If My Memory Serves Me Well .... Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick At The Tyneside Irish Centre

The Dynamic Duo

A couple of weeks back I came across an advert for Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick playing live in Newcastle. In fact it was at the Tyneside Irish Centre , a venue I've played at many times. The last time I saw these two play it was on major stages , so , as I say , the intimate setting sort of surprised me, but I know Martin Carthy has played La Rosa in Whitby before (He lives in Robin Hood's Bay).






Anyway I was lucky to chat with both of them and they were great to talk with . I said that I'd first encountered the pair on a John Peel session playing "Price Heathen" , which Martin acknowledged was an incredible song. I also said my favourite Dave Swarbrick moment was the live version of Fiddlestix on Fairport Live which I said I wouldn't  think they would play which raised a laugh. The fiddle playing is so fast I can't even think about it in my head , maybe that's just me being low.

Anyway I can still remember most of the songs played , which is unusual for any concert that I go to , you remember highlights , but seldom the order in which they were played. Also almost every song , with chat took ten minutes , amazing regimentation for such a laid back and brilliant concert.

Set 1:

• Sovay
• The Death of Queen Jane 
• (Forgot)
• Three jigs and reels
• My Son John (updated for Iraq and Afghanistan)
• John Barleycorn 

Set 2:

• The Royal Oak
• Brave Admiral Cole
• (Forgot)
• Three jigs and reels
• (Forgot)
• Byker Hill

 Encore:

• New South Wales

Dave Swarbrick told a great story about his time in New South Wales , and Martin said that Martha hald told him that leaving the stage and coming back for an encore was a waste of time.

But it was a brilliant night and I felt privileged to have been there.

Viva Los Abominable Showmen - Next Gig Tyneside Irish Centre - Thursday 19th May 2011

From Jim:

The Abominable Showmen are playing the Irish Centre on Thursday May 19th, and all the money will be donated to charity in memory of our friend and colleague Bruce Chaplin.

Let's get the place full and raise as much as we can.

If you want a ticket please let me know, we have them now and they are £4.

T shirts - £10
Ladies fitted shirt - £12
Kids - £7

Cheers
Jim

Toms Message:

The Abominable Showmen's Truly Tasteful "Las Vegas" Gig - 19th May

The Abominable Showmen shall be conducting their next gig on Thursday 19th May at the Irish Centre!
As usual it will be a half seven kick off and the theme this time is "Las Vegas".

Tickets will be £4 quid each and T-shirts will be available, cost depending on quantity ordered. (T-shirt design yet to be finalised. I shall post it when I get it).

All proceeds will be donated to charities in memory of their much missed colleague Bruce who was unfortunately killed in a traffic accident last October.
The now traditional Showmen event is always a cracking bash and they simply get better with every show.
The last one was a stormer and this one will be no exception.

So if you're up for it, get in touch with me and I'll sort out any ticket and/or t-shirt reservations for you.
Spread the word to owt as may fancy, not forgetting those who've departed and may want to keep in touch.

Final Message From Jim:

All

Just to let you know that we raised £700 from our gig at the Irish Centre.

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets, gave donations, bought shirts and helped to make this amount, especially Capgemini for paying for the practices and room hire.

We have decided to split the money between the Lake District Mountain Search and Rescue and The Intensive Care Unit, all money will of course be donated in memory of Bruce.

See you all again in November for our Disco themed gig......

The Abominable Showmen

The Good, The Bad, and The Abominable Showmen - Tyneside Irish Centre - Thursday 4th November 2010 - The Result

All

Just to let you know that we raised £530 for LIVErNORTH in memory of Karen Gault.

I will be sending the cheque soon.

Thanks again to everyone who helped making this possible.

See you all again in May for the next one which will be for Bruce.

Cheers

Jim Stevenson

Strategic Systems Solutions
Newcastle Office

The Good, The Bad, and The Abominable Showmen - Next Gig Tyneside Irish Centre - Thursday 4th November 2010

From Jim

All

The next Abominable Showmen gig will take place on Thursday 4^th November at The Tyneside Irish Centre, and will have a Country / Western / Cowboy theme to it

Tickets will be £4 and T-shirts will also be available, design to be confirmed but Chris will come up with something special as usual.

Let me know if you would like to come along.

Cheers

The Abominable Showmen

Jim Stevenson

Strategic Systems Solutions

Newcastle Office

From Tom:

The Abominable Showmen boldly ride once more! Thursday 4th November.

Even a goldarned fool plumb knows you should never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a Showman from any direction. So you'd best lock up your cattle, silverware and womenfolk cuz the rootinest, tootinest, shootinest hombres west, east, north and south of the Pennines will  be thundering into town imminently.

Yes indeed, those desperadoes of notoriously abominable disposition shall be inflicting their scandalously intemperate musical ways upon the good folk attending an otherwise respectable soirée at the Tyneside Irish Saloon on Thursday 16th September, the Year of our Lord 2010. The God fearing and temperate few amongst you should consider themselves forewarned, for I believe the Showmen intend to exercise what they regard as their irrefutable Constitutional right to arm bears.

As you may have calculated by now, they will allegedly be performing both kinds of music. Country AND Western.
Leastways they appear to be professing a 'Cowboy' theme or some such and they have further remarked that all funds herewith obtained shall be devoted to worthy causes. Bar those intentions I currently claim sweet ignorance.

They proclaim that admission shall be  £4.00

For those wishing to garb themselves appropriately the latest Paris fashions will be available, as soon as the Showman Dog & Pony Express delivers my Sears catalogue. Should you possess a spirit of enquiry or a perhaps even penchant for partaking in this event, feel free to direct your attentions to me.

Y'all take care now.
And remember, if'n you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'. (A lesson some of my foremen have yet to comprehend).
Spread the word.

     Black Tom.  (2nd floor back at the SLH branch of the old PPA mine).