Folk

  Hiya

It has been pointed out to me that it has been some considerable time since I last sent out a full blooded news letter. Well, all I can say in my defence is that I don’t know how I fitted it all in when I was working – something that I have hated every newly retired person saying to me for years and I now find is true!!

 Ah, well! You asked for it so here goes…….

May goes out like a lion with one of our regular Singin’ and Suppin’ sessions on 29^th – always well supported and invariably remarked upon by newcomers for the quality of the performers that we attract. If you want to do something – it needn’t be Folk Music, we’re happy to listen to listen to anything, in fact it needn’t be music; poetry, (clean) jokes whatever really. Just make yourself known when you arrive and we’ll find you a spot!!

June is definitely Young Persons’ month when it comes to club guests (Fairfield apart of course) as we have lined up two brilliant duos who impressed us at last year’s Festivals. 

On June 12^th we welcome barronbrady to the club. This delightful couple will be coming up from their native Devon where they have built up quite a following. Si Barron plays guitar and harmonium and also sings and Rosalind Brady plays flutes and harmonium and sings with an enthusiasm for her music that had Cynthia and me breathless at Burntwood last year. Their material is either traditional or self penned and it is difficult to tell which they are doing at any one time. They take their inspiration for writing from both traditional stories and nature itself. We think that you will fall in love with them – we did and so did “Whispering” Bob Harris of Old Grey Whistle Test fame – “beautiful music” and Mike Harding

And continuing the Young Duo theme on 26^th June we have up and coming stars Megson coming to perform their own brand of music for us. There have been many predictions about Stu Hannah and Debbie Palmer and it is, I feel inevitable, that they will be stars of the future. They have already been featured on Radio 2, performed at numerable Festivals including the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival, toured in Europe and supported Show of Hands and Seth Lakeman on their tours.

 They already have two albums to their credit but it is their strength is in their live performances. Young Mr Connor and I saw them at Shrewsbury last year and immediately said “gotta get them to the club” Most of their material is self penned and excellent. Over to Whispering Bob again “how beautiful was that… absolutely gorgeous”

 And so into July………… 10^th July will be the Festival Singin’ and Suppin’ night in the small marquee at the rear of the Bowling Green in Stoke Prior and, for those that want, a session in the pub bar NOTE – we will not be at Catshill Club that night.

 And what a line up we have for the Festival – While and Matthews, Jez Lowe, James Keelaghan, Anthony John Clarke, Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer, Bram Taylor, Will Morgan and we will also be showcasing our own local Singin’ and Suppin’ night talent in the various and varied forms of Legacy, Clive Brooks, Luke Smith and friends and Lads and Dads. We’ve enlarged the size of the small marquee this year and have plans to use it for informal “mini-concerts” The Foam Flinging, sponsored this year by Charles Kenward Motors” has mad waves with both the Daily Telegraph and the Paul O’Grady Show!! Tickets really are going fast so get in there!

 And will we rest on our laurels after the Festival – No! Of course not! Quicksilver, Flaxenby, Bob Fox and Stu Luckley, Cara Luft and Hugh MacMIllan, Harvey Andrews and Brian Peters will all visit our rooms in Catshill for your delectation.

 Be there – you know it makes sense.

 In the meantime, look after one another. Bob