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Subject: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: ossonflags Date: 02 Sep 02 - 05:34 AM What a great weekend!!!!!!!!!! never seemed to get out of the Minerva much this weekend.Two lovely singarounds on both days,well run by the individual hosts and well attended and contributed to by mudcatters. Did any of you catch the version of "all for me grog "done by the two dutch guys,late on the sunday afternoon,excellant!! Plenty bear and fun had by all,and as always at these events no trouble.Even the weather was kind to us. The use of the old brewery in the Minerva for the sessions was a great idea,far better than the old room,I felt. I'snt it a pity that we have to wait a full year before it happens again? |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: GUEST,Julie B Date: 02 Sep 02 - 05:10 PM Have just arrived back in Milton Keynes after 'Sea Fever 2002' my very first shanty festival. It was a fantastic weekend, and the harmony singing was wonderful. I can't imagine how it could have been better. Even the weather was perfect. And the Minerva Hotel room (great acoustics)was the perfect singaround venue. To be able to sing sea songs while looking out of the open french doors and watch ships sailing down the estuary was magical.
Was lovely to meet some catters for the very first time (Abuwood etc) and re-meet Noreen, Alan, Maggie & Les, Linda etc. Thanks for the Fri/Sun night cheese and biscuits Les/Linda! :-) Was also good to discover the "Shellback Chorus".
Julie B |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Les from Hull Date: 02 Sep 02 - 05:27 PM Wow! What a weekend! One of the best ever. Many thanks to all our visitors (and local people too!) for a wonderful weekend of singing. Certainly the new room in the Minerva was a perfect venue - it seems we never left it, doing a great 'anti-Shanty' there on Saturday night and even an 'anti-Survivors' there on Sunday night! I would have loved to show more of Hull to visitors but the singing (and the drinking) was far more important. Getting completely rat-arsed with Landlocked in Ray and Jackie's conveniently parked motorhome (right outside the Minerva, no less!) was the perfect finish. No doubt we'll see some of you before then, but we're already looking forward to next year. Maggie and Les |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Willa Date: 02 Sep 02 - 06:57 PM A great weekend; enjoyed hearing Baggyrinkle and the Shellback Chorus. Met/remet loads of 'catters ( sorry to miss you, JulieB), and enjoyed the singarounds, particularly the anti-survivors session in the Minerva; it turned out to be a wise choice, according to those who were lucky? enough to get tickets for the City Hall. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Skipper Jack Date: 03 Sep 02 - 06:51 AM The reason behind using the City Hall venue for the Survivors Session was the fact that the attendance seems to increase year by year and the organisers needed a bigger venue. Last year, you may remember, many people couldn't get in to the pub (I can't remember which one it was?) Shanty Jack would appreciate any ideas for a bigger pub venue in the city? My main beef was that the beer in the City Hall was expensive and rubbish. So I would welcome a pub with good reasonably priced beer. Yes, The Minerva "Old Brewery Room" was a definite improvement. I didn't get much of a chance to meet many Mudcatters this time. But I did see Snuffy, AlanWW and Willa. Here's to the next one. Dave R. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Alio Date: 03 Sep 02 - 06:56 AM Geoff and I had a brilliant weekend, and all topped off with glorious weather. Good to share accommodation with all the other Shellbacks as well(thanks for the loan of the Tshirt Sue). Did anyone catch little Hannah singing a Tom Lewis song in the singaround at the Green Bricks on Saturday? That was wonderful! Now looking foward to the Captain Cook weekend - hope that's as good. Only one problem for some Shellbacks in Hull - it wasn't very child-frendly apparently. Seems a shame, as otherwise those families had a good weekend. Ali |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Noreen Date: 03 Sep 02 - 07:15 AM How did the survivors' session in the City Hall go, Skipper Jack, and was it full? The tickets were sold out by the previous day, so if the idea of transferring there was to allow better access it didn't actually work. And as you say, the beer there was not worth drinking (apart from bottled Newcastle Brown). Sorry I didn't come over and introduce myself there at the Saturday singaround- I was the one who sang Lowlands Away with the Shellbacks (which your colleague Michael in Swansea would have enjoyed had he been there :0) - missed you, Michael). Very enjoyable festival for this first-timer; very impressed with 'ull! |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: alanww Date: 03 Sep 02 - 10:59 AM I'll be back to the Minerva asap - they said they sold 250 gallons of guest beer in two days - and will certainly be returning for next year's festival (but let's hope they sort the beer in the City Hall before then!) Great to meet so many local singers too. We are three jolly fishermen ... |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Skipper Jack Date: 03 Sep 02 - 11:20 AM Noreen, The Survivor's Session was pretty full. The programme was okay, but the room, though rather grand, certainly lacked atmosphere. Shanty Jack wanted to have what they call a cabaret setting with tables, like they had in the main concert on Saturday night but as it was, the chairs were laid out in rows. I suppose that was to enable them to get more people in? But I hasten to say that it didn't spoil my enjoyment of this year's festival. It was smashing! It was great to have The Minerva as a venue again and the change of room was a great improvement. Thank you for the lovely rendering of "Lowlands Away". You don't hear that version very often. See you all next year hopefully?
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Crane Driver Date: 03 Sep 02 - 04:00 PM Yeah, a great festival. Well done 'Ull, I don't care what they sat about you .... Very impressed by the smell of the drains by Durty Nellies - reminded me of the Great Curried Egg Disaster of '75. Definitely something backed up there, lads. But yes, a very nice city, what I could see of it in the time, great weather, the venue for the survivors didn't work, but I understand why it was tried. Hope we'll be asked back. Hope to have time to speak to more 'Catters next time, too. Andrew |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Julie B Date: 04 Sep 02 - 08:42 AM Willa, Re: Sorry to miss you, JulieB I think we were both in the Minerva at the same time on a couple of occassions - didn't I hear you sing there at the final Sunday evening session, or have I got the wrong person? I arrived late (10pm) and just sang "The Irish Rover". Julie B |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: smallpiper Date: 04 Sep 02 - 09:29 AM Hey Julie B I missed you at the Punch the Horse do in Durty Nellies - next time you're over this way give me a pm. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Willa Date: 04 Sep 02 - 12:36 PM JulieB You're correct. I met so many catters that I lost track! |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Madam Gashee Date: 04 Sep 02 - 12:50 PM Great weekend in 'Ull Shanty Jack would appreciate any letters which could be sent to the council with your views on the festival. Unfortunately like all festivals today, the succcess seems to be in some part measured by the written response after the festival! A shame that the numbers and smiling faces don't get taken into the equation! Willa And Julie, enjoyed your singing in the Minerva. I didn't know who you were Julie, until you mentioned that you sang 'South Australia'. Snuffy... I don't know why you thought i'd be the hussy to your poor forsaken sailor... but it was fun! Now, with the washing & ironing done, just in time to pack for Deal.... |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Wyrestew Date: 04 Sep 02 - 05:23 PM Unfortunately those of us attending with children did not have such a good time. Indeed my family were subject to probably the most crass behavior I have ever experienced in a 25 year association with folk clubs and festivals. Having eventually found a venue that would allow children in on the Friday night, upstairs in the Black Boy in High Street, and with the room filling up nicely, we in the company of another faimily were settling down to enjoy a good session. The Landlord had been asked and was OK with our presence but of a sudden we were told, and not nicely so, to leave. Investigations the next day revealed that a member of the Hull Folk Club, I beleive her name to be Maggie, who were the organisers of the event, had asked the bar staff to remove the children, not because they were being noisy or misbehaving, merely that she wanted the seats we occupied "for her regulars". Perhaps if the young lady were ever to visit the West Midlands we could give her a few lessons in how to treat visitors to our Folk Clubs and Cities. It is a shame that recolections of events like these stay in the memory longer and spoil what otherwise was a good festival.
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Les from Hull Date: 04 Sep 02 - 06:44 PM Well that's a lie! In actual fact that's several lies. There's no such thing as Hull Folk Club. Maggie is my partner and I had arranged to move our regular session down from the Kingston in Cumberland Street (which is a little hard to find, and well out of the City Centre) down to the Black Boy for the convenience of visitors. There was Punch the Horse playing in the pub opposite, and a shanty session at the other end of High Street. We moved downstairs in the Black Boy because that's where we always expected to be. Might I just point out that if you expect to take children into a City Centre pub on a Friday night, in spite of the laws that prevent this, you shouldn't be surprised to be refused entry. Hull Shanty Festival only includes day-time events for children, although I'm sure that the City Hall would accomodate them as it's not a public house. We we're very surprised to see young children in the pub on Friday night. We're not your bloody baby-sitters you know. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Madam Gashee Date: 04 Sep 02 - 07:40 PM I took my 3 year old with me & the Baggies and did encounter a problem on the Friday night singaround in the White Hart. The landlady really didn't know why, just said it was the law and that the local police wouldn't allow it! As the room we were in was at the back of the pub, separate to the bar and didn't have a serving bar there,(although there was a bar set up, it wasn't in use!) I really couldn't see a problem and had never had one in any festival before. The rest of the festival was fine and Jacob came to both concert nights and all the day venues. Hull council did provide a children's area on the other side of the dock with a free bouncy castle and some fine childrens entertainers including Inner State Theatre. On the whole I had no major problems I am responsible enough that if my son starts to play up or distract from the proceedings I would hastily remove him. However he generally behaves and enjoys the music as do my other children when they attend. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Noreen Date: 05 Sep 02 - 05:47 AM This is very upsetting... I believed the Black Boy was being made available for a singaround on the Friday night, and so mentioned it to others in the Shellback Chorus. Stew and others turned up with their children, as they always do at festivals, and were pleased to be welcome after being refused entry to the White Hart where the official Friday night do was taking place. At no time was anyone being asked to act as babysitters, Les, the children were excellently behaved and in the company of their parents at all times, and I certainly didn't see any harm in them being there, though you obviously did. Perhaps if conditions are to be imposed on who attends a singaround in future it could be stipulated in advance? Noreen |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Michael in Swansea Date: 05 Sep 02 - 07:09 AM Why couldn't you say it was the crappiest 'Ull ever - that would make me feel better for having missed it *GRIN*. Thank you Noreen rub it in, you know I have a thing about your "Lowlands", missed that too - damn! Catch you in Whitby? Hey, did anyone give Maggie my hug by proxy? Michael |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Noreen Date: 05 Sep 02 - 07:50 AM Hi Michael, sorry, no Capt Cook this year (though the Shellbacks will be there) as I have a booking at the far-famed Swinton Folk Festival (thanks, Bernard) with Navy Cut (what d'you mean, who? What d'you mean, where? :0) Shanty Jack would appreciate any letters which could be sent to the council with your views on the festival...I'd be delighted to, but can someone supply an address of whatever sort, for the letters to go to? Thanks. Noreen
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Alio Date: 05 Sep 02 - 09:09 AM I know it's a fine line i.e. between making familes with children feel welcome and trying to please the regulars at the same time, but it does seem a shame not to allow children in who are so used to the "folkie" ethos that they are no trouble at all. The young people referred to earlier in this thread are all excellently behaved, and also interested in what is going on. It would be a shame if they and their families were put off returning to the festival, wouldn't it? I do know that several festivals have had trouble with youngsters when their carers "dump" them in workshops, and then go off to enjoy themselves, but I know this wasn't the case here. Ali |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Les from Hull Date: 05 Sep 02 - 09:35 AM I admit that I was very upset about what was said about my partner Maggie, as it was just not true. Perhaps the bar staff were using her as an excuse to get the kids out, but at no time did she even suggest that they move out. As I said before, we moved downstairs because that's where we play and sing, and there was no room upstairs for our regular session people. The children were very well-behaved, although they might have made more room to allow for people who only play sitting down. The real problem was that the upstairs room was too small. When we moved downstairs we intended that the upstairs room could continue as a sort of creche. The problem was that this wasn't a Shanty Festival event, only an extra evening pub session relocated to the Black Boy so that it was easier to get to, and so that people could also see Punch the Horse. The official Shanty Festival event at the White Hart did not accomodate children at all. I hope that the children did enjoy the rest of the Shanty Festival, and that we see them all again. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Abuwood Date: 05 Sep 02 - 01:17 PM Well I enjoyed going 'ome to 'Ull. Even though the town centre pubs (kiddy pubs) are not the best places for singarounds, the City Hall was much worse (and they wouldn't allow children in the bar there either). I thought little Hannah stole the show when she got up from her colouring book in the Green Bricks and volunteered a song! I would like to say big thank you's to Maggie and Les for their hospitality,and for running the Sunday afternoon session in the Minerva and to Willa and (?HUll songwriter)for taking on the evening responsibility and to JulieB for the taxi! What about involving the Blue Bell Les, they have a good big room, with good beer, plus back rooms for regulars nearer to the festival than the White Hart? |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Ned Ludd Date: 05 Sep 02 - 03:29 PM I enjoyed the festival greatly,and it has improved my feelings about Hull. (previously lost in the one way maze!)The beer in the Minerva was impressive! However, it really did seem as if kids were not welcome in most places with a bar. People have stated that this is the law, but in most towns the law is not interpreted as strictly. Maybe the organisers could take note and try to organise one or two singarounds that did not directly take place in a bar.(an adjoining room maybe?) It seems sad that in a city that wishes to attract tourists there is an attitude to kids that could drive families away. You don't find this in York, Whitby , Bridlington, etc. maybe they've had more practice. |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Eels Date: 05 Sep 02 - 08:13 PM Only just got round to reading this thread but I wanted to add that I had a marvelous time as ever at the shanty this year. For me it was spoilt by only one thing....Landlocked. Lads why spoil a perfectly good weekend by announcing your break up :( You will be missed - so how about an annual comeback for the Hull Shanty fest? Also a big thankyou to Jackie and Ray for their hospitality on Sunday evening. On Monday morning I thought I'd only dreamt about the perfectly parked mobile home/mini bar outside the Minerva. What a fabulous idea! And finally, although I wasn't there on the Friday night in the Black Boy I do think that Wyrestew should have at least checked out his facts before attempting to shame people by naming them personally. If you take your children in pubs, especially busy, smokey city centre ones on a weekend evening then it's often going to be frowned upon, either by the landlord, other users, and certainly by the police. Learn to live with it, you took that risk on board when you had the kids and so it's your problem don't blame someone else. The session in the Black Boy wasn't an official part of the festival, the pub doesn't have a suitable sized room away from the bar, and it has regular townie drinkers in there as well as folkies. In Maggies defence she's used to having kids around in sessions(thinking of all the lil'ducks in Whitby)she isn't the one with the problem here. I'm all for welcoming kids into folk sessions and I do wish that the UK laws would relax and reflect a more Europeon approach to families in pubs but until that happens we are stuck with it. It's not an issue of how well the kids behave, it's simple the law. (By the way I heard Hannah sing in the Green Bricks and she was great, keep it up!) Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to have a 'go' and for tolerating my efforts when I did.
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Willa Date: 06 Sep 02 - 05:15 PM Madam Gashee sent me this address for Shanty Jack. shantyjack@anchorage.f9.co.uk I've sent my message. *Please* add yours |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: Willa Date: 06 Sep 02 - 05:20 PM Nice to read this in the local paper tonight; I hope other visitors will respond in a similar way. "WELL DONE FOR SEA FEVER 09:30 - 06 September 2002 I give praise where praise is due to Kingston upon Hull City Council and all those responsible for yet another excellent Sea Fever Festival. Blessed with perfect weather, the whole three hours I attended on Saturday afternoon on the marina was first class. To all assembled, well done. The same congratulations are due to the added entertainment that took place in the adjacent area. I am already looking forward to next year's festival. You can certainly be proud of this event, Hull." |
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Subject: RE: Hull shanty festival------ comments From: sponge Date: 06 Sep 02 - 05:47 PM Hey Ned, Hows tricks? I know you probably wont read this but hey, who cares. The law regarding Bars and children is screwey, even our local licenseing officer admits it. The place children _aren't_ allowed is in the area shaded pink on the licensing plan, the bar area. Note this is not necessarily the whole of the room with the bar in......that said, a Pub which has regulars who insist on invading a folk session (grin) will have trouble if there is any excuse. The publican is probably reducing the chance of accidents happening. I know a pub near here, that was empty one sunday. Our works Treasure hunt finished there and there were several babes in arms. Landlord refuses to serve anyone with a child, indeed will not let them in the building. His loss. We parents have to live with it...and only visit festivals with child friendly pubs |
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