Welcome to this week’s version of the Dreamers Newsletter
Many thanks to all who came along to the Singers Night last weekend. It was particularly nice to see Mary and Ken back in Cornwall after too long an absence and good that they will be around for a little while yet. Also good to see first time visitor to Dreamers, Steve Dean from New Zealand (but in Cornwall for a long time now). Steve has been quite a regular visitor at the zoom sessions (originally the Bodmin zoom for him). Generally a quieter night than some others recently but plenty of good material and performances.
This weekend we have the Cornish Voice Tour in Falmouth which, no doubt, many Dreamers will enjoy. Amazing to think that it’s now 27 years since Roger and Gaye started it all and that it’s still going strong and attracting such a wide range of excellent performers. Including, of course, Lynne and Pat who will be guests at Dreamers this coming Sunday, 8th October. Two great performers with a wide range of material, always liberally sprinkled with humour. A weekend and an evening to look forward to and thanks to all involved in organising it all.
The following weekend, Sunday 15th October, we welcome Bruce Watson (and his wife Jill) from Melbourne. Bruce is a leading Australian folk song writer and performer on an extended tour of the UK. He’s asked if any of our musicians would like to join him in a couple of his songs. He sent over the music and lyrics which I’ve shared with a few of our performers so we have a range of instruments on stage. If anyone else would like to join in (probably from seats in the audience or the stage will get too crowded!), I’ll bring some copies this Sunday, just ask.
Assorted online events:-
Tonight, Thursday 5th October at 7.30, there’s a hybrid gig from Rosslyn Court in Margate. This features John Wilks, an acclaimed finger picking guitarist and singer of traditional English folk songs. His background as a journalist gives him a great ear for a story and his live performances combine songs and storytelling. Tickets from Jon Wilks – Rosslyn Court
The online site Live to Your Living Room has kicked off a busy autumn season and, as trailed last week, they have Tarren this Friday, 6th October at 8.00 p.m. – more details and tickets at Tarren | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room. Plenty more to come from this site.
An intriguing new offering from the Folk on Foot site with the Scottish Burmese artist, Fiona Sow Paing whose new album reflects the music and folk tales of her home county of Aberdeenshire. As always, this is a combination of walking around some lovely places and music, some, in this case, sung on the very spots they were inspired (such as John Hosie’s Well, said to have sprung from the ground where his tears fell when he returned from a long imprisonment to find his love had married another). She also sings The Fishers Lullaby from the village of Pennan. Folk On Foot
I hope this Newsletter is still of interest and use – I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to go on doing it so if anyone else would like to take it on, that would be helpful.
Finally, I hope this finds everyone well or at least recovering – as we know there seems to be a resurgence of covid and, indeed, some of our own “family” have been suffering. Whilst for most it isn’t too bad, that’s not always the case so we all need to take care of ourselves and of others who may be more vulnerable.
All the best and hope to see you at some or all of the events over the next couple of weeks.
Nigel