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Anna and Kate McGarrigle at Chorley Festival late 70's

RIP Kate McGarrigle

Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle has died, aged 63, after losing her battle with cancer.
It was reported last week that Kate was "critically ill" after her son, the singer Rufus Wainwright, cancelled his Australian tour to be with her. Her doctor, Robert Tabah, confirmed the singer's death to the Guardian, saying: "Kate McGariggle passed away yesterday (Monday 18 January) as a result of sarcoma, a form of cancer that she was first diagnosed with three and a half years ago."
The late singer apparently passed away at her Montreal home, where she was surrounded by family and friends. Dr Tabah paid tribute to Kate, saying: "Kate was a remarkable and warm woman, who pursued everything in life with humour and grace." He said that, despite being "gravely ill", Kate played a three-and-a-half-hour show at the Royal Albert Hall last month. "I was amazed by her courage and stamina." Kate performed widely with her sister, Anna, for more than three decades, recording 10 albums. She was also well-known for being the matriarch of a musical family, the Wainwrights. She was the mother of singers Rufus and Martha Wainwright, and the ex-wife of Loudon Wainwright lll.

Wailin' Jennys new Album Live at the Mauch Chunk Opera House

Wailin' Jennys

Taken from a live concert performance at one of America's oldest vaudeville theatres, this beautifully produced album features many tracks that have not appeared on previous releases including their long sought after version of Jane Siberry's classic "Calling All Angels." The recording is also the first to feature newcomer Heather Masse who joins Nicky Mehta and Ruth Moody with her lush vocal harmonies and tasteful bass playing. Along with virtuoso instrumentalist Jeremy Penner on fiddle, Live at The Mauch Chunk Opera House captures the magic of The Wailin' Jennys' concert experience. Seek it out!

Folk Music Weekends Bollington, Cheshire Singarounds,
Acoustic Sessions, Dances and good company.

We hold two weekends each year at Savio House, Bollington, Cheshire. May and October. We entertain ourselves with songs , tunes (Traditional and otherwise) , dances (country, morris , sword dancing), storytelling, poetry, comedy sketches, good food and excellent company. We also offer workshops and training opportunities in guitar technique, vocal harmony, storytelling and more.
If you play music, sing or just want to be entertained this may be the weekend for you. Although the weekends have been held for 30 years we like to see new faces and newcomers will be made most welcome.
for details follow this link

There Will Be Rainbows: The Rufus Wainwright Story by Kirk Lake

Loudon Wainwright III
Kate and Anna McGarrigle

Although officially a biography of Rufus Wainwright, Kirk's book involves the whole of his family, telling their story from the 1960s New York coffee bar scene right up to the present. It includes his dad, Loudon, mum, Kate McGarrigle, aunt, Anna and sister Martha.
If only MTV, or it's equivalent in the 70's, had hosted 'Life with the Wainwrights'as a precursor to their later series with The Obournes then all five members may have had the popularity they deserve.

 

CYRIL TAWNEY - LIVE RECORDINGS NEEDED
(received from Rosemary Tawney)

Recordings of Cyril Tawney's concert and club appearances are needed for inclusion in his Archive, which will be held by the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance and Song Society in London, and I wonder if any of your readers can help. I have already received several very useful items, but there are still some gaps to be filled, particularly by the many traditional songs in his repertoire which were not recorded commercially.
I'm also keen to have examples of his more quirky items, for my own pleasure and for the Archive - here are some examples to jog memories:
Music-hall songs - Married on Pension Day, With Me Little Bit Of Hair On The Top etc.
Popular songs - She Wears Red Feathers (yes, the Guy Mitchell hit), also the Andrews Sisters songs Her Bathing Suit Never Got Wet and Three Little Sisters.
Most of all in this category I would love to have a recording of Baltimore Oriole, a beautiful, bluesy Hoagy Carmichael song which Cyril rarely sang in public. Here's a reminder of the opening lines:
'Baltimore Oriole, took one look at that mercury, forty below, no life for a lady, to be draggin' her feathers around in the snow'
We have no recordings of the themed presentations which he occasionally gave at Festivals and Arts Centres: "Tawney in Depth", "Hands to Dance and Skylark" and "Royal Navy Humour". Does anyone have these, please?
Even if the songs you have are covered elsewhere, Cyril's introductions were very much a part of his performances and the live sessions will help to complete the record of his career.
Thank you very much Rosemary Tawney www.cyriltawney.co.uk
Contact details: tawney3@tiscali.co.uk
Tel: 01392 426 055 Address: 10 Sivell Place, Heavitree, Exeter, EX2 5ET, UK.

Steve Goodman: Facing the Music by Clay Eals

Steve Goodman was diagnosed with a fatal disease at age 20, he managed to survive and thrive to write an anthem of his generation and become what many considered the most galvanizing entertainer of his time. What lessons did he learn and share with others while privately, then publicly, fending off leukemia for more than 15 years?

The answers lie in Clay Eals' "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." This is the comprehensive, untold story of a young man whose hilarious, touching and provocative music — "City of New Orleans," "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," "Banana Republics," "A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request" and many more stellar songs — uplifted millions from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and continues to do so today.

The book features fresh interviews with more than 1,050 sources, including Arlo Guthrie, John Prine, Steve Martin, Jimmy Buffett, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Randy Newman, Paul Anka, David Allan Coe, Judy Collins, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, John Sebastian, Leo Kottke, Gordon Lightfoot and Goodman's high-school classmate Hillary Rodham Clinton and is available from Amazon amongst others

Rock 'n' Reel

Rock’n’Reel has been completely redesigned in full colour with reader friendly layouts. The review section is divided into categories of styles allowing readers to locate their favourite music in a more satisfying and absorbing way.

Visit the web-site www.rock-n-reel.co.uk or by purchase nationally from WH Smiths, Virgin, HMV, Our Price, Borders and all good newsagents.

 

Folk in Blackburn

Seamus Heffernan is promoting monthly gigs at the local Community Centre at Mellor Brook (half-way between Blackburn and Preston) most of which are in a folk vein. For further details follow this link

Folk in Blackpool

Visting Blackpool?
The very best in Traditional and Contemporary Folk Music can be heard every Wednesday at:
The Clarence
Preston New Road
Blackpool
 For further details please contact Ann & Eddie on 01772 683027

 

Are you learning to play Guitar, Penny Whistle, Melodeon, Bodran or wanting to improve your singing as a soloist or as a group?. If you are then Folkus can help you.

For further details please contact the Folkus Office:
Tel:01253 872317.
Fax:01253 878382

 

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