Today’s sing around session was in Mo’s back garden rather than at Thorpe Acre church, and blessed with glorious sunshine. I decided to take my banjo for this one – plenty of space for a double bass but I’m going to leave serious playing of that beast until after I’ve done the Belgium tour with the concert band.

I got asked to kick off the session so decided to go for a song I know inside out – Folsom Prison Blues. For my next offering, I brought a song I haven’t done before – You Wreck Me by Tom Petty. The original version is definitely a guitar (and bass) driven rock song but I slowed it down a bit, dropped the pitch to suit my voice and the banjo and gave it a go. I didn’t nail it but it went reasonably well so one to work on a bit more and bring back again.

The third song I led before Jane and I decided it was time to bow out was the gospel blues number Keep Your Oil Lamp Trimmed and Burnin’. That is definitely back into the safe zone for me and also an easy number for others to join in with. Next session due on 23rd August, back at the church hall, although I’m not 100% sure if I’ll be there for it myself.