Welcome to this week’s Dreamers Newsletter.
I’m afraid I have to start with some sad news. Pat Farmer who many of us remember as a very regular supporter of Dreamers for many years and in many venues (along with her husband Mike who died in 2003), has died at the age of 91. “Queen Pat” managed to get along and join in the choruses even when she had to get a taxi after giving up her own licence. The funeral is at St John the Baptist Catholic church, Trevu Road, Camborne on Tuesday 4 Feb at 11am, followed by burial at Killivose and buffet lunch at Shire Inn. Her daughter, Sheila McQuaid writes that It would be lovely to see any of her mum’s old Dreamers friends. Anyone can turn up at the church.but please could let her know on 07931 669904 if you would like to join the family at the Shire Inn so she has an idea of numbers.
We had another good singers night last Sunday with plenty of good performances as always. Another singers night to look forward to this Sunday followed on 2nd February by the Quantum Penguin (Matt Woolley), from Shropshire who came along to Dreamer last year and impressed everyone with his strong voice and range of instrumentation – he plays guitar, fiddle and bouzouki and has just released his second album “Adelie”. More on his website at Quantum Penguin – Quantum Penguin
As you know, we are coming up to Dreamers 25th Birthday on Sunday 16th March. The plan is to have a singers night augmented by lots of memories so it would be great if you could dig out old photos and any other material to help Jonathan design and organise it all – the sooner the better!
This Saturday, 25th February, is the fourth Saturday in the month so it’s time for the first Cornish Zoom Folk Club of 2025. Come along, join in or just listen from your own armchair to the array of performers from far and wide, most of whom you wouldn’t get a chance to see often if at all.
Plenty going on online starting with a reminder that Live to Your Living Room has Anna Massie tomorrow, Friday 24th January, at 8.00 Equally at home as accompanist or melody player, Anna is one of Scotland’s foremost guitarists. As well as being a skilled multi-instrumentalist and singer renowned for her work with Blazin’ Fiddles and RANT, she also presents BBC Radio Scotland’s award-winning flagship trad music programme asnd featured on the Alba New Year party this year. Anna Massie | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room
A new episode on Folk on Foot as the Brighton based band Bird in the Belly take us for a walk on the South Downs Way during the Tremula Festival of Outdoor Podcasting. The band (Laura Ward, Adam Ronchetti Tom Pryor and Jinwoo) share a song about a day out in Brighton in 1813, a love song to a Welsh Ploughboy and music inspired an Chisholm by the nature writer Richard Jefferies’ 1885 post-apocalyptic novel “After London”. Then they head into a beautiful village church for the grand finale.
More coming up on Live to Your Living Room in February with Three Acres and a Cow on 5th February This is a history of land rights and protest in folk song and story. The show connects the Norman Conquest and Peasants’ Revolt with current issues like the housing crisis, reparations, climate breakdown and food sovereignty via the Enclosures, English Civil War and Industrial Revolution, That’s on Wednesday 5th February at 7.00 (Three Acres And A Cow | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room).
A week later, on Wednesday 12th February at 8.00, the same site features Duncan Chisholm, one of Scotland’s most recognised and accomplished fiddle players and composers. Duncan’s music contains the rarest of chemistries, a glorious combination of invention, tenderness and passion. He creates music that requires no introductions or programme notes to carry you on its journey, sumptuously layered and awash with dazzling colours, textures and rhythms. Exhilarating and meltingly beautiful. Duncan Chisholm | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room
Enough for now. A bit longer than usual with some news a bit further ahead as I’ve got an operation next Wednesday so probably won’t be able to manage a Newsletter next week. Hope to see you on 2nd February but it depends how it goes obviously.
All the best
Nigel