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 .....