Around Kent Folk issue 107

o u nd r a

ke nt folk Issue 107 October / November 2021

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

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 107 October/November 2021 issue of Around Kent Folk With some parts of life slowly returning to something like normal, it has been a busy few weeks in the TFF/AKF office. For the first time since October 2019, I attended a folk festival and met up with various old friends. AKF would like to congratulate Jo Tuffs, Tess Watkins and all the team for pulling a new look Broadstairs Folk Week together in such a short time.

I spent two afternoons sitting in the new arena in the Memorial Park, which is very handily placed near the station and even has on street parking outside. The large stage boasted a great sound system which was loud enough for folk music but not too loud to lose the true folk sound. On the mainly sunny and warm Thursday I saw local duo Lunatractor with their unique sound, Rowan Goddel with whom I was particularly impressed, and the excellent Jez Hellard and the Djukella Orchestra. I went back for more on Friday, which was cooler and breezy, and saw the brilliant Will Pound, James Patrick Gavin Trio and the highly talented and amusing Belshazzar’s Feast. I also heard good reviews of the other days in the arena. As time was limited, I did not manage to get down into the town centre to see what was happening in some of the other venues and the pubs. For a fuller report on Folk Week see Scene and Heard and the report from Jo later in this issue.

With a near normal Tenterden Folk Festival on the horizon, we have been busy finalising the programme and checking proofs, sorting out accommodation for guest artists, booking logistics, liaising with venues and generally trying to ensure we have everything in place.

Song and music sessions are planned for the William Caxton, The White Lion and The Vine Inn but numbers may have to be limited. We also have a couple of outdoor song and music sessions at Old Dairy Brewery near the Station. Old Dairy Brewery will also be providing a real ale and cider bar for our events in St Mildred’s Church where we have a programme of special events which will benefit from the large space and perfect acoustics. The Thursday evening concert and some of the acoustic concerts have been moved to the Tenterden Club and others to The Town Hall to provide more space for guest artists and audiences.

The Glebe Hall will be the venue for small workshops and meet the guest sessions. Events on the Recreation Ground are going ahead as normal with a larger craft and stalls marquee to give stallholders and visitors more space. The Festival bar has its own marquee and will be provided by New Romney Brewery and Nightingale Cider. The list of performers playing the free music stage looks interesting so check that out too. Around 30 Morris sides and dance display teams have signed up for the festival, so the procession will take place as normal on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. For the full guest list and other information check out the printed programme or read it online at www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk.

We are sad to hear about several folk clubs and sessions that will not be reopening, at least in their present locations or formats, mainly due to venue problems. More about some of those in Scene and Heard. We are considering when to re-start the Tenterden Folk Sessions which have been running in Tenterden since 1992 and have been at The William Caxton for the last ten years.

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

Front cover: Colourful dancers in action at Tenterden. Photo: Philip Hinton.

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 October - The Trials of Cato **THE CLUB’S 47th and 48th BIRTHDAYS !!**

12 October - Tom Lewis 19 October - Hunter Muskett 26 October - The Tannahill Weavers 02 November - Helen North 09 November - Alden Patterson & Dashwood 16 Nov - Anthony John Clarke & Dave Pegg 23 November - Jez Lowe 30 November - The Honeybees 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

Broadstairs Folk Week 2021 Round-Up Well, we did it! And we’ve had such great feedback about the whole festival. Obviously, we missed certain elements very much – especially the ceilidhs and the smaller events at the Sailing Club and Crampton Tower Museum.

Back in March we took the decision to have an outdoor stage in a park in Broadstairs, close to the railway station. We worked with Thanet District Council on sound levels as it the venue is in a residential area. They initially refused permission, but working with our PA company, we achieved a workable arrangement, and the sound was superb. The community was overwhelmingly supportive and the feedback we had from our festivalgoers who attended was – please do it again in this format.

So, we’d be interested to see what our regulars feel. It’s a huge logistical undertaking and financially quite a challenge. We’ll be discussing this at length when the Folk Week committee meets again in September.

The atmosphere in the town was joyful and everyone seemed delighted that we went ahead. We just about managed with volunteers – understandably some were reluctant to come back – but we always need many more to help out. They all gave 200% to make Folk Week return in a safe way.

My personal highlights? Watching the new stage being hydraulically lifted in the park and realising that Folk Week was venturing into a new era; meeting up with familiar faces such as Peter Collins in the singaround; Bob Kenward doing a fantastic job with Around the Bay and seeing the Hobby Horse Club going at full throttle every day. Our new format Craft Fair and Bar area received rave reviews too.

We did have a cancellation when Seckou Keita and Catrin Finch were unable to come due to illness. But the amazing Joseph Tawadros stepped in and played the oud to a spellbound audience and regaled them with jokes about his Egyptian/Australian heritage.

It’s very difficult to single out performances – but Chris Wood was sublime and quite emotional to be back on stage again after such a long absence. It was great to see people dancing in front of the stage, even when there was a bit of drizzle as Breabach stormed through with twin bagpipes!

Our very own Tim Edey, Patron of Folk Week was fantastic and popped up all over the festival, delighting his fans with impromptu performances. Likewise, festival favourite, Simon Care with Banter and Edward II, whose mellow sounds on a beautiful summer evening drifted across the town.

There were over 90 pub band performances – with many regulars making their first appearance after lock-down – and it was great to see Broadstairs come to life with morris sides around town and of course, Clarence the Dragon and those pesky Hooden Horses.

Thank you to all of you who came and supported us, in spite of you know what. We need you to keep joining the Friends of Folk Week, buying tickets, donating in our collecting tins and buying Souvenir Programmes. Thanks to our sponsor Shepherd Neame too – they were a thirsty lot at the Jack Hamilton Bar! I could go on – but put 5-12 August 2022 into your diaries please.

Jo Tuffs (Creative Director) Broadstairs Folk Week P.S – We’re all knackered!!

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Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

olk festival 2021

CD Review

Nick Dow - Waiting alone.. A selection of Child Ballads.

CD OHM814 and “A Secret Stream” Francis Boutle Publishers Nick Dow is definitely on a roll and seems to have released more CDs in the last two years than most people do in twice as long. This album is a selection of 13 ballads collated by Francis James Child (1825 – 1896) and starts with True Love John (179) and includes many favorites such as The Unquiet Grave (204), The Broomfield Hill (43), The Ship Owner’s Daughter (100) and closes with Prince Heathen (104). The album includes two pages of sleeve notes explaining where the songs were collected and often Nick’s person source of his version.

As you might expect several of the ballads come from gypsy sources including the family and friends of Nick’s wife Mally. Most of the arrangements are simply Nick’s vocals and quiet guitar accompaniment and a few are unaccompanied, all are well worth another listen.

Not content with a new CD Nick has also compiled and is about to publish a new book in September. “A Secret Stream” brings together over a hundred mostly unpublished folk songs and tunes and carols, including songs in the Anglo-Romany tongue collected from English Gypsies by Victorian and Edwardian collectors such as Cecil Sharp, Ella Leather, Lucy Broadwood, George

Borrow and Ralph Vaughan Williams. The songs have been selected by Nick and musical notation has been transcribed by Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne. There are authoritative historical notes to each song supplied by Steve Gardham, along with detailed biographical material for many of the singers. The book is being published by Francis Boutle Publishers and should be available in time for Tenterden Folk Festival where Nick will do a launch event. I certainly look forward to seeing the book. Catch Nick Dow at Tenterden Folk Festival 2021.

Alan Castle (Editor)

BECOME A FRIEND OR SUPPORTER OF YOUR FESTIVAL Tenterden Folk Festival

You can help us continue to promote folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions by joining the supporters group. You may like to come to the festival; benefit from the influx of people into Tenterden; run a hotel or B&B; be a Morris dancer, musician, singer, craft person, etc. Whatever your reasons you can become a friend and supporter of the festival.

Commercial supporters: make an annual tax deductible donation of at least £25.00 and your business will be listed in the souvenir programme (also included on website) and receive a window sticker, special newsletters, etc.

Individual supporters: make an annual donation of at least £10.00. If you are a UK taxpayers you can do this under gift aid and we can then reclaim £2.50 from HMRC making your donation worth £12.50 to us. Individual supporters will be listed in the festival programme (unless opted out), received a window sticker, newsletters, etc.

Complete this form and send it, with your cheque made payable to Tenterden Folk Day Trust, to Alan Castle, Tenterden Folk Festival, 15 Repton Manor road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA. T: 01233 626805 E: info@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk

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

TENTERDEN

olk festival 2021

folk festival

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Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

(a wild goose feather and)AN OLD HARP TUNE Words & Music by Bob Watson

© COPYRIGHT 1998 ROM Watson/Patchworks 9 Compton Close Earley READING RG6 7EA UK watson.bob@tiscali.co.uk

1 In the days when Sally lived with Sam, we’d all make time together, You’d find us on the back porch making music every night; And Sally played the dulcimer and picked it with a feather, A present from some wildgoose on a south - passing flight.

And Sam would blow harmonica, that was a sound for hearing, Feather picked the dulcimer, as Sally played along; And there’s one piece that I recall so wistful and endearing –– An old harp tune from Ireland that was once a song.

Chorus: And Sweet summer days they look so distant come December, Good times are fleeting and they fade too soon; Then we’re thankful for the little things they leave us to remember, Like a wildgoose feather and an old harp tune.

2. Now Sam he was a nesting bird, but Sally was a rover, Half - sister to the wildgoose always heedful for the call; And she left the worn out feather when the summer days were over, And spread her wings and left him on the first wind of fall.

Now Sam plays all alone and Lord, it makes you sad to hear him, Singing songs of summer to an old cold moon; The dulcimer is gone, but still the feather’s always near him, And nothing sounds as lonesome as that old harp tune.

Chorus:

© COPYRIGHT 1998 ROM Watson/Patchworks 9 Compton Close Earley READING RG6 7EA UK watson.bob@tiscali.co.uk

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Tenterden

“Tenterden the Jewel of the Weald”

olk festival 2021

The Millennium Garden Programme Changes And Additions Guest list - Pete Luscombe added to guest list Guest list - Sadly, for personal reasons, Bob and Gill Berry cannot be with us this year Saturday - Free Music Stage 17.00 to 18.00: Green Diesel Saturday - The Vine Inn (garden) 15:00 to 16:00: Rattlebag Saturday - The Vine Inn (bar): Foot Down from about 20:00 Sunday - Mainly Music Session with Gavin and Julie Atkin 12:00 to 14:30: will, weather permitting, be moved to The Millennium Garden (behind White Stuff in the High Street) Other changes and additions will be announced if necessary.

Footnote Green Diesel, whose CD we reviewed in issue 106, will be playing the Free Music Stage at Tenterden Folk Festival at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday 2nd October.

WANTED Volunteer stewards and workforce Tenterden Folk Festival 2021

W: tenterdenfolkfestival.com/Volunteer-at-TFF E: chiefsteward@tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk Volunteer to earn your free weekend ticket

Scene & Heard Conundrum of the month: to reopen under current restrictions or continue on Zoom? Zoom has widened scope and we’ve all made new friends; the numbers of club regulars happy to return in person seem to vary. Please let us know your situation as it evolves and we can help to spread the word. We’ve heard: • Chichester meeting live at venue • Deal still zooming until October when it will meet on Thursday evenings • Dartford running in club from September • Drum (see below) moving to Monday session in bar- no more Friday zoom • Faversham meeting at the Limes Wednesdays, Singers & Guests: no more Wed zoom • Lewes running live at venue, no more zooms • Minster Music Mondays- running live at venue, no more zooms • Moore or Less restarted 13/8, no more zooms • Orpington Folk Club Thurs reopened at venue • Orpington Liberal Club reopened at venue • Rainham at Marlborough house from 3 Sept • Sharps at C# House , prob a zoom also • Tenterden • Tonbridge reopening September twice monthly • Woodshed Wrotham Arms- running virtually until further notice Please see the ads for current venues and listings.

Zoom sessions: Deal/Faversham linkup on Fridays to keep distant friends in touch in the pipeline.

Geoff Doel is looking at 1st/3rd Fridays for a new virtual venture into folklore and Kentish tradition songs - please contact him for details.

Gavin Atkin’s zoom staying virtual until further notice.

All this may change at the drop of a Rapid Antigen Test, or a spike in the assumptions…

At least we know that we have a system to fall back on if need be. Certainly great thanks are due to all the club organisers who initiated virtual sessions and gave us all something to look forward to. The music stayed alive through their goodwill.

And, at last, some good news....

Broadstairs Folk Week was most enjoyable, a real tribute to Jo Tuffs, Tess Watkin and Helen Orry in the office, the Festival Chairman Lee Wellbrook, VC Ian Bullock, the Committee and all the volunteers who were obviously trying to make everything work with compliance to the ever-changing rules. Goodwill and determination, not to mention cheerful sorting-out of matters arising, were everywhere to the fore. The Arena was mostly blessed with reasonable weather, whilst along the prom many morris sides and the Hobby Horse club by the bandstand rocked!

Highlights for me were The Young ‘Uns opening, Chris Wood’s mesmerising set in the sunshine and the delightfully melodic and pure combination of Knight & Spiers as the night rolled in- Braebach brought mist and rain but also were engaging and powerful. I missed many of my faves as they appeared at the same time as the Wrotham session, but did catch Mitchell and Vincent, whose harmonic and pastoral style was most welcome. Having Skynflynted the rounds in the past, I can appreciate the need to

Continued Overleaf...

offer pub fare, which was amply available. Just caught the Starks, Crisis, and the ever driving Hot Rats, all good crowd-pleasers of high quality.

The Poets’ Breakfast was well attended; the need to choose between sessions for song, tunes, and mixed accompaniment at lunchtime kept everyone on their toes. This year, just as well, as venue limits were observed. If there is a spike, it won’t be due to the traditional element: outside tents and ventilation everywhere were discernable. There were some intriguing (unofficial) interpretations of Folk Week: one bar had a line-up of 70s tribute, ska and disco. Strong blues too, and hooley bands. Americana. It all works in the town, for takings and variety, keeps the bars alive. It was usually possible to find somewhere more gentle for preference. Something with a hint of meadows... melodies… memories… I’m just dreaming… the impromptu harmony session last thing in the Sailing Club lingers in my memory. The Campsite Hub was heartwarming- several generations of singers, musicians and shanty addicts joining in a swirl of folk-up discovery.

Kent Song Collective were delighted to fill the Portland Hall for Around The Bay’s debut: particularly cheering to highlight John & Di Cullen’s own songs, Sue Watson’s Benches and Steve Moreham’s Ice Cream Waltz. Particular tribute to Tess, coping with the rearranged hall! Pip Ives’ polka set brought back happy memories of the Royal Standard in Hastings… its always a joy to work in new material to bring an original show to life with such quick players, I owe them a lot. And I love the Dale Canto light blue jacket… Coming to a venue near you, all being well…

All of a sudden diaries are filling up: time now to relearn all the songs we’ve had propped above our screens and remember that we’re not playing along on mute… Quite a few local acts graced Chickenstock, braving the English summer.

Tenterden isn’t far away, and I hear that Broomdasher are celebrating the 150th birthday of Edith Holden (Diary of an Edwardian Lady) on Sunday 3rd Oct. It’s part of a national tour and features many well-loved folk songs sung in their inimitable style. Nostalgia and fine harmonies. It’ll be good to see old friends like Dick Miles, Bob & Gill Berry and Brian Peters again, not to mention the highly entertaining Scold’s Bridle and Peter & Barbara Snape.

We hear that David Pleasants has decided to beat his last tattoo at the Drum. It’ll be carrying on under new management, probably on a Monday in the bar. David has been a staunch supporter of acoustic folk music both maritime and national, with a wide range of songs and anecdotes to match. Always a well-organised host, he brought to South Kent many outstanding singers such as Isla St Clair, Geoff Higginbottom, Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham, Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner, Laura Smyth and Ted Kemp, and also featured some local delights, encouraging Maureen Jones into a memorably funny and thoughtful gig. David also pioneered some of the Zoom techniques in use now, and we owe him a lot for enlivening Thursday nights. Hopefully we shall see him in Kent clubs for a long time yet.

Glad to report that the weekly Market Inn tunes session in Faversham has resumed for real, 8-10 on Tuesdays- over the summer the session musos have now raised over £4000 for Kent Hospices on their pop-up travels.

Joe Whittaker tells me that Swinging The Lead have been bringing sea shanties to KS1 children and have been pleased by the children’s reaction- a grand initiative and one which deserves to be developed. Folk Spots through Pete and Alan Castle et al Tenterden Folk Festival and Morrigan are working at Wyvern Special School in Ashford and Kent Song Collective through Music For Change and Folk London have also developed programmes of folksong to pass on our legacy of interest and enjoyment- and the Full English EFDSS initiative includes much good work by Carolyn Robson among others, resources available at the click of a button. There’s also info about justifying the inclusion of folksong in the

curriculum, links for teachers etc. I agree with Joe, the response is always heartening and worthwhile.

There’s a debate going on about the singing of local songs in local clubs- more on this in the next issue. Are we neglecting worthwhile songs? Is it that they were already in the repertoire so strongly that someone else was bound to sing them? At what point does a song become genuinely traditional? Let us know your thoughts...

As many will know, respected East Kent musician Bob Keeble passed away during Folk Week. His long- and short-bow fiddling enlivened the Wrotham sessions and his knowledge and enthusiasm will be missed. Our condolences to his family.

So fingers crossed for the autumn- keep safe and singing, Bob Kenward

BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA FOLK CLUB (FORMERLY THE STILEBRIDGE FOLK CLUB)

SINGER’S NIGHT NOW LIVE AGAIN, FROM WEDNESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2021, AND 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

For the latest news of online folk events check out The Folk Forecast at thefolkforecast.substack.com lots of interesting stuff there.

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

Sussex Folk News Gradually the folk club scene in Sussex is making its way back into action. The latest to announce plans is the Horsham Folk Club and their Committee is meeting on 7 September to discuss reopening the club, possibly in October.

Eastbourne Folk Club is also getting under way again and their re-opening at the Lamb will be on Wednesday September 1st. Like the Lewes Saturday night Folk Club at the Elephant and Castle, they will be starting in a fairly cautious way with open stage nights on September 1st and 15th but they may have some guest performers in future weeks Their press release adds “These will be staged in the same way as our open stage in January 2020, with tables and chairs reasonably well distanced, in case anyone feels wary of being too close. (That layout seemed to work pretty well even before COVID!). We have potential guest nights from October onwards, providing we have an indication that there will be sufficient support.”

We’ll continue with 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, so for October the dates will be 6th and 20th.”

The Lewes Saturday folk club will be continuing its programme of themed singarounds until the end of September and the plan has been to move on to booking mainly local performers after that but no firm bookings have been announced so far. Their website gives a very impressive list of all-day workshops already arranged for 2022 with many well-known performers amongst the workshop leaders including John Kirkpatrick, Alistair Anderson, Rob Habron, Sam Sweeney and Andy Cutting. The full list is given at http://www. lewessaturdayfolkclub.org/indexLSFC.html .

Chichester Folk Song Club is at the Chichester Inn on Mondays. They returned to action at the end of August and with promising number in attendance they have booked a number of high profile guests – Monday 4th October: Les Barker, Monday 18th October: Cosmotheka and Monday 15th November: Huw Williams There is nothing to report about the popular Brighton Acoustic Club restarting at present and the website for the long-running Willows Folk Club in Arundel seems to have been closed and no communication has been received from them, a great pity because this folk club has been running weekly since the 1960s.

The concerts organised by Bob Perry and his Spyboy presentations at The Hailsham Pavilion are swinging back into action with three big name events before Christmas.

On Sunday 31st October at 8.00pm, they had the wonderful father and daughter combination of Eliza and Martin Carthy with the venue continuing to observe the socially distanced seating protocol.

On Saturday 4th December at 8.00pm the band led by the Ex Steeleye Span fiddleplayer Peter Knight, The Gigspanner Big Band will be the attraction. Peter is joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet, guitarist Roger Flack, the Edgelarks duo (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player, John Spiers.

This will be followed by their regular Christmas show on Saturday 18th December with St Agnes Fountain which now comprises fiddler Chris Leslie (also of Fairport Convention) and BBC Folk Award Winners Chris While and Julie Matthews.

Booking for these shows only at the Hailsham Pavilion website -www.hailshampavilion. co.uk – and phone enquiries to Bob at 01323 841414..

Vic Smith

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 Oct 2 Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 Oct 30 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 20 No 27

Open Night ‘The Demon Drink’ £3 Open Night At THE WHITE HART. High Street £3 Open Night No theme £3 Open Night No theme £3 Open Night ‘Laugh or cry, same price’ £3 CLOSED (post Bonfire) Open Night No theme £3 Open Night No theme £3 Open Night No theme £3

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 23 July John Kirkpatrick Tune arranging 24 July John Kirkpatrick Vocal harmony 17 Sept Alistair Anderson Northumbrian tunesmiths Dan Walsh Clawhammer banjo ALISTAIR ANDERSON & DAN WALSH evening 15 Oct Andy Cutting Melodeon Rob Harbron English concertina Sam Sweeney Fiddle LEVERET evening 29 Oct Ben Paley Fiddle 11 Nov Riley Baugus Banjo

CD Reviews

Mel Biggs - From darkness comes light Talking Cat Records TCCD 2103 Mel is best known as one of Morai, with Jo Freys and Sarah Matthews, and this is her first solo album. Mel plays diatonic accordions and provides the rare vocals. She is joined by Kat Bigg on piano accordion; Jon Loomes of Talking Cat Records, who also recorded, mixed and mastered the album, on guitar and cittern; Bridget Slater on fiddle; and David Squirrell on mandolin and mandola.

Dave’s parts were recorded separately in his living room.

Only one track of the 12, Mountain Hills / Coleford Jig, is traditional, the rest were written and arranged Mel. This will no doubt prove to be a popular album with those of us who enjoy listening to well played and skilful accordion music.

Maartin Allcock - OX15 Talking Elephant Records TECD460 OX15 is a re-release of Maartin’s second solo album.

Maartin sadly passed away in 2018 but is remembered for his multi-instrumental skills and his time with Fariport Convention and Jethro Tull. The 12 tracks on this album are not pure folk but come with proud folk influence and represent a wide range of instrumental styles. Vocals only feature on four tracks. Although the album is described as a solo album it does feature the playing of Chris Leslie, Ian Anderson, Dave Pegg, Gerry Conway, Simon Mayor and others. The six page insert gives full details of each of the 12 tracks including Maartin’s own notes and details of who is playing what.

Steve Ashley - Family Album revisited Talking Elephant Records TECD465 I’m not sure how to describe this album; a novelty record, a party record, or what? It was certainly popular back in 1979 when it was recorded and 1982 when it was released and it is now available with two extra tracks. It includes Family Love, Once in a While, Feeling Lazy, Pancake Day and The Rough with the Smooth and eight other tracks. The musicians include Dave Pegg, Simon Nicol, Chris Leslie, the late Bruce Rowland, Martin Brinsford, Trevor Foster, Mark Powell and The Capes. The album was originally on Dave and Chris Pegg’s Woodworm label and Dave, who produced it, says it was “great fun” and it certainly sounds like it. The photos on the sleeve are rather amusing too.

Alan Castle (Editor)

Deal Folk Club Meets 8pm every Friday

Deal Folk Club is continuing to meet online for weekly singarounds via Zoom every Friday evening at 7.30pm.

We look forward to seeing you all again in person when this becomes possible.

For the latest information see our website www.dealfolkclub.org.uk.

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)

Live club nights due to resume on Friday 8th October Friday 13th August, 2021 Dates: Friday 26th November (this is the 4th Friday, Fridayonly, 13th August, 20212nd Friday) for one month otherwise Friday 10th September, 2021 Entrance fee £4 including raffle.

All club nights 8.30 to 11.00pm Entrance fee £4.00 ( guest nights as advertised)

Enquiries to Chris Wilkin – 01634 366155 or 07821 606076

CD Reviews

Various artists - Stand up now Songs from the Landworkers’ Alliance MATR21001 I cannot say that I had heard of The Landworkers’ Alliance, the union for small scale farmers and farm workers before this CD dropped on to the doormat. The CD features a selection of mainly traditional songs sung by some of those workers and a few more well-known folk musicians such as Ewan McClennan. The album was produced by Sid Goldsmith who also performs on it. Sid says he travelled from farm to farm with a small mobile recording rig to record it. The 15 tracks are well presented and well sung and include some firm favourites such as Kipling’s Oak and ash and thorn, Sing ivy / An acre of land, Rufford Park, The faithful plough, Packie Byrne’s The Drover’s song, and Green brooms. Some tracks are a cappella but none are over cluttered with instruments and the vocals all come through clearly. The CD comes with a 12 page insert that includes more information about the Union, the performers and the others involved in its production and also the word to all the songs. To find out more about this impressive CD and the Union visit www.landworkersalliance.com.

Alan Castle (Editor) Granny’s Attic – The Brickfields It was a joy to see Granny’s Attic perform live at Broadstairs Folk Week in the main concert arena last week. As I remarked to a friend, these lads just get better and better, and this is reflected in their new album of tunes The Brickfields. Recorded in April of this year, the Brickfields is named after the fields that were dug up to extract clay for brickmaking, which Granny’s Attic liken to unearthing old tunes and creating new music. As a singer I wondered whether I would enjoy an album with no songs, just instrumental music, however I need not have worried.

The absence of words is made up for by the variety of melodies and different styles, fast and slow, traditional and self-penned which plays to the strengths of each band member. Beginning with the jolly traditional Cruds & Cream/ Jig from New Harmony, stately Odd Thoughts/James’s Maggot and Brickfields, along with lively Rakes of Kirby every tune is brilliantly arranged and balanced often starting quietly with all band members joining in and building up to a crescendo at the end. Lewis on the fiddle shines out on his compositions Highfield’s Lament, 200 Miles South West and lively Watt’s Reel, while Cohen’s melodeon and concertina playing is as immaculate as ever on his Will Grimdon’s Number 2, eerie Devil’s Arch and Boxing Day. George takes the lead in his beautiful Considerate Birders written for a friend’s wedding day and Queen’s Wood and as always his guitar playing, almost percussive at times, brings the whole sound together.

Yes, I miss the voices, but this is a lovely album of tunes where the melodies speak for themselves amongst the beautiful arrangements.

Sue Watson

THE STAR OF THE KENTISH DOWNS Near Swanley town in the Kentish Downs, One evening I chanced to stray; Down by Fawkam Green, came a girl obscene, And she grinned as she came my way.

Now she looked a fright, in her laddered tights, And her flesh covered in tattoos; She looked so mean with her face all green, As she swigged from a bottle of booze.

From Dungeness up to old Sheerness, And from Westerham to old Deal Town, No witch I’d seen since Halloween, ‘Til that crone in the Kentish Downs.

I was bewitched by that scary bitch, Her stare pierced me through to my soul; With pursed black lips and swaggering hips, Her eyes flared like burning coals.

She accosted me to demand a fee, For the Devil’s daughter in law; That harridan hag then spat out her fag, Then she deftly spat on the floor.

Her menacing tone, surely chilled my bones, As she grilled me as to my worth; Like a frightened bird, I gave my word, And the contents out of my purse.

Then I heard a ringtone from her mobile phone, T’was an eerily familiar sound, I knew then and there, t’was my own daughter fair, Just off for a night in town.

Her see-through dress was a tattered mess, And the skirt no more than a belt; Her four inch heels were spikes of steel, And her handbag a dead rat’s pelt.

Her breasts were bared to the cold night air, With her piercings all in show; And her hair was dressed like a buzzard’s nest, Tied up with a barbed wire bow.

From Dungeness to old Sheerness, And from Westerham to old Deal Town, She roams the pubs and the all-night clubs, She’s my Star of the Kentish Downs.

JJ Crossley 2003

Book Review

Dick Holdstock - Again with one voice British Songs of Political Reform 1768 to 1868 Loomis House Press, Minnesota Dick Holdstock was born and brought up in Medway and Kent but has lived in the US for many years. I attended the online launch of this book which attracted people from around the world and is receiving very good reviews from the folk community. Dick has spent over 20 years collating these songs, some of which are well known but many are not. Some came with tunes attached but others Dick has found relevant traditional tunes to fit. The book contains the word and music as well as a few pen and ink and other interesting illustrations and a considerable amount about the history of the times. The songs and narrative cover nearly 400 pages and are divided into 10 basic topics and periods such as Liberty 1768-1781, War 1800-1815, and Reform 1851- 1868. There is a short and informative Forward by Steve Roud, an epilogue, bibliography, index to the 121 or so songs by titles, index to first lines and a general index. Music transcripts were provided by June Nishimoto. Some of the songs featured include All Around my Hat, Battle of Waterloo, Bonaparte’s Farewell to Paris, Catholic Rent, The Cotton Lords of Preston, The Dudley Boys, Hunting a Loaf, A New Chartists Song, The Ploughman’s Ditty, Working Men of England and many, many more. Whether you want to learn the songs or just learn more about them and the period, this is an excellent book to add to your reading list, well researched, well put together and well present.

JOAN - Well Swing, aw year yov bin at wark ogenith Parlement hewse joy bin very busy, where mun’t Lord’s anth big-whigs sit new to do their dirty wark?

SWING - Why Joan, they may sit at home for what good they ever did, or ever intends to do, unless it’s to Tax & impoverish this nation, and all others if they can.

JOAN - Wha Swing. They towd me of it wur Guy Fawks os set it on fire.

SWING - No Joan, Guy Fawkes (if ever there was such a man) thought of sending all of them to heaven in a body, Big-Whigs, Lords and Commons, and a pleasant ride they’d have had on the 5th of November, & if they all had been in when I put the match to the pile.

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 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

Rosslyn Court

Live acoustic music in the cultural heart of Cliftonville

Live concerts and effective, fun, friendly voice/music/dance workshops +…

Concerts doors 7.00.

usually £12

Full list/YouTube link: www.RosslynCourt.com/concerts or Facebook

book: WeGotTickets/Rosslyn Court – limited audience atm The 1st hour (only) is also live streamed on YouTube -donations please!

October 8 tba – updates see www.rosslyncourt.com/concerts 14 Jeni Hankins & Alfred John Hickling – home spun Appalachian 23 Germa Adans’ band – alt & contemporary folk, tales from Haiti 28 tba - see updates November 4 Ravens’ Wedding –joyful mayhem, great folk songs & enthusiasm 11 Copper Viper – highly recommended trio fresh from Broadstairs 18 Ellie Gowers – echoes of the ‘60s revival, strong, lucent vocals 25 Jez Lowe – Geordie icon, writer, singer of great memorable songs Licenced micro bar, hot and cold soft drinks + cake! availabl e.

Fun and Friendly socially isolated Workshops

Harmonica with Nigel Feist / Kenn Ward 3 – 5 pm £14 tba Krista Bubble’s regular Fiddle club Sat 2.30 – 4.00 £14 Clog/Step taster workshops monthly – Lesley Riding and banjo Dave 11 – 12 a.m., Oct 5+26, Nov 16, Dec 14 £10 Mandolin or Ukulele with Dick Smith - tba Call 07902140248 for workshop details.

Advanced bookings: seats- WeGotTickets or 07902140248 62 Sweyn Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2DD 8/33/Loop bus -please try to park on the sea front-unless your mobility is limited..

W e really appreciate the financial support w e received from the Music Venue Trust , ACE and Thanet DC

Faversham

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

Folk Club

The Limes

Preston Steet, Faversham ME13 8PG

Oct - Nov

FAVERSHAM FOLK CLUB IS BACK From Wednesday, 1st September, we will be back at the Limes every week.

The evenings will be singers’ nights until we have built up the numbers sufficiently to pay for guests.

For those concerned about coming out and mixing: the room will be ventilated with windows open on both sides. So bring warm clothing for later!

Also, there are screens in the club room for people to get behind if they like, particularly when singing.

There will be no more Wednesday Zooms unless things change nationally. Thank you to everyone who came along and made our sessions so varied and full of quality. The music and song went onwe never closed! See you soon.

We meet every Wednesday for Singers’ Nights: all are welcome to perform or listen Please contact Ernie, Bob or Pat for the access code to our Zooms.

Chairman/ Bookings: Pat on 01795 423674 or rjpmailbox pat@yahoo.co.uk Press/ Radio Publicity:Bob on 07885 642763 / bobkenward21c@gmail.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

Subject to the Covid 19 emergency, please check our website for the latest information tonbridgefolkclub.org Our provisional programme is: 20th September Richard Grainger 4th October 1st November

Helen North David Fisher

Tel: 01892 822945

info@tonbridgefolkclub.org www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

Singdanceandplay

Farnborough Social Club

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

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!

7th

Hunter Muskett

14th, 21st, 28th

Singers & Musicians Night

NOVEMBER

4th

11th, 18th, 25th

Bob Kenward 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.

Thursdays @ 8.15pm 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513 Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk E-mail:orpingtonfolkclub@hotmail.com

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. 108 December/January COPY DATE: 18th October Then …

18th October 2021 - December / January 18th April 2022 – June / July 18th December 2021 – February / March 18th June 2022 – August / September 18th February 2022 – April / May 18th August 2022 – October / November

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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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