chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?

Subject: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,Emily
Date: 28 May 07 - 04:29 PM

Just come back from the Chippenham Folk Festival. anybody else go? it was fantastic!

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 May 07 - 04:41 PM

I had a fantastic time too - and that was just at the Cause! I never made it to the Olympiad, but I prefer acoustic venues anyway. It was great to hear young performers I hadn't heard live before, including the Askew Sisters and Ruth Notman and Bryony Bainbridge.

Kitty

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 28 May 07 - 05:01 PM

Unlike Kitty - apart from Friday night I could not get to the Cause because of a knee problem. So I had a rather different festival this year - saw the Appalachian and step dancing at the Black Horse - superb! Got to the Constie Club - a real asset to the festival as a new venue. Most of all - I saw some incredibly good concerts at the Olympiad. Admitted the weather was not good - which was a shame for the more public events - but as Dick Stanger (the former director) said previously - bad weather engenders a better spirit amongst the real festivallers, and the 'survival instinct' was definitely well in evidence this weekend. The events I saw were so good that people didn't have to have the 'blitz spirit' to enjoy themselves. Many congratulations to all the festival committee, but most especially to Bob and Gill Berry. Gill is due to go into hospital for surgery which she had put off for the festival and which is well overdue - so let all festivallers and 'Catters send their good thoughts and wishes her way.

Polly

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 28 May 07 - 05:29 PM

Glad you all had a good time.Happy memories of the past.



SCOOBY

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 May 07 - 04:00 AM

Manitas isn't back yet... the two phone calls I had from him seem to indicate he had a good time.

I now have to go and clean the kitchen so he doesn't find out about the party I had!

LTS

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: skipy
Date: 29 May 07 - 05:03 AM

Great time as always!
Well done committee!
Skipy

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: henryclem
Date: 29 May 07 - 05:35 AM

I enjoyed myself immensely, despite not getting to any of the Olympiad concerts. Seemed to spend most of my time (when not stewarding) at The Cause, which is no hardship - either in the song sessions or next door in the auditorium. Thanks Kitty (and Tony & Pearl) for the way all these sessions ran and I must say it was a privilege to be a part of some of the most wonderful chorus singing I can ever remember - whatever the song, familiar or otherwise, there was just so much wholehearted participation... even when I had a go!

As for Bob and Gill, there is the hard work all year round and nowhere near enough time during the weekend for them both actually to relax and enjoy much more than a small part of this wonderful festival. We all get the benefits of their tremendous efforts (not forgetting those of the Committee as a whole) and owe them a great debt of gratitude for yet again coming up trumps with a superb Festival.

To me the most practical way we can show our appreciation is to support their Club (Devizes every Monday) - it's a smashing club with consistently the best chorussing in the region, so if you live near enough, or are visiting the area, do go along.

Here's to the next time...

Henry

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 29 May 07 - 06:05 AM

We got back OK, minor diversion to avoid an accident hold up on the M4 which meant we were able to visit daughter No. one and cadge a cup of coffee.

What a super weekend despite the rain! Like others above we only made it to the Cause, apart from Johnny & Joyce's Sunday morning sing. Sad about the weather, I'm just sorry for the dance sides who put in all that work to prepare for the festival performaces that couldn't happen.

Magic, our 'grey/blue' greyhound enjoyed herself, I think. She behaved herself very well at the cause and only became 'sung out' on Sunday evening.

Well done to Bob and Gill and all involved.

BobH

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 29 May 07 - 06:18 AM

Anyone see Sheffield City Morris? I couldn't make it for the weekend but am happy to fish for compliments about their dancing!

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: treewind
Date: 29 May 07 - 06:37 AM

From one performing duo's point of view - lovely festival, hard work but not impossible, aside one event we agreed to cut or we wouldn't have had any lunch. Despite the organization being a nightmare for Bob and Gill, and Gill not being well for much of the time before the festival, we at least didn't encounter any undue organizational problems.

It's always nice when it ends well too, and our final "tea with" event with Belshazzar's Feast was one I won't forget in a hurry, with Hutch announcing their first item completely incoherently with a mouthful of bread roll, several unrehearsed and arranged-on-the fly tunes played by all four of us, and the audience shouting for more because they KNEW we wouldn't have an encore planned...

Shame we didn't get to any of the English music sessions (too knackered/lack of time) but we got a chance for some of the networking that is part of the real value of folk festivals, and we finally got to hear Hazel and Emily Askew, who though we've known them and their parents for a while, we've always missed for some reason when they were actually performing.

So I'll add our thanks to Bob and Gill for another good one, and keep 'em coming!

Anahata

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Saro
Date: 29 May 07 - 07:13 AM

And we'll add ours too, from CMR! It was great performing in the Cause, both Auditorium and Hall, and we really appreaciated Fred and Norma's efforts in making this the best venue possible for unamplified music!! Anahata and Mary, listening to you two was almost as much fun as performing together, see you tomorrow!
Saro

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 May 07 - 10:02 AM

Nothing quite like the Cause. We always gravitate there when our brains and bodies have had enough dancing. It's that or going for a meal, and you get entertainment with your food at the Cause (even if Derek Gifford was covetting my cake!).

We never got to the Olympiad at all this year.
Put a few faces (and splendid sounds) to Mudcat names. Anahata and Mary, well worth knowing about.

I'd better practise those tunes I got from Valmai, Suzzanne and the Snail, ready for next year.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 29 May 07 - 10:06 AM

Did it seem odd to anyone else to hear Fred Jordan singing Farmers Boy to a crowded hall in the Caues, and no-one joining in the chorus? It was a film, but the rest of the weekend you couldn't have stopped people singing.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 29 May 07 - 02:10 PM

Because the rain just didn't want to stop on sunday I decided not to open, you may have noticed. We went to the arena displays which were held in the Hall in the Olympiad. The displays and performances were very good, altho I did feel the Askew Sisters went on a tad too long for my liking. They are wonderful but 45mins? The big ceilidh was brilliant on Saturday night and I didn't think they were too loud at all!

Well done Bob and Jill, yet again well planned and executed.

Sal

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Fidjit
Date: 30 May 07 - 05:19 AM

Ah. This is on my short list for next year. See you then.

Chas

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mr Red
Date: 30 May 07 - 08:23 AM

Plenty of minor problems in the info office - mostly lost property and lost tickets. But that's what we stewards stand there stewing for.

I wrote out a fresh ticket for one kiddy with the added words -"don't loose this one" and guess what? that one was handed-in!

But all-in-all it was superb. And Whapweasel managed a fine waltze - I suspect the addition of two extremely respected melodeons has changed that aspect and the rest was very boppy.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mr Yellow
Date: 30 May 07 - 08:24 AM

and that goes for me too.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: FolkTDG
Date: 30 May 07 - 09:12 AM

Had an amazing time!
Congrats to everyone involved in organising, running and performing at the festival this year!
Will definately be there next year - wouldnt miss it for the world!
Did anybody see the shooting roots showcase? I was in it :D

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,BIGmrC - ChippFolk Webmaster
Date: 31 May 07 - 07:19 AM

I'd like to say a big thankyou to
Bob & Gill for all their hard getting the festival ready
& looking after it during the festival.

The amount of work they & all the other managers put into the festival is a lot.
I know my parents spent most of the weekend running around looking after the social dance scene of the festival, & not seeing some of the stuff they would have liked to have seen.

Also (from me personal) like to say thankyou to everyone for help & supporting the festival this year & over the years. The festival would happen with out everyone getting involved, including the companies around the town who support the festival in so many different ways.
Plus the spirit people had to keep having fun with all the rain & mud around.

I'll see you all next year
& at other festival over the year.

Adam Courthold (BIGmrC)
Chippenham Folk Festival Webmaster

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 31 May 07 - 08:09 AM

Thanks to everybody for a superb festival. There was an excellent mix of established big names, young performers and good people who wouldn't otherwise get heard outside their local range.

Choosing between the simultaneous events is agony.

Valmai
(Lewes Arms Folk Club & Spare Parts concertinas)

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: muppitz
Date: 31 May 07 - 10:44 AM

Had a good time but I suspect this festival is more suited to dancers, I'd go again if there were enough guests on that I wanted to see.
No complaints generally, apart from the weather of course, but my tent stood up to it well after I'd badgered Tom Bliss into helping me put the guy ropes out!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 31 May 07 - 08:22 PM

Yes indeed, thanks for all your hard work Mike, and the panic of having to call unexpectedly to kick us off.

It would be interesting to know what proportion of the festival's income is from tickets and how much from street collections. Was it very far down because of the weather?

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 07:58 AM

The number of programmes left over is usually a sign of numbers being down. A lot of locals (from quite a catchment area) come and buy programmes but if it is raining before they set out I suspect they decide not to.

Having said that the number of programmes usually depends on previous years' experience and that confuses this measure of success.

I think the Breton dancers were a little surprised by the healthy (make that heaving) crowd at the Old Road Tavern Barn - doing French & Breton dances. This is a regular feature (2nd Sun of month) and always Sun night of the festival. Tres Bien.

And yes it is a dancers/musicians festival - because the bulk of the organisers/workers are keen dancers and musicians. There are plenty of singists and concerts but I suspect less organisers of that persausion.

I steward to put something back. And even if it was more than the 1 hour from home I would be there.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,The Derby Ram
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 09:30 PM

How could anyone not have a good time at Chippers? It's one of the best Folk Festivals in Britain and of the older regime that proves time and time again that the arguably 'forced' style and admin. agenda changes that more and more festivals have subscribed to over the last twenty years is totally unnecessary and which exposes the futile act of putting the wrong problem right - in my humble view.

Chippers is a 'blue-print' Folk Festival that will, I believe, only change (if ever) when it's audience and supporters reflect the need and not when an organiser simply decides to change it in pursuit of a bigger turn-over and profit at the expense of what it's all truly about.

Sylvia and I were also performing at the festival as many times before and we had just the best time as ever. Great gigs, great audiences, great organisation, great accom. (thanks Derek and Isobel) Long may it survive and prosper and only change for the good of the music and not the purse.

Just for the record, my favourite performances this year were of course The Askews, WitchNotes, Belshazzars Feast, Sara Grey and Keiron Means, CMR and Dave Sealey's One Man tribute to Stanley Holloway - just fantastic!
Best event?.....The Wildgoose Concert of course!.....:-)

Good onyer Bob and Gill, great nouse - you deserve a medal - oh and you really should fix it so you can sing more!

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST, Derby Ram
Date: 01 Jun 07 - 09:41 PM

Oh and add to my favourite that nutter Keith Donnelly - I swear there's nothing that man won't do in pursuit of pleasing and tickling his audience - bloody marvelleous!

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: julian morbihan
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 04:31 AM

I think the issue of Chippenham being a "dancers" festival over the song content is a little unfounded.

Yes, there are a lot of dances and ceilidhs but there are also a good number of concerts, clubs and singarounds. And the festival has, what I think is, the best acoustic venue in the Cause.

So in my opinion, Chippenham is THE best festival in the UK. It is pretty much unique in extensively covering social dance, ceilidh, song, music and display!

Long may it continue....

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,The Derby Ram
Date: 02 Jun 07 - 04:38 AM

Here, here Julian! I think the balance between dance and song is just right. Like I say, Chippers is the blueprint for how to do it right.
Play on!

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: Mo the caller
Date: 03 Jun 07 - 02:27 PM

Here, here. I go to Chippenham despite a very local festival the same weekend because it has such good social dance. We no longer go to Lichfield (nearer) because it is only dance, nothing else.
Chippenham has such a marvaellous mixture.

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 11:44 AM

The Breton team also say thank you.

For many it was their first visit to England, let alone an English folk festival.

They really enjoyed the ceilidhs. My worry now is that they will expect any English barn dance they might go to in the future will be the same as Gordon Potts and Whapweasel !!!

They also now like "proper" beer, cornish pasties and they loved the fish and chips from Buckles! None of them ventured to have an Indian meal though....

So from DRAOU !(including the Grand Breton from Grand Bretagne) a big thank you to Bob, Gill, Joan, Tracey, Pauline at Monkton Park School and everyone involved with organising and running THE festival.

Also from my own point of view, the Aqueilidh was great this year too. A good number at the younger session (didn't have to compete with Bagpuss this year) and a nice number with the grown-ups.

A bientot

Julian

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,howling rabbit
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 07:27 PM

Subject: RE: chippenham Folk Fest - Anybody go?
From: GUEST,Alison Scott
Date: 05 Jun 07 - 03:28 AM

We saw both halves of the Shooting Roots showcase -- the band & theatre at the cause, and the morris on a very damp Arena stage, with a small audience of soaking wet parents. Our daughter was doing Shooting Roots for the very first time, and had a fab time. We were proud of course. But also a bit grumpy, because the morris-in-the-arena was not on the programme or mentioned in advance, and we'd been planning to stay in the nice warm Cause to watch Sam's films and see Belshazzar's Feast afterwards.