Folk songs, camp songs, traditional and original songs for kids. A great introduction to non-processed music - just Albo and his guitar. No artificial ingredients!
I spent many summers as a youth in the cherished American institution known as Summer Camp, in my case Camp Yo Aunta on Lake Cobbosseecontee in Winthrop, Maine. The most cherished tradition at these cherished American institutions is the sing along. We’d sing all kinds of songs - folk songs, religious songs, novelty songs, rounds and songs popularised or written by the great folk revival musicians of the day: Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and many others.
Unfortunately those wonderful summer days couldn’t last forever but the memories and the songs stayed with me. When I had kids of my own I tried to pass this tradition on to them (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sung my kids to sleep with the song Dona Dona).
Little Folk with Albo came into being one day as I walked by Wimbledon Library in early 2012. They had a poster outside saying, ‘story/song time leaders urgently needed’. I had taken all three of my kids to these wonderful sessions so I thought it would be good to give something back. I joined the rota of performers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This eventually led to my own weekly session at 11:15am on Friday mornings, and I have just completed my 300th session!
I’m now extending my activities beyond the cosy confines of the library. Little Folk with Albo is available for concerts, parties, picnics, campfires, schools, anywhere kids gather for a bit of a song (and yes, I sing for adults as well).
I have performed six seasons of concerts at the historic Colour House Theatre, Merton Abbey Mills, London SW19 2RD. Once live concerts can start again I hope you'll join me there!
Photo by Richard Lewisohn
