E-Newsletter 78

Hello - I’m back earlier than anticipated with one big bit of news:

1. BERNARD WRIGLEY DOUBLES UP – EXTRA NIGHT BY POPULAR DEMAND!
   I’ve had a huge level of advance interest in Bernard Wrigley’s appearance at the Black Swan on Thursday week, 31st January. By yesterday I already had well over thirty names on the seats reservation list, with 10 days still to go, and I was regretting my mistake in not putting tickets on sale beforehand.
   I have discussed it with Bernard and he has agreed to do an EXTRA SHOW the following Sunday, 3rd February, rather than disappoint what looks like a legion of fans.
   The Sunday show will be a 7.30 “doors open” rather than 8.00, but will otherwise run on standard club lines, with the same door charge (£7 full / £6 concessions).
   As mentioned in the last E-Newsletter, there will be a small camera crew present on the Thursday night, shooting material for a short film about Bernard, which slightly reduces our seating capacity anyway, so the extra show is doubly welcome.
   If you want to catch Bernard and can only manage Thursday, it would be a great help if you could get in touch soon to reserve your seats. Otherwise, why not come along on the Sunday instead? Of course I will also be happy to take reservations for that second show.
   And why the interest? For any of you not familiar with Bernard, he is one of the best of that band of folk singer / entertainers who emerged in the late sixties and early seventies, combining songs and music with great humour (think of Mike Harding, Billy Connolly et al). In Bernard’s case, he sings highly amusing songs and tells some wonderful stories and hilarious monologues, but he can turn his hand equally well to a serious song or a virtuoso instrumental – he is a fine concertina player and a master guitarist, playing anything from ragtime and blues to slow airs.
   Bernard has always combined his musical career with stage and screen acting and over the years he has appeared in soaps such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale, numerous other TV shows like Heartbeat and Last Of The Summer Wine, Phoenix Nights and Dinner Ladies, and in films such as Brassed Off and Parole Officer.
   It is all of 19 years since Bernard Wrigley last visited the Black Swan, so this really is turning out to be something rather special. Do come along if you possibly can!

While I am writing, here are two other short items relating to what is proving an exceptionally busy and successful month for the club:

2. SULTANS PACK ‘EM IN.
   My apologies to those club regulars (and a party of visiting Swedes) that were unable to get in to see John Kirkpatrick & Chris Parkinson. It was a completely full house and we had no option but to turn a few people away. I am very sorry about that, and have asked Bernard Wrigley to do this second night in order to avoid a repetition of that situation.

3. AND CARTHY SELLS OUT
   Both Martin Carthy performances (24th and 27th) are now fully sold and I have a waiting list in case of any returns. If you have bought tickets but find that you are no longer able to come, please let me know as soon as possible (preferably by ‘phone, quoting the ticket numbers) and I’ll arrange to resell your tickets and give you a refund.
   I’ll be back with a full scale “normal” newsletter in early February, but meanwhile I look forward to seeing a great many of you at one (or more) of the Martin Carthy and Bernard Wrigley performances.