Thursday 31 December 2009

End of Year Jam

Got the boys together last night for a jam, played for three hours only got through four songs!

John Henry


Jesse James


Cripple Creek version1


Cripple Creek version 2


Cowboy Waltz

Monday 28 December 2009

Calling all Fiddlers

Stan writes:

Hey Andrew,

I'm not sure how I picked up on your blog. I too am a regular In the Dock attendee but the main purpose of this contact is something other. Recently I have teamed up playing guitar with a gentlemen banjo/mando player from the hill country near Stokesley and we're on the look out for another player to join our efforts, something like a fiddler, concertina or even whistle.
This sort of thing is new to us both, my friend has a history of playing for dancers, morris etc. whereas I've done mainly bass playing for blues and country bands. We're both of a certain age and are doing british and american folk tunes but not too sure for what purpose.
If you are acquainted with any players who may fit the bill above please refer them on to me. Someone has mentioned a players' night starting up in January at Bagby Airfield, maybe we'll go an long and see if we can find anyone interested.

Thanks for reading.

S

Thanks for dropping me a line. Fiddlers seem to be in short supply round here, wouldn't mind finding one myself! If anyone is interested contact Stan - stan.robinson@live.com

Good luck, maybe have a beer at the next In the Dock?

Andy

Sunday 27 December 2009

Steve Martin - The Crow



Got the Steve Martin album 'The Crow' for xmas and I was pleasantly surprised. Good stuff and only a couple of weak tracks on it!

Monday 21 December 2009

Bob Dylan 'Must be Santa'



Here's something from the other Bob!

Happy Christmas



It's just over a year since I started the blog and to celebrate Bob Dylon has sent me a xmas message - Merry Xmas! I think it's an outake from the album 'Christmas in the Hearth'. Thanks Bob.

We Wish You a Merry Xmas - Bob Dylon
We Wish You a Merry Xmas (mp3)

Merry Xmas to everyone who's dropped in over the last twelve months hope you have a good one, NBB.

The Union Messenger

PB Guttenburg writes:



Hi N.B.B.

This song was written after reading about an idea on "Tangier Sound"-the site run by Pat & Patrick Costello.The original lyrics are by "young Peter in Ireland" called "the Folk Message". I have rewritten them as a tribute to Woody Guthrie.

A Merry Yuletide to all your readers-oh yeah glad we "found" each other on line this year.

P.S. my Lagerphone is half covered in beer bottle tops- by the end of the hoiday season I intend it to be complete !!

Saturday 19 December 2009

Shady Grove ( A part )

Here's a my first OK(ish) attempt at the Shady Grove tab. The timings all wrong but the complicated hammer-on and pull-off patterns are tricky especially as they run across chord changes. But its interesting that the more you practice you start to find the hidden tricks in the tab which let the tune flow more easily. In this case it feels as if it's getting the timing and groove behind the 3rd string which is the key. Anyway it's still a bit shaky but I'm going to try and drop in the B part as well and see how it goes.

Thursday 17 December 2009

Banjo Boy

BANJO BOY

we like!

Shady Grove





Here's the guy from Zepp Music playing one of the umpteen versions of Shady Grove that he's done as a comparison for the various banjos he sells. He's tuned aEADE but the version which I've found tab for is in standard G tuning capoed at the second fret.
The tab is from the String Band website and there's loads of other tabs and mp3s for old-time banjo and fiddle tunes.

Wednesday 16 December 2009

In the Dock 2010

Kate writes;

Two great artists for 2010 at the Thirsk Courthouse
Buy tickets online at http://www.inthedock.net/


www.myspace.com/martinstephenson
Martin Stephenson - Feb 26th 2010
Leader/songwriter with the Daintees, Martin's musical education came from the cascading waterfall of Ray Manzerac's piano in the Doors, Jim Morrison & Patti Smith's stream of conciousness, John Cooper Clarke's machine gun poetry and the 'against the business angelhood' of Jonathan Richman.

Martin evolved into an unusual songwriter in the early 80's, writing idiosyncratic flavours way beyond his years. Making his name more as a strong performer and anti industry bard, relating more to outsiders and hobbyists than fame hungry networking lemmings.

King Croesote - April 16th 2010
Fife's finest, King Creosote, aka Kenny Anderson, is a man of many hats. Previously lead singer with the Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra, and head honcho of the Fence collective, he has created a unique and very Scottish alt folk scene helping the likes of James Yorkston and KT Tunstall along the way. His album 'Bombshell' was released to critical and commercial success and helped earn him an appearance on 'Later with Jools Holland'. His distinct, heartfelt songs manage to achieve the sense of being new whilst still feeling achingly familiar, leading one critic to call his lyrics. His new album "Flick The Vs" was released in April this year on the Domino label.

www.myspace.com/kingcreosote

Sunday 13 December 2009

Carrie Elkin and Danny Schmidt



This video doesn't fully do justice to Carrie Elkin's voice, which in the acoustics of the Old Courthouse was stunning. Although both Danny and Carrie were amplified she could pretty well blow the room away unaided with her soaring vocals. The pair where a great complement to each other, alternating songs throughout the evening and although Elkin's vocals took centre stage, Danny Schmidt's stronger playing gave us a great night out.

There's a couple of really great nights coming up in the New Year with King Creosote and Martin Stephenson. Can't wait. www.inthedock.net

Thursday 10 December 2009

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Danny Schmidt & Carrie Elkin

Here's a little taster of Danny Schmidt and Carrie Elkin who'll be playing In the Dock at the Old Courthouse in Thirsk on Friday night. If you fancy coming along, click on the poster in the sidebar and get yourself some tickets!

Monday 7 December 2009

2009 Round-Up part 2

Jesse James


Scottish Tune


Ragtime Annie


Worried Man Blues


Whiskey in the Jar

Saturday 5 December 2009

Cowboy Waltz (with lyrics)

Mark at Great North Strum has come up with some words for Carl's song Cowboy Waltz

Cowboy Waltz

Thursday 3 December 2009

End of Year Round up Part 1


It's getting towards the end of my first full year of blogging on NBB, so I thought I might do a round up of all the tunes I've learned this year. It's a good way to see how you've progressed. So part one is John Henry and Cripple Creek, mainly because these are the songs that I've started to sing. And even though my voice is sh*t it's a lot more fun when you do sign along - it's the whole point after all! And maybe next year I'll get a bit better.

John Henry


Cripple Creek