Phil's Blogs

Phil's English Rant#1

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:40:00 GMT

In 2001, 'New British' UK Prime Minister and plastic Scotsman Tony Blair engineered the removal of English ethnicity from the England & Wales Household Census. Thus instead of proclaiming their true ethnic identity, ordinary English and Welsh people were forced to falsely declare their ethnicity as 'British'. Not so Blair's fellow-countrymen, the Scots, who were able to idenfity their ethnicity as 'Scottish' in the Scotland Household Census. A decade later, in 2011, another 'New British' Prime Minister and plastic Scotsman, David Cameron, ensured another 'English-free' Census by again engineering the removal of English and Welsh ethnicity from the England & Wales Household Census, whilst Scotland was once more left untouched. Clear confirmation that 'New British' politicians (particularly those of the Scottish variety who have ruled England for the past 15+ years) have zero respect for the indigenous and immigrant ethnic English and Welsh peoples. Instead they are fully prepared to make a mockery of the Act of Union, British Democracy, Equality and Human Rights, and the Race Relations Acts to achieve their 'New British' political ends.

Why release The Best English Singalong Folksongs? The answer is in the Songbook 'Foreword'

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:08:11 GMT

For those who asked my why I released the Best English Singalong Folksong, the Foreword to the Songbook explains how New British multi-culturalist idealism has disadvantaged and negatively impacted ethnic English people. For those who asked, I decided to post it as a Blog ..........

Foreword
This is the first in what I hope will be a series of books and CDs featuring English traditional and contemporary folksongs – songs composed by ordinary English people about ordinary English people, past and present.

A nation’s folk-heritage or folk-culture is worthless if the people to whom it belongs are not able to celebrate it freely. It is not just for the enjoyment of the privileged few, or to be analysed and studied ad nauseam; rather it is to be celebrated as often as possible, so as to keep one’s unique folk-culture and ethnic identity alive and well.
It should be played, sung and danced from childhood – in music classes, in the home, in day-schools, and at social and community gatherings.
This is the norm in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but not in England, where, sadly, for 20 years New British politics has ensured that ordinary English people, (particularly urban English people) have been denied access to, and substantially detached from, their folk-heritage and their unified English identity.

Whoever you are, and for whatever reason you bought this compilation, I hope you enjoy it simply for what it is - an album of superb, grass-roots, indigenous English singalong folksongs.

For the majority of ordinary ethnic English people, who are non-folkies, I hope this album demonstrates that not only is English folk music every bit as entertaining as, for example, Celtic music, but continuously celebrating our English roots and folk-culture is vital to retaining our own distinct cultural identity in multi-national New Britain.

Sincere thanks for helping to keep our English folk-culture alive.
Phil Drane

Champions of 'Live' music - The Bent Horseshoe Cafe, Tokomaru, NZ

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:44:04 GMT

Must make mention of The Bent Horseshoe Cafe in Tokomaru near Palmerston North, NZ where I performed last night and and the owners Steve and Robyn Tolley. Not only is it located in the most beautiful place (on a bend in the river known as Horseshoe Bend, hence the name) - this little gem of a venue has wonderful charm and atmpsphere. Steve and Robyn are true champions of 'live' music and their programme over the next few weeks is as eclectic and hectic as you're likely to find at much larger venues - the list of local and international artistes is highly impressive and the mix of musical genres is just amazing. Well recommended. Visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BentHorseshoeCafe Cheers, Phil

Phil now on CD Baby

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:28:22 GMT

Delighted to say you can now find me, and The Best English Singalong Folksongs album, on CD Baby. Link http://cdbaby.com/cd/phildrane2. Amazon mp3 and iTunes are next.

I read an article today that mentioned 'The British folk tradition'. Is there really such a thing?

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:15:00 GMT

Most Scottish folksingers I know wouldn't subscribe to the notion, since they stick almost exclusively to Scottish or at least Celtic material. Their music sends a clear message that 'Scottish traditional folk music' and 'the folk-heritage of Scotland' are one and the same thing, and it all belongs to the Scottish people and the whole thing is a reinforcement of Scottish identity and national pride. Few Scottish musicians play English stuff just because it’s part of some ‘British folk tradition’ or because it has a ‘nice’ tune if it does not add to the celebration and advancement of Scottish culture. The Irish folk musicians I know do the same, for exactly the same reasons – they have an eye on the bigger picture. Consequently, Scottish and Irish folk musicians have made their traditional and contemporary music more relevant and available to the vast majority of their own people than their English counterparts. So it seems that the only proponents of ‘The British folk tradition’ concept are English folksingers. Of course, Government agendas and funding has a lot to do with this promoting national culture and identity stuff, and while the Arts Council of Scotland readily subscribes to the wellbeing of Scottish heritage, the Arts Council of England demonstrates contempt for English heritage by refusing to fund anything in England unless it is patently ‘British’ and multi-cultural. All of this goes some way to explaining why the vast majority of ordinary, (largely urban) English people are completely disconnected from their English traditional music, their English folk-heritage and their English national identity. This is not just about music. The Celtic peoples have been subjected to British cultural oppression and learned how to deal with - the English have not.

How to print The Best English Singalong Folksongs Volume 1

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:35:00 GMT

I have assumed that your printer does not have Automatic Double Sided printing.
You need 100gsm double sided paper.

Open the Songbook file

1. SELECT YOUR PRINTER
2. SET PRINT PROPERTIES AS USUAL
3. SET TO PRINT "COMPLETE DOCUMENT" AND "ALL ODD PAGES"
4. CHECK WHICH WAY THE PAGES FEED IN TO PRINT
5. ALLOW PAGES TO DRY, SO THEY DON'T STICK TO EACH OTHER.
6. RE_FEED THE PRINTED PAGES INTO THE APPROPRIATE SHEET FEEDER
7. SET TO PRINT "COMPLETE DOCUMENT" AND "ALL EVEN PAGES"
8. HOPEFULLY YOU NOW HAVE "THE BEST ENGLISH SINGALONG FOLKSONGS BOOK1".

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR ENGLISH HERITAGE.

PHIL DRANE

If you are having problems,

NEW RELEASE - THE BEST ENGLISH SINGALONG FOLKSONGS AT WWW.PHILDRANE.COM

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:30:00 GMT

If you’re someone who likes down-to-earth, rollicking, sing-along songs with beefy choruses then
The Best English Singalong Folksongs Volume 1
is just the thing for you.

The Best English Singalong Folksongs Volume 1 features 22 contemporary & traditional English folksongs (newly arranged and recorded) and an accompanying 48-page Songbook with lyrics, musical notation, and song bios.
It can be purchased either in CD format (2 CDs with printed songbook) or in mp3 Downloadable form (165Mb including MS WordDoc songbook).

The Best English Singalong Folksongs Volume 1 is the first of what I hope will be an ongoing series showcasing English folksongs, and plans are already underway for Volume 2.

Your support is much appreciated.
Phil

Manchester Sports Guild Reunion Concert

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:05:00 GMT

Absolutely brilliant night on Sat 12th in Cheetham Hill. Great to see a couple of humdred people from the MSG old days and join such an illustrious lineup on stage including Gary & Vera Aspey, Alan Bell, John Howarth, Tony Downes, The Hometowners, Pete Ryder and Marie Little. A bit spooky meeting some folks I haven't seen for 40 years, but what a really great 'Lancashire neet'. Grand job by Stanley Accrington putting the whole show together, and wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Milford on Sea Folk Club - thanks

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:55:00 GMT

Many thanks to the folks at Milford Folk Club for being a wonderful audience on Thurs night and for singing along so lustiy - flat vowels and all. Thanks to all who bought CDs - hope you enjoy them. Big thanks to Sue and Hugh for their hospitality and I hope to be invited back soon. Lovely evening all round.

Download experimental mp3 Tracks for Free at www.phildrane[dot]com

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 07:56:34 GMT

I have added a few more experimental Freebie tracks to my website at www.phildrane[dot]com.
Look under the SHOP tab, Option 3.
I do hope you enjoy them. Phil.

Supporting Fil Campbell at The Red Lion, King's Heath, Brum this Wed, 2/11

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:30:00 GMT

Looking forward to meeting and supporting Fil Campbell, this Wed 2nd Nov at The Red Lion, Kings Heath, Brum.
Fil is a very well-known Irish singer from Co Fermanagh (www.filcampbell.com), so the night should be an enjoyable Irish/ English cultural mix.

The Balladeer Mar, 2011: Acoustic Routes Nelson (Concert Review) Got stuck in my Junkmail folder!!

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:00:00 GMT

The Balladeer March 2011 Pages 3& 4 of 7

7. Review of Phil Drane concert

This concert in February was the club's second concert at Meow, and word must have
spread around that it was a lovely venue because the audience was much bigger this
time and nearly every seat was taken. Of course, the name of English folksinger, Phil
Drane from Lancashire, attracted lots of people as well, independently from the
venue.
His name was not familiar to me, but after hearing some of his music on YouTube, I
became a fan and knew that it would be a good concert.
Phil accompanied his singing with some great guitar playing. The arrangements were
beautifully intricate and perfectly performed. He told me he had only picked up the
guitar again four years ago after many years of not playing. I could hardly believe it.
We are very lucky that he did, because it was worth listening to.
He started with an instrumental, "Wobbly legs", which he wrote after a heavy drinking
night, a nice bluesy number which showed immediately what treat the concert was
going to be.
I also loved his singing which reminded me a little of Bob Fox. He presented a good
mix of traditional and more modern folk music. His song "Last train and gone" was
also on the bluesy side, while others were British trad like "The Saucy Bold Robber",
the story of the encounter between a robber and a sailor. Like a true ballad, you are
wondering until the end which one of the two is going to win. "The Whitby Maid" was
a really good story of deception.
Most songs talked about the lives of working people: "Song for Jackie" written by Phil,
which won the Saltburn Folk Festival Songwriting competition in 2008, was about the
hardship miners endured during strikes. "Knocker Upper man" by Mike Canavan
described the man who used to go along the streets in the morning and wake up
people for them to go to work.
Phil was eager to get us to sing along and he thought a sure bet was the Maori song
"Pokarekare Ana" which he sang all the way in Maori. It was a real surprise to hear
that song sung by a visiting Englishman, but of course, Phil is half Kiwi as he lives in
the Coromandel for half the year. Anyway, everybody joined in and it sounded great.
Phil also sang a song by our own Paul Metsers who has been living in England now for
many years and whom he knows very well. He did not forget Nic Jones either, with
"Green to Grey", a song about deforestation, or Ralph McTell, with "Last train and
ride".
The sound managed by Kevin Ikin was excellent. Great job, Kevin.
During the break and at the end of the concert, Phil sat down and talked with people,
which was a good opportunity to find out more about him. He had brought his latest
CD which was on sale.
Everybody seemed to be very happy with Phil's performance and we hope that it will
be a motivation for them to come back for another Acoustic Routes concert.
Thank you Phil, for a great evening.
Annie Van Herk

Fleetwood Folk Club - Forgot to post this.

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 01:55:17 GMT

2011 Jun saw our second guest at the Strawberry Gardens a Mr. Phil Drane and his welcome back to the folk scene in the last three years after a thirty (yes 30) years absence and you would never have known it. Phil is a man with a dry whit and started the night stating that his fingers were cold and needed warming up ...no offers were forth coming ...so he played an instrumental on one of his two guitars and very accomplished it was too.
Phil is relatively unknown around the folk scene in the UK having spent a lot of his years in New Zealand, his wife Glennis being from there, and so it is of no surprise that he had a song or two from those islands which I thoroughly enjoyed AND he sang in Maori, clever man is our Phil Drane.
We at Fleetwood had a great night listening to Phil with his songs and banter and the introduction to the songs he sang, his guitar playing was a treat to listen to and watch - very professional - he is a player of the highest calibre and this complimented his singing beautifully.
We are already checking the diary for a date next year to invite him back and also Phil gave us an idea about celebrating St George’s day next April and of course he will be a big part of it, I feel we have made a friend in Phil and Glennis and long may the friendship last." ..... Joseph Boe, Fleetwood Folk Club

2011 Jun “I would like to add to what Joe has written above saying it was a wonderful balanced evening and Phil would not disappoint any audience. Hope to see you again.” ….. Mike France, Fleetwood Folk Club

Phil performing at 'Music In The Church at Aust' in 2012

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:58:38 GMT

It's a privilege to be invited to perform in the Church at Aust near Bristol in 2012.

This is a small independent musical charity dedicated to promoting a regular series of musical events featuring an eclectic mix of early music, mostly mediaeval, traditional music from a variety of cultures, and the occasional contemporary surprise.
Their website says "Let us introduce you to music you have never heard before, and widen your horizons to music you would never have have even thought of listening to."

Among this year's performers have been ...... Andy Cutting, renowned English melodeon virtuoso; Natasa Mirkovic-De Ro (folk, rock, jazz ethnomusicologist) from Bosnia and Matthias Loibner, innovative hurdy gurdy player from Austria; Angles - a trio performing folk-trance groove tinged with blues and jazz and Daughters of Elvin, a quartet offering lively dance music from 13th century Spain.
I'm flattered and really looking forward to it.

Folk On The Coast, Bognor Regis - What a brilliant gig.

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 04:55:00 GMT

Thanks to all the good 'folkie' folk of Bognor Regis for treating me right well on the 28th Oct. What a fantastic, opulent venue and a great audience. If everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did, then I'm well pleased. Thanls too for nearly clearing out my stock of CDs. Special thanks again to Roger & Pauline for their wonderful generosity, and a big recommendation to everyone to hop along for a good night's entertainment in superb surroundings. Phil.

Sorry chums but MySpace is G...A...W....N

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:43:12 GMT

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't seem to be able to get into my MySpace page at all because MySpace have decided to no longer support my browser.
Here's the thing. Internet Explorer 7 works well for me.
I follow a rule with Microsoft software - don't upgrade until someone threatens dire consequences.
By my calculations, Bill Gates owes me around $600,000 for personally de-bugging Microsot software over the past ten years so, if it ain't damnwell broke, I ain't gonna fix it.
So, since MySpace has been bloody horrible to use for the past two years, and they're now trying to dictate which Internet browser I use, I have no chosen to part company with them forever. Arrogant sods.

For information on me, my gigs, new music please go straight to www.phildrane.com
Cheers, Phil.

Hoy at Anchor Folk Club, Leigh on Sea, Essex, 2nd Aug 2011

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:45:00 GMT

Leigh on Sea is very close to Norway or so it seemed as we drove 350 miles to get there! Well, actually we stopped off at my sister's place in Oldham on the way through to celebrate Glennis' birthday but it is still a fair old drive. However, we re-discovered the A1, driving down it all the way from the end of the M62 to the A14 and what a great road it is now they've got rid of the roundabouty things. Much more relaxed driving than the M1 so we'll use this more often next year I'm sure. Leigh itself is a lovely little fishing town and when we got there it was bathing in 29deg of warmth. Not sure about the green sludge just beyond the yellow sand but it is really quaint with the cockle boats, fish shops and the waterfront bars. Typical of the summer holiday period, the audience at Hoy was a little thin on the ground but nevertheless very appreciative and keen 'joiner-inners' with plenty of banter and communal singing. Many plaudits and thanks, although I must apologise to the chap who asked me to sing High Germany because I completely forgot - and he bought a CD too!!. However, I have re-recorded the song and I will put it up on my website as a 'freebie' download very soon. Keep an an eye out for that. Thanks again to everyone for an enjoyable night and grateful thanks to Steve for putting us up. Best wishes, Phil.

Cambridge Folk Club

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:15:07 GMT

I took part in a triple-header bill at Cambridge on Friday 15th, along with Tony Carling and a local Caelidh Band called Hedgepig. This is a prestigious club and I have been looking forward to a return gig since I supported the magnificent Swarbs and Dempsey there a couple of years ago. I must say I'm not usually comfortable being in concert with a band in a folk club (festivals are totally different) as it does tend to skew the club's audience, but it turned out to be a spritely evening and I was fairly pleased to perform my half-set, mid-programme before the late-comers arrived. Very appreciative audience with lots of compliments, and compere Nicky is an absolute star. Thanks to all who purchased CDs, and to Jim and Liz for their hospitality. Phil.

Brecon Folk Club

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:03:07 GMT

This folk club has only recently moved to The Dun Cow in Houghton-le-Spring after its last home closed down, and I was privileged to be the club's first guest in its new home. What a nice, friendly club it is, and it was a pleasure to play for such a enthusiastic and talented bunch of folkies. Once again, Glennis and I were treated to a superb evening of eclectic folk music by the members (as we had been at Guisborough) - two evenings to savour indeed. My own performance was somewhat troubled by a cold and a sore throat but having warned the audience that I was singing on borrowed time and that their help might be needed, I managed to survive until the last chorus of the encore (most of the time I just love encores), when with true Dunkirk spirit they took over and ended the evening on a high note. Many thanks for having me, and even more for inviting me back! Phil

Guisborough Rugby Club

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:47:41 GMT

This gig was on Sunday 10th July, the day after the Miner's Gala. We had been trying to get a gig at this club since we first attended Saltburn Folk Festival in 2007, but, like the festival, getting a gig at Guisborough is like panning for gold. Anyway, Glennis must have been in top persuasive form because this year, we made it. From the moment we arrived we were treated right royally by everyone, and just about everyone stopped for a chat, including Tony Curtis from 'tother Guisborough Club and other people we have met before. "Do you mind a bit of banter" someone asked "It's tough if tha doesn't". Well, as it happens I do thrive on friendly banter, in fact audience involvement and participation is what folk music is all about. Well, the evening went swimmingly and there were plenty of kind comments afterwards, including a "we must get you back soon", so it must have gone pretty well. I have a theory that if I enjoy myself, then it's a sign that probably everyone else did too. Thanks Brian and Guisborough folks for treating us to a really good night. Phil.