Hove Folk Club

Tracey Curtis: 12th June 2009
Report by Harriet Bolter.

The evening started with club resident Robb Johnson ranting about dishwashers and how unnecessary to a meaningful life they are. I found myself pondering this and listening to the evening’s entertainment with this burning question echoing in my mind. Many of the old folk songs about hard times throw up pictures about the struggles of war and basic survival.  Not least the feeling of downtrodden women who could have done with a dishwasher or two!

The floor singers were many and varied (pictures of Lomans and Jonathan, right). Every performance was met with encouragement and praise. What a friendly lot we are!! Mike R had us all gasping with "Hitler’s Pinky", and Jim with his forthright approach encouraged us to "Rock Tonight Baby". The quality of the floor singers has gone from strength to strength over the past months and it's lovely to see performers trying out new stuff.

Headliner Tracey Curtis was a real treat. Quietly confident with a very chatty approach to the audience, she started with some firm favourites: "Snow is Freedom", "Letters to Mr Bush" and the 'bring a lump to your throat' song "Shellshock". Before each, she offered an explanation that gave us a wonderful glimpse into the life of a singer-songwriter.

More treats were in store as Tracey introduced her dance troop! Attempting to sing "Keep It Simple" without laughing, Tracey encouraged her dancers to model the movements of the sun, moon and earth to match the chorus. Eat your hearts out, Pan’s People!

The second half continued with Barbara & friends, and then Jonathan singing with his guitar. Tracey finished off the evening with more songs old and new. She sang a song she had written as a present for her future mother-in-law who had turned down Stevie Wonder’s advances… ‘I know he’s blind but it shows what a personality she has!’ Finally to great applause she encored with "John Peel’s Song" and "Vegan Police" explaining that she was a vegan, of course, but the song was aimed at all those people who were better at it than you.

And not forgetting the famous wacky raffle, where prizes ranged from a ball of string to a nest of tables! Think I might bring some dishwasher tablets next month?

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/traceycurtis

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