GO!

 Bonn Folk Club in 2020 has been quite a roller coaster ride. From a stunning 10 Year Anniversary Edition in March, celebrated by having 10 different fiddles, quickly followed by our last indoor edition in April a month later with "Stables" which was then followed by a six-month hiatus, partially self-imposed, with eventually two FCB Lite editions outdoors on the hockey pitch at Dotty's, each only 90 minutes in duration and with no break, to avoid mingling. Then finally, what John Hurd would probably call "the icing on the cake" a Folk Club Bonn On Tour in the Harmonie in Bonn.

(Photo courtesy of Sabine Büttner)

Read the report and see the unusual photos in the following link, which John Hurd, who as a journalist, ever aware of the danger of yesterday's news being stale, actually wrote on his own birthday! Bless him!

Just click on the two links below to read and see:

3 Songs Bonn

MORE PHOTOS HERE

Enjoy!

STEADY

READY

 

" Folk is great - beer is good - and people are crazy!"

Live partially plugged Acoustic Music

Friday, 16th October 2020

Folk Club Bonn “on Tour” Edition!

19:30-22:00 hrs (doors open 18:30 hrs)

"The Harmonie” in Bonn-Endenich has been approved for concerts in accordance with current COVID-19 regulations for numbered and seated audiences of 172 and we are further restricting this to only 130 people. The beauty of the hall at the Harmonie is that it has a very efficient ventilation system, without air-conditioning, which typically re-circulates the old air and just cools it. All the air in the hall is simply and efficiently replaced every 12 minutes.

Admission Free

(This time there will be a raffle in order to cover additional costs involved with the venue.!)

If you wish to attend please send your COVID traceability details in advance to fcbonnlite@gmail.com  in order to avoid delays at the door on the night.

Theme of the evening: Instrumentals and songs for COVID-19

Location:

The Harmonie Bonn

https://www.harmonie-bonn.de/

Frongasse 28-30

53121 Bonn (Endenich)

Tel.: 0228 / 61 40 42

“Featured Artists”

Johannes Epremian (Fiddler extraordinaire with Le Clou)

World Folk Band CAYU (expanded with Celtic Harp and hammered dulcimer)

“Floor Spots” by

Shay McVeigh         Harrison & Henneken          Daniel Bongart

Nik Novakovic            Dennis Ledermann            John Hurd

Plus surprise guests.

MC for the evening: John Harrison

"Man, all music is folk music. You ain't never heard no horse sing a song, have you?"     Big Bill Broonzy

The Mike Harding Folk Show Podcast

 Dear Folkies,

                        on the right-hand side of this blog, there are a few interesting links for you to enjoy. One such is the Mike Harding Folk Show. It is exactly what it says "over the door", or if you prefer "on the box." "The very best in folk, roots and acoustic music."  

Here it is a two-hour podcast for you to listen to, for free, and at your leisure:

http://mikehardingfolkshow.com/category/podcasts/

Mike Harding is quite a character, and who he doesn't know in folk music and the songs that he doesn't know, are frankly not really worth knowing. 

You can read more about him here on his Wikipedia page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Harding

Quite a remarkable man. After many decades as a successful folk singer/songwriter mainly playing the guitar and the mandolin, but indeed able to play most instruments known to man and a mean Blues harp player too. An author, a comedian and a rambler through the dales of northern England. Later on he took a job with the BBC Radio 2 and ran his own weekly half hour radio show there, "The Mike Harding Show", but in 2012 after 15 succesful years as a disc jockey, in a remarkable naive case of ageism somebody at the BBC noticed that he hadn't retired at the customary age of 65 years and had well overshot the mark, even though Mike wasn't complaining in the slightest. So, they decided to unceremoniously "put Mike out to grass".  Mike though, in classical renegade style, had noticed that technology had sufficiently shifted the old tectonic plates of the radio music world to such an extent that a somewhat slightly angry and determined older man could now significantly take on a long established traditional institution such as the behemoth that is the national radio broadcaster in the UK, ever since radio was invented, an even win! Mike Harding speedily set up his own "new radio" show as an internet podcast as a new two hour show, and literally ran rings around them and duly left them standing! What a wonderful story of a folky "David and Goliath!" Mike started the weekly show from January 2012 just after folk club Bonn started in 2010. By doing weekly shows as opposed to our monthly reality German folk music shows, it wasn't very long until he overtook our numbers. Finally in 2017 it finally dawned on Mike that the BBC might have had a point after all, and perhaps it was a good idea if he slowed down a little, so he took a short break, but before long he started up again, but this time on a more reasonable leisurly monthly rather than a weekly basis.You can now listen to show number #285, as usual a wonderful diverse platter of the very best, both old and new, folk, roots and acoustic music. Please enjoy! If you enjoy it, do feel free to contribute "a few Bob" or whatever you can spare, as Mike has licencing fees to pay in order to continue doing what he does so well. All previous 284 shows are also available for your perusal and enjoyment. If you look on this site under "Folk Clubs and Sessions" and look under the searchable site and insert "Germany" you will also find "Folk Club Bonn" there.

For mor information on Mike Harding you can visit his regular web page here:http://www.mikeharding.co.uk/

A man who ticks all of the folk music boxes, with a vengance, and then some!

Keep up the great work Mike and never cease to let us hear the best music ever to come out of a stone Yorkshire shed. There really are some incredible people in the world, who keep the music flowing, sometimes against all the odds, especially in these most difficult Coronavirus COVID-19 times, that seems to have stopped so many wonderful musical events dead in their tracks, with hardly any current reprieve.

Here are over two hours of Mike Harding's most recent show:

Click below on the orange arrow to listen, or find the podcast on iTunes.

I can certainly recommend it. Do try it and let us know in the comments below what you think of it.

Many thanks in advance.

Podcast #285

Published September 27, 2020

---

 

Playlist:

 

Intro – Temperance Reel / Shenandoah Falls – Strings & Things – Shady Grove  

 

01 Ocourenta & Cadillac – Teres Aoutes String Band – Courenta Cadillac

02 Three Little Birds – Kate Rusby – Hand Me Down

03 One More Lockdown Day –Robb Johnson and The Irregulars – Pandemic Songs 

04 Poolbeg Chimneys / The Ivy Leaf – Patricia Walsh – Simply Whistle

05 Maid On The Mountain – McGoldrick McCusker Doyle – The Reed That Bends In The Storm

06 When I Was A Cowboy – Happy Traum – Buckets Of Song

07 The Recesses – Jenny Sturgeon – The Living Mountain

08 Hion Daila Horo Ri Ho Hion Daila Là – Garefowl – Cliffs

09 Love Of The Common People – Kate Rusby – Hand Me Down

10 Joan Of The Greenwood – Joshua Burnell – Flowers Where The Horses Sleep

11 Wild Sparrow – John Blakey – The Legend Of Icarus O’Toole

12 Honky Tonk Woman  – John Blakey – The Legend Of Icarus O’Toole

13 Union Jack House – Virginia Kettle – No Place Like Tomorrow

14 Air And Light – Jenny Sturgeon – The Living Mountain
15 Knocking On Your Door Again – Hank Wangford – Holey Holey

16 Hare Spell – Fay Hield – Wrackline

17 Sweet William’s Ghost – Fay Hield – Wrackline

18 Stringybark Creek – John Campbell Munro – The Kelly Collection

19 The Ballad Of Ned Kelly – Fotheringay – Fotheringay

20 A’ Fàgail Hiort – Garefowl – Cliffs

21 Across The Western Ocean (Single) – Jenna Moynihan

22 Claudia’s Waltz – Patricia  Walsh –  Simply Whistle 

23 Gentleman Jack – O’Hooley & Tidow – Live At St Georges

24 Mrs Macintosh Of Raigmore – Lauren MacColl – Landskein

25 The President Sang Amazing Grace – The Kronos Quartet – Long Time Passing

 

 If anyone ever tells you something, always remember to take it with at least a small pinch of salt!

Friday 09.10.2020 at 20:00 hrs in Bonn. Meeting place Rheingasse, on the corner of Brassertufer

The safest place is still OUTSIDE, but it is as well to be INSIDE the old city walls of 1644. Come and take a stroll with me through the beautiful city of Bonn in the year 1698.

The Night watchman in Bonn

Fr. 13.03.2020 18:00 Fr. 08.05.2020 20:00 Fr. 12.06.2020 21:00 Fr. 09.10.2020 20:00

Fr. 13.11.2020 19:00 Fr. 11.12.2020 19:00 Fr. 08.01.2021 19:00

Night watchman John

Travel with the night watchman through Bonn.

A walk through the darker, wilder sides of the city.

These were dangerous times and the tasks which faced the night watchman meant that it was certainly not an easy job. Apart from dealing with the normal rabble and riff-raff in and around the city, the electoral capital of Bonn was threatened in the 17th century by war, fire and pestilence with the bubonic plague.

A hardened man, tough and well experienced, who could deal with any situation which might crop up, was required in order to watch over the city at night and ensure the safety of its citizens.

He's certainly many's a tale to tell about his often challenging job: How the Dutch invading forces entrenched themselves on the Parson's cap in the Rhine before finally retreating, to be replaced by Spanish                                                                     forces.

As the international battles in Europe seemingly lasted for perpetuity, Bonn, although luckily spared the brunt of the wars, was worried because its old medieval city walls were in urgent need of an upgrade, in order to cope and offer defence in such troubled times.

The night watchman's passion was not only guarding the walls and closing the city gates, the vineyards also had to be protected from thieves and sinners. In order that the black death did not spread further than necessary, the Cologne fisherwomen had to be prevented from offering rotten or adulterated fish for sale. Or, worse still would be if the many crooks, witches and blasphemers were allowed to wreak havoc with their vile, nefarious villainy in Bonn.

However, with the Wolf's tower and the Maar tower and the "Pranger", the pillory, the night watchman had sufficient weapons in his arsenal to adequately deal with any threats to law and order within the city.

http://www.stattreisen-bonn.de/tours_in_english.htm

info@stattreisen-bonn.de

A Mirror

 A Mirror

never call a mirror sad

call a mirror many things

reflections of

enjoyments had

but never, ever

call

a mirror sad

call it true

call it blue

call it frank

forgetting never

this steady friend

who reports 

truly you

reflexing

equally both

glad and bad

call a mirror many things

but never, ever

call

a mirror sad

John Harrison

This is a poem that I originally wrote many years ago but I still think it is worth dedicating today to the many people who really do try to "square the circle" and do the impossible at Folk Club Bonn and capture a live musical event on what used to be called celluloid, but what is now only a few extra bites on your smartphone, tab or laptop, Perhaps not only humans but photographer's photographs are no longer developing in the same way that they were once used to!?!

Whatever, many thanks indeed to John Hurd, Sabine, Detlef and Barry and all the other contributors for the many mirror-like images and photographs that have made this particular blog a mirror-like reflection of a most wonderful unique monthly musical celebration of life that was, and still is, Folk Club Bonn. It has now over a decade of wonderful history. 

John Hurd has even produced a photographic history which the "Geiz ist doch Geil" minorities in the FCB can win at the next raffle. More concerning folk historians can ask John Hurd for a copy through the more normal channels. It is a photographic "work of art", I have personally attended and moderated and played at all of those folk club Bonn evenings and I can verify that the music provided by all of the wonderful contributing performers on each evening was not bad either!

Thanks to all of you extremely good people who continue to make Folk Club Bonn happen, even in such inclement times in which we currently live. 

We really heed and need a little more  "HOPE" now so much more than ever

Gruß,

John Harrison

FCB # 114 Jemand sagte mir, es gäbe eine "Maskenpflicht"!

Jemand sagte mir, es gäbe eine "Maskenpflicht"!

Im Ernst, auch wenn es Zeiten und Orte gibt, an denen es keine echte Maskenpflicht gibt, ist es dennoch möglich, freiwillig ein oder zwei Masken zu tragen, um Solidarität mit denjenigen zu zeigen, die am stärksten gefährdet sind, sich mit COVID-19 zu infizieren.

Another outdoor FCB Lite edition # 114 once again there was a definite "green " element to the evening, perhaps due to the fact that we were on a hockey pitch and so effectively in a field, albeit a well mown one, but still playing outside in a field. If you'd have asked me a year ago if I expected to be playing outside in a folk club in a field in October I would not have believed you! Luckily John Hurd of ThreeSongsBonn was a roving reporter who was on the spot to record it for posterity, and not only gave us another cracking example of his photographic and literary skills, the results of which you can see and read in the link below, but he also graced us with a wonderful rendering of the recently departed Pete Green's "Man Of The World" in addition to duties on the "door" to ensure that the necessary COVID-19 traceability documentation was correctly done. The folk club Bonn committee is indeed truly blessed with people of great dexterity and multi-faceted skills and seemingly endless energy. In COVID times these FCB LITE outdoor editions are only half of the normal length but involve two or three times as much work in the preparation and realisation. Many thanks also to Mario Dompke and John Hay for their great work in sorting the sound for the evening and also performing themselves. Thanks also to everyone else who pitched in to make the evening such a great success against all odds and the potential vagaries of the weather. Additional thanks to God and the Green Man for withholding the rain for a couple of hours of musical bliss and to Matteo and Roland for attempting to quench our communal thirsts over such a long distance.

https://3songsbonn.com/2020/10/04/jolly-hockey-sticks-folk-club-woodstock-edition/

Jock Stewart had his usual outing at the end of the evening which was floodlit at the end.

Evening All! 

Thanks to Sergeant Dixon of Dock Green and John Hurd for the photos.

Folk Club Bonn Lite Draußen am 02. Oktober 2020- Mini Woodstock Edition

 

FolkClub Bonn

Folk Club Bonn am 02. Oktober 2020

Liebe Folk-Club-Freunde,

nach etwa einem halben Jahr erzwungener Pause wagt der Folk Club einen zweiten Neustart mit zunächst verändertem Konzept.

Das Wichtigste: Wir werden eine Session im Freien abhalten und die Anzahl der Zuhörer begrenzen. Wir hoffen, dass es trotzdem ein unterhaltsamer und entspannter Abend wird.

Nachfolgend erhaltet Ihr die wichtigsten Informationen:

 Das erste Versuch  draußen am  4. September 2020 ist gelungen und wir machen weiter.

Beginn: wegen des notwendigen Tageslichts bereits um 18.00 Uhr; Ende ca. 20.00 Uhr. Wir machen keine Pause.

Ort: wie immer in Dotty’s Sports Bar und Restaurant (ehemals Sträters Sports Bar) (Öffentliches Vereinshaus des Bonner Tennis- und Hockey-Vereins – BTHV), Christian-Miesen-Straße, 53129 Bonn (Dottendorf) 

Achtung: der Abend findet im Freien hinter dem Vereinshaus statt. Auf einem Rasenplatz auf den Hockeypitch  (Die Leute die am Anfang dort ohne Hockeystöcke sind nicht Hockey- sondern Rugby Union-Spieler.

Die Musiker stehen auf dem  Sportplatz unter einem Gazeebo. Es gibt leichte Verstärzung von batterie-betriebene Verstärker, also bei leichten Regen kann es auch weitergehen.

Voraussetzung für den Abend ist zumindest trockenes Wetter. Der Bonner Wetterdienst Wetteronline und sogar die BBC Wetterdienst 

https://www.bbc.com/weather/2946447

macht uns darauf begründete Hoffnung. Falls wider Erwarten das Wetter mit nachhaltigem Regen aufwartet, müssen wir den Folk-Club-Abend leider ausfallen lassen oder abbrechen. Zur absoluten Not könnte eine kleine Gruppe (max. 30) Leute nach Drinnen gehen, aber wir hoffen dies nicht zu tun)

Teilnahme als Publikum: Wer zuhören und Zutritt zum markierten Bereich am Rande der „Bühne“ haben möchte, muss sich mit dem Link im nachfolgenden Absatz anmelden und dabei Name(n), Anschrift(en) und Telefonnummer(n) angeben (Daten werden vier Wochen nach der Veranstaltung gelöscht). Wir haben beschlossen, die Anzahl der Anmeldungen aus Sicherheitsgründen auf 80 Personen zu begrenzen.

Die Anmeldungen werden in der Reihenfolge ihrer Eingänge auf dem angegebenen Mailkonto berücksichtigt (Windhundprinzip).

Wir appellieren an Euch, dass Ihr bei einer Anmeldung auch teilnehmt oder anderenfalls möglichst zeitnah mitteilt, dass Ihr verhindert seid, damit wir andere Anmelder berücksichtigen können.

Wir benachrichtigen euch unverzüglich, wenn mit eurer Anmeldung die Höchstzahl überschritten wurde. Wenn Ihr also keine Nachricht erhaltet, liegt eure Anmeldung „im grünen Bereich“.

Anmeldung unter: fcbonnlite AT gmail Punkt com (natürlich korrekt geschrieben mit @ und .). Bitte nutzt nur diese Adresse und drückt nicht hier auf „antworten“. Eine solche Mail landet leider in einem Rattenschwanz an die Ursprungsmail angehängt und läuft größte Gefahr, übersehen zu werden. Das ist leider eine unangenehme Eigenschaft von Googlemail. Wenn Ihr diese spezielle Mailadresse für eure Anmeldung benutzt, passiert das nicht.

Zugang zum Auftrittsort: Von der Eingangstür im Erdgeschoss des Vereinshauses geradeaus durch den Gang zur Rückseite des Gebäudes. Bitte beachtet, dass Ihr beim Betreten des Gebäudes und bei Gängen über das Vereinsgelände einen Mund-Nasen-Schutz tragen müsst. Wenn Ihr eure Plätze im Freien eingenommen habt, dürft ihr den Schutz abnehmen. Ferner bitten wir euch, darauf zu achten, den vorgeschriebenen Abstand zu anderen Personen, die nicht zu eurem persönlichen Umfeld gehören einzuhalten.

Wer auftritt: angesichts der Umstände kommen keine „Stars“ von fern. Wir haben aber Zusagen von beliebten und professionellen Musikern aus unserem Umfeld, die mittlerweile wahrhaftige „Folk-Club-Stars“ sind. Lasst Euch also überraschen. Wie hatten ursprunglich Cynthia Nickschas für den Abend begeistet, aber leider hat sie Verletzung am Gitarrenarm un hat alle Gigs für den letzten zwei Wochen absagen müssen. Da wir draussen sind und haben eine „Mini-Woodstock“ Thema hätte ich sonst vorgeschlagen, wie in Haus Müllestumpe damals mit Ihr „Mercedes Benz“ a cappella zu singen. Jetzt wird as nicht stattfinden, aber wenn jemanden Lust dazu hat, bitte ein Email an

playrequestfolkclubbonn AT gmail DOT com senden, und wir können das Lied in G mitsingen.

[Verse 1]
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz

[Verse 2]
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV
Dialing For Dollars is trying to find me
I wait for delivery each day until three
So oh Lord, won't you buy me a color TV

[Verse 3]
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town
I'm counting on you, Lord, please don't let me down
Prove that you love me and buy the next round
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town

[Verse 1]
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz

Gute Besserung für Cynthia die bald ein neuen CD in süddeutschland aufnimmt!

 Wer hat, bringe sich eine Sitzgelegenheit mit. Wir sind bemüht, den Platz mit Bierbänken etc. auszustatten, aber sicher ist sicher.

Angesichts der doch nicht so ganz tollen Wetteraussichten kann es nicht schaden, für alle Fälle auch einen Schirm mitzubringen. Erfahrungen zeigen je mehr Schirmen mitgenommen werden, desto weniger werden gebraucht.

Ein Bar wird es wieder geben voll mit Getränken aufgestocktgestockt und Essen kan man am Anfang des Abends bestellen. Alles wird vom Dotty's Bar per Hand heruntergetragen also bitte reichlich zugreifen damit Roland, Sabine und Matteo nicht zuviel nachher wieder hochtragen müssen!

Der Platz ist von der Rückseite des Vereinshauses nach rechts zu sehen. Der Weg dorthin wird ausgeschildert sein.

Zu guter Letzt möchten wir noch einmal daran erinnern, dass Ihr einen Mund-Nasenschutz benötigt, wenn Ihr euch von Eurem Platz auf der Folk-Club-Wiese fortbewegt und natürlich für alle Gänge auf dem Gelände und im Gebäude des BTHV. Bitte denk auch daran stets Spatial Distancing von Einander zu respektieren!

Zuletzt das „Allerwichtigste“: wie immer Eintritt frei 

Bei Bedarf erhaltet Ihr weitere Informationen bei

Eurem Folk Club Team

John Harrison (0228 3670150)

Mario Dompke (02633 470327)

John Hay (0172 2586944)