Unicorn magazine Issue 126

pring brings the promise of new life and rejuvenation. All around our patch, Morris sides are girding their loins for a new

dancing season, and in this issue our roving reporter looks into Morris on May Day, tracing its history back to its origins in ancient fertility rituals. Folk music itself continually needs new blood, and in our last issue we took pride in the healthy state of recruitment – the Radio 2 Folk Awards, where emerging talents competed on broadly equal terms with more established artists, justified our optimism.

Folk music has benefited from an education system which provided a steady stream of recruits, many with a good general grounding, some with advanced musical proficiency. However, student numbers in formal music education – GCSE and A-level, instrument grades, youth orchestras and bands – have been steadily falling. Teachers suggest various reasons, such as the rival attractions of sport and socialising, the easy thrill of computer games, and of course the recession. To these factors must now be added the marginalisation of music in the school curriculum, and the consequent reduction in funding.

A recent Ofsted report found that only a minority of pupils now receive a good-quality music education, suggesting that in future folk music may have more difficulty in passing the baton to the next generation. One established and highly effective way of passing on the techniques and the ethos of folk music is informal coaching at the local club, but we also need to replace at least some of the formal tuition previously provided by schools.

Many of you already participate in training schemes, some of which involve working with schools (as EFDSS does), while others are led by private concerns like the Stables, by music trusts and foundations such as Folkstock, or by the many independent teachers in our region. We believe that education and training will become a continuing strand in Unicorn, and we begin with some thoughtful observations from readers (see our blog), a news snippet in Chatterbox, and of course with the forthright views of Long Lankin.

If you’d like to join the discussion, drop us a line. Meanwhile, we’ll see you round the clubs and the maypoles.

Simon, Clive & Mike

Editorial 1

Contents 1

Interview: The Foxglove Trio 3

Chatterbox 5

Club Profile: Royston Folk Club 7

Book Review: English Folk Tunes for Uke 8

Sessions 10

Feature: Morris on Mayday 13

Morris Diary 14 – 15

Feature: Said The Maiden 19

CD Reviews 20

Editorial Staff:

Simon Bailes07808 [email protected]

Clive Batkin07771 [email protected]

Mike Nacey07879 [email protected]

Contact address:

10 Chapel Street, Dunton, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 8RW

Printed by KJB UK Ltd

Unicorn Diary 23 – 25

Club Index 26

Tune: St Anne’s at Sunset 29

Feature: St Albans Folk Festival 31

Shall We Dance? 34

Feature: Towersey Folk Festival 39

Interview: Nikita Strange, Limelight 42

Advertiser Information 43

Feature: Folk on Internet Radio 44

Interview: Dan Evans 47

Broadside by Long Lankin 48

UniCorn MagazinE: iSSUE 126

ViSit oUr wEbSitE at www.UniCornMagazinE.org1

© Unicorn Magazine 2014CB1069 • April 2014

Front cover photo by Al Rogers – “The Dudley Fighting Guitar”Resonator guitar courtesy of Peter Phipps

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the Foxglove trio

The Foxglove Trio make an instant impression. Seeing them for the first time at St Alban’s Folk Day last year, I was struck by their rich

sound, their inventive arrangements, and most of all by their assured approach to performance. Catching up with them in February at NAF Club, Silsoe, we chatted about what goes into creating their distinctive performances.

The Trio comprises Cathy Mason on guitar and cello, Ffion Mair on whistle and bodhran, and Patrick Dean on melodeon, cello and concertina; all three also sing. The cellos are deployed in a style which evokes a string quartet, whether using double-stopping to create full chords, or weaving a sinuous counterpoint around the melody. Add to this Ffion’s precise vocal phrasing and articulation, and the carefully balanced structure of their material, and the classical influence is clear.

How has their formal training contributed to their sound? Ffion suggests that it builds confidence, Cathy adding that it instils discipline in preparation and performance, but they feel strongly that a more important factor is their immersion in music-making from an early age. Ffion began singing in public aged three, entering competitions and rising to the level demanded by the International Eisteddfod. She thus gained a thorough grounding in the folk tradition, while working through the grades in oboe, harp, piano and recorder. Cathy started at about 6 on piano, moving quickly to cello in the school orchestra and the National youth Orchestra of Wales. Patrick was a late starter, reaching the grand age of seven before embarking on cello grades, and like Cathy he moved into folk at 6th form and university.

What musical influences help shape the sound? Ffion is wary of the question: “We try not to base our sound on any one band or musical style.” Patrick amplifies her point, saying “We are as likely to draw inspiration from Radiohead as from Bellowhead”, while Cathy cites pop band Muse, who “in their use of orchestral interludes and piano solos inspire me not to be scared of experimenting”. yet they do admit to some folk influences. Ffion admires singers Julie Murphy and Kris Drever for their voice quality, “genuine, understated and always clear”. Patrick’s favourites include Bellowhead cellist Rachael McShane and

melodeon maestro Andy Cutting, plus Oysterband, Faustus, Lau and Peatbog Faeries.

Another factor, less tangible but equally important in creating a coherent sound, is that the Foxgloves are entirely comfortable in each other’s company, both musically and personally. Ffion and Patrick were friends at Durham University, and are now married, while Ffion and Cathy began playing together at 6th form college in south Wales. Ffion went solo after reaching the New Roots finals, and turned naturally to her comrades when the band formed in November 2010.

The Foxgloves plan to release their first full CD in late summer or autumn. Patrick explains that they intend to include more self-penned songs and reworkings of traditional material, alongside some well-known singalong favourites. Meanwhile Ffion, a native Welsh speaker, has started a blog to explore the rich seam of Welsh song, focusing on less well-known traditional material.

The Foxglove Trio are right to assert that their music resists categorisation. This elusive quality reflects the sheer diversity of their influences, drawn from their classical training, allied to a keen appreciation of folk music, and informed by eclectic listening tastes. This potent blend encourages an approach to innovation which respects convention without being hindered by it, and I for one look forward to discovering where this will take them next.

Mike NaceyFoxglove Trio website:

www.thefoxglovetrio.co.uk

Welsh folk song blog: caneuongwerin.wordpress.com

(L to r) PatriCk DEan, FFion Mair, Cathy MaSon

UniCorn MagazinE: iSSUE 126 WWW.UNICORNMAGAzINE.ORG 3

The George, High Street,Silsoe, Beds MK45 4EP

Admission £2.50. Starts 8pm.Floor Singers always welcome.

Contact Ned: 01525 860846

1st April KARA6th May Singaround3rd June Kelly Oliver1st July Singaround5th August Leon

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The Full English in MK: Barry Goodman and Graeme Meek (Beds / Herts based duo Life & Times) are working with Patrick Dean (The Foxglove Trio) on the EFDSS Full English project, using the society’s recently digitised archive of traditional material to inspire workshops around the country. At Loughton School, Milton Keynes, their workshops are augmenting the school’s own work on local history. Patrick will help Barry with the dance element, teaching children a local May song collected by Douglas Kennedy; Graeme will prepare May celebratory paraphernalia such as a hobby horse and May garlands, for year 3 children to decorate. Graeme and Barry will then work with each class to write songs about the area, set to traditional tunes. The project ends in June at Birmingham Town Hall, when all 18 participating schools in England will present a short performance, backed by a house band including Graeme and led by John Kirkpatrick.

Folk by the Oak: Tickets are on sale for the 7th annual festival on Sunday 20 July – for early bird tickets see www.folkbytheoak.com. Lineup includes Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Kathryn Tickell and The Side, Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita, and Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker. Also, the Elizabethan Session will create new music inspired by the Elizabethan age, rounding off a project commissioned by Folk by the Oak and EFDSS – see www.folkbytheoak.com/TES.

Folkstock: The recent Herts-based Love Folk Live events drew an impressive array of talented local acts, awards going to musicians ranging in age from 16 to 64, and including six female solo and duos, five male solo or duos, and five mixed acts.

Next up is Dave Swarbrick’s solo national tour. Herts-based trio Said the Maiden will open for Swarb, and there is still time for another young local act to feature in the concert on 24th May at Harpenden Public Halls – but hurry! www.folkstockartsfoundation.com/dave-swarbrick-tour/

Hobgoblin branch closes: Hobgoblin’s Newport Pagnell shop closed on 28th February, when proprietor Dave Soulsby retired. Dave told Unicorn that he had thoroughly enjoyed running the shop, but after 10 years – his longest spell in a job – he felt ready for a change. Awaiting him is, “apparently, a list of domestic things that I must follow, long enough to see me through to 2044 or when my mainspring goes, whichever is sooner”.

Dave assures us that his mainspring is still in good order, and he plans to spend more time playing his trusty guitar – perhaps with banjo or mandolin as a new sideline. His many customers will miss his enthusiasm, unfailing good humour and excellent service, and will no doubt join us in sending him our best wishes.

Puzzles & competitions: Unicorn reader Clive Brittain muses, as he does, on whether Unicorn could become more interactive. We must admit that our blog-based photo contest – Unicorn in far-flung places – is not over-subscribed, but would readers be more interested in quizzes or puzzles? And if so, do any of you have skills in that field? Answers, inevitably, on a postcard…

CD reviews: While in feedback mode you may like to comment on our policy, established by Alan & Theo, of reviewing only CDs by locally-based artists. We have no plans to abandon this local focus, but we receive a steady stream of CDs from artists outside the region – when time and space permit, would you like us to review the pick of these?

Black Fen FC (formerly Cambridge Portland FC) has settled at the new venue, Hot Numbers Cafe, Gwydir St, Cambridge, and continues to run club nights on Sundays – see Unicorn Diary (P23-25).

Unicorn Ceilidhs welcome Panjandrum with Gordon Potts on 27th June. The musicians are ex-Committee Band members who have a good following, and Gordon is one of the UK’s top 10 callers.

Watford FC’s Song Competition is now firmly established, attracting a record number of entries in 2013. They look forward to even more this year, when the theme “War & Peace” will mark the centenary of the start of WW1. For details, see the ad on page 32.

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A FESTIVAL OF FOLK’S FINEST ACTS GATHERED IN BEAUTIFUL LEAFY PARKLAND FOR ONE UPLIFTING SUMMER DAY OF MUSIC.

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In 2012 Mike Farrow resurrected the defunct

Royston Folk Club – to immediate acclaim. Since then the club has gone from strength to strength, with concerts and open mics alternating every two

weeks throughout the year. The venue is spacious and salubrious; the sound consistently good and the audience delightful.

Our concert artists vary from the nationally known (eg Gordon Giltrap & Richard Digance) through to local breakthrough performers like the Ben Smith Band.

Our Open Mics have begun to achieve legendary status – popular among artists because we try and give everyone a fair crack of the whip; and popular with the audience because Royston seems to be packed with people who like nothing better than a regular potpourri of fine acoustical music. Open Mics tend to book up early, so new performers need to get in touch well in advance, but they’ll always be sure of two turns (and four songs) in the spotlight.

www.roystonfolk.org or www.facebook.com/groups/621216324567881

Music type:Any type of acoustic music within reason

Meets2nd Fridays (Open Mics); last Friday (Concerts)

admission charge:Open Mic: £4, £3 performers, £2 under 25s; Concerts: usually £10, £8 in advance, £2 under 25s

guests:Nationally known artists; the cream of local artists showcased at support slots and Open Mics

Venue name:The Old Bull Inn

Venue address:56 High St, Royston, Herts, SG8 9AW

Parking:Limited venue car park, plenty in car park outside

Club contacts:• Chris Walls (Concerts) / Mark Gamon (Open Mics)• Chris: 01763 260556 / Mark: 07738 183158 • [email protected] / [email protected]

PiEFingEr


‘For folk music... read good music...’

Contemporary. Traditional. Folk. Blues. Bluegrass. Country. Songwriters. Singers.

Instrumentalists. Footstomping dance bands. Even a well-tempered electric

guitar if it fits...

Open Mics: second Friday of the monthConcerts: last Friday of the month

www.roystonfolk.org

Open mic bookings: 07738 183158 [email protected]

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UM2 Quarter Page (portrait) STACEY BANJOS 2.pdf 24/4/13 11:32:08

English Folk tunes for Ukulele – 37 traditional PiecesColin TribeSchott ED13569

I had a lot of fun with this book, and

look forward to more enjoyment from it over the coming weeks

and months. As you’d expect, the book mostly comprises transcriptions of folk tunes in standard notation and tablature. They’re all very well-known and the arrangements are easy to follow, even for a simple strummer like me, so it’s a great way to explore the world of finger-picking and melody on the uke. That is really its strength: introducing some useful techniques in a very accessible way.

The tunes are presented in a sensible order, gradually bringing in new fretboard tricks, and the layout is clear and legible. The accompanying CD demonstrates all 37 tunes as written, so if you’re not sure how they’re meant to sound the recording provides the answer. With a pithy introduction and notes about the provenance of the tunes, it’s a pretty comprehensive package.

I have minor quibbles. The recording quality is a little variable, and while most tunes are very good, there are a couple where the sound isn’t so hot – and there’s no excuse for the one or two where the uke is not in tune. (“How can you tell? It’s a ukulele” I hear the Philistines mumble.)

Also, some arrangements might be judged pedestrian, but that would do a disservice to the book’s purpose of introducing melody and finger-picking to humble strummers like yours truly.

Recommended.

Hamish Currie (Founder and leading light of Berkhamsted Ukulele

Random Players (BURP) – www.BURPmusic.com)


Available from all good music shops. For more information: T: 020 7534 0740 | E: [email protected] Music Ltd, 48 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7BB

The Schott World Music series includes titles for Violin, Accordion, Flute, Guitar & Piano

visit www.schott-music.co.uk for more details

English Folk Tunesfor Ukulele

Colin Tribe

Edition with CD | ED 13569 | £11.99


SUnDay LUnChtiMES STONY STRATFORD • Vaults Bar (Weekly): Jane Armour, 01908 566407

SUnDay EVEningS ASTON CLINTON • Oak PH (8pm, 3rd): Roger Dorman, 01296 613742

ELSTREE • Waggon & Horses (last, 5 – 8pm): Nick, 020 8953 5231

MILTON KEYNES • see www.mksessions.blogspot.com (Weekly)

MILTON KEYNES • New Inn, New Bradwell (1st): Patsy, 07932 157610

OLD STRATFORD • The Swan (3rd): Cliff Burt, 01908 564932

RADLETT • Cat & Fiddle, Watling St (5pm, 4th): Nick, 020 8953 5231

ST ALBANS • Farmers Boy, London Rd (1st): Nick, 020 8953 5231

MonDay EVEningS ASHWELL • Rose & Crown (1st): Ian Chandler, 01462 743091

BERKHAMSTED • George & Dragon, Northchurch (1st & 3rd – Open Mic): Mick, 01442 864533 (pub)

CHATTERIS • Chatteris Folk Club, Honest John, 24a South Park St, PE16 6AR (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 01354 652868

COTTENHAM • The Chequers (2nd): Nigel, 01954 789751

SOHAM • Cherry Tree, Fordham Rd (3rd): Claire White, 01353 720550

TOTTERNHOE • Old Farm Inn (9pm, weekly): 01582 661294 (pub)

tUESDay EVEningS bEnington • The Bell (4th): Kit Burgess, 01438 869435

DUNSTABLE • Globe, Winfield St (Weekly): Maureen, 01582 512300

DUNTON • March Hare, Dunton, nr Biggleswade (1st): John Pritchett, 01767 448093 (pub)

GT WILBRAHAM • Memorial Hall Social Club (3rd): Dave, 01440 783280

HISTON • Boot, Histon, nr Cambridge (1st): Dave Benford, 01223 880553

MARCH • Georges Folk Club, 61 High Street, PE15 9JJ (1st), Acoustic music and song: Mark Gibson, 01354 652868

RICKMANSWORTH • Conservative Club, Bury Lane (3rd): Michael, 01923 770425

ST ALBANS • King Harry, King Harry Lane (1st, songs & tunes): Jenny, 01582 793164

TRING • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, HP23 5QE (1st, Trad Irish): Chan Reid, 07962 424 666

WOOTTON (Beds) • The Cock, MK43 9JT (8pm, broad acoustic & folk): Pub (Karen), 01234 930034

wEDnESDay EVEningS AMPTHILL • Albion, MK45 2JT (2nd), trad English music: Taz: [email protected], 0787 028 1945

BARTON-LE-CLAY • Waggon & Horses (8.30pm, 2/4, 16/4, 30/4, 14/5, 28/5, 11/6, 25/6): Ann 01582 560815

CAMBRIDGE • Six Bells, Covent Garden (8.30pm, 2/4, 14/5, 11/6, Bluegrass & Old Time): Jim, 07803 158084

ELSTREE • Waggon & Horses (2nd): Nick, 020 8953 5231

ELY • Kings Arms , St Marys St (last): Liam, [email protected], 07905 044932

MARCH • March Folk Club, Royal British Legion Club, Rookswood, 27 West End, PE15 8DP (3rd), Acoustic music and song: Keith Cheale, 01354 652868

ST ALBANS • White Swan, Dagnall St (8.30pm, weekly, mainly music): Trevor Hacking, 01923 351739

TOWERSEY • Village Hall (7.30 for 8pm, 3rd): Linda Dorman, 01296 613742

WELHAM GREEN • North Mymms Social Club, AL9 7PQ (2nd): Alan Francis, 07774 859758

thUrSDay EVEningS CROXLEY GREEN • The Shed, rear of Sportsman PH (8.15 – 11.00, 1st, song & acoustic music): Paul K, 07970 188026

HERTFORD • Great Eastern, Railway Place (3rd): Keith Acheson, 07979 841079

HUNTON BRIDGE • King’s Head (4th): Tim, 01923 264536

KIMPTON • White Horse (2nd): Doug, 07973 751039, [email protected]

LUTON • Castle PH, LU1 3AA (weekly): Nigel Bailey, 07788 431470

TOWERSEY • Three Horseshoes (last): Grant, 01844 212322

WOBURN SANDS • Royal Oak (2nd & 4th): Vic Longhorn, 01908 582660

FriDay EVEningS POTTON • Red Lion (8.30, 3rd): Phil & Jan, 01767 260041

ROYSTON • Old Bull Inn SG8 9AW (2nd): Michael Farrow, 01763 249296, www.roystonfolk.org

ST NEOTS • Chequers, St Mary’s St, PE19 2TA (11/4, 9/5, 13/6): Sarah, 07857 311834, [email protected]

STEEPLE CLAYDON • Prince of Wales, MK18 2NP (2nd – Open Mic): Charlie, 07925 145062


‘The one indisputable young star of British folk’ - The Times

Sunday 27th April 2014 at 8pm

St George’s Church Headstone Pinner View Harrow HA1 4RJ

www.stgeorgeheadstone.org.uk

Admission £20

Box Office: 0208 863 8937 [email protected]

Sponsored by The Harrow Hotel www.harrow-hotel.co.uk

& Saul Rose

Eliza Carthy



Morris on May Day – why do we do it?

Morris dancing on May Day was first recorded in mediaeval times, and was certainly well established enough by Shakespeare’s time

to warrant a mention in All’s Well that Ends Well. But in our Morris revival age, with only the most tentative links to the ancient, what are people getting up to?

Morris teams and their recent customsBedfordshire’s Redbornstoke and Bedfordshire Lace have danced at dawn at Katharine’s Cross, Ampthill Park, since the mid-1980s. Jenny Howard commented on their choice of location:

“I think just because it’s high up, which seems to be desirable; we actually have a dance called ‘Katharine’s Cross’ that we never do there!”

At the other end of the spectrum, Pig Dyke Molly can be found at Holme Fen, the lowest point in England. Tony Forster explained:

Since 1 May 1988 I have been at Holme Fen at 5.15 am. We have no idea why… except that it is nice to get up at sunrise and it is easy to remember 1 May. The bucks fizz and breakfast are good... the woods are beautiful… that is reason enough.”

Across the country, similar celebrations take place. Paula Lazar of Silhill Morris told me about their “spring rites” in the grounds of Packwood House:

“Dancing on May Day / Beltane wakes the ground to welcome nature to its fullest… then it’s back to someone’s house for breakfast.”

Kennet Morris Men used to dance at Reading Abbey, believed to be the birthplace of the May Day song “Summer is Icumen In” – a manuscript from 1240 was found at Reading and a stone tablet in the Abbey ruins bears an inscription of the song. Sadly, the Abbey has fallen into disrepair and is no longer accessible, but there is the possibility of a Lottery grant on the horizon to enable restoration work.

Some more historical stuffIt’s easy to see why May Day was the choice for festivities: the crops were planted; it was the first day of summer in the pre-1752 calendar; it falls in the first week guaranteed to be after Easter (important in the days of rigorous Lenten fasting). George Long, writing in 1930, suggests that “Maying” might go back to the earliest days of agriculture:

“…simple rites were performed to ensure the safety of the harvest, fertility of flocks, or the success of tribal hunting. …the re-birth of nature was a time which naturally appealed.”

Dancing at dawn – a new tradition?Despite all this, it seems that dancing at dawn may not be as “traditional” as we might have thought. A survey conducted by the Morris Dancing Discussion List discovered that “the custom arose more or less spontaneously all over the country during the 1970s as teams began to feel it was the ‘thing to do’. It seems to have actually started in Oxford in the 1920s to accompany the other Oxford early morning celebrations, but only became widespread in the 70s”.

Pilgrim Morris’ website tells a similar tale, saying:

“The first recorded incident of Morris dancing at dawn on May Day is from 1923. In that year the Oxford Morris Men decided to join in the May Day Dawn celebrations at Magdalen College.”

The Oxford tradition stems from the 17th Century and the composition of Hymnus Eucharisticus by a Fellow of Magdalen College. Since then, the college’s choir has sung it on the bridge at 6.00am on May Day – perhaps it’s inevitable that the Morris tradition cottoned on to the chance to have a good time and incorporated their own revelry. Maybe the only surprise is that it took so long.

Sarah Sennett


PHOTO BY CLIvE BATKIN


Tue 1 8pm WICKET BROOD • Border Morris practice

Fri – Sun 4 – 6 Weekend LETCHWORTH • Devil’s Dyke Morris Meeting

Sat 5 All day BALDOCK • Thriplow Daffodil Fair, with Bunnies from Hell


Thur 10 8pm WICKET BROOD • Keats House, Hampstead NW3 2RR with John Hegley



Wed 23 8pm BALDOCK • Orange Tree, Norton Road, Baldock

7.30pm OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne

Fri 25 9.15pm OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Unicorn Ceilidh Interval Spot

Sat 26 Day LETCHWORTH • Hook Norton Brewery Tour


Thur 1 7.30am BALDOCK • High St, Baldock, then local schools

6.30amLETCHWORTH • Ickwell Green - with Bedford MM and Offley MM (Followed by tour of Letchworth Schools)

Sat 3 All day BALDOCK • Rochester Sweeps Festival

1pm OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • Campbell Park, Milton Keynes

Mon 5 12 noon LETCHWORTH • Crown, Northill, with Bedford MM, then Ickwell May Fair

6.30am WHITCHURCH • Coombe Hill Monument near Wendover SP849066

9am WHITCHURCH • Hampden Arms, Great Hampden HP16 9RQ

10.30am WHITCHURCH • World’s End Garden Centre, near Wendover HP22 6BD

12.00 noon WHITCHURCH • May Fair, Whitchurch HP22 4JG

2.15pm WHITCHURCH • Pitstone Green Farm Museum LU7 9Ey

Tue 6 8pm WICKET BROOD • Rising Sun, Berkhamstead HP4 3EG

Thur 8 8.15pm LETCHWORTH • March Hare, Dunton

Sat 10 All day BALDOCK • Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance, Cambridge

Day LETCHWORTH • Joint Morris Organisations Day of Dance, Cambridge

Sun 11 12–4pm LETCHWORTH • Ashwell at Home

Mon 12 Afternoon LETCHWORTH • Walsworth Festival, Hitchin

Tue 13 8pm WHITCHURCH • Angler’s Retreat, Marsworth HP23 4LJ

8pm WICKET BROOD • Cricketers, Redbourn AL3 7ND

Sat 17 All day BALDOCK • BMM Day of Dance, Baldock

Tue 20 8pm BALDOCK • Lytton Arms, Knebworth SG3 6QB (tbc)

8pm WHITCHURCH • Plough, Cadsden HP27 0NB


8pm WICKET BROOD • Cat & Fiddle, Radlett WD7 7JR

Thur 22 8.15pm LETCHWORTH • Bucks Head, Little Wymondley (tbc)

9.15pm LETCHWORTH • Green Man, Great Wymondley

Sat 24 WHITCHURCH • yorkshire Dales, hosts Leeds Morris Men

Mon 26 WHITCHURCH • yorkshire Dales, hosts Leeds Morris Men

Tue 27 8pm BALDOCK • Fox, Pirton SG5 3PS (tbc)

8pm WICKET BROOD • Green Dragon, London Colney AL2 1RB

Thur 29 7.30pm LETCHWORTH • Standalone Farm, Letchworth

8.30pm LETCHWORTH • Three Horseshoes, Norton (tbc)

Fri–Sun 30/5 –

1/6Weekend LETCHWORTH • Thaxted Ring Meeting

Sat 31 WHITCHURCH • Thaxted Ring Meeting, hosts Thaxted Morris Men

Tue 3 8pm BALDOCK • Jolly Waggoner, Ardeley SG2 7AH (tbc)

8pm WHITCHURCH • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne HP23 5QE

8pm WICKET BROOD • ye Olde Fighting Cocks, St Albans AL3 4HE

Thur 5 8.15pm LETCHWORTH • Cock, Broom

9.15pm LETCHWORTH • Five Bells, Henlow

Tue 10 8pm BALDOCK • Bushel & Strike, Ashwell SG7 5Ly (tbc)

8pm WHITCHURCH • Hampden Arms, Great Hampden HP16 9RQ

8pm WICKET BROOD • Grand Junction Arms, Bulbourne, Tring HP23 5QE

Thur 12 8.15pm LETCHWORTH • Fox, Willian

9.15pm LETCHWORTH • Three Horseshoes, Willian

Sat 14 Afternoon LETCHWORTH • Morris Day of Dance, Letchworth Town Centre

Tue 17 8pm BALDOCK • Lordship Arms, Bennington SG2 7BX (tbc)

8pm WHITCHURCH • George & Dragon, Quainton HP22 4AR

Thur 19 8.15pm LETCHWORTH • Strathmore Arms, St Pauls Walden

9.15pm LETCHWORTH • Red Lion, Preston

Sat 21 Afternoon BALDOCK • Buntingford Carnival

Mon 23 7.30pm OLD MOTHER REDCAPS • The Hub Piazza, Central Milton Keynes (tbc)

Tue 24 8pm BALDOCK • Waggoners, Ayot Green AL6 9AA (tbc)

8pm WHITCHURCH • Oak, Aston Clinton HP22 5EU

8pm WICKET BROOD • Three Horseshoes, Winkwell HP1 2Rz

Thur 26 8pm LETCHWORTH • Ashwell Tour

baLDoCk Midnight Morris – Mixed CotswoldContact: Joyce Ormrod 01525 630 546 • 0759 280 0984 [email protected]

LEtChworth Morris – Men’s CotswoldBagman: Theo Thomas • 01582 882 831www.letchworthmorris.org.uk

oLD MothEr rEDCaPS –Garland, Manx FolkContact: Catherine Held • 01908 667112https://sites.google.com/site/oldmotherredcapsmorris/

whitChUrCh Morris – Men’s CotswoldBagman: John Bush • 01296 641 [email protected] www.whitchurchmorris.org.uk

wiCkEt brooD – Border MorrisSt Stephen Parish Centre, Station Rd, Bricket Wood AL2 3PJContact: Gill Clough [email protected] www.wicketbrood.org.uk

(including nibbles)

Profits to be split between Parkinson’s UK and Town Mayor’s Charities Bar Available Box Office 01525 631900

As seen at festivals, folk clubs & pubs with a host of tunes using a broad range of instruments

Organised by Flitwick Town Council www.flitwick.gov.uk [email protected]

An evening of English and Irish Contemporary and Traditional Folk Music

A dynamic trio with original songs of love and hope mixed with classic Irish songs and traditional Irish music


musicdanceeducationlibraryartcafebar

At the heart of English folk

2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AYcecilsharphouse.org | 0844 888 9991

Summer highlightsThe Patsy Reid Band30 April, 7.30pm Highly accomplished Scottish fiddle player Patsy performs songs from her latest album, The Brightest Path.

Tickets* £12

Jez LoweUp Close and Acoustic18 May, 7.30pm Pared back, acoustic and unmissable. Don’t miss this stalwart of English folk music performing in Cecil Sharp House’s most intimate space.

Tickets* £14

May in a Day!10 May, 2 - 5pm Tickets* £6 adults | £4 under 18s | Under 2’s free | Family group £18* *A group of 4 including at least one child and one adult.

Blair Dunlop31 May, 7.30pm Celebrating the launch of Blair’s highly-anticipated second album, House of Jacks.

Tickets* £14

Bella Hardy & The Midnight Watch5 June, 7.30pm Join Bella (BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year) as she celebrates her 30th birthday and career highlights to date.

Tickets* £12

Folklore in England: Level 114, 21, 28 May | 4, 11, 18 June, 7 - 9pm Fee £66 | £54 [email protected]

Martin Simpson17 May, 7.30pmOne of the world’s greatest acoustic and slide guitar players performing his Prodigal Son and Kind Letters albums, in their entirety.

Tickets* £15

Get your Folk on! Juniors11 - 15 August, 2 - 4.30pmAn exciting week long introduction to folk music.

Fee £40 | £32 [email protected]

*Boo

king

fees

ap

ply

.

@cecilsharphouse

/cecilsharphouse Promoter SupportersStep-free

access now available


Tam Lin & caller Al Hewson Celebrate 15 years on the road from Dorset to the Shetland Isles

and welcome you to a

Ceilidh/Barn Dance Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre, High St, Baldock SG7 6AR

Friday April 11th 8 - 11pm Adults £10 under 18s £5 Licenced bar

Info/Tickets: Alan & Sue 01767 683583 [email protected]

*************************************************************

Baldock & Letchworth Folk Club Unless otherwise stated: £6 member cons ≤£7 members ≤ £8 non-members ≤ under 16s free

8.30pm Wednesdays See website for full artiste info

Apr 02 Joe Topping www.joetoppingmusic.com Exceptional singer songwriter; a lovely melodious voice & a very fine guitarist. Apr 09 Evie Ladin & Keith Terry www.evieladin.com Bursting with talent ; energetic & electrifying clawhammer banjo, bass, percussive dance and songs with nuanced and emotive vocals. Apr 16 David Newey & Shona Kipling www.davidandshona.co.uk Accordion, guitar, voice, & two of the finest young musicians in the country. Apr 23 Club’s 15th birthday featuring: Chris Sissons, Dorrie Randall, Dave Stacey, Pat Crilly, Richard Harradine, Robin Harper, Viv Lucas & more Apr 30 Jez Lowe www.jezlowe.com One of the most engaging & entertaining singer song writers in the folk genre. May 07 Pyrates! www.pyrates.co.uk Dressed in pirate costume; sea faring songs an’ all in tha' quay of ARRRR! Wonderful! May 14 Sarah McQuaid www.sarahmcquaid.com Lovely guitar & a voice like malt whiskey, melted chocolate & “honey poured into wine” Minor 7th May 21 John Doyle www.johndoylemusic.com Considered one of the most important guitarists in Irish and acoustic music worldwide, he is also lauded for his singing & songwriting talents. May 28 Louise Jordan http://louisejordan.co.uk “Absolutely, totally and completely brilliant” Mike Harding, BBC Jne 04 The Devine Family www.johndevinemusic.com Irish music with Uilleann Pipes, Whistles, Vocals, Sax, Tenor Banjo, Guitar & more. Jne 11 na-mara www.na-mara.com Traditional & self penned material; great songs with mandolin & guitar. Jne 18 John Kirkpatrick www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk BBC Folk Musician of the Year 2010 and England’s best love master of the squeezbox.

The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AW Contact us: Tel: 01767 683583 email: [email protected]


Local band ‘Said the Maiden’ to tour with Dave Swarbrick

Said the Maiden are the new girls on the block. Friends

since school, they started performing at Redbourn Folk Club and were astonished at the reaction. This spurred them to learn more songs, and bookings at festivals and clubs across the country soon came their way. Their voices meld into one in unison singing, and their harmonies bring traditional English songs to life. A capella jostles with guitar, fiddle and flute to provide an exciting fresh take on these traditional songs.

This year, Dave Swarbrick embarks on his first solo UK tour, using it as an opportunity to showcase up-and-coming folk and acoustic talent. Through his role as Patron of the Folkstock Arts Foundation, Dave has discovered a huge pool of new and exciting musicians, and he is keen to involve some of this new talent in his performances.

‘Said The Maiden’ have been asked by Dave to tour with him as his support act; this will be the group’s first tour. Swarbrick has also enabled local acts to get involved, by choosing soloists or duos to open the shows at selected venues with a three-song slot.

On top of all this, Dave and Folkstock are producing an EP, which will be available to buy from Dave on the tour, featuring songs from some of his favourite new musical discoveries. The songs

were recorded by the artists, then sent to Dave to embellish with his incredible fiddle playing.

The evening will be a slight departure from the normal concert, because we are incorporating an interactive session with Dave, in which he shares anecdotes, plays fiddle and answers questions from the audience in his most accessible tour yet.

Details on tickets and times can be found at www.folkicons.co.uk/swarbmenu.htm

Jess Distill


“More than a little guitar”By Daniel Nestlerode

I wondered why I had not heard Daniel before. With no help from sleeve notes,

but rather his excellent website, I now know he is American, and only settled in Cambridge (UK) in 2012, having been born in Pennsylvania, and “seasoned” in California, as he puts it.

This goes a long way to explaining the sound and feel of the five self-penned songs included in this selection. He is chiefly a mandolinist – and a very good one – hence the album title. With due respect to the play on words, there is also more than a little guitar on this CD, again skilfully played by Daniel himself.

In fact, except for a small vocal contribution from his producer, Daniel does everything. He sings very well, and plays guitar and three types of mandolin on one of his compositions, “Virginia Claire”, a dark song about a murder. I also like his own “A Winter’s Night”, with a very Denveresque arrangement, thanks to the mandolins.

Good to hear some chopped mandolin on the up-tempo “Bury Me Beneath the Willow” – pure bluegrass. “Red River Valley” and “Long Black Veil” are a mite slow for my taste, but we Brits do tend to speed things up!

If you haven’t seen him yet, you will. He visited dozens of local folk clubs last year, either as guest or support. And in case you’re wondering, he performs most of these songs live and brilliantly with just a mandolin.

More info from www.nestlerode.co.uk.

Mike Blair

“Fire & Fortune”Josienne Clarke & Ben WalkerNavigator 082

The second full-length album release, following EPs The Seas are Deep and

Homemade Heartache, by this young duo is refined, graceful and intense. Seven new compositions, musing mainly on love’s labours, fit comfortably with evocative interpretations of five traditional pieces.

Their fundamentals are Josienne’s vocalising, emotionally expressive and technically exact (almost at times to the point of being mannered in its articulation and phrasing), and Ben’s guitar playing which is exemplary and exquisite in its sensitivity and symbiosis with the songs. I challenge anyone to find greater nuanced delicacy and subtlety in a guitar supporting role both in recorded and live performance.

The arrangements draw on evident classical training and experience in their elegance and sophistication but also include tinctures from jazz, flamenco and elsewhere. Josienne’s use of recorder and saxophone on two pieces and guest contributions of cello (Jo Silverston), double bass (John Parker) and violin (Basia Bartz), in particular (there is also some piano, drums and bodhran), contribute to the carefully calculated pace and space, textures, warmth and depth of the songs and, above all, their dramatic setting and atmosphere.

So, if you like purity and honesty in the presentation of the song, June Tabor-esque timbres, and melancholy as your prevailing moods, you’ll find plentiful moving and haunting pleasure here. Very excellently recorded and mixed, with much clarity and brightness, in ‘Ben’s Room’, these two are surely destined for folk fame and fortune.

Kevin T. Ward


Available from all good music shops. For more information: T: 020 7534 0740 | E: [email protected] Music Ltd, 48 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7BB

Edition with CD | ED 13460 | £16.99

Exploring Folk Fiddleby Chris Haigh

An Introduction to Folk Styles, Techniques and Improvisation


LAST FRIDAY IN THE MONTH

www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

UnicornC E I L I D H S

The Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Road, Biggleswade SG18 8JHDoors open 7.30pm

8.00pm till late

Tickets only £10.00 - Singles & groups welcome

FRIDAY 25th APRIL

the new slidewith

alex cummingThe New Slide are a new young

southern English ceilidh band whoplay English and French-Canadiantunes. The band consists of MattQuinn (Melodeons), Tom Redman(Bass Guitar), Nathan Armstrong

(Piano) and Alex Cumming (Caller).They provide dance music that is

lively and energetic, yet stillmaintains a very traditional sound.

www.mattquinnmusic.co.uk

http://alexcumming.webs.com/bands.htm

Interval: Old Mother Redcaps

REAL ALE BAR

FRIDAY 30th MAY

ethel’s catswith

alison gilesEthel's Cats are a three piece ceilidh band

operating mostly around Peterborough andEast Anglia. The name comes from one ofthe dances of Pig Dyke Molly, of which theband are all members. They are: Anahata:

melodeon, Mary Humphreys: Englishconcertina and Dave Parker: Sousaphone.

Their music ranges from traditional tomodern, but it's all superbly arranged andplayed, with the emphasis on danceability!

www.ethelscats.co.uk

Dance the night away . . .

FRIDAY 27th JUNE

panjandrumwith

gordon pottsRising from the ashes of the now sadlydefunct Committee Band, Panjandrumare a band playing for English ceilidh

dances with the emphasis onproviding the most danceable, foot-

tapping music. Their tunes come fromall over the place: England, Italy,

France, Sweden, Finland, Northolt – infact anywhere that can provide you

with memorable melodies.

www.panjandrumband.co.uk


Tue 1 ST.NEOTS • Open StageWed 2 BALDOCK • Joe Topping ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players

and listenersThur 3 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Keith Harrup BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Debra Cowan REDBOURN • Open StageFri 4 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Tim Edey CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American

Contra Dance FRIDAy FOLK • Bob Barrett &

Spring Greens WATFORD • Malcolm HobbsSat 5 HADDENHAM • Steamchicken with Liam

Robinson plus Taeppa’s TumpSun 6 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris and

Country Practice HITCHIN • Nancy Kerr & James Fagan

plus Tom RyderMon 7 CHESHAM • Jim Causley HERGA • na-mara HITCHIN STAPLERS • ‘zesty Playford’

evening, Colin Hume & Spring Greens LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 8 ST.NEOTS • Tannahill WeaversWed 9 BALDOCK • Evie Ladin & Keith Terry ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 10 BEDFORD • Local Singers & Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Charles Day BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Steve Turner REDBOURN • Garry SmithFri 11 BEDFORD FINE • Easter holidays – No club CAMBRIDGE • Dave Swarbrick FRIDAy FOLK • Ron Coxall & FF Band ROySTON • The Legendary Royston Folk

Club Open Mic! WATFORD • Maggie Boyle & Paul DownesSun 13 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin,

plus Joe Topping & Scott PoleyMon 14 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Easter ‘All Come ye’ LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEy • Abbie Rechert, New

Roots finalistTue 15 ST.NEOTS • Bram TaylorWed 16 BALDOCK • David Newey & Shona Kipling ELy • Vin Garbutt ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller:

Judith Inman

Thur 17 BEDFORD • Easter Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: John Green BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Billy Hill & Friends

(TBC) REDBOURN • Open StageFri 18 BEDFORD FINE • Easter holidays – No club CAMBRIDGE • Louise Jordan FRIDAy FOLK • Closed for Easter WATFORD • Good Friday - ClosedSun 20 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Ben Paley

& Tab Hunter HITCHIN • Liz Simcock and Dave Ellis

& Boo HowardMon 21 CHESHAM • CLOSED - Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED – Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED –

Public Holiday LEASIDERS • Closed WALTHAM ABBEy • CLOSED –

Public Holiday Tue 22 ST.NEOTS • Where’s Spot BandWed 23 BALDOCK • Club 15th Birthday

(see advert p18) ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 24 BEDFORD • Come all ye –

everyone welcome BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Graham Foster BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Tinderbox (TBC) REDBOURN • Jed GrimesFri 25 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors

Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Saul Bailey FRIDAy FOLK • Colin Hume & Mollie K ROySTON • Richard Digance, support

Ramon Goose WATFORD • Saul Rose & James DelarreSun 27 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris and

Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Mairearad Green & Anna

Massey, plus The Carrivick SistersMon 28 CHESHAM • Singers Night featuring

Hannah Saunders HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 29 ST.NEOTS • Round the RoomWed 30 BALDOCK • Jez Lowe LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers


Thur 1 BEDFORD • May Day Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Richard Spendlove BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Open StageFri 2 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors

Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Mentés Másként Trio CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American

Contra Dance FRIDAy FOLK • Bob Barrett & FF Band WATFORD • Vicki Swan & Jonny DyerSat 3 HADDENHAM • Burlesdon Village Band

with Hugh Rippon plus The Bar StaffSun 4 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Jim CausleyMon 5 CHESHAM • CLOSED – Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED - Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED –


Public Holiday Tue 6 ST.NEOTS • Anthony John ClarkeWed 7 BALDOCK • Pyrates! ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players

and listenersThur 8 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Kevin Prigmore BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Kyle Carey REDBOURN • Tom McConvilleFri 9 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage with Romy FRIDAy FOLK • Rachel & Thomas Bending ROySTON • The Legendary Royston Folk

Club Open Mic! WATFORD • SingaroundSun 11 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Hannah James & Sam SweeneyMon 12 CHESHAM • Eileen McGann & David K HERGA • Chris Flegg HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • Chris Parkinson

& Richard GraingerTue 13 ST.NEOTS • The young ‘unsWed 14 BALDOCK • Sarah McQuaid ELy • Adrian Nation ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 15 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: John Green BISHOP’S STORTFORD • na-mara REDBOURN • Open StageFri 16 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Fern Teather Band, Paul

Goodwin, The Broadside Boys

CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American Contra Dance

FRIDAy FOLK • Ced & Lorraine WATFORD • Simon KempstonSun 18 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Guest night tbc ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris and

Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Katherine Roberts &

Sean Lakeman plus Kirsty BromleyMon 19 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 20 ST.NEOTS • Terence BlacklerWed 21 BALDOCK • John Doyle ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller –

Peter BridgmanThur 22 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Roger Dover BISHOP’S STORTFORD • David Gibb REDBOURN • Open StageFri 23 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Belshazzar’s Feast FRIDAy FOLK • Closed WATFORD • SingaroundSun 25 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Les BarkerMon 26 CHESHAM • CLOSED - Public Holiday HERGA • CLOSED - Public Holiday HITCHIN STAPLERS • CLOSED –


Public HolidayTue 27 ST.NEOTS • Round the RoomWed 28 BALDOCK • Louise Jordan ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 29 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Terry Elvins BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Issy & David

Emeney with Kate Riaz REDBOURN • GBH Fri 30 BEDFORD FINE • No Club – Half Term CAMBRIDGE • Matt Woosey, Holly Taymar,

John Meed FRIDAy FOLK • Mike Bennett & FF Band ROySTON • Issey & David Emeney, support

Terry Emm WATFORD • Piefinger


Sun 1 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Club Practice

for Nevers HITCHIN • Phil BeerMon 2 CHESHAM • Fabian Holland HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • Russ ChandlerTue 3 ST.NEOTS • Maggie Boyle & Paul DownesWed 4 BALDOCK • The Devine Family ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club Callers MOGGERHANGER • Singers, players

and listenersThur 5 BEDFORD • Local Singers and Musicians BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Lorraine &

Ced Morgan BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Two Coats Colder REDBOURN • Jeff WarnerFri 6 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Open Stage CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American

Contra Dance FRIDAy FOLK • Dave Kerridge WATFORD • SingaroundFri/Sat 6/7 ST.NEOTS • Festival of Music, Dance & Song

(see advert p45)Sat 7 HADDENHAM • Gareth Kiddier All Stars

with Aidan Hansell plus Crooked MoonSun 8 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage HITCHIN • Steve KnightlyMon 9 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 10 ST.NEOTS • Barron BradyWed 11 BALDOCK • na-mara ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 12 BEDFORD • Come all ye –

everyone welcome BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Keith Harrup BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Rosa’s Very

Beautiful Daughters REDBOURN • Open StageFri 13 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Dave Ellis & Boo Howard FRIDAy FOLK • Mark Elvins, Barbara

Burton & Martyn Boardman ROySTON • The Legendary Royston Folk

Club Open Mic! WATFORD • KaraSun 15 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Guest night tbc ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Morris and

Mumming Practice HITCHIN • Chris & Kellie While plus

Christene Ledoux

REDBOURN • Folk on the Common, free outdoor concert 2–6pm

Mon 16 CHESHAM • Broken Boat HERGA • Steve Turner HITCHIN STAPLERS • Maypole Evening,

Pirton, Chris Turner & Cloudburst LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 17 ST.NEOTS • John ConollyWed 18 BALDOCK • John Kirkpatrick ELy • Chris Sherburn & Findlay Napier ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Guest Caller –

Norman HayesThur 19 BEDFORD • Singers Night BEDFORD FDC • Caller: George Hearnden BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Singers Night REDBOURN • Black ScarrFri 20 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night

Visitors Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Showcase for young Artists CAMBRIDGE CONTRA • American

Contra Dance FRIDAy FOLK • Bob Barrett &

Spring Greens WATFORD • SingaroundSun 22 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage Mon 23 CHESHAM • Singers Night featuring KARA HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • SingaroundTue 24 ST.NEOTS • Round the RoomWed 25 BALDOCK • Session ENGLISH MISCELLANy • Country Practice LINSLEIGHDERS • Club CallersThur 26 BEDFORD • Singaround BEDFORD FDC • Caller: Richard Spendlove BISHOP’S STORTFORD • Victoriana Gaye

(TBC) REDBOURN • Open StageFri 27 BEDFORD FINE • Club Night Visitors

Welcome CAMBRIDGE • Winter Wilson FRIDAy FOLK • Paul Garner & FF Band ROySTON • Gordon Giltrap, support Carrick WATFORD • Liz SimcockSun 29 BLACK FEN, Cambridge • Open Stage Mon 30 CHESHAM • Singers Night HERGA • Open Stage HITCHIN STAPLERS • Club Caller LEASIDERS • Club Callers WALTHAM ABBEy • Singaround


we desperately need help to distribute copies of our new Unicorn Magazine to the 60 or so distribution locations on our list.

If you could help by taking copies to your club, session or venue every quarter, please contact us. Even small deliveries will help reduce our crippling postage & petrol bills!

baLDoCk & LEtChworth The Orange Tree, Norton Rd, Baldock, SG7 5AWContact: Tel: 01767 683583 Email: [email protected]

BEDFORD • Bedford Folk Music ClubDaley’s Club, Bedford Road, Kempston, Bedford MK42 8BBContact: Mike Blair, 01525 404513 or 01525 404304 See us on Facebook

BEDFORD FDC • Bedford Folk Dance ClubPutnoe Heights Church, Bedford MK41 8EBContact: Ron D. Law, 01234 825574

BEDFORD FINE • Bedford Fine Companions Folk Dance ClubHazeldene Lower School, Stancliffe Rd, Bedford MK41 9ATContact: David Cooke, 01234 823920 www.finecompanions.synthasite.com

BISHOP’S STORTFORD • StortfolkRoyal British Legion, 28 Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2NGContact: Jon & Hilary McNamara, 01279 656664 www.beerfordbury.co.uk

bLaCk FEn FoLk CLUbHot Numbers Café, Units 5 / 6 Dales Brewery, Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJContact: Robin Gillan, 07847 680560 www.blackfenfolkclub.com

CAMBRIDGE • Cambridge Folk ClubGolden Hind PH, 355 Milton Rd, Cambridge CB4 1SPContact: Marion Treby, 01638 603986 www.cambridgefolkclub.org

CaMbriDgE ContraURC Hall, Cherry Hinton Rd, Cambridge CB1 7UBContact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641 www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra

CHESHAM • Chesham Folk & Acoustic Music Club (Tudor Folk)Whitehill Centre, Chesham HP5 1AGContact: Bob Templeman, 07771 727943 www.tudorfolkclub.org.uk

ELY • Ely Folk ClubThe Old Dispensary, St Mary’s Street, Ely, Cambs CB7 4ER (no bar)Contact: Ruth Bramley 01353 740999 / 664706 www.elyfolkclub.co.uk

EngLiSh MiSCELLany East Hyde Village Hall, Lower Harpenden Rd (B653), nr Luton LU2 9QBContact: Helen Stamp, 020 8386 3779 www.englishmiscellany.com

FRIDAY FOLK • Friday Folk Social Dance ClubMethodist Church, Marlborough Rd, St Albans AL1 3XGContact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508 www.fridayfolk.org.uk

haDDEnhaM CEiLiDhSHaddenham Village Hall, nr AylesburyContact: 01296 415333, [email protected]

HERGA • Herga Folk ClubPinner Green Social Club, Rickmansworth Rd, Pinner, Middlesex HA5 3TJContact: George Papavgeris 07747 768868 www.hergafolk.org

HITCHIN • Hitchin Folk ClubSun Hotel, Sun St, Hitchin, SG5 1AFContact: Maureen Jones, 01462 812391 www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk

HITCHIN STAPLERS • Staplers Country Dance ClubSt John’s Community Centre, St John’s Rd, Hitchin SG4 9JPContact: Cecilia Mills, 01582 881966 www.staplers.org.uk

LEASIDERS • Leasiders Folk Dance ClubBlenheim Baptist Church Hall, Blenheim Cres, Luton LU3 1HBContact: Liz Patrick, 01582 732656

LinSLEighDErS:Forster Institute, Waterloo Rd, Linslade LU7 2LWContact: Mrs E.A. Corser, 01525 378010

MoggErhangEr • village FolkMoggerhanger Village Hall, Blunham Rd, Moggerhanger, MK44 3RDContact: Chris Bashford, 01767 640242 [email protected]

REDBOURN • Redbourn Folk ClubOld Schoolroom, Hollybush PH, Church End, Redbourn AL3 7DUContact: Jenny McNaught, 01582 793164 www.redbournfolkclub.org.uk

ROYSTON • Royston Folk ClubOld Bull Inn, 56 High St, Royston SG8 9AWContact: Mark Gamon 07738 183158 www.roystonfolk.org

STONY STRATFORD • The Song LoftCock Hotel, High St, Stony Stratford, MK11 1AH Contact: Jane Armour, 01908 566407 www.thesongloft.co.uk

ST.ALBANS • St Albans Folk MusicThe Maltings Arts Theatre, Level 2, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL Contact: Alison Macfarlane, 01727 852111 www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

ST NEOTS • St Neots Folk ClubPriory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots PE19 2BHContact: Roger Pitt, 01234 376278 www.stneotsfolkclub.co.uk

WALTHAM ABBEY • Waltham Abbey Folk ClubRoyal British Legion, Brooker Rd, Waltham Abbey EN9 1HyContact: Jan Ayres, 01992 613987 or 07799 407363 www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com, see us on Facebook

WATFORD • Watford Folk ClubPump House, Local Board Rd, Lower High St, Watford WD17 2JPContact: Julian Mount, 07778 526489, [email protected], www.folkatthepumphouse.webs.com, www.facebook.com/groups/watfordfolkclub/

WICKET BROOD • Wicket Brood Border MorrisSt Stephen Parish Centre, Station Rd, Bricket Wood AL2 3PJContact: Gill Clough, [email protected] www.wicketbrood.org.uk




April 4th Tappalachian in “Across the Pond& Back Again”plus ‘Uncle Bob’ Scruton

May 9th Katrina Gilmore & Jamie Robertsplus New Roots fi nalist

June 6th Songs collected in Chiswell Green from the Page family and Emily Joiner sung by Steph West, Chuck& Angela Silverman, Irene Shettle& Brian Pearson

8.00pm at the Maltings Arts TheatreThe Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL

Tickets £10, student concessions £8 from:www.ticketsource.co.uk/ovo0844 870 0887, St Albans Tourist& Information Centre

Further information:W: www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.ukE: [email protected]

126 Folk at Maltings Quarter Page (portrait).indd 1 10/2/14 10:28:12

• Day of Dance in St Albans City Centre

• Old Town Hall Folk DayFree events duringthe day with showcase in the Old CourtRoom & singaroundsin the cells.Sessions in the White Swan, Dagnall Street.

• Concert, 7.30pmJim Moray, Haddo, plus Emma Scarr, winner of Watford Folk Club songwriting competition &New Roots 2014 fi nalist (tba)

• Sessions & singarounds being arranged

• St Michaelʼs Streetfolk evening Dancing in the street & music in its three pubs

ST ALBANS FOLK FESTIVAL

June 21st & 22nd 2014

Enquiries: 01727 852111/ 833028Email: [email protected] • Web: www.stalbansfolkfestival.co.uk

Concert Tickets:£14, £8 student concessions.Available from Tourist Information Centre,Tel 01727 8645111 or online fromwww.allaroundstalbans.com

Saturday June 21st Sunday June 22nd

Wednesday July 2nd


St albans Folk Festival

St Albans Folk Festival started in the 1990s as ‘Folk at the Festival’, attached to a

Council run arts festival, but over the past few years, the arts festival has disappeared and we have become a free-standing event. All the events take place in the historic City Centre.

This year the festival will be taking place on the weekend of June 21 and 22, now known as the Albantide weekend, as the Sunday is St Albans Day and on the Saturday the Abbey’s giant puppets will be in the City Centre re-enacting Alban’s life and death.

Most of our events will take place on Saturday June 21, when our base for the day will be the Old Town Hall in the Market Place. There will be free music during the day and a concert in the evening. We have an exciting line-up for the concert, with Jim Moray, Haddo, Emma Scarr, winner of Watford Folk Club’s song writing competition and a New Roots finalist, to be selected at the finals on Sunday April 6.

Demand for spots in the all day free showcase, to be held in the historic 1831 Court Room has been considerable and we now have an excellent mixture of top local performers along with others who are new to the festival. Down below, in an atmospheric candle lit area by the cells, there will be an opportunity to take part in singarounds. Upstairs in the Assembly Room during the afternoon, there will be a chance to meet local dance groups and try to do one of their dances.

This year, the festival is expanding into the nearby White Swan in Dagnall Street, now a regular session venue, and there will be sessions between noon and 5pm.

This year the Day of Dance will move back onto the same day as the other main events. It will start with a massed display outside the Alban Arena before the dancers move on to the Maltings, Christopher Place and the Clock Tower.

Sunday June 22 will be a less eventful day with sessions and singarounds, alongside a Council run event, still at the planning stage, to round off the Albantide celebrations.

For full details of the events, please see our web sites, www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk and www.stalbansfolkfestival.co.uk.

Alison Macfarlane

St AlbAnS Folk FeStivAl

June 21st & 22nd 2014

SaiD thE MaiDEn


FOLK SONG COMPETITION 2014

Could you write a new folk song? Well this is your opportunity…

Watford Folk Club invites entries for its 3rd annual song writer’s competitionOur theme for 2014 will be: "WAR AND PEACE"

Entry details, forms and competition rules are available at: http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com/songcompetition2014.htm

Entries open 28/3/14 & Close 17/10/14. Grand Final on 14/11/14

FUTURE GUEST ARTISTS INCLUDE: James Findlay, Gren Bartley, Saul Rose & James Delarre,

Vicki Swann & Jonny Dyer, Simon Kempston, Piefinger and Liz Simcock.

Don’t forget our LEGENDARY SINGAROUNDS on non-guest nights!

Further details at: http://folkatthepumphouse.webs.com

Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/watfordfolkclub/

Email : [email protected] Tel : 07778 526489

If you enjoy a lively barn dance,

you'll find Friday Folk is a great way

to meet like-minded people and

have fun. Newcomers are

always welcome. And there's no need to bring a partner.

From 7:45 to 10:00 pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Marlborough

Road, St Albans, AL1 3XG. www.fridayfolk.org.uk – 01727 856508

Standard Friday admission £3

Spring 2014

4 Apr Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 11 Apr Ron Coxall and FF Band 18 Apr Closed for Easter

Summer 2014

25 Apr Colin Hume and Mollie K 2 May Bob Barrett and FF Band 9 May Rachel and Thomas Bending 16 May Ced and Lorraine 23 May Closed 30 May Mike Bennett and FF Band 6 Jun Dave Kerridge 13 Jun Mark Elvins, Barbara Burton and Martyn Boardman 20 Jun Bob Barrett and Spring Greens 27 Jun Paul Garner and FF Band

28 Jun Saturday Dance at Sam Ryder Colin Hume and Stick Shift

4 Jul Friday Special: American Night Adam Hughes and Quicksilver


UniCorn MagazinE: iSSUE 126 WWW.UNICORNMAGAzINE.ORG 33

Fri 11 Ceilidh / Barn Dance: Tam Lin & caller Al Hewson celebrate 15 years on the road, Adults £10, u18s £5, Licensed bar, 8 – 11pm • BLFC

Sat 12 Val & Ian McFarlane, 7.30pm • WFD

Fri 25 The New Slide with Alex Cumming, 7.30 for 8.00pm • UC

Sat 26 St George’s Day Celebrations, Drake Hall, Amersham HP6 5AH. Caller Madeleine Smith, music Maggie Fletcher & Ruth Rose, 7.30pm • CFA

Sat 26 Gentlemen’s Relish with Caller Fee Lock, 8 – 11pm • NC

Sat 10 Friendly Folk with Caller Chris Turner, 7.30 – 11pm • BFC

Sat 10 Anne Dunn, 7.30pm • WFD

Sat 17 Brian McMinn & Mike Green, Caller Frances Richardson • BFD

Sat 17 Spring Dance with the Forest Band, 7.30 – 11pm • SAA

Fri 30 Ethel’s Cats with Alison Giles, 7.30 for 8.00pm • UC

Sat 31 Contra Dance Band: Folkus Pocus with Caller John Turner, 8 – 11pm • NC

Sat 7 Anniversary Dance, 100 years EFDSS Cambridge branch, 20 years Harston club. Hugh Stewart + Dennis Owen calling with Worm-Upping band, 7.30 – 11pm • CC

Sat 14 Sue Needham, 7.30pm • WFD

Mon 16 Maypole Evening, Pirton Village Green, nr Hitchin SG5 3PS, 7.30pm. Cloudburst with Chris Turner • SCD

Fri 27 Panjandrum with Gordon Potts, 7.30 for 8.00pm • UC

Sat 28 Stick Shift with caller Colin Hume • FF

bFC Bedford Fine Companions: Newnham Middle School, Polhill Ave, Bedford MK41 9DT Tel: 01234 823920 [email protected]

bFD Bedford Folk Dance Club: Putnoe Heights Church, Putnoe Heights, Bedford MK41 8EB Contact: Ron Law, 01234 825574

bLFC Baldock & Letchworth FC: Baldock Arts & Heritage Centre, High St, Baldock SG7 6AR Info / Tickets: Alan & Sue, 01767 683583 [email protected]

CC Cambridge Contra Dance Club: Harston Village Hall CB22 7PX Contact: Hugh Stewart, 01223 368641 www.cambridgefolk.org.uk/contra

CFa Chiltern Folk Assoc.: Amersham Community Centre, Chiltern Ave, HP6 5AH Contact: Judith Inman, 01628 486845

FF Friday Folk: Samuel Ryder Academy, Drakes Drive, St Albans AL1 5AR Contact: Bob Barrett, 01727 856508

nC Northampton Ceilidhs: Christchurch Hall, Christchurch Road, Northampton NN1 5LL Contacts: Ruth 01933 397767, Valerie 01604 711536, John 07760 197921 www.northamptonceilidhs.co.uk

Adults £9, Students £5, Accompanied u-16s FREE, Group of 6 (paying) one free Licenced Bar, Free Car Park

Saa St Albans Abbey FDC: Homewood Rd UR Church Hall, Sandpit Lane, St Albans AL1 4BH Tel: 01727 834977

SCD Staplers Country Dance Club: Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St. Ippolytts SG4 7RB Tel: 01582 881966

UC Unicorn Ceilidhs: Weatherley Centre, Eagle Farm Rd, Biggleswade SG18 8JH Tel: 01582 724261, 07946 439095 www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk

wFD Winchmore Folk Dance Club: Trinity Church Hall, Church St/Gentleman’s Row, Enfield EN2 6AN Contact: John Wood 020 8926 7293

Membership £7 plus £4.00 per Dance, Guests £6.00 per Dance

Dancing also Tuesday 10am-12noon Grange Park Methodist Church N21 2EU




Famed independent festival towersey celebrates its 50th anniversary this august (thursday 21 – Monday 25 august 2014) with a very special five-day event.

towersey Festival – the oxfordshire festival celebrates its golden Jubilee in 2014

Among those taking to part in the festival’s half-century birthday celebrations are folk legends

Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman and Lau. They’ll be joined by Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy and Martin Carthy, Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker, Georgia Ruth, Dick Gaughan, John Smith, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, The Urban Folk Quartet, and many more, including The Bootleg Beatles, who’ll be headlining the opening night spectacular.

It was way back in 1965 that locals, looking for ways to fund urgent renovations to the village hall, decided to launch a festival. From a one-day event, it was soon expanded to three days and a major, arts festival was born.

Music has always been at the heart of the festivities, but the modern day Towersey Festival also embraces poetry, comedy, theatre, circus performers, visual arts, films, workshops, dances, storytelling and great food.

Towersey’s Children’s Festival is a major attraction, featuring everything from drop-in craft activities to baby reflexology, while other highlights include Shooting Roots, a programme of activities dedicated to, and run by, young people, and a Real Ale and Cider Festival, featuring a range of artisan beers and ciders, many from the surrounding area.

“We’re very proud indeed to be celebrating Towersey Festival’s Golden Jubilee,” says Festival Director Joe Heap, whose grandfather was one of the festival founders. “The annual event has grown considerably since those early days, but it remains one of the most welcoming and friendly festivals in the UK.

“We’re looking forward to marking 50 years with some very special guests and announcements, and also welcoming friends both old and new.”

A cornerstone of British music since the 1960s, guitarist and songwriter Richard Thompson found fame as cofounder of Fairport Convention.

His songs have been recorded by such acts as The Corrs, REM and Elvis Costello with The LA Times describing him as “the finest rock songwriter after [Bob] Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix.” He was made an OBE in 2011.

Over the last decade, Seth Lakeman has released a string of critically acclaimed albums, including the Mercury Prize nominated Kitty Jay. 2014 sees the violinist and multi-instrumentalist release his sixth studio album, Word Of Mouth.

A stunning live act, three-piece Lau have won the Best Band title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards four times (2008, 2009, 2010, 2013), their subtle blend of traditional instruments with loops and effects pushing the folk genre into new exciting directions.

Tickets for the full festival start from £55–£120, with under 5s free. Camping available. Day tickets (Fri–Mon) £10–£40.

For further information and to book tickets, call 023 8071 1818 or see: www.towerseyfestival.com.

riCharD thoMPSon


Bedfordshire Lace Morris

Will be dancing this Spring and Summer.

Come and see us dance — you may be enthused to join us next September for our Winter

Practice Season!

Look at our website for details of where we are dancing.

email:[email protected]

Contact Lesley on 01234 293532

www.bedfordshirelace.org.uk

Custom made chromatic & diatonic autoharps, hammered dulcimers & banjo’s.

Made from high quality quarter sawn tonewoods & fi ttings.

Accessories including hard cases, tuning wrenches, hammers, fully adjustable stands, damper bar systems for hammered dulcimers & sets of strings. Chord bar felts, tuning pins & sets of strings for autoharps.

Restoration of vintage instruments, custom inlays,re-fretting, re-fi nishing & set ups.

[t] 01353 863 442 [m] 07837 507 425www.alecanness.co.uk

Alec Anness LuthierMaker of fine stringed instruments since 1980

Alec Anness - Unicorn Magazine.indd 1 20/12/2013 09:07

WR

£12

Th£12

WIFR

The Fre£13

Fri 11 Apr –LUCY WA

Winner of HorizoRadio 2 Folk Aw2.50 / £10.50 co

Fri 16 May –DAVE SWAR

he legendary ma2.50 / £10.50 co

Sat 14 Jun –ILD WILLY BARENCH CONNenchified alterna3.50 / £11.50 co

– 8pmARD n Award at

wards 2012 oncessions

– 8pm RBRICK aster fiddler oncessions

– 8pm ARRETT’S NECTION ative folk quarteoncessions

et

UniCorn MagazinE: iSSUE 126PLEASE MENTION UNICORN MAGAzINE WHEN REPLyING TO ADS40

since 1976

BRITAIN’S FOLK & ACOUSTIC SPECIALISTS

BIRMINGHAM | BRISTOL | CANTERBURY | CRAWLEY |LEEDSLONDON | MANCHESTER | MILTON KEYNES | WADEBRIDGE

Order online or call 0845 130 9500 www.hobgoblin.com

Our nine shops stock allkinds of acoustic & folky

musical instruments from Britain and around

the world!Expert staff are alwayson hand to give you free, friendly advice.

Try the intruments for yourself!Each shop has a huge

and varied stock of new andsecondhand instruments

SUPPORTING LIVEMUSIC FESTIVALSSidmouth, Cornwall,Crawley, Oxford, BMG,Riseley, Tenterden, St Ives,

Broadstairs and more


interview with nikita Strange, Marketing Manager of the Queens Park arts Centre and Limelight theatre

I met up with Nikita on a rainy day in November. I hadn’t been to the Arts Centre before and I was

taken aback as I drove into the car park that the building looked just like an old school. I hoped that the inside didn’t continue to give off that image, but as Nikita showed me round I saw that although the building is unmistakeably an old school (it still has the parquet flooring that many of us sat cross legged on as children) the innovative use of the hall, classrooms and offices has developed an atmosphere of creativity and energy that was almost tangible. We chatted in the coffee bar which, Nikita explained, doubles as a bar serving wines, beers and soft drinks on nights when the Limelight Theatre is being used.

The Queens Park Arts Centre and Limelight Theatre are based in the former Queens Park School in the centre of Aylesbury. Founded in 1980 the Arts centre had a mission to provide, promote and develop participatory arts to the people of Aylesbury and the surrounding areas. Pay as you go workshops were set up with the support of paid tutors and volunteers and these have continued for over thirty years providing opportunities for people of all ages and levels of expertise.

Some time later the Limelight Theatre was developed in the old school hall providing a120 seat theatre for productions of all sorts. There is raked seating running down to either a flat or raised stage depending on the production. When not is use the seating folds back to allow the hall to be used for other activities. Lighting and sound engineers are provided by the Theatre for all events.

Most Fridays and Saturdays see music, comedy or theatre productions at the Theatre covering a wide range of genres. The music covers folk, blues, rock and soul and is an eclectic mix of styles with artists such as Lucy Ward, Dave Swarbrick and Miranda Sykes and Rex Preston due to perform during 2014.

The energy of the Centre comes from the people in it and the activities taking place. Even on the mid week afternoon that I visited there was a buzz

about the place. As Nikita took me through the art exhibition areas, into the theatre and then on a tour of the various workshops on the site, people were bustling about. Some of them busy, some merely chatting, some working hard and others relaxing, but all of them contributed to the feeling of well being at the Centre.

I stopped and chatted with Pippa North who has been selected as the Artist in residence developing a participatory arts experience called the Wander House and she explained that she will create a variety of hand crafted items made from sustainable materials which will then be used as part of a mobile unit that will deliver participatory experiences to both large and small audiences. This seemed to sum up what the Arts Centre is all about. With workshops in lace making, pottery, circus skills, children’s activities there is literally something for everyone.

I came away thinking that this was the perfect use of an old school building tucked away in the middle of a residential area. It is a fantastic resource for the residents of Aylesbury and the surrounding areas. Although partly funded by grants, the majority of the funding is raised by the workshops, classes and theatre events. There are more than eighty volunteers involved with the Centre which is testament to (or possibly the cause of) the great atmosphere and positive energy of the place.

As they say in their publicity; “The fact that the Centre is so treasured in this way, is truly something the celebrate.”

For further details have a look at the Arts Centre web site www.qpc.org.

Simon Bailes


Sparrow Violins

A folkie Luthier for folkies

Set-Ups and Repairs for Fiddles, Violas, Cellos and Hardanger Fiddles.

Fiddles and Hardangers made to commission. Hand made contemporary Fiddles for sale.

Tim J. Sparrow

St.Neots, Cambridgeshire (Workshop open by appointment)

Tel: 07704 836 170 Email: [email protected] www.sparrow-violins.co.uk www.facebook.com/SparrowViolins

advertisement Sizes:Please note that from March 2013 we changed our adverts sizes and prices to the following shown below.

Prices are for supplied, correctly-sized, press-ready artwork:

Quarter page (portrait) £22.00 Trim size: 63.5mm (W) x 92mm (H)

Half page (landscape) £35.00 Trim size: 134mm (W) x 92mm (H)

Half page (portrait) £35.00 Trim size: 63.5mm (W) x 191mm (H)

Full Inner page (no border) £55.00 Trim size: 134mm (W) x 191mm (H)

Full Inner page (with border) £60.00 Trim size: 148 x 210mm Bleed size: 151 x 216mm

Inside Front or Back Cover £67.00 (with or without border)• No border: Trim size: 134mm (W) x 196mm (H)

• With border: Trim size: 148mm (W) x 210mm Bleed size: 154mm (W) x 216mm (H)

Back Cover (with or without border) £75.00• No border: Trim size: 134mm (W) x 196mm (H)• With border: Trim size: 148 x 210mm (no bleed)Bleed size: 154 x 216mm

Front Cover Banner £50.00 Trim size: 148 x 50mm Bleed size: 154 x 56mm

All artwork is printed in mono / grayscale – preferrred formats are high res (300dpi) PFDs, with all fonts embedded (see the Media Pack for more information).

Please note that we will be adding the black line around ad box shapes in-house – PLEaSE LEaVE any borDEr LinES oFF yoUr aD DESign.

Diary EntriesThese include free entry in the Club Index.

Price per quarter: £13.00

For a complete guide to advertising with us, including a full set of technical specifications and suggestions to ensure your ad looks as good as possible, please downlaod a copy of our Media Pack, available from our website.

takE aDVantagE oF oUr 10% DiSCoUnt For FoUr iSSUES bookED & PaiD For in aDVanCE – any SizE!


Folk on internet radio

Never one to leap courageously into the

scary world of technology, I recently surprised myself by taking an instant shine to the feast of musical delights that is the internet radio folk show. I suspect many of you share my increasing disenchantment

with mainstream stations who regurgitate performers from a select, established menu, but a plethora of community and independent stations are eager to serve up an appealingly diverse array of distinctive dishes. Enough of the analogy but hopefully you get my drift.

My first encounter with internet radio was the John Devine Irish Traditional Show on Radio Verulam. Our band had a new album to promote, so John invited us into his bijou studio and was the perfect host. I know the station airs on FM92.6 but the signal hasn’t the strength to rise above Sharpenhoe Clappers so dies horribly before reaching my crystal set in distant Silsoe. Picking up our interview later, via the ‘Listen Again’ feature on the Verulam website, was a revelation and immediately hooked me on this user-friendly, flexible form of entertainment.

An interview on Radio Dacorum soon followed, with the lovely Daria Kulesh - how can one individual possess so much energy? No faffing with Frequency Modulation for this Folk DJ, here we had the full-blown, listen now or listen later experience – as she succinctly put it, “why do I need FM when so many people own computers?” This while taking a digital photograph of us, and simultaneously interacting with her audience via Facebook, text, twitter and the next befuddling communication thingy that I haven’t yet heard of. Oh, and for good measure she also accompanied us on bodhran as we thrashed out ‘The Star of the County Down’ – ‘Star of the Internet DJ’s’, more like.

Spurred on by the sheer accessibility of internet radio and its accommodating DJ’s who love to encourage emerging bands and soloists, I searched the ether for more cyber folk. Forget that the show may come from

Warwickshire, Falmouth or indeed Canada, they are all available at your convenience. Furthermore, the presenters can never be charged with coming from the same mould – John Devine as good as cuddles you as he invites you to share his passion for jigs and reels, while Daria’s approach is lively, infectious and altogether inspiring.

Don’t let me stop you there. Try Tamsin Rosewell on Radio Warwickshire and be impressed by her talent to educate and to explain the context; her themed shows are so well crafted that they make you proud to be involved ‘at the other end’. Or sample Brian Player’s ‘Acoustic Cafe’ as he spreads his soothing tones and respected views across multiple on-line sites, including Radio Basingstoke and Acoustic Spectrum.

I won’t go on [Too true. Ed.] because half the fun is trawling the search engine of your choice and discovering some new, enlightened Folk DJ extolling the virtues of some talented local band.

I was late coming to all this, but just try and stop me now, Mr. Radcliffe.

Ned Lawton

John Devine, Radio verulam: Monday 7 – 9pm • www.radioverulam.com ‘Listen Now’ or ‘Listen Again’ on the website.

Daria Kulesh, Radio Dacorum: Sunday 5 – 7pm • radiodacorum.org.uk ‘Listen Now’ or later on Mixcloud www.mixcloud.com/dariakulesh.

Tamsin Rosewell, Radio Warwickshire: Wednesday 8 – 9.30pm • www.radiowarwickshire.com ‘Listen Live’ or later on Mixcloud, www.mixcloud.com/tamsinrosewell.

Brian Player: www.brianplayermusic.wordpress.com.



Four Men and a Dog Martin Simpson Karine Polwart

Steve Tilston Trio Bella Hardy Molotov Jukebox Moulettes

Madison Violet Duncan McFarlane Band

Huw Williams & Maartin Allcock Megson Andy Cutting

Rex Preston & Miranda Sykes Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin Matt Gordon & Leonard Podolak Cara Luft

J P Hoe The Wilsons The Young‘uns Sunjay Brayne Greg Russell & Ciaran Algar Steve Turner The Harvesters Carole Palmer & Maria Barham

Sue Brown & Lorraine Irwing Cupola Take TwoDance Bands: Old Swan Band Peeping Tom Blackbeards Tea Party Polkaworks

www.shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk

more acts to be announced!see website for latest...

>> CEILIDH BANDS >> MORRIS TEAMS>> REFOLKUS for 11-20 year olds

>> CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL >> WORKSHOPS >> SINGAROUNDS & SESSIONS

>> CRAFT FAIR >> CATERERS>> REAL ALE BARS >> GREAT CAMPSITE

The Chair

The Dhol FoundationSeth Lakeman

Bellowhead

Steve Knightley’s Wake the Union

The Full English

Lau

Shrewsbury Folk Festival

@shrewsburyfolk

Tel: 01743 892 800

SFF 2014 Unicorn Magazine Advert.indd 1 06/02/2014 13:47


Dan Evans

A native of the northeast, Middlesbrough, to

be precise, Dan Evans has lived in Olney, Buckinghamshire for the past twenty years. During more than thirty five years as a performer Dan has developed his own style of finger picking on both the

guitar and mountain dulcimer. Since making his first dulcimer, at the age of fifteen, while at school Dan has become the UK’s foremost dulcimer player, having toured both the UK and USA. Influenced by luminaries such as John Martyn, Gryphon and the Pentangle, Dan has recorded four CDs and a fifth is in production. He also teaches guitar, dulcimer and singing.

Having cut his teeth in the UKs folk clubs while still holding down a proper job, Dan became a professional musician in 1992 primarily as a guitar playing singer. Over time, however, he developed the dulcimer content of his performances until the dulcimer became his primary instrument.

Dan’s first four albums are a collection of instrumental and vocal tracks covering well known tunes, self penned items and other traditional titles. I like the simple nature of the dulcimer, brought to life by Dan’s playing supporting his confident, baritone voice. He often collaborates with other musicians on these recordings to give a varied tone picture. If you haven’t come across Dan’s CDs they are well worth listening to. They are available on iTunes and Amazon as well as directly from Dan’s web site.

Recording for Dan’s new and fifth CD entitled Aux Vieux Moulin is under way. Inspired by an old French water mill that he recently stayed at and the time he spent in France as a child. The new CD will include some recently penned French tunes along with some English and American songs and tunes. In collaboration with international jazz bass player & guitarist Andy Crowdy and actor & singer Rebecca Hallworth Dan has already recorded some of the tracks with the remaining tracks to be recorded and then mixed during the spring and summer. Dan has a summer tour to Kentucky and Tennessee where he will record the final tracks

for the album in Nashville with American dulcimer virtuoso Stephen Seifert.

Another of the strings to Dan’s bow are the workshops that he leads on singing and performance techniques. Dan’s philosophy follows that of the Chinese proverb that a teacher should open the door but the pupil must enter of their own accord. He is careful to avoid criticism but instead builds on the energy of the music, feeding on the creativity of the individual singers. He creates a supportive atmosphere where singers of all levels are able to bloom and develop their confidence thereby developing their singing talents.

What struck me most when chatting to Dan was his energy and enthusiasm for what he was talking about. When you discuss something with someone who is so obviously passionate about the subject their enthusiasm is infectious. I only talked to Dan for an hour or so but I came away wanting to sing all the way home, to grab my guitar or my accordion and practice for the five or six hours a day that Dan says he practiced to develop his completely self taught style. Some people have the ability to enthuse others with their positivity. Dan has this in bucket loads. I haven’t been on one of his singing workshops but I intend to book one this year (if there are spaces - there are often waiting lists). To top this all off, Dan is a nice chap.

Simon Bailes


once more unto the classroom! Long Lankin returns to the chalkface

The problem with schools and education is that we have all been through it and so we all think we are experts in it.

“Let’s put folk music back in the classroom!” I hear people cry. What they really mean is that teachers should be making more use of it. For what? The syllabus, even in primary schools, is so closely controlled that it is difficult to pursue personal interest. Even if a teacher wanted to there is little teaching material around that makes use of folk song, music and dance in a way that is applicable, and with the planning, marking and recording they need to do, most teachers do not have time to develop their own materials.

Of course teachers would use folk music if the teaching resources using it existed and their pupils found it interesting and stimulating.

Face it – folk music is just one of many genres of music, and not one that is widely heard in the popular culture. If kids are not familiar with it how can we expect them to relate to it? And most teachers are not going to be that familiar with it either. If it is to be used in the classroom teachers need to be shown how it can be used in relation to the things they need to teach the children, and then it needs to be introduced to the children in an appropriate way.

Furthermore, the teaching of music itself has suffered with successive governments squeezing it out of the curriculum. Recent government funding cuts have not helped, as councils have reduced funding for discretionary activities (incl. music teaching) in order to focus on things they have to do by law. If the teaching of music generally is under threat how can we justify special pleading for one particular genre?

There are some good examples of what can be done. Folk songs related to history topics and singers going into the school to perform as part of a show to stimulate further classwork. Morris dancing has also been taught as part of Culture projects or performance art and Mumming plays have figured in drama classes. In some cases this

has even led to the children performing in public as part of a folk event. Though laudable, these are isolated activities which have little impact beyond the schools directly involved.

If we are going to get folk music into the classroom to encourage and motivate a new generation it needs to be done much more systematically and strategically – and it has to be on a national basis because that is the level the education system operates at. We need to develop and promote materials and approaches relevant to the Key Stages and to subjects that can be used by teachers themselves.

Of course, the alternative is to forget schools and focus on other organisations providing child and youth activities. Let’s get the Woodcraft Folk performing mummer plays; let’s get a folk tradition badge for the Scouts and Guides; let’s get the Bedfordshire Music Trust to form a youth folk band and run classes on how to play the melodeon and concertina. But ultimately it is us “folkies” who will have to do it with them, by providing the instructors and tutors.

When people complained to my Great Aunt Bertha Lankin about the poor quality of her note-taking as secretary of the parish cesspit inspection panel, her response was always to offer to resign saying “Put up or shut up.” And the same rule applies. If you are not willing to do something practical to get children involved in folk music, either through schools or youth groups, don’t moan about other people not doing it.

Class dismissed!


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Unicorn magazine Issue 126

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