Welcome to Nailsea Folk Club
It has been a very exciting summer with a huge amount of activity at the Tithe Barn. The mediaeval timbers have been revealed and the walls taken back to stone. It will be a beautiful building which we hope to officially open next May during the festival. Do come along to the AGM (which will be short) followed by presentations and pictures of the restoration. 7.30 Tuesday 7th Sept Holy Trinity.
This year's festival was a great success, all the better for including so many local performers and artists. It also raised £3500 towards the Tithe Barn renovation. A huge thank you to all those helped.
Sadly one of our great supporters and Irish musicians Bob Warwick died just before the festival. We are holding a special Irish night on Sunday 12 September in his memory.
This autumn's programme has some great musicians and new faces. It should be a lot of fun we do look forward to seeing you.
Best wishes
David
Projects
The Folk Club has a number of projects, including:
- An Irish music workshop (contact lindsaymoore@btcommect.com) meets on Sunday evenings
- "Music and Memories", a Sunday afternoon group for people with dementia and their carers. Contact David on 01275 540231 for details.
- the Barley Rye community choir
- a Youth Folk Music project, The Acorns, currently taking on new members
Also, on the second Tuesday of the month at 8.30 p.m., we meet in the Grove Sports Centre opposite the Pub for a Singers/Musicians night. This has a private lounge for those who like a quiet "space".
Also check out the Blue Flame at West end, on third Tuesdays.
A message from the committee
Folk music and dance essentially belong to, and are the creation of, common people. Folk, or Roots, has a very long tradition and what makes it really special is its power to reflect the joys, concerns, struggles and lives of ordinary folk. Traditionally it was an oral and visual tradition, rather than a written or recorded one, passed from generation to generation. At its heart is a sense of shared experience and community, not commercial profit or gain. One of the joys of folk is that creativity and performance rests with ordinary people.
For some years Folk did have a bad image – interminable ballads sung in strange keys with “fingers in ears”. Although we have respect for the traditional singers clubs, this has never been Nailsea’s style. The music and dance that we promote is varied, often highly contemporary, and always performed to a very high standard.
Nailsea has had a strong association with folk music over the years, going back as far as the legendary Adge Cutler (founder of the Wurzels) in the early sixties. There have been a number of clubs over the years, the current one being founded in 1987. Its constitution declares its aim as “to provide quality music in a convivial atmosphere and to promote and develop local talent”. Since its inception, it has always been a very strong club and is regarded as one of the best in the country (ask any of the top performers who’ve been!) It is strictly non-profit making. Money raised is given to local charities, often ~£1000 in a year. The club is affiliated to the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
So,… What do we do? Well, we have regular Concert Nights at the Ring o’ Bells, normally on the third Friday of the month but with many others fitted in around. We have featured famous Irish bands, African mbira, Russian gypsy, Delta Blues, Folk Rock, Aussies, Canadians as well as the best of British – great solo artists to seven piece bands. When booking, we look for variety, interest, excellent musicianship and an ability to entertain and communicate. Live music at its most intimate.