JimMoray is our cover feature and the subject of the Singer, Songand Source. The song is ‘I’ll Go and List for a Sailor’ with an unusual source – John Kirkpatrick and MorrisOn.

JimMoray was presented with his fRoots Critics Poll Album Of The Year award(for Low Culture) on 26 February at Cecil Sharp House during the packedLondon concert on his current tour.

Morrisdancing features in several articles. There’s a resume of the recentmedia interest – Morris Media Frenzy – andan item on the new film, Morris: A Life with Bells On!

There’s a two page feature on The Mary Neal Project, which reached its climax at a day of celebrations at Cecil Sharp Housein February.

There are features on three Tynesiders, Louis Killen, Ray Fisher and ColinRoss, who all received EFDSS Gold Badges recently. And Jane Harland writesabout the folk club they all sang at, Folksong and Ballad in Newcastle,now called the Bridge Folk Club, to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Paul Hutchinson is well known as an accordion playerwith Belshazzar’s Feast and Hoover theDog, and he also plays for folk dance clubs and workshops: SteveJordan writes about Paul and his musical influences.
Chris Pitt writes about his school dance group, Essex LongswordGirls, and Martyn Harvey considers some recentceilidh successes in the north-west of England.

Free Reed Records kicks off a series of features on independentrecord labels.

Sadly, we also report the deaths of a number of folk music and dance enthusiasts: Francis Shergold and Sonner Townsend from the Bampton Morris traditions, the three guitarists, John Pearse, Davy Graham and John Martyn,the dance caller John Lagden, musician JohnnyConquest, morris dancer and Towersey Festival founder DenisManners and song collector Ken Stubbs.

Reviews

Including the Bert Lloyd CD (written by Martin Carthy & NormaWaterson), Bob Fox & Stu Luckley, The Old Friends Band, John McCusker’sUnder One Sky, Graham & Sam Pirt, Martin & Shan Graebe, WheelerStreet, Ray Driscoll, Dave Goulder, The Ram Company, Ian Anderson’sCountry Blues Band, Phil Hardy, Janet Russell, Hilary James, Notts Alliance,Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher, The Assembly Players, Jez Lowe &the Bad Pennies, Jack Crawford; and book reviews for Tony Foxworthy’sbook of Kent customs, and Stuart Songs and Ballads.

Regular Features:

Branching Out (Kathryn Tickell’s Queen’s Medal for Music);Festive Round-Up; Lives Remembered; Dancing in the Spring (list of danceevents); and EFDSS Matters.

Music credits

Sound files that complement the features are included here:

List for a Sailor by Jim Moray

Rondo a la Turkey by Belshazzar’s Feast

With thanks to Jim Moray, Paul Hutchinson and Wild Goose Records

Video

Belshazzar’sFeast playing Rondo a la Turkey at Cheltenham Folk Festival: postedon YouTube by likal23.

And here theyare playing in Guildford Music Institute: posted on YouTube by nameandimage.

EFDSS Matters:

A morris dancer should never appear to touch the ground

Apologies to Matthew Cowan and Katy Spicer. The text of this item on page 32 is jumbled.