Welcome to this week’s Dreamers Newsletter. I hope it was another good night at the Club last Sunday – unfortunately we had to miss it as we were away. I know some others were also away but most should be back for this Sunday and the visit of an old friend, Harry Bird (who some will remember better with his Rubber Wellies, now seemingly shed). British folk, Americana and other styles from around the world, songs anecdote and good humour so a relaxed evening to look forward to.
The Cornish Zoom Folk club last Saturday was also another success with plenty of excellent performances and enough time for all who wanted to get two offerings. Sadly we were missing two regulars – Mary de Ville (a regular visitor to the Club as well as the Zoom) whose husband Ken has been suffering a bout of ill health and another well-loved guest, Nick Dow, who is suffering from very painful shingles (following a heart attack recently). Best wishes to both for quick recoveries and we hope to see them all before long online or at the Club.
John and Marion Heath are off soon on their annual pilgrimage to the Orkney Folk Festival. Thanks to them for letting us know that, this year, it’s possible to get hold of a digital pass for three of the events, one on each evening of 24th, 25th and 26th May. It’s a big programme and which of the concerts on these evenings you actually get is kept as a surprise. This is free thanks to the support of Event Scotland’s National Events Programme. You can “buy” the pass at Online Digital Pass (orkneyfolkfestival.com)
Another highlight from Folk on Foot. The singer and fiddle player Jackie Oates is joined by the squeezebox maestro John Spiers for a walk along the mighty River Thames in Oxfordshire. Between a song or two from the lace making industry, and a gorgeous “Lament To The Moon” Jackie talks about her passion for folk song and her recent training as a music therapist which took her into a hospice to help those nearing the end of their lives capture memories in song. She also recalls her folk-style wedding while John muses on the best way to make dandelion wine. It’s a fascinating walk with two of England’s finest folk musicians. You can watch this anytime at Jackie Oates with John Spiers on the Thames Path at Wallingford (folkonfoot.com)
And two more exciting events on Live to Your Living Room:-
· Tonight, 2nd May, at 8.00 they have Fay Hield, as mentioned earlier, on her first solo tour. Tickets and more info at Fay Hield | Online Gig | Live to Your Living Room Fay’s own website is at Fay Hield – Home
· And tomorrow, 3rd May, at 8.00, there’s Granny’s Attic, a band which is going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have been enthusiastically received by audiences up and down the country, with bookings everywhere from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cecil Sharp House.
And, finally, Sidmouth Festival has just made a “taster programme” available so you can see a bit more of what’s on and when, particularly useful if you don’t plan to go for the whole week. This is at SFF-Taster-Prog-2024-Web.pdf (sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk) Early bird tickets are still available
Enough for now, hope to see you on Sunday at Dreamers
All the best
Nigel