Edda gig for Folk in the Park

Should be an interesting night. Edda has become a good venue 

for local small scale concerts - four bands for a fiver!

Concert for Bangladesh - 44 years on

It was 44 years ago today that the Concert for Bangladesh took place at Madison Square Garden in New York. Fundraising concerts are now commonplace - Live Aid is the most obvious example - but the concept was a novelty in 1971. Money from the sales of the album and DVD still go to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.

Here is the man himself bringing the concert to a close by playing his classic song, Something, backed by an all-star band:

CD launch & charity fundraiser

The Making History CD sleeve

Local rock bands, bluesmen and folk singers will come together for a special gig in support of local charity, the Southport Kidney Fund. On Friday 29 May, Southport-born poet Geoff Parry will launch his new album, Making History, at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Every song has lyrics written by Geoff with the tune written by the artist or band that performs it. Playing their songs from the album are the Sue Raymond Band, Equal Terms, Raphael Callaghan, Chris & Siobhan Nelson, Colin Wayte, Dai Thomas, Geoff Parry and Nev Grundy.

Geoff, who now lives in Hounslow but who maintains his close links with Southport, said of the album: “Making History is the 10th album of my songs and poems recorded by friends of mine. Since we made the first one in 1993, the world has changed tremendously, and we all have too. This album reflects both personal and international histories, with all their highs and lows.”

Admission to the event is free; all proceeds from a voluntary collection and CD sales will go the Southport Kidney Fund. The music begins at 7.30pm, and all are welcome to this special fundraising event. The venue sells real ale from Southport or Thwaites.

Go Sober For October

What a strange nation we are. We enjoy various indulgences, but then meekly accept being directly or, in the case of Go Sober In October, indirectly harangued for doing so. Go Sober is a health campaign with a difference, as its aim is to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support, undoubtedly a worthwhile charity. The Go Sober website is mostly devoid of the moralistic disapproval of the likes of Alcohol Concern, and I see that it's nicely timed to avoid the build up to the Christmas season: I wouldn't have put any money on Go Sober In December succeeding. I shan't be joining in, but I don't have much of a problem with this particular campaign.

In contrast, we have Dry January, which is run by Alcohol Concern. Same idea, and you are invited to "become a Dry January fundraiser, and help make a difference to the lives of those affected by alcohol harm." The website is fairly coy about the recipient of your money, but with a little digging I confirmed what I expected: all the money goes to Alcohol Concern itself. I wrote about this supposed charity most recently on 7 September, saying among other things: "The fact that Alcohol Concern is itself almost entirely financed from public funds completes the circle whereby the government squanders our money to pay a pressure group [i.e. Alcohol Concern] to lobby that selfsame government." Not the behaviour you'd get from a responsible and respected charity such as Macmillan.

What I do wonder is how effective dry months really are. The likelihood is that some participants will have a quick binge before the dry period, and if they last the course, another to celebrate their success, which will surely negate some of the health benefits of abstention. On the other hand, I doubt a Take It Easy In October campaign would raise much money.

If you want to give up booze for charity, I'd go for October and support a very good cause, although there is of course nothing to stop you supporting it anyway.

Charity began at someone else's gig

About a month ago, CAMRA published the results of a survey carried out in association with Pub Aid which here.
showed that pubs raised more than £106 million for charities last year. Despite the ongoing recession, this is a significant increase on previous years. I doubt that most regular pub goers would be too surprised by this news; I certainly wasn't, as you see it all the time in pubs. As Mike Benner of CAMRA said, “It is time British pubs got the recognition for the amazing funds they raise for numerous charities across Britain. Pubs can get unfairly blamed for a lot of anti-social behaviour but often the alcohol that has led to these problems has not been drunk in pubs.” More details

Over the years I've been asked to play at quite a few fundraisers, and our band, the Lunchtime Legends, have organised perhaps 20 ourselves for various good causes. Listening to a Radio 4 programme today about the RSPCA brought to mind a fundraiser we arranged a few years ago in the Falstaff pub in Southport  for the NAS (National Autistic Society). The radio programme, Face The Facts, described how the RSPCA is rather too keen to prosecute vulnerable people, such as the elderly, people with mental health issues or mobility problems, rather than advising them or helping them to look after their pets better. It's not the first time I've heard suggestions that they carry out high profile raids and prosecutions to keep them in the news and thereby encourage more donations.

So what's all this to do with the Falstaff pub and the NAS? On the night of our fundraiser, a collector from the RSPCA entered during the first interval; she is a familiar sight around Southport pubs with her collection box and a teddy bear hand puppet. I approached her and said that she had walked into a fundraising night for the NAS - the clear implication being "don't collect here tonight". "Oh really?" she replied airily and proceeded to wander around the pub collecting. I wasn't happy, but as I don't own the pub, I couldn't do much about it. When we went round a bit later with our collection boxes, people were saying, "It's okay; we've already given". When we pointed out that the RSPCA woman had gate-crashed our charity evening, they quite reasonably replied, sorry but they'd given her the donations intended for us. When we counted the takings, they were lower than any other charity night we'd done - in fact, that total is still our lowest - and we ended up doing an additional night to try to make up the shortfall of what we had hoped to raise.

I was very annoyed about this at the time, and for a while afterwards my friends probably became fed up of hearing the story whenever the RSPCA woman appeared in our local pub. I originally assumed that it was just her being completely selfish concerning her favourite charity, but after hearing that radio programme, I'm now wondering whether her behaviour indicates that the hard-nosed national ethos of the charity has inculcated a sense of entitlement even in the local volunteers.

Last time I was so taken aback by her nerve that I didn't think to ask the licensee to sort it out, but I would if it happens again.

Anthony John Clarke in concert at the Orwell

Popular singer-songwriter Anthony John Clarke is playing a fundraising concert for the Wigan Diggers' Festival in the top function room (lift available) of the Orwell, Wigan Pier, 4 Wallgate, Wigan, WN3 4EU. The supporting acts are Pauline Blackburn, Laura Taylor (poet), Bob Kettle, and Joan Blackburn.

It takes place on Wednesday 27 February; doors open 7.30 p.m. for an 8.00 p.m. start. Tickets are £5, available initially at Wigan Folk Club. Enquiries: 07833 301336.

The Wigan Diggers' Festival celebrates the life and ideas of Wigan born and bred Gerrard Winstanley and the 17th Century Diggers (True Leveller) Movement. It will take place on Saturday 7 September 2013.

Charity fundraiser total

The total we raised at the fundraiser in tribute to our friend Bernie Blaney in aid of the Southport Kidney Fund was £518. As admission was free, this amount was raised solely from the raffle and donations into the charity collection boxes. It was an excellent evening of music, featuring folk group Patchwork, blues singer Raphael Callaghan, the Wayfarers Singers who specialise in barbershop and with whom Bernie had sung, plus singers from the Bothy and Maghull Folk Clubs.

We were pleased to welcome members of Bernie's family, especially his wife Sue and daughter Judith, and also John Pugh, MP for Southport and five local councillors; Bernie had been active in his local Liberal Democrat Party branch, but the evening was not one for politics.

The night climaxed with a ensemble rendition of the song Bernie was probably best known for singing, Strike The Bell, which really did have everyone joining in. I have accompanied Bernie on that song so many times in the past that it felt strange to have to take the lead.

Thanks to everyone who helped make the evening such a great success.

P.S. a subsequent donation of £100 has increased this total to £618.

Music events over the next few days

A reminder of the fundraiser this evening at the Park Golf Club in tribute to our friend Bernie Blaney and to raise money for the Southport Kidney Fund: you'll find full details here. 

Although our local paper, the Southport Visiter, responded to our press release by phoning me and discussing the event for a good 10 minutes or so, they have published nothing about it at all. The paper has four pages full of pictures of women in ball gowns (plus a few men to even things out) at other fundraisers, and a further two pages of pictures of people dressed as Pudsey, but they couldn't spare just a few column inches for a fundraiser for a small local charity. Our other local paper, the Champion, received the same press release but was equally silent. Both claim to represent the community.

Other events in the next few days:

• There is a singers night at the Bothy Folk Club, Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS. Thwaites real ale. If you perform, you get in free.
• Monday 3 December: singaround in the Guest House, Union Street, Southport. Good real ale range.
• Wednesday 5 December: singaround in the Mason's, Anchor Street, Southport. Real ale from Robinson's.

See my What's On page to see what else is happening.

Bernie Blaney Night

Bernie Blaney

This is a music night organised by the Bothy Folk Club to raise money for the Southport Kidney Fund and as a tribute to our friend, Bernie Blaney, who sadly passed away a couple of months ago. Everyone who knew Bernie is welcome to come along. Bernie was former deputy treasurer of the Fund, and a stalwart of the local folk music and pub quiz scenes. Those appearing include the Wayfarers Chorus, the folk group Patchwork, and a number of resident singers from Southport's Bothy Folk Club and from Maghull Folk Club.

The event is at 8.00 pm on Friday 30 November at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS.  Free admission; a collection will be taken, and raffles and auctions will be held during the evening. 

Plenty of free parking and the venue serves Thwaites Wainwright real ale.

From Burscough to Kilimanjaro

In about 5 weeks' time, Andy Brocken of Burscough Brewery will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, which is actually a dormant volcano in Tanzania, and at 19,341 feet above sea level the highest mountain in Africa. He is doing this to raise funds for the Beating Bowel Cancer charity in memory of Harry Turner, a friend who died of the illness in April this year. He hopes to reach the summit on 27 September. To support the fundraising, the brewery is launching a beer called Kilimanjaro 2012, a 4.0% blonde beer brewed using American hops. All profits from the sale of this beer will go to the charity, and anyone who wants to support Andy's challenge can drink the beer, and if you can spare a few bob perhaps donate on-line. As Andy wryly points out, it's not easy for a real ale brewer to lose three and a half stone and get fit enough to scale 19,000 feet!

The Burscough Brewery Company is situated behind the popular Hop Vine pub (which I visited last month and wrote about here) on Liverpool Road North, Burscough. I wish Andy the best of British.

Soul Searchers at the Mount

This Saturday 24 March, 7-piece soul band, the Soul Searchers, will be playing a gig for popular local charity, Queenscourt Hospice. They'll be at the Mount Pleasant, Manchester Road, Southport, from 9.00 p.m. The Mount sells cask Tetley Bitter.

The band, which is based in the North West, has been described as "one of the best live soul bands in the UK."

Legends strike right note for Queenscourt

Our Lunchtime Legends gig on Friday (free entry - pass round the hat) raised £120.50 for Queenscourt Hospice. Thanks to all who came along, danced the night away and donated to this wonderful local charity. I'm still happy to accept donations if you weren't able to be there!

Till the next time then.

P.S. a late donation has increased the total to £130.50 - thanks.

Charity CD launch and concert

On Saturday 22nd October, there will be a charity folk fundraising night for Queenscourt Hospice, Southport.  The focus of the evening will be the launch of "The End of the Line", the latest CD of songs and poems written by Geoff Parry and recorded by various artists, including Chris & Siobhan Nelson, Raphael Callaghan, Chris Harvey, Pete Rimmer and Clive Pownceby.  Many of the artists on the CD will be performing their songs on the night.  The evening will be dedicated to the memory of friends of the performers who were looked after in the hospice.

The venue is the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 9DU, beginning at at 7.30 p.m.  Admission is free, although there will be a collection for Queenscourt.  Sales of the new album (minimum contribution £5) will also be donated to the Hospice.

CD Launch for charity - postponed

Postponed due to Geoff being unwell. New date to be notified.

Geoff Parry is launching his 9th album called The End Of The Line this Saturday.  As usual it consists of his own poems set to music by various artists, and a number of the artists involved will be performing their songs from the CD live on the night (including yours truly who sings the title track).

Admission is free, although there will be an opportunity to donate to Queenscourt Hospice, and all the proceeds from the CD sales (£5 minimum contribution) will also go to Queenscourt.  All the artists are playing free of charge.

All welcome at 7.30pm on Saturday 6th August at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS, which serves real ale from Thwaites.

Chris While, Kellie While & Julie Matthews in Wigan

On Friday 17 June, there is a special fundraising concert at Wigan Parish Church:  a concert featuring Chris While, Kellie While, Julie Matthews, with support from Ruth Angell and Becky Mills.  Chris, Kellie and Julie are talents in their own right and have performed solo, in duos with each other, and have all been in the Albion Band, although not at the same time.  They have appeared at the Bothy Folk Club in Southport, and I recall getting them all to play for nothing at the Bold Arms Beer Festival in Churchtown many years ago.  I doubt I could pull that off now; not with their current standing in the acoustic music world, which is well-deserved as they are all formidable singing and songwriting talents.

Tickets:  £15 in advance; £17 on the night.  All profits to DIAS (Wigan Womens Refuge) and Manchester Domestic Violence Helpline. Contact 01942 824291 for tickets and further details.

The church is on Crawford St, Wigan, WN1 1NL, about 5 minutes' walk from the railway stations.  I understand wine is available in the venue, and I know that there several good real ale pubs only a couple of minutes' walk away.

Music tonight and tomorrow

It's the Strattan Fundraiser tonight at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport (PR9 0JS), and a new group I'm in, Black Lamp, will be making its debut - it's Keith Price, Kevin Littlewood and me.  I'm looking forward to that, but also to the evening as a whole: great music & hot pot for a fiver!  Still some tickets left on the door.  The event is to honour the memory of George and Vi Strattan and to raise money for the scholarship set up in their name.

Tomorrow night at the same venue the guests of the Bothy Folk Club will be Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos from the Netherlands. Linde is known for her renditions of Sandy Denny songs.  Joe Boyd (former producer of Nick Drake, Fairport Convention & Pink Floyd) wrote about her album: "Linde Nijland has given Sandy Denny's music the respect it deserves, and made a lovely and fresh record that shows off her beautiful voice as well as her good taste". 

Thwaites real ale on sale for both events.

George Strattan Fundraiser

Family, friends and fellow campaigners will gather on Saturday 12th March at the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport for a night of music and song to celebrate the life of George Strattan, veteran peace activist, folk singer and trade unionist who died in Southport in December 2009 aged 89, and also of his late wife Viola (known as Vi), who worked tirelessly alongside George, particularly in the peace movement.  As well as the music, hot pot with meat and vegetarian options will be provided - and the Park Golf Club's hot pot is excellent.  Thwaites real ale will be on sale too.

The evening is to raise funds for the Strattan Scholarship, which has been set up by George's family and friends to send an aspiring musician with similar ideals to George and Vi to the Workers Music Association annual Summer School at Wortley Hall in South Yorkshire. George attended this school himself many years ago and found it very fulfilling.

This night of varied music is a mere £5; you can buy a ticket on-line here or phone the numbers below to be sure of getting in, although you should be all right paying on the door. Good music, good food and a good cause - all for a fiver!

Click on the flyer to enlarge it in a new window.

Legends fundraiser

Our band, the Lunchtime Legends, played our fundraising gig for Haiti on Friday night at the Park Golf Club. It was a great atmosphere, with people up dancing and waving their arms in the air for 'Hi Ho Silver Lining'. We raised a total of £207. Thanks to everyone who helped make the evening a success.

I ended up leaving my PA and my car at the venue until the next day after I'd had a few post-gig pints of Thwaites Bomber. Our next gig is in Whitby next August in the Elsinore ~ the pub where it all began in 1992.

P.S. (added 17 March):
Late donation ~ total now £213 + 28% Gift Aid = £273

Lunchtime Legends ~ Gig for Haiti

The Lunchtime Legends rock & roll band, of which I'm a member, will be playing a gig for the Haiti earthquake appeal on Friday 12 March at 8.00 p.m. The venue is the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport. Admission £3, with children under 13 free. The music is classic pop and rock & roll played in our own individual fashion.  You don't have to take my word for it: a review in Folk North West magazine said: "Cheerful ... a lot of fun to be had."

The Legends have 6 albums under their belt, some of which will be on sale at the gig, including their recent EP 'Daze', that was premiered in August 2009 to much acclaim on the Whitby Folk Week fringe, where they have played every year since 1992 as an antidote to squeeze boxes and diddly tunes.

Come along and rock & roll for an excellent cause. Thwaites Bomber is the real ale on sale.

Postcode: PR9 0JS. Loads of free parking on the street and in the car park.

Rock, Blues, Folk & More...

Come to a great evening of live music upstairs at Leo's Bar, Nevill Street, Southport, a fundraiser for Queenscourt Hospice, on Saturday 26 September from 8pm to midnight. Free buffet.

Band room with electric music, including Blanket Apology, Shot in the Dark, Next to Nothing, The Runnies.

Acoustic room with folk, blues and poetry including Geoff Parry, Ron Scowcroft and Neville Grundy. Open mike format ~ come along and perform, or just listen.

Voluntary donations on the door. Come along to enjoy an evening of great music and support an excellent local charity at the same time.