‘Nowt’ so strange as Folk
September 7, 2010 by John Hurd
Filed under Music, News and Views
So, Barry Roshto arrived well after the Club had started. Rushing in,sweat dripping from his brow after a frantic cycle from home.John Harrison would be there to start the show, and Mike & the Doctor were sure to go down well at the end, but would there be anyone to fill the gap inbetween? Barry need not have worried – it seemed like a half of the audience was down for floor-spots. The message is clear: Folk Club is catching on.
Considering the wealth of talent and enthusiasm on show once again on Friday it’s really not surprising that the small reception room at the back of the Pub fills up in no time. Once again it was a veritable ‘Bassetts’ of an evening – all-sorts, (as in the famous licorice brand) were on offer.
It all started so demurely too, with John giving us an acapello version of Joplin’s ‘Mercedes Benz’ and some Sonny Boy Williamson and even a song that had him censored from a UK venue many years ago.
Later in the set he was joined by Christine Moos on violin. A very effective duo they made too. John told me Christine is also part of a klezmer band, to which I nodded sagely when in truth I hope Christine and her band can make it to a future show so I can find out what he’s talking about. I really must update my knowledge of Folk Music. It would help identify some of these weird and wonderful instruments that come out of odd shaped cases every week. I can happily pass the time away until 7.30pm trying to guess ‘what’s in the bag’ as people come in. Tom Kannmacher I know now isn’t carrying a set of miniature chimney sweep brushes, but a Ullean Pipe. He really does leave the audience spellbound with it’s beautiful melodic sound.
This months mystery instrument (for me anyway) came from Eva Martina Salgado from ‘Banda de Gaitas’. It took a few minutes to fill with air and tune and initially it’s volume cleared the front two rows of seats. The seats were soon filled again though when the band got started (her daughter Ana and niece Naima with Kevin on bass drum). I took the time during the break to find out that the mystery instrument this month was actually a Gallician Bagpipe from the Gallisia region of North-West Spain (I know, you’re saying, of course that’s what it was)
So, mystery over, time for ‘Mike & The Doctor’ to take the floor. These guys are not recommended for people who can only understand German spoken on ‘Lernen Sie Deutsch’ CD’s. The lyrics come at you at about three words a second and they are all verses – no simple chorus to let your brain cool down. I asked Mike later how on earth he managed to remember all the words. “I just sing them through 200 times” he answered. “Not 100, not 150, but two hundred times. Then I know them line by line”. As there is still some of the ‘Lernen Sie Deutsch’ in me I took the opportunity to buy a CD and listen to each track, not 100, not 150, but two hundred times. I think I will know them then.
So here we are at the break and the point where Barry Roshto, (or maybe it should be ‘Rushto’) came in. With his breath back he managed to get us all singing along to another of his cowboy ditties, before being joined by John and Paulo on Harmonica for a lovely Blues song.
And still the musicians came. Ralf Wackers and Ellen Jeikner, 50% of the Folk Group ‘Currach’, played some delicate tunes on guitar, and were joined in typical Folk Club style by Tom Kannmachers Pipes on the spur of the moment. In truth there were too many riches on offer for one evening. It was difficult to even squeeze in Mike Godyla and Stephan Janzik for their second ‘Mike & The Doctor’ set. I decided to throw caution to the wind and miss the planned bus so that I could catch some more comic tales – I rather liked one about a hitman that was, or wasn’t. Then it was a ‘goodnight all’ from me and a rush to the bus stop. Until next Folk Club.
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