Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July

Subject: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 12:03 PM

Sharps London Folk Festival

22 & 23 July
Cecil Sharp House

Saturday Highlights:
John Spiers and Jon Boden
Craig, Morgan and Robson
Peta Webb and Ken Hall

Sunday Highlights:
The Copper Family
The Devil's Interval
Pete Cooper

There will also be workshops, music sessions, and of course marathon singarounds!

Ticket Prices:
All Weekend: £20
All Saturday: £12
Saturday Concert: £10
Saturday sessions and craft fair: £4
All Sunday: £12
Sunday concert: £10
Sunday sessions: £3


More information?

Based at Cecil Sharp House, Sharps, the Tuesday folk club, will host concerts with stars of British folk and master class workshops in fiddle, melodeon and voice. There will be continuous sing-around sessions all day from 11am to 11pm.

In the Saturday evening concert on melodeon, fiddle and song are John Spiers and Jon Boden, the young winners of the BBC's award for best folk duo two years out of three.

Craig, Morgan, Robson: their excellent range of harmony and ensemble singing covers ballads, hymns and sons from the Shetlands to the Ozarks.

Peta Webb and Ken Hall have been exploring British unison and American harmony singing for ten years and have a fine collection of songs. Ballads and parodies, ancient and modern, sung perfectly.

John Spiers will be running a melodeon workshop on Saturday and Craig, Morgan, Robson a voice/harmony workshop (2-4pm).

Plus-- an all day singaround session from 11am-11pm.

In the Sunday afternoon concert, The Copper Family prove that the folk tradition carries on as strongly as ever. Previous generations would be proud to hear the latest two sing the family songbook.

The Devil's Interval is one of the best of the new young guns in the present renaissance of British folk music. Their exciting music proves that folk music is still alive and well.

Pete Cooper is a master of every kind of folk fiddle music from Bluegrass to Transylvanian Dances via English tunes to one or two quite unusual pieces. H is also running a workshop on Sunday that is a must for folk fiddle players.

Sing around sessions for folk singers continue throughout the day.

Enquiries: Sheila Finn, 01 689 825 263

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 05:38 PM

Sounds great, but Moira, Sarah and Carolyn might be a bit worried about the sons from the Shetlands to the Ozarks!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 07:30 PM

It is a shame that this is 100% inaccessible to those who live outside Greater London because of the impossibility of getting home again.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: melodeonboy
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 07:59 PM

You'll have to move to Sittingbourne, Richard! Our last train leaves Victoria at three minutes past midnight.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 05:25 AM

It could be worse Richard. It could be in Antartica which would make it 100% inaccessible to those who aren't in the Antarctic Survey.

Anyway, why is it impossible to get home again? You could leave in time to catch your last train, or come up by car or bicycle or even foot. Awkward to see it all and get home but not impossible.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 05:31 AM

Or you could beg a bed for the night.... there are lots of people around who could spare you a blankie and a pillow.

There are several hotels of the F1 variety within travelling distance and the congestion charge does not apply after 6.30pm Friday or at weekends.

I shall be 'resting' after 2 concerts the previous week but maybe see you there?

LTS

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Essex Girl
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:16 AM

My last train is 12.15 a.m which is easy enough to get. Richard, if you would like to go you are welcome to leave your car at my place and get the train in (30 mins to Charing X)and then kip in the caravan or on the sofa.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: GUEST,GrahamBradshaw
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:41 AM

Well, that's the first I'd heard about it!

When they planned this, did they not realise that there are already several high profile folk festivals on that weekend, ie Warwick, Brampton, Trowbridge, and probably some more.

G

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 10:56 AM

Thanks for the offers - I think the best option may be to take the Ark Royal (my elderly Volvo - about the same size) round armed with limited range of istruments (for carrying purposes, maybe just mandolin, guitar and bodhran) stay sober (yecch!) and hurtle back in the small hours watching like a hawk for speed cameras, in time to relieve the dogsitter.

Whether I can face that much hassle in pursuit of relaxation is a different balancing act...

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 05 Jul 06 - 03:52 PM

While I can't take responsibility for the London transit system or the timing of this event, I can apologise truly and sincerely for the typo in the announcement: Sheila didn't have an electronic copy handy, and I had to type the whole thing in by hand. I'm sure that if folks looked hard enough, they could find a whole bunch more typos in there, but let's not make it into a contest, eh?

I hope I get to meet any mudcatters who decide to come to this event. I'll be the fat chick with the harp.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Saro
Date: 06 Jul 06 - 01:31 PM

I don't think we are too worried about sons from the Ozarks to shetland ...sounds like a mighty womanly achievement to me! Mind you, I think Carolyn is better known for her wonderful daughters, but maybe she just hasn't told me the whole truth.
Sarah (from CMR)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 Jul 06 - 05:38 PM

I'm pretty sure Anna, Freya and Nonnie are daughters....

Kitty (just refreshing the thread, hope CMR have a great time at the festival....)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Surreysinger
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 11:07 AM

Gwenzilla - I have a ticket for this, and have been unable to find out very much about the programme and timings so far. Is your first post on this thread the full programme of events - ie does the day start at 11 am?? Is there a timed programme anywhere? I've searched the internet more than once, and there really doesn't seem to be an awful lot of information out there that would be of help in pre-planning (eg what time to get there, what time to leave to get train home etc) - not that I've found, anyway.

Queries I had in mind, for example....Are these the only events actually taking place? ie continual singaround, 2 workshops on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm, and concert in the evening on Saturday at unspecified time and of unspecified duration ?

What time do hostilities commence and finish on the Sunday? Are the singaround and the concert the only planned happenings, and what time is the concert scheduled to start and finish?

If there is any further info available on the internet (or otherwise) any pointer in the right direction would be very helpful,and very much appreciated, ta ever so!

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 11:34 AM

Sharps London Folk Festival

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Surreysinger
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 03:22 PM

Great - thanks ever so much Diane, that helps a great deal (:-)
Obviously wasn't looking in the right places!

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 10 Jul 06 - 07:02 PM

If that's not complete enough info for you, Surreysinger, I work at Cecil Sharp House and will see Sheila tomorrow in the office and tomorrow night at Sharps. I'll see what other information I can wrestle out of her. :)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Surreysinger
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 10:39 AM

Thanks for offering Gwenzilla - I think that the link that Diane provided is probably enough, ta! I just wanted to know timings for trains home etc (:-) (When I bought the ticket I hadn't been able to find anything, other than a few lines on the EFDSS website (and even two days ago there wasn't a lot in that location either ... no link etc),nothing on the Folk London website a couple of weeks ago etc, so I was floundering around in the dark a bit!!!)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 07:26 AM

Hi Gwenzilla
I am getting a bit worried about this Festival. our tickets came today and say that the melodeon workshop is only provisional, and the ticket number is only just into double figures. As you work at Cecil # House, I wondered if you have any up to date info re timings etc etc. pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease put my mind at rest - Im coming a long way from up north and never been to London before, so would hate to be disappointed
Thanks a bundle
Black Diamond

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Black Diamond
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 04:06 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 05:14 PM

Worry not, Black Diamond-- this is the way ticket sales for this event generally work: not so many advance bookings and people lining up around the block on the day(s) of the event. That's just the way the London community is: People decide whether they're coming by checking the projected humidity level in Australia that morning or something equally hermetic.

As for the melodeon workshop, I don't work at the House on Wednesdays (I spent the day in my other office [affectionately known as 'the woods'], writing and walking and having a very nice tomato, cheese and pesto pannini. Anyway. I wasn't able to ask Sheila about the workshop specifically today, but I will phone her tomorrow, when I'm at the House and make sure it's not in fact provisional. She has not been speaking of it as a provisional event, so I am reasonably sure that it will happen, but you know how these things go: If I told you that it was absolutely going to happen, something else would happen to ensure that it didn't happen -- wow, I'm rambling. Sorry.

Right, don't worry about tickets, I'll check on the melodeon workshop for you tomorrow, and I really hope you'll have a wonderful time on the weekend of the festival. If you're feeling out of your element or strange around a bunch of strangers, don't hesitate to find me: I'll be busy leading some of the stages of endless singaround and generally being trouble. :)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 08:32 PM

O how I'd love to be there- but it's a long long way from the USA! I'm remembering way back in 1952, on scholarship and newly settled in London, an evening when Douglas Kennedy (then the director)had talked me into doing a concert at Cecil Sharp House- three of us, Seamus Ennis, Ewan MacColl, and Jean Ritchie. Of course I was scared to death, but it was a kind, large, and participating audience and turned out to be a most wonderful introduction to London, and England.
...and Seamus and Ewan became our friends for life. Cheers! Jean

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 12 Jul 06 - 09:20 PM

This will be a great event!

Sorry I can't make it - for the same reason as Jean. Been to Sharps 5 or 6 times and have loved every visit.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 04:27 AM

Jean and Dan- words cannot express how jazzed I am to be a (former) American living permanently in England and getting to work at Cecil Sharp House. I am occasionally bemused by my own happiness, but mostly I just accept it!

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Black Diamond
Date: 13 Jul 06 - 06:14 AM

Thanks for your help Gwenzilla - Im really looking forward to it now after your encouragement. Fortunately I will be with my husband aand a freind as well, so we'll be fine, but thanks for the ida of saying hello. might just do that anyway - do I look for the harp?????
Black Diamon

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 14 Jul 06 - 05:58 AM

I'm easy to find. I'll probably only have one small harp with me, a little brown lap harp in a black and blue case. I work for the House, and I will be leading singarounds. Or if you want a more positive way to identify me, you could visit my web page at
Harpetrator (that's http://www.harpetrator.com, in case the blue clicky maker doesn't work).

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 18 Jul 06 - 04:28 PM

Don't forget this event is *this weekend*! Hope to see many of you there!

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Black Diamond
Date: 19 Jul 06 - 08:08 AM

I'll be there looking forward to meeting you
Black Diamond

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 20 Jul 06 - 07:48 AM

Here's a breakdown of what will be happening this weekend:

SATURDAY:
11am-11pm Sharps Singaround
11am-4pm Craft Fair
12noon-4pm John Spiers melodeon workshop
2pm-4pm- Craig, Morgan, Robson Harmony workshop
4:30pm-5:30pm Folk Quiz with Malcolm Taylor
6pm-7:30pm Doc Rowe Calendar Customs talk
8pm-11pm Concert with:
John Spiers and Jon Boden
Craig, Morgan, Robson
Peta Webb and Ken Hall

SUNDAY:
11am-11pm Sharps Singaround
1pm-3pm Pete Cooper Fiddle Workshop
1pm-3pm Devil's Interval workshop
4pm-7pm Concert with:
The Copper Family
Devil's Interval
Pete Cooper

Ticket Prices:
All Weekend: £20
All Saturday: £12
Saturday Concert: £10
Saturday sessions and craft fair: £4
All Sunday: £12
Sunday concert: £10
Sunday sessions: £3

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Saro
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 04:25 AM

Looking forward to it - hope some of you are going to come and sing harmonies with us!
Sarah

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: trayton
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 06:10 AM

SATURDAY:
12noon-4pm John Spiers melodeon workshop

is this correct?

malcolm

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 07:47 AM

No. it's 14.00 - 16.00 as in link posted above.
4 hours of melodeons is against the law.

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: GUEST,EnfieldPeter
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 12:00 PM

I went CH House last week to purchase a ticket for this event, which they were not able to sell to me as they did not know who was actually selling them. Can I pay on the door tommorrow?

Cheers

Peter C

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jul 06 - 03:08 PM

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 03:49 AM

Tickets are available on the door, festival starts at 11:00 today. It seemed very silly to me that CSH were not selling tickets for this event, but I think the organiser wanted to take some work off our hard-working admin, Ethel, who also handles book and CD orders and keeps the rest of us in line. I do apologise if it was my mistakenly thinking originally that we were selling tickets at the House that brought you there, Peter. Hopefully we'll see many of you today!

(And I'm off to the festival!)

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Saro
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 04:23 PM

Well, what a nice day it was! Thanks to all the lovely harmony workshop people for your great singing (with or without dipthongs) and for your exceptionally fine cheering!! And Gwenzilla, great to meet you and a real pleasure to hear you sing and play...
best wishes
Saro

Subject: RE: Sharps London Folk Festival, 22-23 July
From: Gwenzilla
Date: 24 Jul 06 - 02:05 AM

Thanks to everyone who came out this weekend. Immediate responses seem to indicate that the first Sharps Festival was a success! Information on the next one will be released as soon as I have it. :-)