Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday June 5th 2025

We opened this month's session with some future event notices, as we often do, and three new singers were welcomed to the fold.  We also thanked Alan for all his work on preparing and leading the very successful Chichester Fringe performance he'd steered to its completion the previous Sunday  Unfortunately due to other demands on her time Emily was unable to be with us - but Alan and Amaryllis had already kindly agreed with her to facilitate the evening between them. 

Alan set off with "Hal an Tow", "The Cuckoo" (sung twice to refine the timing and tone - and with cuckoo calls added by Amaryllis to finish!), and then the "Sussex Wedding Song" with men and women taking turns to sing verses in conversation.  Amaryllis took the reins for "Searching for Lambs" and the "Smugglers Song", before Alan resumed with "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun".

Angela S was then invited to contribute by guiding us through the "Song of the Sussex Downsman" - which many felt we should sing more often in our sessions and also use it at our public events, given how vividly it describes various locations and landscape features across Sussex.  

The mid-time break concluded with a few notices from different singers with news about local events of interest beyond the SDFS (at the Creative Heart centre in Littlehampton on June 28th - Worthing Festival's music weekend on 21/22nd June, and a programme of Heritage Walks in Worthing and other local areas). 

The tandem facilitation continued with Alan or Amaryllis leading us by turns for "Rambling Comber", "Rolling in the Dew", and then "Our Captain Cried All Hands" which we haven't sung in Worthing for a while.   Some requests followed - although no-one took up Alan's suggestion that the individual choosing a song should also have a go at leading it!  So we took our start notes from Alan for the "Turmut Hoer" and Amaryllis for "Rosebuds in June" before singing these old favourites to finish on, and the evening closed with more "Thank Yous" to Alan and Amaryllis, and Angela S, for their valuable contributions.  

More next month - see you then !

H. 

Lewes Local Group Report – Summary - March 17th, April 21st and May19th 2025

Small but enthusiastic groups gathered for our usual third Monday sessions over the spring months. Eight singers came to our usual venue at the Lewes Arms on March 17^th. On April 21^st the pub was busy with Easter Monday drinkers and diners, so five of us decamped to the Railway Land Nature Reserve, where our singing was aided by crisps and vegan beer kindly provided by Eva and James. We sang at what we call the Magpie Tree, so named because during lockdown we sang here (carefully socially distanced) and when we sang Dave Dodd’s beautiful song “The Magpie” two of them sang overhead. This time we saw one walking along the ground but none in the tree.  Back at the Lewes Arms on May 19^th there were seven singers. In total there were twelve different singers, including a new singer, but not all present at the same time. 

  

Over the three sessions we covered 28 different songs from our spring, summer, outdoors and sea themed lists.   

  

Some of them were sung twice, either because of the different singers present, or to practise some harmonies for upcoming performances. These were: “Bee-Boy’s Song”, “Country Life”, “East Sussex Drinking Song”, “Ha’nacker Mill”, “It is the First of May”, “May Day Carol”, “Nightingale”, “Oldland Mill”, “On Sussex Hills”, “Pleasant and Delightful” and “When Spring Comes In”.

  

The others were: “Ale Glorious Ale”, “Birds on the Spray”, “Brave Eleven”, “Constant Lovers”, “Eileen Aroon” (an Irish guest song for St Patrick’s Day, shoehorned in as it was allegedly Hilaire Belloc’s favourite song which many of us learned during the original South Downs Songs Project), “Fathom the Bowl”, “Green Grow the Laurel”, “Littlehampton Collier Lads”, “Love and the Ball” (concerning stoolball, the precursor to cricket, which James recalled playing at school in Uckfield), “Magpie”, “Oak Tree Song”, “Rosebuds  in June”, “Searching for Lambs”, “Smuggler’s Song”, “Sussex Wedding Song”, “They Won’t Let Us Go to Sea Any More” (I decided the previous week to sing this, not realising how prescient it was given the new furore over fishing quotas on the very day we were singing it, just as when it was written in Hastings all those years ago) and, last but never least, “Thousands or More”.

  

In between we also had a lot of discussion about past and future events, the origins and history of the songs, and compared notes about the various other musical groups we sing and play with in other places. 

  

We will be back at the Lewes Arms on Monday June 16^th. New singers are always welcome to join us, whether you are an old hand, new to folk music or somewhere in between. With 100 plus local songs in our repertoire, and more being added all the time, there’s something for everyone, why not come and give it a try! 

Tina

 

South Downs Folk Singers at the Chichester Fringe - Sunday June 1st

It's less than week to go before we'll be singing at the Canal Basin Cafe at 7.00pm on Sunday June 1st - to share songs for all seasons in a programme of songs, readings and music to chart "The Turning Year".

Come along and see us - tickets are available from the Chichester Fringe online:  www.chichesterfringe.co.uk              - and, if not sold out, also on the door. 

See you there!

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday May 15th 2025

13 singers attended the Chichester Inn for the May SDFS get together.
 
With the appearance at the Chichester Fringe evening approaching, Alan checked that all had received the latest copy of the proposed programme that we would be performing and said that this evening would concentrate on any material that was planned that people felt a little uncertain about.
 
With that in mind, the evening opened with the well-known "Country Life" which everyone sang lustily without the aid of words – a good morale boosting song!  "Hal and Tow" followed with a reminder that everyone should clap together just once at the beginning and that it would start with a chorus, again a great rendition by all.  Alan invited Julia and Nichola to perform their intended solo song "The Holly King and the Oak King" to great acclaim by all, who agreed they performed it beautifully and it was a really good song.  The newly introduced "Rambling Comber"  with full harmonies followed.  It was agreed that in order to get an appropriate “gap” in the lines, that the preceding word needed to be lengthened to two beats.  That seemed to keep the group together at this point.  "Summer is a Coming in Again" provoked a seasonal discussion about Spring flowers and after a further rendition of Julia and Nichola’s song, so they could practice, the group discussed the logistics of meeting up for the Fringe event.  It was decided to meet at the Canal Café at 6.30 pm and to wear the usual “corporate” colours for the SDFS of blue, green and touches of yellow.
 
Following a well-deserved break the group re-convened for the second half of the evening, with Alan asking for requests, either from the planned Fringe programme or any other songs that people felt needed a rehearsal.  Steve A requested "Searching for Lambs" (to be sung at the Fringe).  This was sung confidently with Alan commenting on the particularly nice harmonies introduced by Amaryllis and her group.  "Bee Boys Song" requested by Nichola came next incorporating the suggestion by Dave G that there be not too much of a “swoop” in the opening notes. Dave G suggested "Lammas Carol" and it was decided this was best sung not in “polka” time as suggested once by Mick Ryan to Alan!  Henny asked for ""Sugar Wassail" which went well.  Steve A aided and abetted by Alan read the poem "Sompting Shearer’s Beer" which gave rise to a lively discussion about pubs in Sompting!  

"When Spring Comes In" suggested by Lyn followed.  At this point Henny wondered if Alan had a plan in case the set “over-ran” the allotted time for the Fringe performance.  Alan assured her he did and it may mean leaving out some material but he would judge on the night.  Further discussion about whether to have men only singing "Turmut Hoer" followed with separate men/ladies split.  It was felt there were enough men involved to carry this.  Dave G requested that the group sing "Fields Lie Silent," with particular request that it not be sung too slowly.  The evening finished with a discussion about starting notes for the last item on the Fringe Programme – Dave G’s hearty rendition of "Golia".  It was essential that all should be able to successfully join in the responses.  With  a start note of B,  this was successfully sung as a finishing flourish to another busy singing evening at the Chichester Inn.
 
Anne Sartain 

Even more to see, and hear, on the Miscellaneous Page

A link to hear more about a new book of folk tunes and harmonies can be found on our increasingly busy Miscellaneous page - well worth a look and a listen. 

Alert to look at a new item on our Miscellaneous Page ....

Some broadcasts of interest to folk fans are starting on Radio 3 at 9.45 this evening.

(And in case you miss the programmes, here's the link to hear them....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006x3hl/episodes/player)

Events Review and Events to Come

Our Miscellaneous Page has a new entry posted today (about an event featuring the Copper Family) - just take a look.for more details ....  

And, as our own SDFS event calendar moves from spring into summer - we thank all the hosts of the events at Petworth House, Firle Garden Show, Stanmer Village's Blossom Day in April, and most recently Oldland Mill and the Stork Festival in Storrington this month, for some lovely occasions and for inviting us to contribute.   

Now looking ahead to June - our performance at the Chichester Fringe festival, at 7pm on June 1st is fast approaching.  Tickets for this event are still available from the Fringe website  www.chichesterfringe.co.uk   - and also (if any are left!) at the door on the day.  

Thereafter we look forward to a variety of other dates and locations where we will be taking our songs this summer.  Please consult our Diary Dates Page for fuller details of where and when we'll be singing out - and not forgetting our local group sessions each month (addresses of where we meet are on our Welcome and New Singers pages).

Lots to choose from .....  Do come along - and we'll see you there!

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday May 1st 2025

Emily opened this month's session with more information about the "Stork Festival" (to be held in Storrington on May 5th) where some of us would be singing. She outlined suggestions for what we might sing there, for us to try in the session and help decide on the set list.  For the most familiar songs on her proposed list she again encouraged us to set aside lyric sheets and sing from our memories and hearts.

We launched with "On Sussex Hills" and "Country Life" before the new season was celebrated in the "May Day Carol", "Hal an Tow"  and  "Summer is a'Coming In Again".   We revisited "The Oak Song" with all the harmony parts - and agreed we were a little rusty on these so maybe not ready for singing it out on the 5th.   The " West Sussex Drinking Song" took us back to firmer ground before we paused for a break.  The second half opened with the " Stork Song", (written by Eileen S for the Stork Festival) which raised the roof with its tune and its message.  "Farmers Toast"  followed - after some debate about how long or short to make it, and opting to sing the version shortened by fewer choruses but including all the verses.  At his request Alan W suggested we sing the "Rambling Comber" with reminders and support from him to ensure inclusion of the silent beats, not held notes, in some lines.  "One For the Rook" and "Magpie"  brought us to "Thousands or More" and then a couple of requests to finish, "It Is the First of May" and "Searching for Lambs".

And so we concluded, with Emily's song set tried and evaluated for our sing out in Storrington the next Monday, and all the songs sung in the session enjoyed in good company.  We'll be back for more singing at the Barn on June 5th - with no doubt "Rosebuds in June" at the top of our next seasonal list!

 

Another Event of Interest to look out for .....

There's a new post on our "Miscellaneous Page" for an event in August - tickets are available now.....

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 17th 2025

The evening was set aside as rehearsal and timing exercise for the June Chichester Fringe appearance and seventeen members of the “cast” duly came along to what turned out to be a busy evening.
 
Songs tackled for the first half of the performance were:  Country Life, Sugar Wassail (including the last verse), On Sussex Hills, Bee Boys Song, followed by Amaryllis re Wassailing the bee hives  One for the Rook, When Spring Comes In, Searching for Lambs (with men and women taking different verses), Rambling Comber (a great attempt with two harmonies – although it was noted that the timing still needed careful attention in parts), Summer is a Coming In Again (Dave to sing the opening “So” to start the chorus), Hal and Tow (Dave on drum with a sharp finish).  Ladies Go Dancing, and to finish, Rosebuds in June.  
 
These, with interspersed narration by Steve W, a poem, Sompting Shearer’s Beer by Steve A and great traditional saying on Wassailing by Dave after Sugar Wassail, made up a good first half lasting approximately 43 minutes which is about the right length for the first half.
 
After a well-earned break, and a practice at beer drinking, the second half started with a lovely duet by Julia and Nichola – The Holly King and the Oak King.  Then proceeded following the planned narrative intro with the following songs:  Lammas Carol, Farmer’s Toast (our version) (with a repeat of the last line in the chorus at the end), Turmut Hoer, Dark December (lead by Dave with guitar accompaniment), Fields Lie Silent, Thousands or More and finally a rousing Golia to end.
 
All agreed, the programme seemed to work pretty well with the second half being approximately 30 minutes.   There was some discussion at the end of the evening about whether to encourage “audience participation” – possibly resolved by Alan deciding he would pick and choose which songs might best work for this possibility!
Anne S