Obits and young hopes

Subject: Obits and young hopes
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 04:06 AM

As we all know, there have been a fair old number of Obituary threads on Mudcat over the past few months. And a common response to those obits is something like, "Oh no, not another one gone", or words to the effect that, one by one, the Old Guard is dwindling.

Well, that's a perfectly natural response, especially from a set of Mudcat members of a certain age group. The older we get, the more of our friends and acquaintances - musical and non-musical - will leave us as time goes by. That's life - or should I say, death...

Sad though it is that well-loved and respected musicians leave us, I'm one of those people whose glass is, generally speaking, half-full rather than half empty (when it's not completely drained in one long swallow). And yes, I wonder sometimes how long I've got before I go to the natural burial ground in the shadow of the Jack & Jill windmills (on Clayton Down in Sussex*). I'm 73 this year so... 10 years? 20? Next year? (!). Who knows.

Having a half-full glass, I read all these obituaries - and then I look around me at the young musicians I know, giving pleasure to their own audiences. Last night, at the Brighton Acoustic Session (which I MC), our guest was John Copper, assisted in the last set by members of the family. John spoke with tremendous warmth about Bob Copper and the closeness of the family which Bob engendered, the spirit of which lives on in old and young members of the family today. It was another excellent night. The usual Aged Suspects were out in force as floor singers - Vic & Tina Smith, Tim Broadbent over from France for a a few days, meself with my old friend and luthier Ian Chisholm, the every youthful Stuart Reed, etc.

But the bonuses were young bloods like Tom Evans playing a lovely accordion piece, and a trio of young "blokes singing folk", called Bond Of Union, who sang great harmonies with panache and skill. All good stuff, and when we Aged Suspects have all popped our clogs, these performers and many others like them will be around to keep it all going.

So, while we feel justifiably sad about the old ones leaving us, let's also celebrate the young ones joining us and reinvigorating us.

*Jack & Jill

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:01 AM

Yes to both sides of that.
And thanks to the festivals that give us the chance to hear the youngsters.
Bromyard, where only yesterday I first saw 2 young lads called John, and these two , and Granny's attic .
Chester where I saw heard a young lad enjoying a ceilidh with his school friends like any teenagers, after behaving like a mature performer on stage. Who went on to fame
Whitby, some years ago 422 ah,
looking back at a previous thread I first saw them and had the thrill of calling 1 dance with them in 2006. Here they are with a more experienced caller
And also at whitby long before that the mayor of Newcastle's youngest ever official piper

They all seem like yesterday to an oldie, but are maturing nicely with another young generation up and coming, no doubt.

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:17 AM

And there are some good younger callers too.
Lisa Heywood
Bob Morgan
Andrew Swaine
and, we hope, another batch coming up through the ceilidh socs and festivals

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:37 AM

I was 70 last December, my only worry about time is having enough left to consume my collection of rather good single malts whisky's

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:46 AM

I raise my glass to you living a full 40 more years, Will.

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: Will Fly
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 06:50 AM

Dave - I'll willingly assist you in getting through the malts... and then we can all drink to another 40 years!

When we've finished yours, we can start on mine - but yours first. :-)

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 10:24 AM

Thanks guest for your wishes and thanks Will for your kind offer, alas I think we live too far apart.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 10:37 AM

I think one of these Nicks is now in Germany but a couple of younger ones that have played Norwich sessions here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDu6dO1pQ6c

Numbers of younger players can seem low but I'm not sure things were that different back in the early 80s when in my earlty 20s I became regular at trying to do something in a local (at the time) folk club and some do turn out very talented...

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 11:45 AM

As a mere 58 year old.. I propose a move that many might resist,
that may even be a coding problem too many to be considered by site admin..

But maybe it's time to consider a separate permanent Obit section for Mudcat...
It's now a sad fact of life that obits will multiply and become more frequent over the next few years..

ie:.. Music related / BS / Obits...

Main mudcat music section is becoming too obit heavy and depressing,
and I suggest - too off putting to potential new younger members...

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:06 PM

Separation of threads as long been topic of debate here PFR. The original debate regarded the BS split, something I felt (and still like) was needed but maybe amongst other rows I got into, on reflection, I got too carried away with and probably at the time would have looked at further groupings but was also interested in different ways of organising forums and was sure I could devise solutions...

If my view on this is of any worth at all, I think the current tried and tested is probably the best for Mudcat. It's not how I've always seen things and at one time might have agreed with you but maybe on this one now would be more inlined towards te "ain't broke" viewpoint.

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST,Ernest (sans cookie)
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:30 PM

Guest at 10:37 is referring to the band Iontach

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:38 PM

Sorry missed name above and did not know they were a band. Both of the Nicks are people I have come across playing in informal localish sessions.

Subject: RE: Obits and young hopes
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Mar 17 - 12:49 PM

(and Ernest, having now got to the web site you gave a link to - Internet is painfully slow today, I only seen the box playing Nick in that group)