Acoustic Club Upstairs at the Comrades Club Probus

27/06/2024

Looking forward to doing a couple of sets tomorrow ( Friday 28th) as a Members Showcase - Tim Joyce at Bodmin Folk Club.

Will be joined for a few songs by the River Blue Music band who will help me introduce a few contemporary tunes penned by the band.

Hoping for lots of friendly faces and voices to help me carry the choruses.
Mayhem starts at 8.
St petrocs Bodmin

22/06/2024

It’s that time of the Month!
Acoustic Sing Around at the Comrades.
Monday 24th June
Start 7.15

We have a special surprise host this month!
Also at least one other special guest.

Come and strum, pluck, blow, bash , recite or simply enjoy a drink and watch.
Hope to see you there!

04/03/2024

River Blue Music sing for the RNLI and the heroes of Penlee

Oh How It Blew is a River Blue song which is written using words from Ed Fletcher's poem called Penlee

25/02/2024

Open for Mayhem at the Comrades Probus as usual this Monday 26th.

See you there about 7.15

25/01/2024

See you all Monday 29th.
7.30 ish.

Acoustic sing around and spoken word.

Hosted by Vernon.

10/01/2024

The first of two sing arounds at the Comrades this month saw a friendly crew brave the cold to share songs and poems, watched by a growing and appreciative audience.
Beatnik Skiffle ( Frank Bingam and Gill ) wowed us with a growing repertoire of songs and a neat single string bass ( see video). They started and finished the night with style and energy.
Steve Schroff played us some of his own tunes on his lovely 12 string.
The talented Lorraine Rooke gave us some seasonal songs...always something new with Lorraine.
Dave Cobbet gave us a mix of Australian and his own songs. Always a great mix.
Griff gave us a mix of Irish cautionary tales, including one the involv ed a scimitar and a stone in a sock!
Sarah Nield added to the strong female presence with her wonderful set.
We were delighted to have Diane Johnson visit again. Her softly presented songs displayed her song writing ability, her mesmeric voice and clever guitar playing. worth remembering she has the pedigree of the original folk sessions in West Cornwall in her folk DNA.
Vernon gave us some impromptu poetry and some songs of the sea which invited rousing harmonies from the room.
Sid ( River Blue Music) flew solo tonight with some exquisite songs we have grow accustomed to. Again the whole room joined him with Cousin Jack.
Doug Aslop is becoming a regular which is fab. He always wows with his versions of traditional folk tunes and classics.
Tim Joyce got to do a few this month and was the host.

The next session is MONDAY 29th January. Vernon will be our host.

Thanks Bryan ( sorry we ran a little over time!) and the Probus Comrades Club for the lovely space and hospitality.

09/01/2024

This little ditty was written as Vernon waited for the Acoustic sing around to start.
Gill ( purple gloves fame) has never been in a poem before!

PEOPLE
I came along last month to hear the music and the song
Of so many music men and women in the warm.
I was sat here at the table making changes to my plans:
Shall I do a sea shanty or see how my poem scans?
Or perhaps I’ll have another beer,
Chat to Bryan in the bar?
I’ll only be downstairs, I won’t be very far.
But no.
I’ll just check through the rhyme I thought would be alright
To bring a smile and a laugh, just to brighten up the night.
And as I sat there tapping on my keyboard in the gloom
I sensed someone was watching me from somewhere in the room.
And as I looked around, there was Larry with maracas,
The lady in the rainbow gloves, playing skiffle, going crackers,
And just behind me at the table, as I penned another rhyme,
Was Ally with her rhythm sticks, banging out in time!

09/01/2024

A little impromptu poem written by Vernon , our resident ditty writer.
He sings a mean shanty too.

HOW HE GOT HIS NAME

This girl had a donkey with wobbly hooves
Riding through the night, there was snow on the roofs.
Her old man was leading and carrying a pack
And the old donkey stumbled with such a load on his back.
They wanted to rest and had stopped at a pub
Just wanting a bed and a little bit of grub,
But the landlord was fearsome,
" No sandwiches here!
We only serve wine and some vinegar beer!"
And so they trudged on and found a stall in a barn
Just off the Roseland Road, at the back of the farm.

The lady slumped down and she started to moan.
"Can you clear these bloody sheep out. Just give me some room."

The shepherds were shouting,
"There’s someone outside
Let’s have a good look. Throw the door open wide".

"Oh No!" said the maid, "You’re causing a draft".
And with that the old man just started to laugh.

"Can you be a bit quiet? There’s more noise on the roof
And I’m trying to get a stone from the old donkey’s hoof."

So the quiet night was ruined, there was a terrible din
And just then three kings and an angel came stumbling in.

"We’ve been down the pub.... we’ve had quite a few...
Saw there was a party.. so came to join you!"

"Can you all just shut up! I’m having a baby.
Don’t want no fuss!
Oh God,
Christ that hurt,
Jesus!!"
And that’s how he got his name.

08/01/2024

Lovely first session for 2024

08/01/2024

Happy New Year to all the lovely musicians and audience at the first sing around of the year.
I’ll post some more tomorrow but I’m buzzing at home remembering some amazing performances.

02/01/2024

There will be Two Sing Around Mondays to brighten gloomy January.
Monday 8th
Monday 29th

Starting 7.30. ( get there early to get a seat!)
Finishing 10.30.

Bring a song or two, a poem a story or just watch and enjoy.
We encourage all abilities and many of our regulars did their first public performance here.

Make yourself known and join a friendly circle.

21/09/2023

It’s that time of the month!
When : Monday 25th September.
Where: Comrades Club Probus
Why?: Musical mayhem and Spoken Word. Musical sing around

Start at 7.30

See you there

10/06/2023

Just to say we are still here! Thought I would share a quality video of the great John Connelly, writer of that great folk song Fiddlers Green, singing Fiddlers Green in The Festival Hall Market Rasen, with added bonus of Alison’s left foot!
Hope all is well with you guys

01/06/2023

Who is up for an acoustic session ( with Pa ) at the Hawkins Arms in the garden?
Friday 30th June
6.30 - 8.30

Part of an Acoustic Weekend festival.
Free drinks and cuddles!
Message me.

30/05/2023

Thank you Vernon for hosting another stellar evening of good craic, music, poetry and banter.
Sid ( RiverBlue) played a few newer originals as well as some favourites accompanied by Paul and Tim. Love the new Cornish protest song.
Les and Stan ( Stan.Les) played solo or together with usual lovely harmonies and great guitar picking.
founder member Nick was on his own tonight as the other half of the Neverlies enjoyed just listening. Hilarious song about life on the Fens and other favourites.
Vernon gave us acapela songs of the sea and poetry about feral killer cats. He also kept order and was a congenial host.
Robyn went all folky tonight with great skill. How many songs does that man know?
Lorraine was on brilliant form both vocally and a capela with some songs we don't often hear.
Steve Schroff played some of his own songs as well as some favourites, his 12 string and his lovely voice filling the room.
Frank was simply brilliant. He finger plucked his little parlour guitar with blues songs from the depression, inviting everyone to join in with some rousing chorus.
Tim even got to play a few of the songs he used to play with Ian and nearly remembered the words.
Richard joined us late but with enough time to play harmonica on a few rousing jammed blues at the end of the evening.
Thank you Graham ( drums 4 fun) who provided house percussion all evening!
A small and loyal audience enjoyed the evening and the £1 a pint left overs from the very successful beer festival.
Lets do it all again next month when Frank will be our host for the evening.

25/05/2023

Acoustic Club Upstairs at the Comrades Club Probus proudly sponsors the Probus Comrades Club beer festival with thanks to the hospitality shown over the past 7 years.

18/05/2023

24/04/2023

Bit of a sing song tonight!
Thanks to the 18 lovely musicians.

24/04/2023

Another magic night of musical mayhem at the Acoustic Club Upstairs at the Comrades Club Probus.
Thanks to the 18 lovely musicians and the audience.
Thanks to the Probus Comrades Club for the room and Brian on the bar for his friendly service.

28/03/2023

Thanks Nick Hibbett for hosting another fantastic evening of song and spoken word at the Acoustic Club Upstairs at the Comrades Club Probus last night.
Nick and Martin (The Neverley's) started proceedings in fine voice and we managed to get round the circle of seventeen musicians and poets 3 times before a rousing last song led by Sid and harmonica Richie.
We even had a virtual visit from Ian Tumilty (courtesy Richard's iPhone) so I guess we nearly had 18 musicians!
We have a growing and loyal, respectful audience returning to enjoy the mayhem.and every week brings some new faces. This week Dave and Robin entertained us.
same again next month when your host will be Steve Shroff.

01/02/2023

Starting again!

Open mic night at the Dolphin Inn🎤🎸
Wednesday 8th February, 8pm start!

30/01/2023

A bit of America from the talented Sid

30/01/2023

Another fab night at the Comrades.
After raising a toast to absent friends……
Martin started proceedings.
Poetry from Richard and Vernon.
Robyn on form.
Ed Fletcher played some lovely blues and Jazz.
Sid - America ( excellent) and two River Blue songs plus H***y Tonk Women jam with Harmonica Richard.
Frank superb Americana.
Steve Shroff in fine voice.
Lorraine - A Capella and guitar songs in fine voice.
Sarah Nield gets better and better.
Les showed us how to pick and played some self penned songs.
A small audience but highly appreciative.
Thanks Bryan for the bar and the Comrades for the lovely space.
Well let’s do it again next month.

30/01/2023

Two pipes Pete can’t make it ( busy up Lincoln way in green tights).

However he hope you can come and bring a kazoo or two.

Hope to see lots of faces for our monthly sing around.

Spoken word very welcome.
Start 7.30

It’s the last Monday of the month.
Monday 30th. January
Start 7.30.
Acoustic sing around and spoken word.
Upstairs at the Comrades Club, Probus.
See you there!