Bromyard Music Sessions

New Session At The Wheelwrights In Pencombe

Up until about 18 months ago one of the best and most thriving sessions around this part of the world was held on the 1st Tuesday of every month at the Wheelwrights Arms in Pencombe. The pub is old and characterful, the beer quality was legendary and the welcome from Colin and Sue second to none.

Then Colin and Sue retired. Despite their best efforts to find successors they could entrust the place to it fell into the wrong hands. Beer quality and choice spiralled downwards and the culmination was the night the new landlord refused to turn the TV off for the musicians because he was watching it himself! Those are just a sample of the causes of the demise of the pub and are sad evidence of just how fragile is the standard and reputation of a great country pub!

The really good news is that the pub is now run by Liz and Paul, who are wholly committed to restoring the place to its former stature as a real ale and folk music Mecca! I have made a couple of visits and checked with friends in the village and am glad to confirm that the beer is excellent (Holden's, Spinning Dog, Morland's and GK Abbott Ale on my last trip); the food delicious (all the meat from Legge's and very nice too!) and most importantly the atmosphere is most welcoming.

Liz and Paul are very keen to get the monthly sessions going again so we will be launching on Tuesday 28th April and the fourth Tuesday of every month thereafter. Please spread the word to musicians and observers alike and let's fill the place on the 28th. If you need more info email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk. If you want to contact Liz or Paul call 01885 400358.

 

The Wheelwrights Arms : Pencombe

 

Inside The Wheelwrights

Temporary Session date changes - Amendment

To accommodate other vents at a couple of the local sessions the days/days for April have been rescheduled as follows:

1. Walter de Cantelupe, Kempsey, Nr. Worcester : Sunday 19th April instead of 12th April

2. Admiral Rodney, Berrow Green, nr. Martley : Thursday 23rd April for the annual St George's Day celebrations, instead of Wednesday 22nd April.

Be good to see as many of the regulars, and any newcomers, at either or both sessions.

JT

Amendment

Admiral Rodney - totally missed that there were five Wednesdays in April, therefore there will be the usual acoustic/folk monthly session in April on Wednesday 15th.

Apologies for oversight.

JT

Music, Song & Dance Weekend - The Salwey Arms

Friday 17th April to Sunday 19th April there's another music, song and dance weekend at the Salwey Arms, Wooferton, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 4AL (on A49).

Singarounds and Music Sessions throughout the weekend +

• Ceilidh Workshop - Saturday Morning 10.30 am - £2.50
• Ceilidh with Cut The Mustard - Saturday Evening 8.00 pm - £5 at the door

Hard standing for campers and caravans - free, but please book

Rooms in the hotel or Travel Lodge (next door)

For rooms phone Mike on 01584 711203

For other enquiries call 01568 770821 or email sally.stamford@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.myspace.com/sallystamford

The last weekend they held was terrific so get yourself along - see you there!

Robin Williamson at Malvern Wells

Remember the Incredible String Band? I saw them many times in the late 60's and early 70's at Mother's in Erdington, Birmingham Town Hall (a couple of times) and at various festivals. I have all their albums and still play some of them, especially "5000 Spirits" and "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter".

So I'm really chuffed to learn that half of the ISB, Robin Williamson, is performing locally on March 21st. I've got some of his recent solo stuff and it's great. I've booked my tickets already so here are the details provided by the organiser plus a link to the poster for the venue:

Robin Williamson Poster

Tickets at £10 are available on our number 01684-567058. We'll hold tickets on the door for cheques to be made out to The Wells Revellers and sent to:-

Peter Flagg, 100 Wells Road, Malvern Wells, Worcs. WR14 4PG

Bar - good selection of real ales - open from 7pm, doors open 7.30pm for 8.00pm.  

Very good Thai restaurant Ban Thai 100 m. from venue - open from 6pm.

Tickets also avalable at Daniels Garage, Malvern Wells.

 

Hop Pole Session Is Moving

Sadly the Hop Pole in Bromyard is closing at the end of February due to excessive rent demands from Scottish & Newcastel coinciding with a decline in trade over the past few months. We wish John, Hao and Steve good fortune and thank them for their hospitality over the past year.

Fortunately we have an excellent alternative venue. Our sessions at the Falcon Hotel have gone from strength to strength over the past few months and so we are going to run two sessions per month there on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month starting from 4th March.

Please spread the word as there may be people expecting a session at the Hop Pole on 4th March who will find it shut!

Reminder: Jam Session At Marmalade Festival!

Don't forget there will be an acoustic session at the Hop Pole in Bromyard between 1.00 and 3.00 this coming Sunday, 15th February. This is part of the Herefordshire Marmalade Festival which takes place over the weekend. Musicians most welcome as are listeners and marmalade fans.

Brian and I are working frantically to learn "Reflections Of My Life" and "Cousin Norman" to celebrate Marmalade in the right way!

Hop Pole Session Off In March

It's sad to report that John, Hao and Steve are leaving the Hop Pole at the end of February so the session won't take place there that night. I'll arrange an alternative and post details here and email all I can think of too.

I am sure you will join me in wishing them the best, thanking them for their warm hospitality (cheesy chips especially) and fine ales. Let's hope we get new "session-friendly" tenants in soon!

Worcester Traditional Music Page

Be sure to check out and bookmark Mike Walton's website at www.worcesterfolk.org.uk. It includes most of our sessions but also goes further afield throughout Worcestershire with a wealth of information you won't find elsewhere.

Morris Dancing In Schools

Just had an email regarding a team who can put on Morris Dancing workshops for schools. As Morris dancers tend to be like folk singers, in that we are mostly grizzled and of an advanced age, I think it would be brilliant to get kids involved in real folk dance and folk song.

The lady who does this is Kim and her email address is greatcapermorris@aol.com and her website is www.thegreatcaper.co.uk.

If you are a school governor, know a school governor, are a teacher or have any contacts in local schools please take the chance to publicise this opportunity. A new generation of Morris dancers will also help our music sessions thrive and ensure the prosperity of our local real ale brewers!

Change of Venue for "Bell Session" in Worcester

Following information received from Peter Kilcoyne:

Hi All

It's looking like we have to move on from the Bell for our Folk nights.

Thanks very much to Frank Jolly who has suggested I try the Bush (also in St Johns).

I had a great meeting with Andy the landlord and he is very supportive of us getting a regular Folk night going.

We have agreed on the last Sunday in the month starting on Feb 22nd. Hope we can get a good number there for the first session. Please let me know if you can come, if you want to play and pass on this information to anyone who you think would be interested in attending.

Regards Peter Kilcoyne

For more info email Peter using pkilcoyne@wortech.ac.uk

 

Ceilidh Band & Caller Required

The daughter of our good friends Andrew and Annabelle Mottram is getting married in Pencombe on 30th August. They are keen to find a band and caller to make the event complete!

If anyone fancies the job or can suggest someone else to contact please get in touch with Damion Lorentzen using damionlw@gmail.com. Should be a great do, with good food and ale guaranteed.

The Folk Map - New Resource Online

John Taylor pointed out to me a really useful resource both for visitors to sessions and to organisers.

Take a look at www.folkmap.co.uk. It enables session or club organisers to add their event to Google Maps. Those looking for a session can browse the map for wherever you are seeking a session and home in on the one you want to visit.

Simple idea but effective. Easy to use as a visitor, a bit cryptic if you want to add a link but you'll get there. I've added the Rosie, Green Dragon, Falcon and Hop Pole and I know John has entered others. But it would be great if other organisers could add to this to make sure we maximise visitors to our sessions, especially those on holiday.

If anyone is stuck as to how to add a venue email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk for help.

Sal's Weekend Winter Warmer

Singaround/MusicSessions/Ceilidh at:

The Sawey Arms Hotel, A49 Wooferton, Ludlow, SY8 4AL

Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th January

Ceilidh Friday 23rd - Cut The Mustard - £5 on the door

Free hard standing for caravans and campers (please book) or rooms in hotel or Travel Lodge next door.

Enquiries: 01568 770821 or email sally.stamford@hotmail.co.uk

Musicians Required For Ladies Step Dancing Group

Kickin' Alice are a well respected group of lady Appalachian step dancers currently without a band. Their website is www.kickinalice.co.uk if you would like to know more.

They have a banjo player and need a guitarist, mandoline and/or fiddle player although would happily consider other instruments. There is plenty of time before next season gets busy so there's time to settle in.

If interested please contact Jim Glancy on 07966 190294 or email enquiries@kickinalice.co.uk.

Sounds like a lot of fun and a great chance to develop and contribute as a musician.

"Jam Session" at the Marmalade Festival!

A date for your diaries!

As part of the Herefordshire Marmalade Festival (Download Details) there will be a "jam session" at the Hop Pole in Bromyard around lunchtime on Sunday 15th February. All are welcome to play or listen - for more info nearer the date watch this blog or email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk.

Session Tonight (6th January) at the Hop Pole

Happy New Year to you all!

Tonight's session at the Hop Pole in Bromyard is the first of 2009 so do come along and join in the fun.

Don't forget your thermals!

Country music/bluegrass session new venue - Bush Inn, St Johns, Tue 30 December

Just a quick note - the regular country music / bluegrass session on the last Tuesday of every month now has a new venue - the Bush Inn, Bull Ring, St Johns, Worcester. Next one this Tuesday, 30 December. Hope to see as many as possible! Cheers Frank

"Back Bar Session", The Talbot, Knightwick

For those that I haven't emailed - the Back Bar Session is a year old on Wednesday 3rd December, and it would be nice to have a big crowd in to celebrate. Kicks off 8-30 and goes on until closing time.
Thanks and hope to see lots of people there.
JT

Bromyard Directions

Nothing to do with music but if you are a fan of Bromyard go take a look at:

www.bromyard-directions.com

Please add your comments there to show your support for the town.

Bromyard Sessions CD

A very nice recording is now available offering highlights of the Bromyard Sessions concert held at the Falcon Mews on 12th September. It features (in running order):

• Tony Burt
• Foxtail Soup
• Ken Crowther
• Typsy Jazz
• Huw Knight & David Whittaker
• Brian Jones & the Ten O'Clock Shadows
• Dave Haigh
• Typsy Jazz (again)

It has been very professionally recorded and edited by Bonnie James and is available from the Honeypot in Bromyard, the Falcon Hotel or at any of the Bromyard Sessions. Cost is £8 per copy.

For more detail email info@bromyardsessions.co.uk.