Leigh on Sea folk festival and Sail loft folk club

Spent the weekend up in Grays with some old friends and took in the Leigh festival. There were some fantastic spots, including Simon Stephenson, the Askew Sisters, Adrian Nation, Pete Morton and Last Night's Fun. Unfortunately the weather was dire, so some time was also spent inside the pubs and at the open mike session, where Hamish Currie sang a couple of songs that were well received.
After a warm up we went on to spend the evening at the Sail loft folk club in Horndon on the Hill. Den and Skill did a couple of their bluesy songs, Chris Amos also sang and played his version of Candy Man which I last heard Stefan Grossman perform live at the Cambridge Folk festival in the late 60s/ early 70s. I sang Follow the Heron after a request from one of the regulars, Cath, and The Grey Cockerel, a night visiting song. Both went down well and I hope to be back at the club at the end of July.

City Folk

Well, I had a really enjoyable evening at the Regnum in Chichester. Its a small, friendly club with a mixture of musicians, singers and listeners. I was made to feel welcome and will certainly go again.
I sang a couple of songs: the Drowned Lover and Bushes and Briars which everyone joined in with...so it made for a good atmosphere.
It was great to meet up with several regulars from the 4 Chesnuts. Its surprising how many people you can meet going to these different clubs. Its a small world.

Four Chesnuts

Tuesday evening is nearly always Chichester folk song club and last night we had a theme night of 'winners and losers'. Alan and Sheila m.c'd and took the theme to the extreme! We did have fun, drawing straws to sing, getting little gifts and finally performing from the turn of a card.
I sang the Bonnie Bunch of Roses O, dealing with Napoleon's quest to win over the British Isles and then at the last minute chose as a second song The Farmer's Boy, 'cos he was lucky in love and life.
But the finale topped the evening with Sheila dressing as Boadicea and leading us all in a rendition of Rule Britannia with much flag waving and then Alan, in his vest and moustache looking like Freddie Mercury, performing We are the Champions, again with banner waving etc. A real good fun night all round.

forest folk

Well, that was a really enjoyable evening at the Forest Folk club, North Boarhunt. I went to see Faustus and certainly wasn't disappointed. They're a three piece made up of Saul Rose, Paul Sartin and Benji Kirkpatrick all well known in their own right, so I was interested to see how they would work together...and they did. A thoroughly entertaining evening all round.
I also did a floor spot which went down well. I was a bit apprehensive as it was my first visit to the club, but once on stage and singing with a mike ( most unusual for me) I felt quite at home. I belted out a couple of my current favourites: the Drowned Lover, a traditional song collected from the Westbourne Union back in 1909 by George Gardiner; and a night visiting song depicting the visit of a dead lover, The Grey Cockerel.
Met up with Anthony, who had been at the vocal harmony workshop I'd attended earlier in the month at the Lewes Arms (with Jon Boden) and Patrick who regularly visits the Four Chesnuts, also Eddie and Margaret, great followers of folk and the guys from Bishops Waltham club.
Thanks to Charles for organising a great night.

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.

Focsle

Had an interesting evening at the Focsle folk club in the Richmond pub Southampton.
I've become involved with GAG, the Gardiner Appreciation Group, which is actively promoting the work and collections of George Gardiner in the early 20th century.
Last night Bob Askew, Paul Hawkins the Askew sisters and I presented a history of Gardiner's life and works illustrated with songs and tunes he had collected. We all had a great night and hope the audience did too!!
I sang Bushes and Briars, Sheepcrook and Blackdog, Cruel Ship's Carpenter and the Drowned Lover - all versions collected by Gardiner in 1909 from the singing of Thomas Bulbeck in Harting, William Boxell, James Smith and William Bridger all from the Westbourne Union.
We have another day event planned for 15th September in Titchfield, so if you fancy a good day out come along!