Burns Night 2018

Robert Burns

Yes, last Friday was our annual Burns Night session. Almost all of the songs sung had a Scottish connection. I won't nit pick over the ones which were tenuous because they were few.

Some even had a Robert Burns connection though Mike informed us that opinion is turning to the position he has long believed, that Burns was more of a collector and editor than a songwriter. Therefore I will not note here the Burns connections of any particular songs, and I'll leave it to the reader to work out which were by him, which were rewritten or augmented by him, and which were simply collected.

First the usual announcement. There was discussion about a theme for this Friday's session. Colin suggested the rugby, and Geoff said he would be marking the anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly. That gave Simon some ideas which he didn't share. So as usual, take these suggestions if you like or come and share something totally different with us. And if you don't wish to perform, it's fine to be an audience too.

A quorum was reached

Before I start the report of last week's Dragon Folk Club session it is important to mention that this Friday, 26 January, will be our annual Burns Night session. I can't promise you haggis, pipes nor even a sgain dubh but there will no doubt be a good helping of Scottish songs, some of which may even have connections with Rabbie himself.

I would like to thank Colin for providing a report on last week's session though a problem with my computer means I am writing this without direct access to it. Never mind, I have already created the playlist of songs and I think I remember most of the content.

Not as it might seem

Thomas Kyll's pamphlet,
published 10 days after Turpin's execution,
provides an eye-witness account of the trial

We were slightly down on numbers last week but there was a good evening of song in store last Friday at The Dragon Folk Club.

There will be no theme this week (19 January) but next Friday (26 January) will be our Burn's Night session (only one day late). I'm afraid there will be no haggis and probably no pipes unless you bring your own (I know some would say that's a relief) but there will no doubt be some Scottish songs, some of which may have some connection to the man himself.

Back then to last Friday. Colin was MC and there was no theme. Colin started things off with Stanley Accrington's Sicknote: The Reply. I haven't found a recording or even the words but you may want to be reminded of Pat Cooksey's The Sicknote to which it is a reply.

Derek started off his evening with Clyde's Water (Roud 91, Child 216) and Simon followed that with Bruce Springsteen's Factory.

Happy New Year - 2018

Jacques Brel, 1963

Six wasn't a bad turn-out for the first Dragon Folk Club session of 2018. Everyone sang and there was a reasonable number of seasonal songs, whether that was New Year, Twelfth Night or the sequence of the year. Next week's session (12 January) will be without a theme but be ready later in the month for 26 January which is our nearest session to Burns Night.

Back to last Friday, Colin was MC and he started us off with Bob Zentz's At The End Of Another Year.

Mike's first contribution was Richard Thompson's We'll Sing Hallelujah (at the turning of the year).

Terry C made his first appearance at the club for a while and very welcome it was too. He said he didn't have any seasonal songs but Brown Photographs (John Meeks, Colin Radcliffe) certainly acknowledged the passing of time.

Derek took us to Orkney for A New Year's Carol (Roud 4584). Simon was afraid of stepping on toes with one of his two appropriate songs, but sang it anyway and Mike said he had had no intention of singing Dave Goulder's January Man.

Last of 2017

Eurasian Wren with hatchlings

Last week's session on 22 December turned out to be the last of the year. Those present decided to allow the club to have a week off this Friday and return on 5 January 2018 to start the year.

Unfortunately we closed the year with a disappointing turn-out of three. We might have left without singing a song since four is usually considered a quorum except that Colin was expecting a newcomer to turn up but that didn't happen.

So, we carried on regardless and sang a total of twelve songs each! Derek, who had been absent for the previous week's Christmas theme, brought forward some songs on that theme and some for Boxing Day (the hunting of the wren). Cleverly he eked these out by singing one, The Cherry Tree Carol (Roud 453, Child 54) in two parts on different rounds, and splitting two songs which he usually sings together: The Wren (Roud 19109) and The Boys Of Barr Na Sráide (Sigerson Clifford).

Important notice - no session on 29 December 2017

There will no Dragon Folk Club session on Friday 29 December. We will be back on 5 January at The Bridge The Bridge Inn, Shortwood, Bristol BS16 9NG from 8:15 pm. Be thereto join us in welcoming 2018.

Christmas 2017

The Nativity, from a 14th-century Missal

Thank you to everyone who turned up last Friday and made our Christmas session a great success. The numbers at the bottom of this article speak for themselves. With festive preparations and professional panics weighing heavy I can only skim the surface of the festivities. Not only did we have lots of fun singing songs of yule and not-so-yule but we enjoyed a well-deserved half time buffet, with thanks to all those present for their edible donations.

Geoff gets the award for man of the match, bringing half his family with him; I hope they enjoyed themselves and may even grace us with their presence in the future, and perhaps even sing us a song or tell us a story. My ringing, and emailing and texting brought forth fruit in the presence of Chris, Roger and Phil, Tom, Steve G and Keith G (no relation as far as I know). We were also joined for the second time by visitors to the area from Yorkshire, Malcolm and his lady, whose name I'm afraid I didn't catch. We couldn't have asked for much better.