April's fourth tuesday brought a jolly night at the Grapes with a good variety of songs and tunes from fiddle, pipes, whistle and guitar. Charlie sang us Eddi Reader's, 'You are my shining star.' Ruth set out on a personal bird-themed odyssey, beginning with 'The Swallow' by Richard and Mimi Farini and which (later) featured, also "The Skylark' and song by Margaret Cropper mentioning the curlew, 'I didn't want anything new.' Katy's 'Lovely Nancy' and Phil's, 'The broom o'er the Cowdenknowes' followed.
Kevin started off the tunes with two song tunes on Scottish small pipes, 'Westling Winds' and 'The Gallowa' Hills.' Eliza threw in a song, intended to bring in the summer and the may-o, though after the two days of snow and hail showers, it seemed untimely to be singing, 'Jolly Rumbelow.'
Angus, accompanied by Charlie, Phil and David on fiddle, whistle and guitar (plus Robbie on guitar used as a drum) respectively gave us a couple of polkas, Egan's and John Ryans and a clutch of Northumbrian tunes, 'Winster Gallop', 'Jimmy Allen' and Salmon Tails.' Charlie picked up his fiddle and gave us Jay Ungar's 'Ashokan Farewell.'
Sarah's 'Wild Rover' went down well. Everyone joined in with her on her first time singing at a folk club. 'My Grandfather's Clock' by Henry Clay Work and Erich Doll was David's offering and Ruth read 'The Dead Rabbit Myth,' an offbeat little resurrection tale. Hills reared their heads again in Katy's 'The Rolling Hills of the Border,' and Robbie's 'Over the Hills and Far Away' and Phil followed with 'Annan Water.'
Dawn threw caution to the winds and entered the fray at this point with the hilarious 'Dad's Funeral.' It turns out she has a good line in comic songs and good comic timing and later did, 'In Praise of The Menopause' also sung by Scold's Bridle and a Roy Bailey song (unfortunately I haven't noted down the title).
At this point there was a selection of tunes beginning with Kevin on Scottish small pipes playing 'Frisky,' 'Chevy Chase' and 'Neil Gow.' Angus did Hazel Dickens' 'Hills of Home' in bluegrass style, Eliza sang, 'She Moves through the Fair' with the pipes, and Charlie played the old Shaker hymn tune borrowed by Sydney Carter for 'Lord of the Dance' in bluegrass followed by New Orleans jazz styles.
David sang Robbie's request, 'The Rambling Soldier.' Katy a lovely 'Strath...' and Phil the topical, 'And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda' by Eric Bogle.
Kevin switched to Northumbrian pipes for 'Fairly Shot on Her' and 'Bonny at Morn.' Eliza followed with 'My Johnny was a shoemaker' and Angus, Kate Rusby's 'You Belong to Me.'
Charlie's, 'The Three Sea Captains' and 'Mason's Apron' was accompanied by Angus and David and David played 'Eagle's Whistle' on small pipes. Katy raised the tone with a rousing drinking song in French, 'Chevaliers de la Table Ronde.' King Arthur would be spinning in his grave. Phil was requested to sing, 'It Went all right at Hame' and we finished off with Kevin leading the instrumentalists in 'The Rowan Tree' and 'The Battle's Over.'
A grand night indeed. Thank you all.
Here is a link to Kevin (piper)'s blog with comments
http://ethnopiper.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/newcastleton-folk-club.html#links
