E-Newsletter 238

 Hello everyone,

 We move into 2020 on the back of three fantastic sell-out shows at the club Allan Taylor, Trials of Cato, Flossie Malavialle and a very successful festive concert at the NCEM with A Winter Union.

As you all know it's been a sad year for us with the death of our long-time organiser Roland Walls. Last Monday we were able to present a cheque to the Motor Neurone Disease Association which was pretty much the culmination of all the fundraising efforts that we've been involved in since Roland's diagnosis. There's been some memorable concerts and we've now almost sold out of the Swan Songs compilation cd. The money raised is £7955. This has been a real success and we need to say a big 'Thank You' to all the performers and organisers who've helped us and to the audiences for their generosity.

To round off the year this newsletter may just be in time to give a final mention for our last club night this Thursday (Dec 19) with our annual Christmas party.

Thurs Dec 19th CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our final club night at the Black Swan for 2019. Everyone welcome, singers, musicians and audience alike. There’ll be a Christmas theme running through the music that’s performed and it’s the only time we hold a club raffle in the year. Admission is free and you’re invited to bring a raffle prize or some food for the buffet. Everyone is very welcome.

 R.I.P. KEN MEADOWS

The local folk scene was saddened to hear of the death of Ken Meadows in November after a short illness. Although not a Black Swan Folk Club regular Ken came along and helped run the tune sessions at the York Folk Weekend for several years and many clubgoers knew him from their annual visits to Whitby Folk Week.

He was a fine multi-instrumentalist (mandolin, concertina. melodeon, guitar) and had a seemingly endless supply of tunes. His presence at the regular Tuesday night sessions, which he instigated and ran for many years at The Maltings pub in York, will be sorely missed. Ken was laid to rest at York Crematorium on Dec 4th and the ceremony was attended by folk musicians from far and wide who met up afterwards at the Golden Ball in Bishopthorpe to celebrate Ken’s life with the music he loved.   

OTHER EVENTS

SAT Dec 21- MOONSHINE CREEK at The Snickleway YORK

FRI Dec 27 -Christmas Party at St Wilfrid’s Folk Club, St Wilfrid’s Community Centre RIPON HG4 2AB

MON Dec 30- BLONDE on BOB’S XMAS BASH with BLONDE on BOB and FREEWHEELIN’ ‘Nothin’ But Dylan’ at the Black Swan Peasholme Green YORK YO1 7PR www.wegottickets.com/event/489737

Fri 17 Jan 7-30pm in the Den at the Micklegate Social 148, Micklegate, York singer-songwriter Jean Moss and band will be launching her new album Full Moon.

Sat 18 Jan in the Live Lounge Little Weighton Fire and Rain-the music of James Taylor and Carole King

Fri 24 Jan- Reeth Memorial Hall The Seamus Egan Project

Fri 31 Jan- Broken Record presents Sam Kelly and Jamie Francis at The Black Swan Inn, Peasholme Green, YORK YO1 7PR

Fri 31 Jan- Roots Music Club present BLONDE on BOB ‘Nothin’ But Dylan’ at the Ukranian Centre Beckett Road Doncaster DN2 4AD

Mon Feb 3 to Sat Feb 8  ‘Once’ plays at the Grand Opera House in York a Broadway and West End hit – ‘Based on a cult 2006 Irish indie feature, originally shot on a micro-budget of just $160,000, it tells the uplifting yet yearning story of a part-time Dublin guitarist busker (who works by day in his dad's Hoover repair shop) who falls unexpectedly in love with a young Czech immigrant fellow musician. As we follow their relationship across five short days, big changes happen to them in little ways’.

Sun 23 Feb 7-30pm TRACKING THE CHANGES at The Basement, City Screen, YORK - A genre-melding audiovisual show with songs written and performed by Toni Bunnell from her new song book Across the Years. 

Regular Folk Music Sessions in York

 The Maltings (tunes only) Tanner’s Moat - Tuesday evenings

 The Golden Ball, Bishophill - Sunday evenings

 The Three Legged Mare, High Petergate - Friday evenings

 The Fox, Holgate. Havin’ the Craic (1st Wed of the month)

Wishing you all A Very Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.