Cast your mind back to the distant past of 15th Feb 2022. We often can’t remember why we walked in a room - nevermind the events of any further back than a couple of days - dreams have been dreamed, naps have been napped and goats have been sacrificed to the sun god Ra (why Ra, why have you forsaken us?). So, with the rain at our back (goddammit Ra!) we set off to the wonderful Morley Folk Club.
Now, for those of you that may not know, the Morley Folk Club had been run by Keith with an iron fist (and mechanical stopwatch) for many years - and it was nice to see that nothing had changed, with a prompt start at 8:00, introductions over by 8:04, first band at 8:04:30 finishing no later than 8:24:30.5.
The club was packed. Tables were set up for the classic Folk Raffle, resplendent with wine, choccies, naff CD’s (ours). There was also a table full of Keith’s incredible collection of rare music books with a ‘pay what you think’ premise and all donations going to Sue Ryder/Wheatfields Hospice.
We saw people that we hadn’t seen since our wedding in 2019! Although there were no horseshoes or blue and orange smarties (if you know, you know) there were plenty of hugs! Actual physical contact with humans outside our household - and it felt divine! Like finding eight jaffa cakes when there should only be six in a pack, like finding change down the crack in the sofa, like that bit in the film where everything has been utter rubbish but then she finds a puppy and the love of her life, that’s how good it felt!
photo by Tim Gilpin
Alan Street kicked off the night playing along to a recording of Keith on the fiddle - this is how nights at the Morley Folk club used to start and it was a loving and tender tribute. Dave Minich then stepped up to the fold to MC the night. The talent was phenomenal (present blog writer excepted). Alan Street - Kootch - Duncan Macfarlane & Anne Brivonese (as a duo we would call them DuncAnne, but not everyone appreciates a good word play) - Roisin Ban - A poet called Dave - John Conolly - Hebric.
photo by Tim Gilpin
John Conolly told stories of Keith and himself in the old days of the Grimsby Folk Club. Then everyone got together at the end to sing Wild Mountain Thyme. This was possibly the most incredible experience of Beth’s life. Gordon Tyrrall of Roisin Ban suggested that we sing unaccompanied and boy o boy, never again shall we experience the feeling of what was essentially singing with a choir. Like finding nine Jaffa cakes in your pack! A note down the side of the sofa! She finds three puppies and the love of her life turns out to be George Clooney! THAT’S HOW GOOD.
photo by Tim Gilpin
And, in between all this there were plenty of chats about band name origins, lockdowns, how we got through, and why we should do what we want, because it makes us feel good and because time just flies when you are in the company of the right people.
Thanks to all the amazing people that came to watch and to sing, the night made an amazing £700 which the club topped up to £750, all to support the wonderful work people do everyday at Wheatfields Hospice. And a final, big thank you to the paparazzi of the evening Tim Gilpin. Dean is usually behind the camera (and has been for some of these shots) but it means it’s very rare that we get pictures together. The lighting was tricky as it often is at music venues but Tim took some amazing shots.
Thank you again.
Love, harmonies, cwtch.
Kootch x
