Orkney Folk Festival

Subject: Orkney Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Hen Harrier
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 12:27 PM

Once again was a great festival with the added attraction this year of Dutch tall ship "Thalassa" visiting.

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Polly Squeezebox
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 01:24 PM

It certainly had a passing thought from me over the past weekend. I'd love to get to Orkney FF - trouble is that it is always the same weekend as Chippenham FF. As Chippenham is where I work, only seven miles from where I live and I used to be part of the Festival Executive - I really feel duty bound to be there.

However, I'm certainly hoping to get back to Orkney some time soon - a very special place. What's the folk scene like on the islands at other times of the year?

Polly

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Megan L
Date: 01 Jun 06 - 03:28 PM

Now that the REEL is open (wrigley sisters cafe) you can enjoy folk all year

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Drumshanty
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 04:18 AM

One of the best weekends I've had at a festival. It's a really special place. Not the best one to go to if you're looking to do a lot of singing, but there is music just about everywhere, and we managed to sing as much as we liked in our wee house.

Highlights were Old Blind Dogs wearing girlie crop tops on the Friday night, the Zamiskovci Brothers, the excellent White Hare Band and hearing everyone singing "Rolling Home" as the ferry rolled out on Monday morning.

We have booked for next year already.

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Crane Driver
Date: 02 Jun 06 - 07:17 PM

Written as a result of a wartime posting, by a Captain Hamish Blair:

THE BLOODY ORKNEYS
This bloody town's a bloody cuss,
No bloody trains, no bloody bus,
And no-one cares for bloody us,
       In bloody Orkney.

The bloody roads are bloody bad,
The bloody folks are bloody mad,
They'd make the brightest bloody sad,
       In bloody Orkney

All bloody clouds and bloody rains,
No bloody kerbs, no bloody drains,
The Council's got no bloody brains,
       In bloody Orkney

Everything's so bloody dear,
A bloody bob for bloody beer,
And is it good? No bloody fear,
       In bloody Orkney

The bloody "flicks" are bloody old,
The bloody seats are bloody cold,
You can't get in for bloody gold,
       In bloody Orkney

The bloody dances make you smile,
The bloody band is bloody vile,
It only cramps your bloody style,
       In bloody Orkney

No bloody sport, no bloody games,
No bloody fun, the bloody dames
Won'y even give their bloody names
       In bloody Orkney

Best bloody place is bloody bed,
With bloody ice on bloody head,
You might as well be bloody dead,
       In bloody Orkney

I hope things have improved since then!

Andrew

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Megan L
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 10:19 AM

an Orcadian Wren wrote an answer to that stupid piece of writing.

Subject: RE: Orkney Folk Festival
From: Santa
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 04:47 PM

We missed the festival, but loved the islands when we were there - enough to surf the estate agents' sites when we got home, looking for a retirement house! I don't suppose that actually will work out, all things considered. but Orkney is very tempting.

Given some of the Orcadians' comments on the winters, however, maybe it isn't such a great idea? We did see the islands on their best behaviour, weather-wise.