14th Feb Jeff Wesley
- Author: Paul Ryan
- 2013-2014
Jeff Wesley hails from Northamptonshire where he farmed for many years before retiring. He is highly regarded as a traditional folk singer with a wide collection of songs collected over many decades from the British Isles, his home county and 'across The pond'. They are all performed in a quiet, often humorous and unassuming way, but nevertheless he captivates his audiences so well that they forget to join in the choruses, it has been said. Jeff also started the famous Whittlebury Song and Ale gathering which has been running for over 30 years.
Come along to a night with a difference. Pepper’s Ghost are a magic lantern show using an original 1890 brass and mahogany lantern. Allan Marriott on lantern and Rene Marriott is your narrator. The whole evening is given over to nostalgia (“What’s different. ” I hear you ask) The glass plate’s slides are usually themed and you will get plenty of opportunity to join in. The Orchestra are Charlotte and Spong who provide the music and songs.
Roy brings his skill as a fine concertina player and singer. He can move effortlessly from a traditional ballad to shanty to music hall ditty. His program is peppered with songs from his beloved Cheshire and his self-penned songs sit comfortably alongside the genre and are being picked up and sung by lots of other artists. A night not to be missed.
First guest night of 2014 starts with Nightwatch bringing their “Musical History Tour” show. It consists of Andy Casserley and Ian Pittaway playing a plethora of period instruments and singing songs from the 12th to the 17th Century. Why was a well known Christmas song never sung at Christmas? Why was farting so enjoyable in the 17th century? These and other Highbrow and lowbrow questions will be answered on the night.
Richard Grainger is a prolific song writer with umpteen albums to his credit. He has written about the heroes but also championed the life and trades of the working class people of the North. Richard does not forget the traditional numbers and is also a fine shanty singer so there will be lots of opportunity to sing along.
Click to listen to Richard ...
