fileyfolk

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FILEY FOLK CLUB is alive and kicking - well, sitting on a chair and tapping its feet, more like!!

Despite the 2008 Filey Folk Festival being cancelled, for reasons given elsewhere on the webpage, this has had no effect on the monthly Folk Club meetings. First Wednesday in the month, remember.

The room at The Station Pub starts to fill up about 8:00, with the music starting at 8:30. Throughout the winter months there has always been a minimum of about 20 people, with 30 being the average. The March one, for some unknown reason, filled the room with about 50 people. Many folk clubs would love to get this sort of attendance, especially when every night is a performers night. Filey does not book artists who expect a fee. The room gets filled anyway, especially during the tourist season.

This is free-entry - but try to get out without buying a raffle ticket from the Rafflettes !! There is also a free buffet, which many have said beats some wedding receptions they have been to - thanks Jo, landlady.

As the organisers (Poppy, Alan and Robert) say - "What happens depends on who turns up on the night". This policy seems to work but gives the MC (Robert) a bit of a headache at 8:30 when he is drawing up the appearances list. That is why it is very helpful for him to get a phone call the day before or even the same teatime if you are definitely coming and want to do a spot.

Alan and Robert can usually be relied on to start off or fill in gaps with their quite different singer/guitarist styles. Dennis usually comes up from Hull and sets up a PA system, for those that like to use it. His style is again quite different. When Arthur is not over in the USA he is a regular performer with his vast repertoire of "proper folk songs". I say this because Filey Folk Club doesn't have silly rules about what is folk and what isn't. If the audience enjoy it, then "it''ll do" which is that ultimate Yorkshire accolade !!

Barry is also a regular, but more of him later. In January Margaret performed her first song at the club, was well received and is now being persuaded by Robert, to try another, soon. Young Kirk, all of 9 years old, paid us his second visit with his Mum, and sang beautifully. More of him later as well. The Ramshackle Brothers performed to their usual (??) standard but this time backed by Mick (of The Codgers fame) on guitar. It is this sort of ad hoc joining in which happens at Filey Folk Club. There are poems and stories by Poppy, and by Michael, Jim sings songs of the sea and is sometimes joined by members of the Fileymen in a seafaring hymn or two. Trish sometimes gets over from Flamborough and adds to the maritime theme. Joanne adds yet again a different style of beautiful singing.

February was a relatively quiet night, so Robert had the opportunity to indulge himself by singing a total of six songs. As MC he usually fits a few in between acts, and several people said they enjoyed hearing him do a specific "turn". There was no PA that night, so some singers performed from different parts of the room for best acoustic effect. Dennis' wife, Leslie, is not well and we all send her our love.

March was the busy one. Arthur was back from the States, most of the other regulars were there. Nick Stubbs from Hornsea, paid his second visit, this time with wife Helen. Young Kirk appeared and told Robert that he had sacked his backing band and agent (his Mum) and was going solo. That young man then took the stage, sang Lord of the Dance unaccompanied and in perfect pitch, with confidence and pleasure to all. He is nine years old, not nineteen !!

The highlight of the evening, though, was the launch of a new supergroup, The Shufflers. Lead singer Barry has sacked the other Ramshackle Brother, and gone boy band !! Banjo, guitar, acoustic bass and mandoline rocked the stage. The combined ages of the four members does exceed that of the Rolling Stones, however, and after a few numbers their carers took them off for a pint of Complan each.

So that gives some idea of what happens at Filey Folk Club. Very informal and it matters not whether this is your first time on stage or whether you are a pro trying a new song. Comments from new visitors often refer to the friendly atmosphere when you come in and the way in which it is so easy to have a go, even if you are just singing a chorus or two.

THE PHANTOM REVIEWER

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