Coastal View & Moor News Issue 17
Me, a guitar and some daft stuff
R
ecently we were treated
to an evening of songs, daft stories and monologues from the man once described as ‘The grandfather of alternative come- dy.’ After 15 years concentrating on writing and broad- casting, fell walk- ing and fly-fishing enthusiast, Mike
Harding is back on the road again. With more than forty years of mate- rial to draw on Mike took us on a journey with stories and songs that had the sell out audience at Mid- dlesbrough Theatre collapsing with laughter. We spoke to Mike after the show and asked him what made him go back on the road: “Last year a mate of mine who runs the Ingleton Folk Festival told me he was retiring and asked me if I would play there. “I enjoyed the gig so much and I thought, I’ll go and do some more. With the help of my mate Geoff, who did the organising, we did a little tour and enjoyed that so much decided to tour again in the winter. So here we are.”
Mike went on to say: “I’ve enjoyed every night of it and it’s great getting people to laugh and getting up there and doing it again.” Mike’s tour titled, ‘Me, a guitar and
What’s on at the Cutty Wren
every Thursday at The Duke William Skelton
Hi, all! We have Pete Morton on Nov 24. He’s a singer who respects the folk tradition and sensitively brings it into the modern era without losing its true beauty. We don’t see him up here much, so grab this chance to see him.
And a local lover of the tradition, Tony Curtis, has a Hot Spot on Dec 8. Apart from doing trad songs with integrity, he’s written some good ones in the same style himself so get along and hear.
Our Christmas Party is to be on Dec
22. It’s always a great occasion, so bring some food to share - and a fancy hat, John says! Our other Thursdays, Dec 1 and 15 will be basically “Singers and Musicians.” Anyone can come, and, more importantly, if you have a folk song or tune, bring that to perform if you wish. We usually have a lot of fun on these nights.
Advance notices: Our last night of the
some daft stuff’ is due to come to an end on November 26th, but if you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket (all shows were sell outs) you will be pleased to know he plans to tour again next spring.
The good news is that his current tour is being filmed for a 90-minute DVD which will be available in early December, just in time for Christmas. We wanted to know what makes Mike laugh and he said: “The late Tommy Cooper and Les Dawson, as well as the funny and witty Jeremy Hardy.
“But the thing that I really love is the TV programme, ‘Outnumbered’ that makes me laugh out loud.” Mike made us laugh out loud and long may he do so. Can’t wait for the spring tour!
For details of the new DVD, CDs and Mike’s books, check out his website
www.mikeharding.co.uk/
year, Dec 29, we’ve labelled “Survivor’s Night.” (It’s another “Singers and Musicians.”) We kick off the year with lovely old friend Marie Little on Jan 5, and have a Hot Spot with ‘Boro lad John Calvert on the19th. We’ve had some great nights this past month. Les Barker specialises in very funny, folk-inspired poetry, and frequently had a full room in fits of laughter. Not just for his surreal humour, but for his pointed observations on life, the universe... or forgetting what you’re doing “Halfway Up The Stairs,” for instance, which seemed to
strike a chord with a lot of us. But we still laughed! The Theme Night of “Black Diamonds” brought some good singers and good songs, as we’d expect, but so did Mark Allen’s Hot Spot on Oct 20th. Mark does powerful contemporary songs, and does them well. A good turn-out of other singers showed that! Too many good acts to mention all but it was good recently to hear two comparative newcomers, Felicity doing a poem on mining, and Margery Fortune singing “Along the Miners’ Rows.” Scottish singer Dave Gibb was consistently entertaining, whether doing Alan Hull, traditional or his own very good songs. His sharp eye for the ironies of life and his wry sense of humour only added to the fun. Pat and Ron Keedy’s Hot Spot was top class, as ever. They incorporated some of their less usual Gospel songs to fit into the theme we’d suggested as well, but their whole act was tuneful, fresh and fun. Quite a few other singers, especially “The New Prairie Home Companions, did some Gospel or, at least, American songs, and we had a very sing able night. Well, if you get along to the club at the “Duke William” in Skelton on Thursdays, 8pm for 8.30pm start, you can share the fun and the joy of good music too. So thanks to our organiser John, our hosts Geoff and Lal and all those who make it a great place to be. See you soon!
George F The Clarendon Hotel
2 High Street, Redcar, TS10 3DU Phone 01642 484301
Email
info@theclarry.co.uk
Christmas Eve – 3pm The One and Only
Adam Carter as ELVIS Free Entry
Celebrate the New Year with Us at The Clarendon Hotel Karaoke & Disco
See in the New Year with The Happy Cats
in Moorsholm Moorsholm Memorial Hall 31 December 2011 Tickets £20
Available online at
www.thehappycats.com
shop@thehappycats.com or 01287 660745 Ticket only
Book an En- Suite Room- Late Breakfast served New Years Day
TEA WITH SANTA One for the kids
Activities, tea party, story and present from Santa £6-50 per child
Recomended age 3 to 9 yrs
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