Passport

I am now officially Irish! I picked up my Irish passport yesterday. People don't believe me when I say that I have never been abroad. When I was young I never really fancied going to Spain with the hordes of lager drinking sun readers or whizzing over to France to save a few quid on fags and booze.But at 52 I need to do things and see places! Iceland, Alaska, China all look interesting! I can also now apply for a driving licence.

I'm going down to Rochester today for the best acoustic / sing around in Britain! A full report will follow.

Update

I haven't been posting on here for some time. Lots of stuff has happened. I managed to contact my long lost daughter who I haven't seen for over 20 years! That's her picture on the right. The folkmob christmas party was a success there was loads of food and a good time was had by all. This coming saturday I will be down in Rochester at The Good Intent for a singaround hosted by the great John Barden. Bill Gardner is threatening to come with us!

Wizz Jones

What can I say? I don't know how I missed this bloke during my 40 years of being a music nut. He is fantastic. He's been on the scene for over 50 years! The list of people who cite him as a major influence includes - Eric Clapton, John Renbourn, Rod Stewart & Ralph McTell to name just the ones who spring to mind. He is 68 and still brilliant.

I saw Wizz last night at The Orpington Folk Club - what a night. I looked around me at an audience that were completely transfixed by the maestro guitar playing and passionate vocal delivery of such classics as "Burma Star" "The Legendary Me" & "Paris"

The FolkMob have got to book this guy while he is still gigging, I can assure them that they will be shouting out for "More" as they were last night at Orpington. I will definitely be looking out for any more gigs Wizz is playing in my reach!

Video Camera

I just bought a video camera and have posted my first short on the right of this page "Lucien" I haven't worked out all the bells and whistles yet but they seem to upload to YouTube alright if under 100mbts. Haven't been able to get them on google video yet though. We had an acoustic session in the bar at The Tudor Barn last night. It was a bit noisy at one point I could here people at the bar louder than the singing which was a bit offputting - still it is a pub!

Bored

well here I am saturday night sitting in my bedroom bored. I bet Dave and Graham are down Hardy's having a few pints and listening to some good sounds. Bill's probably down the Monty Club saying Grrrr! i went to Paddington station yesterday to meet my daughter returning from a trip to cornwall with her college. I went to eltham this afternoon. Argos and then Sainsbury. Apart fom that I haven't been out since Thursday 20th sept. I'm off medication now but have to take things easy. as Pete D'Hat would say "what a palaver"

Tudor Barn Update

Folkmob Chairman tells me that the Tudor Barn lease has been sold to Johnny Arnold and is therefore likely to remain a pub after all. Let's hope that the new landlord will still allow folkmob to meet there on Wednesdays.

Tudor Barn

I hear a that Greenwich council may not be renewing the lease of The Tudor Barn! It is currently leased as a Public Bar & Restaurant. The current leaseholder has allowed Folkmob to use the upstairs area for their weekly meeting/session for the last 11 years. There have been several rumours going about regarding the plans for the building. Here are some of them:

• Stephen Lawrence Hall : A meeting place for young black students
• Tudor Balti: Indian Restaurant
• A Mosque
• A Gospel Church
• Hostel for homeless refugees.

Whatever it turns out to be, it's unlikely that it will be a pub, unless somebody can persuade the council and buy the lease

Rhino Insertion

I just got over the worst experience of pain and physical torture in my life! It started on Thursday evening. I went to Orpington folk club with my mate Brian Bruce, I was going to make my performance debut there so I brought my guitar with me. When we got there, I was sitting tuning up when Steve Jennings said "there's blood on you're guitar" I noticed that my nose was bleeding! It wouldn't stop so Brian kindly drove me all the way back home again. Now I was coughing up blood clots as well, so an ambulance took me to Lewisham hospital where they performed bi-lateral rhino insertion, which involved shoving these two long things right up both nostrils as far as the can go and by golly it hurt! Then the worst was to come, they inflated them while they were in! This is supposed to stop the bleeding. The kept these rhinos in for 48 hours! that meant total pain and no sleep. I'm out of hospital now but have to take things easy to keep the blood pressure down. Other than that ha ha! I enjoyed last wednesday at the Tudor Barn. Sion's last song was excellent - can't remember the title but I will ask him to do it again soon.

Knockholt

A bit belated - but what a great time we all had down at Knockholt! Beautiful weather, good people, great music, and good beer. Fantastic new wood supplier from Dover. Where were all the sheep? I think that the farmer had advance warning about certain sheep fanciers amongst our number! The steak & Ale pie at the Tally Ho was excellent. Richard Bridge's guitar playing was exceptional. Poor old John Barden was struggling with a throat infection but managed to entertain us in his inimitable way on Friday night, as did the fantastic Kevin the shirt murderer. On the left is a picture of the campfire just before midnight on Friday. Rachael Hayes celebrated her 40th birthday- happy birthday Rachael! Special thanks to Graham for supervising the marquee erection and looking after the fire Wednesday to Friday and Richard Phipps for taking over fire duty for Saturday night.

June seems like ages away - roll on!

Rough Pubs

I am amazed at the state of pubs in the SE London area. I worked for Courage brewers in the seventies. Back then if you wanted to run a pub, you were thoroughly vetted and also if you were not a married couple it was unlikley that you would be considered. You also went through rigorous induction training. You had to keep a good house otherwise the area manager would have you chucked out. I was in a pub on Thursday and was disgusted by the way it was run. Some low-life people were lingering in the bar area and theperson serving had about one brain cell and that was damaged! Here is an exchange that happened at the bar.

"Excuse me could I have a bottle of red wine"

"wassat?" guffaws of laughter from the scum at the bar

"Wine, red wine"

"I better phone the boss" ......... she picks up the phone and dials "wos bottle of wine? have we got red?"

"We've got a bottle of red but it's only got a little bit init cos nobody ever drinks it" more guffaws of laughter
"boss says we got a bottle of white" she grunted

"is it chilled?"

"waa?"

"Has it been in the fridge"

"No it's warm"

"Oh give me a pint of lager then"

"That was a twenty I gave you"

"was it? are you sure?"

Walking back through the bar I nearly got impaled by a metal spike sticking in the middle of the foor. £2.90 for crap lager as well.

John Barden at The Good Intent, Rochester

Myself and Dave Kenningham went down to sunny Rochester yesterday. We had heard a rumour that the great John Barden was hosting a session there. We arrived at about 1.30pm and stayed till 6.45pm. It was a very enjoyable afternoon in the company of Tone Deaf Leopard, Shirt Murderer, Growler, JB himself and various other kindred spirits. Dave was spoilt for choice as there were about 20 different real ales on offer from various kentish micro breweries. Me being a phillistine opted for a few cold pints of Fosters! I then even managed to pluck up the courage to do a few numbers myself. I enjoyed it so much that I'm going back again today - there is talk of the talented Richard Bridge making an appearance and I don't want to miss the dulcet tones of his mandolin! I will report back later.

Thursday Night

OK I'll be posting some pictures of Thursday night later - I'm off to Orpington now!

Two Daves

I went to Mycenae House last night. It seemed empty with no Dave Kenningham. Bill told me that he had seen him in Eltham High Street earlier that day and he told him that he wasn't feeling very well and had a pain in the jaw! I hope nobody gave you a right hander Dave, I'll set Bill on them if I find them!

Anyway Dave Silk Tells me he is selling up and buying a property in France. He wants to spend the rest of his life drinking good wine whilst tinkling on his piano or sitting on his porch looking out over the Seine, eating French bread and oggling French women! Dave say that he will still hopefully be over for two out of five Mondays but Mycenae House sessions will continue without him. Well I hope so Dave but things will never be the same - But good luck in your venture Dave !

Anyway looking forward to Wednesday PA Session at The Tudor Barn and an acoustic singaround at The Change Of Horses Farnborough hosted by Brian Bruce.

Friday Folk

Blimey I'm falling apart my leg is dodgey and I've put my back out, it's agony! Anyway I managed to get down to Orpington Friday folk last night. Thanks to Kevin for giving me a lift home! Kevin does some wonderful original material such as his spoken ragishtimey one about the 2nd world war pilots "coming home to mum" a term they used when returning to blighty after engaging in perilous action behind enemy lines. I also enjoy Kevin's self penned songs about his English childhood trips to the coast and down to Devon with his mum and dad, a world that seems a million years away from this mad multicultural, greed driven, moble phone orientated criminal hell that we have to endure today. Keep it up Kev!

It's always good to see Peter & Marion. What a great singer Peter is. He always manages to pick some great material to sing, my favourite being " Now I'm Easy"

Another great performer is Robin. I first saw Robin at The Change Of Horses about a year ago. He never ceases to amaze me with the scope of material he performs from traditional folk to current pop songs. I love his introductions to his songs, always very informative, I suppose that comes from Robin being a teacher! I'm glad to hear that he is now a resident at friday folk. So if you're at a loose end on a Friday get down to the Orpington liberal club and grab some of the action.

It's only 25 days to go to Knockholt! can't wait to get the ol' tent up again. Debbie has found a new wood supplier - Oooooh I can feel the warmth of the campfire now!

See yer all at The Tudor Barn on Wednesday.

About time I put something on the blog!

Yes I have been letting things slip in the blog department, no excuse really so I won't make one up. What have I been up to then? Well on Tuesday I had a cyst removed from my neck - it was only a little tiny spot, but you would have thought I was having my head cut off, if you had stumbled in on me at the minor ops dept in Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich. There was this Chinese doctor hacking away at my neck with a machete. There was blood pumping out at 10 gallons a second and two nigerian nurses pinning me down on the operating table. I'm glad that's over!

Dave Kenningham Mick Woods Bill Gardner

I went to Clancy's last Saturday and had a great time. There were only a handful of us there but who cares? It's quality not quantity. Special mention for Colin & Helen who seem to get better every time I hear them - their voices sound so good when singing in harmony - I love it! Also George who was fantastic. It's so good to see more of George these days. He is a talented performer and also a really nice bloke - good on ya George!

The Tudor Barn was a singaround this Wednesday. A few new faces turned up including Sean who treated us to an unaccompanied ballad in Welsh, which I am informed is a first for FolkMob. Sean also played some nice guitar. The rest of the evening seemed to have a Scottish theme to it. Probably started by Robin, who kicked off the evening with a fine version of The Proclaimers hit "I would Walk 500 Miles". Tony (Croydon) was as usual exceptionally good with a super version of Richard & Linda Thompson's "Down Where The Drunkards Roll" I'm looking forward to Tony's extended stage spot next week. I must also mention Peter who we sometimes take for granted he really has a great singing voice. His rendition of Eric Bogle's "Now I'm Easy" was probably the best that I've ever heard.

Thursday night Orpington Folk Club had Mike Ryan and Pete Harris who were very entertaining. They played mostly original material some unaccompanied and some with guitar or bazouki. There were songs about navvies, poppies, Tom Payne's bones and The Tolpuddle martyrs. I would have liked to see the second set, but had to leave at 10 o'clock to get a lift home.

Mick Ryan & Pete Harris

surprise floor spot from American guitar-harp virtuoso John Roan John has recorded with Burl Ives, Donovan and Ricki Lee Jones. He has been nominated for an emmy and his last album won "Celtic Album Of The Year" in the States. Very strange looking instrument but it sounded fantastic. Brian has asked him to come back and have an extended spot but looking at John's diary I think that won't be in the near future.

John Roan

Brian Bruce & Elaine finally tied the knot last Saturday at a quiet wedding ceremony down in Warminster. Congratulations to them both! Sorry Elaine I haven't got any pictures of you!

Brian Bruce

Norcsalordie

I went to Orpington Folk Club tonight. It was a singer's night. There were some good acts on. Bill & Judith or Fiddlefit played a great version of Richard Thompson's "Turning Of The Tide". Tone Deaf Leopard treated us to their new Cyclist song freshly inspired by the Tour De France. They were joined on backing doo-wop vocals by Ian Petrie and Brian Bruce! The surprise of the night had to be two young blokes called Norcsalordi who were brilliant. They did a cracking fast tempo version of South Australia and a self penned "English Rebel" song. I missed their second set as BB had to leave early, but I will make sure that I catch them again.

Jim Radford

I went to the Tudor Barn last night. There were quite a few new faces there. It was quite a good session mainly unaccompanied singing with a little bit of guitar from DK, Chris and the two Peters.

Jim Radford is having a folk session/barbeque on Sunday 15th July and has invited the folkmob. I know he lives somewhere in Catford but he didn't say his address, so can anybody help?

Mitch Hiller

It's Wednesday afternoon and I've just got in from work. I treated myself to a loop pedal and will try it out in a minute. That's a device for sampling phrases on the guitar as used by Tom Powell, Damien Nolan etc. It basically allows you to create loops of sound on guitar/voice which can then be played over in a live situation. So who needs a band when you can accompany yourself?

I've just had a look at Mich Hiller's Myspace site I like it I'm going to set up one one these. Mitch is a great musician and has made a professional career out of it. He is to be found every Monday performing at Mycenae House in Blackheath.

Orpington

Graham gave me a lift to Orpington folk club last night. Martin Carthy was the special guest. I had seen Martin here last year, but I must say I enjoyed his performance more so this time. He has a completely original method of guitar playing. He seems to play a tune in a percussive style to a strange uneven tempo and the singing is then entwined in harmony with the melodic stream of his playing, whilst a powerhouse double string (5ths?) bass run interjects at spasmodic intervals ... ?Well that's the best way I can describe it. He is a great bloke, sitting in with the crowd when he is not performing and joining in with choruses of the floor singers. I would definitely recommend going to see him in concert. By the way he sang that song that Sue Forde sings about "stiching up" the husband then beating him with a frying pan and collander. He reckons the song is written/or collected by Mike Waterson. It was good to see Brian Bruce again, he is certainly looking well and playing as good as ever.

Long Time No Blog

I should really post here more often than I do. It's been a busy three weeks or so since my last post. I went to the Knockholt festival and had a really great time - apart from the weather, mind you we didn't get any major downpours until Sunday morning. I went down to the Lord Hood session last night, they're still a miserable unwelcoming bunch. They comprise of about 8 or 9 people sitting with their backs to you, huddled in a corner playing the same old codswallop week in week out. The only happy face amongst them was my old mate Alec Gorham, or should I say Cap'n Gorham! I am going to see Martin Carthy tomorrow at The Orpington Folk Club. I haven't been to work this week as I have some sort of infection in a cyst on my neck which is in turn effecting my left ear. I have been taking anti-biotics and am feeling aaaarghhhh .....

Prince Of Wales

Had a good time last night at The Prince Of Wales, Plumstead Common. There were only 9 of us there and it could do with a bit more support. Colin sang my old favorite "Richard Cory" Ya el sang a great version of "She Moved Through The Fair" Ken and sheila, Nick, Theresa were also on top form. Thanks T for the lift home!

Busy week

Cor! It was a busy week. Thursday I went to a new music session at The Prince Of Wales, Plumstead Common. A very enjoyable evening, though I had to leave at about 10pm. As long as it is well supported this could be a nice regular bash. I will find out when the next one is. Friday I went to Friday Folk at Orpington Liberal Club to see the great Liz Simcock. This was an excellent evening the place was packed. My only minor criticism is that they could have done with a small PA to lift Liz's vocal a bit.

Steve Morrison

Dave Kenningham, Bill & Myself went to Oliver's yesterday to see Steve Morrison and friends Matt Percival and Al Richardson. We all enjoyed it . Pity there is only bottled beer at£3 a hit - but it was worth it to see 3 of south London's finest. We met a bloke ther who has taken over the old Centurian pub in Deptford, now called"Sonic Zone" he is putting live music on every Saturday with Steve & Matt playing on the 16th June. I am looking forward to the Folkmob camping trip to Knockholt - only 16 days to go!

Clancy's

I went to Clancy's last night It was not a bad night, a huge improvement on the sound - well done Pat!

David Kenningham (pictured on the right) was on top form with a version of Stephen Stills "Love The One You're With" and a moving rendition of one of Jackson Browne's songs, the name of which escapes me. It's got a line about "blood on the wire"

Well done Dave - I don't know where the local scene would be without you so don't lose heart and keep on exploring new territory with your enviable guitar playing and emotional stage presence!

I shuddered when I spotted Tommy "Bap-Bap" Walshe standing at the bar , I quickly looked the other way, but too late. He came over; "Micky Woods" he shouted in his Belfast brogue. "Where's your guitar!" he pulled out his trumpet mouthpiece and squeeked "prrrp prrp!"

I was feeling quite tired and couldn't face a whole night of his constant bullshit so I let at about 10pm.

People that I saw there were: Dave K Pat & Debbie O, Richard P, George, Ken & Sheila, Jim Radford, Keith Ferris and a few more. They could have done with an audience, the rest of the pub was almost empty.

Anyway, no work tomorrow, so it's The Monty Club tonight.

Blimey

Blimey - I'm back on days for a few weeks! (might be more) I went to Mycenae House on Monday. It was the same old stuff, not a bad night out. Wednesday I was at Folkmob I won the raffle - hooray! Good to see Kevin playing the blues as good as ever. Chris did a super version of "The Hunter". Brian is giving me a lift to Orpington Folk Club in about an hour - I will report back.

Nigel Saunders

I haven't posted here for over a week. I've just been totally knackered. I can't seem to sleep in the day. Still I'm back working normal hours now for a few weeks, so I'll be able to catch up on the old folk scene. I'm hoping to contact Linda Smith with the possibility of a lift down to a session a t a pub in the middle of nowhere (Kent) tomorrow (Sunday) It promises to be a good session.

Anybody heard anything from Nigel? He's been gone for four years! He did phone me a couple of times last year, but since then nothing. His email address has also stopped functioning. He was a really super bloke and I'm sure everyone misses him.

Rochester Sweeps

I caught a train to Rochester yesterday. I was feeling quite tired as I had only an hour or so sleep after the night shift. I got there at about 2.30 pm and headed toward the High Street. Morris dancers, there were hundreds of them! I spotted Richard Bridge playing his plugged in mandolin to accompany some clog dancers, I tried to catch his eye without interrupting him but he seemed to engrossed in the spirit of the dance, so I carried on down the street. There were a bunch of blokes in red and white wearing fezzes doing a weird dance/ritual that seemed to be attracting a large crowd and there were lots of colours and blackened faces about. As I turned the next corner I came upon a stage with PA and everything! Ty and Aisha, two people that I know from Orpington Folk club, were performing followed by that great Kentish band Pig's Ear. Great stuff. I went into a pub at the end of the High Street - Expectations I think it might have been called. There was some nutter playing over amplified guitar and alto sax along to a backing track. Flash bastard! Nothing to do with The ambiance of the Sweeps, in fact his crappy, badly played pop music, which blasted through the wide open pub doors into the street, had obviously ruined the day for the poor morris team who had the bad luck to draw the pitch outside!

Anyway I wandered back down the high street and bumped into sevral of the Greenwich lot including my old mate Alex Gorham. Then I made my way to that wonderful pub in John Street "The Good Intent" where to my surprise I found several folkmob people, in fact there were so many it seemed like it could be a rehearsal for Knockholt. There was:

Sue & Mick Forde
Mr & Mrs Mike Porter
Annie & Fay
Richard Phipps
George
Jim Radford
Dave Kenningham
Linda Essex

Plus the great John Barden, Melodeon Boy, Growler, Richard Bridge and a few more whose names escape me. It was a great session, there again with that crowd how couild it be anything else!

The only downer of the day was that I missed Tone Deaf Leopard. They had gone off to see Sid Kipper in concert.

Mitch Hiller

I went to Orpington Folk Club last night. Mitch Hiller was the guest. Mitch put on a really great show with a mixture of Rock, Folk, Pop and blues classics played in his inimitable style - some really excellent guitar playing on a beautiful amplified Gibson acoustic. The great Dave Silk joined Mitch on double bass for two numbers - I like the beard Dave! Thanks to Brian Bruce for giving me a lift there and back.

May Day

May Day, I suppose we should all be out dancing around a maypole! It is a beautiful morning out there, pity I've got to get some sleep.

Anyway way a great writer Cordwainer Smith was. I just did that to make sure that I knew how to insert a hyperlink, so I hope that it works.

April is almost over

yeah - Payday tomorrow, it's been a long month. I've now adjusted the settings on this page so that anybody can leave a comment - I didn't realize it was defaulted so that only registered googlites could comment. Still that is now sorted - so come on leave your comments!

I went to the monty club last night - how exiting - just myself and Bill - where were you DK!

Back on nights this week, in fact I will be l;leaving for work in 4 hours!

Making the most of it!

Making the most of my week on the day shift. I went to Mycenae House on Monday. It was good to see my old mate Richard Russell, he is one of the most talented musicians I know and I must keep in touch! The usual stuff at Mycenae, same old songs and tunes, but it is a great session and Dave Silk is probably the best compere/MC running a session in London.

Tonight, its back to the old Tudor Barn and the folkmob PA session. I do prefer the acoustic sing-arounds to the amplified stuff, but I am looking forward to seeing old friends and having a beer or six.

Back on the day shift

I am back on the day shift for one week. I haven't been on days for nearly 6 months. This should allow me to get out and visit some of the music clubs such as Mycenae House and The Folkmob at The Tudor Barn!

Bad news to hear that Pete Hicks (musician) has a serious strain of meningitis and is hospitalised in a coma out in Spain. I hope he makes a recovery soon.

Johnny Winter is at the Astoria this Friday, wish I was going, but I didn't plan to as I thought I would be working nights - still I am tempted.

Sunday

Lovely sunny Sunday today - I've just bought one of those little blow up paddling pools for my grandson Lucien. We've been out in the garden splish splashing for the last half hour - great fun!

I haven't got to go to work tonight so I will probably go to the Monty club. Mind you I do have to get up at 4.45 in the morning! So not to many beers old chap.

Clancy's

Well I went to Clancy's last night. It was good to see Sue, Annie, Debbie, Pat and a few others there. I thought that the pub lacked that a warm welcoming atmosphere, that we had at the Duke of Edinburgh and sometimes at the Guildford. They were using a rock band's PA equipment and it sounds bloody awful. I felt so sorry for Fiddlestix who were playing their hearts out on their first set - I looked around and the only other person paying attention to them was Sue! People were just chatting, shouting and seemed to have not one iota of interest in the performers. I think that an acoustic sing-around can't be beaten for pub sessions. However the layout of this place is not really condusive to that. If they reduce the amount of PA equipment to maybe a small amp and mike this would improve the whole ambience.

Back again!

Back again! I must keep regular postings here, or it defeats the object of the blog.

I have been on a course the last two days and am back at work tonight - leaving in half an hour.

I went to Farnborough last night with Brian Bruce. Boo Howard and Dave Ellis were the featured guests. They were fantastic. beautiful flowing harmonies on top of a complex guitar structure. Watching Dave playing from close quarters I was totally humbled as far as guitar playing is concerned. I've never seen somebody play and sing in such a relaxed and flowing style.

Brian Bruce is on fine form and looking and sounding great! Tone Deaf Leopard tell me that they are now radio stars! Good luck I say.

I am looking forward to visiting Clancy's tomorrow - went to the first session but havent been since, so it will be interesting to see how it's developed.

Easter Monday

Easter Monday - I'm working tonight so I must get some sleep sometime before leaving for work. I hope everybody had a nice Easter. I am looking forward to going to Orpington this Friday I think John Barden is on. I am on long weekend!

Last Night

I went down to The Woodman in Lee Green last night. The Monty Club was closed and I fancied a pint or three. I had heard that Colin was playing with another bloke who played slide guitar. I met Bill as soon as I went in "Hello Woodsie" he said. This is still a dodgy pub and I won't be returning in a hurry.

Colin and the other bloke call themselves "Short & Curly" The weren't bad. I certainly don't miss the erratic plink plinking of guitars that was the core sound of his previous outfit; "Roger, Codger & Dodger" This is a more controlled professional sound. There were guest spots from Dave Kenningham, who performed "Ride On" just for a change! and my old mate Bill who made us all endure that awful crap "Coward Of The County" It's handy being able to catch the 178 bus from outside straight home!

Brian Bruce

I went to Orpington Folk Club last night with BB. It's good to see him out and about again, playing his guitar! The guest artist wasn't much so we left at about 10:15

Steve Hubbard

I am sitting here at work with my mate Steve - he didn't know what a blog was. So I am showing him this. Can't wait 'til 06:15 hrs when I can go home!

New to this blog lark

Well here I am sitting at the computer at 10 o'clock on a Tuesday morning. I don't have to go to work tonight, so I think I'll give my mate Dave Kenningham a ring later and go down to The Lord Hood in Greenwich and listen to the folk music session. This is my first go at a blog, so I'm just typing the random stuff that comes into my head. I've seen advertisments in computer magazines for companies that will host your blog for a monthly fee! Who are these cowboys? I just logged onto google and it's there for free!