Transported from Bristol to Australia (and back)

Cootamundra Wattle (Photo: John Jennings)

Well, last week's Dragon Folk Club Session had a slightly more satisfactory turn-out than the previous one. Let's see if we can make a big effort to get a good crowd this Friday for the last in our series of 50th anniversary sessions. We will be two men down, so we really need to make an extra effort. If you can't make it this week then remember that you are welcome any Friday from 8:15pm at The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol, BS16 9NG. Barring Christmas Day, very deep snow, tempest or a rare double-booking of the room, we will be there. Watch this blog or our Facebook page for such information.

Rising from the heat of The Ashes

Cootamundra Wattle

Last week's session was as hot and sweaty as a dingo's armpit except we didn't have a dingo, just Gerty who took great pleasure in sitting on Mike's notebook as he tried to write down the songs we sang. There was also the competition with the band in the bar, which I think we won.

The only theme I discerned during the evening was Australia, introduced by Rachel, and one can only assume, relating to the ongoing Ashes series, in which England seems to be doing well. Rachel's contributions were from the collecting of A L Lloyd: Wallaby Stew and The Shearer's Dream. Tom added Cootamundra Wattle and Rose came in with Diamantina Drover.

Thursday was Maggie's birthday, so we all sang Happy Birthday.

I woke up on a May morning...

The Bristol Shantymen
including our own Mike and occasional visitor, John

I don't think there was an official theme this week, but quite a few people had at least one offering relating to May. Mike opened the evening with Hal an Tow.

Hal-an-tow

Jolly-rum-ba-low

We were up

long before the day-o

To welcome in the summer

To welcome in the May-O

Summer is a coming in

and winter's gone away