Unicorn Magazine Issue 143 by Unicorn Folk

MORRIS DIARY

FEATURES: THE HAPPY BREWER, ROD WARD, QUEENS PARK ARTS CENTRE GIG REVIEW

CD REVIEWS (

)

& MUCH MOREâ&#x20AC;¦

WALLACE STEVENS

THE SUMMER NIGHT IS LIKE A PERFECTION OF THOUGHT ...

ummer’s here, so most folk clubs are taking a well-earned break while the festival season is in full swing.

But there’s a big difference between folk clubs and folk festivals. You’ve probably noticed that the age proﬁle of festival audiences is usually much younger than folk club regulars – you’ll see teenagers, children and even babes in arms enjoying the festival delights of live music and dance. And that’s certainly a positive thing, especially when there are so many talented, young musicians on the scene. Most artists on the folk scene today will tell you how much they were inﬂuenced by the music their parents played to them when they were growing up – even if they didn’t fully appreciate it at the time! So, to keep our wonderful folk and dance traditions very much alive, we can all play our part by talking about them to the young people in our lives. Encourage them to listen to the different types of music – from acapella soloists to full-blown multi-instrumental bands

– often complete with bagpipes – and who knows what interest and talent you’ll inspire! Take the youngsters with you to the festivals, then once the clubs reopen in the autumn, take them with you to experience your local club scene. You might consider sharing your copy of Unicorn Magazine with them - they can even read it online (Oh yes! Unicorn Magazine is very 21st century, with its own website and blog!). Please keep sending us your folk-related articles, comments and suggestions about what you’d like to read about in the Magazine – your contributions are always very welcome. Have a wonderful summer sharing the fun of the festivals, and we’ll be seeing you at quite a few throughout the summer. See you at the clubs and the festivals.

Sandra & Clive

The production schedule for our next issue (Issue 144: October, November & December 2018) is unfortunately again going to be three weeks shorter than normal. We will be posting full details via our mailing list in the next few weeks of how this may effect you, so please make sure you are signed up (via our website) to receive full updates...

Editorial

Feature: Queens Park Arts Centre

Contents

Diary

Chatterbox

Club Index

Round the Clubs

Strumming & Dreaming: Bury Folk Festival 33

Shall We Dance?

Feature: The Happy Brewer

Sessions

Feature: Kimpton Folk Festival 2018

Gig Review: Martin Simpson

Folk Bloke

Feature: St Albans Folk Festival 2018

Feature: Rod Ward Instruments

Morris Diary

CD Reviews

Morris Diary Index

Front cover: Instrument by Rod Ward (see our article on him page 41 of this issue) © Unicorn Magazine 2018 CB1472 • July2018

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

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 Magazine editorial team. It will be assumed that any letters sent to the magazine are intended for publication unless otherwise obviously stated. We reserve the right to edit any material sent to us for style, content or length.

Visit oUr weBsite at www.Unicornmagazine.org Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

41 42 – 45

editorial team:

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Printed by Newman Thomson Ltd 3

Ely Folk Club presents

Wednesday 18th July

Duncan McFarlane & Anne Brivonese

If you fancy dancing North East Rapper or Yorkshire Longsword or Medieval Buffens join us on a Tuesday at 8.30-10pm in the Friends Meeting House, Cutty’s Lane, Stevenage, SG1 1UP or email bagman@stevenagesword.org.uk

£11 (£10 advance)

Club is closed in August Wednesday 19th September

Piva

£11 (£10 advance)

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

www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

Bedfordshire’s Premier Home Brew and Wine Making Specialists

Dance to the

•

Comprehensive range of bitters

•

Large choice of wines

•

Wide selection of lagers

•

Excellent prices

•

Free advice

HOME BREW HELPLINE

01234 353856 at Wing Village Hall on Nov 24 Details next issue!

contactus@thehappybrewer.com www.thehappybrewer.com Open Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm Closed Monday except Bank Holidays

Roxton Garden Centre

@ The Black Cat Roundabout Bedford Road, Roxton, MK44 3DY

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Summer 2018 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.

29 Jun Cajun with Madeleine and Tim 6 Jul 13 Jul 20 Jul 27 Jul

Colin Hume and FF Band Louise Siddons (USA) Bob Barrett Garden Dance with Spring Greens (phone for details)

17 Aug Evening BBQ (phone for details) 7 Sep Autumn term starts. Caller TBA

Meeting Fridays from 7:45 to 10:00 pm at The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 01727 856508 Standard Friday admission ÂŁ4

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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FOLK M USIC B Y T HE SEA SHA RON SHANNON B AND | B L O WZAB E L L A | G I G S PA N N ER B I G B A N D K I K I DE E AND CARM E L O L U G G E R I | M ATTH E W S ’ S O U T H ER N C O M FO RT K ATHRYN T ICKELL & TH E D AR K E NI NG | S AM K ELLY & T H E LO S T B O Y S TI LS TON AND LOW E | S TI C K I N TH E WH E EL | P O LI C E D O G H O G A N J I M CAUSL EY TR I O | NARTH E N | L U K E D A N I ELS | T I M ED EY ELEPHANT S E S S I O NS | D AN WAL S H T R I O | B A N T ER BLA C KB EARD’S TE A PARTY | B AC K YAR D R H Y T H M O R C H ES T R A GERRY COLVI N B AND | F L ATS & S H A R P S | A LB I R EO RE LE NT L ESS CEIL I D H B AND | TO M M C C O N V I LLE | C O S M O T H EK A K I T H AWES & AAR O N C ATL O W | S TAB L E S | H A R B O T T LE & J O N A S FLAT VI L L E AC E S | TANK U S T H E H EN G E JOS I E DUNCAN & PAB L O L AF U E NTE | K AD I A | M R S A C K R O Y D B A N D PONS AE L I U S | P L U S M ANY M O R E A RT I S T S ! CONCERTS . CE ILID H S . WO R KS H O PS . C H I L D R E N ’ S F E ST I VA L DA NCES . C R AFT & MU S IC FAIR . FE ST I VA L C A M PSI T E

F E S T I VA L T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E N O W !

W WW.B R O AD S TA I R SFO LKWEEK.O R G .U K

BOX OFFICE: 0 1 8 4 3 6 0 4 0 8 0

Alan & Anne Dickens want to know if anyone has any knowledge of The Barnstormers Band? (two guys on guitar and fiddle, and a girl on accordion, with a picture of a WW1 aeroplane displayed in front). Their children arranged for the band to play for their Silver Wedding in August 1988, in Elstow, Beds... Looking at a video of the event they realised they knew nothing about this band (who created a great party atmosphere, whilst catering to experienced & novice dancers alike). They would like to say thanks again and know more about the band – please write to them at a.ariverhouse@ talktalk.net or via us at the magazine... Jon Bennett and Liz van Santen of Moonrakers (www.moonrakers.net) have for several years been the principal professional tutors running a Folk Orchestra Weekend at Benslow Music in Hitchin. These are residential weekends that run twice a year (in June and September). The weekend begins on Friday evening and extends to Sunday late afternoon. They explore arrangements and playing styles for about eight folk tunes, with tuition from Jon (guitar, ukulele, bouzouki, whistles, bodhran) and Liz (fiddle, concertina, ukulele). The tunes are recorded and sheet music and links to YouTube are sent out in advance so you can become familiar with the material before arriving. You don’t, however, need to read music. All acoustic instruments and standards are welcome, but no absolute beginners, please. There is often an opportunity for a little private tuition between classes and also some singing side events. In the evenings there’s plenty of opportunity to play your party pieces. They restrict numbers to 15 and the event always sells out, so book early! The cost, including full board, is variable according to your chosen accommodation – from £205 to £280. Specific dates / details are • 22–24 June / 14–16 Sep [includes a Saturday evening concert by Moonrakers]. Details and booking www.benslowmusic.org, 01462 459446. • 3 November: a one day event in Oxford (9.30am to 5.00pm at West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Rd, OX2 0BT) including a short Moonrakers concert at the end.

St Michael’s Street Folk Evening,, is on July 6th this year. After last year’s deviation, the session in the Rose and Crown will be back in the main bar, by popular request. Weekly Wednesday traditional music sessions in the Robin Hood, St Albans are going well. Congratulations to the pub on winning CAMRA’s most improved pub award. English Miscellany will be hosting a “Country Hop” on September 23rd in Bedmond – pretty much like a Morris Ale but without the Morris and without the Ale, but with Country dances and tea and cakes: “Morris dancers have long enjoyed getting together for their Ales, but what of social dancers? English Miscellany thought that perhaps social dancers, country and Playford, would like to enjoy a social dance opportunity to share and exchange dances with others, along the lines of an Ale. To get the concept moving EM will host a Country Hop this autumn. Dancers and dance groups are invited to just come and enjoy the dance, clubs are invited to bring a dance and their music, demonstrate it, call it and teach it to others. We hope the Village Hall in Bedmond High Street WD5 0QP will ring with shrieks of pleasure on Sunday 23rd September when dancers get together at 2.30pm, sharing dances before enjoying tea and cakes later in the afternoon. EM musicians will be on hand, your own musicians will be very welcome or if you dance to recorded music bring that and the playing kit. No charge for this ﬁrst event, which EM is hoping will establish itself in the calendar of dance events in Hertfordshire. If you would like to come, simply register with mike@heylin.com and let him know numbers coming and the dance and music you would like to bring. The event is free to attend, EM will provide tea and cakes. There will be a plate present if you want to help defray costs but any contribution is entirely voluntary. Come along and help us all make this a success for social dance in the County.”

Do remember to send us your news, for either ‘Chatterbox’ or ‘Round The Clubs’, and we’ll endeavour to feature it in this section

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Meg MegWinters Winters Bill BillKeys Keys Meg Winters KeysGreen David David Bradley Bradley Bill Mike Mike Green David Mike Green Rosie Rosie&Bradley &Brian BrianMcMinn McMinn Hilary HilaryVare Vare Rosie & Brian McMinn and andcallers; callers; Hilary Hilary Vare, Vare, Hilary Vare MaggieVare, Hosking Hosking&&Ivan IvanAitken Aitken and callers;Maggie Hilary Maggie Hosking & Ivan Aitken

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JULY

Monday Wednesday Friday

2 4 6

Saturday

Monday 9 Wednesday 11 Friday 13 Monday 16 Wednesday 18 Friday 20 Monday 23 Wednesday 25 Friday 27 AUGUST

Wednesday Wednesday Wednesday Saturday Wednesday Wednesday

1 8 15 17 22 29

SEPTEMBER Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday

3 5 6 7 10 12 13 14

Saturday

Monday Wednesday Thursday Saturday

17 19 20 22

Monday 24 Wednesday 26 Thursday 27

Dance with Barry Goodman • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Dance with Colin Hume and the Friday Folk Band • FF Public Dance with band Keeping Thyme and caller Frances Richardson. Please bring a plate of food to share • BFC Dance with Joan Rutt • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Dance with Louise Siddons (USA) • FF Dance with Jill Bransby, Martin and Adrian • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Dance with Bob Barrett • FF Dance with Barbara Gilder and Club Callers • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Garden Dance with Spring Greens (phone for details) • FF

Dance with club callers • LFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Club closed • LFDC Evening BBQ (phone for details) • FF Dance with club callers • LFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC

Club night • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Club night with club callers • NFDC Dance with caller TBA • FF Club night • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Club night with club callers • NFDC Ceilidh with Hosepipe Band, with caller Barry Goodman • UC Public Dance. Caller Victoria Yeomans, Band – Dave & Caroline. 7.30 – 10.45pm. Please bring a plate of food to share • BFC Club night • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Club night with club callers • NFDC Playford Ball Colin Hume with Julia and Shane Day • CFA Club night • SFDC Dance with club callers • LFDC Club night with club callers • NFDC

ORGANISERS & VENUES

BFc Bedford Fine companions Goldington Academy, Haylands Way, Bedford MK41 9BX Chris Rutt, 01462 700451, https://ﬁnecompanions.wordpress.com BFd Bedford Folk dance club Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford MK41 8EB Ron Law, 01234 825 574 cFa chiltern Folk association Drake Hall, Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Avenue, Amersham, HP6 5AH Joyce Stace, 01494 727512, www.chilternfolk.org.uk FF Friday Folk The Church Hall, Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 / 07762 085629, www.fridayfolk.org.uk lFdc linsleighders Folk dance group The Forster Institute, Waterloo Road, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 2NR Elizabeth Corser, Secretary, 01525 378010 elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com nc northampton ceilidhs Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Abington, Northampton, NN1 5LL John & Ruth Green, 01933 397767 or 07760 197921, www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk nFdc northampton Folk dance club Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Abington, Northampton, NN1 5LL Gwynneth Moore, Secretary, 01604 711342 www.northamptonfdc.wordpress.com rB roundabouters country dance club The Friends’ Meeting House, Cuttys Lane, Stevenage, Herts SG1 1UP Lorna Sharpe, 01438 727 239, roundabouters@live.co.uk, www.roundabouters.org.uk sFdc staplers Folk dance club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Road, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9JP Gill Goodman, 01462 456811, gillagoodman@hotmail.co.uk, www.staplers.org.uk 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

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS

hen sending in your electronic attachments and submissions for either this column, Sessions, the Diary, Morris Diary or your Adverts (i.e. basically anything you send us via email!) please remember to include your club / organisation name in the ﬁle name (and ideally the issue number if possible) so we don’t miss anything / get entries muddled up... many thanks!

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

We would strongly suggest checking with the venue / organiser before attending any of the below since unfortunately we can’t be held responsible for the accuracy of the information

sUnday lUnchtimes STONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar, High Street (Weekly, lunchtimes): Jane, 01908 566407

sUnday eVenings WESTON TURVILLE • The Chandos (3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742 MILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com (Weekly) MILTON KEYNES • New Bradwell Sports Club, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610 ST ALBANS • Great Northern, 172 London Road, AL1 1PQ (Fourth Sunday of the month 6.00pm). Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 ST ALBANS • Lower Red Lion, Fishpool Street (2nd 7.00 – 10.00pm): John Breeze, 07774 909067 LEIGHTON BUZZARD • The Swan, Northall (1st) Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 MARSWORTH • Red Lion, 90 Vicarage Rd, Marsworth, Tring HP23 4LU (2nd) 7.30 – 9.30pm. Slow and steady folk tune session for beginners and improvers. Louise, 07791 651199

monday eVenings ASHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091 CHATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 SOHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550 STEVENAGE • Our Mutual Friend (2nd): Gary Moyle, 07960 953778 TOTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (8.30pm, weekly): Contact, 01582 661294 (pub)

tUesday eVenings ABINGTON PIGOTTS • Village Hall, SG8 0SH (8–10.30pm, 3rd, admission £2 per person): George Norris, 01763 853062 AMPTHILL • The Albion, Dunstable Street (2nd): Rod Ward, 01763 852 377 BEDFORD • Burnaby Arms, Stanley St, MK41 7RU (last 7.30pm, tunes) Mike Bliss, 01234 308449 DUNSTABLE • Globe, Winﬁeld St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300 DUNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub) GT WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280 HEMEL HEMPSTEAD • Leverstock Green Cricket Club, 24 Bedmond Road, HP3 8LJ (1st Bluegrass and oldtime songs and tunes): Chris Lawrence, 01442 215826 HISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553 MARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868 RICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (2nd): Michael, 01923 770425 TEWIN • Rose & Crown. (3rd evenings). Acoustic, vocal, instrumental. Kit Burgess, 01438 869435

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TRING • 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 WOOTTON (Beds) • The Cock MK43 9JT (8.00pm, broad acoustic & folk): Mike Carter Jones, 01234 768555, Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

wednesday eVenings BARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, fortnightly): Ann, 01582 560815 BENINGTON (Stevenage) • The Bell (1st): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435 CAMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2nd, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084 CHINNOR • Chinnor Methodist Church, 62 Station Road, OX39 4PZ (2.00pm to 4.00pm, 2nd , slow and steady but fun): Liz 01844 351565 ELY • Town Folk, The Town House PH, Market St, Ely. (2nd and last): Liam, 01353 659614 or 07468 240798 debrunliam@outlook.com HITCHIN • The Plume of Feathers, Stevenage Road, Little Wymondley, Hitchin, SG4 7HY (9.00–11.00pm, 1st , Ramrugge Clog Morris music sessions): Kerry 07877 930201 MARCH • March Folk Club, Royal British Legion Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, PE15 8DP (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 02354 652868 MOGGERHANGER • Moggerhanger Village Hall (7.00pm for 8.00pm, 1st): Chris Bashford, 01767 640242 RADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Cobden Hill, WD7 7JR (8.00pm, 2nd): Nick, 020 8207 3057 ST ALBANS • The Robin Hood, Victoria Street, AL1 3TG (8.30pm, weekly): Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 ST ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall Street (8.30pm, weekly, Traditional Irish Instrumental): Rick, 01727 852976 TEBWORTH • Queens Head, LU7 9QB (4th, free food): Richard Chatterley, 07790 023220 TOWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8.00pm, 3rd): Andrew Leleux, 01296 615160 WELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758

thUrsday eVenings HERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd): Keith Acheson, 07979 841079 KIMPTON • The Boot (2nd & 4th): Doug, 07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com TOWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322 WOBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660

Friday eVenings AYLESBURY • Queens Park Arts Centre (1st, 3rd and 5th): Amanda Diamond, 01296 424332 ST NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (13 July, no session in August, 14 September): Sarah, 07857 311834, ssennett@theiet.org STEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales MK18 2NP (2nd, Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062 WELWYN • Brocket Arms (7.30pm, 3rd) Doug, 07973 751039, jennerdouglas@me.com

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at The Pump House, Local Board Road, Watford WD17 2JP

Folk and Acoustic Music at its best Fridays 8pm – 11pm

July 6th

Singaround

July 13th

Gala Fundraiser Concert

July 20th July 26th

Singaround Spotlight Singaround with “Thompson’s Twins”

August 3rd to 31st

£5 £10 £5 £5

Closed for Festivals/Holidays

September 7th

Singaround

£5

September 14th

Ange Hardy

£10

September 21st

Singaround

£5

September 28th

Delta Ladies

£10

Our Gala Fundraiser Concert on July 13th features : Steve McLennon , Moses & The Ref, Clive Carey and Na-Mara plus our Guest MC –Julian Mount Website : watfordfolkclub.co.uk Email: WatfordFolkClub@outlook.com Find us on Facebook: Watford Folk Club

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

here is a phrase that musicians in the Southern States of America use to describe music that sends a chill down your spine and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. They call it ‘chicken-skin’ music. And that’s what we heard in St Andrew’s Church , Hertford, when Martin Simpson played to a capacity audience on 21st April. Simpson is regarded as one of the most skilled folk guitarists currently playing on the British and American folk scene. Now approaching 65 (retirement age, as he proudly announced on Saturday) he has been performing live since 1970. He has released 21 solo albums, countless collaborative albums with other well-known musicians, and has been nominated 23 times in various categories of the annual Radio 2 Folk Awards, winning Artist of the Year twice. It was a real coup for St Andrew’s that he was persuaded to come and play here. The gig kicked off with Hertford’s favourite folk entrepreneur Pat Crilly playing a short six-song set of original songs. Pat – who describes himself as an Irishman with a Scottish accent – is himself a talented guitarist and packs a vocal punch with a pure, strong voice. He set the tone for the evening by opening with song about meeting a man from Senegal on a boat in the Congo. ‘Magical and Mystical’ went the refrain. That could have described what followed.

Over the following two hours, Simpson selected songs from the rich catalogue of English and American folk and blues numbers, each one introduced by amusing stories that often brought the songs up to date with interpretations that referenced modern political or environmental issues. Grenfell Tower, the chopping down of 17,000 trees in Shefﬁeld, mass poaching in the 1850s, the Aberfan tragedy – they all got a mention. Simpson is not shy of making a stand against injustice. Poignant lyrics and amusing anecdotes aside, it was his guitar and banjo playing that held the audience – many of them strangers to the church – in a silent trance. His version of Heartbreak Hotel and the Incredible String Band’s October Song were made his own by elaborate guitar playing made to look easy. After the concert, the down-to-earth Simpson, sat at the back of the church selling CDs and chatting to fans. He kept saying how the acoustics in the nave were ‘unbelievably clear and beautiful’. Asked if he would play at the church again, Simpson replied ‘Oh yes, deﬁnitely’. We’d better watch this space, I’d say. Forbes Mutch

Dressed in working men’s jeans and boots and a silk shirt that he later admitted was borrowed from his neighbour in Shefﬁeld, Richard Hawley (one-time guitarist with Jarvis Cocker’s 90s band Pulp), Simpson walked onto the dais where the altar normally stands and started tuning his guitar. Fixing a temporary feedback problem, his tuning gradually emerged, like a coil of mist rising from the swamps of the Mississippi, as a slow slide-guitar blues. The vocals which followed were like English traditional folk lyrics, telling the tale of a soldier dying in hospital. And then, just as we thought we had located the song, it merged into a version of Bob Dylan’s Blind Willie McTell. What intricate invention is that?

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Tenterden folk f 2018 “Tenterden, the Jewel of the Weald” Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th October 2018

GET INVOLVED, TAKE PART or BUY TICKETS i

GUEST CONFIRMED SO FAR Thursday evening : John Conolly Special guest: Julie Felix Plus: Alice Jones, Delta Ladies, Geoﬀ Lakeman, Georgia Lewis & friends, Pete Castle, Pete Morton, Scolds Bridle Also featuring: Mick Ryan’s new Folk Opera “Here at the Fair” Our regular and local guests: (Belgium), Gavin & Julie Atkin, John & Di Cullen, Marsh Warblers, Peter Collins, Portside, Spare Parts, Sue Watson, Travelling Folk, Vic & Tina Smith, Vic Ellis - one man band, United Folk Orchestras Free music stage guests: Charlie Tophill, Nunhead Folk Circle, plus more to be announced Morris sides and display teams And lots more!

Ticketed events include: concerts, barn dance, special shows, workshops, meet the guests, folk clubs, etc. Free events include: music stage, dance stage, dance displays, procession, song and music sessions, street theatre, etc. CONTACT INFORMATION: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA T: 01233 626805

Chief steward: Dance co-ordinator:

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

!Concert Nights

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

Friday 27th July 2018 ! £12 (£10 in advance) £2 under 25s Black Scarr This London based singer song writers Emma & Jonny sing modern with their modern day reality folk songs Support by Pass the Buch ( Our very own Chris & Richard) Friday 31th August 2018 £13 (£11 in advance) £2 under 25s Emily Maguire Song writer, Poet, Inspiration Support by

Royston Young Musician 2017 1st runner up and rapidly rising star

Katie Spencer !

Friday 28th September 2018 £13 (£11 in advance) £2 under 25s Two Coats Colder Returning folk heroes, Anna, Ray, David & Chris Support by Bill Tarren

! 16

www.roystonfolk.org Showcase Nights

Second Friday of EVERY Month!"#$%&'! Friday 13 th July 2018 !

Kasak & Afifi Terry Hiscock Steve Jones Ryan Webb & Ffion Rebecca Kelly & Woolley (pic) PLUS - YOUNG ARTIST Contestants

Friday 10 th August 2018

Ali Cosser (pic) Shaun Clark Simple Folk David Letus Tony Phillips PLUS - YOUNG ARTIST Contestants

Friday 14th Sept 2018

Rosalie’s Lover The Larks (pic) Anne Hester The Stout Brother PLUS - YOUNG ARTIST Contestants

Showcases hosted by Mark Gamon or Brian Harvey entry is £4 (£3 performers) £2 under 25s Just arrive and pay on the door MARK IS NOW BOOKING SHOWCASE SPOTS FOR 2019

CONCERT NIGHT TICKETS FROM THE OLD BULL OR ON THE DOOR (or reserve 01763260556)

“For FOLK Music read … GREAT Music” Music”! Please mention Unicorn magazine when rePlying to ads

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Sunday

Wednesday

Thursday

TBA

2–3.00pm

WHITCHURCH MORRIS MEN • 70th Anniversary Celebrations in Aylesbury and the Chilterns

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Woodman PH, Wild Hill

8.00pm

BEDFORD MORRIS MEN • The Cock PH, Broom

8.00pm

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Half Moon PH, Hitchin, Herts SG4 9TZ with Baldock Midnight Morris and Standon Morris

8.00pm

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Half Moon PH, Hitchin, Herts, SG4 9TZ with Baldock Midnight Morris and Standon Morris

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Swan PH, Bushey

Sat /Sun

7&8

TBA

Tuesday

8.00pm

WHITCHURCH MORRIS MEN • The George and Dragon PH, Quainton, HP22 4AR (with Towersey Morris Men)

Wednesday

8.15pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Swan PH, Bushey

8.00pm

BEDFORD MORRIS MEN • The Sun Inn PH, Felmersham

Evening

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Toddington tour, Bedfordshire with Redbornstoke Morris and others

7.45pm

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Toddington tour (Guests of Redbornstoke Morris Men)

2–4.00pm

TBA

8.00pm

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • The North Star PH, Welwyn, Herts with guests Tappalachian

8.00pm

WHITCHURCH MORRIS MEN • The Grand Junction Arms PH, Bulbourne, Tring, HP23 5QE

Wednesday

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Rising Sun PH, Berkhamsted

Thursday

8.00pm

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Pig and Abbot PH, High Street, Abington Pigotts SH8 0SD (with Devil’s Dyke Morris Men)

Saturday

All day

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Bedford Day of Dance - Bedford Town Centre with various other sides

Tuesday

8.00pm

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • John Bunyan PH, Coleman Green, Wheathampstead, Herts with guests Wicket Brood and St Albans Morris

8.00pm

WHITCHURCH MORRIS MEN • The Hampden Arms PH, Great Hampden, HP16 9RQ

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Case is Altered PH, Eastcote

9.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Old Orchard, Hareﬁeld

8.00pm

BEDFORD MORRIS MEN • The Bell PH, Odell

8.15pm

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Stone Jug PH, Clophill, Beds, MK45 4BY (with Bedford Morris Men)

8.15pm

BEDFORD MORRIS MEN • Stone Jug PH, Clophill, Beds, MK45 4BY (guests of Letchworth Morris Men)

Tuesday

8.00pm

WHITCHURCH MORRIS MEN • The Half Moon PH, Wilstone, HP23 4PD (with Etcetera and St Albans Morris)

Thursday

6.15pm

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Hitchin RNLI Vintage and Classic Vehicle Rally, Pirton Recreation Ground, Pirton, Herts

Saturday

All day

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fair, Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire

Sunday

All day

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fair, Old Warden Park, Bedfordshire

Thursday

Saturday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Wednesday

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Sheringham Lobster Potties

BALDOCK MIDNIGHT MORRIS • Berden Fete, Berden, Essex WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Rickmansworth Festival

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • The Plough PH, Sleapshyde

7 to 9

10.30am

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Swanage Folk Festival

Sunday

11.00am – 4.00pm

Wednesday

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice, Pump House, Watford, WD17 2JP

Wednesday

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice, Pump House, Watford, WD17 2JP

Wednesday

8.00pm

WOODSIDE MORRIS MEN • Practice, Pump House, Watford, WD17 2JP

Fri – Sun

LETCHWORTH MORRIS MEN • Warden Abbey Vineyard, near Old Warden - open day

Please mention Unicorn magazine when rePlying to ads

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

BaldocK midnight morris – Cotswold, Border, Raglan, Fieldtown Contact: John Richardson, 07905 792508 www.baldockmidnightmorris.org.uk BedFord morris men – Cotswold, North West and Border Contact: Phil Nicholson, 07756 064181 www.bedfordmorrismen.org.uk letchworth morris men – Men’s Cotswold Contact: Andrew Harper, 07771 903964 harperandrew937@gmail.com www.letchworthmorris.org.uk Vale oF aylesBUry • Whitchurch Morris Men – Cotswold Contact: John King, 01296 420846 info@whitchurchmorris.org.uk www.whitchurchmorris.org.uk or on Facebook

www.plectrumart.wordpress.com

watFord • Woodside Morris Men Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road Lower Watford High Street, Watford WD17 2JP Contact: Nick Wilson, 07860 663033 pete@iw2.co.uk, www.woodsidemorrismen.com

- `ÊÃ ÛiÀÊ« iVÌÀÕ Ê iÜi iÀÞ the perfect gift for the musician or music fan alike...

Listed alphabetically by location

Options can include: UÊÊ Ì iÀÊ iÌ> ÃÊÊUÊÊVÕÃÌ Ê`iÃ } ÃÊÊUÊÊi }À>Û }ÊÊ UÊÊV > ÃÊEÊÌ }ÃÊÊUÊÊ > >À }ÊÊUÊÊÊ

CB1416 Plectrum Jewellery ad (colour).indd 1

31/5/17 18:41:3

Fridays from 8pm m

Folk in the A Annexe 13 July y

Hosted by y Amanda Diamon nd & Eddy Richarrds £2.50 p performers / £4.50 0 non-performers// £3.50 concesssions

Guest Niight Vickii Swan & Jonny y Dyer - 27 Jul £13.50 / £11.50 cooncessions

Be sure to o check www.qp pc.org for all of our late est gigs and ann nouncements.

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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ST ALBANS MORRIS

WE MEET EVERY MONDAY EVENING. MEN AND WOMEN WELCOME TO COME AND GIVE MIXED COTSWOLD MORRIS A TRY OUT. CONTACTS: ANDREW TORRINGTON 01727 833028 OR BOB COMBES 01727 863727 SEE WWW.STALBANSMORRIS.ORG.UK

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17/8/17 16:31:26

Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 143

A SUPER-FRIENDLY VENUE – BURSTING WITH CREATIVITY

ow! I wish I lived in Aylesbury! I would be at the Queens Park Arts Centre every day. I visited recently to meet Dario Knight, the Theatre Manager and Marketing Coordinator and I was very impressed with the welcoming, laid back atmosphere. Based in a former school building, the Centre has been a vibrant, buzzing community facility since 1980. There’s something for everyone from babes in arms to the most senior of senior citizens. MUSIC, THEATRE & SO MUCH MORE

good access. The Centre is walking distance from Aylesbury town centre so it’s easy to reach by train and bus too. Recent changes include the refurbishment of the coffee bar and the conversion of the dance studio which has been a great success. Future projects include more improvements for disability access, better linking of the three onsite buildings and further refurbishment work in the theatre. WANT TO KNOW MORE OR GET INVOLVED?

The Centre certainly lives up to its motto of ‘Arts for All’. As well as theatre productions, music is a big part of the Centre’s offerings. Aylesbury Folk Club holds a monthly singaround ‘Folk in the Annexe’, John Otway (who was once a pupil at the school) and Wild Willy Barrett are both staunch supporters of the venue and other big names in the folk world, local bands and comedians regularly perform in the 120-seater Limelight Theatre.

The Centre is run as a not-for-proﬁt organisation and all the directors are volunteers. There are about 12 paid staff and over 100 volunteers ranging from teenagers to people in their 80s. They all happily give their time so the Centre can be affordable for people who want to be creative in an informal, friendly environment.

There are also over 100 low cost, pay-as-you-go workshops each week in eight studio spaces – offering pottery, woodwork, painting, drawing, needlework, jewellery making and mixed crafts to everyone from 18 months to 80+. There’s also a free-to-view art gallery, the Susan Diane School of Dance, a coffee/licensed bar offering hot and cold refreshments and Artisan – the new gallery shop selling handmade art and craft items by local artists.

It’s such a fantastic venue run by such lovely friendly people, you might even think about moving to Aylesbury!

You can ﬁnd out more by visiting www.qpc.org and joining the mailing list to receive the weekly newsletter. Or drop an email to info@qpc.org

Sandra Lawes

As well as supporting Aylesbury Town Council with various initiatives and events, the Centre also runs ‘The WanderHouse’, a well-established and popular outreach arts and craft project offering bespoke workshops and classes to local schools. EASY ACCESS & ONGOING IMPROVEMENTS

There is a big car park adjacent to the Centre and the whole building is on ground level with

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Advert Unicorn July-Sept 18:Layout 2

5/5/18

11:42

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 folk dances with others. The caller explains all the moves and walks them through – the band starts – and a great time is had by all! There’s usually a dance display in the interval and a raffle. Singles and groups are welcomed – just come and enjoy dancing to great music from top bands. Tickets only £10 - singles & groups welcome.

See www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

FRIDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER

We take a break from organising ceilidhs during the summer months, and get out and enjoy the various festivals the UK has to offer. We’re back in September, (see right) and then monthly until The Big Ceilidh on New Year’s Eve. Diaries ready? Fri 12th October - Melobo with Jane Bird calling. Fri 9th November - Random with Nick Walden. Fri 14th December - Jam & Crumpet Band with Mary Panton. Mon 31st December - Banter with Barry Goodman.

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

hosepipe band with caller

barry goodman

The Hosepipe Band have bee n playing for over 30 years with various personnel changes, and for dancers. Their tunes com are hugely experienced at playing e even foreign parts - but theyfrom all over the UK and sometimes ’re all great! The season with a great evening y’ll start the new . Barry has called with most of and is nationally respected asthe top UK bands at many festivals, a caller and musician. He alw conjures up a superb atmosp here, with excellent dances.ays Don’t miss the season’s first dance!

FULL BAR with REAL ALE

Tickets now available on line - see website for details

Please mention Unicorn magazine when rePlying to ads

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

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

Sunday Monday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • NW and Cotswold

Tuesday

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Jez Lowe

Wednesday

ELY FOLK CLUB • Duncan McFarlane and Anne Brivonese

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Clog

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • NW and Cotswold

STAPLERS • Barry Goodman

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Tuesday

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Open Stage

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller Kevin Prigmore

Wednesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Dance Out St Michael’s – Country, Clog and Mumming

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Nick Stephenson plus ﬂoor spots

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller Terry Elvins

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • MC²+ 1 plus ﬂoor spots

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • The Lights Album Launch

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Garden evening, contact club for details

FRIDAY FOLK • Bob Barrett

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FOLK AT THE MALTINGS • The Daria Kulesh Quartet plus Ben Moss and New Roots ﬁnalists, Bow by Bow

STAPLERS • Barbara Gilder and Club Callers

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

FRIDAY FOLK • Colin Hume and the Friday Folk Band

Tuesday

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • The Quiggs

Wednesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Odette Michell

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer – No club meeting

Thursday

Friday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Monday

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

STAPLERS • Joan Rutt

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Jack Rutter

Thursday

Friday

Monday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Graham Hine

FRIDAY FOLK • Garden Dance with Spring Greens (phone for details)

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller Pat George

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert – Black Scarr; support from Pass the Buch

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Spotlight singaround with “Thompson’s Twins”

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Guest Barry Goodman

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FRIDAY FOLK • Louise Siddons (USA)

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase Session - featuring Kelly and Woolley

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Gala Fundraiser Concert

HERGA at the Castle • Club closed

STAPLERS • Jill Bransby with Martin and Adrian

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

Monday

www.Unicornmagazine.org

ELY FOLK CLUB • Club closed

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Club closed

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer – No club meeting

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Club closed

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer – No club meeting

STAPLERS • Club Night

HERGA at the Castle • Club closed

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

ELY FOLK CLUB • Club closed

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Club closed

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer – No club meeting

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert – Emily Maguire; support from Katie Spencer

Wednesday

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Hosting the Club Tent at the Cambridge Folk Festival

STAPLERS • Club Night

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

ELY FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Karen Johnson & Tony Clark

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Club closed

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer – No club meeting

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase Session – featuring Shaun Clark; David Lettus; Ali Cossor

STAPLERS • Club Night

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

ELY FOLK CLUB • Club closed

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Dance Out Practice

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Closed

Thursday

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Club closed

Friday

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Summer - No club meeting

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FRIDAY FOLK • Evening BBQ (phone for details)

Monday

Wednesday

Monday

Wednesday

STAPLERS • Club Night

Sunday

HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Fish & Chip Supper with music from LOZT (Supper tickets are limited so booking is essential)

Monday

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

Wednesday

ELY FOLK CLUB • Club closed

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Moses and the Ref.

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Monday

Wednesday

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO BOTH OUR BLOG AND OUR MAILING LIST FOR REVISED GIG DATES, NEWS & UPDATES BETWEEN ISSUES...

Please mention Unicorn magazine when rePlying to ads

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

Monday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Clog AGM

Tuesday

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • The John Ward Trio

Wednesday

ELY FOLK CLUB • Piva

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Morris AGM

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Tuesday

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Steve Turner

Wednesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller TBA

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Daria Kulesh Quartet plus ﬂoor spots

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Kitty MacFarlane plus ﬂoor spots

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Tom McConville

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Open Stage with Eric Sedge

BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Harvest Moon themed Open Stage, 7.30pm, £4.00

FRIDAY FOLK • Caller TBA

HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Brooks Williams

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Singaround

BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage 7.30pm £4.00

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Sam Carter plus Hattie Briggs

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

Tuesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Clog

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Round the Room

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

Wednesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country AGM

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Guest Tim Brooks

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • Mike Excell / Phil Hewett

Tuesday

ST NEOTS FOLK CLUB • Vera van Heeringen Trio

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

Wednesday

ENGLISH MISCELLANY • Country

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller TBA

FOUR RIVERS FOLK CLUB • When Rivers Meet

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage

LINSLEIGHDERS FOLK DANCE GROUP • Club Callers

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing

BEDFORD FOLK DANCE CLUB • Dance with caller TBA

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Sally Barker

REDBOURN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage

ROUNDABOUTERS (Stevenage) • Club night, country dancing

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Concert – Two Coats Colder; support from Bill Tarran

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Delta Ladies

BEDFORD FINE COMPANIONS • Club Night Visitors Welcome

BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Open Stage, 7.30pm, £4.00

CAMBRIDGE FOLK CLUB • Boxwood Chessmen; Robin Gillan

HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Melrose Quartet

ROYSTON FOLK CLUB • Showcase Session featuring Rosalie’s Lover

WATFORD FOLK CLUB • Ange Hardy

BLACK FEN FOLK CLUB • Danny Pedlar & Rosie Butler-Hall, 7.30pm, £6.00

HITCHIN FOLK CLUB • Daphne’s Flight (Ticket only event)

HERGA at the Castle • Regular Singaround

WALTHAM ABBEY FOLK CLUB • Singaround

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

Monday

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

Monday

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

Monday

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO BOTH OUR BLOG AND OUR MAILING LIST FOR REVISED GIG DATES, NEWS & UPDATES BETWEEN ISSUES...

www.Unicornmagazine.org

[ Listed alphabetically by location ] BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Dance Club Putnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EB contact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574 www.bedfordfolkdanceclub.com BEDFORD • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance Club Hazeldene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford MK41 9AT contact: Chris Rutt, 01462 700451 ﬁnecompanionspublicity@gmail.com https://ﬁnecompanions.wordpress.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 BLACK FEN • Black Fen Folk Club NCI Sports and Social Club, 1 Holland Street, Cambridge CB4 3DL contact: Pete Barrett, Petebodhran@yahoo.co.uk www.blackfenfolkclub.com CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk Club Golden Hind PH, 355 Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 1SP contact: Marion Treby, 01638 603986 www.cambridgefolkclub.co.uk ELY • Ely Folk Club (no bar) 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

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 ALBANS • Friday Folk Social Dance Club Methodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XG contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508, 07762 085629 www.fridayfolk.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 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 WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk Club The Angel PH, Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, Essex, EN9 1EJ contact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987, www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com WATFORD • Watford Folk Club Colne River Room, Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre, Local Board Rd, Watford, WD17 2JP contact: http://watfordfolkclub.co.uk

HARROW • Herga at the Castle The Castle PH, 30 West Street, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 3EF Contact: Tim Brooks, 01923 264536, www.herga.club hertFord • Four Rivers Folk Club (formerly The White Horse Folk Club) The Hertford Club, Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT contact: Pat Crilly 07971 804418, patcrilly@hotmail.com HITCHIN • Hitchin Folk Club Sun Hotel, Sun St, Hitchin, SG5 1AF contact: Maureen Jones, 01462 812391< goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk

Kaehdq l]dd mk o`Yl kar] Y\n]jl qgm oYfl$ kmhhdq Ydd l`] j]d]nYfl [gfl]fl l]pl$ h`glgk$ [gflY[l \]lYadk ]l[! Yf\ ^gj bmkl *(&(( h]j Y\ o] oadd [j]Yl] Yf ]q]%[Yl[`af_ Yf\ ]^^][lan] \]ka_f º fg egj] ogjja]k YZgml karaf_$ kh][aÇ [Ylagfk gj Yjlogjc l][`fa[Ydala]k&&&

HITCHIN • Staplers Country Dance Club St John’s Community Centre, St John’s Rd, Hitchin SG4 9JP contact: Gill Goodman, 01462 456811, gillagoodman@hotmail.co.uk, www.staplers.org.u LINSLADE • Linsleighders Folk Dance Group The Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade, Leighton Buzzard LU7 2NR contact: Elizabeth Corser, 01525 378010, Elizabeth.corser@btinternet.com

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UM Ad design Service ad.indd 1

6/6/17 16:22:51

LUTON • English Miscellany East Hyde Village Hall, Southern Rise, East Hyde Luton, Beds, LU2 9QB contact: Eileen Heylin, 01442 255862 www.englishmiscellany.com REDBOURN • Redbourn Folk Club Old School Room, Hollybush PH, Church End, Redbourn AL3 7DU contact: Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 www.redbournfolkclub.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

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Please mention Unicorn magazine when rePlying to ads

PICK UP OR DISPLAY YOUR FREE COPIES TODAY…

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

Fridays – 8.00pm

2018 SEASON Sept

SUMMER BREAK

Fri 7th NEIL MERCER & PHIL RILEY www.philriley.org.uk

Fri

21st

HARP & A MONKEY http://www.harpandamonkey.com

Oct Fri 5th

PERFORMERS’ NIGHT

Fri 19th

NINEBARROW https://www.ninebarrow.co.uk

Nov LOUISE JORDAN

Fri 2nd

louisejordan.co.uk

Fri 30th

GILMORE & ROBERTS https://www.gilmoreroberts.co.uk/

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

BURY FOLK FESTIVAL

t’s folk festival season again, and on 30th June the 4th Bury Folk Festival will be taking place at Nowton Park’s Walled Garden in Bury St Edmunds. I took the opportunity to ask Steve Martin, Festival Co-ordinator, a few questions about the event. this is the 4th edition of Bury Folk Festival. how would you summarise the ﬁrst three? Each year we’ve learnt a little more about how to run the festival successfully and taken note of the feedback kindly left by our wonderful audiences. We have tried to put on a selection of musical genres to please everyone. what can you tell us about this year’s acts? who are you particularly looking forward to seeing? I am looking forward to hearing three bands in particular: Steamboat Union formed from two established duos, Kev Walford & Kelly Pritchard and Honey & The Bear, Róisín Bán, who play traditional Irish, Bretton & Scots tunes and a mixture of Irish, Scots, English folk & self-composed songs, and Edd Donovan, a highly distinctive singer-songwriter.

there are more and more folk festivals around these days, what is it that makes Bury Folk Festival special? Many festivals have now become too big and expensive and we believe that setting this laid-back intimate one-day festival in the delightful walled garden in Bury St Edmunds’ Nowton Park produces the right atmosphere for a family fun day of music. We have kept the entry price at a reasonable level of just £15 for adults, half price for children and free for under 5s for the day from 10am to 9:30pm. During the day you can enjoy a range of locally sourced food, coffee, craft stalls, a bar serving local real ale and even ice cream on a bicycle. We also have the return of the very popular Acoustic Tent where you can relax and listen to music, join in on one of the informal sessions or learn some new skills in a workshop. www.buryfolkfestival.co.uk, contact@buryfolkfestival.co.uk, www.facebook.com/buryfolkfest les ray

Live from Cambridge Folk Festival August 2 – August 5

Strummers & Dreamers Thursdays 7pm

Online | On Digital | On FM

www.cambridge105.co.uk

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Baldock & Letchworth Blues, Folk & Roots 8.30pm Wednesdays accompanied under 16s free Prices: member concessions/members/non-members

See our website www.madnanny.co.uk for detailed information July 4

Americano

£8/9/10

lemonrock.com/americano

Americana, folk & country; guitars, harmonica, percussion & upright bass, 3 lead vocals & great harmonies.

Aug 22 Mean Mary

£9/10/12

meanmary.com

Virtuoso ﬁddle, banjo & guitar with stunning vocals; She is a go-to performer for Sun Studio in Memphis as the voice of Elvis!

Sept 5 Brooks Williams

£10/£12/15

brookswilliams.com

The fabulous voice and guitar (rated in the top100 acoustic players in the world) of the Americana & Blues supremo returns! Always a fabulous evening.

Sep 19 Hobbs, Burke & Jenner £8 – all Three local musicians on stage together – they take turns to lead a song and back each other up. Lots to join in with, heckling and singing very much part of the fun.

Oct 3

Fred’s House

£9/10/£12

fredshousemusic.co.uk

Unique – lovely vocals and harmonies, complex music, always fantastic, be early!

Venue: The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW www.madnanny.co.uk 01767 683583

alan@madnanny.co.uk

Baldock & Letchworth Blues, Folk & Roots is sponsored by Tilly's Boarding Cattery http://tillys-boarding-cattery.co.uk Tilly’s Boarding Cattery is a high quality cattery near Biggleswade & Sandy. As cat lovers, we aim to provide a luxury cattery experience at affordable prices, because warmth, comfort, safety, care and attention, and space to play are the very least that you should expect from a cattery. We believe we offer the ideal cat boarding experience. Have a look around our site for more about the cattery, the boarding facilities, our boarding prices and of course about us, and why we’re the safest and best place to leave your cats while you’re away. We’d love you to come and look around the cattery, and see for yourself. To find out how we can help you, to arrange a visit or make a booking, call us on 01767 692654 or email sue@tillys-cattery.co.uk

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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Royston Young Artists Competition Do you play acoustic music? Are you between 18 and 26 years old? Get yourselves heard!

£750 in cash prizes

We’re looking for talented young performers solos, duos and trios, in any style, on any instruments, doing covers or originals, instrumentals or songs.

First prize is £500 cash, second prize is £250.

PLUS ... BOTH winners will get a paid concert slot at Royston Folk Club, AND a showcase single released by FATEA. Just bring two songs to one of our regular Showcase nights in 2018 Book your slot by email with Mark Gamon at ... markgsongs@gmail.com for ... 8 June, 13 July, 10 Aug, 14 Sept, 12 Oct, or 9 Nov. BROUGHT TO YOU BY....

SPONSORED BY....

Royston Folk Club Old Bull Inn (function-rooms) Off Market Square www.roystonfolk.org

www.creativeroyston.org SUPPORTED BY.... www.fatea-magazine.co.uk

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Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 143

3rd Quarter 2018 Listing Wed 11th July - Graham Hine Wed 25th July - Odette Michell Wed 8th Aug - Karen Johnson & Tony Clark Wed 22nd Aug - Moses and the Ref. Wed 12th Sep - When Rivers Meet Wed 26th Sep - Mike Excell / Phil Hewett !

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WWW.RAMRUGGE.ORG.UK

Sunday 10th June, 2.00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Great Wymondley Village Fete, Village Green, Great Wymondley, Hitchin SG47ET Saturday 16th June, all day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; St Albanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Folk Festival Tuesday 26th June, 8.00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Guests of Baldock Midnight Morris at The Orange Tree, Norton Road Baldock SG7 5AW Wednesday 4th July, 8.00pm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Folk evening, St Michaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village, St Albans AL3 4SH

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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o, we can’t take you back to 1980 – but you can enjoy good beer and delicious wine for these prices! Knowing there’s a link between folk music, Morris dancing and ‘liquid refreshment’, we’ve investigated making your own! Want to start home brewing?

Who goes in for home brewing and wine making?

Don’t know where to start? Help is at hand from Stephen and Dawn Black at The Happy Brewer, Bedfordshire’s Premier Home Brew and Wine Making Specialists. Located in a bright and welcoming shop in the Roxton Garden Centre (by the Black Cat roundabout on the A1), The Happy Brewer has everything you need - including helpful advice by the bucketful. They even have a helpline!

Home brewing is growing fast, because people want a fascinating hobby and there’s increasing inﬂuence from microbreweries. All budgets are catered for, with kits from a few £s to ‘money no object’. The Happy Brewer even has some wine sommelier customers who want quality wine without paying high tax and duty.

Stephen and Dawn took over this long-established business in 2010, when Stephen decided to turn his passion for making beer and wine into a business. Home brewing was popular in the 1980s, but the quality could be unpredictable. Since then, there’s been quite a change in the suppliers and the kits, bringing a huge improvement in quality. Now you can even make vineyard speciﬁc wine that would normally retail for up to £50 a bottle!

Stephen and Dawn are keen supporters of folk music and always attend folk events whenever they travel. They regularly go to concerts at The March Hare in Dunton - organised by Simon Bailes who used to produce Unicorn Magazine. They support the Magazine to give something back to the music they enjoy so much. And every Spring they supply Morris sides with thousands of crown bottle caps for the Percussion Sticks they use as instruments to accompany the dancing!

What products and services does The Happy Brewer provide? With its motto ‘Quality brewing at home’ and welldeserved reputation for expertise, quality and service, The Happy Brewer supplies anything for brewing, wine making and distillation plus cheese, yoghurt and tofu making. Stephen and Dawn try out all the kits themselves, and help you build your skills by advising on what equipment to buy and what sort of wine/brew to start with. If you want to use your own apples to make cider, they’ll even rent you a press! They also organise entertaining talks, wine tastings and narrow boat wine cruises on the River Ouse.

Any speciﬁc links with folk music?

Support for charity After meeting a partially sighted customer, Stephen and Dawn started fundraising for Guide Dogs for the Blind. They are now supporting their fourth guide dog with the proceeds of selling limited-edition beer kits and money collected in the shop. Fancy making a brew? Visit www.thehappybrewer.com or ring the Home Brew Helpline 01234 353856. The Happy Brewer is open Tuesday – Sunday (see the website for opening hours) at the Roxton Garden Centre and there’s free parking.

4 36

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

o you’ve made the decision. You’re going to Kimpton Folk Festival for the ﬁrst time. You’ve visited kimptonfolk.uk, bought your tickets and Google-mapped ‘Kimpton’, so now you know where you are going, and who you are going to see. But what else can you expect? What’s this one-day festival actually like? Maybe it will go a bit like this.

You navigate various narrow lanes and arrive at Kimpton where you follow a ‘free parking’ sign, ending up in a large field. After a quick trip to the handily-placed port-a-loo, you’re given a free programme and then directed to the Festival Office. After pausing briefly to glance at the map on the back page of your programme, you become momentarily distracted by a load of activity in front of you. Storytellling teepee, craft stalls, children’s games and more. It looks interesting so you make a note to check it all out later. Without knowing quite how, you find yourself on the Village Green where a crowd is gathering in front of an open stage. Delicious smells waft from food outlets ringing the green and look – there’s a real ale bar. But no beer yet. First you’ve got to get your tickets organised. As you head along Church Path you pause at the ‘busk stop’, dropping a few coins into the hat then continuing to the Festival Office where you exchange your ticket for a wristband.

but for now, you’re happy to sit on a hay bale, study your free programme and let your festival day begin to unfold.

It may or may not be like this for you, your family and your friends, but what I can say is that this year we will have more choices for you than ever before at this, our third Kimpton Folk Festival. We have many internationally acclaimed artists and lots more besides. I hope you’re going to make it to Kimpton this year – we all look forward to welcoming you. To book your tickets and ﬁnd out more, visit: www.kimptonfolk.uk Doug Jenner Chair, Kimpton Folk Events

Concerts now sorted, you glance across the road to The Boot pub where a Kimpton Folk Festival ﬂag is ﬂying and someone’s setting up a barbecue. You head inside for a quick drink, tap your foot to the jaunty jigs and reels of the sessioners and note that there will be ‘open mics’ later. Maybe get the guitar out of the car in a bit. You stroll back up High Street to the school where an Indian Dance workshop is advertised for 3.00pm, and then you come to the beautiful old Dacre Rooms where you note the beginners’ workshop schedule – ukulele, harmony singing, poetry and spoons.

f olk Q greg ru uartet ssel while m l and ciaran atthew a s and w lgar the jam hile es brot Hanna hers h sande rs and Jackie ben sav oate s a age nd mike jo sie du ncan an co sgra d pabl o ve la

fuente luke ja , jaywal ck Blathn son, Will mcNi kers aid lyn col an d Luke kelly ol n, Lond on kl selby ezmer iver an quarte d said t the ma fo od st id alls en

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7 July 2018

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It will be time to check out the Hall and Church stages later, but right now you’re feeling hungry. You amble back to the Green and browse the range of tempting street food stalls. And what to drink? Ale? Lager? Coffee? Soft drink? Pimms? Prosecco? Maybe a vintage ice cream. Decisions, decisions, choices choices. Your fold-up chairs are in the car,

enjoy some of the uk ’s top fo beauti lk ful vill age sett arti sts in a ing

, worksh ops, stor dancing , facepa ytellin free en g, inting, tertainm busker ent on s the vill age gree n

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Tickets fro @kimpton

folk

m www.kim @kimpton

ptonfolk.u k

folkfestiva

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

enjoy some of the ukâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top folk artists in a beautiful village setting

7 July 2018

the urban folk Quartet greg russell and ciaran algar while matthews and while the james brothers Hannah sanders and ben savage Jackie oates and mike cosgrave josie duncan and pablo lafuente, jaywalkers luke jackson, Will mcNicol and Luke selby Blathnaid lynn, London klezmer quartet kelly oliver and said the maiden

s st et a k f ic ng i ll

food stalls, workshops, storytelling, dancing, facepainting, buskers free entertainment on the village green

Tickets from www.kimptonfolk.uk @kimptonfolk

@kimptonfolkfestival

kimptonfolkuk

July 5th:

MC2 +1 plus floor spots

July 12th: Open Stage July 19th: Nick Stephenson plus floor spots July 26th: Open Stage AUGUST CLOSED Sept 6th: Kitty MacFarlane plus floor spots Sept 13th: Open Stage Sept 20th: Daria Kulesh Quartet plus floor spots Sept 27th: Open Stage OTHER DATES ARE OPEN STAGE NIGHTS

THURSDAYS 8.00pm – 10.45pm

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Unicorn Magazine: ISSUE 143

BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENTS... IN THE HEART OF UNICORN COUNTRY SKILLED CRAFTSMANSHIP

n the pretty village of Guilden Morden on the borders of Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, highly skilled craftsman Rod Ward makes beautiful violins, violas and cellos in the Old Italian Style. I spoke to Rod in his workshop, surrounded by his stock of ﬁne seasoned timber which he has been collecting for over 40 years. In his youth, Rod learned to play the guitar and mandolin and always knew he wanted to make instruments. At university, a friend gave him a violin which inspired him to teach himself how to make them “with a lot of help from many people”. He sold his ﬁrst violin in 1976, and the original owner still has it.

He has strong links with folk music. He ran his own band for many years in Devon and played with the Cambridge Crofters for nearly 20 years. He currently plays in Theo Thomas’ band ‘Abella’ and at the monthly sessions at the Albion PH in Ampthill. The violins, violas and cellos made in Cermona and Brescia in Italy between 1550 and 1750 are widely acknowledged to be the best ever produced – crafted by well-known names like Gesparo da Salo, Amati, Guarneri and the most famous of all – Stradivarius. Rod’s instruments are made in this style – using carefully selected wood and traditional tools. To date, he has made 104 violins, 122 violas and 22 cellos. Using the beautiful wood from his vast collection, he takes about 2–3 months to build an instrument, which can be personalised to individual requirements. As these requirements vary greatly, especially for violas and cellos, prices are ‘on application’.

College of Music in Manchester and at the Cambridge Folk Festival. One of his most unusual commissions was to make an exact copy of an instrument he had made for the classical musician Elizabeth Turnbull for one of her students. The student went on to become the principal viola in the main orchestra in Santiago! BUILT TO LAST

Rod’s instruments are built to last 500 years and will increase in value. If you buy an instrument from Rod, he will look after it and keep it in good playing order for you for as long as you own it – free of charge! He doesn’t repair instruments, but if you need this service, he will introduce you to Jackie Sparrow of Fiddle Daemons who will be able to help. Rod’s advice to a musician buying an instrument is “Always buy the best one you can afford.” See www.wardviolins.com for more details of Rod’s instruments. Visit www.ﬁddledaemons.com for Fiddle Daemons if you need a repair. Sandra Lawes

WHO BUYS A WARD INSTRUMENT?

Rod’s main customers are professional classical musicians and students, and he is currently making a ﬁve string violin for folk use. But Rod’s instruments are suitable for everyone – “A good instrument should be easy to play.” Most of his commissions come through word of mouth, but you can visit Rod at his workshop by appointment or see his work displayed from time to time at the Royal Northern

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

www.Unicornmagazine.org

being swept away for a while on a tide of infectious exuberance, then add this one to your collection as soon as possible. BP

‘Far off on the horizon’ | winter wilson: Launched to coincide with their Spring UK tour supporting Fairport Convention, Far Off on the Horizon is Kip Winter and Dave Wilson’s ninth album in 12 years. The 12 original songs – all written by Dave – are tales of love, loss, emigration and the raw feelings from everyday life. Blending in excellent harmony, the duo’s soulful voices draw strong emotions from the hard-hitting lyrics with Dave on guitars, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and percussion and Kip on accordion and whistle. The tracks cover a range of folk-rock styles including acoustic blues and gospel – there’s even a jaunty shanty – all delivered with true professional quality. Strings by Marion Fleetwood are also featured on tracks 1 and 6. Powerful and sensitive storytelling with captivating melodies – a truly compelling combination. Check out Winter Wilson’s website www.winterwilson.com for more details & dates. DC

‘‘the waters & the wild’ | ninebarrow: Having seen the Dorset based duo perform at Costa del Folk and at various local folk clubs, I was thrilled when they sent us their third album to review. Their outstanding musicianship makes it hard to remember that Jon and Jay have only been singing together since 2012, and only gave up their full-time jobs (as a teacher and a GP) in 2017! I’m not alone in admiring their music, as they were crowned Larmer Tree Breakthrough Music Award Winners in 2013 and nominated for ‘Best Emerging Artist’ in the Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017. The eleven tracks on this album, some self-penned, some traditional, are superbly written and arranged and cover a variety of themes – nature, shipwreck, farming, country life, history and the state of the world. The beautiful close harmonies of the vocals are supported by a full sound of piano, ukulele, tenor and octave mandola, cello, drum, bodhran and assorted stringed instruments plus a distinctive reed organ. Mark Tucker’s immaculate production perfectly complements the performance of the duo and the high calibre guest musicians too numerous to mention here. A beautifully presented songbook accompanies this delightful album, providing the background to the songs and the lyrics. The hearts and souls of the artists are in this material and the way they perform it. Quality and depth of feeling resonate through every note. Find out more about Ninebarrow at www. ninebarrow.co.uk or on Facebook. SL

’‘delusions of grandeur’ | the Boxwood chessmen: This four-piece unit refuses to drop neatly into any category. The constant thread is a combination of superb musicianship honed by a mouthwatering set of musical pedigrees and an outrageous sense of joy and fun, all reﬂected in this album. Here we have twelve tracks of songs and tunes which are a mixture of traditional and self-penned, with a few of these from the magical pen of one of Hertfords’s ﬁnest exports, the incomparable Penni McLaren Walker. Penni is joined by Bryan Causton, John Campbell Armer and Hector Ringtone (who he?). Between all of them there are far too many instruments to name, but of course it should be noted that Bryan is one of the best mandolinists on the circuit. Perhaps the best accolade for this CD is that it captures the essence of Boxwood Chessmen as they appear in clubs and festivals around the land. Not only tremendous to hear, but absolutely entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable. It brings the “feelgood-factor” which generates standing ovations from audiences and repeat bookings from organisers. If you don’t mind

‘Brave’ | the salts: This CD, recently released by Braccan Records, continues the tradition of task-oriented group singing. It pushes the tradition forward with some interesting sounds and instrumental accompaniments. The music produced by these ﬁve seasoned musicians is exciting and energetic with a strong rhythm throughout. The songs are not their own: they could be described as traditional but the interpretation and sound mixing

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

CB | reviewed by Clive Batkin EB | reviewed by Ed Broadbridge

are what makes the difference. Forget Chanteys sung by loud forceful voices, these guys bring a welcome subtlety to the work which makes it very pleasant listening. If you liked The Salts’ previous CD – ‘She Rises’ – then you will definitely like this too! Their live shows have been enthusiastically received at festivals and other venues. They perform with a mixture of instruments – mandolin, whistle, banjo, acoustic guitar, drums and doublebass – and their great harmonies make this a band that is high in audience participation. I am sure that you will soon find yourself singing along to the numbers either in the car or at home. For more information, visit www.thesalts.co.uk or find The Salts and Braccan Records on Facebook. EB 5

‘through the seasons’ (a year in morris & Folk dance) | will Pound: The twelve tracks on this CD from Lulubug Records provide a musical almanac and a celebration of the year of Folk Dance. It is a beautifully presented CD that has variety, clarity and vision. It has avoided the musical cacophony that so often emerges from Folk Dance music when a variety of artists simultaneously attempt to stamp their own identity on the tunes. Richly deserving of the accolade of being one of the finest harmonica players of his generation, Will steers clear of muddled music and also the over-stated bass that seems to infest so many records today. There is however, innovation, playfulness and subtlety – not always the case in CDs of this ilk! This is a tour of styles with some interesting musical timbres. The CD includes Cotswold, Molly, Rapper, Border, North-West and Longsword tunes. The CD sleeve is attractively presented and contains a beautifully laid-out and very informative booklet explaining the tunes and their origins. Many of you will be very familiar with Will Pound’s music but for those who are not, I can say it has very pleasing traditional elements and it is refreshing to hear. Will’s accompanists are Ross Grant on fiddle and Benji Kirkpatrick playing bouzouki and banjo. Guest artists include Patsy Reid, Ross Couper, Eliza Carthy and John Kirkpatrick. I’m just sorry I did not catch Will (accompanied by Debs Newbold, Benji Kirkpatrick and Ross Grant) on his Arts Council England sponsored tour in May to promote the album. This CD is an absolute gem and it will have pride of place in my collection! See www.willpound.com or find Will on Facebook. EB

Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

DC | reviewed by Debbie Catt SL | reviewed by Sandra Lawes BP | reviewed by Bill Pardon

‘awake’ | hannah sanders & Ben savage: Hannah and Ben’s second studio album ‘Awake’ was launched in May and is creating even greater interest than their 2016 debut CD ‘Before the Sun’. Hannah’s ethereal, crystal clear voice and mountain dulcimer playing might never have combined with Ben’s harmonies and exquisite dobro and guitar skills, had it not been for a chance meeting at a Cambridge folk club, shortly after Hannah returned to East Anglia from America. Hannah and Ben wrote seven of the haunting, melodic tracks and arranged a further two. There are also two captivating covers of songs by Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie. The duo’s delivery reminds me of the way they perform live – sharing a mike and drawing the audience into the meaning of the lyrics. To my mind, despite its title, (taken from a track written by Ben to tempt a talented friend out of a musical hiatus), the whole CD has a hypnotic, mystical feel and listening to it induces a trance-like, magical feeling. Hannah and Ben used tarot while they were recording and the striking black and white album cover shows the High Priestess, a deer as The Hanged Man and other icons from the tarot deck. Sadly, I’m not a tarot expert so the signiﬁcance was lost on me but it is aesthetically striking. This is a beautifully crafted CD with polished performances by the duo and a number of guest musicians. Don’t miss Hannah and Ben at Kimpton Folk Festival on 7 July. See their website www.hannahbenmusic.com for other gigs and festivals through the summer. SL 7

‘so high we lose our minds’ | Joey costello: Folk songs are all about telling stories about people. Joey Costello is so passionate about this that he writes at the top of his set list for every performance ‘Tell Your Story’. His recently released single ‘So High We Lose Our Minds’ does exactly that as he accompanies his distinctive voice on guitar, singing about how life’s trivia distract us from what is important and from our own happiness. Joey is an American singer-songwriter who has now moved to the UK to make a new life for his music and collaborate with British musicians. This new single features Nottingham songwriters Theo Theo and Iona Wellington. I confess I had some difﬁculty understanding the lyrics until I watched the YouTube video which follows the stories of several characters trapped in their habitual lives, unhappy, but unable to escape. Then Joey’s message about ‘how messed up life

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is’ made a lot more sense. His music and live gigs supporting Blair Dunlop, Brooke Sharkey and Emma Stevens have been exciting a lot of interest. I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more about this young man and his music. See https://joeycostello.com. SL 8

‘invisible man’ | graham hine: As a guitar player myself, I’m probably going to guitar hell if I admit that I’ve never really been a fan of delta guitar-based blues – I simply don’t have the requisite ears or heart to listen to it or play it properly... this is clearly not the case with Hertfordbased Graham however. This 10 track CD is steeped in the ‘proper’ blues tradition, and features a range of tunes and songs, all perfectly played and sung by Graham. Some of the tunes are traditional blues fare, some are composed by Graham himself – some are instrumental, some feature guitar and voice, and some have added drums and percussion. The CD is attractively designed and packaged, with photos, lyrics and liner notes. This all makes for a really interesting listen, and I am glad to say I thoroughly enjoyed it – I’m ofﬁcially now going to blues heaven! Graham also has an informative website, www.grahamhine.com –where you can read all about his playing, gigs both past and present and about his gear. CB 9

‘the Blood red earth’ (australian Poets in song) | doug Jenner et al: This tidy EP from Kimpton stalwart Doug Jenner is the ﬁrst chapter in a series of Australian poems about the Great War, set to music by both Doug and a range of other musicians. Recorded in NSW Australia, it’s a great little listen, with clever arrangements, an interesting selection of instruments and rich variety in the overall sound. The simple cardboard sleeve is very attractively designed, and I think the line from it ‘... painting graphic yet compassionate word pictures of fellow Australians involved in the terrible conﬂagration that was World War 1” probably sums up the content of the CD far better than I could. I eagerly look forward to Chapter 2 in the series! Contact Doug Jenner for more information. CB

‘chihuahua with a paddle’ | the swanvesta social club: This is the latest recording from the St Albans-based ‘mock’ Cuban band (we featured them way back in Issue 131, three years ago ‘to the issue’), and whom many of you probably know from their various appearances at festivals (both folk and mainstream alike) and gigs around the Unicorn area and beyond. Of the seven songs on the recording, some are originals, some are traditional and some are their regular ‘anglo-Cuban’ variations of well known poplar tunes songs for which the band is so well known. The CD has a very ‘live’ sound, and effectively translates their live performances onto a digital medium. Some may not call it ‘folk’ music, but the overall homespun vibe of this latest offering probably makes it a very worthy addition to the ‘world music’ section of any folk fan’s record collection. More information from www. swanvestasocialclub.com. CB 11

‘Viewpoints’ | dave artus: This CD from Dave (who many of you will know from his involvement in helping to organise both the Uxbridge Folk Club and Rickmansworth Festival, and his regular appearances at folk clubs etc) is a spectacular looking affair. The packaging is instantly eye catching, with lovely photography and design, plus copius sleeve notes to boot. This album of 14 tunes represents a large body of Dave’s more recent songs, and four covers from other well known artists. For the CD, Dave has employed the services of Lukas Drinkwater and Dave Nachmanoff to produce, record and mix the CD, plus a few other musicians here and there. Some of the tracks were recorded in Nachmanoff’s Californian studio, some in Drinkwater’s Stroud studio – and three were even recorded in Paul McNamara’s (of na-mara fame) St Albans studio! Not surprisingly with the calibre of musicians involved, the playing and arrangements of all the tunes is superb throughout, and the album has a nicely rounded selection of styles and sounds to keep the listener engaged. Dave sings on all the tunes – fans of his live work will undoubtably enjoy this fuller sounding production. CB

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Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

CB | reviewed by Clive Batkin EB | reviewed by Ed Broadbridge

DC | reviewed by Debbie Catt SL | reviewed by Sandra Lawes BP | reviewed by Bill Pardon

‘Shivelight’

‘tides’ | moonrakers: This is the fifth recording from the Oxford-based band, and highlights their relatively new line up – featuring Sarah Fell and Eleanor Dunsdon in addition to the Moonraker stalwarts of Jon Bennett and Liz van Santen. The CD features an interesting mix of both original and traditional tunes alike, and I found the arrangements to be enticing and thoughtful throughout. The addition of Eleanor’s harp makes for particularly interesting listening, and it works very well with both Liz’s fiddle playing and the rest of the band in general. As ever I tend to favour the instrumental tunes, but the songs each have great merit – the liner notes on the attractively packaged booklet that accompanies the CD gives a brief introduction and insight into each of these, and I always find printed lyrics to be a big help. More information on the band can be found on their website (www.moonrakers.net) and don’t forget to read about some of their other activities in our Chatterbox section on page 7 of this edition. CB 13

‘evo’ | skerryvore: I thought I’d end this Issue’s CD reviews with a truly magnificent offering (not from our Unicorn ‘patch’ by any means, but then rules are always made to be broken after all...*). Skerryvore are one of Scotland’s best know folk-rock acts, and this CD marks their sixth release. The CD is an immaculate affair, from its beautifully designed packaging to the riotous sounds produced by this creative and energetic eight-piece. The word ‘Evo’ is described in the blurb accompanying the CD as “an unfolding, opening out, process of development from a simple to a complex form or of gradual, progressive change”. Strong stuff, but a claim that is justly evoked from even a brief listening to this record. If you like rousing sets of folk-rock tunes and songs, full-on band renditions of groovy folk anthems and bagpipes galore, then look no further. Sit back, have a whisky or two and play it very, very loud – I know have and will continue to do so! Wonderful stuff! CB Once again we have been inundated with CDs for review over the last couple of issues, so if yours has not appeared yet please bear with us. We are working through them (on a ‘first come first served’ basis) so will strive to include them in future issues...

Mishaped Pearls

ondon-based act Mishaped Pearls are one of those hidden gems of a band... wellknown and adored by some folk fans, still waiting to be discovered by others...

Shivelight is their latest release, and features nine tracks of unparalleled ingenuity. The CD has an understated presence in its design and presentation, which I think nicely mirrors the sonic delights to come. The title of the album comes from the work of Victorian poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, and describes the way sunlight shines through a woodland canopy... deep! The seven-piece band is composed of clearly very fine, schooled musicians and the overall soundscape they produce is both lush, evocative and effortless in equal measures. A dazzling array of instruments (both acoustic and electric, traditional and modern) are employed to weave their tapestry of sound, which I found to be deeply hypnotic at times yet always interesting and fun to analyse when the mood so took me. The articulation of the vocals is superb on all tracks, and the whole recording is of a top notch quality and precision. I love a recording where the normally ‘unwanted’ sounds of fingers on strings or instrument parts is not only left un-hidden but seemingly seamless incorporated into the whole. The range of material on the recording is highly varied and keeps the listener continually interested – I found myself wondering ‘what was coming’ next on my first listen, a feature I love with new CDs. For more information on the band and their work, see their website www.misshapedpearls.org. Or just go see them in concert or buy the CD... I guarantee you won’t be disappointed! Clive Batkin PS: Word on the street is that the band may be performing a highly select ‘house concert’ in my vicinity later this year –if so I hope to be in attendance and to grab the band for an interview slot for a future issue.... stay tuned for details)

* I am sure many of you will notice the gradual loosening of our normal CD review rules over the past issue or so, since we are being sent more and more offerings from further aﬁeld... Unicorn magazine: issUe 143

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