Alcester Winter Folk Festval

Subject: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 07:47 AM

Yes winterfest is gradually coming together, the website is up and you can view it by clicking HERE!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Fran
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 09:27 AM

Looks good, that link would not work for me but this one did Alcester Winter Festival

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 11 Nov 10 - 09:48 AM

Thanks Fran. Must get my clicky tech sorted.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 06:43 AM

Gosh its foggy in the mornings.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: bubblyrat
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 06:59 AM

Looks great !! But it might clash with the Sidmouth Winter Reunion ; I'll have to check. Hilary is bound to know !!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 07:22 AM

Yep, everyone copied what we started.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Carol
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 08:57 AM

When it was held in Redditch ------ years ago, there used to be a winter festival.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Noreen
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 11:59 AM

I know too, Roger! It's the weekend after sidmouth so we can do both :)

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:53 PM

Roger - Noreen's right. Both the MBS and the Radway musos have arranged their winter reunions for the weekend before Alcester!

So I think we can do both too.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 17 Nov 10 - 06:23 AM

Thanks Kitty & Noreen, just checked that & am so glad that the MBS reunion doesn't clash with Alcester. I think it did the first year Alcester did it, which is why we didn't get to that one. And of course, MBS reunion has been going for many, many years...

Really looking forward to it!!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 24 Nov 10 - 10:55 AM

Me too, methinks I should get to know other Catters better,

GM

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Square the Circle
Date: 25 Nov 10 - 11:06 AM

This has got to be one of the best weekends in the winter. Plenty of concerts, singarounds and a folk club. Not to mention the bar staff who are great.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 10:17 AM

And the beer, I am not sure which beer there is this year but it's usually pretty good stuff.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 01:58 PM

Hopefully we can give it a try we've not been to the winter one before. The demise of my little Camper van could pose a problem onthe accomodation front though

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 30 Nov 10 - 01:06 PM

My cheque is in the post (really)!!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 12:26 PM

Refresh as it's about to fall off the bottom... really looking forward to this excellent weekend (while hoping it's not as cold as Bedworth was)!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: bubblyrat
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 01:00 PM

Looks like we'll be going then !!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 03 Dec 10 - 04:15 AM

There is indoor camping, I hear that they even snore in harmony. :)

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 04:57 AM

I hope we don't have any more snow.

GM

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 06 Jan 11 - 06:10 AM

I hope so too!!!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Old Traddie
Date: 08 Jan 11 - 08:03 PM

Yep when Angie and Ken started Four Fools in Redditch all those years ago, there used to be a winter singing weekend as well. And don't forget Angie and Ken are still running Four Fools Festival weekend. They must really care about traditional music and song to put the effort into actually taking their event with them when they moved. This year its over the weekend of 24 to 26 June at The Crown Hotel, Worthington, Nr Standish, Lancashire (just off junction 27). Still the little festival with the big heart and one of the friendliest of festivals.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 04:38 AM

Thanks for the info about the Four Fools weekend, Old Traddie! I've been trying to find a web-page for them for the past year or so with no success.

Sorry for the thread drift, Green Man. Back to Alcester, not long now - Hurrah!!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Old Traddie
Date: 09 Jan 11 - 06:33 AM

No worries. No website for their little event (they do not really publicise their tickets sales as it is really small and there is a lot of interest). Details from [e-mail].
Looking forward to Alcester, not long now.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Square the Circle
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 09:46 AM

Good Music, Good Company

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 11 Jan 11 - 10:27 AM

Thanks for the responses re Alcester. Soon be time to get the van ready to go.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 09:29 AM

I hope we have a nice warm weekend too.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Tig
Date: 14 Jan 11 - 10:50 AM

Do we have to book or can we just turn up? We are seriously thinking about coming but February is getting silly with dates coming in.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Square the Circle
Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:23 AM

Five weeks and counting

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Jan 11 - 03:56 PM

Reeeeeefresh!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jan 11 - 07:51 AM

Book you tickets if at all possible, there are still spaces at the moment.

GM

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 25 Jan 11 - 07:58 AM

Looking forward to hearing Noreen sing, she's on the list!!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 04:58 AM

Noreen sings?

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 12:03 PM

She does indeed, like a lark!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 01 Feb 11 - 01:31 PM

And, IIRC, won the best singer award at the last National Festival in Sutton Bonington in 2005...

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 08:54 AM

I look forward to hearing some singing then, mightily.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Square the Circle
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 09:10 AM

Come on, lets get to the important stuff, who's manning the bar this year

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Sue the Borderer
Date: 03 Feb 11 - 10:57 AM

I'm not running the bar - but I hope to be running some morris! It will be under the name of "Wild Thyme Border Morris" (not Herbaceous Border)- so do come and dance or play.
I'd love to hear from anyone who's thinking of joining in. I don't know when it will be yet.

Sue

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Noreen
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 08:49 AM

Reeee....FRESH!

Who else is coming?

Should be a very jolly weekend of singing, playing and dancing- not necessarily all at the same time (Pete Coe can do it, but I can't!)

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:30 PM

Light rain forecast for Alcester for the weekend... that's ok, as we'll all be in the Greig hall having fun!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:37 PM

With our torches....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 23 Feb 11 - 02:58 PM

Torches are on my packing list, just gotta see if the cheese is edible....

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 01:23 PM

Tomorrow!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 02:00 PM

The ancient veedub coughed into life - so we'll be there!

Hope Mick's got a fair stock of real ale :P

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Doktor Doktor
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 02:07 PM

* adds pack of Festive Cheese found in forgotten corner of fridge.
... hmmm
You got a choice of runny or hairy.
Anyone got a shaver?

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 03:52 PM

our cheese is ready to walk out of the door...

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Noreen
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 06:21 PM

:)

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Frug
Date: 24 Feb 11 - 08:36 PM

Also folks don't forget that the future of the Greig Centre and therefore the Folk Festival are at risk because of the declared intention of the Trustees to sell off part of the site for private housing and redevelopment. So if you are canvassed over the weekend the popular view of Alcester residents is NO TO THE DEVELOPERS..........the loss of the Greig would mean that we have no discrete/independent facility for meetings, drama, music, exhibitions, shows etc. The only winners from the sale of the site would be property speculators and you can read about how trustworthy their promises are all over the internet. The proposals are unworkable...........40 car parking spaces for a facility that will offer a 200 place venue and a large gymnasium and community rooms and the staff etc. I was slightly concerned to read that the Folk Festival Organisers are reported to be backing the developments.....question are the organisers Alcester residents and were they at the massively attended public meeting which saw the developments panned by locals? Don't want a bun fight on this but its our town and it is galling that land designated for community and youth work purposes has become a piece of collateral. We have little to no community facilities and the loss of the Greig would be devastating. If approached say no......the people of Alcester will thank you.....

Frank

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 06:07 AM

Frank,

Those reports are FALSE: I understand that, although pro-development interests have tried to enlist the festival to their cause (and may possibly be falsely claiming to have succeeded), the festival is actually opposed, and has submitted to the District Council an objection to the proposals.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Frug
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 11:22 AM

Snuffy, the Grieg committee have produced a glossy leaflet called Greig Matters and it has been distributed throughout Alcester and environs. The back page is taken up with support statements for the new developments. There are 2 pictures from previous folk festivals and a piece about the winter festival this weekend. I quote from that piece
"Organiser Marge Stanley said future festivals will benefit from the proposed updated facilities" and later "while we like the old buildings we realise that we must look to the future and Alcester Folk Festival is looking forward to using the new facilities. It will allow us to keep the festival in Alcester" I'm not sure whether, or in what circumstances, those statements were made, however they do strongly imply support for the proposals. If the statements are false or misquoted than I think that representatives of the festival committee show disclaim them very publicly. There already a number of claims of dirty dealings as I suppose is inevitable when the fat cats get involved.
Frank

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 04:01 PM

Thanks everyone, especially Marje, for a great weekend!

Looking forward to June.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: My guru always said
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:53 AM

We had a lovely time, despite the rain. I thoroughly enjoyed my spot on Saturday and also managed to sneak in a few songs as a substitute on Sunday morning. The chort & peese party on Friday night was pretty good too!

Had a bit of a panic getting ready to leave as we managed to shear off the jockey wheel on the caravan. Thankfully we knew there was a caravan showroom nearby as they support the festival and are always in the Summer Program. So Alanww found the phone number for them & gave us directions and luckily they were still open. Hurrah!!!

Many thanks to Marje and the team for another fabulous Alcester. Really looking forward to the Summer Fest, especially as Marje has booked me to sing again! I'd best learn a few new songs....

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: GUEST,Brenda
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 09:32 AM

Another great festival, thanks to Marje and all involved. Had lovely time with all my friends and also met a few new ones.

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:59 AM

Hi Everyone, and I am glad you all had such a good time. As you will all be aware there IS GOING TO BE A SUMMER FESTIVAL so keep your Eye on t'internet as I will be updating the website with some details over the next week or so.

I hope that you have all dried out (in many ways) and that you all got home without any exciting incidents.

Thanks to all the stewards and everyone involved in getting things done. The sight of Dave on his back under the stage was interesting and I wondered who he was waiting for until I saw that he was working.

Wasn't the sound terrific, Lawrence is definitley the best sound man around. Respect to mini Lawrence too.

I hope the weather perks up as we want to get out in our caravan again soon.

So, bye for now and see you in a few months at ALCESTER SUMMER FEST.

GM

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:47 PM

Green Man - I meant to say hello to you on Saturday (nice to put a face to the name, thanks to your Mudcat badge) but you were deep in conversation with someone else at the time!

And yes, big thanks to Lawrence and Ben who do a brilliant job on the sound. Derek and I especially enjoyed singing with Les Sullivan on stage on Saturday and Sunday evening and being able to be confident that Lawrence would make us sound good!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:49 PM

That should have been Friday and Saturday evening... old age I guess....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Green Man
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 04:09 AM

Well I had a really good squawk on Friday night and owing to a chemical imbalance and sore vocal chords that was it to for me.

So I just had to spend the rest of the weekend chatting to friends and socialising.

Bit cold at night tho..

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Noreen
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 05:20 AM

I had a really good 'squawk' on Friday night too, GM- and the Late sings in the Rotunda on Friday and Saturday were something else!

Thanks all, so much!

Subject: RE: Alcester Winter Folk Festval
From: Billy Suggers
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 08:34 AM

By 'eck that was good :-D

Heartfelt thanks to Marj - and sympathies for being hijacked by the trustees - umm sorry - the ees (what's trust got to do with it?)

See you in June - bring all your friends & lets just prove what a great resorce the Greig is.

Alternatively, if we go out, lets go out having blown the plaster off the rotunda ceilng ...