Well, what can I say? Cramlington is always well supported on singers nights but, frankly, this was ridiculous. 16 spots made up of 19 performers. Yes, N-N-N-N Nineteen performers! I'm glad I don't run the night. It was so busy there was no break and no raffle! You know things are bad when there's no raffle.

John Baston got the evening underway with a... song (hey - he said he didn't know the name either) followed by a fine Tommy Emmanuel instrumental 'Precious Time'.

Ken Cross was up next with a set he dedicated to Terry Fletcher (who happens to be providing this review) and was absolutely fantastic. Second on and he brought the house down with Tom Paxton's 'Every Time' and 'A Little Bit Of Me' by Ewan Carruthers. He proves flattery does get you somewhere even if it's only praise from a sycophant like me.

Ellen Morgan (not the one from that American comedy show) paid a rare visit and sang the Jim Croce song 'Photographs And Memories' and one of her own songs - 'Hell Or Heaven'.

Next up was Mike Jessop, a visitor from the Monkseaton Arms, who sang a fine comedy song - 'Monica Lewinsky Blues' (one of his own I think; sorry if I'm wrong Mike, but well done if I'm right), and the lovely 'Winter Song' by Alan Hull. The latter got the Cramlington choir into their singing voices. Note to Mike; waistcoats are no longer de rigueur in the folk world. Well, not in mine.

Then it was the turn of jiva. At this point Keith changed the running order and told me I was on next so, to my shame, I heard their spot from outside the room while preparing for mine! Still, the Allan Taylor song 'Back Again' and the great Linda Thompson song 'No Telling' sounded as good as ever.

As I said, Terry Fletcher (me) was on next and did a new song 'Jolene' (by Ray Lamontagne, not Dolly Parton) and Pete Scott's 'Check Out Lonely' accompanied by John Baston on harmonica Lewinsky. As usual Terry was fantastic - better than Ken! (remember I'm writing this).

Singing as wonderfully as ever, Esther (who, unusually, has no surname), treated us to 'Bluebird' by John Spencer and Paul Brady's 'The Island'. Pins could be heard dropping.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, next up was Dave Anderson. Actually, as usual, Dave sang two of his own smashing songs 'My Song' and the catchy 'Falling From Grace' which, again, had the Cramlington choir going.

Swapping sound duties with Mike Hughes, Dave Page and John Richardson were next and did two songs in their inimitable laid back style; 'Brookside' by Chris Leslie and - awright... calm down, calm down - John Prine's 'Spoon River' nicely complimented by John's gentle guitar picking.

Dave and John then went back on sound so Mike Hughes could do his spot. Having treated his spot, Mike gave us two great chorus songs in his fine baritone (I think it's a baritone. Anyway, it's deep). These were the traditional 'Tell Me Ma' and a Jack Elliot song which, considering it contained this phrase a lot, I assume was called 'In The Bar Room'.

Pressing on with still no break we all kept our legs crossed as Peter Cook and Dudley Moore took to the stage. Peter is an all too rare visitor to the club but when he does come 'Pete and Dud' (aka John Redpath) always treat us to some fantastic blues songs, usually supported on harmonica by John Baston who had dropped out because 'they were playing in the wrong key'. I suspect that problem was rarely experienced by Larry Adler. Anyhoo, Peter and John gave us Jimmie Rodgers' 'Wating For A Train' (complete with yodelling) and Mr Dylan's 'Don't Think Twice'.

Without thinking twice our own resident Scot Allan Savage was on next and, got the place singing again with 'Roddy McCauley' and the beautiful W. Gordon Smith song 'Cares Of Tomorrow' (which, incidentally, was written for the Scottish tourist board. Not many people know that).

After Allan came Jim Wigfiled, aka Jim Wigfield. What can you say about Jim? Not a lot. Except he writes some good songs, both comic and serious, and he performed one tonight - 'In Need Of Specs', a song which, surprisingly, is about needing spectacles (you had to be there).

Then came a treat - especially for the guitarists; Michael Woods made a return visit and dazzled us all with his finger style guitar playing. As our very own Colonel Sanders would say - 'fingerpickin' good!' Mike performed Willy Brown's 'Mississippi River Blues' and one of his own instrumental compositions 'A Blink Of An Eye'. I think I hate him.

Jerry Tapscott had the unenviable task of following Mike but, the trooper that she is, she sang two beautiful bad salads - 'Cornflower Blue' by Kate Wolf and 'Homeland' by Eileen Lafferty.

Finally there was Jimmy & Carol Powells. Jimmy, as sharp as the crease in his jeans, and Carol got the choir going for the last time singing Tom Paxton's 'Wild Flying Dove' accompanied by Carole on her big bad double bass and by Allan Savage on the 'devils harp'. Twang!!

Then it was well after 11 - well past our bedtime and time to finish. Except for Jim Wigfield we all took our glasses back to the bar and we all went home. I think Keith is still there thanking everyone. The raffle prize - a bottle of Bulgarian Pinot Noir no less - stayed firmly in its Aldi carrier bag. But - joy of joys - there will be TWO bottles of Bulgarian Pinot Noir for the next raffle!

Terry