92440_Anmar_32pp

kent folkaround
Issue 114
December 2022 / January 2023

Your FREE Guide to Folk Events
in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and beyond

Published by Tenterden Folk ISSN 2634-7830 (Print)
Festival, Charity No 1038663 ISSN 2634-7849 (Online)
Promoting folk song, music, dance,

crafts and traditions.



Welcome to issue 114 December 2022/January 2023 issue of AKF

I’m writing this just a few weeks after a very successful Tenterden Folk Festival 2023. The
long-awaited appearance of The Wilson Family was rewarded with excellent attendance
and a lot of great harmony singing. All our guest artists gave great performances over the
weekend. We are very pleased to say that ticket sales were well over budget. The weather
was wet on Friday night but stayed dry for the Morris dancing and procession on Saturday
and was then wet again on Sunday morning. Despite a high turnout of supporters, street
collections were lower than expected over the weekend. This could be at least partly due to
the fact that people are less inclined to carry cash after the Covid pandemic or the general
economic climate. With The William Caxton closed, the popular sing-a-rounds took place
in other venues and mostly worked well despite the odd hit-up. We would like to say a big
thankyou to everyone who helped to make the festival a success including, guest artists,
stallholders, venues, Morris sides, dance teams, singers and musicians and especially
the volunteers and workforce who all worked very hard over the long weekend. A special
thanks goes to the people involved in responding to a medical emergency and saving a
life at the end of the procession. They know who they are. We are now starting to plan for
the 30th Tenterden Folk Festival which will take place from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th
October 2023. We want this to be an extra special weekend so are seeking more sponsors,
grants and of course more volunteers.

2022 has been another very hard year for the local and national folk scene with the
aftereffects of the Covid pandemic and the increasing economic problems still set to effect
professional folk musicians, venues, folk clubs, pubs, festivals, floor singers, dancers, etc.
for months or years to come. Most folk clubs have now reopened but some have stayed
online or closed their doors permanently. Others have had to find new venues when pubs
have closed or changed over to doing more food rather than being traditional wet pubs. As
I am writing this the government is in chaos and the news is suggesting that we may have
another new Prime Minster at any moment. What the future holds we will have to wait and
see.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and good luck
for 2023.

Alan Castle (Editor)

PS: You can make a donation to Tenterden Folk Festival or this magazine via our websites or by
post (see payment details on last page). Thank you.

www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk

Find us online at www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk and on Twitter as
@AroundKentFolk, where you can always find a link
to the latest and past issues of AKF.

Please pass this link on to your mailing lists and place it on your social media
so that as many as possible of our regular readers can find AKF online until we

are able to get back to a full print run and physical distribution of the printed
magazine.

Stay well and take care in these difficult times

Readers’ Letters

Dear Alan,

It was good to get my copy of AKF today, interesting as always. I enjoyed Pete the
Punters article on Broadstairs Folk Week, it was indeed a great week. I was surprised
however to read about him hearing “Malcolm Ward reminiscing about the first knockings
of song” because Malcolm wasn’t there at the beginning – I was. There was always song
at Broadstairs right from the first show in 1966. Every evening in the Old Retort House in
Albion Street car park (now an Escape Room!). Clive Bennett and friends ran the Song
Spot. My sister and I, as teenagers, actually plucked up the courage to sing there. True
there wasn’t singing in the pubs ‘til later years, but there was always singing at Broadstairs.
– Clive worked really hard, and seems to have been forgotten about.

Yours sincerely

Anne Hilton

Hello Alan

Firstly thank you for such an excellent festival this year (Tenterden Folk Festival), Julia and
I especially enjoyed the performances in the church with Morrigan on Friday, Folk songs of
the upper Thames on Saturday and Paul Walker and Karen Pfeiffer Auf Wiedersehen Me
Duck on Sunday.

With regards to AKF Bob Kenward wrote about how unifying chorus singing and Morris
singalongs were ( last paragraph Scene and Heard) and ended “Your views welcomed”. As
I don’t have an email address for him could you pass on the message that I started singing
with the Morris after their dancing at pubs and Julia and I both think there is nothing to beat
a good old sing song in a pub or at a folk club so we wholeheartedly agree with his last
paragraph I think about 99% of my songs are chorus songs !!!

Many thanks,

Chris Griffin

Broadstairs Folk Week
Broadstairs Folk Week seemed to go very well in 2022 and we’ve received loads of positive
feedback which is marvellous – thank you!

Of course, there were some issues that we faced and we’ve listened to a lot of suggestions
about the format of the Souvenir Programme, the mix of artistes at the festival and
addressing the thorny question of venues in Broadstairs. They’ll be more updates soon on
our website www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk

In the meantime – there is still time to support our Crowdfunding campaign! It ends on 20
December 2022, and if successful, it will release match funding from Kent County Council.

https://www.spacehive.com/broadstairsfolkweek

So if Broadstairs Folk Week is an important part of your summer – then please pledge – the
minimum amount is £2 – so not too much in these financially challenging times that we’re
all in. Thank you and hope to see you in 2023

11 – 18 August 2023.

Can you help?
Have you got half an hour to spare to talk to someone about folk singing to help with some
research?
We are looking for people - just like you - to talk to people who aren’t already involved with
folk singing to find out what they think about it all. It’s part of a bigger project looking to
increase and diversify the people who get involved in folk singing, called Access Folk.
What we need you to do is invite a friend or acquaintance to have a chat with you, talk
through some questions (that we supply), record it and send it back to us with some
notes about what you thought of the conversation. Absolutely no previous ‘interviewing’
experience is required from you, and they don’t need to know anything about folk singing,
we just want to know their thoughts.
We’re gathering a lot of different experiences to build a picture of what ‘outsiders’
perceptions of folk singing is, what’s putting them off getting involved and what might attract
them, so we can think about ways of making what we know to be so brilliant open to more
people. We have a lot of students involved, but are looking for more interviewers from the
folk singing community.
If you think you might know someone to talk to and have a bit of time to spare we’d
REALLY appreciate your help. Feel free to get in touch for a chat if you have any questions.
We know it can seem a scary thing, even if you want to help, and would like to help
reassure you that YOU ARE exactly who we want to be involved. We’re running this till the
end of November, so there’s just a month to get it done and sent in.
There’s lots of information on the website here, but please don’t hesitate to call for a chat to
go through it all in more human terms! Thanks for reading, and hope to hear from you soon.

Fay and Esbjorn
accessfolk@sheffield.ac.uk

BOUGHTON MONCHELSEA FOLK CLUB

THE COCK INN
(in the restaurant)

Singers Nights dates are Thursday 22nd
December 2022 & Tuesday 24th January 2023.

Heath Road,

Boughton Monchelsea,

ME17 4JD

Audience, Singers,
Musicians, Poets, All

Welcome

For more details call Nigel White on 07793 076827

Dartford Folk Club

BBC Radio 2 Best Folk Club of the year 2008
www.dartfordfolk.org.uk

Enquiries: [email protected]

FLOOR SINGERS WELCOME (PLEASE BOOK)
Please See Website For Further Details

FEATURED GUESTS

6 December - Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman
13 December - Phil Beer and his
special guest Miranda Sykes
20 December - Edwina Hayes

27 Dec 2022 **FESTIVE GREETINGS!**
Sorry we are closed!

3 January 2023 - “All The Local Talent”
Showcase spots for our ‘Residents & regular local talent*

10 January - The Kimberleys
17 January - Pete Morton

24 January - Bully Wee Band
(Rescheduled from Jan 2020)
31 January - Aaron Catlow & Brooks Williams

FOR UPDATES AND FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE GO TO
OUR WEBSITE & FACEBOOK PAGES

DARTFORD WORKING MENS CLUB
Essex Road, DA1 2AU

EVERY TUESDAY 8.30 TILL 11.00

Tonbridge Folk Club (Nellie’s)

Ye Olde Chequers Inn, 122 High Street,
Tonbridge, TN9 1AS

First and third Mondays of each month,
8 - 11 pm

Subject to the Covid 19 emergency,
please check our website for the latest

information tonbridgefolkclub.org

5th December Sally Ironmonger
& Brian Carter

19th December Simon Kempston

16th January Four Gone Confusion

6th February Dave Ellis & Boo Howard

20th February Dick Miles

6th March Alan Reid

Tel: 01892 822945

[email protected]
www.tonbridgefolkclub.org

Farnborough Social Club

6 Pleasant View Pl, Farnborough,
Orpington, BR6 7BL

DECEMBER Singers &
1st, 8th, 22nd, 29th Musicians Night

15th Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer
(Xmas Special Night)

x Available for live and online events, Julie and Gavin Atkin JANUARY 2023
sing and play mainly trad music on a variety of instruments. 5th, 19th, 26th Singers & Musicians Night

x Our online Sunday night Zoom sessions are friendly, fun 12th John & Di Cullen
and attract some great performers. If you’d like to join us,
drop us a line! Orpington Folk Music and Song Club exists to promote
folk music and song. It is a non profit making organisation
x Gavin is running tunes playing meetings with Goudhurst
U3A on Mondays. Email for details and is for those who wish to listen to or take part in an
informal evening of folk music and song.
x Don’t forget our dance band The Tonic! ‘A great band –
music that makes you want to get up and dance! So good For those who wish confirmation of guest(s) nights they
that we book them every year!’ John Sweeney, dance event can call any of the telephone numbers below.
organiser and caller
Thursdays @ 8pm
x See www.youtube.com/c/GavinAtkin for samples 01959 532 754 020 8325 6513
Contact: Julie and Gavin Atkin [email protected]
More info at Singdanceandplay.net Website: www.orpingtonfolkclub.org.uk

E-mail:[email protected]

Scene & Heard
Have you heard any news of the iceberg… lettuce, that is …? It’s been a crazy couple of
months again, times which bring folksongs back to life… ‘they talk about the market, boys,
but that is all my eye’.. ‘scarce have they got any shoes to their feet’…’ I wish that the wars
were all over’… ‘I hope that they’ll pardon their prodigal son’… Fortunately we have plenty
of good news to report as the festival season passes with 2022 as strong a year as can be
remembered and with clubs up and running.

Good to revisit Crabble Mill to catch up with the East Coast crew for the evening with Alan
and Chris Davis, whose mellifluous sounds so graced the Kent scene for many years.
I’ve always admired Alan’s choice of song and the gentle emphasis he puts on the lyrics:
making them flow naturally and meaningfully. The less said about his jokes, however…
glad to see Ade with some Viv Stanshall inspirations… Faversham hosted Nigel Hobbins, a
songwriter of great originality whose percussive and quirky chord changes always surprise-
his CD Levitating In Lockdown well worth seeking out.

Faversham Hop Festival was blessed with fine weather, fortunately, as the folk stage was
way out at the Albion Tavern, with Andy on sound fixing and mixing among the greenery.
Helen North was her usual charming self first thing in the morning, with Crisis (Taylor &
Sadler) rocking in on appropriately swampy sounds to follow. Quality here was high, the
mighty CJ passing on drum-humping duty and Dave Raey’s gypsy jazz much appreciated
out on the lawn. Trommelfluit’s evening concert at the Arden was a welcome meeting with
old friends, the Belgian lilt a reassuring sign of returning normality. Throughout the weekend
the town was packed with music of all genres- the programme emphasizing how important
the festival is to the survival of many businesses over the year. Graham ‘The Hat’ and the
committee are to be congratulated, and are keen to reboost folk input, dance and music, if
it can be done. Good fun.

A cracking evening at Faversham with Rattle On The Stovepipe saw Dave Arthur back in
Kent following his recent move to Norfolk. Our loss is their gain, Dave always so supportive
of those who had genuine interest in folk music English and American, a former editor
of EFDSS’s magazine and author of the majestic volume ‘Bert- The Life And Times Of
A.L. Lloyd’, (ISBN 978-0-7453-3252-9) , which has so much first-hand observation of the
emerging folk scene from the 1960s onwards. Invaluable and insightful: he was there.
Pages 139-142 especially will draw nods and smiles.

Rail and bus strikes thwarted several excursions- it would be good to hear from clubs
across the region of their successes, in particular NW Kent, where Dartford and Orpington
are meeting regularly. Please do send reports to AKF- we need them for balance.

I’m always pleasantly surprised to listen to artists I’ve enjoyed on stage or at festivals over
the years, often quite a while after they were recorded… the Open Water CD particularly,
Joanne Doolan, Jeff Alexander and Richard Rozze, impressed. I enjoy artists whose skill
is so clearly focused on the songs, bringing out powerful emotion through the setting. Jeff’s
own instrumental CD River Moon I commend to guitarists all, fine expression of beautiful
tunes. As with Terry Lees and with Will Allen’s gorgeous English Fiddle which I wish I’d had
more space to praise last issue, the unhurried tone is delightful. And so too is CJ’s Passing
Through, slow of me not to catch up with her own songwriting and expressive vocals. The
title track is a gem.

A real shock to hear of the passing of Paul Sartin, who so enhanced and amused the folk
scene. The Bellowhead and Belshazzar’s Feast gigs we shall all remember, and many
of us will have attended one of his singing courses in which he generously shared his
enthusiasm and musicianship. It’s his oboe playing I shall particularly recall, to be found

across the spectrum of traditional recording. Like Jeff Gillett on guitar, clear and melodic.
One of the good guys.

And so to Tenterden… elsewhere a fuller report, the last of the local festivals and as ever
a hive of traditional emphasis. The procession much appreciated by a good crowd, and
events across the available venues featuring local and national acts. This year’s enormous
craft tent spared many traders the blustery excitements of yesteryear, and in a daze of
autumn the season drew to a close. It’s been a grand summer amid friends old and new,
a renewal of the bonds which we share through our interest in this many-faceted jewel we
call ‘folk’… and long may we make music together. Harvest home and gather ye fuel while
ye may…

Further to the Broadstairs piece last month, I’m pleased to set the record straight re singing
at the Festival. Anne Hilton reminds us of the Song Spot in the Retort House from 1966
onwards, and of the contribution of Clive Bennett and friends before the pub sessions
began. Anne comments on the supportive atmosphere which set her and her sister singing.
There really is a need for a definitive timeline/ history of the early years- I can’t do it
because I was always playing cricket! Many names spring to mind... perhaps memories can
be gathered?

Chris Griffin adds to the discussion about the unifying nature of chorus singing: ‘I started
singing with the Morris after their dancing... Julia and I both think there is nothing to beat a
good old singsong in a pub or folk club so we wholeheartedly agree...’ -and so do several
others who have offered their opinions at folk clubs around Kent. As I said in my Tenterden
slot, all I’ve ever aimed to achieve was that people are happier when the go out than when
they came in... and we are all in our own ways entertainers... other views also welcomed!

Bob Kenward

CD Reviews

Esbe - Blow the Wind Southerly
New Cat Music NC222
This is Esbe’s eighth studio album and includes a cappella
versions of some well-known folk songs in a mix of folk and
classical styles. The tracks include a couple of nursery
rhymes, Three Blind Mice and Oranges and Lemons, and
a Christmas carol, the Coventry Carol. There are also
well-known folk songs such as Blow the Wind Southerly,
My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Scarborough Fair,
Greensleeves and others. The opening track, Summer is
Icumen In, also includes the sounds of sheep and birds
and other tracks include the sounds of the sea, animals, and other effects. It is difficult to
decide who the target audience really is, but it certainly shows imaginations and is worth a
listen.

Janice Burns and Jon Doran - No More the Green Hills
JBDO002
This is an album of traditional English, Scottish and Irish
folk songs from an Anglo Scottish duo who met on a
Newcastle folk degree course. Jon, from Gloucestershire,
plays guitar, bouzouki harmonium and fiddle and Janice,
from Glasgow, plays mandolin, guitar, harmonium and
piano and both provide the vocals. The 11 tracks include
She Moved Through the Fair, As I Roved Out, The
Greenmore Hare and the Weary Cutters. Jon was a finalist
in the Young Folk Awards in 2019 and won the Future
of Folk award at Bromyard Folk Festival. They have already played at many of the major
English Folk Festivals. Their arrangements of all these songs are pure and simple with their
vocals clear and precise. I would like a chance to see them live in concert or at a local folk
club.

Luke Daniels and the Cobhers - Gael Productions
Gael CD022
The Cobhers, pronounced Covers, are Luke on melodeon,
guitar and vocals with Matt Tighe on fiddle, Michael Biggins
on piano, Scott Turnbull on guitar and Eleanor Dunsdon on
clasarch and backing vocals. The track list starts with the
Bee Gees, Staying Alive which is a bit of an odd choice for
the opening track but it works. Other tracks include some
written by Luke and a couple of more traditional or at least
in a traditional style such as a set of jigs entitled Doodly,
Doodly Dank. There is also a traditional Syrian Longa and
a folk sounding version of Superstition from one S. Wonder. Carron Bridge showcases
the work that the Cobhers have been doing to research and perform traditional tunes from
Lanarkshire. The CD comes with useful and interesting sleeve notes. Luke does a lot of
work with children and young people across Scotland and England and has performed at
Broadstairs Folk Week.

Alan Castle (Editor)



The Guisers Are Coming

Zoom: Wednesday 5th January 2023
(Twelfth Night) 8pm
Pete Castle’s sort of Christmas Show. A
traditional, secular, left wing, alternative
Christmas based around traditional
songs and stories. There will be the odd
carol, and perhaps a mention of Father
Christmas and presents, but much more
about poor people going guising to raise
money to buy their Christmas dinner.

For the poor the whole of the Christmas
period was difficult and they needed to
go guising, or mumming, or hoodening
or whatever else they called it locally—
perhaps just carol singing—to survive. For
the better-off Christmas did last a whole
12 Days with partridges in pear trees and
lords a-leaping. Christmas Day itself used
to be just a holy day, the main day for
celebrations and presents was 12th Night so that’s when we will celebrate.

Bring a bottle of your favourite tipple and some left-over Christmas cake and join Pete for
a ‘different’ Christmas event which will include several of his favourite and most popular
stories.

Tickets are £5.00 each and all profits will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee
(https://www.dec.org.uk) for use in whatever appeals they are concentrating on at the time.

Tickets are only available from Tenterden Folk Festival online at https://www.musicglue.
com/tenterdenfolkfestival/tickets/ Make sure you enter your email address carefully as it will
be used to send you the Zoom link.

Live Music Venue Folk Blues Jazz

62 Sweyn Road, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2DD

DECEMBER

Thu 1 Arcelia - fabulous songwriting and
performance -complex harmonies

Thu 8 Martin Carthy....sold out
Thu 15 Christmas Party free- open mic-ish
Sun 18 Dance French /play live music £5 12-4.30
Wed 21 Jazz Night at 8 £10. Tony Hudd +

JANUARY

Thu 12 Open Water- local indie folk, harmonies
Wed 18 Jazz Night at 8 £10 Tony Hudd +
Thu 19 Good Habits Rich variety of styles
Thu 26 Burns Night - open mic +
Sun 29 Dance French /play live music £5 12-4.30
Mon 30 Step / clog workshop £10 12-1 live banjo..

FEBRUARY

Thu 2 Gerry Colvin rare solo show
Thu 9 Roswell Rich harmonic beauty
Wed 15 Jazz Night at 8 £10 Tony Hudd +
Thu 16 St Patrick's open mic
Sun 26 Dance French /play live music £5 12-4.30
Mon 27 Step / clog workshop £10 12-1 live banjo
Thu 30 Den Miller sing-along intelligent lyrics

An intimate quirky venue in Margate
on one level with a bar

the first hour only is live streamed.
Pay £12 if you can, please, otherwise £6

www.rosslyncourt.com/concerts

Keeping music live

07902 140 248

CD Reviews

Steeleye Span - Live at the Rainbow Theatre 1974
Chrysalis Records CRVX1485
It is not often I get to review a double red vinyl LP in AKF
but this new release from Steeleye is too good to miss.
The album was originally included on the 12 CD box set
“Good Times of Old England”, released in May 2022,
which covered their albums from 1972 to 1983. The
album’s 16 tracks include some of Steeleye’s best knowN
and most popular songs, including Two Magicians, The
Wife of Usher’s Well, Long Lankin, Thomas the Rhymer,
Cam Ye O’er Frae France and The Mason’s Apron. The
live introductions to the songs are also included so you
get to hear the voices of some of the old band members.
The lineup in 1974 was Maddy Prior, Rick Kemp, Rob
Johnson, Peter Knight, Tim Hart and Nigel Pegrum and
it is interesting to see the photos of them as they where
then. The two RED vinyl albums come in two inner colour
covers with comprehensive sleeve notes all included in a
traditional LP outer cover. A must for all Steeleye fans of
any age.

Alan Castle (Editor)

December - January

Yes, Faversham Folk Club is open every Wednesday, 8 pm til 1030... we welcome
performers and audience to our popular Singers’ Nights. On Guest nights, floor
spots are welcomed by M/Cs if you arrive soon enough. A warm welcome is always

available at The Limes!

14th Dec 2022 John Kirkpatrick Christmas Night -
Rousing revels with the Guv’nor... by
popular demand a rollicking ride on
the seasonal sleigh from the King of
Squeeze. £10/11

11th Jan 2023 Sally Ironmonger & Brian Carter -
Superb self penned songs of local and
radical interest... always a lively evening
in store. £7/8

1st February Edwina Hayes - A welcome return
South for a sublime singer whose
Zoom request shows livened many an
afternoon over the past couple of years.
Glad to hear Edwina again in person -
beautiful and committed vocals/guitar.
£8/9

All others Singers’ Nights, and not, necessarily, as advertised in the local paper,
Swingers. All other Wednesdays are Singers Nights, only £2, where traditional mixes with

contemporary and jollity is encouraged.

We ask that you please test yourself before coming to the club, to keep guests and all of us
safe and well. We do what we can to ventilate and keep safe by distancing.

See you at the Limes!

Sussex Folk News
Let’s start off with folk dance events this month.

One of the most vibrant of the regular dance events is one that caters for those with and
interest in French dances. Dansez Français events are usually held in Brighton. but during
this editorial period, they also have one in Lewes. They are planning to dance the New Year
in this year at their regular venue at Patcham Memorial Hall which you can find at 3 Old
London Road, Brighton BN1 8XR. They are hoping to have a group of French musicians
that perform under the name of St Sylvestre but they are awaiting confirmation so if this is
for you keep an eye of the Dansez Français Group page on Facebook for further details.

On January 28th there will be an evening with more familiar musician in Sussex who play
together as Sawney White Bird and features Ravi Sawney, Heather White and Jane Bird
playing tunes they really love. There’s some old English ones, some from France, and
ones they’ve written themselves. The line- up features saxes, whistles, melodeon, fiddle,
mouthorgan, concertina. Again, this dance will be at Patcham Memorial Hall where there is
a fabulous polished wooden ballroom floor, just perfect for French dancing!

Their event in Lewes is in another well-appointed hall; St Mary’s Social Centre, Christie
Road, Lewes BN7 IPL and on Saturday 21st January 2023 from 8-11pm they will be
holding a Fest Noz, an evening of music and dances from Brittany. There will be live music
from two great bands; the Tonik Dance Band as well as Trio Zinzon. The dances are easy
and fun, anyone can join in. No partners are necessary, no experience needed.

There will be no bar at Dansez Français events and you are advised to take your own
refreshments.

The other dance club to mention is Shoreham dance club and their final event of 2022 will
be on Sunday 4th December from 3pm to 6pm at St Julians Hall,

Rectory Road, Kingston Buci, Shoreham by Sea, BN43 6E with dancing to the calling of
John Portlock.

Chichester Folk club is one of the longest continually running folk clubs in the UK and it
celebrates sixty years of its existence in December. For the majority of those years, the
club has been run by the same person. Marilyn Campbell: Marilyn has been collecting and
singing songs of the tradition since her early days on the 1970’s folk club scene of both her
native Hull and Chichester. For many years she sang as half of the duo ‘Marker’ with Kerry
Manning and as a soloist, she also added contemporary songs to her repertoire. Now, she
a fine solo performer as well as an efficient organiser.

On two Mondays, 5th and 12th December, they have evenings called “Welcome Back”. On
these two designated nights, they celebrate the club’s continuous existence for 60 years
as it moved to various hostelries throughout Chichester and on the 19th it will be the club’s
Christmas party. They add “we shall be inviting any past members to join current members
for two nights of great music and nostalgia with archive photo montages.”

The Horsham Folk Club meets on Sundays at the Normandy Centre Denne Road,
Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1JF and they have two interesting nights in December,
On the 4th it is Mike Nicholson who is one of those remarkable singers who manages to
create an immediate and loyal following everywhere he goes. This is due in large part to his
unrestrained passion for what he loves doing the most - singing good songs! He draws his
audience to him through an unassuming approach which only asks that the listener might
share his love of singing and of the songs. He performs a wide spectrum of material, and
generally speaking, it’s material that has something to say.

On the 11th Dec at the Horsham club it will be that hilarious combination, the Okee Dokee

band which includes three stalwarts from the folk scene in Sussex, Mel Stevens, Dick
Streeter and Dave Toye. Mel plays Chromatic button accordion and C Melody saxophone
with Okee Dokee, and has written a number of their songs. Mel also plays with the French
dance band Tonik, mentioned above.

Finally here is the programme for the Lewes Saturday Folk Club which meets at the
Elephant and Castle in White Hill

3 DEC RAMSKYTE - a three-part vocal harmony group from Hampshire singing mainly
English traditional songs & some written by John Bartlett.

10 DEC SHEPHERDS ARISE Old Sussex carols with fiddle, flute, bassoon, serpent,
whistle & concertinas, Sussex tunes, Sussex readings, Sussex mummers’ play.

17 DEC CHRISTMAS PARTY BY FIRE & CANDLELIGHT £4

Carols, home-made mince pies, minimalist panto, candles & an open fire

7 JAN COPPER FAMILY The Copper Family of Rottingdean in Sussex sing the songs their
family has loved and preserved for at least seven generations - songs of farming, sailing,
love, drink, war, sport, drama and comedy..

14 JAN WASSAIL NIGHT We light the log fire and the candles tonight. Bring songs and
tunes for winter and wassailing.

21 JAN SUSSEX ALL-DAY SINGAROUND

11.00 a.m. – 11.00 p.m. Elephant & Castle, White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ

Good pub food on sale until 7:30 p.m.

First an hour of informal tunes while people arrive. Then the singing starts, with a break
from 6.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m., finishing with a good hour of glorious choruses.

Ballads & the occasional instrumental party piece will be very welcome too.

The open fire will burn throughout & we’ll light candles for the evening session.

28 JAN EAST CORNER TRIO Three young musicians, finalists in the 2022 New Roots
competition & members of the London & National Youth Folk Ensembles, Elye Cuthbertson,
Danny Marshall, & Mía Iles-Pérez.

Vic Smith

Animal Guising and the Kentish Hooden Horse
Wed 8th February 2023 to Sat 17th June 2023. Exhibition with Free entry.
Maidstone Museum, St Faiths Street, Maidstone ME14 1LH
The Hooden Horse can be seen snapping its teeth and causing havoc at many folk
festivals, but where did it come from and how does it relate to other animal disguises
around the UK?

This exhibition unites Maidstone Museum’s two old Hooden Horses with their early
surviving cousins; Morris Dancing revival horses; Northern skull horses; the Old Tup; Mari
Lwyd; Obby Osses; and stag disguises. It explores the Christmas house-calling custom of
Hoodening and its reinvention as Autohoodening, a new kind of folk performance about the
precarity of contemporary seasonal working.

This will be worth a visit to experience the Hooden Horse brought to life around the town
and museum on event days during the exhibition.

museum.maidstone.gov.uk/whats-on/events/animal-guising-the-kentish-hooden-horse

/HZHV 6DWXUGD\ )RON &OXE

7UDGLWLRQDO PXVLF HYHU\ 6DWXUGD\ QLJKW

(OHSKDQW &DVWOH :KLWH +LOO /HZHV %1 '- ±

ZZZ OHZHVVDWXUGD\IRONFOXE RUJ

YDOPDLJRRG\HDU#DRO FRP

/R\DOW\ FDUG HYHQLQJ YLVLWV … RII DQ HYHQLQJ

'HF 5DPVN\WH PDQ YRFDO KDUPRQ\
'HF 6KHSKHUGV $ULVH 2OG 6XVVH[ FDUROV WXQHV UHDGLQJV

0XPPLQJ SOD\
'HF &KULVWPDV 3DUW\ &DUROV FDQGOHV PLQFH SLHV RSHQ ILUH
'HF &ORVHG
-DQ &RSSHU )DPLO\ (PDLO WR UHVHUYH WLFNHWV
-DQ :DVVDLO 7ZHOIWK FDNH ZDVVDLO ERZO ILUH FDQGOHV

-DQ 6XVVH[ $OO 'D\ 6LQJDURXQG D P ± S P

)LUVW DQ KRXU RI LQIRUPDO WXQHV ZKLOH SHRSOH DUULYH 7KHQ WKH VLQJLQJ
VWDUWV ZLWK D EUHDN IURP S P S P ILQLVKLQJ ZLWK D JRRG
KRXU RI JORULRXV FKRUXVHV %DOODGV WKH RFFDVLRQDO LQVWUXPHQWDO SDUW\
SLHFH ZLOO EH YHU\ ZHOFRPH WRR 7KH RSHQ ILUH ZLOO EXUQ WKURXJKRXW
ZH¶OO OLJKW FDQGOHV IRU WKH HYHQLQJ VHVVLRQ
$GPLVVLRQ ZLWK FROOHFWLRQ … VXJJHVWHG )RRG RQ VDOH XQWLO S P

-DQ 7XQHV VHVVLRQ QRRQ ±


-DQ (DVW &RUQHU 7ULR <RXQJ WULR PHORGHRQ EDQMROLQ IOXWH SLSHV

:25.6+236
DP ± SP … XQGHU \HDU ROGV …
7XWRUV SHUIRUP DW WKH FOXE LQ WKH HYHQLQJ (PDLO IRU SODFHV

0DUFK -(= /2:( 621*:5,7,1*
$SULO
$SULO 7+( :,/6216 92&$/ +$5021<

:,// 3,33$ 12%/( %$//$' )2580



Peter the Punter - Tenterden
Autumn colours through the
Weald for this most traditional
festival, a chance to dance
out the harvest and sing in the
sunset season. A bold start with
Dick Miles, Sheila Park, Keith
Kendrick, Sylvia Needham and
Phil & Denise Underwood in
Round Robin format. Plenty of
variety and experience- Sheila
was a new voice to me, an
acquaintance of Harry Cox and
a bright way with ballads. The
club atmosphere was superb.

The Woolpack Barn has been
modernised within and proved a good acoustic venue for the Friday singaround in the
absence of the Caxton. By 1.00 some 30 singers were enjoying the session, spaced
pleasantly and with guest spots by Paul Walker & Karen Pfeiffer- as ever the programme
offered plenty of choice from the likes of Morrigan and Nick Dow. Roger Resch, Malcolm
Ward, Dave & Eileen Masterson et al were as ever in fine voice. A quick nip to the Glebe
at teatime to see Bob Kenward’s Pleasant Collaborations, anecdotes and songs from his
45 years of making music in Kent, a tribute to the many musicians he had enjoyed playing
alongside and some little-heard songs. Then to the Ancient Borough, where gradually the
session singers found space among the tapas... many diners stayed to listen too... a busy
bustle...

Saturday broke with bright sun and East Kent Morris spanking sticks by the Museam. The
station and High Street teemed with colourful dancers, a joy to see. So much to pick from,
Gavin Atkin’s trad music class, the Wilsons in the Town Hall, Martin & Shan Greabe on
Alfred Williams, Jerry Crossley’s tunes with Spare Parts ... Si Barron’ DADGAD splendour...

another Barn singaround gathered 34
including several festival guests. I missed
Vic Smith’s updated audio visual Copper
family show, a pity as I had highlighted it-
punters can’t be everywhere, especially if
helping out...

A looming cloud held off as the procession
advanced in the afternoon heat- the
streets lined with amazed children and the
generosity of their elders all helping to boost
the festival in the eyes of Tenterden town.
Four Gone Confusion battled away in the
Borough with their delightful combination
of harmony and delicate guitars. A quick
splash of shanty, then off to the concert
just in time to catch Jack Rutter and Jeff
& Elaine Gillett, to vicariously learn how
top performers approach accompaniment.
I nipped away to catch the raucous Foot

Down to conclude a rich and varied evening.

On Sunday PJ persuaded me to buy a
capo in the Craft tent, which was humming
with honey, mead, bracelets, art and shiny
gemstones. Outside was the open air marquee
with bunches of local talent like John Smillie
and Ashford Folk Band on Sat, Hook Line &
Sinker and Milton Hide on Sun, all overseen
by the irrepressible Andy... again I missed
some here due to other calls as my fancy was
taken by the line-up of squeezeboxes in the
Glebe- and glad I was, for the discussion and
demonstration of styles between Dick Miles and
Gavin Atkin was lively and full of sense. Keith
Kendrick summed up beautifully, he and Sylvia
consummate songsetters. Nice to see Pip Ives
performing too- more of him please! The gist
was ‘follow the song’ rather than ‘paste lyrics
onto a virtuoso performance on the instrument’-
true for players everywhere. Another sing, then
to catch Bob & Gill Berry again in the Town
Hall with their cheery robust glee. The final sing in the Borough started early as Sarah had
finished serving food at 4, so all sang on with gusto, the numbers swelling as the evening
concert crowd swarmed in. After a bit of extra the focus moved to the Brewery, where by all
accounts the Morris were still standing and singing lusty choruses.

All in all a weekend which flashed by, so much put together by Alan and the Committee to
whom many thanks from us all. Punters can only marvel at the range and colourful twirl
of dancers all and the warmth and generosity of fine players in concerts, workshops and
sessions. Long may it continue!

Peter the Punter

Tenterden “Tenterdenthe
Jewel of the Weald”
2023
Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October

Tenterden, the Jewel of the Weald”

CONTACT INFORMATION:
FesƟval director: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA
E: alan@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk
CraŌs & stalls: Margaret White E: info@tenterdencraŌfair.org.uk
Chief steward: E: chiefsteward@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk
Dance co-ordinator: Spud Jones E: dance@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk

Tenterden Folk FesƟval Registered charity No. 1038663

TENTERDEN FOLK
SESSIONS

Free folk song, and music sessions at
This Ancient Boro

3 East Cross, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6AD

The second Monday of every month
from 7:30 to 10:30

Tenterden Folk Club has been running consistently since 1993
For informaƟon contact Alan Castle
E: info@tenterdenfolkfesƟval.org.uk T: 01233 626805
W: www.tenterdenfolkfesƟval.com/Tenterden-Folk-Sessions/

Bride Of The Wind

FOLK AT THE
DRUM

The club meets every Monday
evening at The Drum Inn,

Stanford, Stone Street (TN25
6DN), between Canterbury
and Hythe, from 7 till 10pm.

If you enjoy playing or listening
to acoustic music of all types
(folk, blues, country, rock, etc), you are very welcome to join us
in the function room of the pub for a relaxed and entertaining
evening.

Nominal £2 entry fee.

For more information, contact Jeff on 01303 813188



CD Reviews

The Albion Christmas Band - All Are Safely Gathered In
Talking Elephant Records TECD481
It is that time of year when we get out the Christmas
decorations and put up the holy and mistletoe, but most
of all we sing all the old Christmas carols and songs. Well
here is a CD to listen to while doing all that and stirring
the plum putting and drinking the sherry. The first new
album from the Albion Christmas Band for six years is
mainly songs written by Ashley Hutchings and his son Blair
Dunlop but also includes a few surprises such as Simon
Care’s recitation of “Sam’s Christmas Pudding” and a
couple of traditional items such as “The Whittlesey Straw Bear Tune / Birds A’Building Molly
Dance Tune” with spoken word from Ashley. The 12 tracks on the album start with Tim
Hardin’s “If I Were a Carpenter” and conclude with Isaac Watts and GF Handel’s “Joy of
the World”. Kellie While and Simon Nichol also provide some of the vocals and guitar and
guest artists Blair Dunlop, Ruth Angell and Holly Brandon add guitar and vocals, violins and
fiddle respectively. Definitely an album worth finding in your Christmas stocking.

Lady Maisery - Tender (LMCD052)
Lady Maisery are Hazel Askew, Hannah James and
Rowan Rheingans and they have written and arranged all
the 11 track on this their first album for six years. In the
press notes they describe the album as “an examination
of femaleness from many sides” and all the songs clearly
reflect this but also incorporate other themes including
sacrifice, duty, love and politics but this does not make the
album heavy or depressing, far from it. Havel provides
vocals, harp, harmonium, banjo and of course melodeon,
while Hannah provides vocals, accordion sansula and
percussion, and Rowan provided vocals, viola, banjo and electric guitar. Guest musicians
add organ and additional percussion on a couple of tracks. Song titles include Tender,
Echoes, Scientists, The Fall and Bird Song. The album comes in a cardboard cover with
a comprehensive booklet with all the words to the songs, a couple of photos and other
information. This is definitely an album to sit down quietly and listen to and digest.

Alan Castle (Editor)

WANTED

LPs, EPs, 45s, CDs

Folk, Blues, reggae, jazz and rock

Collections or smaller items, best prices paid

Ring Collin 07860 354 135

^ĂŶĚLJ ĞŶŶLJ WƌŽũĞĐƚ Tenterden
^ƵŶĚĂLJ ϰƚŚ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ʹ 'ƵůďĞŶŬŝĂŶ folk fesƟval

^ƚ ŐŶĞƐ &ŽƵŶƚĂŝŶ loƩery
dƵĞƐ ϭϯƚŚ ĞĐ ʹ ĂŶƚĞƌďƵƌLJ ĂƚŚĞĚƌĂů >ŽĚŐĞ
You could win up to £25,000
ůďŝŽŶ ŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐ ĂŶĚ while supporƟng
^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ ϭϳƚŚ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ʹ 'ƵůďĞŶŬŝĂŶ
Tenterden Folk FesƟval
ŽƌĂĐůĞ ;WĂƵů ,ƵƚĐŚŝŶƐŽŶ ĞůƐŚĂnjnjĂƌ͛Ɛ &ĞĂƐƚͿ Buy loƩery Ɵckets online
^ƵŶ ϴƚŚ :ĂŶ ʹ <ŝŶŐƐƚŽŶ ĂƌŶ Ŷƌ ĂŶƚĞƌďƵƌLJ
www.ashfordcommunityloƩery.co.uk/
^ĐŽƚƚ ŽŽŶŝĐĂŶ ^ŽůŽ ^K> Khd support/tenterden-folk-fesƟval
^Ăƚ ϮϭƐƚ :ĂŶ ʹ <ŝŶŐƐƚŽŶ ĂƌŶ Ŷƌ ĂŶƚĞƌďƵƌLJ

&ĂŝƌƉŽƌƚ ŽŶǀĞŶƚŝŽŶ ʹ tŝŶƚĞƌ dŽƵƌ ϮϬϮϯ
^Ăƚ ϭϭƚŚ &Ğď ʹ 'ƵůďĞŶŬŝĂŶ͕ ĂŶƚĞƌďƵƌLJ

^ƚĞǀĞ <ŶŝŐŚƚůĞLJ
^Ăƚ ϮϱƚŚ &Ğď ϮϬϮϯ ʹ ^ƚ DĂƌLJ͛Ɛ ^ĂŶĚǁŝĐŚ

ǁǁǁ͘ĨŽůŬŝŶƚŚĞďĂƌŶ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

Meets every last Tuesday of the month, from
7.00 pm. All welcome.

No paid guest performers, just residents,
itinerants and wayfaring strangers (rich or poor).

PA available if you need it.
Hat collection (if you need one).

Contact details: Jerry ‘Hatrick’ Crossley
Phone - 07387 382050
Facebook - EgertonFolkandBluesClub

Your advert
could have
been here for
a little as

£18

www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk

MOORE or LESS FOLK CLUB

Oast Community Centre, Granary Close,
Rainham, Kent, ME8 7SG

(next to Rainham railway station)

Friday 9th December, 2022

Friday 13th January, 2023

All club nights 8.Ͳ0 to 1Ͳ.͵0pm
Entrance fee £4.00 ȋ‹…Ž—†‹‰ ”ƒˆˆŽ‡Ȍ
Enquiries to Chris Wil‹ 07821 606076

This issue of Around Kent Folk was produced by Alan Castle and Andy Wood on
behalf of Tenterden Folk Festival. Promoting folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.
Registered Charity No 1038663

Issue No. 115 February/March COPY DATE: 18th December

Then …

18th December 2022 – February / March 18th June 2023 – August / September

18th February 2023 – April / May 18th August 2023 – October / November

18th April 2023 – June / July 18th October 2023 - December / January

ADVERTISING RATES:

Current advertising rates are as follows:

Full colour: Grayscale:
Back cover: £94 Full page (run of issue): £44
Inside front or back cover: £83 Half page (run of issue): £31
Full page (run of issue): £73 Quarter page (run of issue): £20
Half page (run of issue): £45 Eighth page (run of issue): £12

Size Guide: Full page H 180mm x W 130mm, Half page H 85mm x W 130mm,
Quarter page H 85mm x W 60mm, Eighth page H 42mm x W 60mm

Series discount: The discount for advance booking and payment of a series of 6 adverts is
15%, but you can still submit new artwork for each advert.

Artwork: If advert cannot be supplied at the correct size please add £10 to above rates.
We accept adverts by email as high quality PDF, JPEG or TIFF.
Email your adverts to AKF with a copy to Anmar Printing Services, details as below.

Payment: Cheques payable to “Tenterden Folk Day Trust” (NOT Tenterden Folk Festival or
Around Kent Folk). Send cheque and hard copy of advert to the address below.

You can also pay by BACS or internet banking. Ask for details.

News and Reviews: Please send CD, books, etc. for review to the address below.
AKF also welcomes news and reviews of live gigs, festivals, etc. which you have attended.

Website and Social Media: www.aroundkentfolk.org.uk
twitter.com/AroundKentFolk ● facebook.com/AroundKentFolk

Contact details: Alan Castle, Around Kent Folk, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent,
TN23 3HA Email: [email protected] Website: www.arounfkentfolk.org.uk
Twitter: @aroundkentfolk

Andy Wood, Anmar Printing Services [email protected]
Phone 01732 865380

Subscribe to AROUND KENT FOLK and get your copy by post
Name .......................................................................................................................................

Address ..................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................

Telephone: ......................................................... Email: ..........................................................
SUBSCRIPTION £11 for 1 year (6 issues) Cheques payable to “Tenterden Folk Day Trust”
Send to: Alan Castle, 15 Repton Manor Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 3HA



ȼȼʣȼɃ ƶÆÄÅ ȽȻȽȾ

FOLK MUSIC BY THE SEA

&
ʯ "

&


ȽȻȽȽ "

ʯ
"

"

ȽȻȽȾʶ

& "


ʯ



"



CONCERTS . CEILIDHS WORKSHOPS
DANCES .
ʫ



CRAFT & MUSIC FAIR . FESTIVAL CAMPSITE
MORRIS DANCERS . PUB SESSIONS


&
ȽȻȽȾʶ

WWW.BROADSTAIRSFOLKWEEK.ORG.UK BOX OFFICE: 01843 604080