NEFFA 2011 15-17 April

Subject: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 04:16 PM

Since I had a moment's horror at seeing the 2010 thread, and no one else has, here is 2011.

I have actually been wondering who is going to be there, and was someone going to start a thread. I expect Robin and I will be there. We have signed up to volunteer but have not found a place to stay. Due to my environmental sensitivity, I cannot pick a motel ahead. IT has to pass the sniff test AND have windows that open. If anyone knows of such....

I am looking forward to meeting a number of mudcatters. I will be focussing on the International Folk Dancing.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Susan of DT
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:20 PM

We will be there at the CAMSCO table. Come by and say hello.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: maeve
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:43 PM

NEFFA 2011 Blue Clicky


Neffa Lodging possibilities

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: maeve
Date: 31 Mar 11 - 05:46 PM

NEFFA 2011 Performer Index

NEFFA 2011 Advance Sale Tickets

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 06:45 AM

Duane D. at Folk Legacy & bbc circulating & hugging.

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 10:42 AM

I'm coordinating a couple of slots with Mike Kennedy and others:

Open Shanty Sing (lead a shanty yourself), Saturday, 9 pm, HS Rm. 117

Songs of Cicely Fox Smith Workshop (sing along on the choruses), Sunday, 4 pm, HS R. 176

There are also half a dozen or so more slots that are related to sea music or would appeal to salty dogs.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 01 Apr 11 - 04:14 PM

Dorothy! We will be there midday on Saturday with Animaterra Womens Chorus (Sing For Joy). We suddenly have a gig back home in NH that evening, but you know you have a bed if/when you want it!

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 04 Apr 11 - 05:40 PM

Well, as much as I was looking forward to seeing folks, including friends from PA, I have my priorities. A favourite musician is launching his new CD on 16 April, at our fav cafe. This takes precedence over most anything else.

I wont get to meet any of you mudcats at NEFFA this year. Of course, that does not stop anyone from trekking to Quebec to visit our fav cafe with all its fine music. We can even offer a bed if you want to visit. Ormstown is less than an hour from the new York State border.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Apr 11 - 02:11 PM

This event is getting closer.

Time to gather up my workshop materials, maps, and do some light packing.

Anyone need a one-way ride to NYC after NEFFA on Sunday? My last workshop ends at 5 pm.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Apr 11 - 10:46 AM

One more day and we're off!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 05:35 AM

Some day I will get to this event, but it is not in the cards this year. It's not very far from home. I hope it is wonderful this year even though I can't be there.

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: bbc
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 05:56 AM

Charley,

Hope to see you at your Cicely Fox Smith Workshop!

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Apr 11 - 07:53 AM

Barbara-

So do I!

There will be a pre-order list available for those interested in reserving a copy of The Complete Poetry of Cicely Fox Smith anthology which will be published later this year by Little Red Tree Publishing.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Apr 11 - 08:32 AM

I arrived safely in Mansfield and found my way to NEFFA. Everything seems well organized. I checked in and got my workshop leader badge, dropped off my concertina at the Buttonbox booth for assessment, and then checked in to Ken Sweeney's mini-concert; he was doing railroad songs and some traditional ballads.I then took in Joanne Davis with Life, Death and Dieting, being intrigued by the title. Finally I joined the gang at Jeff Keller's Pub Sing and led "Dead Dog Cider," the Appalatian version of this British tragic ballad collected by Cecil Sharp in the early 1900's.

More fun today with 5 or 6 sea-related workshops and open sings. Mike Kennedy, I and Chris Setari are leading the Open Shanty Sing at 9 pm today.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Apr 11 - 08:30 AM

There were many treats yesterday.

My morning began bright and early with Ruth George and CaCe Borjeson doing a workshop in a capella techniques with demonstration of harmony, use of props and gestures, and humor; I got to lead "Evening Shadows Fall" my song about the dream flight back from a revisit to Ethiopia.

I then walked across the hall to John Millar's workshop on very old traditional sea songs; Millar's a folk music historian with an excellent voice and also played a major role in the reconstruction of the frigate HMS Rose, sloop USS Providence, and the Pacific Northwest exploration ship the Lady Washington.

Next there was the BBC Radio Ballads with Mike Kenneddy and Chris Satari who did a fine job of describing how this pioneer radio singing dramatisations were created and with demonstrations of some of the songs.

After lunch I sat in with Terje Vigan & North Sea Songs with Sonja Savig and Mike Kennedy focused on the compelling story as told in an Ipson play set in the Napoleonic wars.

Then I shifted over to back to back concert by Joy Bennett and Chris Koldway, as a duo and with Chris solo. Again a fine demonstation of muscianship and primarily sea songs.

After supper I shared Dave Coffin's dramatisation of a whaling voyage. I hadn't seen him in his school teaching mode and he is very creative and entertaining which should not be surprising.

Next was David Diamond with a selection of some of his off-the-wall songs, most of them his own special creations. He definately had a supportive audience.

Finally, Mike, Chris and I coordinated an open shanty sing which was well attended. Mike dedicated this session to our friend Barry Finn and I closed with "The Yangtse River Shanty" which I releaned from Barry after he learned it from me. I'm sure he heard the chorus.

Today, much much more!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, anchored at NEFFA

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Apr 11 - 10:55 PM

Well, things wound up nicely today at the Festival. I'll provide some details tomorrow if no one else does but right now I'm a little tired from my drive down to NYC. The drive was nice enough but I think I'll turn in early.

Remind me about "Singing Nelson Home" as the stage crew is removing several hundred chairs and swabbing the stage floor while John Roberts along with Peter and Joanne Souza were gallantly singing the song.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, adrift in Brooklyn

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 09:47 AM

Well, I've had my morning coffee and it's time to sift through some of the pleasant memories from yesterday.

One way to think of festivals such as NEFFA is as a series of personal encounters with people you expected to meet there but also with people you haven't seen in years. And that was certainly happening for me.

I spent some time touring the craft area, checking at Button Box to see what the prognosis was for my ailing concertina; it needs a minor operation at their hospital but should recover and be better than ever! I'm impressed at how well the performer's CD sales are handled, so much better on all counts than at Mystic. I ran into Carl Thornton there and we compared notes about this year's Mystic Festival program.

Than I got together with Mike Kennedy and Margaret McCandless to plan out the details of our C. Fox Smith workshop and we had a lot of fun trying out different songs, working up harmonies and instrumentation. It's really quite magical when there's a major break-through and you find something that works really well. At the same time you know it won't really be polished by workshop time but there's a preview of how well it should sound. We found a quiet corner in the performer's instrument check-in room to try everything out and the people there seemed to appreciate what we were doing.

Then we ventured down the hall to join Mark Ryer's Maritime with Chorus open session which proved a fine interactive experience. Mark introduced the session with "Bye, Bye Skipper" which was so short that we all insisted he do another song. Then I followed with my tribute to Fleetwood's derelict fishing fleet, "The Spectral Fishing Fleet" which is a haunting song but also has a rousing chorus. Someone else led "Superior Sperm" the sad ballad of the demise of the fresh-water whaling industry in the Great Lakes, a song cobbled together by Scott Alarick and Si Kahn which I first heard in the late 1970's at the Wheatland Festival in Michigan. There were about 7 or 8 others that managed to lead a song in the time allotted but we could easily have swapped songs for the rest of the afternoon.

I then shifted over to the the auditorium to attend John Roberts, Joanne and Peter Sauza's concert and they were very good as expected. Some of their song set included Jon Campbell's "Keep on Fishin'," "Rain" from Australia, "Bringing Nelson Home," "Nova Scotia Farewell," and "London Julie." David Diamond was seated behind me and we had a lot of fun collaborating on harmonies. Adding to the ambiance was the five year old girl who danced in front of the stage through much of the set, obviously enthralled with her new light-flashing shoes.

I then got together again with Mike and Margaret, I'm not sure how we managed to find one another, for more practice. This time we found space in the "emergency room;" the two security folks there appeared happy to have some live entertainment.

So when our C. Fox Smith workshop came up we were as prepared as we could be for people who don't play regularly with one another throughout the year. I taped up my big prints to the chalkboard of Cicely and the poems that we were planning to sing, handed out copies of the Songbook I'd put together, and after a few introductory remarks about Cicely the rest of the workshop involved our demonstration of how some poems could be adapted for singing.

Mike led off with a reading of "Retrospect" which I followed with "Mobile Bay" which does haved a strong chorus. Then Mike led "Messmates All" an military drinking song which I followed with "Farewell to ANZAC" a tribute to the Australian and New Zealand troops who fought and died at the disastrous Gallipole campaign. Margaret then led her version of "By the Pagoda Anchorage" a homage to the tea clippers. I then led "Old Fiddle" a haunting tribute to the twilight zone of the nautical junk shop. Then Mike led "The Jolly Bargeman" which described the narrowboats being mobilized during World War 1. Then Mike led the outward bound song "Raitlin Head" which Margaret and I are in love with. And I ended the set with "The Long Road Home" which describes a tall ship setting out from Vancouver, BC, on the way back to England, one of the last poems Cicely published in a Victoria, BC, newspaper before she departed from there in the fall of 1913.

We were a litle concerned whether we'd attract an audiance given that this was a final workshop on Sunday afternoon but we needn't have worried. The room was nearly full and everyone seemed to enjoy our presentation. We did cram a whole lot in and there was very little room for any questions.

Then we packed everything up, said our final good-byes, and sped off to our various corners of the world.

Next, we'll be doing another C. Fox Smith workshop at the Mystic Seausic Festival in June; included there will be Danny Spooner and other members of my band Roll & Go.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, adrift in Brooklyn

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: bbc
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 02:29 PM

Wow, Charley, looks like your our only reporter! Like you, I'm still tired & will just respond briefly for now. I think your C. Fox Smith session was well-received. I'm not all that much for sea music, but I certainly enjoyed it! Duane & I had an introduction to her poetry from Bob Zentz a few months ago in Maine. Good stuff! It was a pleasure to see you!

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Apr 11 - 02:57 PM

Barbara-

It was good to see you again as well.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 08:26 AM

Carrying Nelson Home, no?
Sorry I missed it, especially John, Peter and Joanne.
SINS

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Apr 11 - 08:59 AM

Sins-

Indeed, "Carrying Nelson Home."

Evidently Barbara and I were the only survivors from NEFFA. So sad!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 08:20 AM

Any other survivors?

Charley Noble, finally back in Maine

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Suffet
Date: 21 Apr 11 - 09:15 AM

Greetings:

Charley saw me at NEFFA, so let me assure him and everyone else that I survived. This was my first time at the festival since 2008, and I was happy to be there. However, I was still recovering from a bout of diverticulitis that had struck me in mid-March, and I wasn't certain I could make the trip until literally the day before the festival began.

In addition to Charley, I did get a chance to say "hello" to Caroline, Barbara, and Duane at the Folk Legacy booth, as well as to lots of other musical friends, including Mike Kennedy, Allen Hopkins, Jackson Gillman, Paul Kaplan, and Sandy Pliskin.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 06:41 PM

You are welcome to click here for a YouTube video of me performing Where's My Bagel and Lox at NEFFA on April 15, 2011. Co-author Joel Landy, second from the left, sings along with me on the choruses. The others on stage are Sol Weber and Paul Kaplan.

Enjoy!

--- Steve

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:21 PM

Steve-

Well, that certainly rings through strong!

And, yes, I got my poppy bagel and lox while I was in Brooklyn after NEFFA.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: NEFFA 2011 15-17 April
From: Suffet
Date: 22 Apr 11 - 09:46 PM

Charley,

You made it just in time. You cannot get a real bagel in Brooklyn during Passover.

--- Steve