Coppersmith busking for Ukraine as part of Ukrainian Support Day – Ryde
So much happening
April was absolutely packed with folk events. One evening hosted four events, two of them in aid of Ukraine. The Ukranian Support Day in Ryde raised over £3000 and The Caulkheads, JC, Ian Watterson and friends took donations of £350 at their barn dance. Well done to all concerned!
Sheshells at The Ukranian Support Day
St George’s Day was suitably filled with the jangle of morris bells and songs about the patron saint.
Oyster Girls dancing on St George’s Day
Magical May
May is shaping up to be equally busy. The Longstones saw a sizeable crowd gather to welcome the rising sun.
Men of Wight dancing the sun up.
Currently, 31 one-off events in May 2022 are listed on the Events page, and that does not include regular clubs and folk nights. Highlights: Bob’s Basement 20th Anniversary Celebrations at the start of the month; Wolverton Folk and Blues Fair on Saturday 14th and the expanded Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties starting on Friday 27th May.
Well done to the Waverley Folk and Music Night regulars for stuffing cash into a Ukrainian Support Bucket. The Oyster Girls put on a splendid dance display at The Garlic Farm, helping to raise well over £4000 for the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. Brighstone Barnacles, Sheshells, Bob Russell, David White, Ruth Lockyer and Verity Bird with her merry ukulele band helped to fill Brighstone Church’s fundraising concert. Quay Arts Centre have dedicated two Sundays to their appeal for funds. Popular performers including JC and Angelina, Red Sqwrl, Steve Love, Second Time Around, Keith Newnham and Rick Otley have given their time and expertise to the cause. The second concert at Quay Arts kicks off again next Sunday, 3rd April. The St Patrick’s Day session in Ryde raised a splendid £140 for the local Ukraine Support Day.
Ruth Lockyer delivered a moving poem at Brighstone Church
Folk acts coming to Ventnor
Ventnor Arts Club has booked several folk bands this year. This is a very comfortable and welcoming venue. Fred’s House from Cambridge bring their harmony filled style of folk-rock on Friday 22nd April. Tuneful Milton Hide duo from Sussex visit on Friday 10th June. From much further afield comes Friction Farm, an American folk duo whose songs are full of stories, social comment and humour. Catch up with them on Saturday 10th September. Book for any evening on www.ventnorartsclub.com
CD Launch
Andy Roberts launched the hard copy of his CD The Rowan Tree last week. Previously, only an electronic version was available but now you can buy it at his gigs. There are 10 tracks, including folk club favourites The Nutmeg Tree, The Rowan Tree and The Wreckers’ Prayer.
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Around 150 people enjoyed a fabulous performance from Peter Knight and John Spires at Quay Arts Centre on the last Friday in February. The two superb musicians kept the audience enthralled with an amazing series of strong folk tunes, expert variations and a superb mix of styles .
Thursday 17th March is awash with events this year. The Traveller’s Joy Folk Club reopens after its winter break at13.30. Later, an Irish themed ‘come all ye’ folk session takes place at a new venue, The Star Coffee House, in Ryde’s High Street. This may herald the start of a new folk club. Irish music can also be heard at The Steamer Inn, Shanklin, The Spyglass, Ventnor and Monkton Arts Centre in Ryde.
An Irish music session at The Porter Club
Storytellers on the move
The Island Storytellers have a special evening on Wednesday 16th March at Boojum and Snark, Sandown, starting at 7pm. when the theme is ‘ Traditional Tales’. Booking is essential, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-traditional-tales-tickets-271140256807 . The storytellers plan to move their regular meetings to the third Tuesday of the month in future.
The morris sides are brushing up their dances ready for the long summer season. Clubs and Folk Nights are filling up as Covid recedes, it appears. More one-off events are being planned, like 2nd Time Around entertaining at the Lord Louis Library this month and a concert by Slainte Va at the Mountbatten Centre early in April.
Slainte Va
The omicron wave did result in one or two postponements so there is more to look forward to later on. Quay Arts put back the Cara Dillon date to April 30th and Outside Track to 29th June and they are bringing Rachel McShane and the Cartographers over for a return visit.
If comedy is your bag, don’t miss Steve Love’s Island Songs as you sip your morning coffee at Monkton Arts Cafe, Ryde. Steve performed there fortnightly last year and it looks like his ‘world tour’ is back on again.
See Events for details of all these happenings and many more.
Folkonwight wishes you all a happy and music-filled New Year!
Boxing Day at Arreton Barns was quieter than usual but there was plenty of dancing
Quiet start
Not surprisingly, recent uncertainty means fewer gatherings at the start of 2022, but there are plans under discussion for possible new clubs and folk nights later in the year……
Or perhaps not so quiet
Meanwhile, there are two major events at Quay Arts Centre to look forward to. Vibrant five-piece band The Outside Track visit on Friday 28th January. The Outside Track’s blend of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has brought them an enthusiastic following. Expect an energy-packed mix of fiddle, accordion, harp, guitar and flute plus step dance and vocals delivered by virtuoso musicians. Not to be missed! https://www.quayarts.org/event/the-outside-track-2/
On Friday February 25th, Peter Knight and John Spires, two of the most gifted musicians on their chosen instruments, the violin and the melodeon. Together they create inspirational performances based on musical folk traditions, particularly the rich heritage of dance tunes. This will be a night to remember, well worth spending your Christmas present money on! https://www.quayarts.org/event/peter-knight-and-john-spiers/
Christmas went ahead
Tony Nicol in the ‘Christmas Boys’ Mummers Play at Arreton Barns, Boxing Day
Here are a couple of highlights…….
The Festive FolkiesMorris dancer Dilys at Arreton Barns, Boxing Day Men of Wight, Boxing Day, Arreton Barns
There are lots of festive folky treats to look forward to this year, including many which take place out of doors. The following events had been announced by the start of December, but keep an eye on the Events page for any updates.
The Oyster Girls
On Sunday 5th December, the colourful Oyster Girls bring dance and music to the banks of the Medina as they process along the cycle path from Island Harbour to Newport Quay AND BACK to raise money for the very worthwhile charity, Shelter. They set off from Island Harbour at 10.30. Look out for lots of bemused cyclists en route. Here is the link for donations. I’m fundraising for Shelter!
Thursday 9th is the date for Ruth’s annual Christmas Reflections Concert at the Salvation Army Hall in Pyle Street, in aid of the Army’s Christmas Appeal for the homeless. Ruth has organised this lovely concert for many years and it is always a heart warming treat. Tickets must be reserved, full details on the Events page. Folk Night at the Porter Club’s usual Christmas mayhem has been shifted to Thursday 16th to give Ruth’s event a clear run.
Men of Wight in Christmas kit
Saturday 18th is looking rather busy. It first sees the traditional pre-Christmas morris dancing event organised by Men of Wight in St. Thomas’s Square, Newport, starting at noon. Then, as darkness falls, Bloodstone Border Morris light the beacon on Culver Cliff and dance, weather and Covid permitting. Finally, The Dance Preachers take over the cafe at Quay Arts. Doors open at 7 o’clock.
The Festive Folkies
The Quay Folk Club’s popular Christmas event is on Sunday 19th. The ever-popular Festive Folkies take centre stage, ably supported with merriment and music from the Quay Cabal and The Christmas Boys.
A performance of The Christmas Boys’ Mummers’ Play
Hearty carol singing is the plan for December 23rd at The Traveller’s Joy, starting at 1.30. The Christmas Boys pop up again at 11.45 on Boxing Day at The Dairyman’s Daughter. Finally, the Gallybagger Folk Night at Chillerton is going from strength to strength to help us make the most of the run up to the New Year.
Other events may be announced later, or circumstances may change, so see Events for updates.
November is looking good. Peter Knight, formerly of Steeleeye Span and a superb fiddle player, is due to bring his trio, Gigspanner, to perform at Quay Arts Centre on Wednesday 3rd. The bargain ticket price is only £16. Also coming up this month – The Watch and Rug Band at Monkton Arts, the annual Playford Ball, Irish-themed songs and poetry in Ryde, ‘Classical meets Folk’ in Ventnor and a fundraiser for the Foodbank. See Events for details and links.
The Playford Ball
Helping a good cause
A fantastic result from a fantastic weekend. The organising committee of The Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Weekend presented a cheque for £3000 to Needles Coastwatch Institute. The money was collected through car parking fees and donations. Also after much in-depth discussion, the date has been announced for 2022. Next May, the green at Yarmouth will resound with shanties and forebitters between 27th and 29th May, 2022.
Slainte Va at the Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties Festival
Good news
The Quay Folk Club Cabal met recently to discuss the feasibility of occasionally bringing over a top-quality band or performer from the Big Island. Watch out for announcements…..
It was very sad news to hear that Caroline Giles died recently, in mid September. Caroline was an accomplished musician who joined in at play along sessions on a variety of instruments, guitar, violin, banjo and, most frequently, flute, recorder and whistle. In the 90s, Caroline played in the local band ‘Well Oiled’. She regularly visited the Dairyman’s Daughter Folk Night and her tunes were always a highlight of the evening.
Yarmouth Sea Songs and Shanties, 2021
The ever-popular Brighstone Barnacles produced a humdinger of a set at Yarmouth
Here are some random comments from enthusiastic audience members at the Yarmouth shanty festival. “The best so far”, “When is the next one?”, “That was a really enjoyable weekend”, “Very well organised”, ” Amazing quality of musicianship”, “We are so glad we came along”.
Coppersmith rocking Yarmouth
Great Expectations
There has been so much interest about the future of the Tuesday weekly folk night at the Dairyman’s Daughter. Unfortunately, it is unable to restart at the moment. Keep watching for announcements, as soon as a date is set it will appear in Events and the Clubs etc. page.
Following the success of a one-off Cajun jam session at the Porter Club last month, there are hopes of a monthly Irish jam session at the same location. A meeting has taken place between a potential session leader and the club secretary. Watch out for further announcements.
Meanwhile, rumours are coming out of West Wight. The possibility is being explored of a new folk night at Dimbola. The previous folk night was very successful, full to capacity and more for a number of years. Perhaps there may be pent-up demand for a singaround with a guest spot.
Eremue Folk, Yarmouth locals
Andy Jackson Variety Concerts
So, after a year’s delay (side effect of Covid) and many, many changes of name, Ruth Lockyer’s series of concerts in aid of The Salvation Army’s Christmas Appeal for the Isle of Wight’s homeless will finally go ahead. The first concert is in Wellow on Saturday 2nd October, followed by Shalfleet at the end of the month, Ryde in November and finally the usual annual concert in Newport in December.
The Oyster Girls formed a fabulously colourful guard of honour outside St Mary’s Church in Brading for the wedding of Pam Matthews, one of their dancers.
John Bentley and Karen Butcher chose Quay Arts Centre for their wedding venue. The Quay looked at its most attractive and atmospheric. Garlands and lights hung in festoons from the ceiling and the chairs were covered and decorated with bows. Part of the entertainment was, you guessed it, folk music from their many friends, followed by a mega jam session.
Congratulations to both the happy couples!
More song venues open up
The Gallybagger Inn Folk Night reopened on the last Thursday in July with Sham organising the evening, ably supported by other Barnacles. The refurb. has greatly improved the acoustics and the decor. The locals who put in so much effort during lockdown have done an excellent job. Plus, the new committee are doing all they can to ensure the event is as Covid- safe as possible.
Unfortunately, The Trinity Folk Club in Ventnor was unable to start at the end of July, as planned. A new date of 20th August has been announced.
The Spyglass Inn in Ventnor is resuming live music in August.
Dancing is back
Several sides are out dancing now. Men of Wight have a full programme for the summer, Moonshine, Bloodstone and the Oyster Girls have all performed too. Whitgar and Wight Bells are brushing up their heys. The Playford social dance group is setting and turning single with gusto. Only Guith are lagging behind, in urgent need of a (temporary) musician .
Sheshells are a newly formed all-female singing group. They can be heard at Ventnor Fringe on Sunday 25th July, when, weather permitting, they plan to make the bandstand in Ventnor Park ring from 1pm with a salty selection of shanties and sea songs. Stick around that afternoon and a little later you can enjoy the music of the ever-popular Second Time Around, who take to the stage at 2pm.
The Sheshells, pictured below, recently performed for the first time at The Porter Folk Night, Ventnor.
Morris on
At last, the Island’s morris sides are finally able to revisit their dances in a socially distanced outdoor way. Some are now planning to perform in front of real crowds once more. On Sunday 18th July, The Highland Gathering descends on the Steam Railway at Havenstreet. As well as the electrifying Bloodstone Border Morris, the entertainers include Scottish Country Dancers, Pete’s Sake and Wight Hot Pipes. Not a bad line-up for just £10. Phone 07779794103.
Willthey or won’t they?
Clubs planning to open up this month are Island Storytellers on Monday 19th, Chillerton Folk Night on Thursday 29th and Trinity Folk Club, Ventnor on Friday 30th, see Events page for details. Of course, all this depends on our new Health Secretary and a small collection of molecules so tiny they cannot function alone.
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