Sunday 25 July 2010

Recent Photos

Here are some recent photos:



The Seven Stars Crayford Kent 19th July 2010


The Crown Otford Kent 18th July 2010

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Seven Star Bears & Beers!


I went to The Seven Stars last night with my mate Dave Kenningham. There was a music session organised by the kentish rock stars "Tone deaf Leopard" Quite a nice pub with friendly staff and punters. I met the famous Rafflesbear who I have known for a couple of years only from his posts on mudcat he turned out to be a really nice bloke called Richard and he and his wife Linda are the parents of Martin Neal formerly one half of that excellent Folk Duo NORCSALORDIE who are sadly no more! The session was pretty informal and everyone managed about four or five songs. Pete The Hat turned up at about 9.30 just in time to celebrate his non-birthday with some loverly cakes cooked by Linda "Mrs Bear".

Wednesday 7 July 2010

Nostalgia

Here is something I wrote for the folkmob at the end of 2003:

Well another year over! Phew!!! It was quite eventful. We had a lot of great guest performers at the Tudor Barn, mainly thanks to Brian Bruce who took on the role of A&R man for the club during 2003. The acts that were special for me were Derek Brimstone, Ron Trueman-Border, John Barden, Bill Gardener, Digable Cat, Joe Bouzouki and I mustn’t forget that wonderful exotic dancer who performed at Dave kenningham’s 50th Birthday party!

A group of Folkmobbers went to The Canterbury Fayre festival in August. This was a great event bringing together classic acts spanning five decades, including Arthur Lee & Love, Robert Plant, Mike Heron, Nick Turner, John Otway, and Roy Harper. What a pity it was the last one.

Linda Smith & Dave Bryant hosted two wonderful musical garden parties, that were well attended by folk musicians from near and far. The star performers though were a herd of feral parakeets leaping from tree to tree!

There were two camping weekends at Knockholt. 134 people attended the first one in June!!! That must be a record. It was a special 10th anniversary event and the weather was fantastic. Dave Bryant brewed a special “Knockholt knockout” ale and special guests Joe Bouzouki & The Missing Puddings played an acoustic set around our campfire. The September camp was a lot quieter but still enjoyable – I just love that steak & ale pie served at The Tally Ho.

Members of the FolkMob continued to support other musical ventures throughout the year, including: Performers night at Mycenae House every Monday, Jazz, Blues & Beyond at The White Swan every Friday, Jennifer’s Club at The Alma, Johnny Phelps’ nights at The Monty Club in Eltham and of course Alec and his band The Greenwich Traditional Musicians every Tuesday at The Cricketers.

New in 2003 we saw: the opening of Oliver’s Bar in Greenwich a great little downstairs venue providing live Jazz & Blues four nights a week; The Beacon in Hayes which has a super session once a month hosted by our old friends Walking The Witch.

There were also some goodbyes – notably our old mate Nigel Saunders, who ran off to Australia to seek his fortune – good luck Nige. The Duke Of Edinburgh in Lee seems to have died off – never was the same since Sheila & Brian went. The Anchor in Lewisham also fizzled out. Dorothy “Call me Dee” finally left The White Swan. She may have been a miserable old bag, but she did more for live music than any other Landlord that I know of in the borough of Greenwich. The final death knoll for The Guildford Arms, which was transformed from a little run down back street boozer, that played host to the Folkmob most weekends, into a trendy (upmarket?) wine bar & restaurant full of snoots.

Seems like a lifetime ago!