‘What’s gannin on?’ is a well-used phrase on Tyneside and is doubtless a favourite with the guests at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 8th July Chuck Fleming & Benny Graham. Chuck is from Loanhead in Midlothian now living in Co Durham whilst Benny is a Tynesider through and through.
Chuck & Benny have been playing together for years in Pubs, Clubs and Festivals and have now decided that this is the year to go on tour – well, over Hadrian’s Wall for a start! Happily, the Irvine Club is included in the tour schedule as Chuck has been a favourite with Irvine audiences going back to when he was the fiery fiddler with the legendary JSD Band playing in what was then The Drill Hall in Irvine – now the Volunteer Rooms.
Chuck is a terrific fiddle player and also plays mandolin and guitar. Over the years he has worked with the likes of Kathryn Tickell and awesome concertina player Alistair Anderson. He was founder member of Five Hand Reel and now teaches fiddle and mandolin. The irrepressible good humour of Chuck is well known and on stage nothing seems to phase him.
Benny Graham is a singer and songwriter who served his musical apprenticeship in North East of England Folk Clubs. It was there that he learned the songs that grew out of the heavy industries that grew out of coal, steel and ship building on Tyneside and also the musical culture of the rural North East. He has a very good voice and also plays Button Box Accordion. After working for a few years as solo performer, Benny formed the three part harmony group Pegleg Ferret and toured the UK and the Continent.
His career then took a different direction when he joined a premier Tyneside theatre where he has since worked as a singer, songwriter and also a stage and production manager. Benny has numerous albums to his name.
Chuck Fleming & Benny Graham will be a mighty presence at Irvine Folk Club on Wednesday 8th July at Vineburgh Community Centre. The Club starts at 8pm and yes, it’s BYOB. Make sure you can be there.