Category Archives: Sessions and concerts

It’s summer time…

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… So the regular last Sunday of the month sessions at Frittenden’s Bell & Jorrocks have ended for the season.

However, our other regular events – the first Wednesday sing at the West End Tavern, Marden, continue, and the free tunes workshops at The Gun, Horsmonden will also go on for another couple of months.

To sign up for emails about these events and others we run in mid-Kent click here!

Tunes workshop, the dance at the Bell & Jorrocks, and singing forgotten local carols

  • We’ve got just one more Horsmonden tunes workshop before we play for the dance on the 29th November – so we’re hoping to see folks on the 26th at Horsmonden from 8pm
  • Please encourage folks to come to the barn dance, as it’s a lovely night out!
  • Carols – some of us have been learning some largely forgotten local carols (and also a couple of old favourites). If you’re interested, please join us: there are workshop/practices on the 1st and 2nd of December
  • There’s a revised tunes list on the workshops page
  • Don’t forget our session with the mighty Jerry O’Reilly at the Bell & Jorrocks, Frittenden on Sunday the 30th November

On the carols,  there are two practices planned, one in Marden on the 1st at Geoff Burr’s house (if you don’t know where that is, details will be in a future email, or just email me at gmatkin@gmail.com), and the other is the usual Horsmonden songs workshop at The Gun, Horsmonden on the 2nd December.

There are two practices only so that as many folks as possible can get to one or the other – there’s no need to attend both unless you feel like it! The carols themselves are on the song workshops page (see the tabs above), and are presented in printable pdf and abc formats (and some quick’n’dirty mp3s).

The plan is to sing three of the carols at the Bell & Jorrocks session on the 28th December (after which we’ll return the usual traditional folk songs and old fashioned stuff). We’re working on some other appearances and outings…

Finally – why not make plans to bring family and friends to the dance on the 29th November – they’re really popular family friendly occasions, with games and songs (with our great friends Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison) as well as dancing. Tickets are £6 and £4 (concs). There’s no pressure to play all the tunes if you don’t know them – but do please come and play the ones you do know.

A special day at Frittenden

Flier

Saturday 29th March at Frittenden

Singdanceandplay by the fireside 2-5pm

An afternoon of singing in the lovely Bell & Jorrocks pub function room with:

  • Peter Collins  – legendary local singer with a fabulous voice, great songs, runs the Beacon Folk Club (look out for Wild Willie Barrett’s Sleeping Dogz and Roy Clinging doing dates at the Beacon in coming weeks!)
  • Nigel Hobbins – charming and singer of traditional, old fashioned and newly written songs from Whitstable and runs Whitstable folk club at the town’s Labour Club (Julie and Gavin Atkin are playing there on the  28th February btw!)
  • John Morgan – a highly respected singer with a smashing collection of traditional songs, with a lovely light voice and an engaging delivery
  • regular visitors Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison down from Yorksire with a collection of mainly old songs powerfully delivered
  • your hosts Julie and Gavin Atkin (of Marden) and friends!

Expect some great singing by the fireside, a variety of old fashioned, traditional and new songs, and a few tunes to relax by. Entrance £4 and £2 (concs).

Old Fashioned Night Out family barn dance 8-11pm

These popular events feature everyone’s favourite easy dances, a few party games, a few songs and a great candle-lit atmosphere. Music will be provided by the Horsmonden Traditional Music Workshop and friends, our good friend caller Fee Lock explaining what to do, and song spots from mighty musician and singer Matt Quinn and Annie and Steve. Tickets £7 and £4 (concs). All funds raised go to fund future events.

For information see singdanceandplay.net or call 07985 522734. Download a pdf of the poster/flier to share with friends here.

PS! The regular last Sunday of the month session on the evening of the 30th March features the excellent singer and storyteller Adrian O – it’s his first visit and he’s our first storyteller so don’t miss him! (Free event)