Singing Sessions in South of England

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: running.hare
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 07:43 PM

If U want to throw Dorset in the pot thes some nice little sesions, Wimborne has a weekly club on thursday nights, the rest tend to be monthly so its a case of whats on what week where... Fell free to PM me for details.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 04:09 PM

Deni:

You're on our list but, alas, we can only get to ten percent of the clubs on our list. Maybe we'll see ya, maybe we won't but thanks for the invitation.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Deni-C
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 12:35 PM

The Hyde Folk club is on Mondays Hyde Park Hotel, Mutley plain Plmyouth 8-11pm. £1 admission

singers welcome.

Love to see you if you're down our way. PM me if you want to phone about any details....

cheers
Deni

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 19 Feb 03 - 02:49 AM

Don't forget it's Dog Days at the Seven Stars, Knowl Hill (on the A4 between Maidenhead and Reading) on 7-9 March - lunchtime singarounds, on the Saturday and Sunday. Sorry it's too early for Bev and Jerry.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: GUEST,AArk
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 07:33 PM

I hope I can make it. Never been before but it sounds good.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Jeanie
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 11:46 AM

Thanks for the info about the Song Day in Hitchin on 1st March, McGrath ! I wouldn't have known about it otherwise - it looks good.
I'll be venturing out from Essex, so look forward to meeting you and Keith A of Hertford.

Anyone else going along ?

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Kernow John
Date: 18 Feb 03 - 11:16 AM

Bev and Jerry
The session at the Lizard will be running on Bank Holiday Monday.

Accommodation should not be a problem. If no B&B around most Caravan sites do short lets.

Have fun

John

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: alanww
Date: 17 Feb 03 - 01:06 PM

Hi B & J

Assuming you will be looking for bed and breakfasts, I wouldn't worry too much about pre-booking accommodation - except if you want to stay near Padstow on 30 April and/or 1 May. I would book that in advance and you may have a bit of a drive to get to and from the celebrations - but its still worth it!

I suggest that you contact the clubs individually to double check that they intend to still have a session on the early bank holiday weekend. Alternatively, post the specific details here - someone will probably know!

"'Twas down in Albert Square ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 16 Feb 03 - 07:27 PM

Wow!

Using your help we've compiled a list of more than 100 folk clubs we could possibly get to in the eleven nights we'll have available. They're spread over sixteen counties so a lot depends on where our wanderings take us. It took a while because we are not that familiar with British geography and we spent a lot of time looking for places in the road atlas. We plan to re-check these sites just before we leave in about two months to see if there are any updates.

In the meantime, we have some questions:

1. Are the clubs likely to be happening on the May bank holiday weekend?

2. Are we likely to run into a lot of traffic and have difficulty with accomodations during that weekend? Especially if we're in Cornwall or Devon?

3. What about Padstow? Will we have trouble with accomodations around May 1 due to the festival? We'll likely be there since we have some business to take care of in Newquay the day before.

4. Banjoman: is that the Rising Sun Pub on Chapel Hill in Basingstoke?


Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Mr Red
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 10:05 AM

Oh yea, if you are making plans and travelling any distance try the contact numbers on my list - even though I list the last update for each it can change overnight. On the plus side there are more touristy things goin-on that weekend, and if the weather is fine, plenty of traffic too. Have fun.
In the West Country the cider is - er - well - local nectar. Try it in half pints first (English pints = 20 fl oz). They don't call it tanglefoot for nothing. You find out only when you stand up.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: GUEST,Mr Red faced
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 09:07 AM

quickie blickie needs http:// - must try harder

If you want a week-end of folk try the Upton Folk Festival there are not too many Sat Clubs and Monday being a BH there will not be too much on anyway better the festival - you can spot me by the ....................... well you get the idea.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: GUEST,Banjoman
Date: 05 Feb 03 - 05:53 AM

Try the Rising Sun Chapel Hill Basingstoke on 1st & 3rd Monday of each month. A pretty good sessions, mainly singing with a few tune sets thrown in. Visitors always welcome, and if you give a song, the first drink is on the organiser. Numbers vary but always a pretty cross section of songs.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 08:52 PM

Mr. Red:

Your blicky doesn't seem to work but it's OK. alanww posted a link to your site above and it seems to have more information on it than we can digest at one sitting! Good thing we have almost three months to study it.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 08:37 PM

thanx for the plug Alanww
cresby.com links to a goodly few listing sites as well as lists of it's own. Now with added dance dates.

--- Link fixed. ---
---Jeff (PA)---

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 07:28 PM

In the unlikely event that you arent in Cornwall on the Thursday you would be very welcome at Maidenhead Folk Club Held currently in the Ferry at Cookham where the A4094 crosses the Thames.Thats about thirty five mile West of London.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Feb 03 - 02:15 AM

Thanks to all. These sites have produced a wealth of information plus they have led us to other similar sites. It looks like the real problem will be making choices. We can't wait to get there.

Thanks again.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:28 AM

But they did say "we'll adjust our itinerary for a good session." Hope to see you there anyway, it's a good 'un.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:15 AM

I am going to that! but Bev and Jerry did not ask after Hertfordshire.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Kernow John
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 11:13 AM

Thanks for the kind words Keith

Bev and Jerry
You will be made most welcome here.
Lizard session

And pick from any of the clubs or sessions here and I'm sure that the welcome will be the same.
Folknews Kernow Online
Regards
John

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 10:35 AM

Well this one is in yet another county, Hertfordshire - but it's not far from some of the ones you do mention. And you'd like it.

It's an Annual Day of Song which brings together an assorted bunch of people from a fairly wide area, so if you came it'd be an even wider area. Here's the handout:

"Come all Ye" - a Day of Song with Bary Goodman

"This session aims to provide opportunities to participants both to perform their own favourite songs and to add to their repertoire. There will be plenty of opportunity for all types of contributions, inexperienced or nervous singers will be encouraged; the more experienced will be given their head.

The session will take place in a private room in a pub which stays open all day. A buffet will be seved at about 5.0. The session is designed to finish at 6.30 pm, but can be extended if particiants wish it to do so."

And it takes place on Saturday March 1st (that's St David's Day as it happens), at The Sunrunner, Bancroft, Hitchin, and it starts at 12.30. (And you're expected to pay £6 when you come.)

There's a contact who can send you a map and details - Roger Barnes 01727 851987, 40 Battlefield Road, St Albans AL1 4DD No email or web address - this is Hertfordshire Folk Association after all...

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: MairSea
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 08:55 AM

Try www.barrattfolk.co.uk there might be something there.

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: alanww
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 08:04 AM

Try Mr Red's Mid West, which deals with just the area you are interested in. There will be hundreds of SARs and sessions to choose from, so you may also wish to get personal info from Mudcatters and others who live in that area. Numerous contacts are listed on the website.

From my experience the Bideford Folk Club (in North Devon), which meets every Thursday, is very friendly. But I notice that the only Thursday you will be on your tour is 1 May, which will of course mean that you will be in Padstow for the hobby horse festival - not to be missed! There will be plenty of singing well into the night!

Also, I shall be at Upton-upon-Severn Folk Festival (2 to 5 May), singing with the Shellback Chorus - the craic will be EXCELLENT! You could spend the whole weekend in the White Lion in the singaround if you chose, and not even have to buy a festival ticket!

"Come fill up your glasses and let us be merry!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 07:23 AM

Sorry I can't make a link today, I've lost copy and paste.
Search under Cornawall folk and you will get several hits including Kernow Folk.
Kernow John will probably respond soon, if not I'm sure he would not mind a PM. He's a diamond.
Have a good trip.
Keith.

Subject: Singing Sessions in South of England
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 03 Feb 03 - 01:16 AM

We'll be in the South of England from about April 29 to May 9, 2003. Can anyone direct us to clubs or sessions in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire or South Wales? We might even consider Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent but we won't be in London. We know this sounds like a big area to a Brit but we love to drive through England and we'll adjust our itinerary for a good session. (We drove 1800 miles in 16 days in Ireland just to find good singing sessions).

We're mainly interested in singing, accompanied or not and we saw the recent thread about Sussex.

Bev and Jerry