Canal Catters

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Willie-O
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 12:57 PM

wey-ell, I've been playing off and on for over a year at the Yellow Canoe Cafe in Merrickville, right beside the Merrickville lock on the Rideau Canal. Piles of boats moored there waiting to lock through, or whatever it is they're doing--I'm not sure what, cause hardly any of them have ever ventured over to the cafe!

Probably my last gig there is Sept 1.

I played on a (replica) Durham boat once, which was going up and down the Rideau, mostly in Ottawa, all summer. Durham boats being an early-19th century settlers' people-and-goods conveyance. Saw the boat again a couple of years ago, now belongs to a Scout troop.

Hard on the beech oar...
Hoisted her upon the mast as a signal of distress
I scarecely think we'll get a drink...

Willie-O

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Marymac90
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 12:36 PM

Well, White Dove, let me be the first to welcome you to full-fledged Mudcatdom!!! You're a member!!!

And it's so interesting to read about folks (folkies!) living on boats, and travelling about on canals!!! I grew up not too far from the New York State Barge Canal, which still had working locks, and was a successor to the Erie Canal. Around here we have the Manyunk Canal, and its towpath has been converted into a bike- and skate-path.

I have known people who worked on big boats or ships, or who played on sailboats (large or small) or canoes, but I've never known anyone who lived on their own canal boat!

Marymac

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: White Dove
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:58 AM

THanks Shankmac....I will deffinatley put Middlewich Fest on my list for next year...I just passed The Kings Lock.Wil check out the music.

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: shankmac
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:43 AM

Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival is a cracker. It is usually on the middle weekend of June. It was reduced in size this year due to FMD but is well worth looking out for next year. Kings Lock Pub also worth a visit and might find music.

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:40 AM

Ahh,Rana, memories....I used to be a regular at the Opposite Lock jazz club in Gas Street (probably no more) before the area was yuppified...and before I was deported to the South in 1970
Now I only get there to see Aged P and never have time to get to city centre.
RtS

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: GUEST,Rana
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:30 AM

Was back "home" in Brum couple of weeks ago. Enjoyed the city centre canal area (formerly Gas Street basin, I think). Anyway there are some nice pubs, one in particular is the Fox and Fiddle (which has a water bus stop outside it). Started by 2 members of the City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra, it features either folk or jazz every night (free I believe). Was also impressed by the Friday 5 pm jazz (great artists) and a free buffet.

Cheers Rana

PS the only other music I caught was Dick Gaughan and Brian McNeill in the pouring rain at the MAC, plus a couple of village stops on the Monday night dance outs with St. Albans Morris Men.

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 11:06 AM

Mudcatter Lanfair (Bron) had a summer gig last year performing on the dayboats from Welshpool on the canal there, don't know if she's doing it again this year. (Too busy with sheepskins and trips to "foreign" parts lie Yorkshire, I expect!).
RtS ("did" the canal du Midi myself once with family, but I was the only entertainment. I was so bad, even I jumped ashore)

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: White Dove
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 10:57 AM

I am writing this 4 no other reason than to see if I am now a fully fledged Muddy person. Being the computer nerd that I am I puddled up my login stuff, and now thanx to the help team here I hope I will no longer sign in as Guest!!

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Aug 01 - 06:51 AM

Hi Guys.... Hi Ickle!!!Hi Mr.Red...we just got our boat from Nantwich...being the week b4 The Nantwich Festival we stayed on and saw Tim van Eyken,Nancy Kerr and James Fagan. A class act indeed!

Ickle..mate!...I am currently moored on the Calden near to The Trent and Mersey. ie Stoke on Trent. And yes.help finding Folky pubs and Clubs nearby would be good.

Hello Geoff, I will bump into you at Whitby no doubt.

White Dove

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:56 PM

for Rosie & Jim read "Just William"
ca't think my fingers won't talk properly.

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:54 PM

Derek & MAry run the Folk 'n good Music day at the Mill in Banbury and live on the "Rosy & Jim" moored at Fenny Compton.
details at www.rideacockhorse.co.uk

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:51 PM

The Boat at Ashleworth on the the river Severn Tues once a month. The same sessionists gather at the Village Inn in Twynning on another Tues (Avon), both in the Tewkesbury area. The Somers TFC is right by a canal in Worcester near the Diglis Basin (Fri). Pershore and Eckington on the Avon have sessions.
Don't Tim van Eyken, and Nancy Kerr and James Fagan live on narrow boats?

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 12:41 PM

The Jug at Chapel Haddlesey backs onto the River Aire, not the navigation, as there is a weir just downstream, but the branch of river is accessible, and at various times boat have moored beyond the end of the beer garden!
Mudcatters are always made welcome by Syd and Val.
Quack!

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: sledge
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:17 AM

If the journy can be made by Narrow boat, the White horse folk club in Banbury is based at the Mill arts centre, right next to the canal.

Sledge

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:09 AM

There is a canal catter- my mate White Dove who is hovering on her boat somewhere in Cheshire. I am sure she would be delighted to hear of any folk clubs that are near canals as I beleive she is intending to move around a bit!

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 09:54 AM

Elementry!;-)

Subject: RE: Canal Catters
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 08:41 AM

Which Canal? Erie? Panama? Auditory?

Subject: Canal Catters UK
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 04:27 AM

Canal Catters? Are there any out there? Canal side Folk Clubs/Open Mike sessions etc.?? Where are they?

Pls help? :-)