Diary Notes 2017 1st January 2017: Happy New Year: Woken at midnight by a cacophony of fireworks, which were loud and lasted about an hour. These drowned out the traditional sound of hooters from ships at the dock which last about five minutes and allow a return to sleep. A grey morning with rain forecast coincident with morris dancing at Snape. Bill finished reading 'Without Getting Killed or Caught', Tamara Saviano's excellent memoire of Guy Clark and the community of songwriters around him, (also started to read a history of France from 1799 to 1945, we'll see how long that lasts). Bill posted his Tune of the Month video. The heavy rain did arrive at Snape, but only after Danegeld, Pretty Grim and Barley Brigg had each danced a few dances in the prevailing damp and cold. Danegeld and Grim also danced in the downpour, at risk of accident and damage to instruments. Two young recruits to Pretty Grim were awarded their 'tatters' after their first dance out. Regular readers with knowledge of the tatters 'debate' may see an irony in that. Grim also retain 'blackface' against the current trend and national approach. Danegeld were the (louder but) lesser of the North West sides; some interesting dances but lacking cohesion. We escaped the weather, lunched at Blaxhall Ship, (which at the moment has a severed connection with Pretty Grim - Terry Davey was at Snape in the audience),and returned home to watch Jools Holland's Hootenanny which we had recorded. Good in parts but far too long, too much Seasick Steve and not enough of the two Parisien bands present. Videos of Snape to follow, feel free to disagree with my assessment! 2nd January 2017: Bill posted video of the dance groups at Snape yesterday, (for some reason YT has locked one of the videos as 2016 although it appears on the site as 2017!). We made a start of repairing the floor in the front parlour, (involved moving cupboard full of vinyl & music books. Bill is the assitant, Sheila is the craftsperson). Looking at the diary for the month ahead and current Grapevine noticed that Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Club is not featured ( have mentioned to Simon). Need to practice the song for tomorrows U3A concert at Stratford St Andrew, choice still undecided but unlikely 'traditional' if we can slip the choice past Rob, (whose predilections inspired Matthew's song from the Christmas concert- see Bill's FB). 3rd January 2017: we spent the morning working with floorboards, in the afternoon the U3A Traditional Music Group January Concert was excellent, sixteen floor spots and two sets from Tin River and everybody came up trumps, no duds. we had some positive feedback for our version of 'Across the Great Divide', a song written by Kate Wolf. Tin River turned in two excellent sets, the trio are a genuine ensemble in which each player has a vital role. A good range of styles and material. It is Richard's session in Little Glemham this evening but we are still enjoying the afterglow from the concert and so stayed in and played tunes at home instead. Bill processed set 1. This one will need consent as it was a proper 'gig'. 4th January 2017: a trip to B&Q and the small repair to the floor so far needs decorating around before the cupboard goes back and then.......... so a good opportunity to catch up on old folk records casting from YoutTube, Anne Briggs, John Renbourne, Bridget St John etc. In the meantime finished processing the video of Tin River from yesterday's U3A concert and sent the audio to Marya on dropbox in the hope that she may approve an upload. Some excellent material. In the evening we managed some fiddle/guitar playing together, usually a rarity, two days in a row, maybe a resolution. 5th January 2017: the work continues, (effectively about a square metre of floor and surrounding wall where a cupboard sits. we'll finish the room off next year! Still reading (skimming) the history of France 1799-1945, up to the mid nineteenth century and the 2nd republic. Just thinking that the social chaos and dynamic but consistently mean spirited political environment described feels familiar when Radio 4 broadcast a piece about the current political and religious tensions in modern day France which seem not to have changed significantly over the past two centuries! Bill managed to rescue an Anglo from the general disorder and play some buttons, Sheila is back to working on her Grade pieces having previously deferred her exam. Next task for Bill is to look out a tune for the 'Theme of the Month' which is 'Nautical Tunes', lots of obvious but tedious options. Hopefully the music books will be accessible within the next couple of days. Reflecting on Tin River's approach to 'being a band', no facebook or web presence, only one approved YT video, (and a couple not approved), with contact directly through Marya. All members are active generally in the folk community north of the A12, and Skip's musical relationship with Tony Hall is evident in his style. Seems a sensible approach, play for the pleasure and should people manage to find you and ask, play for the pleasure again, and do it well, (which they do). The band are playing at Shottisham on 13th February, probably worth missing morris practice for, except likely the same sets. Sheila to Pretty Grim practice while Bill repacked the cupboard and sorted out a few discs etc to 'go' but as this is about the tenth sort through, ruthlessness is in the past. also sorted discs to send to Marya. 6th December 2017: correction, Marya tells me that the Shottisham Tin River sets will be different from those played at the recent U3A afternoon, (so perhaps this page has a new reader - welcome). Bill posted Melodeon.net Theme of the month, nautical tunes, with 'A life on the Ocean Wave' and 'The Boatman'. Had a look for more complex and esoteric options, but then decided it is for fun and not a competition, (whatever some others may seem to think). Had another listen through the Bards of the Heath rough mix of what we recorded. Des has done an amazing job producing and engineering the recordings, I passed on some feedback. Essentially I would prefer to be associated with a shorter CD absent some tracks which do not work. John has the final say because however well we 'play out' as a band, we do not function as a band in between those times. A pity, in that we could put on a much better show if we did. Hadleigh Folk Club Vicki Swan and Johnny Dyer were excellent, different versions of Bold Fisherman and Dancers of Stanton Drew from those heard earlier in the week from Tin River, and a varied high quality set. Vicki and Johnny are professional musicians with a broad base of activities, teaching, publishing, recently appearing on Holby City as Swedish musicians. We used to camp across the way from them at Broadstairs before they took up music on a full time self employed basis. THey were and are constantly developing skills and networks (one of our favourite incarnations of their career is as Los Marbles with George Papavgeris, who is an outstanding songwriter). Floorspots were James Eastwood, enjoyable guitarist, not sure about the songs, Alan Day who struggled with a nosebleed but played anglo concertina and performed a couple of popular recitations, and Phil Lyons, a stalwart of the club with a couple of seasonal pieces. Angela Dennis was the featured artist and delivered some of the songs for which she is familiar, assisted at times by Richard Brazier and James Eastwood. An enjoyable evening, our familiarity with a lot of the material may have disadvantaged the level of our appreciation. Each of the performances were well received by the large number of people who had turned out. We have a floor spot next month, already thinking about what to play. 7th December 2017: Bill posted a video of Pete Rout at Felixstowe Folk Weekend in 1989, well received by Pete R and generated a query whether Wysiwig were filmed. All I have is compiled VHS videos and I think not, although Pete Jennings is heavily in evidence on some of the earlier posts from the tapes. Good to know that the ageing enthusiasts are still out there. Des responded re the CD feedback and we may meet with John & Jo on Friday to se whether there is a consensus regarding a way forward. I think Des would like the project to be completed and move forward. At the moment sans gigs (and rehearsals) the Bards project feels to be in a limbo. East Suffolk Morris are short on men and music for Plough Sunday at Mendlesham and Plough Monday Stonham Aspel, both of which Bill regularly misses. Pretty Grim are collecting numbers to dance at Chippenham so that should be a good weekend to look forward to, (Bill as passenger on PG trips), unless the half promised Chameleonic Morris trip to Lithuania comes through, but it is a bit late for that now. Uncertainty on the session pub front as The Mulberry Tree is being sold, (with a sour back story by all accounts), and Roger has sold the Three Horseshoes and regained his retirement. The session there can continue, (as long as it attracts/holds customers). 8th January 2017: Sheila went for a ten mile walk with the ramblers association, Bill played music and posted the Tin River video.