Just recovering from two exhausting days playing the Native American Style Flutes at the Mind Body Spirit Fair at Whitby Pavilion. Standing playing 3 to 4 one hour sets each day was a bit like distance running.

Just catching up with the rest of life.

Tony Morris
www.tonymorrispoet.com

Good night at the Station Inn, Whitby sing-around last night. Derek Elliott and Paul Hudson being away, Judy Knight ran the session in a gently efficient way so there was a friendly atmosphere. One guy who was visiting from the other side of the Pennines, and had only intended listening, was persuaded to join in by telling a couple of jokes (funny and appropriate). He was talking to me afterwards and said he’d been going through a very bad time and coming to the session, which he only chanced on by looking through ‘The Link’, had had a profound effect on him, had lifted him in such a way that he felt it had ‘turned him round’. Doctor Whitby and Doctor Folk say, “Keep taking the medicine.”

Tony
www.tonymorrispoet.com

I have at last succumbed to the blandishments of using digital effects with the flutes, but only for use as additional instruments. However, the first pedal has had to go back because it buzzed loudly when connected to the mains. Another is on the way, so fingers crossed that this one works.

Must dash.

Tony Morris
www.tonymorrispoet.com

www.celebratenorthyorkshire.org

There was a recent conference in York for this Organisation and I was due to talk about the Yorkshire Garland Project and about 6 Folk clubs I was representing throughout the County including The Award Winning Black Swan Folk Club, York. The Organiser scheduled me to speak after the Plenary Session at the end of the Day.

I had a bit of a to do with her as I thought this was insulting to those I was to represent and typical of the North Yorkshire Arts Establishment and so did not attend. Her reply was to pat herself and North Yorks on the back and to tell me that if Folk was missing from the site and from the consideration of NY Arts it was the Clubs’ own fault for not putting themselves on the wonderful site (its actually rather basic).

Anyway, everyone needs to get on the site, swamp it and show them that Folk is a considerable economic force in the County. Can Yorkshire Folk Arts help to publicise the site and encourage Clubs, Dance societies and Festivals to get signed up. It is a free DIY site. 

www.celebratenorthyorkshire.org

Tony Morris.

 www.tonymorrispoet.com

Good night at the First In Last Out, Whitby, first Saturday in the Month evening. 14 Singers and Musicians plus audience made it a Full House. Great variety guitars, mandolin, mandola, Native American Flute, Harmonica, slide guitart, traditional unaccompanied singers, poetry, traditional and contemporary folk song and other contemproray song and old favourites. As always a great eclectic mix and welcoming atmosphere.

Tony
www.tonymorrispoet.com

First In Last Out (FILO) folk and accoustic Tueday Nights on track and attendances increasing as season warms up. Don’t forget first Saturday in the month, Saturday 7 March 2009; should be a great night bu need you there to make it great.

Last Saturday at the White Hart at Mickleby there was a fantastic turnout, 25 singers and musicians to raise the roof at this Club where everyone catches on to the choruses quickly and adds beautiful harmonies.

On Sunday night I was at the Station, in Whitby which Had siners and musicians from Barnsley and beyond (Spalding).

Monday night was Saltburn Folk and Accoustic night at the Marine. Some changes since I was there last, it now starts at 8.30pm and has a different MC each week, otherwise the same friendly, inclusive,supportive feeling that makes this Club special.

Tony
www.tonymorrispoet.com

I have not been blogging lately as in Madeira struggling with Netbook and WIFI. I think WIFI probably stands for “Will it?………..Fuck it!”

That said I had a fabulous time as usual, lots of good food and vinho tinto e vinho branco, lots of walking and just generally chilling out. Actually it was a little chillier than usual much of the time, 14, 15 degrees, much like a British Summer but drier and certainly good to avoid the British Winter.

I was interviewed by Anne Line Abotgen, a Norwegian Radio Journalist for a regular travel programme she presents for the Nowegian equivalent of BBC Radio as I am a recognised ‘old hand’ on Madeira.

I also managed a trip out to the East side of the Island in the company of my friends Rosey and Graham with Madeira’s best taxi driver/tour guide Jose Manuel who speaks good English and is eloquent, informative, friendly and greatly entertaining.

Now it is back to work. Last night that was supporting and MCing Zoox at the award wining Black Swan Folk Club at York, a very lively trio of excellent musicians playing in innovative ways, highly recommended.

Apart from working on some of my ironstone mining songs and their provenance that are going up on the Yorkshire Garland website and the usual round of Folk Clubs the next major event is a half hour support for the Waterson Carthy + Chris Parkinson Concert at the National Centre for Early Music at York. Some songs, some poetry and some music on Native American Flute.

Tony Morris
www.tonymorrispoet.com

A FINE NIGHT

The dull drone of a diesel engine

Pulsates across the bay.

In the dazzling lights they use here

To draw the fish from deep waters,

Screaming gulls pierce the silence

Of a birdsong free night,

Feeding on fish guts

As empty carcases are

Carefully coffined in ice

For the morning market.

The catch is in the price of the day

And the crews share;

How much to spare

For family and an hour or two ashore

Building reputations in bars,

Boasting of the next haul,

Raising the bar for a wager,

A wager on the weather

That balances lives.