Well, I thought this month's session was real cracker, what with an abundance of performers and an equal abundance of audience, which all added up to a most enjoyable evening. After Hil has given her blow by blow account I'll tell you about another event which several of us have been invited to perform on Sunday, July 4th, see below...

But first, here's Hilary...

JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE 16 JUNE 2010

As everyone sorted themselves out with a seat and drinks Peter welcomed all refugees from the World Cup and as we were quite a crowd there are obviously quite a few non footballers. Anyway, Peter began the proceedings with a wonderful sea shanty as they are currently in vogue - In South Australia - which was very rousing. He followed that with a most lovely, poignant and touching song bringing tears to the eyes, John Condon, which was about the youngest soldier to die during the first World War at the questionable age of 14.

Tony Reader, our famous hurdy gurdy player and court jester entertained us next as he was only passing through without his hurdy gurdy and needed to leave early. He sang Down Derry Down, another excellent unaccompanied song. This was followed with a children’s song from his days at Dartington which was a very perky little number High in a Tree of Crows.

Next welcome to Fran with a song about a pyromaniac Tim McQuire - again unaccompanied - poor Tim McQuire. Then Pleasant and Delightful which we were all able to join in with which was very jolly.

A new face and a warm welcome, Mike with his guitar, who gave us a medley of Tim Harding songs from the 1960's and that was followed by Goodnight.

Andrew and June Mycroft gave us Grandfather’s Ferret to the tune of Grandfather’s Clock - June sang while Andrew played his accordion. Very funny thank you June. Obviously on a certain track they then sang My Breakfast lies over the Ocean to the tune of My Bonny lies over the Ocean and again it was very funny - all about a disastrous sea voyage.

Graham, without his Morris Troupe, sang unaccompanied (seemed to be the taste of the evening) Over the Hills and Far away and Spanish Lady - excellent.

Star of last week’s Midweek Herald, Mike Gee, next bucked the unaccompanied traditional trend by giving us a pop song Queen of Hearts followed by another Tim Harding song Misty Roses - you never know with Mike - will it be lute, guitar - contemporary, classical, blues or folk or ? How about some jazz Mike ?

Annie came next with a cautionary tale from the Midlands, Ramble Away. She then brought out her dulcimer with words of warning again to the ladies amongst us, Are you Sleeping Maggie ?

Another member of the Groven Images (?) trio, Robert next with James Taylor’s Blossom which was really nice and he followed this with a song of his own called Recurring Dream which was also wonderful.

A warm welcome back to Hunt Gamble and Trezise, a harmony trio we havn’t seen for a little while due to their commitments and long distance problems but it is good to see them whenever they can make it - they sang In My Time of Dying and Foggerty’s Gold which is a Stan Rogers song.

Ted, in his usual place just before the interval, recited the first poem of the evening which he had written for his friend, Richard, who lives on St Martins called Martin of Toure which was very funny in pigeon french. Then he sang Bramble and Rose, again with a Scillies connection which he heard while walking to a BBQ with his friend on St Martins.

After the interval we welcomed two new ladies, Cath and Sophia with their fiddle and guitar who sang Bonnie Love and then Sophia gave us two reels on her fiddle - Graham was gently joining in with his bodhran which was very good.

New faces galore tonight, John, who borrowed a guitar and sang a Tom Lehrer song Love Song followed by a funny Jake Thackray - what could be better ?

Fran back with a sea shanty, Heave Away, to continue the theme Peter began about trade between England and Australia and then, to add to the Australian flavour we had Walking the Bulldog to the tune of Waltzing Matilda. Andrew played some jigs on his accordion and Graham again joined in with his bodhran - it included I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts which we all recognised ! Graham then came and gave us another couple of songs, the second of which was very touching.

Hunt Gamble and Trezise were back with a Miner’s Prayer, then Odd Times followed by Shepherds - thank you very much all three. And then, before asking Ted to close the evening, Annie’s orchestra with no name (Six Feet in the Grove, Second Wind ????), i.e. Annie, Rob and Mike, did Baby Blue, Strong Winds and Walking in the Rain - all very brilliant thank you.

Ted .... with a biographical song he wrote a long time ago When I was a Young Boy and then a chorus song to go home with, Green, Green, Green, Green, through the Green Green Trees.

That was it for another very memorable evening until next month, Wednesday 21 July at 8.15 at the Grove. HOWEVER .... there will be some sort of performance by members of Jurassic Folk on the 4^th July (cycling weekend) at the Fisherman’s Gap at about 12 noon and we look forward to seeing you then.

So there you have it, and to further enliven the narrative don't forget to look at the latest bunch of pictures taken by Jolly, which you can find by clicking http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net

Finally, as Hilary intimated, Annie, Rob, Mike G and me will be playing on Sunday 4th July on a stage which will be put up at Fisherman's Gap on Seaton seafront as part of the Seaton Festival of Cycling, see www.seatonfestivalofcycling.org.uk. Unfortunately, their published programme has our times all wrong... we are not playing on the Saturday at all, but will be playing on the Sunday from 12.30 - 2pm, so if any of you can get along it will be great.

Otherwise, until the next Grove session, all the very bestest...

Peter & Hilary