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We will have twenty minutes each from our pre-booked performers (maximum of nine), with a raffle break somewhere!
As with the Songwriting Competition, we will draw the running order by 'raffle' as each slot comes up. This is to discourage people from only turning up in time for their own slot, as no-one will know when their turn will be. Quite simply, anyone who isn't available when their slot is drawn forfeits their opportunity!
We will be at the Spread Eagle from around 1.00pm setting up the PA, but there will be no sound checks beforehand - the sound check is part of your slot. Again, this is to discourage people from extravagant requirements - there will be vocal microphones, instrument microphones, DI boxes and XLR lines to choose from.
In 2011 we introduced a competetive element which proved to be popular - the audience were asked to vote for their favourites. This year, the 'winner' will be offered a club gig on Thursday 24th July 2014 - non-negotiable, so if you're not available on that date we'll simply ask the runner-up, and so on! The audience will vote for three in order of preference, the first choice being given three points. Hopefully this should avoid a tie-break situation! A tie may be settled by the actual number of votes a performer has received in total, or on the whim of the Organiser...!
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Who is on the list?
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Mike Selway
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Born & brought up in Sheffield in 1941 so reached the magic 3 score & 10 in August 2011
Got first guitar for Christmas in 1956. Formed a skiffle group at school, said group appearing at local youth clubs. Joined a pop band as guit/voc/blues harmonica in 1962 often appearing at same pub venues as Joe Cocker (who called himself Vance Arnold in those days) & Russ Abott (then of the Black Abotts).
Got into folk in 1965 & appeared regularly at the 'Queens' folk club along with the late Tony Capstick &, believe it or not, Maria Muldaur who was at Sheffield Uni. Became resident singer at the 'Pig o' Lead' folk club in Stoney Middleton where we had such illustrious guests as Martin Carthy, Martin Wyndham Read & the Yetties.
Have written about 30 songs many of which I still enjoy performing. I'm also constantly trying to add to my repertoire of some 600 songs.
Current musical ambitions - would still like to write a hit song. The Interweb (e.g. Facebook) does make that a more realistic possibility.
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Annie Thurston
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By day Annie is a flute and saxophone teacher.
By night she's a "folkie" singing songs by her favourite artists such as Tom Paxton, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Sandy Denny.
Annie lives in Warrington with husband Dave, two cats and a flatulent Yorkshire Terrier.
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Doreen Lehmann
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Three years ago I thought I might try to write a poem or two and now I love writing poetry. A former Head of an Infant & Nursery School, I am now retired and see the world quite differently.
I belong to the Warrington Poetry Group, which meets each month. We share our poems and learn from each other. In the same way Lymm Folk Club has welcomed me as a friend and poet. Such a special privilege on Singers' Night to bring my poems to life.
Hopefully I shall continue to improve and give pleasure to anyone who is happy to listen.
- Dee Lehmann
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Phil Holmes & Ben Grundy
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Phil and Ben began playing as a duo a couple of years ago, playing a mixture of acoustic blues/rock. Their musical backgrounds are somewhat different.
Phil says "My musical career goes back to 1968 playing electric guitar in various Merseyside bands, until going solo as a guitar/vocalist in the late 70s. In more recent years I have been playing at local open mic nights as a solo player, and also as part of a duo with Ben".
Ben added "I didn't actually start playing the guitar until the age of about 21. I had previously learned to play the keyboards, but mainly influenced by the music of Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, it was the guitar I wanted to play. Having a love of instrumental music combined with a not having a particularly good singing voice led me to start playing (and writing) instrumental guitar music. For the last three or four years I have been playing at various open mic nights in the area, performing my own music as well as arrangements of popular tunes. More recently I have been playing with Phil as a duo".
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Michael Burns
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A songwriter and Lymm Folk Club regular - Michael writes songs about subjects very close to his heart, yet written in such a way that his audience can easily empathise with them.
"My songs and tunes are about my native North East, my life in the Northwest, and my Irish roots, and the wonderful people I have met while teaching English to Adults. I believe in the brotherhood of man."
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Richard Knott
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Richard Knott's guitar playing is rooted in the style of his early blues and folk fingerpicking heroes like Mississippi John Hurt, Leo Kottke and Ralph McTell. After 35 years of playing behind closed doors for his own amusement, in 2007 he took up songwriting, singing and performing - and won the songwriting competition that year with his first effort.
Several years later he has a growing repertoire of original and quirky story songs, covering some of the more perplexing aspects of modern life - from how it's possible to feel alone in a world where so many Russian models seem to know your email address, to the perils of falling in love with your psychiatrist. Audiences have compared Richard to Loudon Wainwright, Chris Smither, Eric Idle and Jake Thackray. His first CD, an EP entitled Reboot, was released in 2013 and includes his 2009 songwriting competition winner "Too Fast".
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Bernice Carters
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Bernice has been a club regular for a few years, now, and has a knack of choosing songs that everyone enjoys, often with great choruses... she writes:
My love with folk music began on my doorstep around nine years ago. I attended an evening of music "Folk in the Barn" which was and still is run by my neighbour and folkie friend Margaret and her husband Geoff. It was at this event that I was introduced to some of the members from Lymm folk club as they were providing the entertainment for the night. I attended the club the following week and I've been a regular there ever since.
It is rather funny looking back... over the years, there were episodes where my guitars didn't see the light of day. The only times they got played was if I sang at church, at a wedding, funeral or family occasion. Once I got in to the folk scene I was smitten with it... and still am. My guitars now take pride of place in the lounge and music is an integral part in my life.
Until 2009 I was a member of "Pepper Street" which I formed with Mick Hare and John Condy. I sadly left the band due to work commitments and completing a degree. I now perform by myself, just me and my guitar... I regularly attend folk clubs, open mic sessions... and even the odd festival or two!
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Keith Houghton
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My name is Keith Houghton and I live in Birkenhead, Wirral, I am 55 years of age and have been playing guitar since my teens. About 20 years ago I finally plucked up the courage to attempt a floor spot at the Bromborough Folk Club and have been a regular there and several other clubs around the area ever since and though I've never really progressed from being a floor singer, it is something I still find very enjoyable and rewarding and through which have made many good friends over the years.
I perform a collection of my own songs, acoustic blues and contemporary folk, as well as writing a large collection of poetry over the years. My set for the Lymm Acoustic Concert will be made up of songs I have written myself, which are light hearted, hopefully humorous and of a topical or self analytical nature, providing an insight to my, what some may say rather peculiar, observations on life.
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