February 2018

Snow stopped play, this month. David and I trudged along to The Grapes just in case someone from the village had chanced their arm. Played a few tunes then braved the snowy squalls from Siberia homeward.  Eliza

January 2018

Before I get started on January, just a mention of our Boxing Day Session, 2017. Thanks to Kevin who biked to Carlisle and on to Newcastleton by car to give us some grand tunes such as Matt Seattle's 'Lindisfarne', 'Green Bracken,' 'Bewick's Hornpipe' 'Highland Whisky' and 'Jane's Fancy' among others on concertina. While being a small and intimate gathering of two musicians and two singers (a Venn diagram being required to show how three people equate to this group), it was a jolly contribution to our festivities, tucked away in the valley of the Liddel Water as we are. Felicitations, Kevin - now back near snowy Madrid, I believe!

JANUARY: A fine gathering: good to welcome Jasmine back with some superb Karine Polwart, Leonard Cohen and Amanda Lambert numbers. Indeed, guitarists were in healthy number, not to mention a rather special visit by a decorative guitar with a great tone (accompanied by its owner). Sadly I didn't note down its name and not being a guitar nerd...
Some other songs accompanied on guitar were: Christine's rendering of Frank Henessey's 'The 'Old Camarthen Oak, her Don Williams', 'Lay Down Beside Me,' Janet's 'The Lake's of Pontchartrain' (a particularly resonant one for me), her rendering of Rick Kemp's 'Deep in the Darkest Night,' Steve's 'The Valley of Strathmore' and 'The Dawning of the Day,' Phil's Lord Franklin (in response to Angus' unaccompanied Stan Rogers: 'The Northwest Passage') and Phil's 'A Bag down in the Alley-o' - penned by his own hand - and to be heard on Youtube, I notice!
Among the unaccompanied songs were Katy's, 'Herring Croon' and 'Rare Willie Drowned in Yarrow, Angus' 'MacIain,' David's 'Follow Me Home' (Kipling/Peter Bellamy) and Eliza's 'The Month of January.'
David played tunes on small pipes including 'More for Beauty than Gear' and accompanied a couple of Eliza's songs on Bodhran and we finished off with a selection of tunes from the musicians.
Looking forward to gathering again on the 27th of February.

December 2017: General Catch Up

Since the last post (bugles at the ready) many jolly nights have been going on upstairs in the Grapes, Newcastleton with old friends and new in attendance. If I have let the blogposts lapse (which, of course, I have) done, it has not been for lack of singers, musicians, tunes and songs, but rather that my time and energy for recording these has been being syphoned off elsewhere. However, I have resolved to write a briefer summary from this point on (it being the time for resolutions and all that) and in that way to keep the news ongoing.
To cover the times that have sped by in 2017, I notice my last was during the build-up to the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival of last year: April. So to catch up, Janet has contributed greatly to our little gathering this year and, in May, joined David and I, Steve, Phil, Ruth and Katy and some audience friends Ian and Angela, Eric, Diane and Mary (and one or two others whose names are indecipherable in my book). Looking through the list of songs there was a seasonal spring-like theme with a couple of birds, 'The Swallow' and 'A Small Bird Comes to me Apron' also featuring. Janet gave us 'Heartbreaker' an early Elvis number as well as 'Adieu to Old England.'
June I omitted to bring the book and wrote elsewhere (unknown).
In July Norman, Charlie, Carol and Dave joined us, Norman contributing 'The Ploughboy Lad from Yarrow' among others, Carol 'The Goodnight Train on the Trail' by Utah Phillips and Dave, in a rare vocal rendering, 'Have you Seen Ought o' my Bonnie Lad' and Charlie the tune, 'The Longhope Lifeboat' among others.
August brought us Maureen and Ron, Martin and Lynne from the caravan site as well as our special guest, Miriam briefly returned from Italy. Also Kevin and Charlie with Swedish Irish and other tunes on pipes and fiddle. Miriam's 'The Maiden and the Selkie was particularly haunting.
In September Christine gave us some grand songs accompanied on guitar such as 'Underneth the Weeping WillowTree. It was good to have Carol, Dave and Norman visiting again and to hear Carol's 'October Song' one I haven't heard for a while also Phil's 'The Setting of the Sun' by Cicely Fox-Smith and Angus' 'A Dedicated Follower of Fashion. '
October brought the annual visit of Jed and family, some lovely tunes by Jed on the fiddle and songs by various family members. Clive also brought his fiddle: a great treat to have two fiddlers, both much enjoyed.
November's session also proved lively, Steve joining us after a difficult year and contributing greatly to the proceedings which went off with much general good cheer.
Thanks to all who took part. We have one more session night to go in 2017 on the 26th Boxing Night for anyone who manages it. See you there.

April 2017

We were joined this month by Carol and Dave from Crawcrook as well as Lindsay and Rachel. Although the latter claimed to be audience, Lindsay was prevailed upon to sing and gave us a grand rendering of 'Oh Pendle.' We were greatly pleased that Janet returned and gave us Alan Taylor's, 'Lady Take your Time,' 'The Coat of Many Colours' and 'The Ash Grove' among others. Carol sang Robin Williamson's, 'October Song,' and Anna McGarrigle's, 'Talk to Me of Menocino,' as well as 'Mr. Bojangles.' Phil gave us, 'The Bonny Ship the Diamond,' 'Slip Jigs and Reels' and 'Tim McGuire who Loved to Play with Fire,' and Angus, 'I am Weary' sung by the Cox Family and Sydney Carter's 'Run the Film Backwards.' Robbie threw in 'Over the Hills' and 'The British Soldier by Harvey Andrews.' David sang , 'Daddy Fox,' and 'Old Fid.' There were others but the above selection gives a flavour of the evenings proceedings.
Tunes on dulcimer, pipes and guitar were, 'The Quaker's Wife,' 'Mr Preston's Hornpipe,' ' Eileen o' Carroll,' 'Love Minus Zero' by Bob Dylan, 'Eagles' Whistle' and Northumbrian tunes and polkas with all joining in.
We raised a glass to our good friend David Hutchinson who had become a regular at the club before his recent sad death. We will remember his songs and tunes songs and tunes. Rest peacefully, Dave.
I look forward to meeting again on May 23rd.

March 2017

Lawks: getting left behind! Busy book writing (of which, more anon, perhaps).
So, where was I? The March session turned out to be a lively night on which we were visited by the jolly, rollicking company of a singles club plus others: Jill, Sally, Joyce, Sheila, Francis, Mary, Jane, Debbie, John, some of whom were singers and offered up a song or two, and much enjoyed these were, too. Janet introduced herself and brought her guitar, which was great. We were also joined by a friend, Robin, of the old days at the Colpitts in Durham and our good regulars. The Colpitts session may well be still going. I wonder whether there is still a furious water boiler for glass washing, pawing the ground and snorting spurts of steam at intervals.
David started us off on pipes with the tune, to the song, ' Broom Bezoms' and later did 'Valse de Pol. ' Other tunes were Charlie's 'Harvest Home' and 'Trumpet Hornpipe' with joining in by other instrumentalists and, later, 'King o' the Fairies' and 'Willa Fjord' or 'Spooky Skerry.'
There were lots of good songs, particularly featuring some from Lancashire such as Carol's 'Oh Pendle' and Cicely Fox Smith's, 'Hunting o' the Hare'. A selection of others were: Janet's 'Sadly Certain,' Katy's, 'Generations of Change,' Richard's spirited rendering of the bothy ballad, 'Nicky Tams,' and Robin's 'You Are' by Graeme Miles. Robin, a great friend of, and collaborator with, Graeme during his lifetime, is also a fine exponent of his haunting songs of Teeside and beyond. Ann sang, 'It Made me the Man that I Am,' a song of an emigrant to Australia, and Angus, Gillian Welsh and Dave Rawlings,' 'Dear Someone. 'Phil picked up on the earlier spooky tuned gave us Dorothy Una Radcliff's, 'The White Dog of Yockenthwaite.' Janet gave us 'The Nightingale' and Tom Paxton's, 'Can't help but Wonder Where I'm Bound.' We were privileged to be treated to Cubby's story of,'The Spanish Waiter,' told with great aplomb.
There were plenty more songs and some laughs but the above gives a flavour of the evening. Thanks for coming, all. A grand evening.

January and February 2017

These were two small but perfectly formed or should I say select evenings i.e. there were only four of us, the same four (Katy, Dave, David and Eliza) on each occasion giving us time to enjoy the craic etc. Pipes, guitar and voice featured on each occasion and suffice it to say a selection of tunes and songs the like of which were ne'er....etc.

A flavour of the two evenings follow:
January Tunes - on pipes 'Lugaren,' 'Lads of Alnwick,' 'All the Neet I Lay wi' Jackie in my Arms,'
and on guitar, 'Loch Tay Boat Song' and 'Dark Island.'
Burns, Robert, of that name was celebrated from the get-go with Dave's 'Ae Fond Kiss...' and Eliza's 'Ca the Yows.' Dave also gave us 'Will you come by the Hills.' and 'Where have the Years Gone Between.' Katy gave us some instruction on the link between greenery and year-round festivals with 'Candlemas Eve.'  Ribaldry was a prevailing theme among the women's songs with Katy's 'As I came over the Curly Mount' as a card to trump Eliza's 'Dainty Davy' the unexpurgated version. Katy also sang the curious 'Codling Tree'
There were others, too numerous to name... not quite.

February Tunes - on pipes 'Baillez- li,' 'Waltz a Cadet,' 'Pawkey Adam Glen,' 'Mount your Baggage' and 'Old Drops of Brandy'
Songs: Dave gave us 'All the Tunes in the World' to the tune of 'South Wind' and 'I'm a Rover' to which Eliza responded with the supernatural version of same, 'The Grey Cock' and Katy a riposte, 'Why Should I...' There followed a discussion of night visiting songs usually involving a cock that crows, sometimes before the dawn, and generally disrupts proceedings natural or otherwise, the discussion ranging as far as the Provencal 'Alba,' a very vibrant form, as Katy outlined.  Katy also gave us a feisty version of 'Barbara Allen.'
There were others including a notable 'Ever Since the Dog Ate Aunt Bella' from Katy, Dave's heartfelt rendering of 'On a Monday Morning,' and 'The Rose of Allendale'  and David's 'Mek a Good Hound' by Cisley Fox Smith.

All in all good sangs and tunes and good company. Join us next time!

27th December 2016

It was great to welcome two couples who were staying at the caravan site for a few days of getting away from it all. Both Ann and Peter and Amy and Wyn had just happened to find the village and find us - which made for good cheer. Ann and Peter brought guitar and voices and Amy and Wyn general patter. We were thrilled to be visited by Bob, formerly of the Holme Accordion and Fiddle club and a founder member of the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival, who at ninety-three is still going strong on accordion and whose tunes were flowing despite a bit of nerve-to-the-finger trouble. Also joining us were Kevin on pipes (Spanish chanter, Swedish bag and drones by the man himself) and concertina, Charlie on Fiddle and Robbie with his own songs. David was sparing with the pipes on this occasion, having just had the small operation on the hand for Dupuytrens Contracture or the 'Viking claw,' an ailment afflicting many descendants of the Norse in Scotland and elsewhere, including the MacCrimmon family, once pipers to the MacLeods of Lewis apparently.

Charlie started off the night with a strathspey on fiddle, 'Gloomy Winter.' He also gave us, 'In the Bleak Midwinter' - the Harold Darke rather than Gustav Holst tune to Christina Rossetti's poem. Later in this wintery vein he continued with 'The Frost is All Over' and the 'Teetotaller,' a march 'The Barren Rocks of Aden' and 'St Anne's Reel.'

Kevin played 'Highland Laddie' on small pipes; 'The Wild Hills of Wannie' and 'Green Bracken' on concertina; then back to the pipes for a Majorcan tune as well as 'The Gypsies of Moia,' and 'Wigh's Fancy' and returned to concertina for 'Jane's Fancy and 'Lamb Skinnet.'

Bob played many tunes through the evening, some accompanied by guitar, concertina and a bit of fiddle picking of which 'Granny's Highland Hame,' 'The Dark Island,' 'The Mucking of Geordie's Byre,' 'The Soft Rolling Tongue of the Border,' 'Loch Lomond,' some Chopin and 'Sweet Baby James' were but a few.

David played 'Buy Broom Besoms' and a Swedish psalm tune, 'Visa Fran Ostbjorka' on small pipes.

Moving on to the songs, Peter, a former professional, gave us a fine couple of North Eastern numbers accompanying himself on guitar; Johnny Handle's, 'Going to the Mine,' 'Little Chance' from the singing of John Elliot of Birtley, plus Nancy Griffith's, 'Trouble in the Fields.' 

Ann sang with guitar accompaniment and sometimes additional vocals by Peter; Robbie Burns' 'The Silver Tassie,' Paul Simon's 'The Sound of Silence,' Dougie McLean's 'Caledonia, Karine Polwart's 'Follow the Heron Home,' 'The Dawning of the Day' and, finally, 'Dirty Old Town' with all joining in.

Eliza had a Christmas, Midwinter and generally seasonal theme going with 'The Cherry Tree Carol,' 'Joy, Health, Love and Peace,' 'The Gower Wassail' and 'Cakes and Ale.'

David sang, 'The Bonny Grey,' or 'The Cockfight' from the mining communities of Northumberland, Kipling's, 'The Dutch in the Medway' to Peter Bellamy's tune, and 'Old Fid' by Bill Lowndes.

Robbie sang three of his own compositions, 'Christmas Day,' 'You Are the One,' another and 'Over the Hills and Far Away,' as well as 'The British Soldier' written by Harvey Andrews.

Charlie led the musicians in 'Midnight on the Water' to finish.

A good time was had by all, I think. 

Next session is the 24th January. Happy New Year and goodnight!

November 22nd 2016

This month we were joined by audience members Isobel, Susan and Lisa. Ruth, a singer from not too far afield arrived later on in the evening by chance and was directed upstairs. Carol and Dave of Crawcrook joined us, as did regulars whistling far and wee. Instruments were dulcimer, small pipes, harmonica, bodhran and guitars.
Tunes were: on guitar and mouth organ, Hamish Henderson's 'Farewell to the Creeks' and MacLeod of Mull'; on small pipes, 'Cotillion des Marionettes' and 'Argeers', two polkas, Mr. Preston's Hornpipe and 'Drops of Brandy' (all instruments joining in); on dulcimer, 'Sweet and Lovely Eileen O'Carroll,' 'The Quaker's Wife' and another one played by Dave and Carol on guitar and dulcimer the title of which is illegible in my book.
I'll begin the songs with ballads ancient and modern this time which were Katy's tale of Eppie Morrie who fought against forced marriage and rape and won and David's 'Death and the Lady', an unsuccessful attempt on the part of the lady to negotiate with death as well as the more recent 'The Ballad of Lucy Jordan' by Shel Silverstein contributed by Angus.
Songs and tunes penned by the singers and composers were in evidence; from Steve, a blues influenced by Robert Johnson, Norman's, 'Here's to the West Coast, that Wild Atlantic Shore' with guitar and mouthie accompaniment and Robbie's, 'Love Song' and later a poem, 'She Came to Me Through the Night.'
Songs on the occupational subjects of mining, fishing and soldiering were, Eliza and Carol's 'Blackleg Miner,' Phil's 'Geordie Black,' Dave of Crawcrook's 'Rap 'Er T' Bank,' Dave's 'Fareweel Tae the Haven' by Davy Steele, David's 'Rochester Recruiting Sergeant' and Katy's 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye.' Also, on the subject of getting up for work was Dave's 'Monday Morning.' And, perhaps, the antidote, Webb Pierce' 'There Stands the Glass,' contributed by Angus.
Water was a bit of a theme with Phil's 'Song of the Artesian Water' by Banjo Paterson with Angus on bodhran and his song about the river Wear, 'The Biggest Little River', Dave's 'In the Land of Three Rivers' by Vin Garbutt, and, at a stretch, Phil's later 'Franklin,' Katy's Farewell to Lochaber and Eliza's 'The Garten Mother's Lullaby' (which mentions the boatman who sails his boat till dawn).
Tenuous links might also be made between titles, if nothing else, of Steve's 'Dark Side of the Moon' influenced piece, Angus' 'Broken Wings, by Chris De Burgh and Eliza's 'Allensford Pursuit' (a witches' song, apparently, in which, among other methods of pursuit, they fly)
Other welcome offerings were, Ruth's 'Emperor's New Clothes by Sinead O'Connor, Dave's Tennessee Blues by Bobby Charles, Angus' Moon Shadow by Cat Stevens, Carol's seasonal 'October Song' by the Corries, Norman's traveller song from Belle Stuart, 'As I Went into Inverness-shire,' Dave's 'Where the Hell are we Going to Live?' by Paul Wright and sung by the Levellers and Vin Garbut. This last sparked a lively exchange about those who have no roof at all.
We finished with John Dee Burgess, a jig played by Norman with much joining in. A jolly night indeed (tempered by those latter thoughts - above). Thanks for coming.
Our next session night will be the 27th of December, the night after Boxing Day. Ruth suggested tea lights. Festive cheer, anyway.

October 25th 2016

Good to welcome for the First time Bill Thompson, a great local singer and stalwart of the Newcastleton Traditional Music Festival over many years. Also Jed and at least three main parts of an extended family, now including twenty children, for their annual half-term visit from north-eastern, southern and western England - covering all points of the compass in fact. We appreciated Jed's fine fiddling, grand harmonies from the singers and finger picking from Louis, not to mention good company. Irene and Rick from Lancashire and another also visited, having been here earlier in the year at the festival. Steve also came and listened for a while. Always good to have an audience.
Instruments were two fiddles (Jed and Charlie) and Charlie also brought his mandolin, concertina (Dave), two sets of pipes (David's 'Anglo-French' small pipes and French pipes in G), guitars (Dave, Angus, Phil and Louis).
Let's start with tunes. David opened the evening with two pipe tunes, 'Noble Squire Dacre' and 'Go to Berwick Jonny,' from Northumberland on smallpipes and later played 'Mundess' on French pipes. Jed gave us a several Swedish tunes in a couple of sets played in evocative style on fiddle. Dave's guitar set was 'Haste to the Wedding,' 'Hogmanay Jig' and 'Lemonville Jig' and on concertina he played 'Planxty Irwin' and 'Hewlett.' Charlie began with 'St. Anne's Reel' on mandolin with accompaniment by various guitars and later on fiddle, 'Soldier's Joy' and 'De'il Among the Tailors.' He also played 'The Heroes of Longhope' on fiddle, written by Ronnie Aim of Orkney about the loss of the Longhope Lifeboat in 1969 as well as 'The Irish Washerwoman' and 'The Tenpenny Bit'.
Songs were, Dave's 'Will You Come Awa wi me My Bonnie Lassie' by David Stone and Peter McNab's, 'Where have the Years Gone Between,' and a song by the Canadian, James Keelaghan, 'Orion.' Bill gave us 'The Fairy' and a moving rendering of, 'The Fields of Athenry,' Eliza, 'The Woodcutter's Song,' 'Sir Patrick Spens' (short version) and 'Oak and Ash and Thorn' by Rudyard Kipling, arranged by Peter Bellamy, Angus, 'Bobby McGee' and a great and frenetic Tyneside medley beginning with, 'The Lambton Worm' and 'The Blaydon Races' firing up much joining in, also 'Song for Ireland' and 'The Day that Lester Died' by Claire Lynch about Earl Scruggs and Lester Flatt. Phil began with a song apparently banned by the BBC when it first came out for fear it might upset children or incite them to set fires, 'The Fireman, Tim McGuire,' and followed with two songs one about the sea and the other a sailor, 'Three Score and Ten' by William Delph, a Whitby fisherman and song-maker, commemorating lives lost in a freak storm in 1889, and 'Jack Tar. Katy offered, 'The Merchant's Son' and, later, 'Nancy Whiskey' and 'Shawnee Town' originally sung by the men who worked the barges, 'flat boating' on the Ohio river.
The family group began with a duet by Louis on guitar with May and Louis on vocals for 'Emmylou' written by First Aid Kit and played for Emmylou Harris at an award ceremony. This was followed by a group consisting of Martha, Jack, Sadie, Frank and Anna, the latter on lead vocals with the others harmonising in a song learned from the Unthanks, 'Hey Canny Man Hoy a Penny Oot,' referring to the North-Eastern tradition of throwing a penny for a bridal party. Bill said that a similar tradition known as 'striving' existed in the Scottish Borders, requiring the groom and best man to throw the pennies. Cath led on 'You don't know What Love is' with, once more a fine group of harmonising children. May's second offering was 'Hero.' Thanks to all of the members of this talented troupe.
Robbie weighed in with a song penned by his good self, 'My Soulmate' and followed it later with a spirited rendering of 'A Christmas Prayer' by Billy Fury. David threw in two songs, 'The Young Trooper' and 'The Cock Fight.' Phil finished the night with 'John o' Dreams by Bill Caddick.
A good night. Thanks for coming everyone. See you next year, Jed's bunch. Next month's night will be the 22nd of November.
Eliza

September 27th 2016

Great Night. Old friends and local first timers, Lisa, Steve and Aaron. Good to have a visit from Carol and Dave from Crawcrook. (I will call him Dave of C. due to the proliferation of Daves, two of whom have the same initial.) Instruments were smallpipes (Anglo-French and hybrid), dulcimer and several guitars.
Carol and Dave of C. kicked off with the evocative song about emigrants, 'Outside Track,' words by Australian poet Henry Lawson, music by Gerry Hallom. Dave of C. sang 'Rap 'er te Bank,' the well-known Tyneside song. David continued with 'Old Fid' narrated by an old sailor reminiscing. Dave on guitar gave us 'The Rolling Hills of the Border' and the tune 'Calliope House.' I produced my fiddle for the first time and gave dismal attempted rendering of 'The Rose Tree' which has similarities to the tune of the song that followed, 'The False Knight on the Road.' However, onward and upward. Angus gave us the poignant, 'The Summer before the War,' words and music by Huw Williams.
Kevin's hybrid pipes were in good form with 'Wigh's Fancy' from the 'Peacock Manuscript' followed by a Spanish Tune.
Phil sang the wagon driver's song 'A Champion at Keeping 'em Rolling' by Ewan McColl and continuing the industrial theme, Katy sang,'The Doffing Mistress,' apparently about the children whose work was to put on and take off the spools for the spinning. The song was popular among spinners who added their own local verses.
Dave of C. gave us 'Sweet and Lovely Eileen o' Carroll' (otherwise known as 'The Fair and Charming Eileen O' Carroll') a lovely tune. Carol and Dave of C. then gave us another poignant song that the folk are so good at, John Fogerty's 'Paradise' aka, 'Mr Peabody's Coal Train' which continued the theme of industry but this time its destructive nature.
David played, 'Mr Preston's Hornpipe' on smallpipes.
Dave on guitar sang, 'My Name is Delaney.' Eliza followed with the Nortumbrian version of 'Scarborough Fair' 'Whittingham Fair' which apparently is a fragment also known as 'The Elfin Knight,' one of nineteen versions collected by Child (of ballad collection fame) and which he traced through many languages of Asia and Europe. Angus followed with 'Sally Gee.'
Kevin gave us 'Paddy Whack,' a jig from the Peacock Manuscript that goes under various names and 'Farewell...' (that's all i've got down for that one).
Phil, with 'Music of the Loom' by Danny Kyle continued the informal theme of work songs having researched them for last week's Brampton session (see 'Events' page). And why waste a song you've worked up. In a similar vein, Katy sang that touching country song, 'The Carter' and Carol, 'Byker Hill  and Walker Shore' with its reference to collier lads.
Dave of C. put in a Dulcimer tune (sorry not noted) and David followed with  'John Barleycorn is a Hero Bold.' Returning to the prevailing theme, Dave on guitar gavels Jez Lowe's 'Black Diamonds.'
Aaron leapt boldly into the fray with an improvised guitar tune in most accomplished style after only two weeks tuition with his father, Steve. Steve gave us an improvised jazz piece on guitar which added much appreciated variety and colour to the evening. Eliza joined David on pipes to provide the vocals for 'She Moved Through The Fair'. Angus was joined by Steve, both on guitar for John Mayall's blues, 'Sandy.'
Kevin's two Catalonian melodies on pipes were accompanied by Phil and Steve on guitars.
In my view you can never get enough Tyneside songs, nor indeed, enough of the same one twice and Phil, who had missed Dave of C's earlier rendering, fired up 'Rap 'er te Bank,' in his own inimitable style preceded by 'Jowl, Jowl and Listen Lads.' Katy, still at the mill, threw in 'The Dundee Weaver Lass.'
The mood changed with Dave of C's 'The Parting Glass' and Carol's 'Talk to me of Mendocino' by Anna McGarrigle, Phil's 'The Cocky Farmer' or 'Now I'm Easy' by Eric Bogle and Dave's 'Will you come away with me my bonnie lassie.'
We finished the night with a session of tunes: Dave gave us three tunes on guitar, 'Haste to the Wedding', Hogmanay Jig' and 'The Lemonville Jig,' an Irish and Scottish set. Then Aaron and Steve played together and Steve fired up a classical piece. Kevin played 'Frisky' and 'Highland Laddie' on pipes and Dave 'The March of the King of Laois' on Dulcimer. David on pipes played 'Sawney and Jockey,' 'Ham House' and 'Cherry Garden,' and Dave led tunes in G; 'Salmon Tails' and 'Jaimie Allen.'
Good to see you all. Hope to see Steve and family again, as well as all. October's date is the 25th.

August 2016

Thanks for coming from there to here those who trekked over various hills. David was at Whitby Festival so I was greatly pleased to see the friendly faces. Once more I am a little late with this (hols.). We were pleased to see Miriam before her departure for the continent. As well as guitar, Dave brought his electronic bagpipe (which can play in the tone of various types of pipe) this time and gave us some grand tunes. I wonder if this means we will hear him playing the traditional instrument at some point. Charlie also brought his guitar as well as fiddle - and some good songs.
Dave kicked off the night with 'The Galway Shawl' and Eliza continued with 'The Gallowa' Hills,' Katy, the ballad, 'The Nut Brown Maid' and Miriam, 'The Bunch of Thyme.
Tunes on Dave's bagpipe were 'The Hills of Argyle' and 'Highland Cathedral.' Angus led Egan's and Ryan's on mandolin.
Charlie gave us Doc Watson's 'A-Roving on a Winter's Night' and Phil 'The Day Before the War' (R. Johnson / Moose & Raffi, D.Pike) as sung by Roy Bailey. At this point Katy whisked us back to the sixteenth century, as is her wont with, 'A Ditty Delightful of Mother Watkin's Ale' which Miriam followed with 'Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy' and Dave 'Quare Bungle Rye.'
Tunes led by Angus were 'Winster Gallop,' 'Jamie Allen' and 'Salmon Tails.'
Eliza waded in with another Scottish song, 'The Shearing's No For Me' and Charlie the lovely ballad, 'The Earl of March's Daughter' set in Tushielaw, near Selkirk. Phil then weighed in with his own song 'The First Man on the Moon was a Cumbrian' about Josh Salkeld from Cockermouth who took off from Great Gable and may well be on the dark side to this very day, a song containing local references of scientific interest to the assembled company. Katy, eclectic to the last, followed with a Woody Guthrie classic song (she being inspired by the earlier Doc Watson, I believe), 'Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet?' and Miriam, 'Sonny's Dream' by Newfoundlander Ron Hynes made famous by Jean Redpath. Dave gave us Matt McGinn's, 'The Rolling Hills of the Borders' with the tune Calliope House' on guitar. Angus was moved by Katy's choice perhaps to follow with the Country and Western song, 'Me and Bobby Mcgee' by Chris Kristofferson. Eliza threw in 'The Female Soldier' and Charlie, 'The Carlton Weaver' or 'Nancy Whisky' with an extra verse. Phil gave us 'Up the Noran Water,' as sung by Jean Redpath. This time Katy offered a parody of 'Country Life' with 'I hate to Rise When the Sun she Rises' and Miriam 'The Warlike Lads of Russia', a Broadside Ballad with a few extra words and a tune by Nic Jones. Dave did the old favourite, 'Fiddler's Green,' Eliza 'Mally-O,' Phil, 'The Oggy Man and Dave Ivan Drever's 'Dounreay Song'.
Tunes to finish were Angus' rendering of Margaret'sWaltz and Charlie's 'St Anne's Reel' on fiddle, 'Soldier's Joy' and 'De'il Among the Tailors.' All musicians joined in.

Thanks to all. Enjoyed good company and good conversation. In bocca al lupo, Miriam.
September's date is the 27th. See you there.

July 2016

What a great night. Good to see friends Carol and David from the Tyne, Charlie all the way from  Lochmaben, Jasmine and Elaine from around these parts and Ed and Eileen staying on the caravan site from Fife. Norman and Dave brought their great repertoires as did Miriam up from Leicester. Regulars Katie, Phil and Angus have a knack of contributing a song in tune with the theme or mood of the moment. Tunes alternated with the songs with lots of joining in which made for a generally convivial night. Instruments were accordion, guitars, mandolin, dulcimer, smallpipes, banjo (Angus came particularly well equipped) fiddle, mouth organ and whistle. There were two Davids and a Dave  present, distinguishable as each plays a different instrument.
Ed, a fine exponent of the accordion playing from a variety of traditions, began with an Irish Waltz, 'Slieve na Mon' and followed with, 'The Blue Tango.' Staying with tunes, Charlie contributed 'The Trumpet Hornpipe' and 'Harvest Home' on fiddle, David, 'The Battle of the Somme' on smallpipes and another David, 'The Fair and Charming Eileen O'Carroll' on dulcimer.
Songs during the first round (or, perhaps,'bout') were Eliza with 'Lowlands of Holland,' Phil, 'Dublin in the Rare Old Times,' Miriam, the broadside ballad, 'Courting too Slow,' giving the male perspective on courtship from a different angle, with tune by Peter Bellamy, Carol, the haunting 'The Outside Track' a setting of Henry Lawson, the Australian writer's poem, recorded by Garnet Rogers to Gerry Hallom's tune with guitar and dulcimer accompaniment. Norman gave us a great Bothy Ballad from Aberdeenshire, the name of which I have not noted and Dave, 'The Banks of the Bann,' Accompanied by guitar.
Back to Ed again who began this section with 'Whistling Rufus' about a popular American negro minstrel, as they termed him at the time, composed by Kerry Mills in 1899. This was a tune that Bruce a founder member of the club who, sadly, is no longer with us, used to play on guitar, so it was good to hear it. Other tunes in this round were, Angus' polkas (Egans and John Ryan's), Charlie's 'Da Slockit Light,' David on dulcimer, 'Eagle's Whistle' with practically all of the musicians, and Norman's 'McLeod of Mull' in pibroch style on guitar and mouth harp.
Songs were Jasmine's 'Falling' by Kate Rusby, Eliza's 'Lads o' the Fair' by Brian McNeill, Phil's 'Donnybristle Mining Disaster' about the shaft flooded by the moss water written by the barber of Cowdenbeath in honour of our guests from Fife. Miriam gave us Sydney Carter's, 'The Crow on the Cradle,' Katy, a grand rendering in dialect of 'The Lumb Hat,' David (piper), the whaling song, 'Rolling Down to Old Maui,' Carol, Leon Rosselson's, 'Don't Get Married Girls,' in comic style with much affectionate joshing of her spouse and, after this (guitar) Dave gave us the lyrical, 'Orion,' a lovely song.
Going great guns, we were now ready for a third round, with Ed kicking off once more, this time with, 'By Yon Bonny Border Burn,' a tribute to the late Tommy Lamb of Copshaw Holm from whom he learnt it twenty years ago a short time before Tommy died. He followed this with a set of three tunes, 'Miss Mary Printy' each individual tune titled with a different female name: 'Miss C. M. Barber,' 'Miss Kay Rose' and 'Miss Mary Printy.' There was some speculation about the background to these, especially as there seems to be some mystery surrounding who had written them as a set of three. Charlie then played 'Ashokan Farewell by Jay Ungar who ran/runs a music camp on the banks of the Ashokan river where an indigenous American village was flooded to create a reservoir. Everyone joined in.
Songs in this final round were, Karine Polwart's, 'I'm gonna Do it All' sung by Jasmine with guitar accompaniment, a bluegrass song 'Up this Hill and Down,' sung by Angus with banjo, 'The Twa Magician' sung by Eliza. Phil's offering this time was 'Lord Huntley,' while Miriam gave us Heather Dale's, 'Changeling Child.' Sydney Carter featured again in Katy's choice of 'Tell Me Where Did Helen Go?' and David (piper) followed with Kipling's 'The Dutch in the Medway' with tune by Peter Bellamy and Carol with Heather Wood's, 'Foolish, Incredibly Foolish' accompanied as before. Norman did another of his excellent pieces this time to an Irish tune, the name of which I have simply scribbled as, 'When I was in...' Apologies Norman - I must have been too busy listening both times. Dave sang Jez Lowe's 'Black Diamonds' and Jasmine Little Big Town's 'I've Got a Girl Crush,' an Angus, Phil Coulter's, 'Steal Away.'
Charlie finished the night with 'Soldier's Joy' and 'Mason's Apron' on fiddle with all joining in, once again.
A good night in my estimation. Thank you all for coming. Next month's date is the 23rd of August.

June 2016

This was a good break-you-in-gently pre-festival session. Sadly, I was then overwhelmed by preparations for said festival and whacked afterwards and did not find time to do the blog. So, albeit a month late, here is a quick resume.
David and I were joined by other members of the Festival Team, Carole, Beth and James and regulars Katy, Ruth, Phil and Angus. Rob was visiting and gave us some cracking songs and a recitation.
Tunes were on accordion, pipes, recorder, guitar, mandolin, whistle and bodhran  as follows: 'Lincum Doddie,' 'The Unfortunate Cup of Tea, 'Egan's Polka,' 'Ryan's Polka,' 'Humours of Glendart,' 'Salmon Tails,' 'Winster Gallop,' 'Jaimie Allen,' 'Machair,' 'Leg of the Duck,' 'Wee Todd.' 'Leaving Friday Harbour,' 'Snow on the Hills,' 'Xesus and Feliera,' 'Margaret's Waltz,' 'Sack of Wheat,' 'Off to California' and 'Walz for Pol.'
Songs were 'The Roving Journeyman,' 'The Dutch in the Medway,' 'Gan to the Kye,' 'Coming Home,' 'The Jolly Waggoner,' 'Peppers and Tomatoes,' 'The Rolling Hills of the Border,' 'The Carter,' 'The Well Below the Valley-O,' 'A Place Called England,' 'Champion,' 'Lady Nairn,' 'Lazybones,' 'Hedger and Ditcher,' 'John Barleycorn,' 'Ca the Yows' 'The Socialist Alphabet,' 'By the Light of the Peat Fire,' 'The Oak and the Ash,' 'Three Pennine Rangers,' 'There were Roses,' 'Both Sides of Tweed.'
Recitations were, 'Get out of My Life,' and 'The Curriculum for Excellence.'
Thank you all. Normal service will be resumed imminently.'

May 23rd 2016

Pipes, mandolins (small and large), guitars and a whistle graced the gathering this month. In particular, it was a night of piping, in that there were three pipers, Kevin, James and David, proponents of a variety of traditions originating from/in the style of various locations (Northumbrian, Scottish small pipes, English small pipes, Swedish and French as well as Kevin’s Swedish/Spanish hybrid set). David kicked off with ‘Piper’s Maggot’ and ‘Cuckold come out of the Amry’ and later, ‘Morfydd’s Pipes’ and both old and new 'Drops of Brandy.' James followed in his fast-developing danceable style with ‘Over the Border’ and ‘Nae Good Luck Aboot the Hoose.’ He later added 'Ian Green of Green Trax’ by Gordon Duncan and ‘After the Green Monster,' also 'Jack Latin' and 'I'll Aye Ca' in by Your Toon to See My Bonnie Jean Again' (tune to the Burns song?).' Later still he played a Gavotte and 'Shew us the Way to Wallington.' Kevin, on his self-designed hybrid Swedish/ Spanish pipes gave us a Mallorcan Bolero and an Asturian tune followed by a Welsh tune and an Andro from Brittany and later, 'I'm awa Young to Marry Yet,' 'Highland Laddie,' with a Belgian tune to up the European quota for good measure. To finish with he contributed 'Ibeus(?),' an Asturian tune and 'Frisky,' a Northumbrian tune. Angus on mandolin gave us some Northumbrian tunes 'Salmon Tails,' 'Winster Gallop' and 'Jimmy Allen' and guitars joined in as well as the odd whistle.
Singers were in fine voice with good guitar and mandolin accompaniments as well as unaccompanied performance. Songs ranged from the Scots to the Australian, taking in Hamish Henderson and Dave Sudbury and probably crossing three or more centuries if Katy had anything to do with it. There were a couple of whaling songs, not to mention a bit of a bird theme springing up and winging it through the night. Phil sang 'The Cocky,' 'The Diamond,' 'Freedom Come All Ye' (Henderson) and 'John O'Dreams' as when as 'Farewell to Tarwathie.' Ruth 'The Swallow,' a reminder of the bird many still note the first appearance of to confirm summer is on its way, also 'Gossip Joan,' and 'Glad That I live Am I.' Katy rose to the challenge of this emerging theme with, 'A Wee Bird's Come to my Window,' and later followed it with 'As I was Going to Banbury,' and something I have down as 'Duma.' My hunch is that this last is subject to an error in my scribble; I do know that her final song was not about the legislative body in the ruling assembly of Russia. Angus, gave us the oddly haunting 'When Winter Comes Howling In' (Lindisfarne), the moving, 'Charlie's Pigeons' by Dave Sudbury, and another one I have omitted to note down as is my wont from time to time (sorry about that). Dave, building back from strength to strength gave us the 'Old Blind Dogs' version of 'Pills of White Mercury', 'The Trysting Fair at Falkirk' and 'The Rolling Hills of the Border' with the tune, 'Calliope House' as well as Andy M. Stewart's,'Ramblin' Rover.' David sang 'Old Maui' and Robbie 'When Cannons are roaring. Eliza did Halan Tow (meaning 1st of May garland, according to 'Mainly Norfolk') 'Let no man Steal Your Thyme' and 'The Gallowgate Lad.'
Thanks for coming, all. Hope to see you on the 28th June.

April 26th 2016

It was great to welcome new and new-to-the-session friends from Bewcastle, Simonburn and Larrison this month. Rob (guitar), Philip (concertina, bodhran and whistle), Val, Adele and James (in seating order clockwise!) regaled us with music and songs and provided a muster of new audience. Norman brought Highland singing and playing on guitar and mouth organ and Jasmine guitar and more contemporary songs, generally entering into the spirit of things, too.
As well as the above, other instruments were recorder, mouth organ and small pipes.

So to begin with tunes. David began with regulars on these pages, 'Mount your Baggage' and 'Pawky Adam Glen' and later followed with 'Nobel Squire Dacre' and 'The Apprentice Lads of Alnwick,' a personal favourite as a former (childhood) denizen of the town, variously inhabiting no fewer than three gaffs there. Rob and Philip gave us 'The Press are in the Van' (!) and 'The Lambs are Eating the Rushes.' Later these two played 'Da Slockit Light' by Tom Anderson of Shetland, a meditation on the depopulation of his birthplace  (the old word 'slockit' meaning a light that has gone out) on guitar and bodhran. They later contributed, 'Dougherty's' and 'The Woman I never Forgot.' Carol gave a lovely rendering of 'For Ireland I dare not speak Her Name' on recorder following this with 'Mrs MacClelland.' Norman's 'Barra to Balloch' and the grand, 'Farewell to the Creeks' were played in pibroch style on mouth organ with guitar accompaniment. Dave (guitarist) led the finishing reels including 'The Merry Blacksmith' and 'The New Road to Alston,' and Carole threw in 'Jimmy Allen,' also a reel on recorder. 

Robbie began the singing  with 'When Canons are Roaring,' from Strawhead's songbook and, later, 'The Rochester Recruiting Sergeant.' Old ballads had been mentioned so Eliza sang 'Renardine' and, later, 'Thomas the Rhymer,' (also the song 'John Anderson my Joe') and Katy later contributed the plaintive ballad, 'Queen Jane' which many believe is about Jane Seymour, as well as 'Roseberry Lane'.  Phil launched a brief mining theme with 'The Donnybristle Mining Disaster.' Katy picked up the baton and ran with 'Pit Boy' which reminded David of Ted Edwards' fine song, 'The Coal and Albert Berry.' David later sang 'Tarry Wool' in honour of our local shepherd who was present. Phil sang 'Jock McGraw of the Forty Twa' and, in waltz time, his own 'Prancing with Ewes' based on 'My Uncle Walter goes Dancing with Bears.' Carole contributed 'The Lock Keeper' and, later, 'The Morning Lies Heavy' by Allan Taylor and Jasmine gave us, Richard Thompson's, 'A Heart Needs a Home' sung by Richard and Linda Thompson and Karine Polwart's, 'I'm gonna do it' as well as, 'If you Were a Sailboat' by Katy Melua.
A Highland song from Norman from the singing of Sheila Stewart, was the evocative, 'The Corncrake among the Whinny Knowes.' Dave played and sang, 'The Rolling Hills of the Border' with Philip on bodhran and Philip, accompanying himself on concertina, sang, 'My Virgina Bride.' Dave on guitar later sang 'All the Answers' by Ilse Delange and later 'Orion' (sorry haven't noted name of writer legibly) and Phillip and Rob commemorated the peasants revolt with 'John Ball' by Sydney Carter.
I for one enjoyed the evening with its wide range of songs and music. We seemed to manage to fit a lot in. (Angus, we missed you.) Thanks everyone. See you next time, on the 24th May.

22nd March 2016

Great night on Tuesday. Voices, mandolin, guitars, pipes (Spanish gaita in D, Swedish sackpipa, Anglo-French small pipes), accordion, recorder. Plus three welcome audience members; Isobel, Susan and friend.
Tunes were: Angus on mandolin led polkas: 'Egan's', 'Ryan's'; David on small pipes offered 'Mr Preston's Hornpipe' and on sackpipa 'Brudmarch' (Wedding March) and 'Efter Nedegards Lars'; Kevin on gaita, a Catalonian tune and Tom Bigby's Waltz and later 'Believe me if all Those Endearing Young Charms,' 'I'm awa Young to Marry Yet' and 'Frisky,' then another Catalonian tune plus 'Pass Calles,' (Asturian) and 'Highland Laddie (Northumbrian); Dave on guitar gave us some rocking Irish jigs; 'To the Wedding,' 'Hogmanay' and 'Lemonville'; James on accordion two airs and a reel, 'Lonesome Eyes,' 'Sally Gardens,' 'Miss Monahan,' and, later, 'Sunset on Conachair' plus he led some lively tunes to play us out and Carole, a choice selection on recorder, 'Ivan Drever, 'Banks of the Ness,' 'The Ross Memorial Hospital,' 'Out on the Ocean' and 'The Merry Blacksmith.'
Songs were: Dave H. 'Me name is Delaney,' 'Farewell to the Haven' by Davy Steele (Battlefield Band) and Jez Lowe's 'Black Diamonds'; Katy sang, 'The Auld Hoose' by Caroline Lady Nairne (1766-1845) whose family were ardent Jacobites and a surprising number of well-known Jacobite songs such as 'Charlie is my darling' were written by her - note from Katy), 'The Miraculous Fish' (the text of 'this was first printed in 1636 when a whale beached itself on the Wirral though the tune is modern - Note from Katy) and Strath Erli; Miriam gave us Nick Jones' 'The Warlike Lads of Russia,' Bruce Mainland's 'The Penny Whistle,' and 'False Love'; Phil sang Archie Fisher's 'The Final Trawl,' Martin Wyndham Reeves', 'The Old Man of the Sea,' that old favourite, 'The Shelves of Herring' and 'The Parting Glass'; Carole was reminded by Angus of Archie Fisher's, 'Waltz into Winter' and also sang a Les Barker's wicked 'Me Husband's got no Porridge in Him' and Tom Paxton's 'Outward Bound'; Eliza did 'The Hern...' which Miriam suggested might be a Ricardian period Arthurian-romance-type tale in song - interesting - 'Twa Corbies' and 'The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun'; Angus rang the changes with a bluegrass style song, 'Up This Hill and Down,' 'The Summer Before the War,' and Claire Lynch's 'Be Ready to Sail'; Robbie, who once trained soldiers gave renderings of Harry Andrews' 'The Soldier,'  'One-Eyed Jack' from the Bellowhead songbook and 'Over the Hills and Far Away'; David threw in 'The Plains of Waterloo' Beth gave us 'Put Your Hand in Mine' by Emily Smith and 'The Recruited Collier.'
Thanks for contributions, all of which led, I hope, to a generally good time being had by all. Our next night is 26th April. Hope to see you there.