Reading Passport Challenge

The weather's been beautiful today so I've been out on my bike, visiting the few last pubs on my Reading CAMRA passport. Yesterday I was invited to TWO barbecues in Reading, and as well as partying also managed to squeeze in some pubs near the town centre that I can't usually get to - the lovely Butcher's Arms in Tilehurst, the friendly Eldon Arms just off the A4 and the excellent Hop Leaf on Southampton Street (supped some Hop Back Entire Stout there, flippin' gorgeous!).
So today I had a choice - 2 pubs in Theale or two pubs in Hurst? I also really wanted to go to the Bull Inn in Sonning, as I had heard how good it was from a lady in the Eldon. In the end I decided on the Prince of Wales in Caversham, which I'd been to before and knew was nice, then on to Sonning down the Thames Path then back through Hurst (even though it meant a spare pub) to Wokingham and the train home.
Had a nice half of Brakspear Organic Beer, then it was on to the Bull, which was very busy by contrast. The food looked good but I couldn't really afford a meal so had some speciality nuts instead!
Next it was a longish stretch to Hurst - thought I'd cut off a corner by going down Park Lane which was very quiet and picturesque, and I also passed an interesting looking 'Brakspear' pub called the Land's End. Unfortunately there was a ford on the other side of it! My trouser bottoms got rather wet but the little mountainbike-hybrid was unfazed.
The two Greene King pubs in Hurst weren't really inspiring, but their Greene King IPA was OK. Then wobbled to Wokingham with my 13 stickers, having achieved a free VIP beer festival ticket. And some sunburn. Ow!

Fareham & Gosport Folk Festival 2007

Rather a different experience to previous festivals, but I enjoyed the music and the company. Avoided Kevin and Ugly, though I spoke to Kevin briefly about house plans. Sat with Ugly's husband on the Friday evening which was a bit bizarre - but it was good to have his empathetic and cheering company for a while. Old friends like Darren, Mary, Dennis and Sue, and Lesley were on hand to give some support, and also new friends Dawn and Vicki from the B&B, whom I hope to stay in contact with!
Discovery of the festival was Flossie Malavialle, a French folk singer who has lived in Darlington (or D'Arleau as she called it!) for a long while, and has acquired a hybrid accent as well as musical style and sense of humour! She was also really nice to talk to, which makes all the difference really. I bought her album 'The Wilderness Years' - great music, perhaps a definitive divorce album! Old favourites Paul Downes and ColvinQuarmby were also there on the Friday. CQ were singing a few of their splitting-up songs too but theirs are more cheerful - in the pace of the tunes, anyway!
Missed Mary Jane and Arlen sadly, as their sets clashed with Show of Hands 'dress rehearsal' of their Albert Hall gig the next day - a truly outstanding show with guests as diverse as a Cornish choir (Fisherman's Friends), Tom Robinson, Martyn Joseph, Miranda Sykes and Paul Downes. Would you expect anything less?
On Saturday I took advantage of the glorious weather to cycle down to Warsash, a pretty little village with a nature reserve and a pink ferry to Hamble. Discovered a little delicatessen which served a delicious bowl of Leek Chowder with fresh bread, and real icecream. Bought some Zapatista Coffee on Robb Johnson's recommendation!! I also chanced upon a beer festival tent outside the Ferryman's and supped some Goddards Ale of Wight, very nice.
Took the pink ferry over to Hamble and had a wander round - yet more pubs, but only ventured into the little gastropub, the Bugle. They only had Courage brands so I tried some Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc - CAMRA heresy but tasty and refreshing on a hot day. Cycled back in time for the evening concerts. John Tams and Barry Coope were very good - John is a master songwriter and Barry an impassioned singer - but I alwys moan at Barry's artificial-sounding Yamaha organ which kind of defeats the (folk) object as far as I'm concerned. Kate Rusby and her band gave the best performance I've seen the give so far - really enjoyed it! Missed 'Sir Egremont' as I popped out to the loo though, damme and blast it!
On Sunday I met up with Mum, Dad and my sister Shirl for Easter roast meal in Braishfield - huge portions! Got front spot for Seth Lakeman, was well pleased. Wasn't keen on the much-vaunted Megson, but Lau (including award-winner Kris Drever) were wonderful, full of energy, originality and passion, very skilled musicians and good fun! Almost enjoyed them more than Seth's , whom I had a good dance to. Got my paws on Ben's set list which I'll keep as a souvenir. Also got introduced to Seth later at the Lysses House musician's late session - he was so down to earth, nice to see fame hasn't (noticeably) gone to his head!
Stayed up listening to the late session, 3 of whose most enthusiastic participants (drinking as well as playing!) were Lau. Vicki offered me a lift home at 4.30am, got back to the B&B just as the dawn chorus was starting.
Another trip out on Monday with Shirl to the Sussex Brewery, Emsworth otherwise known as The Sausage Pub. Springbok Sausage was amongst the 'specials' - didn't get to try it though! Had a little walk round the Slipper Pond and the seafront then tiring journey with full pack and mountainbike back home. I'm off to bed now then!

Divorce Songs

Getting ready to go to Fareham and Gosport Folk Festival, which will be better in some ways than previous years - I'm not forced to watch Ugly flirting with my husband as she's got what she wants, but then I have to steel myself against seeing them together as a couple. Hopefully Ugly will have the sense to stay out of my way.
I've heard Ugly's husband might be there as well, it would be nice to see someone who's in the same boat, although he has someone else and is probably further down the road to 'recovery' than me.
Anyway, I digress. Today I've been off sick and feeling sad, so I made a second CD of appropriate divorce songs to cheer myself up.
Some favourites from my divorce CDs:

1. Boo Hewerdine - Evidence
2. Marvin Gaye - Grapevine
3. Carole King - It's Too Late
4. Muse - Plug In Baby
5. McDermott's 2 Hours - The Wheel
6. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
7. El Dopa - Slow Boat
8. Nanci Griffiths - Still Got The Radio
9. Beautiful South - Here It Is Again
10. Tears For Fears - Change

The demo for the new McDermott's 2 Hours album, 'Goodbye To The Madhouse', has been strangely useful - it is all about mourning for friends and loved ones who have passed away but is somehow appropriate to the death of a relationship and lifestyle upheavals as well.
Thankyou to all those out there who write sad songs 'where would we be in times like these/without the songs, Loretta wrote'...

Ascot Beer Festival & Racing

Went down to Ascot with Julie, and met up with Ian and Janet, Martin and Jenny, James and Doug as well as lots of friends of Julie's - quite a good crowd from Surrey Brances as well as Berks LOL!
BRRRR!!! Is all I can say. So much for the posh new Pavilion! It obviously wasn't built with the British weather in mind. There are huge gaps in the wall on the bottom floor where the wind whips through, also huge automatic glass doors and lots of glass frontage, yesterday was also more of a typical, perishing cold March day. I felt sorry for the poor Beer Festival volunteers who had to stand in the howling wind serving beer all day - I could barely stand queueing for a beer! There were two folk musicians who were so cold they could barely hold their fiddle and piano-accordion, playing fast tunes to keep themselves warm. The fiddle player was Paul Sartin whom I recognised from Bellowhead - a pleasant surprise!
Beer of the Festival for me was the first one that I tried - Lovibond's Henley Dark, a delicious, well-balanced porter. The Twickenham Naked Ladies was very good, but the Crane Sundance somewhat medicinal. Loddon's First Gold also in good form. Unfortunately I had a bit of a tummy upset so couldn't drink much.
I wasn't lucky with the horses again, only winning £1.33 on the first race. Janet and Ian seemed to be the luckiest, winning on almost every race!
I'd definitely go again, enjoyed the horse racing, the beer and the company - but I just hope it's a bit warmer next year!

Salsa Celtica at South Hill Park, Bracknell

A superb night with Salsa Celtica the Hispanic-Celtic 10-piece band, consisting of 2 drummers (trad and bongo), saxophonist, piper, impassioned Latin vocals, keyboard, fiddle, guitars. They include musicians from Venezuela, Cuba, Scotland, Ireland, amongst others. There was a big area at the front for dancing, at first the crowd of mostly middleaged folkies were shy to dance but after a few drinks at the interval the floor was packed with people doing a bizarre mixture of Salsa and Scottish Ceilidh! Jane, who knows how to dance Salsa, was amongst them - I was trying to teach a Spanish lady to dance the Highland Fling (or something approximating to it!)
Last year I reviewed their album El Camino for folking.com and was pleased to hear lots of songs from that, especially the beautiful 'Esperanza' and the energetic 'Pa'l Rumberos'. Superb musicianship and great fusion music, can't wait to see the compadres at Gillingham Festival!

London Irish v Wasps, 18/03/07

WHAT A MATCH! To start with, there was a brilliant St Patrick's Weekend atmosphere in the Madejski Stadium, with the gate numbers at a record-breaking high of just over 22,000. The tannoy was blasting out the inevitable Irish folk songs such as Molly Malone and The Fields of Athenrye - should it be Peckham Rye for the London-Irish version? ;-)
The team came on to thunderous applause, I was disappointed Mike Catt wasn't there, but he'd been playing at international level that weekend. Irish started off playing really well, but missed a few conversions that should have been straightforward. By half time they were 10-0 up.
In the second half Wasps seemed like a different team, swarming round the Irish players with far greater energy and purpose. They were soon level on 10-10, then just ahead 10-13, but then Irish pulled themselves together to get level at 13-13. With 10 minutes to go the Argentinian player with the long hair and difficult name made a superb run down the pitch to get over the try line, but got carried away with his success and failed to touch down! What a wally! Luckily Riki Flutey saved the day for the Exiles with a goal, giving them a 16-13 win.
Had such a good time at the match, am definitely a London Irish fan now and shall go again sometime!

Climax Ceilidh Band at Godalming Ceilidh

As a member of Guildford Vox there was no way I could miss seeing our leader Anna Tabbush playing with her ceilidh band. I'd already seen Meridian, her trio, and had enjoyed the gigs a lot so I guessed I was in for a treat with Climax Ceilidh Band who are Meridian plus two.
I'd arranged to meet Linda from morris dancing at the Borough Hall, but she was a little late so I asked a nice-looking bloke if he fancied a dance, which he did! What is is to be (almost) single. Linda and I joined in with several dances, the caller Fee Lock was very good, teaching us quite complicated dances but always making sure that the beginners knew what they were doing. There were inevitably quite a few of us from Guildford Vox there, but also two people from Anna's other choir in Brighton! It was also good to sit out a few of the dances and just listen to the band, which were excellent. I am a fan of Chris Walshaw's pipe playing, and he has a beautiful set of French pipes inlaid with silver, lending a continental feel to quite a lot of the tunes. It was also amazing to see Anna playing fiddle and dancing in her stilettos! The skill of the woman!! They played many songs from their album, Come Dancing, which is of course highly recommended.
Had a pint and a half of the Hogs Back Tea from the polypin but mostly water, as I was perspiring somewhat from all the dancing. Then it was a long walk back to Linda's house to stay the night in the spare room.
Many thanks to Linda for her company and hospitality!

Racing at Sandown

Why Sandown? After my first visit to Esher I was walking back to the station when I chanced to see a banner advertising a health and safety exhibition at the Grandstand, Sandown so I popped in to get a few freebies, I mean get some useful information for work. As well as a free smoothie and a good haul of pens, keyrings, bottle openers etc I also acquired a free Grandstand ticket to the race meeting on 10th March, worth £15! Patrick had never been to a race meeting before so he came along too.
The Grandstand at Sandown is far less grotty and sleazy than most racecourse stands, and we were pleased to find a stand selling Hogs Back real ale and Mr Whitehead's scrumpy cider. We also couldn't resist the salt beef sandwich stand for a mid-afternoon snack! The course itself is very attractive, with views stretching as far as the Wembley Arch, and the weather stayed fine and clear. We didn't make a killing on the betting though, it has to be said - I made the princely sum of 50p on the first race with an each way bet, and Pat made £1 on the last race! On the second race I was most disappointed to watch my horse leading all the way round the track, only to jump the last fence badly and unseat its rider. Stupid donkey!!
After the racing we went round Simon and Jane's for fish and chips from the award-winning chip shop in Aldershot - excellent meal it was too. Holly acquired the left over bits of fish skin.
Very pleasant day out - shame Lady Luck wasn't with me though!!

Choir Gig at Student Union, Guildford

This time we were singing in the Chancellor's Bar, by invitation of the Student Union's 'Know Yourself' stress-busting initiative. Rather hard to find - I ended up navigating us to the Varsity Bar instead, perhaps out of habit!
I think the choir went down rather well, considering our audence of discerning students - not everyone talked loudly over our singing, and some even clapped along to 'Sloop John B'. Abba's 'The Name of the Game', although a difficult one to learn, always goes down well as everyone knows it. The African songs were well received but the Finnish 'Reindeer Calling Song' got some strange reactions! After the gig there was the chance to relax with some (cheap!) beer - I passed on the Itchen Valley Treacle Stout and went for the keg Hoegaarden instead, delicious. There was also a very good blues band on afterwards as well, maybe we'll recruit the singer into the choir!

Wittering On

Went to West Wittering recently with my friends Simon, Jane and Patrick, as well as Rosa the Dog (Five Go Down To The Beach?). Of course we could not go all the way down to Wittering without a pub stop along the way - so we dropped into the Horse and Groom at East Ashling. As soon as we entered the pub the smell of the food started driving me crazy, so we decided to stop for a meal - I had the Shoulder of Lamb which, though on the expensive side, was both substantial and delicious - well worth the money. Everyone was pleased with their meal and Rosa got to have my lamb bone! Rosa was unhappy in the car, and a neighbour kept phoning up the pub and complaining. However the pub were very understanding and allowed Rosa in to the bar area, where she calmed down considerably. The Dark Star Hophead was excellent but Pat had given up booze for Lent - so of course Simon and I extolled the virtues of the beer at length!!
West Wittering beach was nearly empty, apart for a few couples with dogs. There were lots of interesting shells and stuff - I was disconcerted to find that I've forgotten most of my seashore biology, will have to get my copy of Seashore Life out again. Simon was skimming stones (mostly) impressively with Rosa chasing after them, we lost Jane amidst the dunes but were all reunited eventually. Simon and Jane had brought some real coffee in a big flask, also chocolate and biscuits, then we piled into the car to head off home.
The stop on the way back was the Fox Goes Free at Charlton. The beer was not so good, being a bit on the cold side. The house bitter is brewed by Arundel and so it's a bit on the malty and sweet side but still a good session pint.
Then a rush back for choir gig at the Student Union, University of Surrey!

Bellowhead at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Hi all
Have decided to keep the blog up, despite some personal problems recently, especially as it annoys a certain ugly slapper!
Went to the Royal Opera House on my own. Bill Badger insisted on giving me a street map despite the fact that I know Covent Garden like the back of my hand (as any serious shopper would)! There was a bit of a scare as a stupid American woman kept asking a young couple when they thought the next terror attack was going to be and shouting "Wake up London". Eventually the man got annoyed and threw her rucksack off the train, forcing her to get off. Then the train was delayed as security people went over to talk to her.
I tried to give my spare ticket to the Box Office but they wouldn't take it, which was rather annoying as the girl sitting next to me had also had to come on her own, as her friend could not get a ticket on the door. What a waste! The girl introduced herself as Asha, and we soon got friendly enough to get a front spot together and swap dance moves! She was a great dancer and a lovely person to talk to, we swapped myspace details and I hope to see her again at a festival somewhere.
Bellowhead were excellent, danced to almost every tune, my favourites being Haul Away Joe and the intriguingly named Rochdale Coconut Dance! The Floral Hall is a beautiful Victorian white-painted iron andglass structure similar to the great greenhouses at Kew. Apparently the acoustics in the Floral Hall weren't that brilliant but from my front spot the band sounded fine.
Kate-from-Choir's husband very kindly gave me a lift home as far as Woking, and I caught a train to Farnborough within 10 minutes.
Good music, good company, fast dancing - just what the doctor ordered!

Wey Famous!

Searching for something else entirely, I found that this blog has been quoted by the River Wey and Navigations Society! Wait till I tell Patrick!!!
Take a lookie, it's quite a way down on the right hand side, under Wey Snippets - Wey Tradition.
http://www.weyriver.co.uk/theriver/places_7_guildford.htm

Ron Trueman-Border at Cricketers, Yateley

Not my favourite pub, the Cricketers serves Greene King beer brands - the IPA and Olde Trip were acceptable. We found a table easily, although we didn't want to be right in Ron's field of view, he has been known to get rather irritated with his audience!!
Ron only plays his own stuff, so for instance he hates pubgoer's requests as they tend to be for covers. Fortunately he didn't get many - apart from me, who requested one of his own songs, 'Peter Green' which is one of the most outstanding folk-blues songs written. Nobody apart from me and Bill Badger was really listening to the more downbeat stuff which was a bit of a shame, but the funloving pub crowd did dance to the more uptempo, swing-type numbers. Ron also played Bill's favourite, the more lighthearted (!) 'Covered In Blood' murder ballad. Maybe Ron liked us though, as we kept singing along to the choruses as invited, and we seemed to be the only people there who had specifically come to see him.
I hope Ron builds up a following amongst the pub crowd, I'm sure there's many out there who will appreciate his irascible wit, strong humanity, and wonderful songs.

Bully Wee Band at Twickenham Folk Club

We were introduced to the Bully Wee Band by Quintin, who has been a fan for a long time, but of course we knew Ian Cutler, the Kentish fiddle player, from 'Feast of Fiddles' and the 'Hot Rats'. The rest of the lineup were also original band members - Fergus Feely, Jim Yardley and Colin Reece who were all excellent. Loved the Anglo-Celtic dare-you-to-dance style of music - with the Bridge Violin as well it's almost perfectly my thing! Colin's own songs included a great folk story about the Lady Lovibond, an aptly named ship deliberately wrecked by a first mate in hatred of his girlfriend-stealing captain, and the Christian-pagan story of Stanton Drew stone circle. Fergus's 'Fifty Channels' was by contrast to most of the band's material, a sad, touching love story.
Very entertaining evening - Jim's cheeky 'Love Will You Marry Me' stood out for me, as well as the band's well-loved version of 'The Snows (They Melt The Soonest)'.
Quintin and I got up to dance at the end to the band's last fast-and-furious jigs (forgot what they were called, sorry). Thought we'd be told off by some of the more staid folk-club members, but amazingly we were not! Great evening, even though the bar at the Cabbage Patch had run out of Deuchars IPA.
I also bought the album, which the band kindly signed for me, called '50 Channels' recorded live in January 2006. The sound quality is great, with no overdubs or postmixing, and it captures a little of the live experience - go and buy it, folkies!

Evil Wolf-Cat

Sorry for the lack of posts, I've had a stinking cold and haven't been up to much.
We have noticed recently that our little tortoiseshell cat, Holly, is too scared to go out and started messing inside, till we put a litter tray down. If we shut Holly out at night she'd come back with deep scratches and bite marks on her, as if another cat had tried to kill her! Hubby also noticed a huge grey cat, which we call Wolf-cat, peering in at the windows.
Then the other night I was awoken by a cat fight on the landing (hubby amazingly slept though the dreadful wailing and hissing). As soon as the other cat heard me coming it must have legged it downstairs and out of the (broken) cat flap again. The next day hubby noticed Wolf-cat in our garden again, so it's a fair bet that he is the one who attacked Holly in her own home! Again Wolf-cat legged it when he saw hubby, he must be used to humans trying to scare him away.
Now we've boarded over the cat flap so that Wolf-cat can't get in, but now of course Holly can't get out. She is only safe outside with a human bodyguard. Such a shame, as she loves the outdoors! Horrible Wolf-cat. Not a lot we can do though...

Twelfth Night in Guildford

Touring around pubs doing Mummer's plays, reciting stories and singing carols and wassail songs on a Saturday night in Guildford is not easy, but I guess Pilgrim Morris are used to it! Somehow the morrismen and their entourage, including Anna and Nonny Tabbush, Nick Sowden and a handful of Guildford Vox members, managed to squeeze into the main bar of the Star to perform the usual doctor-raising-Turkish-Knight-from-dead play. This was done with far more panache than other, more ponderous Mummer's plays we've seen! Great fun. Then someone handed around songsheets and loads of us joined in the singing. Although I didn't know many wassail songs I did by the end of the night!
The King's Head was closed, so it missed out on it's lucky chalk crosses for the New Year. The Angel Hotel bar was also closed, but the manager let us into the lobby area - which was really good, not so crowded and we had good views of the plays (the doctor one and a version of Cinderella). The (young, attractive) Queen was hoisted up by a couple of morrismen amidst much merriment to chalk the lucky crosses on an oak beam below the balcony.
Next the morris entourage somehow squeezed into the Three Pigeons for another performance. I couldn't face more claustrophobia and didn't want to risk the variable beer there, so I formed an advance party to the Royal Oak and some nice Freeminer Bitter. I grabbed a few seats for the Vox and sipped my pint. The morrismen were a little late, so I only had time to sing a couple of carols before having to run off for the last train home at 12.14pm - but was accompanied by Simon Friend of the Levellers, who was there with a group of friends! Good for him, I say, suporting the old traditions.
Such a fun night out, I'll be back next year!

New Year's Resolutions 2007

1. I will learn to drive. I will, I will, I will! This year, for certain!
2. I will find a plumber somehow to fix the fresh water tap.
3. I will get a washer-dryer.
4. If any woman asks if my husband fantasises about her, invites my husband to lick beer off her tits, moans about his slim, attractive wife taking attention away from her, invites him to 'tuck her in' etc etc I will tell her in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable! Either that or throw my beer over her!! I think this is entirely reasonable.
5. I will not spend loads of money on tat from the sales. Honest.
6. I will not spend loads of money this year on station coffee. Nice though Puccinos is at Redhill. Instead I will bring a small Thermos flask with me on the train.
7. I will keep my diary up to date so that I know what I'm doing months in advance, like Bill Badger does.
8. I will spend more time on my bike. Once the weather has cleared up that is ;-)
9. I will not buy any more bottled beer. Not till we've drunk the huge stockpile we have already.
10. I will buy less jewellery. I am not obsessed, jewellery jewellery jewellery. Damn.

Happy New Year!

Yesterday we tried to get Sunday Lunch at the Sandrock but they'd evidently changed their minds about cooking on New Year's Eve. Bought 7 pints of RCH Pitchfork and 3 1/2 pints of Holden's Golden Glow for the evening at Godalming Ceilidh, and then went to the Shepherd and Flock for posh nosh and more beer.
The day before, we'd not been able to get tickets from Record Corner in Godalming, which had sold out. We made an anxious call to our friend Jane, who kindly checked their website, and the tickets hadn't yet sold out completely so she was able to order some for us online. You SHALL go to the ball, Cinderella!
Jane also offered to drive, what a star woman. Weather was appalling as well, with rain pelting it down.
Bursledon Village Band were excellent, and we had a better caller than last time, a guy in big red pantaloons who looked a bit like Buster Bloodvessel.
As well as Simon and Jane there were lots of familiar faces at the ceilidh - choir members mostly! Spotted Joy, Tim, Jocelyn, Clare and Marie with their partners. I look forward to Climax Ceilidh Band's stint on the 24th March, it will be good to see Our Illustrious Leader with her band.
The dancing was great fun, with nobody being picky if you messed things up, and although Simon was skeptical at the beginning, he seemed to be getting into it at the end (perhaps that was the beer and single-malt whisky taking effect!). Sadly I've no pictures, Billy Badger didn't bring his camera. Probably just as well!
Laurence had brought a load of balloons and we had fun kicking huge ones around, and letting off screamers. There were also party-poppers and assorted plastic musical instruments to make loads of noise at 12 o'clock, which we did! THen followed the obligatory Gay Gordons which I messed up, apparently holding Bill the wrong way. Shame when it finished at 1am - I could have partied a lot longer!
Wishing a very happy 2007 to all my readers.

Levellers with Benji Kirkpatrick and 3 Daft Monkeys, Shepherd's Bush

After an average pint of Youngs Winter Warmer at the Brook Green Hotel we headed up to the Shepherd's Bush Empire, stopping to purchase a bottle of mineral water at a corner shop. The venue was much as I'd expected, a Victorian music-hall with some lovely features, but in need of a lick of paint. We queued for a bit then were let in to a tiny lobby, only to be told 'no plastic bottles' by security! So we drank it there and then. We headed up to Level 2 and I went to sit down at the front at one side, but Bill Badger complained about the leg room and not being able to see the drummer. So I let him choose, and he sat an the second row in front of a couple of drunken chavs, and next to a bar-trotting man. So between the chav in front swaying, lashing me with his hair, snogging his girlfriend and sitting her on his lap, and having to get up for the bloke next to us, I got far less of a view of the stage. O well. Further to the 'no plastic bottles' edict, it was interesting to note the chav girl was dangling (glass bottles of) Bacardi Breezer over the balcony which most security people regard as very very dangerous. But then she had purchased these from the bar.
But enough moaning. The music was excellent, out of this world.
Bill didn't know who the first support artist was, only that it was 'someone called Benji'. I jokingly said was it Benji Kirkpatrick but indeed it was! The hoop-earringed folkster came on stage with a guitar and bouzouki and sang some great folk-punk songs, to much applause and some screams from the girls.
3 Daft Monkeys came next, and played some of their faster, dancier songs such as 'Hubbadillia' 'Faces' and 'Hey Listen' as well as my probable favourite of theirs 'Astral Eyes'. Interesting new song 'Social Vertigo' about the perils of partying with The Levs!
The Levs came on, sober enough to remember the words and play their instruments more than competently, and gave a great performance! This came as a bit of a relief for me, having heard some bad reports from previous gigs on the tour. They played all the classics such as 'Beautiful Day' 'Hope Street' and 'Men-an-Tol' and didn't shy away from politics with 'Another Man's Cause' and pointed references to Iraq. Was glad I wasn't in the mosh pit, it looked a bit hairy to me! We managed to have a bit of a dance, as security didn't seem to mind people dancing in their places, just not in the aisles. The chav couple put on their coats and left, and their seats were grabbed by a nicer couple, then they came back and looked mournful. Everyone ignored them apart from security who said they couldn't stand in the aisle, heh heh. Boaksey came on at the end in a wonderfully camp outfit, and did some mad dancing with his large didgeridoo. For the second encore, Benji and 3 Daft Monkeys came back on stage to play 'What You Know' with the Levs, to wild cheers! What a moment on the last night of the tour.
Outside we grabbed a free Chaos Theory come-on CD, saw fake Levs t-shirts being hawked and Scouse Rich busking. Would have stopped fro a chat but he was in the middle of a song, Bill didn't stop walking being a bit man-fluey and eager to get home.
Excellent night, Levellers at their best and really good support.

BBC Young Folk Awards 2007

Made a mad dash from Redhill at 5.15pm to Islington via the Thameslink train and then bus, just getting to the Union Church for 6.45pm which was when the doors were due to open. Darren was there already, keeping a place for us in the queue bless him. This was the start of this rather surreal experience, queueing outside a forbidding-looking Congregational church watching young musicians and BBC staff to-ing and fro-ing.
When we got inside there were no tables but ordinary church pews, which I'd been told to expect but they still seemed rather bizarre. The church was tall-roofed but had relatively small floor area, so we were somewhat crammed in. The tickets are usually over-subscribed, and people at the back of the queue were apparently turned away. The stage was in front of an enormous font and a beautiful rose window with stained-glass angels.
Immediately after finding a pew for 6, Darren and Mr Badger headed for the bar whilst Ben and I guarded the seats. But it was no go - only soft drinks were allowed into the church as it was a real church, and anyway the bar was not open yet!! Bet you don't get THAT at any other BBC music awards!
Mike Harding was the host, and was very down-to-earth (much as I'd expected), introducing each act enthusiastically, clearly enjoying every minute. First on stage were brother and sister Ewen & Megan Henderson, who had come all the way from Fort William to play us traditional Scottish music on the piano and fiddle. Both looked and sounded immaculate, Megan's voice was pure and faultless - perhaps the only mistake she made was assuming that the predominantly Southern English audience were going to join in with a rather long chorus in Gallic. However the Scottish contingent were clearly enjoying the song and joining in. Second came David Delarre of the already well-respected young band 'Mawkin', a relative local boy, hailing from Essex. His clever finger-jumping guitar technique provoked some jealous coments from Mike Harding! Next Ryan Young, living up to his name as the youngest candidate for the award, stepped shyly up to the mike and announced his fiddle tunes - including 'Catharsis' whis is of course the theme for Mike Harding's Radio 2 folk programme! If deliberate, that was good thinking!! 'Last Orders', not to be confused with 'Last Night's Fun' were on next - a guitar/melodeon/2 fiddles band with lovely stripy shirts, who met through membership of Kathryn Tickell's 'Folkestra' project. The first act I felt like dancing to, they quite obviously went down well with the crowd. Next came Ruth Notman and Bryony Bainbridge, who apparently met whilst working down t'pit - orchestra pit, that is! They showed superb musicianship; I especilly loved Ruth's sensitive, powerful vocals and Bryony's fiddle playing- they were my favourites to win, till they made a mistake with a song attribution and Mike Harding corrected them. Lastly came guitarist Wilber, sharing some great jazz/blues/folk guitar tunes with us - but he had a habit of saying 'yeah' every now and them as he was playing, which I found annoying after a while. Nice hair though!
Last year's winners 'Bodega' then returned to wow us with their multi-instrumental talents and launch their new album, available to the general public soon. If only chief judge John Tams had had the opportunity to sing a few songs and show the youngsters how 'tis done.
Who were the winners? Well, it was the only time a group of folkies has voted for 'Last Orders', ha ha. Worthy winners, I'm sure they'll make the best of their prizes which included a year's membership of the Musician's Union, 3 festival gigs including Cropredy, a spot on Mike Harding's show and of course the little sculpture of two Morph-like figures playing folk instruments. The rather stunned looking lads returned to the stage to play a few more tunes, then it was off to the 'backstage party' in a little church hall!
The setting might have been a bit unusual but it was a really good night. I hope to be alble to go again someday!