Review: MacColl Celebration Salford

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 09:24 AM

Lots of people didn't know about it - although it was still a sell out.

Obviously lots of people did know about it as well but if you look at the advertising the target audience was obviously not the 'standard folkie' (Whatever one of the is - Don't go there!) I cannot comment on who the audience actualy were as I was not there but, just maybe, Les's feeling of 'something missing' was the local folk?

DeG

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Vin2
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 07:34 AM

Excellent night paying tribute to a great contributor to 'the cause'.

Peggy's voice is still amazing after all the years - wonderfully moving rendition of 'First Time Ever I Saw Your Face'

knonw what you mean about the venue; tho a lovely room, it's not quite the right setting for a folk gig - maybe if they'd have dulled the lighting a bit if possible. However still a great night, sure Ewan would have appreciated. Look forward to reading his book 'Journeyman' I purchased on the night now.

P.S even got chatting to one of 'Shep's Banjo Boys', remember them?

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: GUEST,Sophie FFS
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 07:19 AM

I really enjoyed it. Peggy Seeger was the highlight for me - what a marvellously witty woman she is!

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 29 Oct 09 - 06:52 AM

"in my experience, gigs at that venue have all the atmosphere of a church service in a furniture showroom."

Fairenoughski, it was more than a bit dead.

I think Jez Lowe is a fantastic songwriter, great instrumentalist, singer, wit and all round good guy. I wouldn't want to line people up and say who is better than whom because I think you listen and you like it or whatever, but few people dead or alive write tunes and stories as good as Jez.

My feeling was related to what Dave said above. Lots of people didn't know about it - although it was still a sell out. I felt a bit left out.

The message that never left the stage was:
"people are still singing old songs, Ewan's songs, our own songs and playing tunes only a few miles from this stage. Go to your local folk club and enjoy!"

I guess I have no right to ask to be included but many others who have been singing, playing and organising folk events for years do have that right, but the remained unaknowledged by the Celebration.

Cheers

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 07:31 PM

I travelled from Crewe to the concert. I hadn't seen much advertising, but in spite of that and the above comments, there was a large audience. I enjoyed it.
Derek

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 04:16 PM

I have a feeling of something missing

I'm sure there were lots of things missing - I'm willing to bet the event was pretty much devoid of alpenhorns, male voice choirs and trained parrots, to say nothing of traction engines, rain gauges and tricycles. I could spend the next half hour listing some of the things that weren't there last night, and I wasn't even there myself (#94: P. Radish, Esq).

Can you be more specific?

To be honest, one of the reasons I didn't go last night was because, in my experience, gigs at that venue have all the atmosphere of a church service in a furniture showroom. I thought the setting would show up any of the newer songwriters who didn't live up to Ewan's standards, & wouldn't necessarily do Ewan's own material any favours. Something like that, or something completely different?

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 03:18 PM

Good point Dave, sounds like the people involved have little to do with folk clubs around Greater Manchester and in Salford in particular.

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 03:04 PM

It was advertised here on the mudcat, albeit briefly. What I find more amazing is that the only remaining folk club in Salford ran it's annual festival over the weekend and did not know anything about it either! Well, I knew about it but we saw no advertising or even as much as a mention, let alone a visit, from the organisers. I guess we are just to lowbrow;-)

Cheers

DeG

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 02:47 PM

I thought it was a good mixture of homage to Ewan, singing some of his songs and old songs that Peggy and others sang and new songs from Jez Lowe and John Faulkner, making the point (I think) that we have a living tradition of traditional songs and songs written more recently about the lives of ordinary and in some cases extraordinary people and events.

I have a feeling of something missing and I wonder if anybody else who went felt the missing bit or just simply that it was a great night.

L in C

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 12:50 PM

Tell us more, Les- how was it?

Subject: RE: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 12:50 PM

I would have liked to know about this in advance!

memorial_concert_for_revered_ewan_maccoll_

Subject: Review: MacColl Celebration Salford
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 28 Oct 09 - 12:09 PM

Just pondering on an amazing concert at Peel Hall Salford. 20 years since the death of the mighty Ewan.

Peggy Seeger, Bob Blair, John Faulkner, Brian Person, Jez Lowe, Bob Fox and erm ...... I've forgotten.

The Living Tradition?

L in C