Homepage

News

Programme

Future Guests

Archived Reviews

Photographs

Contact

Links

v6.05

Acorn Folk Club Reviews September 2009 - July 2010

7th NOVEMBER 2009 - GUEST NIGHT NO 35 WITH RUTH NOTMAN www.ruth-notman.com

THE ACORN FOLK CLUB hosted  RUTH NOTMAN on Saturday 7^th November at The Old Ship Aground for its 35^th Guest Night.   Ruth has been hailed as the new voice in British Folk by The Independent, and in came the accolades for her from the seventy plus audience she attracted: 

 

“Ruth was a delightful performer who brought a youthful enthusiasm to her performance. This was complimented by her guitar and keyboard skills that accompanied a beautiful and clear singing voice.” (GW);

 

“Ruth is simply amazing. Only 20 years old and so accomplished, and so wonderfully in tune with her audience. She has real star quality. The Acorn Folk Club can be rightly proud of booking her.”  (MM)

“Many thanks for a most enjoyable evening last night - well worth the 160 mile round trip to be there.” (FE)

“We had a lovely evening, and enjoyed your guest's performance and also the others who performed.  We shall visit you again in the near future.” (SB)

"We very much enjoyed Ruth’s performance. She is a very talented young lady and it is great to see a new generation taking folk music forward with a fresh interpretation of traditional, as well as presenting new material." (PH)
 
"Would like to say how much we enjoyed the Acorn on Saturday.  Always a great pleasure to see you anywhere and your family`s music is always great but for me Bertie`s spot won the day." (JH)

Ruth remarked that the difference between a concert hall or arts centre and a folk club, is that there is an opportunity for amateurs to perform alongside professionals, meeting and talking in an informal environment.

Ruth performed eleven traditional songs, accompanying herself on guitar or keyboard, and sometimes singing a capella.  She has an outstanding delivery for someone so young, opening one set with “The Holland Handkerchief”, and the second set with “Limbo”; in both 45 minute sets she immediately held the audience spellbound.  Her own A Level composition “The Lonely Day Dies” stayed with me all night and into the next day – brilliant!   Included also was contemporary material from Buffie Saint Marie, John Tams and Richard Thompson, all well-loved in today's folk scene. 

Ruth is a very charming young woman and responded to requests “Lark in the Clear Air” (trad) and “Caledonia” (Dougie McLean).  All these songs are available on her two CDs, “Threads” and “The Life of Lilly” – available at all good record stores and at Tesco, or she can be contacted at www.ruth-notman.com

Also drawing many compliments was Bertie Owen (11) with "I've Got Rhythm" on his trombone, and the Owen family, Steve (guitar), Jeannette (wooden flute) and Abi (fiddle) with Luke Trimmings (mandolin) giving three lively sets of Irish Jigs and Shetland Reels.  With eleven other super floor spots - Paul Haines giving a great opening with a skit on the original – ‘I don’t like broccoli’.  (Try this amusing link: http://quotationsbook.com/quote/15243/), Mike Dibble choosing as ever an apt song "There'll be rest for horse and men" for remembrance weekend, Marian Matthews' "All the joy that is mine today", celebrating her 49th wedding anniversary with husband Terry, and cake for two birthdays - the evening was really great and very encouraging for organisers Eileen Ann Moore and Jim Parham, whose own duo singing received enthusiastic comments!

EAM

 

3rd OCTOBER 2009 - CLUB NIGHT featuring THE SILVER STREET BAND

One of the interesting things about the Acorn Folk Club is that each occasion is different, and the Club Night held on 3rd October in the Pier Room at the Old Ship Aground, Minehead (pleased to be back in this regular excellent venue), was no exception.

Due to several people being on holiday, the evening was quieter than usual, although some newcomers were welcomed, with only seven floor spots, all of whom came up trumps when called upon to perform two or three numbers each.  Of these - John Lennon's "Imagine" performed by John Middleton, "Ploughman Lads Are All The Go" (Trad) by Benn Banks and Ralph McTell's "Hands of the Carpenter" by Geoff Williams, all sensitively sung and accompanied on their guitars - were a real enhancement to the gentle atmosphere of the evening.

The highlight was the Silver Street Band, the booked feature, comprising two charming gentlemen, Tony Batten and his friend Bev, who run the Milverton Music Club, both very accomplished musicians.   During their two sets they had everyone joining in, and smiling as they left, having enjoyed their wide repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk, blues, self-penned songs and humour.  From their well chosen selection, Richard Thompson's "Galway to Gracelands" was beautifully delivered, "Denomination Blues" and "Good Girl Blues" were great fun and songs written by them - Tony (words) and Bev (music) - "Sandy Denny Days" and "Boots of Clay" were a delight.  For more photos please click on Photographs in left hand margin.

 

Greshna Dibble and two of her three young sons, taught by Abigail Todd, were able to make their Acorn Folk Club debut on their violins at the very early stages of performance.   Mike Dibble and Eileen Ann Moore shared the MCing of this very pleasant Club Night, and as ever, everyone helped to clear up and that is very much appreciated. 

 

5th SEPTEMBER 2009 - OPENING OF EIGHTH SEASON - RICHARD GRAINGER AND CHRIS PARKINSON

THE ACORN FOLK CLUB'S opening of its EIGHTH SEASON ran out of tickets and extra chairs had to be hurriedly brought into the Skittle Alley of The Quay Inn, Minehead, on Saturday 5th September.