Review: Ulverston Festival July 13th - 15th 2007

Subject: Review: Furness Tradition Festival
From: Folkiedave
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 04:43 PM

Just got back from Furness Tradition Festival (Ulverston) which was wonderful.

http://www.furnesstradition.org.uk/

Different to most festivals because it is in many ways a culmination of the work of a group of folk development people (all volunteers) who work with young children and others throughout the year, and not just a "one-off event".

But there are folk friendly pubs and dance displays and some great young artists. Brian Peters was also there doing a sterling job representing the over 21-year old generation. Thanks Brian.

To give you a clue there was a young ensemble on the Saturday afternoon with two melodeons, about three fiddles, a couple of drummers, two guitar players and three flute players.

They sang rounds, sang songs, played tunes, sang a solo, (more of that later) sang a duet, (very funny too) and played as an ensemble. The eldest was probably 16. A very talented flute player looked about twelve. The melodeon players looked to be about eight!!

The solo song was by a 16 year-old young woman who in a large hall and without the aid of a microphone stunned a whole hall to silence; people making tea, visitors who had come in for tea, second-hand booksellers, and so on. Including a two-year old who at that point had been racing around the floor like two-year olds are wont to do.

It is a long time since I heard anyone that good. Mark the name Marie-Louise O'Connor. I promise you if you haven't already heard it - you will.

Great organisation, friendly and informal in many ways - lovely town - we even had nice weather on the Saturday and Sunday morning.

Subject: RE: Review: Ulverston Festival July 13th - 15th 2007
From: GUEST,Brian Peters
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 06:23 AM

"Brian Peters was also there doing a sterling job representing the over 21-year old generation."

That was very diplomatically put, Dave....... "the over-21 generation", yes I think that could go in my next publicity hand-out.

The other way in which Furness Traditions is different from a lot of festivals is in the encouragement of a local element. So on the Saturday they put on an informal session led by Bruce Wilson featuring songs, stories and dialect from people involved in local shepherd's meets, etc. Then at the farewell concert there was a spot from the Lakeland Fiddlers' Society, playing some of the wonderful regional dance tunes from up there. And of course Joe O'Connor, brother of Marie-Louise and stunning melodeon player ripping things up at Ulverston with Last Orders, is a Barrow lad whose career has been encouraged by Furness Tradition iniatives. Well done FT, say I.

Subject: RE: Review: Ulverston Festival July 13th - 15th 2007
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 07:52 AM

Birthplace of Stan Laurel I think ,and they also (in the 60's)had dominoes which went up to double-nine , lots of doms Eh?