Roy Clinging

photo taken at Chester Folk Festival

(reproduced by kind permission of North Wales Newspapers Ltd.)

" Part of the warp and weft of English folk."

Stortfolk Music Club

"a performer of real stature, good taste and integrity."

David Kidman (The Living Tradition)

Roy Clinging has been involved with folk music since the early seventies and is a full time performer with experience of clubs and festivals across the UK and in the USA. He has a wide selection of ballads and songs from all over the British Isles to draw on and has widely researched the songs and traditions of his own area (Cheshire). He has also maintained a keen interest in songs of the sea which has seen him regularly booked at specialist maritime events.

Roy Clinging & Neil Brookes performing at the 2005 Saddleworth Folk Festival.

Roy has continued his research into Cheshire songs and has now completed a book on the subject, Cheshire Folk Songs and associated traditions, which was successfully launched at the Chester Folk Festival on 29th May, 2005.  His work as a duo with Neil Brookes is also flourishing and they have now recorded their first album together on the WildGoose label.

Left and above are pictures of Roy performing solo and with the 'All Hands' chorus (L-R Martin Carthy, Louis Killen, Tim Laycock, Roy, Heather Wood, Jim Causley (hidden), and members of the Hanging Johnny shanty group) during the Celebrating Cyril concert at Cecil Sharp House, April 2007.  All performers gave their services free and the proceeds will go towards the preservation of Cyril Tawney's extensive archive of memorabilia, field recordings and writings, which will be housed in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library.   Photos by Graham Holloway.

More information can be found at  www.cyriltawney.co.uk 

A Poor Man's Heritage

This is a show commissioned by the Salt Museum in Northwich, and researched and written by Roy, to highlight the building's history as the old town workhouse.  Based around nineteenth century ballad sheets it is an exploration of the poor in Victorian Britain through songs and drama.  A band of itinerant musicians and penny ballad sellers ply their wares and introduce themselves.  When the narrator takes up the story, interspersed with quotes, speeches and short dramatic cameos, the songs are used to highlight the issues along the way.   

The music is performed by Roy Clinging, Neil Brookes, Mary Clinging and Dave Russell, with Narration by Nick Mitchell, and after successful performances to a full house at the Salt Museum and at the Chester Folk Festival, the next scheduled performance is at the Saddleworth Folk Festival in 2008, although there are one or two other options still in the pipeline. Roy, Neil, Mary, Dave and Nick have now developed the material into a package that is suitable for village halls, folk clubs and festivals with less space and smaller budgets. 

Cheshire Folk Songs and associated traditions is available from Roy price £11.99 plus £2.00 p&p.  There is also an accompanying practice/audition CD for an additional £3.50.  This is a useful aid to learning the songs for those who either do not read music or simply prefer to learn by ear.  It is simply the melody line of all the tunes printed in the book played on a computer generated piano keyboard.  There has already been good feedback from people who have learned some of the songs this way.

Reviews:

In his review of the book for eds (the magazine of the English Folk Dance & Song Society) Roy Palmer says:

'Roy Clinging is becoming increasingly well known as a lively and discriminating performer, with a thoughtful approach and deep feeling for the tradition.  He by no means confines himself to a regional repertoire but nevertheless takes a particular interest in the songs and tunes associated with his native county.  He has now edited a handsomely-produced book, A4 sized, containing 60 songs and in addition photographs (some in colour) and broadside facsimiles.  The music is printed with exceptional clarity, but for those unable to read it a computer-generated piano crib of the tunes is available.'

He concludes:

'I have the feeling that the book is going to be well-thumbed and the songs well-sung.'

Roy Palmer for eds autumn 2005

Ian Chesterman in Folk North West describes it as:

'an absolute must buy book for all performers, enthusiasts and historians of our musical heritage.'

Roy Clinging & Neil Brookes

Roy and Neil are seasoned campaigners who have received substantial recognition in their relative fields.  Traditional music is in their blood (both were brought up in families with a strong background of songs, music and dance) and they have drawn on these influences to develop their unique sound.

Roy's great love is traditional song and he has appeared at clubs and festivals across the UK.  Neil is an outstanding dance musician with a distinctly English fiddle style who has amassed a huge repertoire of tunes, many from lesser-known collections from the North West.

Roy's singing and concertina playing are enhanced by Neil's musicianship as he complements the songs and inspires the tunes on fiddle and octave fiddle.

Roy and Neil's first recording together is available on the WildGoose label.  

Another Round is priced at £12.00 plus £2.00 p&p.

More information about Roy and Neil and audio samples from their first demo recording can be found on Neil's website at www.brookes36.freeserve.co.uk

For more information and reviews of Another Round try:

www.wildgoose.co.uk  

Roy Clinging is available solo, as a duo with Neil Brookes, or as a band (Roy, Neil, Mary Clinging and Dave Russell) with the songs from A Poor Man's Heritage. He is currently organising his 2008/09 diary and looking for club and festival bookings as well as other interesting projects and events.  If anyone is interested in booking Roy in any one of his guises please contact him at roy@motmove.freeserve.co.uk or telephone 01244 319509.

Forthcoming folk events so far confirmed include:

* indicates a booking as a duo with Neil Brookes

 For bookings and further information contact

Music on the Move

01244 319509

e-mail: roy@motmove.freeserve.co.uk

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