January 29th 2015

Hello all,

..and to start..if there's anyone out there, my apologies for the absence of any blogs over the last few months but it was due to technicalities too boring to discuss.

Mid Balladeers I celebrated the Winter Solstice at St. Mary's, Discoed, where as we arrived , an old friend Mary appeared as if from the ether from the boughs of an old, ancient Yew... Mid- winter the whole place has that feeling, like my first memories of being driven through the Marches to a wassail, years before we moved here...the absence of light or recognisable landmark, hedge tunneled lanes  like a mixture both of being kidnapped in a foreign land and disappearing down Alices's rabbit hole.

It was a wonderful night of singing from the Whitton Voices and songs and instrumentals from the Harris /Kirkpatrick family, Sue Harris on dulcimer, George Kikpatrick on accordian and Benji Kirkpatrick on guitar and bazouki...there were moments you'd not have been surprised to see Mike Harding and a mobile recording unit from the BBC wheel in or indeed Radio 4 Extra as Benji and George performed a dialogue from Thomas Hardy of two  west- gallery players bemoaning the introduction of stringed instruments in a sufficiently faltering and comedic manner that it felt true to its time....The reason for this laboured intro is that we have :-

 The Swagmen, featuring George on accordian and Richard on assorted whistles, recently formed and making their first appearance at Balladeers and Chancers;

Andrew and Alex Cook, making their first appearance also as a duo at Balladeers and Chancers though you will be familiar with them as they have performed previously as members of  Izzyjack and RedMadog.This is a further example of familial musicalitiy...

Three Cool Cats  ..after the bar is closed and the tawny owl has saluted the nights depth, your local neighbourhood soundman and landlord disappear into the bowels of the Dukes where the monthly output of Knighton Guitar Shop is poured over and  old Marshall Amps, Strats, Gibsons,Takamini's and Fenders are cranked into life..and the night prowling cat gets a bit more hip,the dude on the street hears the beat and takes the tip...this is the gig thats down and flip....8 beats to the bar and counting...

Benji Kikpatrick ...I don't think we need to say too much...he's well known down our way...a muscular and driven solo performer from a local folk family; Bellowhead, Faustus and Seth Lakeman being musicians he now performs with, there's little doubt I'm really chuffed Benji has asked to perform at Balladeers and Chancers...in a month of so many unexpected highlights..(Balladeers and Chancers began in Bradford and look at the fourth round FA Cup results on that one!)..you really don't want to be saying you stayed in to read a book / make a curry / worm the cat....


...and March is looking similalrly wonderful


UTV


pax,
 


stephe