Royal Oak Langstone

Well, it was the third Sunday in the month so headed off to the Royal Oak in the rain (it is summer isn't it?) Not a huge turn out, but gradually filled out as the evening went on. There is a friendly crowd who come along to these accoustic sessions, guitarists, banjo, recorder and pipe players, singers and those who just enjoy listening. I enjoy going when I can because its a very 'easy' atmosphere (until they're clearing up in the bar!)
The club runs on a singaround basis, so we did just that. I sang some of the Gardiner songs which I had performed at the Focsle on Friday night and there was a couple there last night who'd been there too! Bushes and Briars, which has a repetitive couple of lines that the audience can join in...a good ice breaker. then, the Drowned Lover with a really haunting melody again collected by Gardiner in 1909 from singing at the Westbourne Union. A work in progress followed. Its one I hope to sing in Chichester on Tuesday where we have a theme night Winners and Losers. The Bonny Bunch of Roses is a story concerning Napoleon Bonaparte's son and the family's quest to gain the Bonny Bunch of Roses (the British Isles). The Sheepcrook and Blackdog, another Gardiner collected song, is a favourite of mine, telling the story of how the shepherd is thwarted in his attempt to lure his young love into a remote existence when she would rather go into service. A final song, The Grey Cockerel, a night visiting song featuring the visit of a dead lover (spooky stuff!) This is another haunting melody and with that I went off into the night with the compliments of the landlord ringing in my ears. A good night all round.