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MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOW DUE

 

Friday 20th June 2008 Judy Cook

What a very disappointing turn out we had for Judy Cook and her husband Dennis.

It was such a shame, as I know that the more traditional loving members amongst us would have been in seventh heaven.

None the less they gave us an incredible evening singing traditional American songs and ballads along with traditional songs from the British Isles. Good singing, lovely concertina, wonderful choruses and such lovely warm people too!

A lovely bonus was seeing Mary Humphries and Anahata (who are good friends of Judy and Dennis) amongst the audience

Pity you weren’t there!

The Molly Maguires did support for us and what a wonderful start they gave to the evening. Led by our good friend Dave Rushton they treated us to Irish music played with absolute delight. Lots of songs and tunes that put us in good heart for what was to follow.

A great night but sadly a small audience to see it. That’s the way it goes sometimes!

 

Friday 16th May 2008, Peggy Seeger, Martin Carthy, Norma and Mike Waterson

I’ve often used the word ‘legend’ when describing certain performers that have blessed our stage at The Milkmaid. I can certainly say that about Friday’s guests.

When you have four Folk music icons on the stage at the same time in our humble folk club it makes me feel really proud that they wanted to come here and perform for us. They were here two years ago and they told me, that one was the most enjoyable of that year’s tour.

I know they enjoyed themselves again this year and that is down to the wonderful atmosphere you guys created in welcoming them to Bury St Edmunds. Peggy said to me ‘it feels like coming home’.

There’s not really any thing to say about these great people that hasn’t been said before, Martin was as accomplished as ever, Norma performs a song better than anyone I’ve ever seen and there really is only one Mike Waterson.

Peegy wasn’t as political as in the past (The George Bush song being the exception) and being the consummate professional she is, worked the audience in the way only she can.

What these people have done over 5 decades for folk music is beyond measure. All of us that are part of the folk movement in any small or large way owe them a great deal.

That is why I decided to present them with a small token in appreciation of what they’ve done.

I commissioned that lovely man Brian Kew to shape a couple of pieces of wood that we could put a plaque on. At his suggestion he used some ‘Bog Oak’ he was given 30 years ago (found in a field in Littleport) which is between 5,000 – 10,000 years old.

The plaque on both simply said;

‘For your contribution to Folk music over the years, with love from The Milkmaid Folk Club.’

When you have a night like we have just had, when you see the happy faces of people leaving to go home, knowing they have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. It makes all the sleepless nights and the worries of promoting folk music worthwhile.

Another fantastic night at The Milkmaid.

I can’t close without mentioning our Steve on the sound desk.

I know there is some debate amongst folkies whether there should be PA’s in folk clubs etc. etc. but I believe a good engineer that knows what he’s doing can be an asset to live musicians.

Steve puts over a sound that you wouldn’t realise is amplified.

He has that gift of making the music truly acoustic and his reputation as a top sound-man amongst performers is building and so it should, (even if he distorts me at the end…. probably needs a fag…. disgusting habit).

 

Friday 2nd May 2008 Nancy Kerr and James Fagan

These two incredible musicians performed the most wonderful concert you can imagine. They are always so refreshing, even songs you’ve heard them do many times sound as if it’s the first time.

I mentioned Andrew Lloyd Webbers search for a Nancy TV programme; well we have our own Nancy in the Folk world and we get a Faga(i)n thrown in as well;…..”Got to pick a pocket or two boys”…..? MORE…..? of course we wanted more!  I love ‘em to bits.

The Invisible (Secret….doh) Navvies of Utopia was our support act. For some reason I keep calling them The Secret Navvies, maybe it was because the fifth member of the band was hiding away on his mixer desk to enhance the secret.

How this band has improved with the addition of two lovely female musicians. Sarah  on fiddle and Ann on whistles.  I thought their set was performed with real heart and soul and good ole Joe was as passionate as always. The Navvies are no longer a secret: Nice one!

 

Friday 18th April 2008 Brian Peters and Gordon Tyrrell

This pair individually are regarded as two of the finest folk musicians in the country. They are highly respected amongst their fellow performers and are in great demand to guest on other peoples CD’s.

As a duo they gave us a powerful and magical performance that just endorsed their virtuosity. The tunes, the songs and the banter made for a memorable evening. These are definitely folk music’s traditional champions.

They are lovely people to boot.

Local legend Paddy Butcher supported the evening and what a corner stone of the folk community this man has been. Involved in the original Bury Folk Club during the three decades of it’s life, up to today where he’s an integral part of Bury Bal, Paddy exudes a quiet air of consummate feeling for folk music.  He rested the Hurdy Gurdy and Melodeon and did half an hour with his guitar and vocals, which enthralled us all. Good songs and nice tales are typical of Paddy’s repertoire; long may he reign.

 

Friday 4th April 2008 Allan Taylor

Allan Taylor has been performing for us over the many years we’ve run the folk club. He’s become a good friend to us and it was great to see him again. He’s recognised as one of the UK’s finest singer songwriters and has had his songs covered by many artists around the world. It was a wonderful evening listening to his distinctive guitar style and unique vocals. His powerful and moving songs reminded me of how lucky we are to have so many fantastic world-class performers playing our folk clubs.

Long may it happen!

Our support act for Allan was Marina Florence from Norwich. She first came to The Milkmaid on an Open-mic/Singers night and did a half hour showcase, Her songs are superb with quite a country feel to them and I am really pleased to have her as one of our bank of support acts. She and her family are also Spurs supporters so she’s got to be good Eh?????

 

Friday 28th March 2008 Michael Chapman

This was Michael Chapman’s first visit to The Milkmaid and he didn’t disappoint. His mesmerising guitar style and silky voice full of Deep South soul enraptured the audience with his songs. Close your eyes you could be in deepest America on a plantation or lying by a river (Delta of course) such was the power of his performance.  

Jade Rhiannon from Cambridge was the support act and opened the evening with a resounding and excellent half hour set. Self penned songs and old songs were put together with a lot of style and ability. Jade has been booked for The Ely folk festival main stage and you can see why.

 

Saturday 22nd March  Joan Woollard

Jane and I had the pleasure to attend Joan Woollards 80th birthday party at The Fire Station in Cambridge on Saturday.

For those of you that don't know her, she was married to Ken Woollard, founder father of the Cambridge Folk Festival way back in the sixties and was Festival Director for many years until he passed away in the eighties. Joan has become a lovely friend to us and in the past has given us lots of memorabilia from the festival to put in the pubs we had.

The majority of the 80 people sitting  down to a lovely dinner in honour of Joan were from either the folk community or the Cambridge festival past and present.

 The Cambridge folk scene wouldn't be the same without The Crofters and they honoured Joan by performing back ground music as well as a Ceilidh later in the evening.

Joan's close friend and surprise guest of honour (after herself) was Ralph McTell and he performed for forty minutes (Streets of London, Clare to Here, Hiring Fair etc etc) a fantastic night.

Joan is most loved by top performers and has so many stories about the Cambridge Folk Festival....Paul Simon at the first for a fee of £15..... many famous stars sleeping on her floors and in her bathroom, and lots and lots of other background tales. All of us that know Joan are trying to persuade her to write a book about it all!

On behalf of all of us at The Milkmaid I would like to wish Joan a very Happy Birthday, may she have many more and a great big thank you for her and Kens contribution to folk music in this country.

Love you Joan, see you at the festival in July xxxx

 

Sunday 16th March 2008 The Navvies

 I went and saw the cult band The Navvies last night at The Rising Sun in Bury.

 I was most impressed, the addition of the string and woodwind section has completely rounded out their sound and given a little bit of sex appeal. Together with the craggy rhythm section and the pouting performance of lead singer Joe Bogggs foot tapping and hip swinging was the order of the day.

The Invisible Navvies of Utopia to give them their full name are appearing at The Milkmaid as support for James Fagan and Nancy Kerr on Friday 2nd May........you must be there!

 

Friday 7th March 2008 Stefan Grossman

Wow…wow…wow, what a night! I hadn’t seen Stefan live since 1971 in a folk club on the Essex and East London border. Jane with her band ‘Tapp Street’ were the resident act and supported him.

We have had so many wonderful evenings at The Milkmaid it’s always difficult to choose what has been the best night but this one is very high on the list. Stefan took me back to those heady days of being 20 years old with a 28” waist (believe) hair to my shoulders and loving everyone. I’ve certainly been blessed like you all have by seeing and growing up listening to these absolutely world class musicians. A lot of us feel very privileged.

Support by Sound Tradition….I cant say much more than I already have on numerous occasions about these three lovely people. They were marvellous once again and I am very proud of Linda because she was feeling really poorly but made the effort to perform. Love ‘em to bits.

 

Friday 29th February 2008 The Friends Meeting House Appeal

Sound Tradition did their very first 2 x 45 minute sets as headliners for this fund raising concert on behalf of Bury Quakers.

This was their finest hour, the harmonies, choice of songs and the banter made for an excellent evening. The only disappointment being no ‘Abbot’ at the bar but the magic of Sound Tradition’s performance more than made up for it.

That lovely man Andy Wall opened the evening and as always gave a polished and classy performance. We are blessed to have so many fantastic local performers in the region.

The evening raised around £300 for the Quakers Building Appeal.

 

Tuesday 19th February 2008 Bury Quaker Meeting House Appeal

We’ve the privilege of hosting a concert on behalf of The Friends Meeting House Appeal featuring Sound Tradition supported by Andy Wall at our home at The Con. Club.

Tickets are £7.00

All proceeds to the Bury Quaker Meeting House Appeal

See www.buryquakerappeal.org.uk for further information on this appeal

For more information and reserve tickets ring Claire Greaves 01284 764096

Please come along!

 

Monday 18th February 2008 NOTICE

The concert with Stefan Grossman on Friday March 7th will be going ahead at The Milkmaid as advertised even though The Oyster band are at the Corn Exchange at the same time.

I complained to the promoters of The Oysters gig about the clash and they suggested joining the two concerts and having Stefan as support.

After consultation with several members of the folk club I decided to turn down their kind offer as Stefan is better listened to in a more intimate setting.

So we’re biting the bullet and hoping you will turn out in your thousands for us because we’re going to need your support for this one.

 

Friday 15th February 2008 Zoox

Zoox astounded us with their virtuosity of their instruments. Three top class musicians gelling together making wonderful music. All three have performed in world class classical orchestra’s as well as other top drawer folk acts. The sound of that Contra-Bassoon will live with me for a long time.

Bernard Hoskin who runs the cult music club Acoustic Routes did support for us. He performed his own songs in a highly professional and competent way as he always does. Bernard is another local artist that has been a good friend of The Milkmaid over the years and is always welcome here.

 

Friday 1st February 2008 Tom Napper and Tom Bliss

Wow! I don’t think there are many duos out there as talented as these two. They are seriously good multi-instrumentalists, sing beautiful harmonies, gave us lots of chorus’s to sing and good humour to laugh at. Along with a few pints of Abbot Ale, what more could you want for a good night out?

First time at the Milkmaid, Clara Kousah showed us what a lovely singer song-writer she is. Coming from Cambridge and highly recommended she didn’t disappoint. She will be on the local scene for a long time and will be back at some stage in the future.

 

Friday 18th January 2008 Jez Lowe

BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards nominee Jez Lowe gave his usual top class performance. He’s such an outstanding performer and a really nice man. You get swept away with his songs of struggle and injustice that you would think had been in the tradition for years instead of being self-penned. We must have him back next year with The Pennies.

Andy Wall again came along as support and as always gave us a superb half hour.

He is a good friend of The Milkmaid and never lets us down. He runs the Ely Folk Club, which is always worth a visit and only 25 minutes from Bury.

 

Friday 4th January 2008 Issy & David Emeney and Kate Riaz

Our first concert of the year was a great success. Issy, David and Kate gave us a wonderful evening of songs, choruses and tunes. These three are going to be very successful in Folk Clubs up and down the country as well as festivals. The audience singing was quite incredible, what a great start to 2008.

Local band BOF did support and a grand job they did as well. These are well worth going to see at any time and of course they are part of the famous Bury Bal French dance organisation.

Steve did a great job on sound (as always), bearing in mind I gave him two bands complete with a variety of instruments to battle with.

That’ll teach him to interfere with my mic at the end of the evening!!!!