FOLK SESSION – Howard Arms -
We met on 17th January with the theme ‘Disasters’; a cheerful way to start the year! It was a pleasure to see Maddy again, having a break from her tour, and to welcome Les and Di who had again made the journey from Alston to join us.
Our instrumentalists were Frank Lee on accordion; Les and Di on (respectively) guitar and flute, recorder and fiddle; and Alan Clarke, whose skills on guitar constantly remind us that it is an instrument to be respected and enjoyed in its own right.
Although the theme of ‘disasters’ sounds sombre, several contributors managed to find funny disasters, as in Phil’s song When the Old Dun Cow burned down (relax, animal lovers, it’s a pub!); Ruth gave the Flood a humorous slant with a recitation about Noah’s problems with unreliable tradesmen and finding a pair of unicorns; Mary recited the tale of Murphy and the Bricks.
Mining disasters were well represented in The Trimdon Grange Explosion (Maddy); Small Coals and Little Money (Frank); The Donibristle and Mossmorran Mining Disaster (Phil). So were military disasters: In the News (Sam – about the Iraq war); Rosemary’s Sister (Les and Di – about the Blitz); Boyne Water (Frank – commemorating the Battle of the Boyne). Sam’s poem Harvest of the Sea and Katy’s song Threescore and Ten recalled maritime tragedies.
Diversifying the theme, Sam and Alan played and sang Oklahoma Home (environmental disaster); Mary sang The Gasman cometh (domestic); Alan played She Moved through the Fair and Miriam and Jake performed You and Me (both about tragedies in love); Les on guitar and Di on fiddle played The Lament for the late Reverend Archie Beaton.
We next meet on Tuesday, 21st February in The Howard Arms, Brampton, from 8.30pm onwards. In honour of St Valentine’s Day, the theme will be ‘Love’. ALL WELCOME!
January Review
