Folk music and Americans
Court Sessions, the south London folk club, keeps changing venues all the time. Now they are at Grove Tavern in South Wimbledon.
Finding the venue was easy enough. When you come out from the tube station it is just across the street. But then it is much like the Beatles. You wlak in through the bar, turn right, pass two doors, up a narrow and rather long staircase, then through a corridor, passing a couple of doors, and the you find it. Very much "A Long and Winding Road".
The room is small. It was nearly full yesterday and there were just about 30 of us, including performers.
The Waddle Delta String Band were down to a trio this time, with Doreen guarding the entrance, but sometimes supplying some recorder harmonies from there, which would make it a trio and a half. Simon did his usual blues stuff, Dave East, who runs it all, did a smashing "Banks of the Bann" and there was a female a capella duo as well. I got two do an Adam McNaughton song about the dangers of trying to keep fit and my favourite Dalslands Wedding march,
The headliners were Gail Williams and Jim Younger, doing two sets of long ballads, usually from the American trio. It was more like an informal gathering of friends, everyone but me seemed to know the personally, than a concert. But then again, that is one of the attractions of the folk clubs.
My only complaint was the beer. How can you run a folk club in a pub with only one bitter (Tetley's), not counting Guinness, and no real ale?
There is a group of American students staying at the hotel, and this morning their leader apologized for any racket they had made. I calmed her by telling that I did not arrive back until after midnight, and that I then was too tired to notice any rackets. Then she thanked me for the music. They had heard when i rehearsed after breakfast and a bit in the afternoon, and she asked if I did this professionally. Thank you very much lady. And at breakfast a couple of her students thanked me and said that they had enjoyed the music very much. Maybe I should tour America.
Todat is an exciting day. Everywhere people are gathering for a big demonstration in conjutnction with the G20 meeting i London next week. Since they are marching up Park Lane bus 73 is out af the question for travelling, and with Victoria Line closed for maintenence work it is a challenge to find new ways to go about when you are stationed close to Victoria.
