Unicorn Magazine Issue 137 by Unicorn Folk

CLUB PROFILE: ABBOTS LANGLEY Features: New Moon Morris, Daria kulesh CD REVIEWS

Interviews

& MUCH MOREâ&#x20AC;¦

Back after a highly acclaimed first year

Jez Lowe and The Bad Pennies Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection Ewan MacLennan Emily Slade .....and many more Enjoy music on 3 stages, food stalls, instrumental workshops and free entertainment on the lovely village green

“This is the festival equivalent of a gourmet picnic... pleasant and delightful, and bound to sell out year after year. We were thrilled to help launch it in 2016!” James Fagan (Kerr/Fagan) For tickets and information visit:

www.kimptonfolk.uk or email: hello@kimptonfolk.uk

“Cheers To A New Year And Another Chance For Us To Get It RighT” as Oprah Winfrey said...

o it’s farewell to 2016 – a year of mixed fortunes for the world but a great year for Unicorn Magazine. First of all, we would like to give a big shout out to all those lovely people who support us and a special mention to everyone who has worked so hard to help us streamline and speed up the distribution, so you all get your copies quicker and more easily.

In 2016 we did our very best to “get it right” as Oprah said, and we have every intention of doing even better in 2017. We are starting the New Year with a jam-packed edition, crammed with lots of folky things to look forward to and enjoy. And we are full of ideas and plans to support all things folk in our neck of the woods and build on the great support and encouragement we have received. We have brought our copy dates forward a little to make sure we can publish well in advance of the quarter covered by the magazine. We know this can sometimes cause a problem for some of our advertisers and contributors and

we thank you all for your understanding. But we all agree that it’s important to everyone to get the magazine out in good time and so it’s worth making the effort and getting the ads and other entries to us as soon as you can. And at the risk of being a bit cheeky, there is something else you can do to help us. Please can you put the issue number on your cheque or online payment reference when you pay us. It would be a great help and would save a lot of precious time and head scratching!

So, if you like listening to live music, playing an instrument, dancing or playing folk music CDs in your home or car – Unicorn Magazine is the one for you – and it’s FREE! Thank you all for your support and we wish you all the very best for the New Year. We’ll see you round the clubs! Sandra & Clive

Editorial

Shall We Dance?

16 & 17

Contents

Unicorn Diary

19 – 21

Readers’ Letters

Club Index

Feature: Daria Kulesh

Folk Bloke

CD Review: KARA

Club Profile: Abbots Langley

Chatterbox

Interview: Delta Ladies

Round the Clubs

Music Lesson

Songs

Feature: New Moon Morris

Interview: Steve Warner

The Morris Page

CD Review: Steve Warner

Stop Press: Watford Folk Song Update

Sessions

Broadside by Long Lankin

Front cover photo by Al Rogers (www.alanrogersimages.co.uk)

Guiharpitar #1, from the Benton Fletcher Collection at Fenton House, Hampstead.

Editorial Team: Clive Batkin 07771 822414 clive@cbatkin.plus.com unicornmagazine @hotmail.co.uk Sandra Lawes unicornmagazine @hotmail.co.uk Contact address: 2 Hill Close, Harpenden, Herts AL5 5JE Printed by KJB UK Ltd

We take great care to ensure all elements of Unicorn Magazine are accurate. However, we accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes that appear. The views and opinions expressed in submitted articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors. Any personal views expressed in submitted articles are the writers’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Unicorn editorial team. It will be assumed that any letters sent to the magazine are intended for publication unless otherwise obviously stated.

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e were delighted to receive some feedback from you on the feature, ‘Singaround or Session’ from Issue 134: When I read the article by Son of Barleycorn I nearly cheered our loud (I didn’t because I was in a singaround!). Oh, how I agree with him. It is so wrong – bad mannered – to play along with someone in a singaround unless invited. I sing unaccompanied as a choice – I like the freedom to alter the timing if I want to and I’ll sing in ‘the cracks’ between official keys if that’s how it comes out. As Son of Barleycorn says, the person running the singaround should make things clear. It’s very embarrassing to have to stop singing because you can’t actually go on with the “accompaniment” from the guitarist who thinks you need them – or even worse the accordionist (I encountered that in Kent). I love listening to musicians and if someone says “everyone join in” that’s fine and it can be great fun – but even musicians don’t always want others playing along if they have planned a solo. I am surprised that the editors said that the article was ‘controversial’ – it’s just a matter of good manners and should be obvious to anyone… after all, most of us in folk clubs are uncomfortably of an age where we would have been brought up with manners!

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Ely Folk Club

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presents

Hertfordshire Webster

Regarding the feature ‘Singaround or Session’ in Issue 134, I think Pat Crilly has the right answer at his White Horse Folk Club in Hertford. He puts smartly laminated cards on all the tables, setting out the club’s etiquette for performers and audience alike. This means that newbies know what is expected of them, and old-timers can be reminded! Miranda Pender

Old Dispensary, 13 St Mary’s St., Ely CB7 4ER 01353 740999/664706

Do send us your letters, comments or general thoughts which we’ll publish where appropriate

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

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Daria Kulesh launches a new solo album

On 23rd February 2017, Daria Kulesh (from band KARA, CD review below) is launching her new solo album – Long Lost Home – at Cecil Sharp House. It is inspired by Ingushetia, a fascinating republic in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia. Here is a fragment from Daria’s travel blog to give you a taster:

rom the narrow river valley, we emerge into a landscape of such staggering beauty that not having 360-degree vision almost hurts, almost feels like a crime of turning a blind eye on a priceless gift, something only a chosen few get to see. This is the cradle of the Ingush, a place steeped in myth, where the ultimate elder, Ga, ordered his three sons – Egi, Khamkhi and Targim – to build three great fortified villages. Whole communities lived and prospered there along the great Silk Road. The residential towers, ghala, are shorter in stature and have flat roofs. They also explain the name the Ingush call themselves – “ghalghai”, or “people of the towers”. One such tower would house an entire extended family, with one floor – “kunatskaya” – especially to accommodate guests. The hearth was

“Some Other Shore” KARA

his is the delightful second CD from Hertfordshire-based band KARA and it certainly lives up to the promise of their debut album. This spirited folk music with a Russian twist effortlessly combines the best of traditional folk (with the obligatory elements of tragedy and death), with haunting and poignant renderings of Russian songs, reminiscent of gypsy melodies. The word KARA has various meanings, including black in Turkish, punishment in Russian and caramel pancake in French. The music on this twelve track CD reflects this variety and showcases the skilled musicianship of this four-piece band, which richly deserves to be more widely known. The songs and instrumental numbers combine self-written lyrics and tunes with traditional words

the heart of the house and the fire could never go out, or it would spell misfortune for the whole clan. The military towers (vouv) are a wonder. During the Caucasian War of the 19th century, Russians couldn’t believe that these formidable structures were built by the “savages” they were colonising, thinking them remnants of a more advanced civilization. Tall and slender, striking in their simplicity, these towers are solid as the mountains themselves. There was no entrance below the first floor, temporary ladders were used for access in times of peace, and in times of war these towers were impregnable. Even dynamite didn’t work, the tower would simply lift up in the air and then land exactly where it stood – just like the tablecloth trick!” Find out more at: www.daria-kulesh.co.uk

and music. The result is an album that takes the listener on a magical mystery tour from the English seashore to the Russian Steppes! Daria Kulesh has one of the most beautiful, emotionally expressive voices I have ever heard and her excellent diction means you can hear every word, even when she slips into Russian for some tracks. Phil Underwood plays his melodeon with skilled fingering and passion. Ben Honey has written many of the words and tunes and his guitar playing is full of energy. The distinctive sound of the hammered dulcimer expertly played by Kate Rouse is perfectly suited to the haunting and enigmatic music. I loved ‘Some Other Shore’ and found the music atmospheric and magical. Pete Morton the singersongwriter is to replace Ben Honey on guitar and vocals in January 2017. I can’t wait to see how KARA’s music develops with the new line-up and I am sure this is a band we are going to see and hear a lot more in the future. Sandra Lawes

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Cambridge Junction

Tue 24 Jan

The Transports

Sun 05 Feb

Jim moray

Tue 07 Feb

Amy wadge & luke Jackson

Wed 08 feb

Mad dog mcrea

Thu 09 feb

Paolo angeli & Derek gripper

Sat 11 feb

OMAR SOULEYMAN

Mon 13 feb

Breabach

Tue 21 feb

MICHAEL MCGOLDRICK, JOHN MCCUSKER AND JOHN DOYLE

Sun 26 feb

MEGSON FAMILY FOLK SHOW

Tue 28 feb

CARA DILLON

Tue 07 mar

KRIS DREVER

Mon 13 maR

SKERRYVORE

SAT 18 MAR

EMILY MAGUIRE

MON 20 MAR

DAMIEN O'KANE TRIO & DAOIRI FARRELL

SAT 25 Mar

Sklamberg & the shepherds

Cambridge junction, clifton way, Cambridge cb1 7gx Junction.co.uk | 01223 511 511

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Jan 11 Harp and a Monkey Jan 18 Boxwood Chessmen

£8/9/10 www.harpandamonkey.com £8/9/10 from the ashes of Shave the Monkey - Vocals/bass

Jan 25 Les Cailloux (France) Feb 01 Mark Harrison Feb 08 Terence Blacker Feb 15 Fara (Orkney) Feb 22 Martyn Wyndham-Read Mar 01 Chris Lord’s Blues Express Mar 08 Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston Mar 15 Open ﬂoor Mar 22 Chris Green/Sophie Matthews Mar 29 Foxglove Trio

£8/9/10 £8/9/10 £8/9/10 £9/10/12 £9/10/12 £8/9/10 £10/£12/13

mandola/mandolin/guitars/melodeon/harmonica

£8/9/10 £8/9/10

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https://youtu.be/Civib-SGDG4 www.markharrisonrootsmusic.com http://terenceblacker.com http://faramusic.co.uk www.martynwyndhamread.com www.chrislord.org.uk www.sykespreston.com www.greenmatthews.co.uk www.thefoxglovetrio.co.uk

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

A new folk session is happening at the Burnaby Arms in Bedford, last Tuesday of every month at 7:30pm (except for Christmas 2016 which will be on Wednesday 28th December). Music will be trad English and Northumbrian folk tunes. Players of all instruments are welcome, including percussion, as are singers and self composers. Beginners are strongly encouraged. A tune list is added to each month and maintained on the Facebook events. The Burnaby Arms is a lovely community pub, with a selection of real ales and parking on the streets around with free parking. Contact Matthew Rickard, matthewjohnrickard@ googlemail.com, 07791 433456. Benslow Music are running Music without Notation: An Introduction through Folk Music with Laurel Swift, Friday 10 – Sunday 12 March. Fee from £205, more details from Benslow Music, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 9RB, www.benslowmusic.org, info@benslowmusic.org, 01462 459446 Some sad news from Stortfolk as below: “We have been told that the British Legion Building we currently use as the venue for the club needs £0.5million to upgrade and make safe – for this reason their lease will not be renewed when it runs out next September. My Good Lady tells me that at seventy-three and well scarred by nearly 50 years of association with, and for much for that time (over 40 years) organiser of the club now called Stortfolk…… that I am not allowed to continue the task!! Shame really as I’m just starting to work out how to ‘do the job’!... and so, from the end of July 2017 (when I go on holiday) the club will cease to be. The result of this is that if anyone want to consider starting a Folk Club in or around the Bishops Stortford area, we would be delighted and do our best to support your efforts… Until I hang up my hat and tatters!” Contact Jon McNamara (01279 656664) if you are interested in his offer! Do remember to send us your club news for ‘Round The Clubs’ and we’ll feature it in this section

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

A farewell to Richard Thursday 27th October saw Redbourn Folk Club play host to a Memorial Evening in tribute to local musician Richard Scruton, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

For over 25 years Richard was a long time supporter of both the club and the wider local music scene.

Two stages (one in the normal schoolroom and one in the pub bar) featured numerous performers, all paying and playing their musical respects to Richard. It was a fantastic night of music and tributes, wonderfully organised and MC’d by Nick Holland & Andy McClennon.

Performers on the night included Harmonica Lewinsky, Johnny Johnson, WORMS Crew, Andrew Clarke, Nigel Wesson, David Watts, Dave Hurst & Paul Rayner, Alison Raymond, GBH, Linda Fryd, Roger Lewis & Jean Fisher, Jan Strapp, Julian Mount, Steve McClennon, Chris & Angelo, Dick Moffat, Pete Gent, Chuck & The Waggons, Richard Kenney, Bob Wakeling, Rick & Ellie, Jenny & Alan... Richard will be sadly missed.

Charity Single

Lucy Layton, daughter of The New Seekers’ Paul Layton, carries on the folk tradition of the classic Coca-Cola-ad-turned-iconic-song’s lyrics by updating the music for the powerful video of charity Syria Relief’s StepForward campaign. Following a radio tour around the UK promoting the charity single, Lucy and her band are resuming live performances. In December Lucy even played an invitational gig within the Houses of Parliament To view the charity single video, or to donate and download, visit www.lucylaytonofficial.com.

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“The Other Half of the Moon”

n many folk songs a young couple have to separate, usually for economic reasons. Not enough jobs to go round or they’re too poorly paid so the young man seeks his fortune elsewhere. He would often take a token, half a sixpence or something, a kind of engagement ring. Hence the opening line of this song. I have performed the song ‘John Riley’ where the lovers separate but there’s no token. I felt that in the traditional songs it was usually the woman who gained the listener’s sympathy. I wanted to look at it from the guy’s point of view, after all we feel lonely, we’re human too! The half-moon in the winter sky is like a token Given to a husband far away at sea And as he stares up at the blanket of black He picks out the stars to guide him back Back to the safe arms of the one he loves The invisible half-moon above Above him in the starry sky Distant and silent in the alien night

Chorus Where is she tonight? What is she doing? Does she remember The days of his wooing? Does she remember His love and his kissing And are his the arms That she is missing? The stars don’t answer and the sea is still And he’s left with the darkness, the splash and the chill And he remembers her hair and the things that they said When they we together in his galleon bed Under the back sky protecting their love With the full moon high above And tonight he sighs and longs to see her soon Oh where is the other half of the moon

Chorus YouTube film at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=km3Ab4qJ7z4

“Two Magpies”

omebody asked me if I actually saw those magpies. I was sitting in my garden with Juliet and two magpies flew overhead carrying twigs to build a nest. I just wrote what I saw to coalesce that moment. It was like painting still life, a snapshot with enough room for the listener’s input. It’s not a scientific report. It’s an impressionist painting, not a photograph, even so it’s as literal as you can be. You have to notice the right things and give the right weight and balance. Sometimes it takes as it takes as long to compose as it does to write it down. We sat in my garden in the sun and you leant into my arms you stroked your finger across the lines of my palm

Chorus And two magpies flew over our heads as we take our rest carrying twigs to my roof, to build a nest Your touch took root in my heart and I kissed your hair and I would have given tomorrow to stay forever there

Chorus I’ve only known you a short time I feel I’ve known you all my life are you here for a season or will you be my wife?

Chorus YouTube film at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrLOqwOens

All songs are taken from ‘Songs for Juliet’ by Jon Bickley available on CD and from i-tunes. A collection of lyrics and poetry, also called ‘Songs for Juliet’ is also available at www.jonbickley.com

Following on from our interview with Jon in Issue 136, he sent us these songs - more from him to follow in future issues!

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Steve Warner

hen Kimpton-based singer / songwriter Steve Warner sent us his new CD for review (containing the cautionary song ‘Harpenden Driver’), it seemed too good an opportunity for Clive not to meet him in one of that town’s (many) coffee shops to chat about his music... How did your folk music performances start, Steve? In the past I’d played in various bands, but it wasn’t until I moved to Kimpton three years or so ago that I started popping along to the regular sessions (at that time) held in The White Horse, now in The Boot. It was the welcoming and supportive nature of those events that inspired me to start writing my own material and putting myself ‘out there’ on the local folk scene. I also immersed myself in the music of people like Martyn Jospeh and Seth Lakeman for inspiration, and began evolving my own voice and style. You are also a regular contributor to the Watford Folk Song competition (last held on 18th Nov 2016) This will be my third year of competing, with a new song called “422 Years Young” (based on the 2015 Hatton Garden heist) and I’m hopeful of beating my first year’s success where I was shortlisted to the final 10. Your CD ‘Folk’ (reviewed opposite) has a refreshingly live sound... I recorded it on Helen Meissner’s Folkstock label with her daughter Laren Deakin Davis at the control knobs, and I’m really pleased with the way it came out. My next CD will be more of a layered affair, with much of it done on my new home recording set up. As well as that recording, you are also involved in two other musical projects, I hear... Yup! I have a duo with another Kimpton-ite called Roly, as well as a trio with Doug Jenner and Richard Stewart called The Kymers, named after the river that once flowed though our village [we’ll hopefully be doing a feature on this new outfit in the year to come – Ed.]. Busy times, Steve! Finally, I know you work in Harpenden as a School Chaplain – are the drivers here really as bad as your song makes out? That song was based on a real event that happened to me on the Lower Luton / Batford Road. For more information you’ll have to come see me perform it or buy the CD!

“Folk” Steve Warner

review is only ever one person’s opinion. However, by coincidence, my partner and I listened to this CD together. We realised that we had heard Steve sing the first two songs, Mud and Schoolgate at a Cambridge Folk Club open stage. We were impressed then, and remain so. The fact that we instantly recognised them speaks volumes about their quality.

Mud talks about World War one. Whatever appalling horrors soldiers encountered there was always one dreadful and deadly constant – “the mud” The second song, Schoolgate, comments upon the plight of single mums – shades of Ken Loach perhaps? The remaining three songs are equally worthy. Checking Out seems to me to be about seeing a loved one suffering from dementia. Is that a personal observation?

Mighty Ben, on the subject of mountaineering, contrasting the thrill and the pride of climbing with the ever present danger to human life and limb. Lastly, Harpenden Driver. A vitriolic attack on an arrogant driver of a ‘Chelsea tractor’ – we’ve all been there… Steve writes songs with strong lyrics and uses tuneful, sensitive arrangements which are perfectly attuned to the mood of the words. Recommended listening. More information from : www.stevewarnerfolk.com

Clive Batkin 10

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Sunday Lunchtimes S TONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar, High Street (Weekly): Jane Armour, 01908 566407

Sunday Evenings W ESTON TURVILLE • The Chandos (3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 M ILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com (Weekly) M ILTON KEYNES • New Bradwell Sports Club, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 S T ALBANS • Great Northern, 172 London Road (3rd 6pm). Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 S T ALBANS • Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street (2nd 7.15): John Breeze, 07774 909067 L EIGHTON BUZZARD • The Swan, Northall (1st) Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220

Monday Evenings A SHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091 C HATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 S OHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 S TEVENAGE • Our Mutual Friend (2nd): Gary Moyle, 07960 953778 T OTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (8.30pm, weekly): Contact, 01582 661294 (pub)

Tuesday Evenings A BINGTON PIGOTTS • Village Hall, SG8 0SH (8-10.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 A MPTHILL • The Albion, Dunstable Street (2nd): Rod Ward, 01763 852 377 B EDFORD • Burnaby Arms, Stanley St (last 7.30pm, tunes) Matthew Rickards, 07791 433456 D UNSTABLE • Globe, Winfield St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300 D UNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub) G T WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280 H ISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553 M ARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868 R ICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (2nd): Michael, 01923 770425 S T ALBANS • King Harry, King Harry Lane (1st, songs & tunes): Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 T EWIN • Rose & Crown. (3rd evenings). Acoustic, vocal, instrumental. Kit Burgess, 01438 869435

T RING • Kings Arms, (8.30, 1st, trad Irish songs & tunes, led by Chan Reid/fiddle, John Devine/pipes, Neil Stanton/guitar): Rob Muirhead (landlord), 01442 823318 W OOTTON (Beds) • The Cock MK43 9JT (8.00pm, broad acoustic & folk): Mike Carter Jones, 01234 768555, Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

Wednesday Evenings B ARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, fortnightly): Ann, 01582 560815 B ENINGTON (Stevenage) • The Bell (1st): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 C AMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2nd, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 E LY • Kings Arms, St Marys St (last): Liam, laimdebrun@outlook.co.uk, 07905 044932 M ARCH • March Folk Club, Royal British Legion Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, PE15 8DP (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 M OGGERHANGER • Moggerhanger Village Hall (7.30pm, 1st): Chris, 01767 640 242 R ADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Cobden Hill, WD7 7JR (8.00pm, 2nd): Nick, 020 8207 3057 S T ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (8.30pm, weekly, mainly music): Rick Payman, 01727 852976 T EBWORTH • Queens Head, LU7 9QB (4th, free food): Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 T OWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8.00pm, 3rd): Andrew Leleux, 01296 615160 W ELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758 L ITTLE WYMONDLEY • The Bucks Head, Stevenage Road (1st): Kerry, 07877 930201

Thursday Evenings H ERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd): Keith Acheson, 07979 841079 H UNTON BRIDGE • King’s Head (4th): Tim, 01923 264536 K IMPTON • The Boot (2nd & 4th): Doug, 07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com L UTON • Castle PH LU1 3AA (weekly): Nigel Bailey, 07788 431470 T OWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322 W OBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660

Friday Evenings A YLESBURY • Queens Park Arts Centre (1st, 3rd and 5th): Amanda Diamond, 01296 424332 S T NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (10 Feb and 10 Mar, 8.30pm, tunes): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org S TEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales MK18 2NP (2nd, Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062

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American Contras in Ely Hayward Theatre, The Gallery, Ely, Cambs With “The Stingrays”, caller Lisa Greenleaf

SAT, 31December CEILIDH Sleeping Moggy wi th John Weaver

Open Nights on Saturday, April 1st & Tuesday, April 4th, 2017, from 7:30pm to 10:30pm

SAT, 28 January, 2017 CEILIDH All Strung Out with Simon Loake SAT, 25 February CEIL IDH Aardvark with Pete Grassby (VENUE TO B E CONFIRMED)

Registration is required to attend by emailing: geebee219@gmail.com

SAT, 25 March CEILIDH Kelly's Eye with Kevin Prigmore

£10.00, £8.00 concessions

Adults £9 • Student £5 Accompanied under 16s FREE Group of 6 (paying) one free Licenced Bar • Free Car Park Ruth: 01933 397767 • Valerie: 01604 711536 John: 07760 197921

12 minute walk from railway station, nearby parking on Barton Road.

www.contraholiday.net Spring 2017

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If you enjoy a lively barn dance, you'll find Friday Folk is a great way to meet like-minded people and have fun. Newcomers are always welcome. And there's no need to bring a partner. Meeting Fridays from 7:45 to 10:00 pm at The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk – 01727 856508 Standard Friday admission £4

10/11/16 11:45:4

6 Jan Bob Lilley 13 Jan Mark Elvins and Friday Folk Band 20 Jan David and Rebecca Capron 27 Jan Bob Barrett 3 Feb Paul Garner and Spring Greens 10 Feb Colin Hume and FF Band 17 Feb Jane Pfaff and Jeremy Monson 24 Feb Mike Ruff 3 Mar Mike Bennett and FF Band 10 Mar Wendy, Martin and Adrian 17 Mar Irish dances with Anne Leach 24 Mar Suzanne Farmer and Spring Greens 31 Mar Club Callers 7 Apr Brenda Godrich and FF Band 14 Apr Closed for Easter 21 Apr New term starts

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The

Tenterden folk fes�val

“Tenterden, the Jewel of the Weald”

Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October 2017 Folk song, music, dance, cra�s and tradi�ons GET INVOLVED OR TAKE PART: www.tenterdenfolkfes�val.org.uk info@tenterdenfolkfes�val.org.uk dance@tenterdenfolkfes�val.org.uk info@tenterdencra�fair.org.uk

Tenterden Folk Fes�val Registered charity No. 1038663

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January Mon

Fri 6 Sat 7 Fri 13 Sat

Fri 20 Fri Sat

27 28

February Fri 3 Sat

Fri

Sat

Fri 17 Sun

Fri Sat

24 25

March

Fri 3

Anglo-Scottish dance with The Forest Band with callers Andrew Kellet and Andrea Stodell • WFD1 Dance • CDC Dance with caller Bob Lilley • FF Ceilidh Peeping Tom with Hugh Rippon plus Mabel Gubbins Rapper • HC Dance with Kelly’s Eye with caller Barrie Bullimore • CFA.NY Mark Elvins and Friday Folk Band • FF Ceilidh with Bullenbush Band with caller Adrian Turnham • UC Dance to celebrate Cyril’s 100th birthday with The Forest Band with Brian Jones and guest callers • WFD2 Dance • CDC Dance with callers David and Rebecca Capron • FF Dance with caller Bob Barrett • FF Ceilidh with All Strung Out, Caller Simon Loake • NC

Dance • CDC Dance with callers Paul Garner and Spring Greens • FF Ceilidh Burlesdon Village Band with Ian Nicholls plus Berkshire Bedlam • HC Dance with Folkus Pocus band and caller Colin Hume • SDC Dance with caller Colin Hume and Friday Folk Band • FF Dance with The Forest Band with caller Anne Dunn • WFD1 Dance • CDC Dance with callers Jane Pfaff and Jeremy Monson • FF Ceilidh with English Rebellion with caller Peter Giles • UC Dance with Toucan Play with caller Ted Morse • CFAFAMILY Dance with caller Mike Ruff • FF Ceilidh with Aardvark, Caller Pete Grassby (Venue to be confirmed) • NC

Dance • CDC Dance with caller Mike Bennett and Friday Folk Band • FF

Sat

Fri

Sat

Fri 17 Fri

Sat

Fri 31

Ceilidh Phoenix with Barry Goodman plus Haddenham Hoofers• HC Dance with callers Wendy, Martin and Adrian • FF Ceilidh with Jigfoot and caller Ian Nichols • UC Dance with The Forest Band, claller MaryBryan • WFD1 Dance • CDC Irish Dances with caller Anne Leach• FF Dance with caller Suzanne Farmer and Spring Greens • FF Ceilidh with Kelly’s Eye, Caller Kevin Prigmore, interval spot Old Mother Redcaps • NC Dance • CDC Dance with club callers • FF

ORGANISERS & VENUES

BFD

edford Folk Dance Club B Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford MK41 8E • Ron Law 01234 825 574

CDC

ambridge Contra Dance C St Andrew’s Hall, St Andrew’s Road, Cambridge CB4 1DH • Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641 www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra

CFA.NY Chiltern Folk Association Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, HP6 5AH • Judith Inman 01628 486845, www.chilternfolk.org.uk CFAFAMILY Chiltern Folk Association Amersham Common Village Hall, 24 White Lion Road, Amersham, Bucks HP7 9JD • Judith Inman 01628 486845, www.chilternfolk.org.uk CFDC

hesham Folk Dance Club C Guide HQ, Bury Lane, Chesham, HP5 1HX • Judith Inman 01492 783890

FCS

riends of Cecil Sharp House F 2 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 7AY • Liz Hall 020 8731 8083, 07896 465 848

riday Folk F Samuel Ryder Academy, Drakes Drive, St Albans, Herts AL1 5AR • Bob Barrett 01727 856508, www.fridayfolk.org.ukORGANISERS &

HC Haddenham Ceilidhs Village Hall, Banks Park, Haddenham, Bucks, P17 8EE • John Heydon, 07717 047039 www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk LFDC

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insleighders Folk Dance Group L 14 Knaves Hill, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2UD • Elizabeth Corser Secretary 01525 378010 elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

SWD ORGANISERS & VENUES continued... NC Northampton Ceilidhs Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Abington, Northampton NN1 5LL • John Green 07760 197921, www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk RB

SCD

oundabouters Country Dance Club R The Friends’ Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage, Herts SG1 1UP • Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727239 roundabouters@live.co.uk www.roundabouters.org.uk taplers Country Dance Club S St Ippolyts Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St Ippolyts, Nr Hitchin, Herts SG4 7RB • Cecilia Mills 01582 881966

UC Unicorn Ceilidhs St Mary’s Hall, Church Street, Baldock, SG7 5AE • Alan Creamer 01582 724261, 07946 439095 alan@ creamer.me.uk, www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk WFD1 Winchmore Folk Dance Club Trinity Church Hall, Church St / Gentleman’s Row, Enfield, EN2 6AN • John Wood 020 8926 7293 WFD2 Winchmore Folk Dance Club Highlands School, 148 Worlds End Lane, London N21 1QQ • John Wood 020 8926 7293

STACEY BANJOS REPAIRS SET-UPS & RESTORATION TO: ACOUSTIC GUITARS ELECTRIC GUITARS CLASSICAL GUITARS BANJOS & MANDOLINS

DAVE STACEY

LETCHWORTH HERTS SG6 3LF 01462 683074 staceybanjos@hotmail.com

Play an Instrument? Dance? Sing? Want to perform? Join English Miscellany. English Miscellany – the performance group – is looking for additional musicians for dance and song, dancers and singers; Country, Playford, Cotswold, North West, Mumming and Traditional Song. Weekly practices – friendly group – overseas tours – display locally – loads of fun – lots of support. Call 01442 255862 Mike or Eileen to find out more and extend your range.

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

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Advert Unicorn Jan-Mar 17:Layout 2

28/10/16

12:25

Page 1

Dance the night away . . . It's a barn dance - or is it a ceilidh? A ceilidh (say kayley) is your chance to dance English traditional country dances with others. The caller describes all the moves (very simple) and the dancers walk through the whole dance - then the band starts - and a great time is had by all ! Dance as vigorously or as sedately as you wish - and don't worry if you get it wrong. Most dances are for couples, but singles and groups are welcome. There's a break at about 9.15 when we organise a dance display - generally Morris or similar - to entertain you, and a Raffle. Tickets only £10 - singles & groups welcome. See www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk FRIDAY 13TH JANUARY

BanD bullenbush with caller adrian Turnham Long-established 4-piece band fea-, turing piano-accordion, recorders fiddle, guitars, bass, mandocello and percussion, with a really tight sound. www.bullenbushmusic.co.uk Adrian is the band’s regular caller,s and knows how to match the tune to his vast repertoire of dances.

St Mary’s Hall, Church St, Baldock SG7 5AE

FRIDAY 17TH FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 10TH MARCH

english rebellion

jigfoot

Peter giles

ian nichols

with caller

English Rebellion have bee together since 2002. Solidlyn playing the English playing tradition rooted in , between them the band members hav years of playing in high-classe many ceili bands all over the country dh https://englishrebellion.co.u. k Peter is an experienced folk caller/performer/writer with dance experience of many British, a broad Euro and American folk dance stylepean s.

FULL BAR with REAL ALE

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with caller

Jigfoot play traditional dance tunes with energy, inventiveness and, above all, swing. This is music that defies you to stay still, whether it's at a dance or in a concert performance. www.jigfoot.com Ian runs the SHOCC ceilidhs at Eastleigh and has called extensively for dances in the UK.

Doors open 7.30 p.m. Dancing 8.00 to 11.00 p.m.

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

Mon 2 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Club closed STAPLERS • Club event Tue 3 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • New Year Singaround Wed 4 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers Thu 5 STORTFOLK • Closed / Singers Night REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage with Emerald Hill BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 6 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open stage with Painting Silence CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Alden, Patterson & Dashwood, Steph West & the Midnight Patisserie and the Barber Sisters FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Lilley WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround £4 Sat 7 HADDENHAM • Concert Granny’s Attic plus The Barber Sisters HADDENHAM • Ceilidh Peeping Tom with Hugh Rippon plus Mabel Gubbins Rapper STRUMMERS • The poet-singers: An evening celebrating the music of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan (CB2) Sun 8 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Barry Goodman & Friends Mon 9 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening BEDFORD MORRIS MEN Plough Play - Sun Inn, Felmersham (7.45pm), Bell, Odell 8.30pm, Royal Oak, Carlton (9.15pm) and Royal George, Stevington (10.00pm) Tue 10 HERTFORD • Times Delight WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Keith Donnelly Wed 11 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Harp and a Monkey Thu 12 STORTFOLK • To be booked REDBOURN FOLK • Danny Pedler & Rosie Butler plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 13 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Bophouse Blue ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase session featuring The Sheri Kershaw Band FRIDAY FOLK • Mark Elvins and Friday Folk Band WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Pete Morton £7 Sat 14 BEDFORD FINE • Public Dance (Newnham Middle School) Caller – Nigel Close, Band – Narrow Escape PLACE THEATRE, BEDFORD • Vin Garbutt Sun 15 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Double bill: Bernie Kedge & Ben Smith HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Double Header with Ninebarrow & Rosie Hood Mon 16 HERGA • Ninebarrow

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 17 WICKET BROOD Border Morris Practice 8pm Tue 17 ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Bob Wood Wed 18 LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest caller Richard Ball ELY FOLK CLUB • Pilgrim’s Way ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country and Morris BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Boxwood Chessmen Thu 19 STORTFOLK • Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 20 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Thursday’s Band CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FRIDAY FOLK • David and Rebecca Capron WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Spotlight singaround with Vernon Standridge £4 Sun 22 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Maureen’s 50th Anniversary of running the club! Mike Silver and Johnny Coppin Mon 23 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround featuring Ben Hemming STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 24 HERTFORD • Paul Hilder WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner Wed 25 LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Les Cailloux (France) Thur 26 STORTFOLK • Simon Kempson TBC REDBOURN FOLK• Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 27 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Dave Jenkins, Brian Cleary &Hugh Boyde, The John Meed Band ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert with Ken Nicol. Support: Gemma Khawaja FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Bernard Hoskin £6 Sat 28 PLACE THEATRE, BEDFORD • Stick in the Wheel plus Marissa, Jack & Davey support Sun 29 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Bully Wee Band Mon 30 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 31 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room

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Wed 1 HERTFORD • Tandy Harrison & Friends LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country and Morris BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Mark Harrison Thu 2 REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage STORTFOLK • Ron Truman Border BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 3 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open stage with David Cambridge and Jenna CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Dipper-Malkin FRIDAY FOLK • Paul Garner and Spring Greens WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround £4 Sat 4 FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Fiddle workshop with John Dipper and guitar workshop with Dave Malkin 10am–12noon HADDENHAM • Concert Saul Rose and James Delarre plus Sophie Crawford HADDENHAM • Ceilidh Burlesdon Village Band with Ian Nicholls plus Berkshire Bedlam STRUMMERS • Strummers Grand 1st Anniversary Concert: (CB2) Sun 5 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Double bill: Gary Woolley & Matt Kelly, Megan Parry HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • John Kirkpatrick Mon 6 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 7 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Andy Clark Wed 8 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Terence Blacker Thu 9 STORTFOLK • Les Sullivan REDBOURN FOLK • Rob Johnson plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA PLACE THEATRE, BEDFORD • Southern Tennant Folk Union ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 10 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase session featuring Boxwood Chessmen FRIDAY FOLK • Colin Hume and FridayFolk Band WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Pete Nutkins £5 Sun 12 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Edwina Hayes STRUMMERS • “Speak-Out Festival 2017” (Elm Tree) Mon 13 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 14 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Richard Digance (£10 & £12)

Wed 15 LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest caller Mike Ruff ELY FOLK CLUB • Ollie King ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country and Morris BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Fara (Orkney) Thu 16 STORTFOLK • Ollie King REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 17 BEDFORD FINE • Half Term – no club CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Patch and the Giant CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Jane Pfaff and Jeremy Monson WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround £4 Sun 19 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Steve Knightley (all ticket event) Mon 20 HERGA • Lynne Heraud & Pat Turner WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround featuring Sophie Crawford STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 21 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Great Eastern Ceilidh Company Wed 22 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Martyn Wyndham-Read Thu 23 STORTFOLK • Michelle Holding & Bonz REDBOURN FOLK • Bob Wood plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 24 CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Showcase: Kevin Hunt, An Dhá ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert with Kelly Oliver. Support: Tom Conway FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Ruff WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Gren Bartley £7 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome Sun 26 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Tannahill Weavers Mon 27 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 28 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm Tue 28 HERTFORD • Melody Causton & Peter Crossley ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room

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Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

Wed 1 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country and Morris BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Chris Lord’s Blue Express Thu 2 STORTFOLK • To be booked REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 3 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Tom McConville CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • Danny Pedler and Rosie Butler-Hall, Dan Raza FRIDAY FOLK • Mike Bennett & Friday Folk Band WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Spotlight singaround with Sue Graves £4 Sat 4 HADDENHAM • Concert Tom McConville plus Rosie and Rowan HADDENHAM • Ceilidh Phoenix with Barry Goodman plus Haddenham Hoofers Sun 5 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Double bill: Malcolm Hobbs & Reed HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Churchfitters Mon 6 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • guest Richard Grainger STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 7 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Broom Bezzums Wed 8 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston Thu 9 STORTFOLK • To be booked REDBOURN FOLK • Oka Vanga plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA PLACE THEATRE, BEDFORD • Pagoda Project (Paul Hutchinson & Karen Wimhurst) ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 10 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Brooks Williams ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase session featuring Primakova FRIDAY FOLK • Wendy, Martin and Adrian WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround £4 Sat 11 BEDFORD FINE • Public Dance (Newnham Middle School) Caller – Mark Elvins, Band – Portland Drive Sun 12 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Urban Folk Quartet Mon 13 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 14 HERTFORD • Delta Ladies WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Vin Garbutt (£10 & £12) Wed 15 LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest caller Wendy Harrup ELY FOLK CLUB • Craobh Rua ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country and Morris BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Open Floor

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

Thur 16 STORTFOLK • To be booked CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Steve Knightley REDBOURN FOLK • Open Stage BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 17 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FRIDAY FOLK • Irish Dances with Anne Leach STRUMMERS • Special feature evening, see www.strummers.org for details (CB2) WATFORD FOLK CLUB • St Patrick’s Night with Tom McConville £8 Sun 19 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Craobh Rua Mon 20 HERGA • John Breeze WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 21 WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Open Stage Wed 22 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Chris Green / Sophie Matthews Thu 23 STORTFOLK • To be booked REDBOURN FOLK • Zoe Wren plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 24 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open Stage with Steve Warner ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert with Fred’s House. Support: Daisy Bell FRIDAY FOLK • Suzanne Farmer & Spring Greens WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround £4 Sun 26 BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Oka Vanga HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham (All ticket event) Mon 27 HERGA • Open Stage WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround STAPLERS • Club evening Tue 28 HERTFORD • Red Velvet WICKET BROOD • Border Morris Practice 8pm ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room Wed 29 LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers BALDOCK & LETCHWORTH • Foxglove Trio Thur 30 STORTFOLK • Where’s Spot Band REDBOURN FOLK • Ranagri plus floor spots BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance Caller TBA ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club evening BEDFORD FOLK MUSIC CLUB • Singers Night Fri 31 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Richard Digance CAMBRIDGE CONTRA DANCE • Dance FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • The James Brothers FRIDAY FOLK • Club Callers WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage £8

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BALDOCK • Baldock and Letchworth Blues, Folk and Roots The Orange Tree, Norton Road, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact: Alan Hewson, 01767 683 583, alan@madnanny.co.uk BEDFORD FDC • Bedford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574 www.bedfordfolkdanceclub.com BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Music Club Kempston Hammers Sports and Social Club, 134 High Street, Kempston, Bedfordshire MK42 7BN Tel: 01234 853262 Contact: Mike Blair, 01525 404513 – see us on Facebook BEDFORD • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance Club Hazeldene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford MK41 9AT Contact: David Cooke, 01234 823920 www.finecompanions.synthasite.com BEDFORD • The Place Theatre Bradgate Road, Bedford, MK40 3DE Contact: Laura Pottinger, 01234 354321, www.theplacebedford.org.uk BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Stortfolk Royal British Legion, 28 Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2NG Contact: Jon & Hilary McNamara, 01279 656664 BLACK FEN • Black Fen Folk Club The Boathouse, 14 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX Contact: Robin Gillan, 07847 680 560, www.blackfenfolkclub.com CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk Club Golden Hind PH, 355 Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 1SP Contact: Marion Treby, 01638 603986 www.cambridgefolkclub.org CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Contra Dance St Andrew’s Hall, St Andrew’s Rd, Chesterton CB4 1DH Contact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641, www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra ELY • Ely Folk Club The Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4ER (no bar) Contact: Ruth Bramley / Andy Wall, 01353 740999 / 01353 664706, www.elyfolkclub.co.uk ENGLISH MISCELLANY East Hyde Village Hall, Lower Harpenden Rd (B653), nr Luton LU2 9QB Contact: Eileen Heylin, 01442 255862 www.englishmiscellany.com

LINSLADE • Linsleighders Folk Dance Group The Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2NR Contact: Elizabeth Corser, 01525 378010, Elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com REDBOURN • Redbourn Folk Club Old School Room, Hollybush PH, Church End, Redbourn AL3 7DU Contact: Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk ROUNDABOUTERS (STEVENAGE) • Roundabouters Country Dancing Club Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, SG1 1UP Contact: Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727 293, roundabouters@live.co.uk, www.roundabouters.org.uk ROYSTON • Royston Folk Club Old Bull Inn, 56 High St, Royston SG8 9AW Contact: Mark Gamon (showcases) 07738 183158, Chris Walls (concerts) 01763 260 556, www.roystonfolk.org ST ALBANS • Folk at the Maltings The Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk ST NEOTS • St Neots Folk Club Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots PE19 2BH Contact: Roger Pitt, 01234 376278, www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk STRUMMERS1 • Acoustic Greenstage Histon and Impington Summer Festival, Histon Recreation Ground Contact: Les Ray, 07903 521412, www.strummers.org STRUMMERS2 • Young Performers Showcase Golden Hind, Milton Road, Cambridge Contact: Les Ray, 07903 521412, www.strummers.org STRUMMERS3 • CB2, Norfolk Street, Cambridge Contact: Les Ray, 07903 521412, www.strummers.org

FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance Club Methodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XG Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 www.fridayfolk.org.uk

WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk Club Royal British Legion, Brooker Rd, Waltham Abbey EN9 1HY Contact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987, www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com,

HADDENHAM • Haddenham Ceilidhs & Concerts, Festival Haddenham Village Hall, near Aylesbury, Bucks HP17 8EE Contact: John Heydon, 07717 047 039, john@actionfolk.co.uk www.haddenhamceilidhs.co.uk

WATFORD • Watford Folk Club Pump House, Local Board Rd, Lower High St, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: www.folkatthepumphouse.webs.com,

HERGA • Herga Folk Club Greenwood Hall, Rickmansworth Rd, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3TJ Contact: George Papavgeris, 07747 768868 www.hergafolk.org

WICKET BROOD • Wicket Brood Border Morris St Stephen Parish Centre, Station Road, Bricket Wood, AL2 3PJ Contact: Stella Lewis, bagman@wicketbrood.org.uk www.wicketbrood.org.uk

HERTFORD • The White Horse Folk Club White Horse PH, Castle St, Hertford SG14 1HH Contact: Pat Crilly 07971 804418, patcrilly@hotmail.com

WOODSIDE • Woodside Morris Men Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Nick Wilson, 07860 663033, www.woodsidemorrismen.com

HITCHIN • Hitchin Folk Club Sun Hotel, Sun St, Hitchin, SG5 1AF Contact: Maureen Jones, 01462 812391 www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk

HITCHIN STAPLERS • Staplers Country Dance Club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Rd, Hitchin SG4 9JP Contact: Cecilia Mills, 01582 881966, www.staplers.org.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

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REDBOURN FOLK www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk UPCOMING HGHLIGHTS Jan.5th

Open Stage featuring Emerald Hill

Jan.12th Danny Pedler & Rosie Butler plus floor spots Jan.26th Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer plus floor spots Feb.9th

Robb Johnson plus floor spots

Feb.23rd Bob Wood plus floor spots Mar.9th Oka Vanga plus floor spots Mar.23rd Zoe Wren plus floor spots Mar.30th Ranagri plus floor spots

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Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

The White Horse Folk Club Castle Street Hertford, SG14 1HH 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the Month. Floor Spots available.

Music starts at 8pm FREE ADMISSION

Contact Pat Crilly - 07971804418 Email - patcrilly@hotmail.com

Headline Acts - 1st Quarter 2017

January 10th – Times Delight

'Time’s Delight' are Nicky Vere-Compton and Jeremy Harmer. Their repertoire includes reinterpretations of traditional folk, modern songs and their own material, emotional, funny and politically engaged. Nicky's lyrical voice, simultaneously strong and delicate is ably accompanied by Jeremy's sensitive guitar playing.

January 24th – Paul Hilder

Local blues and ukelele supremo Paul Hilder is always entertaining. Paul performs a wide range of styles usually with an “Americana” slant but music hall, comedy, blues and contemporary songs also fall under his remit. He is an excellent guitarist and has won prizes for his uke playing. Unique and extremely entertaining.

February 1th – Tandy Harrison & Friends

Tandy Harrison sings about the highs and lows of life and people's stories, drawing on traditional and contemporary songs as well as her own material. But tonight it’s all about love - and she’ll be brining along friends old and new!

February 28th – Melody Causton & Peter Crossley

Melody is a young Suffolk solo singer songwriter (please applaud my alliteration) accompanying herself on guitar. Melody won the prestigius NMG awards "Best Female Solo Artist" category in 2016. A great voice and songs. Check out Melody's Facebook page. Peter is a very talented local singer songwriter who accompanies himself on guitar. Peter is a perennial ladies favourite singing heartfelt lyrics with his wonderful voice and guitar playing. His songs have beautiful themes and images. You can also find Peter on Facebook.

March 14th – Delta Ladies

The Delta Ladies are a renowned multi-instrumental roots and world music duo – Vi Martin & Dee Stone. Their electro acoustic shows are noted throughout the UK and France. Vi Martin plays Guitar, Bouzouki, Chromatic Dulcimer and Banjo. Dee Stone plays Fiddle plus keys and piano. Their rhythmic fusion of Roots, World, Folk and Blues has been christened ‘Hillbilly Trance’. www.deltaladies.com

March 28th – Red Velvet

Cambridge duo Red Velvet are Deirdre Murphy on vocals and Les Ray on guitar/ vocals. They have a wide reportoire from traditional to country material and some excellent self penned songs too. Deirdre has a lovely deep, husky and passionate voice ideal for the songs they perform and Les is an excellent accompanist and in addition sings his own contemplative and socially relevant songs.

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Music type: Mostly Trad – English, Irish, Scottish, American Meets: Selected Sunday afternoons Admission charge: £12 Guests: Next concert is Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer with their Smörgåsballad on Sunday 12th February at 3.00pm. Then on Sunday 12th March at 3.00pm we have our thirtieth concert with Pete Coe! Venue name: Abbots Langley Community Centre Venue address: Gallows Hill Lane, Abbots Langley, Herts, WD5 0AP Parking: Nearby car park – see our web site Contact: Tim and Lesley Brooks 01923 264536 • alconcerts@gmail.com www.oldtimetim.com/alwac.htm

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

hese concerts are the result of a long held desire to be able to share the best of traditional folk music with people who would never otherwise encounter it, and we have established a unique approach to achieve this. As for the last six years we continue to put on at least four Sunday afternoon concerts a year, with carefully selected guests to ensure they appeal to local people as well as the hardened folkies! No bar, but the tea, coffee and scrummy cakes (included in the ticket price) which are served in the interval, together with the craft stalls, help to make this a must-be-there social occasion as well as a great music event. No support act – but you get two full 45 minute sets from the booked performers. Best to send an email to reserve a ticket, as we often sell out!

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The Delta ladies

ith several festival appearances this year, duo The Delta Ladies are turning up at folk clubs, festivals and venues all over. Their intriguingly titled album ‘Hillbilly Trance’ is about to be released (we will review it in Issue 138, Ed.) so we talked to them to find out a bit more...

Who are the Delta Ladies? We’re a duo, Vicky Martin & Dee Stone, and between us we play guitar / banjo / fiddle/ piano and a few other things, but for many of our gigs we expand the duo and bring in percussion, harmonica and double bass. We saw you many years ago with your electric band, what happened to that? That was Elephant Shelf which we wound up at the end of 2011. We made personnel changes and it became the Delta Ladies band for a while – we then simplified it to a duo and other players as / when. This album Hillbilly Trance, it’s not your first is it? Our first album ‘Refugee’ came out in 2015 and was very well received – in fact we’re about to sell out of it and issue a slightly updated version. We also made films of some of the tracks, in particular a film of the title track about the refugee crisis, that has been well received. So how would you describe your music? It’s a fusion, mainly acoustic or electro-acoustic and it has elements of American and European roots music, Americana, folk, and a strong World Music influence, that comes particularly from Danny Bryan’s array of percussion instruments. Where did the title Hillbilly Trance come from? We had recorded sessions with Vicky on banjo, Dee on fiddle and Danny on percussion. We were improvising using these sort of ‘mountain’ modes on the banjo, Dee was playing fiddle and Danny laid down these grooves – it got very hypnotic – and Danny says ‘Hey man, that sound, it’s like hillbilly trance’, and that was it. Di added a little synth here and there and we began to develop the whole thing into songs.

lead track ‘Devil’s Work Today’ is one of his, there are three other tracks plus tracks we’ve produced. Tell us about the other musicians on the CD? Apart from Tali there is Danny Bryan on percussion – he’s played with Bex Marshall who is a name on the blues scene, and on harmonica we have Alan Glen who was with Nine Below Zero, the Yardbirds and Doctor Feelgood. Also on the album there’s some flute by Nick Newall who’s played with just about everyone including The Kinks. Where can we see you perform? Well best is to check on www.deltaladies.com where we list all of the gigs, we’ll be at various festivals, we’ll be turning up at lots of folk places, a few pubs, and who ever else will have us; we do acoustic or electro acoustic shows as duo or band so there’s something for everyone really. Where can we get the album? You can buy it at gigs, or direct from the website or you can purchase downloads from the main digital outlets. So, in closing, any particular career highlights? Well the gigs at the 100 Club are always great, but one particular highlight came when we were at the Great British Folk Festival – finishing our set the organiser came up to us and said ‘Steeleye Span were watching your set, and said the band is brilliant’. That’s really encouraging.

How did the full album come about from that? Some of your readers may know of Tali Trow who played with the famous Coal Porters and also with an excellent psych-folk band Lords of Thyme. He’s also a producer; we took some of the songs to him and he agreed to record and produce them – the

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The capo chart

by “The Legend”

The numbers (1-12) indicate the fret behind which the capo is placed The letters (A–G) indicate what chord the root chord becomes, when capo is in each position OPEN ROOT

b B

# c

b A

# c

b A

b B

b A

b E

b A

b B

# f

b A

b B

b E

# f

b A

b B

# c

b A

b B

# c

(octave)

Many thanks to The Legend for submitting this article – he say’s it’s the most useful aid he’s ever come across...

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21/11/13 16:45:2

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

The Old Bull Inn 56 High St (car park Market Hill) Royston SG8 9AW 7:30 for 8pm till 11pm

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!Concert Nights

Last Friday of EVERY Month!"#$%&' !

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Second Friday of EVERY Month !"#$%&' !

Friday 27th January 2017 £15 (£10 in advance) £2 under 25s Ken Nicol (Steeleye, Albion, Feast of Fiddles) Amazing singer song writer guitarist Folk/Blues Support – Gemma Khawaja

Friday 13th January 2017 £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s The Sheri Kershaw Band Phillip Rundall Steve Warner David Savage

Friday 24th February 2017 £15 (£10 in advance) £2 under 25s Kelly Oliver Award winning, Rising star Support – Tom Conway

Friday 10th February 2017 £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s Boxwood Chessmen Allison Frosdick & Jack Burnaby Andy Lefevre David Cambridge Reed Miranda Pender Hosted by Mark Gamon

Friday 24th March 2017 £15 (£10 in advance) £2 under 25s Fred’s House Everyone’s favourite local band Support – Daisy Bell TICKETS FROM THE OLD BULL OR ON THE DOOR (reserve 01763260556)

! Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

Hosted by Mark Gamon

Friday 10th March 2017 £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s Primakova David Wilson Kevin Hunt Andy Smythe Steve Jones Hosted by Mark Gamon

MARK IS NOW BOOKING SHOWCASE SPOTS FOR late 2017

“For FOLK Music read … GREAT Music”!

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NEW MOON MORRIS

The Old Moon is dead – long live New Moon Morris!

ew Moon Morris are a mixed dance side. They are brightly coloured, exuberant and inclusive – their street performances have drawn much comment (some of it good…!) They formed a little over two years ago and are based in Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire. They are part of a lively and forward thinking movement within and from the heart of Morris tradition, as well as being members of the Morris Federation. New Moon Morris emerged from an initial spark generated by two founding members (Amelia and Martin), three others were quickly drawn in (Cath, Denise, Christian) and thus it was begun. Two successful seasons of ‘dancing out’ later, they are rapidly approaching a membership of twenty dancers and musicians from the original ‘famous’ five – their boy / girl split is still about even. The side embrace all forms of Morris dance, starting from what they knew: North-West tradition dances (thanks to a previous association with the excellent Pump House Clog Morris), but in boots, not clogs. Since then they have added Border dances to their repertoire (with a ‘bigup’ to the noble patience of sides like Wicket Brood who taught them their signature dance ‘Worcestershire Monkey’). This dance was written by the amazing Martin Hallett and is danced to ‘Weasel’s Revenge’, penned by the inordinately talented Jan Hurst. Next season they are hoping to bring in a little Cotswold, as well as adding selfpenned traditional dances.

New Moon Morris are musically led by Christian. At least half of their side play an instrument, with inspiration coming from a broad church. Traditional English tunes blend with a range of less well known classics. They’ve imported tunes (thanks to Jan Hurst), and sets of tunes (thanks to the musicians of Hobos Morris). It is worth noting that the key of E minor is a particular favourite of theirs. Instrumentally, for any dance, they choose between banjo, clarinet, concertina, cornet, fiddle (bright green), flute, guitar, melodeon (currently a choice of SEVEN), recorder, side drum, snare drum and tambourine. The band have even been known to move around on occasion! Incidentally, more and more of their musicians are also taking part in the dancin’! New Moon Morris traditions include wassailing any apple tree they can find in January, St George’s Day, ‘dancing the sun up’ on 1st May, Tring Apple Fayre in mid October and their own special ‘dancing the sun down’ at the end of October. They also try to get away to festivals, particularly enjoying the Rochester ‘Sweeps Festival’ in Kent and the ‘Swanage Folk Festival’ in Dorset. They like supporting local museums and good causes e.g. Pitstone Green Museum and the Stoke Breurne Family Festival. If you’d like some more information about New Moon Morris, or better still would like to become a part of their fun-filled and rapidly growing Morris side (particularly if you’d like to try dancing with them) then please contact the Squire, Martin Lindridge using squire.newmoon@gmail.com or 07803 149490. You can also find them on Facebook and http://newmoonmorris.blogspot.co.uk.

New Moon Morris costumes draw heavily (but not exclusively) from Border influences – they like the idea of ‘Tatters’ but not the cleaning thereof! Denise (Wardrobe and Dance Mistress) created their unique ‘Flatters’ waistcoats, as well as making their spectacular skirts. The skirt designs came from an idea that Amelia and Denise had when watching a dancer at one of the excellent Haddenham Ceilidhs. They don’t have ‘uniform police’ , however - New Mooners are encouraged to embellish and personalise their own attire from a basic unifying concept (a colour themed skirt and waistcoat with black top. Black trousers can replace skirt, particularly for the men).

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 137

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With Swords Drawn

ngland is not particularly noted for its sword dances, but there are two distinct traditions: Longsword, from parts of Yorkshire, and Rapper Sword from the mining areas of Durham and Northumberland. It is not clear whether they are actually related traditions but the general view seems to be that Rapper developed only in the 19th century while there are references to Longsword going back to the early 18th. Given the geographic proximity and the lack of similar traditions elsewhere it is likely that they are linked and they do have two key characteristics in common: The dancers start by forming a circle holding their own sword and the tip of the next in the circle and then dance a series of patterns without letting go of the swords; A key element is interlocking the swords to form a star which is held up by one of the dancers. Longsword generally involves six to eight dancers performing in a running step, though the pace in some can be more of a “walk”. Today there are traditional sides in Grenoside and Handsworth, both near Sheffield and in Goathland and Flamborough in North Yorkshire though records suggest that it was once much more common. As a tradition it is (or was) closely with Christmas and Plough Monday and some used to be associated with Mumming plays. In Rapper the stepping is at jig speed and the dancers “swords” are flexible, double handled strips of metal: these are said to have developed from the steel straps scrapes used to clean pit

WATFORD FOLK CLUB SONG COMPETITION WINNERs ANNOUNCED

he Grand Final of Watford Folk Club’s 5th Annual Folk Song Competition was held on 18th November in front of a capacity audience and three celebrity judges: Polly Morris, Vicki Swann & Paul McNamara.

ponies. The flexibility of the swords allows the dancers to perform in a much tighter set and it is often performed inside - the more crowded the bar the better it seems. There are usually five dancers but these may be joined by The “Tommy” and / or “Betty” (two Fool characters). Traditionally Longsword sides tended to have military type outfits while Rapper sides favoured a stylised miner costume. However, Rapper in particular has been having something of a revival and with it there has been more variety in the costumes worn, though they tend to be quite plain and simple – mainly I suspect so that there is nothing for the swords to catch on. Sword dance sides are not common in the Unicorn area. Stevenage Sword perform both types while Rockingham (Whittlesey) and Wype Doles (Peterborough) dance Rapper. If you want to see some excellent Rapper then get along to the DERT competition (Dancing England Rapper Tournament) in Kendal, 7-9 April. For more information go to www.dert2017.co.uk. Chas Leslie

Two photos of Stevenage Sword, taken on 7 July 2015 during a dance out with Redbornstoke Morris

The Winners were Alison Frosdick and Jack Burnaby, with Mike Excell being the runner up. Congratulations to all who took part! A full review will appear in Issue 138... Photos courtesy of Julian Mount

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ST ALBANS MORRIS

MONDAY EVENING PRACTICE SESSIONS IN ST ALBANS. MEN AND WOMEN WELCOME TO DANCE MIXED COTSWOLD. COME AND TRY US OUT CONTACT: ANDREW TORRINGTON 01727 833028 OR TREVOR ADAMS 01707 883476 WWW.STALBANSMORRIS MEN.ORG.UK UM137 SAMM UM3 Ad.indd 1

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HADDENHAM CEILIDHS

at Haddenham Village Hall Near Aylesbury, Bucks. HP17 8EE Jan 7 Peeping Tom + Hugh Rippon + Mabel Gubbins Rapper Feb 4 Bursledon Village Band + Ian Nichols + Berkshire Bedlam Mar 4 Phoenix + Barry Goodman + Haddenham Hoofers Apr 1 Jam and Crumpet Band + Bob Morgan

CONCERTS

Jan 7 Granny’s Attic + The Barber Sisters Feb 4 Saul Rose & James Delarre + Sophie Crawford Mar 4 Tom McConville + Rosie & Rowan Apr 1 Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar + Ben Moss Details 07717 047 039 • john@actionfolk.co.uk

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Long Lankin sees little green men

y Great Uncles Hezekiah and Jacob came back from a pub crawl of Norwich claiming to have seen little green men. “Climbing all over the ceiling they were” Jacob said gesticulating wildly at nothing, “even the vicar saw them.” The vicar, an unworldly and abstemious man who, apart from the communion wine, only had the occasional sherry at Christmas and had been talked into the trip so that he could be the nominated driver, just sat shaking in the chair by the fire – still recovering from the drive home. Aunt Dorcus simply scoffed suggesting the only green man they had seen was a pub, but Hezekiah went and fetched the family bible to swear on so we knew he was serious. Hezekiah has seen some strange sights in his time, specially having lived 40 years with Aunt Dorcus, so we were quite prepared to believe him. The hardest stretch of the imagination was understanding what a Martian would be doing in Norwich in the first place. Uncle Jacob suggested they had taken a wrong turn having landed at Yarmouth but – Aunt Dorcus pointed out quite reasonably that if they could navigate from Mars they were unlikely to have got lost on the by-pass.

It took us a while to realise that he was talking literally about green men rather than Martians. It seems the vicar had insisted on visiting the cathedral and Hezekiah and Jacob, still under the influence, had wandered into the Cloister and had been found there lying on the floor staring up at the roof bosses. The cloisters it seems are covered in multiple representations of the Green Man.

They are also sometimes confused with the Wildman – portrayed as club-wielding man, part clothed or fur covered. What the Green Man represents depends upon what you believe. It can be a pagan representation of Nature; a Christian representation of paganism; a representation (Christian or pagan) of death and rebirth or a modern symbol of environmentalism. However, these associations only started in the 1930’s when the folklorist Julia Somerset (Lady Raglan) with little or no evidence associated the carvings with May Day celebrations, Jack–in-the Green garlands and a supposed primal-religious tree worship. Before then they had simply been ornamental grotesques favoured by medieval stonemasons. As a church decoration the Green Man is not that common in this area but apparently they can be found in various churches including the choir stalls of All Saints, Leighton Buzzard; the porch of St Martins, Fenny Stratford; various places in St Mary’s Pitstone and in St Mary’s, Hemel Hempstead. Anyway, the vicar has recovered from his ordeal, though he now does communion more often than before and grossly overestimates the wine requirement. Having sobered up neither Hezekiah nor Jacob can remember much about their experience – at least not since they met that dark-suited American. Long Lankin

They seem to come in three broad types: The Leaf Mask where the entire head is made out of leaves or a single leaf, The Foliate Head where leaves and branches sprout from a human face, often out of the mouth and / or eyes. The “Peeking Tom” which is a face staring out from behind a bush or a garland of leaves.

Green Man carving courtesy of Vince King of Hemel Hempstead www.vincewoodcarving.co.uk

[we’ll be doing a ‘Folk Art Focus’ feature on Vince and his work in a later issue. – Ed.]

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