I am totally chuffed to be playing at The Leigh Folk Festival this summer. I went along last year to see my disgustingly talented friend Tim Graham play and had an absolute blast.
It is the biggest free folk festival in Britain; a super fun long weekend by the sea with music taking over the whole of the town.
I will be playing at 11.55am on Sunday 30th June and be joined by at least two other brilliant musicians and maybe more if i am lucky.
We had a lovely show last wednesday at the RHS Harvest Festival surrounded by some of the largest and most impressive fruit and veg I have ever seen.
To the left of me above is Caitlin my new accordion player, on the right is Basia and then Helen Babbs with a copy of her delighful book ‘My Garden, The City and Me‘ which I have read and love. Find out more about it here – http://helenbabbs.wordpress.com/book/
An old traditional tune I learnt from Rachael Dadd called ‘Two Sisters’ set to new words of my own.
Written about the Hawkwood nursery run by my friends at Organiclea.
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
Mulch, sow and then reap
There is a fine gent christened Ru Litherland
And he has green fingers on both of his hands
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me
With the vicar’s fine daughter he dreamed a bold dream
To grow food for his kinsmen as nature decreed.
By the edge the forest they spied a fair patch
And to grow fruit and veg there a plan they did hatch.
The men of the hour dreamed of buildings not plants
A development would far more there profits enhance.
Our forefathers fought for this fair forest land
So now against the law was the businessman’s plan.
After two years had past did the council relent
So now we’ll work the earth as our forefathers meant.
Now if you past by here you may hear a tune:
Mulch, sow and then reap
Now if you past by here you may hear a tune,
The melody is old and the words will be soon.
I’ll be good to the land and the land will be good to me
Last month I spent another day recording with the wonderful Dean Firth but this time I brought some friends along.
My favourite take of the day was this cover of ‘Golden Brown’ by The Stranglers which I have uploaded for your listening pleasure here – https://www.robingrey.com/mp3/goldenbrown.mp3
I am hoping to do much more live recording work like this. Capturing a live performance with an ensemble is such a different experience to over dubbing instruments in my little studio!
Christian Lewcock – Percussion and Backing Vocals
Iain Macleod – Banjo and Backing Vocals
Barbara Bartz – Violin
Dean Firth – Electric Bass
