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Folk'n'jazz needs you
- every month the performers, particularly the regulars, practice hard on their own and give up many hours  to practise together and make sure they put together a full programme even if no other performers turn up. In fact, to my mind, this has been one of the great successes of folk'n'jazz  as it means there is more music being played, everyone is learning new things and getting to know each other better. On the night, every month, no - one would guess how nervous some of them are so it is great for them to get good feedback and see folks come back for more.

Before the new month has even started rehearsals have begun for  very special  folk'jazz on 31st July ( I won't get this date wrong its my dad's birthday and our wedding anniversary) at la Vigerie at St Vincent de Varen. This will be a special evening of music and song to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war in 1914. It was an era when music and song played an important part in people's lives, no TV of course, many homes had a piano, there was the music hall where much of the news was spread through music and song, so there is no shortage of material for the singers and everyone wants to be involved. So this month it is even more important that anyone who would like to make a musical contribution on the evening should contact  John Taylor MC for the evening at folkjazz82@outlook.com   as soon as possible.

It should be a great night, rain or shine - la Vigerie is a beautiful outdoor venue but there is a huge warm dry indoor space as well.

Sue Carter
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All good clean fun at the Folk / Jazz Evening

Trevor, Sally, Brian ,Linda, and John, a  lovely tuneful sea shanty...

... and Ian and John tying down their Kangaroo

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Folk / Jazz Evening sails on

  Folk / Jazz evening goes all nautical

After all the rain we have seen recently it was perhaps appropriate to start last night's folk/jazz evening on a nautical note. The evening started off with a group of the resident Folk/singers leading a great shanty session. They had each taken up the challenge to learn and lead a shanty and it was a fun singalong start to the evening. Brian, Linda, John and Trevor,  were also joined by Sally, a newcomer to the evening, who delighted everyone with her rendition of The water is wide. ( She has clearly seen the lake near our house!)

After the shanties the performers gave us plenty more music,  including songs from Charles and also Ian whose set had an  Australian theme in honour of Anzac day.

During the evening we also discussed the future direction of the folk/jazz evenings. Having been instrumental, along with Val, in setting up the evenings last year, Charles and Anna have decided to  cease their involvement and move on to other things. Hopefully we may see them back as guests sometime in the future. The club has been a great success so far with new musical talent being uncovered each month and new collaborations of musicians all the time.  At this point it seemed the right time to look at how the evenings will develop over the coming year.

Everyone there contributed to the discussion and points agreed were:

• compering of the evening will rotate each month with each compere free to organise the musicians during the evening as he/she wishes ( comperes will volunteer and do not have to be musicians)
• any performer who arrives before 8 o'clock wishing to sing or play will be fitted in, even if that means shorter spots for regulars, although they will still be encouraged to contact the compere beforehand if at all possible.
• a donation of 2 euros per person will be requested to build a fund to cover costs of any room hire necessary ( Brian has offered to be responsible for collecting and looking after this fund)
• some summer venues have been offered and John agreed to confirm arrangements - more details later. There was also discussion about winter venues, including the possibility of using a bar or continuing at Riols but further information is needed (ideas still welcome)
• Sue will continue to publicise and review the evenings by posting to Tag.

The next folk/jazz evening is 30th May at le Riols  (this will be the last evening before the summer "al frescoe" season). The compere will be Ian.

27th June compere John - venue to be confirmed
25th July compere Trevor - venue to be confirmed

If you want to perform at any of  these evenings contact any of the comperes at   folkjazz82@outlook.com


Sue Carter