A Royal Oak Video of Geordie

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: The Sandman
Date: 31 Mar 19 - 04:04 AM

VIC AND TINA SMITH ran the club for over 40 years?a fine achievement imo

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 30 Mar 19 - 06:51 PM

Ha-ha, love the Royal Oak stories, Vic and Matt!

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 25 Mar 19 - 06:08 AM

Thank you all. Thank you Chris. I have been a Catter since the'90s but I have been away awhile. It is good to come back after a few years and find the folks just as welcoming.                        
                                                                        
Don

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 25 Mar 19 - 03:20 AM

I had a fantastic night at the Royal Oak in Edinburgh a few years back. They had a sort of singaround going on - well, more of an 'everyone join in with the house singer' type of affair.

I was chatting to the organiser in a break who asked me if I played anything. I said, bit of guitar, bit of fiddle. He said I should join in. I said well I'd love to but of course I don't have an instrument, relieved not to have to publicly air my second-rate fiddle-playing in Scotland, where there are obviously a lot of top-notch fiddlers.

Whereupon he reached behind the bar and handed me the 'house fiddle', telling me I wasn't getting out of it that easily. I ended up playing it all night and got back to my hotel around 4am.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 24 Mar 19 - 12:26 PM

And we do have a "Royal Oak" pub here, one of Edinburgh's several that feature folk music!
...and I was in there about 15 years ago and there was a T-Shirt displayed for sale behind the bar. It was a good design of a tree with the words "Folk at the Oak Edinburgh" surrounding it. As I ordered my drink, I looked athe the T-Shirt and told her that I was the organiser of a club called 'Folk at The Oak' but that mine was in Lewes, Sussex. She reached under the bar and handed me one of them saying
"Ye'd better hae this them. It'll be your size."
"How much are they"
"Naw, naw. Ah'm gieing it tae ye!"
Something of that nature always seems to happen to me every time I revisit my birthplace.
I've still got it and still wear it.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 24 Mar 19 - 10:34 AM

Thanks Chris: I remember your visit to our "Northern Streams Festival" a few years back with Bara: it was, I think, the only time we have been able to feature Icelandic music. A very good experience.
And we do have a "Royal Oak" pub here, one of Edinburgh's several that feature folk music!

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: GUEST,Chris Foster
Date: 24 Mar 19 - 10:13 AM

Vic Smith brought this lttle thread to my attention. The guitar is a Fylde and is indeed made with recycled wood from the Talisker whisky distillery.

Fylde guitars, is a small company set up and run by Roger Bucknell. In my opinion they have made, and still make, some of the finest acoustic guitars to be found. Check their website here: https://www.fyldeguitars.com/

Someone already posted my solo website here: www.chrisfoster-iceland.com The URL is a clue to my location for the past 15 years. As well as solo performing, I also work as a duo, called Funi, with my wife, Bára Grímsdóttir ,who is one of the very best Icelandic traditional singers. Our Funi website is at www.funi-iceland.com

If you are interested, all of my solo albums and both of our Funi albums are available at www.bandcamp.com

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Stewie
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 09:11 PM

My favourite rendition of 'Geordie' is by Dave Sless, an English singer during the folk boom. I found a few tracks of his scattered through Transatlantic compilations but have been unable to find out anything about him. Although a very fine performer indeed, he is not mentioned in any of the books I have read about the revival. Years ago, I sought information about him on this forum, but came up with zilch. Any info would be appreciated.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 03:45 PM

Check out this link.

Chris Foster Iceland

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 03:42 PM

Yes that's right, Jack and I think that Chris is working at a festival this weekend. I have emailed him to ask him to respond to Don's request for more information on the guitar, though he is not a Mudcat member.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 03:09 PM

Foster is in Iceland now, I think?

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 10:37 AM

Thanks Vic,

Sure, I'd love to know more about the guitar. Thanks. I'll definitely check out more of Chris Foster. I wish I knew more about the Folk Clubs in England. There is certainly a fascinating history. I have a recording of the late Paul McNeil (with Trevor Lucas? on 12 string)from The Troubadour I found 50 years ago. A favorite of mine.

Thanks again.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 10:26 AM

Jack wrote
Where was that one?
The Royal Oak, Station Street, Lewes, East Sussex.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Vic Smith
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 10:19 AM

Don,
The singer is Chris Foster, one of the finest interpreters of traditional song in the English revival in my opinion. The video is still on YouTube and can be seen by clicking here

The guitar, I'm pretty sure is by the English company, Fylde. I am less sure but I think that I remember Chris telling me that its very different coloured wood came from old whisky barrels. I could check this with Chris if you would like to know.

Subject: RE: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: Jack Campin
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 10:12 AM

There must be several dozen Royal Oaks that have hosted folk singers. Where was that one?

Subject: A Royal Oak Video of Geordie
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Mar 19 - 10:08 AM

Some time ago in the Royal Oak thread from Vic Smith there was a video of a gentleman doing "Geordie." A tall slender fella with a goatee, good strong voice, and a great guitar style. His guitar itself was a unique looking piece. Martin New Yorker sized with beautifully figured wood. I'd like to relocated that video if it is still available and reacquaint myself with the name of the musician.

Don Meixner