Current Issue: Autumn 2024
What's in the Autumn Issue
OBITUARY: Val Marsden
The loss of Val Marsden, so soon after her partner, Chris Sugden, has saddened her friends deeply. Rose Hudson, Graham Pirt and Jim Ellison remember.Graham: “Over the past couple of years she hadn’t been well but only her close friends knew the seriousness. However, it came as a tremendous shock when she passed away in the early hours of Friday 31st May, a day after I sat with her, talking and playing Cockersdale songs …”
Rose: “Val was one of the most recognised dancers in Persephone Women’s Morris, one of the early members though not a founder. Apart from being a strong team member, rarely missing a dance out, Val also penned several dances" [...] "Val’s most well known (and loved) dance was Whitby Shindig, written for a workshop at Whitby Folk Week in 1988, the first time Persephone had the honour of being invited. We hope this will be a show stopper dance this year from the many sides that dance it."
Jim: “Ian Russell’s ‘Carols in August’ workshops were an ever–present favourite too. We sweltered in the late Summer heat at the Rifle Club, bellowing Diadem, the Bradda Anthem or While Shepherds. I’d look across from the basses and see her grinning, as we Gloria’d and Halleluja’d.”
Val & Graham at Whitby Spa Theatre
OBITUARY: Heather Wood
Too late for an in-depth article comes the news of Heather’s passing. The last of the Young Tradition, she had made her home in the States for many years – “A huge fan of Terry Pratchett, she went along to an event, to get a book signed… "My name's Heather" [she said]. "I know who you are", said Mr Discworld. Turned out he was a big Young Tradition fan and was as impressed to meet her as she was him.”
YT - Heather in the Middle
FORGOTTEN FAVOURITES: The Star of Sunday’s Well by Donal Maguire
“One evening at the tail end of the 1970s I folked up at Barnsley Folk Club, upstairs in The Wheatsheaf at Town End, not knowing what to expect from the night’s guest. It was Donal, bespectacled, with an exuberant auburn beard flowing from his chin and a scarlet beret on his head. In his hands a tiny, gorgeous Fylde Ariel guitar. At the end of the night I came away, a little star–struck, with this LP in my hands. It’s been a firm favourite ever since.”
SONG SPOT: Errand Lasses & Buffer Girls by Pamela Ward & Paul Cherrington
“Pam's auntie Ivy was a Sheffield buffer girl… it was their job to buff–up the fine silver at the end of the process… you didn't mess with the buffer girls.”
Pam & Paul
ANAHATA'S CHOICE
Tumblers Hornpipe from James Biggins – His Book 1779: “Because of copyright rules, Nick [Barber] couldn't photocopy or photograph the pages of the book, but was allowed to transfer all the tunes from it, using pencil and manuscript paper.”
JB - His Book
Nic Hall: Standing at the Crossroads
“And then there’s dynamic pricing – the egregious phenomenon whereby the ticketing companies sense that a concert is in high demand and so dramatically increase the prices of tickets accordingly. The same £100 tickets I bought for Bruce Springsteen in Hyde Park last year (yes I know – I’m as guilty as the next person, but hey – it’s the Boss! That’s different!) cost £300 the day after I purchased them”Knaresborough Mummers at 50
“Initially we took available traditional texts as our basis for plays, but it wasn’t long before these were augmented by humorous lines and amusing characterisations, inspired by a common love of Tony Hancock, Goons, The Navy Lark, Monty Python and whatever other zany humour there was about at the time.”
St George, the Dragon and his mates
MOVEABLE FEASTS No 3: Autumn Almanac
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few ... “September is ‘that turning month, that threshold of Autumn, when thoughts turn to preparing for the Winter’. It has an array of moveable feasts, whose timing is governed by climate, lunar cycles, ancient legends, local custom, the nature of local crops, the day of the week and even the throw of a dice.” ... & these few precious days I'll spend with you, These precious days I'll spend with you.
Collecting Wood for the Fire
INTERVIEW: A Trip to Chesterfield to meet Ashley Hutchings
Where Were You In ’62? – “In the penultimate issue of TykesStirrings our influencer interviewee is a man without whom the British (and wider) folk scene would be a very different place. Dylan described him as “the single most important figure in English folk rock”… and who I am to argue with Bob? … Audio snapshots tell their own story – Fairport’s A Sailor’s Life… Liege & Lief… Steeleye Span Mk I & II… No Roses… The various Albion Bands… Morris On and its various offshoots… The Mysteries and Lark Rise at the National Theatre… The Albion Christmas Tours… concept albums… Sharp commemorations… Gloucester Docks. The list goes on…”
“The single most important figure in English folk rock” Bob Dylan
2fer-View: Blair Dunlop – Out of the Rain
“With this album Blair truly finds his voice as both a writer and singer. Eleven tracks, each totally satisfying, that combine to create a deeply fulfilling album. […] The writing, I would say comes from Dad, though Mum’s written a couple of great songs; Dad is a writer by trade, ultimately, I would say. I think he’d agree that I’m lucky I inherited my voice from my Mum.”
Blair & Dad podcastin'
3fer-View: Pete Morton
Interview/CD Review/Live Review – “NS: Newton’s Parakeet is the title that leaps out at you …” “PM: […] it’s about our ability, as humans, to make things extinct, like that bird. We colonise a place and give everything names: in this case the bird was named after the guy who discovered it. Then we hunt it till it’s extinct. It’s both comic and tragic. It’s a philosophical conundrum that’s literally existential. It’s not about that one species. That’s a starting point to look at human impact across the globe. Just to make it cheery, I drop in the obvious fact that it could be us next.”
In the Courtyard
TAKE 5… LIVE: Clive Gregson
…names his five favourite gigs plus Honourable Mentions. “Jim Shipley catches up with Clive Gregson, the Manchester–born singer–songwriter who has also worked with Any Trouble, Christine Collister, Richard Thompson, Iain Matthews, Eddi Reader and Boo Hewerdine to name just a few. His work has been recorded by Norma Waterson, Nancy Griffith, Kim Carnes and Fairport Convention.”
5 Live & more…
REVIEWS
HomeSpun: Henry Parker & David Ian Roberts / Tim Moon / Robb Johnson – from their heart to your earsLive: SDP – i.e. the Sandy Denny Project: “Drawing from Sandy’s entire career, they re-invigorated every song without ever losing the spirit of the original” [...] “It was a great evening. It has always been great music. No one does it better than The Sandy Denny Project.”
CDs: A veritable plethora from Rum Ragged to Bold Reynold Too & It All Came Round Again
AND ANOTHER THING
In which Jim Shipley reveals another golden nugget from his bulging ‘AAT’ postbag “Dear Mr Other-Thing… Regards Master E. Bygum (age 16½)”'FILOFOLK
Make a date, have a sing, sink a pint.(Also available online: FILOFOLK)
READ ALL ABOUT IT … in the magazine, and there’s still time get yours, from the remaining issues… — get yours from the subscribe pages