Daisybell Pulls It Off

It seems years ago that Shirley and I went along to The Harvester at Long Itchington, to Willow and Tool’s Music Parlour, where we were introduced to Daisybell. After their performance we found ourselves sat at the next table, and a conversation ensued that summarised as “How do we get you to come to The George?” This resulted in an exchange of email addresses and a commitment to sort a date.

While you're here, why not nip across to their Facebook page and give it a like https://www.facebook.com/Daisybellfolk/

Daisybell were busy over the summer with festivals, and with the Collective’s special nights making a feature set unsuitable, we crossed off the various first Friday’s until we were left with just one. October!

Now, while September’s Birthday Bash was the best one yet, it had a fly in its metaphorical ointment. Once more the future of live music a The George, Kilsby seemed under threat as, sadly, Prasath told me that he would be out of The George by the end of September, with no clue as to who would be taking over, or if the pub would even be open, as decorating was scheduled. It seemed highly likely that the October night not even take place.

Shirley was working on the Sunday, the week before, so, at lunchtime, Narla and I drove over to Kilsby to see if we could find out what was happening, only to find the doors locked and no indication as to when they might open again. Phone calls were attempted and messages left, and on the last Thursday of September the phone was answered by Charlotte who cautiously expressing some interest, recommended that I phone the next day when they were opening. To be sure, I went straight from work and called in. And so we were still on!

With the extended set from Daisybell to take place at 9pm, we started cautiously with a song each and then would fill in the time left afterwards, making a Daisybell sandwich. And so the evening began with Jason, who had come over from Napton. We haven't seen him here for such a long time, so to teach him a lesson he was given the dubious honour of opening for us. This he did, with Paul Simon’s 'Me and Julio, Down By The School Yard'. The enormity of the task only became apparent after our star turn had performed. 'Follow that' never seemed such a tall order. Still, bravely he stepped up as first on after the awesome Daisybell. First he sang Del Amitri's, 'Nothing Ever Happens', and then the much mocked and maligned but far more talented than they were given credit for at the time, Chas and Dave’s 'Ain’t No Pleasing You'.

For the last couple of months Roland had turned up on his own but tonight Ken was back and the full strength No Strings Attached a medley of 'When The Saints Go Marching In' and 'D’Ye Ken John Peel'. Later in the evening they gave us 'News of The Victory' and 'Kerfunken Jig'. They seemed to have benefited from Ken's rest as they played out of their skins.

OMC regular Nigel Lewis presented his own compositions. He started in the first part of the evening with, ‘Gotta Be A Reason’, His last two were a seasonally topical 'Autumn Fall' and I’m Not Sure Any More’ to finish.

Mike and John were ‘Leaving On A Jet Plane’, and I'm not sure when they'll be back again. Post Daisybell they sang The Seekers' classic from 1964, 'I Know I’ll Never Find Another You' and  John Denver's 'Country Road'.

John has passed the point of being considered 'new' and Shirley has got the measure of his vocals and guitar now, so he sounded really good as he gave us Bob Dylan’s ‘Señor’. We know he's a Leonard Cohen fan and we've heard him do ‘A Heart With No Companion’ a couple of times now. the David Bowie’s 'Sorrow', first released in 1965 by The McCoys. Thank goodness for Wikipedia.

MDF were without their usual vocals and percussion so I was stand-in. Still being new to the bass it was considered wise to stick to our standards, and so we did. The first being ‘Baton Rouge’, and after that, that song about a train, finishing with a rousing rendition of Wagon Wheel.

The highlight of the evening was a one hour set by the increasingly popular Daisybell as they offered up  mix of light, funny, tragic and magic.

When they began, with 'Locks and Bolts' they captured the room; and they held it as they delivered songs from their album, Foxes, including the haunting 'Miner’s Winter', my favourite protest song, 'This Wheel is Broken', and beautifully delivered covers like Yazoo's 'Only You'. They ended  their set with the highly  acclaimed Abba medley from this year's Warwick Folk Festival and we managed to squeeze another encore with 'Wot Cher! Knocked 'em the Old Kent Road.

To say they went down well is such an understatement. I suspect people members of the collective will be talking about this for years.

Bangers and Mash will be on the menu for November's Open Music Night.