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Helen Lindley

@helenlindley.bsky.social
1.3K followers 158 following 544 posts

Sings folk songs. Plays fiddle. Writes songs & tunes. Reviver of old songs (see Sing Yonder books & In The Roud podcast). Hear my music on Bandcamp & YouTube. helenlindleymusic.com

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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
It's #BandcampFriday today, when the lovely people at @bandcamp.com waive their fees so artists can get the whole price. I had a new EP out last week; Over The Castle Wall, which contains some of the songs I've recorded for @intheroud.bsky.social. Buy my music at helenlindley.bandcamp.com #folkmusic
helenlindley.bandcamp.com
Helen Lindley
I sing mainly unaccompanied folk songs of the British Isles and play fiddle tunes. I write new tunes for old folk songs where the original tune isn't known and sometimes write songs & tunes for other ...
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
For people into long folk ballads, The Gest of Robin Hood is 456 verses, spilt into 8 parts and took 2 episodes to fit into the In The Roud podcast (1 for the history, 1 for the singing.) 6 of us wrote tunes and recorded parts, with Matt & I taking 2 parts each to create a 90 minute song! #FolkMusic
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
My new EP is out! Over the Castle Wall consists of 5 of my unaccompanied folk singing tracks appearing on the @intheroud.bsky.social podcast. (The cover art is from an original acrylic on board painting.) Bandcamp download at helenlindley.bandcamp.com/album/over-t... #FolkMusic #InTheRoud
Image shows the cover for Over the Castle Wall EP by Helen Lindley. The cover art is from an acrylic on board painting by Charlotte Lindley and shows a silhouetted castle with a flag against a darkening sky. The painting is completed in various shades of blue with no other colours. The album information is shown along the top and bottom edges in a white font.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Another episode of @intheroud.bsky.social. Matt and I chat about the song Tom Potts. #InTheRoud
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Mike Harding @churchcat.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
“I thought we ordered the fish n chips!”
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
I've done another episode of @intheroud.bsky.social, so please do check it out And the song I've discussed is available on Awakening The Lady, my 2023 EP, on Bandcamp. #FolkSong #InTheRoud
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Yes, I did laugh at loud 😂🤣😂
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
All of this (read Cav's thread). It's why I love folk music, especially the unaccompanied singing that I do. It's a great way to reset myself. Just me and a song that's 150-250 (or more) years old. And there are some excellent rebel/protest songs in the world of traditional folk song!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Someone has been poking around in the wood workshop and is now laying down in the garden wearing a rather fetching cobweb hat and veil combo! 😂😂 #blackcat #cobwebs
Image shows our black cat who has been a total eejit by poking around in our wood workshop. His head and face is covered in cobwebs like some weird lace veil and he has gone outside into the garden to sit in the sun, complete with the aforementioned cobwebs still over his head and face. He has made no attempt to remove them and is trying to pretend they aren't there!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Exciting news! My next EP of unaccompanied singing of folk songs is available to download on Bandcamp from Friday. Just finalising the cover & pdf lyric sheet. This time the cover art is from an acrylic on board painting so I had to digitise it (which meant taking a very high res photo.) #folksong
Image shows part of a blue painting in the foreground. Behind is a computer screen with the digitised image of the blue artwork partially showing. Next to the screen is an empty beer glass and a blue and floral mug with the words, "I am not sure how but I will" printed on it. In the far background a piano keyboard is visible and some golden fairy lights.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
That's three more episodes recorded with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social for the @intheroud.bsky.social this summer. One episide has already gone out (season 7, episide 2), and the other two will be out shortly. And like all episodes, it's available from the usual podcast provider. #InTheRoud #FolkSong
Image shows Matt Quinn and Helen Lindley recording episodes of the In The Roud folk song podcast.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
I've done another @intheroud.bsky.social folk song podcast with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social. Another song with a new melody that I've composed. Catch up on your usual podcast provider. #folkmusic
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
This is exactly the sort of thing the Internet should be used for!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
A rubbish start to 2026. It's improving so I'm having an hour in the garden. In early Jan, husband Simon found a problem with one eye. Had emergency surgery to save the sight caused by a detached retina. Weeks of recovery and no driving. He's thankfully on the mend but by 'eck it's been stressful!
Image shows a garden on a sunny spring day. In the background there is a blue sky and trees beginning to bud by a fence. In the foreground is a book on Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks and a mug of tea. The mug has the words, "I'm not sure how, but I will." printed on it. You can't see the cat as he's hiding near a hedge.
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Vaughan Williams Foundation @vwfndn.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
A particular favourite line from RVW - demonstrating his immersion in the process of creating music...
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 04/04/2026
Great looking moon tonight *waves to the Artemis II crew* #moon #moonphotography #moonmission2026 #Lincolnshire
Image shows a night sky with an almost full moon showing through hazy clouds giving a pinky halo effect.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
We have a new fridge. In the shop named after some spicy foods is a wall of huge ugly grey chill robots with screens requiring an app and internet connection. For the price of a small second-hand car. All we want is a smallish plug-in white box that keeps stuff cold. I DON'T NEED MY FRIDGE TO THINK!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Massive congrats to Oscar's Room for winning Battle of the Bands last night at Woodys near Grantham and gaining a stage spot at the Summer Festival in June 2026. So proud of you Ryan, Oscar, Vee, and Ben. Blummin heck, you absolutely blew us all away with 2 amazing sets. #livemusic #woodlandwaters
Image shows the band Oscar's Room performing on stage at a Battle of the Bands competition - they won!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Oops, another new acquisition in the instrumental department! I now have a lovely wooden Risa concert ukulele. Risa make some gorgeous ukes. I don’t know much about this one, other than she's a few years old and was made in Europe. (Just don't ask how many instruments I own 😂🤫) ##folkmusic #ukulele
Image shows a ukulele in the foreground, laying on its  black gig bag. Behind it is a concertina, a fiddle, and a speaker with a microphone on top.Image shows the label inside a Risa ukulele.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
A bunch of musicians that both my daughter and son know are in a band called Oscar's Room. We popped along to watch them on Wednesday; they were really good. If you're local to Grantham, catch them at future gigs. It's great we have venues willing to support musicians, so thanks to The Blue Man pub.
Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).Black and white Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).
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Jez Lowe @jezlowe.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Solo gig tonight at Roosters Brewery in Harrogate, starting at 7.30pm. See you there.
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Rory Waterman @rorywaterman.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
This is happening at 5.30-7pm on 4 March in Nottingham (NTU City Campus), it's free, and obviously I'll love it if you turn up! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Professor Rory Waterman’s Inaugural Lecture
Byard’s Quantum Leaps: the origins and mutations of a folk tale
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
My brain's having one of its 're-live conversations I've had/messages I've sent' moments, which then results in my berating myself for any (often imagined) offence I've caused. Am I the only one who does this? 😫 Sometimes I think my brain dislikes me. So I'm going to try to drown it out with tunes.
Image shows an old fiddle on a stand with a bow. To the left is an audio speaker on which stands a microphone and some rosin.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
From 1-31 Jan 2025 I decided to learn a new fiddle tune every day to increase my session repertoire. It helped a lot so I decided to do the same for 1-31 Jan 2026. Except it's far easier & quicker this time as I've played lots of sessions and noticed I've gotten massively better at sight reading!
Image shows some old fiddle tune books in the foreground with some black and orange headphones on top of them and an open laptop screen in the background with music notation software displaying on it.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Last carol singing session of the year, this time outside our village church among its community-decorated trees. Then it was time to pop inside the church to drink mulled wine. #CarolSinging
Image shows a dusk community carol singing session outside the village church in Barrowby in Lincolnshire.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 23/12/2025
One of my musician friends, who lives up the road from me in our village, is originally from Sheffield. He's realised that I sing Sheffield Carols so asked me to partner him to sing some in the pub last night. So we rehearsed them yesterday and did just that. An absolute privilege to perform them ❤️
Image shows a fiddle, a concertina and a ukulele on a table, along with a folder containing songs. There is a gaudy christmas tablecloth on the table that we really like for its sheer garish colours! Image shows an acoustic guitar in a brown case and a part of a Busson Harmoniflute (a rare tabletop squeezebox from 1860s Paris).
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Another fab time last night singing Christmas carols and songs, this time as part of a group of performers leading the singing in our village. We displayed the lyrics on a screen for everyone (controlled by our splendid new sound guy who did both sound desk and screen).
Image shows a bunch of 7 musicians and singers after  a carol concert.Image shows a bunch of 6 musicians and singers plus sound guy after a carol concert.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
How super hearing the truly wonderful @angelcakepie2.bsky.social on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music just now. A gorgeous voice and a lovely person ❤️
Image shows the BBC 6 Music page for Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone. The track playing is He Comes In The Night by Angeline Morrison.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
Turned on the radio to Guy Garvey's Finest Hour on #BBC6Music a few minutes ago and A Whiter Shade of Pale was playing. The words, "Do you want a cup of tea?" were out my mouth even before my brain was aware of it! #IYKYK
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Another carol singing session completed. This one in my own village of Barrowby in Lincolnshire. Outside. And yes, it was cold. Very cold. Even with my big coat on! #Lincolnshire
Image shows a group of around 20 people are dressed in winter hats and coats. They are singing Christmas carols outside.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
A stunning night last night at Lincoln Castle Christmas illuminations. A really beautiful display at the castle (and Lincoln Cathedral looked fabulous too). #Lincolnshire
Image shows a winter tree lit by green lights. Next to it is a conical tree shape made of lights with a illuminated star on top. In the background is a castle wall and an illuminated doorway.  Image shows a huge white Christmas bauble shape illumated with white lights. 3 people are standing inside it. Image shows the front of Lincoln Cathedral illumated woth cerise-coloured lights.Image shows the grounds of Lincoln Castle with a variety of coloured Christmas illuminations around it.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
A fab night at our bi-monthly Singers' Night in my local pub. A couple of people snuck in some Sheffield Carols, and I intoduced the group to the song 'Boxing Day' by Robb Johnson. I've been asked to take my Sheffield Carols book next time (by those who grew up there!) so I'll expect much singing!
Image shows the White Swan pub in the village of Barrowby, Lincolnshire. It is taken at night so the sky is dark, although the outside of the pub is lit. The pub is a corner pub and a wet road and pavement glistens to the front and side. The downstairs pub windows appear to be purple and red because of Christmas lights inside the building.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
Had a magnificent afternoon singing Sheffield Carols for over 2 hours in Dungworth near Sheffield. These sessions really are special; singing together is a huge passion of mine and this village along with some of the people who come to sing here have played a huge part in my journey as a musician
Image shows Sheffield Carols being sung in Dungworth near Sheffield.Image shows Sheffield Carols being sung in Dungworth near Sheffield.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
A glorious night of songs & friendship at Royal Trads. @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social were super (lovely to meet @audinarymusic.bsky.social in person after years of online chat!) Then hearty singing of Sheffield Carols, expertly(!) accompanied by @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social & @jonboden.bsky.social.
Image shows the folk band Magpie Lane performing at Royal Traditions folk club near Sheffield. The band are holding their instruments and standing next to a lit-up Christmas tree.Image shows Matt Quinn and Jon Boden accompanying carol singing on Wheatstone Maccann Duet concertinas at Royal Traditions folk club. They are both  dressed in black shirts. Jon also wears black jeans and Matt wears dark blue jeans. Jon is standing on one leg.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
It's #BandcampFriday, the day when the lovely @bandcamp.com waives its commission! If you pop by my Bandcamp store there are my unaccompanied folk songs and some merch too. And if you join my mailing list you'll be first to hear about new releases too. helenlindley.bandcamp.com
helenlindley.bandcamp.com
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Let me guess, the inns are all full but someone's got a spare stable at Horse Guards?
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
For those that use f site, I now have a music page there too. It's a new account so if a few of you fancied following, that would be really rather splendid and I'd be overflowing with gratitude (okay, I'll stop with the overly flowery language 😊😉) www.facebook.com/share/16Ts4V...
facebook.com
Redirecting...
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
No sooner is one folk song re-setting completed than it's time to start the next. And it comes with the exciting news that the current batch of rare/previously unrecorded #folksongs (some of which I've discussed on the @intheroud.bsky.social podcast) will be finding their way onto my next EP!
Image shows a pencil on some papers with blurry words. There is a drinks mug behind them.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Ooh, this sounds mysteriously exciting........
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
My very lovely friend @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social has a new episode of @intheroud.bsky.social podcast out. In S5/Ep6 I'm back chatting with him about another rare folk ballad, Lord Ingram & Chiel Wyet (Roud 46). I created a new version especially; get it from your usual podcast provider. #FolkMusic
Image shows the title page of the In the Roud podcast, season 5 - Episode 6. The writing say In The Roud, a folk song podcast with Helen Lindley.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Have a listen. It's one of the more challenging re-settings I've done but I really enjoyed working on this unsung song, a recording of which is on the podcast.
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Folk London magazine @folklondon.co.uk · 19/11/2025
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music – top work by @juderogers.bsky.social here www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
theguardian.com
‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music
A skilled interpreter and social justice champion, Gaughan is a hero to the likes of Richard Hawley and Billy Bragg. Yet much of his work has been stuck in limbo for decades – until a determined fan s...
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Another @intheroud.bsky.social recording with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social completed (this might be linked with my previous post!). Out soon for you all to listen to! #InTheRoud #folksong #Podcast
Image shows Helen Lindley and Matt Quinn recording an episode of the In The Roud podcast. Helen is wearing a pink jacket and sits on the left of screen in front of a microphone whilst Matt, also in front of a microphone, wears a blue shirt and a set of over the ear headphones. Both have shelves of books behind them and Helen also has a fiddle, a concertina and a keyboard behind her.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
I finished writing/re-setting a folk ballad last night and recorded it today. This one was a request and one of the harder ones to complete. There were 5 historical text versions to consult and no known tune. After several lyric rewrites and similar number of melody revisions, it's done! #folkmusic
Image shows a laptop screen with a music recording programme on the display. There are visual soundwaves in blue against a black desktop.
The song was written by a real person with pen, paper, a voice, and occasionally a fiddle. Proudly none of that AI stuff got anywhere near it!
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
This might amuse you @elizacarthy.bsky.social, overheard when leaving the venue last night. Man to partner/friend, "As you know it ain't my kind of music, but I enjoyed it. She's folk royalty ain't she? She's good. Never 'eard of 'im though. But 'e were quite good too." I'm still chuckling 😂🤣
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
That was a wonderful night at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre for The Wassail tour of @elizacarthy.bsky.social and @jonboden.bsky.social. Eliza reciting a Marriott Edgar monologue made me cry a little. But it was all brilliant and I recommend you see the tour if you can! More info at thewassail.com
Image shows a stage with 3 microphones at the front and 3 lit-up Christmas trees at the rear. There are also 3 fiddles, a guitar, a concertina, and 2 melodeons.Image shows Eliza Carthy standing at the front of a stage with an arm outstretched. She was pretending to hypnotise the audience. Behind her is Jon Boden standing with a concertina in his hands.Image shows Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden singing on a stage. Jon is holding a concertina. Behind Eliza is a Christmas tree.Image shows Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden on a stage. Jon is playing a concertina and Eliza is playing  fiddle. Behind Eliza are 2 Christmas trees.
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Morris Folk Choir and Folk Club @morrisfolkchoir.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Sat 29th Nov, 7pm start (doors 6.30pm): Drive The Cold Winter Away - album launch concert and ceilidh. Singing songs from our new album, and more, then a ceilidh with music by The Horace Mouse Band. Venue: St Paul's West Hackney, N16. Tickets £12/£8/£7: www.tickettailor.com/events/morri...
gig poster with similar info to post text
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
There are still tickets available for The Wassail with @elizacarthy.bsky.social and @jonboden.bsky.social tomorrow (Saturday 15th November) 7.30pm at #Stamford Corn Exchange here in Lincolnshire. It'll be a brilliant night so come if you can! 🌲🎅🦛 www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk/the-wassail-...
stamfordcornexchange.co.uk
The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden - Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre
Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden combine their considerable talents and reputations within the UK folk scene, for a nationwide wassail, wishing good health to all across key venues.
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Helen Lindley @helenlindley.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
I finished the first draft of the latest folk song re-setting last week. Time for the second draft. And then there's the melody to compose, although thankfully I have some voice recordings saved on my phone of some suggestions. #folksong
Image shows a yellow pencil on a blank page of a A4 lined notepad. To the left, on a sheet of the same paper, are some partiall-obscured song lyrics. To the right is a blue cardboard folder.
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Dave Hutchinson @hutchinsondave.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
“It's five thousand miles to Rome. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.” “Hit it.”
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