Folk at the Bull

▶️ Watch on 3Speak

Last week I was playing some tunes with @daniellemurray and Bob (no Hive yet) in Hitchin. We had the option of playing there again this week, but with the heat and the competition from the Wimbledon final that was called off. Instead we headed over to Stony Stratford near Milton Keynes where they have a folk music jam session.

I am not sure if I have been there before, but it is a nice looking little town. They have a pair of old inns called The Cock and The Bull. These may be the origin of the phrase 'cock and bull story' as this was a stop on a route north from London and travellers would tell the locals some fanciful tales. We were at The Bull Inn where people gathered with a wide assortment of instruments.

As with a lot of such sessions people take it in turns to play a tune and others can join in. It was obvious that they knew a lot of the same tunes and the standard of musicianship was very high. There was some lovely harmony singing plus we had some poems too. I joined in where I could, including on a rowdy version of Johnny B Goode.

I accompanied Danielle and Bob on some folk and jazz tunes. On my turn I played a couple of my own songs, so more people have heard my Ikea one now. For my last one I said it was a traditional song from the Midlands about welcoming in the summer months. It was actually Mister Blue Sky and seemed to go down well. They did seem open to other genres of music. Another guy played some Radiohead.

This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. This is music that many of us might not hear often, but the tunes are part of our traditions and ought to be kept alive. I did think that the average age was fairly high and we need some younger people to play too. I have seen some of them at various other folk events, so there is hope.

Rock on!

▶️ 3Speak