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.
Saturday, 13 May 2017
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.
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.
Tuesday, 7 March 2017
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!
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!
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
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!
Tuesday, 29 November 2016
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.
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.
Friday, 28 October 2016
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
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
Wednesday, 5 October 2016
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.
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.
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