FWMPC Sea Shanties, small talk and Sea Songs, Saturday 15th October

This will be a fun evening. Keith Lovell is hugely knowledgable about the history and origins of sea shanties and a highly entertaining speaker, too. 

Musical 'illustrations' will be provided by a small invited group of 'Coast Inn Players', and there will be an audience singalong session after the seafood supper (which is included in the ticket price, together with a glass of wine).

(If you love sea shanties, see previous post (below) for news of another local event of interest.)

Harwich Shanty Festival - 7th-9th October 2011

If you enjoyed our own (damp but joyous) Shanty Night  in Mersea Week, you'll love the Harwich Shanty Festival, which offers three whole days of music and nautically-themed events.

Details below (click on pics to enlarge) and further info and full programme is available on the festival's website .

Regatta Christmas Ceilidh, 10th December - a clarification

Unfortunately, a misprint has occurred in the current issue of Mersea Life, which lists the Friends of West Mersea Parish Church Christmas Carols Evening as taking place on 10th December - at the same time as the Regatta Christmas Ceilidh!

This has understandably caused some consternation amongst those who were hoping to go to (or indeed perform in) both events.

However, please note that in reality there is no clash of dates.

The FWMPC Christmas Carols Evening, featuring Vocalise and the Moondance Band will be taking place on Tuesday 20th December. See the FWMPC website  for full details of the carols evening, and watch this space for additional info about the Christmas Ceilidh.

The Mayor's Musical Extravaganza - Saturday, 29th October 2011

Last year, as you may remember, the Mayor of West Mersea, Cllr John May - a long-time loyal supporter of music at the Coast Inn - 'borrowed' the Session one Thursday in October,  as part of his mayoral fundraising initiative in support of two special charities close to his heart: Essex Air Ambulance and St Helena Hospice.  The event was a huge success and contributed towards the grand total of £4,500 which John presented to the two organisations earlier this year.

For 2011, John is once again harnessing some of the cream of Mersea's musical talent to raise money for his chosen charities, but this time it's being held at the MICA and will take the form of three distinct sets performed by Vocalise, the Moondance Band, and Blackwaterside (the poster says 'Coast Inn Players' but this is a misprint).

So please put it in your diary and support the Mersea Music Extravaganza on 29th October. Tickets £10, available from the MICA, or from Marion at the Coast Inn on Thursday nights.

Sea Shanties, Small Talk and Sea Songs - Saturday 15th October

Friends of West Mersea Parish Church  are holding a shanties evening in St Peter's Church Hall at 7.30 pm on Saturday, 15th October.

The Revd Keith Lovell - a renowned expert on the subject - will be giving a fascinating talk about the origins of sea shanties and songs, with amusing anecdotes and amazing facts, accompanied musical illustrations by a small group of musicians. 

Tickets are £10, available from the Church Office, and include a seafood supper.

There will be a chance to join in with some well-known shanties in a rousing singalong after the meal.

If you enjoyed Shanty Night at the Coast Inn  last month, then you'll enjoy this!

And while on the subject of the excellent fundraising work of Friends of West Mersea Parish Church, just a reminder that a good-quality DVD of the Friends' inaugural concert "All That Is Mersea" - opening with shanties sung by a group of Coast Inn Players, followed by sets by Cafe Musica, and Vocalise (led by Caroline Laver) - can be purchased for £10 at the Art Cafe or at the Coast Inn on Thursday nights (speak to Greg or Juliet).

Yet more musical diary dates following soon!

Mersea's Christmas Ceilidh 2011 - Saturday 10th December

Advance notice of this year's Mersea Christmas Ceilidh, which will be held in the MICA Centre on Saturday, 10th December, at 7.30 pm. Tickets will include a hot supper, and there will be a bar and raffle.

Fast-paced music by the Regatta Ceilidh Band (aka our very own Session musicians Liz, Sue, Tom, Ian, Gary, Adrian, Barry and Greg). Caller - who else but our very own John Leyland?

If you enjoyed taking part in or watching the dancing on the car park on Regatta Day last month, then do come along on 10th December and bring your family and friends. Children of all ages welcome. A great family night out to start off the festive season.

All profits will go towards funding next year's Song and Dance event at the West Mersea Town Regatta.

More musical dates for your diary coming soon . . . .

Thursday 1.9.2011

Pics this week mostly by Iona.

Good to see so many musicians there - although inevitably the sheer numbers meant that turn-taking took ages to go round the table. Still, swings and roundabouts. And maybe that's the joy of Thursday nights at the Coast Inn - you just never know who'll be there or what'll happen!

West Mersea Regatta Song & Dance 2011

Not a Coast Inn event, but since so many of those who took part are musicians and supporters of the Thursday Session and/or Moondance Club, I've put a gallery of pictures from this year's Regatta Song and Dance on its own page HERE .