Wot no Broadstairs Fred?

Subject: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 06:18 PM

So - What of the opening weekend at Broadstairs? (Alas, back to work now)

Apart from the dancing, there still seems a very distinct polarisation between players and singers. So much so that I, as a singer who prefers to accompany himself, usually on guitar, felt quite unwelcome a lot of the time.

The official singarounds (what I want) were rammed - albeit some excellnt voices noted. I was lucky enough to be called early to sing at two (shame no room to get the guitar out), but I suspect I would not have got another turn - more singers than time permitted. Absence of one on the Friday night seems odd. This indicates a need for more sinagrounds.

I'm not sure that at an English festival a sinaground concentrating on American religious chorus songs is quite what I would have had in mind - given the scarcity of the resource...

The buses from the campsite to the town were always at the other end of the route......

Being asked by an official to talk more quietly on the B campsite at 1 am Sat morning (Fri night) seemed a bit odd - we hadn't even got the instruments out. My late wife would have said things about it being a folk festival and folking was to be expected.

Layout of and entrances to campsites needed more thought. More loopaper would have been good.

There seemed a major lack of English Trad Folk in the pubs booked into bands (or is it the other way round). Can Blue Men really sing the Whites?

However, maximum respect to John Barden for starting an unscheduled mixed session in the Whore and Wank (sorry, Tart and Frig It - sorry again, Tartan Frigate) on Sun PM - exactly the right sort of thing. Even a turn from a magnificent Rapper side. Double points for Morris the Musician who had worked all lunchtime and still put in a couple in the session.   High point of the weekend for me.

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Aug 05 - 07:56 PM

"sinagrounds"..

Hey sinnerground, wher ya gone to?

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 03:37 AM

Dammit, I sang that aka Dog's Dinner Man as the only song I nearly knew that fitted the requirements of the American religious chorus session!

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: GUEST,The Barden of England at work
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 04:03 AM

I had fun in the Tartar Frigate - a session was just waiting to happen, so I just started one up. Many thanks to Morris, Pete Hicks and Richard Bridge who made it for me - you guys are great. I went to the session at the Lord Nelson and joined in a couple, but I wanted to take in a bit if the atmosphere after having had such a great week at Sidmouth and I should really support my local festival. Must say it wasn't too bad at all although there still seems to be a real shortage of pubs that cater for all day sessions. If anybody can point me at one I'd love to join in.
We went to the Cloudstreet concert in the evening which was fantastic. First were Tom Napper and Tom Bliss, who were excellent, and then Cloustreet came on and sang what must now be their anthem - 'The Briar and the Rose'. Then came a surprise. Up came Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer to join them for a few wonderful numbers, and finally the two Toms joined too! Fabulous. A great nights entertainment.
John Barden

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 11 Aug 05 - 11:39 AM

Go on, what else has gone wrong so far?

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: GUEST,Anon E Mouse
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 03:33 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Leraud
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 04:01 AM

In reply to Richard Bridge:

I was at the Broadstairs Festival all week and not once did we run out of loo paper! Try campsite A next time.

The song sessions in Neptunes Hall every lunchtime are fantastic sessions. Excellent singers and songs and a great atmosphere, but you are right when you say it is difficult to play instruments and you only get one song if you're lucky, but to me, the Neptune IS Broadstairs Festival and the wonderful chorus singing is superb.

There is the Folk Club every afternoon for 2½ hours when tney have a guest or two, but you can get there in time to put your name down for a spot.

There is also the singaround every evening from 7:30 to 11:00 run by Tom and Barbara Brown, in which songs, stories, music and anything else is actively encouraged.

Unfortunately this year, we were not able to use the school building after hours because of rebuilding work. This is usually a fantastic facility when all sorts of sessions - music - song - dance takes place all night in the hall and various classrooms.

Broadstairs Festival is a great festival. Please give it another chance.

Lynne Heraud

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 04:26 AM

I could only stay for the first weekend, but enjoyed what I went to very much, I went to the Broadstairs Cultural centre twice and got a sing (one song) both times. Only problem for me was the walking into town as I'm getting slower on my pins these days. Apropos of the arthritic and decrepit nature of my poor old bod, when I saw Pig Dyke Molly I wished I could still dance; magic.
Giok

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Dreadnought
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 05:50 AM

My first time at Broadstairs and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's a nice little town and the people are friendly and engaged with the festival. It makes you realise how "imposed" on the town Sidmouth has felt.

I didn't have a problem with the campsites apart for the showers - you don't expect five start luxury on a festival site but these icy sods were really taking the micky.

The Neptune was far too crowded for my tastes although it sounded nice from the garden. And as Lynne pointed out there was plenty of opportunity for accompanied music at the folk club, via the Travelling Folk and in the evening singaround. I do think Richard makes a good point about the separation between the sessions and singing.

For me the highlights were my first song in the evening singaround when everybody joined in really well and made it a simply wonderful experience, Ben Pailey and Tab Hunter doing some sort of musical voodoo and Loscoe State Opera who I'd never heard of but was a fan by the time they were half way through their first song!

I did have a couple of reservations - some of the venues were very crowded and an comfortable. Propping up against a pillar looking at the tops of the heads of the band over the crowd is OK for a mates rock gig but it's not much good when you want to close your eyes and concentrate. Also the lack of a late night venue when the pavilion was either full or not to our taste meant there were a couple of evenings when there was nothing to do but go to bed at midnight however I appreciate that this was due to the school being renovated so hopefully that won't be an issue next year.

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: vectis
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 11:29 AM

Only just able to get on the cat to comment (I think Max was changing the litter tray).
The lack of venues to sing in was very marked this year purely due to the school being out of use. Normally there are loads of sessions there during the day and, especially, at night. Travelling Folk led late night sessions are notorious for ending at dawn.
The festival definitely lost its soul this year but should get it back next year when we have the school back. One of the Joys of Broadstairs was everyone (performers and audience) getting together in one building and chatting, playing, eating, drinking and singing together until the wee small hours every night.
With the change in the PEL laws there might be more pubs willing to have sessions in them during opening hours which could make the festival even better.
Watch this space!!!

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: GUEST,synbyn
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 02:59 PM

Yup, reckon vectis has it about right! Gathered from the 'Where will the festival be in 40 yrs' session that the organisers were acutely aware of the lack of the school this year as a focus for the festival's singers/ players to strum 'til dawn.
All the sessions were full- the nep is always good because even if you're not leading a song, you're singing the chorus. The singaround of a nevening is likewise always full, the sign of a strong session, and you're lucky if it gets round twice, but I think if you go to listen you won't be disappointed, many of the guests roll up to sing there.
I agree there's a need for a mid-afternoon session, the main prob being venue and competing attractions- I counted 8 activities & a concert on the formal program 2.30 Tues- not to mention a sunny day!
Anyhow, I had a great time- thanks to all Catters who made it so.

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: Dead Horse
Date: 15 Aug 05 - 08:05 PM

I only got to sing the once, at the Shanty on the Jetty Sunday, but was occupied either dancing or bashing me old triangular thing, so still had lotsa fun. The lack of school rooms in which to hold impromptu (and promtu?) sessions was a bit of a bugger! Richard, sir. The whole idea of camping at Broadstairs is to bring loads of bogpaper with you! The sight of folkies wandering around at all hours, clutching their loo roll is one of the features of this festival, as is the sound of same folkies complaining about cold showers. The trick is to use them at unearthly hours when nobody else is using the water for a radius of fifty miles.
Sorry to have missed most of the catters, but with so much going on, I didnt miss 'em a bit. Does that make sense? Probably only to me, who spent most of the time just outside of several pints!

Subject: RE: Wot no Broadstairs Fred?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 16 Aug 05 - 04:38 AM

Well I didn't miss not missing not meeting you, although I gather the fungus has succumbed to Rentokill,so I may not even have recognised you. I did however regret not meeting the lovely Kay again.
Giok ¦¬]