tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85279467738549426292024-03-16T01:11:33.865+00:00Dragon Folk ClubSimon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.comBlogger525125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-48645278739435358082024-03-13T16:00:00.002+00:002024-03-13T16:10:30.598+00:00First times and name checks<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw-XQG1TGRPHIWiXzg1WwTe2uBhlLaNbui-YLevnn3Pz02yGfuAGoMRqCXhXWEqBVYrPFYz-mWQH79dmx2DDAPIGkxpvhCeANIauuOFw4RcLHvguEjLaRjg8ZeF2qXt1X0UgKsP7eIGc8lnwzXQ3v1KE9fjHKwfXAka0EGW-rQrH2lS-vuyHLZLGPcP4/s1524/BostonDock.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1524" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaw-XQG1TGRPHIWiXzg1WwTe2uBhlLaNbui-YLevnn3Pz02yGfuAGoMRqCXhXWEqBVYrPFYz-mWQH79dmx2DDAPIGkxpvhCeANIauuOFw4RcLHvguEjLaRjg8ZeF2qXt1X0UgKsP7eIGc8lnwzXQ3v1KE9fjHKwfXAka0EGW-rQrH2lS-vuyHLZLGPcP4/s320/BostonDock.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boston Dock, Boston, Lincolnshire</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's session of the Dragon Folk Club had no theme and a wide variety of songs was sung, forty in all. It was good to see Steve C join us for the first time in a while.<p></p><p>This Friday's session (15th March) being just two days before Paddy's Day will have a theme of St Patrick and all things Irish. You may be interested to know St Patrick's full list of patronages in case you run out of Irish songs. They are:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: center;"></p><blockquote><i>Ireland, Nigeria, Montserrat, the Archdiocese of New York, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark (New Jersey), the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Boston (Massachusetts), Rolla, Missouri, Loíza, Puerto Rico, Murcia (Spain), Clann Giolla Phádraig, engineers, paralegals, and the Archdiocese of Melbourne. He is also invoked against snakes and sins.</i></blockquote><p></p></blockquote><p>Back to last week, Colin as MC started off the session with <a href="https://youtu.be/EVwMDy7n9-Q?si=z8CwcvZwaHF9rDGC" rel="nofollow">Boston Harbour</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 613). We briefly discussed which Boston this referred to before deciding it was Boston, Massachusetts rather than Boston, Lincolnshire which has a man-made dock, opened in 1884, rather than a harbour. Nevertheless it is this dock which has inspired the featured image.<br /></p><p>The only song of the night that doesn't feature in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below is Paul's self-penned parody of <a href="https://youtu.be/qy6uuE0lMzY" rel="nofollow">Close the coalhouse door</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Glasgow" rel="nofollow">Alex Glasgow</a>) which he wrote while waiting in the car for Denny to have some dental treatment, and which he calls "Close the dentist's door". Of course "...there's blood inside".</p><p>There was only one song during the evening that was new to the Dragon database and that was from Colin, <a href="https://youtu.be/BkE5kIMz4Pc?si=J-B3Rd5Chru7LeSI" rel="nofollow">The pensioner's complaint</a> (roud 1663).</p><p>Simon started a theme of firsts. The first song he sang at a folk club was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Vega" rel="nofollow">Suzanne Vega</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/DkYPge6ZKSQ?si=rJNlP9_IyvWTljZM" rel="nofollow">Tom's diner</a>. The first song Denny sang in a similar situation was <a href="https://youtu.be/1raydJ-HYSc?si=hZE7gHIy1yed2dK6" rel="nofollow">Oh! Oh! Antonio</a> (roud V36813 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._W._Murphy" rel="nofollow">C W Murphy</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/877696-Dan-Lipton" rel="nofollow">Dan Lipton</a>) and Paul's was <a href="https://youtu.be/zRFAwITeE50?si=fsgXUXA4WOelfasi" rel="nofollow">Fathom the bowl</a> (roud 880).</p><p>Steve arrived during the second rotation of the evening, and his first song of the evening was <a href="https://youtu.be/SUeb8NTjg8k?si=65DkPHE6vDU1AXbM" rel="nofollow">Jolly Waggoner</a> (roud 1088).</p><p>Another ad hoc theme, first spotted by Colin, was songs with someone's name in the first line. I'll leave it to you to listen to the playlist and work out how many there were.</p><p>We had eight complete rotations of the room and while Steve missed the first Colin made up for it by starting a ninth just before the end, so his singing of <a href="https://youtu.be/bn0Ff83spQw?si=VEhPqYRHIVE2LFJc" rel="nofollow">New York girls</a> (roud 486) brought us to a round tally of forty songs in the evening.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVwMDy7n9-Q&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nKAo1JoN8GCorlT7gjVOPI&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-69443829758509651872024-03-05T17:33:00.000+00:002024-03-05T17:33:09.999+00:00St David's Day 2024<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOL-6wmqy3pr-QcgzmgxUdF8BA1FhlpiAYyb1uVSTbi93u9HR_7R3LWFzIciLsAiNOhcu1jer4UvQsV1jMSQQhPVHyUEFgyD-RMsZJBdGDAqpwUqanvJzsNVpO6MPbF4hKGLlTR_2tS_mG_FSwZUJ05tr8jP-Pf7w3ViLdNqClHIEDBsfRys3XjrRLN0/s1344/StDavidsDay.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1344" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOL-6wmqy3pr-QcgzmgxUdF8BA1FhlpiAYyb1uVSTbi93u9HR_7R3LWFzIciLsAiNOhcu1jer4UvQsV1jMSQQhPVHyUEFgyD-RMsZJBdGDAqpwUqanvJzsNVpO6MPbF4hKGLlTR_2tS_mG_FSwZUJ05tr8jP-Pf7w3ViLdNqClHIEDBsfRys3XjrRLN0/s320/StDavidsDay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(AI image from Stable Diffusion)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session actually fell on St David's Day, so no excuse was required to try to sing things related somehow, sometimes tenuously, to Wales... or even sometimes to whales (oh well). We were fine with four singers, but unusually we also had an audience member in the person of Denny's sister, who was a very welcome addition. I hope she enjoyed her evening; at least she laughed in all the right places.<p></p><p>This Friday's session (8th March) will have no theme, but then next week (15th March) we will be celebrating St Patrick's Day just two days early. I'll leave detailed suggestions of what you might like to do until next week's report.</p><p>We had a bumper set of 40 performances last Friday, and I should say that if any of them appear derogatory to Wales or the Welsh, no offence is intended. These are songs and poems from all sorts of different sources and of varying ages. Please enjoy all the recordings linked from "a selection" below in the spirit of entertainment.</p><p>There were just three performances for which no representative YouTube video could be found:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Colin - <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080928041418/http://www.dawsonsmith.com/dawson/cordell_album.html" rel="nofollow">Children born to the valleys</a> (<a href="https://www.dawsonsmith.com/info" rel="nofollow">Dawson Smith</a>)</li><li>Simon - The ice cream bells of Porthcawl (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Barker" rel="nofollow">Les Barker</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080928041418/http://www.dawsonsmith.com/dawson/cordell_album.html" rel="nofollow">From green to black</a> (Dawson Smith)</li></ul><div>It was in fact Denny who kicked off proceedings with a song variously called "Always eat when you are hungry" or "Don't forget to breathe or else you'll die. The song features sung by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gracie_Fields" rel="nofollow">Gracie Fields</a> at <a href="https://youtu.be/_Zr2nqd7nVA?si=7IHoVtLc7RJDgREY" rel="nofollow">the end of the film Molly and Me</a> from 1945 and an earlier recording can be found at 2:05 in this <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitaphone" rel="nofollow">Vitaphone</a> short from 1928 called <a href="https://youtu.be/RwgVsgAG4xA?si=UTeubb--6mXEvvsp" rel="nofollow">The Beau Brummels</a> and featuring the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaudeville" rel="nofollow">vaudeville</a> act <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beau_Brummels_(film)" rel="nofollow">Shaw and Lee</a>. Denny however sang <a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=69922#1189470">more words</a> and to the tune <a href="https://youtu.be/GihcxveXcYc?si=PHbhiFgqUOQqFP15" rel="nofollow">Cwm Rhondda</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Simon took a leaf out of our friend Derek's book in order to follow the theme by trying and not always succeeding to sing songs from the repertoire of traditional <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gower_Peninsula" rel="nofollow">Gower</a> singer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Tanner" rel="nofollow">Phil Tanner</a>. <a href="https://youtu.be/GS-OLMXqV6A?si=-wMu7BUBgs7P5UkM" rel="nofollow">The Gower Wassail</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 209) was partly successful, and <a href="https://youtu.be/hSgNQloN8M0?si=1ed6A99XRtEJrO41">Barbara Allen</a> (roud 54, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 84) more so as was <a href="https://youtu.be/OA3VskD-Y_g?si=xui_6hxjuaFoG-RR" rel="nofollow">The oyster girl</a> (roud 875, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Malcolm_Laws" rel="nofollow">laws</a> Q13), albeit not Tanner's version, but acquired from the singing of <a href="https://www.chippfolk.co.uk/int/ShowPerf?id=853" rel="nofollow">Rosie Upton</a> (who is in the linked video). Although he had a couple more songs in this vein on file he cut his losses at this stage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Colin's singing of <a href="https://youtu.be/v3f2l7JXQyM?si=lsdgxMV9fFNCFaw3" rel="nofollow">The bells of Rymney</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idris_Davies" rel="nofollow">Idris Davies</a>) gives me the chance to roll out a fun video made by our friend Gabe in which he visited each of the locations mentioned in the song/poem.</div><div><br /></div><div>As people started to run out of Welsh songs (except for Colin who lasted out the night) we had a number of perfectly good if geographically random mining songs such as Paul with <a href="https://youtu.be/cTdOBIxm8DM?si=9wP_PI04wrSrfSs3" rel="nofollow">Close the coalhouse door</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Glasgow" rel="nofollow">Alex Glasgow</a>), and Denny with <a href="https://youtu.be/Yjb-mPXv1ac?si=JH0xSXLB0QnmdNJi" rel="nofollow">Down in your mine</a> (<a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=168741" rel="nofollow">Colin Wilkie</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>Well' I've just about run out of time to write this report, so I'll just mention that Simon finished the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/2lCxzVjksCQ?si=tv9hhsILjZSSbD_R" rel="nofollow">When all men sing</a> (<a href="http://www.grainger.de/music/songs/whenallmensing.html" rel="nofollow">Keith Scowcroft</a>, <a href="http://www.grainger.de/dbe/cds/cdgiffordd.html" rel="nofollow">Derek Gifford</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zr2nqd7nVA&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-lIBsH6QTQluFdJ097O1M9L&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</div><p></p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-17370302280620041472024-02-29T21:54:00.006+00:002024-02-29T21:54:59.372+00:00A mixed bag<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKNf8iPKnXVjfL3xSrM1sRxiUpvKIiYY9Qt4Qx7MwPbd9EROMmkXO8DJtc4zMJhchqhubt4jyaTgnE1sk5pwin4LkU4Sesil_Syf-WZYbfPEBGLhhu4zP-ra9SM7IJJXVZb5cfXEe4uKfK5faRTpAYjdG50gCHxh66aqXkoYk-enfp6ceQ9WFdez3s60/s1200/IMGP5499.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKNf8iPKnXVjfL3xSrM1sRxiUpvKIiYY9Qt4Qx7MwPbd9EROMmkXO8DJtc4zMJhchqhubt4jyaTgnE1sk5pwin4LkU4Sesil_Syf-WZYbfPEBGLhhu4zP-ra9SM7IJJXVZb5cfXEe4uKfK5faRTpAYjdG50gCHxh66aqXkoYk-enfp6ceQ9WFdez3s60/s320/IMGP5499.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Lincolnshire fenland farm in 2023<br />(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>A happy band of four met for last week's un-themed session of the Dragon Folk Club. I'm rather late writing the report this week, so I will keep it short.<p></p><p>First of all let's get out of the way the advert for this Friday (1 March) when the theme will be St David's Day, which it is. Of course Welsh songs, songs about Wales and the Welsh, and at a push even songs about whales are very welcome, but really anything goes as long as it's acoustic, whether that's a song, a tune, or any other sort of performance.</p><p>And don't forget St David's other patronages, which compared to the other national saints of the UK and Ireland seem to be quite thin on the ground: Pembrokeshire (in South West Wales), Naas (the county town of County Kildare in Ireland), vegetarians, and poets.</p><p>To keep this brief I will mention just some of the less-often sung of the things we heard last week. You may think some of them are less-often sung for a reason, but I hope you will agree that others are gems.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/8xZRt5M7yxc?si=CJDQXu4svdSDNXv0" rel="nofollow">Radio Times</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lewis_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Tom Lewis</a>)</li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/WGfu_smRQJw?si=2sF9VpNxUuJeGVq3" rel="nofollow">One more pull</a> (<a href="https://thelongestsong.fandom.com/wiki/One_More_Pull" rel="nofollow">Ian Woods</a>)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/wOwblaKmyVw?si=f8M7acBEg5JwAchH" rel="nofollow">Jolene</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolly_Parton" rel="nofollow">Dolly Parton</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/nGJ2BlXCzec?si=hDbI11GoJMRQZB8O" rel="nofollow">Old Molly Metcalfe</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Thackray" rel="nofollow">Jake Thackeray</a>)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/b0pkn9evgKs?si=aZqmAaSSQb6Pm1T8" rel="nofollow">Love is like a butterfly</a> (Dolly Parton)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/fnW1uDhmSaY?si=n-2Pdf_IriA6UEHY" rel="nofollow">The frog's courtship</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 16)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/m3ZUTkLqO6c?si=yzqso4ITfBlGx10s" rel="nofollow">Sweet thyme</a> (<a href="https://www.johnconolly.co.uk/biography.html" rel="nofollow">John Conolly</a>, Pete Mundy)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/d1kjNP-xDHw?si=-lfVR4ZCbn__M8XM" rel="nofollow">The Lincolnshire song</a> (<a href="https://www.spaldingfolkclub.co.uk/before-1979-1" rel="nofollow">John Sykes</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/8t8NP-OM22g?si=RR4N41R36bq8y32K" rel="nofollow">The herring song</a> (roud 128)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/OtZHPgERkdk?si=tM87ArTV8HJ5qv1B" rel="nofollow">Loving Hannah</a> (roud 454)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/Rc8otDZCmrA?si=tsZerKEsfQc9uh_g" rel="nofollow">Ivor</a> (roud 2570)</li></ul><div>I'll pause there just to note that we learnt the song Ivor tells the true story of dramatist, singer and composer <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Novello" rel="nofollow">Ivor Novello</a> who was sentenced to eight weeks in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Prison_Wormwood_Scrubs" rel="nofollow">Wormwood Scrubbs prison</a>, serving four of those weeks, for misusing wartime petrol coupons. An admiring fan had stolen the coupons from her employer, but the court found that Novello was also culpable. This was a serious offence under rationing laws in wartime Britain.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/KREEqQlmphA?si=S7qvKJX8EsEed-5k" rel="nofollow">The pitmen poets</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jez_Lowe" rel="nofollow">Jez Lowe</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/vvkBQrbSS0M?si=Ge3yhjuK16AkO3Ds" rel="nofollow">Little Mohee</a> (roud 273, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Malcolm_Laws" rel="nofollow">laws</a> H8)</li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/BGvwvxA83Cs?si=HPFf8dIa__0vBxzy" rel="nofollow">Bird on the wire</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen" rel="nofollow">Leonard Cohen</a>)</li></ul></div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xZRt5M7yxc&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nA9EC3_EkZrZyFYzIK6OAI&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session - in fact it's all 36 of the songs we sang that evening.</p><p></p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-50140608226513893322024-02-20T16:49:00.002+00:002024-02-20T16:55:00.937+00:00Valentine's Day 2024<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4sys255tCS1opVrnRkOvvQg8VKLEyvmdUDf9v4APhLKQ4br92gg9nC6xW_Tt7EmlidyhfYpYrC5PALsPpTwVIKnbo0WFfmgFFJwEGUw7UyxbKKwdS30XZR4Q6y0TfYjyLd62eQwXWJ6BF5cqGWMBLnBvHeVvbq6lUnFnm6RVUYJMa6qauMUj2_vw14w/s1024/Valentine's%20Day.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy4sys255tCS1opVrnRkOvvQg8VKLEyvmdUDf9v4APhLKQ4br92gg9nC6xW_Tt7EmlidyhfYpYrC5PALsPpTwVIKnbo0WFfmgFFJwEGUw7UyxbKKwdS30XZR4Q6y0TfYjyLd62eQwXWJ6BF5cqGWMBLnBvHeVvbq6lUnFnm6RVUYJMa6qauMUj2_vw14w/s320/Valentine's%20Day.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(AI image from Stable Diffusion)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's session saw us mark Valentine's Day albeit two days later than the rest of the world. A perfectly happy, not even too cold, band of four singers got the evening underway, only to be joined around the half-way mark of the evening by Keith G who we hadn't seen for a long time, and a welcome joiner he was. Keith said he hadn't played the guitar for a long time so we didn't hear his excellent playing, but he gave us some worthwhile, unexpected, unaccompanied contributions.<p></p><p>You can hear versions representing all of the songs sung by following the usual "a selection" link below.</p><p>Colin, MC as usual, started off the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/NG_Co575jbY?si=ZtodtNyTfo-UWLdC" rel="nofollow">The Eddystone Light</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 22257).</p><p>I'll just give a mention to a few of the other contributions from the evening, a few of which were new to the Dragon database:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/QBUiawst8XU?si=x3nSbiaBT1Ew4kt-" rel="nofollow">Hey there Delilah</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain_White_T%27s" rel="nofollow">Tom Higgerson</a>)</li><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/oxLtrd8EAkk?si=yN_oUDrF1-kbYYbN" rel="nofollow">Blue days black nights</a> (<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/1149086-Ben-Hall-2" rel="nofollow">Ben Hall</a>)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/eePvx9LPXYU?si=aaxjVUziayJQRLPa" rel="nofollow">It was a lover and his lass</a> (V18701 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare" rel="nofollow">William Shakespeare</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Morley" rel="nofollow">Thomas Morley</a>)</li><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/YUk9UDoVyKk?si=X8VwDzDwey7i8_Wh" rel="nofollow">Blues stay away from me</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Delmore_Brothers" rel="nofollow">Alton Delmore</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Glover" rel="nofollow">Henry B Glover</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Delmore_Brothers" rel="nofollow">Rabon Delmore</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Raney" rel="nofollow">Wayne Raney</a>)</li><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/r1M5eEJeT38?si=ln52xhj0keOhQzHj" rel="nofollow">My guy</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Robinson" rel="nofollow">Smokey Robinson</a>)</li><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/zPVPPEkimvI?si=HwfvPnkQnxAIxLik" rel="nofollow">Eternal flame</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susanna_Hoffs" rel="nofollow">Susanna Hoffs</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Steinberg" rel="nofollow">Billy Steinberg</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Kelly_(musician)" rel="nofollow">Tom Kelly</a>)</li><li>Keith - <a href="https://youtu.be/7Vwh4isd_B0?si=SoBw9jVNYG1X7DjD" rel="nofollow">Better off without a wife</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Waits" rel="nofollow">Tom Waits</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/46volhHcffA?si=Eur52-K3_2W0O8mn" rel="nofollow">Black Jack Davy</a> (roud 1, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 200)</li><li>Keith - <a href="https://youtu.be/uA2zODu1nJw?si=cbX6gTlPWpBcbMnW" rel="nofollow">Behind blue eyes</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Townshend" rel="nofollow">Pete Townshend</a>)</li><li>Keith - <a href="https://youtu.be/tevztlcMP1U?si=YpvqCvLwlJ2ncG88" rel="nofollow">I'll get you</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon" rel="nofollow">John Lennon</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney" rel="nofollow">Paul McCartney</a>)</li></ul><div>Sue finished off the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/vpC_N19UlIk?si=h1_pDMIWDDxmJP2Q" rel="nofollow">In other words (fly me to the moon)</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Howard" rel="nofollow">Bart Howard</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>This week's Dragon session (Friday 23 February) will have no theme so as usual anything goes as long as it's acoustic. The next flurry of themes (just for fun) will probably be some more saints' days: St David (1st March on the nose), St Patrick (15th March for 17th), and St George (26th April for 23rd). We'll let you know if we come up with any more ideas. In the meantime you are welcome to join us any Friday evening from 8:15pm.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG_Co575jbY&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nxEyDozOYqJHYGzCQIZvNe&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</div><p></p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-8736472067948345882024-02-13T19:16:00.004+00:002024-02-13T19:16:59.103+00:00How to keep warm<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhB8DWUYflwCOkiqeZgib5pGBkVeRLB2YJ2vF0pdnfCU9vTxmJi-Fcj8xxDvC9CAEovqZkkUrxRLeMJSnDKjjlaJIVLc0TiKyrAGxQ8UXESHeqU-4jujSAfqxFvIJZGCHBFzx_2ULxRZVXN7u337QlpN2dAurORwNCOw1CHJIt9iZm1ppri3D-xnPVnY/s1024/BoatUnloading.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhB8DWUYflwCOkiqeZgib5pGBkVeRLB2YJ2vF0pdnfCU9vTxmJi-Fcj8xxDvC9CAEovqZkkUrxRLeMJSnDKjjlaJIVLc0TiKyrAGxQ8UXESHeqU-4jujSAfqxFvIJZGCHBFzx_2ULxRZVXN7u337QlpN2dAurORwNCOw1CHJIt9iZm1ppri3D-xnPVnY/s320/BoatUnloading.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(AI image from Stable Diffusion)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was enjoyable not least for some rarer songs being sung. Five singers met and managed not to freeze too hard by singing some songs of warmer climes and warmer times. You can hear all of those songs by following the "a selection" link below to a YouTube playlist.<p></p><p>Slightly bizarrely, Colin as MC started us off with <a href="https://youtu.be/vcMgKK6o8jE?si=0jmbVgJqL5nhPGbg" rel="nofollow">The last shanty</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lewis_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Tom Lewis</a>) and keeping to a maritime theme Simon, inspired by Rob's singing of <a href="https://youtu.be/kK26a8nPJIg" rel="nofollow">The tow-rope girls</a> on his last visit,which we remember is by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Fox_Smith" rel="nofollow">Cicely Fox Smith</a> and not by Tom Lewis at all, gave us <a href="https://youtu.be/ZyhCm9Up8lE?si=VR1wbA_kntPyyBVx" rel="nofollow">Wave over wave</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Payne_(folk_singer)" rel="nofollow">Jim Payne</a>) to the same tune. Rob himself kept it nautical with <a href="https://youtu.be/KGtoSQOcNkw?si=oUgZoqIB27OL84RE" rel="nofollow">The Greenland whale fishery</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 347, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Malcolm_Laws" rel="nofollow">laws</a> K21), the first song of the evening totally new to the Dragon database.</p><p>We hadn't finished with the sea yet with Paul singing <a href="https://youtu.be/HuHpcErKksQ?si=8Gcc3bGacaRRk_Cx" rel="nofollow">Roll Aladama Roll</a> (roud 4710) and Denny selecting <a href="https://youtu.be/laNAz4Nn8K8?si=aTyivz6NboDuB7fP" rel="nofollow">Bye-bye my Roseanna</a> (roud 12380).</p><p>Colin's singing of <a href="https://youtu.be/Lc80G58j6fM?si=cPM0a9NadU545hNY" rel="nofollow">The Roman gladiator</a> (Bruce Campbell) recalled our friend <a href="https://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2013/02/mike-profile.html" rel="nofollow">Mike Starkey</a> who we haven't seen for some time. Bruce Campbell, a Groundsman at Wethered's Brewery in Marlow, wrote the song around 1940.</p><p>Likewise, Simon's singing of <a href="https://youtu.be/VUXMejiorQ8?si=le0gT_X5SIZKZgWk" rel="nofollow">Lasso the moon</a> (<a href="https://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2013/05/tom-profile.html" rel="nofollow">Tom Mossman</a>) reminded us of Tom of whom we receive regular reports, but who has not been able to join us for a long time. The song was written as a result of conversations between Tom and our late friend <a href="https://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2013/10/ray-croll-rip.html" rel="nofollow">Ray Croll</a>.</p><p>Another new song to the database was <a href="https://youtu.be/QxVgqkQK5so?si=PYGgD5c7qunEy3JF" rel="nofollow">Mississippi summer</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_Kahn" rel="nofollow">Si Kahn</a>) sung by Rob, who also introduced another "new" song (definitely not new to the club though another entry in the database), <a href="https://youtu.be/rVtPD0U_gMM?si=PCpCQnxEYin9gs68" rel="nofollow">General Taylor</a> (roud 216).</p><p>Rob was definitely hot on finding gaps in the database because it was he who contributed <a href="https://youtu.be/7zDt8xyVKtw?si=4pl0Ty8ErDoUm7Va" rel="nofollow">I think it's going to rain today</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Newman" rel="nofollow">Randy Newman</a>). The final new song though came from Colin with <a href="https://youtu.be/w3KIc8gnORY?si=I0sJ2dtLDTcjlNCn" rel="nofollow">Port of call</a> (<a href="https://www.kieranhalpin.com/" rel="nofollow">Kieran Halpin</a>).</p><p>I'll leave you to listen to the rest of the songs from the evening. Suffice to say that the last song was <a href="https://youtu.be/j8m6uW7XP0s?si=whjfMJWKHd4BO882" rel="nofollow">The Holmfirth anthem</a> (roud 1046) given to us by Denny.</p><p>This Friday's session (16th February) will be our Valentine's Day theme. Of course we know what St Valentine's Day means to most people, but bear in mind he patron saint of affianced couples, beekeepers, happy marriages, love, mentally ill people, plague, epilepsy, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos" rel="nofollow">Lesvos</a>.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcMgKK6o8jE&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-kRNtHNdMktuv-cEEysfVeR&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-79504885114578635842024-02-06T22:49:00.004+00:002024-02-06T22:49:43.343+00:00Friends and neighbours<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkDAwzRcdPQK7PT5C9TnXqIQuZtquxExjoLIcgDgTDAJ7SJWNRR7vCESBoDW1QYTVPyHRP0XNDRBeVd6Dff9rDMbTDcSpi3TSa3LhGAmNpgqMhakeJ4UwloOZYtE39DEIzraeya426CS8kAo6z31fU-WZUBs_Js4KtRDr1ejg7Q5nEgk7WI1J0ecKfOc/s1660/Sam_Cooke_2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="891" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkDAwzRcdPQK7PT5C9TnXqIQuZtquxExjoLIcgDgTDAJ7SJWNRR7vCESBoDW1QYTVPyHRP0XNDRBeVd6Dff9rDMbTDcSpi3TSa3LhGAmNpgqMhakeJ4UwloOZYtE39DEIzraeya426CS8kAo6z31fU-WZUBs_Js4KtRDr1ejg7Q5nEgk7WI1J0ecKfOc/s320/Sam_Cooke_2.jpg" width="172" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sam Cooke in 1963<br />(Photo from Billboard)</td></tr></tbody></table>It was a theme-less evening at the Dragon Folk Club last week and we were pleased to see seven singers gather including occasional visitor Malcolm who hopped over the bridge from Wales.<p></p><p>It was Malcolm who started off the session with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dion_DiMucci" rel="nofollow">Dion DiMucci</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/48o2ZjsPnNk?si=kRm0yjI4Ao-hobxv" rel="nofollow">Here in America</a>, written following the killing of fellow singer Sam Cooke in 1964.</p><p>There are 34 songs in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below. There were 35 songs sung, which included a brand new song by Paul on its debut outing. It tells of his experiences several years ago with cancer and is entitled "Fathom my bowel". I have cheated somewhat by including a recording of the source song, obviously <a href="https://youtu.be/zRFAwITeE50?si=1FMH3pGB2nqGbYkk" rel="nofollow">Fathom the bowl</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 880).</p><p>The other song missing from the playlist was sung by Colin and is Harry Brown, written by our friend <a href="https://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2013/02/mike-profile.html" rel="nofollow">Mike Starkey</a>, together with Pete McNab and tells the story of the last days of the Bristol sand dredger of that name and its final journeys to Barry and then to Bahrain.</p><p>The final song of the evening also came from Colin and provided a good opportunity for some singing along. It was <a href="https://youtu.be/Ynkklf9wI24?si=t3-1vepCGWlw2JQK" rel="nofollow">Botany Bay</a> (roud 3267).</p><p>This Friday's session (9 February) will be theme-less again in preparation for the Valentine's Day of the following week. See you at either of those sessions or on any Friday night except when occasionally notified here.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48o2ZjsPnNk&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-mGGGFts4b1MJ-xcgGcUnSi&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 7 of whom 7 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-89969294189729150102024-01-30T22:40:00.007+00:002024-01-30T22:40:59.423+00:00Burns' Night 2024<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 2rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-Cz3G38LLvwYgpqOu0uwbCf1Og_QRCX-6UgQC6hb8RlezU3WXOyblilqu7u2TwVbcCsVt4qlENif-0crIpNRxgqnko_jdlS8ntO7vnhAKdT5EQ580e-T9mrSK8aA2k3CZWkzSPaIEQ4X83AGkPLMKg9Jxy-E7cAPJ9KjWzqPEeMsC0CJhP0NGURjmrw/s704/haggis.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="699" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-Cz3G38LLvwYgpqOu0uwbCf1Og_QRCX-6UgQC6hb8RlezU3WXOyblilqu7u2TwVbcCsVt4qlENif-0crIpNRxgqnko_jdlS8ntO7vnhAKdT5EQ580e-T9mrSK8aA2k3CZWkzSPaIEQ4X83AGkPLMKg9Jxy-E7cAPJ9KjWzqPEeMsC0CJhP0NGURjmrw/s320/haggis.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The haggis season?<br />(Image with thanks to Paul Welcomme)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session again saw four singers meet to make a noise. This time is was for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper" rel="nofollow">Burns' Night</a>, 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.<p></p><p>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:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/17kjn_nc8Oo?si=_znv87FTHBXlvtOA" rel="nofollow">Ye Jacobites by name</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> V21021, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns" rel="nofollow">Robert Burns</a>)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/YB2FxQmJiLM?si=orWd61J4uEPj9yvY" rel="nofollow">Address to a haggis</a> (Robert Burns)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/YUK0Pl-0tUg?si=sowijd6oRoxEtS--" rel="nofollow">Leezie Lindsay</a> (roud 94, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 226, Robert Burns)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/Hyj6c5VPLHQ?si=RpVhW1_xdZWCHmmT" rel="nofollow">Such a parcel of rogues in a nation</a> (roud V31022, Robert Burns)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/cqkKa34ESkY?si=0xVaDVSZKZSGNq1R" rel="nofollow">Geordie</a> (roud 90, child 209, but not Robert Burns' version)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/fvEIIXXRsPI?si=Mr4-GQJNyR2W96Lo" rel="nofollow">Afton water</a> (roud 24637, Robert Burns)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/O2VivU2ecW0?si=x_k06KD0CLCgzx3f" rel="nofollow">The collier laddie</a> (roud 3787, collected by Robert Burns)</li></ul><p></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxCqTL4_e1Y&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nhapfcN2JDjJM15v3BfpII&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-6453731669501039792024-01-23T23:32:00.000+00:002024-01-23T23:32:01.853+00:00Frozen? Perseverence! When all men sing (and a lady too).<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRO1hnzzI-52lqyTJVFQsxZPbMRYXkL-F7FWhIcX8dhczbZx69LTdwnb59s21ZabaZv6Nlpoy2l_YgbMse_UtJC7zLmwK8sCHle1vHzsQvP1NRppnlSn5sUq2gWII5GFxCV7oropLspSVC_35dI-dXbFzVI-q_x4wiq_NZt7MwRlfVxTUaarjsjeUJaM/s1557/snow.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1557" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRO1hnzzI-52lqyTJVFQsxZPbMRYXkL-F7FWhIcX8dhczbZx69LTdwnb59s21ZabaZv6Nlpoy2l_YgbMse_UtJC7zLmwK8sCHle1vHzsQvP1NRppnlSn5sUq2gWII5GFxCV7oropLspSVC_35dI-dXbFzVI-q_x4wiq_NZt7MwRlfVxTUaarjsjeUJaM/s320/snow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>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) <a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=8840#4118468" rel="nofollow">And the band played 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda'</a>, written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wayfarers" rel="nofollow">Tony Miles</a> and sung on this occasion by our MC, Colin.<p></p><p>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.</p><p>See you there, but remember to wrap up warm.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMim85chZN8&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-mNLG5gMJdS5Q9WtcCNrlU6&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-77818039565608620512024-01-16T23:21:00.004+00:002024-01-16T23:21:43.847+00:00In the salt sea<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzuI4JQSVQLADtmXfsNtPEuy-LE5kOwXngT5CKXhw3PGHf5EjCGZwmpeCE9IP2eRjwe_AWdeG5j6cPX7VjWYJNsCxExA4xco74pNpjGJhyphenhyphenMU4PVStCKa7NeE79NyVMOb8S_uPrlsJXeaUBEikyJGJUE4ZHAbf_zJuqKx-u-K3Si4vhsuB5n2KiKWZnsc/s800/Kaskelot.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="800" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzuI4JQSVQLADtmXfsNtPEuy-LE5kOwXngT5CKXhw3PGHf5EjCGZwmpeCE9IP2eRjwe_AWdeG5j6cPX7VjWYJNsCxExA4xco74pNpjGJhyphenhyphenMU4PVStCKa7NeE79NyVMOb8S_uPrlsJXeaUBEikyJGJUE4ZHAbf_zJuqKx-u-K3Si4vhsuB5n2KiKWZnsc/s320/Kaskelot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaskelot (Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>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.<div><br /></div><div>You can hear every one of the songs we sang (some even by their Dragon singers) by following the "a selection" link below.<p></p><p>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.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emlmnWxZk5o&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-mAb6Reo5bjf0NgxdjQggpN&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)</p></div>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-39161751694679499112024-01-09T22:42:00.000+00:002024-01-09T22:42:20.780+00:00New Year 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RpVh2yPFSu4wyujEeMVyGMLpDGK8U9thJ6MIDY76k8tUFbICQercF1KB0OpIXOSOTeafrfq_FD0ibvtA58NPH8IvpEsn0oFBiPpySS-J0tvteE9RV9GExL0el9517asckZm2Ob3yW0K6LKiGTw8EJ9dal0ajB-C_qh5-jnduw8ORiVrMdrsVoojkYIw/s600/2024.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RpVh2yPFSu4wyujEeMVyGMLpDGK8U9thJ6MIDY76k8tUFbICQercF1KB0OpIXOSOTeafrfq_FD0ibvtA58NPH8IvpEsn0oFBiPpySS-J0tvteE9RV9GExL0el9517asckZm2Ob3yW0K6LKiGTw8EJ9dal0ajB-C_qh5-jnduw8ORiVrMdrsVoojkYIw/s320/2024.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />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.<p></p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGlrErNhvxk&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-m9fk_E9b6OH9_GORVX0NoE&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 6 of whom 6 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-11222467687585401292024-01-05T10:35:00.002+00:002024-01-05T10:35:32.691+00:00Back for 2024<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf16FbOkD1irbtZuo5jh-DmJybFYD7YHW95iSNICecdPdrYw1Mya6lBjHyH2p4YlOBZljqQ2FSQ95Am0xEhRX5P9ZZQmDmoB6zUbF-aUVWqH0tEXLLiAC2tInVygcQsTTyfZ7PwcZ_FFuAkP-EATMBiupJUUkiZAHrAqLIC02Roa6glLjaJZKVrWmbwY/s600/beermat1._small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf16FbOkD1irbtZuo5jh-DmJybFYD7YHW95iSNICecdPdrYw1Mya6lBjHyH2p4YlOBZljqQ2FSQ95Am0xEhRX5P9ZZQmDmoB6zUbF-aUVWqH0tEXLLiAC2tInVygcQsTTyfZ7PwcZ_FFuAkP-EATMBiupJUUkiZAHrAqLIC02Roa6glLjaJZKVrWmbwY/s320/beermat1._small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>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.<p></p><p style="text-align: left;">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.</p><p style="text-align: left;">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.<br />See you there!</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-80015739381941651372023-12-20T01:40:00.003+00:002023-12-20T01:40:34.498+00:00Christmas 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuu9hD_ZJxlf7o1r4Hsadi0zlQP3hMZKeFf6WZGqkZOD-8FC8kqkTJN8DI0Hf9ISYb4EAXIRCJ1TXJm0fXG2fXeKB71uRMKPPDC5IwtS4kCQFv0PDa0Gk6w9_HJdQM3W7MsCiwPAnlZlUfKJXv22dVl4fBzza2OQTKnhzEwOH1VEXuc2B39v2S8kDMZk/s1395/Christmas%20Shopping.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1395" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuu9hD_ZJxlf7o1r4Hsadi0zlQP3hMZKeFf6WZGqkZOD-8FC8kqkTJN8DI0Hf9ISYb4EAXIRCJ1TXJm0fXG2fXeKB71uRMKPPDC5IwtS4kCQFv0PDa0Gk6w9_HJdQM3W7MsCiwPAnlZlUfKJXv22dVl4fBzza2OQTKnhzEwOH1VEXuc2B39v2S8kDMZk/s320/Christmas%20Shopping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Shopping<br />(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>Yes, it's still a little early, but at the Dragon Folk Club we decided to have our Christmas session on 15th December this year. In fact *IMPORTANT NEWS* we will now be having two weeks' break. The next Dragon session will be on Friday 5th January 2024 when the obvious themes are New Year and Twelfth Night, but you can sing or play anything you like really as usual.<p></p><p>Sorry for keeping it short this time, but you can still listen to most of the songs we sang and the monologues we read (let's be honest) by following the link from "a selection" below.</p><p>Have a great Christmas and see you in the New Year.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqwZtil9GHk&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-ks8HSFU40k2g7GVaDp-W1O&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-60477675834262196812023-12-12T15:55:00.005+00:002023-12-12T17:45:35.427+00:00Taking a breather before the big one<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDguEpRgSTBDmOu1P9NtNe3yDr5LS_MlfnQYo8wU2za4L5O90Am5Ejd6iCu52BAR2ZUS6UsVGZXuOMSHA6lLwzoo7L1C8W9VplQJ23ggfMGqGMNsCoTVy3RemZQmsCLNMU1VnjMMxrprICwibpw6YU0fNk-CA0iR9iZ4wRBYpnU38g3JQztFXXMPUuI0/s600/beermat1._small.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDguEpRgSTBDmOu1P9NtNe3yDr5LS_MlfnQYo8wU2za4L5O90Am5Ejd6iCu52BAR2ZUS6UsVGZXuOMSHA6lLwzoo7L1C8W9VplQJ23ggfMGqGMNsCoTVy3RemZQmsCLNMU1VnjMMxrprICwibpw6YU0fNk-CA0iR9iZ4wRBYpnU38g3JQztFXXMPUuI0/s320/beermat1._small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It was good to have a close to quorate group of singers at last Friday's themeless Dragon Folk Club session. This week (15 December) will be our official Christmas themed singaround, so do come along with your songs of Christmas, Winterval, or Bah Humbug as appropriate to your feelings.<p></p><p>We are still undecided whether to have a session next week (22 December) , so if you would like to come and sing, play or otherwise perform with us (or be our audience), then please get in touch to say you are coming. Please watch this space for confirmation or cancellation.</p><p>Colin started us off, marking the fortieth anniversary of the murder of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon" rel="nofollow">John Lennon</a> with his song <a href="https://youtu.be/QfgVhE1M6ns?si=6V8LIsLlaBbCGvoO" rel="nofollow">Imagine</a> (John Lennon, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoko_Ono" rel="nofollow">Yoko Ono</a>).</p><p>I have got carried away with other things today and I do like to get this report out on Tuesday, so I am afraid it will be very brief this week. In fact I will mention only these songs not in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Simon sang John Sykes' The Lincolnshire Song. There is a performance of the song by John's daughter <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_Sykes" rel="nofollow">Miranada Sykes</a> on YouTube, but it is as part of a longer set, so <a href="https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxqMY2XxPq6hoqxwsdMcA1B7D_C5MdeQso?si=jhJkzLg-q7C_H27t" rel="nofollow">here is a link to part a clip</a> from that video.</li><li>Paul sang <a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=121619" rel="nofollow">Steve Thomason</a>'s <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sthomason-1/tracks-in-the-snow" rel="nofollow">Tracks in the snow</a>.</li><li>Simon's information (from mudcat) is that the version of <a href="https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=9834,9834" rel="nofollow">Lord Franklin</a> that he sang is by Les Barker, but the lyrics are quite different from <a href="https://youtu.be/2bf0hx5Fyuc?si=nJDlLj0gEppxkaH2" rel="nofollow">the one on YouTube</a>.</li><li>Denny sang <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/olwog/174917795306/this-is-not-a-good-walk-its-a-great-walk?source=share" rel="nofollow">King of the railways</a> (Roy Duffield)</li></ul><div>Paul finished off the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/Xc1SYEXteSM?si=InFhwuiAhEbpZEXb" rel="nofollow">Thousands or more</a> (roud 1220).</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfgVhE1M6ns&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nKshCzqojduCMEGugud6nt&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-26379035725795379172023-12-05T12:02:00.002+00:002023-12-05T12:03:47.755+00:00St Andrew's Day 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEkPYmGJMFNukmAt8WH8Tw48Dv0dg4BpMkjWpX6J5nvQgzibw2vrBPJETmSmzIXeW7QSJk-dJFhwAFXxKqyimX-ulcYE6Qlh8WUfg0Rthtt9Cipsa3SU8dYgE4GFfdCQbJtrwrGBb0i0GsdjZF9GRrwhCi7WgdhNDSNaRZWujZ-uH5u1EUHiWeHB9Soc/s2000/StAndrew.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1559" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEkPYmGJMFNukmAt8WH8Tw48Dv0dg4BpMkjWpX6J5nvQgzibw2vrBPJETmSmzIXeW7QSJk-dJFhwAFXxKqyimX-ulcYE6Qlh8WUfg0Rthtt9Cipsa3SU8dYgE4GFfdCQbJtrwrGBb0i0GsdjZF9GRrwhCi7WgdhNDSNaRZWujZ-uH5u1EUHiWeHB9Soc/s320/StAndrew.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>We knew that some of our stalwarts would be missing from last week's Dragon session, but with just two singers present you could say we met a bit short. Nevertheless we sang 33 songs, all somehow on the theme of St Andrew, whether songs from or about Scotland, by Scottish writers, or relating to Andrew's other patronages which include fishermen, miners, textile workers and pregnant women. We didn't even have to resort to his patronage, very useful in this context, of singers.<p></p><p>Now we have one week's respite without a theme (on Friday 8th December), before our Christmas session on 15th. We will see how the wind blows before deciding whether we will meet for a final Christmas bash on 22nd, so watch this space closely.</p><p>Colin as MC started things off last Friday with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_McGinn_(Scottish_songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Matt McGinn</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/Q0n-S0Z0Pso?si=d0NTmToApbAV8F1V" rel="nofollow">The hielan' man</a> (*), marking songs new to the Dragon database as usual with an asterisk (*).</p><p>Simon for the first time sang a song from the repertoires of our friends Derek B and Rob W: <a href="https://youtu.be/MCM66RWZXoM?si=j9c55YYNHvn6mnIg" rel="nofollow">The dowie dens o'Yarrow</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 13, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 214). And so ended the first, very short rotation of 16 and a half through the evening before the landlady gave us a not-so-subtle hint that it was time to pack up.</p><p>Colin's next song was interesting for the casual way he proclaimed that he may have written it, or maybe not. I have been unable to trace it anywhere, so let's assume he wrote The Thistle (* Colin Owen). The song told of that symbol of Scotland, comparing it with England's rose, Wales' daffodil and Ireland's shamrock. It definitely wasn't <a href="https://youtu.be/QDMWFOk5Uqs" rel="nofollow">The shamrock and the thistle</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamish_Henderson" rel="nofollow">Hamish Henderson</a>, from a trad fragment heard on board an Irish ferry), which Colin has sung before.</p><p>I won't quite count Colin's <a href="https://youtu.be/w8wJ05yLQXo?si=QYKi_T0W7t-YcReo" rel="nofollow">Tommy Linn</a> (roud 294) as a song new to the database since it is a version of Tam Lin, which we heard from Derek B in times past in the form of <a href="https://youtu.be/b-HTWyKbUPk?si=dnDHPV9FK8bWvuXv" rel="nofollow">Old John Wallis</a>. The linked video isn't Tommy Linn, but Tam Linn sung by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeleye_Span" rel="nofollow">Steeleye Span</a>, for which Colin had been searching.</p><p>Simon had long wanted to sing <a href="https://youtu.be/5F0X3hoUksw?si=EmnJgTX-_dAUAmFD" rel="nofollow">The twa magicians</a> (roud 1350, child 44), but couldn't get the tune to stick. This time he had a breakthrough, that the verses go tolerably well to the tune of <a href="https://youtu.be/JXCPvZ-kQP0?si=gc8d0ymzuFsHYVyh" rel="nofollow">Bonny ship the Diamond</a> (roud 2172), which he also sang - the chorus being sung to approximately the correct tune.</p><p>Colin brought another new song to the party in the shape of <a href="https://www.thenational.scot/news/14895628.morris-blythman-the-man-who-was-the-driving-force-behind-scotlands-folk-music-revival/" rel="nofollow">Morris Blythman</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/oahebyJUTbg?si=hmp-Jgy_ajEaKx_2" rel="nofollow">Superintendent Barratt</a> (*), one of several songs about the theft of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_of_Scone" rel="nofollow">Stone of Scone</a> (Scone pronounced "scoon" in this context of course).</p><p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bogle" rel="nofollow">Eric Bogle</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/pkAcC5L8Ysk?si=XEND81-5IvHxg0vL" rel="nofollow">Glasgow lullaby</a> (*) gave Colin his next "new" song. Running out of songs about Scotland, Simon also drew on the songwriting of originally Scottish Eric Bogle with <a href="https://youtu.be/cnFzCmAyOp8?si=J03kBF1xCWgwPkaU" rel="nofollow">The band played waltzing matilda</a> before resorting to songs of St Andrew's other patronages:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Miners - <a href="https://youtu.be/0BvbJLTg_FQ?si=bP9KKh5626L58gpz" rel="nofollow">Dark as a dungeon</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merle_Travis" rel="nofollow">Merle Travis</a>)</li><li>Textile workers - <a href="https://youtu.be/3hoyXmJGXHo?si=tbj-r1LAAiit2Wup" rel="nofollow">Poverty knock</a> (<a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=47150#3422343" rel="nofollow">Tommy Daniel</a>)</li><li>Fishermen - <a href="https://youtu.be/_E_yY-xJDx4?si=so_a2adPMONz4ryv" rel="nofollow">Fiddlers' green</a> (<a href="https://intheboatshed.net/2011/08/03/johyn-connollys-great-song-fiddlers-green/" rel="nofollow">John Connolly</a>)</li></ul><div>Colin sang <a href="https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/st-andrews-day-toast" rel="nofollow">St Andrew's day - a toast</a>, which is a poem by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Blewett" rel="nofollow">Jean Blewett</a> and doesn't appear on YouTube.</div><div><br /></div><div>Colin added two more songs to the database before we closed for the evening. The first was The broo road (*) about which we know very little. It was composed during the depression in Dundee, and was included by John A Brune in his collection "<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Roving_Songster/jSzaAAAAMAAJ?hl=en" rel="nofollow">The Roving Songster</a>". His last and the final song of the evening was <a href="https://youtu.be/rACb4q4Rxz0?si=rvXm_TjhPjaIJ5t6" rel="nofollow">Tramps and hawkers</a> (* roud 1874)</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0n-S0Z0Pso&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nle44bDLNtjxpKd16ipcqT&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 2 of whom 2 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-59651564931532269352023-11-28T15:31:00.003+00:002023-11-28T15:31:54.791+00:00Lancashire Day 2023<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAmT7qmZxXH6hrjqF__vF2ZmZ6RodyVY-Eg6PnKV0FdSmZ87tGv6Nv4wGWSNS5AZb5KOlRFOu0ihIRLu64Fg9NhQ1mHHIIM7hlWHPzwN0NxO-iymydypAr9-jiIsr2Vd0CO06nkkaXT58AP0kg5DD9nTOw1dC-ySFAAxiXRvCg9XvxP03a7zVmgJZ86U/s430/Lancashire_County_Flag.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="430" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAmT7qmZxXH6hrjqF__vF2ZmZ6RodyVY-Eg6PnKV0FdSmZ87tGv6Nv4wGWSNS5AZb5KOlRFOu0ihIRLu64Fg9NhQ1mHHIIM7hlWHPzwN0NxO-iymydypAr9-jiIsr2Vd0CO06nkkaXT58AP0kg5DD9nTOw1dC-ySFAAxiXRvCg9XvxP03a7zVmgJZ86U/s320/Lancashire_County_Flag.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flag of the historic county of Lancashire</td></tr></tbody></table>It wasn't meant to be an official theme at last week's Dragon Folk Club session, but the suggestion of marking 27th November's Lancashire Day was so well followed that the title has been adopted for this report. For the purposes of the evening we assumed "Lancashire" to mean the historic county, including therefore the cities of Manchester and Liverpool, which made things a little easier.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;">This Friday's session (1st December) will have an official theme, which will be St Andrew's Day. The actual event falling just one day before on 30th November. Scotland is the obvious direction to go, but bear in mind <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle" rel="nofollow">Andrew</a>'s other patronages, which include: Barbados, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, and Prussia; fishermen, fishmongers, rope-makers, textile workers, singers, miners, pregnant women, butchers, farm workers, and the Russian Navy. He is also said to offer protection against sore throats, convulsions, fever, and whooping cough. That should give you plenty to go on.</p><p style="text-align: left;">As always the theme is something to aim for, but it's better to sing off-topic than not to sing at all.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Back to last week's session Colin was MC over a good crowd of nine singers and it was Simon who started things off wholly on topic with <a href="https://youtu.be/pNNby8DfqDs?si=cawseifcyN6Hppv9" rel="nofollow">Uncle Joe's Mintballs</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harding" rel="nofollow">Mike Harding</a>). Colin also followed the theme with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fivepenny_Piece" rel="nofollow">Fivepenny Piece</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/t6jmNQ1B1Gg?si=XwZYOoTSGjfaHyNm" rel="nofollow">Ee by gum</a> (* John Meeks, Colin Radcliffe, Eddie Crotty). This latter song was the first of a whole eighteen performances of the evening not previously entered into the Dragon database - though some may have been sung at the club before. These are all marked with an asterisk (*).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sue and Bob had both penned their own songs earlier in the day, contemplating how much they enjoyed coming to the Dragon, but how cold it could be through the winter. If you're coming to the club around this time of year do wrap up well. Sue's song from this effort was A chilly song (* Sue) which understandably clearly isn't available on YouTube.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Bob sought to warm us up a bit with <a href="https://youtu.be/R96AAEK4vaY?si=EyKw_O_MROp8VTJa" rel="nofollow">Fireball Mail</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rose_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Fred Rose</a>, Floyd Jenkins). Note that "Floyd Jenkins" is a pseudonym for Fred Rose.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Stan reintroduced us to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Reeves" rel="nofollow">Jim Reeves</a> with <a href="https://youtu.be/Yh1G5bwTzCM?si=44E-ksvg229v2qST" rel="nofollow">Welcome to my world</a> (* <a href="https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/winkler-rayburn-franklin" rel="nofollow">Ray Winkler</a>, <a href="https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hathcock-alfred-jason-johnny" rel="nofollow">John Hathcock</a>).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Paul returned us to Lancashire with <a href="https://youtu.be/3WEa0LeaOmI?si=wGmGc445iSMeQe_R" rel="nofollow">Old Pendle</a> (* <a href="https://www.efdss.org/learning/resources/beginners-guides/50-fun-with-folk/2852-old-pendle" rel="nofollow">Milton Lambert, Allen Lambert, Ted Edwards</a>) and Denny moved us on to Blackpool with <a href="https://youtu.be/qUVzki2j87k?si=ODp3U3cNFdLqQfTc" rel="nofollow">The Lion and Albert</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriott_Edgar" rel="nofollow">Marriott Edgar</a>).</p><p style="text-align: left;">Stuart and Carrie performing as a duo were asked to sing two songs so they gave us <a href="https://youtu.be/swhEa8vuP6U?si=Yc4x8ImWXdgyKoed" rel="nofollow">When the levee breaks</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 21698 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_Joe_McCoy" rel="nofollow">Kansas Joe McCoy</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Minnie" rel="nofollow">Memphis Minnie</a>) and <a href="https://youtu.be/diqODtTmSCk?si=kHkn6mId--u6v7OS" rel="nofollow">Rain and snow</a> (* roud 3634).</p><p style="text-align: left;">This brought us to the end of the first rotation. I will list some of the songs that need to be mentioned, but you can listen to most of these and the rest via the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below.</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Simon - The transplant squad was written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Stilgoe" rel="nofollow">Richard Stilgoe</a>, who was brought up in Liverpool. The song is not yet on YouTube</li><li>Bob had just written Polar bear blues (*), another song obviously not available on YouTube</li><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/slFnQfwGJZE?si=h3S4v_nfFNz895RB" rel="nofollow">I can't help it (if I'm still in love with you)</a> - (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams" rel="nofollow">Hank Williams</a>)</li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/sYZyvKhq8WQ?si=vkczc37tKKx49h3F" rel="nofollow">The Wyre Waterside</a> (* <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/22/alan-bell-obituary" rel="nofollow">Alan Bell</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/V6kLNz_kXsc?si=6GDZK7h3YvLzPPN6" rel="nofollow">Albert's return</a> (* Marriott Edgar) - like its prequel, based in Blackpool</li><li>Stuart and Carrie - <a href="https://youtu.be/ZKLbIn8yx-o?si=9_dl6weqVm3RJj5V" rel="nofollow">I almost lost my mind</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_Joe_Hunter" rel="nofollow">Ivory Joe Hunter</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/BjpCuad2Usc?si=THBnQcp8QRvju31A" rel="nofollow">Last train</a> (* <a href="http://www.stanleyaccrington.me.uk/" rel="nofollow">Stanley Accrington</a>)</li><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/UuUVgKT4roQ?si=DGa3R4WIiDM6rRXD" rel="nofollow">I'd really love to see you tonight</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parker_McGee" rel="nofollow">Parker McGee</a>)</li><li>Carrie - <a href="https://youtu.be/4QImcbrQt3Y?si=Y85dtJco5LMOK8Iv" rel="nofollow">Johnny has gone for a soldier</a> (* roud 911)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=u8p33kjlau6dn1d9fccu8264ne&topic=53259.msg2306176#msg2306176" rel="nofollow">If you ever go across the sea... to Liverpool</a>, a parody of <a href="https://youtu.be/gt7NdiFeYJA?si=mlNhbGSwfacnxD1m" rel="nofollow">Galway Bay</a> which is not available on YouTube</li><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/ojpSiNZA5_0?si=gpGGYRJUZ4ZjM0J8" rel="nofollow">Eleanor Rigby</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennon" rel="nofollow">John Lennon</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney" rel="nofollow">Paul McCartney</a>)</li><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/EWKi1BPyZPo?si=MTQ8B2jjXDqe6lLg" rel="nofollow">Sweet little Lisa</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_DeVito" rel="nofollow">Hank DeVito</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/558073-Donivan-Cowart" rel="nofollow">Donivan Cowart</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/1337990-Walter-Martin-Cowart" rel="nofollow">Walter Cowart</a>)</li></ul><div>Stan was asked to finish off the evening, which he did with <a href="https://youtu.be/7c4DqdRN6jE?si=ACc52r9nJXayNX6r" rel="nofollow">You don't know me</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Arnold" rel="nofollow">Eddy Arnold</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy_Walker" rel="nofollow">Cindy Walker</a>).</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNNby8DfqDs&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-l-B7gl-Cxl52tCW2mi3RRD&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 9 of whom 9 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-66254532473720656182023-11-22T01:29:00.003+00:002023-11-22T01:29:31.137+00:00Children in need 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjt7eRJlFR6Q-pxe2r90tfHEqccHVSwG_KGwSM-2tPdB-YzUy7Ha04JVoIgSLKlyJHdCGPmxqzooppH858DhF0IXKxTtpiXXv6hoFkjddRRqd-TonEZtzymVoEbo93JfzV92KFCmZ5PPLoO3se6EhwT-gOuCEz77WRTPYMnK_TZANBwAI9qB1dB76SZU/s421/Pudsey_Bear_Mark_One.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="421" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjt7eRJlFR6Q-pxe2r90tfHEqccHVSwG_KGwSM-2tPdB-YzUy7Ha04JVoIgSLKlyJHdCGPmxqzooppH858DhF0IXKxTtpiXXv6hoFkjddRRqd-TonEZtzymVoEbo93JfzV92KFCmZ5PPLoO3se6EhwT-gOuCEz77WRTPYMnK_TZANBwAI9qB1dB76SZU/s320/Pudsey_Bear_Mark_One.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original BBC Children in Need<br />Pudsey Bear (1985)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session didn't have an official theme, but I had suggested in the previous week's report that people might like to take some inspiration from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_in_Need" rel="nofollow">BBC Children in Need</a> appeal which would hit its climax on that day. There was some ambivalence in the room about the appeal itself, but no problem for most people of considering childhood an influence for the session.<p></p><p>Again there is no official theme this week (Friday 24th November 2023), but it has been suggested that Lancashire Day which falls on 27th might be a suitable inspiration.</p><p>Colin was MC as usual at last week's session, but the first to sing was Chris with <a href="https://youtu.be/nX7dIJkvGVA?si=6CIKGY6nPX0MK0tR" rel="nofollow">To a wild rose</a> (*) which is the first piece from Woodland Sketches, Op. 51 of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_MacDowell" rel="nofollow">Edward MacDowell</a>. This was also the first song of the evening not previously in the Dragon database. As usual this doesn't necessarily mean it hasn't been sung before at the club. All such songs are marked here with an asterisk (*).</p><p>Roger followed on, with help from Chris, singing <a href="https://youtu.be/4NniLKzNMMI?si=HiKehCnbeZzWC_Hy" rel="nofollow">I'll see you again</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No%C3%ABl_Coward" rel="nofollow">Noël Coward</a>).</p><p>Colin was on theme with <a href="https://youtu.be/zj8FlXGPcOQ?si=MIRBW_Uv7kT9Nqyx" rel="nofollow">Teach your children</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Nash" rel="nofollow">Graham Nash</a>).</p><p>Sue's first of the evening, on theme at least by being in an edition of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_Together_(radio)" rel="nofollow">Singing Together</a>, was <a href="https://youtu.be/L0RtQRnZwSw?si=axBk1p8QyWZkOHiz" rel="nofollow">Yellow bird</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Maul%C3%A9art_Monton" rel="nofollow">Michel Mauléart Monton</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswald_Durand" rel="nofollow">Oswald Durand</a>). Bob followed up with <a href="https://youtu.be/_wR4sG-fO3g?si=5aUxW83EdSQggzpm" rel="nofollow">Hawaiiian Blues</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Tepper" rel="nofollow">Sid Tepper</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_C._Bennett" rel="nofollow">Roy C Bennett</a>), the first of three songs of the evening from the singing of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_Cody_and_His_Lost_Planet_Airmen" rel="nofollow">Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen</a>.</p><p>Simon finished off the first rotation with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Shocked" rel="nofollow">Michelle Shocked</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/ooS6dReJe-g?si=qiSRndVpnG-mWBd1" rel="nofollow">The ballad of Patch Eye and Meg</a>.</p><p>Other songs which must be mentioned are:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/q28LMT0NjLQ?si=4GmKM978WHX6PfsX" rel="nofollow">I wan'na be like you (the monkey song)</a> - (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Brothers" rel="nofollow">Robert and Richard Sherman</a>)</li><li>Roger - <a href="https://youtu.be/r3YMsSqlrPo?si=R-z5_DtNAZGWS4lJ" rel="nofollow">My dearest dear</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Novello" rel="nofollow">Ivor Novello</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Hassall" rel="nofollow">Christopher Hassall</a>)</li><li>Sue and Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/TTsoZbRb_ow?si=akx5IG4AOpBlE6qw" rel="nofollow">Rose Garden</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_South" rel="nofollow">Joe South</a>)</li><li>Sue and Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/d-h6BwB8XZM?si=MaGH2tWFmhW_ZYZz" rel="nofollow">Teddy Bear</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kal_Mann" rel="nofollow">Kal Mann</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Lowe" rel="nofollow">Bernie Lowe</a>)</li></ul><div>Paul sang his own Close the dentist's door, based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Glasgow" rel="nofollow">Alex Glasgow</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/cTdOBIxm8DM?si=u-mWtE3CjM4IK30T" rel="nofollow">Close the coalhouse door lad</a>.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/FRLJYbXHAuI?si=tMoedYzU5Mu09U3P" rel="nofollow">White horses</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Carr_(composer)" rel="nofollow">Michael Carr</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/872252-Ben-Nisbet" rel="nofollow">Ben Nisbet</a>)</li></ul><div>Chris recited <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Ayres" rel="nofollow">Pam Ayres</a>' poem <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20020215233429/http://monologues.co.uk/Like_You_Would.htm" rel="nofollow">Like you would</a> (*), which unfortunately doesn't feature in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/FrCknk3UG_Q?si=79PIn6U2k-kvhNxN" rel="nofollow">Orange Blossom Special</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ervin_T._Rouse" rel="nofollow">Ervin T Rouse</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/S8EykQaZ8CU?si=8vg2EG-Tfd_Z6k7F" rel="nofollow">As tears go by</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Jagger" rel="nofollow">Mick Jagger</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards" rel="nofollow">Keith Richards</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Loog_Oldham" rel="nofollow">Andrew Loog Oldham</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/1U8HtzXZiUg?si=ntXLxbkUELWkvew2" rel="nofollow">The jeely piece song</a> (* <a href="http://textualities.net/jennie-renton/adam-mcnaughtan" rel="nofollow">Adam McNaughtan</a>)</li><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/7xnjrqotlgU?si=rFt4g0gZCh2olh-y" rel="nofollow">Back to Tennessee</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Ray_Cyrus" rel="nofollow">Billy Ray Cyrus</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/1688133-Tamara-Dunn" rel="nofollow">Tamara Dunn</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Wilder" rel="nofollow">Matthew Wilder</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/Aqwq4AgMiik?si=c3JaeuhbqAczzyBn" rel="nofollow">How much is that doggie in the window</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Merrill" rel="nofollow">Bob Merrill</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/dZANKFxrcKU?si=phSVlwfqbwTRP2Cc" rel="nofollow">Teddy bears' picnic</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._Bratton" rel="nofollow">John Walter Bratton</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Kennedy" rel="nofollow">Jimmy Kennedy</a>)</li></ul><div>The evening was drawn to a close with Simon singing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanders_and_Swann" rel="nofollow">Flanders and Swann</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/4zpDF3Py7r8?si=US4Sd9EXUJlhsFgU" rel="nofollow">The hippopotamus song</a>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I make that a total of 45 performances during the evening (44 songs and a poem), which must be close to the Dragon Folk Club record - I have a feeling the record is 47, but I may be wrong.</div><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX7dIJkvGVA&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-mrtYo6ZgTAA-71bDfkTPN5&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 8 of whom 8 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-20746168137940969842023-11-14T15:42:00.002+00:002023-11-14T15:42:28.666+00:00Remembrance 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWfZgIaqw2uPaKbR0XRVBiQMfmqsmJI2BT-oD7_9lbcj9P_NGM3wT29qnVMo-GnRU5Fd5PHQAUI2Ieli_GjUpLXGwJVf2_tO1qvEtEg76SFXEj0-uZQieKj3SjimdhHulyf_P25EojDSSvn1U5LnedUH4-i7IW29wuaYw1rfRvs_MostiJrT25vPizaQ/s600/ThumperAndVera.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWfZgIaqw2uPaKbR0XRVBiQMfmqsmJI2BT-oD7_9lbcj9P_NGM3wT29qnVMo-GnRU5Fd5PHQAUI2Ieli_GjUpLXGwJVf2_tO1qvEtEg76SFXEj0-uZQieKj3SjimdhHulyf_P25EojDSSvn1U5LnedUH4-i7IW29wuaYw1rfRvs_MostiJrT25vPizaQ/s320/ThumperAndVera.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumper and Vera (Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was our annual remembrance theme. We now have a couple of weeks' hiatus in the theme season before it returns with St Andrew's Day on 1st December (the actual day is 30th November). Meanwhile though we can always manufacture unofficial themes. This Friday, 17th November, is for example <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_in_Need" rel="nofollow">BBC Children in Need</a>, and next week, Friday 24th, is the closest Dragon session to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lancashire_Day" rel="nofollow">Lancashire Day</a> which is on 27th.<p></p><p>Back to last week, we had many offerings on or close to the remembrance theme. I won't pick them out for fear of missing some or misidentifying others. You can listen to the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" below and make up your own mind. I will however mention those, identified with an asterisk (*), which are new to the Dragon database if not necessarily to the club.</p><p></p>Colin was the MC as usual and started us off with <a href="https://youtu.be/MH4k_yPF_Ew?si=37owsurDpQvQXCIL" rel="nofollow">Salonika</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 10513).<p></p><p>Roger's emotional first song, despite being by popular American singer songwriter, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_McLean" rel="nofollow">Don McLean</a>, was new to most of us with the simple title of <a href="https://youtu.be/Scl-bWFUBsk?si=3mjppgXusWmE6eZy" rel="nofollow">1967</a> (*). Roger dedicated it to a former police colleague killed in the line of duty.</p><p>Chris gave us <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Seeger" rel="nofollow">Pete Seeger</a>'s anti-war song, <a href="https://youtu.be/-9t7LbNpQcE?si=k1aMUJLFE6e_LoC3" rel="nofollow">Where have all the flowers gone</a>. It was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hickerson" rel="nofollow">Joe Hickerson</a> who added to the lyrics to give it a circular theme.</p><p>Denny sang one of those old songs where the chorus is several hundred times more well known than the verses, and therefore keeps its light under a bushel until we get there, appropriately in the case of <a href="https://youtu.be/kQZpeReo1Sw?si=sV-9xw_pNIqwSegs" rel="nofollow">Keep the home fires burning</a> (roud 25763 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Novello" rel="nofollow">Ivor Novello</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Guilbert_Ford" rel="nofollow">Lena Guilbert Ford</a> *).</p><p>Simon had come prepared with two more anniversaries which he wanted to get out of the way first. He brought the first rotation to a close with <a href="https://youtu.be/M3x2vcergP0?si=QMKKYlhxVgKlM2Wl" rel="nofollow">The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Lightfoot" rel="nofollow">Gordon Lightfoot</a>), about the ship of that name which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Edmund_Fitzgerald" rel="nofollow">sank in Lake Superior</a> on 10th November 1975. His second anniversary was the 80th birthday of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joni_Mitchell" rel="nofollow">Joni Mitchell</a> on 7th November, which he marked by singing her 1969 song <a href="https://youtu.be/cRjQCvfcXn0?si=wG8XDqnujS1uL_Xo" rel="nofollow">Woodstock</a>.</p><p>The remaining songs new to the database were:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Roger - <a href="https://youtu.be/izbRdms0S60?si=gn1CpJXEU3MHygRh" rel="nofollow">Roses of Picardy</a> (roud 25454 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_Weatherly" rel="nofollow">Frederick Weatherly</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haydn_Wood" rel="nofollow">Haydn Wood</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/axa-OEzftF0?si=-Ivyz3n2HxLj60N7" rel="nofollow">As if he knows</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Bogle" rel="nofollow">Eric Bogle</a>)</li><li>Roger - <a href="https://youtu.be/wV2zuRhtH2g?si=bbgucAq1u9PBEBTS" rel="nofollow">Kohima Epitaph</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Maxwell_Edmonds" rel="nofollow">John Maxwell Edmonds</a>), more correctly labelled as <a href="https://www.gchq.gov.uk/information/when-you-go-home" rel="nofollow">For a British graveyard in France</a>. Roger combined this with <a href="https://youtu.be/McCDWYgVyps?si=oo9SxA2Mu3O4EzTf" rel="nofollow">The last post</a> on the harmonica.</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/NurPcKvVCPM?si=kYT-AAkmxHfbEYuc" rel="nofollow">The Malvinas</a> (<a href="https://bannertheatre.co.uk/people/" rel="nofollow">Dave Rogers</a>)</li><li>Colin - Full moon over Mozambique (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Hewitt" rel="nofollow">Garth Hewitt</a>) - the only song performed that arenisn't in the "a selection" playlist</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/onF5UlX6UbY?si=LWignFx3Ce8fnFrh" rel="nofollow">War without bangs</a> (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/nov/20/roy-bailey-obituary" rel="nofollow">Geoff Pearson</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/GkC4-oyEG3M?si=DXQFaUUC2mFL_Cnf" rel="nofollow">The shores of old Blighty</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Miles" rel="nofollow">Graeme Miles</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/eNvZsB_4-cM?si=Dr_HI0hx1BOpme38" rel="nofollow">The sun is burning</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Campbell_(folk_musician)" rel="nofollow">Ian Campbell</a>)</li></ul><div>Simon completed the evening with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs" rel="nofollow">Phil Ochs</a>' <a href="https://youtu.be/6lFPIIdud9o?si=FCdKE2bYdYOTuIwf" rel="nofollow">There but for fortune</a>.</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH4k_yPF_Ew&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-n_aF-esSmKxz9bWEkXYHqs&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 5 of whom 5 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-1075536160719401342023-11-08T00:53:00.001+00:002023-11-08T00:53:45.401+00:00Bonfire Night 2023<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FD8YELedF0zSsQOcu3_fbflkGNW1qigiIuSrUy0Fl8xgg0zjIJyDK-zAKr-VJKQ5s1UNTj_dxRyvcO0UIdRRWKl8WieUvQy_oMn5rGwM4IK_UwXdfXnYpbxM78o9xLg6qLQjygzY558sA5ZACJC9VG-luR0MMdRs3J65qfWq6MSfvNSUIMxtkE8pS4/s320/Worms.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="204" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="text-align: center;">NOBODY LOVES ME</span><br style="text-align: center;" /><div style="text-align: center;">'Nobody loves me.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm going into the garden to eat worms.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I ate two smooth ones and one woolly one.'</div><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj8FD8YELedF0zSsQOcu3_fbflkGNW1qigiIuSrUy0Fl8xgg0zjIJyDK-zAKr-VJKQ5s1UNTj_dxRyvcO0UIdRRWKl8WieUvQy_oMn5rGwM4IK_UwXdfXnYpbxM78o9xLg6qLQjygzY558sA5ZACJC9VG-luR0MMdRs3J65qfWq6MSfvNSUIMxtkE8pS4/s500/Worms.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"></span></a></div><p></p><p>Once again I have limited time to complete the blog report for the Dragon Folk Club last week, so pardon me if it is slightly shorter and more terse than usual. Since we are in theme season last week's was Bonfire Night including campfire songs, community songs and anything else vaguely connected. This week's session (10 November 2023) also has a theme which is Remembrance. That could be songs, tunes, poems, stories or whatever on war, anti-war, remembrance, songs used in wartime by soldiers, sailors or airmen, or to keep the spirits up of the civilians back at home. Pretty much anything goes with the usual proviso that it must be acoustic.</p><p>Back to last week, I won't single out which songs were or were not on theme. I'll leave that to you to decide. That may be easier if you watch and listen to the videos in the YouTube playlist linked from "a selection" at the end of the report.</p><p>Colin was MC, but he deferred to Neil for the first song which turned out to be <a href="https://youtu.be/SK7GK4Hcnvw?si=0I0dCwYnVnRE4WI4" rel="nofollow">Galway shawl</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 2737) after which it was back to Colin for <a href="https://youtu.be/oUcL4GfzJKc?si=gQtJV5yuSlcarB1i" rel="nofollow">Oh, how the money rolls in</a> (* roud 10143). The latter was the first song of the evening which was new to the Dragon database. Subsequent such songs are marked with an asterisk (*). They may or may not be new to the club, but most songs sung here since August 2018 are in there - the club has been going since 1969.</p><p>Next was Denny with <a href="https://youtu.be/fZqqZVY7cQk?si=r4uaodtCMJMJWs_K" rel="nofollow">Land of the silver birch</a> (* roud 4550), which is new to the database but definitely not to the club. Paul continued with <a href="https://youtu.be/8raExX98sVM?si=8DwWxyjOuaMXXSEP" rel="nofollow">Here we sit like birds in the wilderness</a> (* roud 19557) - more of that later.</p><p>Simon subtly joined the theme with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Denver" rel="nofollow">John Denver</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/cOS5-n7dyj4?si=Ak1ExiN7HhI60Xk7" rel="nofollow">Rocky mountain high</a>.</p><p>From Bob we got <a href="https://youtu.be/ZOTTYTGv22k?si=5TrNcD06_-tXzuR2" rel="nofollow">See see rider</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ma_Rainey" rel="nofollow">Ma Rainey</a>, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/835292-Lena-Arant" rel="nofollow">Lena Arant</a>) and from Sue <a href="https://youtu.be/eqFBE6vZ1i4?si=sEHZAKASILOOD8Lx" rel="nofollow">Riders in the sky</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Jones_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Stan Jones</a>).</p><p>After a light aberration of ordering Rob actually sang between Bob and Sue, but we can bring our record of the first rotation to an end with his own song, <a href="https://youtu.be/Yfc69Ujwvls?si=USrFY-QYIw925XiK" rel="nofollow">Magic on the wind</a>, which in his own words "is distantly related to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 39", which is <a href="https://youtu.be/15wS9F73hGo?si=jm5g9RqxI_RYmNsW" rel="nofollow">Tam Lin</a>.</p><p>I'll continue with a list of the remaining songs new to the Dragon database:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Neil - <a href="https://youtu.be/e4gLZe15BFQ?si=Ezc0nTVf02xk54d9" rel="nofollow">Twa Corbies</a> (* roud 5, child 26), a Scottish version of The three ravens which was in the database, so this is only a half score</li><li>Rob - <a href="https://youtu.be/_kNML-irMco?si=1ScLkcfOgWjMc7g1" rel="nofollow">You will burn</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Knight_(folk_musician)" rel="nofollow">Peter Knight</a>)</li><li>Neil - <a href="https://youtu.be/fiDpd4lvVd4?si=BhLZaxp_MOXeONda" rel="nofollow">Sunday after the war</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahn_%26_the_Painted_Bird" rel="nofollow">Daniel Kahn</a>)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/p2VitpGRalw?si=DzZJbXddPwNSThex" rel="nofollow">Kookaburra</a> (* roud 36114 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kookaburra_(song)#Composition" rel="nofollow">Marion Sinclair</a>)</li><li>Rob - <a href="https://youtu.be/9o2MZK3qcvA?si=nWIvBZTbFKpsiO79" rel="nofollow">Martinmas time</a> (* roud 54, child 84)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/BRzhflMkGLg?si=8E2_yep-k_w460SQ" rel="nofollow">Nobody likes me</a> (* roud 12764), new to the database but last sung at the club for <a href="http://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2016/11/bonfire-night-2016.html" rel="nofollow">Bonfire Night 2016</a></li><li>Neil - <a href="https://youtu.be/AKhAlsXgOy8?si=FoX2IBbtmUqOlIpe" rel="nofollow">Cable Street</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young%27uns" rel="nofollow">Michael Hughes, Sean Cooney, David Eagle</a>)</li><li>Paul - gave us another version of <a href="https://youtu.be/AMATGOO-0yk?si=WgmQL-83BI0P0oS2" rel="nofollow">Here we sit like birds in the wilderness</a> (* roud 19557) where the waiting is specifically to be fed</li></ul><div>Rob saw us off with his own pet version of The herring song (roud 128), which I think we can categorise as a mash-up of <a href="https://youtu.be/M2geOtuPE0o?si=-vvVLimN8INxJsSM" rel="nofollow">the version</a> sung by <a href="https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Michael+'Mikeen'+McCarthy+(1931-2004).-a0154804231" rel="nofollow">Mikeen McCarthy</a> and a chorus based on <a href="https://youtu.be/OcbphgX_BYk?si=vnQAyVLE2oLprdJC" rel="nofollow">the version</a> sung by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Roberts_(musician)" rel="nofollow">John Roberts</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Barrand" rel="nofollow">Tony Barrand</a>.</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK7GK4Hcnvw&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-mm7eVuFg6GNGsIP4-z2NHU&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 8 of whom 8 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-79072880976055793062023-10-31T15:43:00.002+00:002023-10-31T15:43:23.451+00:00Halloween 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMnoS7_t5ld1tom-0yClqPZygbW2jb86Aui_lR841vsAopwxcFWdx-2vBFOhhQ7FIvyGnB0zOkJkmumViVbNLHc6IZKQQYHlspYkcQsthTNzjuUA6kStvR_n3Wpp0fHqFgyAKyjMdpyU16-9O8rGa81DFzkkWbrQQ5nl8QNVolCD1k4HSwHUGLNE3eXk/s1369/Stanton%20Drew.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1369" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyMnoS7_t5ld1tom-0yClqPZygbW2jb86Aui_lR841vsAopwxcFWdx-2vBFOhhQ7FIvyGnB0zOkJkmumViVbNLHc6IZKQQYHlspYkcQsthTNzjuUA6kStvR_n3Wpp0fHqFgyAKyjMdpyU16-9O8rGa81DFzkkWbrQQ5nl8QNVolCD1k4HSwHUGLNE3eXk/s320/Stanton%20Drew.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stanton Drew stone circle and church<br />(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was our annual Halloween themed evening. This Friday (3rd November) will be Guy Fawkes, Bonfire Night, Campfire Songs and anything else related that you can think of. Yes, we really are in theme season with more to come very soon.<p></p><p>Back to last week, there were seven singers, which isn't too shabby. A good variety of songs were sung including plenty on theme or close to it. I won't attempt to comment on who hit the theme and who didn't because in some cases it would be debatable anyway. In any case I'm short of time so it's a brief report this week and I suggest you give the playlist linked below from "a selection" a listen and see for yourself what we did.</p><p>A brief run-down of the first rotation gives us:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Chris - <a href="https://youtu.be/YYTiF61B6uw?si=6UWCKKlxdrSKa_x5" rel="nofollow">The lark in the clear air</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 24791 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ferguson" rel="nofollow">Sir Samuel Ferguson</a>)</li><li>Roger - <a href="https://youtu.be/QLXtOzMBLqg?si=19644WmDMTFrzVbS" rel="nofollow">Woad</a> (roud 24978 - <a href="https://catalogue.etoncollege.com/sch-m-whj" rel="nofollow">William Hope-Jones</a>)</li><li>John - <a href="https://youtu.be/Z-1a_91XLb0?si=bDvZP670J7EzltaF" rel="nofollow">Satan, your kingdom must come down</a> (roud 5737)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/wvfbNqLAqbQ?si=mYd_rHliVJbLNTwR" rel="nofollow">The devil's nine questions</a> (roud 161, child 1) - a version of <a href="https://youtu.be/7QlYJEVUBHc?si=OmUcIB2SCsTSql2N" rel="nofollow">Riddles wisely expounded</a></li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/_GvbQIgX0Aw?si=vnQ-1EC2b8V6hFzo" rel="nofollow">Sweet William's ghost</a> (roud 50, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 77)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/UQA_fXDZF8o?si=YCavino5VSh3C7mb" rel="nofollow">The wizard of Alderley Edge</a> (<a href="https://petecoe.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Pete Coe</a>)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/VQ20dtnZG14?si=nOwkXA84aAxAsgFd" rel="nofollow">The souling song</a> (roud 304)</li></ul><div>Songs new to the Dragon database, but not necessarily to the club were:</div><div></div><p></p><ul><li>John - <a href="https://youtu.be/tRshbS-MN20?si=jUOGLqXHo9vT_UkC" rel="nofollow">Into the mystic</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Morrison" rel="nofollow">Van Morrison</a>)</li><li>John - <a href="https://youtu.be/WOOa6UnGksI?si=jp6p_6jd-XjTWZbG" rel="nofollow">Where the streets have no name</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono" rel="nofollow">Bono</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2" rel="nofollow">U2</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/fY6tJ_IG4CU?si=Ejc8HotDsucHssPM" rel="nofollow">The cockroach that ate Cincinatti</a> (<a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/1237069-Douglas-Drill" rel="nofollow">Doug Drill</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/SI3RJFxsleA?si=jNfp_pF7Yg3CzL9R" rel="nofollow">Farmer's curst wife</a> (roud 160) - an American version of <a href="https://youtu.be/hXHsTLFpovQ?si=ihTqDO7FYEnSO9ET" rel="nofollow">The devil and the farmer's wife</a></li></ul><div>Simon finished the evening with the challenging sing-along which is <a href="https://youtu.be/RsNmJ7GKOUQ?si=HVdBJxuKjMC-2-O9" rel="nofollow">The burning times</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Murphy_(singer-songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Charlie Murphy</a>).</div><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYTiF61B6uw&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nPogtRiWZ3Z64yV_Jr79e5&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 7 of whom 7 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-19634133609150698542023-10-24T22:18:00.001+01:002023-10-24T22:20:36.184+01:00Harvest 2023<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90AfsbzPwFQqD47eUdoO_r1Pn_JKXhH4y1C7is4JoRdGvpQ4TArP_DZ7SHx4-eitwCkDjqyC85wnwPIxURMY-936YJcoNNyEgYZw3HPEljjLlBmc5Jz7GGvL_lXqpypSXY_vtuoNaI5PqJo9PEB4w8yYAFida95TQTW-Ww_cHeVYOK_U5bigGyaPjCSo/s1600/harvest.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90AfsbzPwFQqD47eUdoO_r1Pn_JKXhH4y1C7is4JoRdGvpQ4TArP_DZ7SHx4-eitwCkDjqyC85wnwPIxURMY-936YJcoNNyEgYZw3HPEljjLlBmc5Jz7GGvL_lXqpypSXY_vtuoNaI5PqJo9PEB4w8yYAFida95TQTW-Ww_cHeVYOK_U5bigGyaPjCSo/s320/harvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>There was a great turn-out for our 2023 Harvest themed session at the Dragon Folk Club. Our traditional spread of food was supplied with great thanks to Sara, our late friend Geoff's daughter, who arranged to leave the left-overs from his wake for us. Four of our number had attended the funeral and wake earlier in the day.<p></p><p>We welcomed occasional visitors Carrie and Stuart as well as a good complement of eight of our regulars.</p><p>This week's session will once again have a theme. This time it is Halloween.</p><p>Colin was MC, but it was Carrie and Stuart who stared off the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/h1JhPX2M6nY?si=rAc_uasIBM0xbKnx" rel="nofollow">Come all you fair and tender ladies</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 451). I'll mark songs new to the Dragon database with an asterisk (*) and songs on the theme with an at sign (@).</p><p>Carrie and Stuart being a duo were, as usual, required to contribute two songs per rotation and their second was <a href="https://youtu.be/kdaujIK6eME?si=xjCjF16GhvGqKrAR" rel="nofollow">Yellow</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Martin" rel="nofollow">Chris Martin</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonny_Buckland" rel="nofollow">Jonny Buckland</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Berryman" rel="nofollow">Guy Berryman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Champion" rel="nofollow">Will Champion</a>).</p><p>Colin was first on theme with <a href="https://youtu.be/lZ1IHq-6a9k?si=4MykdGQAVd_lgskf" rel="nofollow">All of a row</a> (@ roud 1474). Sue hit the target with <a href="https://youtu.be/IVXUdP45pUs?si=VJRtobgxfmCv1eiq" rel="nofollow">Fields of gold</a> (@ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(musician)" rel="nofollow">Sting</a>).</p><p>Bob, self-declaring as "miserable as usual", gave us <a href="https://youtu.be/DRPSkHrfdqc?si=OlXaaCT2UWyo0ljC" rel="nofollow">Livin' with the blues</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_McGhee" rel="nofollow">Brownie McGhee</a>).</p><p>Paul referred us to the upcoming 218th anniversary of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Nelson,_1st_Viscount_Nelson" rel="nofollow">Admiral Lord Nelson</a>'s demise by singing <a href="https://youtu.be/OjGRwVouq6g?si=4EqapDqYTpfCKUVs" rel="nofollow">The death of Nelson</a> (roud 18837).</p><p>We'll give Denny credit for her <a href="https://youtu.be/5xKuYViuJVo?si=_V2ZWY9i5BwCWrNB" rel="nofollow">Good English ale</a> (@ roud 1512) on the basis it mentions various types of produce.</p><p>Chris gave us a very sweetly sung rendition of <a href="https://youtu.be/N995tLcb2t4?si=4HWAbji9kWecGOVJ" rel="nofollow">The Eriskay love lilt</a> and Roger seemed to be <a href="https://youtu.be/Og_hAsXXDIA?si=tdq8t_uGE70iJ07h" rel="nofollow">Doin' what comes natur'lly</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Berlin" rel="nofollow">Irving Berlin</a>).</p><p>Simon returned to the theme, taking a leaf out of our friend Mike's songbook with <a href="https://youtu.be/qdX2jcti5lg?si=C75HIKosu13A4s8L" rel="nofollow">John Barleycorn (roud 164) to the tune Wir pflügen</a> (<a href="https://youtu.be/ccVEjKFkAV4?si=IJNA5cOMG1DWVbfE" rel="nofollow">We plough the fields and scatter</a>).</p><p>And so the first marathon rotation came to an end.</p><p>I will list the further songs which hit the theme (sorry for any I miss) together with a few others which didn't:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Carrie and Stuart - <a href="https://youtu.be/8QnT7AXVvEA?si=q0sKSDJzr7X_-pOH" rel="nofollow">Ghost</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_Rusby" rel="nofollow">Kate Rusby</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/65IEIQJ3BSI?si=Zhm3T9nvjFGku7_G" rel="nofollow">Man in green</a> (@ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Knightley" rel="nofollow">Steve Knightley</a>)</li><li>Bob and Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/EEqwt4U9NgE?si=NiC16pwuPG0_ribu" rel="nofollow">Tina Louise</a> (* <a href="https://blackiefarrell.com/" rel="nofollow">Kevin "Blackie" Farrell</a>)</li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/OV9M6x8PIJc?si=O346I4bXyM1H_a4D" rel="nofollow">Country life</a> (@ roud 1752)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/ZasQ1AfP4Ys?si=bThISqPsfua8r1T3" rel="nofollow">Hey John Barleycorn</a> (@ roud 2141)</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/T7IkPSTWp9s?si=obFz5lzb1Sns54om" rel="nofollow">Buttercup Joe</a> (@ roud 1635)</li><li>Carrie - <a href="https://youtu.be/xXBNlApwh0c?si=gL3ARnLg8c6RKBZL" rel="nofollow">Autumn Leaves</a> (@ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kosma" rel="nofollow">Joseph Kosma</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mercer" rel="nofollow">Johnny Mercer</a>)</li><li>Colin - All the good things are dead and gone (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yetties" rel="nofollow">Bonny Sartin</a>) - The only song of the evening not in the linked "a selection" playlist</li><li>Paul - <a href="https://youtu.be/Ra10Ny85_-8?si=vIxUDmLoLtD2mBIX" rel="nofollow">The farmer's toast</a> (@ roud 1603)</li><li>Denny - <a href="https://youtu.be/njFGZeCvTm4?si=V9WCEVMH6X-c_NYH" rel="nofollow">I can hew boys</a> (@ <a href="http://www.angelair.co.uk/?tcp_product=davey-dodds-kernowcopia" rel="nofollow">Dave Dodds</a>) - Denny claimed it was about a "mineral harvest".</li><li>Simon - <a href="https://youtu.be/uAyzsJWRXtc?si=64EizQq9QRn5JNg6" rel="nofollow">Windmills</a> (@ <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/may/22/alan-bell-obituary" rel="nofollow">Alan Bell</a>)</li></ul><div>Colin finished the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/wOSeoXebOEY?si=npRTIiJAteglnshZ" rel="nofollow">Flying high, flying free</a> (@ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Rosselson" rel="nofollow">Leon Rosselson</a>)</div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1JhPX2M6nY&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-k_fDMHcZQk_5RQMhjvv_aO&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 10 of whom 10 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-84181672750168247792023-10-16T14:49:00.005+01:002023-10-16T14:49:48.145+01:00Absent friends<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjwagzev6aFUzUDX744xI0iL4OYAgQZ-H2VQ6RbVKlhNRwfIm9ynUaIwY0Xlo5hY4pXh3Nl6rprPrypq7nUGj09dB5h3rV6Hn_LAK9bwhGpYgHLXquxI4vLAPphyfwAEk99Dl-QAPBb6t5pj4vVcDdMthyDfiFnedlVlS_BgB9KBTN1C5EPoJ87AJfME/s1200/Geoff%20Gammon%202.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjwagzev6aFUzUDX744xI0iL4OYAgQZ-H2VQ6RbVKlhNRwfIm9ynUaIwY0Xlo5hY4pXh3Nl6rprPrypq7nUGj09dB5h3rV6Hn_LAK9bwhGpYgHLXquxI4vLAPphyfwAEk99Dl-QAPBb6t5pj4vVcDdMthyDfiFnedlVlS_BgB9KBTN1C5EPoJ87AJfME/s320/Geoff%20Gammon%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoff Gammon (Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>As you may have seen in the previous week's blog report, we heard last week of the recent death of our friend Geoff Gammon who had been coming along to the Dragon Folk Club since September 2016. Last week's Dragon Folk Club session included quite a number of songs from Geoff's repertoire.<p></p><p>Remember that this week's session on Friday 20th October 2023 has the optional theme of Harvest. So if you have any songs of farming, the countryside, plenty, even about fishing, now is the time to bring them out. All following of the theme, however tenuous, will be considered, and if you can't follow the theme then come along and sing, play or otherwise perform anyway.</p><p>As usual, I've tried to mention songs new to the Dragon database (*), though not necessarily to the club as well as those songs from Geoff's repertoire (@). So in order to avoid repetition, those are the symbols I will use to indicate them.</p><p>With Colin as MC we set off with the first song coming from Chris: <a href="https://youtu.be/10C3oohGAWU?si=4SePgUH5q9TbecYX" rel="nofollow">She's like the swallow</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 2306).</p><p>Roger sang <a href="https://youtu.be/3c_ldUsslOA?si=-4F9ZMlVOoZI3IQ9" rel="nofollow">Ramona</a> (* roud 25739 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Wolfe_Gilbert" rel="nofollow">L Wolfe Gilbert</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabel_Wayne" rel="nofollow">Mabel Wayne</a>) in the style of the Bristol accent (complete with the <a href="https://youtu.be/OyKzYBRfyfw?si=C2gNsLBe6xRLrgTp" rel="nofollow">Bristol "L"</a>).</p><p></p>John's first song was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Reed" rel="nofollow">Lou Reed</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/EmmSfru60MY?si=WVZZmLQTX1DkTeKx" rel="nofollow">Oh! Sweet nuthin'</a>.<p></p><p>Colin, unwittingly, was the first to contribute to the selection of songs from Geoff's repertoire with <a href="https://youtu.be/0JjSVBzSIqQ?si=AoUFD4zldKHKT1sy" rel="nofollow">Being a pirate</a> (@ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Freed" rel="nofollow">Don Freed</a>).</p><p>Denny sang <a href="https://youtu.be/Jrd4kmkF0qQ?si=YzypGfyRKpVL3Mae" rel="nofollow">The bunch of thyme</a> (roud 3) and Paul followed with <a href="https://youtu.be/h-7PCuyCUoo?si=j092ZvuH8FCrwHa7" rel="nofollow">Love farewell</a> (roud 1301).</p><p>Simon sang only songs from Geoff's repertoire throughout the evening, starting with <a href="https://youtu.be/AB-eMisOuJc?si=RX3e33dH26-NtvIg" rel="nofollow">All around my hat</a> (@ roud 22518).</p><p>Starting the second rotation, Chris gave us <a href="https://youtu.be/OuSBGcz2wOo?si=xVJvg7_6ftQK27Ge" rel="nofollow">The banks o' Doon</a> (roud 13889 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns" rel="nofollow">Robert Burns</a>).</p><p>Former guardsman Roger took out his harmonica and spelt out his day with <a href="https://youtu.be/wa3Gsud_GTY?si=f0QFi_2MUQ1GAqu0" rel="nofollow">Reveille</a> (*) and <a href="https://youtu.be/TAw39iaUYno?si=UowWV1oKcwH-ikMm" rel="nofollow">Sunset</a> (*).</p><p>Colin referred to Geoff's performances of <a href="http://patcooksey.com/" rel="nofollow">Pat Cooksey</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/66cxc9emQgY?si=dz5_1q3SsPV-Dnft" rel="nofollow">The sick note</a> by giving us <a href="http://www.stanleyaccrington.me.uk/" rel="nofollow">Stanley Accrington</a>'s <a href="http://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2014/09/addie-laird-12-years-old.html#more" rel="nofollow">Sicknote: the reply</a> (*). Sorry, there's no recording of it either here or in the playlist linked from "a selection" below.</p><p>Denny didn't claim that Geoff had sung <a href="https://youtu.be/_E_yY-xJDx4?si=nkt_n_4Luo1hr7wH" rel="nofollow">Fiddlers' Green</a> (<a href="https://www.johnconolly.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">John Conolly</a>) and I can't find any record that he had, but she said it reminded her of him somehow. Paul however sang <a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=126159#2800409" rel="nofollow">Lament for the fishing</a> (@), written by former Dragon <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/author/derek-brinkley/">Derek Brinkley</a>, which Geoff certainly sang. Sorry this is another with out a recording, and indeed one without a definite agreed tune (see Derek's 'Young Buchan' comments at the linked Mudcat thread).</p><p>Simon's next song was <a href="https://youtu.be/SiNWx_IZUj8?si=_kkJj6WPrW13QlZ9" rel="nofollow">Battle of New Orleans</a> (@ roud 17913 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Driftwood" rel="nofollow">Jimmy Driftwood</a>).</p><p>Roger acknowledged that he risked a forfeit for singing <a href="https://youtu.be/9iRRvjjHDkw?si=7qNeZ3tNQbbHY_yL" rel="nofollow">Wild Rover</a> (@ roud 1173). Don't worry, we don't do forfeits here.</p><p>Simon sang <a href="https://galashielsheartland.org.uk/robert-coltart-and-coulters-candy/" rel="nofollow">Robert Coltart</a>'s jingle for his confectionery business, <a href="https://youtu.be/kSx7RZR7j0E?si=ynrfp4ZiPDSCtnYW" rel="nofollow">Coulter's candy</a> (@ roud 19019).</p><p>Chris surprised and amazed us all by reciting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Carroll" rel="nofollow">Lewis Carroll</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/iBFSiGDZC-Y?si=ruEpsX4f8unvwNdH" rel="nofollow">Jabberwocky</a> (*). It seemed Roger was following in a similar line of thought with an excerpt from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Donne" rel="nofollow">John Donne</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/_mfus7QCeWU?si=dy6lP23GmeTXPy1K" rel="nofollow">Meditation XVII</a> (*), but he followed that short piece with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_McTell" rel="nofollow">Ralph McTell</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/UDT1sx1yePM?si=KG9HeY4WuIXLFpDD" rel="nofollow">Streets of London</a> (@).</p><p>Colin sang <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Sarstedt" rel="nofollow">Peter Sarstedt</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/L8XQZYIiNgo?si=ttqsKvZWUYchvFx2">Where do you go to my lovely</a> (@) and Simon gave us <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan" rel="nofollow">Bob Dylan</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/vWwgrjjIMXA?si=C-JZA_Z0tEB7Q4PR" rel="nofollow">Blowin' in the wind</a> (@).</p><p>Colin's next song, new to the Dragon database, was <a href="https://youtu.be/qP-7GNoDJ5c?si=GpeO-H-TfkZ8wX8E" rel="nofollow">Soon may the Wellerman come</a> (*). This song from New Zealand was popularised in 2021 when Scottish postman, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Evans_(singer)" rel="nofollow">Nathan Evans</a>, published a video of him singing it on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok" rel="nofollow">TikTok</a>. The video went viral, and despite the song not being a shanty, a new wave of popularity for shanties was born. The Wellerman of the song is an employee of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weller_brothers" rel="nofollow">Weller brothers</a>, Englishmen of Sydney, Australia, and Otago, New Zealand, who were the founders of a whaling station on Otago Harbour and were New Zealand's most substantial merchant traders in the 1830s. New Zealand–based music teacher and folk music compiler Neil Colquhoun claimed to have collected the song around 1966 from one F. R. Woods. Woods, who was in his 80s at the time, had allegedly heard the song, as well as the song <a href="https://youtu.be/0wzLEvemA3A?si=jvnmns45X1XhkZrn" rel="nofollow">John Smith A.B.</a>, from his uncle.</p><p>Simon's last contribution of the evening was <a href="https://youtu.be/3YOwAo0CXMI?si=tTgC9zeWWYFfUSni" rel="nofollow">Black velvet band</a> (@ roud 2146).</p><p>Colin finished off the evening with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Rogers" rel="nofollow">Stan Rogers</a>' <a href="https://youtu.be/JKsVidS70xQ?si=U4haI1BRChaIRySE" rel="nofollow">Mary Ellen Carter</a>.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10C3oohGAWU&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-lP89zP87qEOjZhzXu5XEhX&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 7 of whom 7 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-43328624083982869782023-10-10T14:57:00.002+01:002023-10-10T14:57:39.504+01:00Sad news and happier<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPr83lb7loslpywt1SJkxCYaz7FFkIKlgHnZDLO2XTSmqx4sOqpIKpdAF526m-xK9_VJaAejEiIGq4KpawfPtiKA5r5e9BkiX55V-6bioMVLHVIbPXYBZXhJ4K7ZyRiBB5dayp-0fStQHs8Sct3FlIHIlzsPnvbJ9c1mjhWWko2YQHOknnZfo-_O-WZM/s1200/Geoff%20Gammon.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="874" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPr83lb7loslpywt1SJkxCYaz7FFkIKlgHnZDLO2XTSmqx4sOqpIKpdAF526m-xK9_VJaAejEiIGq4KpawfPtiKA5r5e9BkiX55V-6bioMVLHVIbPXYBZXhJ4K7ZyRiBB5dayp-0fStQHs8Sct3FlIHIlzsPnvbJ9c1mjhWWko2YQHOknnZfo-_O-WZM/s320/Geoff%20Gammon.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geoff Gammon<br />(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>It was an excellent turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club last week. That's not to say we wouldn't welcome more, but it was a refreshing change to have so many people to bounce ideas and songs off.<p></p><p>Before we get to the report proper I have two important pieces of news.</p><p>We have heard this week of the recent death of our friend Geoff Gammon who made his first appearance at the club on 9th September 2016 and quickly became a regular. While doctors had managed to keep his long-term illness at bay for several years it had recently caught up with him and he had become only an occasional visitor to The Bridge. Our thoughts are with his daughter Sara and all his family.</p><p>A happier, piece of news is that we are entering the autumn/ winter theme season for the club. While we will continue to meet every Friday with the possible exception of one or two around Christmas and New Year (watch this space for news on that) there are some particular dates for your diary. These themes are entirely voluntary. If you can find a few songs to fit then that's great, if not then turn up anyway and do whatever you fancy.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>20th October - Harvest (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest" rel="nofollow">gathering, plenty, agriculture, countryside</a>)</li><li>27th October - Halloween (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween" rel="nofollow">All Saints, spooky, horror, etc.</a>)</li><li>3rd November - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes" rel="nofollow">Guy Fawkes</a> / Bonfire Night (including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campfire_songs" rel="nofollow">campfire songs</a>)</li><li>10th November - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday" rel="nofollow">Remembrance</a> (war, anti-war, etc.)</li><li>1st December - St Andrew (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle" rel="nofollow">Scotland, etc.</a>)</li><li>15th December - Christmas (including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbug" rel="nofollow">bah humbug</a>)</li></ul><p></p><p>(Songs new to the Dragon database, though not necessarily always new to the club are marked with an asterisk "*")</p><p>As usual Colin was MC and started the session, this time singing <a href="https://youtu.be/hIBlCac8_wk?si=QjFha8C9Tbh3GieI" rel="nofollow">Games people play</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_South" rel="nofollow">Joe South</a>).</p><p>John was next up with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan" rel="nofollow">Bob Dylan</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/udPJ2tpZHYU?si=rxzAnvpdUYUlfGnb" rel="nofollow">Blind Willie McTell</a> about the Piedmont blues and ragtime singer and guitarist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_Willie_McTell" rel="nofollow">of that name</a> and the prejudice experienced by African Americans such as him in the first half of the 20th century.</p><p>Stan introduced us to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Robbins" rel="nofollow">Marty Robbins</a>' <a href="https://youtu.be/6GLILKNUqGw?si=8s0WXZ701-v3F_7-" rel="nofollow">Man walks among us</a> (*).</p><p>Simon sang <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Rosselson" rel="nofollow">Leon Rosselson</a>'s song of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diggers" rel="nofollow">the diggers</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/PCXnol8NGbg?si=8UV0HvK1pCxpgUES" rel="nofollow">The world turned upside down</a>.</p><p>Rob often takes traditional ballads and writes an alternative version of the story or one which explains missing links in the original. His riff on <a href="https://youtu.be/W8vzCkJJlSQ?si=PWv4WvMziX8yIYHd" rel="nofollow">Long Lankin</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 6, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Ballads" rel="nofollow">child</a> 93) is <a href="https://youtu.be/9icB4C5MqoA?si=S2l-BTQV_fEg8vGT" rel="nofollow">Lord Weary and the mason</a>. The linked video is entitled "Lord Murray and the mason" because a friend of Rob's persuaded him that might be less confusing, but Rob later reverted to the original title and lyric.</p><p>Chris sang the first traditional song of the evening with <a href="https://youtu.be/hyzJnaWaoJ0?si=APPamZR-LpNCvvgf" rel="nofollow">The three ravens</a> (roud 5, child 26).</p><p>Roger briefly sang what I believe was an extract from <a href="https://youtu.be/QpqLgfc8n8Q?si=y_rtCAG6wREj_qva" rel="nofollow">Paddy McGinty's goat</a>. It's worth noting that this song, while seeming to be Irish, was in fact written by two English music hall composers, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Lee" rel="nofollow">Bert Lee</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._P._Weston" rel="nofollow">RP Weston</a>, for an American vaudeville act performing in the UK, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Two_Bobs" rel="nofollow">The Two Bobs</a>.</p><p>Denny offered up <a href="https://youtu.be/BL0ikqy8IYo?si=8LbNMFBZr_hV-8l7" rel="nofollow">Pretty Saro</a> (roud 417) followed by Paul bringing the first rotation to an end with <a href="https://youtu.be/nU3yQU8bZBA?si=njhetjPiANBLE2yE" rel="nofollow">Waking dreams</a> (roud 22620).</p><p>Colin recalled our late friend <a href="http://dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com/2015/03/phil-profile.html" rel="nofollow">Phil</a> by singing from his repertoire <a href="https://youtu.be/IknyYLGLVsM?si=uPDO2WEkYP7xw6cc" rel="nofollow">Plastic Jesus</a> (Ed Rush, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Cromarty" rel="nofollow">George Cromarty</a>).</p><p>Chris sang <a href="https://youtu.be/zxa-Fpk3gw4?si=tvY5NWosuhmRA6c4" rel="nofollow">David of the white rock</a> (*), the English version of <a href="https://youtu.be/8vftVyIoYY4?si=bYY_GU6jiZX9yBZ6" rel="nofollow">Dafydd y Garreg Wen</a> with tune by Welsh harpist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Owen_(harpist)" rel="nofollow">David Owen</a> and (Welsh) words by John <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ceiriog_Hughes" rel="nofollow">Caeiriog Hughes</a>.</p><p>Roger followed this, referring to the jazz funerals of New Orleans and singing <a href="https://youtu.be/rYSDSLQIYnQ?si=yFSs76uyyFnCm17q" rel="nofollow">When the saints go marching in</a> (* roud 13983).</p><p>Colin gave us <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewan_MacColl" rel="nofollow">Ewan MacColl</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peggy_Seeger" rel="nofollow">Peggy Seeger</a>'s Nova Scotian mining disaster song <a href="https://youtu.be/DBkbTt-WYRM?si=JjMp9rc59pkkJuvl" rel="nofollow">The ballad of Springhill</a> (*).</p><p>Chris added to her tally with <a href="https://youtu.be/uASOU44yvb0?si=4AATfuDG7j8j_xSz" rel="nofollow">The spinning wheel</a> (* roud 17647 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Waller" rel="nofollow">John Francis Waller</a>).</p><p>Colin sang the only song of the evening not in the YouTube playlist linked below as "a selection", and that was <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graeme_Miles" rel="nofollow">Graeme Miles</a>' <a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=162547#3870091" rel="nofollow">The Whitby girl's lament</a>.</p><p>Stan reminded us of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" rel="nofollow">Elvis</a> by singing <a href="https://youtu.be/vYYOFNeLZEg?si=8Ks649K4hto60Bki" rel="nofollow">The wonder of you</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Knight" rel="nofollow">Baker Knight</a>), first recorded by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Peterson" rel="nofollow">Ray Peterson</a>.</p><p>Rob has recently spread his net beyond his usual ballads and shanties to include some Americana, which he demonstrated to us with <a href="https://youtu.be/XWIaeQFcbYg?si=qatV9oDTqEQCZbki" rel="nofollow">Poor Wayfaring stranger</a> (* roud 3339). And finally, it also fell to Rob to finish the evening which he did with <a href="https://youtu.be/Lz9Bof0yTj0?si=hb9kIG1whCtouTWF" rel="nofollow">Nassau Bound</a> (roud 15634), the original version of the well known <a href="https://youtu.be/09dQmeB_NgU?si=4xsdL25lseq-CZ2t" rel="nofollow">Sloop John B</a> from the singing of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Lewis_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Tom Lewis</a>.</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIBlCac8_wk&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-niKL0G0kTFI0QUgyqyup7b&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 9 of whom 9 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-20794140222917471532023-10-03T23:35:00.006+01:002023-10-03T23:36:15.934+01:00Rhubarb, rhubarb<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS53xbF_rcFksmLCKKq-q4Mw11O2pBDK7TPbA-7Rv0oyKqFU5g_Wc7QNzkoNynDDz8vtGJJpGaYkMcHsd23z3wqKTLnxVY5dRzaZGiKzRO6CG3cc58pDbFvIHDZ3iun7t2fVo0kWa0urbpQSdcWu1ZOGdoXoRvDPO4BsNTttz3MvLQfJmrQe_T9Z80kg/s1024/Rhubarb_for_sale_in_Amsterdam.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS53xbF_rcFksmLCKKq-q4Mw11O2pBDK7TPbA-7Rv0oyKqFU5g_Wc7QNzkoNynDDz8vtGJJpGaYkMcHsd23z3wqKTLnxVY5dRzaZGiKzRO6CG3cc58pDbFvIHDZ3iun7t2fVo0kWa0urbpQSdcWu1ZOGdoXoRvDPO4BsNTttz3MvLQfJmrQe_T9Z80kg/s320/Rhubarb_for_sale_in_Amsterdam.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb (Photo: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/61153912@N00" rel="nofollow">yems Dinn</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table>We're managing quite well at the Dragon Folk Club under the new management of The Bridge Inn. We had seven singers last week and the usual varied mix of songs... and one poem. You can listen to all but the poem by following the "a selection" link below, but first a few scant details of what went on.<p></p><p>Colin, the MC, started off the singing with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Paxton" rel="nofollow">Tom Paxton</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/RKk0Nf5n1BM?si=_30LqWz3B2hAYa9Y" rel="nofollow">Bottle of wine</a>. This was the first of several songs new to the Dragon database - though as usual, not necessarily new to the club. Subsequent songs new to the database will be marked with an asterisk (*).</p><p>John followed on with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2" rel="nofollow">U2</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/e3-5YC_oHjE?si=tn6unYlL0hAXd3Am" rel="nofollow">I still haven't found what I'm looking for</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bono" rel="nofollow">Bono</a>).</p><p>Simon's first song of the evening was <a href="https://youtu.be/NxYpvbKP180?si=wyS9oVLsJ8Z3qp1k" rel="nofollow">Drill ye tarriers drill</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 4401 - <a href="https://www.discogs.com/artist/2656359-Thomas-Casey" rel="nofollow">Thomas Casey, Charles Connolly</a>).</p><p>Sue brought us <a href="https://youtu.be/50JW4aHHm5Q?si=DtCQBGgcZqkWGPLi" rel="nofollow">Island in the sun</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Belafonte" rel="nofollow">Harry Belafonte</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_Burgie" rel="nofollow">Irving Burgie</a>) and Bob followed her with <a href="https://youtu.be/LxEkG0_-6zw?si=C765TV1pmN9LQ7-F" rel="nofollow">Went to the river</a> (roud 469).</p><p>Chris ventured <a href="https://youtu.be/wjjh5EmkKCA?si=-kJsl4ze2mf0c21X" rel="nofollow">Cockles and mussels</a> (* roud 16932) and Roger sang <a href="https://youtu.be/xR4-zYE0jqQ?si=2RtdJBllyWhJSnrW" rel="nofollow">Mountains of Mourne</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_French" rel="nofollow">Percy French</a>).</p><p>And so the baton returned to Colin, who sparked memories for at least two of the other singers with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvina_Reynolds" rel="nofollow">Malvina Reynolds</a>' <a href="https://youtu.be/-Cjk0zst3Cs?si=RH1WQH6fs3ovtrfp" rel="nofollow">Little boxes</a> (*).</p><p>If it need to be proved, John showed how eclectic we could be with <a href="https://youtu.be/Ef9QnZVpVd8?si=_3zVD4bHLcYn92YM" rel="nofollow">You can't always get what you want</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Jagger" rel="nofollow">Mick Jagger</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Richards" rel="nofollow">Keith Richards</a>).</p><p>Bob and Sue followed up on Sue's <a href="https://youtu.be/3rcPV8fnkQo?si=a-YMX8i2z8ZzhAI5" rel="nofollow">Gatherin' rhubarb</a> of the previous week with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fogerty" rel="nofollow">John Fogerty</a>'s <a href="https://youtu.be/pDqID_RLih0?si=6gVPpZCs6A8EnN7o" rel="nofollow">Rhubarb pie</a> (*). With a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kipper_Family" rel="nofollow">Kipper Family</a> song (<a href="https://www.kipperfamily.co.uk/home/old-songs/since-time-immoral/not-sixteen-til-sunday/" rel="nofollow">Not sixteen til Sunday</a>) from Colin, and Simon diddling <a href="https://youtu.be/SR_mFRE6qKc?si=hFxY9zk0qTG8R3ge" rel="nofollow">the theme</a> from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roobarb" rel="nofollow">Roobarb and Custard</a>, I think we could almost have ourselves a rhubarb theme.</p><p>Chris gave us the one item of the evening which is not on the linked YouTube playlist: a peom which she wrote herself entitled evening. Roger meanwhile was <a href="https://youtu.be/ANRPmTZRqkg?si=ldyMEDw6lJdrmCnu" rel="nofollow">Makin' whoopie</a> (*) with the song written by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Donaldson" rel="nofollow">Walter Donaldson</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Kahn" rel="nofollow">Gus Kahn</a>, and originally performed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cantor" rel="nofollow">Eddie Cantor</a>.</p><p>I'm not sure how Chris' <a href="https://youtu.be/YYTiF61B6uw?si=LdoTeHk-4dY4Nx5l" rel="nofollow">The lark in the clear air</a> (* roud 24791 - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Ferguson" rel="nofollow">Sir Samuel Ferguson</a>) had managed to stay out of the Dragon database until now.</p><p>It was Colin who finished off the night with the sing-along <a href="https://youtu.be/0DYGjOM4eqc?si=rUf93ISY1Fg25YPc" rel="nofollow">Air fa la la lo</a> (a traditional gaelic song translated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_S._Roberton" rel="nofollow">Hugh S Roberton</a>).</p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKk0Nf5n1BM&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-nZJmzV-YTPHN6YP_7u0T_n&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 7 of whom 7 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-4790271494942076482023-09-26T13:59:00.006+01:002023-09-26T13:59:50.325+01:00The Last Farewell<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcHs1nElzPcaoMAaLXZzyReafME__43XyMPNzp1IrwYQbgtxvkZj6WBdcAnBg-Sq7UJJlyofjrFFat9LtIPxmKNCiM8FbmtWJ3HoqtCFuSgSkPcpfX8xdCTcNEto4Y99GNwIJb3EaoKeFx1s6-bSiOEoqNwr5MHzFiUaK5xkbI-d5XJ63dMdtRQuth5M/s1600/Roger-Whittaker-1971.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcHs1nElzPcaoMAaLXZzyReafME__43XyMPNzp1IrwYQbgtxvkZj6WBdcAnBg-Sq7UJJlyofjrFFat9LtIPxmKNCiM8FbmtWJ3HoqtCFuSgSkPcpfX8xdCTcNEto4Y99GNwIJb3EaoKeFx1s6-bSiOEoqNwr5MHzFiUaK5xkbI-d5XJ63dMdtRQuth5M/s320/Roger-Whittaker-1971.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger Whittaker in 1971</td></tr></tbody></table>At the Dragon Folk Club session last week it was great to welcome visitors Tricia and Tony. Tricia sings and plays the ukulele, though her instrument was conspicuous by its absence, and describes Tony as "an experienced audience".<p></p><p>Colin, as MC, started the proceedings with <a href="https://youtu.be/2vmOfYYnhvc?si=6C-Vvh9X-GosTLo_" rel="nofollow">The good ship Ragamuffin</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roud_Folk_Song_Index" rel="nofollow">roud</a> 10466). This is a music hall song written around 1882 by <a href="https://folksongandmusichall.com/index.php/john-j-stamford/" rel="nofollow">John J Stamford</a> for <a href="https://www.blarneystar.com/Muldoon.pdf" rel="nofollow">William J "Billy" Ashcroft</a>. Stamford also wrote <a href="https://youtu.be/QubYACxzE9M?si=6KwkAf8pDiDb8OVr" rel="nofollow">McNamara's Band</a> for Ashcroft. This (Ragamuffin) was the first song of the evening new to the Dragon database (usual disclaimer: not necessarily new to the club). There were many new songs for the database on this occasion, so rather than get repetitive I will mark them with an asterisk (*).</p><p>Tricia's first song was <a href="https://youtu.be/ydY71sVVt7A?si=d36W-Tl7viPgScZx" rel="nofollow">Race of long ago</a> (*), based on a poem by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Fox_Smith" rel="nofollow">Cicely Fox Smith</a> called <a href="https://allpoetry.com/Racing-Clippers-(A-Wool-Fleet-Memory)" rel="nofollow">Racing Clippers</a>.</p><p>Stan found us <a href="https://youtu.be/gbzc77Tz6PA?si=hPKGswZiUZQMxT1g" rel="nofollow">Waiting for a train</a> (* roud 699, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Malcolm_Laws" rel="nofollow">laws</a> H2, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Rodgers" rel="nofollow">Jimmie Rodgers</a>). Simon gave us <a href="https://youtu.be/FnckVcES7ik?si=c0sXBG8OppJrLvLj" rel="nofollow">King of Rome</a> (<a href="https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2012/04/interview-dave-sudbury-the-king-of-rome/" rel="nofollow">Dave Sudbury</a>) before Sue took us to <a href="https://youtu.be/ovKk_kPmAk4?si=Vo4TJ4_PdzF0Bpv2" rel="nofollow">Big Rock Candy Mountain</a> (roud 6696, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McClintock" rel="nofollow">Harry McClintock</a>) and Bob returned us to the American railroad with <a href="https://youtu.be/1iD8if7AqUI?si=L1r2uHx73j4GIAr8" rel="nofollow">Golden Rocket</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Snow" rel="nofollow">Hank Snow</a>).</p><p>Roger was showboating with <a href="https://youtu.be/eh9WayN7R-s?si=ZQjsdtt_RFLF3eHK" rel="nofollow">Ol' Man River</a> (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerome_Kern" rel="nofollow">Jerome Kern</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_Hammerstein_II" rel="nofollow">Oscar Hammerstein II</a>) before Chris sang <a href="https://youtu.be/10C3oohGAWU?si=312rmjIlr1WC9iaQ" rel="nofollow">She's like the swallow</a> (roud 2306) sweetly despite <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/have%20a%20frog%20in%20one%27s%20throat#:~:text=idiom,throat%20is%20dry%20and%20hoarse" rel="nofollow">having a frog in her throat</a>.</p><p>And so ended the first rotation. We went on to sing an impressive total of 38 songs during the evening. You can hear mostly other people's renditions of all but one of them by following the "a selection" link below. I will however mention a subset of them starting with those sung by newcomer Tricia:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://youtu.be/AgbK80-G1dM?si=j3ckb1bVOl2TCR_v" rel="nofollow">Green grows the laurel</a> (* roud 279)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/OqWMzq0sAAY?si=89n9fXeS8LWoqi9w" rel="nofollow">Breaking wind suddenly</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Barker" rel="nofollow">Les Barker</a>)</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/hPP61umWgBU?si=sdMzKGUOsPMBf1Hv" rel="nofollow">The Nightingale</a> (* roud 1093, laws M37)</li><li><a href="https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=87021#1622826" rel="nofollow">Here's a goodbye to you, dear Mabel</a> (* <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DijitAF/" rel="nofollow">Don Thompson</a>) This is the only song of the evening not present in the linked playlist "a selection"</li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/GVdpFWm3h4M?si=Rz6frZbWJ7RAh2do" rel="nofollow">Farewell to the Clan Line</a> (* <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230421180437/http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=109942" rel="nofollow">Ron Baxter, Ross Campbell</a>)</li></ul><div>Talking of "farewell", Simon noted the recent death of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Whittaker" rel="nofollow">Roger Whittaker</a> to whom he was originally introduced by his parents' record collection. He didn't sing <a href="https://youtu.be/hKdRpDpIR70?si=u3tjPlPhZKaG7IhR" rel="nofollow">The last farewell</a> (Roger Whittaker, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Farewell" rel="nofollow">Ron A Webster</a>) in the title of this report, but rather <a href="https://youtu.be/6KPDNWkhnck?si=9nz3izAjnMyKuF8v" rel="nofollow">Durham town</a> (Roger Whittaker), complete with the geographical inaccuracy which sees the River Tyne flowing through the city rather than the Wear.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stan and Bob both sang several songs from the pen or the singing of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Williams" rel="nofollow">Hank Williams</a> with the effect of marking his recent hundredth birthday. Among them was Stan's rendition of <a href="https://youtu.be/NzjywHFaTOM?si=9hXhOREE7DlUg-9k" rel="nofollow">Jambalaya</a> (* Hank Williams, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Mullican" rel="nofollow">Moon Mullican</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>Other songs sung during the evening included:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/PdtSxT_R6C4?si=ViLRCb2OSx90VMbq" rel="nofollow">Take these chains from my heart</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hy_Heath" rel="nofollow">Hy Heath</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rose_(songwriter)" rel="nofollow">Fred Rose</a>)</li><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/3rcPV8fnkQo?si=eZZA1yQSRFW6TkBC" rel="nofollow">Gatherin' rhubarb</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Hopwood" rel="nofollow">Keith Hopwood</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/philbushmusic/?originalSubdomain=uk" rel="nofollow">Phil Bush</a>), from the mini-series <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159914/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" rel="nofollow">Soul Music</a> based on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Pratchett" rel="nofollow">Terry Pratchett</a> novel of the same name</li><li>Bob - <a href="https://youtu.be/qnEMOQTh27s?si=Q8gKU17t44YpBsCS" rel="nofollow">Drivin' nails in my coffin</a> (* <a href="https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/Jerry_Irby#:~:text=Gerald%20%22Jerry%22%20Irby%20was%20an,songs%20as%20a%20solo%20musician." rel="nofollow">Jerry Irby</a>)</li><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/Ganv1U5uWrg?si=h4dlE5_5Ael7NcRG" rel="nofollow">Hawaiian sunset</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid_Tepper" rel="nofollow">Sid Tepper</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_C._Bennett" rel="nofollow">Roy C Bennett</a>)</li><li>Sue - <a href="https://youtu.be/LLoyNxjhTzc?si=pr7dQEbPeMtQmv9j" rel="nofollow">Make you feel my love</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan" rel="nofollow">Bob Dylan</a>)</li><li>Colin - <a href="https://youtu.be/kJGJPmvQtIM?si=UDG8yQEvaPo6bRAd" rel="nofollow">I married my Jenny Wren bride</a> (* <a href="https://shepwoolley.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Shep Woolley</a>)</li><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/R12H8QWnwvE?si=-aUMl_vLHeM_R8in" rel="nofollow">Poor little fool</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Sheeley" rel="nofollow">Sharon Sheeley</a>)</li><li>Stan - <a href="https://youtu.be/5GfYIkz4N_I?si=JhHinWLLAx9A1_Jx" rel="nofollow">I'm just a country boy</a> (* <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hellerman" rel="nofollow">Fred Hellerman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Barer" rel="nofollow">Marshall Barer</a>)</li></ul><div>Simon finished the evening with a rousing chorus song: <a href="https://youtu.be/2lCxzVjksCQ?si=CHkJpg4u9iuAH0a2" rel="nofollow">When All Men Sing</a> (<a href="http://www.grainger.de/music/songs/whenallmensing.html" rel="nofollow">Keith Scowcroft</a>, <a href="http://www.grainger.de/dbe/cds/cdgiffordd.html" rel="nofollow">Derek Gifford</a>).</div></div><p></p><p>Now listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vmOfYYnhvc&list=PL1-KFVWUsQ-kBqPSh7NUDA0OXbzqibshS&pp=gAQBiAQB8AUB" rel="nofollow">a selection</a> of songs sung during this session.</p><p></p><p>(Number of people present - 9 of whom 8 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8527946773854942629.post-39073428333299486822023-09-19T22:14:00.003+01:002023-09-19T22:14:37.656+01:00Back in business<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;margin-right:1rem;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAork0LPTFnvWW6kdYNqe6Cc4-v93QjBF3L09Rs57lHysTo4yk6eNC8wDBw59abIgtreWwlwmfBta8Yd6rKAXf9MXSNw6RUNBD1I5blHqckGX1jJpj6inq14w9kpj3GBdRt_RnRB3NvIk1B8ComcD8z1TNgGXfKzrRFMJVLzAjQhvvAZCafNDIFqIjPk/s1200/IMGP2455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAork0LPTFnvWW6kdYNqe6Cc4-v93QjBF3L09Rs57lHysTo4yk6eNC8wDBw59abIgtreWwlwmfBta8Yd6rKAXf9MXSNw6RUNBD1I5blHqckGX1jJpj6inq14w9kpj3GBdRt_RnRB3NvIk1B8ComcD8z1TNgGXfKzrRFMJVLzAjQhvvAZCafNDIFqIjPk/s320/IMGP2455.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Photo: Simon Meeds)</td></tr></tbody></table>Last week's Dragon Folk Club session saw us back on track despite the absence of the usual scribe dragon. Four singers met at The Bridge where normality had returned: MC Colin, Stan and a happy return for Roger with his other half Chris who we hadn't seen for a very long time.</p><p>Twenty six songs were sung, which isn't a bad tally. Sorry no YouTube playlist this week because this dragon is rather busy, but that's a small downside after the ups and downs of the last few weeks.</p><p>(Number of people present - 4 of whom 4 performed)</p>Simon Meedshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246254633369303922noreply@blogger.com0