Halloween 2023

Stanton Drew stone circle and church
(Photo: Simon Meeds)

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.

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.

A brief run-down of the first rotation gives us:

• Chris - The lark in the clear air (roud 24791 - Sir Samuel Ferguson)
• Roger - Woad (roud 24978 - William Hope-Jones)
• John - Satan, your kingdom must come down (roud 5737)
• Colin - The devil's nine questions (roud 161, child 1) - a version of Riddles wisely expounded
• Paul - Sweet William's ghost (roud 50, child 77)
• Denny - The wizard of Alderley Edge (Pete Coe)
• Simon - The souling song (roud 304)

Songs new to the Dragon database, but not necessarily to the club were:

• John - Into the mystic (Van Morrison)
• John - Where the streets have no name (Bono, U2)
• Colin - The cockroach that ate Cincinatti (Doug Drill)
• Colin - Farmer's curst wife (roud 160) - an American version of The devil and the farmer's wife

Simon finished the evening with the challenging sing-along which is The burning times (Charlie Murphy).

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

(Number of people present - 7 of whom 7 performed)

Down but not out

Our outgoing landlady, Helen

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session marked a recent low-point in attendance, but for good reason. We were hit by other musical events taking place, not least the dying embers of the Sidmouth Folk Festival. It's worth noting also that it was the last week at The Bridge for Helen our friendly landlady of the last seven years.

We're not quite sure what happens next for the club. Please come along this Friday to show your support, but be prepared that things may not be business as usual. Let's just hope we can continue as normal, but if not then service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Back to last week, the singing was started by our MC Colin with Lamorna (roud 16636). Apparently the song, on the face of it about a village in Cornwall, was originally about a Manchester pleasure ground called Pomona Gardens.

Next came John with Leon Payne's Lost Highway, made famous by Hank Williams.

Simon asked Where have all the flowers gone? The first three verses were written by Pete Seeger before Joe Hickerson added another two verses which brought it back round to verse one.

And so, very quickly this week, the first rotation was complete.

John threw himself into the second rotation with a new song for the Dragon database, though as usual not necessarily for the club, Satan, your kingdom must come down (roud 5737). John also provided the next addition to the database with Bob Dylan's It takes a lot to laugh, it takes a train to cry.

Simon sang My grandfather's ferret, written by Derek Jolly. It was pointed out correctly that Jolly's song used the tune from My grandfather's clock, a song written by Henry Clay Work. Was it coincidence or clever design that had Colin later singing Ring the bell, watchman: a song thought to have been written by that very same Mr Work. This latter song was also an addition to the Dragon database.

Other new songs for the database last week were:

• Colin - El Salvador (Johnny Duhan)
• Colin - Bold Sir Rylas (roud 29, child 18)

Simon finished off the session with Jackson C Frank's Blues run the game.

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

(Number of people present - 3 of whom 3 performed)