February 23rd 2016

Greetings. A slight technical hitch on the blog has delayed me a bit - not being the greatest at ironing them out. I put a few 'labels' on this month's blog settings in the hope of tempting a few more of you along to our once monthly gathering (fourth Tuesday). We are a sing around-cum-session, that is, we try our best to include both song and instrumental and encourage joining in with tunes wherever it works. The village has a caravan site and RockUK outdoor centre and we welcome any who bring their  voice/ instrument on holiday. Right; ad. over.
Small and select again this month. Much enjoyed the craic all the same. Kevin came down from Carlisle with his Swedish-cum-Galician pipes adapted by his own good self. David brought sackpipa and smallpipes and Phil and Angus accompanied some of their pipe tunes on guitar in addition to bringing a fine selection of songs with accompaniment. Robbie joined us, though without his Strawhead song book (or strictly speaking, without the one borrowed from Carole) on this occasion.
Kevin started off proceedings with 'Morfa Rhuddlan' and later gave us an Asturian melody, 'Batri Bam' as well as Northumbrian tunes from the Peacock manuscript which were suitable for playing on this instrument (see above), 'Highland Laddie,' 'Frisky,' 'I'm Awa Young to Marry Yet' and 'Paddy Whack' as well as 'Bolero de Santa Maria' from Majorca. David's tunes were one on sackpipa (title not recorded by me) and on small pipes,  'Herd on the Hill,' 'Holmes' Fancy, 'The Lowland Dance,' 'Up wi' Eli Early,' 'Never Love Thee More' and 'Fourpence-halfpenny-farthing.'
Phil sang 'Peggy Gordon', 'John o' Dreams,' 'The Dawning of the Day,' 'The Road to Drumleman' by Willie Mitchell, the butcher of Campbeltown, and Tony Cuffe collected by Hamish Henderson and the excellent, 'The Bluest Little River Between the Tyne and Tees' by Alan Clarke. Angus sang the evocative, 'The Summer Before the War' by Connie Dover, 'Song for Ireland' by Phil and June Colclough, Alex Glasgow's 'When God Created Englishmen,' Eric Boswell's 'Take me up the Tyne in a Little Boat' and Tom Paxton's 'I Will Love You.' A grand selection.
Interspersed with tunes David sang 'The Horn of the Hunter' and 'The Rambling Soldier' in honour of Robbie. Eliza sang a version of 'The Bunch of Thyme,' 'Lads o' the Fair' by Bryan McNeill, the ballad 'Mill o' Tifty's Annie,' Robin Williamson's 'The Road the Gypsies Go' and 'Mallie-O.'
Generally a good night. Hope to see you next month.