Brexit might mean Brexit, but The Kilsby Open Music Collective Music Night means everybody is happy.

 Shirley and I arrived at The George nice and early as usual and went looking for Tara to let her know that we had arrived, only to find Paul behind the bar with no idea we were coming. The back room was cold, and he grumbled a bit about no one telling him about our Open Music Evening. Sorry Paul, my fault! Still, he was happy for us to rearrange the furniture, and he was complementary about what he heard over the evening. As we left he was a bit more enthusiastic, and asked if it was possible to have a poster for the new year. I'm on it Paul.


We got the sound and light equipment set up, and guitars tuned, in plenty of time. The Christmas tunes went on and we waited for the first arrivals. Although the room was a bit chilly, it was quite pleasant not to be bathed in sweat from the exertion of all the lifting and carrying.

While it has been an unsettled end to 2018, the quality of performances has continued to get better and better and Shirley has made her presence felt behind the sound desk, really making her mark on the evening. Throughout the year there have been a few new faces popping in to see us. Tonight, we were visited by Jon,

Proceedings were as usual and I ran a new song up the metaphorical flag pole to see how it went. It included some whistling, which is always a risky proposition. It doesn't have a title yet.


Ray was next up. Facebook tells me that Ray is quite busy at the moment, playing at lots of venues; and he's always well received. The practice is very apparent as his performances are always slickly delivered. His superbly cheerful seasonal ditty, by John Rudkin, 'I'm The Man Who Slits The Turkeys' Throats At Christmas', was so good he must have been practicing it since February. His second was a much more poignant number, and one he sang for us in November; 'Tommy'; the story of the unofficial Christmas Day truce during the First World War.  He carried on with his ridiculous to sublime in the second half with a medly of songs about holes. The first was in an elephants bottom, the second, in a Vietnam Veteran's arm.

 They say that first impressions last a lifetime, and if that's true, Jon has cemented his place at The George as an ace performer. His carefully crafted compositions were well delivered. In the first set he gave us 'The Girl In The Moon', followed by 'The Angels and The Astronaut'. In the second half a cynical seasonal evaluation, 'Christmas Is Coming' and then my favourite one, a very folky 'Keep A Look Out My Laddie'. I noticed that Mike Newhouse was trying to recruit him for FATO, so I look forward to hearing some more from him on Thursday at The Royal Oak, Crick. I bet he's got a love song or two tucked away somewhere for February.


Ian was in need of some teeth for Christmas, and so he sang about it. His second was a proper surprise and delight. 'Walking In The Air', yes that one, with a real swing. It is a shame we'll have to wait until next Christmas to hear it again. He was back on familiar ground with some Tom Waits in the second half, 'I hope that I don't Fall In Love With You' and 'Down Town Train' more familiar as a Rod Stewart cover.

Mike and John got very intimate, sharing the mic. There was no need, they could have had two each and there would have still been a spare. Their seasonal offering were 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer' and 'Christmas In Australia' and second half  'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas' and 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'.


Pete and Marion weren't quite so intimate, though Marion managed a very sultry 'Santa Baby', Pete sand Greg Lake's 'I Believe in Father Christmas'. There is something very satisfying in couples performing Fairytale of New York; perhaps it is in the natural invective. Pete and Marion delivered the appropriate amount of spleen venting and hand wringing that  the song deserved as their second half piece. They were ably supported by Mark on accordion for 'The Fairytale of new York'

Elastica, AKA Sandi and Tugrul, were next up. They were in festive form, begining with 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree', and then Eric Bogle's superb 'Santa Bloody Claws', with Tugrul playing guitar and kazoo to the tune of Jingle Bells. It was sung with feeling by Sandi. Their second half performance had enough Robins in it to make Batman blush, begining with a young Michael Jackson's 'Rockin' Robin' and 'When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin Along'.

It was great to welcome Mick Bisiker back. Sadly, he wasn't able to stop for the whole evening, and had left his guitar in the car expecting not to be able to play. No chance! We haven't seen him since he smashed the Night of Lurve, Love Song Competition at the begining of the year. Tonight he gave us Lindesfarne's 'Winter Song', and 'Lady Eleanor'. It was very reassuring to see that even performers as accomplished as Mick can sometimes find it difficult to start, even favourite songs. Once he was underway it was as good as we knew it was going to be.

Tracey was on her travels and Ross was eating curry, so tonight's lineup of MDF was Mark on accordion, Mike on rythmn guitar, John on banjo and me on bass and vocals, singing a Tracey song, Travelling Wilburys'  'Handle With Care', and Ross' song It's All Over Now, In the second half we did a rousing Wagon Wheel, and Mark's favourite (irony!) Fisherman's Blues.

The Christmas season continues in Nuneaton so it was great to welcome Dangerous Derrick, Tracy and The Mothership to The George again.  Another Cup Of Coffee, Mike And The Mechanics Dobie Gray's 'Drift Away' and something by George Ezra Aligator Hit The Road.

The Crap Raffle Prize, a second hand CD compilation of 100 Christmas songs; I think legends is overstating things a bit, was won, if that's the right word, by Pete Nash and the best Seasonal jumper was won by Ian.

2019 begins as always with our seasonal opening event, 'The Night of Lurve', love song competition.  Check back through the blog for the rules. It is a superb night for audience and participants alike, and takes place on the first Friday of February.

So as I wish you all a Christmas and New Year full of music and merriment, and look forward to singing and playing with you next year.