Ian Hughes

The only full recording is an amateur effort which was recorded in my back bedroom. A CD copy was given to a few friends in the North Cheshire Cruising Club, including some who blacked my boat's bottom last year and inspired the song. If you really want a copy, get in touch and I'll send you one (warts and all). Ian

'Songs of the Inland Waterways' which is acting as an archive for canal related songs (over 150 at the last count) has got too big for its previous web-host and can now be found at www.waterwaysongs.co.uk

This was a fantastic evening. If you get a chance to see any future performance then don't miss it.

I am informed that Benny Graham & Johnny Handle will also be doing the show 'They're Coming back to the Water', originally developed by Benny & the late Jeff Dennison, at St Michael & St Wulfad's Church in Stone on Saturday evening as part of its 250th birthday celebrations (Admission £8.00 show starts at 7:30pm).

Thanks 1066! I do indeed need to get out a bit more but I would like to get this right for the website 'Songs of the Inland Waterways' where I have just added a song 'The Narrowboatman Blues' (or should that be 'The Narrowboat-man Blues'?) I prefer the former but, of course, the computer spell-checker (American!) doesn't like it and that is what raised the question in my mind in the first place.

Is narrowboatman one non-hyphenated word or not? If not where would the hyphen go? By the way, I know 'narrow boatman' is more a description of the stature of the boatman. There are plenty of wide narrowboatmen around.

Roy Harris gave Benny Graham this unsolicited recommendation on the Mudcat folk music discussion forum. I repeat it here as an encouragement to anyone who can to make it to this event. "I have known Benny Graham for the best part of 40 years. I can tell you without hesitation that he is one of the best singers in the country, UK that is. He has a beautiful voice and his singing is full of a life force that lifts the spirit like no other. I have no idea why he isn't recognised by the majority as a national musical treasure. My advice to you all is - Go to hear Benny, solo or with Johnny Handle, Bob Fox, or Pegleg Ferret, you won't regret it, not if you know what good singing is about. If you run a club or festival, book him and bring something special to your event. Folks in the USA or Oz, NZ, etc, do yourselves a favour,invite him over. It's time that the folk world woke up to his ability. Bravo Benny!" Tickets are selling well but it will be possible to pay on the night for 'They're Coming Back to the Water' (a bargain at only £5).

Sunday, 7th September 2008 at 7.30 pm. Venue : North Cheshire Cruising Club, High Lane, nr Stockport, SK6 8AA. Close to bridge 11 on the Macclesfield canal. Benny Graham and Johnny Handle will be presenting their entertaining show about the canals featuring songs and archive pictures. The show is in the NCCC clubhouse where the bar will be open during the evening. Cost £5. Your will be sure of a warm welcome and if you want to ensure a ticket just e-mail me : ian@moonlightshadow.demon.co.uk

A website which is hoping to collect together songs relating to the British waterway system has recently gone on-line at www.moonlightshadow.demon.co.uk. Previously, there did not appear to be a central source for such material. In time, sheet music, chords, historical notes, links to performers or song-writers web-sites will all be included. If anyone has any contributions, comments or whatever, I would be pleased to hear from them. Ian Hughes