Lancaster - How Was It? 2002

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Madam Gashee
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 05:13 PM

Well Dave, if it's any consolation I sat upstairs in the last night concert, heard all the performers in fine fettle & didn't hear any member of the audience being particulary loud, so it was obviously a 'local-ised' sound!

As to the festival itself. Excellent organisation as normal. All the performers were fabulous but I especially enjoyed Dan Milner & Bob Conroy
Danny & Joyce McCleod
Portsmouth Shantymen
Dave Webb & Anni Fentiman
John Connelly
Dick Miles
& many more first rate performers.

Anyone who didn't make it this year should definitely book their holidates now:- Easter next year!

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 04:16 PM

It may be the way he is - but we don't have to enjoy it.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST,Kentish Maid
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 07:02 PM

I am pleased that Lancaster was a success. Several friends went and really enjoyed themselves.
I wouldn't worry about Dave's singing, he often sings loudly through other singers' performances. It's the way he is.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Col K
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 10:40 AM

Lancaster was as good as ever good singing good company and better weather than normal. Even the Shellbacks kept dry, on the outside, doing their spot outside in the city sq. last year they were the water feature in that sq. Thanks to all those who make the festival what it is, artists, organisers and visitors, all are needed to make a successful happening, all were there

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 04:24 AM

Surely It is repectful to let the initiator of the song sing the verse-after all he/she thought to sing it.What happens in the chorus is different. To get back to Lancaster - Faantastic! The Cullen skink in the 'John 'o' gaunt' was excellent!

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Abuwood
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 12:34 PM

Johnng Collins does not sing the choruses usually to save his voice and listen to the audience

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Grampus
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 11:19 AM

Sorry to take exception with you Dave, but my point was as stated by Guest. I/we have no objection whatsoever in anyone joining in, the more the better, but during the concert, you not only joined in with the choruses, loudly, but also when the artists, were singing the verses! During Derek Gifford's spot (to name but one artist), from where we were sat, he was almost completely drowned out by you singing TOO LOUDLY throughout the whole of his set (chorus and verse)! This is no mean feat! I repeat, it was not your joining in that I was objecting to, but your lack of volume control and sensitivity. Please enjoy and continue singing, but have consideration for those nearby who also want to enjoy themselves by hearing the artist they have gone to see. The 'wrong kind of voice' as described by Greg does not enter the equation. Everyone WAS joining in and enjoying the concert, that was until Dave appeared half way through, and dominated the audience participation

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:49 AM

Well,GUEST, there certainly seem to be others that support your view so maybe youre right. I merelymake the point that if plenty of people were opening their lungs and joining in, one person with the wrong kind of voice wouldnt be able to "take over". And there are a helluva lot of people who dont go to folk clubs any more because of the sepulchral atmosphere prevailing these days which might be worth considering in connection with what you are saying. But I emphasis again, I wasnt there: I am only speaking theoretically.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 09:38 AM

wen one person is dominating the proceedings it can prevent others joining in. The fact that he was 'shushed' so many times meant that he was taking over, not joining in.
There is a difference, and strong singers should be careful that they dont swamp the guest artists.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 05:48 AM

Not having been there its difficult to judge whther your man was being rude or not by singing choruses loudly in the "wrong kind of voice"...bit i cant help agreeing with him. If one singer is being too dominating you cant helpthinking that it is the other quiet people who should bear the blame, rather than an over=enthisiastic joiner in. I was listening to some 60's club recordings the otherday and was astounded at the huge (and mostly harmonious) chorus sound compared to the strangled murmur which is often all you hear nowadays. Singin with other people is fun isnt it? Or dont peopleenjoy it any more?

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 08 Apr 02 - 05:29 AM

I was only singing in the choruses. Why weren't you joining in - do you prefer to just listen to the guests singing the choruses/refrains on their own ? Most singers prefer to have some response from the audience - many like to take a rest when the chorus is being sung. Perhaps people are all getting ready for the new PEL laws, which will probably outlaw chorus singing anyway !

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 06:14 PM

Grampus and Janet were not objecting to the voice they were objecting to the way you were misusing it!!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 08:50 PM

The bloke with the trained voice should not try blaming others for his obvious lack of manners. No-one should be singing so loudly the he (or she) drowns out the guest artist. To keep on singing loudly having been shushed by members of the audience indicates that the trained singer needs a sensitivity implant.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Crane Driver
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 06:06 PM

Yes, an excellent festival. I agree that more opportunities for informal singarounds would be good, I did manage to try out a couple of new songs 'wot I wrote', with gratifying results, so I'm not complaining, but I do like informal sessions where everyone can have a go. But that's the trouble, of course - someone has to make sure that everyone does get a chance to have a go, not just the more pushy among us. Thankfully I don't have to organise a festival, I just pushes the buttons.

See you all next year!!

Andrew

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:21 AM

I agree with Alan that many of us could have done with a few more chances to lead a song or shanty ourselves - the singarounds in the hotel were OK - but pub sessions would be better. Why not have a few special sessions with the Shellback Chorus plus a come-all-ye/singaround system for those wishing to lead a song or shanty. Incidently, is there any reason why the afternoon sessions had to end as early as they did ?

I also felt that the "Press Gang" were not as effective at collecting money as they could have been. I've already aired my views on the art of "Bottling" in another thread. If you do want any help in this department next year, I don't mind helping out some of the time - but I'll still want plenty of time to sing !

Otherwise it was a great festival - wonderful singing - a chance to meet many old friends - interesting town - it'll take a lot to keep me away next year (you'll have to make any bribes pretty high !).

Congratulations to Val etc.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Essex Girl
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:04 AM

I am in full agreement with Alanww. The weekend was excellent, especially the Monday night concert which was worth every penny - if not more. It would be nice to have pub singarounds and music sessions in addition, and what about a few daancers to give us some hornpipes etc.! Linda

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: alanww
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 04:42 AM

T'was great! The only thing missing really was a pub singaround venue for the lunchtime and evening sessions. Val please note! There are many people who like to spend some of the time leading songs, rather than merely getting a chance to join in the choruses. I know theer was a session at 4pm but it was "a bit clinical".

Other than that it was bl**dy good weekend, with the chance to hear, meet and sing along with some wonderful singers. Well done Val and the others who helped to organise it! Let's hope it secures funds earlier next year and we won't be kept waiting on tenterhooks until the new year.

"I am going across the ocean, love ...!"
Alan

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Skipper Jack
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 01:28 PM

I was there on the Friday and Saturday. Who organised the weather this year? Please send your contact's e-mail so that I can order the same for Swansea in July and August!!

As always, I found the festival as enjoyable as ever and the organisation - a pinnacle of efficiency. With much less time allowed to get the festival off the ground, I think that the organisers did a superb job.

We sang in the three pubs and in the museum to an appreciative audience.

Long may Lancaster Maritime Festival continue. I propose a vote of thanks to Dave, Val and the crew.

Dave R.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 09:58 AM

I'll put my hand up to being the 'trained-type singer' - obviously having a strong voice is frowned upon in some corners of the folk scene. I'm sorry that I was one of the few people joining in the choruses in the theatre session - I would have preferred to be one of the many.

At all the previous sessions which I attended during the week (Including the one that was currently happening in the bar) chorus singing had been one of the main features of the festival - shanties sound pretty silly without one. Several of the performers, Tim Laycock and Sid Kipper especially, were making big "join in" signals with their hand - why didn't the audience - if enough of you had, then perhaps you wouldn't have noticed me.

One of the reasons that I usually avoid the big concert sessions is that people are usually too embarassed and intimidated by the space and size of the venues to try and join in. I've been on the other side of the mics on many occasions and usually try not to sing songs with a chorus because I know that there won't be any response. Perhaps a sign should be hung up in the front saying "The singing of chorus is discouraged" then we'd all know how we stood.

Many folk clubs are also becoming 'concert-ised' these days - Linda and I were at a venue recently where the guest (who was at Lancaster and specialises in chorus songs) was doing his best to get people to join in and when we did (not over-loudly) we received very strange looks from a completely non-participating audience.

Still, it's not confined to folk music. I used to sing in a small choir (consort really) and we used to specialise in weddings. On one occasion the priest suggested that one verse of a well-known hymn would be sung by the congregation alone - the result was an organ solo !

I will always remember the late Mervyn Vincent saying at a concert "Sing you Buggers, Sing - or I'm p---ing off !".

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Alio
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 08:21 AM

Geoff and I were there from Friday through to Sunday, both with the Roaring 40's and the Shellbacks (both were on great form).Personally I think it's the best of all the Maritime Festivals, possibly because, like Liam's Brother said, there are no big concert venues, so you feel part of what's going on. We just hope it will go ahead next year - Easter just wouldn't be the same.

To any Shellbacks reading this, I thought Sunday evening in the Kings Arms was brill! Well done! See you all in Liverpool, if not before.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: John J
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 07:45 AM

I was only there for Saturday, but I really enjoyed it. My only regret was not seeing the Press Gang in action!

John

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 06:45 AM

It was great! Billed as 'the world's biggest gathering of sea song and shanty singers', it was nothing less.

One very fine aspect is the accessibility of the performers to the general audience. No concert ever takes place in a big hall so all the singers can talk with everyone. I spent a few minutes telling a very patient lady how much I enjoyed The New Scorpion Band only to have her tell me that she was not the fiddler!

I walked around Lancaster and along the canal that runs through the city each morning with Dick Miles. Dick is a lovely singer and concertina player. I also had breakfast each day with Graham Knights.

Bob Conroy and I also spent a lot of time with Stormalong John; this was our 4th festival together just in the last couple of years. Our old friends, Louis Killen, and John Connoly were scheduled in the same areas as us so we talked a good deal with them too. Bob and I had been singing in Ireland and did a gig in London earlier (and another afterwards); we were bordering on being hoarse so we didn't do much recreational singing.

I loved the Shellback Chorus!

Cyril Tawney did a lovely set before the grand finale on Monday night. Out in the bar, Shanty Jack and John Connoly got everybody's attention.

A great time! Thanks to David Wright and to Val Simpkin who put it together and do it so well.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Grampus
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 03:49 AM

I agree totally with Janet about the 'trained-type' singer. We had the misfortune to be sat behind him at the last nights concert. Numerous 'shushes' were met with an increase in volume!! Nevertheless, a great time was had by all. Many many thanks to Dave Wright, Val Simpkin and all their team for a fantastic Easters entertainment. After visiting 12 of the 14 festivals, we thought it could not get any better, how wrong we were!!!

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST,Janet
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 02:59 AM

I was at the 'Last Night Do' in the theatre on the Monday night and it was brilliant!! Seeing all those names under the same roof at the same time!! Louis Killen, Cyril Tawney, Tom Lewis, Dick Miles etc etc. Tim Laycock was on with the New Scorpion Band who are a bit different, but absolutely superb. There was one bloke though, in the audience, who had this really loud, trained-type voice, who seemed to think that the choruses were meant to be an opportunity for him to try and grab as much attention for himself as possible, by singing as loud as he could. Sorry mate, if you happen to read this, but I paid my money to listen to the performers and appreciate their renditions of the songs - not yours. Yes - many audience members may have good voices in their own right, but there is a time and a place. Have a bit of respect - it's the people on the guest list we want to hear in a formal concert like that. Obviously join in but not try to drown out, particularly in quieter songs. Didn't spoil the evening though, which was wonderful.

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: John Routledge
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 06:53 PM

Saturday and Sunday were first class - Missed Monday

Many many highlights - Dan Milner, Cyril Tawney, Louis Killen,Tim Laycock, The Keelers ............

The only charge is £2 to get into the Museum where there are Five hrs of concerts in each of two rooms on each day!!!!!

Even those who think they have little interest in matters nautical can spend a very enjoyable and informative day at least there. Roll on 2003.

Thanks to Val and all her colleagues!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 05:44 PM

The pace-egg play went wonderfully - right up to the time we tried the pussers rum promotion...;-)

Then it went even better!!!

Weather was brilliant. Lots of people there - from what I saw (Friday only) it looked to be a sucess.

Cheers

Dave the Gnome

Subject: Lancaster - How Was It?
From: GUEST,Sue Clark
Date: 03 Apr 02 - 02:31 PM

I saw in a lot of threads before Easter that quite a few people were planning to go to Lancaster for the Maritime Festival - wondered how it went.