I hope you had a happy Lincolnshire Day!

What?  You didn't know yesterday was Lincolnshire Day?  Well, I suppose we don't always publicise it well - we're rather fond of the place ourselves, and get a bit disturbed when lots of foreigners (from far flung places like Yorkshire or Cambridgeshire) invade us. 

I'm really fond of the fact that most Yellowbellies have enough pride in our county to have planned a day of celebration, designed and produced a county flag (which is VERY much in evidence all over the county) and staged lots of events in our beautiful county.  I was pointing out to Tim yesterday how much I love  that despite the fact we have such well-defined areas (the Fens, the Wolds, the Cliff-edge etc.) there really is no hatred or competition between the areas.  Everyone has a gentle laugh at each other, but all the areas have an extremely strong sense of being part of a greater whole that we are incredibly proud of.

I adore living in Lincolnshire.

We celebrated Lincolnshire Day by performing.  We had been invited to take part in a special concert at Spilsby Theatre, showcasing the best of Lincolnshire folk music.  We actually chose not to perform our own songs, but had a blast with some other people's:

"I Would I Were" by James Keelaghan.  Tim on guitar and vox, me on harp.  (Thanks to Tom and Dave C. who first introduced us to this beautiful song - we thought of you last night).

"Torn Screen Door" by David Francey. Acapella, Tim and I on vox in harmony.  (Thanks to Dave C for this introduction, David Francey rocks!)

"Camel" by Talis Kimberley.  (Who I hope will be pleased to know that it got a solid round of "Ooooooh...." before the applause.)

"Rising of the Sea" by Talis Kimberley (Me on bouzouki and vox, Tim on guitar and vox.  You could *hear* the intake of breath as people *got* it in a very visceral fashion.  It is something that's a very frightening prospect when you live on the fens...)

"Appleby Fair" by Talis Kimberley (Me on bouzouki and vox, Tim on double whistle.  This is my favourite Talis song, and I'm so pleased she allowed me to sing it!).

So, nothing by us, but all things that we are enjoying singing and playing hugely.  I also demo'd the Lincolnshire Great Pipes (which behaved themselves for once!  Astonishing!) and we did a surprise Christmas interlude as part of Piepowder, in honour of the fact that the concert will be broadcast at Christmas (either Christmas Day or Boxing Day, depending on schedules), this included our Lincolnshire "While Shepherds Watched" (Ttto: "The Lincolnshire Poacher") and "Good King Wenceslas, aka Jonah Louie").  Much fun and seasonally inappropriate!  The joy of advance recording, eh?

Then we came home to Post-Gig Pie which was good, too :-)

If you're interested in hearing this, I'll keep an ear out on BBC Radio Lincs for the broadcast details.  They do take part in iPlayer/Listen Again, so it should be accessible to anyone with a net connection.
 

It was a fab evening, the highlight of which was Paul Dickinson's "Sausage Song", which, frankly, has to be heard to be believed :-)