SDFS at the 'Rural Life' Historic Gardens Weekend, Weald & Downland Living Museum

Update 28th June 2018: The performance times and set lists have been added below.

Sunday 1st July 2018

Organiser's website

Here's a chance to both sing and find out how to keep the fly off your turmuts organically!!!

Details for the weekend are here and we will be the only wandering minstrels on the Sunday.

You will need to let me know via email by the 24th June if you want to sing on the day so that your name can be put on the list for free entry, as I won't be at the YOHAH, Worthing Meeting on the 5th June.

Many thanks,
John C


SDFS performance times

11.00am, 11.30am and 12.00 noon near the millpond (C9 on the site plan)
2.00pm at Bayleaf Farmhouse (B1)
2.45pm near the millpond (C9)

Please gather at 10.45am near the millpond in readiness for our first set.

The songs we’ll be singing are:

Set 1 11.00am near the millpond:

1. Country Life Eb
2. Rosebuds In June B
3. The Nightingale A
4. The Magpie B
5. Oak, Ash & Thorn E

Set 2 11.30am near the millpond:

1. West Sussex Drinking Song F
2. Life Of A Man B
3. A Smuggler’s Song C#
4. Thousands Or More A
5. On Sussex Hills A
6. The Turnip Hoer B

Set 3 12.00 noon near the millpond:

1. Twanky Dillo G
2. Pleasant & Delightful A
3. Ale, Glorious Ale E
4. The Bee-Boy’s Song G
5. Brisk Young Ploughboy C

Set 4 2.00pm at Bayleaf Farmhouse:

1. The Farmer’s Toast A
2. Rosebuds In June B
3. Hard Times Of Old England F
4. Green Grow The Laurel G
5. Ale, Glorious Ale E

Set 5 2.45pm near the millpond:

1. Old Adam D
2. The Bee-Boy’s Song G
3. Rolling In The Dew F# - B
4. Jim The Carter Lad C#
5. The Turnip Hoer B
6. Jolly Good Song

For more information about what is happening on the day, read this document (pdf file). SDFS are mentioned at the very end of this. You may be interested to know that at 11.00am (when we will be singing) and again at 1.30pm a '10-minute taster talk' will be given on Alehouse culture and songs in Winkhurst Tudor kitchen (B2).

SDFS at the Foresters Arms, Graffham

Wednesday 27th June 2018
7.00pm – 9.30pm

We have been invited to perform an evening of folk songs in the garden of the Foresters Arms in Graffham (GU28 0QA) on Wednesday 27th June as part of this year's Graffham Arts Festival. As is our custom we will be singing a rousing selection of songs that reflect life in the Sussex countryside across the centuries. It would be lovely if as many of our singers as possible could come along on this date and enjoy a few songs and a drink out of doors on a balmy midsummer’s evening. (Under cover if wet.)

We shall gather at 7.00pm and eventually sing two sets:

First Set 7.30pm till 8.10pm:

1. Country Life [Eb]
2. West Sussex Drinking Song [E]
3. Oak, Ash & Thorn [E]
4. The Magpie [B]
5. The Bee-Boy’s Song [G - C]
6. Ale, Glorious Ale [E]
7. The Turnip Hoer [B]
8. A Smuggler’s Song [C#]
9. Pleasant and Delightful [A]
10. Thousands or More [A]
11. Jolly Good Song

Second Set 8.30pm till 9.10pm:

1. On Sussex Hills [A]
2. Fathom the Bowl [D# - G#]
3. The Nightingale [A]
4. Rosebuds in June [B - E]
5. Rolling in the Dew [G]
6. Where Stormy Winds Do Blow [A -D]
7. The Farmer’s Toast [A - D]
8. Twanky Dillow [G#]
9. Sussex by the Sea [G#]
10. Rolling Home [A - D]

Please sign up as usual by e-mailing your name to John C at southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com if you wish to attend this event.

There will be extra parking available by the Recreation Ground (follow the signs and take the turning on the left by the war memorial just beyond the pub).

David G

Local Group Report – Lewes – Tuesday 15th May 2018

Angela and Margo couldn’t get over to Lewes but there were 17 around the tables, including Adrian and Jane who have moved to Seaford and three new voices, Jonathan, Emily and Sarah.

Tina managed to lead the group through Pleasant and Delightful, The Nightingale, A Smuggler’s Song, Oak, Ash and Thorn, The Magpie, The Bee Boy’s Song, Lark In The Morning, Dave’s Caburn Hill, Searching For Lambs, Hares On The Mountain, West Sussex Drinking Song, Brisk Young Ploughboy, Old Adam, The Turnip Hoer, Malcolm’s Compassion and finish with Thousands Or More.

Local Group Report – Worthing – Wednesday 2nd May 2018

The arrival of May was duly celebrated in song during our gathering this month. We warmed up with Country Life before enjoying the seasonal songs chosen for our performance events this month: Hal An Tow, The May Day Carol, Summer is A-Comin In and It is the First of May / Good Morning Lords and Ladies. The Bee Boy’s Song, Lark in the Morning and Brisk Young Ploughboy followed with a break included. Still with an eye on our set lists for the Butser and Horsham events a few of our more established songs were requested and sung: A Smugglers Song, Sussex by the Sea and Life of a Man. The last request made was for Searching for Lambs, about which some discussion ensued on whether or not to change “doth” to “do” and “step” to “tread” – no changes were made and our evening closed with this lovely song.

SDFS at the Morris Day Of Dance, Weald & Downland Living Museum

Update 9th June 2018: The set list has been added below. Apologies for the delay in providing this.

Sunday 10 June 2018
10.30am - 6.00pm

Organiser's website

Come along for a day to celebrate this traditional form of English folk dance, its music and song.

We (SDFS) have also agreed to join the programme. PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY THE 1ST JUNE IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE so that I can put your name on the list as a Singer for free entrance on the day.

A whole host of sides will perform at the Museum to show the wide range of dances and music in the Morris tradition, and prove that it doesn’t just involve bells and handkerchiefs!

Confirmed morris sides participating include:

• Knockhundred Shuttles
• Sompting Village Morris, with Morris Minors
• Fleur de Lys Morris Dancers
• Minden Rose
• Deorfrith Morris
• Victory Morris
• TRADS with Gail Duff

There will be displays of maypole and country dancing with plenty of opportunities to join in.

John C.

First set starting at 11.45am in the Market Square:

1. Country Life
2. Rosebuds In June
3. The Nightingale
4. The Magpie
5. Oak, Ash And Thorn

Second set 1.00pm in the Market Square:

1. West Sussex Drinking Song
2. Life Of A Man
3. A Smuggler's Song
4. Thousands Or More
5. Sussex Hills
6. Turnip Hoer

Third set 2.40pm in the Market Square:

1. Twanky Dillo
2. Pleasant And Delightful
3. Ale, Glorious Ale
4. The Bee Boy's Song
5. Brisk Young Ploughboy
6. Country Life