Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?

Subject: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 02:41 PM

Two of us are starting a group to explore singing traditional folk songs (unaccompanied) in the Bristol area.

Anyone interested in meeting up to sing on a regular basis? Some ideas are to: improve performance; explore different ways to sing traditional material; learn new songs; maybe have guest tutors/workshops; experiment with harmony singing; learn more about song traditions; maybe take over a cafe for a singers' evening once in a while.

Please get in touch if you're interested, or pass this on to someone who might be.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 03:21 PM

Good luck with that Sue!

As an idea you could try 'out-reaching' through things like Gumtree, the local Uni, WI, Arts Cafe / Arts centre, craft centre, Choir, library, adult ed. centre etc.? Just wondering if 'outside the box' type approach might be good for culling a bunch of total newbs, who are not already folkies?

One of the things I found as a newb to the folk scene (and to trad. song in particular) was that I simply didn't connect "folk" with unaccompanied singing of traditional songs. Daft as that might sound, I think there may be quite a lot of potential interest from others similar to me. Especially in younger age brackets, who won't be very aware of the revival scene.

The great thing about unaccompanied trad. song is it's so democratic. Anyone (within reason) can sing..

Just some thoughts, hope I'm not meddling!

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 10:23 PM

Sue - IF you have a 'sing' anywhere let us know ! Bristol is not so far , and any such venture needs supporting !

Its a bit far to offer my services on a regular basis though !

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 08 Mar 10 - 10:58 PM

I live just close enough to Bristol to be frustrated by knowing
about a lot of the good music scene things that are still going on,
but unable to do much about it because of the shite
local night time public transport service..


.. and an increasingly middle aged aversion to sleeping rough outside Temple Meads
waiting for the 1st morning train back home..



But just curious, to what extent is "Bristol Folk House" involved in trad folk
these days ?

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 05:05 AM

Sounds up my street. Keep me informed.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,Two of a Hind
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 07:15 AM

We would be interested in coming over occasionally, could you keep us informed through the Newport Folk Club website.

Terry & Ann

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 08:49 AM

Sue,
Check out the Nova Scotia folk Club,
Monday nights at the Nova Scotia pub, just around the corner from the berth of The SS Great Eastern

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 10:16 AM

Crow Sister - thanks for your thoughts, very helpful! yes, we're exploring how to get word out there,and those ideas are great.

Punkfolk - the Folk House is not confined to folk music, has all sorts of music events there, though tend to be acoustic/on the quieter side.

Leadfingers, Tradsinger - please could you pm me your contact details (email and phone no)? thanks

Terry & Ann - could you pm me an email? there are several on the website, but I don't know which to use - thanks.

Nigel - yes, I know the Novia Scotia. But it's not a folk club any more, more of an open mic open to all sorts. And not too much unaccompanied singing, is my impression. But I'll certainly email them with details.

Thanks all! and anyone else - please get in touch!

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 12:05 PM

Sue, this will no doubt have legal-ownershippy things attached, pity as it'd make a really fun image to stick on fliers: Come and have a go...

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: The Sandman
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 02:42 PM

best of luck.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 02:46 PM

Seeing pfr's post here and the Fred Wedlock obit thread reminded me of "Bristol buses, how we love you, in your coat of racing green, racing through the streets at midnight, seldom heard and never seen"...!

Sorry to hear that the Nova isn't a proper folk club any more though.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 02:54 PM

Kitty - well, maybe it was financially necessary to broaden its appeal - it's certainly fairly well attended mostly I believe.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 05:31 PM

Hello Sue

I'd love to have a go, other than family get-togethers, mostly I only get to sing at our local when we're in Ireland, consequently most of the songs I know, although not all, are Irish. Strictly amateur, sing for pleasure, if you'll have me, I'd be pleased to join in.

If so, I'll PM my contact details.

Rog

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 07:03 PM

Roger

You'd be very welcome. Please do let us have email and phone number, and we'll contact everyone when we set something up (probably in a few weeks' time).

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Fidjit
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 06:01 AM

Break a leg Sue

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Chas

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 06:20 AM

Dear Sue

If you click on the chairman newport folk club link that will come straight through to me.
With regard to the Nova Scotia club, Jim being a very good blues player himself always welcomes Trad singers and players anytime they can get to the club, although they don't have any as regulars they have always been very good whenever we have sung there.

Terry

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Valmai Goodyear
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 07:05 AM

Good luck with it.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 07:15 AM

Earlier this century, me and the mrs managed to get up to Bristol
for a really enjoyable Sunday afternoon 'Folk'Festival at the Nova Scotia.
If I remember coherently, mostly blues performed on the family friendly stage outside;

and a packed room of 'authentic' old blokes and dodgy geezers singing rowdy trad choruses indoors
close to the bar.

Does this still happen annually, or was it a one off event ?

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,Two of a Hind
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 05:50 AM

Dear Punk

It has happened since, we have been across to see it. If you want more info on that event or others that the Nova Scotia Club are involved with Jim has a mailing list that he puts out on a regular basis I'm sure he would put you on the list to keep you informed of what's on.

Terry

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 10:57 AM

Tell Mr Red and he will publicize it on cresby.com or href=http://www.users.waitrose.com/~cresby/contact.htm>contactme @ cresby.com

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 02:42 PM

Mr Red - I hereby tell you! and would be very grateful if you could please publicize it on your lovely website! :)

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 02:13 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 10:01 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,Two of a Hind
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 06:30 AM

Dear Sue

Do you have a venue and prefered evening yet.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST, hotwells howler geoff the wolf
Date: 18 Mar 10 - 12:41 PM

hello

my Howler friend ( another Jeff)
said he had spoken to you recently
I've just seen the text of your first thread ( 8 3 10)
So I guess you are also jude who left the ad at the Folk House
And we have just spoken on your mobile.

As Jeff said we do trad songs and there are enough of us to try different arrangements.We are looking for another singer so if you fancy coming to a practice session ( they are on Sundays upstairs at the Nova Scotia ) let me ot the other Jeff know

cheers

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,Two of a Hind
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 10:25 AM

Is this still a live issue or was'nt there enough interest.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: sapper82
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:20 PM

Never been to the Nova Scotia during my visits to Bristol with work, but though it's mainly a music session, I've sung at the weekly session at the Seven Stars near Redcliff.

If you do get it going, shove the detailos up on here for when I'm next working in the town.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:33 PM

Now can you explain - are you envisaging forming a song group or a singaround+workshop or what? My idea was to drop in every few weeks or so but are you looking for people to sing with to rehearse for possible bookings?

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 09:25 PM

hmmm, things are getting a little confused here!

Terry - sorry, didn't see your post of 16 March til now. No, we don't have anything organised yet. We wanted to wait until we got some interest before going further. I'll be talking to Jude this week, and I promise I'll repost on this thread as soon as a date/place gets confirmed. It's very much still a live issue. Please just give us time.

Hotwells Howler - you meant text of my first post? I've created no other thread on this topic. No, I'm Sue! not Jude, so we've not spoken - Jude is the initiator of the group, I'm helping to publicize it. I've exchanged emails with t'other Jeff, though he didn't reply to my last one.

Tradsinger - I'll have to refer you back to my first post on this thread - that's still the current list of options for this group. Hotwells Geoff is talking about something entirely different and separate, nothing to do with our proposed group, and we have no plans to form a performing group. Not to say it won't happen in the future, but that's not the idea right now.

Please everyone - be patient! As soon as we decide on something, I'll repost on this thread, and I'll also contact those above who've expressed interest.

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 08:05 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,west country girl
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 07:43 AM

Only just seen this thread. I know there is a traditional song session in Bristol run by Harry Langston and Chris Molan (two very fine singers). All I know about it is that it is on the first Monday of every month. Unfortunately I don't know which pub it is in, perhaps Mr Red may have the answer to that one.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 08:07 AM

I haven't read a copy of Venue magazine for several years,
but I'd guess it would still be a useful resource for finding out what's still going on in Bristol...

I'd bet they even have one of them websites these days...

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 25 Mar 10 - 02:10 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Young Buchan
Date: 26 Mar 10 - 08:09 PM

As of 3 o'clock today I've got a job in Bristol, so please let me know - hopefully I'll be moving down in the next month.

To avoid disappointing any hopes/expectations, I feel I need to point out that the Young in my Catname is not subject to the Trades Description Act :-(

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 04:42 AM

Going back to the posting by Harry Langston and Chris Molan above, are we not trying to reinvent something that already exists? I'm not trying to be critical but if there is already a traditional session in Bristol, how would your one be different and wouldn't it split the clientel?

Regards

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 04:46 AM

Sorry, I meant to say the posting by West Country Girl about the session run by Harry Langston and Chris Molan. Apologies for my sloppy message drafting.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 05:30 PM

It seems the Harry Langston Session is "mainly English traditional singing, maybe there is room for a session which provides for a broader base, i.e. British Isles? Just a thought.

Rog

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Rog Peek
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 05:33 PM

Or even wider?

Rog

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: JeffB
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 05:39 PM

As I regular at Harry's sessions, I can say that there would be two differences. The first is that Sue and her friends want to start a singaround for unaccompanied traditional singers. A number of singers at Harry's do always sing unaccompanied, but others usually play an instrument as well. Other performers are musicians, so play solo tunes with once in a while everyone joining in with tunes they all know. In addition, not all the songs sung would be accepted by everyone as "traditional", bearing in mind that the word means different things to different people.

The second and more relevant reason is that Harry's singaround is very much an invitation-only event. I suppose he prefers the relaxed atmosphere of song and music among good friends (nearly half the attenders usually being members of the Hotwells Howlers, the excellent Bristol-based folk choir whose takings are donated to charity), and also perhaps he wants to ensure that only songs of a type which are recognised by the group as "folk" are performed, and performed to a high standard. I can only assume those reasons as I have never asked him. But in any case, the basement room can take only a limited number of people, so it's not feasible to have an open-door policy.

If anyone would like more info on Harry's singarounds or the Howlers, please PM me.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 05:42 PM

YB - please could you pm me your email address? as I'm collecting them in order to contact people with details of anything we set up.

Tradsinger - I don't know yet how different they'd be, because (i) I don't yet know exactly what any existing group does or doesn't do, and (ii) what our group will become will depend to a large extent on what the people who come along at the start state that they want from such a group. Something I'm personally looking for, and hoping could be included as ONE of the group's activities, is having learning/performance improvement/workshop sessions, maybe in masterclass format with feedback from peers and/or a tutor. This element is not usually part of the average singers' session, at least not one that I've been to. Other people may have other priorities, we'll have to see.

Cheers
Sue

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Tradsinger
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 05:32 PM

What you're suggesting sounds a bit like Ewan MaColl's Critics Group of the 1960s. We had a similar thing going at University when I was there and it was quite interesting - certainly more formal than a singaround but stimulating. Perhaps also it could be an occasion to play some field recordings and have a chat about the singer's style song choice, context etc.
Keep me in the picture and good luck.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 03:32 PM

Latest on this is...

Judy and I are meeting up next week to discuss plans and set a date. So after that, I'll post again on here, and also email those people who've given me contact details, with a date and some more definite details.

Anyone who is newly interested, please post here, or PM me your email details.

Cheers
Sue

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 07:29 PM

An intermediate update on this:

We now have quite a few people interested, enough to set up a first meeting. Judy and I met tonight, and clarified that the new group will:
- have a first meeting in early May (date to be confirmed)
- meet probably fortnightly initially, on Wednesdays or Thursdays
- be a peer group, not led by anyone
- be for unaccompanied song only, no instruments
- not be a singing group or choir (though splinter groups might happen)
- have a strong focus on traditional song/songs rooted in these islands

This week we're going to search for a venue, which is likely to be a separate room above a pub somewhere fairly central. Anyone got any suggestions for this?

Once we have a venue, we'll set the date and get back to everyone here (and elsewhere).

Cheers
sue

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 12:42 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 04:17 PM

Very much looking forward to further updates on this project as it progresses Sue. I'm increasingly tempted to consider something similar in my neck of the woods...

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 06:52 PM

Thanks CS!! :) yes, go for it! you've nothing to lose...

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 09 Apr 10 - 06:14 AM

We're still checking out venues - will be visiting one or two, and then hope to decide on one early next week.

Thanks
Sue

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: GUEST,Two of a Hind
Date: 14 Apr 10 - 11:31 AM

Just keeping in touch

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 25 Apr 10 - 01:51 PM

Right then! sorry this has taken a bit longer than expected to sort out, due to 2 busy people having to liaise, meet, and visit venues, and then one getting ill...

But finally....We now have date and place! thanks for your patience.

I'm going to start a new thread for this now, so please check this new one for all details of this new singing group in Bristol UK.

Subject: RE: Anyone for trad singing in Bristol UK?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 05:00 AM

Forgot to say - Jude will be individually emailing all those on this thread who gave me their contact details.