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Shrewsbury Folk Festival
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Abdul The Bul Bul Date: 20 Aug 13 - 02:35 AM We're back to Shrewsbury this year after a few years. Whats's the likelihood of singaround sessions this year? Going on the train for the first time and don't want to lug a case around if I won't need one. Al |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,John Date: 16 Sep 11 - 11:21 AM Just got back from holiday in Italy, so catching up on all the gossip! Just to add what a wonderful festival it was this year, highlights for us was the Wilsons on the main stage saturday 'fantastic'and Boden & Spiers, well done! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Herga Kitty Date: 15 Sep 11 - 05:13 PM We have the Young Uns booked at Herga next month (24th October)! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: the lemonade lady Date: 14 Sep 11 - 06:14 PM Re my post of 31st August... I have now discovered it was The Young Uns who were running that singaround. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Badjelly Date: 26 Aug 11 - 08:14 PM When helping run a folk festival with musicians wandering aout looking for a session which wasn't furious Irish or not to their liking it was sugested that people find a pub and ask the landlord whether they are amenable. A list of friendly pubs in advance is useful. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Aeola Date: 20 Sep 10 - 05:19 PM Slight deviation from thread here but heard a great cajun type band at Otley, Bayou Gumbo, really rousing reckon they'd go down well at Shrewsbury!! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Sandra Date: 20 Sep 10 - 12:19 PM Yes Mo you are right there are two pubs in Shrewsbury called The Wheatsheaf and that is why I put The High Street in brackets (in the souvenir programme) so that people know which one we use. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mo the caller Date: 20 Sep 10 - 08:35 AM We only went to Shrewsbury once (for the Monday), Whitby leaves us all folked out. But I remember that there was a session on the programme that we looked for and had difficulty finding cos 2 pubs have the same name. The programmed sessions at Whitby are useful not so much for the leader provided but for the fact that you can be sure there will be people in that pub at that time. (And you might have a clue if you know who is leading it or the programme gives a hint, what kind of music might be played). |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Sandra Date: 20 Sep 10 - 06:56 AM There are now five videos available to look at on the SFF web site that include Refolkus, a drum workshop, dance teams, the Big Show - Children's festival on the Village Stage, interviews & much more! Sandra |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,southernfolkie Date: 04 Sep 10 - 11:17 AM Here here!! Get The Young'uns back next year because they were a breath of fresh air! Great festival. Tom |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: MC Fat Date: 04 Sep 10 - 05:33 AM Shows how and why Shrewsbury is tops. Alan has visited the forum and picked up on what people may want. Top marks Alan. One thing to remember however is that the Festival has only been in Shrewsbury for 4 years so developing a fringe can take time, hopefully next year the 'folk friendly' pubs will be on board. Alan have a word with Dave at the Three Fishes, the morris lot always go in there (as I do)cos it's a great boozer. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 04 Sep 10 - 05:23 AM Alan Surtees, Thanks for your concurrence & co-operation, & everything else!! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Les in Chorlton Date: 04 Sep 10 - 04:36 AM Les in C... still havnt met you, but did meet someone from a Slow session up north Maybe that was me? L in C# |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Acorn4 Date: 04 Sep 10 - 04:17 AM The Festival will always hold a special place for us because, dating back to Bridgnorth, it was always the last bit of the summer holidays before we had to start the new term teaching (we're now retired). Thus we always treat ourselves to the full tickets for this one rather than stewarding or 'fringe'ing. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Fliss Date: 04 Sep 10 - 03:26 AM Had a great time helping Izzy and friends with the Tuneworks sessions. The main beginners and improvers sessions in the Bar tent were packed. The range of instruments was awesome.. Everyone was clutching Izzy's Tuneworks booklet.. downloadable from the Festival website. The Tune up and Play sessions in the Food tent were great. I was at all 4 of them encouraging. I learned a lot of new tunes myself. I enjoyed watching several groups, Afro Celt, Billy Bragg, Bellowhead, but sat outside the Marquee as I find it too loud, but a better level than last year. Les in C... still havnt met you, but did meet someone from a Slow session up north. The Monday evening session got a bit blended together, with people starting tunes over the top of someone already playing... do look around the group and watch and listen to what is happening. I ended the evening in the company of Floss Headford, Dave Hunt and friends... including someone on an electric melodian.. very clever but oh so loud. With regard to slow sessions... we have our Sunday practice session at the Birchmeadow Centre Broseley Shropshire 10-12.30. We had about 10 enquiries at the festival from my announcements. So do turn up and join in. We give a lot of help and encouragement. £1 in pot for hire of room and refreshments. Fliss |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Alan Surtees Date: 03 Sep 10 - 02:55 PM Mr Happy, you are absolutely right, I will check the pubs and create a list of those who are folk friendly for next year. All the Best Alan |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 03 Sep 10 - 10:05 AM Jim, No but a list of outside venues ie folk friendly pubs contacted by the fest would be useful. Just think how many times you've [I know I have] seen folk with instruments wandering the streets of various places during festivals looking for somewhere to play/ sing |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: MC Fat Date: 03 Sep 10 - 09:49 AM In relation to say Warwick where there aren't any good enough pubs for sessions/singaround, I think Shrewsbury is blessed with great pubs ideal for sessions. Mr Happy were you thinking that 'The Committee' should place selected session leaders in certain pubs ? |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 03 Sep 10 - 08:52 AM TwickFolk, That's not precisely what I meant. My point is, as some others have mentioned, that for non- concert fans- more sessioners/ sin arounders, there wasn't any space suitable on the fest site for these events to take place. At some other fests like Middlewich, Cleckheaton, Saddleworth, Ingleton etc, the fest committee do plan for these impromptu events by providing on the programme a list of suitable venues such as pubs, halls etc |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: evansakes Date: 03 Sep 10 - 08:16 AM So Shrewsbury should be planning for impromptu events? That's an interesting concept.... |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 03 Sep 10 - 08:04 AM 'We managed to come across an good impromtue sesh with Mr Happy at the Woodman so small events are catered as well.' Jim, Sorry to disagree, but I don't think the fest itself caters at all for impromptu events. The sesh at the Woodman was initiated by us [Mr H & Gloom Band] - also similarly at the Frankwell Wheatsheaf or other pubs would've been started up by other fringe groups/ individuals |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Joe G Date: 02 Sep 10 - 02:47 PM I agree it was brilliant again - the organisation just keeps getting better Some highlights for me were - Michael McGoldrick Band, Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts, Afro Celts, Old Dance School, Kerfuffle's last gig (a deserved standing ovation at the end), amazing young Welsh band Calan, the hour of Tickled Pink we managed to see before having to get back for Afro Celts, Bellowhead, Richard Shindell & Lucy Kaplansky and....Andy's loos - the only chemical toilets that I won't have nightmares about! Well done to everyone involved in this top notch event. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST Date: 02 Sep 10 - 02:35 PM Anyone see Kerfuffle's last Gig? |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work) Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:25 AM i think Les has got it spot on. Shrewsbury is excellent at what it does lots of choice (3 Marquees) + other venues on site with a good mix. We managed to come across an good impromtue sesh with Mr Happy at the Woodman so small events are catered as well. Not to mention the wonderfull pubs of Shrewsbury which are good just for their ambiance and real ale. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Les in Chorlton Date: 02 Sep 10 - 04:00 AM "concerts are what folk festivals are all about" A very good point. Some festivals have more small venue events but Shrewsbury is very clear about what it is and what it does and I think it is probably the best of its kind - loads and loads of top quality 'folk roots and acoustic music' as somebody often says. I have been in small pub rooms at Whitby with Harry Boardman, Mike Harding, Dave Burland and most of the Highlevel Ranters and it was - surprise, surprise - a bit special. But so were almost all the big and not so big concerts at Shrewsbury L in C |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Bounty Hound Date: 01 Sep 10 - 08:53 PM Calan were indeed excellent, I also enjoyed Chuck Brodsky very much, a real engaging performer, with a real wit in his lyrics. I was lucky enough to be stage manager for his concert on the main stage, so met him backstage, really nice guy. Just for interest's sake you may like to know that the accordianist in Calan is the daughter of Huw Williams, of Crasdant fame. All round a brilliant festival, have to say I don't fully understand the comments earlier in this thread about 'too much concert and not enough folk' Surely concerts are what folk festivals are all about, and the sessions and singarounds are a great add on, but not the main event. Not really sure what the expectations of those making the comments above was, but when a festival brings you exciting new talent like the acts mentioned above, it can only be good for the cause! Long may it continue. Huge congratulations to Alan, Sandra and their team. Bring on next year! John |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: PercyBysshe Date: 01 Sep 10 - 01:46 PM Agreed Les - my discovery of the festival! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Les in Chorlton Date: 01 Sep 10 - 01:22 PM All great music but I have to say we enjoyed Calan, the young Welsh group, best of all. Fresh, great tunes, great arrangements. lovely singing, clog dancing, unusual instruments - watch this group they are brilliant. L in C |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 01 Sep 10 - 10:34 AM I'm not a concert goer, more've a participant player/ singer for impromptu sessions - enjoyed vey much the 'slow' music wk/shops for beginners, as the tunes seemed far more pleasant to the ear than at the usual breakneck speeds. My highlights of the fest were meeting & playing with fellow musicians, & the delighfully jolly & intricate contibutions of the Dartmoor Pixies with their astounding/ outstanding [anagram!] banjoist, Rob Murch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwRrGnnWf74 Brilliant!! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST Date: 01 Sep 10 - 10:22 AM Great festival again with plenty of "folk" Boden, Hield, Oates, Wilsons, Kerr&Fagan, Causley, good stuff!!
-Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: PercyBysshe Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:56 AM I had a brilliant time, though did miss some things I'd like to have seen due to stewarding duties (Genticorum for example - saw half an hour of their afternoon set, and missed both workshops). Loved Bellowhead (28th time I've seen them), Fay Hield, Mawkin:Causley, the Young 'Uns, Jackie Oates, Belshazzar's Feast. Gutted to miss Kerfuffle's last gig, but I was presenting an award to Mawkin:Causley on the main stage. And the best bit was my trio (the Bailey Sisters) getting through to the final of the Open Mic Competition. TwickFolk asked about John Boden going solo - I've seen him to a solo spot, as support for Fay Hield! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Dave Hunt Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:46 AM I forgot to say how wonderful 422 were doing the song and music workshops for us - they were superbly run and well attended. A big thanks to Maggie Love for putting together the Drama, to Garry Jones of Off Our Trolley who made - along with some of the kids - a huge parrot, a giant tree and a bulldozer - all based on shopping trolleys (see some of his great creations on www.offourtrolley.com ) Also to Pete White and Hand to Mouth Theatre for their excellent entertainments - and a special thanks to all our smashing stewards. We already have ideas about what we will be doing next year ! We are always too busy working to take many pics - so if anyone has any they would like to share with us please send them to me at dave@sunshinearts.co.uk. Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: MC Fat Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:36 AM Thanks very much for the praise Mr Happy enjoyed singing and indeed enjoyed the Festival |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Dave Hunt Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:35 AM WE had a great timwe - as usual! - the lantern making was very successful- when we started on Friday I let in over 50 people and there were at least another 40-50 who we could not get in due to lack of space. None of the participants had ever made a lantern before but they all turned out some great creations. The wind dropped in timew for the lantern procession on Sunday evening - and it looked wonderful. All the children we worked with turned out some great stuff for the Rainforest show - so the chilkdrens procession and the show opn the village stage were terrific. ! had 14 helpers on the Sunshine Arts Team this year and we all worked pretty well flat out allweekend. After the show it took Maggie and I over 5 hours to clear the tent! - (we like to do it ourselves otherwise when we get home we have to unpack, sort things into the correct boxes etc...then repack it all) |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Mr Happy Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:32 AM ..........heard on the grapevine there were seshes/sinarounds in the Wheatsheaf in Frankwell every night during w/end, going on until the early hours - 7am!! Meself & the Gloom Band got a nice intimate sing & play in the Woodman pub close to the fest site on Friday night & Sat afternoon. Met fellow 'catter MC Fat there, who with a borrowed guitar gave a superb performance - cheers, Jim! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:29 AM Absolutely more concert than folkie- singing sessions note are found in the "small room" some nights. Commerce. Not folk. Free the folk from this crap and it will grow. Conrad |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: evansakes Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:24 AM Here's the festival poster |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: evansakes Date: 01 Sep 10 - 09:23 AM Just wanted to say a big thank-you to Alan, Sandra, Neil and all responsible for another top class festival. Difficult to pick highlights. Concert-wise probably Michael McGoldrick, Dervish, Jon Boden (in SOLO solo mode....has he ever done this before?). Elsewhere the Tuneworks sessions (well done Izzy and the gang), Joe Stead's Pete Seeger lecture, Genticorum's Quebecois presentation, Chuck Brodsky's 'Meet The Artist' session, late night sessions in the bar. Food, showers, beer, shop all excellent as always. The cameraderie across the campsite among the stewards and workers was wonderful too. Everyone was helpful and seemed entirely trustworthy. So much so it actually felt odd even bothering to lock a car full of valuable instruments. I accidentally left my festival poster on the bar for 20 minutes but I needn't have worried as it was still there when I rushed back (and it's a work of art!) See you next year! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Aeola Date: 31 Aug 10 - 03:11 PM Enjoyed the Festival but it does seem to be more concert than folkie. The end room in the Berwick is often available but on Mon night was taken over by a Steward meeting, although Mr. Happy got in there later! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Acorn4 Date: 31 Aug 10 - 01:30 PM Perhaps that should be "a migraine of melodeons"! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: evansakes Date: 31 Aug 10 - 12:28 PM Actually, the last couple of years there HAS been a quietish informal singaround going on in the small room at the end of the Berwick Pavilion....on at least one of the nights. Among those in attendance and participating were a number of people from the Tanners Hatch 'Folk In The Forest' group eg Hector Gilchrist and Noddy (out of Noddy's Lot). Plus several TwickFolk singers including Sue Graves and myself (Gerry). There was no formal 'start and end' time as such...as with all these things they just fizzle out at some point as people get knackered and drift off (Some even drop off while listening) Last night a hardy bunch of us 'songists' again tried to decamp in there about 9pm after being effectively elbowed out of our singaround table at the other end of the bar (a noisy herd of strictly tunist folks led by a melage of melodeons sat down and effectively mounted a coup d'etat). However one of the steward teams had already bagsied the room for a quick meeting so it didn't happen. Nevertheless I'm pretty sure TwickFolk will again have a delegation at Shrewsbury next year and I'm also certain we'd be happy to host an informal singaround in that room if the organisers would like to officially programme it. We'd also be happy to share it with anyone else such as the Tanners crowd (plus the likes of Hils and Richard, George Papavgeris if they were attending....they were last year) One thing though.....for sound-proofing reasons they'd have to install an automatic door closer on the entrance to the main bar (many of the main bar people forget to close it when they wander out to use the loo) |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Sue Date: 31 Aug 10 - 11:21 AM Just got back from another great Shrewsbury festival, the highlight for us being yesterdays concert in the Sabrina tent with the Wilsons and Jon Boden, the best of a very good weekend. Well done Alan and Sandra and the rest of the team. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,Bob Date: 31 Aug 10 - 11:09 AM John you should have gone to the "Nags" or the "Loggers" sorry we missed you. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: John J Date: 31 Aug 10 - 10:16 AM We normally 'do' Shrewsbury festival, but not this year. We visited the town for the weekend, arriving Sunday afternoon and hoping to join in some sessions / sings. All the sessions had finished by mid-afternoon and there was nothing else on in town the rest of the weekend. ie: no fringe. JJ |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: *#1 PEASANT* Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:53 AM Did they bury the Shrew this year? |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Moses Date: 31 Aug 10 - 08:32 AM I've had a lovely festival, my first time stewarding (but not my first Shrewsbury). Thanks again to all the orgainsers and stewards for making it all possible. I found the site was well run, the (very important, this) showers were warm and clean and the loos of a good standard. There was a varied choice of food and a lovely shop for fresh produce. Regarding the entertainment, I did ejoy some of the 'bigger' artistes but my main interest is in more intimate settings and I agree that the singarounds were somewhat thin on the ground and didn't always fit in with my shifts or they clashed with concerts I wanted to go to. Just a suggestion (not a moan) but I agree with the comment about the small room at the end of the Berwick Pavillion;- it would seem a good choice for a late night sing. Maybe starting around 11.30pm and going on till 1am(ish). I think it would be a popular event if it were programmed so that people knew when it would kick off and that there would be someone running it.(Much better than wandering round the site looking for an impromptu singing session). I know one MC who said he would volunteer to do extra duties to help run it and I certainly would also offer to help. It wouldn't cost much, if anything, to run and judging by the number of people who have mentioned to me the lack of many programmed 'sings' would make quite a few of them happy. Christine (Moses) |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,John Date: 31 Aug 10 - 07:08 AM The Wilson Family were Excellent! as were Bellowhead, Jon Boden, Fay Hield, Genticorum, the list goes on! |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Acorn4 Date: 31 Aug 10 - 06:16 AM ...oh, and forgot to mention Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky - a much appreciated opportunity to see these two together. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: Acorn4 Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:54 AM Dervish and Bellowhead were brilliant, and JO and WWB had us in stitches. Also liked Kerr/Fagan/Harbron. On the subject of singarounds, the pubs in the town put on some good spontaneous ones if you dotted around. The end room in the Berwick has ideal acoustics unlike the rest of the building. Could it not be designated as a room for singarounds after it becomes free in the evenings. A lot of people like to have a sing after the concert has finished, and it is hard to to this in the main building unless you have a big voice. Last year, there were, at one point, five sessions going simultaneously in the long bar, which included the shanty men head to head with the melodeons. Some singers have quiet voices, and would appreciate a quieter area which is still within easy reach of the bar. This is a practical suggestion rather than a moan. |
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Subject: RE: Shrewsbury Folk Festival From: GUEST,MC Fat (at work) Date: 31 Aug 10 - 05:06 AM Hd as usual a great time Alan & sandra (and all the staff) look after people really really well. It's a joy to be part of it. |
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