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.