Reviews 2023

Woodman Folk Club - Reviews
Will Morgan

Woody* 13 Jan 2023

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Hi everyone. Woody here again with the review of yet another fabulous night at The Woodman folk club. As the chimes of ‘Left Bank Two’ by The Noveltones faded into the ether our MC for the evening Chris Irving took to the microphone to address the “multitudinous throng” which was tonight’s audience. And a large throng indeed it was, all of whom had turned out to watch our main act of the evening Will Morgan.

But first there was a wonderful support slot from our alternative MC, Mr. Bryn Phillips, who is, as you must know by now, a singer songwriter in his own right. I have to admit to a certain amount of pride when he started his set with ‘Sitting On Top Of The World’, a song he had asked me a few weeks earlier if I thought he should sing. “Of course,” said I, and he did. It’s so nice to be asked. The set continued with his Black Country Song, ‘I Love The Black Country’, which he dedicated to the lovely Emma Langford. We then had a song about the mismanagement of Yellowstone Park (Not Jellystone Chris Irving – so no Yogi Bear), followed by ‘Better To Never Kiss A Fish’, which in my opinion was merely an excuse to include as many awful Christmas cracker jokes as he could. ‘Moonspin’ recounts the tale of the ghost of Caswell Bay – The White Lady, who in this version appears on the anniversary of her suicide. He claims it is totally fictitious – but is it? The set finished with an old favourite ‘The Throckmorton Coat’, which can be seen in all it’s splendour at Coughton Court. Opening hours and directions can be provided on request. Actions to illustrate the chorus lyrics were demonstrated by The Brynettes, Sue and Debbie. An excellent start to the evening.

And so, to the main attraction. His seventh visit to the club since 2009, the last being as recently as October last year, Will Morgan, accompanied by Ian Dempsey Robins on electric bass or accordion, is everything you would wish for a complete evening's hilarious entertainment. From the outset he draws the audience to him so that you can believe that you are all just sitting having a chat interspersed now and again by his songs, stories, poems, and humour. Accomplished guitarist, raconteur and singer of songs amusing and more serious, I was surprised to learn that he has only ever written one in his life which was a Country and Western story about Robin Hood. This, I think, although we did not hear it, demonstrates a flavour of his humour. The introduction to each song was a story – not necessarily connected to the song – but entertaining.

Set one began with a Jake Thackray song – ‘The Castleford Ladies’ Magic Circle’ followed by ‘She Loved A Portuguese’, a song he “stole” from Derek Brimstone and sung with Derek’s cockney accent. The audience enjoyed singing along to the Dougie McClean favourite ‘Caledonia’, before laughing along with the shaggy dog song, The ‘Vicar and the Frog’. ‘Rubenstein Remembers’ was beautifully performed and extremely poignant. The late lamented Grant Baynham willingly gave his permission for Will to perform ‘Mystery Story’, so long as he did so in an American accent, which he did. The Irish skipping game song, ‘Tell Me Ma’ followed. I don’t know where Will found ‘Francoise et Jean’ but I’m glad he did because it was hilarious from start to finish. Originally ‘Frankie and Johnny’ it was sung in a wonderful Franglais. I am still laughing now. The late John Henley was according to Will, a glass half empty sort of person, and he said ‘Another Crack In The Wall’ demonstrated this perfectly. This was intended to be the last song in the set, but Will forgot and performed a nameless Willie Nelson song instead. I like to think of it as the only time the club has had an encore at the end of the first set.

There was a break and a raffle, which I’m sure you would wish to know I won.

The second set was delayed because we couldn’t find Will (I think you can guess where he was), so we were told a joke by Christine from her seat in the front row. Another first. Once it started the second set continued in the same vein as the first. We were driven to acting out the ‘Song Of Old Egypt’ and joining in the chorus of the Dave Gibb song ‘Privateer’, before Will recited the hilarious ‘The Man From The Pru’. It was easy for us all to join in again for the Anthony John Clarke song ‘All In The Songs’. Will apologised for the misogynistic tone of the Jake Thackray song ‘On Again, On Again’ but sang it anyway. Ian provided all that was needed for ‘The Accordion Song’. Local muso Dave Love composed the lovely song ‘Busker’ about the late Johnny Walker who busked around Norwich for the right of buskers to busk. The “last” song ‘Camille’ was of course only the one before the encore ‘Goodnight Train’.

And so, another evening came to an end and the audience wended their way home to return another day.

I shall conclude as normal by saying

"A Wonderful Night Was Had by All".

Here’s to The Next One.



* Notes taken by Les Jones, who also typed up the review, but the views expressed are
those of Woody, the club mascot.