Around Kent Folk issue 110 for April / May 2022

o u nd r a

ke nt folk Issue 110 April / May 2022

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

XX

Published by Tenterden Folk Festival, Charity No 1038663 Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

ISSN 2634-7830 (Print) ISSN 2634-7849 (Online)

Welcome to issue 110 April/May 2022 issue of Around Kent Folk I am writing this during the first few days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. I’ve never been much of a traveler, but I have been out to Romania a couple of times as my niece Lucy was married in Hoteni, a very small village in Northern Transylvania, very near to the Ukrainian border. Lucy lived in Romania on and off for several years before returning England and in 2001 she and I spend a month out there visiting tourist sites and attending folk music

events, weddings, funerals and festivals. Around Easter the whole village went up into the Carpathian mountains for the Sheep Festival, when the shepherds take the sheep up into the mountains to the summer pastures. The shepherds then live there for the summer to protect the sheep from wolves and bears. It is still very much an area that depends on small scale subsistence farming. Most of the villages walked or rode but we took my Land Rover Freelander which only just made it up the narrow, winding mountain tracks. At the top of the mountain we all stopped for a day of Romanian folk song, music and dance. The villagers cooked traditional food over open fires and handed round bottles of plum brandy known locally as Tuica. Needless to say Lucy drove back down the mountain! The view we had that day was over the valleys and forests of Ukraine and I was told that the local villagers did not actually know exactly where the border between Ukraine and Romania was as it was basically unmarked other than a few white posts that the village children pointed out to me. Most Romanians in that area have relations and friends in Ukraine and quite a bit of Continued Overleaf...

the folk music and traditions are very similar. Our thoughts are with the Ukrainians and their neighbours at this awful time.

Meanwhile back at home it is good to see the folk scene opening up and planning for the spring and summer festivals. You will find several festival adverts in this issue. Also it is good to welcome some new advertisers to Around Kent Folk with adverts in this issue from Mrs Casey Music and St Edith Folk. There is no Sussex news from Vic Smith in this issue as he was out in Africa when the magazine was being put together. Let’s hope the Summer brings good news for Europe and the folk scene..

Alan Castle (Editor) PS: You can make a donation to Tenterden Folk Festival or this magazine via our websites or by post (see payment details on last page). Thank you. www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk

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

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

Scene & Heard A welcome opening-up in Kent as winter winds are brawling… though most of the planned events over Christmas succumbed, the Boxing Day Morris drove old Delta away and gradually confidence is returning. It seems clear that musicians and audiences are now far wiser and more likely to adhere to medical advice than the general public, an interesting reversal. As Debs Earl has quite rightly reminded us, even now the consequences of a single band member falling ill can lead to a much-needed tour’s cancellation. It’ll be instructive to see whether we go to masks for flu, or whether the soldiering-on tradition will return. But we are back!

The Broadstairs programme this year looks pretty spectacular, new acts and sessions being added all the time. Dates 5-12 August. Check out the website for the latest- the successful use of the new field close to the station has encouraged a marquee again, and many of the town venues are returning to the fold. Nice to hear that Hot Rats’ fundraising Burns Night Ceilidh sold out even before it was advertised…

Plans are advancing for the Pig’s Ear festival in July and for Tenterden in in the autumn.

Around the clubs, Faversham began in January with fortnightly guests, commencing with a fine set by John Clarke, who brought a wide range of guitar skills to songs poignant and amusing. Dave Ellis & Boo Howard had the audience mesmerised- new skills on the piano

from Boo- and spookily Dave’s lead gave up the ghost at 22.22 on 2.2.22… Such delicious harmonies! Many more to come this year, including Liz Simcock, Tom Lewis, Pete Morton, John Conolly, Dan Walsh… Tonbridge began the year with the venerable Malcolm Ward in exceptional voice, his concertinas and anecdotes adding so much to shanties and ballads of love and adventure. Two good guest slots a month in the Beer Cellar in the heart of the town, easier to get to than previously. There were visitors from distance: Thanet’s Jean Woollard, her ‘Roses’ a sheer earworm- and Joe and Pete from Swinging The Lead fresh from the decks of the Cutty Sark… testimony to Malcolm’s lasting appeal.

In North Kent Dartford put on a cracking double header in January with Steve Shorey/John Cunningham and Ian Petrie/ Ted Handley… they’ve a great lineup planned. Orpington too had Dave Ellis & Boo Howard to entertain, after the wonderful Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne.

Check out their new venue!

Sessions too are bouncing back- Bill Howarth’s East Kent , Graham Anstee’s acoustic Sundays at The King George V in Brompton, the Woodshed at the Wrotham Arms in Broadstairs, a new venture monthly singaround & poetry at the Bowls Club in Sandwich promoted by Karen Scott, where Kellet Gut and the Open Water Band featured (6.30, Sun 27/3, 24/4, 22/5), and Mike Wheeler & Ruth Cronk in the Market Inn, Faversham every Tuesday- their Burns Night added another hundred to the Hospices. Jeff Hartley’s still at the Drum and Hartley Morris have begun again at Laddingford I believe. Nigel White’s Stilebridge club has a new venue also: the Bull at Linton, every 3rd Weds of the month.

Please let us know if you have an open session- there are many of which the news hasn’t come to Haar-vard….

There are still Zoom sessions for those wishing to keep in touch with distant friends we’ve made over lockdown… the Deal club zooms on a Friday and Gavin & Julie Atkins’ on a Sunday. Nice to still have the choice- so many fine singers were suddenly available all across the country. I see several performers like Brian Peters are using both media as it suits.

All in all a cautious welcome back. There’s no doubt we need the live scene, the organisers and audiences, to return if local clubs are to continue to book guests of national standing… at least one booking has been cancelled because the artist can’t put a viable tour together.

The atmosphere at the first few sessions was uplifting, everyone’s been waiting for the goahead and seems determined to make the most of company and harmonies. Which is what it’s all about.

Glad to hear that Sweeps is back, world events permitting... a wonderful start to the summer.

We see that Morag Butler down in Rosslyn Court has a full and eclectic programme, often available online too... and the venture by Joe Whittaker and Allan Richardson over in Northwest Kent is also spreading its wings. Check their publicity for future guests, acts being added all the time.

Great to play Faversham Folk Club again, in the very room where the amendments to Dr Syn, sound effects and cries of desperation were added by the likes of Terry D and Chris Care... 44 years ago... and to see new friends from Zoom sessions for real. Harmonies are back!

Keep safe and here’s to the summer!.

Bob Kenward

Rochester Sweeps Festival Sat 30th April, Sun 1st May and Mon 2nd May Rochester Sweeps Festival is back, and after two years in the wilderness, this will be the fortieth edition of one of the south east’s most popular events.

Back in 1982 Gordon Newton revived the Victorian custom of chimney sweeps processing through the city of Rochester, singing and dancing and collecting money for the tough months ahead.

This year the festival will see an abundance of Morris sides and traditional dance teams in the streets of Rochester whilst many musical bands and singers will take to the stages and perform in the pubs around the town.

Top of the bill, and providing that official paperwork obstacles and red tape don’t prevent them from travelling from France, will be the eight piece Dunkerque based Sur Les Docks who have become the favourites of Medway during their many visits to the festival. Their blend of original folk/punk style rock which succeeds with good musicianship and on stage energy has drawn big crowds to the Castle Garden stage which also hosts many more quality acts.

Gabriel Moreno is a Gibraltarian poet and songwriter and he comes with a London based band that includes Adam Beattie and Fiona Bevan. They are called The Quivering Poets and appear on Saturday 30th April with Maidstone bluegrass outfit The Lowly Strung, The Fabulous Fezheads, wonder guitarist Thomas Abrahams and the best shanty group in England, Kimber’s Men. The same day sees a special event in the Crypt of Rochester Cathedral with a song cycle entitled ‘And One Red Mitten’. It was written by the late lamented Chris Broderick of the Singing Loins and is about the effects of Catherine Eddowes, one of the victims of the Whitechapel murders.

Around town there are a number of other stages which will feature folk music at Boley Hill, the City Wall and Star Hill where songwriters get a chance to air their work.

Sunday sees the Hot Rats and Hobo & The Hippies join the programme whilst Ryebellion Drummers come to Rochester to provide more colour and dramatic music for the general public.

Harmony singing is particularly featured in 2022 and in addition to Kimber’s Men, all female shanty group The Silver Darlings, the HogEye Men, the Hartley Morris Singers and Morrigan all appear in venues and on stages throughout the town.

Other acts included in the line up are Foot Down, Swing the Bridge, the Beard Conspiracy, the Bounty Hounds, Gypskazz, Skinners Rats, Triality, Helen North, The Flowing, Ian Petrie & Sue Hudson, the Dredgermen, Thee Scarecrows, Ruby & Ríos, Open Water and many more.

The beauty of Rochester Sweeps Festival is that, in conjunction with Medway Council and the festival organisers, it is a totally free event with no admission charges for any of the music. It is also the biggest Morris dance event in the world with sides coming from all over the country to perform in the streets and provide a much loved, and needed, spectacle of music, colour, dance and humour.

The festival concludes on Monday 2nd May with a final concert in the Castle Gardens from Madrid based band Track Dogs. Their career really started at Sweeps some years ago with an impromptu visit and they are back in UK on tour with Show of Hands. They fly into UK the same day and expressed a wish to come and perform at the festival by way of saying thanks to their many Medway fans.

Sussex Folk News XX Vic Smith

ELIZA CARTHY & SAUL ROSE EMILY MAE WINTERS

Fri 6 May Tickets £18.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks

Fri 8 April Tickets £12.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks

SHOW OF HANDS + TRACK DOGS

SOUND OF THE SIRENS

Sat 14 May Tickets £26.00 St Dunstan’s Church, Cranbrook

Fri 22 April Tickets £15.00 The Vestry Hall, Cranbrook

GARY FLETCHER BAND

OYSTERBAND

Fri 20 May Tickets £12.00 Otford Memorial Hall, Sevenoaks

Sat 30 April Tickets £25.00 Queens Hall Theatre, Cranbrook

www.stedithfolk.co.uk

Dartford Folk Club BBC Radio 2 Best Folk Club of the year 2008 www.dartfordfolk.org.uk Enquiries: dartfordfolkclub@gmail.com

FLOOR SINGERS WELCOME (PLEASE BOOK) FEATURED GUESTS

05 Apr - Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby 12 Apr - Union Jill (Rescheduled from Jun 21) 19 Apr - Dave Ellis & Boo Howard (Rescheduled from Jun 20) 26 Apr - Dan Walsh (Rescheduled from Jun 20) 03 May - Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer (Rescheduled from July 20) 10 May - Andy Irvine 17 May - Hatful of Rain (Rescheduled from Jan 21) 24 May - Belshazzar’s Feast (Rescheduled from May 20) 31 May - Steve Ashley (Rescheduled from Jun 20) FOR UPDATES AND FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE GO TO OUR WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGES

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

Meets every last Tuesday of the month, from 7.30 pm. All welcome.

No paid guest performers, just residents, itinerants and wayfaring strangers (rich or poor).

PA available if you need it.

Hat collection (if you need one).

Contact details: Jerry ‘Hatrick’ Crossley Phone - 07387 382050 Facebook - EgertonFolkandBluesClub

Tonbridge Folk Club (Nellie’s) The Beer Seller, 64 High Street, Tonbridge, TN9 1EH

First and third Mondays of each month, 8 - 11 pm

Subject to the Covid 19 emergency, please check our website for the latest information tonbridgefolkclub.org 4th April

Four Gone Confusion

6th June

Ian K Brown

4th July

Skinner and T’Witch

Tel: 01892 822945

info@tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

Singdanceandplay

Farnborough Social Club

6 Pleasant View Pl, Farnborough, Orpington, BR6 7BL APRIL

7th

14th, 21st, 28th Our popular online sessions on Sunday nights continue – they’re fun and attract great performers. Email gmatkin@gmail.com.

— We’re not planning in-person workshops in public spaces in the very near future, but there are lots of instructional tunes videos to work on at https://bit.ly/3jfOald.

— Julie and I would be delighted to play for online events or future live shows, including with our country dance band The Tonic!

MAY

19th

5th, 12th, 26th

Jez Lowe Singers & Musicians Nights Ian Bruce Singers & Musicians Nights

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.

Thursdays @ 8pm 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513 Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail:orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com

Saturday 18th June 2pm - 11pm

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 April 2 April 9 April 16 April 23 April 30 May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28

Will Duke Sussex songs & tunes, Anglo concertina Rheingans Sisters Fiddles, voices, banjos Easter Open Night Bring songs & tunes St. George’s Day Open Night Bring songs & tunes Daoirí Farrell Irish trad songs, bouzouki Open Night Bring songs & tunes Martyn Wyndham Read & Iris Bishop & support C-Side Cancer charity event, 7:00 pm start for floor spots Andy Irvine Irish trad & new songs, bouzouki, mandolin Open Night Bring songs & tunes

WORKSHOPS 2022 (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.

9 April Rheingans Sisters Fiddle 30 April Daoirí Farrell Bouzouki 11 June Emmanuel Pariselle & Didier Oliver Gascon trad 9 July JIB (Temples & Jim Mageean) Sea songs Tune arranging 23 July John Kirkpatrick 24 July John Kirkpatrick Vocal harmony 10 Sept Keith Macdonald, Ange Hauck German trad tunes 17 Sept Alistair Anderson Northumbrian tunesmiths Dan Walsh Clawhammer banjo 15 Oct Andy Cutting Melodeon Rob Harbron English concertina Sam Sweeney Fiddle LEVERET evening 29 Oct Ben Paley Fiddle 11 Nov Riley Baugus Banjo

Gerry Colvin Band

Tuesday 15th March - Gulbenkian, Canterbury

Steve Knightley

Fri 25th March - St Mary’s Arts Centre, Sandwich

Luke Jackson

Tenterden folk festival lottery

Sunday 27th March - Kingston Barn, nr Canterbury

Belshazzar’s Feast

Tues 19th April - Canterbury Cathedral Lodge

Gigspanner Big Band

Saturday 7th May - St Mary’s Sandwich

Show of Hands – The Dog Show Sessions Friday 13th May - Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Daphne’s Flight

Tuesday 17th May - St Mary’s, Sandwich

Albert Lee

You could win up to £25,000 while supporting Tenterden Folk Festival Buy lottery tickets online

www.ashfordcommunitylottery.co.uk/ support/tenterden-folk-festival

Sunday 22nd May - Gulbenkian

Fairport Convention Spring Tour

Tues 31st May - The Malthouse, Canterbury

www.folkinthebarn.co.uk

M OORE ESS OLK LUB M OOREor orL L ESSF F OLKC C LUB Oast OastCommunity CommunityCentre, Centre,Granary GranaryClose, Close, Rainham, Kent, ME8 Rainham, Kent, ME87SG 7SG (next to Rainham railway station) (next to Rainham railway station)

Live Liveclub clubnights nightsdue duetotoresume resumeon on Friday 13th August, 2021 13th August, 2021 Night FridayFriday 8th April - Singers Dates: Dates: Friday 13th Friday 13thAugust, August,2021 2021 Friday 10th September, 2021 FridayFriday 13th10th May - Singers September, 2021 Night All Allclub clubnights nights8.30 8.30toto11.00pm 11.00pm Entrance Entrancefee fee£4.00 £4.00(including (includingraffle) raffle)

Enquiries EnquiriestotoChris ChrisWilkin Wilkin– –01634 01634366155 366155oror07821 07821606076 606076

Book Reviews

Dave Townsend - Complete Dance Music from The Sharp Collection (Volume 1) Tunes for Social Dance and Step-Dance Serpent Music www.davetownsendmusic.com This 88 page, A4 format, book is extremely well produced and opens with eight pages of acknowledgements, introduction, and explanation before going into nearly 60 pages of tunes and several pages of photos before going on with around 20 pages of notes to the tunes and finally several pages of sources and bibliography and index of tunes and titles and informants and collectors. The book must contain the tunes to something like 200 tunes collected by Cecil Sharp between 1903 and 1924. They are mainly tunes for social dance and step-dance collected from traditional players all over England and some from the USA. Over three quarters of the tunes appear in full for the first time in this book. A few of the tunes listed in the index are Black Jack, The Cockade, Drive old care away, Flaxley Green Dance, Haste to the Wedding, Napoleon’s retreat, The Oyster Girl, Roast Beef of Old England and Young man from the Country. I do not read music but I still found this book interesting, so for anyone who reads music and plays tunes for their own enjoyment at home or at sessions this would be a very valuable resource.

Martin Graebe - The Forgotten Songs of the Upper Thames (Folk Songs from the Alfred Williams Collection) www.theballadpartners.co.uk This is a very different to the Dave Townsend book also reviewed in this issue, both in format and content. This book runs to over 300 pages and is just over A5 size. There are no tunes set out in the book but there are the words to over 200 traditional songs collected by Alfred Williams from over 100 singers around Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. There are over 20 pages of introduction and notes before we get to the words of the first song which is Meet Me

by Moonlight Alone. The words to each song are followed by a couple of paragraphs about the song, its source and history.

The Shepherd on the Plain particularly appeals to me has my great grandfather, and his father before him, were shepherds on the Marlborough Downs very near to Silbury Hill. Of this song Martin says it “is unique to Williams’s collection and has not appeared in print elsewhere.” The book also includes the words to well known songs such as William Taylor, John Barleycorn, Barbara Allen and many more. Song 205, the final one in the book, is Jack Hall which Cecil Sharp claimed dated from 1701 and a version was made more popular in 1840 under the better known title of Sam Hall. The book finishes Williams’s own Conclusion, followed by The Kidson Letters, Williams’s article from 1926, a Bibliography, an Index of Singers and an Index of songs. This is an excellent book and contains wealth of valuable information. Martin and Shan Graebe will be guests at Tenterden Folk Festival 2022.

Alan Castle (Editor)

Tenterden Folk song and music sessions RETURNING SOON The William Caxton West Cross, Tenterden TN30 6JR The second Tuesday of every month 8.00 p.m.

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

Collections or Best prices paid 354 135 Ring Collin 07860

WANTED

LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs

Folk, Blues, reggae, jazz and WANTED rock LPs, EP

s, 45s, CDs Folk, blues, reggae , jazz and rock Collections or small er items

Collections or smaller items, best Best prices paid prices paid Ring Collin 07860 354 135

Ring Collin 07860 354 135

CD Reviews

Johnny Coppin - River of Dreams Red Sky Records RSKCD124 I cannot remember when I last saw Johnny Coppin live so to get a new album from him is a real treat. The album consists mainly of songs newly written by Johnny, but also includes a hand full of songs from other writers such as When the Master Calls the Roll written by Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal and Rodney Crowell and Johnny’s setting of a Lurie Lee poem, Long Summer. Johnny’s songs are mainly in a fairly traditional style and on topics typical of folk songs such as The Bisley Boy about the death of Elizabeth I and the Song of the Severn. Many of his songs have a connection with Gloucestershire. In the Heart of War, covers the subject of World War Two’s Special Operation Executive. There are numerous guest musicians on the album, but Johnny’s guitar and vocals are always to the forefront. Johnny also plays piano on Song of the Severn. The CD comes in a well-presented gatefold cover with a booklet with all the words to the 12 songs. The album will be launched at a concert in Cheltenham on 7th April. An excellent album.

Various artists - My True love he dwells on the mountain Traditional music from the West of Ireland Veteran VT163CD This album is a collection of recordings made in the back rooms of pubs and in the homes of traditional musicians across the West of Ireland in the early 1970s by Terry Yarnell. Terry was actually a Londoner and part of Ewan McColl’s Critics study group and the London Singer’s Club in the 1960s. This led him to make field trips to Galway and then across Western Ireland where he recorded many traditional musicians and singers and created the archive of music you can hear on this CD. The complete archive is held in the British Library Sound Archive in London. The 20 tracks on this CD include Willie Clancy, Jim and Seamus Donoghue, Rita and Sarah Keane, as well as many other traditional Irish musicians playing jigs, hornpipes, set dances and reels on ulleann pipes, fiddle, concertina, accordion, tin whistle and bodhran. Besides the title track other tunes on the album include Sligo Reels, The Glass of Beer / Richard Dwyer’s, Bantry Bay / The Stack of Wheat and Bonaparte’s Retreat. Many of the tunes will be familiar to musicians who frequent sessions, but others are lesser known at least in England. The album comes in a gatefold cover with comprehensive artist notes and is a valuable resource as well as a good listen.

Alan Castle (Editor)

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2022

folk festival

f

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

April - May Every Wednesday 8.00 pm 13 April

Pete Morton - Top songwriting from the man who entertains whilst putting over powerful lyrical messages. Plenty to join in with, you’ll go away singing... and thinking... £8/9

20 April

John Conolly - Long-standing favourite on squeezeboxes and guitar. Will it be postcards, Punch and Judy or fisherman? He’s written so many fine songs, could be any of them. Wrap up in oilskins and jumper... £8/9

11 May

Ian Bruce - Pat has done us proud- another superb songsmith who’s provided many lyrics now considered standards. Compelling vocals and long memories of the folk scene. £8/9

25 May

Dan Walsh - Banjo as you’ve rarely heard it by the acknowledged master of modern style playing. A treat for pickers all, and more light and shade than a basket of frogs.

Come and be amazed! £8/9

8 June

Enda McCabe - Very welcome return from Faversham favourite Enda McCabe with his Celtic connections and beguiling songs. A stalwart of the town folk scene, it’ll be great to hear him again on a multitude of instruments. £7/8

All other Wednesdays are Singers Nights, only £2, where traditional mixes with contemporary and jollity is encouraged.

We ask that you please test yourself before coming to the club, to keep guests and all of us safe and well. We do what we can to ventilate and keep safe by distancing.

See you at the Limes!

LET HER BE (Song for RMS TITANIC) Words & Music by Bob Watson

LET HER BE (Song for RMS TITANIC) Words & Music by Bob Watson Titanic sank 110 years ago, on 15th April 1912, but it was not until 1985 that her sunken remains were first located with the help of two deep-sea robots known as ‘Jason’ and ‘Argo’. But the technical triumph became overlaid by conflicting views about the related moral issues of disturbing an underwater tomb.

She was proud and she was stately, and the pride of the White Star Line, The finest ship that floated and the grandest of the grand; On a starry night in April, with her chandeliers a - shine, She sank to the tune of her ballroom band.

Now you’ve often heard the story, many times the tale’s been told, Of a fateful maiden voyage when so many lost their life – Of an iceberg that came drifting from the North so white and cold, And cut the great ship’s belly like a knife.

Chorus: Let her be, Oh let her be, where she’s resting let her stay: South south east of Newfoundland, let the proud Titanic lay.

Now the great ship was a symbol of an age that’s gone for good, When Britain ruled the ocean wave and half the landmass too; There was nothing that could sink her, not a thing that ever could -They found too late the lifeboats were too few.

And there’s many folks who perished as she sank beneath their feet, And whether of the first class kind, or humble as could be, Now their souls all rest together, that in life could never meet, Two thousand fathoms down below the sea.

Chorus Many times they’ve tried to find her, now these days they’ve got the gear To scan the highest heavens and to search the deepest deeps; On the cold Atlantic seabed, so their photos show so clear, They’ve found where the proud Titanic sleeps.

And there’s some who’d wish to raise her, bring her trophies back to land, Along with all the riches that she carried on her way, But for others any tomb should stay untouched by human hand – Better leave her where the deep sea fishes play.

Chorus She was proud and she was stately, and the pride of the White Star line And her grave’s down on the Grand Banks, in the deeps two miles below, Where she guards her ghostly shipmates that have lingered all this time, And the iceberg has melted long ago.

Britannia ruled the waves, you’ll hear it sung in old-time songs, Titanic looked so mighty, but she still turned out so frail; Better leave her be remembered, like the age where she belongs, Whenever story tellers tell her tale.

Chorus

Steve Heap and The Association of Festival Organisers Steve Heap, General Secretary of The Association of Festival Organisers, has received the Industry Legend Award at the 2022 Event Production Awards. The awards ceremony took place on Thursday 17 February at Novotel London West, with Andy Lenthall, CEO Festival Insights Ltd, presenting the Industry Legend Award to a surprised Steve Heap on the night. Launched in 2012, the Event Production Awards are held annually to recognise and celebrate the excellence of individuals and teams who have delivered outdoor and live events during the previous year. Each year, more than 500 professionals gather at the Event Production Awards to celebrate success within the industry. Unlike the other award categories for the EPAs, the Industry Legend Award isn’t open for nominations, with the winner instead decided by the Editor of Access All Areas. The Industry Legend Award is designed to “...recognise outstanding achievements within and contributions to the outdoor events industry over a career. The recipient is someone who has pioneered, innovated and driven change in the industry.”

Steve Heap has been the AFO General Secretary since its formation in 1987. With over 55 years of experience in the festival and events industry, Steve is also the Director of Mrs Casey Music, Chairman of the Events Industry Form (EIF) and a contributor to The Purple Guide dealing with health, safety and welfare at music and other live events. He was also the Director of Towersey Festival for 45 years until August 2019. Steve founded Mrs Casey Music (MCM) in 1972, initially as an artist agency before developing into a festival promoter and three years later, taking over the running of the Towersey Festival. In the decades since, MCM has promoted music events, worked on community arts festivals, including, from 1986 to 2004, the Sidmouth International Festival in Devon. MCM was also involved in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award from 2008 to 2011, has promoted concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and grown its own MCR record label. In 2004, Steve received an EFDSS Gold Badge from The English Folk Dance and Song Society, in 2008, the Tribute of Excellence Award from NOEA and in 2011, the UK Festival Awards recognised Steve’s contribution to the industry with a Lifetime Achievement Award. With this Industry Legend Award from the EPAs, Steve’s ongoing dedication and achievements and the work he continues to do for the industry is greatly acknowledged. After receiving the award, Steve said, “I was totally surprised, moved and deeply honoured and accept this kind award on behalf of the many people with whom I have worked.” And here at the AFO office we are VERY proud of Steve!

Photography by Jonathan JT Taylor @ Aniseed Photo X Lioux Heap Membership & Conference Coordinator, Association of Festival Organisers

CD Reviews

Topette!! - Bourdon Topette! TPT004 Topette!! Are Julien Cartonnet on bagpipes and banjo, James Delarre on fiddle, Andy Cutting on accordion, Tania Buisse on bodhran and Barn Stradling on bass. Bourdon is French for bumblebee but is also used to describe the drone of a bagpipe. The band recorded this, their third album, in four days in November 2021 at Chez Barn in Somerset with producer Joe Garcia. The albums 11 tracks bring together tunes from England, France and Sweden and vary from a Cotswold Morris tunes to one written by Michael Hurley from the USA and several composed by band members. Titles include La Couturiere, Year of the Metal Rat, Halling Fran Harjedalen Efter Per Myhr and Just Heavy. The album cover lists the track details but you have to go to the bands website to find out more about them and the album www.topette.co.uk. Topette!! are touring in June and on 18th play at, what is described on their gig list, as Margate Folk Festival which after a bit of research on Google appears to be a one day event at somewhere called Olby’s Soul Café and Music Rooms but I was unable to find out anything more.

Megson - Unknown Waters EDJ Records EDJ032 Megson say that this album is made up of nine songs written by their favourite composers from North East England. This includes Jez Lowe, Alan Hull, Chris Rea, Richard Grainger, Vin Garbutt and Graeme Miles amongst others. There is also a bonus track from Debbie and Stu themselves written in January 2020, Through the Winter.

Debbie plays piano accordion and Stu plays guitar, mandola, mandolin and fiddle and they are joined by John Parker on double bass. As always, the excellent vocal harmonies are provided by Debbie and Stu. The album comes in a cardboard cover with brief details of why they decided to record a covers album and the track list. When the songs include Megson’s arrangements of Jez’s Judas Bus, Chris’s Road to Hell, Richard’s Land and Sea, Vin’s Not for the First Time and Graeme’s Ring of Iron, there is really no need of a lot of sleeve notes. Megson’s Unknown Waters tour runs through to at least May but sadly there are no gigs in our region listed. The nearest they seem to be coming are Hitchin and Bournemouth.

Alan Castle (Editor)

Thu 29th Sept to Sun 2nd October Folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2022

folk festival

f

Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

Tenterden Folk Festival 2022 Thursday 29th September to Sunday 2nd October

Ordered by: Information may be stored for the use of Tenterden Folk Festival only Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms Name Address

Town Postcode Telephone

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

EARLY BIRD OFFERS: To 30th April 2022:

Full Weekend Adult £49.00 Youth 10 -16's £24.00 and Under 10’s £5.00 when bought with an adult ticket Caravan / Campervan £20.00 Tent £18.00 THURSDAY EVENING CONCERT: All tickets £11.00 before 30th April 2022

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

BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA FOLK CLUB (FORMERLY THE STILEBRIDGE FOLK CLUB)

SINGER’S NIGHT NOW LIVE AGAIN EVERY THIRD WEDNESDAY MONTHLY

AT OUR NEW VENUE: THE BULL INN (IN THE FUNCTION ROOM)

LINTON ME17 4AW CAR PARKING EITHER AT THE BULL, OR, IF FULL, ACROSS THE A229 AT LINTON CHURCH (ACCESS ROAD IS 100M UP THE HILL ON THE SOUTH BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF THE A229.)

AUDIENCE, SINGERS, MUSICIANS, POETS, ALL WELCOME. £2 PER HEAD ENTRY FEE TO COVER THE COST OF THE ROOM. FOR MORE DETAILS CALL NIGEL WHITE ON 07793 076827

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. 111 June/July COPY DATE: 18th April Then …

18th April 2022 – June / July 18th October 2022 - December / January 18th June 2022 – August / September 18th December 2022 – February / March 18th August 2022 – October / November 18th February 2023 – April / May

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........................................................................................................................................

Address ................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................................

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