Hi Folks

We’ve had several emails congratulating Bully Wee Band and Joseph Topping on a superb night last Sunday.  Lets hope we can get a few more in next year.  

 February already and still no snow (hope I’m not speaking too soon)!  We have four new acts to the club for you this month.

 Another sell out concert to start the month on the 5th with Steve Knightley and Phil Henry & Hannah Martin

May I remind you that if tickets are returned on the door we will always attempt to resell them but we do encourage people not to just turn up if they don’t have a ticket, so that isn’t always possible. I would urge you to let us know as soon as you know a ticket is not going to be used.  There is usually a waiting list and even as late as mid afternoon it may be possible make someone’s day!  We regularly check emails, but you can call or text 07714649108.

 February 12th we have a most exciting duo, Tim Edey & Brendan Power.  UK-based New Zealander Brendan Power is acknowledged by many as one of the most creative, skilled & versatile harmonica players around today, voted harmonica player of the year 2011. Equally at ease on both the earthy Blues Harp as well as the sophisticated Chromatic Harmonica, he tunes them to his own scales to create a highly original style. He has recorded fifteen solo CDs to date, in a wide variety of musical genres.  Since he moved to Britain in 1992, Brendan’s eclectic skills and sympathetic ear have made him an in-demand session player, leading to live and recording work with artists such as Kate Bush (her latest album 'Director's Cut'), Sting, Van Morrison, James Galway, Paul Young, Shirley Bassey, John Williams, Mike Batt and many more. His playing is also heard on many Hollywood movie soundtracks (eg. the 2008 Oscar winning soundtrack for 'Atonement'), and BBC TV series (recent ones include "Billy Connelly in Canada " and Bruce Parry's Arctic Series). He’s featured on the internationally-syndicated Jools Holland Show and toured worldwide, performing in venues such as China ’s Great Hall of the People and The Kremlin.  In addition to his Pop, Jazz & Blues skills, Brendan is an expert player of Irish traditional music (winning the 1993 All Ireland Title).

Tim Edey is 31 years old and is regarded by many to be one of the finest multi-instrumental players of his generation in the Celtic music folk scene worldwide. From Broadstairs in Kent , Tim currently plays solo, with his band the Tim Edey Collective and in various collaborations with Seamus Begley, Charlie McKerron and Donald Shaw of Capercaillie, Michael McGoldrick, Phil Cunningham, Sharon Shannon, Altan, Julie Fowlis, John McCusker, Steafan Hannigan and many more. He is a current master of more than ten instruments including; melodeon, accordion, guitar, banjo, bass, piano, mandolin, whistle, bodhran and bouzouki.  Tim has been nominated in the Best Musician category at this year’s Folk Awards. HE WON

As a duo Tim and Brendan are phenomenal, nominated in Best Duo category. THEY WON Supporting will be Carolyn Sheppard

 Nancy Kerr & James Fagan will be with us again on Sunday 19th.  One of the most established and respected duos on the folk scene, Nancy and James were winners of the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo (and previous winners of 2003 Best Duo and 2000 Horizon Award.) As well as being great exponents of their instruments (fiddle, viola and guitar-bouzouki) both are regarded as fine and influential singers. 2010 marked the 15th year of this electrifying duo. In that time they have toured full-time and headlined festivals throughout the UK , Ireland , Europe, Australia , Japan and Canada . Wherever they play, Kerr and Fagan make new friends and fans, as their love of live performance is tangible and affirming. Consistently great live shows and five highly respected albums, plus their recent collaborations with Robert Harbron and The Melrose Quartet, have cemented their reputation as one of the classiest acts in acoustic music. Supporting will be young singer (and baby sitter!) Kirsty Bromley.

 Yet more nominations abound our programme; this time the 2011 Horizon Award nominee on the 26th with Fay Hield. Fay will be accompanied by Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron.  A founder member of female a cappella quartet, The Witches of Elswick, Fay has traded their rumbustious performances for a more committed approach to an often obscure repertoire of traditional songs. Aided by Kerfuffle and Bellowhead’s Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron, their subtle accompaniment intensifies her elegant voice.  There is something of June Tabor’s cool purity or Maddy Prior’s ringing clarity on unaccompanied songs, which suggests Fay is a rare talent. What Fay Hield delivers is mostly traditional songs, delivered fulsomely but without guile, with restrained fiddle, viola and concertina accompaniment. She is a singer who can carry not just a tune but a narrative, not only a fine singer who gets the best out of her musicians, but one who chooses the most interesting of material.  Unadorned and quite exquisite folk song.  Supporting will be Paul Scourfield

 There are a few other music events coming up:-

Saturday 18th February @ The Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin, Rhythms of the World Presents Moishe's Bagel + Stuart O'Connor

Doors 7:30pm, show 8:00pm  Advance tickets are £ 13 and are on sale now in Hitchin from Queen Mother Theatre, Harvest Moon & Town Centre Initiatve and in Letchworth from Davids Music.  On the door price is £15.

  The all new Albion Band have a tour coming up in March, playing 2 local venues, the Gordon Craig Theatre in Stevenage (March 13th) and Harpenden Public Halls (March 10th).  The all new lineup includes Club favourites Katriona Gilmour (here 6th with Jamie Roberts) and Blair Dunlop who impressed us all so much when he supported Spiers & Boden last October, here in the Autumn.

Friday February 3^rd , at 8pm at the Maltings Arts Theatre, The Maltings, St Albans AL1 3HL. King Alfred’s Cakes, with support from New Roots finalist, Simon Stephenson.  For further information see http://www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

 As always, thank you for your continued support.

 Keiron

goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk www.hitchinfolkclub.co.uk 

JOHNNY SILVO 1936-2011

Keiron and I were devastated to hear the very sad news about Johnny Silvo’s passing on the 19^th December.  He had been a close friend of us both for so many years. 

            I first met Johnny in 1963 when I was just 15 years old.  He was one of the first people I remember seeing at my first outing to a folk club at the Hermitage Ballroom in Hitchin.  Alex Campbell was the ‘resident’ singer and as usual, Alex had brought a few singer friends with him from London (Les Bridger, Johnny Orange and Sonny).  The main act was probably the Ian Campbell Folk Group with a young Dave Swarbrick , and Johnny had cycled to Hitchin from Hoddesdon wearing the shortest shorts I had ever seen!  I am not sure if he knew Alex at that stage, but he did a floor spot and wowed everyone with a powerful performance.  Little did I know at that time we would become such firm friends for the next 48 years! 

            It was the Hermitage Club that influenced the start of the Hitchin Folk Club. Johnny, along with Martin Carthy were the only performers who played at the club in the very early months in 1964 and were still being booked regularly all these years later.  When I took over the running of the club in 1967, I booked Johnny two, sometimes three times a year - he was enormously popular with our audience.    He played many times with the great Dave Moses, but one evening I particularly remember was Johnny bringing a young lady along with him and asking if she could do a floor spot.  This was my first meeting with the wonderful Sandy Denny.  We spent so many happy times with Johnny and have lots of silly memories like the time he chased our big soppy Bearded Collie, Sophie, around our house in Letchworth, with a sheepskin rug over his back and frustrated her so much, she wet herself! Sophie was very well known for being completely over the top herself, thinking all visitors had come just to see her!  For well over 30 years, most of the singers we booked at the club came and stayed with us after the gig and, of course, Johnny did after he moved to Norway .  He would stay for the weekend and before he started driving again over here, we would collect him from Bedford Station Saturday lunchtime. He played at various local venues like Haynes Village Hall, Standalone Farm and St Thomas ’s Church in Letchworth, where they were raising money to build a new Youth Hall. Johnny played in the old church hall and a number of times in the new hall.  In fact, he last played there in November 2010 to a full house, and everyone there said they thought it was the very best night ever!   Keiron, who did the sound that night and had seen Johnny so many times, came home saying how brilliant the night had been and that he didn’t think he had seen him perform better!.  I unfortunately could not go due to my illness! 

            When we moved to Pirton in the early 90’s, Johnny played many Saturday concerts in the Village Hall before his Sunday night at Hitchin.  He also played during the service one Sunday morning at St Mary’s Church in the village!  On many occasions, on the Sunday afternoon, he came with me to the Nursing Home where I worked and sang for the Residents, who absolutely adored him.  He would joke and tease and flirt with the ladies – it was the highlight of their year!  A number of them would come and see him in the Village Hall as well, and Johnny being Johnny would make such a fuss of them, and sing their favourite songs – they just loved him!  I don’t think I have ever met a performer with such a repertoire!  It was a surprise when Johnny first announced he was moving to Norway – I can remember the night very well.  He said he had met a wonderful girl and was, at last, getting married.  I have never met Berit but Johnny always spoke of her and his precious son, Patrick, so we felt as if we knew them.  He showed us many photos of Patrick growing up – he was a very proud dad!  I can’t begin to count how many times Johnny stayed with us but we knew each other so well, it was like a dear member of the family returning.  Everything about Johnny was so comfortable!  The only thing he objected to was rudeness and bad manners!  He had a very strict upbringing during his days at Barnardos.  A few years ago, I had a call from an old friend of his from his Barnardos days who wanted to come and see Johnny at Hitchin and bring a crowd of old mates with him.  It was a lovely surprise for Johnny, who enjoyed a great evening with them laughing and joking (and a bit of drinking as well!)

             Now I am back to good health myself, I can again make long term plans for the club, but it will never be the same without Johnny!  As the only singer to have played the club every year since its concept, Johnny was the natural choice to celebrate the club’s Anniversary every year for the past 20 years.  God Bless you dear Johnnny, you can never be replaced.  We are privileged to have been a small part of his incredible life, with that big smile, enormous personality, and more charm and charisma than an army of men.  I pray we will meet again, and with some of our wonderful friends, like Diz Disley and Tony Capstick – life would never be dull up there, or wherever we go!  Johnny was the most peaceful of men and was fortunate to have lived (and loved) the most interesting of lives. A rare gift, but so was he!  

Maureen