First Wat Tyler Folk Festival

Subject: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 07:33 PM

Hi All,

On the weekend of 11th - 13th June 2004, Maidstone Kent is staging its first folk festival, named in honour of the man who started the peasants revolt (so called) of 1381.

A number of venues (we think about seven pubs) will be hosting acoustic music and song sessions on Fri 11th from 8.00pm till closing.
Sat 12th from 11.00am - 11.00pm, and Sun 13th from lunchtime opening till 6.00pm.

A number of artists, groups, and bands will be performing as follows:-

Earls pub, Earl Street, Maidstone   

Friday 11th 9 till 11 Evolution (electric/psychedelic folk duo)

   Sat 12th 2 till 5 Dave Bloss Americana (duo)

             6 till 8 Skeleton Crew (protest/rock folk band)

             9 till 11 The Revs (Levellers tribute band)

   Sun 13th 3 till 6 Sultan (band)



The Druids pub, Earl Street, Maidstone

Friday 11th 9 till 11 Dammit (trad duo)

   Sat 12th 3 till 6 Open mic and jam

             9 till 11 Evolution

   Sun 13th 2 till 4 David Howard (mellow contemporary folk)

Also on Sunday 13th "Seize the Day", and "THE ACOUSTIC STRAWBS", (details to be confirmed)

This festival is, we hope, the beginning of a lively, performer oriented annual festival. The sessions venues will host a variety of genres including traditional, contemporary, country/blues, and singer/songwriter. We want all kinds of music and song, and of course poets and storytellers too. We need people to come in large numbers to perform and to listen, so please note this one in your calendars, and spread the news. We have a borough council which is doing all it can to help and encourage us, and we would like to see this small beginning flower into a high profile live music event in years to come. It will be quite informal, so just turn up, and dive in.

There will be camping at the Museum of Rural Life site on the edge of town, and Park and Sail will get you in to the centre, possibly with live music en route. Further details will shortly be posted on this thread.

Wyziwyg

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: The Barden of England
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 04:55 AM

Nice to hear that a local council is helping. I'll be there

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: My guru always said
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 05:58 AM

This sounds excellent - have put date in diary. Hope all goes well with the arrangemenys & that there's plenty of support!!!

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST,van
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 07:18 AM

I always thought he was from Dartford - used to drink in his pub ;-)
Anyway to more serious issues - what side of the Medway do you have to be born on to be a man of Kent? I'm married to a woman from Dartford and she's unsure of whether she's a maid of Kent or a Kentish maid. (A maid no more 'til apples grow on a cherry tree).

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST,JNW
Date: 30 Apr 04 - 01:34 PM

This sounds cool, I fully hope it's a success, I'll be there singing and performing.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: greg stephens
Date: 01 May 04 - 08:23 AM

Man of Kent etc: if you come from the NW(London) side of the Medway, you're a Kentish Man. If SE(Dover) side of the river, youre a Man of Kent.
This situation is confused in Tonbridge(where I was born) because the "Man of Kent" pub is on the "Kentish Man"(London) side of the river, which makes it difficult to remember what's what. Also I was technically born in a nursing home east of the river, but my home was west. But as my parents were Cornish, and only happened to be in Kent at the time and soon moved on, it's largely irrelevant to my personal identity.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Hrothgar
Date: 02 May 04 - 01:52 AM

I Kent tell the difference.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 06 May 04 - 06:11 AM

Linda and I will be there as we've already told you. Let us know what you need us to do when you've sorted things out. We also can supply some PA equipment including a rig that runs off a car battery. We would be quite happy to do some busking and have a push-around PA rig suitable for that - if anyone else wants to busk with us, it would give me a chance to bottle the audience.

I assume that the campsite will allow our caravan - although of course we only live at the the other end of the M20.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:11 PM

I am told that the revolution started in Maidstone. Where are the historians when you want one??

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 07 May 04 - 04:59 AM

Where are the revolutionaries when you need them ?

The revolution actually started in Essex, but gained momentum when Watt Tyler took command in Kent - most of the first Kentish action was in Canterbury.

Actually Tyler doesn't come out of it with much credit. After the initial march on London, King Richard II, showing great courage and statesmanship considering he was only 14, granted most of the rebels more reasonable demands. In the following week the rebels then vandalised London and killed quite a number of people. At a subsequent meeting with the King, Tyler made more, completely ridiculous demands, he was evidently rather drunk and his oafish behaviour so infuriated the mayor of London, that he drew his sword and killed him. After that the rebellion collapsed and all the previous concessions of free pardons etc were revoked.

Had Tyler behaved in a more sensible manner (as he was urged by the itinerant priest and social reformer John Ball) he might have achieved a lot.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 May 04 - 08:46 PM

Verify.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 May 04 - 06:06 PM

A rummage in Google produces what looks like a farily authoritative version:

History guide site



Hmm, that was supposed to be my first blue clicky but no such luck. But it is an interesting site to look at anyway.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST,van
Date: 09 May 04 - 02:31 PM

dave,
you come over as a right pompose twat. But we all interpret history as we see it.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 May 04 - 06:30 PM

What's a pompose? Is it a cross between a porpoise and a mongoose, and if so how did it happen?

Festival website is

the URL is www.wattyler.co.uk

Wat Tyler festival website

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Dan
Date: 19 May 04 - 02:15 PM

I notice Levellers tribute band the Revs are playing. The Levellers themselves were due to be playing at the festival but due to venue problems are playing a week later on the 16th July (Friday) at Mote Hall. Which I believe is at the leisure centre. Hope to see some of you there.

Dan Leveller

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: RichardP
Date: 21 May 04 - 11:24 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From:
Date: 03 Jun 04 - 03:11 PM

Pleased to hear about this - but I only found out by passing a poster in County Hall today and it is only a few weeks away! We are Bishop GuNdulfs Morris (Rochester Side) and wondered if there was space for us to dance during the festival. We have our weekend during the time of the festival, but could arrange transport to the event. What about next year??

Hope to get to see some of the festival in between dancing!

Sue - Steward Bishop Gundulfs

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Nosy Parker
Date: 04 Jun 04 - 05:10 AM

I think you'll find Bishop Gundulph are at the Fenn Bell that weekend

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 04:20 AM

Soundings this week seem to indicate that quite a few will be trying to find this secret folk festival, so it might be fun. See you all in the Style and Winch, which I am some of the time co-running. I think it's in the back room which is a nice little short of shed-cum-barn involving going through the poolroom, out the back and turning left. Good acoustics.

If anyone has found out about camping and caravan parking, post it here se we can pass it on...

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 04:25 AM

Hmm, also seems a prob with the website - I've emailed Don

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 07 Jun 04 - 02:54 PM

Hi folks,

First, Bishop Gundulfs men would be welcome to dance at the festival, especially as we are not sure whether there will be any other Morris sides. Could you contact me direct please Tel:- 01634 244213 after 6pm.

The problem with the website is causing me concern too. We'll sort it ASAP, but in the meantime reach me on Tel [phone], or E-Mail don.t@blueyonder,co.uk I have a feeling I'll be sorry I said that.

Don T.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 04:23 AM

Website back up.

There used to be a boat (called "park and sail") up the river from behind the Malta Inn (ie where the camping will be) to the centre of town. If it still exists it must be the nicest way to get from the camping to the fest area.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 04:51 AM

Will there be anywhere in the town for us to leave instruments and in in my case probably a small busking PA on wheels ?

Also do we have to make any arrangements about using the campsite, or can I just turn up with the caravan on Friday evening - is there any time limit for getting there ?

Finally if I am going to be running a busking pitch on Saturday (and probably Sunday) morning, where would be the best place, are there any banners, leaflets, ore collecting tins to publicise the event, and most important - could I have some other performers so that I get a chance to bottle the audience. It would also be great if there are any other good "bottlers" around to help. I would like to get the busking started by 10am if the weather's good.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 08:24 AM

I have no authority to speak, but I expect the back room at the Style and Winch to be fairly secure. Obvious busking spots would be the High Street, the top of Earl Street, and Week Street. Those who busk for a living (or a drinking) are often seen in Week Street, and they should know.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 09:16 AM

How do you fancy a bit of busking in Week St on Sat/Sun morning Richard - bring the dogs, we can always set them on anybody who won't fork out any cash !

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: ced2
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 09:32 AM

Surely it would be more grammatically correct to say "Which Tyler" as in "Which Tyler made an awful mess of this kitchen floor?"


O.K. I'll get my coat!

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Jun 04 - 08:41 PM

Dave, you've met the dogs...how can I get them and the guitar in the car at the same time???

And for the benefit of ced2, there is no "f" in Tyler.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: ced2
Date: 09 Jun 04 - 04:47 AM

Oh, and there was me thinking he was a member of one of the ubiquitous Cowboy-Builder family.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 09 Jun 04 - 11:53 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Jun 04 - 11:33 AM

The suggested campsite is at "The museum of Kent Life" you can find maps here or on Streetmap.co.uk here.

The price is £8 per night (a bit steep we thought) whether you've got a small tent or a caravan. There are toilets (with elsan emptying) and a water-point.

The museum say that there will be wardens on the gate until 9pm on Friday.

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Jun 04 - 02:52 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: First Wat Tyler Folk Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jun 04 - 04:18 PM

pls can u snd me a foto of mote hall in maidstone,been tryign to find one for ages.