I got involved with Folk when I got bored of having piano lessons (big mistake) and bought a guitar when I was 16. I was a regular performer at University and afterwards, had a band called Bacchus which for a while included June Tabor as our singer. However having kids meant I gradually stopped performing. Thanks to the encouragement of Joyaa at a couple of Gaunt’s House Summer Gatherings I started playing again about 10 years ago and re-cut my teeth playing in sessions in the Star at Godalming with Kevin Gorton.
Over the last 18 months a new project has developed into Newick Folk spawned by the gradual coalescence of musicians who regularly go to the open mike session in the Bull, Newick every Tuesday. Martin Horsfall on Whistle and Jem Cooper on Mouth organ and concertina were the nucleus around which orbit Steve Brown on Guitar, David on Fiddle and Alan Rae on Mandolin and guitar.
Newick Folk at the Bull
We have our own session here in Newick at the Crown on the first Sunday of the month. We’re pretty eclectic – mostly folk with a bit of jazz and rock n roll thrown in. – Not to mention my old man’s a dustman.
Here are a couple of songs recorded at our session at the crown.
Currently we have gigs coming up at the Farmers in Scaynes Hill and the Cock at Wivelsfield.