Some bargain finds

It's not very often I go into shops like Poundland, but just the other day I went into the Mansfield store and found these three bargain CDs.

Opening track "Why walk when you can fly"

Opening track "He's a mighty good leader"

Track two "Shapeshifter Blues"

Not bad for just a pound each, all are a great listen. The last one by Pilote I had never heard of before, but the cover looked interesting and it's mostly acoustic guitar with a spaced out backing.

On this basis I might have to pop in more often !!

Gate to Southwell Folk Festival part two

Saturday morning 6th June 9.00 am, I set off back to Southwell for my second day at the folk festival. Once again it was  a bright sunny morning, though the forecast was for a breeze later in the day.

First things first on arriving on site, breakfast. A sausage and bacon cob and a mug of tea. Then it was over to the second stage to see John Thompson, Nicole Murray and Emma Nixon from Queensland Australia who perform as Cloudstreet. John presented his album "The Great War", a mixture of songs, poems and narrative about WWi and the contribution of the ANZACS.

John Thompson

The highlight of the set was a song about a young Australian girl, Maud Butler, who tried to sign up by dressing as a boy so she could be with her brothers, fighting the Turks. 

So time for walk around the site before the next set. This year the children's area was separated from the main site giving it a much larger area. Along with Jan's van a large black van that is used as a blank canvas for kids of all ages a chance to express themselves with chalks and paint, there was a climbing wall, Bungy trampolines and water zorbing

After the break it was time for my first visit into the Big Top and the main stage. First up was Anthony John Clarke who had appeared the previous day on the second stage, but now had a chance to play to a bigger audience. Once again he performed a very entertaining set.

Next up was one of the bands I was really looking forward to, and I was not disappointed, Coco and the Butterfields. They play a mix of traditional folk mixed with blues, jazz and hip-hop, featuring fiddles, guitars, horns, vocals and a human beatbox.

Coco and the Butterfields

After a superbly energetic set that had the crowd standing at the end in great ovation it was time for things to chill out and slow down somewhat. The quality of the music was however stepping up another notch in the form of three of the UK's top folk musicians. Nancy Kerr, Andy Cutting and Martin Simpson. Playing songs and tunes from their recent album "Murmurs" With three such talented musicians this turned out to be one of the highlights of the festival. Martin Simpson as always played guitars and banjo with consummate ease and with his usual dry wit talked about how some of the songs came about. Nancy Kerr is a top class singer and fiddle player and along with Andy Cutting on melodian and accordion we were treated to a right royal mix of traditional songs and originals. What more should be expected of this trio of award winning performers. Definitely worth catching if you get the chance. 

Simpson, Cutting and Kerr

A bonus for me was that I purchased the new limited edition "Murmurs" cd/dvd set and limited 7" vinyl, both signed by all three.

Time to move back outside and catch the end of a short set by Flossie Malavialle playing at the open stage next to the children's area. Flossie is always a delight and very entertaining with her mix of French and Geordie banter. Flossie comes from France but has lived in the North East for many years. She sings covers of other peoples songs, a mix of folk and just great songs, mixing in songs by Jaques Brel and Edith Piaf with folk tales.

Flossie Malavialle

Time for something to eat and drink before the evening session and back into the big top. First up was Keith Donnelly a Southwell regular who as always played his usual mix of comedic songs and told tales of being on the folk circuit.

Keith Donnelly

Artisan, the next group are a trio of singers who have been on the folk scene for many, many years. Totally acapella they have a great sound and are lately described as a legendary English Harmony Group, a description that is well suited. Featuring Jacey & Brian Bedford with Hilary Spencer they sing a mix of serious and humorous songs most written by Brian. There best known song "What's the use of wings" most famously covered by another folk legend Vin Garbutt.

Artisan

Next up more great music from Cutting and Wood. Andy Cutting returning to the main stage this time alongside troubadour and teller of tales Chris Wood.

Cutting and Wood

And so onto the last group of the day and one I was really looking forward to seeing.
We Banjo 3, four lads comprising two sets of brothers that play a mix of Irish tunes and Americana songs tinged with a large helping of bluegrass. Right from the off they had the crowd in the palm of their hands. Superbly talented multi award winning musicians back in their native Ireland they playing was interspersed with some great chat amongst each other and with the crowd. I can honestly say for me they were the highlight of the weekend.

We Banjo 3

So that was it for my second day, one more day to go.

  

A great read for fans of Americana

Just finished reading this book, that I picked up in a charity shop a few weeks back.

"It still moves" by Amanda Petrusich

It is a great read for fans of Americana, the author travels around the U.S. seeking out the roots of blues, folk & country music. Stopping of at all the major Southern cities that have influenced the music of America. Includes some great pieces on Robert Johnson, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly and many many more.

Leadbelly

 

Woody Guthrie

Robert Johnson

The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival 2015

As mentioned in previous posts I was going to attend this years Gate to Southwell Folk Festival and that I did on Friday 5th - Sunday 7th June. With over 50 acts over the festival it was as usual a great weekend. This years festival was on a new larger site on the grounds of Southwell Racecourse. This was a flatter site than previous, though a fair bit further out of the town, so a shuttle bus was provided free of charge to make it easy to attend some of the off-site entertainment.

So it was on the Friday morning after arriving at the festival checking in and getting my wristband and programme, it was time to go and get some breakfast a sausage cob and a mug of tea before looking around the new site.

First act to see was the Young Uns who were on in the Minster in town, so it was on the shuttle bus with many others eagerly anticipating our first music of the festival, (I had not attended the previous day because it had been my wedding anniversary). Those who had been there on the Thursday evening were buzzing about how good the headline act Billy Bragg had been.

So anyway into the the magnificent Southwell Minster that was fast filling up and within a short while the Young Uns appeared and sang a completely unaccompanied set of songs including a couple of sea shanties.

I have a few photos from the weekend and there are some videos available on Youtube 

So it was back to the site on the shuttle bus and a spot of lunch before popping over to the second stage to settle in for the afternoon. First up was Anthony J Clarke who played a great little set of self penned songs interspersed with some witty banter and plenty of crowd interaction.

Anthony J Clarke

Next up was a duo of Anglo Canadian origin, Scott Cook and Jezz Hellard. Scott Cook hails from Canada and has a deep vocal that along with his fine guitar playing was accompanied by the vocals and harmonica virtuoso playing of Jezz Hellard.

Scott Cook and Jezz Hellard

Following on came two young sisters, The Rheingans sisters who played a selection of reels and dance tunes from Scandinavia and France as well as Britain on fiddles and banjos alongside the occasional song. A total contrast to Scott and Jezz but equally as accomplished.

Rheingans Sisters

The last act of the afternoon of stage 2 were the Baghdaddies an amazing group of musicians who exploded onto the stage with a huge sound of brass. Sax and trumpet with guitars and drums this lively bunch proceeded to raise the tempo with their mix of Middle Eastern / Balkan rhythms. A fitting end to the afternoons proceedings.

The Baghdaddies

For most people the highlight of Friday evening would be going into the Big Top main stage to see headliners Clannad, for me it was over to the much smaller Barleycorn stage for a thoroughly enjoyable evening of music from much lesser known acts. This is what The Gate To Southwell Festival is all about.

Taking to the stage a little after 8pm were three young lads who went under the name of Granny's Attic. They played a set of traditional tunes and songs interspersed with some of their own tunes. Comprising Lewis Wood on fiddles,guitar and vocals, George Sansome on guitar and lead vocals and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne on melodian, accordion and vocals.

Granny's Attic

Scott Cook and Jezz Hellard were up next with shorter set than in the afternoon but with a few different songs and some excellent harmonica playing from Jezz to start off the set.

Jezz Hellard

Floot Street a five piece band that played a selection of traditional tunes were up next, the melodeon player only just arriving on-site a few minutes before going on stage. Has the name suggests the band featured the sound of a flute player and they played a selection of instrumentals. Quality sounds.

Floot Street

The next band up were The Rusty Suns from London, who belted out an all together different sound, though equally as good. With a great leader in Alfie Jackson formerly the frontman of the band The Holloways on lead guitar and backing vocals. This was a band that certainly woke up anyone who may have started to feel the affects of a long day. They had a rapturous standing ovation at the end of their set and managed to get an encore, not something easily done on such a tight schedule. They reminded me of the band Hustler from the seventies.

The Rusty Suns

Last up for the day was a band who had supported Billy Bragg on the main stage the previous evening. Ranagri another London based group, this time having a very distinctive Celtic feel. With a mix of harp, flutes, guitar and the bodhran.

Ranagri

So that was it for the first day, and I made my way home with thoughts of how good it had been and looking forward to the next.

More to follow.