E-Newsletter 24

A month since the last bulletin and lots to report, so I’ll try to be brief.

1. PRIZE DRAW WINNERS. First out of the hat in last month’s Prize Draw was Mike Mohan, an occasional Singers Night visitor who travels down to York from Middlesbrough. Mike wins a brace of tickets for Show of Hands’ concert at the National Centre for Early Music on 19th November. Second prize − a single SoH ticket − was won by club resident Chris Euesden, with the Runner Up prizes (Phil Cerny CDs) going to Margaret Roberts of Harrogate, an old friend of the Black Swan, and John Pritchard of York, a frequent member of our audience. The Draw raised a worthwhile £30 for club funds.

2. EXTRA NIGHT FOR MARTIN CARTHY. So many of you responded to my priority booking offer for Martin Carthy tickets that the great man’s 11th November show has already SOLD OUT. Fortunately, Martin has a free slot in his busy diary earlier in the same week, so we have agreed an EXTRA NIGHT for him on Monday 8th November, again at the Black Swan Inn. Tickets for this second performance are now available, priced as before at £8 (full) or £6.50 (concessions). They are on sale at Cassadys Records on Gillygate (personal callers only, cash or cheque). I’ll have some with me at forthcoming club and concert fixtures as well, or you can buy from me by post − cheques payable to Black Swan Folk Club and sent with SAE to 50 ST OLAVE’S ROAD, YORK, YO30 7AL. This is only the third "Two Night Run" in the club’s long history, following Dick Gaughan in 1997 and Kate Rusby in 1998.

3. JOHN RENBOURN & MARTIN SIMPSON CONCERTS. As I write this on Sunday 3rd October, there are only some twenty tickets left unsold for our John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee concert at the National Centre for Early Music on Tuesday night, so a Full House is certainly on the cards. Unfortunately, the limitations of Hotmail mean that some of you will not receive this message until after the event! However, you do all have time to book for multi−award winner Martin Simpson’s concert at the same venue two weeks later, 19th October. This one is around 40% sold at present, so plenty of tickets left. A reminder that the NCEM Box Office is on 01904 658338 or boxoffice@ncem.co.uk, or you can book through the web site at www.ncem.co.uk. Alternatively, tickets can be bought from the good folks at Cassady’s Records, at club meetings or by post from me.

4. MORE GOOD THINGS AT THE EARLY MUSIC CENTRE. On top of the Black Swan’s concert promotions, the NCEM has several excellent shows of its own lined up. SHOW OF HANDS (Friday 19th November) is only 40 or so tickets away from selling out, so if you were thinking of going to that one, don’t delay! On Tuesday 12th October there’s an interesting recital entitled CRY IN THE SILENCE − it’s a fusion of Arabic and Western sounds with master musicians Andrew Cronshaw (of long−running folk pedigree) on zither and Abdullah Chhadeh on the qanun, an Arabic form of dulcimer, supported by bass player Bernard O’Neill and Ian Blake (remember Pyewackett?) on reeds. By way of a contrast, WARSAW VILLAGE BAND on Tuesday 2nd November promise "hardcore folk from Poland". Voted Best Newcomers in this year’s Radio 3 Awards for World Music, these seven young acoustic musicians have carefully researched the traditional instruments and s ongs of their homeland, but enhance them with a range of modern influences. It’s not easy listening by any means, but adventurous music lovers should check them out.

5. FOLK DAY 2005 − AN OPEN MEETING. It’s time to start thinking about a City of York Folk Day 2005! More of the same? Bigger or Longer? Over more venues? Have your say at an Open Meeting on Monday 25th October, in the Oak Room (smaller front bar) at the Black Swan Inn, starting around 8pm. I’ll be formally inviting the various other York−based folk dancers/clubs/sessions etc. in due course, but the meeting is for anyone who is interested in Folk Day.

6. JOHN O’HAGAN UPDATE. As many of you heard, Cockersdale had to cancel their recent booking because John O’Hagan was ill and in hospital. He is now back at home and in fair shape, but he does need to have at least two further heart operations, one as soon as possible this year and one in 2005. Once those are completed he should make a good recovery and be able to resume singing, but until then Cockersdale and his other projects are "on hold". I’m sure you join me in sending him our best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

7. DEMON BARBERS HIT HARROGATE! Ray and friends at the Harrogate folk club are joining in the concert−promotion game this month, bringing the wonderful Demon Barber Roadshow to town on Wednesday 13th October. This 21st Century folk variety show is the brainchild of Damien Barber and features his folk−rock band The Demon Barbers, plus three outstanding dance acts: Black Swan Rapper (high energy award−winning stuff, named after our very own pub), Fiona and Tiny Taylor (outstanding young clog dancers) and Dog Rose Morris (a youthful new take on Cotswold morris, as seen on Jools Holland). All this plus invited support acts, from 8.30pm at the High Harrogate Working Men’s Club (opposite Rock Steady Music on Skipton Road). Info. from Ray Black on 01423 502875, blackmale@talk21.com.

8. CALLING ALL BLUEGRASS FANS. Moves are afoot to form a local band playing modern style bluegrass music (along the lines of such groups as Alison Krauss & Union Station). Any interested banjo, dobro, mandolin, fiddle or guitar players are invited to contact Phil Quin on 01904 783029. Singers both lead and harmony are also sought, including a female lead. If you are "reasonably accomplished, have an affinity for this wonderful acoustic music, enjoy singing/playing with others and can commit to regular rehearsals", why not give Phil a call?

9. LOS YOBOS NEWS. From Bluegrass to Western Swing and Country! Our favourite purveyors of such, Los Yobos, are in action on the second Saturday of each month for the next three months, upstairs at the Black Swan. That’s 9th October, 13th November and 11th December, all 8.30 start with a £4 cover charge. The boys have finished recording their CD (due for December release) and have a splendid web site up and running at www.losyobos.com.

10. FUTURE CLUB DATES. So much for other people’s gigs. Just space left to remind you that we have a strong hint of modern Country/Americana this week at the club (7th October) with Cathryn Craig & Brian Willoughby, then solid folk fare from Bram Taylor (14th) and American traditional with Sara Grey (21st).

Keep on supporting live folk & acoustic music!