Alan got things started with I'll Fly Away which everyone promptly joined in. Nola's group from Altona gave us a couple of good old songs including their own unique version of Oh Susanna that got the audience going. It was really a night for joining in...I think everyone in the hall was either singing or playing along to The Water Is Wide.
It was great to have our Canadian friend Jill there for one last session before she goes back home, and a bracket of fiddle tunes - Canadian and other - was enjoyed by all.
Another familiar - and very welcome- face was Frank, who was a regular a few years ago. He brought his mate Russell along this time on piano accordion, and gave us a couple of his original songs. Welcome back Frank, hope to see you again!
Another familiar - and very welcome- face was Frank, who was a regular a few years ago. He brought his mate Russell along this time on piano accordion, and gave us a couple of his original songs. Welcome back Frank, hope to see you again!
There were a few new faces too. Jordan played the Beatles classic Blackbird - he invited anyone to sing along but he was so fast I couldn't get in! Another newcomer (didn't get his name) also took me back to my musical youth with Neil Young's Needle and the Damage Done.
Of course there were plenty of Bush Orchestra people there and Kathryn got them going with a few classic dance tunes. Dave departed from his usual Australian bush verse and gave us a few excerpts from The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.
During the tea break we admired a large collection of photos from the Folk Festival shown as a slideshow on a couple of laptops. More Festival photos coming soon to this blog.
After the break the string players got together for an interlude of classical music, including The Queen of Sheba. With violins, recorder, viola, cellos and double bass it was a big sound! Danny wowed us all with his superb tenor voice as he sang The Minstrel Boy with string accompaniment and lyrics hurriedly sourced from the Internet.
It didn't even seem late when Alan wound things up at about 11:15 with the traditional Parting Glass and even then a determined group gathered around the piano for a few swing tunes before finally clearing out at about midnight.
It seems the Festival has created a new surge of interest in live music in Newport, and we hope to see everyone back next month for another big night!
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2 comments :
Yeah it was fantastic!
What a great night indeed - the Community Hall was packed to the rafters, with some sitting on the stage. Musical highlights? It was lovely to have Frank back to sing some of his whimsical and intruiging songs, backed by Russell on one of the many piano accordions. After Frank had taken us to Spain, Mira joined with Greg O'Leary and Gail Horsley for an impromptu Spanish song - the first time they had played together and it sounded fantastic. Another first for the night was the impromptu Newport String and Wind orchestra - what a sound to start the second half of the night. The folk club continues to provide anyone who comes along with a surprising smorgasboard of music - and many many opportunities to join in. It is lovely to be a part of this club.
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