Don’t forget to promote your events on MARDLES.ORG and we’ll share events on Facebook as we see them.
Did you know there are over 300 known versions of ‘While Shepherds Watched’ out there?! In days gone by, the words of this carol (among many others) were put to existing folk tunes, often with different villages or regions becoming associated with a particular version.
There is so much fascinating lore and history surrounding both the carols that are still known today and, even more so, amongst many of the much older, largely forgotten, ones. Those that most of us older generations are still familiar with from our own childhoods tend to be Victorian, stemming very much from within the Church, and tell the religious story of the birth and nativity of Christ.
Outside of this, is a huge wealth of ancient carols, much more ‘folky’ in genre – describing winter scenes, and the coming together to feast, drink and make merry at the dark time of the year when company and good cheer was the heart and soul of rural life. These songs would have been sung around the village streets and farmsteads, connecting neighbour to neighbour. They would have been sung in cottage and in pub, around a fire, or by candle-light.
There is a strong tradition of folk carol singing still alive and well today, particularly in Northern England. Certain Sheffield pubs, for example, are renowned for the lusty, hearty singing of these old tunes, often in glorious harmony.
So it’s something of this passion, and joy, and earthy celebration that we would love to create together at this one-day singing workshop. We are attempting to promote and revive old and forgotten Christmas carols in Norfolk.
When: Saturday 30th November, 10.30am-4pm
Where: Weybourne village hall (near Sheringham)
Cost: £35
Contact: natasha@natashahood.com to book or for further info
Natasha Hood
Life Celebrant, Author, Community Singing Leader
http://www.natashahood.com
Tel: 07825 603 998
Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival 2025
January 10th-12th
Brian Kell writes:
Our event starts with school presentations by Storytellers MARION LEEPER, primary junior schools, Thursday and Friday and SUE SQUIRE Sir Harry Smith Community College Friday. These are not public presentations however you can catch SUE in Queen Street Methodist United Reformed Church on Saturday afternoon. The sessions are at
12-00, 13-00 and 14-00.
The public part of our event kicks off with a CEILIDH in the Indoor Bowles Club, Station Road, 8 till 11 pm tickets £12. WHITE BRYONY will provide the music, OLLIE SIMONS will call the figures, and a smattering of local singers will complement the evening, sealing this come dance and sing event.
SATURDAY 11th starts at around 10-30 when The Bear with entourage of musicians, banner and dance teams will tour the town until around 15-30 when there will be a grand finale on the marketplace. It has always been part of the objective of the event, since 1980, to illustrate the various diverse dance traditions from the UK. This year will be no exceptions with old and new friends displaying their traditional dance styles in our town. The memorabilia stall will be on the marketplace to allow you to purchase your own little memento of 2025.
The straw will be burnt at DECOY LAKES, Drybread Road around mid-day on SUNDAY 12th. This ends our organised events for ’25 but there will be a Plough Service at 15-00 in St Marys Church.
There are other events happening around town this weekend both organised (not by the Strawbearers) and ad hoc music/sing arounds. We wish you a safe, enjoyable, Straw Bear in 2025 and good luck for the rest of the year.
For further information go to https://Strawbear.org.uk.
New Monthly Session in Norwich
Hi everyone, The main purpose of this email is to alert you to a great new TATS development – the new Pub Acoustic Tune Session at the Gibraltar Garden Pub, Norwich, starting Sunday JANUARY 19th 2025- 18.00 – 20.00. It will be held on the third Sunday of each month thereafter. This session intends to help folk gain confidence and experience at playing music session style and preferably by ear. “The shallow end rather than straight in at the deep end”. It should also be fun, friendly and a means to extending your session tune repertoire.
There is plenty of free parking on site and we suggest you get there 30 minutes earlier to buy a drink, set up your instrument etc. We have been allocated a large, private, rear dining room overlooking the river. The organiser of this TATS activity is Hazel Douglass, who should be congratulated on securing one of the most attractive pubs in Norwich for us. Please see attached poster. Please publicise to your musical friends. All welcome. For more details, email Val: val.leggett229@gmail.com
Filby’s Folk Radio Show and Unicorn Folk
Carl Filby, member of Unicorn Folk, also present a Radio Show – Filby’s Folk – on Royston Radio at 6pm on Sundays with a repeat on Tuesdays at 1pm. Click on the image below to take you to Filby’s Folk podcasts or listen live via Royston Radio.
East Suffolk Community Folk Orchestra
A new venture organised by Jo Poole after a very successful Community Folk Orchestra Workshop Day in December 2023 supported by Mardles is due to have its second meeting on Saturday 24th February at Bungay Community Centre. Meetings will be once a month and is gathering momentum!
The East Suffolk Community Folk Orchestra is open to any instrument, and to both experienced and less experienced players. Initially it will be just for adults, but once the community folk orchestra is confidently established younger players will be welcome to join.
The New Community Centre is situated on Old Grammar Lane, Bungay, between the medical centre and the fire station, adjacent to the playing field and skate park.
If you would like to join, or find out more, please contact: jopoole@protonmail.com / 07814 110784.
New pub session – Wheatsheaf, Gamlingay, Cambs SG19 3JJ – 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 7.30pm
Rod Ward of Rod Ward Violins is setting up a new pub session with English and Scottish music in Gamlingay, at the Wheatsheaf pub, SG19 3JJ. The first one is Thursday 22nd June , 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm. Nice friendly local pub.
The venue is about 20 minutes West of Cambridge. Rod would like to include some singing, and step dancing.
1st Thursday of the month session
A new folk night session has been set up by Chris Holderness and Friends in Norwich.
For those who would like to come along but aren’t sure where the Belle Vue is, it’s 46 St Philips Road, Norwich NR2 3BL between Dereham Road and Earlham Road on the corner of Stafford Street and St Philips Road.
One Sunday a month – Stepdancing in