Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Miss Lemon
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 10:08 AM

Did anyone come and see me? I know Greg did but it would be nice to know that you all knew I was there.

Sandra: Any chance of a traders' loo next year? It's not easy trading and queueing with the public at the same time. And THAT CHILDRENS' LOO!!!!! Full to the brim by monday morning and another 24hrs before it was emptied? None of the children could reach the hand wash in there and even if they tried they probably squirted it in their eyes!!

Otherwise I was happy. It's such a brilliantly organised event.

Mind you I thought those drummers on Sunday would never end....arrrrrgh!!!!!

Sal

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Moses
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 09:52 AM

My grateful thanks to the kind, honest person who handed in my mobile phone on Monday afternoon.I'd managed to drop it when getting out of the car and didn't notice I no longer had it until I was in the Steve Tilston concert (he was good, wasn't he). There were a number of un-downloaded photos that I would have been extremely sorry to have lost and I'm very pleased to have got it back.

As for the festival, I found it very well organised - lots of bark chippings outside the main venue entrances ensured a minimum of mud. The loos were OK and I thought were of a good 'festival' standard with plenty of paper provided.

The catering was varied and good and the covered eating area is a great idea. There was not much rain but it would have been even more in demand and welcome had there been.

I would have preferred showers similar to those at Sidmouth this year where there were unisex individual 'pods' so no envious looks at the length of the 'other' queue. I did notice that at the time I was queueing on Saturday, the gents queue had 13 and the ladies 29 in their respective queues. I also feel that 8am is not necessarily the best time to put a whole block out of action to clean them when perhaps mid-afternoon would have been less busy.

I would have liked more organised singarounds and something that went on after the concerts had finished like the late night sings till 1am at Warwick.

All in all though, I think the organisers deserve a pat on the back. There seemed to be something for everyone and it all seemed to happen when it was supposed to. I even joined in the Belly Dancing workshop! And I'm a seasoned non-dancer.

And all the stewards I saw were helpful and smiled a lot.


Christine

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Rob Hooks nose
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 05:46 AM

Really enjoyed Bellowhead and tack.
Missed Rapsquillion being there and had to make do with the Wilsons.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Aug 08 - 04:23 AM

I guess Greg's is a fair point about toilets and home but how about the comparison with public toilets? In the end people go to SFF and enjoy it so end of story really.

I went for a walk around 8 - 8.30 on Sunday morning to find around 100 people cuing for the showers. What do people who need to shower after 2 nights on a site think about the toilets?

Endemic diseases became a more serious problem when people started to live in towns with no real sewage treatment. How long before some nasty outbreak begins at a festival?

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Fran
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:52 PM

More Pics here Shrewsbury 2008

I had a fantastic time, thanks to all the organisers and stewards for all their hard work, I have been on the website and filled out the feedback form, hope I am not turning crimson either Joe G!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:39 PM

Great photos pasher - I'll study those later

Joe G

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:20 PM

I was interested in Alan's introduction in the programme about working with the owners to develop the site over the next 10 years and would be interested to know more about the plans if they can be divulged yet as the site has huge potential

Over to you Alan & Sandra

(and please tell me you'll go back to spotlights next year rather than the computer screens - oh dear I'll start to sound like a certain person of a ruby hue if I go on.....)

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Sam Hudson
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 05:03 PM

The gang of seasoned fest-goers I was with - but all SFF newbies - agreed that it was well worth turning up. OK, minor quibbles: a few more loos would have been good, especially near Marquee 1; the sound quality in Marquee 1 varied dramatically; duckboards or better drainage in the showers desperately needed. But as I say, these are minor criticisms - overall, a very well organised festival, great line-up (I'd endorse the comments above about Steve Tilston getting well-deserved recognition), and well worth the money.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Rich Bucknall
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:54 PM

Still on toilets...

They were basic- but as I said before, they were clean, lit, and they flushed. That's far better than most festivals. And they also always had paper in, which is a very rare thing at a festival! I know there were some chemical cludgees, but they allowed there to be toilets close to every venue.

I really do think that the Showground is an excellent festival site, even taking into account the toilets. Unlike some festivals, there aren't lights everywhere that make it hard to sleep. The tarmac roadways mean that mud is reduced. It's pretty level, great for tents and caravans alike. The biggest downside is the lane that leads to and from it, but the one-way system alleviates much of the problems with it- although it is a little bumpy in the "out" direction! Town is close enough that you can get there easily, and the buses help too.

SFF isn't my favourite festival yet- at present that's a tie between Bromyard and Warwick. But if every year is like this year, it could creep up in my personal stakes. I hope not too much is changed for the future, aside from the silly screens!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:02 PM

Les:It has never occurred to me that the loos at a festival should be the same as at home.It's a festival, and a camping one at that. Anyway, if you think the Shrewsbury ones are a bit dodgy, try the Best Festival in the World Bar None, Glastonbury. Then you'll have something to comment about! There are good ones there, but some of them are just, well, very Glastonburyish.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 03:44 PM

Let's be honest none of us would have toilets like those in our homes or the pubs we visit. They were probably worse than almost all UK public toilets.

I don't think we should accept that they were ok but more importantly I don't think anybody who works at the Showground when it does it's ordinary job should either.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,aeola
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 03:06 PM

A number of issues raised last year seemed to be taken care of esp the loos. They might have been basic but they were clean, at least all those I visited! It would be interesting to know just how many w/e and daily tickets were actually sold. Sunday night the various venues looked to be pretty full.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Meggly
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 11:46 AM

I'd like to mention the Beginner's & Improver's Sessions on the Saturday & Sunday afternoons respectively. Greatly improved from last year when the sessions were split by age rather than ability (which meant that I was too old to go to one of them and the other raced away with all the better Improvers taking over).

These sessions are a great way of getting those not confident enough to join 'proper' sessions involved. I down-loaded the tune book in June and have learnt about 16 of the tune sets by heart, was able to play them in the sessions and will now probably take them on to some of my local sessions.

It was great to actually get involved in the music making as well as watching the 'pros' on the stages; and, after all, isn't joining in what Folk is all about? (rhetorically posed question).

So, well done the session leaders (even though you did get the tune to Battered Hake wrong in the tune book!) and please, please continue these sessions next year.

Thanks,

Meg.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 10:06 AM

Greg,

I think I have always wanted my comments "dripping with hyperbole", I just didn't know it. I saw The High Level Ranters at Whitby about 3 years ago and it suddenly struck me that they were in fact Status Quo. So, Hyperbole or lateral thinking?

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 09:43 AM

I think it is probably my personal favourite, although all the festivals have their own character.

Good to see Steve Tilston getting the thumbs up from so many people.

I really like the repartee between Bella Hardy and Chris Sherburn.

I didn't actually get into town to the pubs this time except to visit the cashpoint as there was so much to do on site.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 09:39 AM

Pasher: yuour set of pix and videos was most informative and memory jogging, thanks a lot for putting that up. I think anyone looking at the Boat Band section showing our Marquee 2 performance will realise that Les in Chorlton's comments were dripping with hyperbole. We were in fact models of decorum.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Trevor
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 06:26 AM

Excellent, again (despite no Rapsquillion!).

What about Bellowhead then - what a fantastic performance!

Love the whole event (although I don't camp) - atmosphere, line up, scoff, stewards, site, marquee and so on and on and on.

Thanks to everybody who makes it one of, if not THE best festival of the year.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GerryMc
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:58 AM


I had a great time at Shrewsbury. Thanks to Joe G and Sheila for those kind words about me. :-)

I personally would also like to see the Duncan McFarlane band at Shrewsbury (especially the acoustic band - he he!)

Plus points of the festival for me were...

Richard Thompson, level campsite, Kerfuffle, no mud, No Bones Jones, Steve Tilston, bus service into town (don't get me wrong, I like walking but not with guitars and amps and stuff), beer tent with big screen telly, flushing clean toilets, catching up with folky friends who I see mainly at festivals

Minus points...

loos not being in line of site of beer tent, snoring

Will probs go back next year if I'm free


Gerry :-)

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 27 Aug 08 - 04:42 AM

Really enjoyed myself again this year. Concerts in Marquee 2 were double fantastic. Demon Barbers and the stuff they did with Oxon School were great. Ukelele Orchestra were just magic as was the 'man' Richard Thompson plus Steve Tilston was great (despite not feeling well). I have to say that Alan, Sandra and all the team look after us 'artists' and that Sandra and the artists team should be receiving top marks when the 'Mystery Folkie' sends in his report.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: pasher
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 07:51 PM

I've just finished uploading all the photos and videos I took at SFF to www.gigsremembered.com.

23 Bands and Artists in total, and they are all inter-linked.

Goto http://www.gigsremembered.com/4Square/23Aug08/1478 (to pick just one) and follow the links to all my other SFF piccies and vids.

Bands/Artists covered -
The Boat Band - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 22 August 2008
Oysterband - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 22 August 2008
Tim Van Eyken Band - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 22 August 2008
Brassberries - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
4Square - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
Pete Morton - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
Eilen Jewell Band - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
Lunasa - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
The Duhks - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
The Doonans - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 23 August 2008
John Wesley Harding - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
New Rope String Band - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Kerfuffle - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Steve Tilson - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Richard Thompson - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Ceilidhography - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 24 August 2008
Rory McLeod - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 25 August 2008
Demon Barber Roadshow - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 25 August 2008
Pete Lockett and Joji Hirota - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 25 August 2008
Bella Hardy Trio - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 25 August 2008
Bellowhead - Shrewsbury Folk Festival - 25 August 2008

Cheers
Pa

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Toby
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 06:22 PM

I have never posted here before but have followed various threads in the past - so firstly hello.

I would like to say a big thank you to Alan and Sandra for what me has been the best festival of the year.

My favorites - Bellowhead / Kerfuffle / 4Square and the Duhks (if you didn't catch the two performances they did at the village stage - especially the first as a three piece - you really missed out)

The fiddle workshop by Sam Sweeney was superb (he is a very talented teacher) - as was the one by Tania Elizabeth from the Duhks.

As for the toilets - they were fine. If you want to see primitive try Glastonbury.

I am really looking forward to next year, my only hope is that the festival does not expand too much. The showground is a great venue and I know they probably could cram more in, but it just feels 'right' at the moment.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 05:55 PM

I agree totally with Rich about the light panels. His comments are almost exactly the same as mine on the comments form but I was a bit more polite!

But on a positive note Glorystrokes were great - I'd been looking forward to them for ages - disappointed with Oyster's ceildh not as exciting as I had hoped. Very impressed with Kerr Fagan Harbaron and Bellowhead were superb of course. Special mention must be made of the children so well trained by the Demon Barbers - one of the highlights of another excellent weekend

Despite my whinges about the lights well done to everyone - I even avoided the 2 stroppy stewards this year who had plagued my previous visits

I must admit I only saw the last 2 numbers of the Dukhs main marquee set and hated what I heard with a passion! I must have missed the best bits!

Special thanks must go to Mr SP Holding who I assume must be a folk loving man who is big in drains

Looking forward to the Darwin Project next year and I can vouch that Gerry McNeice is well worth booking and I am not coming unless Tom Bliss is going to be on!

I've just been working on a programme for a possible folk festival here in West Yorkshire in the Spring and if it goes ahead I can too enjoy the hard work that goes into these events - though I suspect Shrewsbury must be a real labour of love - it frightens me to think how much there must be to organise

Cheers

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 02:01 PM

I'm not sure how to put this but why do so many of us adopt such strange dress codes? I feel like I have joined some strange sect and in a way I have.

Festival T-Shirts are all good fun but it goes much further - I feel sure I don't need to describe or list things that people wear at Folk festivals that I don't think they would wear anywhere else.

I think our none folk friends would laugh if they could see us #. Am I alone?

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:57 PM

True enough.I guess the Agricultural Show or Society can't or wont spend the money needed to improve them?

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Rich Bucknall
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:43 PM

They were certainly basic! But at least they flushed were kept fairly clean, and there were enough of them.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:40 PM

Toilets were primitive, is this because they are "only" for farm workers?

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Rich Bucknall
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:31 PM

I forgot to mention my one main criticism of this year- the bloody stupid screens behind the bands on the main stage. They seemed like an expensive, lazy substitute for a decent light show, relying instead on crap looking windows media player-esque visualisations. If you're going to spent money on screens, how about a big one either side of the main stage so that those at the back of the venue can see the artists a bit better? If you put them on the same feed as the screen in the bar, they could really enhance the experience, instead of making it harder to see the acts.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:29 PM

Must just mention the pies.

Had decided to self cater in the caravan, but once I smelt that pie stall, all will power vanished!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Rich Bucknall
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:25 PM

I got back from Shrewsbury late last night...

Second year at the showground, which really does make for a good festival site. In spite of intermittent rain (luckily generally overnight), wellies weren't needed. However, in spite of the festival not being a sell-out, camping space was fairly tight... any more would have felt crammed in. As things stood, there wasn't too much to give a fire inspector apoplexy!

A lot of the issues from last year seemed to have been addressed- mainly where sound is concerned. Friday night at the main stage was pretty rough, sounding as if the speakers were physically damaged, but by the time I was in again on Sunday night it was much better- excellent clarity and well balanced. Also, this year Marquee 2 wasn't having to crank its own volume up just so that the audience could hear the concert above the main stage's acts! The simple act of having the stage facing the other direction probably helped too.

Perhaps by virtue of not being a sell-out, full houses weren't as prevalent as last year. The only event that I wanted to attend, but couldn't, was the Radio Ballads story. I know that the Ukelele Orchestra filled up, but I did manage to get in, although the steward was tried to dissuade me from taking my daughter in her buggy in. FFS, the thing is 18" x 24" footprint, not one of the three wheeled off-road monsters! Anyway, being able to go from one concert to another without fear of not being able to get into the one I wanted to, or back into the one I'd left, really meant that I enjoyed the festival a lot more than the last two years. On those arse numbing seats, you need to move every hour or so anyway!

I heard some whinging that the dance floor in the ceilidh tent sloped... I didn't think it was a problem. More importantly, it was much less slippery than before! I think it needs to be bigger though- testament perhaps to Shrewsbury's gradual climb up the "dancers festivals" stakes.

The food stall selection seems to get better and better- a good choice with plenty of variety, and good grub for veggies and omnivores alike. As always with festival food, the prices are a little higher than going into town, but that's not the festival's fault, and the slight price premium is outweighed by the convenience of not having to leave the site. Merchandise/craft stalls were pretty average, and it would be nice to have more than one musical instruments etc seller. The bars were great too... I drank far too much!

As for the line up... first class! Sure, there'll always be someone that isn't to everyones tastes (In my case, just what is the appeal of Colvin Quarmby?), but the artists were of sufficiently diverse styles within the umbrella of folk that I think there was something for everyone. My personal highlights were the Oysters doing a ceilidh, Tim van Eyken, Kerr/Fagan, Rory McCleod and Richard Thompson, and I enjoyed many besides.

After last year, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go to SFF again. This year has gone some way to matching the joy that was Bridgnorth. I won't be there next year (I'll be living in NZ), but when I can afford to return to the UK, I hope to be there.

Thanks to all involved for this year's SFF. I know that after last year's festival, the organisers were distinctly combative and rudely dismissive about some of the criticisms, but my particular concerns seem to have been addressed. I can only speak for myself though!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,aeola
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 01:03 PM

John, I agree the sound in marquee 1 left a lot to be desired but if you stood about 100feet from the marquee it balanced out and sounded ok! As usual it was a terrifc w/e and the weather was favourable, really enjoyed the ukelele band, not what I expected ( no lamp-post ).A great w/e & looking forward to next year. Well done Alan & Sandra. Just a thought, but would like to see a small marquee ( sabrina size?) dedicated to all those who like to join in singing some of the traditional songs,

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 12:19 PM

No-one else has said it so I'll have to: Bellowhead were brilliant.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Acorn4
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 12:12 PM

Muppitz,

On the question of the open mike, I had the same experience as you the last two years as we were B and B ing some distance from Shrewsbury and I wasn't able to get to the site in time to sign up. This was partly due to having a wife that "doesn't do time", but that's another issue.

Having now got a caravan, I was determined to get a slot and arrived well before 10 o' clock on the Saturday. The queue had built up by the time the list opened and about two thirds of the slots both for Saturday and Sunday had gone by the time I left. There was almost a mini rugby scrum as people were not only determined to bag a slot but often had a specific one in mind due to other festival commitments. Colin Squire, who was there to supervise the signing on said that there were a number of concerns about the procedure and it had been discussed at some length.

To me, the most obvious point is that it is down to supply and demand and there are just not enough slots. Over the two days there are 24 slots available and there are how many people at the festival?
The problem is that the Sabrina has to be shared with other events like workshops and concerts, and there is always the constraint of time. I've suggested on the survey that I filled in that there should be a dedicated venue for the open mike which could operate on a rolling system. The site is big enough to accomodate this with ease I would have thought. It would also increase the competition.

I was a bit wary when the competitive element was introduced, and it does seem to have put a bit of an edge on it as far as the open stagers are concerned; I think a lot of people would previously go on in the hope of conquering stage nerves, or in my case, getting experience with PA. On the other hand this is probably quite good for the watchers and I like the touch of each of the MCs having their own candidate - a nice little tongue in cheek nod to the X Factor

I was actually lucky enough to get through to the final despite the mikes failing during the second act of our session( its just one of these things that happen at folk festivals!) thus felt a bit of a fraud having got to an open mike final without actually using a mike.

The time pressure actually affected the final as well unfortunately. The young singer/guitarist who went on before me won over the audience in the first twenty seconds and delivered his first song brilliantly but then unfortunatly broke a string. We were told that we had about twelve minutes - break a string in a twenty minute set and it's recoverable but it takes about the length of a song to do it in a 12 minute slot - he understandably went into panic mode and the MC tried to change a string while he did an acapella song. In the end I lent him my guitar, which had unfortunately gone a bit out of tune in the cold weather. He actually made a very good recovery from this and could easily win the competition another year.I would have thought that a twenty minute spot would have been fair for the finalists - if you've got that far you can hold an audience for 20 minutes. Once again constraints of time on the marquee. 12 minute slots are fine for the initial slots because (how to put this tactfully?) a minority of entrants might not actually be truly listenable for longer and the person who goes on after ends up performing in front of one man and his dog.

Having said all this, it's a great idea and , and is in a way a victim of its own popularity. The element of luck also adds an extra dimension - most of us pray for rain so you get a big audience! I hope all this rather long post is taken in terms of useful suggestions and if I'm grinding axes they are other people's rather than mine.

I thought the winner was fantastic! Went to see her slot in Marquee 2 and she went down really well. A star in the making!

I also thought the young people who did the CD recording from Birmingham University were brilliant and was once again lucky enough to be one of the early birds that got a slot. I imagine there were a lot of people disappointed not to get on here as well especially as the Sunday session had to be abandoned dur to the fire.

They assure me they will be back next year.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: danensis
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 10:54 AM

I'm still a bit mind boggled at being a neighbour of Steve Tilston for so long and not realising what a great singer and songwriter he is.

I must say I really enjoyed Shrewsbury. I kept away from Marquee 1 as much as possible, the sound in there was down to its usual appalling standard, but the sound in Marquee 2 was superb.

I do agree about the chairs - I even remembered my cushion this year, but it didn't help the assault on the lower ribcage!

John

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Sheila_b
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:49 AM

I also really liked Steve Tilston's performance in the second marquee. I've seen him in small clubs and he just does exactly the same show whether it's twenty people or a thousand. He should be a bigger folk star in my book.

Muppitz, I guess there are ladies of all ages that swoon at the Hall Brothers.

Going to watch Gerry McNeice at the Junction in Otley tonight. Then Mr. S and I are tootling off to Europe for a few days.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:07 AM

True enough Greg, but I didn't feel a direct person to person match. I am prepared to let others comment on the focus of said 'naked thingy'. I think you should consider a raid on the JHE back catalogue. The Doonans did a great version of 'Bring it on home to me' - from the Animals, although I feel sure they got from elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: greg stephens
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 09:02 AM

Well I'm not sure about your Hendrix analogy, Les. At no time did pour petrol on my banjo and set fire to it. As to the naked sexuality...well, I'll leave that to others to judge.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 08:59 AM

Whilst watching The Boat Band in Marque 2 I was struck by how much they reminded me of the Jimi Hendrix Experience! Pared down musicianship, each getting the maximum from their instruments with out getting in each other's way, geat songs and tunes from a range of sources and traditions ............................ Oh and naked sexuality!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: greg stephens
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 08:45 AM

I much prefer seeing bands in the small venues, generally. Rory McLeod, totally acoustic, in the Pavilion was the best gig I have seen him do for years. And when the Boat Band played acoustically at the Bird in Hand, with Rory McLeod and Chris Bartram as guest musicians, many people there seem to have had a much better time of it than at our big marquee do.(Though that seemed to go very well too,dancing in the aisles, which we thought was verboten at Shrewsbury!)

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Folkie
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 08:40 AM

Great festival, but I was disappointed that Cloudstreet only played small venues. They are fantastic and should have been in one of the big marquees.

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 08:37 AM

Really enjoyed The Boat Band, Tim Van Eiken and The Doonans. Then struck down with a bad back from those little low chairs.

D McF must be booked for Shrewsbury - great tunes, great trad songs great songs of their own

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: muppitz
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 08:28 AM

Of course, I'm all for equal rights and stuff!
I'm delighted to have been able to see Rory McLeod again, I've not seen him since Shrewsbury was at Bridgenorth, not happy that I couldn't get on at the open mic I think that procedure needs looking at, really enjoyed Nancy & James, Breabach, Steve Tilston & his ensemble and it was great to see my mates Elbow Jane on the main stage!
Nice one once again folks!

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: .spiderman
Date: 26 Aug 08 - 07:50 AM

Sheila B/muppitz

... you don't have to be a lady/female either!

Just got back from Shrewsbury - what a wonderful festival! My first time, and I can't wait for next year now!

Tim V Eyken - you're a lovely lovely man!

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: muppitz
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 04:19 PM

Sheila b - you don't have to be of a certain age to find the Hall Brothers easy on the eye!;-)

muppitz
x

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Kelk Brigade
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 01:06 PM

No still recovering from Whitby, but we've already done 19 festivals this year so made a change to be in our own bed at the weekend, did spend a few hours at the local Driffield Folk Festival though, which makes 20!
Sorry you won't make September, but we'll be at Otley week after.
Otherwise its Gerry in October.
Hugs
Peter

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Sheila_b
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 12:58 PM

Peter

Sounds good but why haven't you get Gerry on the bill? I see he's playing the Moonbeams gig so I'll be along to that one.

Duncan McFarlane at Cropredy eh? I'll mention it to Richard Thompson when I see him next. Ha ha!

Were you at Shrewsbury?

Sheila

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Kelk Brigade
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 11:58 AM

Well said Sheila, Duncan and the band should not only be playing Shrewsbury but Cropredy which has sadly lacked a decent folk rock band recently.
If you want to see more they aretopping the bill at a "mini" festival at Sledmere Village Hall on 13th September starting at 3.00pm till late, supported by the wonderful Edwina Hayes, Paul Lidell Nick Hall, Dave and Zoe Bottomley and Jim Danby.
Promises to be a great day, with real ale bar, refreshments and camping so everyone can relax and dance the night away!!
Be there or be square!
Peter

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: GUEST,Mad Jock
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 10:17 AM

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: Sheila_b
Date: 25 Aug 08 - 09:38 AM

HI everyone.

This is my first time on mudcat. Mr. S and me have just got back to Yorkshire having had a fantastic time. We're all danced out and we've seen some of the best acts this festival year. Richard Thompson was awesome. So were Kerfuffle and The Dukhs.

I noticed reading down the thread that Alan has suggested acts for next year. I might be a bit biased towards the Yorkshire acts (we have the cream you know) but me and Mr. S would suggest...

Gerry McNeice - he's from our neck of the woods and he's great. We've seen him all over and he played a great set at Broadstairs last year. We were told by a friend that he was at Shrewsbury this year with his morris side and he entered the open mic competition. Apparently a young fiddler won the heat and we're sorry we missed him. He also plays brilliant double bass with the Duncan McFarlane Band

Duncan McFarlane - the finest folk rockers ever. Duncan puts on a heck of a show and I can't believe Shrewsbury haven't booked him before. The electric band are fantastic and there have an acoustic band, a duo and trio line up. He does guitar workshops too.

Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts - Jamie is well known as part of Kerfuffle but also is worth checking out with Katriona. Their original material is amazing.

The Hall Brothers - they are like Yorkshire's Show of Hands. They put on a brilliant and exhilarating performance. Being a lady of a certain age I do find them rather pleasing on the eye too!.

and not from Yorkshire

George Papavgeris
Vin Garbutt
Cathryn Craig and Brian Willoughby
Stanley Accrington

When I get more time I'll suggest some more

Thanks to everyone, we had the best time ever.

And hello to the lady who found my purse which I'd dropped. Sorry I didn't get your name.

Sheila and James

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 24 Aug 08 - 06:04 PM

Hey Greg, I did get to the pavilion for that time today and watched you guys for a while. Great stuff!

Thanks for coming to see me at my trailer today and refilling the bottle. Nice to meet you after all this time.

x Sal

Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival 2008
From: greg stephens
Date: 22 Aug 08 - 06:48 AM

For a real Mudcat experience, get to the Pavilion at 13.40 on Sunday. Then you get to see me with the Boat Band, followed immediately by Treewind(Anahata plus Mary Humphreys). And, if it keeps raining, there should be some Mud. Bring your own cat.