Hi, Woody, here again. I really am sorry if you weren’t able to be with us tonight you missed a tremendous evening. You really did! Chris Irving was our stunt host in the absence of Bryn who was elsewhere. And a splendid job he made of it.

Proceedings were kicked off with a superb support slot of seven songs by club stalwart Dick Woodhouse. His first offering, Tom Lewis’s Marching Inland put us on the right track in more ways than one, the audience joining in the choruses from the get go. I had not heard Dick play the Jack Armstrong tune The Rothbury Hills before, but it was worth the wait. Popularly played by Karine Polwart on Northumbrian pipes, Dick’s version was equally haunting. It wouldn’t be a Dick Woodhouse set without at least one Jake Thackray song and we were not to be disappointed. Lah Di Dah; Leopold Alcocks; and The Lodger, (the last of which is to quote Jake, “dirty”) brought about much laughter. The Christmas Thought was written by Benny Graham at the request of the head teacher at a local school for a song competition which won the school a £2000 prize. A new song for Dick, I think. His penultimate song – The Lodger being the last - was another humorous song from the late Peter Skellern, with additional words from Sir Richard Stilgoe, although which words they were is not clear. Dick confessed to me afterwards – in strictest confidence of course – that he had been somewhat nervous throughout. It didn’t show Dick. Thank you very much.

This was The Jigantics sixth visit to the club, the last being about this time last year and they were warmly welcomed back. The line-up, after a few changes has remained the same since I last saw them in 2019. All very accomplished musicians, who seem to enjoy being together and entertaining their audience.

They are Mark “King” Cole – multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire – melodeon; blues harp; mandolin; electric guitar; Martin Fitzgibbon – drums (a full kit of real ones which we don’t see that often in folk clubs) and on one number bass guitar which, being left-handed, he turned over and played the wrong way round. Clever trick that. Keith Thompson – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, plus a second electric guitar on which played some glorious slide; He also manoeuvred his way around a grand array of effects pedals. And last but far from least Sarah Kelly who played a fantastic collection of ukuleles including a Dobro style uke and a bass uke. The main vocals were shared between Mark and Keith, but Sarah and Martin took their fair share, while they all sang harmony vocals where necessary.

Their repertoire was varied; from Cajun to folk-rock and a little blues as well. Some songs were self-penned, while others were their own interpretation of those by other established songwriters. Everything was performed superbly and held together by a lovely sense of humour and as I said earlier a sense that they all enjoyed being together. The Woodman audience rarely shy when it comes to singing along were in good voice especially when they were encouraged to do so by the band, and often when they weren’t.

The set began with their version of Rockin’ Sidney’s My Toot Toot, a bit of Zydeco, I think. The up-tempo John Hiatt song Gone Away was followed by Johnny Coppin’s The Bisley Boy – but this wasn’t before Sarah had gone into some detail about a song, she was not due to sing until set two. (Someone couldn’t see the crib sheet on the floor, I think). Keith sang his own song All Rise Up before they sang a beautiful version of Mike Silver’s A Matter Of Pride. “Do you know Mike Silver?” we were asked. Practically lives here should have been the response. Keith kicked off the bluesy man of Constant Sorrow with a magnificent Spanish Flamenco style introduction which gave us not clue whatsoever what was to come. The World Is ( hesitate for half a beat) Flat which really got us going preceded Loudon Wainwright’s Swimming Song and the final song for the first set The Band’s The Weight. Another audience chorus song.

After the break was the raffle. You know this of course but I only mention it because I won a Chris Rea hits cd. I would have preferred The Jigantics cd but beggars etc…

The second half kicked off with the all-electric Forgotten Coast – I was tempted to shout “Judas” but resisted as it was so good. More audience participation for Hold On and then Sarah’s self-penned song Lags Away and more joining in. this was the song she explained to us in the first half. If you want to know more about this country’s only revolution Google Warren James and the Forest Of Dean. Falling it was said is the band’s only love song which I thought had some very Dire Straits guitar sounds – more from Keith’s pedals. Martin stepped out from behand the drums to sing a lovely version of Dougie McClean’s Ready For The Storm before he sat at the front of the stage to play an African drum called an Ibo or an Ebo, which had until that point been posing as a stand for a Santa Claus hat. Who knew? The song Sorry was absolutely soulful. Hole In The Head was intended to be the final song but of course the audience clamoured for more and got it, a new song entitled Take It With You.

I know we will have to wait for next year’s cold weather before we see The Jigantics again, but if tonight is anything to go by it will be worth the wait.

So, here’s me, Woody, signing off for this time. And as usual;

A wonderful night was had by all, here’s to the next one.

Woody.