Archive
Fun stuff and occasional reports from the past.
WHITSTABLE BEER FESTIVAL 2009
Sue, Mark, Jo and the weatherman conspired to make a real success out of this Bank Holiday weekend. This year we enjoyed cider as well as the usual large collection of real ales.
Entertainment included a launch by Mr Reliable (Nigel) and the Backroom Boys. It was a hard days work for Doug Brown who followed up a long couple of sets from the BRBs with a night time turn with the Muddy Shovels. Sunday openned with the massed ranks of the Whitstable Samba Band with a brilliant one hour set ( a sample athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvR0bM8N8dc
Catering from Liz, Steve, Julia and Tinas helped us soke up the beer and the Sunshine. See you all next year.
THE FIRST FOLK NIGHT
The inaugural night of Whitstable’s latest musical jamboree got off to a spanking start on Thursday 1st May with the launch of Nigel Hobbins and the Backroom Boys’ latest CD. “In a Hole” is a collection of interpretations of old and almost forgotten melodies with a fair sprinkling of new pieces in the best folk music tradition. Balladeer Nigel’s laconic delivery and drawled asides make him a popular and witty musician amongst the friendly folk circle on the north Kent coast. 
Also appearing in the line-up were singer-songwriters Martin and Jim on fiddle and guitar who gave a finely observed piece entitled, “Cocaine around my brain” proving once again that traditional music doesn’t just reflect the past but broaches contemporary issues too. Adding meaty substance to the musical blend, there were good supporting performances on the double bass and the banjo, not heard enough in clubs these days for my liking.
Helping Nigel to keep old standards alive were Scots born Jeanie Ford and Gina Martin. One of their contributions, Scotland’s unofficial national anthem, was only written in 1967 but that didn’t stop proud Jeanie reviving “Flower of Scotland”. Then Nigel was accompanied by the innovative young Dan on beanbag in a poignant version of “Blow the Wind Southerly”.
As voters put their crosses on ballot papers in other parts of the country that night, there was a topical song about voting day and for good measure, Nigel added his own political message in “Polling Day”. Sailing dangerously into the area of protest songs, Nigel gave us a thoughtful comment about the concreting-over of Kent and the threats to his rural idyll. Too often criticised as dull and tedious, here is folk music at its best, giving biting social comment a lyrical voice. It reminds us of universal truths that span many centuries and that only folk music can adequately express something about a way of life that is about to disappear.
The Labour Club makes the perfect venue for an intimate musical evening. Sixty or more folkies enjoyed listening and sharing in the club’s social ambience with the regulars. Offering his own piece of oral tradition, Barry Marshall, the Labour Club’s Manager gave voice. “This just shows what is important to a community. As pubs all over the country go out of business, the Labour Club bucks the trend.” Just a glance at the sparse numbers in the pubs in the town compared with the throng of customers at the bar in the Club proves that the Committee are doing a spot of reviving of their own, in breathing life back into the old place. “Now it is the sort of popular watering hole that people really want”, added Barry. As a social centre, a focal point in the town, Barry is spot on.
The evening concluded with the massed musical ensemble giving their audience a rousing medley of favourites. Feet were a-tapping and hands a-clapping as a wild rumpus momentarily threatened to break out. But for the lack of floor space we might have seen some of the spontaneous country dancing that such music often excites. Circassian circle anyone?
Review by Patrick. Photos by Gerry Atkinson