Cromford’s Boat Inn gets ready to rock

The Boat Inn, in Scarthin, will host an evening of free entertainment with three acts from 8.30pm on Saturday, February 23.

Derby anarcho–punk ska band Addictive Philosophy will be performing alongside Northampton punk trio Eastfield.

Playing solo will be Belper’s Chris Butler, whose fiery blend of traditional folk tunes and punk promises to captivate the audience.

The singer–songwriter commented: “I can turn by hand both to playing traditional folk anthems for the folk scene, and playing at punk festivals.

“It means I’m very thoughtful and what I do is almost like the romantic travelling troubadours that could turn up and play anywhere.

“I do play one or two folk songs because I have a love of folk.”

Chris sees himself as a story teller, carrying on the oral tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation for hundreds of years

“Music is about people singing about the world around them and sharing stories about their lives,” He added.

“100 years ago somebody would have been getting up in a pub and singing unaccompanied,”

He said the punk movement was a continuation of that idea, using modern instruments.

The last time Chris played at the Boat Inn was with Eastfield, and he is looking forward to returning to the venue.

“It’s a lovely venue and we were playing to the people who came to the pub as well as the people who had specifically come to see us,” he said.

“It’s always nice when the landlord of a pub is enthusiastic about music.”

Further information about The Boat Inn is available by calling the pub on 01629 258083 or visiting its website www.the-boat-inn.co.uk