Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled

Subject: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 05:33 AM

ROYAL OAK, LEWES
Hot on the heels of having to change the programme for April 3rd comes news of a problem for our guest for the following week, April 10th.
BRYAN BOWERS flew into Manchester Airport yesterday from the USA to start a British tour and found that he had a problem with his work permit. He was refused entry into the country and was scheduled to be flown back to the USA this morning. This was to have been the start of our nine-week American season.
Frantic efforts on the part of several people, including myself, to overcome the difficulty have proved fruitless so it now looks as though the tour is cancelled.
Tour details on Bryan's website at
http://bryanbowers.com/shows.html are a bit sketchy but they are listed as



Mar 28, 2008 - thru April 4th... TBA Scotland
Apr 05, 2008 - Swallow Theater Whithorn, Scotland
Apr 10, 2008 - Folk Club Lewes, England
Apr 11, 2008 - Folk Club Keighley, England
Apr 13, 2008 - Folk Club Warrington, England
Apr 14, 2008 - Folk Club Devises, England
Apr 15, 2008 - Great Knight Folk Club North Hampton, England
Apr 18, 2008 - Folk Club Wiltshire Swindon, England
Apr 19, 2008 - Folk Club Kent, England
Apr 20, 2008 - Folk Club Waltham-Stow, England
Apr 20, 2008 - American Museum Bath, England
Apr 21, 2008 - Folk Club Stockton On Tees, England

As far as the Royal Oak in Lewes in concerned, the details on the replacement guests for April 10th will be posted on this thread as soon as they are finalised.
Club websites for further details:-
ROYAL OAK
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tinvic
http://www.myspace.com/royaloakfolklewes

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (or not!)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 06:02 AM

Just before his flight back to the USA was due to take off, Bryan was told that by a senior immigration officer at Manchester Airpost that he was to be granted a few days stay in the UK to get his papers in order so that the second part of the tour, at least, may still go ahead. A lot of work is being rushed through with officials so that this might happen.

I think I am now supposed to say "Watch This Space!"

This is one of the few times when I ask myself whay I do all this!
Vic

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: nickp
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 07:24 AM

Thanks Vic, I'll amend the FOAOTMAD mailout. Hope he gets it sorted soon. Nick

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: GUEST,Mark Ringwood
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 07:51 AM

The tour is NOT CANCELLED. We are hopeful of getting his work permit sorted out.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: GUEST,Mark Ringwood
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 07:53 AM

Key to all this is the need for club organisers to ensure that if they're booking non-EU artists that someone is arranging a UK work permit (soon to be visa) for them.

This message needs to be broadly circulated.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: nickp
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:26 AM

Thanks Mark, I know what it's like with those permits. Fortunately I don't do many. Will tailor my mailout to suit!
Nick

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: nickp
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:29 AM

And I agree about the 'circulating broadly'!

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 06:06 PM

I saw Bowers perform a few times in the early 1980s, and I thought he was terrific. I hope for his sake and especially for the sake of those in the UK who might otherwise not get to see him that the visa problems are fixed asap.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 06:28 PM

Looking at the tour list reminded me of hearing that an American artist had been booked to appear in Northampton and Southampton on the same day... talk about hopping north and south! - Scotland, Lewes, Keighley, then Devizes, Northampton, Swindon (a Wiltshire sandwich with the East Midlands as filling), then Walthamstow, Kent, (South East) Bath (South West), Stockton (North East). The Walthamstow club is a Sunday evening club, so how does the Bath gig fit in?

I know the British Isles are small in comparison with the US, but it doesn't seem a sane or logical way to tour Britain!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: GUEST,Jesterbob
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 07:06 PM

Just a quick note
to say that Bryan is NOT performing at Devizes as part of this tour due to a mix up of dates.
He was due to perform at the Devizes Folk Club on the 14th April but sadly there was a mix up on the dates as Bram Taylor is performing that evening.
However please do get along to see Bryan at Swindon Folksingers Club on the 18th Aprilat the Milton road Working mens Club. Details can be found on www.wiltshirefolkarts.org.uk website
We wish Bryan Well and will endeavour to pass the word wiin respect of this matter
Thanks for all making such an effort to allow good folk music to happen whatever the authorities throw at us.
Bob Berry
Wiltshire Folk Arts

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Art Thieme
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 01:00 AM

Knowing Mr. Brian, he is NOT taking all of this easily or in stride. Take him aside and remind him to find a calm space and do some heavy deep breathing exercises.

Brian Bowers is a truly unique artist with a style on the autoharp like nobody else. As far as I know, he invented the diatonic autoharp all unto himself. To hear that exquisite full chorded sound in the hands of an expert harper who knows the ins and the outs of the instrument, well, you all are in for an incandescent auditory treat!

Any way you can, negate and /or minimize the sad machinations of the bureaucrats who are holding this tour up.

The best of luck to all involved. And give Brian my love,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Arkie
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 11:31 AM

In addition to the sound that Bryan gets on the autoharp he has a knack for finding excellent songs that are not overly done. He has introduced me to several of my all time favorites.   I hope that this bit of red tape gets out of the way so you folk in the UK can enjoy Bryan's tour.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: nickp
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 12:15 PM

I have to say that the permit people are usually pretty good - I have had permits back almost by return post. I don't know what the problem is but they certainly don't make life hard out of spite. Let's hope it is sorted by now. Nick

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: open mike
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 04:18 PM

best of luck to brian--
i hope this gets dealt
with so he can get on with
making music! tell him
Laurel says hi...and
that i request
bristle cone pine...
on of my favorite songs.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 07:02 PM

I don't normally agree with the "refresh for the sake of it" gambit, but in this case I'm curious to know whether there have been some positive developments yet. Any news, guys??

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 06:03 AM

Moorley Man said
"Any news, guys??"

I can tell you that frantic efforts are still going on to ensure that Bryan Bowers can fulfill his bookings, at least for the second part of the tour. As I has said above, I will post on the thread as soon as anything definite is known.
Vic

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 01:49 PM

Bryan has played regularly at the Winfield (Kansas) Music Festival, and is always a hit. Hope you all in the U.K. get to listen to him and the troubles get straightened out. Must be very frustrating for all involved, I would think.

Lin

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled!!!!
From: Vic Smith
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 07:16 AM

A very brief phone call from a very distressed Bryan just now - he has not been granted a Work Permit and was totally distraught feeling that he had let everyone down. He could not talk for long as he was rushing to catch a train - presumably to the airport.

More details as and when I get them.
Vic

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: nickp
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 07:34 AM

Very bad news. Keep us posted Vic

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 08:31 AM

That is so sad, Vic both for him and the audiences who will miss out. I am sorry.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Vic Smith
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 09:00 AM

This from MARK RINGWOOD:-
Hi Vic,

Sorry to say he's not going to get a work permit so he's being sent back on a flight tomorrow morning. I did everything I could but the system wasn't flexible enought to accommodate what we needed in the time available.
There's a huge backlog of permit processing at the moment going back to early March and whereas we jumped way up the queue it wasn't high enough a jump given the fact he shouldn't have been admitted in the first place. The one good thing I've managed is that his passport will not have an 'attempted illegal entry' stamp entered into it and his immigration file will show he has a clean record.

It would be helpful if you could encourage fellow club organisers to ensure that the non EEA artists they book are in possession of legitimate work permits.

Best wishes,

Mark Ringwood
Roots Around the World
The Barn, Fordwater Lane,
Chichester, West Sussex UK PO19 6PT
Tel: [phone]/774641
Fax: [phone]
Mobile: [phone]
www.rootsaroundtheworld.info

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: open mike
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 04:10 PM

wow--who was supposed to take care of this?
Long before he flew over this should have been
finalized. What a sad state of affairs...better
to have known before flying over....who will pay
for plane ticket?

Several years ago when loads of musicians came to
play at a Scandivanian/Nordic festival in Minnesota,
the (then) senator helped to secure visas and other
necessary paper work. IT almost took an exective
order of the congress to get all the files in order.

I hope lots of people will visit www.bryanbowers.com
and support him by purchasing c.d's Perhaps we can
soften the blow of this dissappointment a bit by bringning
him some business. Blessings on you, Bryan.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 06:38 PM

I would expect an agent to have addressed the issue.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: Surreysinger
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 11:53 PM

Easily said RIchard, but how many traditional artists either this side of the pond in the UK or on the other are likely to have agents ?? Very few, I would have thought!

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: GUEST,Jeff
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:26 AM

It would be good to have all the information required on both sides o' the pond located somewhere. I played England and Wales, but was on a 'tourist' visa and was playing at open stages and sessions. To have an artist of Bryan's stature turned away like this is inexcusable. Somebody dropped the ball, big-time. What a shame...he's a great talent.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled (maybe not)
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 12:30 AM

That's a damn shame.

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 02:19 AM

Surely it would be better to just say nothing declare it as a holiday and do the gigs. Would anybody have noticed him doing gigs.

Folk clubs and small theatres, who polices that sort of thing? Even if you had advertised it, how many people would know Bryan was from another country?

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: nickp
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 04:00 AM

As someone who has occasionally been involved in getting work permits for American artists (not in this case) I'd like to comment that the only way you might get away with such an approach is to have absolutely NO advertising of ANY performances. Even then there's a good chance you might get unlucky because they are sometimes 'policed'. And then again because no-one knew you were coming you might get no audiences!

Coming on holiday and maybe doing a floor spot at a folk club is (I guess) a different issue.

Getting a permit for a bona fide artist is not difficult for a registered agency. OK so there's a 14 page form to fill in but you probably only use about 7 of those pages. All you need is proof of a professional (or semi-pro) artist, backup info of cd's, recent performances, maybe press reports and confirmation of bookings. Then you send the form off and hopefully have the permits back quickly - I always used to get them back within a week although Marks comments above may mean that would be a little longer.

So maybe I've simplified it a little (but not much) but - and this is a notable exception and I have no idea of the reason for the problem - it should be a case of 'better safe than sorry'.

Nick

Subject: RE: Bryan Bowers - UK tour cancelled
From: DebC
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 04:53 AM

Hi there,

I thought I'd chime in here as I am in the UK right now on tour.

Mark above wrote:
"given the fact he shouldn't have been admitted in the first place"

I could be wrong as I don't have the details, but I am assuming that Bryan (or his people arranging his tour details in the UK) chose not to get a permit for this tour and was caught.

Until this year, I have come over without a permit because I didn't have enough gigs to support the cost. This year, because I had the gigs to cover the cost and I am working with a pretty high profile guitarist, I decided to get a permit. It was costly (almost $500) but pretty darn easy. I got the paperwork rolling in early December and my work permit arrived two weeks before I left the US. The agents who assisted me were absolutely wonderful and I came into the UK with no problem.

You can get through immigration and passport control and "sneak in", but showing up with a guitar and 30 CDs in your hand luggage is pretty much a dead give away. It's a huge risk to take and chances of being caught might be slim, but it's still a risk. Bryan was very lucky that his passport didn't get the dreaded "attempt at illegal entry" stamp and it won't go into the system.

This incident has really hit home with me and I'll be sure that I definitely have my paperwork in order each time I work in another country.

Debra Cowan

Subject: Royal Oak Lewes - Bryan Bowers deps.
From: Vic Smith
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 11:17 AM

After a long struggle with a lot of work going on behind the scenes, Bryan Bowers failed to get his work permit for his tour and he was flown back to the USA on Friday morning. At very short notice we have been able to arrange an exciting replacement - a group put together by the outstanding fiddle player, Linda Game who is currently a member of two top bands, Zoox and The Fold and has played with other leading bands over the years.
She will be joined on Thursday by Carole Levi, singer and guitarist, and Deb Shuvell on mandolin.
There with also be flat-foot Appalachian dancing from Jan and Jen two members of the outstanding Broken Ankles dance team.
Their combination of old-time, cajun, texas swing and more, we'll be sure to soothe your ears
For more details of these musicians, please go to
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tinvic/news.htm