Around Kent Folk issue 100 for August / September 2020

o u nd r a

ke nt folk Issue 100 August / September 2020

Your FREE Guide to Folk Events in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond

Celebrating 100 issues Surrey

Kent

Sussex

Folk clubs, festivals, gigs, news, reviews, and much more Published by Tenterden Folk Festival, Charity No 1038663 Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

Welcome to issue 100 of Around Kent Folk, the independent folk magazine for Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond, which is now published six times a year by Tentrden Folk Festival, edited by me with the invaluable assistance of Andy Wood from Anmar Printing Services.

As most of our readers know, the first 84 issues of AKF were very successfully managed and edited by Kathy and Bob Drage. Bob sadly passed away on Sunday 10th December 2017 at Pilgrims Hospice in Thanet, aged 67. We were all shocked exactly a week later, on Sunday 17th December, to hear that Kathy had also died alone at home. Bob and Kathy had been together since they were teenagers and had seldom, if ever, been apart. We think Kathy died of a broken heart.

Bob and Kathy were active members of the folk scene in Kent since moving to Westgate in the mid 1970s. They ran various well known and successful folk clubs in Broadstairs, Sandwich and Medway. At one point they had four clubs running at once! They had also been involved in organising festivals and running sing-a-rounds all over Kent. I do not remember when I first met Bob and Kathy but it was well over 30 years ago, but I knew them best through their involvement as active committee members with Tenterden Folk Festival for around 20 years. During the festival they would always be found on the door at the Saddlery at the White Lion, or in the Barn at the Woolpack and were prominent figures when shaking collecting buckets during the procession. We still miss them as the folk scene in Kent, and Tenterden Folk Festival in particular, is just not be the same without them.

It is a shame that we are celebrating the 100th issue of AKF at a time when our distribution of printed copies of AKF is so badly affected by the Corona virus pandemic which has unfortunately closed all the folk clubs, concert venues, theatres, libraries, etc. We normally print and distribute about 800 copies of AKF across Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond. At present we are only sending printed copies to around 200 subscribers, agents, promoters, etc but I’m more than happy to report that nearly 500 people looked a issue 99 of AKF online at https://issuu.com/tenterdenfolkfestival/docs or via www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk.

This at least means that people are keeping in touch with the local folk scene and all the adverts in AKF are still getting seen by nearly the same number of people as usual. We may even gain some new regular readers online.

What happens next? Well by the time you read this, pubs will have started to officially reopen but only with one metre social distancing, table service, a limited number of customers and still no live music. Whether all the pubs that previously hosted live folk music will eventually reopen or if there will be some casualties along the way, we will have to wait to see. At the time of writing there is still no indication of when theatres, other music venues and festivals will be able to start operating again or what long term restrictions they may face when they do. With the average age demographic of the folk audience, especially the folk club audience, we do not know when they will start to feel safe gathering in pubs and other venues and using the other necessary facilities while they are there. There is also still a possibility of further outbreaks of the virus over the autumn and winter. Let’s hope the vaccine is not long coming. I am of the opinion that it will now be some time next year before we see the folk scene starting to get back to something like normal and we can all start going to folk clubs, concerts, theatres and festivals.

Alan Castle (Editor) Editors notes: Save BBC Radio Kent folk show with Doug Welch petition can be found at http://chng.it/D6CGDzvty5 Travellers Rest at Kemsing hopes to reopen September or October Contact Sheila Finn 01689 825263 sheilafinn@hotmail.co.uk

What’s On, Folks...

Sue Duff edited KASEbook for 50 issues until the April/May 1987 issue. At that time I was running a folk club in Gravesend and had a one year old daughter and was a self-employed sign-writer. No-one came forward to replace Sue and I felt it was too much to take on so I contacted around 10 local clubs and suggested they each supply their 2 months programme and I would collate and distribute them. Issue no.1 of What’s On, Folks...was 6 double sided sheets of A4, printed at a youth training scheme and stapled in one corner.

Circulation was to a few clubs and some publicity outlets.

Issue number 2 was a folded version as more clubs were interested in being involved and so it needed to be more compact for posting. It was put together by me using a typewriter, paintbrush and Letraset on non-advert pages. Club members helped with distribution to where they lived or worked. The rest went by post. Front covers were designed by contributors, the print students or myself.

From around the 8th issue I instigated an annual subscription so not only was I posting loads of parcels but a stack of individual ones as well.

Issue no 48 (April/May 1995) saw a big change. Andy Wood, who printed Folk in Kent (and now AKF too) took over the printing when the youth training scheme could no longer do it.

Adverts were reduced from a page to half a page. It was much more professional looking and following editions contained full/half/ and quarter pages.

In issue no 92 (August/September 2002) I announced that I intended to retire as editor but would continue till issue no 100. Kathy Drage contacted me and said she and Bob would like to take over. I suggested a new name would be preferable. I had found that beginning with W put the mag at the bottom of lists in other publications so suggested picking something beginning with A, like Around Kent Folk. It needed someone who could give the time and energy to find more advertisers and someone much more in the know. Kathy and Bob fitted the bill perfectly and a new magazine was born and the final issue of What’s On, Folks... was distributed at the end of 2003.

I got to meet some lovely people during the time I ran the magazine, a few who I still bump into.

Julia Winn

Tenterden Folk song and music sessions IN NORMAL TIMES AT The William Caxton West Cross, Tenterden TN30 6JR The second Tuesday of every month 8.00 for 8.30 p.m.

Free, sing-a-round style folk club Floor singers, musicians storytellers, step dancers, etc. always welcome InformaƟon: E: info@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk W: www.tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk T: 01233 626805 Tenterden Folk Club has been running consistently since 1993 Tenterden Folk Club is part of Tenterden Folk FesƟval (Charity No 1038663) PromoƟng folk song, music and dance

Singdanceandplay We’re all missing our regular events and our friends. We’re particularly missing: x lastt Sunday of the month Castle Inn,, Brenchley song and tune sessions with guests x lively mainly En nglish tunes sessions at the Gun,, Brenchley x popular workshops for tunes players x twice--yearly barndancess We’re greatly looking forward to normal life resuming. Until then, we’re running weekly online Sunday night song and tune sessions from 7.30 to 9.30pm, focused as usual on the trad, the old fashioned and the entertaining.

To join us, go to Singdanceandplay.net and sign up to receive our emails.

T N E K RADIO W

O H S K L FO Sunday 9 - 10 pm Presented byprecautions Doug Welch Due to Covid-19 you may96.7 have noticed Kent Folk is mw (west)that104.2 (east) not presently being broadcast by BBC Radio Kent.

Live show featuring guest performers to the continuing andDue artists appearing inprecautions Kent venues. in place I now understand that Kent Folk will not be on the air for the Send info to: kentfolk@bbc.co.uk immediate future. It may return in 03452021.

9811 111

Thank you for all your Radio Kent Folksupport Show and for listening to Great the show!

The HallPlease keep in touch via the BBC Radio Kent Folk Mount Pleasant Road Facebook page. Kent DougTN1 Welch Tunbridge Wells, 1QQ

WANTED

LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs

Folk, Blues, reggae, jazz and rock Collections or smaller items, best prices paid Ring Collin 07860 354 135

Scene & Heard • Well, despite the many restrictions we have all found ways of keeping folk alive over the past couple of months. Thank goodness for Dungeness B and the wind-farms... in fact there are meetings pretty well every night of 20-30 singers on Zoom – necessarily by invitation, although Zoom security has been updated regularly.

• Deal, the Drum and Faversham were hot off the mark on their Fridays, Thursdays and Wednesdays; I’ve yet to coincide with Dartford, but Lewes and Travelling Folk are also active. What is particularly pleasant and delightful is the range of singers who are able to be present, from the far North to Cornwall and all stations in between. Lovely to hear Sylvia Watts, for example, in the same session as Charlie Quinnell! Gavin Atkin’s session on Sundays also has gathered momentum and ends traditionally with Nelly Dean, all participants unmuted at varying latencies... very like a 9-pint evening!

• Many Kent musicians have been posting on the Covideo site, which I must confess I find hard to keep up with... if there’s someone like Jeff Gillett on there I’ll have a listen, however there’s just so much daily and the sound quality is generally difficult because of the tight compression. It’s a useful pointer to artists whose other work you’d like to hear in concert when such luxuries resume.

• Groups meeting in open spaces or barns etc to play music seem to be permissible; check the news daily!

As yet I haven’t heard of a relaxation for song; hymns still not ok for churches. Quite why, when certain huge pub chains are open sans masks etc is another question; however I think most of us are erring on the side of caution.

• Podcasts are another route: as long as there are few people and at whatever is the current social distance in the studio. Steve Moreham and I whizzed down to Rosslyn Court in Cliftonville to record one, thanks to Morag and Chris, part of a planned series worth checking out. It’s now available on YouTube: external internet and technical issues gave Matt the Geek a headache but most of the concert was captured, for which many thanks. I gather that Laura Marling had 27 technicians for hers, that must have been some living room!

• Otherwise, it’s been a dim collection of Festival Cancelled notices, even those which hung on in the hope of Nov/Dec. We shall see where this relaxation leads us pretty soon, and for the foreseeable future it’ll be refining the available media. No excuse now not to look up those tuition vids- Gavin Atkin has used the time to record a new collection Rest You Here, available from bandcamp... an example to all those of us who, tangled in wires and incompatible electronics go and sit in a deckchair... I’ve mostly been catching up with songwriters whose output I’ve admired over the years like Anna Shannon, Anne Lister and Miles Wootton... there’s just so much good stuff out there...

• Check out Sally Ironmonger & Brian Carter’s love song... and also the new material which John & Di |Cullen are playing- both masterclasses in accompanying songs with guitar... I must lose that plectrum...

• Keep safe and well everyone and look forward to seeing you soon, virtually and virtuously!

• I guess most people by now will have heard of the BBC decision to axe its local Folk broadcasts across the country. There is a petition to sign on Facebook, which is one way of supporting the mighty Doug Welch whose dulcet tones have done so much to keep folk and acoustic music alive over the years. It’s vital we have some channel which supports local acts of quality who make the scene go round. I think most of the professionals recognise that without the support and goodwill of organisers and audiences which Doug’s publicity enhances their way would be tougher. And he’s such a nice chap to chat to!

Bob Kenward

Congratulations Around Kent Folk on your 100th edition There is Folk music in Margate!

We are looking forward to opening again for regular concerts of live traditional music and instrument /voice/dance workshops.

In the meantime, look out for live streaming - alternate Wednesdays from here www.facebook.com/sweynroad Donate to the performers via Facebook/Rosslyn Court or RosslynCourt.com.

Please don’t forget there’s a raffle

in normal times

Tenterden Folk Festival E: info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk W: www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Tenterden Folk Day Trust Registered charity No. 1038663 Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

Hon Patrons Shirley Collins MBE Jacqui McShee Member of; Tenterden & District Chamber of Commerce, Association of Festival Organisers, Affiliated to; The English Folk Dance & Song Society.

Supported, sponsored and partly funded by; Tenterden Town Council, Ashford Borough Council Kent County Council, and regional and local businesses and other organisations

2nd June 2020

Tenterden Folk Festival 2020 Postponed After lengthy discussions, and considering the latest government announcements, the Trustees and Festival Committee have reluctantly come to the decision that the 28th Tenterden Folk Festival, due to be held from 1st to 4th October 2020, should be postponed to 2021. In making this decision we have considered the age demographic of many of our festival guests, regular audience members and volunteers as well as our responsibilities as festival organisers to keep everyone safe at the Festival. Therefore the 28th Tenterden Folk Festival will take place from Thursday 30th September to Sunday 3rd October 2021.

We have delayed taking this very hard decision until now in the hope that the future position regarding the Coronavirus pandemic and the necessary restrictions and recommendations regarding public gatherings and meetings would become clearer. It now still seems unlikely to us that festival venues such as public houses, cafes and restaurants, hotels and other accommodation will be open as normal. We have also considered the position regarding travel to the festival for those coming from longer distances and particularly two guests coming from overseas and their position regarding flights and travel health insurance.

We have heard from several Morris sides that in their view the whole season is now a write off as they have not been able to meet to practise and that some of their members would not feel safe attending any large gatherings this year. Similar considerations also apply to the free events in the marquees where it may still not be safe for all the stallholders, exhibitors, Morris sides and performers to gather.

We also had to consider the financial implications of whatever decision we made. We have already incurred substantial costs including advertising, printing, hotel bookings for some guests and other costs and need to be able to avoid running up further costs in confirming bookings and paying for logistics such as marquees, stages, portable toilets, PA, etc. and then having to cancel the festival due to restrictions being still in place in October.

We are pleased that many of the guests booked for 2020 have already indicated that they are able to join us for 2021 instead.

We may try to arrange some smaller special events between now and next year. Look out for our future emails and tweets or check on our website for announcements in due course.

We will be contacting all guests, Morris sides, ticketholders, stallholders, suppliers, venues, funders and other supporters, etc. over the next couple of weeks.

We look forward to seeing you all as soon it is safe and possible to do so.

Yours sincerely

Alan Alan Castle BEM Trustee and Festival Director On behalf of the Trustees and Festival Committee

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2021

folk festival

f

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

Thursday 30th September

The Thursday Concert supported by AKF Town Hall, High Street, Tenterden 7.30 to 10.30 p.m. (Doors open at 7.00)

Very early bird tickets £10.00 until 31st December 2020 Check for details www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Jeff Warner and Scolds Bridle TICKET AVAILABLE FROM: Fes val director: Alan Castle Tenterden Folk Day Trust 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA E: info@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk T: 01233 626805 Or online www.musicglue.com/tenterdenfolkfesƟv al/Ɵckets/ Tenterden Folk Fes val Registered charity No. 1038663 Promo ng folk song, music, dance, cra s and tradi ons

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2021

folk festival

f

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald�

Thu 30th September to Sun 3rd October Folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions

The 28th Tenterden Folk Festival is postponed until 2021 Check for details www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Guests confirmed so far: Some still to be confirmed Bill Jones, Bob & Gill Berry, Brian Peters, Broomdasher, Dick Miles, Graeme & Heather Knights, Jeff Warner, Morrigan, Pete Castle, Peter & Barbara Snape, Scolds Bridle, Tom Patterson, The Tonic with Fee Lock, The Wilson Family More still to be confirmed Plus up to 50 Morris sides and dance display teams

Local and regular guests Bob Kenward, Chris Roche, Gavin & Julie Atkin, Jerry Crossley, John & Di Cullen, Malcolm Ward, Peter Collins, Roger Resch, Spare Parts, Sue Watson, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith, Vic Ellis one man band Free music stage & showcase guests Ashford Folk Band, Broomdasher, The Kukes, New Frontier, Nunhead Folk Circle, Open Water, Direction Corsairs, Yardarm Folk Orchestra More still to confirm

CONTACT INFORMATION: Festival director: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA E: alan@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Crafts & stalls: Margaret White, E: info@tenterdencraftfair.org.uk Chief steward: Sally Williamson E: chiefsteward@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Dance co-ordinator: Spud Jones E: dance@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

Tenterden Folk Festival Registered charity No. 1038663

Tenterden Folk Festival 2021 Thursday 30th September to Sunday 3rd October Ordered by: Information may be stored for the use of Tenterden Folk Festival only Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Name Address

Town Postcode

FULL WEEKEND TICKETS: Admits holder to all Festival events except Thursday evening concert and camping, which must be booked separately.

EARLY BIRD OFFERS: Buy before 31st December 2020: Full Weekend Adult £47.00 Youth 10 -16's £23.00 or Under 10’s £2.00 when bought with an adult ticket Caravan / Campervan £20.00 Tent £18.00 THURSDAY EVENING CONCERT: All tickets £10.00 before 31st December 2020

Telephone Email Date

Subsequent prices to be announced

Terms and conditions apply Where did you first hear about Tenterden Folk Festival Details of ticket holders (use extra sheet if insufficient room) First name Surname Adult / Under 16

Prices £

Total £

Total £ CAMPING Up to 4 nights from Vehicle No. Prices Total Thursday afternoon to Registration(s) £ £ Monday morning Caravan/Campervan Tents TOTAL PAYABLE £ HOW TO PAY (also available online from www.musicglue.com/tenterdenfolkfestival/tickets/ Make cheques payable to "Tenterden Folk Day Trust". Send cheque and details of the tickets you require, together with 2 x A5 stamped and addressed envelopes (for tickets and free programme) and a list of the full names of all ticket holders and age if 16 or under, to Tenterden Folk Festival, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA

A Tuesday Evening Out in Dartford

There was the YMCA at the top of West Hill. There was the Granada cinema with just the one screen or maybe you could pop along for a thrilling night at the Scala Bingo (later to become Flicks disco). If money was no problem, perhaps hop on the 96 bus to Bexleyheath and have a game of bowling. These were the ‘joys’ of growing up in and around Dartford in the early seventies. There was little else for us to do, especially those of us who sometimes still wore their embroidered Afghan coat and wide patchwork jeans … you know, the type that listened to records by Tom Paxton, Ralph McTell, Fairport Convention and the like.

However, if you happened to be arriving on a Tuesday evening at Dartford station on the 19:35 from Charing Cross, just outside, there was a small room, padlocked almost prisonlike behind black, iron gates. It was attached to a rather ‘dodgy’ looking pub. If you stood there and listened carefully, you could hear interesting melodies being played on acoustic guitars or banjos and voices happily singing in chorus. This place was the glamorously named, though far from glamorous, Railway Hotel. This was the place to listen to more of what we wanted to hear. Inside that small room at the side of the pub was found the Dartford Folk Club.

It was October 1973 and Alan and Pam Colls had moved a successful folk club, which they had started at the Running Horses in Erith, to a room in Dartford which years before had been used as a venue for folk music as well as jazz, blues and other genres. Apparently the Rolling Stones had played there in their infancy back in the early sixties. Anyway, nobody likes name-dropping but that is how DFC came to be.

The first 23 years of the DFC, beginning with an evening from Johnny Silvo and our resident group ‘The Folkbunch’, were spent at the Railway. Every Tuesday evening, without fail (Christmas and New Year’s Day excepted) a high quality artist from either the U.K. or abroad was booked and the audience grew. As a group we have often chatted about why the club has been such a success for so many years. Certainly the club has always afforded its audience a warming welcome, whether that be to our regular members, to visitors who just happen to ‘drop in’ or to any new faces. Alan and Pam had a genuine passion for music and insisted on only booking a variety of artists with the simple rule

that they must be of the highest musical quality. Whether the artist was well established in the folk world or an ‘up and coming’ youngster, Pam ensured that she booked the very best. They made sure that, wherever possible, one of the team had seen the prospective guests playing live. Alan provided excellent sound using a PA which he would always tell you was not to make the music louder but simply to balance the instruments and voices in order to provide the best experience for the audience. They also believed that music should be available to as many people as possible and so kept the admission price down to a minimum. Since the very beginning, the club has always run as a non-profit making organisation and that is still the case today. The whole team were, and still are, volunteers.

A real sense of community was formed, many club members would meet up at festivals and other events, lifetime friendships were formed, some even ending in marriage. Local musicians were encouraged as well as those from further afield. Much later, in 2013, Alan and Pam’s dedication was recognised by Dartford Council and they were presented with The Dartfordian award for services to music in the local community.

So for 23 years the club had been a success. One particular highlight was the night that Tom Paxton popped in, he was due to be playing at The Orchard Theatre and had heard about DFC so he came down to do a floor spot. We managed to find room for him! All was well. Then the new landlords arrived. They decided that folk music was not the image they wished to be associated with, they felt that a juke box would be more likely to increase their trade. They made it difficult for us to stay and eventually forced us to move on. Maybe they were right but the pub has since closed down and was demolished and DFC is still going strong!

If we couldn’t find a new venue the club would have to close but thanks to one of our regular members, who ‘sounded out’ the Dartford Working Men’s Club, we certainly ‘fell on our feet’. A beautiful room, great acoustics, plenty of space and a real stage! Add to that, friendly bar staff and fifteen plus real ales at club prices, it would be fair to say that although we had fallen in the fertilizer we had certainly come up smelling of flowers. We may have moved but the club kept to the same ideals and format that had worked so well at the old venue. The resident act kicks off the evening to be followed by a floor singer or two. The main guest then plays a set followed by a quick break and an opportunity to sample more of those aforementioned ales. The resident guest then starts the second ‘half’ which is followed by the ‘what’s happening locally’ notices and the world famous Dartford raffle. The main guest then finishes the evening with their second set and perhaps (well definitely) an encore. The only real change to the organisation of the club came when it was decided that, due to the fact so many people were going to festivals or going on holiday and in order to give local artists more of a showcase, we would not book guests during the month of August. Instead, we would have informal sing arounds with no entry fee. These have proved most popular and continue to this day. With Alan and Pam firmly at the helm the club continued to thrive and in 2008 at The Brewery, London it was awarded the BBC Radio 2 Folk Club of the Year, an honour of which we are really proud, particularly as this award was voted for by the artists themselves.

In 2015 sadly Pam Colls passed away. With her husband Alan they had now run the club for over forty years. In May 2019, due to his own health issues Alan decided to retire from the club (though he still came as an audience member whenever he felt well enough).

In May 2020 Alan passed away. The Dartford Folk Club continued to run as usual, with a small team of original members and regular volunteers keeping alive the ideals and standards that were set nearly fifty years ago. There have now been well over two thousand guest nights at DFC featuring over 700 different main artists. Over the years the guests who have appeared most frequently have been the late and

Continued Overleaf...

much missed Vin Garbutt, Wizz Jones, Martyn Wyndham-Read and of course Paul Downes and Phil Beer in many different guises . Once we have adapted to these unusual times and as soon as we are safely allowed to do so we will be back and look forward to welcoming both new faces and old. See you there!

To find out more about DFC, we have a wonderful web page full of information about the past, present and future of the club. This can be found at http://www.dartfordfolk.org.uk/. If you’d like to be kept informed of who will be appearing at DFC you can also subscribe to our newsletter at dartfordfolk@googlemail.com , simply write ADD in the subject line. Of course there will also be a full page advert in the excellent ‘Around Kent Folk’ … how’s that for creepy!

Dartford Folk Club BBC Radio 2 Best Folk Club of the year 2008 www.dartfordfolk.org.uk 01322 277218 hawleymkm@aol.com

FLOOR SINGERS WELCOME (PLEASE BOOK) RESIDENTS: DARTFORD RAMBLERS - ROB MITCHELL TRIO - IAN PETRIE

AUGUST SINGAROUNDS 04 Aug - 25 Aug Due to the current restrictions on social distancing and Government legislation on entertainment, we will NOT be hosting these sessions.

PRE-BOOKED GUESTS 1st Sept BROWN BOOTS / THE KIMBERLEYS (Rescheduled for Sept 2021) 8th Sept OKA VANGA (Rescheduled for March 2021) 15th Sept TANNAHILL WEAVERS 22nd Sept SHACKLETON TRIO 29 Sept BILLY MITCHELL & BOB FOX Please check our Website and Facebook pages for updates

To receive regular updates: Email (put ADD on subject line) dartfordfolk@googlemail.com

DARTFORD WORKING MENS CLUB Essex Road, DA1 2AU EVERY TUESDAY 8.30 TILL 11.00

CD Reviews Ballads and Yarns - Roly Witherow www.rolywitherowmusic.com This is a debut CD album from Roly Witherow who describes it as “progressive folk” and the new Folk Radio UK described it as “21st Century folk”. In actual fact the album includes some popular traditional songs including Lord Franklin, Row Bullies Row and Derry Goal, interspersed with some unusual spoken word poems and instrumental interludes. The arrangements of the traditional tracks are perhaps, in places, a bit unusual but are also treated with respect and would not be at all out of place in a local folk club. There seems to be numerous guest musicians and quite few instruments including drums, percussion, violins, viola, celli, Saxophones, etc, but the vocals are still clear and well balanced. I think the description progressive folk will put some people off, but it is actually well worth a listen. My only minor criticism is the lack of colour contrast in the design of the label and sleeve which my rather old eyes found very difficult to read! Ballads and Yarns was released on the 8th of May and is available from Roly’s website ad on Bandcamp.

Live at the Old Fruitmarket - Rura RURACD 003 www.rura.co.uk Rura are Steven Blake (pipes and keys), Jack Smedley (fiddle), Adam Brown (guitar) and David Foley (bodhran and flute), but on this album recorded live at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket, they are joined by special guests Adam Holmes, Findlay MacDonald, Ali Hutton, Chris Waite, James Lindsay, Seonaid Aitken, Megan Henderson, Patsy Reid and Alice Allen. There is no insert with the album but all you really need to know is the musicians and track listing which are included on the CD sleeve. The tracks include Catriona’s, The dark reel, In praise of home (with spoken words), I’ll never forget (with an introduction spoken in the words of Foley’s grandmother). The live show and the album finishes by revisiting Horizons Pt 1 and 2 from their previous album. If you were lucky enough to be at the live show and hear them at the Celtic Connections show this album will bring back memories and be a great souvenir, if not it is still good, lively, Scottish folk music.

Alan Castle (Editor) Find us online at www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk and on Twitter as @AroundKentFolk, where you can always find a link to the latest and past issues of AKF. Please pass this link on to your mailing lists and place it on your social media so that as many as possible of our regular readers can find AKF online until we are able to get back to a full print run and physical distribution of the printed magazine.

Stay well and take care in these difficult times

Mayflower Boatswain DEAR POLYANNA SOMETIMES THINK OF ME Words and music by Bob Watson

Mayflower Boatswain DEAR POLYANNA SOMETIMES THINK OF ME Words and music by Bob Watson Farewell and adieu now my dear Polyanna, From Harwich I’m bound on the first morning tide; When the Mayflower sails and takes leave of her moorings, A twelvemonth or more I’ll be gone from your side.

The Mayflower’s a fine ship, well founded and sturdy, And Christopher Jones is her master to be; For to guide her safe over the mighty Atlantic, There’s no son of Harwich more suited than he.

Chorus: Remember – well, my dear Polyanna, Your Mayflower sailorman out on the sea; When darkness falls down on the rooftops of Harwich, I pray you’ll recall and sometimes think of me.

Mr Jones has engaged me to sail as the boatswain, Great honour indeed for a young man like me; It’s mine to take care that the canvas and cordage, Stand up to the humours and winds of the sea.

I’ve sailed up to Greenland and down through the Biscay, To Hamburg and Holland and Drontheim I’ve been -But the mighty Atlantic’s outside of my learning, What perils await still remain to be seen.

Chorus Southampton I’m told’s where we meet with the Speedwell, Dutch pilgrims to carry, Virginia bound, To a new promised land that is laid there in waiting, Where milk and fine honey in plenty are found.

I fear that such notions might soon be confounded When dangers are many and comforts but few; The Atlantic’s more wide than the River of Jordan, And the waters won’t part for to let us pass through.

Chorus So come take my hand now, my sweet Polyanna, Our parting comes close, little time’s left in store; There’s words I’ve so often intended to tell you, That lacking in courage I’ve not said before.

If you’re so inclined let this ring that I offer Stand proof of the promise I’m making to you; That when I return, should the good Lord be willing, The bells of St Nicholas will chime for us two.

Chorus

Bob Watson 1986 9 Compton Close Earley READING RG6 7EA UK watson.bob@tiscali.co.uk

CD Reviews Tom Kitching - Seasons of Change (TCCD 2001) www.tomkitching.co.uk We are repeating this review in full as the gremlins crept into it in issue 99 and my apologies to Tom for mistyping his name! It really is a good album!

If you like fiddle music then this is the CD for you. The making of the CD by this one time BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards finalist was inspired by his recent 18 month busking tour of the UK and was supported by the EFDSS and Arts Council England. Tom plays fiddle and Mandolin and is joined by Marit Falt on Nordic Mandola and Citern and by Jude Rees on English Border Bagpipes. The tunes on the CD are a mix of traditional and more recently written tunes from Tom himself as well as Gavin Davenport, Nigel Eaton, Melanie Briggs and others. All are worth hearing. The traditional tunes include Old Molly Oxford, Grimstock / Greensleeves Morris, and Staines Morris / Trip to Paris.

Alan Castle (Editor)

Harwich International Shanty Festival A message from the organisers of Harwich International Shanty Festival Dear Artists, Performers, Friends, Supporters, Pirates, Craftspeople, Workshop Leaders, I know that many of you have been waiting for an announcement on plans for the 2020 Harwich International Shanty Festival. I also know that many of you are desperately keen to hear that we will be going ahead as usual. Not only those performers who earn their living from events such as ours, but also many who are looking for light at the end of what can seem like a long dark tunnel.

We have delayed our decision for as long as we felt able, in the hope that the worldwide Coronavirus situation might change sufficiently for us and many others to make concrete plans for the Autumn onwards. But we have reached the stage where we need to make a decision. The available time left is not now sufficient to allow us to confidently plan and deliver a Festival of our usual standard. The uncertainty still surrounding whether and how hospitality venues can operate, the possibility of a “Second Spike�, the increased danger of this virus to the portion of the population who form a large part of our audience; all these things make it impossible to be certain of running a Festival this year. In addition there is the vexed question of cash. We will be unable to secure grants and sponsorship for an event which might not be able to run and we cannot be sure of a sufficient audience to cover ticketed events.

And so, sadly we have come to the following conclusion: The 2020 Harwich International Shanty Festival, together with its planned emphasis on the 400th Anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower, will be deferred until 2021, in common with virtually all other Mayflower celebrations both in the UK and overseas. We would therefore like to invite all artists who were confirmed for 2020 to come instead in 2021

on the same terms and conditions. I can only apologise profusely that we find ourselves unable to run this year and hope that you will all understand that it really is out of our control. The dates for 2021 are 8-10th October and we really hope you can all make it. I would be very grateful if those interested in this re-run next year could let me know as soon as possible so that we know if there are gaps we may need to fill.

There is still however the possibility that we may yet hold a Festival this year. We are asking all local groups, any who can come to Harwich without the need for overnight accommodation, if they are interested in taking part in a “Back to Roots” Festival over the weekend of 10/11th October. There would be no concerts and no payment, it would just be for fun and there is of course no guarantee that it can actually go ahead. We do not know whether we will be able to sing in pubs, or only outside in the open air. We do not know which venues will be available to us. Of the confirmed groups for 2020 who think this may apply to them, please also let us know, so that we can keep you updated with plans as they develop – or fail!! There may also be some groups that we were unable to accommodate in our main programme, who might be interested in this rather impromptu mini festival.

If the Covid-19 situation improves over the next few months it will still be too late for us to implement a full Festival, but we will keep everyone advised of alterations via the usual channels of website, Facebook, Twitter and newsletter. It may be that overnight accommodation becomes available in which case we might be able to welcome groups from slightly further afield. It may be that self- contained camper vans are permitted, it may be that pubs can definitely open. All these things remain to be seen.

For the moment I can only apologise that we have found it necessary to make this decision, but we remain hopeful that a much reduced Festival may be possible this year, followed by an absolutely cracking Festival in 2021.

Keep safe everyone and we hope we may see you all before too long

Adventures of an Old Folkie It is an honour and a privilege to be writing this for the hundredth edition of this magazine.

I’ve been picking it up from my local folk club and reading it for many years and had harboured an ambition to write for it myself for a long time. In 2017, I finally plucked up the courage and rang Kathy Drage, suggesting that I write a regular account of the life of a local folk musician for the magazine. To my relief, she was absolutely charming and positive, and agreed to my idea. Regular readers will remember that the Drages didn’t indulge in the use of IT, and so I sent the first two articles to them through the post; indeed, I’ve just found the covering letter for the first one in the “Documents” box on my computer!

Sadly, these were to be the only ones published under the editorship of the Drages, as they both passed away in December, 2017. Thankfully, Alan Castle and Andy Wood took over the editorial reins for Issue 85, and have developed and improved it so that, reaching the hundredth issue milestone, it is still going strong, despite the negative effects of the coronavirus.

When I wrote the last of these missives, we were into the fourth week of “lockdown”; now, it appears that the Govt is gradually loosening the lockdown rules and, in roughly two weeks’ time, pubs and restaurants may be able to open, though when they will be able to promote live music again is highly questionable. My local folk club, Folk-at-The-Drum in Stanford, is usually held in the function room, which I think could handle “social distancing” but the last I heard from the landlord was that he didn’t think the pub itself would be able to open before Christmas.

Regular readers will know that, pre-lockdown, I ran a monthly Open Mic night at The Dog House in the Evegate Centre, near Ashford. One positive thing to come out of all this is the publicans, Duncan and Claire, have used their initiative and kept the pub going for “takeouts”; it’s open for two hours every weekday evening, and longer on the weekends.

They serve ales from local breweries which you can take away in your own containers and also metal mini-kegs of local beer. Last week, they sold over 700 pints! They also serve pre-ordered home-made pizza on Friday nights and burgers on Saturday nights. On speaking with Duncan, he hopes to be able to serve customers at the tables just outside the micropub when he’s allowed to open fully. Whether we’ll be allowed to play live music also in this area is open to question.

Readers of the last edition’s missive will remember that I was just beginning to dip my toes into the world of virtual music-making; thankfully, I was able to successfully access the Zoom meeting room for the virtual Folk-at-The-Drum club sessions, and have been able to contribute to them. Ironically, there have often been more performers at these sessions than there were at the “real” ones! Top marks go to David for keeping the club going during these difficult times. I know that other clubs have also taken advantage of platforms such as Zoom in order to keep their clubs going virtually. Let’s hope that we’ll be able to get live music going again in pubs and clubs as soon as possible. Until then, stay healthy and safe, even if just “virtually”!

Jeff (JR) Hartley

STOP PRESS Some outdoor events and a few socially distanced indoor events MAY start again in the next couple of months Please check before travelling to venues and follow government and NHS advise and help keep the folk scene safe.

Lewes Saturday Folk Club Traditional music every Saturday night Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ 8.00 – 11.00 www.lewessaturdayfolkclub.org valmaigoodyear@aol.com 01273 476757 Loyalty card: 6 evening visits = £5 off an evening All events dependent on public health guidelines at the time AUGUST:

Come All Ye every Saturday night, £3

Sept 5 Sept 12 Sept 19 Sept 26

TBA John Kirkpatrick Fay Hield, Sam Sweeney, Rob Harbron Will & Pippa Noble

WORKSHOPS (10.45 am – 4.45 pm) The tutor performs at the club in the evening. Booking forms from club website. Half-price places for 2 under-25 year-olds.

12 Sept JOHN KIRKPATRICK £35 CONCERT BAND ARRANGEMENTS – ANY INSTRUMENT 13 Sept JOHN KIRKPATRICK £35 SINGING & VOCAL HARMONY 26 Sept WILL & PIPPA NOBLE £35 BALLAD FORUM – BRING BALLADS TO SING & DISCUSS 17 Oct JACKIE DALY & MATT CRANITCH £35 MUSIC OF SLIABH LUACHRA, ANY INSTRUMENT 18 Oct JACKIE DALY £35 IRISH MELODEON 18 Oct MATT CRANITCH £35 IRISH FIDDLE 24 Oct BRYONY GRIFFITH £35 VOCAL HARMONY with WINTER & CHRISTMAS SONGS 21 Nov JODY KRUSKAL £35 US OLD-TIME FOR CONCERTINAS & OTHER INSTRUMENTS

THE YOUNG COPPERS Photo by Vic Smith. The six grandchildren of Bob Copper make their first folk club appearance at the Royal Oak in Lewes

Sussex Traditions Database In the absence of any upcoming events to tell you about (one of the toughest deprivations of the lockdown for live music junkies like my wife, Tina, and I) let me tell you about one aspect of the Sussex Traditions organisation. If you look at the website at https:// sussextraditions.org/ you will see that this very ambitious project will try to cover many of the aspects of what the word ‘traditions’ might mean for many people. I urge you to have a look at what the site will try to encompass. I don’t intend to try even to give you even the headlines here but only to concentrate on one aspect of the ambitions, the database which hopes to become the repository for all articles, information, photographs, recordings and references traditional song and music in the county found in books, magazines, documents in museum; in fact any accredited published source.

The organisation was founded in 2016 and Tina and I were involved from its inception.

It was incredibly lucky to have two centrally important figures involved from its inception.

Malcolm Taylor had recently retired as library director of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House and Steve Roud, England’s leading ethnomusicologist. Steve was able to duplicate all the information relating to Sussex that he had acquired over the years from his massively important ‘Roud Index’ (https://www.vwml.org/vwml-help-2/ ) and that gave us over 4,000 references right from the start. On the day that this article was written that figure had grown to 5484, but that number should soon be exceeded as you will see if you read on.

The foundation project was to digitise and transcribe all the tapes of the song collector from Horsham, Tony Wales who very active in the Sussex folk scene – song, dance and folklore – and he had a goodly number of very fine recordings amongst them. Tony did not keep extensive field notes but mostly this did not matter because the majority of singers that he had recorded were the older singers and musicians who had developed contacts with the folk club scene; people like George Belton, Scan Tester, Bob Blake, George Townshend

and Bill Agate and there were lots of people around who remembered of knew them and could supply the information that was needed for the database…. Well, all except a very fine singer who was referred to on Tony’s tape box as “Mrs Powell”; no other information was available. That’s how it remained until Tina and I went up to Terry Potter’s house in Horsham. Terry’s parents had been recorded by Tony Wales and we were after photos and information for their profiles on the database – but Terry had a lot more. His archive was a treasure trove of the things that we were after. Amongst them were a set of early local folk magazines that Tony had edited in the early 1960s under the title Sussex Folk Bag and browsing through these Tina found a long article, “A Sussex Singing Family’ by Ethel M. Powell; from knowing nothing about here, we suddenly been able to acquire a great deal.

At the end of the article was a note from Tony telling us that not long after she had written the article, she had emigrated to Canada with her family.

Amongst the information was the fact that she had lived in Portslade. Now, one of many features of the database is that you can search by settlement. Portslade is a rather nondescript place sandwiched between Hove and Shoreham on the Sussex coast, but it was the place where the professional folk singer Matt Quinn grew up. He was browsing the database one day and idly searched it for “Portslade” not expecting to find anything and up came the eighteen songs that she had recorded for Tony. Matt was delighted and started learning and incorporating some of her songs into his repertoire. We were very pleased as well because the database was doing exactly the sort of job that we had hoped for.

During this lockdown we have been devoting some time to catching up on some of the material that needs digitising cataloguing and transcribing for addition to the database. Each song needs quite an amount of preparation and it is a timeconsuming task but there are three projects are currently nearing completion: 1] Gordon Hall. In a long radio interview for my BBC Radio Sussex folk music programme with Gordon in the 1990s, he had mentioned that he had recorded a great mass of his songs and had sent them to someone who he thought would be interested but he couldn’t remember who it was! After his death, I did ask several people who I thought he may have sent them to – Reg Hall, Tony Engle et al – but no luck. I had more or less forgotten them when, almost two decades later, we called in to see Rod & Danny Stradling in Stroud on our way home from somewhere. We talked for ages and the subject of Gordon came up and I remembered those tapes.

“I’ve got them!” said Rod, “I think Gordon sent them to me in the hope that I would make a CD of him, but he died before I got round to it. Would you like to have them?”

We went home with five long tapes and 96 songs of Gordon.

RON SPICER at The Ram Inn in Firle.

Photograph by Vic Smith. Ron recorded his mother’s singing. Apparently she never sang in public during her lifetime Continued Overleaf...

2] Dorothy Spicer. In 1995 I was researching the background of the singers who appear on the Veteran album When The May Is All In Bloom because I had been asked to write the booklet notes for the album. One of the singers was Ron Spicer a great singer and the son of another great singer, George Spicer. I received two great surprises that day. One was that Ron, who I had heard many times playing the piano accordion, had started off playing a one-row melodeon. For some reason that I cannot remember, I had Dan Quinn’s melodeon in my car. I fetched it and Ron played a couple of sprightly step dance tunes on it – mental note to come again with Dan, his melodeon and my recorder.

The second was when he said, “My mum was a very fine singer, you know!” I was amazed. I had been at folk clubs and singing sessions many times with both George and Dorothy. George had sung at GORDON HALL at The Ram in Firle Photo by every one of these; his mother never had.

Vic Smith. Gordon made five tapes with 96 Would I like to hear a recording that Ron of his songs, calling them “Warts & Hall” had made of his mum? Indeed, I would!

Out came the tape recorder and I could hear straight away that here was a considerable singer – second mental note to arrange to borrow this tape to make a copy for myself.

This never happened. Ron’s aggressive cancer pulled him down very quickly and the next time I saw him, he was in a hospice, but access to this tape turned up through someone who came to one of the Sussex Traditions Open Days that had been organised at public libraries in West Sussex 3] Young Coppers. The six grandchildren of Bob Copper became the seventh generation of that family to sing their famed family songs. Initially they sang them in the company of Bob and their parents John and Jill, but I got word that they wanted to try singing on their own. On 5th July 2007, they made their first public appearance at our folk club at the Royal Oak in Lewes to a capacity audience. Very unusually, I had recorded that night, burned the pleasing result on a CDr, put it on a shelf and forget about it. I came across it a few weeks ago and played it. It was even better than my memory of it.

I have written this for a number of reasons; firstly I hope that it is of interest to readers of AKF, secondly, I am always on the lookout for any recordings, articles, information about any aspect of traditional song and music in Sussex and if anyone has, or has leads to any such material, I would be very pleased to hear from them and lastly anyone who like to help in the massive on-going task of transcribing lyrics and more difficult to come by, tunes from these recording, please get in touch.

Vic Smith tinvic@globalnet.co.uk

Deal Friday Folk Club meets 8pm every Friday at RMA Club (upstairs) 37 The Strand, Walmer CT14 7DX

Deal Folk Club is sorry that we have had to close our doors at present and we hope to re-arrange acts who should have appeared in June/July 2020 to next year. We are currently holding weekly Singers Nights online. See website for up-to-date information. We look forward to seeing you all again in person as soon as we can!

Guest Nights £5, Singers Nights £2 www.dealfoIkcIub.org.uk or ring Sue on 01304-360877

Moore OR Less Folk Club Oast Community Centre, Granary Close, Rainham, Kent, ME8 7SG (next to Rainham railway station)

Second Friday of each month The club always welcomes new performers, of any ability, and audience who just wish to listen.

We are hoping to arrange a weekly on-line sing-a-round via the Zoom software.

Participants will be invited to join the sessions by e-mail. Would anyone interested in being invited please send your name and e-mail address to Chris Wilkin at cwilkin6@sky.com.

We are looking forward to resuming normal club nights once the lockdown eases and the venue is open. In the meantime keep safe and well.

Guest nights as advised but generally £4.00 / £5.00

All Club Nights 8.30 - 11.00pm Doors/bar open 7 for 7.30

Doors/bar open 7 for 7.30 Enquiries Chris Wilkin 01634 366155

Faversham

Every Wednesday 8.00pm Doors open 7.30 www.favershamfolkclub.net

Folk Club

The Limes Preston Steet, Faversham ME13 8PG

Aug - Sept

There’s still music at Faversham Folk Club every Wednesday! It’s just temporarily online...

We meet on Zoom at 8pm for a session of traditional and contemporary songs and the occasional tune.. the indomitable Ernie Warner is our initial host, with help from t’commitee... if you’d like to join us please contact Pat or Bob below, and we will forward your request to the Keeper Of The List. We all wish Ernie a swift recovery from his recent contretemps.

We can also share hints and optimum settings for Zoom, especially if you are accompanying yourself... default settings often result in free phaser in a fishtank moments... the latency issue means at present that we all sing along in muted isolation... doubtless something better will emerge... we’ll keep looking... better than nowt... at least we sing...

Like everyone else, we had a full guest list planned and shall be hoping to reinstate it asap: we shall be following the science... modelling the format of what we shall be allowed to do is engaging everyone at the moment. Meanwhile many of our guests are online with their own concerts, so please do support them through these tough times.

There’s no doubt the internet experience is less satisfying than a live performancewe’ve been fortunate over the years to have most of the very top performers at the club. I did a stunning night in Jan but modesty forbids...

Our last guest nights before lockdown were in February with JIB and Helen North stood one for Liz Simcock at the beginning of March, both were grand occasions.

The room was buzzing from the off and their good-natured warmth is a lasting memory to keep us going until (I’m writing this on VE Day) We Meet Again..

All other Wednesdays Singers Nights, all welcome to perform or listen and only £2! Under 18/ students free Unless otherwise stated, admission to guest nights is £6 members, £7 non-members Chairman/ Bookings: Pat on 01795 423674 or rjpmailbox pat@yahoo.co.uk Press/ Radio Publicity:Bob on 07885 642763 / bobkenward21c@gmail.com

EGERTON FOLK AND BLUES CLUB Meets every last Tuesday of the month, at The Barrow House, Egerton, TN27 9DJ, from 8pm.

Folk. Blues and beyond.

No guests, just residents and itinerants. All welcome.

Hat collection.

Once normality returns Contact Jerry Hatrick (07387) 382050.

Foots Cray Social Club Waring Road Entrance, DA14 5BY

Open Music and Song Session in the Bar every Monday 8.00pm11.00 p.m. times every Monday 8.00 11.00 in normal www.crayside-folk-club for more information All genres- – Mainly Acoustic, but quiet electric guitars with battery amp allowed- must be compatible sound level.

Beginners Encouraged. Experience is gained through jamming along.

Occasional Open Mic Evenings and Guest Nights.

Players, poets, storytellers, and listeners welcome.

Free Entry – Please support our raffle, which pays our running costs.

ELSIE’S

FOLK-AT-THE-DRUM The Club meets every Thursday at ‘The Drum’ Inn at N. Stanford, Stone Street (Between Cant’ & Hythe) June postponed 3 June 2021 144th June - Keith until Kendrick HILARY SPENCER and Sylvia Needham 16th July postponed until 15 July 2021 LOCTUP 12 July - GeoffTOGETHER Higginbottom 15th October - TOM LEWIS 23 August Peter Collins 22nd October - DEBRA COWAN

All other evenings Singers Nights Guest Nights 8.00 p.m.

Singers Nights 8.00 p.m.

Members, Guests & visitors are always During the lockdown find us on welcome to play, sing, listen or do all three! from 7pm.

On ClubZoom Nights everyone who wishes gets a spotFor to perform.

Guest Nights detailsOnsee there is limited time for ‘floor artists’ butwww.folkatthedrum.co.uk a phone call usually gets you a spot.

Tel: 01797 320518 mobile: 07890 292467 or email: david@plesbit.net www.folkatthedrum.co.uk

The Queen’s Arms, on the B2026 midway between Edenbridge and the A264, Tunbridge Wells - East Grinstead Road 8 - 11 pm

Due to the Coronavirus Emergency our “Sing & Play Evenings” are suspended until further notice. We sympathise with all our booked guests whose visits have been cancelled but we look forward to them being with us when things get back to normal.

www.elsiesband.com

Tonbridge Folk Club (Nellie’s) The Beer Seller, 64 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1EH First and third Mondays of each month, 8 - 11 pm

The Rosecroft Social Club 269 High Street, St Mary Cray Orpington, BR5 4AR

AUGUST:

Subject to the Covid 19 emergency, please check our website for the latest information: tonbridgefolkclub.org

6th, 13th, 20th, 27th

During lockdown, we have been posting videos on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/tonbridgefolkclub

SEPTEMBER:

3rd

Our provisional programme is:

17th

Monday, 3rd August

Malcolm Ward

Monday, 17th August Monday, 7th September Monday, 21st September Monday, 5th October Monday, 19th October

Ian Petrie Jeff Warner Miriam Erasmus Dick Miles Celtic Caim Duo

Singers & Musicians night’s

They will be hosted by a resident or guest hosts

Odette Michell

10th 10th, 24th

Singers & Musicians Night Dave Ellis & Boo Howard Singers & Musicians Night

Orpington Folk Music and Song Club exists to promote folk music and song. It is a non profit making organisation and is for those who wish to listen to or take part in an informal evening of folk music and song.

For those who wish confirmation of guest(s) nights they can call any of the telephone numbers (below).

Tel: 01892 822945

Thursdays @ 8.15pm 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513

info@tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail: orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com

CD Reviews Some of Vin Garbutt’s Friends and Companions Friends and Companions Sing Charity project release by Graeme Knights Much missed and much loved by so many people in the UK and overseas this 13 track album has been created by the sterling efforts of Graeme Knights who many will know from his long association with Jim Magean and also the late Johnny Collins.

It is unsurprising that fellow artists freely contributed to this project given the high regard that Vin was held in not just for his performing but for his humanity. The album is well presented with photos of Vin and the accompanying booklet ‘ Memories of Vin ‘ provides an opportunity for each artist / duo to contribute a personal memory. The back cover photo is of Vin holding a pint with one of his most quoted onstage lines “ All the Very Best “ – surely the title of a Greatest Hits album at some point in the future albeit that it has been used as the title for the live charity album of Vin’s last concert in Australia at the Burke and Wills Folk Festival.

The tracks are all songs closely associated with Vin and include The Valley of Tees, Storm Around Tumbledown, The Troubles of Erin and Slaggy Island Farewell. Vin’s whistle playing appears on a couple of them and he also shares vocals on the last track ‘ My Blood ‘ with Jez Lowe who co-wrote the song with Canadian singer and guitarist James Keelaghan.

Otherwise the tracks feature the artist/s singing and playing.

As no artist should be omitted in track order they are Martyn Wyndham-Read, John Blanks and Mark Addison, Eric Bogle, Bob Fox, Flossie Malavialle, Stan Graham, Graeme Knights, George Papavgeris, Phillip Millichip, Winter Wilson , Margaret and Bob Fagan, Keith Hancock and the aforementioned Jez Lowe.

Once manufacturing costs are covered all proceeds from the sale of the album will go to the Macmillian Cancer Support Charity and for any fan of Vin’s singing and playing and for him as a human being this is a ‘ must have ‘ purchase. It is available via Vin’s website www.vingarbutt.com which his wife Pat keeps in fine running order. Alternatively you can write to Pat at Home Roots Music, 52 Micklow Lane, Loftus, North Yorkshire TS13 4JE. Do support this if you can.

Joe Whittaker 52 Artists - Strings That Nimble Leap Fylde Guitars / Fellside Recordings Back in 1977 Bill Leader recorded a number of the best guitarists of the day playing instruments made by Roger Bucknall on an album titled ‘ Fylde Acoustics ‘ – long ‘ out of print ‘ but much cherished by those lucky enough to have a copy.

Since those days Roger and his close knit team, now based in Penrith, have been building high qulaity acoustic guitars, mandolins, bouzoukis and custom specials for discerning players covering most styles of musical accomplishment classical to gypsy jazz. His customers include many of the best players on

the UK and international acoustic scene and this double CD draws many of them together in a quite unique way with all proceeds from sale of the album going to three charities Help Musicians UK, MIND and The Woodland Trust.

The album is very well presented in a glossy 128 page hardback book format with a liner and image page for each artist so lots of information on performers and their choice of playing piece or song. There are of course plenty of photo images of the Fylde instruments and if you know Fylde’s website or newsletter these are superb. Not all tracks are instrumentals by any means and you will hear songs by amongst others, Barbara Dickson, Nic Jones, Megan Henwood, Vin Garbutt and Chris While.

The breadth of styles range from avant garde jazz numbers through tradiitonal and contemporary folk and roots to blues with everything in between – a real musical feast to devour and enjoy. All the tracks have been donated by the artists and again the range is broad from Phil Cool’s self penned ‘ Ode to My Fylde Guitar ‘ and John Doyle’s “ Three Reels for Fylde ‘ to tracks already on artists’ albums. 16 of the 43 tracks in fact were specially written and 29 specially recorded at artists’ own expense.

This album is a must for anyone who plays or loves to hear acoustic guitars and other fretted instruments played by those at the top of their game and the quality of recording is crystal clear on each and every track. There is nothing to disappoint and at @ £22 incl. p&p it is great value too with three good causes benefitting into the bargain. Buy it without hesitation as I did.

Available from Fylde Guitars – www.fyldeguitars.com.

Joe Whittaker

This issue of Around Kent Folk was produced by Alan Castle and Andy Wood on behalf of Tenterden Folk Festival. Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

Registered Charity No 1038663 Issue No. 101 October/November COPY DATE: 18th August Then …

18th August 2020 – October / November 18th February 2021 – April / May 18th October 2020 - December / January 18th April 2021 – June / July 18th December 2020 – February / March 18th June 2021 – August / September

ADVERTISING RATES: With both printing and postage costs continuing to rise we have reluctantly decided to increase some of our advertising rates with effect from issue 91.

The new rates are as follows: Full colour: Back cover: £85 Inside front or back cover: £75 Full page run of issue: £65 Half page (run of issue): £40 **NEW**

Grayscale: Full page (run of issue): £39 Half page (run of issue): £28 Quarter page (run of issue): £18

Series discount: 15% if you pay in advance for a series of six adverts. You can still submit new artwork for each issue.

Artwork: Copy for new advertisements should be supplied as camera ready artwork by email as a high-resolution PDF, JPEG, or TIFF. Existing, regular advertisers need only send in new copy to update existing adverts.

A minimum extra charge of £10 will be made if you cannot submit your artwork in the correct format or sizes. Adverts and listings should be sent to akf@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk with a copy to anmarprintingservices@gmail.com Payment: Cheques payable to Tenterden Folk Day Trust (not Tenterden Folk Festival or Around Kent Folk). Send cheque and hard copy of adverts to: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent, TN23 3HA You can also pay by BACS or internet banking. Ask for details.

REVIEWS AND NEWS ITEMS: AKF also includes CD and book reviews. Please send items for review to the address above. AKF also welcomes reviews of live gigs and festivals that you have attended and other folk news which you can email to us at akf@tenterdernfolkfestival.org.uk WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA: www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk twitter.com/AroundKentFolk ● facebook.com/AroundKentFolk Around Kent Folk Subscription Form Name .......................................................................................................................................

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Telephone: ......................................................... Email: ..........................................................

SUBSCRIPTION £9 for 1 year (6 issues) Cheques payable to “Tenterden Folk Day Trust” Send to: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA