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Thursday night is Folk Club night in Wivenhoe.

Oh Lordy.

Well, once a month it is, anyway. There’s always been a folk element to my music, as the NME phrase once went back in the day. This isn’t actually too far from the truth. Michelle Shocked’s first gig in the Fair City back in ’88, an avid fan of the legendary Here Be Dragons radio show, and even ownership of a Fairport Convention double album - yep, there’s always been a folk element to my music…

Which is just as well, seeing as though I entered upstairs at The Greyhound early evening on Thursday, and walked into what appeared to be a Who’s Who of Wivenhoe performing artists. Entry wasn’t strictly on your ability to strum out three chords, but I experienced a mild nervous moment, pondering if Mull of Kintyre rendition would be required before last orders.

The Wivenhoe Folk Club is legendary. It attracts many of the leading performers on the UK folk circuit, and is supported by a sizable gathering of equally talented local artists. Meeting once a month, November’s gathering was deemed an Open Mic affair.

But first off, this just in: Wivenhoe Folk Club is on the move. An announcement was made before the first chords echoed around the surreal Mediterranean surroundings upstairs at The Greyhound:

“We have outgrown the venue. As from next month, the Folk Club is moving to the temporary home of the Freemason’s Lodge up along The Avenue.”

Blimey.

Rest assured, lovers of traditional folk and fine ale - a temporary bar will also be in place at the home of the trousers shaking Freemason’s of this parish. And so this was to be my first, and last, visit to the Wivenhoe Folk Club at The Greyhound. Best make the most of it; best get the Guinness in.

Chin chin.

The evening at The Greyhound got off to a lively start, with some wonderful innuendo about great big shining prize marrows. The atmosphere was set for the following three hours. I was grinning after only half a pint of Guinness.

What is wonderful about these Open Mic evenings is the genuine participation and cooperation from the floor. Everyone here is a performer, dahhhling, and so the entire room shares in the chorus and adds a unique local Wivenhoe feel to some traditional, and contemporary folk songs.

All styles are catered for here - sea shanties, blues, choral harmonising and even a spot of poetry. It was *almost* enough to make me take to the floor and strum out my legendary two chord bash through of Mull of Kintyre. Except I only know one and a half chords, and so my movements for the evening were only between table and bar.

I felt something of a fraud, being one of the few non-performers on the evening. I thought it puerile to take to the stage and try some of my freefall experimental jazz poetry, five pints or no five pints.

So yeah - a lively and entertaining evening, and sadly possibly the last meeting of the Wivenhoe Folk Club at The Greyhound. The esteemed Johnny Silvo will be taking to the stage at the, um, Masonic Lodge on 18th November.

Membership enquiries can be made via Denise on 01206 827759. You won’t find a friendlier meeting of folk minded folk this side of Sunny Colchester.