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16th December 2004

Spotlight night number 3 - a smashing finish to our 2004 season. We even managed to get the coloured spotlights working! And thanks to Pat Yeowart sorting out the other ceiling lighting, the Bothal Suite had a much warmer and cosier ambience.

Local singer/songwriter Ray Derrick put on a grand performance calling on ex-Northerner Eric Laverick and Beeswing partners Dave Minikin and Keith Blackburn to give us a variety of enjoyable songs.


Our long-suffering MC, Val, very rarely gets a mention - so here's a picture of her doing a sterling job in organising the night and introducing the performers.
1
We hadn't seen Tony Hamblin for a few weeks (he's been to Nepal), so it was great to have him start the night as we sang along with 'Go To Sea Once More' and 'Poverty Poverty Knock'.
2
Dave Donohoe quietened things a little with  'White Lightning', a song about addiction to 7.5% proof. He followed this with his own take on Procol Harum's 'Whiter Shade Of Pale'.
3
Next up was club resident Pat Yeowart in fine voice as she sang Crystal Gayle's 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue'. She finished her spot with our first Christmas song, 'Santa Baby' - great stuff.
4 Spotlight
Ray Derrick has been part of the local music scene for more years than he cares to remember, and his seasoned professionalism shone through as he and Eric Laverick (joined occasionally by Dave Minikin and Keith Blackburn) played a variety of songs that had us singing, thoughtful or laughing.

They sang 'John Of Dreams', 'The Northerners' (a reference to Ray and Eric's folk band of the 70s), 'Tom's Song' (about Ray's father), 'She's A Wolseley 1500' (a comical look at Ray's restoration of a classic car), 'The Flying Scot' (the tale of Cramlington miners who derailed the prestige express by mistake). They finished the first half with a medley of 'I Wish I Had Someone To Love Me' (apparently the Beatles first hit in Germany) and 'My Bonny Lies Over The Ocean'.

5
Alex deserves special appreciation as he played classical guitar for us even though he was suffering with raging toothache. He said the brandy was purely medicinal... who knows?
6
Old timer Jack served up his usual enthusiastic Country and Western style starting with 'Jambalaya' by Hank Williams. True to form he then wowed us with his yodelling skills in 'All On A Christmas Eve'.
7
 If you weren't at our November Spotlight evening you missed a real treat - Northumbrian piper Ann Sessoms played a wide variety of tunes, with Alan Bailey accompanying her in a 3-tune set.

Tonight they treated us to a traditional air, 'Kielder Burn', followed by 'Coquetdale', a Forster Charlton waltz. Magick!
8
John Campbell had a new guitar on show (a Harmony-something-or-other), and it sounded good too. He did great versions of 'I'm Getting Tired' by Robert Nighthawk and Robert Johnson's 'Rambling On My Mind'. John is our first spotlight performer in 2005, so put 17 February in your diary.
9
Having joined Ray for a couple of songs in the first half, Dave Minikin did a solo spot. Allan Taylor's classic 'Roll On The Day' produced a great swell of harmonies from the audience, then we had a laugh as Dave sang a comical observation on the demise of real pubs.
10 Spotlight
By now it was time to welcome back our Spotlight act to finish the night (and the 2004 season). Ray and Eric started with three of Ray's own compositions - 'Carpathia, Ship Of Hope', 'George And Robert Stephenson' and 'Ash Hopper Boats' (the winning entry in the 2004 Morpeth Gathering songwriting competition).

They then shifted into traditional mode as they belted out 'Belle Of Belfast City' and 'Home Boys Home' with hearty singing and synchronised hand-clapping from an appreciative audience. Dave Minikin joined them for the encore - 'Pleasant And Delightful', and all too soon it was over, no more time.

Everyone enjoyed the set, especially at one table where some of Ray's friends and relatives were out for a good night's entertainment!
1 (or was it 2, or 3 or 4?) spotlight acts, 8 floor spots, 29 songs, medleys and tunes. A super end to a very successful year at Ashington Folk Club.

Don't forget...

1. Singers, Musicians & Poets on the 1st Thursday of every month, and more of the same but with extended Spotlight sets on the 3rd Thursday.

2. We are closed during January, but normal service will be resumed from 03 February - be sure to come along and experience the Ashington Folk Club magick... and bring your friends.

3. Our second online survey is waiting for your input.
 

  jiva would like to thank everyone for being part of it all.

We couldn't do it without you.

See you again in
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