Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010

Subject: Durham Folk Party 2010
From: Mysha
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 08:37 PM

Hi,

Only 2 more weeks until Durham Folk Party 2010, most important event of the British folk calendar!

This is THE time and place for people who feel life should be lived dancing and singing! [alphabetical order]
And it's not a bad place and time either for people who feel life should be lived enjoying a pint while others do the dancing. (-:

If you like British folk song and/or dance, you should be in Durham two weeks from now.


(Now somebody, please, provide us with some dates and stuff?)

                                                                Mysha

(Opinions expressed in this message are solely those of the poster. The management takes no responsibility for the factuality of said opinions. But he's right anyway.)

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party 2010
From: Soldier boy
Date: 07 Jul 10 - 08:59 PM

Hi Mysha.

Durham Folk Party is held this year on the weekend from Friday 23 July to Sunday 25 July 2010. Camping is by the river at the Rowing Club.

I'll be there bashing my drum with The Slubbing Billys from Huddersfield and looking forward to a damn good time, because this festival is always one of the very best in the folk calendar.

Hope to see many Mudcatters there.

Chris

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party 2010
From: scowie
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 01:16 AM

Hi Chris, as usual I shall be there representing the Famous and Fair County of Lancashire, hopefully still on a high after a resounding win in the Battle of the Roses at Saddleworth.
Durham Do's a fine festival, I have never failed to enjoy every moment
of the hospitality, expertise and sheer love of life and its music, that Durham demonstrates.
I look forward to meeting friends old and new,
Cheers Scowie.

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Mysha
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 03:22 PM

Hi,

Joe has been so kind to change the thread title to include the dates.

Yes, I recall camping on the river bank, and in the morning peacefully look out over the water while someone makes a graceful rowing boat skiff over the water. Life feels so good, you want to sing and dance, which fits well with the party. (-:

Is there anyone else here who reads this and intends to go? Or someone who will mention some highlights of the party?
                                                                  Mysha

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Richard Hardaker
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 05:44 PM

I'm looking forward to the song sessions in the Dun Cow; Is the ballad session scheduled for late Saturday afternoon as per last year?

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 10 Jul 10 - 06:06 PM

Rapunzel & I have been asked to host the Dun Cow Ballad Session this year which kicks off at around 3.00pm (?) on the Saturday.

Our remit is pretty broad - though I'm hoping to pick up on some of this resurgence of interest in ballad singing. So - Traditional Narrative Songs of all persuasions welcome: Child, Border, Broadside, Bothy, Tommy Armstrong, Robin Hood, Cowboy, Goodnight, Comic, and Butter and Cheese and All. So dig deep & bring 'em on!

Sedayne / S O'P

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Betsy
Date: 11 Jul 10 - 07:16 PM

Not much Info is there ?

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,richie
Date: 12 Jul 10 - 12:51 PM

Me and my wife are no longer willing to be a milch cow to be squeezed dry to fund what is actually a poor excuse for a 'folk festival'
Which is a great shame because I love coming to Durham.



Wish you'd make your mind up soldier boy

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Mysha
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 06:17 AM

Hi Sedayne,
Would you be able to help Betsy's and our curiosity with a more complete schedule?

Hi Richie,
I think Chris did exactly that: He did make his mind up. He does still love coming to Durham, and has decided the Folk Party is worth the cost.
The camping costs for the whole weekend, BTW, are less than the costs for one night at a local Durham camping site; for the costs you could come to the party just to see the sights of Durham, yet there's also singing and dancing [reversed alphabetical order] to your heart's desire.

Hi anyone,
For those enjoy life with a pint: Does anyone have details on Durham beer quality? And otherwise, anyone know where the best food is to be had?

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 06:41 AM

I haven't got a schedule as yet but I've alerted Ian to this thread so expect something soon!

Once upon a time there was the Durham Folk Festival, then around 1990 (?) it became the Durham Folk Party - "a right old song and dance" - which just about sums it up! The concerts of yore have given way to singarounds - lots of singarounds & nary an instrument in sight, which isn't to preclude accompaniment, just there's a healthy tradition of unaccompanied singers in the North East with a fondness for hearty chorus singing & a decent pint.

As for food, Durham is well served by Lloyds / Wetherspoons and a couple of fine Chinese buffets as well as some notable pizzerias and other eateries both formal & casual. For that extra special cuppa & stilton cheese scone there's the medieval Almshouses on Palace Green by the cathedral and the legendary Vennels cafe near Waterstones off Saddler Street, both of which I might heartily recommend, assuming the recession hasn't seen them off!

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 07:41 AM

Okay - this just in from Ian:

DURHAM FOLK PARTY
'A Right Old Song & Dance'

23rd, 24th & 25th JULY 2010

Friday                
8.00 pm        Rowing Club - Dancers' Meet
8.00 pm        The Dun Cow - Singaround

Saturday                
12 Noon        Milleneum Place        - Massed Display of Dancing
12 Noon The Dun Cow - Singaround
1.00 pm        The Shakespeare        - Dancers' Respite
2.00 pm        Milleneum Place        - Massed Display of Dancing
4.00pm        The Dun Cow - Ballad Session
8.00pm        The Dun Cow - Singaround
8.00pm        Town Hall - Ceilidh with the Moorcock Band and Burt Hunter
8.00pm        Rowing Club - Dancers' Meet

Sunday                 
12 Noon        Milleneum Place        - Massed Display of dancing
12 Noon The Dun Cow - Singaround
1.00 pm        The Shakespeare        - Dancers' Respite
8.00 pm        Rowing Club - Survivors' Session

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Soldier boy
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 08:15 AM

Hi GUEST richie, Mysha is right. I have reflected and upon reflection I have changed my mind from last year.

I do love coming to Durham. I enjoy the dance teams and the singarounds and the ale (lots of good real ale) and the food and the people and the tranquility of the river and the sheer beauty and the atmosphere of Durham City itself. That is what draws me to it.

I did feel aggreived last year and considered that the morris teams were being used to finance the festival through camping fees and that they were indeed 'milch cows'.

But I overlooked and missed the point that this is no longer a 'Folk Festival'. It's format has changed completely from what it used to be and it is now a far smaller and therefore far more intimate 'Folk Party'.

As GUEST Suibhne Astray has said above; the emphasis now is purely on song and dance which is a strong tradition in the NE.

So, do you know what, I don't care if I am a milch cow, pull hard and milk me; I will enjoy the festival even more.

Chris

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Dave (Bridge)
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 08:40 AM

What no singing in the rowing club. how much is it for a caravan? Can't remember

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,dunelmian1943
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 11:13 AM

Singing this year will be in the Dun Cow and the dancers meet in the Rowing Club as they are in the majority. £12 per camper as it has been since time immemorial, this year being the 21st. As long as I survive my daughter's wedding this weekend - and a folk party to organise too- I will welcome you all to the 'right old song and dance'which we have had since the demise of the Folk Festival in 1989.
Joy, health, love and peace to all
Ian

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 02:37 PM

Ian,
Still haven't made it to DFP despite best efforts...
But programme looks grand.

Can you advise on best place/s for (free) parking?
Is the Rowing Club ok, and if so is it within reasonable walking distance from there to the Dun Cow for the singing - or is there a better option? (I'm not so good on feet as I used to be!)
Cheers,
MM

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Soldier boy
Date: 13 Jul 10 - 09:57 PM

Why is there no singaround in the Rowing Club till late Fri and Sat nights?

Sorry if I am stepping on delicate toes here, I don't mean to do.

But I did notice some animosity last year when many going to the Rowing Club bar hardly dare ask for their drink order in more than a quiet whisper lest they would be shusshed and given the evil eye by the accumulated throng of singers in the club room. And I know that many were irked by this.

This seems to me to be a great shame if singing in the Rowing Club is effectively 'banned' this year on Fri and Sat nights because of a sense of a split in social interests last year and because "the dancers are in the majority" (quote GUEST dunelmian1943) and therefore they have the casting vote and influence.

I love a good singaround and perhaps thought naively that many morris dancers also liked a singaround, but looks like I was wrong.

What worries me here is that only a few years back when it was based at the (I think) Rugby Club, I came across very strong animosity then from singers and musicians against what they perceived as a growing invasion of 'bloody morris dancers' and they felt that they were becoming outnumbered and sidelined.
I know many singers and musicians from attending many folk festivals over many years and they are my firm friends but when I told them that I was also a drummer with a morris side they said "Oh no, not another one!"

It seems to be an age old problem where there seems to be a big divide and rift between morris dancers as a collective group and serious singers and musicians as a collective group.

I, for one, feel part of both but also appreciate that there are differences between both camps and just wish that we could all be in harmony together.

What really troubles me is that the way things are going in terms of the future of The Durham Folk Party, in not many years, it will not be " a right old song and dance " party it will be just become an endless gathering of morris teams and just a "dance" party.
And the singers and musicians will have just voted with their feet and decided not to bother because they felt excluded.

I hate to be negative because I love Durham Folk Party but I do seriously worry about its future and whether you can achieve some kind of balance in the folk fraternity to ensure that it's future is secure.
Only time will tell and I sincerely hope that you will find the balance and that this great event will go from strength to strength for many years to come.

Very best regards.

Chris

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,dunelmian1943
Date: 14 Jul 10 - 10:09 AM

Hi Moorley Man, There should be parking at the Rowing Club -if there's space and there always has been. Dun Cow is 0.5 miles from there but there will be a bus from the Rowing Club before each session and returning there afterwards.Ian

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party - a right old song and dance
From: Mysha
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 07:34 AM

Hi,

   Durham Folk Party - a right old song and dance

I like that. It should be in the title in any announcement. (Unfortunately, for this thread I've already asked Joe to take up that space with the dates. There are always those little things, isn't it?)

I don't know about serious singers, any more than serious dancers: Why would you be serious if you can sing and dance? But if anyone feels there aren't enough singers at the party, well, feel free to invite a few more.

"If you're reading this, and you sing, come to the Durham Folk Party - a right old song and dance. Be there, it's lots of fun, and apparently a few people are even serious. But there's always room at The Dun Cow, so come and bring a song."

Now, gentlefolk, prove me wrong and fill up the Dun Cow.

Bye,
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,dunelmian1943
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 09:08 AM

Thanks Mysha

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: migginz
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 01:16 PM

If the dancers are in the rowing club I'm sure there will be singing, how much will depend on the teams!

If I remember rightly we were singing outside last year, in between tiptoeing to the bar to whisper our orders. Mind you you might have to start singing sharpish in between the tunes

I wish I was going but I am elsewhere this year
Kathy

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 15 Jul 10 - 07:00 PM

I think that that the word Party and or the Festive words are a little misleading .
This is a dancers get together.
I wasn't brave enough , but Richie's posting above could have been mine.
Me and missus attended a year or two ago and it was very disappointing

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: JHW
Date: 16 Jul 10 - 08:35 AM

I used to love the singarounds in the Victoria
Then there was Sue the chef at the Rugby club

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Soldier boy
Date: 19 Jul 10 - 09:00 PM

Only 3 days to go folks!

Work hard this week so you can play hard at the weekend with a clear conscience and enjoy it to the full.

see you there.

Chris

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 04:20 AM

And do stick around for the Ballad Session in the Dun Cow, Saturday, 4pm.

The remit is pretty broad, as I say: Traditional Narrative Songs of all persuasions welcome: Child Ballads, Border Ballads, Broadside Ballads, Bothy Ballads, Tommy Armstrong Ballads (I might well kick off with Marla Hill Ducks!), Cowboy Ballads, Goodnight Ballads, Comic Ballads, Bawdy Ballads and - Butter and Cheese and All!

I'm working on the theory that everyone has a ballad up their sleeves somewhere...

Anyway - here's hoping for blue skies & sunshine!

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Carol
Date: 20 Jul 10 - 04:45 AM

I don't really understand why we have to go to the Dun Cow to sing and yes there are some of us singers who aren't great on their pins for long distances, which include getting to the Dun Cow so very glad there'll be a bus.
I don't know what the problems are with the Morris Teams, I always assumed they would/could come into the Rowing Club but would follow the 'etiquette' of singarounds by only going to the bar between songs etc. There are other rooms in the Club so couldn't something have been sorted out? I suppose it has and we're sent off to the Dun Cow!!
As to the cost I think it's fair, we always pay for my husband who doesn't go to anything during the festival, in fact he's my driver/carer so it costs us £24 although I'm the only one who joins in. £8 per night is pretty reasonable these days.
Anyhow really looking forward to this weekend. Roll on Friday

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: GUEST,Suibhne Astray
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 06:02 AM

Great day in Durham yesterday; we set off as early as humanly possible from Fleetwood with Ross at the healm and after the 3 hour haul we pulled up in the rowing club car park around midday. Always a braw saunter along the river into town via the bandstand & the Durham Cow bronze, savouring the views of cathedral, castle & prison that were once my every day landscape! Then over Baths Bridge and along to Elvet Bridge which was thronging with punters watching the lively morris dancers below - for me the only low point of the day on account of their blackend faces. We've been through this before on Mudcat in considerable depth (HERE for example) - but seeing this fatuous display of bogus tradition & reactionary fakelore quite frankly depressed the hell out of me. Amazing what sort of racist bullshit you can pass off in the name of the folk heritage; I dare say the BNP would have been proud!

Moving swiftky on, a quick survey of the Green Men carvings in the cathedral sharpened our appetites which we assuaged at Subway (thus eschwing Durham's fine home-grown eateries) before heading off suitably refreshed and fortified to the Dun Cow where we arrived around 2 to find Dave Myers' singaround in full swing. Good to see so many old faces & hear so many old songs with everyone in fine voice; rather like coming home really - a rare old family gathering! As we pointed out, Rapunzel & I got together at the Durham Folk Party in 1999, prior to which we'd both been part of it since the beginning, off and on, so joining in the chorus of (say) Frank Williamson's masterful rendering of William Mitford's (1788-1851) Cappy; or the Pitman's Dog (to give it's full title) is truly to find renewal through tradition. Thanks all.

Around 4 we segued into our Ballad Session, in the same room. Naturally the numbers thinned somewhat but we still had fourteen fine singers. I kicked off with a 2-verse ballad (just to prove they didn't all have to be 92 verses) after which Rachel & I brought The Housecarpenter home. Ross evoked the reek & riot of the bothy with Sleepytoon, and David Walkaboutsverse essayed Young Emma with typical dignity. John 1 gave us a truly sublime Rosemary Lane (a song I hadn't heard in years), and Richard took into the wild border territory with Parcy Reid - an hour o' the gloamin' grey, and a mighty rendering besides. Frank Williamson give us Marla Hill Ducks; Imprisoned for Tresspassing by Tommy Armstrong, one of the finest ballad writers in the tradition, after which we were truly blessed by Ian McKone with his Shearin's No' For You. Peter delivered a chilling wee tale from Friesland (having already done his bi-lingual Twa Corbies in the singaround) and Scowie picked up the spooky baton with an equally chilling poem on the subject of Hallowe'en. Oo-er, but hey, how rare it is to in such company! Charlotte's Bold Sea Captain was simply perfection, as ever, and John 2's Doctor Who Lived in Catown (?) was a tale of wonderful treachery well worth the wait! And not a Dalek in sight... John 3 gave us Kilkenny Island which fits the ballad remit in telling the story through a series of letters, and the saintly though thoroughly famished Ian McCulloch won the invisible prize of the afternon with a ballad telling of The Rennys Lane Murder.

I won't go round a second time. I think we were meant to be there an hour but it was after six by the time we headed back into town for a fine repast of reduced-price sarnies from the new Tesco (formerly Woollies) in the market place, watching the lads and lasses in their crepusclar glad-rags, including a particular lively Hen Party, whilst reflecting on the ongoing nature of folklore. Supper being done, it was back the Dun Cow for Dave Howdon's singaround. Nice to see Jane Armour there, and I'm sure Matt was in all our hearts along with other absent friends as voices were raised along with the roof! That's a rare sound to be sure; the non-folkies (and a few Americans) at the bar were visibly impressed. Alas we had to slope off at the interval for the long drive home across the Pennines through the rain and mist, with a very spooky moon in evidence on the A66, arriving home around 2 in the morning completely knackered, but joyous all the same after a damn fine day in Durham, blackfaced morris dancers notwithstanding!

So - thank you one and all and see you all again next year? Let's jolly well hope so!

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: nutty
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 01:05 PM

I had a great weekend. The singing could not be faulted and thanks to the Rowing Club for being so supportive.

The Dun Cow proved somewhat problematic as a venue for Friday and Saturday evenings where noise from other drinkers was often unnecessarily loud.

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 06:57 PM

Well I only managed today's afternoon sing, but that was great!
Hope to be back for longer next year.

Subject: RE: Durham Folk Party, 23-25 July 2010
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 07:39 AM

Where were you sat, Nutty? We were right up by the bar-end and didn't find the noise any bother really, only adding to the over-all atmosphere of what was a damn fine sing. Good to see so many drawn into it in this way, to see the look on their faces as the choruses swelled in glory. There were three (4?) guys in particular sitting near us drinking a lot of bottled beer who were blown away by it all.

Whilst I'd have prefered the Rowing Club for the evening sing (less far to walk to the car for a start!) you never get that sense of touching the souls of passing humanity with something as fundamental as (to quote Scowie & Giff) uplifting beams of inn or hall, and shaking plaster from the wall...