BELSHAZZAR'S FEAST

In 1995 Paul Hutchinson (accordion) and Paul Sartin (oboe, violin and vocals) shared a musical passion borne out of the desire to earn sufficient money to support their extravagant lifestyles. Their amazing musicianship has stunned audiences around Europe and the States. If you like Mozart, Beethoven, Elvis Presley and The Spinners avoid them – you have been warned!

Belshazzar’s Feast start with traditional folk music, add a touch of classical and jazz, throw in a bit of pop and music hall, and top it off with wry humour for a unique live experience. They received a coveted nomination for the Best Duo Award at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards.

The two Pauls are no strangers to this club, having been our Christmas Guests on more than one occasion! Once seen and heard – never forgotten! They are back this year by popular demand!

This is sure to be a popular evening, and because of the Village Hall capacity, it would be advisable to get your tickets in advance.

We can not guarantee that tickets will be available on the door on the night.

SOUTHERN LIGHTS ROADSHOW

Southern Lights ladies dance team are very well known and much respected on the folk festival scene for their innovative approach to dancing and music.

They are presenting their roadshow of song and dance tonight.

There will be two dance sets from Southern Lights and a great variety of song sets from Three's Company, The Rockafellas, Roy and Audrey Eccles, Tom Callaghan and Chris and Siobhan Nelson, with a sprinkling of Nelsons Wake (the Nelsons plus Barry Wake).

The evening will kick off with some Appalachian clogging tunes led by Chris Nelson, so dust off your dancing shoes for this!

Aurora will display their folk flavoured hand jive by UV light, which has been a roaring success every time they have performed.

The finale will be performed by the entire company and chiefly yourselves!

Please note that there will be no floor spots tonight.

Tickets are available from the folk club or please reserve via email to tickets@woolnetfolk.co.uk or text or call 079 1269 5004.

Advance Tickets
£5.00 Mem
£6.00 Conc
£7.00 Non-Mem

This is sure to be a popular evening, and because of the Village Hall capacity, it would be advisable to get your tickets in advance.

“Not a small hairy mongrel, not a respected record label or a multinational enterprise but a remarkable trio of musicians that will delight and entertain you. Despite the absence of Les Barker his strange imagination still soars to musical heights through the stunning voices of Alison Younger and Hilary Spencer and the keyboard wizardry of Chris Harvey.

Alison, Hilary and Chris musically recreate the weird and wonderful world of the internationally acclaimed poet, philosopher, photographer and fruitcake and continue to perform the marvellous nonsense that is MRS ACKROYD.

Funny, witty, thoughtful, emotional - but always brilliant!” - Cleckheaton Folk Festival

Gallimauphry and the Dog
Rachel Livingstone, Rosie Marshall, Sue Harris & Cocoa

Gallimauphry and the Dog are a Southampton based Trio (all members of our folk club) who perform a mix of traditional, contemporary and self penned songs drawn form all walks of life and sources. The songs are presented with passion and humour and the band comfortably slots in to the Accoustic and Folk genre.

Kick The Cat
Gretl Davies, Rita Russell & Tony Kenwood

Kick The Cat are another trio who are all members of our folk club.

"DYLANFEST" with THE ZIMMERMEN
(George Wilson & Jeff Henry)

Thorn & Roses are Rowena Metters, Sylvia Fletcher, and Jinks Jenkin, who joined voices a number of years ago inspired by their mutual love of unaccompanied close harmony singing. They are all accomplished singers in their own right, but since forming Thorn & Roses have developed a style and presentation that has gained them quite a following in this country.

People in this area will know them from their hugely popular performances at Bournemouth’s Voice Tour which is attended annually by a double digit representation from members of our folk club.

Row and Sylv, both well-known and respected singers from Wadebridge in North Cornwall, have been singing together since the mid sixties, and between them have a vast repertoire ranging from the true traditional through to recent popular hits. Both coming from singing family backgrounds, they have won numerous song competitions over the years, latterly representing Cornwall at international Celtic Festivals.

Jinks' initial interest in folk singing also started during the sixties revival period, only to be curtailed by a move to male voice choir singing for some years during which he performed throughout the country including London's Royal Albert Hall. He then moved on to become a founder member of the "Rum and Shrub" shanty group, performing in maritime festivals throughout the UK and Europe, and latterly the USA. His other incarnations have included “Jink’s Stack”, a group famed for its close harmonies and boisterous presentation and “Hunter’s Moon”.

The unusual blend of voices that is the signature of Thorn and Roses is captivating with an occasional surprise when Row and Jinks swap parts, (musical ones that is) to allow Jinks to take the lead. They are equally at home in any location, but prefer a venue where they are amongst the audience where a rapport will inevitably develop between themselves and the assembly. Their powerful yet sensitive approach to their performance has led to many requests and has moved some audience members to tears.

ANTHONY JOHN CLARKE

There are very few places in the UK and Ireland that Anthony John Clarke has not played. His supporters are loyal and many, and the tributes he receives from his peers bear witness to the talent and hard work of one of the folk scene's nicest guys. He retains his reputation as one of the top songwriters on the scene and his hard work and dedication to his craft are a credit to him. For him, songwriting is indeed a craft.

His shows are funny, challenging and extremely popular. Anthony John Clarke is one of the music scene's real gentlemen.

"People don't leave the house to be bored to death. You have a responsibility to entertain and avoid being self-indulgent. I avoid being professionally Irish as much as I can. Just because I'm an Irish songwriter doesn't mean I can't love the Kinks and the Small Faces, Wes Montgomery, Coldplay. I like the songs of George Formby. They were my first delight musically and I liked listening to them with my children as they were growing up."

Anthony John speaking on BBC Radio Merseyside 2005

THREE'S COMPANY

BROOM BEZZUMS

Broom Bezzums is a young folk duo (Mark Bloomer: Vocals, guitar, mandolin & Andrew Cadie: Vocals, fiddle, guitar) with a fast-growing following of dedicated fans. They delight in a whirlwind of strong musical performances and engaging, cheeky off-the-cuff patter. They are originally from the North East of England although now based in Germany.

The press proclaims the pair as "congenial, quick-witted and fun-loving", describing their music as "very soulful - a breathtaking fireworks display of technically impressive playing". fRoots magazine described Andrew’s self-penned songs as "quite outstanding".

So be prepared for angry worker’s songs, groovy instrumentals and lover’s lilts – all performed with verve and surety, and with a rapport that just leaps out at you from the stage.

This evening will now be a
SINGAROUND / SESSION NIGHT

Free Entry with Collection

Boxty are an Irish family band from County Waterford consisting of Eamon Duffin on guitar and vocals, wife Diane on bodhran and son Jimmy on squeeze box.  We did try to book them for a guest evening but they have been gigging in Ireland about 7 times a week during the season (which has just come to an end) and they are now taking a well-deserved holiday visiting family in Hampshire (and looking forward to the break!).  However, they did agree to perform some music for us on an informal basis – so we have slotted them in on a ‘Spotlight on...’ night. (Boxty did actually guest at the club many years ago when we met at the Obelisk in Woolston and some of you may remember Eamon from when he came on his own earlier this year and did a couple of floorspots.)

Some of you old ‘uns  will remember Carl Danby who was a regular at the club for many years until he ‘emigrated’ to Jersey around 1996. He still pops back home at fairly regular intervals,  and this time he and Peg have timed their visit to coincide with the visit of the Duffin family who are old friends. Indeed, if I remember rightly, nearly two score years ago,  Eamon and Carl accompanied Ken Stephens in the local popular trio Solent Breezes ,which won first prize in Poland as Best Folk Act! (We laughed because the first prize was a contract for a regular spot on Russian TV – which obviously they were unable to accept. So they agreed to swap it for the second prize which was a rather large cash prize. However, they later learned that they were unable to take the money out of the country! They also had to be careful about what they brought out through customs. So, apart from a few new instruments..... but they did have one hell of a holiday!!)  Memories! More recently (but still some years ago) Carl was in a duo with Pam Webber. Now this singer/guitarist performs in a session band in Jersey (and also in the Jersey Big Band) and you will see him around at festivals and clubs doing solo floorspots.

COLUM SANDS

Brian Hooper has been an intrinsic part of the Southern folk scene for more years, we're sure, than even he can remember!

A superb singer and guitarist, Brian is also a talented songwriter. Recently the creative juices have been working overtime and songs have been erupting from the inspirational area of his brain at an alarming rate (amazing what retirement from the day job can do!), so be prepared to hear many delightful new songs tonight.

Brian also performs in a duo with Jeff Henry and his last appearance at our club was in this format, when they presented the song suite they've put together entitled 'Southampton in Song'. If you haven't already purchased it, the CD is well recommended, and would make a unique and charming gift for any Southampton resident.

VIN GARBUTT

Be prepared for an evening with a difference as the legend that is Vin Garbutt takes your emotions on a roller coaster ride through the dales and vales of Garbuttland. A box of tissues is a must at a Garbutt gig for he'll have you weeping huge tears of sadness at his massively moving, poignant and heart-wrenching songs, some on subjects no lesser being would dare to tackle. But then, just as you're reaching for the razor blades, he'll lift you back up and you'll need those tissues again as you roll in the aisles with side-splitting laughter at his hilarious stories and introductions. It is no wonder then that Vin Garbutt was voted BBC Radio 2's 'Best Live Folk Act', a plaudit he richly deserves. 

RON TRUEMAN-BORDER

Ron Trueman-Border has gained an enviable reputation as one of the folk and acoustic scene’s most popular singer/songwriters. Perhaps it is because he writes such accessible choruses, so enthusiastically received by his audiences, that everyone feels an empathy with the lyrics. Many musicians, having heard his songs, are covering them and have progressed to recording them too.

HARVEY ANDREWS

A concert headlined by Harvey Andrews is more than just a guaranteed, highly enjoyable evening - it is an amazing experience. For Harvey is not just a wonderful singer & guitarist but is also a fascinating, and frequently hilarious, story-teller and, arguably, the UK’s best songwriter. Drawing from life’s rich tapestry and covering a whole range of subjects from the thought-provoking to the hugely amusing, Harvey delivers all with a wonderful clarity of voice which is so seldom heard these days.

No stranger to the media, he has appeared on over 50 TV shows including the ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’, and has also been broadcast on radio, including three times on the Peel Sessions. Indeed he has also hosted ‘Folk on Two’ and a ‘Kaleidoscope’ special was devoted to his work. He also wrote and sang the theme songs for the TV series ‘Golden Pennies’ and ‘The Haunted School’ and sang the theme song in the British movie ‘Psychomania’.

A true master of the written and spoken word, one of his song lyrics was used in course work for the English Language GCSE exam and another was included in the Oxford University Book of English Traditional Verse. Indeed, many of the songs of this prolific songwriter (15 albums of self-penned material!) have been ‘covered’ by other artists, ranging from Mary Hopkin to Christy Moore. His own recordings have featured artists such as Martin Carthy, Ralph McTell, Richard Thompson, Rick Wakeman, Danny Thompson and Dave Pegg.

Since 1966 when, at the age of 23, Harvey left teaching to embark on a full-time musical career, he has performed at most major festivals (5 times at Cambridge) and has toured extensively both nationally and internationally. So, don’t miss this opportunity to see him at a local venue - he appears in the south far too rarely nowadays.

George King & Priory Hard

CD Launch Night
"King Sings with Priory Hard"

Priory Hard are George King, Rosie Marshall, Phil Wrigglesworth and John Connell, four people who love to sing, and they sing for charity (if you feed them!). Over the years the group has changed a great deal, both in number and name. Their material has also altered with the ravages of time. They started out in life as the Priory Hard Shanty Crew with nearly a dozen singers. Now they are just four.

They have sung on tall ships, in shopping malls, in pubs and clubs. They have even been known to sing some traditional songs for a change.

They’ve spent a few nights on the Lord Nelson at the International Festival of the Sea, singing all around the dockyard, enjoying the atmosphere of the festival and singing live on Radio Solent from the deck of the Nelson. They certainly do enjoy singing – anywhere and anytime!

George has been singing for many a decade and, although now in his eighties, still has a much-admired, fertile, well-rounded voice with a certain ringing quality. Phil has a very rich, hearty voice and, like George, has sung with Priory Hard since its inception. Stalwart Rosie, the last surviving female in the group (all the others have drifted away for various reasons), has a good collection of songs, including some very funny ones. John also has a wealth of songs and has been singing for many years (and dancing too – with King John’s Morris and as one-time organiser of M27 Megabops). Although the newest member of the quartet, he still has a not inconsiderable number of performances with Priory Hard under his belt.

As a group they will go out and sing in the pub or park - or anywhere that will help raise some cash for your charity. Ask them to sing and they will!!

Tonight George King and Priory Hard are also launching their new CD “King Sings with Priory Hard”.

'ZIMMERMEN'
(George Wilson & Jeff Henry)

We need your help!

We have been asked to run the Singaround / Session, which will take place at the Hedge End Club in Bursledon Road. Although the Hedge End Club is a members' only club, they are running an 'Open Door' policy for this event, and when you come to the door please say that you are taking part in the Music Session of the St George's Festival.

A few people have promised their support, but we need more singers and musicians as we have a lot of time to fill!

Rag Mama Rag are English husband and wife duo Ashley & Deborah Dow. Formed in 1991, they have slowly and consistently built up their reputation as one of Europe's finest Country Blues acts.

With an interesting and wide range of instruments, (Ashley - Peerless Port Town jumbo Arch top guitar, Henderson Acoustic Guitar, National & Dobro Resonator Bottleneck Guitars, Weissenborn Acoustic Lap Steel, Ukulele and Vocals, plus Deborah - Harmonica, Washboard, Percussion and Backing Vocals), Rag Mama Rag create an exceptionally full and hard driving rhythmic sound which soon has audiences feet tapping.

Their repertoire is 20s and 30s Blues based, but extremely varied, encompassing Mississippi Blues, East Coast Ragtime sounds, early White Country tunes, Original Compositions, and many other regional styles of the 20s and 30s period.

Touring non stop in Europe during the last ten years Rag Mama Rag have clocked up well over 2000 concerts and have played at many major festivals in France, Belgium and Germany.

SOIREE
(Hector Gilchrist, Sue Graves & Steve Poole)

Soiree are Sue Graves, Hector Gilchrist and Steve Poole. Beautiful songs, lifted still further by lilting harmonies and liquid guitars, evoke the ambience and warm glow of a satisfying evening spent with friends. Their aim "is to enjoy ourselves in your good company - and hopefully leave you feeling happier afterwards than before. After all, that is what a good Soiree is all about!"

Jeff Henry & Sandi O'Donnell

Jeff Henry & Sandi O'Donnell are both members of our folk club, and they will be performing two extended sets of about 20 - 25 minutes per set. The rest of the evening will be in the format of an Open Stage Come All Ye. Please come and support them.

BRIAN HOOPER

Brian Hooper has been an intrinsic part of the Southern folk scene for more years, we're sure, than even he can remember!

A superb singer and guitarist, Brian is also a talented songwriter. Recently the creative juices have been working overtime and songs have been erupting from the inspirational area of his brain at an alarming rate (amazing what retirement from the day job can do!), so be prepared to hear many delightful new songs tonight.

Brian also performs in a duo with Jeff Henry and his last appearance at our club was in this format, when they presented the song suite they've put together entitled 'Southampton in Song'. If you haven't already purchased it, the CD is well recommended, and would make a unique and charming gift for any Southampton resident.