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22 Aug 04 - 07:33 PM (#1253881) Subject: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Grab Slightly late, but a quick recap of Broadstairs folk festival. I know other people were there - anyone else fancy posting their feedback too? Unfortunately there wasn't a repeat of last year's record temperatures - the first weekend was nice, but Mon-Wed were pretty damp. We were in a hotel on the seafront, and we were seriously glad of it! We were especially glad of it when we heard stories about the toilets being blocked on the campsite for days in a row ("several days on the trot" could have a whole new meaning) and the showers being as persistently feeble as they were last year. I really can't see how having these facilities working properly is so difficult - do schools not need to have working toilets? Ho hum. Still it's easy to criticise, so I'd better say full marks to all the volunteers on the workforce who made things (mostly) go well. And Thur/Fri were better, so I think everyone managed to pack up dry. Last year I did a lot of workshops, but this year there wasn't as much to interest me - I'd done most of the guitar workshops last year, and this year was the same stuff (actually fewer workshops this year). So I spent more time checking out the music instead, which was seriously good. (One workshop I did do was bellydancing, for the second year running - great fun, and need to get more guys doing it. No I'm not posting the photos! :-) High points:- Terra Folk were stunning (especially with thunder and lightning going off outside the marquee). The whole performance is really something else - you'd need a DVD to capture it bcos a CD just wouldn't work. Dougie Maclean was brilliant too. The sound tech got it really nailed for this one too, which really helped. Artisan - saw them a few times, and I'm still amazed at the quality of singing and gobsmacked at Brian Bedford's songwriting ability. Lynn Heraud's group doing their silly turn on the final night (stick-dancing cleaning ladies). Some of the "supporting acts" were scarily talented too. Favourites: Vicki Swann and Johnny Dyer (Scottish smallpipes/flute and guitar respectively - *very* good tunes and mostly self-penned); Pete Smith and John Buckley (two very good guitarists playing jazz with occasional lapses into quotes from Guns'n'Roses and others); Rosie Doonan and Ben Murray (guitar and keys - I didn't think you could play folk on a keyboard, but BM does it seriously well). Some of the other acts were disappointing though. Gordon Haskell was too "easy listening" and the PA was cranked up to the point of pain - whilst the first is down to musical taste, the second was an unforgiveable cockup by the soundman; Les Barker did nothing for me (good material but can't stand his style); Here Be Dragons were, simply, crap - think Sex Pistols without the energy, originality, charisma or slightest talent (if you want something loud to pogo to, I'd recommend putting on a CD instead of paying for these jokers, which was disappointing since they occupied the same spot as the very good Blue Horses last year); and Tim Edey's talk about recording techniques was a bit of a washout (not helped by Tim's overindulgence the night before, lack of preparation, and several people in the workshop who wanted to add their 2p's-worth and turn a group teaching session into their own 1-to-1 discussion). I'm very glad I had a season ticket, because otherwise I might have wasted £40 on the above-mentioned. I don't mind not liking someone I'm hearing for the first time, but Gordon Haskell's gig and Tim Edey's workshop were spoilt by lack of professionalism, which what you want when you're paying money. Also on the critical theme, someone needs to teach some of the soundmen to recognise when instruments pick up resonances in the room/PA. At least twice, guitars had the low E string "booming", and the soundmen didn't try to fix it (or possibly didn't notice it). For god's sake, guys - if that's happening, turn the low-end down a little more - it ain't rocket science! Having had the obligatory moan though, I *can* say that I'm very glad I went. Broadstairs is an amazing event, in a lovely town, with a damn fine bunch of musicians there (with the few exceptions above! ;-) Make sure you go there next year! Graham. Ps. Also a high point - wearing my Mudcat T-shirt and getting stopped by two random people shouting "Who are you?" Said random people turned out to be Bassic and rock chick. :-) |
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22 Aug 04 - 07:59 PM (#1253912) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Dead Horse I saw you at the belly dancing, but you werent wearing the t-shirt, so didnt come over to talk. Damn. Agree about the soundmen, must be deaf, the lot of 'em. Toilets were OK whenever I went, & Broadstairs wouldnt be the same without the showers fiasco every year. Oh yeah. I was the guy with the loud clothes & louder triangle. |
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23 Aug 04 - 01:02 PM (#1254586) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: GUEST,banjoman Graet week again this year - the new director has put a lot of things right from last year. As to the camp site - well the showers didn't bother me as I went to the ultimate and bought a caravan with its own shower. Music was great (what I heard of it) but the band (OTB) were working most days on the bandstand so didn't see much until evening. Great sessions everywhere again. Did anyone spot "The Magnificent Seven" on the bandstand?? Otb once again met the challenge of Mick Scott amd ended the week playing a selection of LLoyd Webber tunes arranged for the Dorset Four Hand Reel. \\\\\\\\\\easier than last year whn we spent the week plsaying Gilbert & Sullivan. Thanks to all concerened, especially the camp site staff who were most helpful in accomodating my mobility scooter during the week. Looking forward to next year (40th) |
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31 Aug 04 - 04:34 PM (#1261011) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: synbyn As ever, festival what you made of it- agree about Terrafolk- thought I'd give them a quick listen but was stunned by skill & presentation. Highlight for me was Keith Kendrick's gathering in the Methodist Church, singing songs from the seasons- so many strong voices and the warmth that he generates. Tom & Barbara's singaround was also excellent, with the new venue a real winner- the management in the cultural centre was sympathetic & everyone could sing without distraction- so many guests made the journey to contribute too. Lynne & Pat's harmonies made hair stand on end! T & B's canversation with the upcoming John & Jon made a lot of sense. I've a lot of sympathy for sound men faced with many varied demands- think the wonder is they get so much right on the hoof! There is always so much going on that you can look in the programme and see dozens of odamimissdits - and can hit accidental encounters like Bekk & Hank from US, who were real strong in pub gigs. Most of all, it was a friendly week with some great singing in the Nep and elsewhere- still needs a participatory song club somewhere where we can all play along together, possibly...but here's to next year... |
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01 Sep 04 - 04:24 PM (#1261898) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: The Borchester Echo Then there was the power cut that delayed the start of the Gloworms ceilidh in the Pavilion, though this didn't daunt them at all once they could get going (well done chaps + Laurel & Cat). But far worse than that, it melted all the ice cream along the sea front. Disaster! What do we go to Broadstairs for? |
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04 Sep 04 - 04:20 PM (#1264326) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Bassic Lovely place, lovely people, lovely digs, lovely company, lovely music, lovely lovely lovely.........and Dead Horse and I both got invited to play with The Boat Band for the final night Cajun Dance! Thanks Greg Stevens and the chaps! If you havn`t been before then its well worth checking out this little big (week long!) festival, tucked away in the bottom right hand corner of England. |
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21 Sep 04 - 04:09 PM (#1277612) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - From: GUEST,felow guitarist Hi there, i have to say the comments from "graham" about Tim Edeys workshop are total rubbish, it was one of the best workshops ive been to, and Tim Edey is without doubt the greatest irish style melodeon player in the uk AND I HAVENT YET HEARD An irish/celtic guitarist play better yet. |
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22 Sep 04 - 09:16 AM (#1278184) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Grab I don't disagree that Tim Edey is a fantastic musician - I was very impressed with his playing. I also don't doubt that he's a good producer (although I've not heard anything he's recorded). But he was totally unprepared for the workshop. He turned up late, didn't have the gear he needed, and was hung-over. The tracks he was going to use to demonstrate, he didn't have prepared, so we sat around a bit longer while he tried to find them. He spent an awful lot of time discussing high-end studio equipment (like microphones) with a couple of guys in the audience - this workshop was supposed to be aimed at beginners, so this was irrelevant and should have been saved for later (or at least cut shorter). There was a 10-minute diversion into how to play a rapid down-up-down strum on a guitar, which should have been knocked on the head (some guy in the audience asked, and the correct answer is either "practise and it'll come" or "I'll show you in the break"). I wasn't the only one thinking this either - me and four others went outside at the break, and all of us agreed that this was not being a productive workshop. I skipped out at the break, so maybe he taught some great stuff in the second half - I wouldn't know, because I decided I'd got better things to do than sit through another hour of that. From the hour I sat through, I learnt that it's useful to use two microphones to record with, to give more depth to the sound. There was some discussion of where to put mics on a guitar, which after a quarter of an hour boiled down to "try it and see". And we learnt that he likes compression. Aside from that, I learnt nothing. Graham. |
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24 Sep 04 - 09:17 AM (#1279897) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Dave Masterson I emailed the folk week organisers to say thanks and what a great venue the Cultural Centre was, and got this reply from Kim; 'I do agree about the Cultural Centre, and will start early discussions with the owner. I think Tom & Barbara would probably kill me if I don't get it again!' |
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24 Sep 04 - 10:32 AM (#1279973) Subject: RE: Review: Broadstairs FF - great fun had by all! From: Arnie And for those of you who live locally and want another chance to hear Keith Kendrick's great act - he's on at the Deal Folk Club tonight (Friday) but you'll probably see this posting too late...... Anyway, if you are in time, it's at the Royal Marines Association club at Walmer - opposite the lifeboat station. Maybe see you there - I won't be wearing my Mudcat t-shirt 'cos I haven't had one printed up yet... |