Huge night at folk club

It was a huge night at the Troubadour Folk Club on Friday, May 9.

Special guests were The Urban Excentrics, and what a beautiful noise they made.

Their act incorporates two bass, banjo, guitar, bouzouki and mandolin.

Songs are mainly original with Ann as their lead singer and Larry and Paul providing back-up vocals, though Larry led a couple of numbers.

It is hard to describe the genre of their music, it's so diverse.

The songs are passionate, poignant, relevant, and they move you through a range of emotions.

I admit to being awestruck at times by their musicianship.

As well as the Urban Excentrics, there were a number of floor spots.

The Usual Suspects opened the night with an all time favourite "Dirty Old Town" and then went on to perform their original and very clever "Iraq Song".

Paul Reagan surprised us by bringing out an accordion and he teamed up with Billy Rae and Cec Bucello for an impromptu.

Billy also performed a couple of solos.

In the absence of Vic Jeffries, our resident poet, Peter Mace and I contributed a couple of poems.

Peter's was a traditional Irish poem about the Diaspora and its impact on families, while my original poem was about the loss of a favourite tree.

Linda Campbell's version of Amazing Grace was beautiful as was her next song, an original about the wonder of attraction in the universe and the beauty it creates.

Springtide aka Greg and Jackie from the Dang-Lyn Moon Folk Club at Mooney Mooney, did two stunning numbers on hammer dulcimer and harp.

The Dang-Lynn Moon meets on the first Friday of the month and attracts some quality acts and good floor spots so rock up for another great night of folk.

Earlwood Greg has become a regular at the Troubadour and he never fails to entertain.

His humour is apparent in his commentary and his performance.

His Little Red Rooster had many of the audience howling.

Paul Reagan pretended to be intimidated by following him but he held his own with two lovely folk songs, the second of which was written in the late 1800s.

Rhiannon, who sings unaccompanied, gave us a Judy Small song and "She Moves Through the Fair".

Rhiannon is another recent performer at the Troubadour.

Daniel Bergan was a new face for me and he presented us with two original songs.

The first was a love song and the second "Old Man" sent a strong message about not wasting today.

Dave Wheeler from Newcastle also dropped in to sing a couple of originals.

Yes, it was a huge night.

I went home very contented thanks to all the performers and especially the Urban Excentrics who, as I said earlier, are awe-inspiring musicians.

Shirley O'Toole, Woy Woy