Anyone going to The National?(UK)

Subject: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 02:05 PM

Any Mudcatters, apart from me, planning to be at The National Folk Festival at Sutton Bonington, near Loughborough, England, weekend of April 8th?

All kinds of good folk there. Anyway, if you are, let me know. (And if you aren't and would like to know how it went, let me know that too.)

Kevin

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 03:00 PM

Yep, I'll be in the bar.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Dan K (inactive)
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 03:51 PM

McGrath, I'll be in England during that time but I'll be at the Society for Storytelling Gathering in Shropshire. Wish I could do both. Maybe I'll see you at some other festival. I think I'm coming back in the summer of 2001 to do a few. have a great time at The National. Dan Keding

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 04:12 PM

bigJ - well, if you go to bbc's Mudcat resources you'll see a picture of me there, so you can pick me out if you see me. I think I might be at the bar at one time or another...I think I might foind it difficult to recognise you, unless you give me more to go on.

Dan K - The art of bilocation is sadly needed at times. "The Society for Storytelling Gathering in Shropshire" - that sounds good, - it might be a meeting of a "Society for Storytelling Gathering", or a gathering of a "Society fdor Storytelling". It's not in the Folk Roots Festival List - they have a few storytelling events included, but lots of gaps as well. P>

We met briefly at Sidmouth a couple of years ago - you'd been giving a storytelling workshop, including hints on the instant censorship of "Mr Fox" when the little kids get ushered unexpectedly into the room. Hope to see you around some time.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,Little G.
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 04:56 PM

Yep.I'll be in the bar with big J

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Callie
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 05:21 PM

Yes, I'll be at the National - but the one held in Canberra, Australia!!! Easter long weekend.

--Callie

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 11:09 PM

G'day Callie,

We may cross paths in Canberra ... I'll be the chunky bearded bloke under an Akubra Squatter (conservative Australian country fur-felt hat) with a Nikon in front of an assortment of bags carrying a button accordion or two, a half dozen mouthorgans, sundry whistles and few pairs of playing bones. I'll usually be seen somewhere close to the stage at some venue of other

There is a shot of me in Festival mode at the front of the collection of my folk photographs on Folk Australia, at: http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/Bolton.Files/ (sorry everybody, I've misplaced the 'cheat sheet' with the html codes for blue clicky things). Unfortunately, I don't have a Mudcat t-shirt ... I seem to have come out of my t-shirt designing and printing phase with a lessened endency to wear the damned things.

I will definitely be at The Blue Book Marathon on Monday afternoon (in one of the dancing venues), since I published all the The Blue Book 's editions: in 1985, 1987 and 1995 for the Bush Music Club. I don't know who is the madder - the 80-odd (and I mean odd!) Canberra musicians that will play right through all the tunes in the Bush Dance (tunes) book in eight hours - or the dancers that will dance all 39 dances.

At least they have Anzac Day to recuperate! (Bus trip to the Dawn Service and on to view the Book of Kells?)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Callie
Date: 29 Mar 00 - 11:45 PM

Bob - no need to describe yourself - I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! You know me by another name - Callie is my Mudcat name!!

See you in Canberra! Callie

(he he he - don't ya love a wee mystery?!)

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,Ickle Dorritt
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 12:52 PM

I thought you meant the Grand National!

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 02:03 PM

Hey McGrath, It's more than likely I will be wearing my maroon 'Support Your Local (Galway) Hooker' sweat shirt. The trouble is that it depends which one is clean whether it's in English or Irish- in which case look out for the '1993' it also says on it. It was frightening looking at your photo - apart from the glasses it was like looking in the mirror. P.S. Little G buys!

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 04:44 PM

Yeah - I certainly find it frightening looking in a mirror. If I can see myself, I look like a werewolf, and if I can't, I must be looking like a vampire...

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Bert
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 05:21 PM

...If I can see myself, I look like a werewolf, and if I can't, I must be looking like a vampire...

sounds like a song to me McG.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Teasle
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 05:29 PM

I would LOVE to be going to the National - in Canberra! Next year for certain - Port Fairy first though... lots of happy memories from that festival.

Has anyone enjoyed a National in Alice Springs - in the days when they shared it around!! (any Alice Springs folks lurking at the Mudcat)?

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Callie
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 06:25 PM

No, sadly. I'm only young enough to know the National in Canberra. Love the idea of getting in the car and driving for days to get to Alice Springs (no sarcasm intended, I love a long drive & never been to Alice)

--Callie

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 06:44 PM

G'day All,

Teasle: Somebody sure enjoyed the (Australian) National Folk Festival when they held it at Alice ... it was just about the last of the peripatetic series to make a healthy profit. I remember analysing why it profitted and finding that it was because they kept control of the bar sale - and they paid for everything else. Actually, an ABC programme on Great Train Journeys of the World had an episode on The Ghan and they went through the Alice durung the NFF. I clearly remember their footage of (the late ... and even lamented) Keith Snell, who ran the band I played with in the 1970s, Rouseabouts, crawling across the Festival bar floor, pushing a full glass with his head!

It was the growing (and growing) losses that forced the National, having united the national folkie scene, into a fixed venue and the advantages that flow from a developing a body of expertise and known venue. Some great aspects were lost, some good points were gained, the whole show now works and will keep working ... and Queenslanders thinkl it is a Southern plot (plus ca change, plus ca meme).

See you in Canberra in the new millennium! (The one that starts we we complete the 1000th year of this one!)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 08:20 PM

Well in Ireland they still keep the Fleadh Ceoil moving around - a couple of years in some place they think needs it, and then off again.

And roll on the day they have it in the North (and I say, roll on the day there's a few Orangwe bands invited to takle part, and willing to do so... but that's a bit further off I suppose. It'll happen though).

But I'm afraid in England the travelling festival idea never seems to have taken off. A pity.

I'd have thought the right thing to do would be to have the title "National Folk Festival" like an award that would be given to different existing folk festivals - "And this years National Folk Festival will be the one taking place in Sidmnouth... or Whitby...or Fylde. Or out in Australia the places would be a bit further apart.

In the meantinme the English National at Sutton Bonnington is a small but perfectly formed static festival, a bit like an academic conference in some ways, with lectures as well as performances. A brilliant way to get back into it after a winter's hibernation. And there are still tickets...

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 08:39 PM

G'day McGrath of Harlow,

In many ways the peripatetic period of our National was a great thing; for 25 years it travelled from state to state and the state awarded each year's National could choose where to stage it. It was generally in a university in the capital city and the older universities were fine places, with venues ranging down from mighty lecture halls, through good stages and performance spaces - all the way to little resonant niches and blind corridors for informal sessioning.

The host states had a great boost to unity and identity in hosting the National and the various state Folk Federations - and state Folk Festivals - usually arose from the National Festival. What killed off this this halcyon era was increasing size during the 1970s / '80s and economic rationalism's impact on large public bodies such as universities. As the cost of venue skyrocketted, the need for substantial corporate sponsorship insinuated itself and such bodies want to deal with a fixed group of organisers and see a 'proven track record' for the event.

Where we have ended is not in any way a loss or 'sell-out". Every state has its own festival(s), the thriving progeny of the National ... and the National has an excellent and appropriate venue in the nation's capital. On a population/distance weighted basis, the location is almost ideal. It is certainly tough for someone in Perth ... or Darwin ... or Alice Springs ..., but these are some of the most remote capital cities in the world! That is the nature of Australia.

If we want events in all our remote centres, they should grow naturally from the enthusiasm and support of the locals, feature the unique attributes of the region and its folk ... and belong to them. If they are good enough and different enough, Australians will come to them and we will develop diversity and regional identity.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Helen
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 10:13 PM

I was hoping to go to the National (Oz) in Canberra, but, sadly, this is not to be, not this year at least.

Helen

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 02:31 PM

"the older universities were fine places, with venues ranging down from mighty lecture halls, through good stages and performance spaces - all the way to little resonant niches and blind corridors for informal sessioning." - sounds a lot like Sutton Bonington, which is an Agricultural College.

The range of different types of occasion that can be covered by the word "folk festival" is very wide indeed, and I think it's be worth having a thread discussing it. It's a bit the same with the term "folk cklub", or "session" - we use them and we often tend to think that other people are using it to mean the same thing, but the range is enormous, even in one country.

Like someone not too long ago commented favourably on the fact that folk clubs in England tend to be in pubs - but it had never really occurred to me that you could have a folk club that wasn't in a pub. Even the one near us that happens in a church vestry has a bar.

So with festivals they range all the way from the big show biz efforts down to local ones based round a single pub, plus a bit of cavorting round the streets. And even with the big festivals you've got some which are all big venues and distant performers, and some which are masses and masses of small venues, and sessions round every corner. And you've got a few which do it both ways, notably Sidmouth in my experience.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,John i Brisbane
Date: 01 Apr 00 - 03:25 AM

I'm going to Canberra this time around. Not sure how to make it happen but I'll see you all there. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 08:00 PM

Just been to the National in Canberra and apart from being a great festival, I also had the chance to meet a number of Mudcatters for the first time - Bob Bolton, Keith Maxwell and Tony in Darwin (I'd played with Tony in a few sessions before realising the connection - he has a great voice). If I've met Callie I'm not aware of having had the pleasure. Hope to renew the acquaintances in the near future. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,MARK
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 10:14 PM

I went to the National in Canberra ACT Australia.

Must be a bloody big festival!

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,Dinah Maxwell
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 02:34 AM

National is an excellent festival - and yes Keith and I were at the 87 National at Alice Springs - twas wonderful.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 02:47 AM

Hey, McGrath, if I'm not mistaken, an Orange Band marched an played in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, and also in Toronto, so there's hope yet!! All the best
Seamus

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Julie B
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 04:17 AM

Re: The National Folk Festival at Sutton Bonington, near Loughborough, England, weekend of April 8th.

In the post this morning I received notification that the festival has been cancelled; quote from festival director John Heydon:

"I have now been advised that due to the Foot and Mouth epidemic, all conferences, and the National is considered a conference, on the Sutton Bonington Campus, have been cancelled until after Easter. In these circumstances, this year's festival cannot be held...I am proposing to ask the same guests to take part in next year's festival over the weekend 12th-14th April 2002. ...Some of the Irish and American contingent are committed to coming to the UK. Haddenham Ceilidhs has its normal ceilidh on Sat 7th April...attached to the [village] hall is a small room ideal for informal concerts. I intend asking all artists who were committed to the National for the weekend to consider coming out to Haddenham and having a small National 'cancelled' party".

See Foot and Mouth thread for more discussion on F&M.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but isn't it a little strange that events like folk festivals are forced to cancel to help 'contain the outbreak', while for horse racing meetings nationwide it's "business as usual"?

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Gervase
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 05:15 AM

Sadly Julie's right - see the press release here from the parent university.
Dave Earl says that the organisers are offering either a refund or a straight ticket transfer to the 2002 National.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Julie B
Date: 22 Mar 01 - 05:52 AM

Re. foot and mouth, it seems the link I gave above wasn't the right one. The current F&M discussion is going on at: Foot and Month Part II

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: aussiebloke
Date: 23 Mar 01 - 12:21 AM

John in Brisbane: Yep, Tony does have a great voice - not a bad squeezebox player too, if you like that sort of thing...

Anyone with a hankering for Folk Music in Alice Springs could think about attending the 31st Top Half Folk Festival.

Festival info posted on the Top End Folk Club web-site:
http://members.nbci.com/tefc/
[e-mail]

The 31st Top Half Folk Festival
Queen's Birthday Weekend 2001
Friday 8th June - Monday 11th June 2001
Just outside of Alice Springs - Central Australia

All inquiries:
[e-mail]
PO Box 883
Alice Springs NT 0871
Facsimile: 8951 6581

cheers
Martin 'aussiebloke' Goreing
TEFC Committee Member
Lagophonist & shameless-player-of-the-bodhrán-in-public
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Julie B
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 12:54 PM

Anyone else going to Sutton Bonington next weekend (April 11th -13th)? I looked for a 2003 thread for this festival but couldn't spot one...
Julie B

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: treewind
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 01:06 PM

Yes indeed. Mary Humphreys and I are hosting one of the tunes sessions in the ante-room next to the bar, and also running a singaround featuring Welsh and English songs and tunes. ("Welsh" will be widened to "celtic fringe" and include Cornish if Moe Keast turns up)

Apart from that we'll be playing and participating wherever possible, and will probably be found hanging out with the Ryburn Three Step gang some of the time.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 01:10 PM

I'll be there :0)

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 03:43 PM

So will I.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: 8_Pints
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 04:56 PM

Hi Julie B, Noreen and other friends,

Sue will be there on Friday, and I shall be flying in from Budapest sometime in the evening ......

We will then be there for the rest of the week-end, so looking forward to seeing you there!

Bob vG

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Noreen
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 05:39 PM

And the wonderful Joe Kerins too :0)

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: treaties1
Date: 04 Apr 03 - 07:23 PM

I will be there as well so I'll look out for you all in the bar ares
Theresa

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Willa
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 05:49 PM

Hi there, Treaties1; I wondered where you'd got to!

Hope to get to the National over the w/e so may some of you.
Willa

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: pete au
Date: 05 Apr 03 - 11:00 PM

I have never been to the national in canberra but one day i will get there, has any one been to the wintermoon folk fest in calen nth queensland austrlia

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 12:07 PM

I've bought a ticket, but I seem to be on the programme as well, on Saturday afternoon, with Chris Coe, Carolyn Robson, Alison McMorland, Annie Dearman, Moira Craig, Heather Horner and Katie Howson.

Looking forward to seeing catters in the bar.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: GUEST,Eliza c
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 12:28 PM

I'll be there! Who's up for an English session? x e

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Emma B
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 03:17 PM

I'm going as Treaties Taxista! - in return for the customary ticket for the wonderful Song and Ale later in the year. Kevin (Harlow) I'll buy you a drink in the bar in memory of the London march. Have fun in Canberra hope it's a bit warmer than the National (on both sides of the globe) last year

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: treewind
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 01:40 PM

EC - I'm sure we'll be at your English session on Friday evening, and we're doing one 10-11pm Saturday...

Anahata

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Willa
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 06:04 PM

Yes, please, Eliza!

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Julie B
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 08:47 AM

Regarding the "National Song Competition", how good do you have to be to enter? I thought I might have a go (though will hardly be shocked if I don't win!!!) Do you just fill in a form when you arrive on Friday?

Julie B

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: English Jon
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:17 AM

Going to try to be there. Got a gig on saturday night in Hounslow though, so it'll have to be fri and sun. Will sharpen fiddle in preparation...

Cheers

EJ

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Noreen
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 11:29 AM

Hi Julie! Three of us (at least) from up here have decided to go in for it- as Sid says, you can't go to the fair and not have a go at the coconut shy... So, at least the three of us won't be competitive about it- we sing together regularly and have very different styles: you would add yet another dimension to the event, so DO enter!

It's restricted to the first 12 who send in the form, and we're going to do that when we get there Friday. I believe it has not been over-subscribed in the past :0)

And hi again Jon! Will be good to see you again so soon- we must stop meeting like this. Will EJC be attending too?

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 02:43 PM

How do you recognise a Mudcatter at a big gathering like the National? Should we all wear yellow t-shirts or pink socks?

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: treewind
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 02:54 PM

My beloved, you wear one of these!

Why do I have to post a mudcat message to communicate with somebody five feet away me in the same room (yes, on a different computer, how sad are we?)

Anahata

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:00 PM

I can't make it this year, but have fun those who do. It's a great festival, and quite unlike all the others I've been to.

The song contest is enjoyable enough, especially if you can get to sing early and then relax, and don't care too much about it. But the late night singarounds are the main event.

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Emma B
Date: 09 Apr 03 - 03:49 PM

Sorry I won't get the chance to buy you that drink then Kevin after memorising your photo as well! (Doing any other midway (North/South divide) festivals?) Will have one for you in late night session and probably one for all the others who can't make it as well

Subject: RE: Anyone going to The National?
From: Julie B
Date: 10 Apr 03 - 07:27 AM

Thanks for that Noreen :) I'll enter the song competition then. It'll be nice to see you again.
Julie B