Hi
As we hoped, a number of folk who were in Cornwall for the Falmouth Shanty Festival made it on to Dreamers last Sunday including past guests Pat Smith and Ned Clamp from the Llantrisant Folk Club in South Wales. All very welcome and it made for a busy and enjoyable evening. We’ve another Singers Night to look forward to this Sunday, 25th June so let hope we can keep up the standards of the last few weeks.
The Shanty Festival itself seemed to be a great success with huge crowds all through the weekend, sunshine most of the time and the opportunity to hook up with lots of friends as well as to hear some less familiar performers.
This Saturday, 24th June, sees the June session of the Cornish Zoom Folk Club starting at 7.30 as usual. We always end between 9.45 and 10.00 depending on numbers and get a good spread of performers from far and wide. If you need the link and don’t already have it, just let me know.
And, of course, Golowan, in Penzance, comes to a climax this weekend with Mazey Day on Saturday and Quay Fair Day on Sunday – lots of processions, stalls, music – full programme at zzzzzProgramme 2023 – Golowan (golowanfestival.org)
A bit further afield, I’ve been contacted again by Endelienta Arts, a charity based out of St Endellion Church, Port Isaac, who deliver a year-round programme of concerts, family theatre, workshops, exhibitions and literary events.Next month, on Thursday 6th July, they are hosting a rare double-bill of Gigspanner Trio and duo Knight & Spiers. Established by Steeleye Span’s legendary fiddle player, Peter Knight, Gigspanner Trio is a ground-breaking force in British folk. Since 2016, Knight has also worked in partnership with Bellowhead’s melodeon player John Spiers, inspiring future generations of musicians to engage with Britain’s folk dancing heritage. To find out more, visit https://endelienta.org.uk/
Not long now until the Sidmouth International Folk Festival with the usual packed programme, a wide range of activities for all as well as the big name concerts. It runs from 4th to 11th August – full details of the programme and tickets at www.sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk
Angeline Morrison is among those appearing at Sidmouth so a reminder that you can also see her, walking in Cornwall, on Folk on Foot (Folk On Foot) In this episode, walking near her home in North Cornwall, she talks about her love for traditional music and her determination to chronicle the experiences of black Britons through history. Among other songs, there’s time for a song in Cornish as well as “Slave no More” sung from by the grave of the master and slave who were buried together.
All the best, hope to see you on Saturday’s zoom or at the club on Sunday (or both!)
Nigel