In the name of folk!

Subject: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 01:04 PM

No it's not really one of those threads, honest!

I just thought I'd share some of what we at Kirkby Fleetham Folk Club to counter some of the suggestions that you don't get what it says on the tin in British Folk Clubs.

There are 24 videos here (and more being added by the hour) of what we got up to at the KFFC Winter Warmer in February.

There are a few floorspots (including me if you look carefully..... just avoid that one!) and a selection of the acts ranging from folk inspred singer/ songwriter through tunes on fiddle and pipes to classic ETrad from Brian Peters. I think there should be some stuff from the singarounds later.

To my mind there might be one song on here that I would not classify as pure "folk".

See what you think..... get yourself a glass of your favourite tipple and enjoy some of the fine fayre on offer in Brish Folk Clubs.

Videos from KFFC Winter Warmer

All videos filmed and edited by Simmo.

Paul

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Jack Campin
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:00 PM

Brilliant stuff - how long did it take to edit all that?

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Paco O'Barmy
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:18 PM

That is a great channel, must have taken forever to put together.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:36 PM

More 'in the name of folk' here: Lower Coke as hosted by our very own curmudgeon Richard Bridge.
Though no mikes and it's all strictly amateur camcorder footage (care of Mudcat's TheSilentOne), still a worthy representative of modern inclusive 'folk' singaround/session musics.

Any more peeps?

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:46 PM

Oh, that makes me a bit nervous, CS - there are some big names on Banjiman's thread!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:48 PM

Jack, it's a labour of love by Simmo. Simmo gets to a lot of festivals & gigs.

I think his YouTube channel is a really important archive of the current folk "scene".

I'll have a look at CS's vids now.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:49 PM

Richard, don't worry mate. I'm on there as well!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 02:56 PM

Heavens! No need to feel inferior RB! The thread is simply titled "in the name of folk", and IMO this is as fair a representative of what people do 'in the name of folk' as anything is. Plus I did say it was strictly amateur - which effectively means "no big names".

Anyway - why not have a virtual folk club/singaround thread? Too few posters submit their YouTubes to Mudcat IMO.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 04:17 PM

I just had a look at cs link and thought it sounded and looked great fun.
Is there ever a singer song whinger there?
Or do you stick to more trad stuff?
Great to see the youngsters having a go.
Wish had been in there listening.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 04:23 PM

Kffc vids are ace

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:10 PM

Don Thompson does some self-penned and other contemporary humorous and some serious - including a song that he does not do often enough about a man he met in a cafe discussing the loss of the old Medway industries, and a couple of songs to Maz Hobday words. Winnie Thompson reads humorous poems.

John Barden does almost wholly own songs including his excellent tune and chorus to Romany Man's poem "Marks in the grass" about the loss of the Romany way of life (and a couple to Maz Hobday words).

Fisheye does mostly Americana (he is although English a full member of the Sioux tribe having married in and done the sun dance) and some Richard Thompson. Virginia Tam (of this parish) includes a fair quantity of traditional and contemporary Americana - and is American to justify it.

When Clive Lever (Wild Rover of this parish) can make it he does excellent country and new country and comedy - but does not do his own "Imperfect Man" often enough.

I am hoping that Richard Matthewman will come one month and do some of his own -I do two of them but not as well as he.

Kev the Clogs has a couple of songs in his repertoire that I suspect are his but I have not asked him.   

Jim Radford has been down and done a couple of originals - Ryanair which is funny and a very serious Normandy Landings one.

Sheppey Paul is almost wholly contemporary, and to a professional standard but very wisely does not bring his PAIR of Zemaitus acoustics, using instead a dread built for him by Bill Lancaster of FIddlefit - and its good, dry, and woody.

We could do with some good threepenny bits (there are alas too many bad ones although happily we do not seem to see them, but we had a good one last month) and/or melodeons (Melodeonboy has insufficient competition) and/or more fiddlers (one excellent and self effacing fiddler sometimes comes and Fiddlefit have been).

If I have omitted anyone it is not intended as a criticism.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:45 PM

Looks like a fun time in the pub Richard/CS. Always up for some of that.

Nice to see the youngsters getting involved. We always have kids (under 16s free for all events) at KFFC.... not least my own little darlings one of whom can usually be persuaded to play her fiddle or sing.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:53 PM

"If I have omitted anyone it is not intended as a criticism."

No Worries?

But anyhoo, I really didn't mean to put RB on the spot. It's a good open session of the anything goes 'bring your voice and your instrument' type - that according to some reports is responsible for destroying the folk scene.. That particular session, the place was packed out.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:15 PM

There are no real youngsters there: the youngest is my daughter and she's 27! Perspective is a wonderful thing. We have had younger before, youngest performer would I think be maybe 10. She will be a decent singer in due course.

No Worries do not a lot of traditional, and I think no snigger snogwriter (which was the question) but Brian is an excellent guitarist (and guitar tech) with a lovely selection of Martins, Marion is an excellent bodhran player and shaker of noisy things and harmony singer.

It has been very rammed in the past. On one occasion last year I think we had about 35 performers. It is all-tolerant, but I am gratified to hear so much traditional stuff, and cobblers mostly sticking to their lasts: a couple of Irish sisters always wind me up by doing songs of Irish consciousness, and most of the English do not sing in mid-atlantic (or Scottish or Irish).

But it's nowhere near as professional as the KFFC stuff.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:22 PM

I do Little Apprentice a dis-service: she is there!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:25 PM

Do you think we've hijacked Banjiman's thread just a tiny bit RB?

I know - It's my fault.. *slinks away*

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 06:39 PM

Fair point.

Banjiman, shall we (and others) keep putting links to vids of our sessions here, or shall we start our own fred, or should there be a virtual sinaground where we all put our own vids of our own events.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 02:53 AM

Without wishing to answer for Banjiman, I'd say put them up here. It's good viewing and gives a representation of what's going on in the name of folk. It does what it says on the tin!

Pete.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:02 AM

Bloody hell, I just saw myself! Shocker!
Great stuff Paul - Simmo's an excellent guy to have around at these events.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:11 AM

RB / CS I hadn't really got an agenda when I started the thread. I was just keen to share some of the good stuff that happens under the "folk club" banner.

Please feel free to post links to other folky happenings. It may give some perspective on what is happening out there and refute (or possibly support) arguments about quality, style and folkishness of what is happening.

Link away!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:13 AM

Good thread Paul, I'll have to have a gander at all vids now. Looks like I'll not be seen in reality for a long while!.

Deirdre ;-)

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: theleveller
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:38 AM

Blimey, Paul, that's an awful lot of great videos. I think you've made your point that the English folk club is certainly alive and well at Kirkby Fleetham and, sparing your blushes, it's all down to the hard work that you, Wendy and others have put into it over the last couple of years. When Joe Grint said that it should get the Best Folk Club Award, I heartily agree with him. Keep up the good work.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:55 AM

Thank you banjiman.

Here is probably the best of me, also at Lower Stoke - it isn't "folk" but it was a lot of fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjjkRvNWm4s&feature=related

Featuring also Clive Lever on to harmony and keyboards.

I'll try to assemble a typical panoply of Lower Stoke Stuff from various sources this evening but have busy day ahead!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:57 AM

Pete(Leveller) that's very kind of you, I'm grateful.

However I didagree that KFFC is anything exceptional (though of course I hope it is enjoyable).

I can point to lots of other good clubs in North Yorks and and The Northeast: The Cutty Wren is excellent (and John also runs Saltburn Festival), Darlington Arts Centre F.C. (Tom is also involved in running the Darlington Spring Thing), The Black Swan (Roland is a legend and runs events at the NCEM as well as York Folk Weekend). The Davey Lamp is also brilliant, The Pot House (run by the Young'uns), The Sun in Stockton.........(I've missed many, these are just off the top of my head!) These clubs provide a good mixed programme and all encourage Trad.... along with other folky styles.

If you ask Wendy (who is getting all around the Country gigging this year) she'll point you to lots of other excellent examples as well.

There are poor clubs, but I say lets celebrate the good ones! I'd love to see videos from elsewhere.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 03:58 AM

didagree.....disagree of course!

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: the Folk Police
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 04:12 AM

Hey Paul & CS - nice vids! Thanks for posting them.

Here's a suggestion. Why don't we ask for a "Virtual folk club & singaround" permathread, so anyone who wants to can post Youtube links to recordings of their events? It would act as a sort of accessible documentary archive of the current state of play. We can link to it anytime anyone on certain other threads wants to prove/disprove that what's going on out there is fantastic/crap/otherwise. And it would be great fun to share our stuff with each other.

What do you think?

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 04:22 AM

Was just gonna say can we have a permathread ?
I think this is an excellent thread.
Congrats and wish we had some vids of all the smashing folks we have met and heard.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: theleveller
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 04:23 AM

Yeah, Paul, we do need to get out more :). I still think KFFC takes some beating.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 04:53 AM

I think that the virtual club/sinaground is a good idea - so far we have seen top quality professional and semipro acts in "club concert" setting, proof that traditional songs are being sung in public to a reasonable standard, and proof that one can sing off words without destroying songs.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 04:57 AM

The Station open mic @ Loftus

This is a bit different so hope you dont mind.

Got no conection to this place except was lucky enough to find it then meet a load of really nice and enthusiastic music lovers.
Its an open mic but its got heart.
Go along if you get the chance there is always a warm welcome,whatever you play however you play.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 05:04 AM

The Station is great Tim... and again a very interesting (and large) video archive. They make no claims to be a folk club and support all musical genres.

You do hear some great folk (including Trad) music there though. Very much holding it's own and being appreciated in an "anything goes" open mic environment.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 06:22 AM

They got Wendy on there mate so its got class as well as variety...

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 07:35 AM

Great stuff indeed, Paul et al - we've got a Yorkshire jaunt on the cards so hopefully we'll tie it in to a visit to the KFFC which is long o'erdue, as is a visit to Richard's merry bash of course...

Meanwhile, I've been thinking of YouTube as virtual singaround for a while now, with the benefit that you can choose your location & receive some heartening comments by way of further entertainment.

Here's some feral not-entirely-traditional balladry (the tune is my own) from a few years ago; the comments are worth a read too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVzsWVuDMm0

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 01:17 PM

Hi Sean, be great to see you. Please check the website as we run once a month.

We're over your way in July as well. So hopefully we'll catch you on one side of the Pennines or the other.

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Banjiman
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 11:43 AM

Is that it?

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 05:20 PM

A man of few words?

Subject: RE: In the name of folk!
From: the Folk Police
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 06:44 PM

I wonder if a retitling of the thread might get some more footage added? Something like "Folk Club, Singaround & Session Youtube Clips". I too find it hard to believe that's all there is.