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A Nutty French Woman Production!
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A Special session with …
The afternoon got off to a really good start with
the Leopards as a threesome, rather than the duo we know and love
so well..!! They were to steer
the club’s proceedings, and they started by singing “Banks of the
Ohio” with their usual energy and enthusiasm..
Their second number is an already well loved one in the
Club… exalting the virtues (or otherwise..!?) of “four by
fours” so we went “riding down the road with our 4 x 4s!!” until they
came to their third song – I understand that they haven’t chosen
a name for it yet, but for now they call it “Grandad song” which
indicates that Trevor had a very wise granddad that gave him lots of really
good advice.
The “ukulele” king, namely Norman,
was the next floor spot, and he too started his set with a well known and
well loved George Formby song “When I’m cleaning Windows”
(how does he do those instrumentals?).
We all thoroughly enjoyed joining in with his second song
“I’m leaning on the lamp post”.. George must have been
smiling in his grave….
The next floor spot needed no introduction…Bill
sang about how he feels “on a Monday morning” but he brightened
up and went on to sing “Untitled” that was really a great anthem
for the “wrinklies” and “we are coming for you”!!
– yes, we are!!
Our guests today did their first set at this
point. Heather Dale and Ben
Deschamps are from Canada, and have been touring in the UK. Today was the last day of the tour,
and they are doing two Folk Clubs in one day, before they fly back tomorrow,
so we were very fortunate to have them with us today. Ben plays the guitar and sings;
Heather takes the lead on vocals, as well as playing the bohdran, the
recorder, and the appalachian dulcimer.
She has a lovely voice, and I really enjoyed the mixture of folk,
ancient music, and self penned songs.
The titles in this set were The Greyhound, Farmer Curst’s Wife,
The Holly and the Ivy, Bow to the Crown, Huron Carol, and Road to
Santiago. Lovely!
TDLs started the second half with a folk song which I
call “The Fox” – it may have a more accurate title, but it
was a good way to get us started again!
Liz brought us two poems. The first one I love –
it’s called “Oh, my, haven’t they changed” and I
think it rings so true to us “wrinklies” who get invited to
reunions occasionally.. The second (a bit more jolly especially for
me…because I love this one even more..!) It’s called “Shoes” –
Liz must have a really big wardrobe, but she says there are NOT many pairs!?
“The Scottish Soldier” was the name of the
song that Evelyn sang. She had
also come a long way to the club today, and we enjoyed singing with her. Thanks Evelyn!
Rika first time with us? She sang accompanying herself
skilfully with her guitar and her whistling! Her first song was Fresenof. The second was called
“Still catch the tide” – very enjoyable.
It was good to see Sonia here today, and as always she
sang beautifully. I was trying to
catch the title of the song while she was singing, and then she tells us that
she had just made it up! Hidden talent?.. “Knocking on Heaven’s
Door” was her second song sang with gusto, as Sonia does..
We had a bit more of Norman at this point –
“Shake Baby Shake” – what no George Formby..?
Bill was also asked
up on the stage again. He needed
rhythm from the audience, and other participation for this song about
Southend Pier, and he jolly well got it!!
Liz came
back by popular acclaim to recite “Do you remember” –
getting all nostalgic for the sixties. Hey man, I don’t remember much..
John Stafford had been hiding at the back, as he does,
but someone noticed, and he was persuaded to borrow a guitar to regale us
with the blues. “Swing low,
Sweet Chariot” he sang, reminding us that the song has been around for
generations – long before the rugby craze took it over. How dare they!
Rika sang a song called “The Yew Tree” at
this stage. A very beautiful song indeed, which I don’t think I had
heard before, but very much enjoyed, and then it was time to welcome Heather
and Ben again.
Their second set was as striking as the first. With such variety of instruments and
interesting mix of songs, this was again a most interesting set. Among the titles were “Johnny I
hardly knew ye”, “Matty Groves”, and “Who’s the
Fool Now”. We were
privileged indeed to have such travelled guests at the Fab Club, and hope
that they’ll come back when they’re next touring in this country.
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