Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival

Subject: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Gibsonboy
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 12:06 PM

Jools Holland and his R&B orchestra, were absolutely stunning on the friday night of the Southwell Folk Festival. It tends to put Folk in its place.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 12:08 PM

' in it's place ' and where would that be in your opinion ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 06 Jun 12 - 12:25 PM

Why do people use the Review: tag when their 'review' is about one line long?

And (as it happens) I saw Jools Holland and his band a few years ago and was seriously underwhelmed with the whole smarmy, over-choreographed experience: and I can distinctly remember leaving the venue thinking that a lot of folk and traditional bands may not make as much sheer noise as Jools Holland's band, but know far more about engaging with an audience, telling stories through their music, playing tunes that stir the soul and get the feet tapping, and generally giving the crowd a good time.

But that's just IMNSHO, not a 'review' ...

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Gibsonboy
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 09:32 AM

The Marquee was full for Jools Holland (approx 2000), the whole audience were on their feet, generally dancing and enjoying themselves, not really what your navel gazing, finger in the ear, folkie generally wants. Didn't see anyone who was underwhelmed but suppose there could have been the odd one or two. Ruby Turner highlighted the vocal limitations of most female folk artists shame that, after all it was a folk festival.

He played for over two hours non-stop, no breaks, and never once did the tempo drop. He played guitar and piano, sang, and talked about some of the musical derivations of his music.

In contrast the next night Dougie Maclean was bearly half full, and many people left before the end.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 10:15 AM

I was there gibson boy and you are talking bollocks.

Quite WTF Jools Holland was doing at a folk festival is anyones guess.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,RWJ
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 10:18 AM

If you were comparing like for like, you may have had a point but as you say the audience did not stay for the festival. They only went to a non folk concert.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 10:19 AM

Obviously he was there to pull in the non-folkies! And he did. Saturday night was pissing down and I suspect there would have been spaces in the audience if even Jools were playing that night.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Gibsonboy
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:01 AM

As you say Guest what was Jools Holland doing there, presumably because the Organisers asked him. Fortunately, the Organisers at Southwell seem to have a very enlightened attitude towards the type of music they provide at their Festival. They understand the need to have a wide specrum of music, to make their Festival attractive to as many people as possible in an attempt to make it commercially viable.
I have no problem with that but obviously you do.

I am not convinced by the arguement that the Dougie concert was affected by the rain, as he had more or less finished before to rain really started. Added to which would you elect to stay in your tent on a Sat night just because there was rain in the air, when you had paid for a ticket? The truth I suggest is that rigid Folk is not so popular as it once was, and needs to embrace other genres of music if it is to survive.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:09 AM

The Jools Holland concert was tagged onto the Folk Festival - a mistake in my opinion - there is a place for him and his music, but it is not at a folk festival. I was paid for my FOLK festival ticket and expected to hear folk music - as it was the concert I was trying to listen to with Jed Grimes and the Wilsons etc was drowned out by the row coming from the big tent.

If you dont like Folk music fine, just fuck off and infest some other forum.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Miss Gadget
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:15 AM

Hehehe, don't let this 'person' wind you all up.

I was at Southwell and had a great time. Jools was there to draw in the local non folkies and it seemed to work but it wasn't really part of the proper folk festival. Jools has mass market appeal so can attract huge crowds anywhere he goes. Proper folk acts have a limited market so obviously can't attract the same crowds. I think that main tent was too big for a folk festival, although there was a big crowd in on Sunday night. That was a great night, Melrose Quartet were wonderful! A shame people were too cold to stay to see Brass Monkey though.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:36 AM

I am rather baffled by the either/or point being made here, both in the original post and in the OP's further post where he contrasts Jools Holland's audience with Dougie Maclean's....surely this is comparing apples and oranges? Why can't both be seen as good? I have no particular interest in either artist, but the comparison seems rather unfair given that Jools Holland has a high national profile, both from his time in Squeeze and as a solo artist since, and he is no doubt helped massively by his hosting of a flagship music show on BBC TV. Quite why that should be a stick to beat Dougie Maclean with, I don't know!

In addition, if numbers and audience giddiness equalled quality then you would presumably be extolling the virtues of the Bay City Rollers and the winner of the latest BGT/X Factor/Voice shite as being far superior to Jools and his Orchestra! By the way, I am far from a typical "folkie", being an old rocker who is primarily into bluegrass and old-timey (American) music these days, so I am certainly not defending the UK folk scene per se.

Maria

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:48 AM

errrrr.. Bay City rollers were actually an underestimated very good live proto-punk rock band

whenever given the chance to slip the shackles of their management imposed boy band image..


and Jools Holland is still a pudding boy smug tw@t
who should be thankful every moment BBC indulges his fat ego
and permits him opportunity to duet with far superior legendary artists...

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:53 AM

errrr...you don't like him then.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 11:57 AM

.. well.. he's not that bad a piano basher..

but..........

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: fat B****rd
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 12:00 PM

.........yeeeeeeeeeees?

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Johnny J
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 12:08 PM

"Bay City rollers were actually an underestimated very good live proto-punk rock band"

who didn't even play their own instruments on recordings.

A couple of them were actually reasonably good musicians but others including one or two "neds" thrown in for good measure were just chosen as they looked the part.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 12:21 PM

no big breaking news story there..

Music history is packed with instances of more than capable big name bands and artists
who were prevented by management & producers from playing on their own factory line manufactured hit 'recordings'..

Dunno exact line up, but the semi bootleg 1970s "live in Japan" CD gig
is raw & rockin' enough for my enjoyment..


far more enjoyable than any of Jools Holland's bloated attempt at rock 'n' boogie..

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 01:21 PM

Oh dear, I didn't mean to get into a secondary row about the Bay City Rollers! ;o)

To be fair, I just grabbed that name out of the air as an example of massive popularity, although they are commonly characterised as musically poor/average. Just to illustrate the point that large audience numbers/ audience members dancing does not necessarily correlate to superior quality. There has been a lot of inferior crap marketed to the masses which has sold millions. (Granted, there are also many fantastic artists who have achieved mass success).

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Gibsonboy
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 03:08 PM

If by inviting Jools Holland to perform at a separately ticketed event, brings in enough paying customers to secure the finances for next years Festival, then I for one say well done to the Committee. The only problem was that it required such a large tent, it unfortunely illustrates the rather narrow appeal of the purists form of Folk Music. Folk must diversify or die.

As for the critism of it pandering to JH's ego, don't see that, the event had four different lead singers, several guests, numerous lead musicians of which he was only one. Jools Holland and his Orchestra are quality muscians who are able to test their chosen instruments to the limit, in a way many Folk artists can't.

Finally, I think some of the foul mouthed rhetoric displayed above possible tells you more about Folk and Folk people than anything, and it is to regreted as the genre deserves better.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: BrendanB
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 03:27 PM

'folk must diversify or die'

Er...how exactly? Folk is very clearly founded in the traditions of a particular country, you can't change tradition. It is true that some have sought to use the traditional base as a springboard for a novel approach but much of the (admittedly small) folk fan base like their music unadulterated by attempts to give it greater appeal. If a folk festival feels the need to book mainstream music to pull in the punters then it is a music festival rather than a folk festival. Nothing wrong with that.. I think Jools Holland is a very good musician, but my preferences in music lie elsewhere.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 03:33 PM

The way I see it, it was a folk festival with a special one off show that probably got the local non folkie people to come along and support the efforts. Why does everybody on Mudcat have to diss anything that people try to do, for the better of music.

I happen to think that Jools Hol;land is excellent.

However I still run a Folk Concert venue.

What is so wrong with that.

You traddies need to embrace the what is going on. When you have all snuffed it, your desires will die.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Gibsonboy
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 04:15 PM

Well said Arthur.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 04:33 PM

Relax, Gibsonboy. I don't think folk is under any immediate threat, despite your blustering - in fact plain stupid - attempt at a put-down in the opening post.

On the other hand I have no problem with Jools Holland being invited to our local folk festival, because I quite like his kind of jazz. Who knows, the Berlin Philharmonic might be on the bill next year, and again I won't complain.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Continuity Jones
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 05:46 PM

Jools Holland has a singing voice that only a mother could love.
Personally though, I think we should get the great lord Holland to play at every folk gig there is, as without him and his ilk, folk music will surely die. Tom Jones could also do some slots, plus Lenny Henry and the big opera singer from Britain's got Stagnent. Without them, folk music will surely die. Afterall , Hitler was a vegetarian horse who only had one bohran.
God bless Julie Holland - proving white boys really do know how to play the blues. and faster too - faster than folk musicians. It's all about speed. Speed and Jeremy Clarkson. Now there's a real folky. He wears JEANS. the working man's cloth. You wouldn't catch June Rusby in denim.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 05:53 PM

Yor opinion of course Cont. Jones. Good job we all have different view points :-)

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 07 Jun 12 - 08:55 PM

LOL CJ!

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 02:20 AM

Music's not about speed but about rhythm. But there's plenty of folk bands that can and do play faster than Jools. But what's this about purist folkies? Damn little sight of them at Southwell or, indeed, most folk festivals. Folk is a pretty broad church from 'finger-in-the-ear' through to folk rock with a wider range of sounds, instrumentation, scales, musical forms and language than any other genre I can think of.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Johnny J
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 03:21 AM

I've just had a look at the line up for this festival and can see that the majority of acts are not particularly traditional English in the purest sense either.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with that but it does suggest that large festivals of this kind do need a bit of variety and also need to include various folk and roots music in its broadest sense to attract enough of an audience to fill larger venues and tents.

Whether we like it or not, traditional music and/or the "folk music" we have been used to hearing since the days of the revival is very much a minority taste and, besides, is arguably much more suited to smaller venues and stages.

The same applies in Scotland too where larger festivals such as Celtic Connections also include several acts which could only be thought of as traditional, folky, or even "celtic" if you had the most wonderful imagination.

Having said all that, I 've always liked Jools Holland along with several other acts who aren't really folk but I'm obviously one of those who doesn't have a clue(Because I can listen to different kinds of music)which was suggetsed recently on "Damned Bloody Depressing" thread.
:-)

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Musket
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 04:04 AM

Up till recently, I always went to see Jools & co at Glastonbury Abbey. (Usually, it was Van Morrison Friday night, London Philharmonic Orchestra Saturday night and Jools Sunday night.)

As much as I could call myself a Van fan, as much as my love for LPH never dims, Jools was always my star of the show.

I couldn't make Southwell, although I tried to rejig my diary to do so. I have always felt good about how the "folk" genre is a broad church and welcomes all, as indeed under any dictionary definition it should. Hopefully one day, people who turn up to entertainment events in order to have a good moan will see sense and bugger off.

If decent music isn't part of some peoples' folk culture, then neither is their chippy withering politics, but I don't see them moaning about class war, and that has made me stop going to many a folk club.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 04:21 AM

Arthur_itus, the question you should be asking is why this guest Gibsonboy used Jools Holland to diss folk music, you can clearly tell by his attitude that he doesn't like it or people who do, ' not what your naval gazing finger in the ear folkie wants 'and the ridiculous statement, ' folk must diversify or die ' traditional music and song has done OK for a few hundred years without it.

Gibsonboy, yup definately a boy.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 04:22 AM

I've seen Jools Holland and his orchestra live a couple of times and - for me, and just for me - they didn't quite cut it. Hard to put a finger on the reason, but there it is. I stopped watching "Later with..." many years ago, and the annual "Hootenany" as well.

As for finger-in-the-ear folk, well one of the most exciting live concerts I've seen in the last few years was Bellowhead at Lewes Town Hall.

Anyway, apart from all that - which happens to be my personal taste - I'm with Continuity Jones. Just wish I lived a little closer to Chipping Norton and dear old Jeremy... what a time we'd have!

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Johnny J
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 04:51 AM

Dave, I wasn't too keen on Gibson Boy's attitude either but we should be taking him to task if we are that offended as opposed to blaming or slagging off Jools Holland as several posters have done.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: autoharpbob
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 05:07 AM

Didn't go to Jools, but heard him and the audience outside on. Y way home that night. He seemed to be pleasing the crowd. What he did was to pull in enough of a crowd to up the funds for the Festival this year. He paid for that huge 2000 seater marquee with twin screens beside the stage - which was then there for the rest of the festival. He was not someone I wanted to see at those prices, but I am glad that enough people did want to see him to give a huge boost to the Festival funds. As for people up on their feet dancing, the many ceilidh sets, Calan, the Bonny Men, Sciorr and many other acts provided that. I saw nobody with a finger in their ear at any time. What I did see was a lot of mostly young people who were brilliant musicians and singers, which was very encouraging. The fact is that pure folk, if there is such a thing, is very rare, and so is the person who ONLY listens to pure folk. Most people have a wider range of tastes. To pull in more people you have to widen the range of acts you put on. This doesn't affect what is or is not folk on the slightest, just gives people more chance of finding something that appeals to them. If Southwell puts in One Direction next year as a one off Friday night concert, I would applaud the Committee and thank all those little girlies who come for supporting the music I really want to hear.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 06:17 AM

Personally I've no problem with Jools Holland, he obviously loves music in many styles.

Gibsonboy opened with ' it tends to put folk music in it's place ' but he still hasn't said where that place is, his only way to describe it was ' finger in ear, naval gazing ' I'm not particularly a fan of Bellowhead, but what an amazing band they are, finger in the ear ? naval gazing ? I think not, young people up and dancing and enjoying themselves is what I've seen of them, so what planet does Gibsonboy come from.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Jolls Hooland
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 06:20 AM

so what planet does Gibsonboy come from.


Planet Troll.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Graham
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 06:32 AM

We went to the 'Folk Festival' and had a wonderful time except for the weather. The Sunday night concert (the highlight for us) was brilliant and showed off some of the best talent on the 'Folk' scene today, with the obvious exception (what was Mr B. trying to achieve?) The Wilsons gave an outstanding performance to start the concert with their powerful singing and banter with the audience. The Melrose Quartet (new to us) were fantastic. Then John Boden & the R.K's??? The Concert finished with the very talented 'Big Band' sound of Brass Monkey. It was a shame that a few people had left early to try and warm up elsewhere, because they were excellent. Well done the Committee! but you will have to try harder with the weather!!

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 06:55 AM

Well excuse me, but when I buy a ticket for a folk festival, in this case Southwell at £100.00 each, I expect to hear Folk Music, I don't expect the concert I am listening to in another marquee to be overpowered by the noise coming from another marquee, particularly when the other marquee is not providing folk music. I am indifferent about Jools Holland and his orchestra, I can take it or leave it really, but a folk festival is not really the place for it. OK, it paid for the big marquee that we had the use of for the rest of the weekend, but did we need such a huge tent. Frankly no, we didn't. It was like a barn for the audience and performer alike, it was freezing cold – probably because it was impossible to fill with it being a 2000 seater.

Why do organisers think it appropriate to book non-folk artists at folk festivals? Are they using the Cambridge model? If so I don't think they will last long because they are pleasing no-one, Folk people don't want Pop and Pop people do not want folk.

I really enjoyed the folk performances, The Wilsons (with fingers well into their earholes) Jed Grimes, Sean Lakeman and Katherine Roberts, Morris on etc. I missed Brass Monkey as it was too bloody cold to go and see them; the workshops I went to were also very good. This was my first visit to Southwell and it will certainly not be my last, it's a lovely festival, well organised and very friendly.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: autoharpbob
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 09:15 AM

The sound problems happened no matter who was in either marquee. They didn't put off any performers that I saw, nor did it spoil my enjoyment at any time, just a kind of background throbbing at times. I didn't intend going to see Jools, but there was no time during the whole weekend when I was unable to see or play some music I liked. There was enough for everyone IMO. Just because there was more music overall doesn't mean there was less folk.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 10:13 AM

Silas,

There are people who would gladly pay £100.00 just to find out what folk music actually is!

Then we can quote it at fundamentalist sandalists and diehard beardies when they start rattling on about 1954 definitions.....

I go to a folk festival to hear folk too. if Jools is on, ergo he is folk. Just like once when I saw Fred Jordan followed by a folk rock band Bob Chiswick had set up...

Come to think about it, lat night I sang a traditional song followed by a song I first heard sung by Rod Stewart. Still Mather, still a guitar, still a voice that is either inspired or flat as a fart (heard both described in reviews over the years) and still a folk club.

Anyway, Cool for Cats is THE folk song of my generation, describing my life at the time, I reckon.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Silas
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 10:56 AM

Well guest if you dont know what folk music is without having to use somebody elses definition, particularly that pathetic one attributed to Armstrong, then I think you have a problem. Jools Holland and his orchestra, wether you like him or not, is not folk music.

autoharpbob, the guys who performed despite the noise on Friday night did a superb job, but the poor sod on the sound deck was struggling. Personally I think it a mistake to have a stage in the bar anyway, its OK for a session, but not a proper performance.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,AEOLA
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 12:59 PM

It's a shame that there appears so much harshness in the above cooments. Surely we are not going to start ''what is Folk Music'' again.
Read the adverts for any festival and then make your mind up and go and enjoy. Music is for Folk. If the sound from one venue is ovrwhelming another venue then maybe they are too near,or,perhaps the sound man can help.

And your right, it can get cold in the Marquee!!

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 08 Jun 12 - 01:18 PM

I think we have to remember that it was Jubilee weekend. That surely would have affected the numbers attending.

On top of that, I bet Jools Holland brought profit in.

From what I understand, a lot of younger people were there, which is brilliant.

At the end of the day, there was enough variety to satisfy most peoples requirements.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: fat B****rd
Date: 11 Jun 12 - 12:24 PM

No comments about Mr. Holland's BBC 2 programme about the sounds of London,???.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 07:33 AM

Comment from Committee
Quote
As promised the rationale for booking Jools:

We frequently find that people say they do not like 'folk' music because they have a very narrow view of what constitutes 'folk' music.

The Gate to Southwell Folk Festival presents a broad spectrum of 'folk' music. As the 'F' word is such a big put off and open to so many interpretations it might be better to say we present 'roots based' music. Over the years we have included English traditional and contemporary,Celtic, blues, bluegrass, old timey, Eastern European. country and alternate country, gypsey jazz and trad jazz, world music, punk/folk, ska, and western swing to name all the ones I can think of at the moment.

Jools Holland performs a big band style based mostly on jazz and boogie woogie, drawing on material from that era.. He has also recorded an entire album of country music. This to our mind is all roots based music. Indeed the heyday of the big bands of the jazz swing style vied with those of the western swing style.
Our prime aim this year has been to raise profile and attract a new audience to find out what folk music can be instead of the jaundiced view that exists. If we can get professed non folkies on to the site we believe they'll find something they like and discover there is a bit of a 'folky' inside them after all.The introduction of the big tops, the video screens and the bank holiday date were also aimed at audience development. There's also the obvious link with Jools Holland being something of a champion of all roots music. By mixing it in with other more popular modern forms he gives it a much bigger platform. Look at the enormous success of Seasick Steve for instance. I thought Hat Fitz and Cara who provided the support and were last years big hit, were brilliant and I hope we've opened the door for them.

The concert in the main marquee was timed to finish as the Wilsons started in the bar, Mr. Fox performed their pagan fire dance and Maniere des Bohemiens started in Marquee 2 followed by The Bonny Men an 8 piece Irish band from Dublin. So we tried to give people a dose of several new experiences.

The concert was only partly 'stand alone' in that weekend ticket holders could buy tickets at half price which about half of them did. The concert had a separate budget and given the lousy weather we had, which significantly affected walk up sales, fortunately helped defray some of this loss in revenue.

Despite the weather and it was bad, the atmosphere at the festival was amazing, the best yet. Whether that's down to more locals buying in or what I don't know but thus far the feedback has been almost universally positive.
End of quote

I think that answers it and well done Southwell Folk Festival for putting such hard work in to entertaining thousands of Festival goers. Sometimes, people forget the damned hard work and sacrifice that such committees do over the year for each festival.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Hendrix
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 08:42 AM

Anyone watch Jool's programme on the music of London? Featuring Eliza Carthy, Spiers and Boden as well as Cecil Sharp House, Music Hall, Pop etc.
It was on last week, and I thought it was really good, changed my whole outlook on the guy.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 02:46 PM

Not watched it yet, but looking forward to it.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,Continuity Jones
Date: 12 Jun 12 - 03:19 PM

I thought his London programme was pretty good. He worked well as a "straight" presenter. Shame the programme wasn't a small series, surely a lot of things had been missed out. The Lord Kitchener footage was great.

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: GUEST,slynes
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 05:53 AM

Sadly I thought all subsequent main stage events were ruined by the massive erection which was Marquee 1. Neither audiences nor artists benefited from it and I would want assurance that it would not be used next year before booking my usual ticket.
The new Marquee 2 however was terrific......

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: reynard
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 06:37 AM

Yes that tent was far too big. If you haven't seen the London program get it on the I player while you can- in addition to the folk stuff there is an excellent section on Music Hall and a rare chance to catch John Foreman singing "The houses inbetween".

Subject: RE: Review: Jools Holland at Southwell Festival
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 13 Jun 12 - 11:05 AM

If you haven't seen the London program get it on the I player while you can- in addition to the folk stuff there is an excellent section on Music Hall and a rare chance to catch John Foreman singing "The houses inbetween".

I've seen it now and there's just so much good stuff in that programme, BBC4 at its best. On top of everything else that's already been mentioned there's the English electric eccentrics of Ian Dury and a very austere looking Ray Davies, there's Lord Kitchener and the Empire Windrush, there's a reminder of the delightful coincidence (or Peter Ackroyd-ish historical resonance) that George Frederic Handel and Jimi Hendrix lived in adjoining houses ... and Eliza singing with Mawkin, Spiers & Boden, Lucie Skeaping singing a broadside ballad, etc etc. Top stuff.