Reviews 2023

Woodman Folk Club - Reviews
Liz Simcock

Woody* 24 March 2023

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Hi everyone Woody here again with a review of another fabulous night at the Woodman Folk Club; and as the chimes of Left Bank Two by the Noveltones faded into the distance the evening was opened by our MC, Mr Bryn Phillips

As is our new practice the evening was kicked off by an opening set from one of our club stalwarts/regulars. This time Sue and Paul Matthews who are of course Velvet Green. And what a superb set it was from the duo who were in excellent form. In no particular order Ewan McColl’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”; Keith Donnelly’s Waterfall number “Swan Song”; Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” gave Paul chance to show his expertise on guitar, in addition to the Sue’s superb voice. Paul and his co-writer Tony Haycox provided “Where Lovers Often Meet” while Paul’s alone wrote, “Over Old Jack And Jill Hill” and finally to round off the set, an old favourite - Sandy Denny’s “Who Knows Where The Time Goes”. A wonderful start to the proceedings.

Bryn’s introduction for our guest artist was by means of a poem, which he swears was written by a chat bot. Do we believe him? Mmm??

Liz has guested at the club 5 times including tonight which is not as many times as I would have thought given the esteem in which she is held by us all. She has the dubious honour of being the last guest to grace the stage before the club closed for lockdown in March 2020. She did however make an appearance at the club’s online three session 50th anniversary concert in March 2021 during which as I recall she read out some notes she had written after her last visit saying how much she had enjoyed it and how Debbie and Derry had looked after her. We aim to please.

Anyway on to the present. Liz is not only a wonderful singer, with a relaxed style of playing guitar and bouzouki, but also has a lovely sense of humour, an engaging personality and as I said before “a smile that lights up the whole room”. Her songs whether sad, or happy are deeply personal and I can’t recall one which didn’t seem to contain a piece of herself. I don’t think I have experienced any performer who gives so much of herself.

We were treated to two sets neatly divided by the proverbial raffle which as usual I didn’t win. All the songs she sang were self-penned and all apart from two were taken from her various albums. The last time she was with us her latest cd “Winter Hill” was still in production so it was lovely to have the opportunity to buy such songs as the title track, “Bright Shiny Girl”; “All Dressed Up” and half a dozen others from the cd to take home with us. “Winter Hill” was written while staying near Bolton when she walked up the hill to see it’s view while trying to get out of “A Grump”. It worked and like so many of Liz’s songs the situation inspired her to write it down. As previously we were given opportunities to join in the chorus. What is I think unique in my experience is that Liz teaches you the chorus so that you can give it your all. I particularly liked the happy go lucky “City Girl” and of course the song she felt she had booked to sing and would not be allowed to leave without doing “The Bouzouki And The W3”. Of all the songs Liz has written this is the most requested song no matter where she goes. If you have not heard it buy the “Friday Night Train Home” cd which has not only W3 but the eponymous song “By The Way” and “City Girl”. After about an hour and a half Liz announced “Home To You” which she admitted was not the last song really but if we cheered and shouted etc would give her another chance to sing another miserable song.. So we did and she sang “Will You Come With Me?”, another song that was written to get her over a grump.

And so, another evening came to an end and the audience reluctantly wended their way home to return another day.

I shall conclude as normal by saying;

A Wonderful Night Was Had by All.
Here’s to The Next One.


* Notes taken by Les Jones, who also typed up the review, but the views expressed are
those of Woody, the club mascot.