CVFolk's Alzheimer’s fundraiser launches a new season of lively folk music

Bob Cooper. Photo courtesy of Paul Englefield.

Music campaign group CVFolk is adding fundraising to its remit to promote, support and celebrate local folk music.

This month’s ‘Second Sunday’ show takes place at Coventry’s Albany Theatre on Sunday 8 September and features an evening of lively, feel-good, foot-tapping music to raise cash for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Headline act, Robert Cooper & Friends consists of a seven-piece line-up of Leamington musicians, known for their longstanding support for local causes, especially those related to dementia.

Inspired by the musical legacy of his good friend, the late Steve Boyer, singer and guitarist Bob Cooper shares his enjoyment of all styles of music – anything from folk to country to ska – by organising and supporting such community events as Sydnifest and the Dementia Café. Some of the performers appearing with him have worked with Bob and Steve as The Hanksters, so expect some Hank Williams classics in their up-tempo repertoire.

The Scutters. Photo courtesy of the Artists.

Hard-working and popular Rugby trio The Scutters are also on the billing. They comprise frontman, vocalist and guitarist Des Fraser, with Steve Redshaw (vocals, guitar, mandolin, banjo) and Richard Noton, (cajon and percussion), and play a hot mixture of well-known songs with many folk and Irish classics included. You may well have seen them entertaining an appreciative crowd from the CVFolk Stage in Coventry’s Upper Precinct during this summer’s MotoFest weekend.

Squire Gillespie. Photo courtesy of Pete Willow.

To start the evening, the voices and guitarwork of Colin Squire and Carole Gillespie provide impressive arrangements of well-chosen songs, including some originals, often telling great stories.

CVFolk organiser, Pete Willow is keen to reward the excellent support received from Alzheimer’s Society during the six years that he and his wife, Chele provided home care for his mother, when Alzheimer’s took over her life. He recalls, “Mum came with me when I performed at Steve Boyer’s Dementia Café sessions in Leamington, during the early stages of her illness, and she always gave me a round of applause whenever I practised songs at home. So this will be a special evening of music, merriment and memories.’”

The music starts at 7.30pm in the Albany Theatre Studio on Sunday 8 September. All artists are playing for free and there’s no admission charge. Instead, the usual ‘caddy’ collection will take place to raise as much as possible from donations.