h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Onto Monday, and again a little inclement. It looked as though this weather was set for the whole week. I certainly hoped not.

Today was one of the three days I had really been looking forward to. I set off around 14:00, grabbed a cornish pasty from the local butchers and headed up to the Concert Marquee. There were two groups on today, She’Koyokh, a Kletzmer band, and Pinky Umbrella Yes, I did get that right, Pinky Umbrella is the name of the band. i am unsure which came on first, but think it was She’Koyokh. This is a sizeable band of young London based musicians, consisting of Jim on accordion, Susi on clarinet, Meg on violin, Ben on Mandolin, Oliver on double bass, Matthew on guitar and Frazer on darabukka (a single-headed goblet shaped drum, a little like a tabla) drum) and tapan (a large drum, slung over one shoulder, and hit with a thin stick held chopstick style-ish). The music is a mix of Kletzmer, Balkan, Greek and Turkish styles. They certainly had people dancing down the aisles, and were very proficient. How they can play at such speeds, and so together is incredible. You can hear samples of them on the CD link below:

http://www.shekoyokh.co.uk/index.aspx

Pinky Umbrella are a duo specialising in Eastern European and Russian tunes, with French, cajun and Bluegrass thrown into the mix. This session was very eastern european. The duo are Hugh on accordion and Julian on guitar. The accordion style is totally open-air style... Imagine walking a Parisian Boulevard in summer, on a warm evening, and wafting in the air is ‘that’ sound, or are we in Prague, Budapest, Does it matter? Very accomplished, and music to drift off in daydreams to... Most of the time!!!

http://www.myspace.com/pinkyumbrella

But not always

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EzmT5wKAFpA

After returning to Dad’s for supper I was torn in two ways. There was the 35th anniversary dance of ramsgate Folk Club, where I learnt to dance, and also had my own band, The Heymakers, at the age of 14, or Ashley Hutchings and Lark Rise to Candleford... No contest!!!

This was something I had been waiting for since I missed it’s Folk debut at Sidmouth International festival in 1979, I think. Lark Rise, Over to Candleford and Candleford Green, by Flora Thompson were adapted by Keith Dewhurst into two plays to be staged at the National theatre, London, directed by Bill Bryden and Sebastian Graham-Jones. Ashley Hutchings, of Fairport Convention and Albion Band fame), was asked to set it to music, and Lark Rise to Candleford was the outcome. The performers for that recording are extensive and what a line-up, as here:

http://ashleyhutchings.tripod.com/larkrisetocandleford.html

This particular evening was Ashley explaining the history, but also how, thirty years on, he had reworked it to present Lark Rise revisited, with narrative explaining it’s nascence, growth and rebirth. A truly wondrous evening, and so wonderful to see my Folk hero in person!!!

http://www.folkicons.co.uk/ashley.htm

i must say that this session more than made up for my season ticket, and a signed CD at that!!!

When it had finished it was time to stroll back into town in time for the Late night ceilidh. This was a gig I was uncertain about. Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts. I am not a great exponent of blues, having heard some good, a lot of bad, and a fair smattering of indifferent, so this event did fill me with a little trepidation...

the band consist of seven members, Jim on saxophone, harmonica, guitar slide mandolin and banjo (I told you most musicians play more than one instrument, except yours truly!), John on drums, washboard and percussion, Graham on slide guitar and mandolin, Keith on guitar, percussion and zobstick (That broomstick with crown beer caps on, and a boot at the base! ), Pete on oil drums (yes! Truly!) trombone and percussion (including a galvanised dustbin), Taffy on keyboards, clarinet and mandolin and finally Dougie on Bass... Oh! And they all sing.

Well, they were truly better than i thought and you can decide for yourself here... Enjoy or now!!!

http://www.brettmarvin.co.uk/sounds.html

All too soon the day came to an end, and tomorrow will be the midway point of the week... and hopefully more good stuff was to follow. I still had two two days of high expectation to come, so all was not quite lost, I hoped!!!



MMF









 




 

I do so want to listen MMF, but it will have to wait till tomorrow. It is hot and humid here and I am tired so I am off to The windows are all open and all manner of flying things are entering.

It seems I am a tasty morsel so I am off out of here before I get bitten

Thanks for all the work putting this online. It is such a pleasure to read and listen to, I am looking forward to tomorrow.



Websailor

You are more than welcome. If you get half the pleasure I did, it will have been worthwhile. well

MMF

WS hope you don't me saying this here but When I first saw your face I felt I knew you, and I keep thinking about it,now several times I have noticed you mention either being in a group or singing, we are I think about the same age and I did see a lot of groups when I was younger could you have been in one ? It's ok to email if your shy

I agree with websailor thanks - best read on here for ages, and there have been some good reads!