28-Jan-09 Blyth Valley Community Hospital

Music Programme in Partnership with Cramlington Folk Club

Our friends and regular blog readers will know that we freely give of our time to play in local residential care homes through local charity MINDActive. Keith Taylor, organiser of Cramlington Folk Club, asked if we might be interested in taking part in an initiative in partnership with the club whereby we'd play in our local hospital. Naturally we said 'Yes'.

Today was our first time at the hospital so we weren't sure what to expect, but we were met by Helen Moore (Cultural Development Officer for Blyth Valley Borough Council) who guided us around the wards and introduced us to staff and patients.

Normally, Jimmy doesn't get on well with hospitals - last time in a hospital we were visiting Jimmy's brother, and Jimmy fainted! (For days afterwards he had a black eye and cuts and bruises from his fall.) But today was different, and we had an enjoyable time singing some of our more up-beat songs with Vall playing Missy (12-string) and Jimmy playing Rio (6-string). We spent an hour and a half in the hospital playing in five different wards/bays and even at the door of a somewhat crowded day room where we sang 'Happy Birthday' to Marjorie. As we were playing only two or three songs in each location we cycled around the following songs:

• Different Dreams (jiva)
• Back Home To You (Allan Taylor)
• One More Song (jiva)
• Some Way Home (jiva)
• Passin' Thru (Johnny Cash & Randy Scruggs)

It was a new experience for us and there were positive comments from staff, patients and visitors enjoying live music around the wards. So this may become a regular feature in the jiva calendar.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace

27-Jan-09 The Caffreys at Cramlington

We've been having a busy time of things lately - don't know how we ever found time for full time employment... so tonight we decided to take a break from rehearsing and performing and web stuff etc. We headed off to see one of the north east's premier bands, the Caffreys, topping the bill at Cramlington Folk Club.

Cramlington is one of the few folk clubs we frequent that seem to be increasing their attendance - most clubs seem to be struggling to attract audience, but Cramlington seems to go from strength to strength. Tonight the venue (The Hind in Dewley) was packed out - the Caffs had drawn a large crowd.

Before each of the Caffrey's sets, club residents did support slots - and here was ample evidence of why Cramlington is doing so well... a talented crop of residents who perform in diverse musical genres.

We were sorry to hear that Paul Caffrey couldn't make the gig as he was unwell, but the band played as a 4-piece - with vocal harmonies blending well with their acoustic, electric and bass guitar work (and even some mandolin playing too!).There was a good mix of original and cover songs, and the time flew by as the loyal Caffreys fans and famous 'Cramlington Choir' joined in with great enthusiasm.

The full review of the night is available on the Cramlington Folk Club website.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Cramlington Folk Club
The Caffreys website

26-Jan-09 MINDActive

We've played at this residential care home a few times since starting with MINDActive in 2004, and it was nice to see some familiar faces and a few new ones too.

As usual in our care home performances we played a total of ten songs in our two 30-minute spots. Today there were four self-penned songs in the set - it's good that our own material sits well alongside the carefully chosen songs by professionals that we really like, and it's moving to have the smiling faces and foot tapping and some joining in when we close (as usual) with 'One More Song'.

While packing the guitars and stands away we chatted a little about the British economy and the fall-off in quality manufacturing in this country (hence our guitars come from Taylor in America). There were lots of thank yous and positive comments and requests for us to come back again... we most certainly will.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
MINDActive website

25-Jan-09 South Shields Folk Club

It's been four months since we last visited this club - where does the time go?

Although, because of the size of the room, it looked thin on the ground, there were 12 performers apart from us - quite a mix, encompassing blues, unaccompanied songs, whistle, concertina, self-penned, contemporary and traditional.

For our first two-song slot we did 'Love At The Five And Dime' (Nanci Griffith) and 'Two Old Friends' (Chris Simpson, founder member of Magna Carta), both of which went down well. After a lengthy break the second half got underway and we won the raffle! We donated one of the bottles of wine to Jim and Allyson Wigfield... Allyson had drawn the winning ticket!

Jim was the penultimate act, and he invited us up to accompany him on his self-penned 'South Shields' (we're also accompanying him on the CD album which we recorded and produced for him). jiva then finished the night with 'Best Friends' (jiva) and 'Louise' (Paul Siebel).

A canny night - we really mustn't leave it so long before our next visit!

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
South Shields Folk Club

19-Jan-09 Bishop fm Folk Show

Terry Ferdinand hosts The Folk Show for Bishop fm Radio, broadcast every Monday evening 21:00 to 23:00 GMT. He plays an eclectic mix of music from professional semi-professional and amateur performers. Most of the tracks come from MySpace friends who send mp3 files or submit CDs. Phil Graham is a regular studio performer and Terry also has special guests each week to chat and perform live during the show.

This week we were the guests (our fourth guest spot on the show)... and what a show it was! Phil brough along his new bouzouki for a couple of songs, we did six songs in the two hour slot, Terry played lots of really good tracks, and there were lots of appreciative emails coming in throughout the show.

We were having such a great time that Terry was never going to manage to fit everything in, and so he extended the show by half an hour. This gave us the opportunity to play one more song, so we did play 'One More Song' with Terry and Chris (unsung hero soundman) joining in... and hopefully listeners at home too! And to cap it all we had totally unexpected phone call from Timi in Texas - quick-thinking Terry broadcasted the call too. Thanks, Timi, it was a pleasure to speak with you.

When we got home (around 01:00 the following morning) we were pleased to find positive emails and comments about the show, and managed to trace back some of the online chat that had been taking place on Terry's recently established Folk Show community site. It's a great place to cyber meet with people who share a love of the music - well done, Terry, for setting up this friendly and vibrant watering hole for us all.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Terry Ferdinand MySpace
BishopFM
Folk Show Community
jiva Folk Show profile

17-Jan-09 MINDActive

We've been giving monthly performances through MINDActive since 2004, and every so often we are asked to play at a care home which is new to the scheme.

This was our first visit to Ashington Grange and we were pleased to have Karen, our regular MINDActive contact, in attendance. It was a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the residents and to play a total of ten songs in our two 30-minute spots.

Our mix of gentle guitar and vocal harmonies with some foot-tapping songs was well received and we look forward to visiting again.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
MINDActive website

13-Jan-09 Live Acoustic Club

First time at this weekly club - normally hosted by Jack Burness... tonight's guests, Acoustica, were also running the show. They did a great job with the music and the MC-ing.

There was also a good smattering of MySpace friends and resident performers... all in all a very good night with everything from unaccompanied singing through to classic acoustic rock tunes, with singer/songwriter material too.

Thanks, Andy and Cath - Jack would have loved it!

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Acoustica website

12-Jan-09 On Yer Bike

Now that we've both been made redundant we've decided to make the most of our new-found hours by devoting more time to the music - playing, writing and recording.

Immediately following Jimmy's redundancy just before Christmas 2008 we started going for a walk every day and we've started the new year with a firm resolution to a healthier lifestyle... as well as eating less and cutting back on the wine and cheese we've also enrolled in Tai Chi classes.

For some time we'd pondered on buying bicycles, but never quite got around to it. Well... after doing local and online investigation we decided to buy a pair of folding bikes that would fit in the back of the car, and then we can drive to peaceful places where we'll be able to ride along cycleways and old railway tracks etc - neither of us are keen on facing the perils of mad motorists on proper roads.

The bikes we chose were Speed D7 by Dahon (an American firm who are world leaders in folding bike technology). It's quite exhilarating to pedal along the sea front, watching the windmills of Blyth (cue for a song) and the waves rolling in along the shore. We're enjoying it immensely - and the exercise will certainly contribute healthwise as well as helping us lose a few pounds as we head towards a very important event this coming summer. The pictures here (top left: ready to ride, and right: folded) are of the American model - the UK model has the same spec, but it's coloured black and grey.

So be sure to give us a wave (and a wide berth) if you see jiva cycling along an easy path/track down your way.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Dahon website

11-Jan-09 Barrasford Arms

First visit to this 'mixed' session run by Ian and Marilyn in the village of Barrasford. Normally it's held in a separate room - but tonight, as the darts team had an away match, we were in the bar... cozy room with a coal fire.

The music was mostly concertina, flute, fiddles, whistle, recorder and guitar session tunes with just occasional songs. It was certainly interesting to have multiple instruments joining in - and the darts team came back having won their match... we got eight songs in all and caught up with friends we'd not seen for quite some time.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Netherton Folk Club

10-Jan-09 Netherton Folk Club

First visit of the year to this community hall folk club just out past Rothbury.

Another good mix including self-penned material, traditional and contemporary folk, pop/modern classics, guitar, harmonica, accordion, vocals, story telling... it's all there. Jack runs a very welcoming club with a supportive and friendly atmosphere. We played two songs in the first half, and closed the night with another three... very well received.

We did a guest night there in 2008 and will be back there later in 2009 doing another full night - but we'll be popping in a few times before then.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Netherton Folk Club

09-Jan-09 Anglers Arms

A new buskers night - we were invited along to the opening evening.

The bar has a small stage in the corner where Ken and George set up the gear and started the night with a few folksy/pub-type guitar, banjo and single vocal songs. We were up next and, as the system didn't have enough inputs for two guitars and two vocals, we elected to perform acoustically. An interesting experience with pool being played literally six feet in front of the stage, but the games stopped half way through our opening four songs.

• Love At The Five And Dime (Nanci Griffith)
• Two Old Friends (Magna Carta)
• Back Home To You (Allan Taylor)
• Passin' Thru (Randy Scruggs & Johnny Cash)

Then there was another banjo player, then the break with a raffle for a bottle of vodka generously donated by the landlady (no, we didn't win), and an opportunity to natter and catch up with some friends. Then the music started up again with more songs from Ken and George, and then we were called back to the stage for another four songs:

• Dream On (jiva)
• Maginot Waltz (Ralph McTell)
• Some Way Home (jiva)
• One More Song (jiva)

No pool this time, but there was a chap playing the slot machine... and yes, he won... coins crashing down as we played the quietest song in our set ('Maginot Waltz'). We encouraged a joining in competition for 'One More Song' and even had some dancing (was it the booze, or was it the music?)... we left the stage having gee'd the regulars up with Jimmy wandering around the bar encouraging all and sundry to sing. After a couple of more acts we were asked back to finish the night, and we happily obliged withour self-penned 'Different Dreams'.

Not bad for an opening night - the landlady and regulars seemed genuinely pleased, and we've been invited back. So, Ken, keep up the good work... and maybe invest in a PA that can cope with the variety of performers you may get.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace

07-Jan-09 MINDActive

Our first residential care home visit for this year. Holmside has an 'L' shaped lounge which can make things a little awkward but we performed from the top end where most of the residents were sitting. More residents joined as we progressed through our set.

Stephen Ward of the charity MIND Active was even dancing with one of the residents to jiva singing. It's always warming to know that we have sparked a reaction! We had a great time and even got some gentlle joining in with us at the end to sing 'One More Song'... Lovely.

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
MINDActive website

06-Jan-09 Cramlington Folk Club

First time out this year... we'd been struck down with the continuous round of coughs and colds.

It was the first singers night of 2009 at the club and despite the very cold weather there was a reasonable turnout, usual good audience and around 14 performers. So all performers got three songs instead of the expected two.

We began the year with some of our more gentle and quiet material:

• Louise (Paul Siebel)
• Two Old Friends (Magna Carta)
• Maginot Waltz (Ralph McTell)
  

Links
jiva website
jiva MySpace
Cramlington Folk Club