Over the last month I've been to some of the other venues where bluegrass and or old-time music can be heard regularly.  Here are some thumbnail sketches of the places I visited:

Rainham (Kent):  on the first and second Wednesday each month Graham Anstey runs a music night at the Oast Community centre [very near the station--just north of the level crossing turn left] under the title ROOTS (Rainham Oast Old Time Sessions).  The bar where the music is played is a long room--not ideal in some ways, but Graham seems to make it work well.  The night I went the audience were very friendly and there were a good selection of players.  Graham plays for the Tanglefoot cloggers and his wife Josie dances
with them so that there is often clogging as well as music.  They also put on some special guest nights - not always on the regular Wednesdays;  call Graham for details on 01634 260281

Hastings: every Thursday night Gerry Rolph and friends meet to pick at the Stag in the Old Town.  Parking is the hardest bit - it's a bit of a walk from the Rock-a-Nore car park at the end of the old town, so I parked in Harold Road (left off the main road to Ore just past the Old Town - the Stag is visible from the Hastings end of Harold Road).  Music starts about 9pm and goes on till closing, and there are a good bunch of regular fans who turn up to listen, so it's best to make sure of a seat early if you want one!  The music is mainly bluegrass, though Gerry always does a bit of frailing.  Details from Gerry on 01424 852337.

Dartford Folk Club:  this club often puts on bluegrass and old-time music--they meet every Tuesday at the Dartford Working Men's Club in Essex Road (off Kent Road - just to the north west of Dartford town centre, and 5-10 minutes walk from the railway station).  I went to see Magpie - more Pete Seeger than Mike Seeger, but very talented and a good evening's entertainment.  The resident band, the Dartford Ramblers also play a good selection of songs with a nice old-time feel, and some lovely harmonica from Jim Driscoll.  Details from Pam/Alan Colls on 01322 222553.
If you've been to an event you think other readers would be interested in please write in.

Rick can now be contacted on 01732 458261 day time  or    e-mail Richard@stjulians.co.uk.

Chords for the House Band

Turkey in the Straw

G G G D
G G G D/G
(repeat)
G G C C
G G G D/G
(repeat)

St Anne's Reel
D D G D
D D G/A D
(repeat)
D G A D
D G A D
(repeat)

Old Joe Clark
A A A E
A A A/E  A
(repeat)
A A A G
A A A/E A
(repeat)

Wildwood Flower
C C G7 C C
C C G7 C C
C C F C
C C G7 C C

Kentucky Waltz (3/4)
G G G G
G G D D
D D D D
D D G G
G G G G
G G C C
C C G E
A D G G

Worried Man Blues

G G G G
C C C G
G G G G
D D G G