Folk On The Moor - Ermington Roots

Crooked Roots at the Crooked Spire, Ermington

Open and Inclusive Acoustic Folk and Roots Music Sessions

Held in the bar on the last Friday evening of every month

Singers and players of all folk and roots styles welcome

Complimentary snacks provided for participants

Come along to sing, play or just enjoy a relaxed evening of music and merriment

The session starts around 8.15 pm; the bar is open until 12.00pm

For more information please call Gary or Diana on 01548 - 831288 or e-mail crookedgaz@aol.com

January and February 2008 Sessions

It was standing room only at the Crooked Spire for the Burns Night Crooked Roots session on the last Friday in January. This was a lively and colourful occasion with plaids and tartans much in evidence. The evening featured 23 performers, a new Crooked Roots record. Ermington session stalwarts Bryson Hendry (fiddle/voice), Mike Kendall (mandolin/whistles), Ian Smith (guitars/voice) and Charlie Harris (guitar/bodhran/voice), were joined by Crooked Roots regulars Nick Hanbury (guitar/voice), Geoff Rodd (voice), Paul Hirst (accordian) and Peter Male (concertina). Quartet Marilyn Cowan (voice/recorder), Jean Emdon (voice), Keith Nichol (guitar/banjo/voice) and Keith Fennell (guitar/banjo/mandolin/voice), now established session contributors, were in fine fettle.

A strong contingent from South Brent's thriving folk sessions, in the form of Caroline Cleave (fiddle), Caron Parke (fiddle), Tim McGill (charango/guitar/voice), Mick Bramich (concertina/voice) and Martin Fenton (mandola/voice), all old friends of Crooked Roots, further enlivened proceedings. Linda Hanbury (melodeon), Graham Avery (guitar/voice), Frank Jones (guitar) and Sharon Denmead (voice) also made distinctive contributions. Newcomers to Crooked Roots Adam Vevers (Border pipes) and Chris Thomas (guitar/voice), were made welcome and proved to be accomplished performers.

Musically, the session covered a wide spectrum of folk and roots styles. Jigs, reels and tunes were punctuated by traditional songs, interspersed with folk boom and contemporary material. Topical highlights included Adam's piping of the delighful tune Miss MacLeod's Reel, Ian's recital of Robert Burns' poem The Slave's Lament and a Crooked Roots ensemble rendition of the traditional Scottish song Wild Mountain Thyme, performed acappella with soaring harmonies. The latter is an Ermington session favourite, much appreciated by Crooked Spire licensee Gary Wilson.

The last Friday in February found the Crooked Roots stalwarts and regular performers joined by Marilyn, Jean and Keith Nichol, along with Linda, Sharon and Chris. It also saw the return of session favourites Patrick Patterson (voice) and Steve and Fred McMullin (guitar/bodhran/whistles/voice and fiddle respectively). Falling on the eve of St David's Day, a Welsh theme was evident. Highlights included Chris Thomas' fine Welsh language rendition of the song Ar Lan y Môr, Ian's fingerstyle guitar and voice version of the Idris Davies and Pete Seeger song The Bells of Rhymney and Marilyn, Jean and Keith's harmonised vocal arrangement of the famous Welsh hymn All Through the Night. Three and a half hours of live music concluded around midnight, performers and listeners alike commenting that this had been a most relaxed and enjoyable evening.

Both sessions were anchored by Charlie Harris, whose talent for coordinating such diverse musical gatherings grows month by month.

The Crooked Roots session will continue to take place at the Crooked Spire on the last Friday evening of each month throughout 2008.