HaverFolk News

26^th January, 2012

Hi all,

Newsletter time once again with a report of last nights’s Andy Roberts feature evening from John the Fox.

Havering report 25 January:

A splendid turnout for our guest artist Andy Roberts (Haverfolk’s Andy not the Liverpool Scene one) meant the number of floor spots was restricted (the guv’nor Simon Oliver led by example and stood down, despite having practised something special for the evening).

Proceedings were opened by our Hillbillies Pep and Terry playing a quick bluegrass piece then leading all-comers in the songs You Ain’t Going Nowhere and Worried Man Blues.

MC for the night Smolovik formally opened proceedings with Down By the Riverside then called on Foxen who performed Freewheeling Days, their tribute to the late Suze Rotollo, Bob Dylan’s girlfriend who is pictured on the front of his Freewheeling album.

Our own Thief of Dadgad, Graham Harrison, marked Burns Night by singing Archie Fisher’s Lindsay.

Concertina and guitar duo Bernie and Maureen Pilgrim gave us Grandfather’s Tune and Uncle Bernard then violin maestro Richie Barratt made a welcome return, accompanying Micky Brown on a song we think was called Can’t Wait Till the Weekend Comes.

Newcomer Di Russell accompanied herself on mandolin for a Mumford and Sons song, Awake My Soul and Ray Spillman, recovering well after his recent stay in hospital sang Norwegian Wood.

Poetess Carol read us a brief ode written during a workshop she went to on hands and Peter Walters sang Gypsy Rover.

Then it was time for the main event. Andy has a growing reputation as a songwriter and treated us to an hour and three-quarters (with a break) of mostly his own compositions. [ full setlist ] Old favourites such as London Bridge (which Haverites insist on calling the Cormorants) and Winter In Andalucia jostled with newer compositions such as Never Was to Be (an online collaboration with lyricist Daryl P Hall) and Clean Living Woman Blues (lyrics by Andy’s partner Linda Hartley).

As it was Burns Night he gave us two of his Scotland-inspired numbers The Last Nail and The Rowan Tree (not to be confused with the Scottish ballad written by Lady Nairne).

We also got a version of his epic, Gernika, inspired by a visit to the Basque city on the anniversary of its bombing by the Luftwaffe.

He finished off with his song Cajun  Music Cajun Food and invited Pep on banjo and Richie Barratt and John Foxen on fiddles to join him.

He was called back for a well deserved encore and aptly provided The Last Subway Home, reminding us it was time to take the last train.

A fine end to a fine evening. – John Eason

Local Round-Up:

This Sunday, 29^th January the FaB Club has a “Club in the Pub” session featuring Al Neville & Friends. www.fabclubgrays.com

There is a singaround at Waltham Abbey Folk Club on Monday, 30^th January; all welcome. www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com

This coming Tuesday, 31^st January sees a guest night at Romford Folk Club with C’est la Vie; the compere & commere are Mick & Nora. www.romfordfolkclub.com

Also on Tuesday, 31^st January the Hoy at Anchor Folk Club has a guest evening featuring Tony McManus. I quote direct from their website: ”Tony McManus is the Jeff Beck of the acoustic guitar”; ”His guitar playing is faultless…atmospheric and evocative…consistently appealing” just two of the many glowing reviews attributed to this guitar virtuoso. In the course of his relatively short career Tony has established a reputation as the best Celtic guitarist in the world…the man whose fellow guitarists would aspire to and are in awe of!”  www.ridgeweb.co.uk

On Thursday, 2^nd February, Loughton Folk Club has guest Josienne Clarke; again I quote direct from the website: “Josienne Clarke is now one of the leading lights in the current folk revival movement. Her music is borne from sincere and succinct songwriting, distilled through traditional folk, executed with skill and dexterity. Come and see!”  http://www.loughtonfolkclub.btck.co.uk/   also   www.josienneclarke.co.uk

Back to Haverfolk:

Our next open session is on Wednesday 1^st February when all are welcome to claim a floor spot. The first 15 to give their names to the night’s MC are guaranteed at least two songs. After that, it depends on how many we have, but we’ll try to fit you in for two if we possibly can.

That’s it for this week – a rather shorter-than-usual newsletter, but not so much happening this time. Make it a date- Wednesday at eight!

Cheers – Peter Walters

HaverFolk, The Function Suite, The White Horse, 118 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Romford, RM6 6NU

                           www.haveringfolkclub.bravehost.com