Robin Garside, Pete Sumner, Keith Kendrick, Maggie Boyle, Paul Bellamy, Linda Kelly and Hazel Richings (AKA Hissyfit), Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher
Influences
Ewan MacColl, Cyril Tawney, Leon Rosselson, Martin Carthy, John Kirkpatrick, George Formby, Benny Hill, Donald McGill, Charles Causley, Sir John Betjeman, Jake Thackray, Spike Milligan, the English Folk Song Tradition.
John Conolly is an internationally-respected songwriter who has based his style firmly in the folk tradition. His finely-crafted songs are performed with warmth, good humour and lilting accompaniments on guitar and melodeon.
Many of John’s songs have a tang of the sea, inherited from his upbringing on the east coast of England, where his grandfather and great-grandfather were boatbuilders on the banks of the river Humber. His best-known composition, the classic Fiddlers’ Green, has the ring of a true folk ballad, and has often been taken for a traditional song. John’s more recent work continues this tradition of finely-crafted writing – listen to the heart-rending Willie Leonard, the elegiac Old Men Sing Love Songs, or the outrageously funny Smartarse …
John is an experienced performer in all kinds of venues, from the large concert-hall to the local pub – he has toured in the U.S.A., Germany and the Netherlands, and has appeared at major Festivals in England, Ireland, Brittany and Poland. He has also been commissioned to write songs for radio, television and the stage – the highly-acclaimed play The Northern Trawl carried his songs to theatre audiences throughout Britain, Iceland and Scandinavia, and his songs and singing were featured in the Yorkshire Television mini-series Lincolnshire Legends.
John Conolly’s songs have been performed and recorded by many well-known artistes – people like The Dubliners, Malinky, the McCalmans, Roy Bailey, Stormalong John, The Yetties and George Hamilton IV,to name but a few – but there’s a special buzz in hearing them sung by the composer : join him soon on your very own trip to Fiddlers’ Green . . .
CDs currently available -
THE GRUMPY OLD MEN OF OLD ENGLAND – featuring one of John’s most requested songs, together with lots of new stuff, (and a few old favourites re-visited…)
RANTERS’ WHARF : John Conolly (JACD 02)
THE NORTHERN TRAWL : songs and music by John Conolly and Bill Meek from the Remould Theatre Company production. (MECON 2)
TRAWLERTOWN : The Singing of the Fishing. (Fellside Recordings,FECD 135)
SEND US A POSTCARD : The Saucy Songs of John Conolly. (JACD 01)
ON HUMBER’S BROWN WATER; The songs of John Conolly and Bill Meek. A double-CD
collection of 44 songs from several of John and Bill’s previous recordings with The Broadside, Rational Anthem etc. Lovingly restored from the original wax cylinders ! (MECON 1)
The above CDs are all available at £13 inc postage, except for the “Humber’s Brown Water “ double-CD set, which is £16 inc postage.
John's CDs are also available online.
UK: www.chanteycabin.co.uk
US: www.camscomusic.com
GET GRUMPY !
YES,FOLKS ! – John Conolly’s new CD “The Grumpy Old Men of Old England” is now available, featuring John on Grumpy Guitar and Miserable Melodeon, Robin Garside on Finicky Fiddle and Bombastic Banjo, the Bad-tempered Backing Vocals of the harmonious Hissyfit, and the Cantankerous Concertinas of Keith Kendrick . . (and
Scintillating Sleevenotes by Alliteratives Anonymous. . .)
With 19 tracks and 60 minutes of enjoyment, the album features a host of new songs, including “I am Christmas”, the latest production from the Conolly/Meek songwriting stable – surely destined to be a Christmas Folk hit! – and “Stone Walls and Cells”, inspired by a Handel aria – the closest you’ll get to Culture on this CD !
Several old favourites are re-visited, like John’s environmental warning-bell “Charlie in the Meadow”, recorded by Tony Capstick in the 1970s, and still just as relevant today,and Bill Meek’s nostalgic tribute to the Humber paddle-steamer “Lincoln Castle”.
In among the serious songs, you’ll find lurking a selection of John’s finest rib-ticklers (recorded live at “Not the White Horse Folk Club”, Beverley).These include a “sneak preview” of Les Barker’s very funny parody of “Fiddlers’ Green”, soon to be
featured on Les’s latest edition of the “Guide Cats for the Blind” CD series . . .
. . . Also watch out for “Sam the Squeezebox Man” (for mistreated melodeon-players
everywhere), and “Brave Admiral Storey” ,John’s hilarious tribute to Whitby Folk Week – plus, of course, that infamous “ Grumpy Old Men” song (there are actually TWO versions – the clean one’s at the beginning,for those of a nervous disposition. . . )
With sparkling accompaniments from Keith Kendrick and Robin Garside, and delicious harmonies from Hissyfit, the album promises an hour of excellent entertainment – so , welcome to Grumpyland ! – come on in and get Good and Grumpy . . .
“THE GRUMPY OLD MEN OF OLD ENGLAND” is the ideal present to show your appreciation of the Grumpy Person in YOUR life ! The CD is available by post at
£13 inc postage (cheques payable to JOHN CONOLLY), from : 18, SCRIVELSBY COURT,
CLEETHORPES, N.E.LINCOLNSHIRE, DN35 0HJ.
JOHN CONOLLY – Rave Reviews and Notable Quotables …
“Well-written,compulsively-singable songs ; every song is important in its own way …” Chris Coe : Folk Roots.
“This is the poetry of the working man …” Cyril Tawney.
“If you like real folk ballads, songs connected to real places, real people and real events …songs with grit, that open up a window into social histories that sound-bite journalism can’t handle – you will love the songs of John Conolly “
Sean Laffey : Editor, Irish Music magazine.
“A sense of humour that would make the Devil himself drop his toasting-fork and collapse in fits of laughter – pure, unadulterated fun !”
Gerry Milne : Folk London.
“Conolly is a seasoned and often very funny entertainer of the “old school” of folksingers – able to switch from a powerful anti-war song like “The Last Ploughshare”one minute, to having his audience roaring their heads off at the spot-on observations in the delicious “Smart-arse”…” Bryan Chalker : Traditional Music Maker.
“John Conolly – a ray of sunshine on a rainy day …one cannot help being cheered and lifted by this man and his songs …Fabulous !”John Corteen : Ingleton Folk Weekend.
ENQUIRIES AND BOOKINGS : Tel. 01472 695836 or email johnconolly@hotmail.com
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
Hi John, it was good to hear you the other night. I really enjoyed Mawkin:Causley and Hissyfit, too. It was a brilliant evening! All the best with your music Helen :-)
Thanks for your generosity. I've uploaded "Willie Leonard". Hope you like my take on it, i love the song, and soon i'll be uploading the outlandish knight too, thanks for sharing those few great words! I'll soon be writing a few words up about all my songs, so you can get due credit! I hope you don't mind me uploading your song before my CD is released. I just think it is such a beautiful song that everyone should hear it right away...
Hi John My new album is out soon titled "Reminiscence deftly trips" songs about childhood, and featuring that oldie of mine. "Annual August bank trip". I'd love to know what you think of it keep smiling
Great to hear from you, John! I was listening to Trawlertown over the weekend. Hoping we can get to one of your gigs in January. I have a new disc, "Irish Pirate Ballads," due in March. All the best, Dan
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