Aldbury Morris Men - Apres Morris

Après Morris

On a Thursday evening, during the summer months, outside some Buckinghamshire or Hertfordshire Inn, you may chance upon Aldbury Morris. After the dancing has finished and the broken sticks and bits of bloodied scalp have been cleared from the forecourt, and "Dobbin" - the notorious Aldbury horse - has been laid to rest with a bag of oats, the remains of the side amble purposefully into the bar. Shortly afterwards the regulars and customers who had been previously driven into the same bar by the dangerous manner of the said dancing, are noted fleeing to the relative safety of the saloon bar or indeed to their getaway cars.

There, in the gathering gloom of an otherwise empty public bar, save for the presence of a none too impressed Landlord, appear as if by magic, guitar, mandola, fiddle and a battered red leather case resembling the budget box; from which tumble recorder bits, that are skillfully assembled with cigarette papers as shims. At the bar, meanwhile, after a suitable pause to see if the landlord is getting in the drinks, the musicians and singers order their beer - swearing that their oversize pewter tankards only just hold a pint. They drench themselves and the battered bodhran in ale, it loosens the skin, but I'm not exactly sure what it does for the bodhran.

Eventually a chord is struck, usually the wrong one, then another, more follow with growing confidence and we launch into "Bonny Ship the Diamond" by the end of which one or two of the less timid or conversely more foolhardy customers poke their heads round the door. Once Tim sways hypnotically into the "Squire of Tamworth" they are well and truly hooked, particularly the ladies, cars are seen heading back to the pub car park. Now the Landlord is almost smiling, but still does not bring forth a jug of ale until nearly closing time. Soon the place is heaving, or is it just the Morris men, and the conditions become rather sweaty. Glasses spill and strings snap with regularity. Anything is possible except the likelihood of hearing a Morris tune, unusual in Morris recordings but this is.... Après Morris!

Price £8.50 ($12) e-mail apresMorris@aldburyMorris.co.uk