the orpheus of leigh-on-sea

so who did horsemouth and howard  see?

well first they had to get there. and at west ham station they had their first mishap (accidentally buying an extra ticket there (don’t ask). it was a hot day - possibly the hottest of the year so far - a good day to be out of london and away to the seaside towns. the train traveled through the glories of essex - heavily subscribed with people off to southend.

howard and horsemouth got off at leigh-on-sea and wandered up the hill.

main stage - leigh orpheus male voice choir and a cup of tea to celebrate their arrival, then down to the lower library gardens for the jones boys (fields of athenry from the all ireland squeezebox accordion champion and a mandola player), then mains'l haul - the first shanty crew of the day, then back up to the main stage for daisy bowlers (double bass, guitar, triangle - la vie en rose, charlestons such like but very competently done and with a lot of charm. by this point they’d cracked and got some beer - back down to umbrella factory, a guitar and mandolin duo - great version of one more cup of coffee, then back up to see masal (you will remember horsemouth saw them last year), then back down to see a barbershop group (sorry gentlemen horsemouth has forgotten your name).

by this time horsemouth and howard were pretty much immobilised with the heat - despite their judicious acceptance of any shade available.

then three good acts on the trot.



first belinda kempster and fran foote - the stick in the wheel backing singer and her mum doing traditional essex songs - they tried to get the audience singing the refrains (but no joy) - a john barleycorn that they opened with was probably the best known, then broomdasher six voices excellent harmony work, then the hoy shanty crew (one of whom had to go and lie down mid-set) and horsemouth’s favourite rolling down the river. kitty macfarlane was setting up but horsemouth and howard awayed to sharron kraus and band which howard announced his favourite thing of the festival...


er. and that was pretty much them -

they departed in search of shade and food - finding pizza (decent) and then more shade in a weatherspoonsish pub. (and then back to the wen).

today at leigh it’s more folky (united bible studies etc.) but horsemouth is taking it quietly.