The Last Post (for this month)

I've had a mad month, what with the August Jam, a weeks holiday spent with the uke(and friends and family), and a visit from the Uke of Cornwall (aka Bruce Fisher). So after assuming this might be a quiet period blogwise, I've ended up posting a record number of times(for me).

So, to round off the month and put the Uke of Cornwall centre stage after he spent the August Jam in a corner with the Ju-ju stick here's a mellow uke blues in A7.

Summerhouse Blues

More Videos from the August Jam

August Jam III

More from the August Jam.

Foggy Mountain Breakdown


I think we need to practice a bit more, as both tracks sound better at 110% speed.
Foggy at 110%


Wreck of the Old '97


Wreck+10%

Rockin the Mandolin

Carl at the August jam rockin the mandolin.

Abbey Road - Stockton on Tees

First shots from the August Jam.
Carl, mandolin, bass, guitar
Mark, guitar, banjo
Andy, banjo
Bruce, lagerphone, camera

Cripple Creek

Jammin with the Uke of Cornwall

Getting together for a jam on Wednesday as the the Uke of Cornwall is coming oop north.

Suggested tunes please gentlemen?
Here's mine:

Wreck of the Old '97
Cripple Creek
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Cowboy Waltz
Boil 'em Cabbage Down (for the Uke of Cornwall)
Whiskey in the Jar
jesse james

It'll be great get snare drum and bass - I'll bring the Lagerphone!

Bad Shepherds

oh but when I get back these guys are playing at the Sage in October - lets go!

Takin a Break

Off on holidays with the banjo if I can fit it in the car with two kids and Mrs Banjo Boy! not too hopeful, but there'll be room for the uke.
Back in a week.

The Great North Strum

Mark(aka MC Clawhammer) writes:

So this is how it is. I`m rapidly reaching Forty, and there`s a couple of things I want to be able to say that i`ve achieved by that milestone. One is to have completed a half marathon, and another is to learn to play the banjo (there are others, but I wont bore you with Playing the Albert Hall, with the Pixies as my back up band).

As Wham might have put it, last Christmas (08), my wife presented me with a lovely Godman 5 String Banjo, and away I went. By mid January I was informed that if I didn`t stop playing a dodgy version of (and I quote) "Duelling F*$!*&g Banjo`s" that I would be acquiring a banjo shaped colonoscopy. But by then it was too late, I had heard Cripple Creek, Wildwood Flower, Wabash cannonball, Foggy Mountain Breakdown and so much more that I`d previously been aware had existed, but never really listened to. I wanted to get into that place. I told my wife that there were other ways I could be having a mid-life crisis, she said she`d take them!

Around this time, my weightwas also becoming a concern. So i started walking, which led to jogging,whichled to some weight going (it`s not lost, i know exactly where it is, it`s in the off licence and the fridge) which led to a 5K run in my hometown of Middlesbrough (So good they named it once). I clocked in just over thirty minutes, which I was pretty pleased with, and immediately set my sights on attempting the Great North Run. I was running for Butterwick Hospice. My Mother died of Brain cancer, which had spread from her bowel two years ago, so it`s a cause that`s close to my heart. All was going swimmingly, regular 8-10 mile jogs, interspersed with the odd 2-3 mile runs, when in May I felt something go pop in my knee. After seeking advice I was informed to rest it for a couple of months.

During this time a friend of mine was informed that he had late stage aggressive Lung Cancer. This man has in the past and continues to be an inspiration to me in so many ways, professionally, and personally. I wont bore you with how, but here`s an example of this guy. We were discussing in the office whether Jaffa Cakes were biscuits or cakes. People were mentioning tax duty,ingredients, but no definitive answer was forthcoming. When asked, your man just said "they`re cakes. Cakes go hard if you leave them out, biscuits go soft". Simple as that.

He knew that I`d been messing about with the banjo, and as he is getting a few things ready for when the train reaches the final station, he gave me a battered Windsor Whirle 5 String Junior, which he had bought a few years back meaning to restore. You can imagine what this beautiful instrument means to me. So I had it restored (Nigels guitar Workshop in Richmond North Yorkshire, amazing fella, with the best job in the world) and it sounds great.

So there I am, the knee`s not brilliant, but I reckon I can at least walk the Great North Run, but that`s not really good enough is it. I needed a way to be able to raise money for a couple of Hospices, and Cancer Research. I started training again, and whilst walking I had an epiphany. Carry that Banjo throughout the Great North Run!!!!! Play it at the start, stop(there`s only so often people can listen to the Ballad of Jesse James), and play it as I cross the finishing line! I laughed this off, but the idea stuck. It would be fitting to use the Windsor, and why stop at the great North Run? There`s countless places and events i could take part in with it. i mentioned it to the Wife, and a couple of people (Northern Banjo Boy being one, great blogsite incidentally), and was surprised to hear positive reactions.

So this is the start of it. I`m in the process of setting up an online sponsorship thing, so i`ll post that when I`ve got it up and running. Please feel free to send any suggestions, or comments about any aspects of the site, music, training, anything at all. Until the next time, keep smiling.

Mark.

Get along to http://thegreatnorthstrum.blogspot.com/ and give the guy your support.

New Strings!

After 18 months I finally got around to getting some new strings for my banjo. I've been playing with the ones that it came with and they'd got a bit like old rusty cables (literally), but the new ones are... well, fine and shiny and light and they sound great.

Spanish Fandango


Cripple Creek

Middlesbrough Calling

Deer Shed Festival

Deer Shed is a baby festival waiting to be born next year. It's the offspring of In The Dock, gigs hosted at The Old Courthouse, Thirsk, North Yorks. I've offered to join the gang and help out organising and delivering, and hopefully we can get something good going in rural North Yorkshire. God knows we need it! but as you can see from the photos the festival has two key things going for it; a fantastic site and Kate and Oliver from In The Dock who are busy building up a roster of musicians such as Boo Hewardine, the Groanbox Boys and others who may feature on the lineup.
If you want to see how things progress drop into the Deer Shed Blog and keep a couple of days free for 17th July 2010!

Ragtime Annie II

Had another bash at Ragtime Annie courtesy of Patrick Costello.

London Calling

Wes' message from New York via London got me messing around with London Calling.
It's an easy chord progression (Em/C intro, Em/C/G verse, Em/G/D chorus) and kinda suits the banjo in G.
Still trying to find the best way to play it (if any) and here's two - one picking and one strumming.

London Calling (pickin)


London Calling (strumming)


And here's the boys doing it properly

In The Dock Autumn Gigs

Kate and Oliver from In The Dock write:

Hi All
Hope you’re all enjoying the Summer. We’ve been busy booking 3 shows for the Autumn and we’re very excited to announce our first show on Saturday 10th October as J Tillman of the Fleet Foxes performing works from his new solo album. We’re honoured that he’s agreed to call into The Old Courthouse, Thirsk in between shows in Glasgow, Manchester and London.

Tickets can be bought from our website – www.inthedock.net, or reply to this email or call us.

The two other shows are equally as brilliant and worth noting in the diary:

Friday 6th November – Double bill of Chris Helme and The Lost Brothers

Friday 11th December – Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin

We hope to see you in the Autumn.

Kind regards

Kate & Oliver

New York Calling - via London!

Wes from New York writes:

Hi

I'm a TangierSound/Daily Frail fan from New York. I've always liked your videos and now I'm in London for a couple of weeks and thought I'd say hello.

I've been playing (or trying to play) for just a few months. It started by accident and has become an obsession. Back in May I emailed Dear Old Dad asking to interview him for an article I was writing. The next thing I knew he was putting a banjo (the S-5 prototype) in the mail to me and signing me up for the retreat that was coming up in Crisfield. After that I couldn't put the thing down.

All best, Wes

Rollin' in my Sweet Baby's Arms

More porch music gold from Lewdite.

Jerry Epstein and Ralph Bodington at Ryedale Folk Museum

I was working last night hosting Jerry Epstein and Ralph Bodington at Ryedale Folk Museum. The two guys are over from America touring the UK during July and August they sing and play American folk ballads and tunes unaccompanied or with banjo or squeeze box. They played to a full house and we had a very laid back evening and a great time.

Here's a couple of samples from the night(with permission).
I'm afraid the audio is poor but you can always pop over to Minstrel Records(click on their names) to hear samples from their CDs.

Ralph Bodington


Jerry Epstein