Alternative British Folk Awards 2005

Subject: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 12:20 PM

Mudcat 2004 Alternative British Folk Awards - Nominations!

2005 sees the third year of the Mudcat Alternative British Folk Awards. Not a prestigious event, but one which celebrates the past year in the world of cyber-assisted folk music. Last year, a completely undemocratic and non-representational group of Mudcat members voted to pick a winner in each of the categories below. Your nominations are sought for this year's folk spectacular.

Nominations are welcomed under each of the following categories

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker)
BEST FOLK CLUB
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival)
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award")
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE

A number of SPECIAL AWARDS are also traditionally included in the ceremony (see below for examples). Your suggestions and nominations for any special categories will be considered by the committee.

The "Two In A Bar Award" for the best nonexistent Session/Singaround
The Larry Otway "Flat Earth" Award for Special International Effort
The Lifetime Achievement Award for whatever

please PM me with nominations etc. by 1st March 2005 so that voting can commence in good time for the awards to be published on the now-traditional date of 1st April.

Go to it, folks!

:-)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 12:29 PM

Please define "non-commercial". Do you mean in folk terms? Is Kate Rusby commercial because she sells like hot cakes compared with some floor singer's home produced effort?
And is a group non-commercial only when they aren't getting gigs?

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 12:34 PM

Xactly

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: LesB
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 03:35 PM

My nominations are as follows...(rustle as he opens the envelope)


PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR....Bob Fox
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR.......John Kirkpatrick
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO...Mary Humphries & Anahata
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD............'Donovan Songs' :-Pete Rimmer
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker).....Dameon Barber or any rapper dancer!
BEST FOLK CLUB .....................The Bothy Folk Club Southport
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)..........The Guest House Southport
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival).........Bricklayers Arms (Whittlesea Straw Bear}
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL..................Whitby
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award") ???
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT ...........Phoenix Ceilidhs
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE............Folk North West

These are the nominations for the constituancy of Southport!
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Fidjit
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 04:58 PM

I second -Bob Fox, and John K. But most of all the Bricklayers Arms at Whittlesey. The Straw Bear Festival. Great. Actually two sessions going on in two bars. It's where I heard The Boars Head - Kebab parody! Come on Keep Up! (and watch out for a 10 year old fiddle player, as was heard at the New Crown, same weekend).

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Fidjit
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:01 PM

Come to think of it. At the Straw Bear, Nick Barber was doing a good job for the best drinker award. Played a lot with his eyes closed.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:35 PM

Hey Les - have you seen our gig list for this year? Our website
here lists 24 song gigs up to the end of August - of which 5 are festivals ( including Whitby for the week).This does not include all the band gigs for Fendragon ( our Ceilidh band, or English rebellion, the other ceilidh band we're in)
If that isn't getting gigs, I don't know what is.
So I think we have been disqualified by Guest's post above.
Of course, if you don't agree, then we'll be honoured to be nominated.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: treewind
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:35 PM

The Boars Head Parody is famously sung by Chris Pitt, who in all probablity wrote it (and he was at Whittelesey, so it must have been him). He deserves some sort of award for that and his other misdemeanours in song!

Anahata

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: treewind
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:38 PM

Nah, getting gigs is when you have to give up the day job...
Anahata

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: LesB
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 07:17 PM

I didn't see the 10 yr old fiddle player, but he could very well have been the same one I saw in the Elsinore at Whitby, fantastic. I didn't mean to be disparageing Mary but there was only one catagory for duos.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 03:58 AM

Might be worth explaining that what I meant, when replying to GUEST's post above, was mainly a shorthand for "Whatever you like". In general, though, I've always looked on this massive and splendid ceremonial occasion as an essentially non-pro event (i.e. don't give up the day job).

In fact, my personal idea of "folk" would pretty much rule out the idea of a full-time "professional folk singer" anyway. It seems a contradiction in terms. I'm happy about professional entertainers who specialise in singing "folk" songs (whatever those are), and I'm happy to go to see them (and to pay). Just they've already got a massive awards thingy courtesy of the BBC, and I wanted to celebrate the other thing.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 11:58 AM

No hard feelings at all LesB and IanC. I said it was an honour to be nominated by Les, and I meant it!
And no, I won't be giving up the day job....
Mary

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 12:01 PM

By the way, Anahata and I saw the 10 year-old fiddler in the New Crown at the Straw Bear. Yes, he is the same one you saw at Whitby. Better than ever and playing in F and Bb.... that's a great way to shut up melodeons!

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 12:37 PM

As IanC is setting the parameters for these 'ere awards, won't a good number of LesB's nominations be disqualified?

I thought Bob F, John K and Damien B would all qualify as full-time professionals?

I have no quibble with any of them, by the way - they're all very good and well worth seeing.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 08:28 PM

this isn't going to work. try, best quibble of the year award. lets face it, no two folkies agree on anything much......thats why we have mudcat.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:23 AM

You forgot a nomination for the worst presenter of folk music on the radio EVER.
Obviously only one nomination, Mike Hardly, oops Harding.

eric

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Splott Man
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 03:50 AM

You obviously never heard me on CBC in the late 70s.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 05:03 AM

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR....Christine Connolley ("Moses")
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR.......Miranda Sykes
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO...Mary Humphries & Anahata
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD............"Echoes of Mingulay" - Les Sullivan
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker).....Hilary Ward ("MGAS")
BEST FOLK CLUB .....................The Carrington fc, Nottingham
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)..........Uxbridge, Crown & Treaty
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival).........???
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL..................Banbury
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award") ???
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT ...........Haddenham Ceilidhs
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE............Taplas (Wales)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Splott Man
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 09:30 AM

Here are my anonymations...

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Hankin (catch him at the Sunday Folk Club at Upton Festival)

PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Pat Smith (but then I'm biased)
Or Pete Coe if self-promotion isn't allowed        

BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO
Pat Smith & Ned Clamp (but then I'm very biased)
Or Blake's 3 if self-promotion isn't allowed        

BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD
Jeff Hankin

HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker)
Crispin Bartlett

BEST FOLK CLUB
Llantrisant (biased again)

BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)
Y Mochyn Ddu, Cardiff

BEST PUB SESSION (Festival)
The Endeavour, Whitby

BEST FOLK FESTIVAL
Towersey

BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award")

BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT
RUFF ceilidhs, Cardiff

BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE
Taplas

I'll think of some special awards later.

Splott man

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: SarahNash
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 10:58 AM

I must have been in the wrong session in Whittlesey... missed all of that (except Damien Barber hanging on to the bar for dear life)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: muppitz
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:08 AM

My nominations (I keep adding to these as I think of them!)

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR - Bob Fox
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO - Charlie & Adrian Button (Of Hobgoblin store in Nottingham)
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker) - Chris Wilson (Of the Wilson Family!)
BEST FOLK CLUB
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival) - The Tap & Spile Whitby
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL - Saltburn
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award") (I wish I knew!)
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE - Stirrings

I'm sure I'll fill in the blanks soon!
muppitz x

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Peterr
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 11:59 AM

Playing in F and Bflat shuts up most others - unless you're a brass player

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 05:05 AM

Hi!

I always like to provide some details about the nominees where possible. If anyone has the website or other info to do with any of the nmominations, it would prove very useful.

Cheers!

Ian

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 08:03 AM

best 'twice a week' club award

may I ever so humbly nominate the St Albans 'Windward' and 'Spotlight' clubs they meet on Fridays and Sundays respectively at the Royal British legion with a full guest list


Best resident performers in the 'over 50s but under 55 ' age group

again may I humbly nominate

George Papavgeris and Chris Flegg who appear at the twin clubs in St Albans, at the Royal British Legion on Verulam Road

best new vocal duo award for 2005 in the over 50s age group
'Moses and the Ref'

For 'The club in the Smallest room ' award may I nominate
the 'Windward' and 'Spotlight' clubs, though the Crystal club in Stourbridge comes a close runner up.


For 'giving new talent a gig' award
once again it gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to make this unique award to the 'twin' clubs of St Albans.


Best Folk Club web site fiddler George Papavgeris, bloody clever fellow be he.


www.folk4all.net


btw this week the twin clubs present Julie Ellison Fri 4th Feb and Sun 6th Feb

Get well soon Vin you're booked in May

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 31 Jan 05 - 02:26 PM

F & Bflat are quite OK for an English ( or Duet) concertina player, but a bit of a pig for an Anglo. Anahata is one of the few people I know who can play in such keys.
The 10-year-old fiddler - I wish we knew his name - said he had learnt the tunes from recordings. If he's at Whitby again this year,he'll probably be running a workshop.....

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST,IanC
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 12:38 PM

ore niminations, please ............

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: treewind
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 02:34 PM

Can we have one for the most contrived club self-promotions....?

Anahata

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 02:49 PM

No competition there, Anahata; it would be unfair

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Fidjit
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 02:57 PM

10 year old fiddler has a Dad that plays melodeon. Anyone know his name?

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: breezy
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 03:54 PM

Villan wins that by a mile treewind.

Pete Coe slipped in for a quick one in St Albans this week and treated us to a couple of class songs.

See you soon

Julie Ellison this friday

If she's that good she could be in for votes, she already has Ralph Mctell's

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Hawker
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 08:31 PM

Could I nominate 'Unsung Heroes - The Lost Gardeners Of Heligan' by The Cornwall Songwriters for Best Folk Drama - If you havent seen it, go and see it and you see why I nominated it.
Cheers Lucy

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST,Limehouse Lizzy
Date: 02 Feb 05 - 09:54 PM

How about nominations for:

BEST HORIZONTAL AWARD ARRANGER - Theakstons
BEST EX-FESTIVAL - Sidmouth
THE 'WISH YOU WERE HERE' - PLEASE RETURN SAFELY & QUICKLY AWARD - Joint winners Cyril Tawney & Vin Garbutt

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Hawker
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 07:56 AM

Best Folk Festival - Miskin at Easter

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: treewind
Date: 03 Feb 05 - 08:18 AM

THE 'WISH YOU WERE HERE' - PLEASE RETURN SAFELY & QUICKLY AWARD - Joint winners Cyril Tawney & Vin Garbutt

Don't forget Dave Swarbrick !

Anahata

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 11:32 AM

Any more nominations ... come on Hilary, or you'll get the Horizontal Award 3 years running and win the cup outright!

;-)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: vectis
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 03:47 PM

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker)
BEST FOLK CLUB
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular)
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival)
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award")
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE


A number of SPECIAL AWARDS are also traditionally included in the ceremony (see below for examples). Your suggestions and nominations for any special categories will be considered by the committee.

The "Two In A Bar Award" for the best nonexistent Session/Singaround
The Larry Otway "Flat Earth" Award for Special International Effort
The Lifetime Achievement Award for whatever

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: vectis
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 03:56 PM

Whoops sorry about that 'finger trouble'

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR Ken Stevens
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR   Geoff Higginbottom, always good value
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO Still 'Pig's Ear'
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD Too Far From The Shore by The Boarding Party
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker) Snuffy
BEST FOLK CLUB   Seaford Folk Club, but I admit bias
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular) Ram Inn at Firle in Sussex (monthly)
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival) George Garside's slow English at Whitby
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL   Whitby
BEST FOLK DRAMA (the "We do it in the road award") It has to be The Tonbridge Mummers performing in monsoon conditions at last year's Broadstairs
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE The Folk Diary

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Cats
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 06:06 PM

I have to agree with Hawker! Unsung Heroes has to be right up there for Best Folk Drama. If you haven't seen it, and loads of folkies travelled all the way down to Cornwall to see it actually performed in the Lost Gradens of Heligan, then it's a must.

Festivals.. Miskin and Bridgenorth

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Snuffy
Date: 08 Feb 05 - 07:05 PM

Perhaps Hilary (MGAS) and Crispin and myself should play an eliminator for the horizontal award at the best festival - Miskin at Easter

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Moses
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 03:49 AM

Avril Betts has offered to be nominated for the "horizontal" award. Just form a queue there fellas!

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 05:06 PM

Excellent idea Snuffy, I'm in - was wondering how to settle this *grin*

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: My guru always said
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 05:19 PM

PUB/CLUB FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR: El Greko (George Papavgeris)
PUB/CLUB MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR: Breezy
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" GROUP / DUO: Mary Humphreys & Anahata (Treewind)
BEST "NON COMMERCIAL" CD: Guide Cats for the Blind
HORIZONTAL AWARD (Best drinker): Cllr - join the eliminator at Miskin!
BEST FOLK CLUB: Wandering Windward, St Albans (Breezy)
BEST PUB SESSION (Regular): The Bull at Barton-le-Clay (Ross)
BEST PUB SESSION (Festival): The Bar Room, Miskin (Miskin Man)
BEST FOLK FESTIVAL: Banbury (Merek'n'Dary)
BEST FOLK DRAMA: Definitely Unsung Heroes, the Lost Gardens of Heligan (Cats, Hawker & other associated Cornish Songwriters)
BEST REGULAR DANCE EVENT: Straw Bear
BEST LOCAL FOLK MAGAZINE: Unicorn

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: Splott Man
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 04:09 AM

Looks like Miskin is gonna be boozy. Can I play?

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 09:03 AM

Fabulous!! I hereby also nominate Splott Man for the Horizontal Award & invite him to the finals at Miskin (someone ought to warn Andy methinks)

Do you think Chris Wilson will come along for the elimination? Or Damien Barber?

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST,Sooty,Sweep & Sue
Date: 10 Feb 05 - 01:47 PM

What about a speshull award for our Mummers Play at Tap and Spile at Whitby

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 11 Feb 05 - 04:07 AM

Well, what about 2 dategories of folk drama? One for Mummers Plays?

:-)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: IanC
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 04:57 AM

More nominations?

:-)

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST,Rob Wright
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 07:27 AM

Strongest Roadie.... Me. Scottish Champ, British Record Holder in the M3 75kg Raw category.

Rob Wright

Roadie for Taggart and Wright.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 07:41 AM

How about a "Who's shagging who" award for getting yourself on the Mike Harding programme more often than anyone else.

Winner this year and every year, Kate Rusby.

Subject: RE: Alternative British Folk Awards 2005
From: BB
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 05:23 PM

Whatever we may think of either Mike Harding's programme or Kate Rusby's performance, I find the last comment entirely unnecessary and distasteful. Get back into the dung-heap where you belong!

Barbara