St David's Day Update

Newport Transporter Bridge

As I said in a previous post, I wasn't able to be at the session on St David's Day. Now, thanks to Richard, I have a very comprehensive report of what happened.

Mike was astonished that Lesley turned up for her own patron saint's day, unlike the last two years (Mike would claim several). Lesley sang two Welsh songs and Richard sang a self-penned parody (in Welsh) of one of them, Ar lan y môr, which dispels the mystery of the original.

Several songs had Welsh themes, including coal-mining.

St David's Day - good news from Ray

I have to admit I wasn't at the session on Friday so the report is a bit thin this week. I was laid low by some lurgy and I hope to be well enough to be back in action by next Friday.

It was Saint David's Day and the theme was St David and all things Welsh. The best news though was that Ray got out of hospital on Friday afternoon and by that evening he was playing at the club - that's dedication (thanks to Derek for that piece of news).

I haven't heard yet whether there is a theme next week but I'll let you know if I find out anything.

Kevin - Profile

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Kevin has been coming along to the Dragon Folk Club since about 2010 but his association with Mike and Maggie goes back much further than that! He is a singer and guitarist, playing mostly contemporary material such as Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell and Eric Bogle, but he also occasionally plays some traditional songs.

Kevin visited the Troubadour Club in Clifton in his 20s and was hooked. He learnt a lot from the players and singers there and became heavily involved with folk clubs, particularly at Iron Acton and Chipping Sodbury. He has worked as a pub singer and has played in a church worship band. He plays at sessions, festivals and clubs anywhere!

You can find Kevin on YouTube:

• Hiring Fair
• Dreams of Love
• On the Shelf
• Until the Real Thing Comes Along
• Battlefield Tree with Carole Sunter

As part of a tidy-up this profile entry has been moved to archive status. Kevin attended a Dragon Folk Club session in  2013. He may have come along since then, but certainly not for a few years. We very much hope to see him again.

22 February

Tonight's session was enjoyable and thankfully uneventful after last week's shambles. Not that the shambles was the folk club's fault. While the number of people present was relatively small, the music kept coming. Notably, Derek sang the Dowy Dens of Yarrow, which is noted in his profile as the song which introduced him to British folk music.

Maggie announced that there will be a special event on 12th April in aid of BUST, the Southmead Breast Care Unit Support Trust. There is a special blog article about it, so please have a look there.

Next week is St David's day, so Welsh themed songs seem appropriate, though don't worry too much if you can't stick to the theme.

12th April 2013 - Charity Night for Breast Cancer

Starring John Alderslade

Supported by a group from the Bristol Shantymen
MC: Kevin Adams

This is advance warning of a special club night in aid of BUST, the Southmead Hospital Breast Care Unit Support Trust. Money raised will go towards equipment for the Breast Care Centre.

Please join us for what should be an excellent night and help us raise money for a worthwhile cause.

There will be an opportunity for floor singers.

John Alderslade

Songs, stories and jokes. Lots of choruses and chances for audience participation

The Bristol Shantymen 

A popular and well known group performing sea songs and shanties (three of its members will be performing at this event)

Derek - Profile

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Derek has been coming along to the Dragon Folk Club since about 2010. He specialises in unaccompanied traditional British folk songs and ballads.

He was brought up in the 1960s when folk song (of a sort) was being played as pop. In time he moved on to such artists as Woody Guthrie and Sarah Ogan Gunning. Then one day he heard a recording of Willie Scott singing the Dowy Dens of Yarrow. At that, Derek gave up Americana and has spent the last 40 years studying and singing British folk songs.

As part of a tidy-up this profile entry has been moved to archive status. Derek attended a Dragon Folk Club session in  May 2025. We very much hope to see him again.

Mike - Profile

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Mike has been coming along to the Dragon Folk Club for "many, many years", since it was held at The Lamb in Iron Acton. He is a fine unaccompanied singer.

Mike has a long history with music, not just folk music. He sang with Dave Marshall and Amanda as the "Terrible Two and Amanda", and also with the "Westerleigh Wailers" who performed many times at folk clubs and festivals.

He is now with the Bristol Shantymen and has appeared with them at folk clubs and festivals all over the country. The group is still going strong although only four original members are still involved: Mike, John Shaw, Dave Byrne and "Pru". Mike has sung with the shantymen on many sea-going vessels and at shanty festivals in Poland, Liverpool, Whitby, Bristol, and Cardiff, among others.

Mike is MC at Maggie's Dragon Folk Club. He has also successfully MCed at other folk clubs and at festivals.

Since this profile was written the role of MC at the Dragon Folk Club has been shared between various club members.

Unfortunately Mike is now deceased.