Holmfirth Festival

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: JohnB
Date: 22 May 04 - 05:17 PM

As another Holmfirth virgin, I had a great time there. We only managed the one day on Sunday, as we danced in Sheffield on Saturday and our nice new friends there billeted us for both Sat and Sun nights. The singaround in the White Hart was good except for the smoke coming in when the door was a bit open, we did find the way upstairs pretty quickly. Evening concert was great and so were the mudcatters who I met there. Will hopefuly be able to make another pilgrimage which cooincides within the next couple of years.
Thanks for the good time, JohnB and the other members of Orange Peel Morris.(even though they are not catters) Ontario Canada.

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Amos
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:00 PM

Pubs, then?

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 20 May 04 - 04:40 AM

Does Dolly Parton sleep on her back

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: nutty
Date: 20 May 04 - 03:29 AM

Does the Tap and Spile shut during Folk Week???????

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Tyke
Date: 19 May 04 - 08:02 PM

I not trying to tempt you away from the Tap Ray! But the Big Angle is licenced till 2am. I thought you could start the Big Angle Big Sing after the Tap Shuts. It should be a piece of cake after Hervey's! :-)

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 19 May 04 - 04:08 AM

you're still at it Clarkie, you know Booker/Padgett/Knight credited with 10 years singarounds at 'Tap, Jim Magaeen still upset that we took it over with a change of Landlord!

All the regulars know where it is including the NEast people like Dave Minikin and Paddy and all the other Daves
Excellent support from Jim McD, Ken Johnson the Ducks all other folkie notables, including Herga Kitty and a good drop in for Southerners and expats from Oz such as Frits

Cloudstreet in there last year
I met such wonderful people last year on the folkie scene

If you want Big Angel you have it, unless of course there's money in it!!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Tyke
Date: 18 May 04 - 05:12 PM

Quite correct Raggytash we should stick to the subject. Will some one please start a thread on the lines of Padget and Booker session in the Big Angel Folk Week? Who's in favour?

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Raggytash
Date: 18 May 04 - 10:05 AM

Gnomad ......... think you might have the wrong end of the stick with this honour bit, it's actually spelt "on her" but you disgress from this thread, kindly return to the correct one

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: gnomad
Date: 17 May 04 - 07:30 PM

Go on then R&W R, while someone is duelling over your honour during Folk Week, nip into the big A, and have a session.

I'll buy you a pint if you carry it off (maybe 2 pints), but I won't pay your entrance fee.

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 17 May 04 - 01:26 PM

When I were a kid and did Whitby Folk Week the Big Angel/Little Angel and the Elsinor were the places to go if you wanted folk music Whitby Week!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 17 May 04 - 04:40 AM

Aye the Tap & Spole is the gets the quality 'Folk Marque'

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 17 May 04 - 04:23 AM

me thinks I see a George Clarke spoof

The Big Angel may well be a bridge too far!!
Particularly on a Friday night

You've got to know Clarkey!!

Anyway, Tap and Spile has a nice quiet folky room as well as a public area, good enough for me

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 15 May 04 - 07:28 PM

In response to Tyke's comment re Ray's alternative singaround:
Seconded!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Tyke
Date: 15 May 04 - 06:14 PM

Now back from the Westgate Run with a good idea. How about getting Ray to Run an altenative singaround in the Big Angel Whitby Folk Week?

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Tyke
Date: 15 May 04 - 10:03 AM

Not a problem lending you my support Ray but could you wash it out and return it in time for Robin Hoods Bay.

Personal as noisy as Harvey's was Ray did get the general public on side eventually with the Holmfirth Anthem. A Little before that, as Ray launched into Bring us a Barrel, I over heard a group of four Girls who were obviously out for a night on the town say, "Oh we can't join in this one we don't know it". So I feed them the chorus seconds before each line and they were away. For me that made the evening worthwhile as the folk virgins obviously started to enjoy one of Ray Padget's Singarounds.

As for a typical Holmfirth singarounds it was a no go. The White Horse and Stamps on Saturday and Sunday provided the better venues. But I would suggest that venturing out into the unknown and being prepared with the right material is no bad thing, (as long as I don't have to sing the Wild Rover) and one of ways to promote "Folk". It may be difficult to strike a balance between publicity bringing in a rowdy element but there was at least one Ticket Holder who failed to find the White Horse Singer round not knowing that there is an upstairs room. Likewise Stamps required a little local knowledge for people to work out that it is at the back and bellow the Postcard.

But let's give a round of applause to all the organisers who worked for Nine Months to put on a great festival. See you all next year in Holmfirth?
George

Subject: Newcomers concert
From: GUEST,Céoltaer
Date: 15 May 04 - 06:43 AM

Did anyone see the newcomers concert? I went, it was a cracker. the youth of today...

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: bridgee
Date: 14 May 04 - 04:54 PM

Well done Ray under great pressure, I was there too, Dave Min

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 13 May 04 - 04:41 AM

Nice to see you again Mary, Fri singaround in Herveys was noisy to say the least but I had excellent support from Jo and Mo, Dave Kidman, George Clarke, Arthur, Ken Johnson, Jim McD, Sue Haithwaite, Jude Knight etc

Sat sing led by ken in thne White Hart was a great do, a number of other characters in jovial mood, was hilarious - Roy Blackman might well have been there

Thanks to Stev and Maggie from, Denby dale

Hector Christie also turned him, if you know him!
Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Alio
Date: 10 May 04 - 02:03 PM

Well done to Ann, Alan and the rest of the committee. We thoroughly enjoyed the concerts we went to, especially Martin W-R, Bill and Dave and Grace Notes (we'd never seen them before and thought they were excellent).

Speaking from a festival organiser's point of view, I do appreciate how difficult it is getting the right venues for the right events, especially if the host town doesn't appreciate what you're trying to do!

Ali

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: nutty
Date: 10 May 04 - 11:38 AM

I'm sure the organisers will take on board constructive comments for next year, Nick, but it would be a shame if people had been put off going to the festival by your negative comments.
As you live so near, have you thought about offering your services and expertise??

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 10 May 04 - 11:25 AM

echoing some of the comments in the posts above -
but highlights for me an' th' lass were danu and the peatbog faeries on sun eve, and brass monkey on fri eve. and the jews harp workshop on sun afternoon.
but best of all was duncan mcfarlane band's ace gig on sat afternoon, shame it meant missing ken's singaround (tho' he did a grand job by all accounts). so did joe and moe on sat eve in spite of the smoke. and whatever the problems with the venue on fri so did ray p with his slot. pity we had to miss mary & anahata (that clash agen!).
but hey, why no singing anywhere on sun after 5.30 for us that couldnt be around in the afternoon - we did the rounds of all the likely pubs but couldnt find anything.
and by the by, the elephant may have had the welcome board outside for show but each time we went in there was nowt folky goin' on inside and no hint of a welcome for folks wi' gitars.
wot holmfirth needs is more non-smoking venues, at least for the singarounds please please........
seeya next yr

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Woodchip
Date: 10 May 04 - 10:34 AM

Thanks for those pix Vikki.
Nice to see Maggie, Ally, Ali onstage together with the McF band.
You and J were ace too! All power to your elbow!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 10 May 04 - 10:18 AM

What a great day we had on Saturday. Met loads of old & new friends. Shame we didn't get to see more of the performers - that's always the way when you're booked to work.
Them's as didn't get there missed a great selection of top notch performers.Congratulations to the organisers on their programme & thanks for inviting us. Sorry I missed your singaround Ray - double booked, as usual. Another year...
Mary
PS Re the electrocution comment: we reckon there was phantom power on which caused the box to make VERY rude noises. At least the audience was more well-behaved!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: kitchen piper
Date: 10 May 04 - 10:10 AM

Hi!
I've put up some pictures that I took at the weekend on our website.
there's not many, but I hope you enjoy them!

click here

We had a wicked time, nice meeting some of the other pipers at the pipers session too!

laters
:-))
Vicki

(PS I play the Scottish Smallpipes. although they do look and sound a little similar to the northumbrian pipes. Thank you for your kind words Padgett!)

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 10 May 04 - 04:45 AM

on the road to recovery I hope
Caught teh concert at teh Old Bridge

Mary and Anahata, incredible ~ in tears on two songs Mary, how the hell do you do that, anyway you didn't get electrocuted!!

Vicki nice Northumbrian pipes player, and so natural on stage, altho' I bet a bit nervous, going really well for young uns

My friends, Ruth and Sadie Price, excellent altho new to festivals, excellent on Bill's Fine old Yorkshire Gentleman ~ nice 'tina Ruth; 'Simon' John I like and 'Mary O Mary' only Mick singing that one
The Old uns, met Roger Hinchliffe, gave him my Cd, as I pinched some of his dad's songs

Thanks to Ken Johnson, Jimmy and Jo and Mo and everyone who made it a fine festival despite teh weather
(must learn how to spell teh!)
Ray Padgett

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 10 May 04 - 04:40 AM

Hervey's landlady was very pleased for us to be there. It was noisy but good although I was frightfully sqiffy old beans. Ken did a sterling job in the White Hart (although the beer was shite) Adam McNaughton was 'star'. The quality was very good. R & WR did some excellent work and her band was fab (ha! ha!).

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: muppett
Date: 10 May 04 - 04:31 AM

Les, Maggie & Raggytash
             I finally managed it, 9.30pm last night (I got t' bed)

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 10 May 04 - 04:24 AM

Hazel

I don't think I am being uncharitable, there was no criticism of Ray, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that the crowd who normally pack the Elephant and Castle (up to 60 people at times) were not going to fit into one room of a converted terrace house, especially when laid out as Herveys is, open plan bar areas and singing not being the best of bed mates.

Perhaps it would probably been preferable that no "official" sing around had been put in the programme on this occasion. Normally people will graduate to one suitable venue and I have been told the landlady of the Elephant did have a sign out saying folkies welcome !

Whatever the rest of the festival, for me, went very well and I throughly enjoyed myself even getting myself invited to play at the Pennine Palladium on Tuesday night!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 10 May 04 - 02:26 AM

Ken you did a stirling job hosting your marathon singarounds

-well done old chap

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Lady Nancy
Date: 09 May 04 - 04:33 PM

It was good to put a couple of faces to 'Cat names at Holmfirth. And yes, the White Hart was really very good, certainly for the 1 1/2 hours or so I was there. T'Nook was pretty good too, both before & after the White Hart.

Til next year.....:-))

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: nutty
Date: 09 May 04 - 02:44 PM

I have also got back from Holmfirth and what a really enjoyable festival it was.

I understand that the organisers had real problems finding a venue for the Friday night sing-around and as the event was free people might your comments appear to be somewhat unchatitable, Nick.

All the other s/a's were excellent events with an exceptionally high quality of singing. I would have been quite happy to pay to hear Adam McNaughton's "still you die " song. It was a real gem. Can we have it posted on Mudcat, PLEASE, Adam?

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: bridgee
Date: 09 May 04 - 01:48 PM

Considering I am a Holmfirth virgin, I can only say how much I enjoyed my first experience. Well done all those involved.
Dave (Bridge Folk Club)

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Gin Crewe
Date: 09 May 04 - 01:26 PM

Raggytash, was that you giving out money to ladies in the White Hart singaround?

!!!!

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Raggytash
Date: 08 May 04 - 07:57 PM

Pleased to say that Saturday afternoon was far far better, Duncan MdFarlane Band sublime and the sing-a-round in the White Hart was full of good performers

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Raggytash
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:36 PM

Just got back from my local club, back in Huddersfield where I went after leaving Holmfirth. With all due respect to Ray Pagett, who I have known and admired for many years, he was fighting a losing battle in the establishment (Herveys) he was given as a sing-a -round session. I then went to the Postcard where Captain Cooper's Motley Crew were playing at 115 decibels, I then decided to head for home, thankfully only 6 miles away.

I really hope someone has a better tale to tell

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Alexis (no cookie)
Date: 07 May 04 - 01:29 PM

Must get my cookie reset. Anahata - you missed a good session last night at the Nook - just because it wasn't mentioned in the thread, doesn't mean that it wasn't going to happen.
First Thursday of the month is the Nook session.
Alex

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: treewind
Date: 06 May 04 - 06:07 PM

Hi Nutty - I remember you telling me about your folk/internet workshop when we met recently - are any of your friends from Mickleby coming to Holmfirth?

Anahata

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: muppett
Date: 06 May 04 - 10:28 AM

hi John
          I'll look out for you, coming over Sat.tea time wi my step son, possibly head for the Nook 1st then wander about for the best imprompt piss up / singaround.

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 06 May 04 - 10:10 AM

Hi muppett - can't help re the showers but hopefully we'll meet up in a session somewhere. Julie's off to Cromer this weekend but I'm staying up north - will be there Sat for def. maybe Sun as well.

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: muppett
Date: 06 May 04 - 08:24 AM

where's the shower bloc

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: John Robinson (aka Cittern)
Date: 06 May 04 - 05:12 AM

Folk on the Internet sounds interesting - was only going to go on Sat but maybe I'll return for that one.

All the best
John Robinson
http://www.JulieEllison.co.uk

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: nutty
Date: 06 May 04 - 03:03 AM

I'm doing a workshop on Sunday about Folk on the internet ....some time in the afternoon I'm told, as I've been summoned to sing in church with Firm Friends in the morning.

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: treewind
Date: 05 May 04 - 05:17 PM

We're in a concert at the Old Bridge Hotel 3pm Saturday.
with Bill Whaley & Dave Fletcher, and Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer

Also (as Nikki says at top of thread) the English Café session in the evening at the Small Civic.
English Rebellion - English tunes at their best!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,padgett
Date: 05 May 04 - 07:29 AM

singaround Hervey's wine bar, perhaps?
see you there,
Booker can't come; say no more
Ray P

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,MC Fat
Date: 05 May 04 - 07:16 AM

Think Ken's booked forthe White Hart but there's always that wine bar where we did the 'iced gems' sesh on Sunday last year.

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 05 May 04 - 07:08 AM

Heard tell the elephant & Castle is now a restaurant, if so were where will be fringe sing be !

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,sarah
Date: 05 May 04 - 05:53 AM

will probably be fiddling in the Postcard session on Sunday afternoon (lateish).

Wouldn't mind seeing the Peatbog Faeries but I've got Steeleye the following evening and the boggies are playing at Hebden Bridge Trades fairly soon so I can catch them there.

Cheers
Sarah

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 04 May 04 - 05:28 PM

Thanks, Red and White Rabbit

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: Red and White Rabbit
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 02:21 PM

There is only one festival campsite but there is another campsite further up the valley in Thongsbridge - dont not what its called or costs but its no further away than the official site

Subject: RE: Holmfirth Festival
From: GUEST,Woodchip
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:16 AM

What clique Raggy?
See you at the CD launch?