Burns' Night 2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was our annual Burns' Night theme, just two days before the actual event. There was a surprisingly large number of genuine Burns songs, not least thanks to the presence of Heather, our very own Scot who arrived with her non-singing friend Hazel.

This Friday (30 Jan) there will be no theme, so anything goes whether that's a song, tune, story, poem, joke, monologue or whatever other type of performance you can muster. If you don't think you are ready to perform then don't worry, come along to listen and join in the banter. Everyone is welcome.

Back to Burns, Colin started us off with Tramps and hawkers (roud 1874).

Heather was the first to sing a Burns song with A red, red rose (* roud 12946 - Robert Burns) and Simon followed with another: Ye Jacobites by name (roud 31021 - Robert Burns).

Denny kept the ball in the air with The collier laddie (roud 3787 - Robert Burns) and Paul didn't let it drop with a creditable rendition of Address to a haggis (Robert Burns). And so ended the first rotation.

I'll do my best to list the remainder of the Burns songs and poems performed though please forgive me if I miss any:

• Heather - Comin' thro' the rye (* roud 13589 - Robert Burns). I couldn't resist also linking this.
• Simon - The whistle (* Robert Burns) - sung, to "prove" a rule, to the tune of Villikins and his Dinah.
• Heather - Scots wha hae (* roud 27546 - Robert Burns)
• Simon - The deil's awa' wi' th' exciseman (* roud 16787 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - Ca' the yowes to the knowes (* roud 857 - Robert Burns)
• Colin - Afton water (roud 24637 - Robert Burns)
• Simon - John Barleycorn (* roud 164 - Robert Burns). While we have often had versions of John Barleycorn, I am not sure we have previously had Burns' version although it has been mentioned. My latest information is that the oldest versions are Scottish and include the Scots poem Quhy Sowld Nocht Allane Honorit Be. In 1782 Burns published his own version of the song, which influenced subsequent versions.
• Denny - Leezie Lindsay (roud 94, child 226 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - Auld lang syne (roud 13892 - Robert Burns)
• Colin - Such a parcel of rogues in a nation (roud 31022 - Robert Burns)
• Heather - To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest With the Plough, November, 1785 (* Robert Burns)

There were two others new to the Dragon database and both were performed by Heather:

• Highland fairy lullaby (*) - A traditional gaelic children's song.
• Wee Willie Winkie (* roud 13711 - William Miller) - Scots poet William Miller (1810-1872), appears to have popularised a pre-existing nursery rhyme, adding additional verses to make up a five stanza poem.

Thw two songs not found on YouTube and therefore not included in this week's playlist both came from Colin:

• The Loch Ness monster (Iain C MacKintosh, Hamish Imlach)
• The broo road (link to a recording) - Composed during the depression in Dundee, and was included by John A Brune in his collection "The Roving Songster".

The evening was closed by Colin singing Dougie McLean's Ready for the storm.

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 5 performed)

In the above report songs new to the Dragon database (though no 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 (#).

Burns' Night 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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