One recent development in a number of UK festivals is the idea of slotting several "extended length artist guest spots" in places in the program that had previously been singarounds or big sings. For me one of the joys of the singaround or big sing style sessions is the opportunity to hear singers who are not paid artists on the circuit. Yes there's a range of abilities and they include some wonderful singers who you would never hear on a stage singing different songs or versions that you don't hear in a concert. Since the sessions are frequently already so well attended that the MC would have been struggling to fit in just one song from all those singers present the impact of this is that a lot of those who have gone there ready to sing are left out in favour of these artists, most of whom are featured in concerts elsewhere in the festival.
|