www.elsiesband.com

"ELSIE`S BAND" UPDATED 04/05/2012
"ELSIE`S" SING & PLAY EVENINGS. Now in its` 37th year.


"They sang the songs that all did know, the brewers then were Kelseys.
You can hear their spirits singing still on Saturday Nights at "Elsie`s".

AT LAST. iT`S HERE! OUR CD IS UP, RUNNING AND AVAILABLE. IT IS
A 17 TRACK ISSUE OF SONGS FROM OUR REPERTOIRE THAT ARE
FROM THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND. IT IS ENTITLED "CUTAWAY MIKE", ONE
OF THE TRACKS ON THE CD. AVAILABLE AT OUR GIGS OR OBTAINABLE
FROM DAVID ON 01732 862862 OR JOHN ON 01732 762224.




"ELSIE`S", "The Queens Arms", Cowden Pound, Kent, TN8 5NP
On the B2026, midway between Edenbridge and the A264, the
Tun. Wells to E.Grinstead road.

Contacts: David on 01732 862862
John on 01732 762224


"ELSIE`S" Programme for 2012


Jan. 14th A memorial evening for Grant Rule. An "Open Mic" for everyone who
wishes to contribute with their songs and music, the proceeds of the
collection going to the trust set up in Grant`s name. Having seen
the generous words afforded Grant by all those who knew him,
especially in the SE, please come along to make this a memorable
occasion.

Feb. 11th A Kentish evening with Bob Kenward.

Mar. 3rd North Sea Gas. Larger than life trio from Scotland with harmonies
and humour.

April 21st Roy Clinging. Trad. songs from Cheshire and elswhere with guitar
and English concertina.

May 19th Les Onions. The usual suspects including ex-Bonzo Count Vernon,
John Parker and "Wounded" John Scott-Cree.

June 16th Tony Hall. Norfolk`s finest with great musicianship and inspired
humour.

July 7th Jim Causley. We welcome Jim again for his second solo
appearance at "ELSIE`S" and we can be sure of a rich,
West country mixture of songs and music.



MEMOIR FOR 2011

The year 2011 was another fine one for "Elsie`s". Apart from the varied
repertoire of songs and music from "Elsie`s Band" we have also had the
pleasure of "The Other Band", John Morgan, "The Twagger Band", Tim Laycock
Chris Wood, Dave Webber and Annie Fentiman, Will Duke and Dan Quinn, the
annual "Home Groan" night, The Askew Sisters, Jim Bainbridge, Brian Peters
and the Christmas Frolics night with the Cowden Mummers.

"ELSIE`S"

We are a small, intimate venue and the house offers no restaurant
or bar meals but the free sausage rolls on offer are second to none. Its
Adnams all the way(lager not sold here), a fine selection of wines and
a variety of chocolate bars and packet snacks.

HISTORY

ELSIE`S BAND is one of the most prominent folk music bands to be found in the south east, well known for appearances at folk clubs, folk music festivals and folk concerts. They have appeared in the festivals at Loughborough, Walton and a number of times at Wadebridge and are to be regularly seen in the Kent , Sussex and Essex folk club scene. The band consists Tony Deane, Iris Bishop, David Watts and John Hills and its beginnings go back to the nineteen seventies. The band gets its` name from the landlady of the pub where they have held Sing and Play nights for many years, The Queens Arms at Cowden, Kent. It is known familiarly as Elsie`s to one and all after the name of the landlady, Elsie Maynard, hence the name of the band and there are few performers in the folk music world who are not familiar with this venue.
Each December we perform The Cowden Mummers play at Elsie`s with the our good friends Tony Gowan, Dave Andrews, Mac McNally and Will Duke. It is the traditional tale of good conquering evil with St.George, The Turkish Knight and a host of other characters as you would expect but our play has a significant difference. I doubt it has ever been performed the same way twice. Topicality and ad-lib are sometimes the order of the day but the underlying traditional basis is there to be seen and heard. Don`t miss it. See us each December. This little detail on mumming was inserted at the suggestion of a visitor to our site, Chris Little.

Elsie`s Band, THE CAST:_
Tony Deane, singer, songwriter and folklorist is the composer of "Following The Old `Oss", (already recorded by Chris Wood and Tony Rose), "Orchids" (a highly regarded song about the demise of the gardens at Heligan, Cornwall) and many more.

Iris Bishop, superb musician with accordions and concertinas is highly regarded in her own right as a member of a number of bands and for her accompaniment with Martyn Wyndham-Read. Also known internationally for her knitting design expertise.

David Watts, singer of a broad selection of folk and country songs as well as a good repertoire of comic and music hall songs. He is also the best pyrotechnist to be heard on the pub music scene.

John Hills, singer, song writer and string musician. ("Young in Kent", "Loss of the Regiment", "Docklands", " The Poachers Year", etc.etc.) Many song available on cd, "Nothing to Pay", give us a call on hills636@btinternet.com or 01732 762224.

MAYDAY

Another year passed and "Elsie`s Band" has chalked up their umpteenth "Obby Oss Day" in Padstow in 2012 and what a great occasion it was. Our visit kicked off on the Sunday night with visit to "The Cornish Arms" in St.Merryn to enjoy the annual singing session to celebrate the birthday of the late Harry Pittman. The
weather for Mayday and the second of May was un-believably clear, fine and warm considering the two days of dire weather we had just before. Somebody upstairs certainly looked kindly upon us. The number of visitors, it not being a Bank Holiday was enough to keep the occasion comfortable with both "Osses" enjoying an enthusiastic following and both groups, once again, welcomed in the church. Good "crac" and singing occurred in both "The Golden Lion" and "The London Inn". The St. Just boys singing on the 2nd was a treat for all ears with their repertoire of songs, not only of Cornwall, but from other popular sources. They not only sung in "The Golden Lion" but also in the street entertaining the public and other regular spots in town.
Padstow deserves a debt of gratitude from Britain for the way they preserve their festival with dedication and enthusiasm, men and women, boys and girls and the children. We are also grateful to be invited to share and take part in certain of their festivities. For us it is also an annual renewal of acquaintance with so many members of the folk music community as well as all our good friends in Cornwall. There were some few friends notable by their absence but circumstances, sad or domestic, often occur.
A certain Mr. Bob Lewis, as usual, was seen drumming like a good`un in the "Red Oss" band. Among the many others met were irrepressible John Breeze supporting his leukemia charity, Maggie (I thought I was hearing Joni Mitchell), "Doc" Rowe, Robbie and Maureen Tatlow, Tim and Molly, Peter and Jill, Bob Husband and Ros, Mike and Tina O`Connor", Chico and Lorraine, Martin and Sarah and all their staff in "The Golden Lion", Nigel, Cecil, Rex and Jane, Martin and Steph, Johnny Murt, Larry Mac Laughlin, Tom and Barbara, Pedro, Tony(Champers) Rogers and Barbara. We did not manage to make "The Ring -o Bells" sessions due to, probably, too much time being spent in the "The Golden Lion" and "The London". We gather they were well attended and as always are an annual reunion of friends, singers and musicians. A certain Mr.Stein (he surely makes a good pastie) was seen around town but he was not available for our singing sessions. For all those not mentioned I apologise but you can rest assured you all help to make our visits enjoyable. May it long continue."Oss Oss wee Oss".

ANNUAL TRIBUTE

We wish to offer our thanks to Elsie, Dave, Mary , Jane and Gary for their indulgence , patience and help throughout the year. We also like to say how grateful we are to all our regulars who, where possible, have supported the evenings as well as extending our thanks to many new faces seen here. It is only by your attendance can an enterprise like this continue and prosper and we hope we can count on your support in the future. Rest assured David is anxious to book guests from as wide a variety of music as possible for everyones enjoyment but he can only do it with confidence if we are assured of an audience. Everyone is welcome to come to "Elsie`s" to do their thing or just enjoy the evening. It is not necessary to pre-book a floor spot (did you ever?!), just make yourself known to Tony and you`ll be on his play list.

We, "Elsie`s Band", wish to thank all our friends in the folk clubs at LEWES, SEAFORD, TONBRIDGE, "THE BEACON", ORPINGTON, EASTBOURNE, BRIGHTON, EDENBRIDGE, OTFORD, GARY`S CLUB(Coolham), HORSHAM, BODLE STREET, the folk club sessions, The History Societies etc., for the enthusiastic receptions we have received. We look forward to seeing you again. Come on you clubs in Kent, give us a shot, ask around, live dangerously. You will not be dis-appointed. Some of the venues we would like to arrange are:- Orpington(both clubs), Dartford, Tenterden, Faversham, Deal, Maidstone, Rainham, Gillingham, Rochester, "The Drum" at Hythe, and many more.