It is always a pleasure to play at the Barnet Folk Club. Organiser JJ is always good humoured and welcoming and there is a good and friendly crowd of listeners to play to, and an excellent p.a. system to play through.
This time, the fun was boosted by our being supported by a truly excellent support act. TEYR (Cornish for three I am told) are a trio of highly talented young musicians playing mainly their own compositions in traditional style and traditional songs. Combining fast and furious guitar work with silky accordion, agile uilleann pipes, good lead vocals and three-part harmonies, it is clear that the future of folk music is safe in the hands of young, friendly, musicians like this.
JJ started the evening with a couple of numbers. He always shows great support for our Spanish Civil War interests by playing Christy Moore’s Viva La Quinta Brigada and he did so again this night. Being near Christmas, he also played The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York, another one of his classics.
TEYR then did a terrific 30 minute set, finishing to great applause.
We followed on with a lively set of our own. The home of the Barnet Folk Club is the atrium area of The Arts Depot and it needs to be filled with sound. So, we kept it reasonably lively throughout and received some lovely feedback at the end from members of the audience and from TEYR.
Barnet Folk Club finishes quite early. So, given the short distance back to St Albans, there was time to get home and have a beer well before midnight. Many thanks to JJ for another lovely night and best wishes to TEYR who we’re sure have a great folk future ahead of them.