Issue 65

rhythm and booze Railroving in Birmingham The Region’s Biggest Gig Listings

Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook plays Stamford Corn Exchange on 4 March

Live Satellite Sports Live Entertainment ‘Cheesy Tuesday’ Cheese sharing nights

Sat 5th March - Revolver Sun 6th March - Tommy Philpot Sat 12th March - Citizen Smith Sun 13th March - Carpark Rendezvous Sun 20th March - Simmo’s birthday bash Sat 26th March - Dirty Rumour Sun 27th March - Porky Pig Sat 2nd April - The One Eyed Cats Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011 & 2014 CAMRA Gold award

Sun 3rd April - Dave Smith solo acoustic Sat 9th April - Another Girl, Another Planet Sun 10th April - TBC Fri 15th April - Mighty Mouth Karaoke Sat 16th April - Division Sun 17th April - TBC Sat 23rd April - Last Minute Brigade Sun 24th April - TBC Sat 30th April - Candy Twist

Peterborough Civic Award 2017 for Community Involvement

2013 & 2016

Celebrating 10 consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide Werrington Centre, Staniland Way, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6NA

Al Murray comes to The Cresset on 27 April.

The 43rd Peterborough Beer Festival (pborobeerfest. camra.org.uk) returns to the Embankment on 23-27 August, though the future of the site remains in question as the delivery of the “masterplan” for the area, which could include a new stadium for Peterborough United FC – in addition to the under-construction university buildings – is due in the Spring.

The same site will be the venue for a major music event over the weekend of 11-12 June with performances from Manic Street Preachers, Simply Red and Lisa The local Camra branch has awarded its City Pub of the Year Award to the Ostrich in North Street for its range of well-kept ales and regular live entertainment. The ‘Town

POTY’ was awarded to the Kings Head in Stamford, while the ‘Rural’ award went to the Goat at Frognall near Deeping St James. Tributes have been paid to Alex Kean, head brewer at Oakham Ales who died suddenly in late December. Local drinkers have also been mourning the loss of former Camra Chairman David Murray who died in December after a long illness.

Formed in 1992, Peterborough Jazz Club which held regular events at the Great Northern Hotel until 2018, has been forced to disband having not been able to put on an event for two years. Whittlesey’s annual Straw Bear Festival was a cancelled due to the pandemic, but will return in 2023 on the weekend of 13-15 January. In an attempt to relaunch the pub as

a community hub, the Three Horseshoes in Yaxley now features a monthly over 60s lunch club with music and a quiz – landlady Karen Perks has also launched a monthly “Veteran’s Day” to offer former customers of the closed Lancaster Club a new place to meet.

The Cresset in Bretton, has emerged from the pandemic with an impressive programme of comedy events planned for the spring including Ed Gamble (Mar 24), Sarah Millican (2-3 April), Omid Djalili (8 April), Reginal D Hunter (13 April), Jimmy Carr (14 April), Jason Manford (20 April) and Al Murray (27 April).

Stuart Johnson, landlord at the Golden Pheasant at Etton, has been refused permission for his two event marquees despite them having stood on the same

The Old Ship, Pointon

(Contin spot for over 20 years. One letter of complaint had been received from a neighbour citing excessive noise and cars parked on the road, and the city planning dept decreed that the marquees must go as they were no longer temporary and risked “harming the setting of the listed building.”

The family of Steve Shreeve who ran the Rose & Crown at Thorney for 25 years, but died last year, has announced that the pub will be sold to Michael Sly and family, with Dave Heron running the day-to-day operation of the business. It is planned that the pub will run as-is for the next few months, but will then close for a 12–18-month period while it will be transformed and return as a new pub.

The Masons Arms in Bourne reopened in early January after a year of closure. The pool table, as does the Sky Sports, and the decor has been refreshed – live music will feature each weekend, though we had no details as we went to press. The new landlord is Richard Gutteridge, partner of Sabrina Iredale who recently reopened the Five Bells at nearby Edenham. She has since

The Packhorse, Northborough

relinquished the tenancy at the Cock Inn at Werrington, which is now in the hands of Kelly Wallace and her partner Ash Inkpen, who have moved over from Great Yarmouth and previously ran the Wheatsheaf in Swineshead, near Boston.

They’ve refurbished the kitchen and are resuming regular live music at weekends, with Jake Clarke – a recent contestant on ITV’s Starstruck – playing on 4 March, and an Elvis tribute also planned for March. Star Pubs is still looking for a tenant for the Packhorse at Northborough – interested parties are asked to contact the recruitment team on 08085 949596 or visit starpubs. co.uk

The Old Ship at Pointon has resumed monthly quizzes on the second Wednesday of the month, and open mic. nights on the third Thursday. The Old Town Hall in Bourne is to be the venue for a summer comic convention which could feature guest appearances on Sunday 3 July – see facebook. com/groups/bournecomiccon for details.

The Queens Head at Bulwick has been sold to Orton’s Hospitality of Leicester – they’ll be introducing a new menu under executive chef Andrew Greasley who enjoyed a TV appearance on MasterChef: The Professionals. The pub was due to open for wet sales only in mid-February, with a full opening in March.

A group of Rutland’s pub/ restaurants including the Olive Branch at Clipsham, The Wheatsheaf at Greetham and the Kings Arms at Wing, have come together to launch the “Lunch for Even Less” scheme during the early part of 2022. Another beer festival returning after a two-year break is the Rutland Camra Beer Festival, back in its usual venue at the Rutland County Museum in Oakham on 23-26 June (11am-

8pm) – details at rutlandcamra. org.uk The Coach House Inn at South Luffenham has been recognized for the quality of its beer by gaining membership to the Timothy Taylor Champions’ Club – the regular Timothy Taylor Landlord beer is usually complemented with Electric Landlady from Ketton’s Baker’s Dozen Brewery along with a Grainstore ale and other local guest brews.

The Thirsty Giraffe micropub in Deeping St James is now fully open, from 3pm Wednesday-Saturday, and 12 -6pm on Sundays. A beer festival is planned for 5 March.

The Iron Horse in Market Deeping will be hosting an Easter Beer Festival (16-17 April) featuring live bands throughout (tickets £7.50). In Stamford, Willoughby’s night club, reopened in late December after

Golden Pheasant, Etton

a two-year closure. The owners have taken the opportunity to update and improve the interior with new lighting and improved ventilation. The Six Bells at Witham-on-the Hill has resumed weekly “Auberge” nights on Mondays, and the front dining room is available to hire as a private space. The pub is also

currently recruiting for full and part-time staff.

The White Hart at Ufford has been bought by a consortium of locals. No major changes are planned for now.

In Grantham, the awardwinning Beerheadz in Watergate has been threatened with closure due to the effects of

The Lord Harrowby

Grantham CAMRA Pub of the Year 2022 Quality Real Ales including Brewster’s Hophead and FOUR constantly changing guest beers from just £3.40 Changing selection of canned and bottled Craft Ales

BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL June 3-5 featuring The System and Cruel Sister Regular live music – see listings, Monthly Quiz (last Thursday of the month), Home cooked Roast Sunday Lunches served in a Yorkshire Pudding (vegetarian option available) – Booking recommended, Pool Table, Darts and Crib played, Discounted beer for Camra members

Open from 4pm Mon-Fri, 2pm Saturday and 12.30pm Sunday 65 Dudley Rd, Grantham NG31 9AB thelordharrowby@gmail.com Tel 01476 563515

the pandemic, but the response of regulars has forced a rethink and the pub will remain open on a Thursday-Saturday basis, with fortnightly quiz nights, and free-to-rent rooms available for functions. Grantham Camra have awarded their Pub of The Year to Katrina and Nigel at the Lord Harrowby for the consistency of their range of real ales – Hophead, from the local Brewster’s Brewery is the

Festival, the event will combine artworks, street theatre, live music, food stalls and light projections. Also in Sleaford, Watergate Yard now offers a sushi takeaway service. Named Suimon Sushi, the food features a

by Philippine chef Geera Kappes. The 8 Sail Brewery at Heckington has increased capacity with the installation of a new 7BBL brewing kit to keep up with demand and

there are usually four guest ales Katrina’s son Warren plus and a range of British and overseas craft ales from the fridge. He’s planning a beer and music festival for 3-5 June and an Oktoberfest for the autumn. They’ve also reintroduced Sunday roasts, served in a Yorkshire Pudding.

Still in Grantham, the Blue Pig has applied to provide live music indoors between 7pm and 11pm Friday-Monday, with a late licence throughout the week. A one-day folk festival is planned for the town for 19 March with local acts playing throughout the day. The Welcome Back Folk Festival kicks off with Malt Whiskers, performing in the Market Place. Parties interested in supporting the proposed Sleafest event, also planned for 19 March have been requested to contact the management at events@hub-sleaford.org.uk Now renamed the RiverLight

brewing techniques and styles. A beer festival is planned at the site over the Easter weekend (14-18 April) with 20+ beers and guest brews from North Yorkshire. The campaign to save the 300-yearold Red Lion at Hathern, voted AA Pub of the Year as recently as 2011, has reached well over £100,000 in its quest to raise to raise £350k in order to buy the pub which was closed in 2017 and has been subject to planning applications for conversion to housing – details at savetheredlionhathern.com JD Wetherspoon’s Moon Under Water in Boston is featuring a rooftop terrace, storey conservatory. The town to become a city as part of a competition celebrating the Queen’s platinum jubilee. The owners of the Mermaid Inn asked to prove that their business cannot be made can develop the site into

Sunday roasts at the Lord Harrowby

councillors have come out in support of retaining the pub, which was put on the market for £725k, attracting a number of

bids, but none over £500k. The deferral may allow time for an The Crown in Holbeach has been bought by local woman at the pub along with bar manager Sam Richardson, and plans to reintroduce live music and quiz nights. Cask ales will be sourced from local brewers.

Further to the list in issue 64 of pubs still remaining closed after the Covid crisis, I can add the following: Black Swan and the Ship Albion in Spalding, the Little Peacock in Boston, the Whichcote Arms at Osbournby near Sleaford and Ebeneezers in Wooodston, Peterborough Pubs no more Readers of a certain age will remember the legendary Still pub in Peterborough’s city centre, and that it morphed into the Old Still under Greene King and then a burger restaurant before closing completely in early 2020. Adam Howitt, part of the original Handmade Burger Company team is now CEO of Aspirational Brands which plans to reopen the site, which still resembles the original pub, as a new burger restaurant in the spring. Peterborough’s Lightbox Café Bar closed permanently in late January due to the effects of the pandemic. Closed since 2020, the Old Plough at Braunston near Oakham, has failed to gain Asset of Community Value status, likely to succumb to a change of use application to convert it to a four-bedroom house. Planning permission has been sought to convert the closed Arms apartments.

Chris Shilling

Pub Scrawl

Back in December, Sandy Waldrop had his Christmas short story repeated on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, and Scott Coe was featured in a Look East report for his charity work with Diaspora Arts. In January, Si Fox heard that one of his poems (previously broadcast by Radio Cambridgeshire) is to be archived by the British Library.

King’s Lynn Fiction Festival intends to go ahead, 11-13 March, with a top line up of authors taking part. These include Peter Benson, Lois de Bernieres, Robert Edric, Rachel Hore, Gerald Jacobs, Alison Moore, John Lucas, Cathy O’Shaughnessy, DJ Taylor, Jemma Wayne and James Wilson. To be held at the Town Hal, tickets for each session are £10 (or £40 for all weekend) though there is a student concession of £1 per event (£5 for the weekend). Go to lynnlitfests.com for details.

The Deepings Literary Festival (27 April to 1 May) has announced some of its guest speakers and they include Clara Barley (Thursday 28); Christina James, Milly Johnson, John Marrs, Jack Land Noble and Pam Rhodes (Friday 29); Louise Candlish, Jane E James, William Shaw and Neil Spring (Saturday 30); Vaseem Khan and Francis Pryor (Sunday 1). Full details and tickets from the Stamford Arts Centre (01780 763203, stamfordarstscentre.com).

This year is the tenth of the Stamford Poet Laureate competition. Go to the Stamford Arts Centre website for full details and shine your shoes

The Arts Centre (01780 763203,

stamfordarstscentre.com) hosts the regular (last Wednesday of the month) Pint of Poetry evening; and they are looking to restart the monthly Poetry Stanza (talk and/or workshop).

There’s also usually one Saturday of the month (depending on

haranguing the shoppers at the Poetry Stone in the old St Michael’s churchyard on the corner of High Street and Maiden Lane. All this is down to the continuing hard work of Karen Burrows.

Grantham’s poetry open mic has now moved to the Chequers at 25 Market Place.

There has been a new poetry/ storytelling open mic at the John Clare Cottage in Helpston that has been running on the third Thursday of the month, space is limited so contact the cottage (01733 253330, clarecottage.org) to get a ticket.

There is an intention to have an evening celebrating the life and work of local poet (and much more) Ron Graves at the Drapers Arms in Cowgate, Peterborough on Sunday 6 March. It will feature an open mic, invited guests and a collection to raise money for the Oncology Unit at Peterborough City Hospital.

Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre (01780 766455, stamfordcornexchange.co.uk) is hosting a series of talks with the Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen on Wednesday 9 March, while Mark “Billy” Billingham will be talking about his life in the SAS and as a bodyguard to the stars on Saturday 12 March.

In Oundle, on Friday 11 March,

the Stahl Theatre (stahltheatre. savoysystems.co.uk) presents Tonderai Munyevu’s show Mugabe, My Dad and Me that draws upon his Zimbabwean heritage to mix music, storytelling and demagoguery.

Also at Stamford Arts Centre, Rowan Rheingans will be presenting her Dispatches on the Red Dress show, combining folk music and spoken word, on Thursday 17 March.

We at Rhythm and Booze are excited by the prospect of Bookfair (planned for September – more details to come) and the organisers have an event coming up on Friday 18 March at Metal (Chauffeurs Cottage, behind the Town Hall). Writer and performer Paul Case will be presenting their anarchist history Dead White Anarchists.

All being well after its recent troubles, Ray Mears is to give a talk at the Key Theatre (01733 207239, cityculturepeterborough. org.uk/key-theatre) on Friday 8 April. Then TV comedy writing legends Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran will be talking about their lives and careers there on Wednesday 4 May. At the Cresset (01733 265705, cresset.co.uk), Steve Backshall will be presenting Ocean on Sat 7 May. As well as being an extra in Mark Grist’s music video Parents’ Evening BBC Radio Cambridgeshire for a Remembrance Sunday poem, Cardinal Cox also had a video Lone Animator of his poem The Night Land.

The Strugglers Inn 83 Westgate Lincoln LN1 3BG

been served in the pub at some time or another.

There’s also an abundance of paraphernalia including witches

01522 535023 as I’m an infrequent visitor, I strugglers-lincoln.co.uk Facebook: thestrugglersinn This delightful pub stands at the top of the city’s famous “Steep Hill” close to the walls of the castle. It consists of two small rooms, both bursting with character and artefacts.

The bar to the left features

had to introduce myself, and along with the local banter. Anna pubs) so there’s no shortage of conversation. She’s been at the pub for 14 years, and in the trade for many years, formerly in charge at the iconic Cornhill Vaults, located beneath the Corn Exchange in the city centre until closure in 2002, and then the White Horse (Nellie’s) in “Strugg’s Ditty” appears on To the right, the snug features

above, outlining the current beer range, and a vast collection of pump clips adorning the walls and ceiling. According to the equally characterful (and friendly) landlady, Anna, all the beers have

inset with chess boards, which see regular use along with other Both rooms are dog-friendly,

and regular attendees Monty and Duchess were making themselves comfortable by the sized outdoor terrace which can accommodate the live bands, and offers a pleasant sheltered spot in which to catch the sun, with

my visit the guest beers came Welbeck and Roosters at prices

name came about due to the close proximity to the local gallows, in the days when prisoners were led struggling to meet their fate (and were

Craft keg is not available, though Pub from owner, Heineken, in “too many Camra awards to

at the old pubs? “No, remember these ARE the good old days,” she quipped cheerily as we Chris Shilling The Strugglers Inn is open from 12-11pm every day – live music features on Saturdays and Sundays – see Facebook for updates.

It’s England’s second city, and one could easily spend a week discovering Birmingham’s best pubs, so for the purposes of this feature, we concentrated our efforts on the area around the principal railway station (New Street) and northwards into the city centre. There’s a direct service from Peterborough with CrossCountry Trains, with a journey time of around 1 hour 40 minutes, and a day return fare around £21 with a railcard.

Taking the Stephenson Street exit out of the vast station complex, you’ll immediately be faced with the entrance to the Burlington Hotel, below which is the Bacchus Bar – one of many Nicholson’s (part of the M&B Group) pubs in the area. This one is rather special though – a striking cathedrallike combination of main bar and individual side rooms with varying themes and ornate decoration. Open from 10am,

a selection of ales are available including the “house” Nicholson Pale Ale (from St Austell), Purity Ubu, and Doom Bar plus others from the Marston’s stable, and the impressive setting is ideal for a unique dining experience.

To the left of the station exit, at the junction with Lower Temple is the Shakespeare – another Nicholson’s outlet, with an impressive mosaic style tiled entrance featuring the M&B logo.

A promising start, but the pub

The Bull

Bacchus

Head of Steam – 3 litres of Chimay, a “snip” at £86.

itself seemed a little tired, though there’s still original ceramic tiling on the walls, and an interesting collection of old railway photos including several views of the original New Street station, the loss of which in favour of the current concrete monstrosity is still mourned by some locals.

Beer range is similar to that in the Bacchus, though a guest from Brew York was a welcome extra choice.

Moving up Temple Street, we’d heard varying reports about the Head of Steam, but were keen to try it for ourselves, and we weren’t disappointed.

A large pub in the chain now owned by Cameron’s with more vintage railway photos and a good selection of constantly changing ales (two from the Anarchy Brewery plus one each from Burnt Mill and Shiny), with two from Titanic due to come on along with one each from Vocation and Stourbridge-based Green Duck, at prices from £3.90 to £4.70. The pub also features a healthy variety of bottled beers including Belgian Abbey and Trappist varieties ranging in strength up to 11%.

Manager Mark Reilly was pleased to offer us a 3-litre bottle of

Chimay, but the £86 price tag was a little beyond us. Food is served 12-9pm.

Back onto New Street, you’ll need to look carefully for the unassuming entrance to the but it’s well worth it – the small subterranean bar is run by beer enthusiasts, so expect your beer in excellent condition, even if the surroundings are a little basic.

The pub is open all day from 12 noon, and features eight cask ales at prices from £3.70-£4.60, including one from the local Hobsons and Kinver breweries, plus guests from the likes of Pitchfork, Fernandes, Oakham and Blue Monkey, and at least eight real ciders. As with the Head of Steam there’s also a vast selection of bottled beers from around the globe. In nearby Waterloo Street, , the chain to open, and features several beers from the Purity Brewery plus three guests and a dozen or so craft kegs plus bottles. Food is served all day until 10pm (5pm Sundays).

Moving up Bennett’s Hill, we bypassed Wetherspoon’s Briar Rose and the Cosy Club (originally the HQ for the

Birmingham Banking Company) to get the .

Something of a legend among beer drinkers, this fantastic pub features an incredible 27 hand pulls including seven upstairs, and focuses purely on the beer, with no food available, though customers are permitted to bring their own. There’s a weekly quiz, monthly cheese night, regular folk music, beer festivals and a jazz festival in the summer.

Open from 10am, the friendly and knowledgeable staff serve beers from the Black Country range, plus other Midlands-based breweries and others from across the country. Prices are from £3.75 to £4.60, but during the happy hours between 10am and 1pm selected beers are priced from £2.85. Keep an eye out for the two pub cats, named appropriately Malt and Hops.

Taking the rear exit from the pub, you’re immediately into the – a beautiful Fuller’s Ale & Pie House, once a library then a bank, featuring a lovely ornate ceiling with domed skylight and a functioning theatre upstairs. The theatre operates daily between Wednesday and Saturday, and there’s a dedicated bar alongside where you can

Indian Brewery

The Old Contemptibles

warm up with a couple of jars before enjoying the delights of Shell Suit Cher or bingo with Tina T’urner Tea Lady.

From here, with tummies rumbling, we headed towards the undistinguished Snow Hill Station, a shadow of its former glory as the Great Western Railway’s Birmingham showpiece, alongside the entrance to which can be found the Indian Brewery, a restaurant since 2017 with a couple of cask beers usually available alongside a very tasty selection of Indian food. The beer was average at best, and we avoided the heavily plugged Birmingham Lager but if you need something to quench the spices, the Wolf craft beer bar beyond the railway arches on Constitution Hill offers around 14 chilled craft beers from around the world in an industrial setting. to Bath Street, in the area known as the Gun Quarter, The Shakespeare

the Gunmakers Arms is the home to the Two Towers Brewery, and offers an insight into a traditional Birmingham back street local. Open from 1pm there’s a minimum of two beers from the brewhouse out back, and a guest beer (from Milestone when we visited) at just £3.40 a pint. Just around the corner in Price Street, the Bull is one of the city’s oldest and best known boozers. Landlord Nigel Barker is known for his time at Oakham Ales’ famous Bartons Arms in nearby Aston, now he concentrates his efforts here along with other local favourites such as the Post the Woodman and the White Swan. His love of hoppy citrusy beers is still evident so expect to see Oakham Citra, Old Hooky and couple of guests including a dark brew. The listed building still features individual rooms, a collection of old photographs, a friendly welcome, and perhaps surprisingly eleven letting rooms.

Moving on back towards the to the Old Contemptibles on Edmund Street – a glorious Edwardian corner pub housed ceilings, and beers from the

Nicholson’s list such as Black Sheep, St Austell, Purity Ubu and guests such as Taylor’s Landlord and Fuller’s London Pride.

There’s live music and a summer beer festival, and food is served until 10pm. If time permits the Good Intent, housed in the Great Western Arcade is a must.

This is described as the UK’s

by Craddock’s Brewery, open all day from 12 noon and offering three house beers along with guests in a delightful setting. Our Colmore on Colmore Row – a collaboration between Thornbridge Brewery and Pivovar – renowned for their station Tap bars. Here you will of course be able to sample the wonderful Jaipur, along with Lord Marples plus three other Thornbridge brews and a couple of guests. Another new addition to the city pub scene, the pub is one of many nowadays to be housed in a former bank (Lloyds) and also features a range of Pivovar’s craft keg ales.

From here, New Street station minutes, leaving us to ponder a return visit where we’ll have chance to sample the delights of Digbeth and the Jewellery Quarter. Chris Shilling

Key 1. Bacchus Bar 2. Shakespeare 3. Head of Steam 5. Pure Craft Bar & Kitchen 6. Briar Rose 12

11

10. Indian Brewery 12. Gunmakers Arms 15.Good Intent

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9 8 16 5

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4 2

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the rhythm section Holly Humberstone

uploaded her music to the BBC Introducing platform.

Invited to record a session for BBC Radio Lincolnshire, she signed a management deal following her appearance on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2019. Nominated for the Ivor Novello Rising Star Award, and runner up in the BBC Sound of 2021, Holly supported Lewis Capaldi at Wembley Arena and has performed on Later...

With Jools Holland, The Late Late Show With James Corden, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Inspired by the likes of

Damien Rice, Ben Howard and Phoebe Bridgers, Holly’s debut EP, Falling Asleep at the Wheel, was described by the NME as “a deeply affecting collection of songs”. About to Chris Ingham

go on tour of the United States, then Olivia Rodrigo, Holly will be headlining at Academy 2, Manchester on 5 June, and 02 Forum, Kentish Town on 6 June,

Photographs: (Chris Ingham) Peter Davies, (Glenn Tilbrook) Rob O’Connor

A Grantham-born singer/ songwriter has been named Rising Star at this year’s Brit Awards. Former Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School pupil Holly Humberstone (hollyhumberstone.com)

Glenn Tilbrook

and supports George Ezra at Finsbury Park on 17 July.

Squeeze co-founder Glenn Tilbrook (glenntilbrook. com) brings his spring solo acoustic tour to Stamford Corn Exchange (01780 766455, stamfordcornexchange.co.uk) on 4 March and the New Theatre Royal Lincoln (01522 519999, newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk) on 16 March.

The Chris Ingham Trio bring The Jazz of Dudley Moore to The Old Town Hall, Bourne (bournetownhall.org.uk) on 2 Malt Whiskers

April. A heartfelt tribute to the comic actor’s dazzlingly fertile musicianship, all proceeds go towards the Bourne Town Hall Trust renovation project.

Sleaford Live Festival, a promotion of live music and performance arts in the Sleaford area, returns to the town from 29 April until 8 May. For further details and the full line-up, go to facebook.com/sleafordlivefestival The Welcome Back Folk Festival takes place in Grantham Market Place on Saturday 19 March from 11am. Opening with

Newark-based Malt Whiskers, the free event also features the Rambling Yellowbellies at 1.40pm, Pennyless at 3.40pm, and iTunes Country Music Album Chart-topper Sandy McLelland who closes the show with a set from 7pm. There will also be performances from Pendragon Circus and the Bourne Borderers mixed border morris dance team, as well as food, drink and market stalls. For further information and the full line-up, go to southkesteven.gov.uk/ index.aspx?articleid=15675 The Peterborough & South Lincs Folk Diary carries details of folk events that are taking place “south of Lincoln, north of Cambridge, east of Uppingham to the sea.” In operation for more than 20 years, the diary is maintained by Pete Shaw who also hosts the Hare & Hounds, Haconby’s popular Tunes sessions on the third Monday of to peterboroughfolkdiary.org.uk

COSY COUNTRY PUB AND RESTAURANT IN THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF CASTLE BYTHAM

Regular Live Music Monthly Pub Quiz (3rd Tuesday) See Facebook/listings in this issue All Major Sporting Events Shown ‘Castle Pantry’ open from 12-5pm daily Sunday Lunch Served 12-3pm March 17th – St Patrick’s Day – Irish themed menu 19th March – Live music – Daytona 27th March – Mother’s Day – free gift for the most mature mum April 17th Easter Sunday Lunch with gifts for the kids

High St, Castle Bytham, Stamford NG33 4RZ The Castle Inn, Castle Bytham T: 01780 411223

thirstygiraffedeeping

LISTINGS

01 March Poetry, Chequers, Grantham Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Unplugged session (6-9pm), Hub, Sleaford Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale Bingo (8pm), Blue Bell, Werrington

02 March Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Doggy Coffee Morning (10am), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Acoustic sessions (7.30pm), Old Copper Kettle Tea Rooms, Crowland Spalding Folk Club (7.45pm), South Holland Centre, Spalding Big Fun Quiz, Grainstore, Oakham Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 03 March Open Mic, Old Ship, Pointon Embrace LGBTQ Night (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Voodoo Unplugged, Mama Liz’s, Stamford Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 04 March Glen Tilbrook, Stamford Corn Exchange Thank Funk it’s Friday (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Lizzy on the Loose (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough House of Queerio (8pm), Charters, Peterborough Northern Soul, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey First Fridays Singaround (8pm), Hare & Hounds, Haconby Loose Rocket, Nag’s Head, Bourne Another Girl, Another Planet, Blue Bell, Werrington 05 March Rob Johnson (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Midlife Krisis, Nobody Inn, Grantham JD King’s Elvis the Legend, Stamford Corn Exchange The Equals/The Foundations/Zoot Money, Gliderdrome, Boston

Filthy Contact, S Bar, Stilton Velocity (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Movie Night: King Richard (7pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Circa 73 (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Deps (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Stevie B, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Revolver, Ploughman, Werrington Blackout UK, London Inn, Stamford Diaz Brothers + Incisions + Zero Again + Ice Cream Headache, Mama Liz’s, Stamford BRM, Blue Bell, Werrington Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 06 March Sunday Bingo (12.15pm), Peterborough Con Club John Hardy (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Side2sideSka, Edwards, Grantham

Priors Oven

Follow us on M bluebellpe4 6 The Green, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6RU 01733 573261

Open Mic Night (6-11pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Mark Stevens (4.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Jazz Underground (12pm), Pembroke Tenneson (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Tommy Philpot, Ploughman, Werrington Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale 07 March Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Collyweston Singaround/Folk Club (8pm), Slater’s Arms, Collyweston Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 08 March Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Psychic Night, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale Open Mic (8pm), Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night, Blue Bell, Werrington 09 March Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Acoustic Session (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey Open Mic Night (7.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Quiz, Old Ship, Pointon Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 10 March Ostracised: Closed Circuit + Vulgarithm + Prima Volta (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Captain Backwash and the Barley Boy and Girl Rafter Raisers (8.30pm) Hand and Heart, , Peterborough Open Mic (8pm) Crown Inn, Crowland Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 11 March Disco Funk Fever (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough The Kurmujun (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Prime Cuts (8pm), Charters, Peterborough Live Spanish guitarist (in the restaurant), Kick Back, Blue Bell, Werrington Outlaw Eagles, Parkway Club, Peterborough 12 March Dave Lesley (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club

CJ Hatt (8pm), Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor All Killer, No Filler, Nobody Inn, Grantham One Eyed Cats, Bell, Deeping St James The Money Shot (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Craft Fair (10am-3pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough No Gods No Managers: Goldblume + Scumbus + Manic (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Mola Mola Jambalaya (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Abba tribute band, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Citizen Smith, Ploughman, Werrington DJ, London Inn, Stamford Selectah Sounds, Mama Liz’s, Stamford Six Nations: Italy v Scotland (2.15pm), Six Nations: England v Ireland (4.45pm), The Mighty & the High, Blue Bell, Werrington Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 13 March Claire L Shaw (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Statis Quo, Edwards, Grantham Pennyless (4-6pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Head in The Sand Folk Session (1-4pm), Richard Hall (4.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Alex Eardley-Scott (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Carpark Rendezvous, Ploughman, Werrington Open Mic, Grainstore, Oakham Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale 14 March Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 15 March Open Mic (8pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Folk evening, Montagu Arms, Barnwell Quiz, Castle, Castle Bytham Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 16 March Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 17 March Captain Backwash and the Barley Boy Rafter Raisers (3.30pm), Yard of Ale, Woodston

Open Mic, Nobody Inn, Grantham Originals Acoustic Night: 3 Acts (8.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough St Patrick’s Day themed menu, Castle, Castle Bytham Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James

The Moochers

18 March The Moochers, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Casino Royale Night with Teddi the Drag Queen, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Quiz Night (7pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Everything Urban (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Kickback (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough 19 March Neil Janes (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Outside Chance, Nobody Inn, Grantham Welcome Back Folk Festival, Market Place, Grantham, Pennyless (8pm), Five Horseshoes, Barholm Hereward’s Exile: An Evening Remembering Hereward (7.30pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Opaque (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Under the Covers (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Mister J, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey DJ, London Inn, Stamford Daytona, Castle, Castle Bytham Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 20 March Sunday Bingo (12.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Lee Robertshaw (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial NightFuel, Edwards, Grantham Soulful Strut DJ Session (2-6pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Andy Hughes (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Simmo’s birthday bash, Ploughman, Werrington Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale 21 March Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Haconby Hare Tune Session (7.30pm), Hare & Hounds, Haconby Collyweston Singaround/Folk Club (8pm), Slater’s

Arms, Collyweston Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 22 March Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 23 March Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Acoustic Session (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey Quiz, Old Ship, Pointon Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Stamford Arts Centre Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 24 March Palmy Ukulele Band Rehearsal (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Lawrence’s Singaround/Playaround/Sayaround (7.30pm), Red Lion, West Deeping Open mic (8pm), Blue Boar, Eye Funhouse Comedy, Grainstore, Oakham Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 25 March Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (7.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Karaoke Night (8pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping

Clarksdale Contract (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Vinyl Night (8pm), Charters, Peterborough Cuttin’ Loose, Nag’s Head, Bourne 26 March Budgie (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club CJ Hatt, S Bar, Stilton Miscellaneous (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Highway Star, Moorhen, Hampton The Sensational 70s and 80s – PURE DISCO (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Velocity (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Expletives (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Dizzy Miss Lizzys, Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Dirty Rumour, Ploughman, Werrington Under the Covers, London Inn, Stamford Bodygroovin Spring Break (DJ), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Extones, Grainstore, Oakham Georgina Lily, Lord Harrowby, Grantham Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 27 March CJ Hatt (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Mother’s Day Brunch, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Board Game Café (10am-3pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Joe Drury (4.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Tom Wright (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Porky Pig, Ploughman, Werrington Mother’s Day Lunch inc Abi Acoustic, Grainstore, Oakham Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale Mother’s Day lunch, Castle, Castle Bytham

31 March Made in the Vatican + Support (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 01 April Scary Clown Presents: Greg Rekus + Tim Holehouse (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Dishonour the Crown + Far from Refuge + Buried by my Heartache + Black Atlas, Mama Liz’s, Stamford 02 April Toccata (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Velocity, Bell, Deeping St James Three Phase (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping The Jazz of Dudley Moore – Chris Ingham Trio (7pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne The 707 (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Clarksdale Contract (10pm), Charters, Peterborough The One Eyed Cats, Ploughman, Werrington Money Shots, London Inn, Stamford Miscellaneous, Nag’s Head, Bourne Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington

28 March Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale

03 April Sunday Bingo (12.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Jess Orestano (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Palmy Ukulele Band (4.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Jazz Underground (12pm), Chloe & Tom (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Dave Smith solo acoustic, Ploughman, Werrington Epigone Jazz Ensemble (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale

29 March Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale

04 April Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale

30 March Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Comedy Night (Tickets £10), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington

05 April Poetry, Chequers, Grantham Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Unplugged session (6-9pm), Hub, Sleaford Mark Thomas, Stamford Corn Exchange

Barholm, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RA • 01778 560238

A Welcoming Traditional Ale House

Open from 4pm week days, 1pm Saturday and 12pm Sundays

Six Real Ales with three on rotation • Three Draught Ciders • Three Lagers Three Craft Ales • Fine Wine & Spirits • Large Beer Garden • Heated Marquee

Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 06 April Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Doggy Coffee Morning (10am), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Belvedere + Wolfrik + All Fall Down, Mama Liz’s, Stamford Big Fun Quiz, Grainstore, Oakham Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 07 April Open Mic, Old Ship, Pointon Comedy Night (Tickets only, 8pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Embrace LGBTQ Night (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 08 April Everything Urban (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough The Runaways (9pm), Ostrich, Peterborough 09 April Nicky (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Depps, S Bar, Stilton Heathen (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Car Park Rendezvous (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Candy Twist (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Another Girl, Another Planet, Ploughman, Werrington Smoke ‘n’ Mirrors, London Inn, Stamford Graham Travis, Lord Harrowby, Grantham Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 10 April Flying Solo (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Head in the Sand Folk Session (1-4pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Meg McPartlin (3pm), Charters, Peterborough TBC, Ploughman, Werrington Open Mic, Grainstore, Oakham Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale

11 April Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Scary Clown Presents: Misfortune Cookie + Midwich Cuckoos (7.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Gretchen Peters, Stamford Corn Exchange Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 12 April Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Quiz, Castle, Castle Bytham Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale Open Mic (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 13 April Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Acoustic Session (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey Open Mic Night (7.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Quiz, Old Ship, Pointon Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 14 April Ostracised: 3 Bands (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 15 April Highway Star, Ostrich, Peterborough L’Aristo’s Revival (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Black Dog Murphy (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Easter Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington Morning Glory, Nag’s Head, Bourne 16 April Jimmy James (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Easter Festival Tickets: James White & The Wild Fire (1pm), Lizzie on the Loose (3.30pm), Double Barrell Reggae and Ska (6pm), Top Banana Band (8.30pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough The Mighty & The High (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Groove Cartell (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Division, Ploughman, Werrington Hold the Tone, Golden Fleece, Stamford

Los Cojones, Castle, Castle Bytham Atlantics, Grainstore, Oakham Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 17 April Nik Powers (12.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Stevie Jones (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial The Moochers (ticket only £10), Lord Harrowby, Grantham Easter Festival: Christian Smith (1pm), Jessie’s Ghost (3pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Soulful Strut DJ Session (2-6pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Division (3pm), Charters, Peterborough TBC, Ploughman, Werrington Easter Sunday lunch, Castle, Castle Bytham Leannan (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford CJ Hatt (3pm), Houndogs (9pm), Grainstore, Oakham Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale Moochers (ticket only £10), Lord Harrowby, Grantham Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 19 April Open Mic (8pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 20 April Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 21 April Open Mic, Nobody Inn, Grantham Originals Acoustic Night: 3 Performers (8.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington Silent Pub Quiz (7pm), Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James 22 April XXX11 - 2012 Band (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Stephen Tanner & the Runaways, Mama Liz’s, Stamford 23 April Ellen Roy (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club

BHDC, S Bar, Stilton Movie Night (7pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough SuperUnknown (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough The Mighty & the High (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Tina Live, Stamford Corn Exchange Last Minute Brigade, Ploughman, Werrington DJ, London Inn, Stamford Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 24 April Sunday Bingo (12.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Lauren April (5pm), Geese & Fountain, Croxton Kerrial Uncovered Takeover (2pm), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Board Game Café (10am-3pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne David James Smith (4.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Mark Stevens (3pm), Charters, Peterborough TBC, Ploughman, Werrington Colin’s Quiz (7pm), Bull, Rippingale 25 April Quiz (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Dance Class with Becky (7.30pm), Bull, Rippingale 26 April Pub Quiz, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Poker (8pm), Bull, Rippingale 27 April Bingo (8.15pm), Peterborough Con Club Acoustic Session (8pm), Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey Comedy Night (Tickets £10), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Quiz, Old Ship, Pointon Pub Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington 28 April The Peterborough Big Band (8pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Palmy Ukulele Band Rehearsal (8pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Funhouse Comedy, Grainstore, Oakham Knit Inn, Frothblowers, Werrington

Peterborough CAMRA City Pub of the Year 2022

Five constantly changing real ales including gluten free and vegan

Live Music Every Weekend - See listings and our website

17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA (Just off Westgate)

“Ostrich Inn Peterborough” ostrichinnpeterborough.com

ABV 3.9%

29 April Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (7.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Deeping Literary Festival Author Signing (see website for information), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Groove Cartel (8pm, tickets £5), Iron Horse, Market Deeping Viva,Verse and Vino! (7.30pm), The Old Town Hall, Bourne The Expletives (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Vinyl Night (8pm), Charters, Peterborough The Collective + Comprehend + Under Rated + DOTHS, Mama Liz’s, Stamford George Dee (8pm), The Legion, Sleaford 30 April Laurie Haley (8.30pm), Peterborough Con Club Deeping Literary Festival Author Signing,, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Let There B/DC (8pm, tickets £5), Iron Horse, Market Deeping The Get Down with DJ Eddie Nash (9.30pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Ramshackle Serenade (9.30pm), Ostrich, Peterborough Generation 5pan (10pm), Charters, Peterborough Candy Twist, Ploughman, Werrington Radius 45, London Inn, Stamford Celebration of Unplugged (1pm), Between the Lines (8pm) , Solo Bar, Sleaford The Spangles (8pm), The Legion, Sleaford Picture Quiz, Frothblowers, Werrington Beer Festivals 03-06 March Zoo Master Birthday Ale Festival, Thirsty Giraffe, Deeping St James - At least 16 real ales available 17-19 March Booze on the Ouse Beer & Cider Festival, Priory Centre, St Neots 26 March Helpston Beerfest (2pm-late), Helpston Village Hall - Eight local ales from four different breweries.

Other drinks available. Hot dog stall. Open mic..

14-18 April Easter Beer & Cider Festival, Charters,

Peterborough - 20+ real ales, 15+ ciders and 35+ gin 14-18 April Easter Beer Festival, 8 Sail Brewery, Heckington - 20+ beers with guests from North Yorkshire.

Craftfest 2022, Grainstore, Oakham - Over 20 craft lagers on tap and hand pull, and 50 gins, with live music and great food served all weekend.

19-21 May Rail Ale - Over 350 Real Ales + Craft Keg + Ciders +Gin Palace + Prosecco/Wine bar. Live Music and train rides.

03-05 June Beer & Music Festival, Lord Harrowby, Grantham - featuring the System and Cruel Sister 23-26 June Rutland Camra Beer Festival, Rutland County Museum, Oakham 23-27 August 43rd Peterborough Beer Festival

Rhythm & Booze, Issue 65 March/April 2022

All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler All events are listed free of charge. To ensure inclusion in the May/June 2022 issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 8 April.

Entry cannot be guaranteed for late submissions.

For advertising queries, contact Chris Shilling on 07736 635916 or by email to chris@shillingmedia.co.uk Advertising Rates (excluding VAT)* £200 - full page (cover) £160 - full page £100 - half page £60 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings Thank you to Wally Barnes, David Brown, Cardinal Pete Cox, Billy Walker, Steve Williams, Mick Slaughter, Karyn Kennedy, Tony Shilling, Wayne Cocker, Graham Coombs, Jocky Martin and ‘Suss’ Cornish for their help in compiling this issue.

Henry Parker New Day Baptist Chapel, Morton, Lincolnshire, 10 November It was third time lucky for promoter Richard Wells as Henry Parker drove down from West Yorkshire to present an intimate selection of his wellcrafted songs and instrumentals to an appreciative audience.

Switching from acoustic to electric guitar to vary the framework to best suit the mood of each piece, Henry showed his dexterity as a musician that had me checking that he wasn’t somehow playing both at once.

Henry showcased material from his Silent Spring album (2019) and his recent Lammas Fair, both showing his skill as a songwriter as well as arrangements of traditional songs such as Sylvie and Death and the Lady. While Henry is very much his own man, he shows an affection for 1960s folk icons such as Bert Jansch together with some magic rhythmic arrangements as found in the early work of the Incredible String Band.

His instrumental Blackthorn to close the show Henry played Willie O Winsbury, a well-known traditional tune that Richard Thompson borrowed as the backing for his song Farewell Farewell, that graced the ground breaking Fairport Convention LP Liege and Lief.

Henry is a star in his ascension – catch him when you can.

Around Britain in 80 Days

By Richard Digance, Independent (available via Amazon), paperback, £9.99 The ever-entertaining Richard Digance has spent most of his adult years travelling around the UK playing venues from small village halls to large theatres, festivals and corporate gigs. On many occasions it was just him with his guitar and in the late 1960s his vehicle for touring/ accommodation purposes was a H-reg VW camper.

More recently, with time on his hands, he decided to make a nostalgic tour of coastal UK just for the fun of it. Meticulously researched to take him and the

camper as close to the coast as possible using A and B-roads – not one mile of motorway was sampled on the trip.

Starting and ending in Southampton, his anticlockwise travels in “VW” took him north to Scotland and isles, the northwest coast resorts, driving round Wales and taking his time in the West Country.

Although Richard has played at various venues in our region, the nearest he gets on this epic journey is when he turns from Norfolk (where he memorably overtook a Ford that was going even slower than his camper) into Lincolnshire and then turned again heading for Skeggy.

His camper behaved itself well, requiring just one new tyre on the way and occasional top-ups of oil, though it is interesting to compare the fuel costs now and then.

David Brown

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