Diary Notes Diary Notes

Home , Albert Lee, Devon Sproule, Georgie Fame, Paul Sartin, Spiers and Boden

Diary Notes as at 22.5.2009 the diary notes have glitched out: this is a rebuild

1st January 2009: Clopton Barn Dance Instep: a great evening

9th January 2009 Hank Wangford Ipswich Manor Ballroom

18th January Midwinter Bluegrass Day The Steamboat Ipswich

24th January 2009: Cynthia Garland 60th Birthday: Inertia Reel 60's night

30th January 2009 Everyman: Rob Harbron & Emma Reid

7th February 2009 Jackie Oates at Sproughton (Bill n Sheila in support

14th February Ceilidh Sproughton Fidget Pie with Dave Hunt

19 - 23 February 2009 ESMM Trip to Malta 27 February 2009 Everyman Folk Club Horse's Brawl

6th March 2009 Big Music Night 16 Bramford Victory HAll

7th March 2009 Ceilidh: Ducking n Diving at Kesgrave School (Bill leading)

14th MArch 2009 Instep Ceilidh Honington Village Hall (St Patrick's night)

21st March 2009 Sproughton Ceilidh Chalktown with Adam Highes

27th March 2009 Everyman: Belshazzar's Feast

18th April 2009 Ceilidh Sproughton Tim of your life with Barry Goodman

23-26th April 2009 Orwell Bluegrass Festival

24th April 2009 Everyman Folk Club: Alison McMorland & Geordie McIntyre

3rd May 2009 Community Day Alexandra Park, Bill n Sheila

4th May 2009 ESMM Earsham & Mendlesham

16th May 2009 Ceilidh Sproughton: English Rebellion with Ian Wilson

17th May 2009 HAdleigh Bluegrass Day.

23rd May 2009: Martin Simpson, Andy Cutting, Andy Seward. Halesworth Cut: a concert of 2 halves, the first half rather sedentary and uninspired for the most part, the second good but not as good as these three should be playing together. High spot for me Martin's completion of the song and tune written by Martin Taylor for his son and a blistering LAkes of Ponchartrain from the playing of the Louisiana Honeydrippers who i shall have to research, (a bluegrass cajun band!). Would have been better with the bull bass, but the neck had snapped so an electric bass guitar sufficed. Andy Cutting woke up tastefully a couple of times during the evening but that aside his expertise was wasted.

25th May 2009: ESMM Wool Towns Tour: I enjoyed Long Melford, 3 stops and Kentwell , I came home but the sides went on to dance at Lavenham and Monks Eleigh. Blackmore Morris also shared the day with us. A short video of Blackmore at Kentwell Hall is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKKd_zqldJw

29th MAy 2009 Everyman Folk Club Emily Portman, Lucy Farrell & Hinny Pawsey:Pawsey Rubus on holidy so Emily brought Lucy and Hinny for their world premiere! A very good night, all graduates of the Newcastle Folk Degree, so solo bits, group bits and duo bits some of which derive from the course. Girls with a future in store.

30th MAy 2009 Bill at Thaxsted Ring Meeting, 75th Thaxted Ring Meet. Bill was not intending to stay for the feast and the show spot but relented and quite enjoyed the feats in the Church as an experience, (not necessarily to be repeated). East Suffolk had been specifically asked to perform a couple of border dances, (which we usually do at Christmas). I think I should have gone home at that point, I felt that we were one of the low points in what was admittedly a very strong show, but an environment in which we usually excel, not on this occasion, ce la vie. I enjoyed seeing the Bacup Coconut Dancers, and the Great Yorkshire Morris put on some terrific shows during the day and in the set piece, (this was their dancing into the ring). I prticularly enjoyed their Bidford DAnces. Westminster MM were excellent as ever and I hope to be in receipt of the tune for Loveless shortly.

31st May 2009 Fiddle Workshop, Pickerel Stowmarket followed by band practice for Uncle Tom Cobbleigh band for Children's Festival. Michael Feather led a very constructive workshop suitable for all levels, including beginners like me. The practice was fun too, (and a very enjoyable tea followed).

1st June 2009 ESMM Ladies Night: thin on attendance but an enjoyable evening

2nd June 2009 Hadleigh George Bluegrass usual suspects and as usual the post open mic playaround for 20 mins was the best bit!

5th June 2009 Lo Jo IpswIpswichich Carribean Club Peppery Productions : enough said, the legendary band from France. Various instrumentation, wonderful playing and great material except on the occasions when it osunded a bit like a 70's prog rock revival and I felt we'd all been here before, just that the bricks are piled up slightly differently. A great night out though. I may YouTube a couple of the captured songs. Thanks Martin & Hugh.

6th June 2009 The Shee at Sproughton Church Hall: another graduate band from the Newcastle University Folk Music Course, but this band works in a way that the others which we have seen this year strive to. Great music, cohesive arrangements and musical and personal dynamics which lend a positive musical tension to the performance. A great unplugged set from a band which will be gracing festival stages with serious amplification in the future. THis way was good.

9th June 2009: Bluegrass Tattingstone: a good evening, more songs than thrash which was good and a few good tunes with fiddle and melodeon, (Blugrass, yes. Bill Monroe played a melodeon).

12th June 2009 Instep Honington Village Hall: second booking of the year at this venue and a great night playing for the Honington Band Social, Phil PArham calling on excellent form.

13th June 2009: dropped in at SSteamboatteamboat Riverside WeekendWeekend for a short while at lunchtime and watched the dancing.

14th June 2009: as above but as participant with ESMM, and watched Pretty Grim and the Priory Morris for a while. 16th June 2009 Bluegrass Stratford St Mary: the usual supects in good form. All getting excited about Steeple Morden this weekend, we are otherwise engaged playing the Wolsey THeatre so can't complain.

19th June 2009: Technical rehearsal for Wolsey show tomorrow: a real variety show of the old fashioned sort. now we know what it entails easier to see how we fit in. Great fun, bumped into Glenn on drums, (plays with Bernie Holloway), and Tony Coe the MC is a trouper of the old school, a song and dance man and jazz musician. Should be a good day and an interesting experience.

20th June 2009 Summer Variety at Wolsey Theatre in aid of Victim Support once things settled down, we found out what we were doing this all went very well, we played as people came in and waited for showtime, and played during the interval. Caught up with some old friends and made some new ones. A bit disappointed not to be name checked in the programme or publicity given we were asked a couple of years ago to be a part of this, but hey ho, one less souveneir programme to clutter the place up. Received positive feedback.

22nd June 2009: ESMM Orford & BlaxhallBlaxhall: Good to go out with the Morris, 2 good stands.

24th June 2009: Dog & Duck Campsea Ashe a long time since we have been to this session, good music, good friends, a good night.

27th June 2009 ESMM Framlingham SquareSquare: a couple of good stands if a bit thin on the ground

28th June 2009: McGinty's Ipswich: SessionSession; We just popped in for a drink, we hadn't been to this session before so sat in the corner. Faces who are not present at other sessions we attend and some very good playing and singing, a couple of excellent songwriters.

29th June ESMM The Dickie at East End and Tattingstone White Horse: a sunny evening and an excellent turnout. I had recommended the TAttingstone White Horse and it seemd to go well, good beer and a genuine welcome.

30th June 2009 Bluegrass at The Crown CattawadeCattawade: second visit to this venue and we were made very welcome and fed half way through.

3rd July 2009 Martin Taylor & Alison Burns Fleece JAzz Club Stoke By NaylandNayland:::: a superb evening of world class guitar playing and excellent singing from Martin and Alison, reminds me why I remain a parlour player. (Martin has been playing since the age of 8 and gigging professionally since he was 15 so I am doing ok to just be out there on a couple of hours a week!) 4th July 2009: Instep Wedding Thornham Suffolk: an interesting evening at which our blend of barn dance, blues, jazz and all things musical seemed to go down well despite technical glitches with kit and that half the band were in the tent and half out of it, (the tent that is!) Met Debbie Moorre who was part of the catering squad aside from having just graduated in performing arts and being a (past) member of Suffolk Songwriters. If you see this Debbie leave a message in the guestbook..

7th July 2009 ESMM/Billy's Trust Childrens Festival: We spent the morning at the Spiegeltent in Christchurch Park teaching Morris to about 130 Primary Schoolchildren, and in the afternoon providing a Celidh for about 140 children at Ipswich Corn Exchange. A pretty good show, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ej9sllKGwk for a video of the Circassian Circle which ended the event. The oldies among us were bemoaning the loss of traditional music and song from the general school curriculum and thinking back fondly to 'Singing Together' and 'Music and Movement'. I had the privelige to play for Jenny Everett's children's Rapper Sword Team, and was delighted to renew acquaintance with an old friend from the criminal justice world, now more gainfully employed as a Primary School Head Teacher, (hi Christine).

8th July 2009 Children's Dance Festival (Bill & Edward) as a part of Heather Bexon's Music Group Uncle Tom Cobley: Ipswich Corn Exchange great fun and we would do it again. Thanks to Heather for asking me. See you next year!

8th July 2009 Dog & Duck session very enjoyable, a fair exploration of the French tunes, which are ok once the differneces can be recognised. I came home and explored Ceilidhsoc which has most of Roman's tunes on it so that I can top and tail the learning.

11th July 2009 Two Parties: Heather and mike Bexon's fancy dress and Ken and Kate's 40th Wedding Anniversary & Ken's 65th birthday. Very different events, both extremely enjoyable. Sheila and me are going to have to extend our repotoire as Inertia Reel seem to have pinched a half dozen of our regular songs! I think we play them better. Less cluttered.

13th July 2009 ESMM Barley Mow Witnesham and Whilte Hart OtleyOtley: OK dancing, good to see some friends from Chameleonic on holiday in Suffolk. Usual tensions, I left after the dancing.

14th July 2009 Bluegrass at White Horse Tattingstone: thin on the usual supects but supplemented by friends from Uncle Tom Cobley: see above, a good time was had by all. (Probably a bit bluesy and tune based for the hardliners but we had a lot of fun!)

17th July 2009 Henley Cross Keys we did a short set as floor spot, JAmes Dixon was the featured artist, a 20 year old student phenomenon on guitar, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FBTAQWNU08 for his encore.

18th July 2009 Instep a wedding in deepest Essex where we played folk, country, blues and had a barn dance. The groom said he booked us becuase he could tell we were laid back and reliable, yes. A good time was had by all, next stop Sproughton in September and to buy a lead tester!

20th July ESMM Woolpit supposedly with Hageneth Morris who could only muster 3 men.Usual tensions, church bells, nice crowd, I left after the dancing. 21st July 2009 Stratford St Mary Swan Bluegrass: an enjoyable evening and interesting mix of players.

27.7.2009 ESMM AldeburghAldeburgh: i nearly didn't go but itw as a good evening with two creditable dance stands and few of the usual tensions, Sheila took some good pictures. Apologies for lack of dress code.

2nd August 2009: a quiet musical week, i've done some photo tidying, finally reveiwed Colin Andrews CD which he sent and asked me to weeks ago, see http://www.blogster.com/folkbluesnbeyond/gleanings-colin-andrews and have updloaded a file of Lithuanian folk music from the 15th century to date which I was given about ten years ago and have just rediscovered, it is glorious. Uploaded as two 25mb mp3s but loads of tracks with the glorious baltic harmonies and vigorous dance music. Posted at http://www.esnips.com/web/LithuanianFolkMusicMantosKansonas better to download and save, you can then split the tracks using 'audacity' software or similar, or just listen to the sides complete.

Have also received the lead tester and just about worked out how to use it, good for an hour of two of fun with the spaghetti suitcase! Current works in progress on the guitar are Day Trip to BAngor, Bonnie & Clyde and I have been retrying to extend the Grateful Dead repotoire, (a one man psychedelic rock group me!) 4th August 2009: Hadleigh Bluegrass: an enjoyable evening, I think I must have enjoyed it because at the end it was remarked that I had done a lot of playing. Not sure whether that was good news or not!

7th --- 14th August 2009 Broadstairs Folk Week: We only survived to the Thursday before feeling folked out and realising that Friday's programme was less preferred to getting home to recover for work next week! This is what we did:- star system * - ***** with the odd + thrown in for good measure.

7th August: The Hot Club of Cowtown on the final gig of their current tour, given one set they packed an unbroken wealth of material into the programme with an energy and drive that confirmed them as one of my favourite bands, ***** ++ Support band was Mothers Ruin, a 'Sage Gateshead' degree course band, excellent and committed musicians all who did a good job on the night, good enough, but a few years of hard travellin will make a difference! Sheila bought Dan Walsh's Banjo CD**+

8th August 2009 in the morning Bill went to Tom CroninCronin's mandolin workshop and elarnt a couple of tunes, (one that had been on the to do list for a while)., Tom was very friendly and helpful and taught the tunes well. I later caught him in the street and video'd once through each tune so I could remember how to do it when i got home. ***. Sheila went to Beth CoyleCoyles voice workshop. In the afternoon Bill went to MichaelMichael Roach and Rick FranklinFranklin's workshop. An interesting experience with three guitarists, and a dozen non playing Swedish people who thought it was a concert, only one of whom could speak English. It was good to be directly in touch (at one remove) from the tradition, but as Piedmont Blues is already one of Bill's 'things' he simply enjoyed playing along. *** In the evening we went to the Concert to see Alastair AndersonAnderson, (if he didn't exist someone would have to invent him), a giant of folk academia, a genius english concertina player, but pretty tedious. ** Alastair was supporting Eric Bogle and John Munro on this leg of their No More Waltzing Matilda tour. Great songs, well sung and never (say never) to be seen in England after this tour, Bill was asleep by the end of it. ***

9th August 2009 Bill accepted DrohneDrohne's invitation to a workshop playing French tunes by ear for dancing. He took his concertina and mandolin and had a great time. Pitched at a sensible level and well run.Good explanation of French dance rhythms. **** In the afternoon Bill nd Sheila both took their fiddles to a workshop run by Boldwood called Ready Steady Scrub. THis was excellent. Boldwood are fine players and excellent tutors and we came away having progressed our playing and having had a great time. ****+ In the afternoon we dropped into Jody Kruskall and Paul Friedman's concert at the RAilway Museum. Excellent music played by fine musicians with a care for the material and a flair for its arrangement. **** In the evening we went to Shirley Collins (MBE's) presentation America Over the Water about her field trip with Alan Lomax. This was excellent. Bill is a Fred McDowell fan and it was great to be one handshake away from the source. ***** At the presentation Bill bumped into Nancy Wallace recent FRoots front page featured 'up and coming young artist' who was staying with her auntie in Broadstairs! Something for the Broadstairs team to research and consider for future years. I used to play in a dance band and was in a morris side with Nancy's dad so it is great to see her doing so well in the folk world.

10th August 2009 Bill n Sheila enjoyed Boldwood so much that they took their fiddles (and mandolin) to the workshop on 18th Century Dance Tunes which was as good as the previous day's workshop had promised it would be. Bill stayed the course and Sheila went to 'hula hoop' with Jess Bexon. Correctly described as intermediate advanced, so no complaints. ****+ In the afternoon we went to The Navvie's WifeWife, a show by MiMiMickMi ck Ryan with and all star folk cast, excellent, knocked some of Asley Hutching's offerings into a cocked hat! *****. Bill went on to a squeezebox concert Squeezing across America, with Keith Kendrick &Sylvia&Sylvia Needham, Jerry Epstein, Chris Taylor, Chris SadlSadlerer and Eddie Jay. The event was disorganised and run by Keith Kendrick on something of a wing and a prayer so that it was a curate's egg, good in parts. Chris Sadler was complately outclassed and should have left the guitar at home, (I like him and what he does but this was not his event). Eddie Jay on the piano accordian was the humble and fantastic star of the show. **. In the evening we dropped in at the Pavilion to see Sarah Savoy and the Francadians, we only stayed a short while, Cajun is either excellent or worth missing. Good to see that our friends Joe Hymas and Jolene had arrived, (Joe plays with Monroe's Revenge, more later). We moved onto watch the New DealDeal String Band worth seeing, but not for then length of time they overran by (deliberately it seemed). Ben Paley discreetly holding the whole set together, with Tom Paley and Joe Locker worthy of respect but rather off the plot most of the time. **. Devon Sproule was a delight, playing well crafted songs and backed by some excellent musicians. BBBJBJ Cole exceptional, (which is usual for him), with outstanding musicianship which crystallized the overall sound. ****

11th August 2009 Bill started the day with Joe Hymas'Hymas' Mandolin Workshop, and his words on emerging were thaht itw as the best workshop he had ever been to. Joe is a friend, and an exceptional musician who has hitherto been mainly active in Bluegrass although his interests and activities are a lot wider. He took the usual Broadstairs workshop mix of customers through an extremely demanding couple of hours, but with clear and cleverly illustrated explanations of quite complex ideas and concepts, everyone twiddling to their hearts content but soaking up the learning. To an outsider chaos would appear to rule but the content and range was astonishing, and brilliantly communicated. ***** Bill popped in to see Monroe's Revenge in the afternoon at the Albion. They are regulars at the local Bluegrass Festivals in Suffolk and strutted their stuff proudly ***. Good to see Bluegrass at Broadstairs. In the evening we went ot the concert to see Tony Carling , coarse and pretty difficult to justify *, Kirsty McGee Hobopop Collective. capable but yes it is pop and redolent of early Fairground Attraction, professional ear candy but pretty dated and unexciting **+, SpiersSpiers and Boden atop the bill with lots of fands in the audience. I have great respect for both men. John Spiers sold my daughter her melodeon back in the day. They brought their own soundman and aside from the core music managed to effect drum n bass. I am not sure how, I suspect with an amplified board with Jon Boden and electronic processing of the bass end of John Spiers melodeon, however it was overpowering and unnecessary. The 'patter' although informal bordered on patronising the audience and although they played some great music behind and between the drum and bass and the floorshow they were irritating overall. (A view obviously not shared as they attracted an ovation from the floor, and a view not to detract from the sense that the great guys that we have met and previously chatted to are still there somewhere behind the fame.)**** We did stay up for the late night at Upton School which was an 'American flavour'flavour', this wasn't bad but still had the rather ploddy feel of an English pub 'singaround the room'. We have recently fallen in with the bluegrass picking and festival scene and in future years a venue with a band from that environment to host a propoer picking session could be so much more fun, firing a big V8 pickup all cylinders. I gather that Joe Hymas more than stayed the course (including the 2am secret concert) and got back to his tent at 6am! 12th August 2009 Bill n Sheila went to Richard Partridge'sPartridge's BluBluegrassegrass Fiddle workshop which was evry good. Richard had prepared, provided heplful handouts to review the structure of the workshop and gave clear demonstrations of the various techniques he uses and their context in the Bluegrass setting. *** We escaped to Ramsgate for a walk and break from the festival returning for the Maybelles spot in the afternoon concert, which was 'good but no cigar' was Bill's note at the time. Apparently friends of the 'Be Good Tanyas', ..... a competent set. ** In the evening we settled for the concert tent, (the hill into town becoming a bit wearing on the legs). Pete Morton was frankly overblown and boring, (can be good but the new stuff seems to be an indulgence too far). * Rosie DoonanDoonan and the Snapdragons were good fun, (more ear candy) if unmemorable. Faustus knocked Spiers and Boden into a cocked hat, both in the excellence of the playing, the choice of material, and the presentation. Still more larking around and presumption than i would have liked, but less overtly arrogant. This is maybe the better part of Bellowhead. Paul Sartin is always good value and joined by Saul Rose and Benji Kirkpatrick a tour de force. ***** We managed another late night with the Music Hall hosted by Lynne Heraud and Pat TurnerTurner, good friends and a great fun evening was had by all, (video evidence is available!)

13th August 2009 Bill went to Jody Kruskall's AngloAnglo Concertina Workshop, ********while Sheila went to Paul Friedman's corresponding fiddle workshop. Bill had a great time and the learning was great in that it moved his style along where it had plateaued, and the chord work was particularly valuable. Visit Jody's site for tune of the month regularly and more information.

Hence we were folked out by Thursday lunchtime and came home. We could have had easily as good a week chasing all of the people we missed. Bill particularly regrets not catching Dave Goulder during the week. There was an excellent ladies Rapper side performing along the front, Harwich Morris managed a full side well into the week which was good to see after a thin finish in previous years. Mike Garland from ESMM visited the festival with grandchildren so maybe will come in the future. Thank you to Kim and the festival team for another great year, we look forward to the next! 6th to 13th AugustAugust 2010.

14th August 2009: Folk at the Mill: Kersey Mill. Mike Green and Dave Tricker, and Stan and Maggie, played in support of Mary Humphries and Anahata who turned in two blistering sets of finely chosen traditional and dance music and song. Great venue, well organised as a joint venture between Suffolk Folk and Kersey Mill, promising a lot more, but I suspect only if the terms are right.

18th August 2009 Stratford St Mary Bluegrass: Sheila and me enjoyed a great night playing good music. Mike Rogers has bought himself a Bill Monroe signiature mandolin!

22 August 2009: Chris Hockley invited us to a BBQ and asked us to bring instruments. Most enjoyable, and the music was great fun, particularly enjoyed playing fiddle tunes on the guitar with Steve McNally on Banjo, also managed a bit of mandolin playing.

25th August 2009: Bluegrass Cattawade CrownCrown: almost a full house, fantastic turnout and a really good session. 26th August 2009: Blues with Edward and Graham Edward had suggested a social evening playing blues with Graham Mole, with whom he plays in a proper blues band. Graham is an excellent harmonica player. Great fun, I couldn't remember some of the words for songs on the list, (a long time since I had the Blues repetoire out), but a good time was had by all. Edward recorded the proceedings, (covertly), so there may be something to hear, and we will definitely have a repeat session. Link to one of our offerings:- Before you accuse me http://www.esnips.com/doc/02a90def-7eca-42ee-9e63-ec57d8abe6bc/Before-You-Accuse- Me

THere is more at http://www.culpho-hall.co.uk/ click on 'Sometime Blue' on the top menu bar.

31st August 2009 Bluegrass Picnic at St Julians Kent: Rex and Anne kindly gave me a lift to St Julians where most of the Southern English pickers and players meet each August Bank Holiday for a free entry picnic and picking session. I reckon a couple of hundred people plus, all swapping tunes and licks, workshops and a concert in the evening, (which we didn't stay for). Great day.

1st September 2009 Hadleigh George Bluegrass a good evening, a new face on banjo, Nig, who says he may become a regular. As ever the most enjoyable part of the evening was after the PA was dismantleed and the acoustic session started.

5th September 2009 East Anglian Traditional Music Day; stewarding at Edgar's Farmhouse, 4 concerts, The Boat Band, excellent, and for me best of the day, Sam Lee who I had not seen before, fabulous young traditional singer, some interesting arrangements by extremeley talented friends. I remarked to Katie Howson that it is interesting to see how young singers interpret their journey of discovery through the same material and source singers that the more elderly of us embarked upon at a similar age. Very differently, as the social and musical context has moved along its own journey to the present. Jim Ward and Will Duke, a turn by turn set with Will singing and playing Anglo Concertina and Jim presenting monologues and Music Hall songs, a good dose of Scan Tester tunes was the appeal to me. Michael Wright, Jew's Harp player extraordiaire, held an audience for an hour but I was flagging by then. Dipped into big music session, renewed acquaintance with lots of folk friends and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

7th September 2009 ESMM Compasses at Holbrook : a fine turnout, 22 dancers and 4 musicians and some enjoyable dances. The Butt and Oyster at Pinmill didn't want us, (mud on the carpet approach), but the Compasses made us very welcome. Thank you.

8th September 2009 Bluegrass Tattingstone: This sesson is becoming a victim of its own success. Good to see new people and a sterling turn out of the old guard. In various combinations, 4 mandolins, 4 guitars, 5 banjos, 2 double basses, three fiddles, and an autoharp. Very noisy and great fun, but full!

14th September 2009 ESMM Cross Keys HenleyHenley: The last evening outing for the side before the AGM and practise season, (the next three Sundays are daytime events). An excellent turnout and good stand of dances. 15th September 2009 Stratford St Mary Swan Bluegrass: a quieter night than last week, (the rain may have contributed to that) but some great tunes and songs. The opportunity to stretch in smaller company.

18th September 2009 Henley Cross Keys Folk Night: SomethingSomething Happened a good night. We did a short Bill n Sheila floor spot, there were three other spots, with a debut for Kay which went very well. The main act was a duo, Something Happened, with a mixture of early 20th century American songs, and self penned material. Witty, humourous and excellent. Two geezers with guitars sharing a good time.

19th September 2009 INSTEP Sproughton Ceilidhs: I had been a bit apprehensive about playing to the 'home crowd'. (This is our regular social dance,and it was an honour to be asked to play looking at the general line up of stellar talent down the years). Knowing the crowd and to a degree the expection for an evening of solid and at times challenging dancing, I think we delivered. The music was good fun too, given two full sets with about ten dances in each we had the chance to dig into the repotoire. One of the strengths of Instep is that the music is not as stylistically bounded as some bands, and we can move from English to Celtic and American tunes as the dance requires. Might as well blow our own trumpet! A good night, thanks to Mike & Jenny for booking us.

25th SeSeptemberptember 2009: Everyman Folk Club Steve TurnerTurner a good solid first night of the season, strong floor spots and Steve Turner who has returned to playing folk having spent time out developing his business and doing other things. A reminder that there is value in matured craft and a repetoire that allows flexibility to adapt to the audience. I think Steve appreciated the choral feedback from the floor and played to it. Masterly English Concertina playing, particularly on Boomer's Story, a Stephen Foster song the name of which I can't remember and the encore. Steve now plays Cittern which he says he has had for a year and still has 'The Gibson' mandolin. A reminder that the youngbloods straight from folk school (sic Gateshead) are at the beginning of a journey, and that you can take a break and return better than ever. Thanks Steve. Having a life shows.

27th September 2009: ESMM Middy Steam Railway Museum an ok stand at the Middy, Good turnout from the men but I think I'll give it a miss next time for other reasons.

28th September 2009 Playing Blues with Edward and Graham to check that we really did have such a good time last time we played together, we did and we will be meeting up again for a play and maybe offer to do the odd booking if people want us. Great fun.

29th September 2009 Cattawade Bluegrass low turnout but the music was perhaps better for that, less of a noisy thrash and the chance to play songs from 'off the list'.

2nd October 2009 Big Music Night 17: Bramford Lorraine Victory Hall this was the strongest Big Music Night of the last few. In brief: Four BlokesBlokes,Blokes americana from the 70's ans eighties arranged and well played, Sheila and meme, (nuff said), Mike RedfordRedford, a strong set of music hall songs and a treat to see Mike performing again, (an old friend from Ipswich Folk Club circa 1972 +),ShadowsShadows in the ShadeShade, a strong set but stole an extra song, (as usual), Peter Kerr BandBand, a bit ragged but good fun, Mike BriggsBriggs, host of the Henley session with some familiar fare, Joan Gifford, a treat (see folkbluesnbeyond youtube videos where I have uploaded a couple of this evening's set). Green and TrickerTricker, the host act, a fabulous version of Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square with everybody joining in, Pete's FirmFirm, good to see Pete out again with Greg and Lynn, (video of 'bluegrass breakdown' on the folkbluesnbeyond youtube videos), finale the usual Last Thing on my Mind in C ladies and gentlemen. Big Music Night 18 is Friday March 15th 20102010.

3rd October 2009 Instep : Essex playing for Lucy's 50th birthday party, we enjoyed it, they enjoyed it and the curry was excellent.

4th October 2009 ESMM PLough Day Bucklesham: usually the final show of the year, a fine day and a good stand. Videos at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRVMHTXtmyY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8mlIhNf1bg

5th October 2009 ESMM Feast and AGM: Nuff said

10th October 2009: ESMM Dance East opening of new studios: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/folkbluesnbeyond/ESMMDAnceEAstOpening10102009#53909 97061828747938

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URFRMEsaOlQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emWRNWKTbN8

12th October 2009: ESMM first practice of the season, start practising Westminster Men's Loveless, once we got into the building which took about 40 minutes!

13th October 2009 Bluegrass TattingstoneTattingstone, except that is et off for Stratford St Andrew and only realised my mistake when almost there. A good session with a bit of Blues thrown in.

14th14th----17th17th October 2009: a break in the LAkes with Sheila and a bit of walking etc.

18th October 2009: ESMM Riverside Theatre: Morris , a life with bells on: The film which excellentlt captures the eccentricity and the passion of the morris, so we had to dance! http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/folkbluesnbeyond/ESMMRiversideTHeatreWoodbridge1810200 9?authkey=Gv1sRgCPjD6YyH15OZEQ # http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28dH2kg-74s

19th October 20020099 Morris practisepractise: a good evening, Loveless developing, new member for the season did very well.

20.October 2009 Bluegrass Stratford St Mary A good workout on the tunes front, banter n bluegrass. Very friendly.

24th October 2009: Instep's John ThistlethThistlethwaite'swaite's 60th60th birthday bash:bash:a great time was had by all, particular fun was John playing in trio with two friends from his college days for the first time in about thirty plus years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlpwwYk61A8

26th October 2009 A good blues etc workout with Edward and Graham, Sheila came along and we tried some of her songs as well.

30th October 2009: Steve Tilston at Everyman Folk Club an excellent evening, run by Steve Danby and incluidng the old guard from the floor, (inlcuding us), some new faces and Steve T. Steve is an extremely clever guitarist, (to be expected of one of Wizz Jones origina; mentees and his proximity with John Martyn etc). MOst of the first set in standard tuning moving to double dropped D and dropped D with a couple in open G. Some excellent cross picking with a plectrum, and very flexible but precise fingerpicking. Good material incluidng the favourites but in some respects a bit flat. Lovely to see 70s acoustic guitar styling done with excellence, and some great novelty numbers, but within tramlines.

1st November 2009: Dick Thornborrow's 6060thth Birthday: SocialSocial and Firework party an excellent time was had by all.

2nd November 2009: Morris practisepractise, good fun, managed to play fiddle all evening, (not very well but it all helps).

3rd November 2009: Bluegrass at Hadleigh: Mike Green (who runs the evening could not make tonight, so no PA or microphone and a good old fashioned playing session, (which I prefer anyway). Sheila came along and sang a few songs with me. Good turnout and stretch of the fingers.

4th November 2009: Bill Wyman & Rhythm KiKingsngs IpswichIpswich Corn Exchange a rare treat. I tend to avoid the big expensive concerts but Bill Wyman, Georgie Fame, Albert Lee, Geraint Watkins and the rest of the band proved impossible to resist. Sound level good, material excellent and a performances shared by 'A' class musicians playing as a band in the true sense of the word. A good night out.

9th November 2009 Morris Practise ESMM a good turnout, Loveless coming along and beginning practising the winter Border Morris.

10th November 2009: Bluegrass at TTattingstone:attingstone: Missing the banjos but lots of fiddles and good energy in spades. A good turnout by way of support too. The pub might have to build an extension to house us!

14th November 2009: Joe & Jolene Needham Market Ark great fun, Mike n Dave and Pluck n Squeeze in support. A full review is at http://www.blogster.com/folkbluesnbeyond/joe- jolene-needham-market-the-ark-14112009 and video is at youtube/folkbluesnbeyond. THAnks to Mike Linda and the team for organising. Near perfect concert conditions and venue.

16th November 2009: ESMM Morris Practise:

17th November 2009 Bluegrass Stratford St Mary: a good turnout and enjoyable evening.

20th November 20020099 Henley Cross Keys: Singers night/opennight/open micmic: an excellent evening with a good mix of music and performers, (none under 40). We did a slot. Most enjoyable, we had thought to come home for cocoa and bed but stayed the whole evening.

21st November 2009: KatKatie'sie's Quartet Sproughton Barn Dance : Reasonable supported but lots of space to dance. I enjoy listening to Katie's East Anglian Music, I usually enjoy Bobbie Ritchie's calling. In terms of this evening the music was rather monochrome, both rhythmically and in terms of light and shade. (The band were perhaps restrained by the need to beware of the orange flashing lights which presage a power outage if the output reaches levels beyond 'living room' audible). There has been a tendency among callers at Sproughton dances lately to take too much notice of the expressed desire at the 'dance club' AGM to have more complicated dances. Bobbie was lauding that the evening had comprised 16 dances when we left with one to go, (some of which were at postgraduate club level). The Ceilidh's are public dances for all comers,only a proportion of whom are experienced dancers, nuff said. We had fun nonetheless (in the 'rogue' group at the back of the hall).

23rd November 2009: ESMM practise new dance Shepherds Hey Ravensthorpe, appalling tune, (courtesy Simon Care), apparently ok to dance, but pretty unappealing to watch! THen practised border morris for the few occasions relevant this year, as ESMM are not going to Lincoln.

24th November: Fiddles and session at Needham MarkMarkeett Swan: Heather Bexon's fiddle group followed by session with a different crowd. Enjoyable if a bit tentative at times.

25th November: Practise for scratch band barn dance next week at Thomas Wolsey: hosted by Mick Reeve, extremely enjoyable and unfussed.

27th November 2009: Show of Hands at The St Nicholas Centre: review at http://www.blogster.com/folkbluesnbeyond/show-of-hands-27112009 together with a reply from Bob PAterson which I have posted in the comments.

1st December 2009 Bluegrass at The George Hadleigh most enjoyable. some of the regulars were absent so the lead went round more quickly than usual. Enjoyed playing Under the Double Eagle & Ragtime Annie with Greg on banjo and Ray on fiddle, and had a good old sing song.

3rd December 2009: Barn Dance Thomas Wolsey School Christmas Party: playing with some friends from Morris and partners for teachers from Thomas Wolsey. We did this last year and enjoyed ourselves so when asked again for this year we readily agreed. Great fun.

5th December 2009: Life & Times with Carols from StanStan and Maggie Sproughton Church Hall A very enjoyable low key evening of traditional seasonal entertainment and Life and Times show describing winter English traditions illistrated by songas, plays and lots of audience participation. Mummers play is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKCP0iT4D3w for a short period only to save the continuing embarrassment of participants. Thanks to Mike and Jenny for organising.

7th December 2009: MoMorrisrris practise ESMM

8th December 2009 Mike's Music Night: a few people dropped out but a most enjoyable round the room evening with nibbles at half time. THank you Mike & Linda.

15th December 2009: Bluegrass Stratford St Mary: an excellent evening with almost all the usual suspects

16th December 20092009: A blues bash with Edward and Graham, included some old time and bluegrass which went great.

26th December 2009: ESMM Pinmill: the sun shone and people turned out. A great welcome from the commodore of the sailiing club and his crew, dancing, a topical mummers play and carolling after.