Yes it's that time again!
My nominations:
Folk Singer of the Year: Flossie Malavialle
Best Duo: Show of Hands
Best Group: Oysterband
Best Album: The Kansas Sessions (Kirsty McGee)
Best Original Song: Dust Devil by Kirsty McGee
Traditional Track of the Year: Alan Tyne of Harrow by Kerr/Fagan
Horizon Award (Best Newcomer): Flossie Malavialle
Musician of the Year: Cormac Byrne (again!)
Best Live Act: The Demon Barber Roadshow
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
A mixed weekend
Went to Banbury Folk Festival this weekend - I'd intended to drive there, but the traffic was very heavy and there were lots of a***holes about so I chickened out by the time I'd got to Chippenham!
After some trouble finding the hotel and the Mill Theatre, we settled down to watch the festival's patron, Isla St Clair. A bit different to the normal Folk Festival fayre, she sang North-West Scottish songs, some Burns and of course Speed Bonny Boat. The song "Save Our Glens" went down particularly well with Patrick! I think she was a bit nervous at being in front of the Festival crowd, probably being more used to TV audiences, but she went down a storm!
Uiscedwr were as excellent as ever. Anna was looking happy and healthy, which is good! Cormac Byrne as amazing as ever, and he seems to be sharing the singing and anecdotes now as well. Shame James wasn't with them, I liked his guitar playing and songs.
In the morning, which was beautifully sunny and warm, we went on a blissful trip along the Oxford Canal aboard the "Dancing Duck" dayboat from Tooleys Boatyard. Rob McKinnon was on board, and sung us some wonderful songs which we could join in and sing.
Went to a dance workshop with Herbaceous Border at Saturday lunchtime, but there disaster struck. In a hurry as our food took longer than expected, I dumped my handbag down with the Morris dancer's bags and noticed a small, thin woman with short grey hair standing by them. She offered to look after it for me, which in retrospect should have raised alarm bells, but I took her for the wife of one of the dancers and was in too much of a hurry - as there were a bit crowd of people around I didn't think anyone would dare steal it. However when I finished dancing both the handbag and the woman were gone.
She was probably just after my cash but a lot of other things were in my bag - car key, house keys, mobile phone, bank cards, cheque book, passport, council tax bill, wedding certificate (the last three because of all the name change stuff I'm having to do at the moment). Patrick was concerned about our house being burgled so he drove back to Bath and then we had over an hour's wait for the "emergency" locksmith to turn up (we had been told 6pm but he arrived at 7.10pm).
Then it was drive all the way back to catch Flossie Malaiville and Keith Donnelly at the Town Hall - an unusual combination, possibly a smart career move for Flossie to ink up with someone with lots of contacts in the business, but their music and humour are quite different. We thought Flossie would do better with fellow Brel admirer Robb Johnson. Move to the South Flossie, s'il vous plait!
Biddenden's Cider at the Pegg Inn was delicious but I just wasn't in a drinking mood (unusually, you might say).
Next came Patrick's favourite of the festival, Vin Garbutt. He was on good form despite pharyngitis, cracking some good jokes and singing some thought-provoking songs. I especially liked the song about the New Zealand children - I just hope Gary Glitter never tours there!!
We had a pint or two in the Woolpack, which had a beer festival on (Ossett Porter and Purity Gold very good), then popped back to the Town Hall for Tom Leary and Kevin Dempsey, followed by Waterson:Carthy who ended the festival.
A good little festival - just watch out for Fagin's missus!
After some trouble finding the hotel and the Mill Theatre, we settled down to watch the festival's patron, Isla St Clair. A bit different to the normal Folk Festival fayre, she sang North-West Scottish songs, some Burns and of course Speed Bonny Boat. The song "Save Our Glens" went down particularly well with Patrick! I think she was a bit nervous at being in front of the Festival crowd, probably being more used to TV audiences, but she went down a storm!
Uiscedwr were as excellent as ever. Anna was looking happy and healthy, which is good! Cormac Byrne as amazing as ever, and he seems to be sharing the singing and anecdotes now as well. Shame James wasn't with them, I liked his guitar playing and songs.
In the morning, which was beautifully sunny and warm, we went on a blissful trip along the Oxford Canal aboard the "Dancing Duck" dayboat from Tooleys Boatyard. Rob McKinnon was on board, and sung us some wonderful songs which we could join in and sing.
Went to a dance workshop with Herbaceous Border at Saturday lunchtime, but there disaster struck. In a hurry as our food took longer than expected, I dumped my handbag down with the Morris dancer's bags and noticed a small, thin woman with short grey hair standing by them. She offered to look after it for me, which in retrospect should have raised alarm bells, but I took her for the wife of one of the dancers and was in too much of a hurry - as there were a bit crowd of people around I didn't think anyone would dare steal it. However when I finished dancing both the handbag and the woman were gone.
She was probably just after my cash but a lot of other things were in my bag - car key, house keys, mobile phone, bank cards, cheque book, passport, council tax bill, wedding certificate (the last three because of all the name change stuff I'm having to do at the moment). Patrick was concerned about our house being burgled so he drove back to Bath and then we had over an hour's wait for the "emergency" locksmith to turn up (we had been told 6pm but he arrived at 7.10pm).
Then it was drive all the way back to catch Flossie Malaiville and Keith Donnelly at the Town Hall - an unusual combination, possibly a smart career move for Flossie to ink up with someone with lots of contacts in the business, but their music and humour are quite different. We thought Flossie would do better with fellow Brel admirer Robb Johnson. Move to the South Flossie, s'il vous plait!
Biddenden's Cider at the Pegg Inn was delicious but I just wasn't in a drinking mood (unusually, you might say).
Next came Patrick's favourite of the festival, Vin Garbutt. He was on good form despite pharyngitis, cracking some good jokes and singing some thought-provoking songs. I especially liked the song about the New Zealand children - I just hope Gary Glitter never tours there!!
We had a pint or two in the Woolpack, which had a beer festival on (Ossett Porter and Purity Gold very good), then popped back to the Town Hall for Tom Leary and Kevin Dempsey, followed by Waterson:Carthy who ended the festival.
A good little festival - just watch out for Fagin's missus!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Aardvark Ceilidh Band at Subscription Hall, Stroud
It's the first time I've been to a non-folk festival ceilidh in aages - and I really enjoyed it. Adrian, our friend from the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society, kindly gave us a lift and tried to teach me some ceilidh moves - with varied success!Aardvark Ceilidh Band were pretty good - sort of folk/prog rock fusion music, with guitar riffs from Pink Floyd or Led Zep creeping in at times. Trouble was, the caller sounded muffled and so I couldn't hear the instructions - luckily the dances were mostly well-known ones like Roger de Coverley and the Shetland Strip the Willow so the regulars were able to show us what to do - or shout at us when we went wrong! Everyone seemed good natured, nobody was (outwardly!) impatient with us when we made mistakes or weren't quick enough - despite some very good dancers being there (we were in Cotwold Morris territory, of course).
There was only one real ale on at the bar - but since it was Champion Beer of the Cotswolds, Stroud Brewery's "Budding", I wasn't complaining! The dance floor was rather bouncy, even for a sprung floor - apparently they've had problems with it in the past - but it was a huge hall, similar to my old haunt Godalming Borough Hall, with plently of room for dancing.
Very good - will definitely be back when the wonderful Climax Ceilidh Band are on in February, if not before!
There was only one real ale on at the bar - but since it was Champion Beer of the Cotswolds, Stroud Brewery's "Budding", I wasn't complaining! The dance floor was rather bouncy, even for a sprung floor - apparently they've had problems with it in the past - but it was a huge hall, similar to my old haunt Godalming Borough Hall, with plently of room for dancing.
Very good - will definitely be back when the wonderful Climax Ceilidh Band are on in February, if not before!
PASSED!
Finally passed my driving test yesterday after the 4th attempt. I am so pleased! Now I can drive to work, drive to folk concerts, drive to any Morris dancing or choirs that I fancy...freedom!!
Patrick is pleased because now I can drive him to the pub ;)
The only thing is, now I have to negotiate the double mini roundabouts in Radstock on a daily basis. Poo.
Patrick is pleased because now I can drive him to the pub ;)
The only thing is, now I have to negotiate the double mini roundabouts in Radstock on a daily basis. Poo.
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