New roots competition, St Albans England

Subject: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 07:18 AM

Reminder - closing date coming up soon.


NEW ROOTS
A competition for young musicians

Are you under 25?
Do you sing or play traditionally based music ?

If so, this is for you.

Whether your style is traditional or contemporary folk, roots or world music, whether you perform traditional material or write your own, we'd like to hear from you. There are two categories, under 18 and 18-24. The competition will be judged by Damien Barber, Fay Hield, Lynne Heraud and Andy Stafford.

Prizes include performance opportunities at Towersey folk festival, St Albans folk at the festival, Leigh Folk Festival, Herts Summer Festival, and Redbourn, Hitchin, Waltham Abbey and Stortfolk folk clubs plus others currently being negotiated in Hertfordshire and nearby counties. There will be no overall winner. Instead the judges will give constructive criticism and award the prizes appropriate to the performers.

To enter: Send a cassette, CD-ROM or minidisc with up to 15 minutes of your music to:
Alison Macfarlane, 40 Warwick Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4DL.

Closing date 29 February 2004

Performers short-listed by the judges will be invited to take part in the final at Trestle Arts Base, St Albans on Sunday April 18 2004. It will be followed by a concert, featuring the judges plus competition finalists.

Further information www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: Hamish
Date: 15 Feb 04 - 02:01 PM

Tudor Folk Club is proud to support this excellent event and offers a gig as a prize.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 11:40 AM

Damn, there's nothing for "old roots" like me :-)
Perhaps I can get my daughter to do one of my songs...
Success with the event, Alison!

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: treewind
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 12:01 PM

George, if there was an "old roots" comp we'd all be queueing up!

I first met John "squeezy" Spiers when we both competed in the Sidmouth melodeon playing competition about 4 years ago. Neither of us won!
So... who needs competitions?

I'm not knocking this event really - I'm sure it's an excellent thing.

Anahata

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: fiddler
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 03:38 PM

Please don't knock it - I support it it can conceviably get new young talent a platform and apart form selection to the final everyone is a winner as there are so many gigs to go round.

I prefer it so and so won out of the whole country!

A

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: breezy
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 06:47 PM

have you noticed how there is no opportunity to perform at either of the two St Albans Folk-song clubs.

is this because noone has been in contact with the clubs or is it up to the clubs to contact the organiser of the 'event'?

The organiser is more than welcome to integrate with the St Albans clubs especially as they do advertise the 'Young folk roots event' - I do think the word competition is inappropriate in this day and age dont you> rather passee dont you think aye wot?

I think it is beholden to us to run a 'song competition'
What do you think George? Would you care to cho-ordinate
Oh , isnt it this year that Maidenhead Folk club run theirs?

This Friday, 20th Feb 2004, Les Sullivan - a fine songwriter, will sing his songs at the Duke Of Marlborough,bottom of Holywell Hill, St Albans open 8.00p.m.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 16 Feb 04 - 07:17 PM

I think a song writing competition would be unfair, because I could never win it.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 06:29 AM

Don't worry Martin, you've a long way to go to not win as many song competitions as I haven't!

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 06:44 AM

Well done,
          Anything that may encourage our young people to keep the tradition alive has much to recommend it.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: treewind
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 06:53 AM

Breezy: you know who's organizing the competition - why don't you offer the winner a gig too?

Anahata

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST, Hamish, no cookie
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 08:01 AM

I've had the competition in my diary for yonks - 18th April - and am really looking forward to it, having seen at least three of the finalists doing gigs locally: all very, very good. And we've reserved a date in June for one of the winners at Tudor Folk. It should be a great day (18th April) and a great gig (21st June).

Recommended.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST, Hamish, still no cookie (cos of work limita
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 08:38 AM

anyway, as I understand it, there's no podium places, old envelopes or "Stipe me nadgers - I'd just like to thank my mum and, er, dad, and, er, all me mates" eloquence from a suitably stunned winner. It's staged as a competition sort of, but I think they all get to consider themselves as co-winners but some trick or other. Which includes giving everyone a prize. That's why there are so many prizes.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 09:17 AM

Sounds like a good idea to me. Perhaps I should try and go to this one. Anything that encourages youngsters is good, and if it produces such talent, even better! Well done, that girl A!

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Crystal
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 11:46 AM

It's a great competition!
However I am constantly put off entering because I don't play an instrument (not well enough to enter a competition like that!) but I do sing. I sometimes find that unacompanied singing, unless done in harmony, is not particularly popular. The problem is that the people I sing in harmony with consist of my mother and sister, at 50+ my mother is just a little too old to enter.
AAh well, back to the whistle practice!

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 11:57 AM

Hello Alison. "The Friendly Earth and Fretless Acoustic Club" would love to offer one of the prizes, if that is alright. I think it's a great competition and a great way to end the weekend after The Woodworks Festival,which starts on the Friday before.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 02:20 PM

How about a comp for the seniors?

They will have a greater depth of experience to draw from

If you can sing then just do it

Old roots celebration in music and song, that'll upset the dancers

breezy in devon

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: fiddler
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 02:51 PM

Crystal, go for it, everyone gets a fair hearing and last year there was unacompanied singing too! It is good to see girls out there doing it to - Jackie Oates is making good headway in this.

Nothing ventured Nothing gained!

A

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 03:29 PM

Crystal,
another option is to get someone - any age - to accompany you. You would still be only judged as a singer. Alison, that would be all right surely?

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 05:31 PM

Thanks Martin for the offer of a gig at Barton. Any other offers of gigs will be welcome.

Crystal, you are very welcome to enter as an unaccompanied singer. Don't feel that you need an instrument or an accomplice. The singing is the thing.

Details at www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

Alison

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 17 Feb 04 - 05:33 PM

I think Breezy should offer at least a Spotlight.
What say you, John?

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: treewind
Date: 18 Feb 04 - 04:14 AM

Breezy and Crystal especially: the National Folk Festival has a singing competition open to all ages and strictly for unaccompanied singing only (in a "traditional style")... and which has been won by at least one Mudcatter!

I should declare an interest.
As Chris Coe and Eddie Upton have both stepped down after several years of judging the competition, a certain Mary Humphreys has responded to the call for volunteers to do the job. We don't yet know who will be chosen.

Anahata

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,cardboard cutout
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 02:07 PM

Who are the finalists in the "New Roots" competition this year, does anyone know?

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: breezy
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 03:27 PM

yeah we'ld let em have a spotlight


I've heard Avril wants to enter


But she cant have a spotlight

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: Leraud
Date: 01 Apr 04 - 07:12 AM

Details of the competition are as follows. I would like to encourage all Folk Club and Festival Organisers to attend as well as anyone with an interest in music. It's wonderful to see all the young talent. Please do come and support this worthwhile event. Come and make a day of it. Hot food and drinks are readily available.

NEW ROOTS COMPETITION - Sun 18 Apr 2004
2.00pm competition finals
7.00pm concerts

This event is for young performers of all styles of traditional or contemporary folk, roots or world music, whether you play traditional material or write your own. Categories are under 18 and 18-24.

There is no one 'winner', but it's a great day, a chance to get your music heard and loads of great prizes are awarded to the most appropriate acts. Prizes include performance opportunities at Towersey festival, St Albans Folk at the Festival, Leigh Folk Festival, Herts Summer Festival and at Redbourn, Hitchin, Waltham Abbey and Stortfolk clubs plus other events in Hertfordshire and nearby counties.

The finals will take place at 2pm and the judges will be Damien Barber, Fay Hield, Lynne Heraud and Andy Stafford.

Finals of competition for young folk and roots musicians followed by concert featuring Damien Barber, Fay Hield, Lynne Heraud and Pat Turner plus competition finalists.

Admission Competition final free
Concert £8.00, £6.00 concessions

Box Office 01727 852111

Venue: Trestle Arts Base

Address:
Russet Drive
Highfield Park
St Albans
Herts
AL4 0JQ

Hope to see lots of you there.

Lynne Heraud

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: breezy
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 03:38 AM

Good luck with the 'competition'and to all the participants, judges and artistes, from all at the St Albans 'Windward' on Fridays at the Duke of Marlborough and 'Spotlight' on Sundays at the British Legion Folk-Song clubs

Tonight: Tommy Sands Ireland's no.1 Songwriter

Then closed till 7th May re-open with Graeme Knights


Sunday: Keith Snodon, Harrow's no.1 contemporary folk singer after Johnny Collins

www.folk4all.net

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 04:27 AM

Should be a good night Breezy. Hope it goes well.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: breezy
Date: 02 Apr 04 - 07:13 PM

sure did.

see Tommy Sands St Albans thread.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 03 Apr 04 - 09:40 AM

Hello Alison. Just to confirm the prize offered from The Friendly Earth and Fretless Acoustic Club, will be to support Bram Taylor at The Bull in Barton le Clay in the function room, on Monday 8th November 2004. £5.00 entry will include fireworks and baked potatoes. Cheers see you soon Martin.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 04 Apr 04 - 02:31 PM

In reply to the question about who the finalists are, I'll post the list as soon as we have heard that all the people selcted can make it and have told the people who haven't been selected at first hand.

Meanwhile, I can tell you that there are lots of excellent finalists so please come and hear them.

Alison

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: LindsayInWales
Date: 05 Apr 04 - 11:43 AM

I used to live right opposite the Duke of Marlborough in St Albans - I would give anything to be back there now and go to the event!

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 06 Apr 04 - 11:54 AM

Well if you had the odd £250,000 you could always buy a two bed terrace near to that pub, and then you could come to the event Lindswidder. Or is it nearer £350,000? Just a thought.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 02:06 PM

The finalists are:


Under 18
Katherine Hazell
Simon Stephenson

18-24
Cat and Ceri Ashton
Hej
The Maerlock
Mimi Kamera
Kate Lawrence
Frances Kempster
Ian Roberts and Charley Fox
Neil Barber

The finals start at 2pm and the evening concert at 7pm.
Both events are at Trestle Arts Base, St Albans

Further details are at:

www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk
If any further event organiser wants to offer a performance opportunity please email me at [e-mail] by Wednesday.

See you at Trestle on Sunday.

Alison Macfarlane

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 02:09 PM

The url didn't work. Here's another try


http://www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: Dave of Mawkin
Date: 12 Apr 04 - 03:09 PM

yay! Maerlock are groovy, the pianist is superb! well done Alison.Its a great competition and helped my band along.Good luck.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 12:47 PM

Looks like a full and exciting final, I for one can't wait, see you soon dudes.

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Lindswidder
Date: 13 Apr 04 - 04:34 PM

For your information, Martin.....In 1952 we moved into our house - it's number 65, and my father rented it for £1 a week.........

On a visit to St. Albans about 5yrs ago I saw it for sale in an estate agent's window for....£385,000

I couldn't afford a doorstep in St. Albans now!! I went to the Abbey Primary School when it was in Spicer Street, (1956-63) and then Townsend Girls (But I'm better now..!)

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Anna and Brian Franks
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 05:42 PM

We went on your website to see who had won the New rOOTS COMPETITION.
Could you let us know, please. Our son is in The Maerlock, but he won't tell us! We are folkies in a small way ourselves and tickled that he shares our interests.
Best wishes,
Anna adn Brian Franks
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: GUEST,Leraud
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 04:01 AM

There were no 'winners' as such, but there were a variety of performance opportunities as prizes. Maerlock will be performing at the follows:-

Towersey Village Festival
Hitchin Folk Club
Tudor Folk Club, Chesham
St Albans Allstars

Towersey Festival takes place over August Bank Holiday and the other venues will be contacting Maerlock to arrange a date.

All the best

Lynne Heraud

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 04:45 AM

Lindswidder, sorry I underestermated it by some way, you should have bought it. If only we knew, eh?

Subject: RE: New roots competition, St Albans England
From: breezy
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 05:58 AM

I thought St Albans Allstars was our local basketball club!

If Maerlock wish to perform at the St Albans 'Spotlight' club which meets every Sunday , tonight, upstairs at the British Legion, Verulam road I suggest they contact me direct a s a p. so they can get some performances under their belts before the more major venues.
It could lead to an invite to play at the Friday 'Windwrd' Folk club at the Duke of Marlborough where on Tuesday 27th April, Dan Mckinnon from Canada will be performing a 'one-off'
Johnny Collins and Graeme Knights plus other members of the Herga club will also be in attendance

Tonight Les Sullivan is the 'Spotlight' feature
doors open 7.40 for a prompt 8.00 start

All details and tel nos are in the excellent Unicorn Folk mag

Good luck

Subject: RE: New roots competition,St Albans England
From: GUEST,Alison Macfarlane
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 07:47 AM

The list of finalists and the opportunities they were awarded is now on our web site, www.stalbansfolkmusic.org.uk. I will amend it as organisers contact the finalists, after receiving the contact details I am about to send them.