Harvest 2026

(Photo: Simon Meeds)

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session had a Harvest theme, and was also associated with European Folk Day, with is today as I write (23rd September). This provided a secondary theme of Europe. Just a reminder for anyone who thinks this is political... Europe is a geographical continent. Our next session, this Friday (25th September) will also be so associated in case you can think of anything appropriate, but there is no official theme.

We managed some songs on a harvest theme and also some with European connotations.

Indeed Colin, from the MC's chair, started us off with an entirely European version of Everybody loves Saturday night.

Simon attempted to go for harvest with Country life (roud 1752) and Rob moved into Europe, specifically France, with Adieu les filles (*), a folk song from the Morvan region to the West of Dijon.

Bob went upbeat if not actually cheerful with My girl Josephine (Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew) and Sue invoked the Love of the common people (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins).

It was great to see and hear Ray again and he completed the first rotation with My rifle, my pony and me (* Dimitri Tiomkin, Paul Francis Webster).

Other songs new last week to the Dragon database were:

• Rob - Me and my uncle (* John Phillips)
• Ray - Words - (* Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb)
• Rob - Christmas card from a hooker in Minneapolis (* Tom Waits)
• Ray - Sit down (* Jim Glennie, Larry Gott, Tim Booth, Gavan Whelan)
• Bob - Blues leave me alone (* James Lane)
• Ray - The air that I breathe (*  Albert Hammond, Mike Hazelwood)

There was one song not found on YouTube and therefore not in the linked playlist and this was sung by Colin: All the good things (Bonny Sartin) which is a version of the more easily found All the good times (Bob Pegg).

Sue finished off the evening in a very positive mood with Don't worry, be happy (* Bobby McFerrin). 

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

(Number of people present - 6 of whom 6 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 (#).

May (Ahem), Saturday, Billy Purvis and ferrets

Billy Purvis
"as clown at his Victoria Theatre"

We had a slightly better turnout this week than last with Steve G and Alan K both making appearances. We are still concerned however about the low numbers we are getting at Dragon Folk Club Sessions. Maggie and Mike can run sessions with only a few people (it is after all a point of legend that Colin broke the record for the number of songs sung at a club night when he was the only person to turn up one week) but it is more fun with a decent crowd. More people generally means more variety and just generally a better social atmosphere. If the numbers turning up don't increase there is a risk that the club will close.

The main way you can help is by coming along to our sessions but there are some other more minor ways, and the first is to read a recent item of blog news if you haven't already. If you have any ideas of how you can help get more bums on seats then please let us know, or just do it!

Thank you. Now to the report proper...