Opening Night!!!!!
Well, I think it worked! Last night was the 1st night of Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club....we were full! I'm not sure exactly how many were there but I counted 65 in the the main room at one time...which is about capacity when set up "club style" as opposed to "theatre style". It was certainly more than I dared hope for. I feel quite humbled by the fantastic turnout (not some thing I'm used to, feeling humble that is).

And the music was great both the informal stuff in the bar before and after the "main event" (what a talented singaround...Bill Lloyd, Carol, Joolz, John Oombanjo, Deirdre, Harvey, Zeke....the list goes on).

The acts were great by pretty much universal acclaim. Kim Guy got the thing underway what a singer and what a guitar player her arrangements of traditional songs were delightful, stand out for me was "The Blacksmith", we'll have her back, if she'll come all the way from Cornwall again.

What can I say about Ian McKone? I'm just glad that we caught him on the way up, he is destined for great things he sings with a proper blokes folk voice and his guitar playing is just stunning......one audience member described it as "like hearing 3 instruments at once" rhythmic, percussive and melodic at the same time...very, very clever. Traditional songs played with an intensity usually reserved for hard rock, we'll have him back too.....if we can afford him once the secret gets out!

And then the main guest, Wendy Arrowsmith...difficult for me to be objective (as I'm married to her) so I won't try! For me she has the voice of an angel and she either had the audience singing along, laughing or listening intently to her own songs, the traditional material she did and to her interpretation of other peoples songs...terrific entertainment. I felt humbled (jeez, twice in one night!!!) just to be part of "The Visitor" and to be allowed to warble along with Wendy and Kim when they sang (with everyone else in the room) "Time is a Tempest".

The whole vibe was mellow, friendly and well.....exciting. The death knell has been rung for folk clubs with abandon recently (including on this forum)....I just can't see it when this quality of entertainment is available and so many people are prepared to make the effort to come out and experience it.

Special mention has to go to the audience, we had people from as far afield as Cumbria, South & East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire .....and the Manchester contingent (who came specifically to see Wendy after catching her set at Ingleton Festival) who must have spent longer traveling than actually being at the club....as well as great support from the locals.

Thank you one & all, I had a great night and I hope you did too....you will be more than welcome at the next one (Keepers Fold, December 15th!!!)

Paul