Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: GUEST,Essex Girl
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 09:02 AM

Great week. I enjoyed every concert I saw (and that's a first), had a great time laughing, singing and drinking in various hostelries, and didn't even mind wallowing in the mud around the ham, why it wouldn't be Sidmouth without a bit of mud. I have no complaints whatsoever!!!

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 08:26 AM

" Like Surreysinger I was horrified that there were no boards as the approach was in a dreadful state"
Errmm, no Marilyn, I didn't say I was horrified, as I wasn't .. just booed and hissed that my trousers and feet had got muddy. My own fault for not noticing how soggy the grass actually was until it was too late. As you say it was (partially) rectified later. The downpour hadn't been that evident before it arrived, so you can't expect duckboards to be put down on the strength of ESP!!

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 07:54 AM

Too much Sidders ceilidhing to see Jim. In fact I haven't yet but I am reliably informed that a certain Jim Mory is No.5 in the Simon Care Trio (sic) playing for the Town Hall Barn Dance in Cheltenham see cresby.com Sun Dec 27 - book early- expect it to be full on the day and with Jim playing - that is guaranteed.

FWIW Jim was an excelent folk ambassidor on R4's Loose Ends not so long ago.

I am sure I could muster criticisms about Sidders - but why would I - rather I should suggest a better way. And maybe I will........

They wot don't make mistakes don't make nuffink.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: GUEST,Jim Moray
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 07:28 AM

Hi WAV,

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make with your poem. I played mostly English music -   The Bonny Breast Knot mixed into Lily Allens london song 'LDN', Eliza Carthy into Adam and the Ants 'Stand and Deliver'. There were people doing ceilidh figures, morris stepping and typical nightclub moves all together. The aim was to make this - http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/wp-content/media/2009/07/englishfolkdances.jpg - come true. and it worked. What I'm interested in is the integration of this stuff into everyday life - i.e. Morris IS fine and it happily co-exists alongside all of the glorious diversity of other stuff around us. I can be equally proud and contented in turning up to a dance out at the weekend in Morris kit as I can in going to a club with my mates. It's all strands of the same thing. I would take it from your poem that you would agree.

Come on - I dare you to tell me that I don't understand English culture as well as you. I dare you.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 06:18 AM

"as I replied by PM, why not an "English county dance to recorded English music", then?"

Because it wasn't. Because we have lots of different audiences at Sidmouth who all enjoy different things. Because it's fun to do something different that no one else has done. Because Sidmouth is big enough and diverse enough that you can build the festival that suits you, without having to do any of the things that don't, and still have enough activity to fill every day.

As LF says, come down some time and see for yourself.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 06:06 AM

OK W A V , Get on the Festival Committe and organise something yourself , instead of criticising an Event that you have never attended !

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:48 AM

Thanks for detailing what LF just sent me by PM, Ruth - and, as I replied by PM, why not an "English county dance to recorded English music", then?

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:44 AM

If you post your PM here, LF, I can respond to it here (as I've done by PM). Re: "NOTHING about!" - I've enjoyed most of the highlights of the 50th Sidmouth (via the BBC) but, yes, have not yet been.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:40 AM

I love Mudcat.

WAV, Sidmouth contained around 500 programmed events this year - and that doesn't include the fringe. The Silent Folkin' Disco was one event amongst many, many traditional ones. It was a phenomenal success, and an answer to a problem - we could not hold late night events at Bulverton on Sunday last year because of noise restrictions, and Silent Disco meant that this year we could. Simples.

The DJs were Jim Moray, Eliza Carthy, Jim Causley and Pete Lawrence from the Big Chill. Quite often there was folk music to be heard, but equally often mashed together with something decidedly not folk - my favourite of Jim Moray's inspirted mixes was Adam Ant's Stand and Deliver with Eliza Carthy and the Kings of Calicutt's Good Morning Mr Walker. Glorious.

I was also proud of the giant bugs walking around, which added just the right note of wierdness. Even the Witchmen's morris set, stuck in the middle of a disco, worked. It was a great night, the venue was rammed, and I have no doubt we'll do something similar again. Silent ceilidh, anyone...?

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:19 AM

As a confirmation of John MacKenzies (And Lynne's) post , here is WAV leaping in with both feet about something he has NOT attended and knows NOTHING about !

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 05:02 AM

"I'm sitting here listening to Jim Moray's set from the Silent Folkin' Disco, which was definitely one of the highlights of the week for me." (Ruth Archer)..."disco"...what next - traditional singarounds replaced by folk karaoke?!

Poem 213 of 230: MORE AMOR PATRIAE

There is Tai Chi AND there is tennis,
    Line is fine BUT so is Morris,
There is curry AND there is the roast,
    AND, when England is playing host,
It is the rest-of-the-world's good wish
    To sense culture that is English.

From http://blogs.myspace.com/walkaboutsverse
(C) David Franks 2003

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Marilyn
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 04:56 AM

Really enjoyed it. Our whole band rented a flat round the corner from the Bedford on Station Road so the cost wasn't too bad shared betwenn six of us and we had somewhere dry and comfy to stay. If you saw a group of well-oiled people playing on the top floor balcony (or trying to play with that much wine flowing!) - that was us.

Got very muddy toes and jeans on Tuesday going to the Music Tent in Blackmore. Like Surreysinger I was horrified that there were no boards as the approach was in a dreadful state. There were boards next time I went so was very glad someone got it sorted.

I avoided concerts in the Ham Marquee (can't stand the volume and can't cope with the heat so it's best just to stay away) but some of the band went to several concerts and really enjoyed Spiers and Boden in particular. Well, who wouldn't!

I went to the John Spiers melodeon masterclass with the other melodeon player in our band and got a lot out of it. Also Vicky Swan's Scottish small pipes workshop was great - a chance to have a go without feeling too much of a fool.

All in all a fabulous holiday which we thoroughly enjoyed - who can ask for more?

Marilyn

p.s. Quite a lot of people took photos of our band playing on the balcony and also playing under the arches on the road up to Connaught Gardens - if you were one of them would you be willing to email any copies, please? Our website is www.halfepannikin.co.uk and my contact details are on there. t.i.a.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: MBSLynne
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 04:26 AM

I agree with John, a lot of people probably won't be posting due to the nastiness that has occurred on Sidmouth threads in the past. I only dropped into this by chance as I rarely use Mudcat anymore due to the unpleasantness that crops up even on innocent discussions. I'll keep my discussion about Sidmouth to Facebook and the Middle Bar Group

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 10 Aug 09 - 04:22 AM

Groan.

Monday morning and back to the old routine.

My Sidmouth was great - though I had to forgo buying ice cream, alcohol and have ready made hot food sparingly - and the price for parking at the Rugby club had gone up quite a bit.

I have discovered that I am a shanty snob.

I wince when there is a nonsense line or wrong term used.

When the writer of a song with sailing content obviously knows their subject it is quite a relief.

Anne Croucher

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 05:08 PM

Oh dear, another dimmer. You come here, John, offering to dissect and criticise. Twig?

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: mattkeen
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 04:42 PM

Loved it

Mike Wilson's singing was fantastic and the rest of the Peter Bellamy tribute concert was great as well

Spiers and Boden were stunning; Hugh Lupton's storytelling great and the Dhol Foundation were a pure joy.


Loved the Methodist Church as a venue - Spooky Men were great in there.

Found Mawkin: Causley underwhelmimg

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 04:03 PM

If you come out of your left wing wonderland Mr Bridge, you may have perceived that I am not around here much any more. However, any time you want your pomposity pricked, I'm you man.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 03:47 PM

John, by you and who else?

Naughty40 - who have you persuaded to put you in the lap of luxury, do tell?

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: naughtyforty
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 02:53 PM

I had a great time despite the weather and the awful state of the campsite (I managed not to get muddy toes until Thursday at Blackmore Gardens!!!) Spooky Men were fab and I actually went to some concerts this year in between sessions and stewarding - roll on next year I say (but I'm not camping!)

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 02:33 PM

Perhaps they're scared to post, because whatever they do say will be picked on, disagreed with, and dissected, ad nauseam.

JM

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 01:50 PM

And then of course there is Broadstairs...

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Cats
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 01:47 PM

Might still be quiet as it is Bideford this week and quite a few go to Dartmoor then straight on to Bideford.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Jane Bird
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 10:19 AM

Tuesday (the day that it rained all day) could have been so rubbish, for me. It was my one day off from stewarding and I woke up on the wrong side of bed. The cloud was so thick at the campsite that you couldn't see half-way down the field. However, after that somewhat grim start, Simon Care's lunch time concert was spot on and thoroughly cheered me up, we fitted in a couple of very wet dances at the Anchor to Random (who were on top form) and to top it all off, Edward II were completely awesome at the Bulverton. Better than ever - I'm so glad they reformed for this year :-)

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 09:29 AM

Mixed weather, quite often not as much seemed to be happenening around the pubs. Not so sure Blackmore is best place for the music tent.Always good to be there though.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 09:24 AM

I was told by the horse's mouth that Jim Causley's set was pretty damn fine as well [grins] ... The weather on Wednesday and Friday was great - can't say the same about Tuesday, when I got soaked and achieved some street cred by getting muddy toes and shoes (open toed sandals) and mud encrusted jeans (not bad for someone who wasn't camping) just by walking into the Music Tent in Blackmore Gardens - no walkways to keep you out of the mud from the path to the entrance to the tent ... boo hiss! Got my lemonade from Sally, though. Highlight for the week for me was always going to be meeting up with old friends for a sing, a chat, and enjoyment of good music.... and so it proved.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 09:11 AM

I'm sitting here listening to Jim Moray's set from the Silent Folkin' Disco, which was definitely one of the highlights of the week for me.

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 08:39 AM

Bet it wasn't as bad as that awful year, 97/98 or thereabouts, where we actually had a river running under the caravan!

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 08:37 AM

It Rained , for a change !

Subject: Expecting Sidders folk to flood the Cat?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 09 Aug 09 - 08:30 AM

Sidders 2009 is over and done with. The Cat has been really quiet for the last week but can we expect it to overflow now?

Come on, you lucky people, we want reports from Sidmouth

Rhiannon