NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25

Subject: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: sciencegeek
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:01 PM

The schedule is out for the New Folk Festival - April 23-25- and I was wondering how many mudcatters might be there. I know a few who will be giving workshops, but don't know that many "handles" out there.

Mike has been there & given workshops - but I've been stuck home. Hope to change that this year.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:06 PM

I'll be helping Mike coordinate a C. Fox Smith workshop and I may be involved in another sea music workshop. I guess I better check the schedule.

Cheerily,
Charlie Ipcar

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: RTim
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:13 PM

As usual at that time, I will be in England!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:24 PM

Here's a link to the Festival schedule: click here for website

Good luck in trying to print the schedule, or in trying to read it!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 02:33 PM

Dick and I will be there at the CAMSCO table. Come on over.

Anyone want us to bring mudcat tee shirts?

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:14 PM

How much are those shirts, Susan, what sizes do you have, and is there a link here that explains all that for newbies?

~S~

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 07:57 PM

I will be there all weekend!

Hunt and Allison, 8 pm Friday night
Harrisville Morris Women 10 (or 11?) am Sat.
Animaterra workshop: Sing for Joy 11 am Sunday.

I think I'll get those hotel reservations now!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 08:09 PM

Alison-

Love Murder and More?

Maybe I will come Friday.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 08:13 PM

Yep, that's us!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 08:27 PM

Reservations made at the Mansfield Red Roof Inn!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Susan of DT
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 09:13 PM

Let's try that posting again. (humph)

Mudcat Shirts shows one of the first batch of mudcat tee shirts on Max, a number of years ago. Wenow have navy shirts and are out of all except small and large. Will one of those fit you (PM me, so you don't have to post your size)? Will you be at NEFFA?

By the way, there is another member with the handle WYSIWYG.

Let's see whether posting works this time...

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 10:15 PM

ShoreGrass (including myself, Frank and 4 other musicians) will be doing a workshop on Saturday, April 24 at 5 pm (Middle School Room 105/106. The official description follows:

Bluegrass with Attitude

ShoreGrass sings old classics, contemporary songs and originals, accompanying themselves on banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and Dobro. Think traditional bluegrass, folk, old-time, gospel, early country. Known for their humor and "bluegrass with attitude."

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Feb 10 - 10:17 AM

As a reminder to anyone tuning in late, this festival runs April 23-25 just southwest of Boston.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 06:33 AM

Duane D & I will be there with Caroline Paton at Folk Legacy. It will be good to see you all! We'll be at the Comfort Inn.

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 09:22 AM

This weekend is coming up pretty fast.

I've made my motel reservations at the Residence Marriott in Foxboro.

I note that there is a Barry Finn "Tribute Sing" on Saturday; I certainly plan to be there as well.

Camsco has copies of my new Sea Songs of Cicely Fox Smith songbook.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 16 Apr 10 - 09:24 AM

We'll be at the Red Roof Inn. Before that, 2 days with friends in Boston. Looking forward to it all!

Allison

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 04:26 PM

Looks like there will be at least four slots dedicated to songs of the sea, saturday and sunday.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Jacob B
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 05:40 PM

The Black Jokers dance at 9:00 AM on Saturday (for the 35th year in a row!) I'll be leading a session on Intro to Ceilidh Dances at 10:00 AM on Saturday, and one on Intro to Klezmer Dancing at 10:00 AM on Sunday.

Jacob

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 06:40 AM

There's a memorial for Sandy, too, led by Kathy Westra & Caroline.

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 08:35 PM

"There's a memorial for Sandy, too, led by Kathy Westra & Caroline."

Looks like that's on Sunday at 1 pm according to my schedule.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: KathWestra
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 12:44 AM

I'm scheduled for one of my busiest NEFFAs ever. An hour-long concert set at 8 p.m. Saturday. Leading the aforementioned "Remembering Sandy Paton" workshop with Caroline at 1 p.m. Sunday. Participating with Brian Cartwright, George Stephens, and Ann Schunior in Suzanne Mrozak's Bird Songs workshop on Saturday (can't remember the time), and participating with a cast of many in Jim and Cindy Bean's "The Songs That Bind Us" on Saturday at 11. Whew. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 06:29 AM

Stay well, Kathy! See you soon.

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 07:16 AM

Hunt and I are leaving this morning for 2 nights in Boston to visit friends, before heading down to Mansfield. See you all soon!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: maeve
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 07:38 AM

Have a wonderful time, everyone.

maeve

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 10:03 AM

Dick and Susan-

What time are you setting up on Friday. I may be there early enough to help lump the product in.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: SINSULL
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 11:45 AM

Give my best to Caroline. I owe her a letter.
Mary

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Susan of DT
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 12:34 PM

Setup time starts at 3:30 pm Friday. We will be there about then. thanx Charley.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bigchuck
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 03:12 PM

I'll be there with my friend Sharon Sat and Sunday, as a non-performer for the first time in many years. Hope to see many of you.

Sandy

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Susan of DT
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 04:16 PM

Remember to stop by the CAMSCO table to say hello.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 06:04 PM

Hurray! Bob & Mabel have offered me a ride. I particularly look forward to "Ballads with Child", by quite a crew, in the very first slot.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 06:53 PM

I'm sorry to miss NEFFA for the second year in a row, but I must prepare for my mini-tour of the UK next month -- volcano willing! Kindest regards to everyone.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Carly
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 08:01 PM

Dean and I will be heading south tomorrow... we hope to get to NFFA next year. Have fun, everyone!

Carly

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 08:13 PM

Susan and Dick-

I should be able to make it around 3:30 pm if I don't get too lost. From the maps I've printed it seems like an easy shot.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Songbob
Date: 22 Apr 10 - 08:13 PM

Jennifer (wifey) Woods and I are on Friday night, which, when we think of it, is a less-than-great concert time for people who have to drive up from DC that day! Well, next year we'll hold out for a better day (like one when we will have had a night's sleep instead of a multi-hour drive).

This year, we're playing with rapidly-changing keys, due to Jennifer's "allergy voice" screwing up her pitch. We're also doing this as a duo with additional music, since my Sidekick Pete Kraemer is joining us on guitar. (The other Sidekick, George Stephens, will be doing a set of Kipling songs with John Roberts, so don't miss that one, either).

I'm expecting to have a good time, despite the long drive it takes to get there. Look me up Friday at 9 PM, or in the Beans' gathering, or just "around."

Bob Clayton

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 09:45 AM

Bob-

Looking forward to meeting you again.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 09:03 AM

It's a beautiful weekend in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Reunions began last evening. It's always a pleasure to reconnect with *old* friends. It's great to have Caroline Paton back with us. I'm sure that the memorial sessions for Barry Finn & Sandy will be high points of the weekend for me.

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 09:31 PM

Evidently there were no other survivors. I just got back and had a great time.

The Barry Finn Remembrance was well organized by the Gloucester gang and Justine and it was a delight to hear Barry's songs brought back to life. I was invited up to lead the "Yangtse River Shanty." I think some of the choruses were certainly loud enough to reach Barry.

I really don't know a whole lot of the regulars who attend NEFFA. I think the last Festival I attended was at the previous location five or so years ago. The Mansfield location works out reasonably well but there is no bar, and no where to sing after hours (that I could find). But I certainly had fun sitting in on a variety of workshops from Appalachian ballads, to parlor songs, to shanties and forebitters.

The C. Fox Smith workshop that I shared with Mike Kennedy had about 30 people attending and seemed to go well. No one threw any bottles at us! I was finally able to use my visual aids of cotton bales in introducing "Mobile Bay," a set of miniature bales from an HO gauge railroad layout; people seemed very impressed with what a screw-press could do. I'm always impressed with the musical settings that Mike comes up with for CFS poems and I'm hoping that he'll really commit himself this summer with Judy and I for a CD recording project.

I'm a little too fried to talk much about the other workshops this evening but I definitely plan to attend next year.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 11:24 PM

I am way past bedtime on school nights, but just want to second what Charley said. Barry's memorial session was *wonderful*--well-led, strong audience singing, & it was wonderful to see Justine & have a chance to talk with her. Sandy's session was really great, too! Many thanks to the folks who organized & led both! More later.

love,

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 02:34 PM

I didn't get to a single session, from running around across my own schedule, and dealing with a worn-out husband. I was very sad to miss Barry and Sandy's memorials. But I enjoyed seeing bbc and Duane, Caroline Paton, Dick and Susan, and Charlie Noble. I think I saw Kath Westra from a distance.

It was a good time, all things considered. But we're wiped out!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 04:53 PM

I had a great time although I too didn't make it to a single session. However, the Barry Finn memorial was going on right across the hall from where our ShoreGrass program was going to be held, in the hour before. So as we stood there in the hall waiting to go on, I was able to hear and sing along with a few songs. Slipped in the door and took one photo of the group leading the songs, too.

We really enjoyed our jam out on the lawn in the early afternoon. A little baby boy barely walking dragged his parents over to us playing, watched for a minute and then started dancing to the music. And a girl named Maggie (I think) sat down in the middle of our circle and sang along with us. A few girls formed a dance circle around our circle. When the kids like your music, you know you're doing some right.

Nice talking to bbc and Duane, Dick and Susan.

And oh those wicked hotdogs...

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 09:31 PM

Saturday afternoon couldn't have been nicer for jamming outdoors.

The sessions I attended (not mentioned above) and enjoyed included:

Ballads with Child by Sue West and friends (including Peggy Seeger)
Love Murder & More with Allison and Hunt
Many Happy Returns with Bob and Jennifer
The Songs that Bind Us by the Beans and friends
Taking Leave by the Beans and friends
Open Sea Music Singaround by NE Chantey Sing
Parlor Party Sing Along by Maury and Richard
Maritime Songs by Mark
Open Sea Shanty by Mike
Closing Sing Around by Allen

There were other sessions I attended but they didn't leave a good impression on me and I'd rather not mention them. Others might have found them more to their taste.

I never did find the performers' table of CD's but I didn't look very hard and didn't ask any of the very helpful volunteers who probably would have been delighted to direct me to the proper part of the building.

And I neglected to bring my G/D Morse concertina which needs some valve work and Button Box was right there in the crafts area and they even remembered me!

I probably know a dozen or so more people by name now, and that's also a plus.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Anglo
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 02:13 AM

Well, Charlie, the performers' CD table was approximately 3 yards from the Button Box booth.

Glad you enjoyed at least some of the weekend.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: sciencegeek
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 06:31 AM

Well Mike & I stayed with Sonja at Nyack on Sunday night & finally got home at 8:30 last night. Will have to drag my sorry ass off to work in an hour... blah.

This was my first Neffa & I was quite favorbly impressed with the variey and scopeof the seesions... just wish there had been fewer conflicts of interesting workshops - especially when they were in two different schools. Got my exercise for sure. Not quite the 17 acres of Mystic Seaport, but definitely a jog.

Had an entertaining and enlightening stint helping ( barely) at the Camsco table.... hope I didn't leave too much drool over the cd bins.

Thinking that I'd really like to do a workshop salute to MacColl and Lloyd next year...

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 07:18 AM

Anglo-

"the performers' CD table was approximately 3 yards from the Button Box booth."

Well, there were all those interesting little boxes all laid out in a row to sample and discuss. It does take me some time to figure out a new layout.

I did find it odd that the Crafts Area was not open as early as when the doors opened in the morning at 9 am. It seems to me that artisans might have made more sales while folks weren't distracted by workshops.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Susan of DT
Date: 27 Apr 10 - 10:45 AM

The lovely Ballads with Child session, mentioned by Charley above, was led by Ruth Perry. While Sue West was mentioned, she was not present at NEFFA.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 02 May 10 - 08:20 AM

As so often happens, when we get home from a festival, we're swept back into our (overly) busy lives. One more comment from last weekend--the program from Sandy's memorial session:

Kathy Westra opened by leading "Better Home"
David Paton sang a song he'd written for Sandy & Caroline's 50th anniversary & played 2 hornpipes on the concertina
Larry Kaplan played a beautiful song he'd written when Sandy died, called "Echo on the Mountain."
Bob Clayton sang "A Song For Folk Legacy (A Record Edged in Black)"
I sang my (4-verse) version of "My Dearest Dear," learned from Sheila Kay Adams
Jerry Epstein played & sang "Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still" from the Warner collection
David Jones led "Wild Mountain Thyme"
George Stevens & Kathy Westra sang "I Bid You Goodnight"
Caroline closed with "Paul's Song"--based on 1 Corinthians:13, the love chapter

It was a beautiful time together. I think Sandy would have smiled.

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 May 10 - 11:13 AM

Barbara-

Thanks for the summary of Sandy's memorial session. Unfortunately there was also the open shanty session at the same time with Mike Kennedy and I had agreed to provide back-up there in case the room was mobbed; it turned out that everyone was very polite and I didn't need to use my foot-long belaying pin.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: bbc
Date: 02 May 10 - 07:06 PM

Well, Charley, I'm glad you didn't need to beat anyone. ;) There were several times, last weekend, when I would have liked to be in two places at once. Guess that's better than not finding any sessions to attend!

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2010 & mudcatters April 23-25
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 08:39 AM

I would think it's high time to start a NEFFA 2011 thread. Anyone who knows something about it want to take on this job?

Charley Noble