Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 18 Feb 08 - 08:09 AM

Its going to be fantastic - and with Glasson Village Hall as our main venue it will be all nice and warm and dry even if the weather isn't with us this year - Huzzah!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Feb 08 - 06:42 AM

http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 23 Feb 08 - 10:28 AM

For the latest shennanigans regarding the festival and the City Council's bizarre attitude towards it go to:
http://www.lancasterukonline.net/

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,spb-cooperator
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 05:58 AM

Hope to be able to do a day trip for one day of the festival, but a lot depends on the state of my carraige.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,cap'n hand
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 07:07 AM

if spb-cooperator chose to travel by carriage, instead of carraige, a visit would probably be greatly facilitated. Even better, join my piratical crew and sail into glasson at easter to see off the press gang.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The Admiralty Board.
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 07:15 AM

A message to the Chairman and the public in general,'Don't Panic!'

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: kerry and Mandy
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 07:59 AM

ok admiralty board. we wre panicing but we are not now.
we panicing like a panicy thing in a panic, i think.

cap'n hand, can we join your piratical crew and help see off the press, we have our pea shooters.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,cap'n hand
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 11:06 AM

the answers "no" kerry and mandy.
i don't allow no womenfolk on my ship, on account of them bringing bad luck.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 02:43 PM

Aww - I never panic Cap'n - on account of my stoical nature...
But quite right - don't anyone else panic either!!

The festival will still sail this Easter with its usual gallant crew - Huzzah!

p.s Ahoy there Kerry and Mandy - don't aim your pea-shooters at the press they're only telling the truth - aim them at the back-ends of some certain members of the corporation ... mind you I'm not sure they'd feel it even if you scored a direct hit!!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 12:55 PM

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,cap'n hand - PM
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 11:06 AM

the answers "no" kerry and mandy.
i don't allow no womenfolk on my ship, on account of them bringing bad luck.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wot terrorbal grama.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: kerry and Mandy
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 01:40 PM

i quite agree captain birdseye.

25 years before the mast in his case, and 15 in mine. My assistant purser didn't seem to think that women on board were bad luck, especially when he moved in with me!
Mandy (the girly one) and Kerry (the hairy one!)

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Barry Finn
Date: 25 Feb 08 - 05:17 PM

I'm guessing that's a good thing?

I wish I could be there.
Barry

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Feb 08 - 11:51 AM

Well thank goodness the festival has been saved - again...(quite a few faces have been saved too by the looks of things - local politics eh?)

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 09:41 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 05 Mar 08 - 02:45 PM

Hoo-di-Ho only THREE weeks to go!!

GLASSON MARITIME WEEKEND

21st – 24th March EASTER 2008
Good Friday (evening) – Bank Holiday Monday

Lancaster District's 20th Annual Celebration of Sea Songs, Shanties and Matters Maritime,
Featuring The World's Biggest Gathering of Sea Song & Shanty Performers:

Sid Kipper • Stormalong John
• Dick Miles • Andy Kenna
Armstrong's Patent • Bernie Davis
Derek Gifford • Geoff Higginbottom
Steve Dawes & Helen Pitt • Bitter End
Keith Kendrick • Paul Sirman
Dave Webber & Anni Fentiman
Four 'n' Aft • Trim Rig & A Doxy
LocTup Together • Richard Grainger
Three Sheets to the Wind
Johnny Collins • Jim Mageean
Endeavour Shantymen - Tim Laycock
The Young 'Uns....
PLUS
Talks by Roy Palmer; visiting vessels; nautical dramas; guided walks around the village and the area; vintage buses; ships in bottles; knot-tying and ropework; coracle making and demos; Kipperland (its about smoked fish nothing to do with Sid...); Punch & Judy by one of the country's foremost Professors, Clive Chandler, the Chantey Cabin and .... The Press Gang! All set in a most remarkably picturesque location.
And mostly free of charge... with the exception of one, possibly two, concerts and the vintage buses.
Donations, though, are most welcome.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Blowz
Date: 06 Mar 08 - 02:28 PM

... and The Portsmouth Shantymen!!! Yaaaaay!!!

Plus - th elocal church are really entering into the spirit of the occasion and are arranging tours of the churchyard, focussing on the maritime and canal linked gravestones there. For those more interested in 'variety' the churchyard also houses the tombstone of the lady who founded The Tiller Girls! And, on Sunday at 6pm, they have a special Easter Service, with a preacher from the Mission to Seafarers and are particularly welcoming musicians to that service. Dunno if it's to join in or cos they need praying for, mind ...

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: BretonCap
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 01:55 PM

So is there any chance of B & B somewhere at this late stage?

Dave

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Blowz
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 02:51 PM

Your best bet for accommodation enquiries is to ring Lancaster TIC on 01524 32878. There is no accommodation in Glasson itself. Maybe try here???

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Blowz
Date: 07 Mar 08 - 07:13 PM

or, anovva thought - The Fleece Inn, Dolphinholme - equidistant. Sorry no website, but comes highly recommended ... by me ... for whateva that is wirth *smile*

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The Admiralty Board
Date: 08 Mar 08 - 08:22 AM

A Notice to the Public in General : The full Festival programme is now available to be viewed at shanty.co.uk

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The Informer
Date: 09 Mar 08 - 07:42 AM

Message for Breton Cap. At time of posting, Lancaster Town House, Tel.[phone], still has a room or two.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: BretonCap
Date: 10 Mar 08 - 05:34 AM

Thank you people, but the day job has imposed itself and I will not now be able to attend.

Dave

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 09:13 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Blowz
Date: 15 Mar 08 - 02:18 PM

Here's a linky to the full programme http://www.shanty.co.uk/lancsnews2008.pdf

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: John Routledge
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 07:27 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 07:46 AM

we got accommodation just this last weekend, in the centre of Lancaster.

Looking forward to it - especially to meeting Dick Miles. :)

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 07:52 AM

In case anone's still looking:

The Sun Inn

they still had vacancies on Sunday.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 19 Mar 08 - 07:03 PM

Where & when for the celebrated singarounds?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Blowz
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 07:02 AM

If anyone is looking for accommodation I have just heard that there is a room available at The Stork, which is a venue as well. Tel no is 01524 751234

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 23 Mar 08 - 06:54 PM

LAST DAY TOMORROW!!!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Red Rose, Blue Nose
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 07:35 AM

Who's daft idea was it to make two of the main performance areas open-sided, unheated, marquees in freezing March? It's unfair on the performers, outdoor stall holders and the audience. I can't remember the Lancashire coast ever being particularly warm at this time of year. The performers and MC's have gone above and beyond the call of duty, this year, but the festival organisers really must do better. I know there are money problems, but there also seem to be a dearth of common-sense too. If local indoor venues are not available during the day (why? - there's an unused primary school, the pubs were only used in the evenings) then the festival needs to be re-sited. The Village Hall is a good venue but the absence of permission for a bar is mystifying. The festival seems to be sadly dying - numbers of performers and audience were well down (despite the misleading hype about it being the largest gathering of shanty singers). I buggered off home to get warm and fondly remember the better organised Lancaster festivals of recent years. I won't go next year, at all, unless there are drastic changes.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Chilly Fingers
Date: 24 Mar 08 - 03:28 PM

That said, from a performers point of view it was a good weekend. It was good to see so many of the performers enjoying themselves and getting a good rapport with the audience wherever they were performing.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 04:53 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 06:04 AM

Glasson weekend was lovely! The weather was mostly bright and sunny - yes it was cold, that was the forecast! Everyone knew what to expect and wrapped up accordingly. I sat in one of the marquees on Saturday for two and a half hours to listen to the singing - I didn't want to leave because the performances were so good.

No one knows what the weather is going to do at any festival - I've worked outdoors in March in T-shirts before today. I have also been to summer festivals in the UK and been rained out of my tent. That's the English weather for you!

The organisers and the stewards did a great job with a lot of good humour and performers and audience alike all seemed to be having a great time!

I wish the organisers well for next year.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Helen Pitt
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 06:32 AM

Just a quick note to say 'thank you' to David, Val and the rest of the team for organising a smashing festival. I think we did pretty well for weather. A lot of the country seemed to get a covering of snow, while we were mostly dry, albeit cold. It was a bit nippy (!) singing the tents but we all managed and the audience understood the difficulties and were very appreciative and made every appearence for us very enjoyable. The Village hall is an excellent venue to sing in and the sound system was a pleasure to work with. I wasn't aware of audiences being down - in fact at 11am on monday morning, when Steve & I started the concert in the Village hall, the room was at least 2/3rds for the first song, which is far better attendance than many other festivals manage for an early morning event!

All in all I had a really great weekend and sincerely hope that people will continue to support the event.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Mar 08 - 07:20 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Glasson attender
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 05:21 AM

The reason the pubs were only used during the day is because that is what the landlords / landladies wanted to do - they have other customers to think of who want to dine and can't necessarily give over all of their premises for the entire day.

As for the open sided marquees - yes it was chilly - more chilly than anticipated - but the performances in them were well attended. If you totally shut a marquee it makes anyone passing by think they can't go in and that is not what a festival is about.

As for the village hall bar - a slip up - but there was nothing stopping people taking their own choice of alcoholic beverage into the hall (bought at a lower price than the bar would have sold at, probably) so don't see why that was a problem really.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Chris
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 05:41 AM

I agree with Helen. Yes, it was a bit on the nippy side, but it was bright and clear most of the weekend. Ian and I had full audiences wherever we sang over the weekend and the weather didn't seem to put people off listening in the tents - most people made a bit of a joke about it and the atmosphere was very warm! The Village Hall was a lovely venue and the soundman was excellent. The Stork (where we performed on Saturday and Sunday nights) was packed out on both evenings and all the artists concerned enjoyed the concerts.

We have, in previous years, sung in freezing cold marquees during the May bank holiday and many festival stall holders have been "washed out" in August downpours. The weather in this country is always a gamble. So I, for one, didn't feel as if I had gone "above and beyond the call of duty". We were simply doing what we enjoy doing most - singing our songs.

Thanks to all the team - it was a great weekend.

Chris Lock
LocTup Together

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Doxy
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 07:51 AM

Trim and I had an enjoyable weekend as usual at the festival. Thanks to the production team and also although it's been said before to the great sound guys in the village hall.

A big thanks to the audience too who are the people who make the weekend. It was great to see so many there and to have such a good time with them.

Cheers
Doxy

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Killer Whale
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:35 AM

Thank you for the good news, red rose blue nose, that you are unlikely to be at Glasson next year. Your negative, ill-informed comments, suggest that unless the arrangements do not exactly match your personal requirements, you will never enjoy such occasions. Thankfully, several thousand people appear not to share them.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Lancastrian at Glasson
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:47 AM

I was there and couldn't see any 'open sided marquees'- as reported by 'blue nose '.I did see lots of people enjoying themselves and all the artists and organisers doing their very best to make the festival a success in difficult circumstances. They need a word of thanks, I think, not unfounded criticism.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:52 AM

I have to respond to Guest, Red Rose-Blue Nose.
While what you say about the tents being cold is true it is really unfair of you to be so damning about the festival organisers - yes the festival was a different fish in Lancaster when it was properly supported and properly funded by the Council and there were five indoor venues available throughout the weekend but it is NOT the fault of the organisers that the festival was moved wholesale to Glasson just as it was not the organisers decision for The Victoria pub to choose not to be a part of the festival thus denying the option of another pub venue - The Stork and The Dalton Arms are both well known for their excellent food and the organisers could not possibly expect them to give up the opportunity of benefitting from the increased volume of customers at lunchtimes. The lack of a bar was the result of a miscommunication and everyone was informed repeatedly that they were free to bring their own - OK this was not ideal but it was unfortunately unavoidable.
Maybe Red Rose, Blue Nose and possibly others don't realise that not only were the organisers convinced that the event wouldn't happen again until just shortly after Christmas when they were given the go-ahead but also just THREE WEEKS ago the festival was very nearly cancelled due to the machinations and poisonous jealousy of some members of Lancaster City Council - in fact the only reason it went ahead this year is because it would have cost the council more in pre-contracts and loss of face to go ahead with the festival that it would have to cancel it. FACT!!
David, Val and their production team put their hearts and souls into this event - and over the past four years it has become a serious labour of love to keep it alive at all - things don't always work as planned but the only way to get the festival back to what it was five years ago is to fight - not the organisers but the the people who want and have wanted for years to see this festival dead in the water.
It is so wonderful to read all the positive comments made in this thread - especially those from the performers who sang so wonderfully over the weekend and had not a word of complaint between them about the organisation of this fragile and beautiful event.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:55 AM

OOOPs - that should have read...

"in fact the only reason it went ahead this year is because it would have cost the council more in pre-contracts and loss of face to CANCEL the festival that it would have to go ahead with it."

...Hahahahahaha!! see thats what happens when I get all cross.....

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Eileen
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 04:37 PM

I'd like to add my congratulation to the festival organisers. The criticism was totally unwarranted. It was our first visit to Glasson and the warm atmosphere more than made up for the cold weather - I've been colder and wetter at festivals in May than over the Easter weekend which was, at least, bright and sunny most of the time! We spent two hours on Saturday in the marquee and thoroughly enjoyed the performances despite the cold. The performers, sound engineers and organisers all did a splendid job. I can understand the pubs not wanting to give up their regular food trade over the weekend and they were available on an evening - the Stork in particular was an excellent venue. I hope that the festival does continue despite opposition from some quarters.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Henryp
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 06:01 PM

We very much enjoyed our weekend in Glasson. Our thanks go once again to the dedicated team of organisers. The songs of Tim Laycock and Keith Kendrick, who both appeared solo and in duos, made a fine contrast to the more robust singing of the shanty groups.

We took in Roy Palmer's talks in the small church, which was prettily decorated with daffodils and offered eggs dyed purple to children on Easter Monday.

We crossed the Lune and as the tide was going out made a pilgrimage to Sambo's Grave at Sunderland Point, sitting directly across the Lune from Glasson. We enjoyed a meal at The Globe in Overton and also remembered Anne Gilchrist who collected a pace egging song there in 1906.

We have many happy memories of the festival in both Lancaster and Glasson and would love to hear that it will continue for another year.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Red Rose, Blue Nose
Date: 26 Mar 08 - 09:29 PM

As I said, the performers and MC's worked very hard in difficult circumstances. Perhaps some of you like to suffer to hear your music but I don't. Sorry that I don't sing from the approved hymn book; I was just explaining why the numbers will be further depleted next year (by at least 3 of us...). Frankly, life's too short and there are other good music festivals on at Easter.

The poster, Lancastrian at Glasson, who didn't see an open-sided marquee obviously didn't stumble as far as the Dalton car park. Perhaps he/she was too busy trying to keep warm elsewhere or perhaps the sleet impeded his/her view.

I live locally and am aware of the tawdry politics surrounding the festival. But if there is no political will to have it and attenders are not willing to fund it themselves then a rethink is required. Moreover if the residents and businesses of Glasson village can't be persuaded to offer up suitable venues (rather than expecting visitors to sit under an awning in a pub car park in a March blizzard) then it's time to call it a day.

I don't doubt the sincerity of the tiny organisational team but I think that failings ought to be recognised and learned from.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,Lancastrian at Glasson
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 06:02 AM

I feel sorry for Red Rose Blue Nose - what an uncompromising, miserable, self-centered individual. Their argument seems to be with the weather not the organisation, but uses the excuse of the unseasonal elements to slag off the organisational team, who I know are held in the greatest esteem by the artists and and the great body of visiting public. Yes,I did see the two marquees, but the truth is that they merely had one panel open for access(no doubt a health and safety regulation)rather than being open-sided, as the miserable, moaning blue nose exagerates. Also, I didn't need to make a special effort to keep warm, as common sense told me to dress appropriately for the weather. Blue nose claims knowledge of the local political situation, but then shows a complete ignorance of the matter. There is strong political support from most of the council for the festival to continue. Also, there is no major festival like this in the country, much of it held in the open with popular appeal (not just for us folkies)that can be funded by 'the attenders themselves'. Why doesn't blue nose do something positive like start campaigning for the local council to properly fund the festival and be proud of it. Or would they prefer that 2008 was the last ?

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Charmain
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 07:24 AM

Well said Lancastrian!

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: GUEST,The black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 08:33 AM

One of the problems with the maritime festival is that is has always been run with a "tourist" slant to it rather than a "folky" slant. As such, it has hoped to bring in people from outside the area.
And those people have come.
And they have enjoyed it.
And as "outsiders" they are disenfranchised from getting back at certain council representatives who don't wish to see the festival continue.
The locals, who do have the power, have not had the same targeted encouragement to attend the festival, and many don't even realise that it is on.
In my experience the local musicians and singers are also keen to perfom rather than listen and the format of the festival has always been low on sing-arounds etc.

Hoping that this explanation of how a local perceives the festival will shed light on the situation.

Subject: RE: Glasson Maritime Weekend - Easter 08
From: Leadfingers
Date: 27 Mar 08 - 08:53 AM

100