Hail, Snow, Ice and Music
[soundcloud url=”https://soundcloud.com/chris-birchall-6/jan-12th-singers-night-soundbites” comments=”yes” auto_play=”no” color=”#ff7700″ width=”100%” height=”60px” class=”” id=””]
They said only the brave and the foolhardy should venture out.
Well you can add music-lovers to that list because venture they did – and not just those within walking distance either. We ended up with ten musicians plus almost the same number who’d come along to listen, and they came from far and wide, including Rhos on Sea, Abergele, Rhyl, Ysgeifiog, Corwen, Leeswood and Chester. About half ohe number we are used to but not bad following a weather forcast of “Daily Express” proportions! 😉
Conviviality
The back room of The Feathers was cosy and warm, and the atmosphere convivial, friendly and decidedly upbeat. The music was good and very much in keeping with our “All Styles” moniker. Even the jokes were not too bad “apparently”; better than the usual standard “apparently”; (probably because more people other than me were telling them!).
On the menu
Determined to have a great night, I think it’s true to say we made a meal of it. The musical menu was pure Michelin Star. I got things underway with a starter of Waits and Cohen, followed by Jim on violin serving up an entree with a distinct Highland flavour.
As we moved toward the main course we stayed north of the border with “Leezie Lindsay” and “Now I’m Easy” served a cappella in by a gent whose accent confirmed his Scottish heritage and hence his choice of songs. Although this was his first visit to The Feathers, Arthur Laidlaw has in fact attended the club at most of it’s previous venues over the past twenty years. He now lives in Chester, so hopefully we might be sampling more of his traditional folk fare in the not too distant future.
Regional recipes
Joe Lyon dished up some Liverpool scouse, flavoured with Lennon, Marsden and Searchers. Robin brought some home-cooked songs from Melin-y-Wig, one of which was optimistically hinting about having a “Slate Behind the Bar” for the musicians. Tom and Lynda Degney’s sets included “Moonlight Midnight” and “Crying in the Rain”. And Richard’s main course came courtesy of Buddy Holly and the Soggy Bottom Boys.
David Rees kept things topical with “Colder Weather” and “The Year of the Cat” (Let’s not give the chef any ideas!)
For his contribution to the melodic menu, Hugh Taylor’s recipes were flavoured with Dylan, and had a distinctive Joan Baez, with “Tomorrow is a Long Time” and “Fennario” respectively.
During the beer and raffle break, the wine was won by Jim Cole (it aged nicely in the bottle as he frantically searched for his mislaid ticket) and Arthur Laidlaw took a tin of Frey Bentos Steak & Kiddely back to Chester with him.
After the break came a dessert of one song each. I’m not listing them. I’ll refer you instead to the Soundcloud link at the top of this page where you can have a sweet little taster of each one.
Hugh stepped up for the finale spot with Woody Guthrie’s “Pretty Boy Floyd, with “Gospel Ship” for an encore. Then, with our musical appetites sated, we all headed home, hopefully without weather related incident.
Next week it’s a 7.30pm start for Showcase Evening with Jim Bazley. Don’t miss this fabulously entertaining guitarist who will be doing a 30 minute mid evening set and an extended finale spot at the close.
Before and in between those sets it’s business as usual – so bring your instruments and oil your vocal chords.
x
