In 2013 The Bridgetown Cidery became home to a regular Folk Music Night, where local artists performed both solo and together as a band. In the Photo above we have Daun on percussion, a woman whose name I sadly can’t remember, Mary Myfanwy (who has her own solo career), and Adrian Williams (who can play a number of string instruments) who was a catalyst for the venture. This was taken July 2014 when I was still living in the town. I regularly attended these events because I love folk music, and on occasion there’d be something from the archive of Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention, among others. It was a fabulous time.
When I was around three years old, I have a distinct memory (I can still locate myself by a song, even my mood at the time on some occasions) of the songs of Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Bob Dylan (who I met in 1978 in Perth) and I have ever since had a soft spot for folk music of many kinds. My mother always had the radio on, BBC of course, and through those long English winters, trapped indoors, it was wonderful to be able to listen to music of all kinds. Fats Domino, Lonny Donegan, Cliff Richard and the Shadows, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Tom Jones, The Platters, Gene Vincent, Sam Cooke and more became known to me by their songs, it would be some years later that I would identify the songs by those who sang them. I loved music, I loved participating too. As with all children I was in the school “orchestra or band” I played the triangle, and eventually graduated to tambourine. I sang in a church choir for a time as a child, but when my voice broke it was deemed better that I not do that anymore 🙂
The sixties music had a profound effect on me. Who could ever deny the impact of the Beatles, but so many good songs and the bands who brought them into being.
My school band days migrated to the Australian school system where everyone was expected to learn to play the recorder (which drove my teachers and my Parents mad) and every class had a singing session weekly to learn songs. I loved it all. I never did learn to read music, and for a brief moment in time I started to learn to play bass guitar, and was in a couple of attempted start-up bands. I did write some songs, but found I was a better poet than a straight up song writer. It was all good fun.
When I was in my teens, music, like reading, was a great escape, and I found music could also lift my soul, that hasn’t changed, it still does. I have my favourite songs, but I have a broad love of music and genre, from from folk to pop, blues to rock, gospel to hip hop, and classical and jazz. I have really enjoyed fusion, and the collaboration between cultures as pioneered by people like Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, George Harrison, and including Robert Plant, and many others.
I find music affects me body, mind and soul. There are some songs or pieces that bring me goose-bumps, and ecstasy, others are deeply meditative, some energising.
Even the very serious Friedrich Nietzsche once said: “Without music, life would be a mistake.”
I agree, it would be a tragedy. But thankfully humanity is creative and expressive and we have a vast body of ever growing work to choose from. I wonder what your favourite song is? Perhaps like me you find it hard to choose just one. For me, in this moment, Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A Changin” In 1964, it was a very real song, an anthem. But now it is more – it is my constant hope.
Paul,
pvcann.com
parallax 
Can’t imagine life without music. Like you say, it is so hard to choose one song, but the one that often runs through my head and maybe it is because I first heard it at a pivotal time in my live, but it’s Neil Young’s “There Comes a Time”
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Such a great song, he writes experience well, just love his work, thank you for responding, nice to share your song.
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Thnx, Paul. We share similar music backgrounds, and you’ve given me an idea for a future blog. I promise I’ll give you credit. Rick
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Pleasure, but don’t stress about the credit, you just did. Enjoy writing.
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Love your piece, all types of music, and especially Bob’s song. And I agree change is a wonderful thing we could use more. My Mockingbird version singing with Bob.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VlZZ_q6a3nfOWIl8PR_Qxe_hF2blBZh5
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Special delivery, thank you, and thanks for reflecting on this David
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I was fortunate to see Peter, Paul & Mary in the 1960’s. And in 2013 Paul McCartney came to town. These are two of my favorites. But Lennon’s “Imagine” still gives me chills.
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Yes, I get that, for me that song is about immanence, goosebumps for sure, appreciate your thought Sandy.
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🙂 For me, it was Rush, Yes, Jethro Tull, and John Lennon… among others.
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Yes, where does the list begin and end, so many amazing and creative artists. I’ve often thought that the easier way would be to list the ones I didn’t like. Someone sent me a Rush clip via YouTube a couple of days ago. So good.
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I really enjoyed your story. I grew up on country and pop music. When I was thirteen I heard a high school folk group sings the songs of Peter Paul and Mary and I was hooked. In college I learned to play the guitar which I still enjoy to this day. Folk Music changed the world. Have you ever listened to the folk music of Nancy Griffiths. She has some wonderful music on You Tube.
Dwight
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Thanks for responding Dwight, glad to hear you have been inspired and still are to play. I haven’t encountered Nancy in the past, but now I have, and will take you up on it and have a listen.
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She has fabulous music and the accompaniment is wonderful.
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Today’s task is to indulge your suggestion, looking forward to it.
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I had some good musical times too in 2014-2015 especially. We played Irish, Scots, and some Quebecois trad music in an adapted local micropub. At the height of it’s power, you never knew what sort of musician would drop in. Some of the locals were pretty avid spoon players too. The last half of the 60’s were incomparable in terms of the variety and quality of popular composed music it gave to the world. Happily, just before the $$ production business people got their claws into the works. Creativity ruled. Not possible to select a favorite song. Some of my favorite stuff, in roughly chronological order, were American soul music, Jefferson Airplane, Leonard Cohen, Incredible String Band, Oregon, Weather Report. And anything ethnic… loved all sorts of “world music” before that term became applicable. 🙂
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So love your list, and whole heartedly agree with your comment on the $$ crowd, they ruined it. We have a spoon player local, she’s amazing. And nice to get a glimpse of your bit too. Really appreciate your response.
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Great post! You are right coz music saves a many lives! 🙂
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Many thanks, I agree with your thought.
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Amazing, and thank you
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Yes music evokes very strong emotional memories – I am often transported to the feeling and the time when I used to hear that piece of music – very powerful indeed. I too loved these evenings at the Cidery – good times
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They were the best, and thank you
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Good music is a great mood lifter!!
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Just found this post, Paul. What a lovely trip down memory lane! (And, I love The Cidery too). For me, the world stands still when I hear Mama Cass Elliot, especially Dream a Lil Dream of Me. She had an amazing voice.
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Mama Cass sure did. I thought you might know the Cidery. We’ve said it before, we must have passed each at some point. Thank you Dawn.
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You’re welcome. Ford House and The Cidery are mandatory stops in Bridgetown. We probably have passed each other along the way.
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Ford House was sold last year, haven’t heard if the new owners are keeping the business, great trove of treasure.
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It was on the market for some time and I’m sure the sale would have been a relief. Big property and business to manage on her own. I loved wandering around the place and spent a few nights there intermittently. Hope it continues to be a B&B.
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Yes, she was also ill which finally sealed it I think. Never stayed there as I lived there, but certainly loved browsing. Many a friend or relative benefited from there. 🙂
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I knew I had written about the place at some stage in my blog. I just found it … ‘Winter in Bridgetown, Western Australia’.
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