Welcome to the Dragon Folk Club

Welcome to the official blog of the Dragon Folk Club, which meets for a singers night every Friday at The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol. Everyone is welcome whether you sing, play or just listen.

Monday 21 July 2014

Maggie's 70th Birthday Bash

This week's session marked the occasion of Maggie S's 70th birthday. You don't usually tell a lady's age but she hasn't exactly been making a secret of it. This event fell on the same day as another big event for regulars at the club. Keith H and Pat got married in the afternoon - congratulations Keith and Pat. That meant that quite a few people had to fit in the wedding, reception or both before coming over to The Bridge. That didn't however stop us having a near capacity crowd of 28. I'm sure we could have fitted in a few more but the hot, humid weather made it rather sweaty until the big carriage door was opened to let in some fresh air - I hope we didn't disturb the neighbours.

An excellent spread of refreshments was provided by Maggie L, no doubt ably assisted by the lovely Gertie, who made a point of saying hello to everyone in her usual, enthusiastic way (for the benefit of newcomers to the blog, Gertie is a dog). Proceeds from the raffle will be donated to BUST.

Since there were 22 people singing at this session and we only got round once (plus 6 extras), I'll depart from the usual routine and in an effort to mention everyone, I'll try to identify, at least approximately, every song and tune. So here goes with "singer - song (song writer or reference)":

Round the first

Mike - "The Lamb Finishing off Song" to the tune Strike the bell - "Strike the bell landlord..."
Derek - Little Charlie Cassidy (sung)
Richard - Bushes and briars (Roud 1027)
Lesley - The french loaf and the gateau (Les Barker)
Kevin - The circle game (Joni Mitchell)
Terry - The Grimsby lads (John Conolly)
Tom - Fools' paradise (Isaac Guillory)
Colin - Are ye sleeping, Maggie (Dougie MacLean)
Steve G (with Jo) - Salty and sweet (John Smith)
Chris - Hunting the hare
Paul - Zen and the art of lane swimming (own composition)
John - Streams of lovely Nancy (Roud 688)
Angela - O if I was but a Butterfly (Roud 308)
Keith - James of the Glen (Dave Gibb)
Dave - All jolly fellows that follow the plough (Roud 346)
Mike (and everyone) - Happy birthday (Patty Hill, Mildred J Hill)
Geoff - An updated parody of Matty Groves (Roud 52, Child 81)
Gary - While love is eternal, time is only in our head
Helen - The testimony of Patience Kershaw (Frank Higgins)
Kath - Salmon Tails Up The Water
Simon - No sir no (Roud 146) - a version borrowed from The Yetties
Jo (with Steve G) - The unquiet grave (Child 78)
Keith G - Mean eyed cat (Johnny Cash)

Round the second

Lesley - Both sides now (Joni Mitchell)
Tom - Everybody (Brian Cookman)
The Bristol Shantymen (Mike, Dave, Geoff, John) - Haul away, old fellow, away

Here's a selection of the songs sung during the session.

(Number of people present - 28, of which 22 performed)

2 comments:

  1. I think you'll find that Kath's tune was Salmon Tails Up The Water - usually better known as a Northumbrian Pipe tune.

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  2. Thanks Derek. I noticed you whispering to Mike but couldn't hear. Appropriate corrections will be made.

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