Simon's Great Folk Night

20th September 2016

This is an evening that started with teamwork. The task was to set up the sound system which was good because everyone learned something from the exercise. We, for the first time experimented with an instrument mic, which greatly improved with the amplification of Chris (Lid’s) guitar.

And so I started the evening with Abilene followed Easy Money a Martin Simpson song. Then came Chris Martin, he played us his own compositions Ghosts and Music of the Road. It is always tough going on second but as he had to get away early this was good timing. Clive was next, he chose to play Fields of Gold and the Steeleye Span song Harvest of the Moon, but was it to the tune of Elsie Marly?

The first victim of the sound desk was Ella. It must be recognised that in every sound system lives a tortured spirit that makes its presence felt by screaming at inappropriate moments. This is called feedback, in this instance provoked by a microphone that had gone rogue (they do that). So having deafened Ella she bravely battled through After the Gold Rush and Love me like a Man on piano. Ella had run the sound desk up to this point without incident so this was all very unfair (but life’s like that).

What can I say about Mark Samson, now a superstar, he was once one of the leading lights of the Folk & Blues Club. You can’t bottle up talent like that in a small village like Chiddingly so it was inevitable that we would find his way to London and fame. With song titles such as The Bankers and the Twats you know you are in for an interesting evening (I blame the parents). He has a new CD and I have been looking at his lyrics, I stand by my observation that he is at heart a Punk Poet.

How time fly’s, this was the name of Chris’s song, and time was flying. The evening was quickly disappearing. I had earlier persuaded a rather dubious Penny that that I could back her singing Trouble in Mind and Bring it on home to me. The first number went without a hitch but I had to deploy my secret weapon in the shape of Mike Aldridge to provide her with a decent accompaniment of Bring it on home to me in “A”. Hopefully Penny was happy with the result and it is a shame for her to come and not sing. Well done Penny (and Mike).

Mike then gave us Key to the highway and the D. W. Stoneking classic Jungle Lullaby. Derry took to the piano and played Etude by Chopin and rather inappropriately Spring Song.

Approaching the end of the evening it was time for Helga who started with a dance tune Bourree on flute helped by Ella on base and then changed to guitar for a Joni Mitchell song Kerry. Not being a "mean old daddy", as the night was still young,  I offered her the chance to play an extra song and she chose Me and Bobby McGee.

So after another entertaining evening it was time to pack up the equipment and head home. Well done everyone.