Burns' Night 2024

The haggis season?
(Image with thanks to Paul Welcomme)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session again saw four singers meet to make a noise. This time is was for Burns' Night, belated but only by one day. There were several performances which had in some way been touched by Rabbie, and most others had some connection with Scotland, some strong, some more tenuous.

You will find everything performed on the evening represented in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below. I'll list some of the more Burnsian ones here, and sorry for any I miss:

• Denny - Ye Jacobites by name (roud V21021, Robert Burns)
• Simon - Address to a haggis (Robert Burns)
• Denny - Leezie Lindsay (roud 94, child 226, Robert Burns)
• Colin - Such a parcel of rogues in a nation (roud V31022, Robert Burns)
• Simon - Geordie (roud 90, child 209, but not Robert Burns' version)
• Colin - Afton water (roud 24637, Robert Burns)
• Denny - The collier laddie (roud 3787, collected by Robert Burns)

This Friday (2 February) is a theme-less session so anything goes as long as it's acoustic. Bring your own theme if you wish. While are of course there for your enjoyment every Friday evening, the next theme should you wish to prepare will be a slightly belated Valentine's Day on 16th February. I'll give you some food for thought on that in next week's blog report.

See you there any Friday, but remember to wrap up warm at this time of year. We are promised a snowy blast this weekend in Bristol.

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

(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)

Frozen? Perseverence! When all men sing (and a lady too).

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

At last week's Dragon Folk Club session we were four singers and we had a good range of songs. You can judge for yourself by listening to the playlist linked below from "a selection". The selection in fact includes all but one song that was sung. The missing one is (not a typo) And the band played 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda', written by Tony Miles and sung on this occasion by our MC, Colin.

This Friday (26 January) is our slipped by just one day Burns' Night, so while the usual "anything goes as long as it's acoustic" does apply, it's extra brownie points if it's Burns, Scottish or somehow about Scotland or the Scots.

See you there, but remember to wrap up warm.

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

(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)

In the salt sea

Kaskelot (Photo: Simon Meeds)

At last week's Dragon session we had a quorum of five singers. There was no theme so we enjoyed a wide variety of songs and styles including some new to the Dragon database, and I suspect at least one, maybe two, that were actually new to the club. There were notably quite a few songs somehow related to the sea, so that is the inspiration for this week's featured image.

You can hear every one of the songs we sang (some even by their Dragon singers) by following the "a selection" link below.

This Friday's session (19 January) will again have no theme, but next week's (26 January) will be our Burns' Night. I'm afraid there will be no actual haggis nor sgian dubhs, and probably no pipes, but the singing of Burns' songs, or in fact anything more or less related to Scotland and the Scots will be encouraged, though not required.

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

(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)

New Year 2024

Last week's Dragon session was our first of 2024 and therefore logically had a New Year, January theme, augmented by the fact it was actually held on Twelfth Night. We met as a perfectly respectable band of six singers including regular MC Colin.

I'm afraid I've run out of time to write one of my in-depth reports on the event, but you can still find most of the songs we sang in the YouTube playlist linked below.

This Friday's session (12 January) has no official theme as far as I am aware, so anything goes as long as it's acoustic.

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 6 performed)

Back for 2024

This is a reminder that the Dragon Folk Club is back in action tonight (5 January 2024) after a two week Christmas break. You may like to try out a theme of New Year, January and Twelfth Night. Yes, it's actually Twelfth Night, so get those decorations down and come along to the "barn" at The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG. You will find us tonight and almost every Friday night from 8:15pm.

We crave your presence whether you sing, play, perform in some other way, or just join in the odd chorus - or even if you don't. Don't worry too much about the theme - when we have one it's always optional, nice to follow but no forfeits if you don't.

Most importantly you will always find FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. What more could you want on a Friday night? One warning though, at this time of year the welcome may be warm, but the room isn't always so hot - wrap up warm and we'll all huddle close together to sing and create some body heat. Let's have some fun - I don't care about those who say "this is a folk club, you're not here to have fun". Anything goes as long as it's acoustic.
See you there!