On May Day morning, the Men of Wight dance at the Longstones to welcome the magical dawn. It is well worth getting up at silly o’clock and tramping along by torchlight to be part of the gathering up on the hilltop in the atmospheric half-light. When dances have been danced and songs have been sung, there is a haze of scented bluebells to enchant the walk back down.
Bob’sBasement Band goes International!
On Friday May 5th and Monday 15th, Bob’s Basement Band are offering a set of Polish tunes at the Painters Arms, Cowes, followed by an Irish playalong session.
Wolverton rocks
Wolverton Folk and Blues Fair is on Saturday 13th May this year. What a wonderful event this is! Tickets, only £10 in advance, are available now from Waterstones, Briddlesford Farm Shop, Brighstone Village Shop and Orchard Bros., Freshwater Bay.
One More Day, me hearties
The Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Festival runs from Friday 26th to Monday 29th this year, giving us an extra day of amazing music. And it is still donations only!
Aggiefest is in full swing, enjoy! Well done to Maureen Forster and team for all their hard work.
A Star is Reborn
Glenn Koppany has at last been able to revive his successful folk night at the Star Ale and Coffee House in Ryde. This charming little venue will now play host to a Folk and Music session on the second Sunday each month, from noon. Well worth delaying your Sunday lunch for!
Get your dancing shoes on
It must be Spring, there are two barn dances in April! The first is on Saturday 8th at Bluebells, Briddlesford, and the second on Friday 21st in Ryde. Full details are on the Events page.
Music all the way
Last year’s Irish and Traditional music weekend was so successful that they plan to do it all again this year!
Dave Harris
It was very sad to learn of the death of Dave Harris, recently. Dave and his wife, Caroline, performed at folk clubs as The Bilge Rats. The couple lived on a houseboat for a number of years until the structure eventually succumbed to old age. Later on, the couple lived in Somerset.
Shtum ( pictured above) ably represented folk at Quay Arts with their unique, easy listening blend of folk at the fundraising concert to help those in need in Ukraine. Their tunes are played on fiddle, mandolin, cittern, double base, guitar and sets include some well-chosen John Hacker vocals as well. Many of Shtum’s tunes and songs are self-penned.
DEC Earthquake Appeal Concert
Folk musicians contribute to many charity concerts each year. The next one to look forward to is in aid of the DEC Earthquake Appeal on Saturday 11th March at the Waverley, Carisbrooke, in the afternoon. Shtum are also included in the line-up for this one, at 1.30, together with Coppersmith (see below), who kick off proceedings at 12.30 and Feck! who close the show with a spot starting at 4.40. Well done to the organisers for neatly avoiding a clash with the evening concert at Quay Arts described below.
Amazing Quay Arts
Quay Arts is continuing to bring a selection of superb performers over the Solent. Saturday 11th sees a visit from Will Pound and Jenn Butterworth, two of the most inspiring instrumentalists in traditional music, bringing you an unforgettable evening of tunes and songs. https://www.quayarts.org/event/will-pound-jenn-butterworth
Just a week later, Will Page, of the band Noble Jacks, rolls in with his Americana-powered fiddle and songs. Great music to blow your head off! https://www.quayarts.org/event/will-page/
Aggie, Aggie, Aggie, Oy,oy,oy
Don’t miss the rich voice of Jim Causley (pictured above) when he kicks off Aggiefest on Thursday 30th March with an afternoon of song and poetry at Ryde Library. Booking is essential on 823825 as a delicious afternoon tea is included! Aggiefest continues on the following two days, see Events page for more details and updates.
Watch out, St Patrick’s About!
At the time of writing, folkonwight Events page lists FIVE St Patrick’s Night folk music events!
The amazing Second Time Around (2ndTA) are to launch their new CD ‘House of Cards’ at Quay Folk Club on February 19th. Expect an evening of superb musicianship and vocals to die for! The band will be playing the songs featured on the new album plus a selection of their old favourites. Hot-off-the-press copies of the CD will be available to buy together with some attractive merchandise. The designs (see photo) are by Tina Goode of Inkstone Arts.
I was sent an advert on Facebook recently for a ‘Second Time Around Sale’! Algorithms rule OK?
Stories with Unforseen Consequences
Storyteller Monty is brightening up the very start of February with a couple of solo events on the 1st of February in Ventnor and on the 2nd in Shanklin. This is a new venture for Monty, both are bookable, details on the Events page. It is always very difficult to take photos of Monty as his delivery is so lively he moves faster than the camera can cope with. The pic. below is the best of a very blurred bunch.
The first Wold Zong (=Isle of Wight dialect for Old Song) Singaround at the Bugle, Brading in January was very well supported. Even performers who usually sing modern songs made the effort to dig out something traditional. Wold Zong may well be the only singaround in the country which is run by a bear. The next session is on Sunday February 26th at 7pm.
Celebrate Epiphany with The Crew at Ryde’s ‘folk hub’, The Star Coffee and Ale House, 7pm. This delightful little venue is also home to the Star Folk Club on the second Tuesday each month.
On the same date ( Friday 6th), Giddygander have their first outing at the First Friday Figgy Gig, in CHOYD, Yarmouth, 7pm start.
Monday 16th sees music afternoons resume at the Unity Hall, Newport, after a long break, 2.30pm, also on zoom.
Lovers of traditional songs and tunes will be pleased to see a new monthly singaround start at The Bugle, Brading, on Sunday 22nd at 7pm.
Finally, West Midland’s storyteller Peter Chand visits Cafe Isola, Newport, on Friday 27th. This is a ticketed event, details awaited.
Each year, Ruth Wyman organises a concert to collect funds for the Salvation Army appeal for the homeless. This year’s ‘Christmas Reflections’ concert is on Friday 2nd December at The Salvation Army hall in Pyle Street, Newport, at 7pm. Among the performers are The Watch, see above, Sheshells, Maureen Shaw and Ruth herself
On Sunday 4th, the Oyster Girls are once again dancing to raise money for the charity Shelter. They will be performing in Cowes from 2pm.
The Sail Pattern folk rock band, pictured below, visit Porchfield Cricket Club on Sunday 4th. Their concert is raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society. Phone 07969 735728 to find out if there are any tickets left.
On Boxing Day, the courtyard at The Dairyman’s Daughter will once again be filled with the jingling of morris bells. The annual mummers’ play will be performed by Mr Baker’s Dozen.
If you missed last month…
Quay Folk Club held their very first ‘Special Guest Night’ in November with Drywood Duo, pictured below, supported by Second Time Around. The evening was very successful, so the plan now is to bring guests over from the mainland approximately twice a year. December’s offering on Sunday 18th will be Christmas themed, featuring a performance by Mr Baker’s Dozen of ‘The Christmas Boys’ mummers play. The club organisers, aka. the Quay Cabal, have their own spot, followed by a festive medley led by The Watch and Sheshells.
The long- awaited reopening of the weekly Tuesday singaround at the Dairyman’s Daughter in Arreton took place in November. The format remains the same as that before the pandemic, a mixture of song with a good scattering of playalong tunes. At the packed first meeting there were tributes to Den, who used to run the evening. A small group of volunteers will take turns to direct meetings in future. It is a big responsibility – deciding which way around the circle of performers to go.
November always brings songs about World Wars 1 and 2. Other wars are remembered, of course, but WW1 and 2 are particularly commemorated. Actually, the war-related songfest starts in October each year, or sometimes even September, and continues throughout November. There is certainly no shortage of material, old and new, some of it superb and much appreciated around the folk clubs.
If you should notice a folk singer sporting a knitted poppy, chances are it was knitted by Kate Seward, who raises money for the Royal British Legion every year by selling knitted poppies at folk clubs on the Island. If you see someone knitting at a folk night, chances are, it’s Kate. Kate and her husband Barry wrote a very funny song entitled ‘ Just let me finish me row’! No prizes for guessing what the song is about.
First Friday Figgy Gigs
West Wight has been lacking a regular folk night for some years, so it is good to see a new opportunity arising. The intriguingly-named Naked Figleaf Collective have announced a series of events on the first Friday of each month. These are likely to be a mix of music, not necessarily folk, and poetry. Two folk acts, Steve Love and Sheshells, have been chosen for the first ‘Gig’ on 4th November at CHOYD, Yarmouth. Doors open at 7pm, entry by donation.
Drywood Folk Duo
Coming up in November
There are several interesting visiting folk acts this month. Ventnor Arts Club welcomes Lizzy Hardingham on Friday 4th. Quay Folk Club have booked The Drywood Folk Duo from Northhampton after they were so well- received at the Yarmouth festival this year. Quay Arts Centre has two exciting acts – Granny’s Attic on Thursday 10th and Baskery on Friday 18th. Shalfleet Shanty Singers and The Watch are performing at another Andy Jackson Concert on Saturday 19th, 7pm at Shalfleet Village Hall. Finally, if you love dancing, don’t miss the annual Playford Ball, an afternoon event this year, on Saturday 5th. Details and links are on the Events page, as usual.
A recording of Isle of Wight Dialect made in 1962 has come to light. Stanley Cotton, a native of Whitwell, reads tales from WH Long’s Dictionary of the Isle of Wight Dialect and a rhyme from Percy Stone’s ‘Songs of the Soil’. The recording was made by Daphne Griggs, a student at Edinburgh University, as part of her master’s degree project. 1962 Dialect recording
Some October highlights
Saturday 8th presents a difficult choice! On the one hand, The Brighstone Barnacles, Sorella Acapella ( a harmony choir) and The Watch perform at St Mary’s Church, Brighstone in a concert for the homeless. It starts at 7,.30. For fans of storytelling, however, Three Island Storytellers, aka. TisTales, present Island Tales at the Medina Bookshop, Cowes, 19.30. Tickets £10 (essential) isleofwightliteraryfestival.com
Brighstone Barnacles
Later on, Friday 14th sees Shalfleet Shanty Singers in an evening of sea shanties at St Swithins Church, Thorley, 19.00. Light refreshments available. Free entry, retiring collection. On Sunday 16th, Ralph McTell makes a return visit to the Medina Theatre at 7.30. £28. Trafalgar Night celebrations will be taking place on Friday 21st with The Crew at The White Horse, Whitwell, from 7.30.
The Crew, along with caller Steve Taverner, performed at a fundraising barn dance in aid of the Isle of Wight Motor Neurone Disease Association. This association provides help and support to local people who are suffering from the disease. Hearing that the organisers had not sold as many tickets as they had hoped (due to lingering pandemic concerns), the generous band decided to donate their fee to this good cause.
The Crew
Stunning SeptemberLine-up
A number of interesting acts are visiting the Island next month. Full details can be found on the Events page.
Vaguely Sunny has booked singer songwriter Deborah Rose from Ludlow. Her pure voice and musicality enhance thoughtful songs, often with a social conscience. Deborah’s performance takes place on September 3rd at Freshwater.
Deborah Rose
The often-amusing songs of Jake Thackeray are to be presented on Monday 5th September in a celebration of his life and work by John Watterson aka ‘Fake Thackeray’. The Medina Bookshop in Cowes is the venue for this interesting event.
The cosy and comfortable Ventnor Arts Club is the location for a visit from Friction Farm, the husband and wife duo of Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay who live in South Carolina. Their act combines quirky humour, storytelling and social commentary with infectious tunes and intricate harmonies. Catch up with them on 10th September.
Friction Farm
Wildwood Jack, another husband and wife duo, are visiting Ventnor Arts Club on 15th September. Adam Piggott and Jayne Freeman offer accomplished contemporary folk music on guitar and ukulele with seasonings of bluegrass and world music.
Madge first got involved in folk music, song and particularly dance early in the 1990’s, by joining the Island Cloggies, where she first met husband Brian, the Cloggie’s main musician. She afterwards became a member of the Isle of Wight Appalachian Stompers, then Appletaps, a group which performed Appalachian and Tap stepping. Madge took up North West morris dancing, first with Wight Bells, then, when Brian taught morris dance at the newly created Carnival Centre, she joined him in the group which became Guith Morrris. When the group divided, Madge moved to the Whitgar half. So, Madge’s dancing career spanned a wide variety of styles over 30 years or more, including stepping, North West, Cotswold & Border Morris and country dancing.
From 1994, Madge became an honorary member of Caulkheads Ceilidh Band, helping with equipment, on the door and demonstrating dance moves when needed. At the New Year’s Ceilidhs at the Dairyman’s Daughter, too, her dance demo skills were always much in demand.
Madge and Brian married in 1996, on her birthday 24th May. They both enjoyed the many folk clubs and sessions here on the Island, plus folk festivals all over the country. Despite constantly saying to Brian; ” What have you done to me!!” Madge found she enjoyed immersion in folk music, made many friends and became quite knowledgeable on the traditions.
Condolences go to Brian and family on their sad loss. For friends and family, the funeral will be held at the Crematorium at 13:30, followed by a wake at Bluebells, Briddlesford Lodge Farm. Dress informal. Madge loved pastel shades.
Charitable Folk
Well done to the Howling Wolf Folk and Blues Club, they raised £40 at their Pete Holden Memorial Gig at Dimbola Lodge. Congratulations, too, to Monkton Arts, an evening event organised by them and featuring The Dance Preachers raised a whopping £1,329 for those in need in Ukraine.
The Dance Preachers at the Depozitory, Ryde
Coming up in August
Folk bands are represented in both Shanklin and Sandown Regattas. Brown’s Golf Course Cafe, a lovely venue, has an evening on Saturday 13th with both The Crew and Sheshells performing, 5pm start. At the end of the month, Sunday 28th sees Second Time Around return to The Hideaway on Shanklin clifftop for two hours of music starting at 3pm.
The Crew at Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Festival
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