Otley, my highlights

Subject: Otley, my highlights
From: Bagpuss
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 08:03 AM

Hello all,

I have just spent a brilliant few days in Otley. None of the performers cancelled because of the fuel shortage - though quite a few said they didn't have enough to get home!

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the singarounds (and meeting a fellow mudcatter at one of them - hi wullie). Sid Kipper was a star as always and made me laugh my socks off. Last Night's Fun (Sherburn, Bartley and Hall) were amazing despite having to come on late to one of their sets because of another band taking forever on their soundcheck and generally being premadonnas. The Pack were great, and I am always jealous when so mach talent comes together in such young people!. Loved Three Up Front - especially as they did "Ready For the Storm" - one of my favourite songs. And finally Kate Rusby was my main highlight. She held most of the audience spellbound and nearly made me cry when she did "All God's Angels".

Also, I bought an English concertina for £150. My other half bumped into Chris Sherburn who came along to check it out. He said it was well worth the money (ie it was still in one piece) and shouldn't take all that much work to get it back in working order.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 08:10 AM

Re the fuel, judging by the occasions I have met Chris and Denny at least, I think they would have been quite glad of an excuse to stay and play more! I have known them come to do their paid spot and look for sessions to play in before and afterwards - I love people like that!

Jon

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Bagpuss
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 08:15 AM

Jon - yeah, they were around about the sessions all weekend too.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Bagpuss
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 08:42 AM

The 3rd menber of Last Nights Fun is Nick Scott - I have no idea why I typed Hall. My mind must have been elsewhere.

Bagpuss

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Cavia_P
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 09:03 AM

Otley has to be my favourite weekend festival this year. I'm definitly planning on returning next year.
It was raining hard when we arrived but we managed to get indoor camping at the scout hut which was very cosy. We couldn't get season tickets until Sunday (a day ticket) so we spent most of the weekend wandering around the various sessions, usually ending up in the marquee at The Manor. Hi Wullie!
My highlights:
Tanglefoot. A really great bunch of guys;
Huge English fried breakfast including a pint mug of Tea for £2.65 at the Riverside Cafe!
Friday & Saturday night sessions at The Manor;
The Poetry session in the Con Club, Les Barker, Kevin Collier and the poem-around;
Three up Front, (There's actually five of them, all mega talented!);
Tanglefoot!;
The Bowling Green (pub), not for the music just for the incredible collection of "junk" hung on the walls and off the ceiling, including at least two stuffed crocodiles!;
Trying to promote the Wooden Pocket Bodhran to the lady who clais to have invented it!. (The other wood-turners did a great trade in wooden pestles and mortars!);
Kate Rusby, as always;
Did I mentioned Tanglefoot?;

Cavia_P

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Wullie
Date: 19 Sep 00 - 03:22 PM

It was great to meet ather mudcatters at Otley and specially good to hear Bagpuss for the first time I camped out and after a bad weekend the week before at Portpatrick my chest feels as though its been stood on. But I enjoyed myself that much I'll be back next year Wish I could make the third gathering but it's not to be. Keep posting. Wullie

Subject: RE: Otley, my highlights
From: Bagpuss
Date: 20 Sep 00 - 06:10 AM

Thanks Wullie - good to hear you too. Especially "I know an old lady"!

:-)

Bagpuss