Show Navigation

E-Newsletter 129

Early May 2011

It has been another longer than usual interval between bulletins so once again there is a lot to tell you about. There have been quite a few new subscribers in the meantime – I hope you find this mailing both interesting and useful.
CLUB EVENTS & NEWS 
After one of our lively and friendly Singers Nights this Thursday (5th), May is something of a singer - songwriter month. Boo Hewerdine’s show (19th) is already Sold Out, I’m afraid, but there are plenty of tickets left for the other two.
<ol>
<li>HOBOBOP WITH KIRSTY & MAT, 12th MAY. Making her third visit to us on 12th May (after shows in 2005 and 2008) is one of the most hard-to-pigeonhole singer-songwriters in the business, Kirsty McGee, accompanied as ever by Mat Martin on guitar and banjo. Kirsty has labelled her music “hobopop”. The following comes from her official website: </li>
</ol>
 
Twice nominated for BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Kirsty McGee has been recording and touring to critical acclaim since her debut in 2002. Her style continues to defy categorization and charm audiences around Europe, earning her the tag of 'cult' singer-songwriter in the UK. Combining styles as diverse as folk, jazz, chanson and Americana, her work is held together by her distinctive lyrical style and astonishing voice, equally comfortable in dark, intimate ballads and up-tempo carny-shuffle numbers. Her shows explore a cross-section of these energies through an extensive range of subject matters and instruments. Reviews for her most recent album 'No.5' (recorded live in one take with her full band The Hobopop Collective) have been unanimous in their praise for her skilled handling of words and impeccable taste in arrangements.
Phil Cerny MCs this one and tickets are £7 (£6 Concs.) from WeGotTickets or on the door.
<ol>
<li>GREAT SONGS, GREAT GUITAR WITH BROOKS, 26th MAY. Every so often we catch up with a really top class performer who has somehow eluded us for years. One such is the mighty Brooks Williams, who makes his York debut on 26th May. If you are a fan of blues-tinged American songwriting and guitar playing, you may know of Brooks already. He’s certainly worth getting to know. For example, if you love Hans Theessink’s music, Brooks should thrill you too. I quote the following, slightly edited, from his agency website.</li>
</ol>
 
Brooks Williams is one of the premier guitarists, singers and songwriters on the Roots / Blues / Americana scene. Lauded as one of the Top 100 Acoustic Guitarists of all time, Williams has been wowing audiences worldwide for nearly 24-years with his silky voice, hook-laden songs, and rollicking acoustic and resonator slide guitars, every night delivering the deepest and most intense interpretations of everything from early blues songs to his recent original compositions. 
Brooks was born in Statesboro, Georgia, the town put on the map by Blind Willie McTell in his song, Statesboro Blues. There’s something in the thick humid air and the deep red clay that informed Williams’ earliest guitar and song explorations. But it wasn’t until he reached the thriving club scene in Boston, Massachusetts in his late teens, where he played 5-6 nights a week, that Williams’ southern bluesy roots came to the foreground. The mid-week gigs were typically in raucous university clubs or in wild biker bars with Williams playing for four hours without stopping. The weekend gigs were in quiet reverent coffeehouses where audiences hung on every note and lyric. In the land between these two extremes is where Williams developed his voice and learned his trade.
Thousands of miles, 17 CDs, and 24-years later, Brooks is now based in Cambridge, England and continues to play everywhere from Dallas to London, Istanbul to Boston, Belfast to Toronto. He has gigged with Taj Mahal, John Hammond, Paul Jones, Billy Bragg, Little Feat and Leo Kottke, amongst others, and has performed at Kerrville Festival, Crawley Blues Festival, Folk On The Pier, Guitar Stars Festival, Marlborough Jazz Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Newport Folk Festival and many more.
His stunning 2010 recording Baby O! was produced and recorded in the UK by Williams and Andy Bell (Seasick Steve, The Demon Barbers, Kerfuffle, and an occasional member of the Black Swan Folk Club audience) and features standard blues alongside original songs. It has been played on BBC Radio Two, CBC (Canada), National Public Radio (US), RTE (IRE), and has featured in Maverick, Rock N’ Reel, Acoustic and many other magazines and papers. fRoots called it “Americana at its finest!”
In short, “a musician of staggering depth and breath, with an easy-going vocal delivery, groove-laden songs, and monstrous guitar chops” who is really worth checking out.
Brooks Williams spent several weeks in East Africa last summer doing musical voluntary work alongside some of our club residents and two of them, Sarah Dean and Paula Ryan will be renewing the acquaintance and sharing floor spot and MC duties on the 26th. Tickets are on sale at <a href="http://www.wegottickets.com">www.wegottickets.com</a>, priced at £9 (£7 concessions) – a real bargain!
<ol>
<li>FUTURE GUEST LISTINGS NOW ONLINE. Further details of our programme for the rest of this year have been posted on the website at <a href="http://www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk">www.blackswanfolkclub.org.uk</a>. There is one change to the summary list in the last newsletter – Pete Coe now appears on 8th September and the Double Bill first scheduled for that night is postponed until January 2012. Also, we now know the New Roots winners who will be showcased at our Young Performers Night on 3rd November, namely a band called Chase and soloist Chris Ricketts.</li>
</ol>
 
Booking has opened at <a href="http://www.wegottickets.com">www.wegottickets.com</a> for guest artists from June through to September. Early booking is particularly advised for Steve Tilston (16th June), Steve Phillips (7th July) and the sublime pairing of Flossie Malavialle & Keith Donnelly (29th September).
The new club brochure covers the same period to the end of September and is about to go to the printers. It should be available in a couple of weeks’ time.
<ol>
<li>SEATS, LIGHTS, ACTION. If you’ve been to the club in the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed two improvements. Firstly, the pub landlord has invested in a set of new chairs. These are padded and seem very comfortable, they can be stacked up when not in use, and being metal framed they should not fall apart as some of the previous wooden ones have been known to do – so you can sit down with confidence!</li>
</ol>
 
Secondly, we now have stage lighting. Courtesy of a well-wisher, who has given them on indefinite loan (thanks, Sue), we have a couple of coloured lights which give a pleasant wash of colour above and behind the performer. Together with the landlord, we are now looking to enhance the effect with some white spotlights from the back of the room.
Our landlord Andy is certainly a wonderfully energetic and constructive guy. He was telling me last Thursday night of future plans, including re-carpeting the staircase and possibly the club room, and extending the rather cramped kitchen. Also, while retaining the Black Swan, he is about to take on another under-achieving city centre pub in York and turn it around.
<ol>
<li>AWARDS FOR THE BLACK SWAN INN (1). As though all that were not enough, Andy has been busy garnering wards. The Black Swan was voted Pub of the Year for 2011 in the annual Tourism -Awards run by the Visit York organisation. You’ll see the plaque as you come in the pub’s front door, and on the website homepage at <a href="http://www.blackswanyork.com">www.blackswanyork.com</a> is a picture of Andy and Steph collecting it at the awards ceremony. Well done both!!</li>
</ol>
 
<ol>
<li>AWARDS FOR THE BLACK SWAN INN (2). The Black Swan Inn has also been nominated for the Best Overall Pub in the Pub Awards 2011 run by our local paper, The Press, having won the Best Entertainment Pub category last year. You can vote for the pub now by calling 0901 221 0232, or text PUBS 0232 to 80360. Calls cost no more than 26p per call from a BT Landline. Calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more. Texts cost 25p plus your normal operator text charge. Voting lines close this Friday, 6th May at 23:59:59pm. Find the full shortlist on The Press website, <a href="http://www.yorkpress.co.uk">www.yorkpress.co.uk</a>. </li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>CLUB FINANCES UPDATE. In the last Newsletter I reported on our club accounts for the full year to 31st January, which showed a deficit of £653. I am delighted to tell you that in the quarter just ended, February to April, we have more than made good that loss. Thanks to some very well supported club nights and two full house NCEM concerts we have a provisional surplus of £713 on those three months. What’s more, that is after making several payments in advance for hotel accommodation for autumn concert guests. Ignoring those exceptional payments against future income, our first quarter trading surplus was over £1,000, which is very reassuring to us harassed organisers!</li>
</ol>
 
<ol>
<li>CLUB PHOTO GALLERIES VANISH. Unfortunately we have lost our archive of pictures on the folk club website. The “Photo Galleries” tab was a link to photo sharing site Fotopic.net, which announced that it had ceased trading last month. The firm has assured users that “all images uploaded onto Fotopic servers were safe and that their aim was to migrate photos to a new service”, so we’ll wait and see what happens. More information can be found on Wikipedia. </li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>A WORD ABOUT FLOOR SINGERS. Our club guest artists are almost invariably contracted to do two sets of 45 to 50 minutes each. To support those guests, to provide a full evening’s entertainment and to encourage and reward local performers, we also have around 45 to 50 minutes of “floor acts” each week, around 30/35 minutes at the start of the night and 15/20 after the interval (while the guest gets his breath back after selling CDs and chatting to audience members!) We now have a pool of around a dozen “resident” singers who fill most of the floor spots, though given sufficient notice other performers are made welcome. One of the resident performers also acts as MC for the evening.</li>
</ol>
 
Since I fell ill last year, Eddie Affleck has taken on responsibility for allocating floor spots and organising the MC rota, and I must say I think he does a scrupulously fair job of it, with (Don Walls aside) no one resident performer getting any more than two spots in a month, which means plenty of variety for those of you who attend regularly. Eddie tends to work out the floor spots two or three months at a time, so if anyone out there would like a turn on a specific future guest night, drop Eddie a line as far ahead as possible and make your request. He can be contacted at <a href="mailto:eddieaffleck@aol.com">eddieaffleck@aol.com</a>. 
 
NCEM CONCERT EVENTS
<ol>
<li>SUMMER TEAPARTY FOR BLACKBEARD’S. In January local heroes Blackbeard’s Tea Party filled the Black Swan Inn club room twice over in their acoustic four-piece line-up. Soon after that their larger electric version drew 250 people to local rock venue The Duchess. Keen to help the band maintain this momentum, we are sponsoring a show by them at the National Centre for Early Music on Tuesday 19th July. This will be the full six piece line-up, complete with electric guitar, brass and extra percussion, as well as the fiddles, guitars, melodeons and double bass we saw so vividly in action at the Black Swan. </li>
</ol>
 
Tickets are now on sale for this summer special, modestly priced at £10 (£8 concessions) from the NCEM Box Office on 01904 658338 or online at <a href="http://www.ncem.co.uk">www.ncem.co.uk</a>, or from ourselves on a Thursday evening at the Black Swan. It’s a 7.30pm start, and the band have asked along the talented young East Yorkshire autoharpist and songwriter Jessica Lawson as their support act.
<ol>
<li>EARLY AUTUMN CONCERTS BOOKING SOON. As reported in the last Newsletter, we are very excited to have secured an early autumn tour date in York for one of the most famous and respected bands in Irish music, Patrick Street, which comprises Kevin Burke, Andy Irvine, Arty McGlynn and John Carty. It will be on Friday 23rd September and we anticipate that tickets (priced at £18 or £16) will go on sale in a week or two’s time through the NCEM Box Office. At the same time, we’ll open booking for our second early autumn event, The Churchfitters, on Monday 3rd October, priced at £12 or £10.</li>
</ol>
 
Much later in the autumn, dates have now been agreed for The Urban Folk Quarter on Monday 28th November and for Emily Smith with her band on Monday 12th December. We’ll probably open box office for these after the summer holidays.
<ol>
<li>A FRENCH CANADIAN WIND BLOWS IN. One other NCEM event is worthy of note, although not being promoted by ourselves. In a short notice addition to the advertised programme, top Quebecois folk band Le Vent Du Nord appears there on Sunday 22nd May. This thrilling four-piece has a great reputation for exciting stage shows. All tickets are priced at £13.50 and are now booking through the Box Office as above.</li>
</ol>
 
YORK FOLK WEEKEND NEWS – 3rd/5th JUNE
<ol>
<li>PROGRAMME NOW READY. It’s taken a lot longer than I had anticipated, but the programme is almost ready and I have taken the liberty of attaching it as it currently stands to this mailing. Outdoors we have 34 acts over two days and three evenings, including three Morris sides, and only four of those acts are not based here in York or the immediate vicinity – testimony to the vigorous health of the local folk and acoustic music scene.</li>
</ol>
 
Over a dozen other artists feature in events taking place indoors, including two concerts in the Wolfe Room and a range of other activities. And of course there will be plenty of chances to participate yourselves: open sessions, singarounds and “rolling folk club” events.
Pub-lead improvements this year will include extra Portaloo facilities for the ladies, more gazebos to give extra outdoor shelter if the weather is poor and a very large chill cabinet to house more salads and other cold food to complement the range of hot grub on offer.
<ol>
<li>HELP US PUBLICISE FOLK WEEKEND. This is the biggest and most ambitious Folk Weekend yet, but it remains a FREE festival and so we do not have lots of cash to pay for glossy publicity. You can help us spread the word in three main ways. Word of Mouth remains highly effective: tell any friends, workmates, etc. you think would enjoy the music and the general goodtime ambience of the weekend. Online Media are certainly the in-thing – use Facebook, Twitter and the rest to push the weekend. There is a Folk Weekend entry at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/BlackSwanFolkClub">www.facebook.com/BlackSwanFolkClub</a>. Old-fashioned Posters and Flyers still have their place too. Our graphic designer friend Richard Nagy has come up with a very attractive design which I can supply in JPEG format either colour A4 or black & white A5. Please let me know if you would like either or both files sending. Alternatively, I can supply hard copy prints if you know of a poster site or can take a few flyers along to an event or friendly shop – just give me a postal address and a rough idea of quantity.</li>
</ol>
 
MISCELLANY
<ol>
<li>MORRIS MUSICIANS WANTED. Medusa Gothic Morris are on the hunt for new musicians, specifically melodeon and fiddle players. They are an entertaining side, based in Knaresborough, who danced at our 2008 Folk Weekend as I recall. Contact Sally Smith on 01423 868753 if you are interested. Find them at <a href="http://www.medusagothic.co.uk">www.medusagothic.co.uk</a>. The dancers are women but men are welcome in the band.</li>
</ol>
 
OTHER YORK EVENTS
<ol>
<li>B.O.B’s MILLION DOLLAR BIRTHDAY BASH. Celebrate Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday with Blonde on Bob and Rory Motion at City Screen Basement Bar on the very day itself, Tuesday 24th May. This event will also see the local launch of the double CD of Dylan covers, Younger Than That Now, which I trailed in the last newsletter. I’ve heard a preview copy and it is excellent. Doors open 8pm on 24th for an 8.30pm start and tickets are £8 in advance from the City Screen Box Office or £10 on the door if there are any left.</li>
</ol>
 
Incidentally, I see that the Fulford Arms (next item below) are holding a Dylan tribute night in Open Mic format the next evening, 25th May, and of course the Friday night of Folk Weekend (3rd June) sees a Dylan songs Open Mic upstairs at the Black Swan hosted by Blonde on Bob frontman and CD compiler Chris Euesden – so dust off the harmonica, get out the guitar and start practising!
<ol>
<li>A NEW VENUE AT THE FULFORD ARMS. The Fulford Arms on Fulford Road, next to the police station, has had a makeover under new landlord Steve Bradley and live music is one of his interests, specifically of the folk & acoustic variety. They’ve already held some gigs, with David Ward Maclean to come on Friday 20th May and the Dylan open mic night mentioned above on 25th May. Ambitiously, they have already announced a booking for Dave Swarbrick in February 2012! We are pretty relaxed about this. The more outlets for live music the better, we say, just so long as they don’t tread too heavily on our toes by running a direct clash or duplicating one of our booked guests. Find them on Facebook.</li>
</ol>
 
<ol>
<li>PUB SEEKS MUSICIANS. Meanwhile another York pub has approached me looking for people interested in performing. It is the Waggon & Horses on Lawrence Street which for a while hosted the fairly successful Fillmore East acoustic venue on a Saturday night. The man behind that has moved on, says the licensee Paul Marshall, and he is looking to fill the gap. “I was wondering if you knew of any folk acts that would be looking to play a set or two on a Saturday evening. Obviously we have a limited budget as this is free at the point of entry but it is a great way for people to showcase their talents, have a few beers and get their music heard” says Paul. You can contact him on <a href="mailto:info@waggonandhorsesyork.co.uk">info@waggonandhorsesyork.co.uk</a>. </li>
</ol>
 
OTHER GIGS & EVENTS AROUND THE REGION 
I’m running out of time and energy, so apologies to other promoters if I don’t mention your event below. Here are details of three imminent events and one important one in a fortnight.
<ol>
<li>CLIVE AT HENSHAWS. After a bit of a hiatus, folk music returns to Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre in Knaresborough with the very wonderful Mr Clive Gregson this Friday (6th). Tickets are £12.50. See <a href="http://www.henshawsacc.org.uk">www.henshawsacc.org.uk</a>. Vin Garbutt follows next month (3rd June).</li>
</ol>
 
<ol>
<li>ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE KAT & JAMIE. We had a great night last month with Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, who delighted a packed full house. If you missed out on that one, or were so impressed you immediately want to see them again, then they are in concert this Friday (6th) at Sledmere Village Hall on the Wolds near Driffield. What is more, support comes from P J Wright of Little Johnny England fame. Promoted in association with Moonbeams Acoustic, it is doors open 7.15 for an 8.00 start, and there will be a Wold Top Brewery real ale bar. Tickets are £8 and will be available at the door. They can be reserved by calling Leila on 07810 831317. </li>
</ol>
<ol>
<li>ISAMBARDE AT HELMSLEY. That great folk trio Isambarde, which includes former club resident Emily Sanders, is at the Helmsley Arts Centre on Saturday night (7th). This may be a last local chance to enjoy them. As I reported in E-News 126, they are splitting up in September. Helmsley tickets are £10 (Concessions £9) on 01439 771700. See <a href="http://www.helmsleyarts.co.uk">www.helmsleyarts.co.uk</a>.</li>
</ol>
 
<ol>
<li>A NIGHT FOR NORMA. Around the country several benefit concerts are taking place this month for Norma Waterson. As many of you will know she was taken seriously ill while on tour last autumn, spent several months in intensive care and is only now getting close to recovered. One such all star concert is at the Square Chapel in Halifax on Wednesday 18th May. Artists giving their services include Steve Tilston, Grace Notes, Artisan, Martin Simpson, Tom Napper & Tom Bliss and the Demon Barbers. There are still some tickets left at £15 (Concessions £12) on 01422 349422.</li>
</ol>
At which point I really must call it a day (or should that be night?). I’ll hope to get another Newsletter out before Folk Weekend. Meanwhile, keep on making and supporting live music.

blackswanfolkclub@yahoo.co.uk