Over the last 8 years, more than 100 top class concerts in the ‘Weißen Ross‘ have enriched the Donnersberg culture scene. The last concert at this venue took place on Saturday. The Broom Bezzums, one of the best folk duos in the south west of Germany, provided a fitting finale.

Andrew Cadie and Mark Bloomer, both originally from England, ended up by chance in Hunsrück. They met each other six years ago at an Irish session in the Ross. “It was on that evening that the Broom Bezzums were born” explains Mark Bloomer. His musical roots are to be found in Birmingham’s punk rock. He discovered the melody of folk music in Ireland. Andew Cadie studied traditional music in Newcastle and once again thrilled the Ross with his clear, bright singing, his intricate fiddle playing and the unmistakable sound of the Northumbrian pipes, a type of bagpipe.

But it is not only the music of Broom Bezzums (or Ginsterbesen in German) that make it worth a trip to go and see them. Cadie and Bloomer are top notch entertainers. At the very beginning of the gig, Cadie interpreted the beginnings of Christianity with his idiosyncratic British humour: Joseph wanted to marry Mary. But suddenly, before the wedding, Mary became pregnant. “Mary was ingenious, as women are, and pulled a remarkably original explanation out of her hat” explained Cadie with a grin, and to much general amusement. The coming Christmas Eve became a running joke of the evening, as this first droll story already suggested it might.

Musically, the evening was perfect. Technically tight, songs such as Beg Blag and Steal make you want to dance, and Way over yonder in a minor key to day dream melancholically. As an encore, Hans Mohr swung onto the stage and proved himself to be a solid accordion player. The sold-out evening would have been perfect, were it not for the fact that this was the last evening in this wonderful venue.

Olaf Krüger from Gau-Odernheim has been a Ross fan from the word go – he was present on the 13^th September 2003 when the Cosmic Ducks gave their first concert in the spacious hall. Since then, the events in Kirchheimbolanden could always be found in his planner. In the future, Krüger will spend his Saturday evenings more often in Mainz or Worms. Ina Arnold from Flörsheim-Dalsheim also mourns the Ross, “I used to work here and will certainly miss the venue”. The 24 year old also heard the Bezzums for the first time in the Ross. “I just listen to Bonny Brown Hair in my car over and over again!” This is the song she requested as the final song of the evening.

 Tobias Shorz from Dreisen and Robin Wendel from Rosenthal, both 20, went to the Ross at least once a week. They both hope that Hans Mohr will open his new pub soon. “Until then we are going to stay at home” added Robin with a twinkle in his eye.

“Earworms” to Sing Along to in the Car
The Broom Bezzums CD is Perfect for Winter Days

„Wine from a mug“ heißt die aktuelle Platte der Broom Bezzums, die vor sechs Jahren im  mittlerweile geschlossenen Weißen Ross in Kirchheimbolanden zusammengefunden haben. Was für ein Glück für  alle Liebhaber feinster Folkmusik. Auch die dritte Platte der  „Ginsterbesen“, wie der Bandname übersetzt lautet, lässt keine Wünsche offen. Gerade  einmal zehn Titel umfasst die Komposition, doch bekanntlich ist ja weniger manchmal  mehr – wenn es gut gemacht ist. Und das ist „Wine from a mug“. Rund eine dreiviertel Stunde lang entführen Mark Bloomer und Andrew Cadie ihre Zuhörer in eine längst  vergangen geglaubte Zeit: die der Northumbrian Pipes, einer Dudelsackart, die Andrew in einigen Songs spielt. „Arise you sons of freedom“ war bereits ein Ohrenschmaus, aber  „Wine from a mug“ übertrifft den Erstling von 2007. Cadie und Bloomer setzen mehr auf eigene Kompositionen und einige wenigie klassiker wie “Columus Stoackade Blues”, die sie musikalisch gekonnt inszenieren.

Autofahr-Mitsing-Ohrwurm-Charakter hat auf jeden Fall „Beg, Blag and Steal“, der vierte  Track. Auf Deutsch lautet der Titel „Betteln, Schnorren und Stehlen“ und macht vor allem  eins: gute Laune. Das Potential haben auch andere erkannt, und die Broom Bezzums  landeten auf dem Dance-Floor. Die Glasgower Electro-Formation Dirty Basement hat einen Dance-Remix von ‘Beg Blag and Steal‘ veröffentlicht (zum Reinhören:  http://soundcloud.com/dirtybasement/broom-bezzumsbeg-blag-steal).

Wie der Song schon andeutet, sind die Bezzums noch lange kein Establishment geworden: Ihr  Standpunkt links der Mitte und ihre Sympathiefür die Working-Class-Heros klingt nicht nur im modernen Robin-Hood- ied „Beg, Blag and Steal“ an. In der Ballade „The Empire  Windrush“ – übrigens ein historisches Schiff, das im Krieg erbeutet wurde und 1848 die ersten englischen Einwanderer nach Jamaika brachte – erinnern sie daran, dass viele  einmal Migranten waren und wie wichtig Toleranz und Respekt ist. Auch der letzte Titel „The Liberties: Lilburn Reel“ schwimmt auf dieser Welle und setzt dem englischen  Freiheitskämpfer und demokratischen Vorkämpfer aus dem 17. Jahrhundert namens John Lilburn ein würdiges Denkmal. „Wine from a mug“: Eine Platte, die es verdient, dass der  CD-Spieler angeworfen wird. Gerade richtig für verregnete Winternachmittage: Dann  einfach Track vier ein paar Mal auf Repeat hören und die gute Laune kehrt zurück.  Garantiert. (xns)
INFO
— Broom Bezzums: „Wine from a mug“,
Steeplejack Music, 2011.
— www.broombezzums.de

On the Winter Carol Tour Mark taught each audience the same Black Country greeting.  “Worrow me mon, ah bin ya?” (hello, how are you?)

We took videos of the results and now we have to decide which audience was best. Maybe you can help? Send us an email or a Facebook message with your suggestion. Watch the video here:

Email: bezzums@broombezzums.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/broombezzums

Seasonal Tour in December
Mark and Andrew will embark on a short tour of southern Germany this December, playing Wassail Songs, folkie Carols and winter music. All in the typical Broom Bezzums style. Some exciting music has come together for this tour and you won’t get the chance to hear this very often – so make sure you don’t miss it!

Broom Bezzums Live

Here are the dates with numbers and links for ticket sales:

Broom Bezzums – A Winter Carol

Sorry for the delay in publishing this week’s result and quiz question, but the people from the label were away for a few days.

The winner of last week’s quiz was Hauke Rehse of Oldenburg, who correctly named the instrument that Mark teaches, which is of course, the drums!

Here is this week’s question:

Where did Mark perfect his guitar skills over years of regular sessions?

Send in your answer by e-mail to info@steeplejack.de. Don’t forget to tell us which CD you’d like and include your postal address so we can send it to you!

This week’s question is the last in this little series of competitions. We’ll be running some more in the spring.

This weeks winner is Jörg Jakuboski of Rötgesbüttel, who correctly named ‘Es geht ein dunkler Wolk herein’.

Here is the penultimate question in this series:

Which instrument does Mark Bloomer teach?

Send in your answer by e-mail to info@steeplejack.de. Don’t forget to tell us which CD you’d like and include your postal address so we can send it to you!

… Bernd Hemme from Scharbeutz in Germany, who got the right answer to last weeks question. “Babylon Zoo” was the answer we were looking for. A CD will be on its way to Bernd this week.

Here’s this week’s quiz question. This one is slightly tricky …

Can you name one of the two tracks that Mark sings on Andrew’s “Geisterbahn” CD of German folk songs?

Send in your answer by e-mail to info@steeplejack.de. Don’t forget to tell us which CD you’d like and include your postal address so we can send it to you!

The right answer to last week’s quiz question was “Lithuania”. Unfortunately, there were no correct submissions. See how you get on with this week’s question:

In which chart-topping band did Mark Bloomer start his musical career?

Send in your answer by e-mail to info@steeplejack.de. Don’t forget to tell us which CD you’d like and include your postal address so we can send it to you!