Blitherscrum Festival 2011.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Jul 11 - 02:10 AM

News has just come through that the Committee meetings for the Festival, usually held at the 'Nickit and Bolt' Public House in Liverpool, will have to find a new venue as the Pub is closing down. Any suggestions for a new venue... anywhere in the country.. will be welcomed. A few suggestions have already come in :- The Sheeps Head, Upper Ramsbottom seems like the best choice at the moment.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jul 11 - 02:19 AM

Aw, Sue, we all know that gorgeousness is more than skin deep....

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 13 Jul 11 - 02:10 AM

Don't change it Sue.. We see what we want to see.. and I,for one, would rather meet a gorgeous person than a gorgeous looking one!!

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 08:18 PM

Actually, I have to change it, just causes problems and, umm, misapprehensions! :)

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 08:17 PM

Joe - the 'gorgeous' bit is, errr, ironic.... any gorgeousness is strictly interior :)

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: BTNG
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 03:13 PM

We, in this corner of the parish, keep hearing that Charles Hawtrey and The Deaf Aids are reuniting for a special one off at Blitherscrum 2011.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Vic Smith
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 03:08 PM

Re: the Blitherscrum Fringe Event mentioned a couple of posts above:-
The five of would like to offer to contribute a harmony version of that lovely poignant song about a soldier leaving New Orleans and meeting a Creole girl.

The one that has become such a folk club favourite

The one that Mike Waterson taught to Christy Moore and Paul Brady all those years ago.

Yours

Phil Hour
Art Swift
Lonnie Ford
Lay K Soft
Poncho T. Rayne

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 10:48 AM

Hi Vic. Nark Mesteves said he'll be there complete with his doelemeon. Pain in the arse that geezer. Can't wait for the day he walks into a bunch of anti-stifascs who will take no end of delight in teaching him the error of his ways.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Vic Smith
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 08:44 AM

We, the undersigned, are deeply upset that the official Blitherscrum programme has no event to mark the passing of the late, very great Mike Waterson. However, we are determined that there should be somewhere where people can sing his songs, both his own lovely compositions and the traditional songs that his memorable voice graced.
We will be arranging an unofficial event in the Blitherscrum Festival site and invite as many of you as can make it to join us; time and date to be posted on the camp site notice board.

signed

Hymie Lee
Der Offa
Robert Banned

Cole Costa
I Sland

Bri & Fee Buss

Hastie Itch
Ian Thyme

Sir E. Day
Ivor
Ma Read

Charles Adie-Sun

Tom Lane

Fee Day
Milly Young-Aire

Mo Lynn
A. Whole

Please add your names to this list if you feel you have a song that you can contribute.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 08:28 AM

That's the one... and the local kids throw stones at them in usually successful attempts to sink the ones they don't want to win. Some of the attenders have been known to throw Bodhrans at them for the same reason (I think). This competition is usually accompanied by a recording of 'Duelling Banjos'

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 07:27 AM

Floating banjo competition. Is that the one where they tip all the banjos in the river Blither and see which one floats downstream the fastest?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 07:14 AM

That's actually where the idea for the floating banjo competition came from but sadly Blitherscrum Folk Club had to close down due to lack of attendance.... Well not so much lack of attendance as lack of performers at the singaround.... well not so much lack of performers as lack of reasonably good performers. Complaints came from nearby residences, to the Council, that the noises coming from the club were upsetting the residents... inasmuch as they sounded like animals being killed, cats being strangled, pigs being 'molested' and the poor old sheep suffering the advances of man..... In actual fact the complaint came from Eddy Baker who wanted to join the club but was refused on the grounds that he was always spreading dirt locally and this had upset the Folkies at one of the festivals. He complained to the Council... his complaint was upheld.. so the Club closed... sad eh??
The Council have stated that the Blitherscrum Festival will never be closed down as it brings so much revenue to the village and should they close it they would get no more 'backhanders' from local businesses.
I am really looking forward to this years Festival....are you??

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 12 Jul 11 - 05:19 AM

Is the book and CD stall going to be there again? Last year I ordered a copy of the English and Scottish Un-popular Ballads and it never arrived.

BTW., does anybody know what became of Blitherscrum folk club? The last time I was in there we had to stand on chairs until the flood subsided.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:56 PM

It was actually more like a mudbank and of course was the obvious 'Mudgather' meeting place. Glad so many are taking part this year!

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:29 PM

The workshops have always been sweatshops, although the weather has usually been so bad nobody has actually sweated. Anyway the anti-slavery society has been round and they're satisfied that the conditions don't break all the rules in the book. Just most of them.

A pleasing addition this year will be the presence of a fella with a bloody big drum and a couple of muscle bound slavers with whips to make sure everyone rows in sync. I think that's a good idea after the mess of previous years. Remember when we ended up on a sandbank and there wasn't any sand?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: The Barden of England
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 01:22 PM

I've heard that the workshops this year will in fact be sweatshops due to falling revenues (and falling numbers).

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 06:49 AM

Wonderful breaking news. I've persuaded Folk Against Feudalism to take a stand, well, have a stall at this year's festival.

Amongst the events promoted will be:

A full scale re-enactment of the peasants' revolt, only this time the peasants win.

A trial of flatulessence between two knights of the farter.

A fight to the death in which Sir Nyocholas de Gribbiyne gets slain by the dragon.

A drop in centre where reluctant serfs can seek advice on how to renounce their servitude.

A ballad making workshop to teach participants how to write ballads in which the aristocracy are the ones who end up with the dirty end of the stick.

Also, another first. This year counselling will be available free of charge to any festival goers who feel driven to suicide by the lousy standards of the booked acts.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 02:15 AM

Sue, if you live up to your Mudcat name, why not come to the Getaway in Maryland instead?

-Joegorgeous...or not-

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,suegorgeous
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 08:57 PM

hmmm, might just leave the 13 kids at home this time then... spect the dogs will be ok though(?)...

'concept'??? *splutter* bbbbut... I just bought a ticket from someone on 'ere....

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 06:19 PM

If anyone wants a good laugh.. I recommend going over the old Blitherscrum threads and reading some of the humour in them as well as the absolute nonsense. I have had a real kick out of contributing to the whole thing which was started by ChanteyRanger some years ago. Thank you ChanteyRanger for starting such a pleasurable 'concept'

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:44 PM

I forgot to mention that the food tent ran out of food one year, so the Pretty Boy Floyd Foundation sent a whole car load of groceries.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:36 PM

What's this Child Rolling competition of which you speak? I do recall some child roasting events taking place in the dim and distant past. But they were banned on the grounds of health and safety. A shame. There was nothing tastier than those mincepies which they used to cut from children's thighs. Very succulent as well.

Speaking of which, will the Women's Institute be serving breakfasts in the church hall again this year? The last time I ate in there there were little pigs running round with knives and forks in their backs squealing "Who'll eat me?". They used to do a tasty line in mincepies as well. I can picture the noticeboard now. "Mince pies hot. Mince pies cold. Mince pies in the oven nine days old."

One year some poor geezer dropped dead on the spot and had to be brought back to life by a quack doctor with the aid of some okey pokey alleycampain which the doctor kept in his inside outside, somewhere round his backside pocket.

I'm reliably informed that the guy has lived to a ripe old age and was never again troubled by the ipsy, the pipsy, the palsy or the gout. As for the pains within and the pains without, not a trace of them from that day to this.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 10:08 AM

For the oldies there will be a zimmer frame race... walking stick fencing... spoon playing.. 1500 meters sprint.. and some will be for the high jump!

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 05:06 AM

What about the rumours of a rival dislexic Scrumblither Festival ???
Splitters !!!

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 12:07 AM

What's this about rolling in the hay? Is that a standard thing at English folk festivals?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 05:10 PM

Hello Mr/Mrs/Ms Suegorgeous. Certainly some of the old folk I've seen at Blitherscrum are quite entertaining, especially in the "ladies'excuse-me" in the over 60s singles bar.
Do bring your mother, I have never met anyone who is there voluntarily.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 03:50 PM

But it says above it's in March... do you mean there are 2 Blitherscrums each year? :0

My aged mother is now asking if she could come... is there any old folks' entertainment?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 01:31 PM

You're not rolling them in the hay, are you?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 10:14 AM

No Sue.. you haven't missed it.. and the 'child rolling' competition is on again this year so the more children the better.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:21 AM

Confound and dash it all, I've missed it again! had planned to bring my 7 dogs and 13 children too! they'll be so disappointed! I heard there is usually some very absorbing kids entertainment too :(

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Vic Smith
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 06:20 AM

What are the dates of Blitherscrum? ?

-Joe-

They always used to be on the weekend nearest to April 1st.

Is there a Website?

-Joe-
It is at www.blitherscrumfolkfest.com(edy)

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 05:28 AM

Sadly there are a few not so nice people who target festivals to make trouble.... I suppose you could call them anti-Folk... and we had a visit from them two years ago. No-one talks about it but we only pass on details of dates by word of mouth. Since you are in the US Joe I would have thought you would not be interested... however.. if you are going to be in the UK this year we could supply dates.......

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 02:43 AM

What are the dates of Blitherscrum? Is there a Website?

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 02:26 AM

Resurrected for Suegorgeous. who was asking why no Blitherscrum this year!

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 18 Mar 11 - 04:57 PM

Well, I'm here and it's all in darkness. The opening ceremony has just finished with a grand finale of synchronised mudslinging and now it's bedtime. Apparently tomorrow is another day. Hell's teeth, not another one.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 01:07 PM

Yes and his wife Ava Laura Nitesfun

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 10:13 AM

Just to be clear, is Concert Tina the Swedish one who used to play with Lars Nitesfun?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 04 Mar 11 - 04:28 AM

Last year the blind football team, who use a ball with a bell inside, accidentally kicked the life out of one of the Morris Dancing team..and we can assure all Morris Dancers that they are not playing football on camp this year.   Tina who organises the concerts in the main hall was spoken to rather rudely last year when mistaken for the other Tina who plays the melodeon so to avoid confusion..... Tina who plays the melodeon will be known as 'Melodeon Tina' and the other as 'Concert Tina"

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 02:10 PM

While we're at it can someone keep the Peace Song Singers out of the beer tent this year? Honest, the punchups that lot start as soon as they've got a couple of shandies inside them.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 11:47 AM

Fighting cannot be tolerated at the Festival, especially after the local miners fought with some of our performers last year and Butch Reynolds threw a piano at them.... we ended up with A Flat Miner.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: SINSULL
Date: 02 Mar 11 - 08:48 AM

I agree. And it really is not in keeping with the spirit of the festival to have them flinging horns and basses at each other, it is a musical battle not an actual conflict.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 04:10 PM

Speaking of trophies, could Battle of the Bands be a little less aggressive please? If they played one at a time it would help.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:20 AM

Gail, I refuse to be held responsible for the fact that somebody stuck a happy ending on a Child ballad. I wasn't there. I wasn't responsible and if it was left to me all Child ballads would end with the hero and heroine simultaneously weeping over each other's graves, while the elfin queen stands by gnashing her gums in fury.

Anyway, does anyone know what happened to the Merry Heckling Trophy? I won it last year and have done every year since I first entered in 1973. However, the festival committee are now insisting on its return before the festival starts, and I haven't got it and can't ever remember seeing it.

I've told them there's no problem because I'll just give it to myself as usual, but they reckon there's a possibility that someone else will win it one day. Bloody cheek! Just as if.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:53 AM

Paying audiences to attend could be dodgy, as people could lose their benefits. You'd have to make sure they were better off attending Blitherscrum than sitting at home all day watching Jeremy Kyle. Hang on! Jeremy Kyle might be just the sort of act the festival needs. have you tried booking him?

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work)
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:26 AM

Believe there is to be a Physic workshop this year but then you already know that don't you ?. The Oyster Band wil be appearing under their new name which is more snapier that is The Greater London Transport Multi Use Travel Card Band. Richard Tombstone is apparantly making a rare solo gig (for the rowing championship)

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Mr Red
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 06:44 AM

Just to get the central heating started could we have melodeon donations for blowing air onto the kindling (of surplus melodeons) and really get the furnace singing.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 05:17 PM

Todays meeting at the Nickit and Bolt was unusual inasmuch as consideration was given to paying audience members a small amount for just attending... the idea came from the thought that if we could get a bigger audience, we are likely to get more performers..... do you think that could work???

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,Gail
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 02:39 PM

Fred, it was all going so well until you said it ends happily in a cottage by the sea. Cheeky monkey, as if.

Vic, last year was my first at Blitherscrum but I must spring to its defence. Yes, the organisers may have broken with tradition in their treatment of artists but the paying punters experienced the highest possible levels of discomfort, disdain and distress, usually found only at the very best folk festivals. I'll certainly be going again.

And finally, to those who are going to Updown instead - the Blitherscrum Floral Dancers' parade through the pleasure gardens to their spiritual home, Ayers Rockery, has no peer.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: GUEST,vic at home
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:54 PM

My outrage is such that I sent the above without the following.
I shall not be attending and would urge everyone to do the same. The actions of the organisors is beyond belief. Not only was I paid before performing and in cash, I had to put up with only a 4 star hotel and use of private car.
My real complaint concerns the organisation of the "Rolling of the eye" event. There was no indication as to what type of eye and how many!
I shall be attending the Badgers Drift murder mystery weekend where they really know how to treat you.

Subject: RE: Blitherscrum Festival 2011.
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 01:22 PM

No. The Red Barn was the name of the pub they kept where the sailor laddies aye cam' drinkin'. At any rate they did until an 'orrible murder was committed on the premises, causing our happy pair to lose the liquor licence.