Help: guided trad. music tours of England?

Subject: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 03:18 PM

Can anyone recommend a guided traditional/folk music tour of England, or a part of England? I remember hearing about such a tour of Scotland and England, led by musicians such as Phil Cunningham, that happened about 12 years ago, but I no more details about it. Is there anything like that going on these days? A net search for "tours of England" and "traditional music tours of England" didn't show anything like that. Thanks for any help here.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 03:37 PM

As you probably know, chanteyranger, Mick Moloney runs folklore tours of Ireland and last year branched out to Scotland. A couple of months ago, I asked him specically whether he envisioned running tours to England and he said he did not see that happening in the foreseeable future. It may not exist.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: ddw
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 08:24 PM

chantyranger,

Tom Lewis, a retired Brit navy submariner, runs such tours every second year. Last summer he took a group on a round of all the inland canals, stopping each night at a different musical venue. I don't have his e-mail addy with me, but I have it at home and could post it tomorrow if I remember to look it up tonight when I get home.

In the meantime, I'll query clinton hammond, who probably has it handy if he's around.

david

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: ddw
Date: 15 Jan 01 - 10:03 PM

Chanteyranger — did some digging around and found Tom Lewis's addy. Try this

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: GUEST,Tom Lewis
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 08:06 PM

Hello Chantyranger, click on

Cheers, Tom.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: GUEST,Tom Lewis
Date: 17 Jan 01 - 08:09 PM

Sorry - unused to this format!

Try www3.sympatico.ca/b.l.shapiro/float.htm

This will give you an unsolicited overview of the tours we offer combining folk music and festivals in England, travelling by luxury canal boat. Tom.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Nancy King
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 01:33 AM

I went on Tom & Lyn Lewis' first canal Float in 1997 and had a great time. I'd like to do it again if I can put together enough money and time. Tom's website (www.folk.emich.edu/~tomlewis) at this point gives no definite plans for a future cruise, but I'm sure when plans develop he'll post them. You can always e-mail directly, of course. When I saw them at Mystic in June they were considering several options for different routes and times, probably for 2002.

The url Tom gives above gets you to a very detailed description (warts and all) of the 2000 trip. The basic deal in 2000 and in '97 was that Tom and Lyn and about a dozen other folks rented two 7-foot wide, 70-foot long "narrowboats" for two weeks, and cruised SLOWLY (the boats go only about 3-4 mph) around a circular route (the Warwickshire Ring), spending the middle weekend at the Warwick Folk Festival. At several points along the route, music evenings had been arranged at canalside pubs with fine performers such as Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman.

It's important to note that this trip is as much about canal-boating as it is about folk music, and it's very – er – participatory. There is no professional skipper or crew aboard; all operation of boats AND locks is done by yourselves. I had been wanting to go narrowboating for a long time, and the chance to combine it with music was too good to pass up. It's a great way to see the countryside, and you move around without having to move your stuff around -- a big advantage in my book. Of course you're not covering a huge area; I believe our route was about 100 miles total.

Hope I get a chance to go again!

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 05:45 AM

I'm looking for a career change and can feel an Arfur Daley coming on....

Gnomish Folk Tours

See all the traditions of England. The very pit where Blind Willy Higginthorpe, Lancashire folk legend, invented clog dancing; the pub where Zumerzets own Fred Wurzel wassailed himself to death on Old Nutwranglers scrumpy; the harbour from which Shanty Jack McGrew set sail on his ill fated voyage to discover Scunthorpe....

Stay in only genuine gnome tours aproved properties with all the boiled cabbage you can eat, hot and cold running condensation and on-suite pee-pots.

Travel by the most authentic of English transports - only one step up from the horse and cart (though not as quick) - the Railways.

All for only 4000 US dollars per head per day....

Any takers?

Dave the dodgy travel agent Gnome

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 09:46 AM

I wonder if we could get a crew of Mudcatters together to make such a thing happen? Imagine two weeks afloat with other musicians slowly touring the pubs of England.

A couple of years ago I made a plan to take my daughters and my SO on such a trip but the money fell through. Someday I will do it though my daughters will have gone on with their lives and the SO has already moved on.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 09:50 AM

I don't think my liver would ever recover but a lovely idea, Naemanson. Any volunteers to arrange something???

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:03 AM

Sounds good to me too. Somebody with some knowledge of canals and their boats might volunteer themselves - we're a bit short of canals here in East Yorkshire. Pencil Maggie and me in as a drinking, singing, playing crew, (but mostly drinking). She's done this narrowboating before and recommends it highly.

Combining with Warwick Folk Festival seems like a good idea, too. Anybody know about other festivals that are boatable?

Les

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:05 AM

Nantwich boat and folk festival - can't remember the date but a couple I know go every year and reckon it's a 'reet good do'

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 10:35 AM

Are we going to have a Mudcat flotilla then? Sounds like a brilliant idea.......

Kris

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 11:39 AM

ooo I don't think I can play my bodhran wearing a lifevest.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 18 Jan 01 - 11:49 AM

You don't need to, Ella - whacking the vest with a stick sounds better anyway...;-)

Use the bodhran as a life raft

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 12:30 AM

Thanks for your responses! Dave - does your tour package include horse fare? And will you accept my generous offer of all my Microsoft stock in lieu of the $4,000 per-day fee?

Tom Lewis - as long as I don't have to go down into the diesel and shale areas of the barge engines...

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Judy Predmore
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 01:55 AM

That canal tour with Tom Lewis sounds great. I know some Londonners who've organized their own canal tours & did the same thing - arranged special musical evenings at pubs along the way & had a great time... Chanteyranger, I'm sure you know how special it would be with Tom Lewis...

There aren't as many English musicians over here in the states, as there are from Ireland... I've heard very good things about the following tours, & the musicians (sorry I don't do blue clickies - I hope I spelled them right...):

Mick Maloney's tours of Ireland & Scotland www.irishfokloretours.com

Robbie O'Connell's tours of Ireland (& I think he might go to Scotland too...) www.robbieocnnell.com

Ed Miller's tours of Scotland www.songsofscotland.com

Having spent a week in classes with Ed Miller at the Augusta Heritage Celtic Week, I now know more about Scotland's music, musicians, folk revival, traveling people, geography, history, political & social issues than any country other than my own. And he made me want to know even more... He's an enthusiastic teacher (by profession), a great singer, & alot of fun.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Judy Predmore
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 01:58 AM

Geez, my typing's terrible!

www.irishfolkloretours.com

www.robbieoconnell.com

www.songsofscotland.com

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 04:21 AM

Ahhhh - Nooooo - MICROSOFT STOCK!!!! Get behind me, Satan...

Serious thought - I am sure that there are enough UK mudcatters dotted around the country to offer accomodation and a 'mini-tour', including the local folk club(s), of their area. How abaout we request an on-line register of such accomodation etc. so 'catters from outside the UK can pick their own 'tours'. I for one would be willing to give up a spare room and a few hours to guide people around Manchester.

I am sure statesiders would reciprocate with a USA list as well - Sounds a good use of Mudcat resources to me and a very inexpensive way of getting around!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Ella who is Sooze
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 04:46 AM

Shame on you Dave.....

may the curses of a thousand bats droppings fall on your head....

I wouldn't do that to my bodhran... spent too much on it!

Now, if my flute could float - (I'm fed up with it lately)

Ella

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 02:54 PM

Well Maggie and I are still up for some floating and folking. Although we're regulars at Warwick Folk Festival every year, we don't really know the pubs in the area. So neither of us really qualifies for Commodore of the first Mudcat Narrowboat Flotilla (Narflot1). Any offers?

Or maybe we should make up boatloads independently but all set off at the same time from the same or adjacent boatyards? I'll ask some of the Hull crowd tonight to see if we can fill a boat of our own. Perhaps we should also start a new thread.

Following up Dave the Gnome's suggestion about offers of accommodation around the world, that's probably worth some serious thought as well. In the meantime if you're coming near Hull, please get in touch.

Les

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Jan 01 - 05:18 PM

Les/DtG - The least we should be able to do is to get a good turnout at Warwick. If a boater starts a new thread I will contribute as I am able. Cheers GBJohn

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 12:18 AM

Dave the gnome -

Well, if my perfectly timed offer of Microsoft stock isn't good enough for you, I'm going to go ahead and unload..er...generously give you my prize investment - my 20,000 shares of Olivetti Typewriters.

This Mudcat flotilla idea sounds very interesting.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: ddw
Date: 31 Jan 01 - 06:10 PM

refresh for devilmaster

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Devilmaster
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 10:28 AM

if anyone was looking for tom's email address, its [e-mail], and his website is www.tomlewis.org

cheers

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Devilmaster
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 10:36 AM

I'm an idiot..... the website is tomlewis.net

sorry about the mixup.

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: winniemih
Date: 03 Feb 01 - 10:55 AM

I've heard on the PBS program "Thistle and Shamrock" that they sponsor a musical tour of Scotland. Haven't looked into it myself(don't have the $)

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: GUEST,guest ceili dancer
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 04:45 PM

Fiona Ritchie's Thistle & Shamrock August 2001 tour itinerary &c:

http://npr.org/programs/thistle/aboutshow/tour.html

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 18 Mar 01 - 04:57 PM

This is all very interesting! My daughter and I are saving up for a UK tour in July of 2002. It would be great to have some kind of Mudcat list of people who would be willing to host or do an informal B&B type of arrangement, with or without tours. Don't know how much my Maggie would want the canal, tour, tho- she'll be 13 and set in her opinions. Music, of course, included in all packages.
A US version of same is needed, of course- you can count me in!

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Micca
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 07:45 AM

Allison, let me know and you have a place to stay in London...

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 09:32 AM

Likewise for Manchester provided the commonwealth games are not on then. I'm getting the hell out of Manchester when they are, letting the house out and going somewhere sunny!!!

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: guided trad. music tours of England?
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 12:29 PM

Dave the gnome

Ella

The correct term for a floating bodhran is a coracle. Flute not much good as a paddle though.

There are several flotillas run just for the fun of it. Tony & Pearl of Maidenhead FC figure in the fun if not organise. Unfortunately they are popular and is ususally by invite. Harmony in both singing and personalities may be the reason.