Welcome to this week’s Dreamers Newsletter.
Last weekend saw our visit to Bodmin Folk Club. Sadly the clash with Easter and the awful weather meant that the Dreamers contingent was small though we did our best to give a good account of ourselves. Many thanks to all the Bodmin members for their warm welcome and grand supper. It was good to hear some excellent performers too, many of whom we hadn’t heard for a very long time. We can look forward to welcoming them back to Four Lanes later in the year. In the meantime, Bodmin Folk Club has the excellent Tom McConville as their guest tomorrow, Friday 25th April.
Two very sad pieces of news for our folk community here in Cornwall. Firstly John Tremaine, publisher of Folk in Cornwall and notably active Morris dancer (and a well remembered regular at the old Golden Lion sessions) died in Treliske last week. At Bodmin Sylive Watts sang the Farewell Shanty beautifully in memory of John. Our second sad loss was Christine Laurence-Jackson of JayCeeBee, an active member of Penzance Folk Club. It was good to be able to remember her at Dreamers last Sunday.
For Dreamers, it’s a singers night this Sunday, 27th April followed by the visit of Mark Richards on 4th May. From his home in Perranporth, Mark is a guitar fanatic with many years of gigging experience in bands with a home studio to record himself and others. His first solo album “The Guitar A to Z” featured original instrumentals inspired by some of his heroes whilst his second is nearing completion with a range of material. Sadly we’ll be up country so will miss this (and I probably won’t be able to manage a Newsletter next week either).
Meanwhile, this Saturday, 26th April, sees the next edition of the Cornish Zoom Folk Club. The change of clocks in various countries makes it harder for our Australasian friends to join us (though some seem to manage it anyway) but we should still get a good selection of performers and audience from all over for another good evening. As always, let me know if you need the link, it runs from 7.30 till about 10,
Mark Richards performed at the Cornwall Folk Festival a couple of years ago. I’m now getting regular emails from them about the various attractions in 2025 – the latest features The Henry Girls, three sisters from County Donegal who are headlining the Friday night concert. Described as neck-tingling vocals, accompanied by a small orchestra of folk instruments – fiddles, ukuleles, banjo, harp, mandolin, piano and accordion. Saver tickets for this at The Henry Girls – Cornwall Folk Festival where you can also link to other info about the Festival.
Last week, I mentioned that Paul has a 12 string guitar for sale as he hardly ever plays it. It’s an “Antoria” 12 string complete with case, in very good condition. He’s hoping to get £100 o.n.o.with all monies raised will go to Shelter Box.). Please speak direct to Paul if you are interested.
I also mentioned the live gig from Live at Sam’s in Sheffield featuring Andy Irvine and Quilty on Live to Your Living Room tomorrow night (25th April) – tickets and more info at Andy Irvine With Quilty | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room The following Friday, 2nd May at 7.30, the same venue and web-site feature Kerr Fagan Van Eyken, who were seen regularly together some twenty years ago before going in different directions for a while. This delightful trio brings together the vocal and instrumental skills of three of the most respected musicians in British folk – Nancy Kerr, James Fagan and Tim van Eyken. All three are celebrated in their own right as multi-award-winning singers and players, with an incredible CV between them that includes Melrose Quartet, Waterson:Carthy, Dr Faustus, Bellowhead, Simpson Cutting Kerr, Warhorse, to name just few. More infor about this at Kerr Fagan Van Eyken | Online Gig | Live To Your Living Room
That’s all I’ve got time for today, looking forward to seeing you either on zoom on Saturday or at the Club on Sunday.
All the best
Nigel