Winter Woollies, Ding-a-lings and Multiple Musical Treats

When Jayne returned from shopping for raffle prizes with a hand-knitted Willy Warmer (she’s a classy lady, my Jayne) we did wonder whether giving it out as a the booby prize might lower the tone somewhat.

But when John Ryder stepped up to the mic and sang “My Ding-a-ling” far more suggestively than Mr Berry himself ever did, even adding a new verse of his own, anything that followed during the beer and raffle break could only serve to raise the tone. In the event, it was hard to tell who was most delighted, the winner of the wine or the beholder of the booby prize. Well, Winter is approaching after all! 🙂

John went on to sing Leonard Cohen’s “Tower of Song” before accompanying Ros on George Harrison’s “Isn’t it a Pity” and “Baby Can I Hold You”.

Tom Degney sang “Ages and Ages Ago” (and sang it again tonight 🙂 )  Lynda sang “Northern Plains” and I did some Mr Bojangling.

Jim Cole turned up armed with his electric fiddle and sheets of real music to reel off a medley of traditional Scottish reels, and a tune called “Peckham Woods”.

Joe Lyon’s set included “Starwood in Aspen” and “Those Were the Days”.

The evening had started with Buddy Holly style, mid-fifties rock ‘n roll, courtesy of the Tom Dick & Harry band, with Harry on lead vocals. First we had “Peggy Sue” then “Peggy Sue Got Married”. Next it was Richard’s turn on vocals switching to bluesy ballads with “Corina Corina” and “Galloway to Graceland”.

The lads also kicked off the second half of the evening, with “Memphis in the Meantime” and “A Mess of the Blues”. And of course, throughout their set, a good solid bass-line was provided by John Rowell on his six string bass.

The finale spot this week was filled by Richard and Wendy Eastwood singing songs from Edwina Heyes, Dolly Parton and Jim Reeves, amongst others. For an encore, Wendy was joined by Tom on mandolin and John Rowell on bass for the John Prine/Roger Cook American country classic,  “Just Wanna Dance with You”.

The Eastwoods have just completed a summer season of Monday evening concerts at Llandudno’s St John’s Methodist Church singing with the Harmony Singers, raising over £33,000 for charity in the process.