Helen and Amy at Forest Folk
On 21st July 2008, we played our first amplified floor spot, supporting Kerfuffle. We are a duo, with Helen doing most of the singing and I play the guitar. We'd only been playing together for 5 months and this was a great event to get our adrenalin flowing.
Helen and I have been friends for quite a few years, but never really played music together. We started practising when we were asked to play at a party for some friends. I grew up listening to American folk music like Pete Seeger, John Stewart and the Kingston Trio and I had played folk guitar for a number of years. I introduced Helen to some of my favourite music, which she really loved, and we came to our first singaround at Forest Folk in March. We were very nervous! We sang the Kate Rusby song 'Little Jack Frost'.
We kept getting together once or twice a week to play and made the monthly singarounds a regular event to practise for.
Charles Gale asked me about doing an amplified floor spot when we were at the Song and Ale Festival. He said I could talk to Helen about it at a good moment because she gets very nervous, but I don't know where I got the reputation of being the calm one! Helen agreed and we arranged to do support for Kerfuffle. We practised pretty much every day in the weeks leading up to the concert.
Charles gave us a lovely introduction and we sang 'The Sun's Coming Over The Hill', by Karine Polwart, 'The Hour Of Plenty', by David Ferrard, 'Morning Song' by Jewel, and 'Some Kind Of Love', by John Stewart. We were very surprised and pleased to get an encore, in which we sang 'Bringing Down The Moon', by John Stewart, to finish off. We were pleased with how the set went, but realized that we do need to work on our nerves.
Then, in September at the Eleanor MacEvoy concert, one of the support acts was unable to make it so we were asked to play at the last minute. I hadn't brought my guitar with me but Robert Brown (the other support act), kindly lent me his. We played four songs; including one of our own we've recently recorded and posted on YouTube: 'The Lonesome picker's Last Hurrah'. We didn't have time to get nervous, so Charles said in future he'll give us as little notice as possible!
We hope to do more floor spots when they're available, and we will be doing some recording soon. Most importantly we're having huge amounts of fun playing, singing and writing together. We are learning so many new things, and meeting many wonderful people.
Lastly, both Helen and I would like to thank Charles, Janet and Forest Folk for giving us the opportunities so far; to sing in front of people, and for helping two shy girls to believe in themselves. We didn’t have time to get nervous, so Charles said in future he’ll give us as little notice as possible!
Amy Goddard
Since Amy wrote this, I see they have several recordings that they have put on the internet at http://uk.youtube.com/user/amy6500 and also including one of our own we’ve recently recorded and posted on YouTube: ‘The Lonesome picker’s Last Hurrah’. http://www.myspace.com/helenandamy . They tell me they're working on a CD at the moment and since I reckon they sound great and it's lovely to support some possible future stars at an early stage, please go and have a listen. Ed
Peter Pennycook, 1928 – 2008
Peter Pennycook died in hospital on 25th October after a short illness. Peter and his wife Elizabeth were involved with folk dance for about 35 years, following an introduction at a Brownies Barn dance. They were regular dancers at Solent, Waterlooville, Chichester, Beaus and Mainly Playford dance clubs. Peter also called at some of these clubs right up until the evening before his illness.
In 1983 they were persuaded to take over joint editorship of Solent Waves. This continued through the changeover period from EFDSS to FASH for a total of 14 years. During this period they produced 143 issues using a typewriter, where cut and paste meant scissors and glue. We are very grateful for all the hard work that was put into producing Solent Waves during this period and will miss Peter.
Some news from the Isle of Wight
The folk scene on the Island is still quite active with several sessions/folk nights in various pubs besides a Folk Club on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Vaguely Sunny Promotions and Quay Arts keep us content with frequent concerts and our ritual dance teams maintain healthy memberships.
The Wight Bells Morris will be celebrating their 10th birthday this year. They were actually formed in 1998, but decided it should be this year they celebrate as they first danced out on the May Bank Holiday at Bembridge.
Last year's weekend event, Folkstation, is to be repeated again at the Havenstreet Steam Railway. The date being on the weekend of July 10th to 12th, with a group called Limited Edition as the headline act. For more information see www.folkstation.co.uk. Due to the enforced change of date by Folkstation, Party in the Park at Wootton Bridge is moving to July 4th.
Just one last thing to mention. The recent publication; "Folk on Wight. The Island's folk scene through the latter part of the 20th century, an individual reflection", is selling quite well here. If there are any ex-Islanders reading this and would like a copy please contact 01983 880118 for a copy. If you were you active in the Island's folk scene you'll probably be mentioned in the book.
Solent Waves on Holiday
I will be away over the February to May period and so will be unable to do the April and May editions of Solent Waves. However, I am delighted to say that my good friend John Shillitoe is going to step into the breach and handle these two editions.
BUT there will be some limitations. If you normally sent me copy by post, I'm afraid that this will not be monitored. So please could anyone who wants adverts, articles, diary dates or other information, either get it to me before February 10th or use email (editor@fash.org.uk).
So, if you know that you will want something written in Solent Waves, please plan ahead and get it to me early. If you don't have access to email, then I apologise, but it is the only way I can make it work. Perhaps a friend could send it for you.
Morris sides, especially might take note! If anyone has any queries, feel free to call me on 01489 892911.
Red Stags Morris
Red Stags Morris - still dancing after all these years - will be celebrating our 40th anniversary on Sat.23rd and Sun. 24th May 2009. We would like to invite as many past members as possible.
If you know of anyone who was a previous member or associate of the side please, contact me at bagpuss@redstags.org. If you have any photos, newspaper clippings etc, we would also be grateful for copies for the archive. Christina Pritchard
Morris Contacts
Just on the offchance that Morris Bagmen didn't notice the article above, where I say that I won't be around for the May edition of Solent Waves. PLEASE TAKE NOTE and get any dates to me early rather than late and by email rather than snail mail. We won't be able to include it until the June edition, missing your May Day plans and early outings, if you don't.
Editor
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Submitted by (to whom technical queries and requests for additional links only) and Edited by Dennis Wheeler, Penshurst, Vicarage Lane, Swanmore, Hants SO32 2PW 01489 892911 editor@fash.org.uk).