Category Archives: Traditional and old fashioned songs, dances and tunes in mid-Kent

Mike Hebbert, Traditional and old fashioned songs, dances and tunes in mid-Kent

Jeffries duettist Mike Hebbert comes to Frittenden at the end of April

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Mike Hebbert more contrast

We’re delighted that entertaining Jeffries duet maestro Mike Hebbert has agreed to return to Frittenden to feature in the regular free end-of-the-month session on the 26th April – the last of the season.

The session starts at 8pm, and we’ll ask Mike to chip in three short sets  of three items, as usual. No doubt it will another night to remember, as Mike takes his little box through an astonishing range of musical forms – last time, in addition to his famous performance of the Dambusters March, I remember he also played material ranging from tango to slow Irish airs.

In the usual Frittenden way, there will also be lots of time for songs and tunes (and anything else that’s follows our usual agenda of trad, old fashioned and entertaining) from session attenders. Contact gmatkin@gmail for information.

In the meantime, here’s what Mike has to say:

‘Concertinas are uncommon enough instruments and Jeffries duets are the most uncommon type of concertina – but Gavin Atkin plays one of these oddities, and so does this evening’s guest  Michael  Hebbert.

‘Michael was born in Glasgow, grew up in Blackburn Lancs and began his performing career in Wallingford Oxon as a pub musician and dance band leader, contributing to Ashley Hutchings’s Kicking Up the Sawdust  (Harvest SHSP4073) and releasing his own LP The Rampin’ Cat (named after the pub, Free Reed FRR 009).

‘On the folk circuit he has a long-standing double act with singer Andrew Frank and his concertina classes and workshops have featured at Kilve, Witney, Swaledale, Bradfield and the English Country Music Weekend.

‘With a huge repertoire of tunes from many traditions, Michael shows the tremendous versatility of the instruments made by the Jeffries brothers. A triumph of late Victorian craftsmanship measuring only 6in across, the little squeezebox packs the essence of the music whether it’s blazing away like a fairground organ, punching a tango rhythm, or unfurling the long melody of an Irish slow air fit to break your heart.’

Traditional and old fashioned songs, dances and tunes in mid-Kent

Singdanceandplay By The Fireside, 28th March

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What a weekend we’re going to have! We start at 2pm this Saturday (28th March) with an afternoon sing with Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison, Peter Collins, Nigel Hobbins, and Ollie and Malcolm Woods, and we’re also hoping to see Adrian O and Gordon Brenchley. With some of the trad song workshop coming and their friends, it should be a jolly do, singers and listeners who appreciate a trad songs, old fashioned songs, entertaining songs and a good chorus  are welcome to join us, and it’s free… Bring a song and let us know you’ve arrived!

Back again at the Bell & Jorrocks at 8pm we’ll be opening the doors of our spring barndance – the Old Fashioned Night Out. We’ll have games and songs, and of course lots of nice easy dances suitable for all ages. All funds raised go to fund future events.

We’ve never actually sold out, but it’s been close several times – so it’s worth emailing us at gmatkin@gmail.com to tell us how many tickets you want.

And of course on the Sunday night we have our regular last Sunday of the month session, starting at 8pm, with Annie and Steve. If you don’t already know them, Annie is a smashing singer, while her accompanist Steve plays boxes, tenor guitar and banjo, and can turn in a cracking instrumental, particularly on mouthorgan. Proper class, as they say, great friends and deservedly regulars at our events!

Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison, Barn dance, Horsmonden Traditional Music Class, Sessions and concerts, Song workshops, Traditional and old fashioned songs, dances and tunes in mid-Kent

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

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  • 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.