Announcing upcoming themes

Publicity shot of American singer Dolly Parton, 1977

It was another great turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club Session last week. We were very pleased to welcome Dragon first-timer Raf complete with his accordion. It was also great to welcome back Paula and Denny's non-performing friend Chris for her second annual visit.

The main pre-session business this week was to announce some special themes, so here is a calendar going up to Christmas. Remember that Fridays not mentioned are almost certainly sessions too, but without a theme:

• 18 Sept - Harvest (associated with the  4th European Folk Day - #europeanfolkday)
• 25 Sept - No theme (associated with the  4th European Folk Day - #europeanfolkday)
• 30 Oct - Halloween / Samhain / etc.
• 6 Nov - Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes / fireworks / campfire songs
• 13 Nov - Remembrance / war / anti-war
• 27 Nov - St Andrew's Day / St Andrew / Scotland
• 18 Dec - Christmas / Yule / Hanukkah / etc.
• 25 Dec - No session
• 1 Jan - No session
• 8 Jan - New Year / Twelfth Night / etc.

Colin started the session off from the MC's chair with The son of a gambolier (roud 2964 - Charles Ives).

Simon referred to the recent death of Dolly Parton, singing her song Love is like a butterfly.

Rob recalled when his niece once asked him to tell her a story. He invited her to fetch a book, but she said she wanted him to tell a story "out of his head". He thought that slightly challenging, but then she said she wanted him to sing it. He couldn't manage that on the spot, but later came up with a song which he sang to us, singing it for the first time in ten years: Lia and the giant (*# Rob Winder).

Paul reprised Bold General Wolfe (roud 624), which he sang here for the first time the previous week. He seemed slightly disappointed that it hadn't been new to the Dragon database, but it wasn't because Derek had sung it here before.

Denny hoped the dog which Heather had with her, which she is temporarily looking after, wouldn't be bothered by Dido Bendigo (roud 584). The dog didn't bat an eyelid despite Rob's yelps as he joined in the chorus.

Hazel regaled us with a joke about the police. During the evening she brought forth another joke, this time about a school reception class.

Heather's first song of the evening was Sea of heartbreak (Paul Hampton, Hal David).

Steve arrived in time to finish the first rotation with The field behind the plow (Stan Rogers). This was the first of three Stan Rogers songs we heard.

Raf arrived just slightly too late to be included in the first rotation, but as a newcomer I will mention all of the songs and tunes he performed:

• Jock Stewart (roud 975)
• Mary Ellen Carter (Stan Rogers)
• The bloody fields of Flanders (* John McLellan) / The hut on Staffin island (* Phil Cunningham) / Calum's road (* Donald Shaw)

The remaining songs that were new to the Dragon database were:

• Paul - Turn ye seasons (*# Andy Barnes)
• Heather - You don't have to say you love me (* Pino Donaggio, Vito Pallavicini, Vicki Wickham, Simon Napier-Bell) - an English-language version of the 1965 Italian song Io che non vivo (senza te)
• Denny - Crossing the bar (* Alfred Lord Tennyson)

There was one so far unmentioned song that was not found on YouTube and is therefore not included in this week's playlist: Heather - They don't  play rock of ages on the juke box (# J Spencer).

It was Steve's turn to sing us out for the week, which he did with the second Cyril Tawney song of the evening: Sammy's Bar. 

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

(Number of people present - 10 of whom 9 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though not always new to the club) are marked with an asterisk (*) and any songs not included in the "a selection" playlist are marked with a hash (#).

St George's Day 2017

Raphael - Saint George and the Dragon, 1506

It was good to see Maggie S at last week's session, and we were joined by two very welcome visitors from Yorkshire who didn't want to sing but did want to publicise the Cleckheaton Folk Festival which takes place in June/July, so there we are, I've done it. It will also appear on our links page.

It was two days before St George's day so the theme was George, England, dragons and anything else that seemed appropriate.

Colin as MC asked Steve C to start us off which he did with Jock Stewart (Roud 975) which wasn't exactly to theme but we don't mind that.

Derek had other plans for the evening's theme but started off with a token song from Norfolk: The Bailiff's Daughter Of Islington (Roud 483, Child 105).

Colin was first to really hit the theme will full force, singing Billy Bragg's Hard Times Of Old England Retold.

St David's Day 2017

Depiction of the Rebecca Riots,
Illustrated London News 1843

It was good to see a new face at last week's session. Geoff brought John P along - this sort of behaviour is to be encouraged. While John had never sung at a folk club before he certainly came prepared with Welsh songs to fit our theme, and had a selection of other material once he had run out. Well done John, we look forward to seeing you again very soon.

If you're considering coming to the Dragon Folk Club for the first time, don't think we expect you to come prepared like John with lots of material; of course that would be great but by all means come along to suss us out before attempting to sing or play on a subsequent visit, or indeed come along even if you have no intention of ever performing. We're a pretty friendly bunch and welcome singers and musicians of any standard or none!

A Kist o’Tales

Heckmondwike English Concertina Premier Prize Band 1909

Before we deal with this week’s events I need to convey two important messages, one relating to the previous meeting, and one to the next.

Firstly it would appear that last week the Regular Scribe (whose humble servant addresses you herewith) should have attributed the Last Shanty sung by Mike to Tom Lewis, and not to any other individual who (according to one of this week’s stories, of which more shortly) might have a small copyright hang-up.

[RS: In my defence, I was not present for the singing of the said song, and it appears I may have misunderstood the message given to me by Colin about the song Mike sang last week]

Saint Andrew, Scotland and the sea

The Beauchamp - the lifeboat
involved in the Caister disaster of 1901

Last Friday people were very thin on the ground at the session. I suggested that we might get more people in if we removed the poster from the door; not because people are discouraged by the folk club poster, but because removing it would reveal the sign showing the way to the alternative toilets.

I can't quite remember the reason, but it may have been this comment that started Maggie singing Seven old ladies locked in the lavatory. Well, I say she started singing... No, I don't mean there was anything wrong with Maggie's singing, it's just that although it is officially her folk club, Maggie almost never sings, and she tried to stop the fact that she had sung being recorded. Well, it went into the official book, and it's recorded here on the blog as well!