From South Shropshire Blues Club

I don’t generally review gigs and events here, but this note from Moz Arnold about the Farmhouse Blues Day might be useful to anyone interested in the future of the event and of South Shropshire Blues Club.

Hello Blues Club Members and Friends.

Showers of rain were forecast for the Farmhouse Blues Day on Saturday 5th August being organised at Wheathill Court Farm near Burwarton, Shropshire, by the South Shropshire Blues Club. This event is mainly for the lovers of great live music (mainly blues) and to raise money for Cancer Research UK and the Ruperts Revenge Charity. There were back up plans to transfer the whole event to the inside of a very large barn in the event of heavy rain for the afternoon and evening, But the thunderstorms turned into light rain at 1.00pm and then stopped on cue for the 2.00pm start. The event proved a great success with the crowd present and the six great bands booked did not disappoint us and we made a good profit for the two great causes. It was a lot of hard work for the organising team and a few helpers and the wonderful Howells family who made their farm available and well done to one and all.

We were expecting a capacity crowd of 500 people, but the early rain dampened the numbers and in the end we got about 280 people, but Jack decided to risk the go ahead at 2.00pm. Partly because the headline act, THE DAMNED AND THE DIRTY had come all of the way from Holland for the day! The rest of the line up was SONS OF THE DELTA, THE LUCY HOWELLS DUO, JACK BRETT & BLUE MOON with guests, SWEET TALK and THE BIG WOLF BAND, all great stuff, we only had compliments from the crowd and people wanting to see them all again.

The South Shropshire Blues Club has been running for about 5 years and despite these difficult times, is still going from strength to strength. This was the the third event at Wheathill Court Farm and if you want to join us as a member or a helper, please email Stacie Jones at the SJConsultancy on……………………………… for details or for general info visit our website www.southshropshirebluesclub.co.uk , we are always looking for suggestions to improve the club. Some of the suggestions that we had this year included, possibly having a 2 day festival next year, but this would involve having a lot more helpers and we may start to lose our intimate club atmosphere? Also things like a shuttle bus from Bridgnorth to Ludlow and back again, calling at Wheathill court Farm on each run? Most people bring fold up camping chairs, but what about some straw bales to sit on as well? A wooden floor by the stage to dance on instead of the grass? We had one keen dancer who seemed to dance from 2 till 10.00pm, only breaking off to go the bar! We could go on forever, but everything we do costs time and money.

Whatever happens, dont miss the Farmhouse Blues Day next year, it will probably be all ticket up front with the barn as a back up plan. Also still left for this year is BLUES JAM at the Rose and Crown 19th August, BLUES BBQ at the Rose & crown 27th August, SLOWBURNER at the Ludlow Brewery Saturday 30th September, BLUES JAM at Rose & Crown 20th October, SPECIAL SUPER BLUES GIG at the Ludlow Brewery 18th November, BLUES JAM XMAS SPECIAL at the Rose & Crown 15th December. Please remember to look at the website to see if there any changes or additions.

Thank you all for your support for the last 5 years, I will still be around next year, but taking more of a back seat, getting old!

Regards and best wishes. Maurice (MOZ) Arnold.

Advertisements

UK Folk Music site resurgent

Alan Morley wrote to the Folk Clubs UK Facebook page as follows. I thought there might be readers of this blog who might find it of interest, especially if they run events or clubs.

Back in 2011, I started the UK Folk Music website [not connected to the Facebook page, by the way] which ran until the start of 2016 .

I have just launched a cut down version of the original website and will include a searchable index of UK Folk Clubs.

If there are any clubs in this excellent FB Group who would like to be included in the index either drop me a message on FB or email me info@uk-folk.co.uk

I have loads to add to the website but here’s a link to how it looks at the moment. We are already being picked up by search engines – the original site was top of Google.. http://ukfolkmusic.uk

I don’t have any connection with the web site or the Facebook page, so please contact them directly for further information.

David Harley

From South Shropshire Blues Club

It is now only a few days to the highlight of the Blues Club calendar. The Farmhouse Blues Day at Wheathill Court Farm near Burwarton. It runs from 2.00pm till 10.00pm on Saturday 5th August. Easy to find, take the Ludlow to Bridgnorth and turn by the side of the Three Horseshoes Pub and it is about 2 miles on the right, it will be well signposted on the day.

There is a great line up of top class blues musicians and singers including local professionals, plus blues stars from Birmingham and the Black Country and the headline act THE DAMNED AND DIRTY from Holland.

The approximate start times are as follows.

• 2.00pm. SONS OF THE DELTA.
• 3.00pm. LUCY HOWELLS BAND.
• 4.15pm. JACK BRETT AND BLUE MOON.
• 5.45pm. SWEET TALK.
• 7.00pm. BIG WOLF BAND.
• 8.30pm. THE DAMNED AND THE DIRTY.

Please note these times depend on change over times for each band.

The event is expected to attract the maximum allowable crowd of 500 people, as a bonus, there is the luxury of a very large barn available if the weather is not good, so you will not be wading in mud. But it will drop cold when the sun sinks below those pretty Shropshire hills, so please bring with you some extra layers of clothes and for your > comfort your fold up chairs, but dancing will be allowed if you promise not to be too silly! To avoid disappointment please get your tickets as soon as possible, visit www.farmhouseblues.co.uk and for more details about the Shropshire Blues Club events, please visit www.southshropshirebluesclub.co.uk

As usual the South Shropshire Blues Club are offering the very best in various types of live music, not just blues and the profits go to Cancer Research UK, to help beat cancer sooner, So you can enjoy great music and help save lives at the same time! This event will also raise money for the Ruperts Revenge Charity. Rupert is a local 5 year old boy who needs special expensive treatment to help fight a rare form of cancer and any money raised will help to give him a genuine and better chance to win the fight.

In addition to the great music, there will be great food available, a great bar with real beer and good car parking and camping facilities, they have even ordered extra toilets for those who drink too much beer, so camp or get a lift, but don’t drink and drive!

1. The South Shropshire Blues Club want to make absolutely sure that the Farmhouse Blues Day will be another jammed out success and make another good profit for Cancer Research UK and Ruperts Revenge. We would be most grateful if everyone would forward this email newsletter press release to their friends and relatives that may not be on our database.

If you love good live music and hate cancer, why don’t you give one hour per month to give out our posters in your area?

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY.

• Friday 18th August. 7.30pm. SUPER BLUES JAM at the Rose & Crown, Church Street, Ludlow. Friendly informal get together of all levels of musicians and singers.
• Sunday 27th August. Blues Club BBQ Free Entry Starring Jack Brett and Blue Moon and all visiting musicians will be welcome to join in on the second half.
• Saturday 30th September. 7.30pm. Our old favourites SLOWBURNER at the Ludlow Brewery. Rocking Blues with the amazing singer Paul Bridgwater.

Clun session – one-off change of date

Note from Trevor Hedges:

Just a quick reminder that the tenth anniversary party for the session at The Sun Inn, Clun, has changed from the usual fourth Thursday (ie tomorrow) to next week, 3rd August. It’s a one-off change for a one-off event – hope we get to see you there for a sing, a natter and a pint. 7.30ish.

 

Andrew and Margaret Watchorn in Ludlow

A message received on the blog site from Margaret Watchorn. Even if you can’t get to the gig (sadly, I won’t be able to), the web site is well worth a visit.
————————————
I found your contact details on the wonderful Leicestershire Folk Diary website and wanted to tell you about an event in your area at the end of September.

Andy and I are delighted to be returning to Ludlow to play a concert of traditional music and songs, mainly from Northumberland but with a few Swedish pieces from our travels. There’ll be toe-tapping dance tunes, lyrical slow airs, stories and tales linked to the music and a chance to join in some Northumbrian songs. It’s an ideal chance to see unusual instruments at close quarters and to hear what makes Northumbrian music unique.

Between us, we’ll be playing Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, renaissance bagpipes, Swedish pipes, nyckelharpa and guitar.

Date: Thursday 28th September 2017
Venue: Methodist Church, Broad Street, Ludlow
Time: 7.30pm (Doors open at 7.00pm)
Cost: £8 (accompanied children under 12 free) Pay on the Door

We’d be very grateful if you’d circulate the information as widely as possible. Further details are available by emailing info[at]pipesandfiddle.co.uk, or you can ring us on 01665 576245. To find out more about us, check out our website www.pipesandfiddle.co.uk

With thanks and best wishes,
Margaret

CD Review – Cory Flynn

Another review for Folking.com of the debut album by 16-year-old Cory Flynn. Raw, and maybe over-influenced by Dylan, but interesting nevertheless.

CORY FLYNN – A Boy Named Hunger (Long Way Home Music LWHM 003)

David Harley

Session cancellation

[Edited, as a second message suggests that there will be an informal evening.]
A message from Roger and Sue about the 2nd Friday session at the Dog and Pheasant, Severn Street, Shrewsbury.

Hi All,

Due to various problems (Roger having to work, Folks away playing or fulfilling other commitments) the session this month looks very thin on the ground so unfortunately we think it best to cancel. Sorry about and the short notice.

All should be back to normal next time 11th August so we hope to see you all then for lots of songs, tunes, poems and
stories.

Have a good start to the summer and enjoy the sun.

[Additional message]
The Dog and Pheasant landlord will be pleased to see anyone wishing to come in for an informal evening of chat, sing and play [this Friday]. Sue and Celia will be there from about 8.30pm and Roger when he’s had enough of work!!