Welcome to the last Dreamers Newsletter of 2023. Health warning, it’s a long one (but some good news at the end!)
We had another excellent singers night at the Club last Sunday with a good number of regulars, some great songs and singing and all ably organised by Alistair. Now it’s on to the Dreamers Christmas special this coming Sunday. Those who have booked to eat are asked to arrive around 5.30 or at least in good time to sit down sharp at 6.00 so we can enjoy our meal and have plenty of time for songs, carols and general seasonal fun.
After that the Club will be closed until 7th January when we have a singers night followed by guests, Jazz Celtica, on 14th January.
After that our next booked guests are Flash Jack on 11th February. For those suffering withdrawal symptoms, all are welcome at the Cornish Zoom Folk Club at 7.30 on 30th December, should be a great night just before New Year. No date is going to suit everyone at this time of year but it looks like we should have the usual good turn-out. The link may be sent out a little later than usual because of our holiday arrangement – let me know if you don’t get it and would like to.
Before moving on to online offerings coming up and news of 2024, we’ve had emails from Bruce Watson from Melbourne who was an excellent guest at the Club in October (and a regular at the Cornish Zoom in the winter months). Bruce and Jill took a number of photos and I’ll forward them to the guilty Dreamers in the next few days and (if I remember) bring my ipad on Sunday for all to see.
Plenty of online entertainment in the next few weeks:-
· This Friday, 15th December, there’s The Wilderness Yet, a trio who seem to specialise in seasonal material on Live to Your Living Room at 7.45 p.m., a live gig from Downend Folk and Roots near Bristol with support from Heartwood Chorus Folk Choir. The Wilderness Yet | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room
· On Monday 18th December, at 8.00 p.m. you can hear A Winter Union, a seasonal band of five leading lights of the UK scene, live on the last date of their tour at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. Tickets and more info at FolkScape Live New songs, fresh arrangements of traditional carols and other seasonal classics.
· The next day, Tuesday 19th December, at 8.00 p.m. there’s more seasonal fare, this time from an award winning Anglo-Scottish duet, Janice Burns and Jon Doran who have one of their traditional winter gigs, this time from their first festive tour. Janice Burns & Jon Doran | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room
· Another night, another gig, on Wednesday 20th December (8.00 p.m.) with Martin Green of Lau – from ancient pagan rituals to a flashing lit-up Santa! This is “Lighting the Dark”, a musical look at how we’ve got through the winter over the last millennium. Accompanied by Laura Jurd (trumpet) and Ultan O’Briend (fiddleand story-telling). Another hybrid gig, this time from the Bristol Beacon – Martin Green: Lighting the Dark | Online Gig (livetoyourlivingroom.com)
· And, finally, on Friday 22nd December at 8.00 p.m., an old friend, Jim Causley (with support from the Bristol Folk Singers), celebrating the Christmas season with songs, festive fun and his own settings of poems by Charles Causley. Another hybrid gig, this time from Nailsea Folk Club. Jim Causley | Online Christmas Show | Live to Your Living Room
Looking forward to next year, I’m getting news of the various Festivals.
· As always there’s a stellar line-up at Sidmouth International Festival from 2nd to 9th August. Loads of familiar names – there’s a Newsletter if you want to subscribe and get more detail and also early bird tickets at Tickets 2024 – The Sidmouth Folk Festival
· Cornwall Folk Festival at Wadebridge is over the August Bank Holiday (from 23rd to 26th) and they also have discounted early bird tickets (Earlybird Festival Tickets — Full, Day Tickets, FAR Stage and Workshops – Cornwall Folk Festival). They say they have booked artists with a contemporary take on folk, with something to say and with messages of hope. Headliners are The Trials of Cato + Tarren (Friday 23rd), Daphne’s Flight + Suthering (Saturday 24th) and Lady Maisery + James Dixon (Sunday 25th). More about all this in due course.
· The Falmouth Shanty Festival runs from 14th to 16th June next year, always a great weekend, more details as they are published.
Apologies for the longer than usual Newsletter but the good news is that it will be the last for a few weeks as the Club will be closed and also I have some surgery booked for the start of the year and will be out of action for a week or two. In the meantime, enjoy Christmas and the New Year and Seasons Greetings to all.
Nigel