Hampshire Songs

As I have mentioned in a previous post, there are quite a lot of events coming up with regard to Hampshire songs.
I have been involved in several of these events and am looking forward to taking part in more.
So far, this Friday there is a launch of the Singing Landscape Map of locations of Gardiner's singers in Hampshire, followed on Saturday by a Twyford event, celebrating the songs collected by Gardiner in that area.
On 13th March Rob Mills and I are presenting "Our Song Heritage" in Fareham at Westbury Manor from 2pm, when we will be singing songs from Hampshire.
I am then singing some Gardiner songs at the Gosport and Fareham folk festival on 4th April at 8pm in the Lysses hotel along with the Askew Sisters and Rob Mills.
We are looking to present some sort of event at Whitby this year too and in September/ October (date to be confirmed) we are holding an evening of Gardiner songs in Petersfield.
So, it would be lovely to see some friendly faces at any or all of these events!

another week in paradise...or not!

Oh dear! how negative is that!...but I am very much ruled by the weather and I have had enough of what is being thrown at me...so I've booked a flight and I'm off to Fuertevantura for a bit of sunshine...I hope!
In the interim, I'm keeping busy, learning new songs and walking as much as possible, while attempting to start up an "agency" to promote folk music, musicians and initially Mick Ryan and Paul Downes. I hope that what I learn can be adapted to others, myself included...but we'll see.
I had an interesting start to the week with a visit to the Wildgoose studios, where I had recorded by promo cd back in 2007.....that long ago.... anyway my recording was purely vocal so it was interesting to watch the process of vocals and instruments being layered on. Also, I was in good company. Doug and Sue are great hosts and the recording was for the new Downes and Ryan album to be released in the summer. It'll be great so look out for it...they also have the lovely Jackie Oates featuring...so an added extra of great quality.
After a hasty journey home I made it for a fantastic evening at the Four Chesnuts...featuring Gracenotes. They are a wonderful harmony trio and we all had a great night. I managed a good rendition of A Blacksmith.
On Wednesday, I joined the Hampshire Song Group for a meeting and sing at the Hyde Tavern in Winchester. A great pub,... there are loads of events related to both Hampshire songs and particularly to those collected by George Gardiner.
Weather and other issues kept me away from Lewes on Thursday, but I tried a new, to me, sing on Friday evening at the Murrell Arms in Barnham. We had a good sing, a lot of Sussex based songs this time and some with a valentine theme.....not me of course!
I sang He was Under My Window...collected by Gardiner from Axford, Hampshire, Bushes and Briars and I'll go and get Blue Bleezing Blind Drunk...my valentine contribution!!!!
A bit of a "let down" weekend... but sometimes it helps you put things in perspective.

more news

I've been trying to go for walks, pockets full of songs to learn, but the weather hasn't really been that nice, so I've only managed Fishbourne and Appledrum Quay apart from the usual walks round the Walls. The ground is so water logged it takes some stamina!The football is at least interesting if not wonderful for a Sunderland supporter...the Pompey game, of which I saw the sendings off and the late goal....96th minute...referee....were just unbelievable. The top of the Premiership is also unpredictable...but as we're a long way from that one can only look on....Not such a busy week musically, but saw a very promising duo, Cole Stacey and Scott Ward present a great evening. I went with my daughter, Claire and had a couple of songs myself... Abroad as I was Walking and He was Under my Window...two songs collected by Gardiner from the village of Axford in Hampshire in 1907. Then on Thursday saw Jez Lowe at the Royal Oak, Lewes. A fantastic performer, wonderful evening and also had a sing...a version of A Blacksmith. I made an infrequent but enjoyable visit to the City Folk club in Chichester on Friday evening. We had a great evening with everyone on fine form. I sang A Blacksmith, Abroad as I was walking and first time out I'll go and I'll get Blue, Bleezing, Blind Drunk....Imagine.

and there's more

So, Thursday was a fantastic evening at the Royal Oak in Lewes...what a great club....Martyn Wyndham Read and Iris Bishop were the guests.......and they were wonderful. As were the floor singers. I sang Abroad as I was Walking...a real favourite at the moment and it went down really well...had a chat with Martyn at the end of the evening about the possibility of singing with them in Oz next year doing Maypoles to Mistletoe...wow.... and also about doing some singing in Whitby at the festival in August...that would be fantastic!
Then on Friday went with Paul Downes and Mick Ryan to the Guildford Institute a lovely venue and another great evening. I managed another spot and sang Abroad as I was Walking and It was in the Month of January...and I really enjoyed it and was invited back anytime!
So today was footy and rugby catch up.....so great therapy all round....England won, Liverpool won, (so Pete was pleased!) Sunderland got a draw, Hull beat Man City and Man U only managaed 5 against Pompey!!!!!

it's been a long time!

Well, in some ways it's good that it's been a long time 'cos it means I've been busy!!!
I've had a fantastic week......started on Tuesday 'cos I'd been away visiting friends in Essex.
Four Chesnuts hosted a great eveing featuring Jim Causley fresh from the folk awards celebrations. He is a fantastic singer and kept everyone well and truly entertained. I managed a lovely song...Abroad as I was Walking...collected by George Gardiner in Axford, Hampshire back in 1907. Then had a quiet day Wednesday catching up with myself and listening to the folk awards on radio 2, followed by an unbelievably bad (just my opinion, of course) rendition of Come on feel the Noise by no other than the Imagined Village.......WHY? So reverted to the replay of Leeds v Spurs, followed by a four hour catch up of 24!!!!