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Lincoln Central Library- Write Note

Wednesday, 3rd October, is the next date in this popular mid-week lunch-time monthly acoustic music session, for singer songwriters and musicians, which is held at Lincoln Central Library in Free School Lane and runs from noon-2pm.
Hosted by Strummin' Steve Jackson, a varied mix of up to seven or eight musicians playing a range of styles, is always guaranteed

"The Write Note" is an opportunity for musicians and singers to try out something original, traditional or contemporary, on an acoustic instrument, in a smoke free environment with no amplifiers in sight! It's a moveable feast and the audience tend to come and go throughout the session. If it's your lunch hour, sit down, relax and enjoy your sandwich while you listen!

The session is free and open to both performers and people who just want to listen and enjoy the live sounds and works in progress. A long list of performers has already participated. Why not combine it with a visit to the Library?

A full range of dates for the rest of 2007 at the Library has been agreed and there's a special "Write Note" with visiting American troubadour "Ric Palieri" at a lunchtime session on Friday 12th October. Dates for some occasional Saturday afternoon showcases in 2008 are also in the pipeline.

Please contact Steve Jackson at for further information or if you'd like to book a slot to perform. Future dates are Wednesday 31st October (an early November edition) and Wednesday 5th December (both noon-2pm)

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Bootleggers Appalachian Dancers
& the Lootbeggers Old Tyme Band

Local amateur dancers; The Bootleggers; are looking for new dancers to join their friendly display team. The Bootleggers perform an unusual and highly entertaining type of American Step dance – known in the States as ‘clogging’ – but it uses ordinary tap shoes instead of clogs! To newcomers – it looks like a cross between Irish hard shoe dancing, American tap dancing, English country dancing and the ‘Barn Raising Routine’ in Hollywood musical – “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”!

Dance Leader and choreographer Julia Pollock says:
“A lot of people are simply ‘blown away’ by the sheer energy of the dance as the dancers feet tap out the rhythms of fast American Old Tyme tunes played live on fiddle, banjo & guitar. Although we vary in level of fitness – it’s a style of dance that keeps you young and is always entertaining. All you need is a sense of fun!”

The Bootleggers are hoping that their forthcoming Open Night attracts a few new dancers to try out this foot-tapping and infectious type of dance.

Julia’s daughter Rosie (16) who has danced since she was 12 says;
“We have a great band but we could do with a couple more dancers to train up for our performances later in the year. Male or females of any age are welcome to come along to our beginner’s night and see a demonstration. Then we will teach them some simple steps and a short routine. We guarantee to get everyone dancing by the end of the night!”

The Bootleggers’ free open night for beginners is at St Hugh’s Church Hall in Old Brumby, Scunthorpe on Wednesday the 19th of September at 7.30. Anyone who wants to try the dancing is recommended to wear hard soled shoes with a small heel or tap shoes and light clothing. Further details can be obtained from Julia Pollock on or email .

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Lincoln Venue Change

The popular concert series at the Turk's Head, Lincoln have moved to The Unison Club, Beaumont Fee following a change of landlord at the old venue. For further information contact Andy Watkins on

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Faldingworth Live Closed

The Faldingworth Live Music Club at Faldingworth Village Hall has now closed

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GRIMSBY MORRIS 40TH. ANNIVERSARY

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the formation of the Grimsby Morris Men. The team was formed during the autumn of 1967 and made its first appearance 0n 21 Dec 1967. To mark the anniversary Grimsby Morris Men are organising a number of special events over this year. In addition, we would be delighted to hear from any past members of the Side or anyone who remembers the team back in the dim and distant past! For further information on events or to contact GMM, please go to the GMM web-site at www.grimsby-mm.fsnet.co.uk

The original team from 1967

From left to right, they are: John Conolly, Mike Lee, Glenn Osborne, Graham Thomas, John Ide, Alan Ferrier, Stan Compton and Brian Dawson. There were apparently three more who were not in the photo: Paul Bellamy, Bill Meek and Pete Munday.

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So You Want To Be A Folk Club M.C.

(From Jacey Bedford)

I've just been clearing my office and I came across a pile of wonderful little books by Folk on Tap's Brian Hooper called; So You Want to be a Folk Club MC??

Originally published in 1986, but as fresh and relevant today as they were then, they take a delightfully witty look at the whole process of running a night in a folk club from introductions and the raffle to floor spots and beer.

Brian gave me a handful of copies a few years ago because I've always been a supporter of its sound common sense and light-handed, humorous approach.

So here's the thing... originally they sold for (I think) £3.50 which in 1988 was worth - oh about a million quid would think at today's prices. (I could buy a house then for what it costs me to buy a car now!) So since I'm always trying to raise money for the beleaguered folkWISE (the national development organisation for folk performers), I'll be happy to
send a copy of this entirely worthwhile collector's item for a minimum donation of six quid (i.e. a fiver plus postage). Please e-mail me if you want to reserve a copy before sending cheques.

Come on, chaps, I need the shelf space and you need the laugh. You might even want to donate a copy to your own regular MC who might benefit from a few wise words.
:-)

Jacey
--
Jacey Bedford
Jacey Bedford Tour Management www.jacey-bedford.com

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Three Peaks Challenge

Sue Heron & Max Bradley, members of Grimsby ceilidh band “The Little Band” are among a group from North East lincs. who climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in one 24 hour period on Saturday 9th / Sunday 10th of June 2007. All in aid of the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire air ambulance.
You can find out more at their website www.threepeaksventure.org.uk or ring to become a corporate or private sponsor or just to put a few bob in the kitty. Visit their web site at http://www.threepeaksventure.org.uk

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LOUTH FOLK CLUB VENUE CHANGE

From Tuesday 12th June Louth Folk Club will be in the Market Bar at the Mason's Arms, Cornmarket, Louth.
Dates will be same as before, i.e. second and fourth Tuesdays of each month and the club has booked Johnny Collins to get things off to a good start on 12th June.
Real Ales are always available, as is tea and coffee for the "duty driver" and there is a function room upstairs for Christmas parties or concerts.

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New Cyril Tawney CDs

ADA Recordings have released two new albums which were launched at "Celebrating Cyril", the recent national memorial event for Cyril Tawney.

"The Song Goes On" (ADA 108CD), is a double album consisting of re-mastered recordings of archival traditional gems, beginning with the first song Cyril ever broadcast (1957), interspersed with a few of his classic compositions and a sprinkling of offerings from fellow songwriters. The collection ends with Mick Ryan's special recording of the title song which he wrote as a tribute, shortly after Cyril's death

The other new release is a limited edition of a concert recorded at the legendary Holsteins in Chicago in 1981. "Cyril Tawney - Live at Holsteins" (ADA 109CD) is a fine example of Cyril in his heyday, on top form before an appreciative and knowledgeable audience and obviously loving every moment of this flawless performance.

All Cyril's CDs are available from ADA, shops, and via his website

Copies of the "Celebrating Cyril" Commemorative Programme are still available. In fact the programme part takes up only two pages out of the forty page booklet, which is principally about and by Cyril. Besides reprints of some of his classic articles ("The South West Folk Revival- the Early Years", "A BBC Folk Life Department – Why Not"?, "The Folksong Penny") there are verses, anecdotes and extracts from his (as yet unpublished) childhood memoir. Proceeds will go to the fund to preserve his archive.

The Programme is available via Cyril's website and from the English Folk Dance and Song Society. All the necessary information about the CDs and the Programme is at www.cyriltawney.co.uk or contact:

Rosemary Tawney
10 Sivell Place
Heavitree
Exeter
EX2 5ET
UK Tel.

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From Tom Bliss and Jacey Bedford - moderators of the new folk club
networking e-list.

FOLKCLUBS LIST

Knowing how useful a closed networking support group can be thanks to the brilliantly successful Britfolk e-list, we're starting a new CLOSED group specially for folk club organisers, volunteers and others interested in the business side of clubs (Festivals already have an organisation). Initial interest is good, 66 members in the first day, and we look forward to lively and useful debate.

There's been a lot of recent chatter about the imminent demise of folk clubs, which we think is a bit previous, but it's true there are some serious challenges ahead.

Licensing, the smoking ban, changes in pub trade, PRS, an ageing audience, young performers and where they can learn their trade, preserving the tradition, publicity, press, advertising, security, PR, websites, PA and lighting kit, where to buy candles and backdrops,
door prices, artists fees - are all topics people might want to discuss amongst friends.

So the forum is open only to those who have applied and been identified, because, like Britfolk, it should be a place where people can feel free to chat to others in a similar situation, in reasonable confidence. It's NOT a place for artists to sell themselves, (though
performers may join if they have something useful to contribute to the debate, and websites in signatures will be permitted).

To join just send a blank e-mail to;

Let's make the new folkclubs list active and useful and prove fRoots and others wrong when they say folk clubs are dying on their feet. Frankly, it's our duty to make sure they thrive beyond our generation.

Please hop aboard or forward to any club organisers who you think might be interested

Jacey and Tom

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New Border Morris Side in Horncastle

Dancers (and musicians) are invited to join a new Border Morris side in Horncastle. Absolute beginner dancers will be made very welcome. We meet in the function room at the Bull Hotel Horncastle every Wednesday from 7.45pm until 9.30pm. Turn up on the night, or contact Wendy or Jason on for more details.

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The Final Folktalk (On Paper)

It is with some sadness that I have to announce that this will be the last edition of Folktalk in printed format. Rising costs and changing habits on the part of both readers and advertisers mean that the paper version is no longer economically viable.
Launched in 1994 with the simple aim of helping folk music in the region to develop by making information freely available it grew from a single sheet to a 24 page booklet by the turn of the century. Over recent years however the growth of the Internet as a source of information has far outstripped the printed word. The Folktalk web site takes more hits in one year than the total number of paper copies printed in its 13 year lifespan. Similarly advertisers have turned to the Internet as their primary publicity medium and set against a background of steadily rising print costs, with another postage increase due in April, producing a folk music listings magazine funded solely by advertising is no longer practical.
However do not despair, the Folktalk website will continue, indeed with time devoted to the printed version now available for other things plans are already in hand to expand the style and content of the web pages. A monthly downloadable pdf file is now in place for March (see what's on page) already giving more up to date information than the printed version.
A few numbers. Over its lifespan I’ve typed around 30,000 listings, stapled together around 200,000 sheets of paper and made around 6,000 phone calls for what’s on information. Best club for supplying information on time - Gainsborough. Apart from the stapling it will all con-tinue so keep sending the information and visit www.folktalk.co.uk to find out what’s on in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.

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Goole folk club in the 60's / 70's

Patrick Dickinson is searching for members of the North eastern Folk & Blues Club in Goole in the late sixties early seventies in particular he remembers Kevin Johnson and his sister also Jeff either Vogue or La vogue or something similar. His aim is to put together a reunion gig. Patrick can be reached or email Can anyone help

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New Arts Venue Planned for Goole

For some years, Goole Town Council has been working on a major project to develop a new arts venue for Goole and the region. We have financial backing from Goole Town Council, Arts Council - England and East Riding Council and the designs are developing well. If all the funding comes together as planned and there are no hold-ups in planning permission (or the hundred and one other things that could get in the way), we could be starting construction early next year.

I am now launching a fundraising campaign - and hope you will help by pledging your hard-earned cash to support the project. Whether you've performed at The Gate, been in the audience, worked with us on other projects (or even this one), now you can help us deliver an exciting new
facility that will be a beacon of excellence on the cultural landscape of the area.

We're not asking for money now - but please pledge your support by filling in the printable form and returning it. Buy us a brick, buy us ten - whatever your pledge, it will not only raise funds but demonstrate the widespread support we know exists for the project.

With best wishes

Charlie Studdy
Arts & Leisure Manager
Goole Town Council
17-23 Gladstone Terrace
Goole DN14 5AQ

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RADIO BRITFOLK LAUNCHES NEW FOLK PROGRAMMING

The musician-made 'Radio Britfolk' at www.radiobritfolk.co.uk is steaming towards a triumphant 1st birthday and on 3rd July 2006 launches a new look web-site with a bumper selection of programmes. Radio Britfolk has just been awarded a £4968 grant from the Awards for All lottery funding, aimed at encouraging greater community use of the site from listeners and encouraging new programme makers. Radio Britfolk co-ordinator Kate Bramley says, 'The launch of Radio Britfolk was only possible thanks to the support of many professional musicians across Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England, and the grant from Awards For All means we can share this great music with a worldwide audience'.

New programmes include exclusive live performances by Steve Tilston, Jez Lowe, Pete Coe
and many more that were recorded earlier in the year, as well as a special feature programme on
Show of Hands. Ben Sands hosts 'Ulster Folk', Janis Haves continues with her new show 'Its a
Girl Thing', as well as Tim Moon's 'Folk-us' series that delivers an hour long mix of interviews and music. Kate Bramley's 'Debut' series continues with first albums from Andy Whittle and Edwina Hayes, while Mike Ganley keeps the Irish side up with his Crooked Road' series and Pete Coe talks to some of the pioneers of folk recording.

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