Review: Best of Shrewsbury?

Subject: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 05:44 AM

Brilliant Shrewsbury!

So many good things, songs, tunes, beer, friends, weather ..........


Duncan MacFarlane Band, The Chair, The Wilsons, Emily Smith, Hoven Droven, Jez Lowe, Patrick Street ............

Oh and lots of others

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 06:52 AM

Duncan McFarlane was good as was Jez the Darwin Concert had some real gems and great song. the reg may Pork Pies in the Three Fishes were great too.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,LDT
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:25 AM

I was only there for the Saturday..but had a great time. Would have like to have gone for the whole weekend...but this was my first 'taster' of a proper tent in a field folk festival.
Met people I knew and others I didn't all were really friendly, there was a lovely atmosphere. And the music was great too...so much to see, so little time.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Stephenw
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:39 AM

I could only go on Sun & Mon due to personal circumstances but I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I enjoyed Megson, Chris Wood, Breabach, Karine Polwart and Hannah James & Sam Sweeney. The best gig, for me, was Lau's set on Sunday evening. Blistering is the world that comes to mind.

LDT is right though, so much to see, so little time!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Pasher
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:50 AM

Ollabelle

Any band that does a Grateful Dead number is OK in my book ;-)

And I enjoyed the Proclaimers more than I thought I was going to.

Cheers
Pa

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Jo
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:24 AM

Great Festival and another great line-up, to many to mention all of them, but the Wilson Family were just fantastic. Their final concert spot on Monday was Brilliant. Well done Alan and the team for another well organized weekend.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: treewind
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:55 AM

Didn't have time to see any concerts...

From my limited perspective as a musician with Pig Dyke Molly... we had a brilliant time. I suppose the best objective measure of the impact we made was the 150 people who turned up at the dance tent for our Sunday morning workshop. The stewards said they'd never seen anything like it.
I'll never forget the enthusiastic applause when they all finally managed to get though dancing Birds a-Building just as the hour was up!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 10:04 AM

Chris Smither was the highlight for us but loads of good stuff as usual.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,HipflaskAndy
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 10:14 AM

Show of Hands! Absolute masterclass!
- Dunc

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Jenny Brampton
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:41 AM

I had a wonderful time. Was glad the weather didn't do what was threatened.

I thought the screens were fantastic and bought some amazing clothes which should last me until I come again next year.

Jenny B

ps (does anyone know where I can find the lemonade stall? I have something I borrowed and would like to give it back to her, but can't seem to find her this year.)

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,LDT
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:42 AM

I've put some pics up on flikr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ladydetemps/page2/
in case anyone is intrested

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:49 AM

I only got there for the Saturday but had a great time - will come again for the full weekend. It struck me as a very well organised and friendly festival.

Dunacan McFarlane Band was my highlight - but then, I would say that, wouldn't I?!. But really, they had a ball and so did we. Get them back again and I'll definitely be there!.

Deirdre

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,pasher
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 12:01 PM

All SFF gigs, bands and artists appear to be listed on

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 12:04 PM

Well that didn't work very well - I'll try again...

All SFF gigs listed on GigMemories (search for 'shrewsbury folk' in venue and '2009' in date).
I'll be putting my piccies there tonight.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Bainbo
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 06:34 PM

1 Ross Ainsley & Jarlath Henderson. If Hendrix had played bagpipes ...

2 Chris Wood. A blistering set, feeding off the enthusiasm of the audience

3 Ducan McFarlane Band. New to us, though they came highly recommended. We had a bop

4 Chris Smither. Great songs, easy stage presence. I think he won a lot of new friiends. Same goes for Eric Bibb

5 Krista Detor. Songs from the heart in a smoky voice

6 The free-range porkburgers and home -made relish. (Not a band, but it would be a good name for one.)

The atmosphere, organisation and friendliness mage it a great place to be. There were other acts we would have enjoyed, but didn't see because they clashed, and we know we'll see them again sometime.

Incidentally ... The Spooky Men's Chorale. Am I missing something here? Two-and-a-half thousand people whooping and cheering, and me thinking it's just a five-minute Monty Python sketch streched out over an hour until it becomes unbearably thin. Still, you can't win 'em all.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Acorn4
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 07:26 PM

I think the Spookys are a bit like Marmite.

Personally I love 'em!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: John J
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:29 AM

In no particular order - and certainly not exclusive:
The Wilsons
The beer
Breabach
The beer
The Wilsons
more beer
Belshazzars Feast
Spooky Men (I think Acorn4 hit the nail on the head there, I think they're great - but I don't like Marmite)
Shropshire Bedlams
Pig Dyke Molly
another beer

and loads more.

Right, time for a beer!

JJ

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:50 AM

John,

an opportunity to re-live beer moments tonight at the Singaround at The Beech in Chorlton

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,LDT
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:58 AM

some videos too
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5447902A181F3DC3
I'm adding as they get uploaded....its a slow old process.

Can you spot yourselves?
(let me know if there are any issues with the videos I don't bite)

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 05:36 AM

In no particular order:

Chris Wood,
Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman,
Rachael McShane,
Darwin Project,
Seth Lakeman,
Eric Bibb.

I only went on the Saturday. There was so much that I missed but didn't have time to see.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Joe G
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:20 AM

Now back shattered but had a great weekend - amongst highlights were Proclaimers (to my suprise as I never used to like them!), Rachel Mc Shane Band, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Hoven Droven, The Chair, Duncan McFarlane Electric Band, Darwin Project concert, George Papavergis (should be on the big stages!), Show of Hands, Dhol Foundation & the beer! Sadly we missed many other artists as there was so much on!

Like Bainbo I got bored of the Spooky Men after about half an hour.

Our fourth year and it just gets better - the organisation this year was superb - except I was sulking cos they sold out of t shirts before I got one! Well done to all the team!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Vin2
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:53 AM

My first Shrewsbury and thought is was excellent (well apart from the showers, and i don't mean the rain - oh dear).

Reckon there was something for most tastes and plenty for the kiddies - a real family (folk) festival.

My faves? Well, thought Eric Bibb was fab (tho missed some of his set), Jez Lowe, Patrick Street, Kimbers Men and Hanging Johnny, Lau and of course the awsome WILSON FAMILY - even bought there brill cd 'A Grey Lock or Two' at the launch rehearsal the night b4 the real launch!

Finally, a couple of fab sessions in the pavillion till the early hours!

Well done the organisers!!

P.S even saw City beat Portsmouth in one the local pubs :-)

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: My guru always said
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:54 AM

I didn't get to many concerts, but I was quite pleased that we managed to sort a small quiet singaround in the small room in the Berwick Pavilion late on Sunday night. I'd been getting withdrawal symptoms from not singing....

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: evansakes
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 09:23 AM

Well done to all the organisers and helpers....the whole event was a great success!

Nice balance and diversity in the music on offer. Well done for organising so much participatory stuff too. I didn't get to many workshops but would have liked to do so had time allowed.

I particularly enjoyed Chris Smither, Show of Hands, Karine Polwart, Lau (twice!), Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, The Proclaimers, Dust Poets, Ollabelle, Megson, Mark Erelli and Krista Detor but the most memorable experience was undoubtedly the Darwin Project concert (which surely merited being on the main stage!).

Elsewhere I thoroughly enjoyed joining the 'improvers' session on Sunday morning and the convivial atmosphere and sessions throughout in the Berwick bar.

No complaints really...there were some sound issues at the Village Stage for both Ollabelle and The Dust Poets. With many people standing I don't think the artists and the folks on the sound desk were actually able to see each other....which may not have helped! Perhaps something needs to be raised a bit for next year!

The beer was fabulous but with so much choice (and some relatively obscure brews) a 'menu' might have been useful (perhaps printed in the main programme with a brief description of each?). I know a thing or two about bitter but it gets tiresome when you're constantly peering at the barrels to try to work out the strengths and characteristics of the various brews. We're not ALL Camra buffs y'know!

Anyone who's complaining about the queues for showers should perhaps consider using them during the 22 hours a day that they're not in demand! Just throw a bit of water over your face and come back later on. For one thing you don't feel obliged to get in and out in less than 5 minutes! I had one lovely long shower sometime after 2 in the morning followed by a good night's sleep. It's not as if the campsite is far from the action!

One small thing which may need a bit of thought before next year...I think some of the folks complaining about the volume in the main tent may be referring to the reverberation from the two huge bass speaker stacks set back a little on either side of the stage. If you're withing 20 feet of these the bass frequencies without doubt ARE overpowering. In the middle it's fine and nicely balanced (I had no volume problem watching the Proclaimers from there)...there may not be a simple solution to this one of course!

Gerry

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Acorn4
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 09:30 AM

Thought I'd mention one of my other favourites, Trio Threlfall. A shame they only do a few festivals.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Bainbo
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 01:29 PM

Forgot to mention how much I enjoyed the astonishingly talented young band The QP, who opened the festival on the Village Stage- despite half of them having only just arrived after a delay caused by a crash on the M62.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 02:27 PM

Oh yes I agree QP were great - Friday seems a long time ago!

Hope you had a better journey back than us John - dreadful weather on M6 & M62!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Mavis Enderby
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 03:09 PM

Being led by my stomach I'll have to put a word in for the Carribean food stall and also for Leons veggy food. The best food I've eaten out for a long time. The beer tent + bar in the pavilion were very good. Particularly liked Three Tuns Solstice and Pardoes Original.

Musically I agree with much of what's already been said but would add that the singarounds in the pavilion were very good (especially contributions by our own Acorn4) and I also thought the drum workshops by Scott Jasper were great fun.

BBP - sorry I missed you!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Bainbo
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 03:12 PM

I think you got away before us, Joe. We went for a walk around Ironbridge first - and actually managed to catch the sun - but it meant we were hitting the M62 during rush hour, so lots of delays. It was a long journey back.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Joe G
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 04:53 PM

Hope it doesn't stop you going back to Shrewsbury - be good to see you both again!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Gedi
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 08:43 AM

My first Festival and I enjoyed it hugely. I didn't get to see quite as many main shows as I would have liked but I loved Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Breabach and The Wilsons.

But mainly I enjoyed the atmosphere in general. Pig Dyke Molly were brilliant, as were Shropshire Bedlams on the Monday. The Drumming workshop was fantastic, and I loved the way that wherever you went there were ppl playing various instruments.

There were some great sessions, in particular the one in the Beer Hut on Sunday evening.

All in all, a really enjoyable weekend.
Ged

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Vin2
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 08:49 AM

Take your point re the showers TwickFolk

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 08:50 AM

Got back Tuesday after enjoying the best ever Shrewsbury!

Highlights for me were the sessions in the pavilion bar, beer tent & Wheatsheaf in Frankwell 쳌Ea superb mix of songs, tunes, banter, beer & tremendous friendly atmosphere & craic!

Preferring the seshes to concert-going, I heard some big stars from afar, while touring the site with my litter picking MPV, Jez Lowe & friend sounded superb, as did Show of Hands.

Also sustained much pleasure from lesser known but brilliant home grown talent such as Dave Acorn 4- the man's a genus!! & the many astounding singers, instrumentalists in the song & tune sesshes.

Although preferring mixed song/tune seshes, also enjoyed participated the tuney do's in beer tent & bar.

The top o' the bill band, the Proclaimers were astonishingly good, splendid entertainment, superb songs & great voices, harmonies & instrumentation.

Full praise to organisers for putting together such a stupendous treat for one & all, especially arranging the weather so it only reigned at night & noone nobody got wet [only on the inside at beer festival!!]

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Jo
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 01:46 PM

The Wilsons Rock.

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Cookieless
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 02:15 PM

I agree, but at their last performance they were introduced as something very similar to the rockers of folk music - I'm not too sure if they would have been too pleased about that!

J

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 04:31 PM

You've said it all, there was something for everyone!! The workshop in the beer tent on sunday was something to behold. The place was heaving with very young on miniature instruments to quite old on well worn instruments with a good crowd outside listening. The sound was very encouraging.
That David Ferrard is a very talented singer/song writer!! So much to see, fantastic!!

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 06:04 AM

No disrespect, and I am genuinely not just stirring things up, but given the general popularity of Seth I am surprised more people have not mentioned him here.

I really enjoy folk rock and was generally impressed by his overall sound, commitment, voice, fiddle, band but felt that The Duncan MacFarlanes had a lot more to offer both in terms of folk and rock, not least that you could actually here all the words to the songs. I know that doesn't always matter but most of Seth's were lost in the mix for me.

Am I alone?

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,Albion-al
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 06:57 AM

Duncan McFarlane Band..

"more to offer than Seth Lakeman"

"More stars than Elvis"

T-shirts or what ???

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 06:59 AM

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=shrewsbury+folk+festival+2009&search_type=&aq=f

Subject: RE: Review: Best of Shrewsbury?
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 04 Sep 09 - 07:00 AM

plus he's from Ooop North and he (Duncan) couldn't bop as much as usual cos he had a poorly foot.