Estuary Magazine - a community magazine for Topsham, monthly, 60p, available from Topsham News and other local shops.

Sheila Stephens writes a regular report for the magazine on behalf of the club.

June 2010

Phil Beer performed solo for us in February and held us spellbound.  More than this, he donated his fee to club funds to underwrite future concerts featuring young musicians who are starting to establish themselves.  Many thanks to Phil for his generous and far-sighted gesture.  We’ve already lined up two concerts supported by his donation and look forward to seeing more young artists in the future.

In March we were delighted to welcome multi-instrumentalist and singer, Brian Peters, a highly-respected, long-time member of the folk scene and master of the Anglo-concertina and its quintessential English sound.  He played a mix of traditional ballads, dance tunes and contemporary pieces. 

Kris Drever was our next guest.  An Orcadian, his warm voice is full of under-stated emotion with an edge of gravel.  It is as smoky and peat-tinged as a glass of single malt.  As a founder member of Lau, he shared their BBC Folk Awards for Best Group in 2008, 2009 and 2010. His skill as a guitarist means he is much in demand as session guitarist for artists such as Kate Rusby and Eddi Reader.  However, he came to us as a solo artist, following the release of his second solo album, where he proves himself a gifted song-writer as well as a fine traditional singer and musician.  He brought with him Anna Massie, winner of BBC Radio Scotland Young Folk Musician, who is an enormously talented multi-instrumentalist, playing extraordinary guitar but also accomplished fiddle, mandolin and banjo.

Outside monthly guest evenings, our Sunday nights are open for performers and anyone who wants to come along and listen.

March 2010

The end of January can be a bleak time of year.  There’s not a lot to look forward to and all the bills are coming in and waiting for payment.  However, our guests Kevin Dempsey and Joe Broughton managed to dazzle us by the energy and brilliance of their musicianship and professionalism.  Joe Broughton is a rugby-player of a violinist with the sensitivity of a mother with her new baby.  He and Kevin Dempsey communicate faultlessly at break-neck speed and make it all seem great fun.  We forgot the bills and just enjoyed ourselves.
Our annual charity night, usually held in early January, had to be postponed for a month because of the icy weather.  We raised £400 which has been sent to the DEC Haiti appeal.  Many thanks to everyone who gave their unwanted CDs and then bought other people’s donations to add to their collections!
Our regular club nights continue every Sunday in the Globe’s dining room at 8.30 and all are welcome to come along to sing, play or listen.  

February 2010

We all enjoy a performance by talented musicians and so were delighted by our Christmas guests, Show of Hands, when Steve Knightley’s lean and exact lyrics were complemented perfectly by Phil Beer’s vital music.  However, everything can be squandered in the manner of delivery.  It is a performer’s relationship to the audience which makes or breaks.  Some artists can connect with a large audience and others reach out in a smaller, intimate setting.  It takes some skill to communicate warmly at all levels and Show of Hands can do it – very well indeed.  They took us on a Santa’s sleigh ride of music and we touched ground more pleased with life than when we set off.