Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session

Subject: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:03 PM

I saw on the list of events for the Dartmoor Folk Festival an entry reading "Starter's Song Session hosted by Dick Makepeace and Bill Murray". Anybody know what happens at one of these????

ETO

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Schantieman
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 01:47 PM

Turn up at the start and sing I should think!

Steve

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 02:06 PM

I should think that you're probably wrong about that!

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 05:58 PM

Linky to website?

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 06:10 PM

Link here to Dartmoor festival website

I expect to be at the song sessions rather than the starters song sessions (both are on at the same times).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 06:41 PM

>>Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
>>From: Herga Kitty
>>Date: 02 Jul 08 - 06:10 PM
>>
>>Link here to Dartmoor festival website
>>
>>I expect to be at the song sessions rather than the starters song >>sessions (both are on at the same times).
>>
>>Kitty

So the obvious question is "what is the difference between the two?"

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 07:10 PM

I would imagine that it's much like I shall be running at Bideford Folk Festival throughout the following week (11-17August). That's a session-come-workshop for people who've never - or hardly ever - sung solo in public before but would like to have a go.
But then, I'm only guessing.

Sue

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Jul 08 - 09:25 PM

Ta

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 02:48 AM

>>From: Sue the Borderer
>>Date: 02 Jul 08 - 07:10 PM
>>
>>I would imagine that it's much like I shall be running at Bideford >>Folk Festival throughout the following week (11-17August). That's a >>session-come-workshop for people who've never - or hardly ever - sung >>solo in public before but would like to have a go.
>>But then, I'm only guessing.
>>
>>Sue

Thanks for attempting to answer the question Sue.

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 03 Jul 08 - 05:47 AM

I know they've done something like that at Dartmoor before. I think it was more of a singaround (with less of the 'workshop content' than I do) but still aimed at giving people a 'less threatening' setting in which to take those first terrifying steps of singing solo. Not just for complete novices, but for people who want to build up their confidence.

Sue

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 09:00 AM

I think it's held in the morning in part of the main marquee.

Sal

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 09:23 AM

I've just spent the week in South Zeal and I can tell you it's the most wonderful place to be. The Oxenham Arms is a lovely old pub and the staff are really nice too... and the food... well like wow, man!

We go down to my partner's cottage about once a month so I've got to know SZ really well.

Sal

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Bill Murray
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 04:15 PM

Starters song session - we talk about songs and singing, there is a chance for everyone to sing a song, we also hand around some song sheets for everyone to sing together.
The starter sessions are held in the small church / chapel (St Mary's)in the middle of South Zeal. There are about thirty seats and we have never filled all of them yet but we have had quite a bit of succcess in encouraging people to sing. The Dartmoor Festival programme gives the times of the sessions as 11am to 12noon on Saturday and 11.30am to 1.00pm on Sunday. There are song sessions at about the same time in the Marquee on Saturday and the Victory Hall on Sunday for more confident singers.
Look forward to seeing you over the weekend!    Bill

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 04 Jul 08 - 04:20 PM

Oh whoops, I was wrong. Not often I admit to that!!!

lol

Sal

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Cats
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 07:47 AM

Jon and I will be at Dartmoor. You never know I might even go and find out how to sing...

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jul 08 - 12:49 PM

Good idea Cats ! And maybe Jon can get some tips too !! LOL

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Cats
Date: 06 Jul 08 - 06:27 AM

Yep, Leadfingers, he needs them!

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 09:23 AM

>>From: GUEST,Bill Murray
>>Date: 04 Jul 08 - 04:15 PM
>>
>>Starters song session - we talk about songs and singing, there is a >>chance for everyone to sing a song.....

Thanks for the replies everyone - especially Bill.

So Bill, where you say "there is a chance for everyone to sing a song" does this mean "there is a chance for everyone to sing a song if they want to" or do you mean "it is expected that everyone will sing a song"? -- 'cause I'm interested in learning about singing folk songs but know bugger all about singing them at this moment (nor much more about singing any other kind of song, truth to tell).

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Fidjit
Date: 11 Jul 08 - 05:32 PM

Think I might just pop along too.

Chas

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Bill Murray
Date: 12 Jul 08 - 05:41 PM

Well there's no arm bending but I don't think that we have ever had anyone who didn't sing, a few came in one year to shelter from the rain but they all joined in. If you all turn up I may need to ask Mark for a bigger venue - the marquee perhaps but we only have an hour on the Saturday and that really is only enough time for a group of about twenty. If forty turn up great, we will just have to work it another way - we really want to get everyone singing. Life is not the same without a song!
Looking forward to Dartmoor - Bill

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:52 AM

Sorry to add to your problems Bill, but this sounds interesting, so you might have another punter turning up :-)

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,baz parkes
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 05:26 AM

Just seen this one...if you had any qualms about singing/being there/joining in you couldn't be in better hands than Bill's...proper job!

See you in August Bill
Baz

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 08:50 AM

After some great replies about this and having decided to give it a go it turns out that I will not be able to get to Dartmoor after all. My idiot brother has just decided that this is the weekend that he has to have his stag do and that as the best man for some reason he expects me to go along with him -- t*ss*r! I hope I can get to do this next year.

ETO

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: alanww
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 12:24 PM

Ooooh! I'll be a South Zeal virgin!
I've heard a rumour that the pub "up the road" has a field in which you can park your campervan without a festival ticket. Is that correct and which pub is it?
"... there's thunder in the wind!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 02:39 PM

Alan -that'll be the King's Arms. You'll still have to pay the pub, but you don't need a festival ticket...

Kitty

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 04:21 PM

If you're using the Kings Arms campsite, the down side is that their camping area is the main thoroughfare between the village with all the events and the official festival campsite, which is in the field behind. So you have a lot of people going past day & night.

I don't know what the Kings Arms costs but if you're staying the weekend a full all events festival pass and official camping for three nights only costs £36, which seems excellent value and you'll be helping the organizers raise enough money to put the event on again next year.

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Hawker
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 06:30 PM

I will be visiting but not staying, hope to catch up with some of you
Cheers, lucy

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 14 Jul 08 - 06:45 PM

Hope to drop by on Saturday (en route from Sidmouth to Bideford)

EricTheOrange - what a shame you can't get to Dartmoor after all. Seems a shame to wait a whole year before you give it a try. Where abouts do you live? Maybe catters can suggest places near to you where people would encourage you to sing (There's Bideford, for a start!)

Sue

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 02:55 AM

Thanks Sue -- I live in London but come from Exeter -- I was planning to combine the Dartmoor FF with some visits to some old haunts. I could probably make the Bideford or Sidmouth FF instead -- do they have something similar going on?

ETO

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 03:03 AM

Eric - Tim Edwards and I will be running singarounds in the Faulkner Bar of the Royal York and Faulkner Hotel at Sidmouth from Saturday 2 August to Friday 8 August 10.30am -12.30pm, for anyone who wants to come and listen or join in. It's not specifically for starters, but there's a supportive atmosphere, which has helped people find the confidence to sing in public for the first time and carry on singing at other venues afterwards. (Sorry if this is a hijack, but Eric is posting as a guest, so I can't PM him. And he did ask!)

Kitty

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: alanww
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 12:21 PM

Thanks for the info, Kitty.
See you at Sidmouth.
"Don't mind the rain ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,EricTheOrange
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 02:04 PM

Thanks Kitty -- if I make it down I will check this out

ETO

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Leraud
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 03:34 PM

I've never been to the Dartmoor Festival before and am looking forward to it.

Lynne

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Bill Murray
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 05:04 PM

Well done Woody you're right £36.00 isn't a lot to pay for the weekends entertainment. The Kings Arms is up for sale at the moment and the car park is due to be extended and so there probably wont be a lot of space for camping especially if Tommy Orchard turns up!

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 15 Jul 08 - 05:48 PM

Hi again EricTheOrange
At Bideford Folk Festival (11-17 Aug) I'm running a series of workshops on 'Solo Singing for beginners' from 2.00-3.30pm from Tuesday to Friday. Last year most of the people who came to these sessions went on to sing in the lunch-time singarounds in the Joiners Arms.
(I've realised the info on the web-site is a bit misleading, but check it out anyway - Bideford Folk Festival
)

The daytime singarounds I run at Cheltenham FF (in February) also seem to be a place where many first-timers 'give it a go'.

If you join Mudcat (easy, painless and free) I can PM you (that is, send you a personal message) rather than hi-jack the Dartmoor thread any more.

Sue

Subject: RE: Dartmoor FF Starter's Song Session
From: GUEST,Woody
Date: 17 Jul 08 - 11:35 AM

I felt a bit sorry for the people camping by the pub last year, somewhat cramped & lots of people moving by, though I suppose it could make sense for some depending on what they're planning to do.

The official camping was very good - spread across two large fields with plenty of space and quite nice & very clean mobile toilet blocks. It took only a couple of minutes from my tent to the Kings Arms and a couple of more to get to the main festival site.

For those that haven't been, last year was my first time & it was excellent. The performers were consistently good and the main marquee had lots of space, but the festival is very friendly and not so large as to be soulless. South Zeal is really lovely and you see the moor rising up beyond the village making it a very special location.