The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 12:43 PM

So far, I'm having a Grrrreat Birthday. I decided that cooking is O U T out. Went first to The Seven Stars, but they only do food Monday to Friday. We went up to the White Cross, and had a lovely meal, and naughty dessert too!Hope Pierre makes it tomorrow, along with many others. Mrs Bear makes exceedingly good cakes !!!!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,pete
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 03:28 PM

sounds good.we shall heartedly enjoy mrs bears artistic contribution!on thursday i shall cease being HEINZ variety age.the new website is very well done.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 05:46 PM

This is a great venue - a genuine riverside country pub in a town setting, we have a warm welcoming session, it's free entry and the beer is reasonably priced!

There are LOADS of people we know in our catchment and it would be wonderful if a few more found us on Monday nights, this is a great session waiting to be discovered

This week's special - free birthday cake!!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 09:59 PM

May I say that having a birthday is not mandatory folks. Just because 90% of this thread's contributors were born in July does not make this venue exclusive ! All are welcome, but especially fiddle, and melodeon players.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 04:32 AM

GF: Once again I won't make it, I'm afraid. I did too much on my leg last week and cracked the cast on Friday. Doc says I need to take it REALLY easy for a few days since I have the rest of my life to live with the consequences of how I handle the recovery from this.

So have a good one, happy birthdays to all concerned and hopefully see you NEXT time!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 06:58 AM

Pete the journey on a 233 bus from Eltham Station is only about 20 minutes! They leave the Station at 29 & 59 past the hour. Or stay on the 286 to Sidcup Station and catch a 51 - but there may be road works. I might be able to arrange a lift so, if you are ready for pick up at say 19:45. Speak to you later ...

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,Girl Friday
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 09:26 AM

Hey... this signing up for daily updates is a great new feature. It works like the trace function for members, and makes it really easy to pick up threads that are current. Now to the business of the thread. Rob, you are a very naughty boy. You were told not to overdo it, so how many 200 yard walks did you have? Pierre - I was thinking of telling you bus details from Eltham, but you did say that you were coming from work. Woodsie... thanks for sorting Pierre out, and looking forward to seeing you both later on. Sue

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 11:34 AM

Re the roadworks at Sidcup station this is my specialist subject!

They have no effect when travelling from Eltham towards Orpington, but you get a two mile diversion on the return journey to travel the 250 yards past Sidcup station.

The 286 connects with 3 different buses that go to The Seven Stars. It shares the same bus stop (L) as the 321 and 233 outside Dorothy Perkins in Eltham High Street, or if you stay on to Sidcup Station it connects with the 51. You get the same choice coming back

The published timetable (not the same as reality!) shows the following return services from Foots Cray

321 - 2254, 2306, 2318, 2330
233 - 2247, 2317, 2347
51 - 2248, 2303, 2318, 2333

the 286 is half hourly at that time of night, the last one leaving Sidcup at 2349

What a sad person I am ....

If however a kind soul offers you a lift, jump at it and save yourself the bovver!!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 01:03 PM

What a palava!!! Move to Orpington

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,Charles
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 12:05 AM

Good to see Pete The Hat made it eventually!!!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 07:37 AM

I wonder who Charles is? Foots Cray is not in the Duchy of Cornwall.... Hello Woodsie... Thanks to all who turned up last night, eight.25 performers and 4.75 audience. (Mr Bear did one song) Mrs Bear's cakes were delicious, we had some great music, and there were some attentive customers in the bar. What a difference in atmosphere. Plans are afoot for a Foots Cray Folk Day.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 08:43 AM

Oh yes! - excellent outdoor space just crying out for a folk festival

Landlord sounds happy to put on a barbecue and get in guest ale(s)

Can we have a naming competition or is it Foots Cray Folk Day?

How about -

Foots Cray Folk Week (perhaps too ambitious)
Riverside Folk Festival (probably too many of those already)
Crayside Folk Festival
Sidcup and District Folk Festival
North-West Kent Folk Festival

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 11:37 AM

How about Foots Cray Folk Frolics?

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 01:21 PM

We could revive the old band name of Crayfolk

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 01:42 PM

I did wonder about that one

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 02:36 PM

I have been tweaking the website. It now has edited highlights of the kind comments that I have received...No names appear.

Updated website

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 04:08 PM

I've spoken to Christine from Surrey and told her where we are now.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 04:40 PM

Would you like me to look up the buses from Surrey?? :-) - at this rate we'll need a bigger pub :-) - only the third week and we're exceeding the original estimate given to Mick the landlord - good in'it

A theme borrowed from the Broadstairs thread and started by Wrotham Jen - it's nice not only to have good music and a happy lively atmosphere in the pub but there is also good traffic to and from the bar so if we carry on like this we should keep Mick happy

Not too many sneaking over to Lidl and bringing in the bottles!!!!!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 02:37 AM

in regards to a Name,
How about
'There,s something a Foot in Footcray Folk Club"
we can all play bare footed.
Shoes are banned
"You,ve got to Hand it to me" Its a good idea?
periodically through the night we can hold our feet up aloft and shout out at the tops of our      voices
"There something afoot"
To encourage and Inspire

I throughly enjoyed my self and its very easy to get too from Eltham.
the outside garden is a excellent place to hold a folk gathering and I will without doubt be returning to this event next week.,
Well done to everyone who played and sung last Monday.
This weekly event is excellent and the pub regulars and staff are very friendly.
Well done again
Kind regards
[Pierre Le Foot.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 04:00 AM

I like it Pierre but there's something in the mental image of us all lying on our backs with our feet kicking in the air that makes me slightly uneasy!

We could even call it "There's Frolics afoot in Foots Cray Folk Club"

Good job it wasn't metricated or it would be "There's Frolics afoot in 30.48 Centimetres Cray Folk Club"

Really enjoyed your contribution as always Pierre and dead chuffed to know you're coming back

RB

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 07:54 AM

This is all very encouraging. RB has sent me photos from last week's Footfest, which will soon be up on the website. I find that I may have sent an ad to AKF.... I don't remember doing so, mayhap the lovely Andy the printer did it. Should expect more people next week. I too am worried about these feet in the air. At Jagger Folk it signals the end of a tune.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,Dave K
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 10:14 AM

What a great night on Monday it is a real gem of a pub. See you next week.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 10:35 AM

Really enjoyed your contribution Dave and looking forward to more, great to know you'll be back

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 04:35 PM

Hope that there'll be enough people to do a raffle, as the ad will need paying for.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 05:12 PM

Word of mouth and personal recommendation is cheaper and more effective.

Once word gets out the problem will be managing the queues :-)

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,G F
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 06:12 PM

"Word of mouth and personal recommendation is cheaper and more effective"
That was the case years ago, but I've known it to fail dismally.
I hadn't planned the ad. It just happened.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 06:34 PM

I shall see if I can donate a prize or two

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 07:05 PM

Beeen surging the net and have come up with this site

Buses to Sidcup

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 07:17 PM

Perhaps we need a reminder of our website ?
The Seven Stars Sessions

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 04:43 AM

I presume there isn't a problem with the sessions while the landlord is away in August - business as usual on Monday evenings?

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 05:39 AM

GF, have you thought of putting the event on "Remote Goat:

Remote Goat

Costs nothing and the site is starting to get well-used now. I's brought several people into High Brooms "Diddley" sessions.

I have an account there so can enter details if you'd like.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 05:41 AM

PS: The link above defaults to London. Enter your postcode top left where it says "unspecified location" and you can then filter on timing and event type.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 07:51 AM

Thanks Rob, I need to update the details on Remote Goat. Thanks for the heads up

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 11:59 AM

Remote Goat dealt with

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,pete
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 12:12 PM

thanks for the cards raffles/leopards-made me smile.good session monday-outlook seems good .if it keeps building hopefully landlord will be more flexible on finishing times so musos get enough opportunity to perform albeit we all join in

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 12:33 PM

I think a certain ammount of restructuring is needed,now we are getting more people in. Let's talk about it on Monday next. Meanwhile, a few pertinent postings from the Folk Day Thread

From Rafflebear :I think also it would be useful to assess where we stand in the North-West Kent folk scene. Are we London facing or are we Kent facing. Our roots have been in Kent but we may well be making the transition to being a South-East London venue in which case clashing with events like Faversham and Broadstairs could be far less relevant than clashing with Blackheath and Folkmob

From Me- G F :I would like to see us , like Janus, with two heads. It is great to have the South East Londoners on board, but I have no objection, and should not want to discourage any folkie who wants to come along.I would agree about Faversham and Broadstairs, as T D L have never broken through there, but I believe strongly, that our many friends from The Medway, and Maidstone areas might come along occasionally, especially as we have got an ad in AKF.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 12:49 PM

I agree that we should continue to encourage everyone - 360 degree vision - and all folkies are our target from Deal to Doncaster and beyond.

I am just interested to see how it pans out and perhaps suggesting that it may not be as it was. Of course, ideally we shall get both and if there is a difference in styles between the two 'camps' we shall be the richer for it.

If you would like my input and assistance I shall be glad to make myself available for discussion, preferably not between 8.30 and 11.00 on Monday evening, but you are the one we salute GF.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 01:23 PM

I would suggest we meet up earlier, but we have no chance of getting everyone together until 8.30. How about I state my suggestion now.

Less emphasis on leading a jam - inclusion of "feature" spots. Different people each week, arranged in advance, and garnered from our players. We need to keep a closer eye on the time perhaps, having a final jam at 10.45. This might make for a less sudden ending. There seems to be no clock on the wall, which would help. We don't want to go too rigid with it though, and Mumblin Len prefers it just how it is.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 01:53 PM

For the moment I think I'm with Len but reserve the right to change that opinion, although not being a player I doubt I get a full vote

As it stands everyone can play almost continuously from 8.30 to 11.00, it's just that different people get to call the tune and lead off. I may be wrong but I think that the musicians all go there to play as much as they can and that any reduction in that would not go down so well. It is also very social as we do it.

I could see that if we had 20 players it might be more difficult, but as yet we haven't.

If time is the problem then perhaps we just need to start on time and if someone is not ready to take their turn, skip on to the next without hanging around. People tend to arrive for the time that they know you will start rather than the time you say you will start

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,G F
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 02:05 PM

Raffles you have as much right to a say as anyone in our original group. This is a benign dictatorship. I have never been keen on a committee - led set up. .. Too many cooks..... muck up the mock turtle. I think we're ok as we are, but that sudden ending is not good.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 02:12 PM

I'll bring a clock :-)

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 02:16 PM

Ah, yes, you have a houseful of them

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 06:00 AM

Quote from the Broadstairs thread -

"the Woodshed is a session where you bring your tunes and songs along for everyone to join in- and popular it's been, a real mixture of styles and the opportunity to try out your own skills at harmonising and accompanying others.

The Woodshed is definitely an all-in session- where everyone feels part of the action and we all play together... memorable moments all along where 30+ performers are all in sympathy with the song"


This seems to be where we are heading at the Seven Stars at the moment, sounds good to me - particularly the bit about 30+

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: GUEST,Woodsie
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 06:09 AM

I'm all for a dictatorship, as I don't think folk clubs benefit in any way being "run" by huge committees. Much better with Sue taking the lead whilst listening to input and suggestions from all - but making the final decisions herself! She has years of experience of running successful folk events.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 06:38 AM

Thank you Woodsie. The only Woodshed sessions I have been to were during Folk Week. They were great, and maybe Jen can tell us what they were like on regular nights. As long as people can get comfortably to the bar, and to the toilets. I hate being stuck in the midst of fiddler's elbows, box player's elbow's, gig boxes and bags under my feet. I think that sensibly, 20 to 30 people would be manageable. Any more than that, and we'll have to get Mick to empty his upstairs room.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:19 AM

Even IF the numbers grew, it would be a shame to move out of the bar because we are rubbing shoulders with an appreciative public.

Perhaps we could run two sessions simultaneously at different ends of the pub!!!!

Heil Sue!

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: broadstairs-jen
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 07:51 AM

girl friday - when the wrotham was ALL MINE (evil laugh) the woodshed sessions were daily during folk week and monthly throughout the rest of the year. they were a great success. to answer your question, the woodsheds during folk week were at capacity. one day we even had a fringe woodshed under the awning outside in the rain. not during folk week they were less predictable but we generally had 10+ musicians even on quiet nights. they were profitable to me as a landlady which is important to state since they became sustainable part of the business. the wrotham also has a decent space for sessions...not sure what the 7 stars is like - will have to come by to see!

the new landlady at the wrotham has changed the music format in general and has cancelled the woodshed throughout the year (tsk tsk), but IT IS STILL ON during folk week. bob's still running them and he has some great guests lined up for this year, i would highly recommend it. there will be a pub gig 1-2, its worth being there at 2 to save your space.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 08:50 AM

Thanks Jen, we'd love to see you at the Stars

Perhaps we could call ours "The Coal-Hole Sessions" :-)

and it looks like there's a precedent for the two-in-one idea!

PS alternative session names
"The Oil-Tank Sessions"
"The Gasometer Sessions"
I was thinking of "The Storage Heater Sessions" but I thought that sounded silly.

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Girl Friday
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 11:35 AM

Having taken part in the Folk Week o/s session, I can tell you that not everyone was happy about it. We'll fill up the restaurant area first, then maybe spread into the main bar with Mick's permission. I don't think having a second session in the pool room would be a move.
Now, those alternative names... puts on posh Monty Pythonesque voice to say "Now this is getting extremely silly...."

We should maybe call it the Star Bar Sessions in honour of chocolate.

If any Gong Scourers are reading this.... you are our local side. Come and see us....

Jen.... you'll be very welcome..... shame the woodshed sessions have stopped.... especially as they brought money in...... she'll learn.

See you all on Monday

The Management

Subject: RE: The Seven Stars Sessions - Kent U.K
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 11:41 AM

The Godmother :-)