Sunday, December 28, 2008

Havering Folk Club seeks new venue

Well, the last night at Havering Folk Club turned out to be the last at the Golden Lion EVER.

The bloody pub has only gone into receivership. Bummer.

Apparently this kind of thing happens quite a lot to my Havering Folk Club friends, so looking for a new venue is a regular activity.

See www.romfordrecorder.co.uk

Orchid Group, the company which owns the 500-year-old pub, in High Street, Romford, went into administration.

Customers of the Grade II listed building this weekend were stunned to find it closed without warning.

Loyal patron Eric Willson, 63, from Collier Row, said: "It was a bit of a shock. People who arrived on Saturday night couldn't believe it."

The pub has now been taken over by Punch Taverns. It will be closed until mid-January, but staff will be paid in the meantime.


Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Last Night at Havering Folk Club

It was my last night at Havering Folk Club of 2008 since I'll be missing the xmas party next week.

I started the first half with Not John from Loudon Wainwright since it was Remember John Lennon day on Monday, then Steeleye Span's version of Captain Coulston - well my version really.

In the second half I got the chance to do Sitting on the Bank, one of my own songs from very long ago.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Working Class Hero - John Lennon



As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
Till the pain is so big you feel nothing at all

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
Till you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and class less and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill

A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me

Monday, December 08, 2008

8/12/1980 RIP John Lennon

It was 28 years ago today John Lennon got shot.

This tribute song is by Loudon Wainwright III

NOT JOHN

The limousine was waiting outside the studio
In stepped poor John Lennon and his wife Yoko
Oh no, not John

On up 44th Street, left at 8th Avenue
Up to the Dakota; a man waits there for you
Oh no, yes John

The man's name it is Chapman, come from Honolulu
He really loved your music, John, got a Japanese wife, too
Oh no, poor Sean

Five bullets in your body, that's what the experts say
They say you signed an autograph for him on that very day
Oh no, not John

There was a vigil at the Roosevelt, at the Dakota too
Silence in Central Park, they had a riot in Liverpool

Now Chapman's in the jailhouse - what's he doing there?
He went and he shot John Lennon. All you heroes best beware
Oh no, not John

The limousine was waiting outside the studio
In stepped poor John Lennon and his wife Yoko
Oh no, not John

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Andy Roberts on guitar


Andy+R+on+guitar
Originally uploaded by Andyrob
Andy Roberts on guitar
Photo by Ray Blockley at Welsh Cider Festival possibly 2004

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Andy Roberts Music

last night I returned to playing Andy Roberts Music at the Havering Folk Club
on a slightly quieter than usual singers night. Some of the regulars were off sick with colds etc and the audience seemed less inclined to join in the singing. There were some excellent new floor spots though, with more guitar players than usual which makes a change.

So I played my most recent version of Searching for Venus with reference to the recent conjunction of Venus and Jupiter with the moon. Hmm, well it seems the version on Last.fm is very different so maybe I'll need to re-record that one in the new year.

Then I played "When the Waters Rise" which is a dramatic tango about climate change but realised I haven't successfully memorised all the words yet.

Due to the new campaign to start the evening's entertainment more promptly there was even time to do one number in the second half so I played "The Wreckers Prayer" again since I've been getting some very positive feedback about that particular song.
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