First in the Archive, - Late December 2011
Hello All,
What an exciting month it has been, culminating in the Christmas Party which Hil will describe fully just below. Peter has been busy arranging the programme for the 2012 Guest Nights, and also putting together a little project surrounded in mystery.... This turned out to be a Jurassic Calendar for 2012 with photographs of most of our regular performers displayed on the month of their birthday, and these were duly presented to each of them at the party. As all the Jurassic Folk dates were marked clearly on the calendar, nobody will have the excuse that they forgot the date ! The calendars were given away free to everyone in it, but should anyone else want one they can be had for a measly £5 from Peter.
As for the guests, we know we have a top quality lineup arranged, unsurpassable anywhere in the country, and details are now being filled in on the website. Our first Guest Night on Thursday, February 9th, is an absolute scoop for us, as we have got one of the biggest names on the English traditional folk scene, Tim van Eyken. He has been out of the folk limelight for the last 3 years as he has been developing an acting career, which started with the major role of Songman in the smash hit production War Horse, but his musical prowess is undiminished. More about him, and the other guests booked so far, will be found on the website,, and you will also be able to book Advance Tickets on the website at £5, compared with on the door price of £6. Tim's return to the folk scene has been eagerly awaited, and we expect that demand for tickets from his fans all over the south west will be high, so early booking is advisable.
Enough of all that for now... back to the Christmas Party and here is Hilary's unique and personal take on the night...
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE, 21 DECEMBER 2011
How wonderful - the Grove had been most spectacularly decorated by Jenny and her crew so we were well set up for having a good Christmassy time - and a very jolly uproarious Christmassy time was indeed had by us all. June (from Amycrofters) brought along a HUGE sack of hats of all shapes and sizes for anyone, so inclined, to wear. (By the way she is missing 8 I think so if you inadvertently wore one home, would you mind bringing it back in January please, thank you). Ivor, our indispensable Mr Chairman, brought along all sorts of goodies to eat, as did Annie, and this was highly appreciated by all. After a lot of noise and chat Peter was able to call everyone to order and welcome a right jovial bunch of people to help celebrate our Christmas party edition.
He opened the proceedings with a good old Tom Paxton song, Natural Girl, and then invited the Amycrofters to follow who began with three horn pipe tunes. Andrew then produced a "bag of tricks" asking us to join in with the chorus of Love, oh Careless Love while he donned a glamorous pink wig, holding up a mirror, and then with the addition of an apron sang about apron strings, and then with a pistol sang about a bun in the oven concluding "can't you see what careless love can do" ! Brilliant Andrew, thank you .... and pink suits you by the way.
Some sanity was restored by Fran and Anita who began with a modern folk song Wake Up, Wake Up. Then an ancient song, the Boars Head Carol which is very lovely and had a Latin chorus for us all to sing along with.
Tony Reader came next having done a stint of busking in Exeter in his Dickensian outfit. He explained that he would not be having Christmas alone as he would be spending it with a mouse .... a story was told about a brave mouse who managed to escape the trap and so was invited to stay. Having done time in music halls he decided to read a poem and to follow that with some conjuring tricks - all sorts of magic enthralled us in true music hall fashion. Thank you Tony.
Mike Gee took the stage while Peter regaled us with one of his special jokes.
Mike then sang that most wonderful and ancient carol, The Holly and the Ivy followed by Wild Mountain Thyme with only one "blooming" and lots of "purple" heather.
In total contrast, Frances the Bard of Beer gave us a special new Christmas poem (she now has three Christmas poems) called The Christmas Wife (but about women in general). Then Frances gave us last year's Christmas poem called Hanging Offence. Wonderful Frances, thank you.
Welcome to Robin - but in the meantime another of Peter's jokes. Robin's first song had absolutely nothing to do with Christmas (as, in fact, did his second) but was about an Irish fiddle player called Johnny McQuire. Then he sang an old favourite A Donkey called Moses - a very moral tale. Such a pleasure.
The maestro with the harmonica, Johnny Gudge, came with a little bit of Scotland followed by a little bit of Latin - Ave Maria (Hail Mary in English which I hadn't realised - where was I educated?). Thank you very much Johnny.
Mitch came next with one festive and one non festive song. The non festive song was Bonny Lass from Solway Fair with his guitar. He then produced his ukelele to perform his festive song So This is Christmas .... excellent Mitch, thank you.
Annie and her guitar sang a simple American Carol The Virgin Mary followed by a Spanish one with a chorus Quizas, Quizas, Quizas. Thank you very much Annie.
Next Rob with The French Cannot Make Mangles Like Us. Then with apologies to George Formby and Bill Gates his very own special When I'm, Using Windows which is exceedingly funny, thank you so much Rob.
Now it was time for Ted, the Bard of Seaton with his poem Tis a Wild and Wicked Wind which was in memory of last winter's snowy weather - another exceedingly funny tale. Then a world premier song which was first heard at the Grove as a poem but now put to music called The Angel who Cannot Sing which is a very lovely song about Amy Angel. Brilliant Ted as always.
Hunt, Gamble and Tresize or, alternatively, the Check Shirt Boys, sang an English song to the French roundel called The King. Dave told a Star Wars joke before singing a song called Cold and Stormy Night. Then a song about shepherds in east Sussex from the Copper family's Christmas Carols The Trees are all Bare. Thank you all three.
Interval - during which the nosh table was quickly denuded...
As it was a Christmas Party the second half was given over to the "One Foot in the Grove Band" which included all the usual suspects... Adrian, 2 Mikes, Annie, Ted, Pete and Rob, but to start proceedings we had an Annie "special" - a round called A Star Shone in the East, and for this we also had Fran and Anita... and... as this had been heavily rehearsed in the Arnold kitchen even I was able to join in - the rehearsals were nicely chaotic but thankfully it turned out beautifully on the night.
Everyone had been handed song sheets so there was no excuse for not joining in and there followed a long medley of suitably joyous songs sung with great gusto and instrumentally accompanied by the band, and somewhere in the background, George.
This wonderful evening culminated in a presentation by Mike New and his wife, Julie, to Peter and me (Hilary) of a beautiful arrangement of flowers and a pack of bottles of special beer. Thank you SO much... totally unexpected but very much appreciated. What fun was had ... the end of 2011 and we can now only look forward with great anticipation to 2012 which promises to bring us some very special concerts in addition to our monthly open mic sessions. See you on the 18 January in the Grove at just after 8.00. A VERY Happy New Year to you all.
There you are, thanks Hil, I think that wraps it up for now. Our usual ace photographer, Jolly, had been hijacked away to some other event for the night, so one of our boys, Ben, had a camera thrust into his hand and told to do his best..!! Well, not quite up to Jolly's standard, but thanks nonetheless, Ben, who caught the atmosphere very sucessfully, and a selection of these fotos can be found at the usual spot http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.netThanks to you all for making our "club" such fun, and may you all enjoy a brilliant and music-filled New Year.
And now to.... 16th November 2011
Hello Everyone,
Another lovely, luxurious evening last week, with our magnificent core of regulars augmented by a constantly changing stream of new faces (and voices... and fingers...) So before you get immersed in Hilary's customary dissertation on the detail of the evening, just a couple of parish notices, and the first one is very exciting.
So after mulling it over last month we felt that now is really the time to give Jurassic Folk it's head, and thus it is planned to double the nights of operation from one to two per month! What is more, this extra night will be a guest night for which a top notch performer from the national and international folk scene will be booked, and they will be supported by pre-arranged spots from selected Jurassic regulars. Obviously, paid guests need paying, and therefore on these nights there will have to be an admission charge, but I don't forsee it being any more than £5 or £6. Club nights will continue to be absolutely free. One booking has now been made firm with several to be confirmed but I don't want to let the cat out of the bag until I have a proper programme to present to you, but I can say that the one already booked is nominated for one of the 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards due to be held in February. So give us another week and all will be revealed.
That's it from me for a minute, so over to Hilary....
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE 16 NOVEMBER 2011
Our lovely Mr Chairman, Ivor, and his helpers had set the room up again for us, thank you so much. This was my first experience of the new environment and what a relief to have some space - there is no stopping us now.
So ... a warm welcome from Peter who chose to begin the proceedings with the usual folk topic of rape and seduction with The Two Magicians - excellent and wow, what about those acoustics ?
Graham followed Peter with the Oldest Swinger in Town, a Fred Wedlock number. He was then joined by a friend, June, to "perform" a retelling of the 12 Days of Christmas putting a new slant on all the gifts received during that period which was most amusing. June then sang on her own All I Have is my Own.
Peter then called upon Mike New with a couple of songs about parents and children and how they grow up. Goodbye Mama then Eighteen Yellow Roses.
Fran and Anita came next with a version of Waltzing Matilda, not quite as we know it - the Australians taking the mickey out of the Brits, called Walking the Bulldog. Then a old English ballad Scarborough Fair with lots of verses but also with lots of verses left out. Thank you both - wonderful.
Adrian came up with his guitar letting us know that it was his first anniversary of when he started coming to Jurassic Folk. He therefore felt it appropriate to sing again the song he sang that night which was Travelling Mind, a very old Muddy Waters Blues. Next a very different number Heavy River performed by a Scottish band called Rumrig (?) Brilliant Adrian, thank you.
A very nervous June of the Amy Crofters came next, all alone as Andrew was sadly at home not well. She brought along her keyboard which she had not played alone for 12 years and therefore asked Adrian to come and support her on his guitar. She played a couple of tunes which were very good, thank you so much for making the effort and coming.
Whilst a face from the past, Mitch, was tuning up Peter gave out some Parish news, ( see above...) Mitch, at the ready then sang Black is the Colour of my True Love's Hair - how nice to see you again Mitch.
Our answer to Larry Adler, Johnny Gudge, came next with a Jake Thackray On Ilkley Moor Bar Tat, being both Yorkshire men. Then he brought out his harmonica and Oh Danny Boy which is almost the Irish National Anthem.
Annie and Mike Gee came up and gave us Fair Young Maid - Mike showed off his new T shirt found in a charity shop besporting Scar Face in lieu of a machine gun. This is with reference to Peter's nickname for him of Machine Gun Mike.
A warm welcome back to Rob who has been unable to be with us for a while. He gave us If You've Got to Go and We are the Village Green Preservation Society. A treat, thank you Rob.
To finish off the first half Ted the Bard. As he missed Halloween night, the night he met his wife, he found a poem in an old book of mostly pictures, called Mr Miacca which he read and was of course very good. He then sang a song about Dartmoor and the dreaded Dartmoor hairy hounds - special words to Glory Glory Alleluia - another Ted "Special"
There followed an interval
Announcements by Peter - The Christmas party is coming on December 21st and we're planning a "reet do", so if anyone has any special ideas for fun and entertainment, please let us know... maybe we could use strategically place pole in the room to good effect... anyone done Morris Pole Dancing yet?
A couple who had been lurking, sizing the place up during the first half, were asked up - welcome to Graham and Helen. They played a tune together with Graham playing his guitar of Norwegian design and made in Dorset over ten years ago. Then Graham on his own played a second tune.
Fran, without Anita, sang another familiar traditional folk song Donna Donna Donna. Graham, in serious mode, with Roses, a Tommy Sands song which was very touching ... Jean came next to cheer us up with a Copper family song I Wonder if Anyone will Marry me Now. Adrian, also in good cheer gave us a Tom Paxton Hold on to Me Babe. Thank you all.
Johnny Gudge with his impression of Jimmy Shand. Mike New with a song by Pete Seager, although the song itself goes back to the 1600's with only one verse added, called The Water is Wide.
Mitch appeared with his ukelele and gave us I'm Leaning on the Lamp Post which was great fun. Annie and Mike gave us a Joni Mitchell Both Sides Now which we were able to sing along with - I love it.
As we had a little bit of extra time Rob was able to give us two on condition that one of them was the Festival Song (Peter's request). That done he then sang Ray Davis' Sunny Afternoon, another for joining in with. Brilliant - we have missed you.
To finish, Ted, with Cloud Song and chorus Come float with me to distant lands .... (I've written Quite Extraordinary in my notes but I am not quite sure why) Anyway, thank you as always Ted - it is long past our bedtime so that's it for another evening.
One or two people were asking about the results of the Freedom Café bid for funding. No result as yet but it will be posted on the Nat West web site on the 28 November I am told. That is http://communityforce.natwest.com and our project no. was 5205.
See you all next month for our Christmas edition - that is Wednesday 21 December just after 8 oclock.
Thanks Hil, for all that, and just to reiterate that it would be great to see as many as can make it on December 21st, when you can savour the delights of our new accommodation, celebrate in song and hear all about the stunning programme for the new look Jurassic Folk. Meanwhile, pictures taken by ace snapper Jolly of the proceedings last week will be in the usual place, http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net, for your delectation and amusement.
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
Next, we have the report for 19th October 2011
Hello All,
Well, I am really kicking myself.... why didn't we do it before...? For months we had been suffering from discomfort and overcrowding in the old room, with many people who wanted to come being put off when they saw all the decent seats occupied, and just going away. So Hilary says, "why don't we try and use one of the bigger rooms" (she's quite brilliant at times) and so we went to see Jenny (the manageress at the Grove) and had a good look at the room and checked that there were chairs and tables enough available, and so we said let's do it. Mr Chairman, on receipt of my email announcing this move, immediately carried out a recce in person at the Grove and decided exactly how it should be laid out. Amazingly (or not really, as great minds think alike... or so they say) it was exactly how I had envisaged it as several of us found when we presented ourself early (we thought) to help move chairs and discovered that Mr Chairman had already done it ! Ivor is a true STAR!
Hilary wasn't there on the night to witness the fruition of her inspiration, having vanished upcountry on an arts course, and so Anita leaped into the breech and offered to chronicle the events of the night for you, and without any cajoling (as Hilary sometimes requires a little nudge) she emailed her report to me the very next morning... what dedication... and so here it is...
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE, 19th October 2011
Was it a new venue? Not quite - but a different, larger, warmer room. Thanks to Ivor the Chairman for arranging tables & chairs before the rest of us could help - we did arrive early in the hope of being able to help ….honestly!
Unfortunately Hilary was away really enjoying herself so the report of the evening will be without her inimitable touch. Peter kicked off for us as usual with a song Seth Davey about a chap who had little dancing dolls - no doubt as enchanting as the Amy Crofter's Sam was last month. A great start.
Graham after what seems a long absence came next & sang 'Over the Hills and Far Away' finishing with a bit of Morris Dancing! He followed this with a Gilbert & Sullivan song from Ruddigore 'The Ghost's High Noon' . Very creepy and just right for the approaching Halloween. Thanks Graham.
He was followed by Fran & Anita with, as they put it, two out of season songs. First was that old favourite 'The Jug of Punch' followed by another favourite chorus song 'The Wild Mountain Thyme'. Next was Adrian on his banjo playing 'duelling Banjos' on his own - not easy! This he followed with a Sailors' Hornpipe in what he claimed was a Popeye version. Very impressive Adrian.
Then Mike Gee was welcomed back from a few months sabbatical. His first song was an Irish song 'The Black Velvet Band' the tale of a lad being led astray by a lady of dubious virtue. He followed this with Roberta Flack's 'Killing me Softly' Great songs, thanks Mike.
The Amycrofters then regaled us with a song they had amended from a song they had heard at the Nova Scotia Folk Club in Bristol (I think). It was based on 'When I'm 64' but this was called 'When I'm 94' an amusing song on one level but a little too close to the truth for a lot of us? They followed this with a song from an Irish CD they had been loaned. The song was all about a chap not being able to talk to his girlfriend because she was always on her mobile 'phone. Always good value, thanks.
Ben 'the tuner' was asked to come up next & whilst he was fighting a winning battle with his guitar to organise it for what he called a horrible song, Pete gave us a few well chosen notices from various posters in Nairobi.. For example: In a cemetery 'Persons are prohibited from picking flowers from any but their own grave' Ben then played his 'horrible song'. I think it was 'Head in the Clouds' or maybe it was 'Yesterday's Broken Record'. Sorry Ben, not sure but it wasn't horrible at all. Ben then gave us an instrumental & I didn't catch the name of that at all. Again, apologies Ben.
Next in line was Tony Reader sans hurdy gurdy for this part of the evening. He gave us a rendition of a Music Hall Song 'She's Only a Bird in a Gilded Cage' - a lot of us joined in. Oh dear, Jurassic folk? Then he told us of a Morris group he used to be in - Hartley Morris Men - who were also singers & even sang the menu outside of a Chinese Restaurant one night! Tony then gave us 'My Old Man's a Dustman' but not as we know it, Jim! This was to the tune of the 'White Cockade'. A very interesting approach. Thanks Tony.
Suzanne was next, again someone we haven't seen for a while. She sang one of her own songs about 2 very posh Labradors called Moet & Chandon. After Tony helping set up the keyboard Suzanne then gave us a song she wrote when she was 12 . She said you could tell she was only 12 This was a short line or two followed by variations of scat with which we were encouraged to join in - it defeated most of us!
We then welcomed Robin Nancarrow, someone else we haven't seen for a while. What is it about October? Robin's first song was 'Boy with Chocolate on his face'. This was followed by a ballad about the end of the 18thcentury telling of a murder at a masked ball & was called 'Two Silver Buttons' Great, Robin, thanks.
Annie then gave us a song from the Appalachian Mountains which she accompanied on her dulcimer (Appalachian type of course) called Handsome Molly. Then we had a chorus song 'Hush, Hush.' a lullaby & a lament from the time of the Highland Clearances.
To finish the first three-quarters, as Pete put it was the Bard of Seaton - Ted Dowse - singing 'One of These days' by Earl Montgomery. Not the Earl of Montgomery as he pointed out to us, just in case. He followed this with a poem taking us back to 1939 (well, some of us) about Hitler, a cheeky little chap. It was very funny. Thanks Ted.
This was followed by one of the famous - getting shorter - intervals.
The second part or final quarter as it must have been was off to a great start by the Amycrofters. They gave us a reading from South Africa 'Patriotic Retirement Plan' which, if followed would cure all the country's ills. Embarrassing thing is - in a dictatorship it could work! Then we had a not so funny reading (well, I thought it funny, if true ..Pete) about prisoners & pensioners changing places - again a little too accurate for some. Then surprise! Sam now has a girl friend so he and his lady, Sandy danced very energetically on their stage (plank of wood) to a fast & lively tune on the accordion. Great timing Sam & Sandy - well done.
Adrian returned to the spotlight, this time with a guitar & gave us a lovely traditional Irish song 'My Lovely Rose of Clare'.
The Bard of Beer, Frances, who had crept in trying not to be noticed, then gave us a poem about a family visit one Sunday to a teashop in Dorset. It was called 'No Toast on Sundays' You can imagine the welcome everyone received in that teashop. I wonder if they are still in business? Her second poem' 'Losing it' was about losing classes, not finding them anywhere & then being told they were on her head. How often have we done that?
Graham came up for his final offering - a song about a dog named Ulysses which almost drove his master to suicide, one of Jake Thackray's masterpieces.
Fran & Anita's song was 'The Sweet Nightingale'. A Cornish song said to have been taken from the original Cornish language. Usual story of a lass being beguiled by a lad & the hinted at consequences.
Tony Reader then gave us a likely tale about a genetic experiment crossing crocodiles with magpies. They would fly back with shiny things like rings & other jewellery unfortunately still attached to ripped body parts! He bewailed the fact that his hurdy gurdy can be in tune outside the room but as soon as he enters it goes out of tune which is why he tunes up in front of us. He then played a medley of tunes: 'Shepherd's Hey' , 'Dorset Reel', & 'D'ye Ken John Peel'. Thanks Tony.
Annie came next with a lovely song 'Come All you Fair & Tender ladies'. Great as always, thanks Annie.
Robin was next, caught unawares from his reverie but he came up & gave us a song about Pilgrims. I think it was called 'Following the Golden Rule' but I could be wrong.
Suzanne gave us a lively rendition of one of her own compositions 'On the Road to Romford' complete with Cockney accent & actions. Thanks Suzanne.
Tonight's revels were closed by (who else) The Bard of Seaton himself, Ted Dowse. This was an old favourite 'Tower of Song'. Thanks Ted.
Apologies for any errors or omissions.
Wow! What a night. Unanimous approval of the new room & warmth, plenty of room to move chairs around if wished and all facing the performers. Well done everyone.Thanks to our fantastic performers and brilliant audience. Make a date in your diary for next month Wednesday 16thNovember.
Thanks a bunch, Anita. There's nothing much to add to that but to say that the success of this new venue has excited us considerably and has opened up lots of possibilities for future events. All I have had so far is approval, so if you were there do let us know what you think, and if you weren't there please come next month and see if you like it... at least you'll be able to sit in glorious comfort... You may be able to get some idea of it by checking out the excellent pictures taken by Jolly which you will find in the usual place http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net/
Hope to see you then,
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
And now back to the previous session, 21st September 2011
Hello Everybody,
The season started off much as it left off, a packed house, wide variety of super performers and a good time was had by all. Although we award no prizes, clearly the "Man of the Match", as it were, must go to Sam, who danced his heart out.... Who is Sam?, I hear you say, (well, no, I didn't actually hear you say it, just a figure of speech.. even my computer isn't that clever).. Well, you'll have to read down through the exquisitely detailed report from Hilary, which follows right away (unless there is a power cut or something else to stop you reading...)
JURASSIC FOLK & ACOUSTIC AT THE GROVE, 21 SEPTEMBER 2011
It was good to be back after our August break - "our" section of the Grove hasn't changed since last time - we will have to find Jenny some pictures on put on the walls to cosy it up a bit. So ... it was a warm welcome to everyone and, again, what a good crowd made up of both performers and audience. To get things under way Peter, after welcoming everyone, sang Carlton Weavers warning of the evils of drink - it had a chorus we all knew so got us off on a rousing start to the evening.
Peter then called upon Adrian who came with his guitar and began with Ibo Girl - this was a song about the girls who frequent the bars in Lagos to give the soldiers a "good time"- and it was brilliant. Next he gave us a traditional song If my Love was a Red Red Rose. Thank you very much Adrian (and by the way, his son does a brilliant job making cars look sparkling..)
With apologies for the lack of warning, Peter invited the Amy Crofters to come up next - the last time we saw them they were on heavily laden bicycles trundling the streets of Sidmouth during the Festival week. They began with a song called The Mole Catcher which had a very jolly chorus. To follow they had composed a really special song for Peter - new words to an old favourite A Worried Man - it incorporated a couple of dates one of which was the date they got married and the other when Peter was born - the result was wonderful, thank you both.
Next our girl band, Anita and Fran who began with a traditional song which has been sung by very many people called Froggy Went A'Courting. - their version was excellent, thank you. Next an early 1900's song with reference to the slave trade, Freight Train which we all know and were able to sing along with.
Next Mike New (the only Mike here tonight as Mike Gee was unable to be with us and sent a note from his mother) sang Mexican Girl followed by Hotel California - wonderful, thank you so much Mike.
Frances, the Bard of Beer, came next and as it was the first of the season read us again her special Jurassic Folk poem called One Foot in the Grove all about all of us and is so good. Her second poem was again an old favourite about her friend Sandra called Eric on Patrol who really does have a cat called Eric. Thank you Frances.
Peter then had to holler loudly to get Ben's attention who was lurking somewhere in the nether regions. He came up to give us a new song called Walk with your Head Down which had some amazing guitar playing. He followed that with Indescribable Beauty which he took a long time to try and explain while he battled with some exotic tuning, but it all became very abstract and conceptual and philosophical, however, it turned out very well, thank you Ben.
Next Tony Reader with some songs to take us back in time. From the music halls and Sam Hall - a frightening one which would have been sung all around the country My Name is Sam Hall. He then began tuning his Hurdy Gurdy which he brought out as there appeared to be a number of new faces with us tonight - a tune called Tune Ing in Chinese ( !!!???) - but it turned into a North African tune sounding very Moroccan so I, at any rate, was able to imagine dancers in turquoise and snake charmers and lots of bells.
Rushing on Peter introduced Annie our Colyford Nightingale and while she was setting up he gave us a few of his special stories, thank you Peter. Annie's first song was from Chile and called Mi Caballo Blanco (my white horse) which was very lovely. Then a song about sleep called John O'Dreams by Bill Caddick written in 1973 which Annie has not heard sung around here but she has in Worcester. Thank you Annie.
Next we have our favourite boy band Hunt, Gamble and Tresize who had apparently begun rehearsing in May called Come Out It's Now September. Then a Jim Broydon song Bringing in the Sheets. Thank you very much all.
The only person to finish off the first half before the interval must be Ted, the Bard of Seaton who began with a poem. Now this was a somewhat delicate poem with an unpolitically correct slant on those who caused the riots recently and called Suffer the Little Children. It no doubt echoed the thoughts of many people. Then one of Ted's special stories that was a joke about corn boring beetles culminating in a punch line "Out Bored Motor" .... Followed by a song John Barleycorn should Die. Thank you as ever Ted.
"Interval"
The Amy Crofters opened the second half for us with three reels during which was really a showcase for the newest member of the band, a wooden puppet called Sam who wonderfully danced on a plank, superbly manipulated by June - another first!
Frances next with an apology for no new poems - her summer seems to have been like a lot of ours, very busy. So it was an old favourite of both hers and ours about her daughter when she was two (she is now 29) called Burglar Bunglar.
Adrian returned with Tease me Alive, a Richard Thompson song performed expertly as usual. Then we had a solo from Anita (i.e. without Fran as they are not joined at the hips) who gave us one of her special poems, this one by Robert William Service about the cremation of Sam McGee (it was apparently very cold and reference was made to Reynards Disease).
Tony came back with Down Derry Derry Derry Down Down, and unusually he didn't give us a detailed and informative lecture on its origins first, but it lost nothing despite that. He was followed by Fran who was determined to pursue macabre themes tonight with a song called Geordie which was about hanging and injustice... all very jolly. Thank you both. (Peter always complains that I run out of steam during the second half but actually we have to rush through and I am only conveying just that!) (More asides... what me... complain...? Peter)
Unusually Peter called upon Ted to do the spot before last for once in order to put on Hunt Gamble and Tresize at the very end to give them time to let their voices benefit from the maximum possible opportunity for lubrication. So Ted gave us another story about a trip to the library for a Dictionary of Unusual Definitions of Common Words followed by Hey Mr Tamborine Man which we all love and were able to join in with. Then a short song called Harvest Moon. So lovely. Thank you Ted.
The conclusion was sung for us by Hunt Gamble and Tresize in magnificent harmony with Times are Not What they Used to Be followed by a Miners' Prayer, an excellent way to finish off.
Another wonderful evening - talent in both quality and quantity. Thank you all for coming and see you next month - Wednesday 19 October (almost Halloween) just after 8 at the Grove.
Well, how about that then, didn't you feel you were there....? Thank you again Hilary, and if you need further reminder of the joys of the night don't forget to check Jolly's latest batch of photos, which practically come alive in front of your eyes, to be found at http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net/ along with all the gems of past months and even years. Hope to see you next month along with whatever surprises get sprung on us.
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
And next in the archive, 20th July, 2011
It was a lovely night last Wednesday, the last session before our summer break, even if I say so myself, and as always full of surprises and unforseen gems. Hilary will describe it to you in her own special inventive manner, but if you were there you probably would wonder what event she was describing.... (oh Gosh... I could be in for another rolling-pin job for that..) Anyhow, if you are sitting comfortably, this is what happened...
JURASSIC FOLK 20 JULY 2011
A good crowd to welcome again and it always amazes me how different each month is. This month we saw familiar faces we havn't seen for a while which is really nice, but on the other hand other familiar faces were absent. It's what we are about really, a friendly place for people to dip in and out of as the occasion arrises. Peter welcomed everyone and started things off with a "tender love ballad" I Had a Girl Called Susie(err.. actually it is called Worried Man ..Pete)which everyone seemed to love and able to join in with and it was applauded with great enthusiasm.
Lizzie Bewsher, she of many talents, (one of the ladies we havn't seen for a while) was warmly welcomed - she managed to bring with her a large entourage which was great. Her performance was based on the song Early One Morning - while she read specially rewritten verses we sang the chorus and it was very funny indeed. Thank you Lizzie.
Welcome back too, to the Amycrofters and whilst they were setting up Peter produced one of his special bon mots (where does he get them ?) Anyway, their first song was from Bangor with a true story about a construction company, Pochins, and a great lump of concrete - all very alarming. It was written by Nigel Close to the tune of The Wreck of the 97. They followed that with Oh Suzannah which we all know and were able to join in with chorus.
Now we had a treat in store from two very lovely girls bringing the average age of us all down a bit, called Kristabelle and Darcey. They sang two contemporary folk songs, the first by a band called Mountain Man (I think) In The Summer Air( actually it was called Animal Tracks... Pete) which was brilliant and wonderful. The second by a North American band called Festival, The Earth has Dirtied This Lonesome Heart(ah.. actually it was called Fair & True... the girls told me.. Pete). What a humbling experience I always feel when young people come up with such potential talent - whether it is musically or artistically.
Mike New was called upon next and sang James Taylor's lullaby to his nephew Sweet Baby James. Next, using his 50 plus year old guitar sang a song written by Tom Rush and performed by the Walker Brothers - very nice.
Our own special girl band, Anita and Fran sang a sea shanty, A Roving, which was jolly good and appropriately rousing. They followed that with a rather more sombre All My Trials but a very lovely song - I love it, excellent.
Jurassic Folk is a wonderful place - another familiar face we havn't seen for a month or two, Tony Reader with his hurdy gurdy - he claims not to be able to come without his hurdy gurdy but that isn't true - we welcome him in whatever guise he chooses. However, as the hurdy gurdy takes a while to tune Peter took the opportunity to expose a couple more of his bon mots. (Apparently hurdy gurdy players spend half their time tuning the instrument and half the time playing out of tune - a quote from a bagpipe player) Tony then gave us a fools story in rhyme and then sang John Barleycorn (another which I love)and then a Dorset tune. Thank you Tony.
Mike (Machine Gun as opposed to Mike New) next but in the meantime Peter with a few more of his jokes. James Taylor is popular tonight and Mike gave us very much his own version of Fire & Rain.
Annie, our Colyford Nightingale, was welcomed next with Sir Walter Scott's words to an old Scottish tune Jock of Hazeldine. Mike joined her for the next song which was written by Jerry Garcia, Black Muddy River and that had a chorus, thank you both.
At this point James Semple was invited up to promote Winefred which is a community play being performed during the last week of July (that's next week) in the Town Hall - it is not to be missed and involves lots of excellent folk music and a lot of local talent and a local story set in the 19thcentury. It promises to be quite special and has been a long time in the planning.
To finish off the first half, as always our favourite Bard, Ted Dowse. He began with a solemn song My Father, Use Some Mercy Now. Next a chorus song Sail On, Sail On (democracy) just to prove that protest songs are not dead here - all up to Ted's usual magnificent standard.
Interval
To start off the second half the Amycrofters, being a folk dance band really, gave us a couple of dance set tunes which we should have been dancing to but also to expose Mrs Amy's expertise at multi tasking, ie as a HGV truck driver - quite different to mini banjos and singing.
Next, an extra special surprise turn from a visiting hirsute gentleman from Tasmania, Rob Hill, who came to England with a grass roots trade union choir from Tasmania visiting Tolpuddle. He told us about the leader of the Tolpuddle martyrs, a chap called Loveless, who was transported to Van Deimans land, and they made his story into a folk opera, Loveless in Hobart, and he sang one of the songs from this, The Wind and The Waves. Thank you so much for coming.
As Anita had to go, Fran came up on her own and sang a Peter, Paul and Mary song: Polly Von which was really lovely Fran, thank you.
Lurking in the nether regions were Ben and Alana who joined us (Peter with more Bon Mots) and sang Broken Bones followed by a second song I Can See You Now, for the very first time. It was good to see you both back - Ben hardly recognisable without his hair and hat and with an eye patch... what a lot of changes we have seen this month!
Mike New back again with Hello Mary Lou which was very nice to sing along with.
Our hurdy gurdy player returned with Hush a Bye, Don't You Cry followed by Annie and Mike Gee together with a Leonard Cohen number Dancing to the End of Love.
To finish off the evening Ted produced another Leonard Cohen song about line dancing but began with a rhyme about line dancing dressed as a cowboy. Anyway, the song was about line dancing in Texas on a Saturday Night called It's Closing Time ???
I keep getting it wrong, but never mind .... have a magnificent August (I seem to remember forecasters saying summer would "return" in August however I gather the jet stream has gone all off piste which could mean we might have to wait a long time for summer) Anyway, as always, thank you all for coming and we look forward to seeing you again on 21 September at the Grove just after 8 oclock.
Thanks Hil for that,
all that scribbling has got to be worth it, and I'm sure is as eagerly read as any of the top critics in the Guardian or Spectator, or even the now defunct Murdoch paper which I am not allowed to mention. If the written word has failed to convince you perhaps Jolly's pictures will, and these can be found, as always, ateastdevonfolk.jalbum.net and with all this great material in sound that we have on our matchbox recorder I might be able to get some choice excerpts up on our MySpace sitehttp://www.myspace.com/jurassicfolk before too long.
Lots going on in the next few weeks, Sidmouth FolkWeek and Sidmouth Fringe Festival, Winefred at Seaton Town Hall although if you haven't got a ticket forget it as it's all sold out, justifyably so as it was a great show... we went last night.
So till September, but if anything happens in between that rouses my urge to communicate to you another of these missives will wing its way to your computer...
Cheers,
Peter and Hilary
And now back to the 15th June 2011 session
A smashing evening last week, was the fairly universal verdict... well I enjoyed it. This is how Hil, our official historian saw it...
A big thank you again to Ivor, our Mr Chairman, for putting out the chairs so efficiently - and hey, what a challenge our new decor is proving - we wait in anticipation to see what will adorn the walls. But I think there is a new feeling of space which is good - it is all illusional of course.
Peter introduced the evening with an apology for his macabre appearance, explaining that he had recently undergone a brain transplant.... and would begin the proceedings with Oh Susannah Don't You Cry For Me which he has never sung before, but it was very good. He then called upon Dave to follow him which he did with an Irishy sort of song The Ballad of Mick Ryan and then a Randy Traviss song called On The Other Hand. Excellent, thank you Dave.
Annie brought some friends with her for the evening who came prepared to perform for us. Vernon sang unaccompanied in traditional style Tramps and Hawkers and As I Rode Out . Vernon's wife, Jan, came next with I Gave My Love a Cherry - all wonderful, thank you for coming.
A warm welcome to Adrian who sang a Tom Paxton song called Annie's Coming to Sing Her Song - the first time he has performed it. That song he performed with his guitar but he followed it with Wicked Fire Dance on his banjo - he has played this for us before but it was a particular request. In between these songs Peter began a series of jokes - this one included something about cockpits and women pilots.
Then we had a blast from the past in the form of Big Tim - however our pleasure at being able to welcome him back was tempered by the realisation that he has been very unwell indeed for the last year. Chrones disease was followed by a particularly vicious form of arthritis which has caused all his joints to seize up including his hands so that he is unable to play his guitar. However, despite all this he was in fine voice and we do indeed welcome him back and he began by singing a song called The Lovely Flower all in German - he did explain what it was all about before hand though.. His next song was in English I Can't Quite Believe It which is for those who have given up on love... Thank you so much.
The Bard of Beer next with a finger transplant (not quite as dramatic as a brain transplant but impressive nonetheless) She gave us one of her specials, a true story called Bird Brain followed by another of her specials A Loo Review about Beer's loss of a loo. Thank you Frances as always.
Peter then gave us another of his special jokes about insanity before calling upon Mike N with some of his usual gems - this time an old one he used to sing as a kid, Burl Ives' Big Rock Candy Mountain which we were all able to join in with. He followed that with a Stephen Foster song, Hard Times. Wonderful.
Our own special "girl band" Anita and Fran with Anita still in pop mode wearing her dark glasses (due to lazer treatment on her eyes). The first one a traditional song Pleasant and Delightful which was jolly good as we could all sing along. The next one an old traditional English song swinging between folk and classical, called Early One Morning (which reminded me of school but then Jim Moray fortunately succeeded in throwing new light on the matter).
We are very fortunate to be able to welcome Robin again (another of Peter's special jokes fitted in here somewhere). Robin said that we are having a marvellous selection of songs this evening (here here) and gave us a couple of his own, first How Long which was wonderful. Next song was inspired by Kafka's Metamorphosis in which a young man turns into an insect but Robin's song is about a mole and some creatures he would not mind be being and some he would - the song is called the Mole Song. Very wonderful.
Before introducing our page three girl, the Nightingale of Colyford, Annie, Peter found another of his jokes, this one taken from a letter written to the Oldie magazine. Annie gave us a song from Somerset about how the standing stones in Stanton Drew came into being which she accompanied with her dulcimer. Then to be different her next song came from the middle east, a love song called Evening of Roses which has been translated from the Hebrew which she sang in. Very impressive.
Next .... Rob .... with a Spanish flavour - from an American band called Meal Ticket, with a song called Keeping Faith. I think I have got that right but anyway it was very funny and very good. Then a Neil Young song Long May You Run. Thank you so much Rob as always.
Who else could we call upon to finish the first half but Ted the Bard of Seaton who gave us a very sombre and touching poem about the young men, heroes, who go to Afghanistan and fight the Taliban - some of who come home and some who do not. Then, apples peaches and cherries came into the equation together with a Ted joke about long haul flights which was very funny. He was listening to recollections of people from Dunkirk about bumble bees and boats and swarms but then gave us the world premiere called Midsummer Morning which was a very nice Ted special.
Interval - very animated.
As Peter says each month, my second half loses steam - steam and concentration as my notes for the following require quite a bit of deciphering (the Newcastle Browns have something to do with it I suspect) so apologies for the inaccuracies and totally made up bits(Don't worry, Hil those are the best bits..).
We restarted the evening with Vernon who sang a great version of The Parting Glass. Then he told a lovely joke about getting run over by a steam engine. Then a swift contribution involving Apples, Peaches and Cherries but I can't remember who made it.... Dave next with a the first song he ever learnt, Fields of Athenrye. Thank you very much Dave. Fran and Anita came back again with a Dubliners' sea shanty Home Boys Home - jolly good and rousing to keep us all singing, I love it.
After Fran and Anita, Adrian was welcomed back and to continue the nostalgic take of the evening, gave us a number one hit from 1959 by Ricky Nelson - There'll Never be Anyone Else but You and, of course, there were quite a lot of us able to sing along I am afraid. Thank you very much Adrian.
Annie next with her guitar who gave us a very romantic song by Mark Knoffler called My Lady May I Have this Dance? Thank you Annie.
Then Peter called upon Robin who sang Big Yellow Moon (a bit appropriate as there was to be a partial eclipse that night). It is about seeing the moon when it sits on top of the ridge where they live. After retuning his guitar with the help (or not) of some modern technology he gave us a second song called The Willow Pattern Song which he wrote around the picture displayed on willow pattern plates. What a treat.
Rob came next with one of his own songs called Growing up Years. Very nice Rob, thank you. Ted to finish off the evening began with a joke followed by Love me Tender accompanied by his harmonica and guitar - we wondered if the Elvis paraphernalia incorporated in the new decor had an influence ? It included a Ted's own eco special ending.
A great evening and a big thank you to everyone - audience and performers - without you it wouldn't happen and see you next month - Wednesday 20 July (gosh "summer" is slipping by) at the Grove just after 8 oclock.
Thanks, Hil, you just about survived... Thanks also to Jolly who's pictures of some of the performers in action can be found on our Jurassic Album sitehttp://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.netAnd just to remind you that next month's session will be the last before our summer break in August, and we are expecting a whole host of new talent to turn up... you will, won't you girls...?
Cheers for now,
Peter & Hilary
And now we go back to 18 May 2011
A much more manageable night for me, the latest session at the Grove, as there were just about the right number of performers so everyone got a good spot, but we still finished after 11pm. It was great to welcome several new performers, and I hope they'll come again when they're in the vicinity, but what would we do without the stalwarts who come every month, surprising us all (and themselves I suspect) with the great variety and quality of their contributions.
I shall gloss over May 2nd at the Town Hall, save to say that there were lessons to be learnt from it, which I hope we take to the heart in future.
So let's get to the facts.... over to Hil the shorthand wizard...
JURASSIC FOLK AT THE GROVE 18 MAY 2011
Well, well, well ...... it was welcome back to our Mr Chairman (Ivor) who went missing last month, apparently to celebrate his 80th birthday - happy belated birthday Ivor, so that was good news; and all the chairs were in good order, thank you very much. The other scene to greet us was a back to basics room - gone were all the seafaring pictures, the fishing paraphernalia, the anchors, the nets and the ropes (or were they sheets?)- a VERY naked minimalist decor. I am not sure if it helped the acoustics or not ? Next month we will be in for a surprise perhaps.
Health and safety have caught up with us - at the instigation of Ivor - so Peter did the air hostess show and gave information on how to find the fire exits in case of emergency before announcing that he had suddenly remembered that it was our 4th anniversary - whey hey..... (where on earth have those years gone?). He opened with a song never performed in public before called I Thought I Loved you Yesterday which was not entirely his own but mostly ? (OK, I'll come clean, magnificent words by Dave Turner and music by me...Peter) Anyway it was very good.
Peter called on Tony Jordon next who came all the way from Cornwall with a song he sang in Exmouth the previous evening called Nancy Miles, accompanied with his accordion. It was a song with gypsy connections we were informed but I am not sure where the connection lay. Then came a song called Never Too Late to Start Living - indeed, we will take it to heart. Thank you very much Tony.
Next to be called upon was Anita (incognito in shades) and Fran. Their first song was a 1970's Pete Seeger number with an appropriate local edge given the rumours floating around the Tesco site - called Little Boxes, with a minor change or two - excellent. Then they sang a very old song originating from the 1700's which crops up in many guises, called Amazing Grace - very lovely.
Mike New, who is now very much a regular, entertained us next with a 1960's song recently performed by Alison Krowse called Baby Now That I Have Found You. Then a Freddy Neil song (but not Midnight Cowboy) called Four and Twenty but Mike changed the words a bit as 4 and 20 passed him by some time ago. Thank you very much Mike.
Good ole' Frances, the Bard of Beer, nex,t who actually did remember our anniversary and had, of course, prepared a special poem for the occasion. Great stuff, Frances for poet laureate I say. Her second poem was an old one she dug out called The School Concert.
In complete contrast 'Machine Gun Mike' (I think he is getting a bit fed up with this title) followed explaining that Annie had introduced him to Alison Krowse songs and to continue his reputation of continually reinventing himself he sang unaccompanied an American spiritual Down To The River and Pray which was an absolutely wonderful song. Then, Have You Ever Seen the Rain?
A warm welcome to Pat, a visitor from Maidenhead in Berkshire who explained that she had been a member of the audience at her local folk club for 19 years and a beginner singer for one year - how very brave. She sang unaccompanied A Blacksmith Courted Me and Bold Grenadier which were both very nice, and what a lovely natural evocative voice.
From beauty to the beast in the form of Robin Nancarrow who began with a song about his ambivalent attitude to being a consumer - They Offer Me Silver, Wings of Salvation - brilliant as usual. Another which needed no explanation Missing You - oh so good and all his own.
Our very own Nightingale of Colyford, Annie who paid tribute to Peter and thanked him for making it all happen which was much appreciated, thank you Annie. However, it would be nothing without the performers and audience ! She sang a Ralph McTell song about home sickness, A Long Way from Clare to Here and another from the 1940's You Belong to Me by Pee Wee King who is a jazz muscician - thank you Annie.
To conclude the first half, the darling of the WI circuit, the Bard of Seaton Mr Ted Dowse who claims to be four years younger. He gave us a newly constructed topical "poem" called Bill and Cathy's Big Day which was amazing. He followed that with a song called The Battle Hymn of Love - All brilliant as usual - we expect no less.
INTERVAL
Peter opened the second half with one of his favourite songs about murder and blood and guts with a moral - Tom Lehrer's folk song, About a Maid I'll Sing a Song.
Fran and Anita joined us again with a song which had origins in Samuel Pepys' Diary. On 2 January 1666 reference is made to Barbary Allen which has now become a song Barbara Allen. That and their next drinking song Barley Mow were a great hit, and the latter quite a feat.
A stranger from the East (Kent) Tony Power gave us a chorus song to be joined in with - preferably with a Kentish accent. Thank you very much.
Peter then called upon Mike New who came up with Louise, and then going with the 60's theme which all actually started in the 50's Poison Ivy.
Frances next with a couple of her classic favourites - Party Girl and Burglar Bunglar - both little girl inspired whether daughter or granddaughter.
Tony returned with his squeeze box and his ship wreck and gypsy theme Donnegal Danny and La Morna.
Mike Gee with an Elizabethan song by John Dowlan written in 1597 about masturbation called Can She Excuse and an Eagle Song Take It Easy.
Welcome back to Pat with When First I Come to Caledonia. Thank you very much Pat.
Robin again with In The Middle of the Night and Willow Pattern which was inspired by the pattern on his plate which if you look at one carefully, there is quite a lot going on.
Annie came next with just one as she is ready for her Horlicks and biscuits which was an Irish version of Dance to Your Daddy.
To conclude the evening Ted with a song curiously called One Song (after Annie's just one song) which came about as a result of an experience at a folk club run by Val at a pub in Marshwood - One Life - Live It, One Song - ???
He followed it with a song not about himself called Wide River to Cross. All Wonderful.
All a wonderful evening, thank you for coming as ever, it's a joint effort. And see you next month - Wednesday 15 June just after 8 at the Grove.
Thanks, Hil, though she does tend to run out of pencil in the second half... not the only one who wants her Horlicks... or in Hil's case, scotch...
Nowt else to say except that pictures are as usual to be found at http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net/ for which grateful thanks to Jolly, and hope to see you all next month.
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
Next, late April 2001
The excitement goes on, the action never ceases... just when I thought we'd have a breather after a hectic start, things keep happening.... isn't it fun..?? First Hil's take on Wednesday 20th April, and then notes at the bottom about two notable events, Hilary's Art show in Beer and the Seaton Arts Festival do at the Town Hall on Bank Holiday Monday, May 2nd.... We don't seem to have been invited to " the wedding"... an oversight I'm sure but we'll get over it. Over to Hil..
Jurassic Folk at the Grove on Wednesday April 20th
To begin an action packed evening Peter welcomed one and all with a real folk song by Richard Starkey called Sixteen, good and familiar for us all to join in with. He was then able to welcome Andrew and June, otherwise known as the Amy Crofters, who nobly entertained the crowds at Peco for the opening of their new Pirate Ship last Sunday. They reported on the proceedings and reproduced for us the medley of what they termed nursery rhymes and followed this with a new venture - a singalong all rolled into one to include loads of old songs we are all familiar with.
Next to be called was Dave who sang a Steve Earl song When Johnny comes Marching Home and he followed that with a Daniel O'Donnel song called Galloway Bay - very nice, thank you very much Dave.
Next, the wizard with the harmonica, Johnny Gudge who began without his harmonica and sang unaccompanied a song from the island in the Hebrides called the Eriskey Love Lilt. Then, so as not to disappoint Peter, he played on his harmonica a medley from the north of the border - thank you very much John.
Next Frances, the Bard of Beer, with a new poem which she wrote while the weather was still cold and before the warm bit arrived and when she had a bit of a cold in the nose which one has to appreciate whilst listening to this tale which is called A Sprig in the Step - very funny Frances. She followed this with an oldie, One Foot in the Grove which she felt was due for another airing and of course it is all about us.
Mick (as opposed to Mike) who says he tries to learn something new for each month, but then he forgets the words - hey ho, it happens to the best but he sang for us If These Old Walls could Speak which was really nice. Next a John Denver song Montanna (or the Wild Montanna Sky) which was very good.
And now for something completely different in the form of Graham without his Flaming Morris Team. Apparently this morris team is now disbanded (is that right Graham ??) which is a bit of a shame. But, anyway he sang Over the Seas and Faraway for us and then, as good as his word, he performed a bit of a jig for us. Then we all joined in with Zoom Gally Gally creating a lovely noise with some good harmonics.
Mike Gee was called upon next and living up to his reputation of being endlessly versatile, he performed some pop music by an American band called Edna Swop and Natalie Brunier sang Torn. His next song he claims not to have sung for 50 years - House of the Rising Sun which we have all sung more recently than that and is a firm favourite.
Tony Reeder without his hurdy gurdy came to centre stage with a Copper family song called The Wedding Song - just to be topical, but it was sung at his wedding (which didn't last long sadly). Tony likes to give us a good yarn and told stories of his younger years and gave us a song from those times by Jimmy Binx together with a bit of a dance - an excellent performance.
The only person to follow that would have to be Rob (thanks a bunch). He too would like to do a pop song called Answer Me - Barbara Dickson has done it. Next a Michael Chapman number called Postcards of Scarborough which was really wonderful.
Now we can welcome back Annie from her penance in Australia - we have indeed missed you during your long sojourn. Anyway, her first song was by Buffy St Marie called Piney Wood Hills which is reminiscent of what they have been doing during the last few months. Then she did some dulcimating - Willy Moore which is a version of a version of a version and is apparently self explanatory - thank you Annie, welcome home!
Robin Nancarrow, after a bit of an accidental absence ( ??) was welcomed with a Johnny McGuire songr from the West Coast of Ireland - he was a fiddle player who became a rock star and then went back home to be a fiddle player again as he missed it so much - anyway, it was a very good song. Then came one of Robin's own inspired by the willow pattern on his plate called The Willow Curtain.
Then, before the interval, the performance we have all been waiting for - Ted who gave us a tale about his experience with the Inland Revenue which was all true and quite astonishing. Then he asked Robert to join him for a song first performed for Peter's birthday, a Bob Dylan nunber called Dawn, thank you both very much (there was an inquisitive and clearly musical discerning ginger cat among the audience at this stage).
Interval
With loads of lovely performers and very little time Peter suggested the second "half" should be more of a sprint than a stint but he was able to give a new girl, Janet, a warm welcome with a self penned song Painting Mona Lisa which was very nice, thank you Janet.
Continuing the Australian them, a song written by an Englishman, the great Eric Bogle, and sung by an Englishman, the aspiring great Graham, called The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.
Frances gave us Losing It - A familiar story about losing specs which many of our company will be familiar with.
Johnny Gudge with one of his favourite - Londonderry Air, otherwise known as Danny Boy. The harmonica is now apparently an official musical instrument according to Singapore University.
Mike Gee with Leave It Out, thank you Mike.
Tony claimed that all folk songs and dances are too long so he gave us an exceedingly short one, so short that I can't remember what it was...!.
Next Peter asked Ted to introduce to us for our delectation a young trio - Ben, Alana and Jack who opened with My Friend Patience - Ben made some explanation about his song called Avalanche. Whatever, it was a most gentle and lovely song. Then it was These Walls Have Teeth (based vaguely on aliens) which was very brilliant and thank you all so much for coming.
It then behoved Ted (darling of the WI circuit according to the local paper) to finish off the evening with a song we could all join in with - I Can't Help but Wonder Where we are Bound - thank you Ted as ever.
And ..... thank you everyone for coming and doing your bit and with apologies to those there was no time to give a second go.
See you next month, same place, same time - Wednesday 18 May, just after 8, at the Grove.
Ta, Hils, authorative as always... except that she failed to mention that we all noted that Mr Chairman was missing that night... the chairs were all over the place... I hope it is only a temporary leave of absence... And ofcourse thanks to Jolly who's pics of the night will be adorning our picture album at http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net/
Now first of the events which you really shouldn't miss if you can possibly help it.
28th April to May 4th, the Bomb Shelter, Beer,
Hilary Arnold's latest collection of brilliant, colourful abstract oil paintings... If you can't afford a masterpiece just yet you can take away a postcard to stick on the wall where you intend the full size painting to go eventually. More info from Hilary on hilaryra@aol.com or the usual number 01297 20064.
Then, on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May
Seaton Arts have their big day at the Town Hall, and various members of Jurassic Folk have been inveigled into appearing and providing a bit of music to give the event a veneer of disrespectability. We shall be occupying the stage from 12midday until 1.30pm, and it would be lovely to see some familiar faces during that time. It goes without saying that this is a free admission event.
So until then, or whenever...
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
Next, the action from March 16th
March has been a month of many parts, lots of happiness and lots of sadness, the latter due to losing my mother at the tender age of 98, and the former because of all the loving support from friends and family. But Jurassic folk lives on and so for the latest session report over to Hilary....
JURASSIC FOLK at the Grove 16 MARCH 2011
Peter opened proceedings by welcoming everyone and so many wonderful performers again. After hearing a superb rendering by June Tabor, Peter had been haunted for a week or two by Cyril Tawney's beautiful Oggie Man, a song of things and people that you thought would always be there, and suddenly they're not, and he sang it unaccompanied with the harmonica slipped in here and there - what a lovely song.
Peter then called Dave to the rescue who sang Good Evening Dublin in the Rare Old Times which was very nice and he followed this with a request The Green Fields of France which he has sang before - very excellent thank you.
Next The Fran and Anita double act with the good old Cornish song Way Down in Lamorna, which has a rousing chorus which I havn't heard for ages which was really good fun and took me back a year or two. Next they sang Cumbyah which I also enjoy.
Then we had a very special act - brought together becuase of the family funeral, George, who is supposed to be in Spain but had flown back especially, and Rory his half-brother. Rory sang I Often Dream of Trains while George accompanied him with Peter's double bass which is not the easiest bass to play. It was a very funny song and a real treat for Peter and me to have them with us.
Mike (or Mick as Mike Gee has just turned up) came next with a Gordon Lightfoot number Rainy Day People. Peter thanked him for his contribution at Pecorama in aid of the Radio Devon Helicopter funds. Mick then gave us a commercial about the Yarcombe Inn which has become a community pub and is holding open mike sessions on the first Wednesday of the month to which all are invited. He then sang the Night they Drove Old Dixie Down.
Moses came with his squeeze box all the way from Charmouth next with a Carpenters song Island of Dreams.
Then we welcomed back Adrian, ( who's son runs the best car valeting business in Devon). He did a Tom Paxton song Can't Help Wondering Where I am Bound - lots of chorus songs to join in with this evening which is brilliant. Then with his banjo he did a clog dance tune from Northumbria The Wicket Fire Dance - great stuff as Peter would say.
Next one of the stars of last month's Jurassic Folk and BBC Radio Devon clash - Rob - with his take on a Nick Jones song called Icarus, then a John Martin song Road to Ruin.
Our own escapee from Bristol, Laurie, who explained that he had been horrified at having to work in a city but he had found the parks of Bristol to make him feel better and wrote a song God in the Park. He had brought along his new CD Guitar Rags and God's Riches which is great fun and very good value. He then performed the first Scott Joplin piece ever to be published in 1899, Original Rags.
Bard Ted, ( or Captain Birdseye as Radio Devon's John Govier unaccountably called him ) gave us, very quietly, a true and very touching story about Billy (a prodigal son story) which nearly had us all in tears, then a not true story about a cat called Minton who ate his shuttlecock. Then he sang I Wish I Was in Devon which was an amalgamation of a collection of songs.
There was no need of hearing aids for our next act - Hunt Gamble and Tresize, our welcome occasional visitors, who were in fine voice with I Wish My Heart was made of Glass and a Stan Rogers song called Foggity's Cove.
Interval
Peter began the second half to celebrate the very unlikely and unusual set of circumstances, as the little boy about whom the song was written, Rory, was with us, now not so little, so.... Zoom Zoom Zoom.... This Peter sang with George accompanying him on the double bass - all very "family".
Frances, the Bard of Beer, with a new poem called Party Girl and the question, do we know anyone like this ? Indeed, very true to life. Then in response to a request she read The School Concert which was all about teenagers.
Mike G, another BBC Radio Devon stalwart, gave us Johnny Cash's Chatanuga Sugar Babe and Robert Johnson's All My Love's in Vain. Thank you very much Mike.
Anita with an Irish song from 1889 by Percy French but which she felt unable to sing and so chose to recite instead. It was called Slattery's Light Dragoons - a moral tale indeed. Thank you Anita.
Lurking was another of the brave Plymouth Five, Ben, who gave us something to do with a Space Odyssey and a space ship called Auto Pilot, excellent Ben, thank you.
Dave called upon to give us another - a singalong called Crystal Chandeliers.
Then we had a commercial - the Uplyme Morris group are looking for new members and dancers - if successful they are threatening to come along and perform for us which would be wonderful.
More from Adrian who sang a medley accompanied by his guitar. (I think Hil must have dropped off about now... Peter)
Laurie, flogging his CD (for £8, great value) sang a Ralph McTell number Early Every Morning and played Drybone Shuffle.
Axmouth's greatest Boy Band, Hunt Gamble and Tresize, again put forth with a Dwytt song about Grandfather Tubbs called The Miners Prayer. It is a miners' song which happens to be very topical about nuclear power versus coal.
Ted, our Bard of Seaton, saying what a brilliant night we were having and produced a new song giving it a world premier called Scilly Waltz and followed that with As Long As We Can Sail Away.
Yes, indeed Ted, what a brilliant evening ..... so thank you all - for coming, for playing and for listening. See you next month, same place, same time - Wednesday 20 April, just after 8 at the Grove Night Club.
So that was it from Hilary.... I think she is having a lot of trouble reading her shorthand nowadays, so it's no use berating her is she gets it all wrong, which ofcourse she never does... thank you Hilary. Some fabulous pics were taken by Jolly and will be found on http://eastdevonfolk.jalbum.net ... thanks again Jolly.
That's quite enough for this month, don't you think?
Cheers,
Peter & Hilary
PS STOP PRESS!! Annie & Gerry are back.... I've just seen them in Seaton... and they look no worse for their incarceration and three months hard labour in Australia... in fact they look marvellous and Rob, Mike, Ted and everybody had better be ready for a summons to a rehearsal any minute now...