Paul Vile in Twickfolk's stocking

'Twas the night before Christmas Eve, when all through the Inn,
Not a guitar was a stirring, not even a mandolin.
The chicken wings were placed by the side with care,
In hopes that Gerry and his ukelele would be there.......'

From Top left - Chris, Pete London, Paul Vile, Rowena Gee, Florianne, Mary,
Dave Mills, Gerry Evans, Bernadette, Bob, Ed, Glenn and Doug Brown.

It was with some sadness that I fought my way through the rainy night to be at Twickfolk's 2012 curtain call. I have to send my final choice of paintings to the printers this week in preparation for the exhibition. So this would be my last chance to feature some excellent musicians and hang out with a great bunch of people. I knew it would be hard work too because it was Singers Night. Everyone who attends get the opportunity to sing/play at least 2 songs.

There were several performers who stood out for their skill and panache, too many to name them all here.
I've tried to write as many down below. Special mention must go to Paul Vile, who I know as the unflappable sound technician at Twickfolk but displayed such tenderness in his singing and delicate touch on the mandolin. Dave Mills was irrepressable with his percussion led tunes.

I have been very lucky to have been welcomed into the heart of Twickfolk over this past 6 months and I'll miss them. Gerry's vision and hard work, Sue's musicality and charisma, Sara's quiet confidence and warmth, Paul V's wit and sound knowhow, Paul M's straight talking, design and bonhomie, Jutta's intelligent conversation and good company AND Robert's encouragement and publicity skills. Thank you.

Please come along to the exhibition on the 27th January 2013 at 6pm and help celebrate 30 years of this fantastic Folk club with me and Twickfolk!

Twickfolk Seasonal Singers Night menu -

Dave Mills - Daydream Believer & Singing the Blues (Melvin Endsley)
Bernadette - Down by the Salley Gardens
Gerry Evans - Christmas in Prison (John Prine) & White Christmas
Sue Graves - River (Joni Mitchell) & Last Night (Lynn Miles)
Rowena Gee - Sweet Bells (Kate Rusby) & Spencer the Rover
Chris - 'Red Nose'
Sue & Doug Brown - Lets fall in Love (Cole Porter)
Pete London - Merry Xmas Everybody
Bob and Margaret - Do they know its Christmas (Bob Geldof & Midge Ure)
Glenn - A 15 year old took my woman blues
Mary - Dear John (John Denver)
Paul Vile - Winter Song
Florianne - Les Champs Elysees
Dave - House Boat poem
and
Ed Fordyce -  The Pains of Love and You're No Good (by Clint Ballard Jr)

Have a Great Christmas and a brilliant 2013,
Alban

Fil Campbell, Rowena Gee & Sue Graves - Twickfolk Songbirds

As you know my path to Twickfolk has come through the wilds of jazz and I'm slowly learning my folk knowledge 'on the job'. None have taught me more than Twickfolk's headliner last night Fil Campbell who took me on a tour of Ireland's folk heritage.
Her husband Tom Mcfarland drove my drawings forward, giving them rythmn and exuberance through his percussion. He charmed us with Twickfolk favourite David Francey's "Come rain or come shine".
Fils own tune 'Dreaming' was a highlight for me. Sung with passion, encompassing complex imagery and an intoxicating swig of surrealism.
Delia Murphy, Margaret Barry, Mary O'Hara and Ruby Murray inspired many of last nights narratives. Fil Campbell included all these singers in her TV series 'Songbirds.

Two more songbirds got the the evening started for us. Sue Graves (left) once again put us under her spell and Rowena Gee (right) demonstrated her versatility with two songs "Show me the river" and "Sailor girl".