Review: The Boat Band

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 07:15 AM

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 04:02 PM

When you offer us a booking in your club vectis
NCTWWASBE

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: vectis
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 02:59 PM

When are you and the band coming south again Greg?

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 02:33 PM

Is this a one off special then Dave? Is it a Barn Dance or night of songs and tunes mostly from the Boat Band?

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:03 AM

They are indeed, Les. Friday November 17th at Swinton folk club. Tickets £6 from me:-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 04:19 AM

Good news for Greater Mancs, I understand the Boat Band are comming to Swinton Folk Club, is this correct?

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 09:09 AM

I just want to chime in my two cents worth. Greg sent me the CD "A Trip to the Lakes" when it first came out. I have just enjoyed this CD immensely. I keep hoping they decide to come to the States. I think folks would enjoy them. They come straight at the music, and the result is great music, well performed. I am with Les on this. Their CD is one that well rounded folkies should have in their collection.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:56 AM

Mr Red: the Boat Band sticks to cajun tunes at cajun festivals(people might throw cabbages if we didnt) but we also play a lot of English music, and other music as well. The new CD is exclusively English stuff, but that is not to say we only play English these days. We've just finished an Irish tour, and we did a mix of English and cajun. And some Harry Belafonte and Lonnie Donegan. But no Irish, they seem to have plenty of people over there who can do that for themselves!

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 08:49 AM

Country Music? COUNTRY MUSIC??? - have the Boat Band deserted Cajun?

Or are they Multi-tasking?

Great to One-step, 2-Step & Waltz to - Mamou Mia! (Zydeco - I don't do)

Greg even invited me on stage at the Bristol Cajun Festival two years back - and I would have if I had my bodhran with me! Or even a triangle to bang.

Laissez les bon temps rouler

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 15 Sep 06 - 05:45 AM

Have Punch the Horse made any recordings?

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Fidjit
Date: 14 Sep 06 - 08:27 AM

had this a while now. Brilliant stuff.

Chas

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 14 Sep 06 - 06:10 AM

ive got this cd, its really nice.
i played it loads of times already.

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 13 Sep 06 - 02:52 AM

The first time I went to a Folk Club was around 1964. Upstairs at the Princes Hotel in Ellesmere Port. It was run by 2 lads from Liverpool called Dave and Geoff. They had a duo called Hillary and Joan from Chester as guests. They just got up and sang with simple guitar. I had never been so close to people who sang well and I couldn't believe how exciting it was and how good the songs were. Some time later I went to a Ceilidh at a social club. The band consisted of a drum, an accordion and a fiddle and they played these fantastic tunes.

The point I am trying to make is that so much of folk or traditional music is just great music. It doesn't need much doing to it. It has survived for that very reason, it is great as it is. We can all recall songs or tunes played by one person, floor singers or pros, that are unforgetable.

At the same time I really enjoy Whapweasle, 422, Bellowhead, Gracenotes, Little Johnny England, The English Accoustic Collection. These are bands who clearly love and respect old music but have enough musical skill and integrity to do something a bit different.

Which takes me back to the sheer joy of the Boat Band! At first they recall for the direct simplicity of my first contacts with this music but their music is much closer to the list above because it has sophisticated arrangements for a a number of instruments. The arrangements a subtle and thoughtful, the Band carefully make tremendous use of what they play. The tenor banjo playing alone is a master class in great tunes on a much abused instrument. At one point I thought I could hear a hammer dulcimer but I couldn't find one in the credits!

I know, I should get out more, but not until I have put A "Trip to the Lakes" on the pod. Buy this record it will bring much joy!

Can't wait for the next Duncan McFarlane!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: vectis
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 07:34 PM

Well said Les it's a cracking CD.

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 06:37 PM

422 now there's a band.

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Willie-O
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 01:01 PM

man you get the best hijackings Greg! Say hi to Kate.

Bill

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: greg stephens
Date: 12 Sep 06 - 12:36 PM

Thank you for the kind words, Les from Chorlton. We arrived back from ireland at 4AM today, having missed one ferry in Dublin after stopping too long drinking coffee in Roscrea, having been hijacked the night before in East Clare; we were then imprisoned miles from anywhere and made to stay up all night drinking. A series of very nice gigs, in Cork,Waterford and Clare. For some unaccountable reason our playing of English tunes seems to be more poular in Ireland than England: an interesting topic to speculate upon,to while away a long winter's evening.

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 05:22 AM

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 08:52 AM

West Cork hey! International jet setters from Stoke and no more than they deserve.

I may not get to West Cork but might just make West Didsbury.

Subject: RE: Review: The Boat Band
From: Brass Monkey
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 08:15 AM

They are playing in West Cork this weekend don't you know. Go and see them.

Subject: Review: The Boat Band
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 03:49 AM

Every few months I discover a band or group of muscians that I have not heard before. I get very excited and want to share them with the world.

I got this way with Whapweasle, 422, Bellowhead, Gracenotes, Little Johnny England, The English Accoustic Collection and too many Irish Bands to name.

Generally people reply to posts with "where have you been - you must get out more"

So here I go again:

"The Boat Band - A Trip to the Lakes"

This is a brilliant collection of music! Exciting and thoughtfully varied arrangements of a great collection of tunes from the English Lake District. It says so much about the power and lasting value of English dance music that after how ever long people have been playing it and how ever much has been recorded in the last 40 odd years, that in its own straight forward way it still sounds fresh and exciting.

If you enjoy country dance music or just thoughtfully arranged and well played tunes of any kind contact Greg Stephens via this website and buy this album.