www.elsiesband.com

"ELSIE`S BAND" UPDATED 02-01-2009
"ELSIE`S" SING & PLAY EVENINGS (Now in its 35th 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".



"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


Programme for 2009

Jan., 10th WILL DUKE AND DAN QUINN. Will, having recovered from his
Christmas mumming frolics at "Elsie`s", these twin pillars of
rectitude and sobriety from "The Royal Oak", Lewes, will
kickstart our year with their blend of music and song.

Feb., 14th SARA GREY and KEIRON MEANS - A warm night guaranteed
from these two favourites. Just as well since it is February.

March, 14th JIM CAUSLEY - Last here with "Devil`s Interval", now heading
up from Devon for a solo spot at "Elsie`s".

April, 18th LES ONIONS - Welcome back, with Count Vernon Dudley Bowhay
Nowell, released from THE BONZOS!!

May, 16th - BILL WHALEY & DAVE FLETCHER - poached from Lincolnshire to
visit Cowden Pound again.

June, 20th CHRIS WOOD - Faversham`s finest and long time favourite of
Elsie`s more discerning clientele - he`s pretty popular and sought
after elsewhere too!

July, 11th BARRY & INGRID TEMPLE - "Elsie`s" offers a big welcome for
their first time with us.

Aug., 8th DAVE GOULDER - Great to have him back, a rare pleasure:
well, he does live 400 miles to the north!

Sept., 19th HOME GROAN - Here it comes again... everybody welcome to come
and do their thing having sharpened up for the winter sessions. A
great chance to shrug off the holiday blues.

Oct., 10th Jim Bainbridge - You won`t keep your feet still tonight
"Geordie Hinnie!!"

Nov., 14th Sylvia Barnes, Alan & Carol Prior - We `re delighted to present
this fine Scottish dish for your delectation. You will enjoy it!!

The year 2008 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 Hofners, Martyn Wyndham-Read, Tim Laycock, The Askew
Sisters, Roy Clinging and Neil Brooks, Mary Humphries and Anahata,
Dearman, Gammon and Harrison, The Usual August "Home Groan" night.,
Trio Trelfall, Tom and Barbara Brown, Roger Sutcliffe, "The Other Band",
and to finish the season with CHRISTMAS FROLICS AND MUMMING NIGHT!!

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.

Another year passed and "Elsie`s Band" has chalked up their umpteenth "Obby Oss Day" in Padstow in 2009 and what a great day it was. The weather was kind enough for May Day to go with a swing, the number of visitors was down making the day comfortable and good crack 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. 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. Among the many met were Helen and Laura, Dave and Annie, Larry McLaughlin, Jim Bassett, John Breeze, , Mike O`Connor and Tina, "Doc" Rowe, Tom and Barbara, Bob Lewis, Robbie Tatlow, Dave Toye and Dianne to name but a few; sorry not to have caught Vic Legg at any of the venues. Regrettably we were unable to make "The Ring -o Bells" sessions due to, probably, too much time being spent in the "The Well Parc" , "The Golden Lion" and "The London". We gather they were well attended and as always an annual reunion of friends, singers and musicians. Best wishes also to Bob H., Peter and Gill, "Chicko", Tim, Molly and family, Rex, Jane and Steph, Pedro, Anne and so many more. May it long continue."Oss Oss wee Oss"

We wish to offer our thanks to Elsie, Dave Mary and Jane 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 he is 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, EDENBRIDGE, 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, Twitton and many more.