E-Newsletter 38

Thanks to all of you who sent in expressions of sympathy and offers of support in response to my comments in the last E-News. I’ll keep you posted as things develop during the coming weeks. Meanwhile, here is another bulletin of club news.

1. NEW CLUB FLYER PUBLISHED. Our Autumn season publicity flyer has now been published. This covers the period 6th October until mid December, with a very full agenda of musical gems. Highlights at the Black Swan Inn include a debut visit by ace guitarist Johnny Dickinson and return performances by old favourites Jez Lowe and The John Wright Band. These three are “tickets in advance” nights – on sale already for Johnny and from this Thursday (29th September) for Jez, with John Wright tickets to follow from 3rd November.
   Also at the club but on the more usual “pay on the door” basis is a night with that excellent young singer Kellie While (not Chris as earlier listed here in error), and a stop-over by Canadian musicians Mark Haines & Tom Leighton on their first British tour. Reformed North Eastern trio Pegleg Ferret promise some stirring acapella harmonies, and there is a showcase night with three young singers from the Leeds acoustic scene.

2. CHRISTINE COLLISTER LAUNCHES NEW SEASON. First up on the new programme flyers is that marvellous singer Christine Collister, on Thursday week, 6th October. Christine’s professional career now spans an incredible 20 years; I can still remember the night in Spring 1987 when she and Clive Gregson sang to a packed and wildly enthusiastic crowd at the Black Swan just as their partnership was taking off. In total they worked together for seven years and brought us many a musical delight in the grim times of the late 80s/early 90s. Since then Christine has developed a solid solo career, as well as working with female super group Daphne’s Flight.
   Boundary crossing is routine for a singer like Christine, with her influences taking in blues and soul, pop and jazz and country as well as folk. Her singing remains as powerful, subtle and soulful as ever, on a repertoire which sees her interpret writers as diverse as Nick Drake and Tom Waits, Smokey Robinson and Paul Simon, Robert Wyatt and Lal Waterson. In recent years she has also featured some very accomplished self-penned material.
   “A voice personally delivered by God” said The Times, “A killer voice – as full as Dusty Springfield or as blue as Alison Moyet” said fRoots; “one of the finest grown-up vocalists on the planet” was Q’s opinion.
   Strangely, ticket sales have so far been sluggish, to say the least. Come along now – it is not often we get to enjoy a singer of such quality in an intimate small club venue. Tickets are £8 (£6.50 to concessions) and can be bought over the counter at the Black Swan Inn or reserved by ringing or e-mailing me. There will almost certainly be some available unreserved on the door as well.

3. CLOUDSTREET THIS WEEK. A quick reminder that we have entertaining Aussie duo Cloudstreet at the Black Swan this week, 29th September. Nicole and John are energetic, enthusiastic and talented musicians with a particular fascination for the old folk ballads. Instruments include guitar, flute, whistle and percussion and they both sing, with some sublime harmonies. It’s just £6 (£5 concs.) on the door.

4. CONCERT NEWS UPDATE. The 21st December seasonal show from Waterson: Carthy & Friends, Frost and Fire, has SOLD OUT already – an NCEM record! Never fear, for we have hastily arranged a second performance for the preceding Sunday, 18th December, again at 7.30pm. Our thanks to Norma, Martin et al for forfeiting their rest day in order to accommodate a second York show, and thanks also to Delma, Gill and Caroline at NCEM for being so helpful. Tickets at £15 / £12.50 are now available the NCEM Box Office or direct from myself. Also selling well are both our other Autumn concerts at NCEM, Tanglefoot (1st November) and Emily Smith (19th November) – so book early to avoid disappointment.

5. AUDEN, DERT & FOLK – MARCH 2006. The weekend of 18th March next year is shaping up to be very interesting. The City of York Auden Society is holding its annual W H Auden event that weekend, focusing on Auden & Folk Song. I gather that Martin Carthy (that man again!) will be singing some of the traditional lyrics anthologised by Auden in two influential poetry collections, with local singers also taking part and possibly a speaker as well.
   Also that weekend, our friends from Black Swan Rapper are hosting the annual Dancing England Rapper Tournament (DERT) in York, the annual national dance festival for rapper dancers. The competitive events will take place around town during the day, with displays and prize presentations at the National Railway Museum during the evening. I’ll have more details of both events nearer the time, but make a note in your diary now. Meanwhile, the DERT organisers are on the lookout for indoor camping style accommodation in York. If you have any ideas on that score, let me have them and I will pass on.

6. ROUND & ABOUT. More space this issue for news of other events which should be of interest to at least some of you out there:
   • Friday 30 September. Kathryn Tickell Band at Victoria Hall, Saltaire. Another promotion by the enterprising SaltaireLive. Tickets £12.50 on 01274 588614. Later in the year they have Show of Hands (30th October) and Dervish (6th November) lined-up.
   • Saturday 1 October. Singer/songwriter Dan Webster appears at the Black Swan Inn, with Adrian Spendlow in support
   • Saturday 1 October. Eddie Baird (of Amazing Blondel – remember them?) and Julie Ellison appear in an intriguing collaboration at The Jug & Barrel, Town Street in Stanningley, Leeds. Info: 01709 881339
   • Wednesday 5 October. Don Walls holds a launch event for his poetry book In The Shed, 8pm at the Victoria Vaults on Nunnery Lane in York. Don was back with us last Thursday night, happily recovered after another short stay in hospital with more gall stone problems.
   • Saturday 8 October. Alison Krauss tribute band Union Central are back in action at the Black Swan Inn, following their sell out night there in the summer.
   • Saturday 8 October. Norma Waterson & Martin Carthy (them again!) are in concert at The Mart Theatre in Skipton. This is a brand new theatre space within the Craven Cattle Mart. That’s different! Box Office 01756 791411.