TATTERS
THE NEWSLETTER OF
TRADITIONS AT THE TIGER
Below is
the current edition of our monthly newsletter. If you would like
to receive this every month by e-mail, or would like to get a past month's
newsletter e-mailed to you, then please contact
Dave
Sutherland.
TATTERS
THE NEWSLETTER OF TRADITIONS AT THE TIGER
JULY/AUGUST 2008 EDITION
www.tigerfolk.com
The Spring Bank Holiday weekend
was an eventful time for the sleepy market town of Long Eaton, home of
Traditions at the Tiger. On the Friday afternoon there were police drugs raids
on three of the town centre pubs, all which are within walking distance from The
Tiger, and all, from the point of view of the police, successful.
Then to close the weekend the
Bank Holiday Monday evening saw a brazen, daylight smash and grab operation on
one of the local banks, again just round the corner from The Tiger and this time
successful from the other side of the law. All this catapulted Long Eaton into
the public eye for all the wrong reasons.
If you had attended T.A.T.T. on
our last club night you could not have failed to notice the signs both inside
and outside of our establishment warning of the consequences which would befall
anyone using or supplying drugs on or outside of the premises and our landlord
and landlady have to be commended for taking such a strong stance here.
Please don’t think that I’m
launching a crusade on the morality of the use and abuse of narcotics; this is
neither the time nor the place for such a tirade and maybe I’m not the person to
pontificate. I don’t think that I know anyone heavily involved in drug
dependency (I’m discounting alcohol and tobacco here) and I haven’t lost any
friends through hard drug abuse. One acquaintance died following an overdose
some thirty years ago and at that time he blamed me for everything that was
wrong with the local folk scene!
However when I helped run South
Tyne Folk & Blues in South Shields we were all much younger and the club
attracted a younger set, lots of them into blues through the heavier rock bands
of the day and while we were a pretty anarchic and broad minded bunch we did
have one strict rule – no drugs on the premises! You could smoke, inject,
swallow or inhale whatever you liked any other night of the week wherever you
were but on a Friday night you kept your stuff away from the club. We sailed
close to the wind a couple of times with audience members disregarding the rule
but thankfully the club did not get involved and our name remained untarnished.
The chilling thought regarding
the three local pubs which were busted is that all have been closed down for a
certain period. This means that their darts teams, domino teams, quiz experts
etc do not have a home for the next few weeks and had we been operating out of
one of those places we would have needed to find an alternative venue very
quickly – something easier said than done and in such circumstances how many
other venues would have been willing to help out?
Unfortunately the innocent must
suffer for the guilty.
Not that I would expect a bust
on the top room on a Sunday night to yield anything more than the odd Gaviscon,
Aspirin and possibly Viagra (no - perish the thought) so I am quite
confident that we are all squeaky clean. However if any of you were involved in
the bank job, well, I am a bit short at the moment……….
dsutherland3@hotmail.com
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hi Dave,
Just wondered if you would put
a bit in the next newsletter please, thanking everyone who sponsored Alina, or
made donations, for her taking part in the Race for Life on Nottingham
Embankment, on a soggy Sunday morning, June 1st! She managed to raise £240 for
Cancer Research, and did it in 31 minutes!! And she's doing ANOTHER one, on
July 2nd in Castle Donington. She's mad (but wonderful!)!!
See you soon.
Love Hazel, and thank
you.
Sunday 1st June
John Waltham
John Waltham’s previous visits
to the East Midlands, guesting at the club with George Withers or performing at
the National had indicated just what a fine singer of traditional songs he is
and we hoped that giving him a night to himself would be the ideal opportunity
to enjoy hearing him solo and see just what he would choose from his substantial
repertoire. Unfortunately it was an offer not taken up by all that many of our
regulars and therefore it was a slightly less formal night that was enjoyed by
those who attended on 1st June.
John is indeed a good
interpreter of the traditional songs of England, Ireland and his native Dorset
and with his background it was not surprising that many like “Leaving the
Land”, “Wassail” and “Courting Round Dorset” were of an agricultural
nature.
Ireland was illustrated with “The
Hills of Inishowen” while there were the big ballads such as “The
Outlandish Knight” and “The Nobleman’s Wedding”. It was back to
farming for his finale and his own song, a bittersweet parody on “The Green,
Green Grass of Home”.
Singing from the floor on the
night was John Bentham who also ran the proceedings, Gren Morris, Pete Holland,
Sheila Bentham, Corinne Male and Lynn Cooper.
Dave Sutherland
IMPORTANT
What with festivals and
holidays it is now doubtful whether we will be able to muster anything like a
full resident team to present the proposed Summer Sing on Sunday 3rd
August.
Once that we are sure that it
will not go ahead I will let everyone know by e-mail as well as informing the
various publicity machines.
We will look forward to seeing
you all on September 7th with Steve Turner.
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Sunday 6th July
BRIAN PETERS
It was our founder, Mr Roy Harris himself, who
originally came across championing Brian Peters, whom he deemed to be a young
performer of which it certainly was worth taking note. As usual Roy has been
proved right as Brian, some years later, is now a permanent and respected member
of the higher echelon of folk performers. It was no surprise that Brian was
present on our first ever night at The Tiger singing from the floor and he has
been here as a guest in his own right on three subsequent occasions.
Brian hails from the borders of Derbyshire and
Lancashire and a lot of his repertoire is gleaned from the folklore of the
latter county and he makes no secrete of the fact that one of his earliest
influences was that great Lancastrian the late Harry Boardman to whom so many of
us owe a debt. Brian is a multi instrumentalist accompanying himself on either
guitar, concertina or melodeon and he can also weigh in on fiddle. His songs are
carefully chosen and stem mainly from the British or Appalachian traditions as
well as pieces from the cream of our contemporary songwriters. However he
displays a love of the big ballads and his current project is a CD of Child
Ballads “Songs of Trial and Triumph” which was released in April and
reviewed in last months edition of Tatters . No doubt he will have a
number of copies with him when he returns to The Tiger on 6th July.
Bendle’s Bit
Since reaching the age of a
free bus pass, thoughts turn more and more to a shorter working week or
preferably a non-working week. Thoughts are one thing and practicality is a
white horse of a different colour. There are times, however, when circumstances
conspire to give the impression of a life of semi-retirement.
The month of May this year has
been one such example.
As always the 1st of
May saw us up on the top of Old John on the Bradgate Park in the lovely
Charnwood Forest welcoming in the summer with Leicester Morrismen. Now I know 7
o’clock isn’t dawn, but it’s plenty early enough thank you very much and as
every year a happy hour is spent with hopes of a good weather for the following
season. And as always, the opinion that we really should try and visit the
countryside at an early hour more often is expressed. But, this is a special
occasion and maybe, the experience is best kept for such times.
As mentioned earlier, I have a
bus pass now and quite a few friends are getting the same this year. This
includes an old compatriot in the Darlington Mummers, so the next weekend saw us
travelling the familiar roads north to celebrate with a grand sing at one of my
favourite watering holes that has been mentioned by me before. Just outside
Bishop Auckland on an exposed ridge is the village of Middleston. The views
down to the coast, North Yorkshire and over to the Pennines are superb.
Especially when seen from the Ship, with it’s ever changing range of draught
beers and all at £2.10 p per pint! The sing was a smashing do with entertainment
and feasting continuing long into the night. It also gave us the opportunity to
finalise details with friends who were coming with us to Cornwall the next
weekend.
To celebrate the start of our
Cornish holiday Sheila and I went over to Derby Gaol to enjoy an evening with
Judy and Dennis Cook. As you would expect from Judy and Dennis, it was a
performance of the highest standard with fascinating insights into the songs.
You know Paul, Keith and Sylvia run a cracking club with fine singing and some
interesting contributions of poetry and storytelling. If you are able, give it
a visit and don’t worry if you haven’t eaten, the jacket potatoes are excellent.
So the next morning, on the
road south west to eventually haul up in Bodmin to enjoy a visit to the famed
folk club. Up until this last weekends visit to Ireland, more of that later
from other contributors, I don’t think I have experienced so much banter and
gibing before. The whole night was one of great singing and friendly fun. It
was the openness of people and the relaxed feel of the night that will stay long
in the memory. Loads of information relating to all things likely to be
encountered on our holiday and request to visit again has made almost certain
that a return visit is on the cards. Again, if you are going to Cornwall and
can organise things to be in striking distance of Bodmin on a Friday night,
visit the club and enjoy “Kernow Hospitality”. It is also worth visiting the
Indian Restaurant a couple of doors up from the Barleysheaf, you won’t be
disappointed.
On the Saturday we journeyed
further into Cornwall and with all the details of the various venues that had
singing and music with us we set about our holiday. There were a couple of
sessions that we seriously considered going to, but long days enjoying the
beautiful countryside meant that by the time we thought about what to do in the
evening, it was too late. It’s all that clear light that when the weather is
good means it can be 9 o’clock at night and as bright as it would be at teatime.
C’est la vie.
I did have a nostalgic trip on
the Thursday, for when I was made redundant in 1970, my work colleagues in
Darlington gave me a farewell gift of travel tickets and a couple of night’s
accommodation in Helston to see the Flora Day. Now that was some present and
has been with me ever since. So, nearly 40 years later, along with the rest of
our holiday group I again visited the town. Obviously things have changed like
everywhere else, but the Blue Anchor seemed just as it has always been. For
those who don’t know this establishment, it is a very old pub that has brewed
its own beer for some 600 years! Now, Thursday night is music night is “Open
Mouth Night”. It is fronted by any number of different groups and everyone is
invited to join in, a free pint or drink of your choice is given to all
contributors. I won’t bore you with the goings on of this truly memorable day,
the sightings of Choughs, or the viewing of Green-Winged, Early Purple and
Spotted Orchids as well as Spring Gentian, etc. etc. Suffice it to say we were
well pleased and the meal in the Blue Anchor before the evening’s entertainment
were right grand. The one slight set back to the pub is the strength of the
beer, the weakest is IPA and that weighs in at 4.5%, so be warned! Anyway, that
apart, we were just chatting when Sheila nudged me and said “You’ll never guess
who’s just walked in”. When I looked round, there, just sorting out his
collection of Harmonicas, was and old friend and performer at the Tiger, Roger
Strange. Now happily almost retired and living not far from the town, Roger was
part of the blues collective hosting the session that night. Brilliant, old
friends, great company, great beer and a night of music songs and stories that
was thoroughly enjoyable to be part of and seemed to be enjoyed by all that were
there. Roger could well be coming “Up country” later in the year, so with a bit
of luck we might see him at the Tiger.
Sadly, our stay, though
thoroughly enjoyable as all good holidays are, was over much too quickly, but
the accommodation is already booked for next year.
If you are thinking of
holidaying in the south-west you can do a lot worse than heading into Cornwall
where you’ll find some music and song to add to your enjoyment. And if you like
jazz, then St Erth Praze on Sunday lunchtime is worth considering. Mind you, if
you are heading north eastwards, think of breaking your journey at the Ship in
Middleston and if you do, leave a pint for me behind the bar!
John Bentham
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C.D.Review
“To The Ground” Kerfuffle
RootBeat Records RBRCD06
At a recent festival that I
attended the MC (Ian Smith of Prego and he knows a thing or two) declared that
it was unfair to continually refer to Kerfuffle as “a young band” since their
music is of the deepest maturity. With their fourth album “To the Ground”
they really underline their maturity in a way that is commendable for (and it
can’t be ignored) a young band!
Certainly bucking the trend set
by some of our more youthful outfits Kerfuffle are increasingly concentrating on
songs as well as music and on the new recording we find as fine a collection of
traditional songs as you’ll get on any album so far this year. In fact the only
contemporary piece is the opening track, Roger Watson’s in the tradition
“Ballad of Katy Shaw” sung, as with the majority of the vocal tracks here,
by Hannah James. The most striking thing about Hannah’s vocal style is that it
is completely her own and try as one might there is no way of detecting any
outside influences in her singing.
What is really encouraging is
the inclusion of two major ballads in this set; “Down By the Greenwood Side”
is yet another variant of “The Cruel Mother” and “Two Sisters” is
the George Fradley version of “Minnorie”. A truncated version of the
entire ballad I’d agree but judging by the pace at which they take the song I
doubt whether even their youthful energy would sustain them to the ultimate
conclusion of the tale!
There is yet another local (two
of the band are from Castle Donington, one from Derbyshire and one from South
Yorkshire) influence in their foray into close harmony as one of the items
included is “The Castleton Carol” (All Bells in Paradise) which comes off
nicely along with another carol/ritual song “Arise, Arise” and the
concluding track “Rogue’s March”.
Naturally the tunes included on
the CD are everything that you would expect from Kerfuffle as Sam Sweeney once
again illustrates exactly why he is rated among the leading young fiddle players
in this country. Ably supported by brother Tom and relative newcomer Jamie
Roberts both on guitars and Hannah on accordion he excels on “Dr Letcher’s
Favourite”,”Betty Corrigall’s Lament” and, especially “Bonaparte’s
Retreat” altogether making it a most complete and rewarding album.
When I first saw Kerfuffle in a
folk club around four years ago they barely had enough material to cover the two
halves; at the aforementioned festival they were called upon to fulfil two
lengthy and prestigious spots which they performed with only the minimum of
repetition.
If they continue to move in
this direction then be assured that the folk scene will be hearing a lot more of
Kerfuffle.
Dave Sutherland
(Follow Hyperlink in title to
their website for more info.)
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THE TATT 7 GO TO DUBLIN (ref E.
Blyton)
“Oh what a Lark” exclaimed
John, “We’ve all been invited to spend a long weekend in Dublin! The Howth
Singers’ Circle and the Goilin Club are going to look after us and see that we
don’t get lost.”
“Can we go, please, Uncle
Dave?” chorused John, Sheila, Al, Harriet, Jack, Jane and Corinne.
“I’m sorry I can’t come with
you” said Uncle Dave, “but I’m sure you’ll be all right. Write back to Uncle
Francie and Auntie Anne in Howth and Uncle Jerry and Auntie Anne in Palmerstown
and thank them very much for offering to have you to stay.”
“I’m sorry I can’t come as
well,” said Auntie Angela at the last minute, “But my passport hasn’t arrived
and that nasty Ryanair won’t let me fly without it”.
So on the Thursday afternoon,
John, Sheila and Corinne arrived at East Midlands Airport, all very excited (and
grateful that Corinne’s car had actually managed to get them there before
completely breaking down). The other four had gone ahead by car and were happily
exploring the Wicklow Mountains.
They all met up in Howth that
night, for an excellent session on the theme of Shamrock, Rose and Thistle.
And again on Friday night in the Teachers’
Club in Parnell Square, for the Goilin (after an excellent meal / spot of
bird-watching at a spectacularly scenic restaurant in Howth). And again on the
Saturday night, for no better reason than to have another good singing session.
Francie
saying "Do you know what a Black Guillemot looks like?"
Drink had
been taken ...
Dan O'Connell; Jerry and Anne's garden.
Jack and Jane (and Sheila) in the Goilin.
Local history (no ballad written
about this one).
No pictures exist of other activities undertaken by
various members of the group such as riding the open-top Dublin Tour Bus,
bird-watching on the cliffs of Howth, sitting in on a lunch-time session of
civil servants in O’Donoghue’s, taking the “Dart” down to Bray to visit Al
O’Donnell, visiting the walk-in clinic at the Eye Hospital to have a contact
lens removed … and many other highlights.
“Wasn’t that a lot of fun!” they all
said.
And it was.
Corinne Male.
See You At The Tiger.
Traditions
at the Tiger