TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Hot off the Press.
A concert not likely to be repeated this coming Friday at National Forest Folk Club, Ashby de la Zouche.. Swarb solo first half. RT second half. Swarb & Richard playing together for the first time ever as a duo. SLOTH to be one of the songs.
Swarb on stage @ 8pm.
Tickets/Box Office: National Forest Folk Club, The Waterside,Conkers Visitor Centre, Bath Lane, Moira, Ashby de la Zouche. Leicestershire. DE12 6GA. Tel: 01676 540 219. Email: club@affc.demon.co.uk


Jill

RT & Swarb are playing a gig at Conkers Visitor Centre (Waterside), Bath lane, Moira, Ashby de la Zouche, Leics. DE12 6GA. Box Office: 01676 540219

More info can be gleaned here (http://www.affc.demon.co.uk/club_web_site_amilo_1_010.htm) and Conkers web site is here (http://www.visitconkers.com/index.html)

Tickets are £20; the gig starts at 8pm.

I'm hearing that Swarb & RT will play separate sets & together, with whispers of old Fairport numbers such as Sloth.....looks like another unforgetable gig!

Local Accomodation - and it is very local, is the brand-spanking-new YHA, whose website can be found here (http://www.yha.org.uk/find-accommodation/peak-district-sherwood/hostels/national_forest/index.aspx)

Trying to get tix as I type!!!

 ;D ;D 8) ;D

Where do you get your info, Chris?   ;)

ooohhh, that'd be telling......

Any idea if any tickets are left?

Clive and I are intending to go but daren't buy tickets yet in case we have to cancel at last minute. His Mum is ill and we may get called northwards at any point :(

If we know they are sold out well, then we know.

Your best bet is to take the enquiry number(s) with you & call before setting out for the venue....take both the Visitor Centre's number, the Folk Club enquiry number & the box office number (if different). All these can be found on the links that I've posted.

There are currently tickets available....

Ticket booked.  ;D 8)

I am going, It is a lovely venue, have been there a few times for CQ.

Bring a cushion to sit on and a warm jumper, also a picnic and some drinks will save you money.

Any idea as what time the gates open, Zoe

Doors open at 7pm, there is a nice bit of grass and water to sit by if you are early, there has always been a big queue for the CQ/Talon shows, people wanting to get down the front.  Actually it is worth bringing a mac if you are sat at the back or sides ::)

If I still lived in Derby, I'd be going but sadly, I can't afford to do the trip from Edinburgh.

Ta,

We were at the venue for Eliza recently so I definately recommend cushions !

:)

Plenty of tix available it seems............. I hope to be there ;D  ;D  ;D

Just booked...

The lady ont he end of the phone number above gave me the direct booking number...  01283 216633... press '4'.

Got straight through.

Tix are £20 + smallish booking fee.

It'll be FAB..  see you there....  8) ;D

Oooops, credit card slipped :-[

See you there!!

Hope to see you guys there - might be on me own cos missus may be working.

Thanks for gen re venue, cushions, etc; me coccyx is getting a bit old for this sitting on the grass lark!

It's wooden benches I was told today Ed.

See you there...  ;D

Here is a picture from the last gig I went to there, it is a natural amphitheatre with steps to sit on rising quite steeply,  at the very back there are a couple of benches and also if the weather is nice people spread out on the grassy banks around the side, the majority of it is under cover.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/Zoe/Conkers063398x600.jpg)

This pic shows chairs but they have only ever had a couple of rows on the flat at the front when it is sold out when I have been there.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/Zoe/i_conkers1.jpg)

and the stage

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v380/Zoe/Conkers026600x398.jpg)

Thanks for the pics!Looks like a nice intimate setting.I'm jealous! >:(

Thanks Zoe.. it's good to see where we'll be... will bring cushions!!

Lovely venue, they hold the National Forest Folk Festival there, wish I could go!  Have a great time.

Thanks Goaty.. I wish you could too  :-*

I am most jealous of not being there....should be a magical night.

Please export the venue and the artists to our side of the Atlantic!

Thanks Zoe, better idea of what to expect now. Looks like a mini version of the Roman theatre  at Vaison or Fiesole. Hope we get weather to match  8) 8)    

Plenty of tickets.... see you there :D

Really looking forward to it.

I will bring your scarf Tracey!!

See you there!!

 8) ;D

From reading what someone else posted, can you bring your own booze to the venue (in a responsible adult manner ;) )?

Hi Jonny

I suppose officially not really as there is a bar and they would not be happy, I don't drink as I am driving and as the soft drinks are ridiculous prices I have always taken bottles of water/cans of drink with me.

I don't know whether other people do take in alcohol or not, I have never been stopped but then they may not have noticed me.

They also had a sort of half hearted BBQ going with burgers and veggie burgers, although these things may not be at every concert, the ones I go to have been organised by the Pokey Hole club.

Sorry not much help there!

Thanks for the reply!

We might try and sneak in a soft drink for my GF and I'll head to the bar.

WOW!!!

It inevitably rained on the way, but what a lovely venue as described earlier!

Swarb came on to huge applause, played some great tunes before the break.

Then we were treated to what seemed to be a bit of history...  Swarb and RT together...

They did 3 or 4 (someone else will confirm exactly what they did I'm sure)...
But the very best was when we heard the first notes of SLOTH.. with both RT and Swarb singing... 8) 8) 8)
That was a moment to savour.. well quite a few minutes really...

It was SPECIAL.. in every sense of the word...  I was entranced, as was the rest of the audience!

I wondered if there would be a repeat at Cropredy.....  I hope so, it was simply magical!

RT then did a very powerful set which almost turned into a request show.. he was really on form..
Has he really only got ten fingers??

A stunning night of music in a lovely venue, even though it was cold and damp... nice to watch the bats flitting around under the canopy too at times.  Lovely too to meet lots of TAW friends there.

Thanks so much to the organiser.. the National Forest Folk Festival... they always come up trumps.. but how could they beat this gig?

8) 8) 8)

It was three....and I can't remember the other two either.....

Jill/Swarb - can you tell us?

There are going to be many gigs of the year for me - and that was certainly one!

Agree with your comment about ait being an RT request show too! He can't have played many on his set list.

Did anyone get a setlist?

I took a few pix, but Chris was much closer taking photos..
hope to see some of yours Chris.

Here are the ones I remember, not in the correct order:

Dads gonna kill me
Vincent Black Lightening
A little bit of Hokey Pokey
Sunset Song
I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight
I Misunderstood
God Loves a Drunk
Johnnys far away
Wall of Death
The End of the Rainbow
Crawl Back Under My Stone
Money Money Money
Don't sit on my Jimmy Shands
Beeswing

A few pics here although they are not brilliant, looking forward to seeing the ones Chris took.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97044&id=520148505&l=61e3f8795c

Loved the little bit of hokey pokey ;) I'd love to see him do that next time I see him.

First: Sheebeg & Sheemore
Second: Sloth
Third: Bogey's Bonny Belle

 :)

That only happens to be my favourite tune in the whole world. Any chance you and Richard can come to Edinburgh, Swarb?

Me too.  I'm especially chuffed to hear that all must still be well between both parties following Swarb's bowing out of the recent big gig.

I sooooo wish I could have been there.

Jules

Thanks to all for their reviews/piccies. It was blooming marvellous wasn't it. Well worth getting lost in the badlands of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Warwickshire, along with half the audience it would seem!

I arrived fairly late so decided to stand behind the mixer, good choice actually - it gave a real insight into the way an excellent sound person can make a consummate artist even better, if that's possible.

Richard mentioned the misprint on the words to Bright Lights on the LP ("A couple of drunken KNIGHTS rolling on the floor") and explained what an LP was. I felt somewhat ancient as I bought the vinyl version when it came out, but Richard forgot most of Hokey Pokey so even Gods in Human Form have senior moments.

Swarb was great in the first half - he played my favourite Billy Pigg type hornpipe (Carrick wasn't it?) - but the killer punch for me was him and Richard doing Si Bheag Si Mhor, Sloth, and - whoopee! - Bogie's Bonnie Belle. I can't quite describe the atmosphere during those three. It was as if the audience was saying collectively to itself "We are really lucky to be here, we have to remember all of this".

"We are really lucky to be here, we have to remember all of this".
 
 
 

Yes Ed.. that's exactly what I thought.. even though I forgot the names of the tunes... (Been a bit dazed annd busy today!!)

Thanks for last night Swarb.. see you again soon I hope X

"We are really lucky to be here, we have to remember all of this".  

Definitely a night to remember, thanks chaps ;D

Sheebeg and Sheemore (however spelled ;)) was superb. I just love that tune, and it was almost worth the journey for that alone.

As for the rest of it - just great.  ;D  I'm still smiling :)

Lucky you!
And S&S is one of the lovliest tunes ever! Amen!
Worth any journey if played by His Swarbiness & Friend(s)  8)

Good news! It looks like Simmo was there!!  ;D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2YQkWeeFBA Hope he got the duo.

Is Swarb singing again?  That's great if so!

Sounds like a super gig.

Yes he is  ;D

It wasn't a bad way to spend a Friday evening ;)

Grrrr :(

Sorry to cause mild controversy, I only used Si Bheag Si Mhor cos that's how I remember it being spelled on Smiddyburn and one of Planxty's records. Mind you I've seen it spelled Sheebeg Sheemore (as Swarb does), Si Beag Si Mor, and lots of others. Then we move from Irish to Scottish Gaelic......

Some say it's Little Fairy, Big Fairy, some Small Fairy Hill, Large Fairy Hill, some Little Hill, Big Hill. ...... but it's definitely by Turlough O'Carolan, or Toirdhealbhach O'Cearbhallain, or Carolan.

All I can say is that anybody who wrote a tune called Planxty Fanny Power has my emphatic vote. Try shouting THAT out as a request!    

Yes, Simmo & His friends were there - I spent 20 minutes chatting to them, and Simmo stood behind me while I was taking some photos.
The official line was that we could shoot 6 numbers - the three together & three of RT solo. Whether Simmo continured after that, I know not.

No controversy  ;D

It was an oblique comment on the different ways of spelling it :-[, poking fun at my own pedantry about spelling :-X

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TkfRJSNzyM Sheebeg and Sheemore. Rather wonderful.

Excellent.  Now where's Sloth?   ;)

Lovely :D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 Likewise ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

There - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5PeOHJt7-c  :D ;D

Now, that's what I call good service...you just made an old man very happy  ;D

Blimey what a night!

Also, chatted to Simmo before the gig, but at that point didn't know who he was. Then I spotted him filming and thought "I wonder......?" Cheers for the great clips Simmo.

Great to catch up with Clive and Tracey, Delfini, Gareth and Jen, Chris Bates and Zoe. Didn't spot EdtheFolkie, but then I've not met him.  :P

A charming venue in lovely surroundings. Both Swarb and RT looked to be having a great time and the music was simply wonderful, of course.

Another song I recall from RTs setlist was Hope you Like the New Me (if indeed that is what it is called....)  :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaK08SpI1G0 Final duo vid. Really hope Swarb is a guest during RTs set at Cropredy.

Remember it says "A further tour of Canada is planned for August" on Swarb's website....

...which finishes the weekend before Crops.

Edit: Actually Tues. 11th

But after the Barbican debacle, I doubt he'll be along this year.

But then again, wtf do I know?

That's good....I hope he is there, mind.

Clive and I had a fantastic time on Friday.

I almost cried when they played Bogie's Belle. It has always been a favourite, SOOOOOOOOO good to hear it live.  Oh and then a bit of Hokey Pokey (another favourite), Wall of Death, Vincent 52, Beeswing.

*happy sigh*

It was lovely to see so many of you as well. Huge hugs to all.

A truly magical evening.  Thanks to both Richard and Swarb for something that I imagine none of us who were present will ever forget.

The full setlist.....

With Swarb:
Sheebeg & Sheemore
Sloth
Bogie's Bonnie Belle
solo:
One Door Opens
I Misunderstood
Time's Gonna Break Me
Hope You Like the New Me
Dad's Gonna Kill Me
Hokey Pokey (incomplete)
Bright Lights
Sunset Song
VBL 52
God Loves a Drunk
Johnnie's Far Away
End of the Rainbow
Crawl Back
Wall of Death
Beeswing

encores:
Money, Money, Money
Jimmy Shands