I have recently started a blog on which are posted a number of reviews which I have written for Mardles Magazine, and my general and specific musings therein on life the universe and forty two, a number lower than my actual years but twice my age in aspirational terms!
http://folkbluesnbeyond.blogster.com/
Edward Morgan plays bass in the Instep Ceilidh Band and has a cv and career in 'it' and photography. There is also a history and separate INstep homepage on his site, which is:
Here are some links to friendly music and dance oriented sites which will help you navigate a pleasurable time in Suffolk if you share our taste in traditional and roots music: In no particular order
Our friends at Peppery are champions for world music and promote events in Ipswich.
http://www.eastsuffolkmorris.org.uk
Bill is a musician and dances with East Suffolk Morris. On a good day, the premier East Anglian morris side, every day a vibrant and diverse club side with over thirty members.
East Anglian Traditional Music Trust is a member of the folk arts network. See above for contact details. The trust organises Suffolk Melodeon Day and other events connected with its objects which are well organised and keenly attended .
Our friends Steve and Mary Dickinson run the Everyman Folk Club in Saxmundham, which has an excellent reputation among performers and customers nationwide. Steve makes Wheatstone concertinas. The club is linked within this site.
is the website of Chris Harvey who builds instruments and jigdolls. He built my 'dancing Bill' doll.
http://www.streetlegalmusic.com/
Mike Green, local musical animatuer and bluegrass enthusiast used to run a band called street legal, now playing in duo with Dave Tricker, hosts wonderful musical evenings and an extremely professional website from this address
Suffolk Folk: Mardles folk magazine to which Bill contributes rather eccentric reviews from time to time and hopefully a bit more. The heart is willing... Something of a slow burner but Mardles is indispensible to local folkies. Beware the session list as it is inevitably out of date given the nature of the beast, I only hear about the best sessions after the event! Sheila enrolled us into Suffolk folk last year and I now contibute less as I find it difficult to play an active part in any organisation which will have me as a member.
http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/SproughtonFolk
Associated with Suffolk Folk, Mike and Jenny Everett promote regular ceilidh's and folk events in their home village of Sproughton. Excellent events and worthy of regular support.
Is the web page for Grapevine which is a monthly freesheet magazine covering all aspects of recreational musical entertainment within Suffolk.
http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk
The Musicians Union. Membership is strongly recommended for any musician with an income from music even though the discounts for part timers have been removed. (Bill used to be a local committee member before recent restructuring of MU to a National/Regional organisation).
http://www.backwaterrecords.com/
Backwater Records is a local record label run by Steve Mann for which Bill's daughter Holly has recorded and has released a CD and an EP .
Is the site for the travellers hostel at which we have stayed twice in Carcassonne. Janice Archery is a folk and dance enthusiast formerly from Southend and runs the hostel with her son. Highly recommended for a great break away, and a warm and enthusiastic welcome. Visit the site for more info and booking details. Cheap flights with Ryanair.
http://www.myspace.com/picturefest
Is a link to the 'myspace' page of John Routledge who has taken some fantastic pictures of us and lots of other musicians within his sphere of interest, aside from which he is a thoroughly great guy. Thanks John.
http://beehive.thisiskentandeastsussex.co.uk/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=3495
Now to Kent and environs: This is the web page for Travelling Folk who keep tradition alive in Kent at a pub near you every other Thursday, and have been doing so for about 30 years . Stalwarts of Broadstairs Folk Week and other Kentish happenings a great time is assured wherever you may meet them.
http://quality-solutions.co.uk/cham/chaml.htm
Chameleonic Morris Men is the brainchild of David Brewster, melodeon maestro and all round cultured gent who takes a motley crew of Morris Men abroad once or twice a year to broaden the men's experience and enlighten the world regarding English traditional culture, or should that be the other way around. I have been priveliged to share in these adventures since 1995. Unbeatable fun.
Colin Fulton who used to run the Guitar Shop in Ipswich, has sold me some of my favourite guitars now builds his own guitars to customers specification and still finds time to undertake repair and restoration of guitars to a very high standard. He is a diamond geezer to boot! 07913797193
David Yelverton, maker of acoustic and electric stringed instruments e-mail david.yelverton1@ntlworld.com tel 01394 213786. David repairs and sets up as well as building instruments and is an excellent fiddler
http://www.breakthepattern.org.uk
Is a website which I encouraged when a (junior) member of Suffolk Domestic Violence Forum and and which emerged long after I ceased to be involved. Take a look.
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