Help: Wareham Wail (previous years)

Subject: Wareham Wail
From: nala
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 08:57 AM

who's going to wareham wail its an unaccompained weekend of folk song in dorset 31st aug - 2nd of Sept is it a good singing weekend?

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: John J
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 09:07 AM

I'm not cos of my family holiday, but I believe it's areally good singers (unacc) bash.

Enjoy yourself, I'm jealous!

John

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Gervase
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 12:42 PM

It's the supreme singers' event - in that you won't find anything better in these isles. I hope to be there.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 06:46 PM

And it's in Dorset.

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: vectis
Date: 10 Jul 01 - 06:53 PM

It's great fun. All unaccompanied singing. Bring medieval dress for Saturday.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 05:23 AM

It's a wonderful weekend for unaccompanied singing. There are three tents for singing, and one large one for communal eating ( minimal cost, maximum taste). Saturday evening is the Medieval Pig Roast - where everyone dresses up, and each table has to sing before they are served! - if you can't find a suitable costume to take with you, Saturday morning there's a costume making session for those who need some help. They do have some material and other bits but it helps if you take what you can that can be "altered" and if you have some suitable material take that. It's held in a field just outside Wareham. One note of caution - if you're planning on pitching a tent - get the stongest tent pegs you can find, take a few spares and a lump hammer. I swear 2 inches down and it feels like you hit permafrost.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 07:48 AM

Don't know if it's any use to you but I've just dug out an email address from an old leaflet:
[e-mail]
Jude

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 08:23 AM

JudeL. Two inches down! As far as that? It isn't LIKE permafrost - it is permafrost. This is Dorset in September, we're talking about. ;->

Nala. Is it a good singing weekend? No, it's an excellent singing weekend. Don't miss it. BTW, the Saturday 'evening' medieval banquet is at midnight.

We'll be there.

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 08:37 AM

So you've experienced the tent peg eating phenomenon - it's a very hungry field. After last time when we sorted through the pegs we must have thrown away more than 2 dozen as being too mangled to save. Jude

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 09:36 AM

I'll hitch up a compressor, and take a pneumatic drill this year. That'll save wrecking the tent pegs!

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 10:42 AM

It might work but on the other hand that may scare some people into thinking that they really do need to drink less, i.e. they not only feel as if someone's using a pneumatic drill but they think they're seeing one too!

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 06:41 PM

Sounds great whatever happens! I'm from Tuckton in Bournemouth, but living in Colorado. I envy you the opportunity to eat sausage rolls and have a good beer or a decent cider. If the music's good then so much the better. LEJ's Wife

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Gareth
Date: 11 Jul 01 - 06:59 PM

With appoligies to the Yetties

" Now I was a walking in Wareham one day
When I saw a strange couple who sweetly did play
Now one was a folk singer, whose range was so vast,
And the other was a tent peg, that would not hold fast,

Oh Wareham is beautiful as all of us know,
And the rain in the summer makes the ditches overflow,
There is nothing so fine, there is nothing so dear,
As a soggy woolly pully, and vocals so clear !"

Gareth

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: GUEST,Brian
Date: 12 Jul 01 - 08:47 AM

Come off it Jude, when was a drunken folkie capable of thinking!

Brian

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 13 Jul 01 - 01:08 PM

I didn't say they were thinking clearly! but the imagination can run riot after a few pints, and I was more thinking of those poor souls who feel a bit fragile and already have a strong belief that the pounding they hear cannot possibly just be in their head. So actually seeing a pneumatic drill would probably confirm all their expectations and imaginings. .... well some of them , the ones about buxom medieval serving wenches I aint gona touch with a 10 foot barge pole !

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:46 AM

I shall be there this year (29th Aug - 1st Sept) along with Schantieman. He's arriving on Sunday. We're singing, not selling lemonade!

Sal

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Morticia
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 08:26 AM

can't you do both,Sally? reckon I'm going to need life-giving lemonade after the banquet........or possibly before........or perhaps instead of....

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 09:05 AM

I'll be a first-timer this year

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 11:22 AM

I was hoping to be there but we're going to Norfolk instead.... altogether now....

Norfolk and good, Norfolk and good....

Give my love to Dorset.

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: SussexCarole
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 01:05 PM

See you there - it's a brilliant weekend!!!!!

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Wuzzle
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 04:06 PM

I went to the wail for the first time last year, I didn't know what to expect as I didn't know anyone out of my local folk scene,
everyone was friendly and it was brilliant fun, :-)
so I will definitely be there

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Phot
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 05:58 PM

After the banquet, were usually still singing, at, four, five, six, oh sod it! Hellloooo breakfast!

Life is an illusion, Wareham.....Its just.....?

I ain't worked it out yet but I'm still going!!

Chris:)

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: lady penelope
Date: 19 Aug 03 - 06:56 PM

I'm in possible mid house buying status, can't go this year. I avow in this time and place that next year I shall attend!

Have fun everyone that is going, and next year can I reserve a tent place as far from the singing tents as possible? I have been to quieter rock concerts!!!!

Sing hearty!

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 01:02 AM

Lady P - I hold you to that promise and hereby make the same. If by any means I can, I will be at Wareham next year, and I don't care where I pitch!

LTS

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Schantieman
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 03:00 AM

I'll be getting there late morning on Sunday for about 24 hrs - hence missing the, er, challenge of getting the tent pegs in the ground. Hope there's still som esinging going on then!

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Watson
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:20 AM

Steve - I've heard of email and even ecommerce, but esinging is a new one on me... a new term for what'catters do on Paltalk perhaps?

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 07:50 AM

And who's putting in the tent pegs? Watch and learn, sailor, watch and learn.

Oh and thanks for the warning to 'pitch away from the singing tents'. I thank you.

Sal

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 09:43 AM

Hopefully we will make it next year...don't have enough holidays left to make it this year!! But we will try our best to be there next year...on pain of death!!

Khatt

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:12 PM

When choosing a pitch just be aware how far it is in the dark to the toilet caravan!

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Aug 03 - 05:59 PM

Hi, I'm still on Arran hope my ticket has arrived, my first time too Snuffy - Emma B

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Peter K
Date: 24 Aug 03 - 07:05 PM

Phot, we make it a point of honour, to continue the singing after the banquette though 'till breakfast. Hell, I've even been know to sing...

We are planning a number of changes this year, which we hope will improve things a little.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: running.hare
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 08:27 PM

I'd had nasty bug just B4 last years wail, so was a bit under the weather & headed to bed after the feast, Being sung to sleep was Very pleasent though, & the was enogh heat in the camp fire nxt morning to heat water for washing!

This yr I'll try & be more active (& less cold!!)

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 02:30 AM

Planning to arrive Friday afternoon. May need to borrow a hammer....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: alanww
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 08:35 AM

Now let me think ... a peg hammering shanty ... mmmmm nothing comes to mind... but see you Friday afternoon anyway ...

"... which makes his bright hammer to rise and to fall ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Morticia
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 01:51 PM

We have a thwacking device Kitty....it's industrial tent pegs we are lacking at the moment.

Pixie and I are still in the process of writing a tent erecting shanty,started at Miskin back in May.... all contributions gratefully recieved.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 05:24 PM

but will it include a verse about having erected your tent being dragged away from your beer to rescue your tent which has decided to head for the river

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Aug 03 - 09:26 PM

Well, Jude, last year, IIRC (or was it the year before?), there wasn't any water on site for the poor Task Force when they were setting up - it just arrived in time for the start of the Wail. I suspect the ground will be quite hard for inserting tent pegs. So thwacking devices might come in handy.

There's a tent with pegs, well bent pegs, so we headed for the river, looking for somewhere to erect it. The tent just needs some strong guys to hammer it down in such a wise that any silly bugger could correct it.

Alanww - an airbed pumping shanty would be useful as well!

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Micca
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 04:25 AM

Kitty, I have always found "The Road to the Isles" a good lilo pumping Shanty!!!! followed by "Whip, Jamboree"

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 05:34 AM

Kitty: The reason I asked about the river verse is because at Miskin having erected their tent and gone for a drink, their tent then made a break for the river. Luckily someone noticed and so the tent was rescued and repegged.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: alanww
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 07:24 AM

Here you are, Kitty:-

"Pump her boys, pump her dry,
Down to hell & up to the sky ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Hawker
Date: 27 Aug 03 - 02:09 PM

We are hoping to be there too, me & KB & the babes, KB's work permitting, Great to hear you'll be there Snuffy! I was a wareham virgin last year and wasn't disappointed! Its well worth the journey!
See you all there!
Cheers, Lucy

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 28 Aug 03 - 08:56 AM

Will be setting off soon. See you all there.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 07:40 AM

It was blissful. The most perfect one this year. I shall be there next year, even if Alan doesn't invite me as a singer!

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments about my singing. I loved the banquet and took lots of photos. And yes, I did sell some lemonade. Oh and thanks for the peace and quiet on Sunday afternoon!!!

Schantieman and I had fun singing in The Black Bear on Sunday night too.

A magical weekend. Thanks to Alan and all his helpers for making it such a lovely.... I could go on and on and on and on....

Sal

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Snuffy
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 09:38 AM

What a tremendous weekend, with a whole ruck of Mudcatters: I made it 16 of us, which must have been about 10% of the total. We even managed to have a Mudcatters table at the banquet.

Wonderful singing all weekend, and Lizabee's campfore repertoire must qualify her for the "Queen of the Night" title

WassaiL! V

.... and the dawn comes up like thunder

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: alanww
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 10:01 AM

Thanks to Alan White, who organised it! 'Twas a wonderful weekend.
I particularly enjoyed the campfire songs session after the feast and, yes, Lizabee's range of songs was very impressive! [But Sandy and I did go to bed early after dawn at 6 am unlike a few others, including as Snuffy and Phot, who stayed up all night ...]
I even got my blood weapon* back after Tony Day (who runs the Middle Bar Singing at the Anchor at Sidmouth FF) "borrowed" it for a while, so we will still be able to use it for mummers this year!
I am looking forward to seeing My Guru's photos of the feast on the Mudcat ... not too compromising I hope!
"De Camp Town ladies sing dis song ...!"
Alan Whitbread (or as Tony calls me Whitebeard)
*As will be seen in the photos I dressed up as a crusading knight at the banquet.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 12:33 PM

Wonderful weekend, as ever. Finally got to sing in the Middle Bar tent although I usually frequent the Sing-a-round/Folk Club venue.
I enjoyed the new 'Folk Club' format this year, getting two or three songs in a set, but don't know if I prefer that to the 'round the room' and one song a go.' What do other catters feel?
There are factors in favour of both formats. The sing-a -round gives everyone a good chance of singing and you can see roughly when you'll get your turn. The Club format with two or three songs at a time, gives you a chance to put together a balanced set or work a theme and to put some variety into what you are doing.
I'd be interested in feedback from others.

Looking forward to Gru's photos.

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: running.hare
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:14 PM

*blush* Why thank you

It was certainy a grand weekend, what with Seeing the sun up, prepareing a viking warior for berial (Hopefully photo's to follow!) Stripping at the breakfat table, and sleeping in my tent only on the one night I hadn't planned to be there (Sun)!!!
In 84hours I ony spent aprox 15 asleep - 6 durring hours of darkness & 1 in the middle bar on Sunday afternoon (the first shut eye I'd had since the feast!)
Ohh & Pete K's Name must be added to the list of night owls who kept vigal by the fire through the night.

Great To put so many faces to names..... Roll on Next Yr

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Emma B
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:20 PM

Six and three quarter hours to drive home but worth it!
Thanks to Alan for a wonderful weekend but also a very big thanks to all the 'backroom' people who slaved away in the kitchen and taskforce and made it all happen
Wonderful singing, a fantastic banquet and dressing-up too - would love to see the photos
Sal = stunning and seductive in green
Jude - jewelled and jaunty in amber
Vaughn - valiant and virile in velvet
Alan - amazing and alarming!!
Also big thanks to caring 'crone' who provided coffee and remedy on Sunday morning
Ah well, off to Ireland in 12 hours for story telling festival

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 01:46 PM

I thought it was wonderful - the improvement in the weather on Saturday and Sunday was a bonus.

I was talking to Alan White just before I left on Sunday - he thinks the new Folk Club format was a success. Given that there are 3 sings happening simultaneously, and the Middle Bar does run as a singaround, which goes round the room and then picks up latecomers, I think it's valid to have one venue where people can sing more than one song (although there were so many singers that some nobly gave up their chance of a second song to allow another singer to get on).

I discovered again that people I've known for years from festivals have Mudcat persona too - like EmmaB. Many Middle Bar singers are Catters and vice versa, so there was an MBS and /or Catter on nearly every table at the banquet (including Cllr on the top table with the aristos).

Roll on next year's Wail!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Help: Wareham Wail
From: JudeL
Date: 02 Sep 03 - 02:10 PM

Since none of you remember me being there I must have imagined phot falling asleep and using my lap as a pillow