BBC, Buskers and Bats....

That was short and sweet :)
The BBC radio interview, I mean....
Nick Coffer, our host, played 'The Goodwife And The Collier', we chatted about Folk Music and what it is...or isn't...talked a bit about forthcoming gigs and our musical backgrounds, and apparantly lots of you out there heard us. Thanks so much for tuning in!

(And I was brave enough to find it on iPlayer the following day and listen to it. We were pretty good!)

Today Steve and I have been busy:
watching the 4 YouTube 'Live At Home' pieces that have now been uploaded, and making sure people can find the blog and the website (by the way, they're pretty good...)
sorting out the set list for Buskers Supper Club tomorrow evening (sold out days ago...)
looking ahead to next week's StonyLive gig on 6th June (advertised on 3 Counties - thanks Nick...)
and further ahead to Wimborne Minster Folk Festival on 8th June (8, or maybe 9 songs...?)
and finally getting round to rehearsing!
It's all sounding better and better and better....


Did I mention I'm feeding a friend's rescue hedgehog this week?  They can go on holiday any time. It's one job I'm delighted to do - cute things, hedgehogs. Her garden is surrounded by tall trees, and the cherry on the top tonight was not only a snuffling hog feeding by my feet, but 2 bats zipping about. Not sure what they're feeding on at the moment though, as it's so cold and there haven't been many insects flying today....

Anyway,  you, dear reader, have probably had a busy day, too.
Thank you for stopping by - tomorrow there'll be more lyrics from 'Under A Big Orange Moon'...

The hat-trick.....

....or is it a hat-trick+1?
I'm going to be on the radio again!

It's always a bit disheartening to be rejected  - I'd offered my services when a request went out for StonyLive! artistes to appear on an outside broadcast in Stony Stratford today.
However, the 'no thanks' was followed immediately by a 'However, I listened to your music and think you'd be suitable for being on the Afternoon Show....'!

And so I followed Dani (from the BBC)'s suggestion and contacted another radio person with our details, and ...... it was that simple!

So, for Friends, Family and Fans:

Michèle Welborn and Steven McDaniel   
will be on BBC 3Counties Radio from 12.30pm on Tuesday 28th May. Put it in your diaries!

Thanks for calling by to read my blog...

Raising roofs in Stony Stratford....

It's been a busy time! 

There have been 3 excellent gigs.
The Great Knight Folk Club in Northampton on 2nd of April was a delight to play - thank you for having us.
The fund-raiser on 26th April for Stony Stratford RPGroup raised the roof as well as funds, and we played to a house which was bursting at the seams.
Finally, the House Concert on 10th May - what a brilliant night! Everyone crammed in and joined in, and it was a truly beautiful experience. I LOVE working in intimate spaces....! 
(Thanks Phil Underwood for sharing the evening with us and playing a great opening set, and then joining us for the last 5 numbers....) 

We've also recorded and filmed a rehearsal session (thanks, Ian) and will shortly be posting it to add  to our web presence.

And what's next?
Well, we're now looking forward to this Friday, 17th May (tickets are already selling well for 'StonyFolk' at York House in Stony Stratford), and to Buskers Supper Club on Friday, 31st May....


But very best of all.......the album is FINISHED....yessssssss.......!!!!

The GoodWife And The Collier 

(MW: vocals, Steve McDaniel: keys,  Ian Entwistle: Fiddle,  Paul Martin: guitar,  Steve Jones: bass)

They arranged for a simple wedding, under a hot autumn sun,

In her arms she carried red roses, in his he'd soon carry a gun.

She said she was glad to be married, as she knew of a Collier's life - 

Then with the ring on her finger he told her he'd made her a Soldier's wife.

When later they lay together beneath a big orange moon,

She spoke of their child and the Collier wept, said: 'Love, I'll be back soon.'

He gathered her up in his strong arms (they were blue-scarred from the seams),

They were lost in their loving this man and his wife, and found again in their dreams.

When his papers came the Goodwife sighed, and went to kiss her good man,

And helped him into his great winter coat, said: Come back to us when you can.'

And like all Goodwives she waited, then she bore them a child in May,

And she sang of the dove and the rainbow who'd return to their home one day.

 

When later that year he was buried to a single salute from a gun,

In her arms she carried red roses, but he never did hold their son.

They'd arranged for a simple wedding before they knew he'd be gone - 

In her arms she carried red roses but he never did hold their son....

No, he never did hold their son.

(MW)