Welcome to this week’s Newsletter. I’m afraid that the combination of lack of much news and other commitments meant I wasn’t able to write one last week
Last Sunday night at Dreamers was a triumph of folk music over the elements. Whilst numbers were a little light, all those who made it had defied both the threat and the reality of Storm Isha which rewarded some sterling performances with thunderous applause on the skylights. Fortunately everyone was able to rise about the wind and rain to give us all a most enjoyable evening. However, let’s hope that the weather is a bit gentler this coming Sunday when we have another singers night to look forward to. Our next guests, on February 11th , are our good friends from Flash Jack. More of them later but definitely a date for the diary.
Before all that, we have the Cornish Zoom Folk Club this coming Saturday 27th January. We’ve had some cracking – and very busy – sessions on recent months and it certainly seems that this is now established as an addition to the scene and an opportunity to hear performers from far and wide. Please contact me if you would like to be added to the mailing list for the link.
At the last Zoom session, we were joined by Sam and Eleanor Simmons who put together the brilliantly informative Folk Life UK. There are various bits of this including FolkLife West, all to be found through the main web-site at www.folklife.uk
As usual, Sidmouth Festival are quick off the mark with their programme which, this year includes Steeleye Span, the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britian and Fishermen’s Friends (to name but a few). The Festival runs from 2nd to 9th August this year. More details on acts booked to date and early tickets are at https://sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk/
Plenty of activity online, of course.
· Tomorrow, Friday 26th January at 8.00 (live but also on catch up for 72 hours afterwards), Live to Your Living room features Marin Simpson Martin is consistently named as one of the very finest fingerstyle guitar players in the world. Equally at home playing English traditional folk, American folk and blues and his own compositions, it’s 40 years since he recorded his first album, Golden Vanity, in 1976, More at Martin Simpson | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room
· Next Thursday, 1st February (8.00), the same site hosts Paul McKenna from Scotland Paul McKenna, regarded as one of our finest younger singers and songwriters. A powerful yet intensely emotive voice and passionate social conscience, a combination that’s brought frequent comparisons to the great Dick Gaughan. Paul McKenna | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room
· On the same night (1st February, 7.30), Rosslyn Court have a hybrid gig (first hour livestreamed, second half just for the in person audience) with the Goblin Band, a six-piece band which, though firmly rooted in the traditional music of the British Isles, draws widely on medieval and early music, as well as folk music traditions from around the world. Goblin Band – Rosslyn Court
And last but very much not least, there’s a new episode of Folk on Foot visiting one of the enduring names of the folk scene, Sandra Kerr, at Warkworth in Northumberland. Lots of memories here – of Bagpuss and of working as a nanny for Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in exchange for music lessons. Then Sandra is joined by her daughter, Nancy, for some Northumbrian dance tunes. Episodes | Folk On Foot
That’s quite enough for this week. As always, do let me know if you have any news you want me to pass on through this Newsletter.
All the best
Nigel