What's happened to Sidmouth?

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,selby
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 03:15 PM

Ralphie
Did whitby for 25+ years and then fancied a change so now do shrewsbury instead Sidmouth has never appealed to me sorry!!!!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 04:09 PM

Hi Selby (whowever you are...No probs!)
We probably have crossed swords over the years. A High 5 to you for Whitby/Shrewsbury/wherever this year.
Ain'y got the cash to do much other than Sidmouth. The days of doing favours for friends are long gone for me.
I'll do Sidmouth, as it is my summer holiday. Don't expect to be paid. but, will work for the week.
Can't really afford to go anywhere else though.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: s&r
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 06:58 PM

Start a new thread David instead of attempting to proselytize the world on every thread and website.

Love you, hate your posts

Stu

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Trevor Thomas
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 07:10 AM

Hello, I'm a tedious old giffer who likes to spout off on the Internet.

I'd like to complain in the strongest possible terms that a major folk festival seems to have been programmed without my personal preferences being taken into consideration.

I have heard that this year, the way the concession stands have been 'organised' leaves much to be desired. Much of the clothing is made in sizes larger or smaller than mine, and there were many shoe sizes available other than a size 9, which is the size I have worn at festivals for 37 years!

As I was one of the people who invented folk music 37 years ago with Ewan McColl in the Princess Louise, I know better than everyone else what should go on at these so-called festivals. It should be entirely stuff I like, and nothing else.

I understand some of the acts have been booked might appeal to people under 40, who I can't abide, ('yoof', I wittily call them), and some of the acts themselves also contain people under the age of 40. Can't we have separate children's events for these annoying squirts?

And although the event in question isn't until the summer, I'd already like to complain that it's too loud. I like to get in early with these things.

Music, especially dance music, should be as quiet as possible so that more people can listen to me telling them how bad it all is, how much better it was in the old days, and why I should be in charge of everything.

Sound engineers are all incompetent morons. I know this because I once found a PA in a skip, so I know what I'm talking about..

Most annoying of all is that there's always several events on at once, so it's difficult for me to decide which one I'll dislike the most, so I can go to that.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,lively
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 07:23 AM

"there were many shoe sizes available other than a size 9, which is the size I have worn at festivals for 37 years!"

Shocking, simply shocking! Don't these 'yoof' who are currently turning folk festivals into debauched raves, even know how to have feet a traditional size either?

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 08:53 AM

I was just wondering why no one replied to me email regarding my enquiry about trading?

sal

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,JM
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 09:20 AM

Is this the right time to link to this revealing piece of documentary footage again?

a fly-on-the-wall film, recorded in the scout hut at the end of last years festival

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 10:05 AM

There we go again with "ceilidh/ceili" (JM)...

'ENGLISH CEILIDHS?
My, English, late-godmother told me that, at school, whilst one or two Scottish dances were learnt, at least 90% of their dancing was English Country Dance; a "ceilidh" is a Scottish folk-gathering/a "ceili" an Irish one' (here).

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 10:33 AM

So what? Unlike you, David, I play in a CEILIDH band, and I can tell you that - origins aside - it's now a general term in use for a social dance, often with food, drink and chat. We play in the south-east of England - English, Irish and Scottish tunes - jigs, reels, hornpipes - and have a large and enthusiastic following. A large and enthusiastic following who have a whale of a time and don't actually give a toss whether they're at a ceilidh, a ceili, a barn dance, a country dance or just a bash. The emphasis is on fun, not political correctness or misplaced nationalism, and we choose the tunes because they're bloody good tunes to dance to.

Get a life and stop pocking these threads with your own personal brand of funnel vision.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: MikeofNorthumbria
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 10:59 AM

Ralphie,

Sorry, but you seem to have misunderstood the point I was trying to make in my last post. I had no intention of dissing you in particular or sound engineers in general. I certainly couldn't do your job – balancing a 200 watt rig for an all-acoustic band at a village hall dance is my limit.

Even so, I know enough to recognise that when the sound is poor, it isn't necessarily the sound engineer's fault. Nevertheless, if the sound quality at any gig is unsatisfactory, I still have the right to mention this fact to the management.   After that, it's up to them to decide who is to blame.

As it happens, I can't recall any examples of poor sound quality at any Sidmouth events I've attended. What rang my alarm bell, however, was a recent interview with a member of a widely admired ceilidh band who said that when audience members told him "you're too loud" he replied "you're too old". That gentleman (and anyone else on the folk scent who thinks similarly) should have a word with Pete Townsend about hearing damage.

All I really wanted to say to you Ralphie was "cool it a bit". Righteous indignation can become an addictive drug. I have worked with (and under) people who were so hooked on it that they couldn't cope without a daily rant.   And if they couldn't find a legitimate excuse for one, they had to invent one. This was not pleasant for me – but in the long term, it did them a lot of harm too. Much better to keep your blood pressure down, and conserve your adrenaline for a serious crisis.

Wassail!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,mattkeen
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:18 AM

Trevor Thomas for Mayor !

Hoorah Hoorah

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Folkiedave
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:24 AM

Bit of a thread drift here but most tunes have crossed the ocean(s) and identifying them (or indeed ceilidh bands) as related to one particular region is generally unproductive.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:34 AM

Trevor speaks for me also.

And why have only British (English/Irish/Scottish) ceilidh's? This is the ugly side of nationalism! Why not a Greek ceilidh (otherwise known as an "Opa!"), an Egyptian bellydancing ceilidh (plenty of bellies around after all), an Indian "Bollywood" ceilidh (a "Kali Ceilidh") or even a polynesian grass-skirted one (and no, the Bacup coconut dance doesn't count)?

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Steve in Sidmouth
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 11:39 AM

Discussion of deafness and comments on Tickled Pink

who incidentally I find very danceable when they are not too loud!

I've updated the Newcomers' Guide to Sidmouth

too - glad to say it is proving popular.

With thanks to Derek Schofield and Mudcat for the idea.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: s&r
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:51 PM

Like Will and many others I play in an English Ceilidh band. Correct spelling.

Stu

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: s&r
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:53 PM

Despite the undoubted WAV proclaimed expertise of your late godmother and Wikipedia your reerence of choice.

Stu

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: s&r
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 01:54 PM

Not sure I love you any more, you're not worf it

Stu

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:19 PM

For Wav - Webfeet's explanation of the difference between English Ceilidh and other dances

Your definition (about which Will Fly rightly says "So what?") is extremely out of date. Times and customs change. And this has been pointed out to you many times before.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:19 PM

Read Derek's book to find out what happened to the festival for the first 50 years. It sort of outgrew itself and suitable available venues. But it's still (and for longer than any other English festival, both in terms of from when it started to how long it lasts) putting on an amazing programme of concerts, dances, workshops, children's events, despite the constraints.

Kitty

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 02:48 PM

I swear to God my late godmother (born in the 1930s) didn't know what a ceilidh was, but, as said above, did learn English country dances at her English school.

Must England become the nation that celebrates everybody else's culture? Yes our past imperialism was wrong, but adding the other wrong of neglecting our own good culture does not make a right.

"Not sure I love you any more, you're not worf it" (Stu)...(re)stiffen your upper-lip, man!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Will Fly
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 04:23 PM

David - we've had this debate over and over again. Our band plays good tunes. Some are "English", some are "Scottish" and some are "Irish" - but - if you were to examine the origins and variations of many of these tunes, you'd have a very fuzzy picture of which "good culture" they'd come from. Take - for example - "Knutsford", otherwise known as "J.B. Milne". It's a great tune to dance to - very old-fashioned in style, with a great beat - check out the Old Swan Band's version on their latest CD "Swan For The Money". Is it English? Knutsford's in Cheshire. Is it Scottish? J.B. Milne was a Scot who played the violin as a young man and became the owner of a chain of cinemas. Take your pick. Does it matter?

As for our band members playing tunes from their own "good culture", well, here's a snapshot of some of the band members:

Fiddle player: Scottish - ancestors from Scandinavia
Mandolin player: Scottish
Bass player: Spanish mother
Drummer: English, as far as I know
Melodeon player: English as far as I know
Me (guitar): English, with Scottish (Kinross) and Irish (Kildare) ancestry

There are quite a few "good cultures" there, eh? Stop being a prat - you'll never, ever, persuade people to play what they don't want to play, or to enjoy themselves in ways that they don't wish to.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: The Sandman
Date: 09 Mar 11 - 04:52 PM

what's happened to Sidmouth? who knows, however some of the people on this thread, should learn some manners.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 12:42 AM

Firstly, thanks to Jim Moray for the link to his cartoon. Very apt!
Mike...You ask me to cool it, very well, I will. as soon as I am not insulted by people who know nothing as regards sound engineering stop denigrating my role.
The harshest critic of my work is myself. And you would not believe the lengths that sound crews go to to get something listenable to, out of sometimes the most god awful, and even dangerous gear.
Then having struggled with all of this, (after usually) a 10 minute sound check, some pillock comes up and tells you how to do your job. I've said this before but it's a story worth restating.
At a dance (Sat Night at a festival) A drunken morris man came up and said "Can't hear the Bloody Melodeon" I replied "Funnily enough, neither can I.....Maybe it's because it's a Sax lead tune in Bb, and the melodeon player is at the bar having a beer!"
So, if someone implies that I'm crap at my job, then I demand chapter and verse as to why. Sound Crews are always the piggy in the middle fall guys. Damned if we do, damned if we don't...Either by the band (rare) or the audience. (more often)
As I said at the top of this piece, go and look at Jim Morays very apposite cartoon linked above.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Phil B
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 06:47 AM

'Hello, I'm a tedious old giffer who likes to spout off on the Internet'.

Nice one Trevor!! Still laughing.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 04:50 PM

""Yes, what a lot of them. Is there a collective noun?""

I believe when they are on the internet, the collective noun would be an "e-Jaculate" of W**kers.

Don T.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 05:20 PM

Unless one carries one's own sound meter to every dance event, the impression of loudness is a matter of subjective opinion, rather than fact.

Now there are certain combinations of instruments which, to me, sound louder than others produced at exactly the same decibel level (I have tested this!).

So I work on the principle that when I feel uncomfortable with the noise, instead of making a fuss about it I do the sensible thing and remove myself.

I do not demand that the sound be turned down, nor that the enjoyment of the multitude who are obviously perfectly happy with the status quo be curtailed.

Perhaps Steve needs to attend with a sound meter, and if he finds the limits are being exceeded, bring that fact to the attention of the organisers at the time.

A subjective assessment presented seven months later is somehow less than convincing, and might lead to suspicion of an ulterior motive.

Don T.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 10 Mar 11 - 05:30 PM

""I swear to God my late godmother (born in the 1930s) didn't know what a ceilidh was, but, as said above, did learn English country dances at her English school.

Must England become the nation that celebrates everybody else's culture? Yes our past imperialism was wrong, but adding the other wrong of neglecting our own good culture does not make a right.""

For God's sake Dave, get over yourself.

Your mother may not have used the word Ceilidh, and for sure the schools taught "English Country Dance", but I was born in 41, and I grew up going to English Ceilidhs at, among other venues, the well known Hammersmith Palais where they used to offer the chance to learn and practise on Saturday mornings and school holidays.

So the term was known and used back then.

Don T.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 02:03 AM

Just for completeness, The microphone used to decide on sound levels in venues is calibrated very precisely. (and bleeding expensive to boot!)
Also, the parameters are incredibly variable.
Imagine a band in a village hall, playing at level "A" (doesn't matter what DBa that is)
Now put the same band, at exactly the same volume (all amps set the same for instance) in the RAH, and then in the marquee at Cambridge on a hot day with all the sides removed...You'll get wildly different readings of "perceived" sound levels.
Official sound readings are normally taken at the FOH mixing desk.
So, there is a lot of subjectivity going on here.
An interesting aside. Years ago, when at the BBC, I used to work on Radio 1's Sound City...7 days of "Rawk" music, over two venues,
One year (think it was Manchester, we all had to wear Sound recorders on our bodies to note Sound Level dosage during the week. (Elf 'n Safety, doncha know!)
All fine and dandy...slight problem, the microphone was attached to my T shirt..I was cocooned inside a set of BOSE noise cancelling headphones! (for comms purposes) When the readings were analysed at the end of the week. the management were horrified by the levels recorded. Me, meanwhile in my safe little headphone world, felt no pain at all...In fact it was quite quiet!
My point being that as Don T says. If you don't like it, leave....!
What I really hate, whilst rigging drum mics, is for the drummer to hit the snare as loud as he can, just as I'm 4 inches from the skin...Now that really hurts!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,guest -jim younger
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 09:51 AM

On the term 'ceilidh' in relation to English dance/song events - I believe you will find the word in the sleeve notes of the ancient EFDSS/HMV L.P. 'Jug of Punch' where it is used to describe the informal musical gatherings of young people, post-skiffle, circa 1959/1960. The album itself (a belter, as it happens) includes English, Irish and Scots performers -among them Shirley Collins, Seamus Ennis, Isabel Sutherland et al. Ah, the good old days ...

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 10:44 AM

It's all very well saying 'If you don't like it leave', but if you've paid a lot of money and find it unbearable, what's the chance of getting your money back?

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 10:57 AM

in the spirit of mutual respect, common sense and reasonable compromise [oooh we do love mudcat...];

any responsible individual involved in public music events, either as participant or audience,
should at least consider this affordable minimal investment in hearing self protection...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advanced-Communication-Solutions-Musician-Earplugs/dp/B000UJ8RHE

no excuses.....

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

It's all very well saying 'If you don't like it leave', but if you've paid a lot of money and find it unbearable, what's the chance of getting your money back?

Jim I cannot imagine anyone buying a season ticket at Sidmouth and not finding something to their taste. I am a concert-goer and my wife is a dancer. I never went to a single evening Ham concert and she never went to a single LNE and yest we had a great time.

The problem for someone like that who comes is at what point did you decide you didn't like it?

Before you had a chance to try everything - right at the beginning? Surely no-one is that daft.

Right at the end - after you have been and seen and listened to everything? Errr.....not really.

It's just the same as a pop festival - so you buy a ticket for Glastonbury and decide you don't like it. Whatever the policy is for Glastonbury, I suspect the answer will be much the same from Sidmouth.

So make sure it is what you want. Get a copy of Derek Schofield's book and read it thoroughly. Talk to people who know and like Sidmouth - they will all have different views. Take no notice of those who say it has changed out of all recognition. They might be right but you'll never know so it doesn't matter.

Decide if it is to your taste. Go one year and try it out by buying some individual tickets for events you think you might like.

The atmosphere is free after all.

I suspect you are a troll by the way.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 11:05 AM

Guest PFR - I used to wear ear protection all the time in Spain!

Starting with the plane going out.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 11:12 AM

.. and they're now half the price I paid a few years ago,

and they now do smaller size plugs for kids..

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,punkfolrocker
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 11:31 AM

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0033XVJKG/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0JMG2C32R


"Professional quality noise suppression plugs offering protection without muffling from the leaders of custom hearing defence
Sized for the smaller ear canals of women and children
Secure, comfortable fit
Sounds & voices not muffled
Flat response, 20db attenuation"

imho these should be essential purchases for all festival going families..

teach 'em to protect their hearing before they start toddling under and clambering up main stage PA stacks..

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 01:16 AM

I'm finding this thread becoming slightly silly.
In a week long festival of 600 plus events, firstly, nobody can go to them all, unless they have multiple personalities...!
There are parts of Sidmouth that I don't ever go to, The Bulverton...mainly aimed at young people, too old to schlep up to LNE, but lots of people do. Good for them.
Morris and Rapper workshops don't float my boat either.
But, I can always find something that suits me, and if there's nothing on in the programme at midday on a Tuesday (for instance) that floats my boat, I'll just pop into the Radway and play a tune.
Dave above speaks wisely. Having been to Glastonbury more times than I can remember for work, and had to listen to some God awful music on the way, there was always something that caught my attention.
Basically, If you think someones too loud, go and do something else.
There might be 100 people out there who don't think it's loud enough. they have rights too.
I also go to Towersey, and applaud the management for the "Yoof" marquee. (can't remember it's real name, sorry)
Not for me, but Hey!
No-one is forcing punters into going to events that they find offensive. Sidmouth is/can be what you make it. (As can Whitby/Broadstairs and any other festival)
If you wish to sit in your tent/B&B whatever and say "I'm not going to that event because of A/B/C or D"...Then why did you bother coming in the first place?
Why not just stay at home?
I'm heading towards 60, am looking forward to Sidmouth, and finding out what the young people are doing...and Yes, I don't mind it LOUD!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:01 AM

Can somebody please explain to me what a'Troll'actually is and if I understand the explanation, I will let you know whether or not I am one?

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:11 AM

""It's all very well saying 'If you don't like it leave', but if you've paid a lot of money and find it unbearable, what's the chance of getting your money back?""

I take your point Jim, and if a lot of people are complaining your chance of getting a refund would be quite good.

So, first, look around at the others in the venue.

If you are the only one suffering distress at the sound level, ask yourself whether it is you, or the army, that is out of step.

Whatever the answer, your suffering is real, so leaving would be a good option in either case.

Next time out, musicians' (or motor racing marshalls') earplugs are, as suggested above, a sensible precaution.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 07:51 AM

As Don says. It's actually a legal requirement (I think) for earplugs to be supplied back stage at events. In fact all BBC trucks have a dispenser of hundreds of the buggers. It's very amusing when visitors think it's free chewing gum!
Meaning of "Troll".
Someone whose contribution to threads is only to stir up trouble, and cause arguements.
After a while, you get to recognise them.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Surreysinger
Date: 12 Mar 11 - 09:13 AM

Jim - Ralphie has given you a short version of the definition of a troll. However, you can find even more in the Wikipedia definition

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 09:11 AM

Thanks very much Ralphie & 'Surreysinger' - so I'm definitley not one!

I've had serious concerns at a number of concerts (but not, thankfully, Sidmouth!) and have left them. Quite often, I've found, concerts often get louder towards the end with the crescendo being reached on the last number of the final act.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: Folknacious
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 12:38 PM

Quite often, I've found, concerts often get louder towards the end with the crescendo being reached on the last number of the final act.

Well, who'd have thought it? And I believe they even sometimes do the same in classical music. Disgraceful.

Obviously they've never heard of the traditional fade out finish.




Sadly, neither has this thread

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 02:56 PM

I came across the term Ceilidh, some time about 1978.
The term that was used at my primary school was Country Dancing.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 03:56 PM

Jim Martin...I don't think I said you were a troll, just trying to answer your question!!
It's not easy to understand the useage of words on T'Net sometimes. But trolls are pretty easy to suss out after a while!
When spotted, best ignore. Just as I am on this thread, (although, being human, it's sometimes very tempting to bait them, never worked though, it just encorages them)
For instance, I think the originator of this thread was either a troll or something else. It has been shown by the owners of the site, that two posters here are contributing from the same computer. Draw your own conclusion, and then ignore.
Or not....whichever you find most fun, I suppose!

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 04:32 PM

The trouble is Ralphie, that quite a lot of your posts to mudcat are not very polite.
Sidmouth has evolved, it sounds like it has become more commercial, this does not meet with some peoples approval, Ralphie, Ruth Archer, Folkie Dave, seem to like it as it now is, I don't have a problem with that.
Personally,I wouldn't pay for a ticket to go to Sidmouth,If I wanted to have an unpaid folk holiday I find other FESTIVALS more appealing, I like all sorts of roots and traditional music, but would only bother with Sidmouth if I was paid to perform there, but to be fair I didnt think it was particularly appealing in the late 70s either, I found Whitby was more my scene, but each to their own.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 04:59 PM

Futher to GSS, myself, and others above, in Wales I thinks it's a "twmpath."

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,cg
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 05:18 PM

I'm so old I remember people complaining about how Steve Heap etc had ruined the festival when they took it over from EFDSS. In fact I think some people thought it was ruined when they let song in. Things change. They have to, to survive.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: s&r
Date: 13 Mar 11 - 07:38 PM

Sidmouth of course is in Devon

Stu

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 07:11 AM

...and thus, Stu, should hold English country/barn dances; rather than ceilidhs of Scotland, ceilis of Ireland, and twmpaths of Wales.

Subject: RE: What's happened to Sidmouth?
From: GUEST,Ralphie
Date: 14 Mar 11 - 07:19 AM

But WAV, These are just words not ideologies. Most bands I know play tunes from all of the above countries, plus France, Sweden, Spain, Belgium and a myriad of other countries.......
The tune is usually selected to suit the nature of the dance. And a good caller/band combination can create a great evening.
Are you seriouly advocating the abolition of the Gay Gordons in England???