Sunday, 19th November
Get a floor spot session + Joe Migdal Special + he didn’t know it was his birthday party…
Ed note: As our review writer arrived slightly late, I think it is important to explain that Joe did not have a clue we had secretly organised his birthday party… According to the man himself, only the knife destined to the cake gave it away… although Kathy did her best to hide all the prep, she forgot this unmistakable detail… that and the friends turning up unexpectedly when they’ve never been to a folk club before… like we say in French , “it put the flea in Joe’s ear… “However, it was only after Joe delighted us with his 30 minutes set full of pleasant guest musicians and great tunes, that the grand scheme of things was revealed and most importantly that we were allowed to tuck in the buffet… By this time my review writer was already at work so I shall let him tell you about his afternoon at the club… bear in mind that Ken is probably our “youngest” member or newest “virgin” as we like to call them and that I had pounced on him two weeks before, leaving him very little if no chance to decline the “Ken, can you write the review, please?” offer…
Ken’s review: Birthday boy Joe was “booked “ for a half hour bash unbeknown about his birthday. The opening duet by two different looking singer-guitarists gave a delightful blend of voices almost as one person.
The next song, “Fair maid of February” featured Joe and Jim… Jim whose voice mingled with the fretted strings, taking the audience into the icy winds of winter and leaving the snowdrops buried beneath the snow…
Joe’s last number, “I’m a big fat sexy man” was up tempo and got the audience joining in, laughing, tapping and stomping their feet in time!
It was time for us to eat, drink and have a quick chat with our mates before…
…Our compere
Rocking Bob gave us his version of the 5 cents store and then to the lovely song “ have I told you lately that I love you?”. He got a well-deserved roaring round of applause!
Trevor ‘s first number was from his flowing ink and pen hand, a composition from way back in his life… His true inspiration can be felt through his strumming fingers “ your place or mine”.“ A sign like Batman” was the next offering and gave a Spanish feel lovely and warm. Lyrics like “ come and see me I’m alright”… of course, another mind searching one.
Lady Formby gave us the story of Mr Woo’s stir-fry Chinese blues and then gave us reminiscence of a “Summer wine”… Too soon over, what a lovely lady!
Jim was our next performer and did a song of his own about love and its mystery… His voice ferried my mind to ages gone by around Christmas time. The verse I liked was “setting sail across waters unchartered”. His second song featured
Liz, our resident poet, had originally written her first poem entitled “ troubadour” for Simon’s birthday but as it was unfinished then, it finally served its purpose today! The minstrel through the year giving us his view on life, what more appropriate in a folk club! A Pam Ayres type of poem about Primeavel soup (did I spell that right readers? I can’t read Ken’s hand-writing… ed note), a part we’re all part of…
The duet of “Black Leopards” ( Tone Deaf Leopard- ed note) took the floor for two songs, with a rousing cheer, the lady banged a skin drum with her hat covering it. The gentleman played the plectrum to his guitar, a rocking rhythm to “ I’m an ordinary man”. His two boys joined them to play and sing their version of a led zeppelin number “ Hanging from the gallows pole”.
Kathy then brought Joe’s birthday cake, shared with Linda, barmaid at the White Hart Pub ( where we club) who is also “ 21 again” and whom we sang Happy birthday to… while she pulled pints and not boys!
It was raffle time… 210, 266, 200,168 (the teddy), 186, 241… Claudine advertised the New Year’s Day party and gave us miscellaneous parish news then went straight into one of Trevor Barham’s songs :” Breathe!” … in key we could all sing to and to a big cheer and clapping galore…
Alan’s first song was a big “thank you” to his girlfriend for having a mirror screwed on the ceiling and not on the wall where it should be, and spending the nights like they did!!! A follow through was a dodgy story about a teenager who has sex with an older lady… The older woman’s appeal gave rise to a pulse rate well over the top after leaving her fish and chips shop assistant job… I just could not believe what I was hearing!
Two club virgins, Malcolm and Ruben gave us two original numbers, “left side down” and “andromeda”… Malcolm’s warm voice was nicely accompanied by Ruben’s excellent guitar picking… Shame it was over so soon…
Helen was next and sang the well-known Donovan number “Donna” before daring an accapella number “Lord give me your Skoda Estate”. Absolutely brilliantly performed! My… I must hear again those catchy lilted vocals!
Ruben and Malcolm finally closed our session with “ Crazy”, a protest song called “
A new duo: Ken, our review writer and Tone Deaf Leopard's own Trevor!