Songwriters living in your area

Subject: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 02:03 AM

Hi been looking at thread asking about your favourite songwriters.
Lots of lists of the famous and infamous.
All of them excellet choices I have no doubt.
BUY.
I like to hear the people who come armed with instrument in hand,no roadies, no record deals and who turn up with their latest songs ready to play me possibly the best song I ever heard so far.
Of course the chances of them making it to the big time may not be great,and if they made it I probably wouldnt watch them on the telly or collect all their cds and press clippings.
But I would still stand them a pint if they were in my local for the pleasure they gave me with the promise of a new song.

So for the first of my choices and from Sunny Caistor in Lincolnshire,UK
I would like to thank one Helen Bennett for the many wonderful songs she has written.
She brings a gentle humour,and feeling for the troubles of others that is quite unique to her.
So I would buy her a"pint" any time,by way of thanks for those songs and letting us hear them.
Cheers.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 03:54 AM

Go to http://www.jonesongs.com Click on catalog/listen. Scroll down to 'Final Phone Call'. May take a minute to upload, so be patient, please. I'd gladly swap a pint for the pleasure of knowing you listened. It's a demo version recorded live on some anitiquated equipment. The bass player's name is Erin Snyder and the guitarist is James Hovan both of Pittsburgh. Hope you enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:14 AM

Does that include playing to yourself Tim??? You turn out pretty good songs and perform them well.... you should have a mention. Always a pleasure hearing your songs performed so well.
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:26 AM

There's a writer called Steve Thomason who immediately springs to mind in our area (East Midlands) - writes very much using a folk "palette", and is much admired yet hasn't recorded anything an anger yet. Excellent delivery as well.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Banjiman
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:34 AM

.....never mind living in your area, I've got one living in my house. Certainly ain't me though!

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Cats
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:57 AM

Acorn4, you are right Steve is an amazing song writer and when I get the chance I go and listen to him, usually at festivals as Cornwall is a long way from you.
Cornwall has, of course, Cornwall Songwriters who are some of the most talented around and always come up with stunning songs [I have to say that, Jon Heslop is my other half!]. Seriously, though, it is a priviledge to hear people like Mike O'Connor, Jon Heslop, Roger Bryant and Lucy Burrow sitting in your house playing and singing.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 06:55 AM

I have a next door neighbour called Simon Johnson and he writes some very good songs. He has a perma thread on mudcat. Simon Johnson Perma Thread

Also on the next housing estate to us, we have a young lady called Abi Moore who also writes very good songs. Abi Moore

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:09 AM

Maidenhead has a Folk Song Writing Competition every two years - Next one is April next year , and the standard from local singers d usually SCARY Good .

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 10:06 AM

Has anyone heard of Laura Marling from London? She was featured in last week's Observer. Folk style self-penned songs, and her first album is up for the Mercury Prize, apparently, but the name was new to me. Not quite what Tim is after, maybe, but the ones I know wouldn't be any good to you - they all live in Germany.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 10:33 AM

Here is Stone County,Arkansas, USA, we have Charley Sandage who is a gifted storyteller and tunesmith. Some of his songs can be found on three CD with the tag Arkansas Stories. The music is performed very well by a local group which was among the finalists in the Prairie Home Companion contest for small town bands several years back. His song, Neighbors, was recorded by Grandpa Jones. Grandpa had been a guest many times in the home of the folk who inspired the song. Charley does not strictly write about Arkansas, but the songs on the Arkansas Stories are all about real people or real events. The themes are universal in a sense and the word Arkansas does not always appear in a song.

I am not related by blood or business to Charley or anyone in the band but have been a friend of Charley's for over 30 years and thought his songs were great when I first met him and he still produces memorable and singable songs.

Here is an article about Charley.

Charley Sandage

Here is a link to his website.

Charley's Website

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Jayto
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 10:53 AM

Chris Knight (although he has a record deal and#1 records), is the best, Chad Estes is the second best around here. He has his BS in Psychology and works in a liquor store. There are a few others that are very very good but I am reluctant to name them.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 11:40 AM

Hey got a few of you to post and all positive as well:-)
It would be good to know yer wherre abouts as well(roughly I mean)
Thanks GS but you forgot you as well?
LOL
I think a certain Ian Maver does some cracking lyrice too.
and Mr Simon Naylor and Big Keith(someone post his surname please)
all local to Grimsby in the Uk

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 12:05 PM

Tim you have forgotten John Conolly and Dave Evardson who live very close to you. 2 of the best songwriters around.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 01:02 PM

Not forgotten mate I am pacing myself.
Dick Appleton write a good song as well.
Also as the writer of one of the best known songs of the genre on the planet I think Mr Conolly maybe counts as being well known ?
Dave Evardson is also very bloody good.;-)

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 01:04 PM

BTW Mr Villan
I would have thought that a certain lady from Stitherum should be getting a mention from someone a bit closer to Gainsbro than me?
Hint hint.
lol

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 01:26 PM

Big Keith Easton of Grimsby
Dougie Chadwick composer of tunes for violin.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 01:33 PM

RT-B - as always

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 02:12 PM

That would be Ron Truman Border I guess?
Where abouts is local for you and he?

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 02:14 PM

"never mind living in your area, I've got one living in my house".
You deffo right there Mr.
SHe is awsome
what is your local though.
ANd to name the Lady would be nice too.
LOL
She who must be obeyed is not allowed oh strangler of the 5 string bed pan.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 02:17 PM

Jayto as the risk of being branded a pedant without ever being to uni
WHere r you and your fave writer to be found?

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 03:37 PM

Fleetwood, Lancashire seems to have produced a cluster of excellent songwriters. My Red Duster colleague Ron Baxter has come up with many fine songs over the years since his first effort "Lord Middleton", many of them relating stories of the local fishing industry, but ranging to the Merchant Navy where he first started collecting and writing songs, to local history and beyond. Other Fleetwood Folk Club members Dick Gillingham, Dave Pearce and Ivan McKeown have also produced some excellent songs. Then there's Fylde Festival director Alan Bell, whose songs are known around the world. A bit further afield (he's from Preston), Chris Beeson's "Wyre Light" is one of my favourites. Richard Grothusen (the Amazing Dick) has some excellent songs with a sharp sense of humour and a nifty ukelele style - "I wish they all could be Thornton-Cleveleys girls" still gets requested whenever he turns up. Recent recruit to the folk club pack Rachel McCarron produced a poignant ballad on the wreck of the "Riverdance" which just had to be co-opted into our show "Beware the Fylde Coast's Sands", already in preparation for Fylde when the ship was stranded on the beach at Anchorsholme just a few miles away. There's a chance to hear that and the rest of Ron Baxter's "Wrecks and Rescues" collection when we repeat the show in aid of the Friends of Fleetwood Museum, Thursday December 11th at the Steamer, Fleetwood.

Ross

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 03:40 PM

>>BTW Mr Villan
I would have thought that a certain lady from Stitherum should be getting a mention from someone a bit closer to Gainsbro than me?
Hint hint.
lol <<

Tim
You ask for my area which is Market Rasen. Both of my mentioned people i.e. Simon Johnson and Abi Moore live within spitting distance.

I commented on JC & DE becuase they are in spitting distance of you.

Mrs Sooz lives too far away for me to spit, so should really be a mudcatter living near Gainsborough.

I could have mentioned Whacko Jacko (Steve jackson), but he is also out of spitting distance.

Basically, if you look at the performers on the 2 yelowbellies CD's that were put out for charity and covering performers in Lincolnshire, then that covers a lot of people, but most are not in spitting distance.

nuff said :-)

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 03:49 PM

IS it cos you are spitting feathers?
ANd even if I could spit that far I wouldnt be so vulgar as to spit on such tallented people,or another people.
SO who is Gonna mention people from Gainsbro neck of the woods?
Or Lincoln,Scunthrope,Hull,York,Beverly et al.
Ross lovely list of talent sounds great around your area.
So we are looking for local songwriting hero's any genre you like but not so well known peeps.
I know there is alot of talent further to the north and east from Grimsby and suspect that all aspects of the compass may be equaly productive.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 03:56 PM

No reason why they should not be mentioned anyway... stitherum... whacko Jacko.... I wouldn't spit on 'em anyway Villan.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: theleveller
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 04:20 PM

Or Lincoln,Scunthrope,Hull,York,Beverly et al.


Well, there's that Martin Simpson, used to live in Scunny and now lives in Sheffield - he's not bad.

Dan Webster from York is a damn fine songwriter.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 04:31 PM

Lincolnshire

Cara, Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher, WinterWilson, Mark Addison/John Blanks, John Sykes, Miranda Sykes, Phil Brougham, Richard Langridge , Tom Lane, Karl Svark, Stitherum, Steve Jackson, Paul Dickinson & Angela King, Paul Bellamy and Mark Campbell, Martin Browne & Elizabeth Padgett spring immediately to mind in Lincolnshire.

Big Al Whittle (born Lincolnshire, but now living outside the county)

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Girl Friday
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 05:33 PM

Ron Trueman-Border lives in Sidcup, Kent, close to Orpington which is where the song writing team of Leopard and Leopard come from. We have a very nice folk club. Ron played there last night, with Paul Sirman. Deserved a better turnout.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 06:10 PM

Loadsa a Yellowbellies and one Kentishman?
No one from Scotland then?Wales, Eire?
Gotta be some there.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:16 PM

From my area, George Papavgeris, Les Sullivan. Acorn4 modestly didn't mention that he's written some very entertaining songs.... and I'd vote for Steve Thomason too (3 of his songs on the latest Whaley and Fletcher CD).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 09:39 PM

This is a biggggg country. I notice that close to 90% of the posts are from Englishfolk who have no shortage of songwriters who live near them. Gordon Bok is a friend and one of my favorite songwriters. He's almost right next door... no more than 400-500 miles away. That said, there are a lot of good songwriters who may not fall into the category of "favorite" simply because they aren't well know and aren't primarily known as songwriters. Why, even died in the wool traditionalists like Art Thieme have written a couple of songs. Art's no more than a thousand miles away from here, so we don't get together much.

Maybe us Amuricans need a thread titled Songwriters living on your continent.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 01 Nov 08 - 10:04 PM

Humph! typing for second time!
(but more grumpily and terse)
Yup area is a relative term innit?
If you think of someone as being local to you then they probably are.
Mostly its people that you are likely to see ,hear and play at same venues as I think.
Rob Lowden,v good guitar player and writing his own materiel(flash git!)
Chris Moody another local lad with something to say in song.
Jaqui Woods,not a lad,definatly not alad and not quite in Grimsby
but clever lady.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: henryclem
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 04:50 AM

There's any number of excellent writers around Bristol/Bath. Just one club - Corsham - you can see regularly Mike Scott, Ray Bradfield, Sylvia Watts, Sandy Ball, Paul R Rogers ... and more!

Henry

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Mrs Scarecrow
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:22 AM

I shall have the pleasure of listening to Bill Caddick at the Black Swan in Jackfield,Shropshire, tonight, One of the finest songwriters there is. If we are lucky Chris Buttery and Sam from Flaxenby both extremely talented, Chris Bartram also turns up occassionaly and I cant go without mentioning Mr Scarecrow. We are lucky in this area.
I also think those who live close enough to listen to Steve Thommasson or any of the Cornish songwriters but particularly those mentioned by Cats are very lucky

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Banjiman
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:34 AM

OK Tim, seeing as though you asked: Wendy Arrowsmith lives in my house!

Other good local songwriters include
Rebekan Findlay (have a listen to Duty Bound, it's great!) and Joolz Cavell .

The great thing is thay are all in the same band-
Blind Summat! (along with some dodgy banjo player, but best not talk about his song writing efforts).

Paul

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Mr Red
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:39 AM

Alan Burke in Stroud.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 05:43 AM

Thanks for the mention, Kitty.

Another name which springs to mind here in the East Midlands is, of course Pete Morton, who is now an established and respected name on the circuit.

I would mention another local writer called Steve Cartwright who has produced some great songs over the years. Just to mention to anyone in the E.Mids that he has a new CD launch on Sun Dec 7th at the Hercules, Sutton Cheney.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 10:37 AM

Linda Kelly lives near me in Beverley

R

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 11:38 AM

i got Bob Dylan on my mp3 player, that's a bit like him living near you.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: breezy
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:05 PM

In St Albans we have Chris Flegg who has had songs on the radio, even Scotland and has had reviews in loads of mags, Acoustic Guitar even

He has produced 3 full original CDs in the past 6years and was runner up at Maidenhead if I remember

his stand out songs include Another Child in Africa, Things Just Might Not Get Better, not Crazy Yet and recently one that guru does, Flowers Of England'

Other St Albans luminaries include the previously mentioned George Papavgeris and before him there was Mike Deavin

All three have been prolific and shown exceptional writing talents providing a singer with a pool of songs that enhance any quality repertoire

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 01:44 PM

well I live in Brixton, south west london. Home to my favourite blues musician in the world, Duke Garwood. Home to the Dylanesque, Nick Drakey fingerpicking guitarists Jason McNiff and Benjamin Thomas. Then of course in nearby Peckham there's the inimitable Andy Hankdog and my second favourite blues musician in the world, the Boycott Coca Cola Experience.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:08 PM

I think I am probably the ONLY regular performer at Maidenhead Folk Club who DOESNT write songs ! And a lot of them are Catters too !

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 02:24 PM

I have a superb songwriter living 7 miles away from me. A certain Dave Goulder. Although originally from Nottingham, he has lived in Scotland for many years now, so we count him as one of our own.

JM

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: InOBU
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 08:10 PM

There is this bloke in NYC... I think his name is Lorcan Otway... a bit of a misfit, but a great bloody song writer... I would't hang out with him, a real trouble maker, and a bit of an eejit.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Nov 08 - 09:37 PM

InOBU - I know JUST what you mean - I am sure I met him in 2005 !!

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Abdul The Bul Bul
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 07:58 AM

At the Chimney Boy in Faversham, we are lucky to have Lawrence Dean as 'resident' songwriter. You'll find some of his stuff on M W-Reads' 'Oceans in the Sky,' and Bill and Daves two last albums.
Can't close without mentioning Bob Kenward who haunts these parts.

Oh yes and as he got a mention above I'll add that we will be enjoying the songs of Pete Morton on Wednesday.

Al

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST,Fleggy
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 01:51 PM

Liz Simcock is North London based I think, but she gets around clubs in Herts; she has three albums of original songs, a fine voice and a nice guitar style; Fish Out Of Water is my favourite song, moves me every time; she is coming to St Albans again soon, December 10th at the Rose and Crown, best gig this side of Christmas I reckon.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Hawker
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 02:45 PM

Well Thanks Kathy! I agree, Mike, Jon, Roger are Fine writers, Tony Truscott also deserves a mention, and a budding writer is emerging in the guise of my other half, Kevin - and my daughter Tamsyn has written a couple of good ones. Jerry & Hilary Bix have been known to write a good one or two, Keith Beeby has a very clever way with words too. Jon in Hanging johnny has also written some good songs and Deni and Ned Couch from Plymouth. No -one has mentioned Gilly Kemp - Wuzzle on Mudcat, who though olut of my area is worthy of a listen, as are Mr & Mrs Scarecrow, and Andrew McKay & Carole Etherton - again bith our of my area!
What a wonderful world that we live in where we can share our thoughts in word and songend enjoy each others company in the process!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST,Bruce M. Baillie
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:15 PM

Well you could do no better than listen to some of the fine songs written by my good friend Andrew Sugden of Plymouth Devon (originally from Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire)Do a search on YOUTUBE for BAILLIEKINS and hear me singing some of them. Or you could buy one of the excellent CD's produced by Cleckheaton Folk Festival to hear his song 'The Hartshead Maid'.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 06:57 PM

Mark Greer, Richard Frisson, Copland Smith, Carl Corbett and Hilary Bichovsky are all pretty damn good in different ways. Lately at Chorlton FC we've been getting a lot of what I can only describe as young people; while naturally I deplore this development in general terms, it has brought in some rather fine performers. Mark Simpson, in particular, is going to be a star if there's any justice - he reminds me of the young Cat Stevens, which is quite something to be reminded of.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 03 Nov 08 - 11:19 PM

I should perhaps have pointed out that while Fleetwood's Ron Baxter is a very prolific lyricist, most of his songs have been set to tunes by other people (me for one). The tunes for Ron's "Wrecks and Rescues" set, "Beware the Fylde Coast's Sands" have been provided by the members of the company (the "Wyre Light Orchestra"), Alan Middleton, Mike Fairclough, Tony Mason and Mike France, Sean Breadin and myself, while Rachel McCarron's contribution "Riverdance" has her own words and tune.

Another occasional and welcome visitor to the Steamer is songwriter Nicky Snell from Lancaster, who regularly makes the fifty-mile round trip to bring her poignant and individual songs to us.

Ross

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: breezy
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 01:42 PM

Get to Folk on the Moor, Ivybridge, Devon near Plymuf and hear Ben Campbell, Ive borrowed a couple from him, canny lad

and theres Nicola Wright stuff from deep south Cornwall, she is very interesting

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Hawker
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 01:49 PM

Ill second that breezy!
;0) Lucy

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Girl Friday
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 08:48 PM

Definitely agree with Fleggy about Liz Simcock. My friend Del-boy is her number one fan(stalker). He'll go anywhere within reason to see her. Expect him to turn up at that gig in December. I went with him to Bishops Stortford to see her a few years ago. Glad to see Fleggy on the list here, as he and Breezy will be playing one of my Kent venues next year.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 08:51 PM

Obama is appearing at a session near you are you ready

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Girl Friday
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 08:52 PM

Oh - and I should mention too that I know Lawrence Dean and am pleased to see his name also. His "St Crispin's Day" is a really great song.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Nov 08 - 09:02 PM

Is anything more important than Brother Obama

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Girl Friday
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 10:29 AM

What is it with Les in Chorlton and Obama.? He's on every thread. Are you his Uk agent Les?

for those of you looking for a Scottish Songwriter I know at least two. Fraser Nimmo who lives in South East London, and Dave Gibb who lives in Scotland in the borders. If Croydon based bob Wood has also written a song.. that's three!

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Acorn4
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 11:05 AM

For those going to Bedworth, look out Cathy Shore -very quirky amusing songs -"something completely different!"

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 11:24 AM

ANd another from the grimsby area
a whole quartet by name of snak.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST,Zeph
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 11:42 AM

Can't believe Tom Bliss hasn't had a mention ( or did I miss it???) A superb craftsman when it comes to songwriting and performing. His songs are meticulously researched and cover a wide range of subjects. His live performances are like an education, detailed but never boring introductions and background information about his songs.One of the best.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 11:45 AM

damn that cookie I am mystery guest 2 above sorry.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: kendall
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 03:32 PM

In the UK everyone is local.

Around here we have, Gordon Bok, Dave Mallett, Nick Apollonio, Fred Gosbe, Don MCLean ,Chuck Romanoff, Steve Romanoff, our own Jeri C. and Sinsull.

Subject: RE: Songwriters living in your area
From: Betsy
Date: 28 Nov 08 - 08:28 PM

Loads of 'em