...to a different tune

Leading the bear to The Boat
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival 2014
(Photo: Richard Humphrey)

Wow! Thanks to everyone who came along to last week's Dragon Folk Club session. Given the last minute change of venue we did really well to get eight people performing at The Fox, Easter Compton. There were even some other people around the pub listening (or at least hearing) what we were doing. Immense thanks go to our hosts for the evening, Lu and John, who went above and beyond to look after a temporarily homeless folk club. They're not totally new to our sort of performance, because they have occasional shanty festivals, based around the Severn Whalers local shanty group, but also with visiting groups from around the area.

Only three of our regulars were able to make it on the night: Colin, Denny and Simon. We were also joined by Stuart, who has been to the club before, and by newcomers Rebecca, Kim, Richard and Sandra. It was the last four that really set the tone for the evening. While we are usually de facto a singing club, musicians are always welcome and indeed this session became as much a music session as a sing-around and a refreshing change it was at that.

As always I'll try to mention all performances by newcomers, and all songs (and tunes) which are new to the Dragon database, but since there are so many I will not labour the point.

There is one last thing I need to say before getting down to business. That is our usual venue, The Bridge, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG. Is closed as I write, getting some refurbishment. We believe it will be back in action by Friday with interim management. What we can't be sure of yet is whether the management will welcome our presence on Friday night (25th August 2023). I will post updates here and on Facebook as soon as I know more, but there is a possibility that we will just have to turn up and see what happens - we have contingency plans which may work, but don't be too disappointed if we end up just having a drink and a chat in the bar.

Back now to last Friday, when Simon arrived first (The Fox is his local pub after all) so he started proceedings by singing Dave Sudbury's King of Rome.

Colin, MC as usual, followed up with My old man's a farmer by Neil Andrew.

Stuart's first song of the evening was By the time I get to Phoenix (Jimmy Webb).

Rebecca (recorder) and Kim (melodeon) gave us a set of two tunes: Salmon tails up the water and Maggie in the wood. Because I'm not used to having so many musicians around at a session I'm not quite sure of the etiquette. Unless there's a good reason to do otherwise, I will just mention the person who started the tune. It can be taken as read that one or more others joined in.

Richard (violin) took us down the Road to Lisoonvarna and Denny sang The year of the drum (Wendy Joseph).

Sandra (clarinet), having just arrived, wasn't quite prepared to play, so Simon slipped in a second song in the first rotation: Welsh Back quay (Ian "Nobby" Dye). Sandra followed up with a tune the name of which she unfortunately didn't know.

In the second rotation Rebecca admitted that she could sing after all and gave us Sydney Carter's John Ball. Stewart sang Lancashire lads (roud 588) which, contrary to opinion on the evening, is traditional, not written by Mike Harding though he has performed it.

Kim played Hunt the squirrel, Richard gave us Harper's frolic, and Sandra played Stranger on the shore (Acker Bilk) as requested.

In the third rotation Rebecca, whose father-in-law was instrumental forty years ago in reviving the Whittlesey tradition of the straw bear, sang Penny for the ploughboys (Colin Cater). This week's featured image is of the straw bear although, being a winter tradition, it's not exactly seasonal.

Kim gave us Speed the plough and Richard decided to sing for a change: Boston Harbour (roud 613).

Sandra played Newcastle to bring the third rotation to an end.

The fourth rotation saw Stuart singing Um, um, um, um, um, um (Curtis Mayfield).

Rotation number four saw Rebecca unseasonal again with Sweet chiming bells from the tradition of Sheffield carols. She was followed by Kim with Enlist for a sailor. We decided there wasn't quite enough room to dance a polka. Richard's contribution at this stage was King of the fairies.

Sandra talked about playing Arkansas traveller, but in the end settled for Turkey in the straw.

Simon started the last complete rotation with his own song, The story of John Twigg: the true story of an eccentric chap of that name who lived in Alford, Lincolnshire.

Stuart's last song of the evening was Shady grove (roud 4456).

Rebecca and Kim rounded off their contributions with a set of two tunes: Jamie Allen and the Curly headed ploughboy. Richard sang Geordie (roud 90, child 209).

It fell to Colin to finish of the evening with Over the hills and far away (John Tams).

Now listen to a selection of songs sung during this session.

(Number of people present - 8 of whom 8 performed)