El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April

Subject: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 12:08 PM

Some shameless self-promotion...Opening the Woodworks festival, this Thursday, 3rd April, I am appearing at Stortfolk, All Saints Church Hall, Stansted Rd, Bishops Stortford. And my 3rd CD, released last Friday, will be available too (as well as the first two of course).

So if you're around and available, do come and you will be
-surprised (at my gall to be calling this music)
-amazed (by my ineptitude)
-thrilled (by the prospect of my public lynching)

I would appreciate it if any visiting Mudcatters introduced themselves to me, so that I can put handles to faces, as it were. I will be the one cowering behind the 12-string.

Plus: some of the (fool)hardiest souls of Herga, St Albans and Newmarket will be ignoring their previous experience of my singing and turning up also. In combination with the local talent, there is a very real prospect of my main spots being the low-point between the high-quality floorspots, thus compounding my shame. I would not have you calling me a name-dropper, but J****y C*****s and G****e K*****s, M**y H*******s & A*****a said they'd come along for the laugh...And B****y too.

But seriously, I'd love to see you there. After all, others have suffered me in the past, why should you be spared the experience?

And if all else fails, we'll just have fun.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 12:55 PM

This is an experience for everyone who enjoys good songs sensitively performed - and particularly those who have been put off by finger-in-the-ear folkies. George uses both hands to play his guitar,so he can't stick his finger in his ear. Having served a long apprenticeship at St Albans, often being drafted in to play accompaniment for Breezy, he is used to very trying circumstances! I tell you - nothing will rattle this man's composure.
A real musician and wonderful songwriter. Not to be missed. Anahata & I will be there. Will you?

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Steve Benbows protege
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 01:09 PM

el greko, Unfortunately I am out dinning with friends that night. However, best of luck. I hope all goes exceedingly well and give us a p.m Friday to let us know how it went.
regards.
Pete.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 03:31 PM

There's no way I'd miss this performance - his 3rd cd's great! Am coming out of choir practice early to be there.... Probably get a bit lost on the way, maybe I'll see if I can find a navigator :-)

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 31 Mar 03 - 05:10 PM

whose idea was it to get a gig at the vestry?
well I better be there then!.
great evening of original, fresh, well written, melodic songs with loads of choruses, and if those mentioned are all coming the singing could be rather special,so tell Christine to be her recording equipment Vanessa.
this George Papavgeris chap is seriously good.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Bajax
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:51 AM

"Melodic songs"+"choruses"+"vestry" sounds more like an evening of church music. Who is this Greko? If he is Greek what has he got to do with folk anyway? Why should I bother?

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:02 AM

El Greko is a Fab FOLK singer-songwriter who shows his soul whenever he picks up his 12 string. This man is worth listening to, come along!!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Nessie
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:26 AM

Guru, is he the PapaG that breezy has mentioned in the past? I wonder why I don't know him. Is he one of those up and coming youngsters?

I live in N.London, so I could easily come Thursday. But he has to be worth leaving Eastenders!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:54 AM

Oh, he's definitely worth putting the video on for Eastenders (I will be)!!!!

And yes, Breezy has called him 'PapG' in the past but we're trying to get him out of that habit & call George by his real name - Papavgeris.

Up & coming - Oh yes - youngster - just coming into his prime :-)

Come along - we're hoping to have our Mudcatter's badges by Thursday (courtesy of Tig) - lets all meet & greet!!!!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:00 AM

Dont worry that it's a vestry: they've got the widest range of drinks including alcoholic ones this side of, er, somewhere with an extraordinary amount of drinks.

Enjoyed Pete's earlier post "out dinning with friends that night". That's just what George will be doing!

Have a good one, George: it's a super wee club.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: treewind
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:51 AM

I wouldn't entirely agree about the range of drinks, but it is a real folk club, it does meet in the vestry of a church and it really does have a bar. A very cheap bar too!

The Stortfolk web site is http://www.beerfordbury.com if you want to check the full details. All the best people have performed there!!!

Their pre-Xmas wassailing tours are a bundle of fun too...

Anahata

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:03 AM

What acclaim - thanks Mary, Guru, Breezy, Hamish! I'd better practice showing my soul and coming into my prime then...

Bajax, I am indeed Greek, but that's just an accident of birth (a happy accident, as far as I am concerned). Arriving in the UK first in '71, having spent a total of some 15 years here, and 30 years being nagged in English by the delectable Vanessa, I have sort of adopted this fair isle as my home-from-home; got into folk back in 1973 at the Heritage FC in oxford (and met V there). And have faffed around music in general and folk in particular ever since.

I know and love the N.European cultures well enough by now to see through the "southerners'" prejudices. And I am still "southern" enough to not be afraid to get soppy occasionally. I mix the occasional southern reference in my stuff (though not too much, I think) and I am undeniably influenced by those sounds (my rhythms sometimes are apt to take funny turns). I don't claim to be part of any genre, though influenced by many. I am just Mrs Papavgeris' son describing the world around me as I see it.

I don't know where you're based, but it would be nice to see you there, if you can make it. I'll be the one sneaking out for a smoke leaving Breezy to do the introductions for me (he doesn't know yet, don't tell him, it's a surprise)

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:05 AM

Why, Anahata, don't they have ouzo or retsina? I'd better bring my own...

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:48 AM

Saw him at Dog Days X last month - he's good! I also heard Johnny Colins do a song of his at Bedworth, something about the heart of a sailor. It's a bit far for me, but I'll try

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Squeaks
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 06:57 AM

I think you mean "Heart of a sailor boy", I heard that Johnny Collins took it to the US with him too. George has lots of great songs, my favourite is Empty Handed.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Singing Referee
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 08:31 AM

Can only endorse what everyone else has said.

I'm making a special effort to get back from Cornwall to be there!

The songs on his 3rd CD are as good if not better than the first two.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Hamish
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 09:16 AM

I'm touched. But then again you already knew that. But George quotes me on his publicity from a review I did of the first time I ever heard him in a singaround. I think it runs: "Songs you've known all your life; or at least you wish you had" which struck me when I read it recently as being a little inelegant*. George: can you remove the "at least", please? In fact "...or that you wish you had" would be even betterer. Thanks.

*Me? Inelegant? Surely not!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 09:33 AM

George wont have time to get his fags out.
here's a chorus, which I hope George doesnt mind me posting, oh well it was a great friendship, thanks for the year.

Song 'Empty-Handed' - 'bout a farmer heading towards bunkruptcy and his worries and concerns for his responsibilities.

Its not the setting sun that makes my face look red,
You rich will never understa-a-and it
And if I walk as thifough my shoes were made of lead.
Its the shame of coming back home empty-ha-a-a-anded

and the tune is so complimentary to the song.

maybe other choruses will follow

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 11:33 AM

I changed the reference, Hamish - thanks. Goes to show: careful what you say about me, I am bound to take it out of context and use it shamelessly. My next quote is going to be Guru's "worth putting the video on for Eastenders"; or perhaps her "shows his soul whenever he picks up his 12 string"; or was it "G-string"?

Thanks for the free advertising, Breezy - I'll have to pay you one of these days!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Nessie
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 12:11 PM

OK guru, if you say so, I will ask my daughter to program the video (darn thing) and meet you there. I am 5'2" and skinny; I will be wearing a dark blue Nike t-shirt. Can you keep a badge for me?

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: treewind
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 12:15 PM

Badge? What badge? Can I have one?

Anahata

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 12:17 PM

Don't give him one. He always loses things.....he even left his concertina at home once when we went to do a gig.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Bajax
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 01:22 PM

OK, it's past 12 noon Mudcat time, so I should own up.
The thread is real, and so is George's appearance this Thursday, and I am Greek
What a giveaway...
APRIL FOOL!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Nessie
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 01:24 PM

...and I am Bajax's alter ego too
APRIL FOOL!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Squeaks
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 01:25 PM

...and so am I!
APRIL FOOL!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 01:29 PM

...just a little harmless fun, folks.
But this Thursday's appearance is for real.
Though I will let you wonder whether I will appear as Bajax (my nickname at school), titch (Vanessa's nickname at school) or Squeaks (my daughter's nickname). Or all three. Or just me.

Thanks all for the kind words!

OK, wig off...

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Harry Basnett
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:00 PM

Sounds like it'll be a good night, George..have fun!!

All the best.........Harry.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 03:10 PM

You'll be at the Yorkshire gathering, Harry, right? I'd love to meet up

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:51 PM

I'm confused,,,so in the mean time I've challenged Bob Fox to come out and busk next Wednesday, has he got the bottle?
What introductions?

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 04:58 PM

Bob Fox - there's another voice that ranks high for me...If he was busking, I'd leave my wallet.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: GUEST,Dan In Nova Scotia
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:06 PM

Hello George,

Just wanted to send my best wishes, "break a string" and all that. Be careful of the wooden stool with the hole in it. It has an innate ability to make folks forget songs and words. Please say hello to all for me. And please have a bitter for me as well.

Cheers, Dan

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:21 PM

You KNOW about the wooden stool! I saw it in action a few months back. I intend to use it, then I can blame the stool

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:37 PM

Don't have too many beers - you might fall off it! It's a long way to the ground from that stool. I know.......

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 05:45 PM

So you MEANT it when you said you were disappointed not to be nominated for the Hrizontal award...

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 07:19 PM

I was thinking I'd get along anyway. Hope to see you. (And on Saturday in the Half Moon Stortford there's an open session starying lunchtime and going on till it stops.) Here's the Woodworks link for all this.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: CraigS
Date: 01 Apr 03 - 07:20 PM

OK, if I can get there I'll be there. Somebody's got to lower the tone, and it might as well be me!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 02:00 AM

Well I'm definitely going to be there - if only to give all El Greko's alter-ego's a good slapping with a feather duster!

Now I know why you needed 4 badges EG!!!! They're all received & ready to issue :-) I'll be wearing mine.... (sorry Anahata, we all ordered them last week - PM Tig for one, or two in case you lose one!)

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 03:54 AM

have I got one please ,was my order not in on time?
How went it last night?
Mcg see songcontest thread but we all hope to see you, and the cat.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 05:39 AM

Yes, Breezy - I have yours with me too!!! ChrisHilID doing very well thankyou, performance in the offing - you ready to book????

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Singing Referee
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 07:59 AM

OK I'm off to Falmouth now, back for tomorrow night, I hope!

Looking forward to a great night's entertainment.

See you all then, God and motorways permitting.

Ref.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 02 Apr 03 - 01:04 PM

ring me ref sometime
See Fulhan won, how much did they pay you?

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 04:03 AM

It's tonight...

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 04:10 AM

Can't wait, sounds like it'll be a Fab night!!!!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: treewind
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:24 AM

Looks like the place'll be packed!
Are we all going to get up and sing/play?
There won't be much time left for George to do his bit!

Anahata

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:41 AM

Um .....

Just heard from the Neck, who may well be mounting a raid as well. We'll need to open an extra set of turnstiles ...

Suggers

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:44 AM

I'm just coming along to listen tonight Anahata - oh, and maybe take a piccie or two :-)

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: treewind
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 12:41 PM

Mary says if you don't sing she won't.
If you two can't have a horizontal (as in boozing) contest it's got to be duelling larynxes!

(why do I have to get in to the middle of all this?)

and... the neck???? oh well, I guess I'll find out soon enough...

Anahata

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 01:00 PM

they be queuing in the graveyard again

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: My guru always said
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 06:42 PM

Wonderful evening :-) what a lovely crowd were there - and the voices - fab time!!! Thanks EG :-)

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Apr 03 - 07:10 PM

That was good!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Singing Referee
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:22 AM

Really sorry I didn't make it last night, still it sounds like you had a great evening without my feeble support (I washed it specially as well!).

I was overcome by the M4 sleep dragon on the way back from Falmouth, and had to stop for a kip at Chippenham. That completely screwed my timetable and I was totally knackered by the time I got home!

See you tonight at The Comfort.

Ref.

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:30 AM

Wot a Jolly Splendid Sing that was .....
Utmost thanx from the Stotfolk Cru to all involved, including but not necessarily restricted to El G & all those that Got up and Did It. Nice to hear the Marmite & The Jam get an outing, for example.

Pikkies will appear on both
http://www.woodworks-music.co.uk/woodworks2003.html
and http://beerfordbury.com

as soon as we get a free half hour - given that Woodworks i sin full swing over the weekend, that probably won't be 'till next week!

Yours in gentle awe
Suggers

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:36 AM

Well, I enjoyed it! The amount of support was particularly humbling, Stortfolk was looking more like a Herga-StAlbans reunion. And I was right about the floorspots, they were embarassingly good (any time you want to be embarassed at your gig, make sure you have Mary and Anahata, and Johnny Collins and Grame Knights do floorspots before you). The singing was grand, the rafters were appropriately rattled and I floated all the way back to Amersham.

And I (almost) managed to bypass the hole in the stool, too (well, sailor, soldier, it's all the same in a folk song, isn't it?)

Ta, folks!

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:51 AM

My heartfelt thanks to Mac and Suggers for their support and bolstering of yours truly all along. To all regular club members for putting up so graciously with the invasion and joining in the choruses. To whoever blew one of the bulbs from the lights at the front (I'd have finished up blind otherwise). To Dog Days and Les Sullivan for providing the attire (Les, I kept my promise and wore the t-shirt). To the two little girls for not crying during "the Bogeyman". To Breezy for the coaching and for assisting me in discovering that the 3rd verse of "Sound that horn" sounds better before the 2nd. To the barman for not chucking it all in and saying "sod you lot". Very special thanks to McGrath of Harlow, for turning up in Mudcatter loyalty and picking up on all 15 choruses (I was watching). To the bloke in the Gents who patiently waited for me to tune the guitar before starting to make use of the facilities. And to the motorway police for missing me and stopping instead the car in front of me, on the way home.

Thanks, Stortfolk...

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:14 AM

I do really have to add (for the Official Annals) my thanks to lovely Linda for MC-ing the whole job in a businesslike and seamless fashion. Moreover she hasn't done it since she left Northwich.

Well done Linda!

I think I'll leave the double-entendres to other correspondents today. Time to do some work.


Suggers
pp

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: treewind
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 06:35 AM

As a frequent if irregular visitor to Stortfolk I have to say that was the biggest crowd I remember seeing there. As for the singing - what a treat to hear all those Herga folk singing their hearts out and I'm all the more determined to come down to Herga some time soon.

And thanks to George, of course, for a whole evening of his own special magic. Whatever you may say about all those floor singers, George, remember we all came to hear you and it was well worth it!

Anahata

Subject: RE: El Greko at Stortford FC Thurs 3 April
From: breezy
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 11:18 AM

2 songs please tonight George, if there's time.
well done good show.
Thanks Jon for going with it.
It was one of the best eveings at any folk club I've been present at.
Good luck for the future stortfolk, now whose on in late October!? Oh yes,i know, I'll see if I can get the F_C_S_G to come, got to keep these backing singers in their place!
George has more songs that are equally pleasant, unless you got his 3 volumes, there's more to hear.