What do you do in winter?

Subject: What do you do in winter?
From: Soldier boy
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 07:51 PM

I guess this may apply to any 'folkie' on the planet.

What do you do in winter?!!!!

I feel like I live a life of two halves because from May 1st to into October I am pretty active going from one UK folk festival to another (mainly in the north of England).

I've been doing this now for over twenty years and I have got to know so many incredible people from all over the UK, Europe and USA who have become very special friends. In fact, they have become my 'extended family!'

We enjoy so many brilliant times together and I really miss my 'extended family' for six months of the year when the folk festival circuit shuts down.

I know there are folk clubs and the occasional get togethers/gatherings but it's just not the same in winter!
It's like a big void in my life and I can't wait for the planet to warm up and for all the folk festivals and events to start up again.

To complicate matters even further; I sometimes feel like I lead two different lives!!
Most of my close friends and family in my home town don't know and are not aware of my folkie 'extended family' and vice versa, so it really does sometimes feel like they are seperate and that I do indeed lead two different lives.

So! I'm not sad, but just wondered if others out there perhaps felt the same and wondered what you did to fill the void that is your 'winter' in the folk calendar/life experience?

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: RTim
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:01 PM

I curl up and wait for Spring!!
Tim

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:48 PM

Maybe that's the difference between only going to festivals and having at least one year round session to go to. Tom and I are organizers of two sessions -- a weekly traditional vocal and instrumental session, and a monthly sea music session which is mostly vocal. And there are other weekly sessions available within reasonably easy driving distance if only we didn't have to go to work the next day.

Linn

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Soldier boy
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 08:51 PM

I know what you mean Tim - 'cause it does kinda feel like an 'hibernation' - but I'm no hedgehog!- I like to socialize!

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Janie
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 09:16 PM

I do nearly all of my singing on the back porch late at night and the winters here are mild, so I do the same thing pretty much year round.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Amos
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 10:52 PM

I walk around in shorts and a tee shirt. Well, sometimes long pants and a light sweater depending o how "wintery" it is.

Musically, we still have those wonderful balmy weekend days in the Park from time to time, and I have a life full of other things, so it may be a bit less but I don't much mind it.

One difference is that in winter I look back on the Getaway, while in summer I look forward to the Getaway.


A

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:05 PM

-9°C | -16°C Fri

-3°C | -12°C Sat

-9°C | -25°C Sun

-20°C | -32°C Mon


I light lots of fires.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Amos
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:27 PM

It's clear you live in a cold cold land
Where the winter can stop the heart
Where tress are broken by the cold
And engines will not start.
But why do you submit yourself
To a life froze stiff and gammy?
Pack up your bags, and grab your girl
ANd hitchhike to Miami!!

A

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 Dec 09 - 11:29 PM

Hell, Amos, it's so cold the dogs are putting jumper cables on rabbits just to get them running.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Michael Harrison
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 01:18 AM

Well, I'm an old expat-yank who's been living in Texas for some thirty odd years; so, I spend the winter time searching for hockey games on the box (especially Red Wings) and watching the skies for even the slightest hint of snow. I get to make maybe a half-dozen fires every year, too. Whoope-kie-yie. Merry Christmas,......mwh

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 07:46 AM

Well, thank you Jesus for the new legislation that prohibits smoking in Virginia resturants and bars!!! I quit playing gigs indoors several years ago and now when it gets too cold for outdoor festivals there are indoor venues to play... Hooray...

BTW, anyone in Harrisonburg on Dec. 15th, I'll be performing at Franklin's Cafe starting at 7:30... (End of shamless plug)..

B~

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 08:47 AM

Had a concertina, guitar, and mandolin over last night for a trad and original jam. Tomorrow morning a kids Santa breakfast (or whatever it's called) doing carols and such with some friends. Tomorrow evening a Christmas party at a local pub (we'll do our regular country/blues/rock stuff with that band). Sunday I'll maybe help at church on the 12 string. Wednesdays practice/prep for a new cd with a couple of friends.

Not much, altogether.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 09:29 AM

I love winter, the whole hibernation thing, the frost, the log fires... each year I seem to have a different focus - this year it's songwriting and voice practice.

Sue

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Will Fly
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 09:47 AM

I do the winter what I do in the summer - except in warmer clothes. I don't go to folk festivals (just can't be bothered) but there are local sessions, clubs, singarounds and get-togethers with friends all the time - sometimes several times a week.

And then there's practice on all the instruments - so many new tunes to go at.

And I've just bought myself "The Fiddler's Fakebook" - years of music to go at in that! So many tunes... so little time...

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Midchuck
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 09:47 AM

Our back yard backs up on Town land and we have a trail to connect to the Town rec. area trails. When it snows, I put away the hiking boots and wax up the cross-country skis. (Well, actually, I've been using no-wax models for a long time now.)

Don't get many gigs in winter, since we don't do bars and there aren't any good coffeehouses in the area, but we practice and jam with friends as much as we can.

Peter

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Mooh
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 10:23 AM

Will...I love The Fiddler's Fakebook (Oak Publications), and so will you. Are you aware that there're companion books for banjo, mandolin, and guitar, though the ones I've seen were in tab and had fewer tunes, but I think the tunes were the same keys and versions as in TFF.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Vic Smith
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 10:44 AM

What do you do in winter?
I run a weekly folk club and get to see as many other folk and world music related events as I can.

Same as summer really.

Subject: RE: What do you do in winter?
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 Dec 09 - 10:48 AM

Ditto!