Martin Graebe has written a very interesting book about SBG and his folk song collecting (which also functions as a general biography), called As I Walked Out.  Worth tracking down if you want to learn more about him.

I loved the story about how he met his wife, when he was a curate in Yorkshire. She was a mill-girl, quite a bit younger than him, and far below him in social status (this was the 1860s, so these things mattered).  He was determined to marry her, and arranged for her to spend a year or so living with a middle-class family to learn how to function in those circles, whilst he paid her family the equivalent of her wages.  They were happily married for about 50 years, and had 15 children, and are buried side by side in the churchyard, and his epitaph for her calls her 'the better half of him'.

Agreed. He's always worth catching in concert. Hope you get a chance to see the Baring-Gould show.

Old school British soul tonight with The Real Thing in my old hometown Of Clitheroe.

Soul singer Jimmy James (of Vagabonds fame).

Jah Wobble and The Invaders of the Heart playing "Metal Box Rebuilt In Dub" at The Exchange in Bristol on Thursday night, augmented by Jon Klein (ex-Banshees) filling the Keith Leven guitar role.  All five players are fine musicians and they didn't disappoint. As well as the Metal Box album, we also heard two songs from PiL's first album: "Public Image" and "Fodderstompf".  

A compact and bijou venue, ideal for Wobble's bass to be felt as well as heard - the only other bands I've experienced live with such a full bass sound were Aswad (open-air gig on St George's Plateau in Liverpool) and Can (at the old boxing stadium in Liverpool).  

So glad I now wear "Hearos" earplugs to most gigs - they cut out the high-frequency distortion that used to leave my ears "ringing" until the following day.

I really enjoy Jim's singing, a really wonderful voice and an engaging performer live. I didn't know this tour was happening and pleased to see so many dates, especially SW which is understandable. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to catching a live gig.

Just got back. Terrific evening. Jim Causley & Miranda Sykes were as excellent as ever, and John Palmer, who shared anecdotes and read some of SBG's stories, did so with a real passion for his subject. I went for the music but left feeling the need to properly explore SBG's work. Job done by the performers!

If you get the chance to catch a performance, I hope you enjoy it!

The Baring-Gould evening sounds good - thanks for the hint to go and look at Jim's website. We live very close now to the area where SBG was squarson (his old home was a very fancy hotel/restaurant, which has just gone bust!).

Wreckless Eric at Wrecking Ball Arts Centre in Hull tonight
I think his autobiography gets an update/ reprint , published tomorrow
Expecting lots of stories along with a few songs

On the bright side small festivals and day events seem to be proliferating all over the place.