Keep checking in to get the latest information. We will also update our Facebook page as things develop.
Hello and welcome to this week’s Dreamers Newsletter
We had another lovely session last Sunday so many thanks to all who joined us then. We’ve had contact from two likely newcomers who may well join us this week, one being a past guest – Bruce Watson from Melbourne – with the huge time difference and the end of British Summer time, I can’t work out what time it’ll be for him but it must be some time in the early morning, before work on Monday. I’m sure he’ll get (and deserve) the traditional warm Dreamers welcome – even visually!
Newcomers are very welcome but there is obviously only so much that your MCs can squeeze into an evening which is shorter than evenings at the Sportsmans so just to repeat that whilst everyone who wants will definitely get one song, we can’t promise that there will be time for two so please have a second offering ready but we do ask for understanding that it may have to wait for the next week if time catches up with us.
Plenty of news of music and events from elsewhere:-
· A series of “Folk Journeys” by Michael Morpurgo on Radio 4 on Mondays at 4.00. Each focusses on a well-known song, looking at its origins and alternative versions before branching off into similar material. The first episode (of 4) was this last Monday (but still available on catch-up) and started with “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” – bits from Karine Polwart, Ralph Mactell, Ashley Hutchings and others. Next Monday’s song is “Four Loomed Weaver”
· Folk on Foot continues its regular series of concerts at https://www.folkonfoot.com/ The latest is O’Hooley and Tidow in the Colne Vally, lots of previous stuff still available on the site too.
· Whilst we are still managing to have some great nights and have just re-introduced guests successfully, many clubs remain closed – the picture does change but Folk in Cornwall has a list at http://www.folkincornwall.co.uk/ – click on “Magazine” for the latest news from around Cornwall.
· Another (Facebook) site with news about Folk activity here, this one with a familiar smiling face on the front, is https://www.facebook.com/FolkMusicCornwall/
· Sidmouth Festival has been fortunate enough to receive an Arts Council grant to help them over the winter. They are planning for 2021 (whilst keeping options open for obvious reasons) and, in the meantime, posting some great videos on line – the first is Zoe Wren on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pVEnhmOhQ
· Something a bit different is at https://www.rejiggedfestival.com – a big virtual Canadian Festival from Nova Scotia. They “celebrate new directions in music and dance based on the rich history of the Celtic musical tradition”. Concerts at 7.30 p.m. (that’s their local time – our equivalent will change as British Summer Time confusingly ends in the middle of the event!) but they’ll be available on Facebook and youtube later.
· Another site you might be interested in is https://www.englishfolkexpo.com/lockdown-live/ Apart from the “official” folk album charts, there’s plenty there to browse around including some short but useful videos – how to stream your videos or live performances, getting a good sound recording using phones etc.
For anyone who found the artwork and titles for Niall and Kitty’s Ennistymon CDs was not showing up, Alistair has loaded them on his computer and can make them available to download for anyone who’s interested. They are all Mp4 format and should arrive ready to play. They are large files and he’ll send them via WeTransfer, which is free to use. Please contact Alistair direct at alistaironline@icloud.com
Alistair is our MC this Sunday for, hopefully, the first Dreamers Intercontinental Lockdown Special! Should be good. After that we come into some seasonal events so Halloween or Guy Fawkes material might come to mind for the following week and then, if you want, songs of peace and remembrance for 8th November.
Best wishes to all, take care
Nigel