Newsletter - July 2011

Our very enjoyable 13th June club night was well attended, busy and varied.  I enjoy the variety.  At a club night, I’m paying to hear local musicians do their thing, try out tunes and styles, each in their own individual way.  If I don’t like one song, I’ll like the next.  What I don’t like, someone else will.  Nervous players grow and develop, and amongst the old favourites I’m happy to hear something new mixed in.  So come and play a short selection of what they play, doesn’t matter if you aren’t the best player in the room or what style you prefer, welcome to Catshill.  We’re getting some quality contributions at the moment, with no trouble filling the evening.  June was no exception.

The night started in a traditional and perfect way with TONY TRENTHAM and another sophisticated seamless medley including jazzy numbers, old time favourites and Carpenters tunes.  JOHN SHELLEY from Walsall is obviously building up his repertoire all the time and came up with mellow versions of Scarborough Fair, Fascination, The Skye Boat Song, Moulin Rouge and Dark Island.  CONNOR BAINES is also getting increasingly confident and played two short waltzes followed by two King’s Norton tunes.  It’s good to see young players making progress.

Next we heard an unusual high-speed arpeggio on a banjo.  But never fear, it was RAY IZOD’s midi expander, and he soon brought it into line with country and western backing for a few songs, some foxtrots, a bit of a shuffle, Amarillo, a musette, and some rumbas (including the great Perfidia and Bye Bye Blackbird), with all manner of instrumental sounds.  Finally technology let us down. The backing cut out during Tie a Yellow Ribbon and then a massive hip hop beat came out of nowhere, bringing Ray’s very enjoyable and contrasting set to an unexpected close.  To everyone’s surprise, LYNDON BAINES whipped out a full sized set of Highland pipes.  These were phenomenally loud even with the bass drone missing and a member who works in audiology clapped her hands to her ears immediately.  But it was powerful and stirring stuff.  Lyndon started with Dark Island and then as Scotland the Brave switched from a reel to a march, Lyndon marched around the room, then back to his post, some American tunes, and a flourish on the chanter as the sound died away. 

HARRY FLOYD played emotional versions on songs about shadows and dreaming, the last one decorated with vibratos and glissandos to add to the atmosphere.  Guitarist and singer PETE JAMES sang two songs very convincingly including Peaceful Easy Feeling.  It turns out he’s also a very talented artist and I was lucky enough to win his pastel drawing in the raffle, which is now on my shelf.  SIMON GARDNER is getting more and more expressive in his playing and he gave us another edge of the seat experience when he launched into Furious Polka as we wondered if he would make it to the end in one piece.  (He did.)  MERVYN PRICE keeps coming out with new numbers which he plays with great verve and always gets the audience going.  After four new ones, he finished with his signature tune Lady of Spain (aka Whole Lotta Shaking) and a big swell on Waves of the Danube.  NEIL LAUDER was inspired by the Trooping of the Colour into a series of marches (The British Grenadiers, Flowers of the Forest) and finished on his gospel roots with When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.  The evening finished with a busking session led by a returner from the past, IVAN, who had come prepared with the notes for a set of short tunes for members to join in with.  This was a nice touch and got everyone together to round off the evening.

Don’t forget our next club night on 11th JULY when we have a guest artist, ROSEMARY WRIGHT, and you can expect a feast of entertaining and skillfully played accordion classics, popular classical tunes and well-known songs.  Something to look forward to: I hope you’ll be there.  For more information, contact Poppy Middleton on (0121) 743 6637.

CLUB ACCORD: Catshill Social Club, 13a Meadow Road, Catshill, nr. Bromsgrove, B61 0JJ: 2nd Monday of the month: 7.30pm for 8pm