Ashington Folk Club - Singers, Musicians & Poets 20 December 2007

20th December 2007

Last night in charge for jiva - this was a great night with Christmas cheer and good wishes all round. Special thanks to Stephen Ward of MIND Active for putting up surprise picture posters capturing some of Jimmy and Val's 'moments' at Ashington Folk Club.

Who would believe that four years could pass by so quickly? There are too many to thank individually here - but you know who you are... for tirelessly organising the raffle, for door duty on special nights, for sticking with us through some difficult decisions, and for just being there over more than 80 club nights either as performers or audience... or both.

Although the organisers will be different from next year, it is the performers and audience that ultimately make the club - without you it could not exist. We know that you will continue to support Tristan, Doug, Pat and Ben - and hope that the club will continue to flourish.

Once again, thank you all. We'll be back as performers, and hope to continue our friendships through 2008 and beyond.

Best wishes
Jimmy & Val (jiva)

Full song performed by jiva

You can Listen to an mp3 Soundbite of the performers.

Intro
MC Val got proceedings underway to sounds of whoops and cheers - what a welcome for jiva's last night in charge!

1
First performer was Doug Wood who sang, 'Dink's Song' (from a Pete Seeger version) and then the bluegrass song 'Feast Here Tonight'.

2
Derek Greenacre told us a short 'true story' about a washing line! He then played a blues piece (2 tunes put together) called 'Buck Dance'.

3
First Northumbrian piper of the evening was Alan Bailey who played 'Brafferton Village' and 'Rowantree Hill'.

4
Peter Meek began with Slade's 'Merry Christmas Everybody' and then sang the Incredible String Band song 'Log Cabin Home In The Sky.'

5
Continuing the theme of Christmas Ellen Morgan started with Chris De Burgh's 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' finishing with the Jim Croce classic 'Photographs and Memories'.

6
The Northerners (Ray & Eric) gave us 'Shoals Of Herring' and 'Cushy Butterfield' which had the audience singing with great gusto.

7
Tristan Sturgeon and Ben Yeowart quickened things up with 'Peg and Awl' (about the decline of the American shoe industry in in the early 1800s) and the slightly irreverent 'Plastic Jesus'.

8
Jack Hakin dedicated his first piece to jiva, Buck Owen's 'Cryin Time'. He finished with some fine yodelling in the Slim Whitman song 'Chime Bells'.

9
On harmonica Jim Slaughter played three Christmas carols - 'O Come All Ye Faithful', 'In The Bleak Mid Winter' and 'Silent Night'.

A Few Words
Before the break Jimmy stepped up to the microphone to say a few words of thanks and provide some statistics of performers, songs, poems etc for jiva's 4 years at the helm.

The full breakdown is in the December 2007 newsletter.

10
Performers in the second half kindly cut their spots to one each to allow time for jiva to finish the night. Geoff Pickard sang 'They Don't Write Them Like That Anymore'.

11
Diane Green and Robin Lewsey performed again as a duo - this time with Mark Knopfler's 'Rollin On'.

12
Another first for the club with Diane Green and Ann Lunam-Cowan singing together! They sang 'Wild West Is Where I Want To Be'.

13
Our second Northumbrian piper Ann Sessoms treated us to a fine seasonal addition with a set of three Bohemian Christmas carols.

Presentation
Tristan, Ben, Doug and Pat took to the stage to formally welcome everyone to the forthcoming 2008 club. Then they thanked jiva for their 4 years running the club, presenting Jimmy and Val with champagne and flowers.

14
Mike (or was it Father Christmas?) and Hazel Jessop gave us yet another first. Not only did Hazel play guitar and sing... but Mike didn't say a word! She sang Joy Webb's 'On A Starry Night'.

15
The penultimate floor spot was Al and Pauline Giles who performed an Irish recruiting song, 'Mrs McGrath'.

16
Jim Wigfield always has a topical song - and tonight he sang us his very own 'Christmas Time'.

17 - End of an Era
With some sadness (and no doubt some relief) jiva came onstage to end their stewardship with a well-deserved, and much-requested, extended spot. Starting with 'Sonny', they moved on to 'Louise', then Allan Taylor's 'Back Home To You' before a beautiful and moving 'Silent Night' which brought cries for more... Even though it was after 11 o'clock, it was only right that that they should end with an encore of their self-penned 'One More Song'.

Merry Christmas,
thank you all,
goodnight.

16 floor spots, an extended spot, a speech or two, a presentation, 30 songs and tunes, poems and tales - great variety, great value... a fitting end to the season, what better way to bid farewell to our hosts?

From 3 January 2008 Local Singers, Musicians & Poets nights will be held fortnightly.

Love and Peace, and best wishes

Jimmy & Val (jiva)