Hi and welcome to the Dreamers Newsletter again after a short holiday.
I hope the two Sundays which we missed while away were as successful and enjoyable as the weeks before. This Sunday we look forward to the visit of a folk icon in the shape of John Conolly, best known perhaps for Fiddlers Green and Punch and Judy Man but the author of many more great songs. An evening not to be missed.
Following John’s visit we look forward to a singers night on 1st October followed by two more outstanding guest nights with old favourites Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner on Sunday 8th October and then Bruce Watson from Australia the following Sunday, 15th October. More about them later but certainly two more evenings to be looked forward to.
There’s plenty else going on in the folk world.
This Saturday, 23rd September, we have the next session of the very popular Cornish Zoom Folk Club starting at 7.30 sharp. As usual we can expect to see and hear a wide range of excellent performers from all round the UK and further afield. For many of us, these zoom sessions were the first opportunity to hear Bruce Watson. Just let me know if you need the link which goes out on the Friday before.
Another good zoom session is that based on Rowington Folk Club in Warwickshire, organised by Pete Grassby who is a regular at the Cornish Zoom sessions – let me know if you would like more info about this, next session is on Friday September 29th.
Also on line, Live to Your Living Room features The Askew Sisters next Thursday 28th September at 8.00. Known as two of the foremost performers and interpreters of traditional music from England, their live performances rework and reinterpret songs and balladry, creating breath-taking arrangements, which allow words that are hundreds of years old to resonate profoundly with contemporary audiences.
The visit of Lynne and Pat coincides with the Cornish Voice Tour weekend from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th October, mostly at the Membly Hall Hotel in Falmouth. I’m sure we’ll have many very welcome visitors as always – full details of the programme will be available at the Club and can also be obtained from Pip Franklin (01736 851147 or di.franklin236@gmail.com)
The renewed Wadebridge Folk (which re-started in January on a monthly basis following a long search for a new venue) meets this Thursday 21st September from 7-10 p.m. at Pentire NT Farm Barn, Pentireglaze, PL27 6QY from 7-10pm this Thursday 21st September.
It’s a long way to go but there’s a rare opportunity to see the Young’Uns “Ballad of Johnny Longstaff” at St Mary’s Church, Portbury (near Bristol) on Thursday 5th October. Tickets and more info from The Young ‘Uns: The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff Tickets, Thu 5 Oct 2023 at 19:30 | Eventbrite
Also a fair way to go, Endelienta Arts is 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 Saturday 14th October, they are hosting folk band The Haar at the Church. The Haar introduces the formidable talent of traditional Irish singer Molly Donnery combined with three of the most exciting instrumentalists on the folk and traditional music circuit: Cormac Byrne, Adam Summerhayes and Murray Grainger. To find out more, visit our website: https://endelienta.org.uk/
Another venue at the other end of Cornwall with an interesting programme is the Calstock Arts Centre. On Saturday 7th October, they feature “Leveret” with Andy Cutting, Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron and then, on 24th November, the guest is Angeline Morrison. More info about these and other events there at What’s on – Calstock Arts : Calstock Arts
That’s more than enough for now, hope to see you on the Zoom session this Saturday and at the Club on Sunday.
All the best
Nigel