Song of the Festival

Subject: Song of the Festival
From: Santa
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 06:17 AM

I remember the first time I heard Rolling Down To Old Maui. Lancaster Maritime Festival, four times in one day by three different acts. At every festival there are songs that you hear more than once, and usually one more times than any other.

At Fylde it was Northern Tide. First by GraceNotes in the morning. In their lunchtime session Helen apologised to those who had been with them an hour before but they were going to sing Northern Tide again. Afterwards I pointed out that between their sessions I'd heard Pint & Dale do it too. To which Linda said "I bet their's was different to ours!"

They didn't do it in their third session, I hope I hadn't put them off.

Which set me thinking, that when we get a new CD and are particularly struck by one song, we play it over and over again. At least, I do. So repeating a good song isn't a pain or a penalty, but a pleasure. So should artists apologise for repeating material in different sets? Anyone who was there for a repeat clearly liked their work, and would be unlikely to complain whatever they did.

OK, maybe it is just a polite formality, but how about "We are going to play this again because it is good. If you've heard it before this is your lucky day."

Subject: RE: Song of the Festival
From: GUEST,helen
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 07:06 AM

Funny - I always play the same game with Whitby festival. This year it was 'The Outlandish Knight'. Must have heard 10-12 versions of it during the week. Certainly at least once in every ballad session (and twice on at least one day). Funny thing though ... it is usally the 'Fred Jordan' version that gets aired, but this time round there was real variety in both versions and styles of performance.

Subject: RE: Song of the Festival
From: Girl Friday
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 10:12 AM

Several years ago at Lancaster it was "Bully In The Alley". The only way to escape it? The one singaround that was not Maritime. Then, I believe some Festival guest(s) may have sung it.