DAVE HADFIELD – ‘All The Wrong Notes’ (Scratching Shed Publishing ISBN 9780957559363)

DAVE HADFIELD All The Wrong NotesSub-titled Adventures In Unpopular Music, Dave Hadfield’s book gives us the nod that he’s really rather pleased that folk music doesn’t get the stadium touring, publicity machine driven media overdrive of mega-star musicians. So am I. You too, I guess. Described by Bernard Wrigley on the sleeve as ‘an entertaining ramble for those who know their gimbri from their mandolin’, this book is far more. What’s a gimbri, by the way? Tell me later.

Based around Bolton, Dave’s life in folk music will have many North West locals reminiscing about different folk clubs that he mentions. He starts us off by explaining how he came to find himself frequenting folk clubs whilst also having wider tastes such as The Who – the latter recently joined by Andy Cutting on stage which shows how strange life for the pigeon holing music fan can be. Just given Dave’s penchant for more than just folk, the book won me over straight away and offered up quite a few “laugh out loud” moments on the way.

However, die hard folk fans needn’t worry. The chapters are themed around key figures or musical styles that have made up the folk circuit over the last 40 or so years. His tale about a late night curry with Ewan MacColl and the drunken excess of his youthful self is a treasure and no doubt one of his favourite memories. Other chapter themes include Bert Jansch, folk rock, Morris dancing, Richard Thompson. All of them delivered with the passion of a true fan and a style that makes Dave feel like an old mate. Indeed, Dave, if you spot me out and about, we should swap tales. Mine about standing next to Richard Thompson in a latrine parallels yours outside the estate agent’s window. Meanwhile, all folk club fans should give this a read. It’s friskier than a bag of ferrets released down your trousers and far less risky.

Steve Henderson

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