Bands and Artists Intro Poems by Adrian Spendlow
Alex Kirby.
I’ve been there
On stage
With this next feller
So when it comes to describing
Just what he does
It should - all be there
But
I’ve watched
I’ve wondered
I’ve listened
For the hook
The template
Bog-standard to the craft
The usual shape
The regular predictable way
Techniques to which all hold fast
The Attitude - Showmanship
The songwriter’s raft
Not there
But, I’ve been there
I loved it - I’ve felt it
I’ve danced it
Been moved, cried
And I’ve laughed
Then I saw it
What we all of us are after
All of you
Have an inner creative
A natural flare
Totally aware - A way of being
The song to sing
That makes it seem simple
Takes us all to humble
Singing out truths no trouble
‘That force is strong in this one’
See him bubble
Burst out
Let inner quality shout,
Beautifully
Perhaps,
By enjoining this performance
We, could be at one with the beauty
As we welcome
Someone who can truly be
Ladies and Gentlemen
Alex Kirby.
Banoffi.
You are so lucky
Here in Whitby
Within a bay of bounty
Pinnacle of ancient land
Among all this beauty
Here at hand
You have something
(Every Tuesday regularly)
Something
We all clammer to see
And I will take you now
Back into media history
To see it come to be
'Come along Johnny'
'Alright Fanny'
'Put out that fag'
'Alright you hag'
Craggy faces place us
Square
In front of a timeless bowl
Take
A little manic acoustic
Mix it
With
Hungarian Brandy:
Crazed Ceilidh
Upon occasional islands
Of pastoral calm
Beat
In blasts of energy
A touch of Turkish
A little (!) Irish
Taste
Lighting up the face,
Mind, soul and body
Beat Beat Beat
Straight to the heart
Via the feet
Sweet Sweet
Square
In front of a timeless bowl
There we see
The food of the soul
The great
Banoffi!
Black
Umfolosi.
As we weave through
Bulawayo’s
Kwazulu country
With the flow
Of the river Umfolosi
We join
The Imbube culture
Swim free
These Metabeleland boys
Are fast flowing springs of joy
While we sway and rise
Being here hypnotised
We are part of the tide
This tradition
Encompasses always
Into the world’s present day
We are changed
And we change
This happening here
And everywhere
Brings us a message
And - Takes back the power
To make training and performance.
They even help fund
A 900 strong choir
At their centre
Here is an act
To enjoy
And admire
Feed your appetite
Insatiably
With
Black Umfolosi.
I wrote this poem to introduce Black Umfolosi at the Masham Festival. They were great to work with and were very encouraging and took time out from a busy schedule to check out my band Cookin with Adrian who performed later in the day.
Bob
And Sheila Everhart.
From St. Anne’s
To Londonderry
Music port
To Ballkelly
Ah yer should’ve seen her dancing
On the Farm Town stage
From Bournemouth to Kristiansand
Down to San Sebastian
Ah yer gotta hear Bob cos he’s a sage
From Malmo to Copenhagen
From Geneva to Interlaken
Ah gimme some o that old time Old time Old time O
Corinth to Olympia
Nice to Barcelona
Gimme some o that 12 string harmonica and obscuro
Bluegrass Café down to Jana
Brindisc to Pamplona
Listen to her fiddle and double with Bob
From Prague to Vienna
Rome through to Sparta
We’re going to Ozark to Mountain Clog
Ah yer should’ve seen her dancing
On the Farm Town stage
Ah yer should’ve seen her dancing
On the Farm Town stage
Ah yer should’ve seen her dancing
On the Farm Town stage.
BREATHE.
(thank Joshie for this one)
'Can I order a curry?'
'Can I order a curry?'
'I’m not a curry house!'
'Who altered my mobile!?'
We’re talking major phone hoaxsters
'IRA here'
'Any bad Breathe reviews -
In Charm magazine -
N yer kneecapped -
Ring dis no
N give this code'
Graham ‘Charm’
Rang Scotland Yard.
'That Bob in London?'
'It’s 5 am Justin'
'Am stuck at Kings Cross -
Come and get me'
'OK'
He was at home in York
Emails across the world
Helped with this intro
All said
Beware
Wary what you write
They give what they get
I don’t want a love-bite
Or shark bite
Rubber bullet in the chest
OK
So I’ve over challenged
With the best
But never no more
I’m retiring
In Awe
Of this circus bizarre
Rich naked rock
(And Rich naked)
This Stereophonic
Vision of Terror
Is - Supernatural
Rock has grown up
And beats all
They could out play em,
Pissed - Propped up
And still play on
(They have done)
The emails
From fans said:
Shagnasty - Naked
Witty - Sarcastic
Anarchic
Writhing - Rockin
Devil - Dalmatian
Darth Maul
Buzz - Bright
& Awesome
Not for the faint-hearted
Sexy
I’m keen
And
Watch out for the Aubergine (!)
They’re out there
And
He nicked my wheelchair
But I say
‘I’m retiring’ -
‘I’m Beached’
In the face of this,
Supermodel sensation,
You just wouldn’t believe
Give it up
For this hard, tight experience
BREATHE.
Carabali.
Be the Ying to our Yang
They say
Dance
Earth us
Be primal
Echo the tightness
Move informal
Sway stomp and celebrate
Kuku - Fanti
Suli - Malinka
Macrou - Yankadi
See the solo,
Be freeform
Within the tightness
That is full tilt
Ageless
Forever
Sway stomp and celebrate
Let the dawn
Greet us
Initiated
Sated
Breathless
And new
Let us never split asunder
Link us
Mended
Where ever your home let,
Sense of community
Never be ended
Close your eyes
Be your thighs
Reach
Realise
Energy
Energy
Let your inhibitions be free
With
Carabali.
Celtarabia.
Dynamic - complex
(where) East & West clash
Analogue & digital
Ancient & Modern
In yer face - Subtle
Hammer n Hurdy
Sweaty - No mercy
Stunning musicianship
Did I say stunning - Yes!
Stonking good dance
Throat grabbing - Hypnotic;
Vocals entrance
This is the culture
Of audio
Calling you
Get ready to party
Bop
Like an egg in a boine
Ancient voices
Call us from inside
Call us for - The Ride
Dr Q and his cohort,
Hurdy n hammer,
Out feet and our heart
Kick off with The Chanter
Dance is our mantra
Lose yourself with no fear
Celtarabia.
Charanga
Del Norte.
I want to wear wild colours
Lace
Need to flounce
To pounce upon you
Dance
In yer face
This is the place
Of reckless beauty
This giggly
Infectious
Eternal party
Why
Why
Does it echo so sweet
So hinting of melancholy
Become Me
Forget me
Be
Within me
'Ay Moma'
'Libelula'
I forget who I am
This old man
Still can
I demand
Now
Everybody Salsa
And
Everybody (will) Salsa 2
You
How?
Forget you exist
Be this
Whether 13 or forty
Be
Be frivolous
Fun loving
Free
Be
(In this beauty)
Charanga Del Norte.
Chechelele.
(I heard a rumour about
what all of their songs were about)
Chechele
Chechelelah
Hear some singing
From this choir
Call and response
Let me hear yah
Chechele
Chechelelah
Chechele
Chechelelah
Let me tell yer bout the songs
As they go along
Song no. 1
That’ll start it
Two women fighting over fish
In the market
Song no. 2 that’ll make you sad
Two women fighting over fish
And they’re getting mad
Songs no. 3 and 4
And 5 as well
Two women with a fish
Giving hell
Songs 6 and 7 are a different cut
Casting aspersions
Over Halibut
Chechele
Chechelelah
Bamballa Wassamaila
From around the world
Sung in harmony
All of the globe
Is in harmony
Working in the field
Thrashing - Threshing
Chechele
Chechelelah
Bar bar numsala
N mandala
Chechelosa
People’s choir
Balkan boppy
And from Africa
Giri giri
Poy hay nin
A Cappella
And percussion
Working songs
And the celtway
Chechele
Chechelelah
Hear you clap
To this rhythm
Chechele
Chechelelah
All the world
Is in rhythm
Raise your voices
And be with em
Chechele
Chechelelah
Chechelele.
Clanjamfrie.
A disparaging rabble
A mixed bag
As in the Poem
‘Clanjamfrie’
The poem that no one understands:
Mars is braw I crammasy,
Venus in agreen silk goun
The auld mune shaks her gawden feathers
Their starry talk’s a wheen o blethers
Nane for thee a throchtie sparin
Earth, thou bonnie broukit bairn
Let me explain
Translate
(Mars is braw I crammasy,)
If thev ivver fEalt lark fivvers
ligged yer oot o backend
wi nowt bu yer vestments
(Venus in agreen silk goun)
Sithee thess rear as Otley maAdens
(The auld mune shaks her gawden feathers)
Reckonin ti beA sparrer i’evens
(Their starry talk’s a wheen o blethers)
Quit mitherin an gerron wi job
(Nane for thee a throchtie sparin)
Monny a mickel maks a muckle
(Earth, thou bonnie broukit bairn)
As yam as owt wi nar pilava
But greet
And in you’re tears ye’ll droon
The hail CLANJAMFRIE.
Cloe
Doody Band.
Rosedale it got rained on
Back there in ‘98 (or 99!)
‘n’ Nobody flinched
Round there at Jayne’s
The muddy arsed wore black bags
‘n’ Tarpaulin hats
t’ Blowheads didn’t notice
As they danced their own dance
‘n’ The dreamers ‘n’ the schemers
Well they took their own chance
The poet he kept running
And looking at his watch,
Ragged children loved his jumper
They counted every patch
Naked Manikins they got bleary
With a leerin’ Cheshire grin
As Chloe Doody’s roustabouts
Said, 'Baby come on in'
A collection of the well known
Wi’ Dirk ‘n’ Phil ‘n’ Baz
Kickin’, unconventional,
It’s innovative jazz
Slim ‘n’ dark, she took to swirlin’
Round the weave of smoky blues
Inveigled on our senses
Which we swore we’d never lose
The sound cut just like razor blades
Really bled our cool
If y’wanna touch y’sexuality
Hey Baby here’s a tool
Well Rosedale it got rained on
Back there in ’98
‘n’ nobody flinched
Round there at Jayne’s
I’m still there in that moment
Give them an ovation (or - Hearin’ that ovation)
To this smoky, wicked weavin’
Yeh
Chloe Doody Persuasion
Cloe Doody Band.
Coope,
Boyes and Simpson.
I did'nt like unnacompanied harmonies
Untill I saw them
And now i'm a fan
Recapturing the magic
Is alright for some
This lot recreate it anew
The world is merely a medium
The past is only tradition
This lot take the story, the glory, the Full Monty
Through a global transition
And put their selves in a position that’s clear
Right here!
It’s your heart with which you’ll hear
And your spleen
You’re already keen
You’re already impressed
You lose some , you win some
Now we’re crafting with the best
With
Coope, Boyes and Simpson.
This
introductory poem for COSMIC VOYAGE is entitled
I HEARD THE WORDS OF CHIEF SEATTLE.
I walked in a dream of sand
The Earth was drying
I knew I was the cause,
The explanation for this,
Dying
Only being one of the ‘humans’
Was enough
Killing Earth hurt
We are falling
Falling
Falling
Falling
Into a spinning celestial texture
Beyond the edge of
Tantric Ticklings
Well into the Hu..
Mansfield
Of soul pensivity
Sampling,
Empowerment
Searching the rhythm
The analogue zoo
Coming through
Falling
Falling
‘Falling’
A deep spirit reached out to me
Who spoke to me
Fired this journey?
He of the Squamish
Stepped out of his Teepee
His ancestral tribal complexity
Took me - To an enlightened age
Took me
On this
COSMIC VOYAGE.
Damage.
Go in
Be creative
Give it your best
Don’t rush
Strive to remain
Look to yourself
Define your nature
Put yourself together
Forever
Just do it
Share sensibilities;
Cool tempos,
Instinctive understanding,
Bonds, roots, history,
Mutual strengths,
With maturity, ambition
And depth
Be ‘forever sounding’
This is the way
To our future
These are the words of
Noel, Rahsaan
Andrez, coree
And Jade
Live it this way
With
DAMAGE.
The
Dhol Foundation.
It’s a big drum
And a small world
And it’s getting smaller
As music Punjabi
Hurtles from folk through Bhangra
And Kalsi
Into Jungle
Setting the Dhol
On a firm foundation
All over this nation
Johny like Poseidon
Is turning the world upside down
Turning us swirling
To the colours of Punjab
See these drummers reel
And get the feel
Of this fearsome loud noise
Beating rhythms to your heart
Dance move rejoice
In seventh heaven
Revel in the rhythms
Given to us in joy
Hoy
It’s a full sensation
Now
The Dhol Foundation.
(Dr
Brown) WHAT’S GOING DOWN?
The label is beard
The music is weird
Dr Brown
That’s that
Nah I gotta say more’n that
By the power of the
Magic Cat
Watcher Cock!
It’s
Psychedelic Space Rock
“Psychedelic Space ‘Rock’ !?”
It has black holes right through
And a label on saying
A present from….
Beardsborough?
Hairsbreadth from sanity
Holiday confectionery
Unsuitable for the sane
If you suck this stick
You’re freethinkers
Free drinkers!
With
“Fuck Me Quick”
On your hats
Perhaps that’s that
Or am I
Disturbing the ambience,
We have without Manger,
Hold back that anger
Throw off your Faraway Gown
Step INSIDE the INSIDE of
A suicidally psychotic CD
With insider’s reminders
That we’re siding with mindsters
Who invited us inside…
DR BROWN.
Duncan
McFarlane.
On his first ever gig he packed the Groves
(Eat your heart out Dave)
The Grove’s Dave and good old Geoff
Certainly took a good guess
In a few short months since
His gigs
Fill a never-ending list
An overnight success
It doesn’t make sense
Came from nowhere –
With a lifetimes experience!
I don’t mean to be blasphemous
But I’m lifting my left
And stomping it straight in
This – next act – Has been –
Compared to –
Vin!?
When you are laughing and crying
And not sure which is next
When you’re feeling familiar
Then thinking,
‘What is this?’
When singers, songwriters, guitarists
Are feeling vexed
You are experiencing the Groves
Best future guess
Yer gonna be yellin like telly tubbies
Again – Again – Again
Its
Duncan McFarlane.
Elephant
Talk.
(Drone)
I dreamt I could hear
The Musth-call of the bull
In the spine
I can
Hear the call
Something
3 octaves
Below where we are
I dreamt
5 million years
Of caring for each other
Elephant is Mother
Carer
Knower
Recaller
Do not hurt her
Be her
This
This is all there is
Live it
With a knowledge
Of all before
Looking forward
To contented existence
This, this as was
But more
Simplicity
Originality
Beauty
A license to dance
Down the paths
We all know,
In our innocence,
Have been,
Walked and enjoyed before
Open
This timeless door
This
Is
Elephant Talk.
Courtesy
- for Eliza Carthy.
She’s on the fiddle
And don’t we know it
I’m just glad my Mum OR Dad
Weren’t a poet
I wouldn’t have dared
put pen to paper
Some of this stuff I churn out
Doesn’t scan
Or rhyme even
But this goes further back
Than one generation heritage
There’s many
a thousand had a hand
On the strings or the page
Eliza and the Kings
When they play these things
Pay them a courtesy
Listen!
They are living history
Today
“It’s alright for you!” “It’s genetic”
Genetic - Hell
Listen! - We are living
the first rendition
And everyone between as well
Throw off your time worn cares
And get timeless
We are getting back
Into the actual fact
With this lass
Right now! - And the past
And - Oh Calcutt-a-very good band
You have to listen to understand
Swing one hand
And up against the other put
Let’s hear it for
Eliza Carthy
and
The Kings of Calcutt.
Elizabeth
Ryder.
As an invitation from heaven
You’re curled on a chair by the open window
The sun lights up your skin and you say,
‘Maybe its all by chance,’
This grace that burns from within
We can feel it in her song
We are looking out through this open window,
The foaming waves breathe on us
We think and wonder
What lies beneath the sea?
We are with the sea
Are waiting, dissolving
We are free
From the shackles of misused time
Hear the cry of a plea
And it seems as though it will rain any moment
The wind draws tears from our eyes,
And we know
These reflections will haunt our everyday
Reflections will haunt us while we sleep
She is building foundations
Between honesty and dreams
Enter this House of Changes
Till we are swimming through the deep
She is trying to see how to set us all free
Digging deep, deeper still
She is trying to see how to set us all free
Till we are swimming through the deep
She’s a prophet and saint and sinner all the same
We are living in her dream
So fine, fine fine to be
‘Come and help me if you can’
When its over
Come back nigh
Find your way
Oh across the ocean
Find your way
And come back home
Find your way
With your fountain of dreams
This grace that burns from within
We can feel it in your song
A warm welcome for
Elizabeth Ryder.
Emily
Saunders.
We are blessed
To have the best
That youth invests
In Folk’s future
Here
This is a very special session
We get to get a glimpse
Of the past’s future
We will be able to say,
(In our dotage)
“We were there”
We saw
Such and Such
Well only half of that act
Always a pleasure to see
Thank you very much
For Emily
Without (Tonight)
Her ‘Counterpoint’
The Tooralooralooraladdie
He’s glad to sit back
And listen to the beauty
That is this lassie
Mind you
He said she’d never make a Navvie
She’ll turn up sooner or later
For such a bad navigator
Bless us with
Woven worldly words
Beautify us with
Sweet sweet sound
Take us here there
And all around
Before
And after
Love and laughter,
So profound
And remember
How we are blessed
To have the future happen
In this town
Blessed
Double blessed
That this exceptional visitor
Is already a regular among us
Welcome
Our very own
Emily Saunders.
Emily
Slade.
When you’re expecting
Wilko Johnson’s
Machinegun-Guitar
You might be tempted
To barrack ‘support acts’
'I’m off to bar!'
She Slade ‘em
With a beautiful, captivating attack
They all came back
In
They still were applauding
When she was back in the dressing room
Chris While said,
'A young lady
To see us safely
Into the Millennium'
Alex Campbell
Reckoned, 'Groovy'
'Bit cheeky, but great'
Well
She was only eight!
When you’ve been brought up
Having breakfast with folk singers
You think they are just there for you
To learn from
And practise on (!):
John James
Nigel Moline-James
Sid James (!)
Names
Hamish Imlack
Was taken aback
By innocent intent
'You smell!'
'It’s mi liniment'
(Only eight)
Her singing and guitar work
Got to be ‘Great’
Not ‘Not bad’
But ‘Exceptional’
Well according to Dad
Ar.
I’ve just given away my sources
And
Got me out of bother
Well
What’s better than
The love of a Father
This voice is!
From this ‘Tinkerman’s Daughter’
(Watch out for that one
It’s a 7-minute bladder buster!)
This enigmatic - Skackra capturer
(Here’s a plug for the CD)
Enough from me
Of
‘Small Talk and Grand Ideas’
A beauty communicator - Heaven made
Here’s
Emily Slade.
The
Fisher Kings.
Into your Celtic hearts
Dances a heritage
Upfurling into the now
Embracing places
Our music has been to
Within us
See the stars
March us heraldic
This is a bliss
And a myth
And a mystery
(She’s the myth)
Reeling through history
Into today
Bring us dance
Bring us melancholy
Bring us beauty
Bring us reality
Bring us together
Bring us everything
Bring us
The Fisher Kings.
FOS
Brothers.
Help!
FOS
Something is tipping it up
Something somewhat ethereal
Somehow spooked,
I feel sortof stoned
This is wonderfully jerky
With a threatening edge
I sense a hint of the unusual
Scorching the memory banks
And taking no prisoners
Creating waves
Of white heat energy
Face-lifting off into
Twin Peaks like twilight zones.
Like Frank Zappa ‘off’ acid
When all this talking’s over
We will reel without reason
I’m stuck in this night visit
Life left me standing
Panther like bass stalking,
With an ambient back drop,
In the dreams of a sadist
Rocking like crazy
I’m rocked up reflective
Relaxed among ravings
Something is tapping
the lower extremities
Stunning
Shining
Twisting the morals compulsively
Take a jig down this dark alley
Twisting you spinally
Feel the full glare of the atmosphere
Grumblingly prowling
Through society’s alleyways
Forwardly forging
Help
Torture Never Stops’
FOS
FOS
FOS
(Time for another?)
FOS
YES
It’s the
FOS Brothers.
Gabriel.
'What more can we do?’
‘I’ll give you anything you want’
It feels like I’m praying
Take me where I need to go
Reach for me
Save me from the abyss
Show me truths
In the hearts of the strangers
‘Love sets us free’
‘Creating our each own reality’
I feel it
Living within
I have an idea of heaven
We are dreaming of angels
In a bundle of love
We can be together
Focus through light
Sharing the moment
Dream given form
A bond that we share
The best is yet to come
This is what music is for
Always remember the gift
Here I am - please hear me
Here I am - Always here
We are all part of you
Feel it
Living within us all
Here they are
Here they are
Gabriel.
Halcyon
Band.
Hung over as a dog
In the morning
Like a wailing flailed cat
I dragged myself to the edge
From a crouched hunch
Onto the stage
Dry as a fly’s graveyard
Got my own drumming in my head
Finding standing hard
Then it happened
Hurtling
Reverberating
Don’t you feel it!
Upbeat
Lashing around my cerebellum
Till the brain collapses
And the actual fact of existence
Sticks me to the spot with insistence
I’m shot through with bead whirling
Rolling - Rolling
Dancing through Los Angeles hills
Preach me melodious
Reach me, you reach me
And I understand
Ecstatic perfection
The
Halcyon Band.
The
Hall Brothers.
We’re gonna dance!
We’re gonna be free
Brotherly
As these
Heart-pleasers
Dance and breeze
Through to you,
What must be,
Hard fought excellence,
Seemingly so easily
Naturally
Freely
Excitedly
Hey
I’m pleased to be here
In the audience
Can you see me?
You two brothers
Are just singing for me
That’s how it seems to be
That its you sat there
Who is special,
Individual
Nick n Dunc’s pal
In the back kitchen together
Having a party
Being filled with a beauty
Truth
Reality
Their talent tells you personally
‘Life,
Is rich in diversity’
Listen
Love it
Be an entity
They sing only for you
Be happy with them
There are no others
Sit down with your friends
The Hall Brothers.
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