VISITORS to a Berkshire pub gathered to enjoy an evening of singing and silliness.
The Flowing Spring Free House in Playhatch’s alternative Valentine entertainment offered pub food, followed by a sing along at the bar.
Pub owner Nick Willson and his wife Hazel Lucas, regularly invite bands to perform live music events at The Flowing Spring.
Nick is also a musician, and together with guitarist Steve Lester and double-bass player Mr Minch, he performs as Sing-along-a-Nick.
The group prepared a line up of romantic, and not so romantic songs for the Flowing Spring’s clients.
It’s a fun, quirky pub.
With its jauntily sloping floor, and bar mats covering every available square inch of ceiling, it was the perfect location for the band.
Sing-along-a-Nick don’t take themselves too seriously.
They were perched in a corner, underneath a cuckoo clock.
Regulars, sitting around tables, and all along the bar, knew exactly what was expected of them and obediently clutched their song sheets.
There is no getting out of the singing – the printed song books make sure of that.
“You’ll enjoy this,” says one regular, just before the band starts.
“They’re great fun, and rather good.”
Nick is very dry, and his dead-pan introductions keep his audience laughing.
The show starts with a hoot from a bicycle horn, followed by: “You’re very welcome – it will be your first and last time here.
“Some of the songs we’ll play really nicely, and others….”
The first item on the songsheet is Nick’s own Singalong Song.
Immediately everyone joins in, raising the roof with: “We love a sing-along – this is our very own song.”
It’s all very silly, good fun, and enthusiastically received.
The banter is warm, and the crowd seem to love the band’s instrumental sections as much as the singing, especially the Les Dawson inspired amusingly off-key piano riffs.
At the end of the song, Nick says: “Well, that’s one out the way.
“Glad you came?”
To which someone shouts: “Well, there’s nothing on the telly.”
It feels very much like a large and very jolly family gathering.
“Yes, the pub is like that,” says Nick, the next day.
“It’s good fun, and there’s a relaxed atmosphere here.”
Asked how he feels the evening went, he says: “It was a great night.
“We’ve had lots of nice comments in emails already.
“It was well attended and there were new people who came along.
“We finished at 11pm, after a couple of encores and some requests.”
One of these saw them play an impromptu version of Wheels On The Bus for a one year old in the audience.
“People really enjoyed themselves, and they didn’t want to finish,” Nick says.
“And it’s great that we’ve been asked to play at a wedding as a result, too.”
For more information about the flowing spring, visit:
For information about Sing-along-a-Nick, visit: www.singalonganick.co.uk
