Singing Events for 2016

Dear Singers,

To give you as much advance notice as possible of the events this year that we have been asked to return to by the organisers (and hopefully we will be able generate enough Singers to support each of them), I list them below.

Sunday 1st May – WDOAM (Weald and Downland Open Air Museum) 'Food & Folk' 12.00-12.30hrs & 14.00-14.30hrs

Saturday 25th June – Sullington 'Flower Festival', near Storrington TBC

Sunday 7th August – NT's 'Bateman’s', Burwash (update 16th March 2016: now confirmed)

Either Sunday 21st or Sunday 28th August – Arundel Festival TBC

Sunday 4th September – SDNP (South Downs National Park) Petersfield Heath Fair TBC

Sunday 25th September – Southdowns Folk Festival, Bognor TBC

Saturday 8th October – NT's 'Apple Day' Slindon TBC

Sunday 27th November – WDOAM 'Christmas Market' times to be confirmed

We have been asked back to the Haywards Heath 'Winter Festival' on Saturday 26th November but the WDOAM have moved their event one week later due to other competing events local to them.

If you are able to give me an idea at this early stage of which events you would like to participate in, it would be very helpful for planning purposes. Emails to southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com please.

Many thanks,

John C.

Local Group Report – Easebourne Thursday 18th February 2016

Well done to the small but enthusiastic band of singers who came to the Three Moles public house at Selham last night. Present were Stephen A, Julie T, Sue & Dave G, Anne & Alan W, and Julie’s friend Sharon, a relative newcomer to the group. We practised lustily and tackled the same songs as the Lewes Group had sung on Tuesday, namely Poor Froze-out Gardeners, The Woodcutter's Song, The Magpie and They Won't Let Us Go To Sea Anymore followed by The Constant Lovers, Pleasant & Delightful, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow and Shepherd of the Downs. Oh and we warmed up our voices with Hilaire Belloc’s Sussex Drinking Song and On Sussex Hills. At the end we introduced Peter Bellamy’s Oak and Ash and Thorn – a song with lyrics by Rudyard Kipling, which we really enjoyed. We also sang the Copper Family’s O Good Ale – which we think we ought to learn and sing out more. We passed a jolly two hours with a twenty minute break in the middle to socialise and replenish our glasses. The acoustics in the small but intimate bar are just right for our singing, so if anyone would like to come and see how it is at our next month's sing on Thursday 17th March you'd be most welcome to join us!

Thanks for your help as always
David G

Local Group Report – Lewes Tuesday 16th February 2016

The John Harvey Tavern at Lewes, Tuesday 16th February 2016, where 15 folk gathered to start on 4 new songs – Poor Froze-out Gardeners, The Woodcutter's Song, The Magpie and They Won't Let Us Go To Sea Anymore – which Tina had carefully prepared and patiently led us through the tunes and lines. We then sailed through Constant Lovers, Pleasant & Delightful, Where Stormy Winds Do Blow, Shepherd of the Downs and many more and are looking forward to singing these rustic gems together during our summer bookings.

Margo

Six Songs For 2016

Here are six songs that we'll be learning in 2016, with more to follow later in the year. The words for these (pdf file) can be downloaded using this link.

You can download recordings of these songs using the links given below. NB If you have to pay to download data on a mobile device you should not play the songs directly from this web page, but instead download the mp3 files and play these.


The Woodcutter’s Song:
You can download the mp3 file here.


The Magpie:
You can download the mp3 file here.


The Turnip Hoer:
You can download the mp3 file here.


Jim, The Carter Lad:
You can download the mp3 file here.


They Won’t Let Us Go To Sea Anymore:
You can download the mp3 file here.


Poor Froze-Out Gardeners:
You can download the mp3 file here.

Singing at Worthing Sow & Grow Seed Swap, Saturday 6th February

Timings for SDFS at the Seed Swap Event, 6th Feb

As last year:
1.40pm
2.40pm
For approx 20 mins.

The MC / Town Crier / Bob Smytherman  will need to intercede briefly (between songs) just before 2.00pm & 3.00pm to remind folk that the next talk will be starting. You can liaise with Bob if you would like to use the mic yourselves to explain any songs etc.
We will be in the same location as last year. There is a £2 entry fee.

There's more information on the organiser's website here.

Here are the song lists. These are the revised lists that were announced at the Beechwood on 3rd February.

First set
Country Life
On Sussex Hills
The Turnip Hoer
Life Of A Man
West Sussex Drinking Song

Second set
Twanky Dillo
Poor Froze-Out Gardeners
Nightingale
Rosebuds In June
Thousands Or More