN MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK, JOHN MCCUSKER AND JOHN DOYLE NEW ROUTES: LEXI GREEN + BEN WALKER KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN THE TRIALS OF CATO
Cambridge junction, clifton way, Cambridge cb1 7gx
Junction.co.uk | 01223 511 511
Copy Deadline for Issue 150 is Friday 14th February 2020 Don’t forget to subscribe to both our blog and our mailing list for revised gig dates, news & updates between issues...
CD REVIEWS JUG BAND ‘JUNK YARD DAWG’ This lively eight track CD from this fourpiece band had my feet tapping right from the first note although the pace slows on tracks six and seven. The artists all sound as if they are thoroughly enjoying themselves and their enthusiasm is infectious. I’m sure the music will bring a smile to your face.
and plays mandolin, dobro and banjo, Geoff Stephens dobro, kazoo, cajon and tambourine, Peter Crossley is on fiddle and guitar and Pete Brown is on bass. This combination of instruments gives Junk Yard Dawg something of a bluegrass/ country feel and is great to listen to. All four musicians sing provide vocals on various tracks. Contact Pat Crilly on 07971 804418 to get a copy. It’s just the thing to cheer up a dark winter’s night! Reviewed by Sandra Lawes
The Jug Band are Pat Crilly, who runs the Four Rivers Folk Club in Hertford
A LINE IN THE SAND……... Unicorn is primarily a magazine that promotes live music and dance and there is only limited space on our pages. It’s honestly heart-breaking to receive literally dozens of great CDs every quarter that we simply don’t have the resources or the page space to review. In our last issue, we told you we were snowed under and offered our sincere apologies to everyone we have had to disappoint. We can only review a small number of CDs in each issue, and it’s hard to know how to select them. Should we choose well-known artists who will certainly delight our readers but who may have the benefit of radio plays or reviews in other publications? Or should we encourage newcomers who have put their heart and soul into their self-promoted debut albums? And what about the dedicated PR people who do their utmost to promote their clients? Whatever we do, there will be disappointments!
So, it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Such a huge backlog has built up that many of the ‘new’ releases are now over a year old and their moment for review has gone! For this issue, I have chosen CDs either from artists with links to our catchment area through their location or their gigs, or from artists we have made definite promises to. Again, my apologies to those I have not been able to feature. So, if you send me a CD for review in the future – please let me know what links you have to our area (Beds, Bucks, Cambs, Herts, Northants and North London) and give me as much information as you can to help me decide which ones to feature for Unicorn readers. Thank you for your kind understanding – I do want to give as much support to our wonderful talented musicians as I can. Sandra Lawes (Editor)
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www.unicornmagazine.org
PROGRAMME JANUARY TO MARCH 2020 EVERY FRIDAY, 8PM, THE GOLDEN HIND, 355 MILTON ROAD, CAMBRIDGE CB4 1SP TICKETS FOR MAIN ACTS ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.CAMBRIDGEFOLKCLUB.CO.UK OR PHONE 01638 603986
Fri 3 Jan:
Open Stage with Jo Ash Trio
£5(door), £3(members), £3(performers)
Fri 10 Jan:
Smith and Brewer Support: Wes Finch
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 17 Jan:
Nick Barraclough and All the Federales Support: Amy Goddard
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 24 Jan:
Newcomers’ Showcase: Pembroke Tennyson; Dom Prag Special guests: Sally Ironmonger and Brian Carter
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 31 Jan:
Liz Simcock; Winter Wilson Support: James Eisner
£11(door), £10(advance), £9(members)
Fri 7 Feb:
Open Stage with Andy Wall
£5(door), £3(members), £3(performers)
Fri 14 Feb:
Showcase: Lester Lloyd-Reason; Kevin Hunt With Cliff Ward; Wendy Hardeman and Ian Turner
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 21 Feb:
Peter Knight and Jon Spiers Support: Kelly and Woolley
£15
Fri 28 Feb:
Showcase: David Youngs and Sam Inglis; Barbara Wibbelman and friends; Mythopoeic
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 6 Mar:
Open Stage with Dave Jenkins
£5(door), £3(members), £3(performers)
Fri 13 Mar:
Reg Meuross Support: Karen Johnson and Tony Clark
£11(door), £10(advance), £9(members)
Fri 20 Mar:
Claire Hayes; The John Ward Trio
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Fri 27 Mar
Showcase: Katie Spencer; Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke; 2 point 4
£10(door), £9(advance), £8(members)
Bigger, brighter, better than ever!
The 5th annual
Saturday 4 July 2020 Artists booked so far...
FARA CB1574
MEGSON Tickets on sale now:
www.kimptonfolk.uk kimptonfolk@gmail.com
@kimptonfolk
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kimptonfolkfestival Printed by Newman Thomson Ltd