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An interpretation, from our perspective, of how each evening was received. |
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First Night - Friday 1st November 2024
This first night started at 8:00pm the Saracen's Head in Warburton, followed by a trip to Bollington to perform at the Olde No.3 and then The Swan with Two Nicks. All three of these were relatively quiet as we've become accustom to for the more rural pubs at this time of night, even an a Friday evening. The Vine in Dunham was the last and we were treated to the usual group of locals there who were very kind with their donations to our chosen charity for this year. It's always a pleasant end to the evening here.
Second Night - Thursday 7th November 2024
This was our usual tour of Flixton and Urmston and it lived up to its usual expected standard. Whilst it was a slightly different tour to previous years it's always a good area for a Thursday evening.
We first went to the Brewchimp in Urmston followed by the Brewchimp in Flixton, due to an administration error the wrong way round as after Flixton we had to go back into Urmston to do a now regular for us, the Prairie Schooner Taphouse. All were well received with a reasonable of people in. With it being just the four pubs again, we then headed to the Barking Dog for the last performance for the evening.
Third Night - Friday 8th November 2024
Once again the Friday was one of our regular tours, starting in Ashley at the Greyhound and then moving into Timperley to the Stubborn Mule Brewery Tap. This is a micro brewery in Timperley and whilst it is in a rather industrial setting the place was heaving with lots of families and was what turned out to be the best venue and reception of the evening.
We started early this tour, starting at the Greyhound at 7:30 where we always get the best reception from the early evening drinkers and diners, mainly as we needed to get the The Market Tavern in Altrincham to perform there at 8:45 before the live band went on stage there. Because of this the pub is always reasonably well attended. and thus well received, although the band members seemed a bit perplexed by it all!!
Once this was done we could relax and wander down Victoria Street at our leisure, well within the constraints of the timing on the posters in the venues. First was the Roebuck, a small room and so a small audience before moving on the Malt Shovels that was somewhat quieter than we're used to seeing there thus it was quite 'light' on the collection for our charity.
Last it was over
the other side of the railway to Dunham Brewery's Costello's, the
last one for the night. A open and sometimes noisy venue I think we
managed to successfully perform here this time.
Last Day - Saturday 9th
November 2024
After a taste of their 'wares' we headed over to Lymm for a number of performances in the pubs there, but first we started at Lymm Heritage Centre were they have a display about the tradition of Souling and have our first horses head as part of that display. After a warm welcome it was a 20 yard walk to the first pub, the Brewery Tap. Here we usually perform in the front room and did so again this year. A very warm welcome, especially from one lady who mentioned she'd had an awful week and had come out to 'chill'. She'd not seen the Souling play before and came to personally thank us as it had really made her day and put her in a totally better frame of mind. Very pleasing to hear.
A 30 yard walk this time to the Spread Eagle. A good performance followed in the area in front of the bar and here we met some of our friends from the Winster Guisers who periodically come across the Pennines to watch us. We were due to the the Golden Fleece next, one that we've not done for a few years, however due to them having a live football match on the TV we headed to the Bulls Head next before returning to the Golden Fleece to perform there once the match had finished.
It was then time to go back to the Saracen's Head for the last performance of the year. Alway a nice crowd who come to see us, and to what was by now a somewhat different style of performance to that at the church in the middle of the afternoon! With the horse being led out and the last song sung, we were duly provided with some plates of sandwiches and chips for our supper before getting stuck into a nice music and singing session to finish off the evening.
So that's it, one year finished and so we look forward to the next Souling season in 2025.
This page updated: 19th November 2024.