CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11

Subject: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: PoppaGator
Date: 22 Jul 05 - 02:25 PM

Anyone going? Anyone been there in past years and willing to share comments?

Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be appearing there this year as a member of the N.O. Quarter Shanty Krewe.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 10:06 AM

refresh!!!

Nobody knows nothin', huh? If no response was forthcoming on Friday, I not have much expectation that I'll hear back from anyone on the weekend, but let's try anyway.

Here's a link to the festival website home page:

http://www.celticfestms.org/index.htm

Maybe someone will offer some thoughts on this question, which requires no knowledge of this particular festival:

We'll be performing as unaccompanied singers, but I'm thinking about bringing my guitar along, in hopes of learning something at the workshops. I don't know ~ I might enjoy myself more without lugging around (and remaining constantly responsible for) a valuable and relatively bulky and heavy instrument. (I don't have a cheap second guitar or "banger" ~ just my one and only 1969 D-18).

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 11:30 AM

Poppagator,

    Interesting looking festival. A bit far from Chicago for me to be able to check it out. I noted on the workshop link that there was nothing directly guitar related happening. I guess whether to bring the guitar would hinge on whether the festival also was jamming-friendly. I love going to the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Ontario, for example. But, unless I'm there in my performer capacity, I don't bring up a guitar. The grounds where the festival is held doesn't really have a lot of space conducive to jamming. While there are after hours sessions, I find the guitar gets lost in the mush. There are some good guitarists on the bill I noticed. I like what John Doyle does with Liz Carrol. At least if you're performing at this festival, you ought to be able to stash the guitar in instrument lock up? That way you wouldn't have to lug it around all the time.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: GUEST,khandu
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 11:35 AM

Hey Poppa, I went in '93. Enjoyed it quite well. I was not in the best of health at the time so I could not get in to it as much as I normally would.

There is a possibility that I can be there this year, depending on where my work has taken me at that time.

If I see that I will make it, I'll PM you and make plans to finally meet you!

ken

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 01:03 PM

Thanks guys.

Phil, I was just in Chicago last week! Hope your drought ends soon... I may compromise, leave my guitar home but bring my fingerpicks "just in case." Anyway, I should be able to keep myself occupied just by singing. I'm not particularly accomplished or experienced as a guitar player in the Celtic genre ~ I'm more of a blues/folk type ~ but would be glad to learn.

Ken, keep in touch. Maybe we'll actually meet up in ral life!

Pops

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 23 Jul 05 - 02:02 PM

It rained a bit the other day. Probably not enough. Speaking of guitar style stuff. I got a DVD the other day of John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee. After the concert footage, Renbourn does a talk about his guitar style. I found his playing some bluesy things and talking about how he changed the playing style to suit accompanying English traditional music to be fascinating. The two of them had just played a gig at Chicago's Hothouse. It was great to see them perform again.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: GUEST,Texas Celtic Guess
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 03:16 AM

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 24 Jul 05 - 02:35 PM

Texas Guess? No, Texas Guest - as a member of the North Texas Celtic community I am well aware of the MSFest (run by a member of the band known as - Legacy) and have been told by several performing peers that it is a small, but wonderful festival - I've heard nothing negative about it.

As for your guitar? Consider taking it along for jams and sessions as they are supposed to be plentiful; and, you never know what you may learn, or be able to impart to others. Have a great time and look for a wonderful Scottish band called Smithfield Fair - you don't want to miss their set.
Cheers.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: PoppaGator
Date: 25 Jul 05 - 04:23 AM

In the end, I'm sure I'll take the advice of the veteran members of our shanty singing group, which was booked for this festival last year and perhaps another year or two previously as well.

We'll be meeting and rehearsing more frequently as the date approaches, and I'm sure that all our plans will gradually fall into shape.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: PoppaGator
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 04:19 PM

Figured I'd refresh this and relate a few things I've learned in the meantime.

This is a pretty big-deal festival in this part of the Celtic-music world, and features lots of acts ~ a half-dozen or more stages, going on all at the same time, all day for two days.

With the exception of two or three "headliners," nobody gets paid (i.e., none of the "regional" acts providing the bulk of the entertainment). It's OK, though: as a performer, you don't draw any pay from the management, but then again you but you don't have to pay them for anything. Not is your admission gratis (as should be expected, of course), but also all the food you can eat and an unlimited supply of Guinness.

I can live with that!

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 8-10
From: PoppaGator
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 02:06 PM

Well, thanks to Hurricane Katrina, KC and the Shantey Krewe and I never made to Jackson last year. But we're booked for CelticFest this year, once again on the weekend after Labor Day, and I trust we'll be able to make it this time. The dates for '06 are Friday evening the 8th through Sunday the 11th.

Anyone who might attend, or anyone with any interest in this at all, please let me know, either in this thread or via PM.

Subject: RE: CelticFest, Jackson MS, Sept 9-11
From: GUEST,Texas Guest
Date: 01 Aug 06 - 05:36 PM

Well, PoppaGator, I will be leaving Fort Worth, Texas for a two-week Michigan performance trip on the morning of the 9th and my first stop is Jackson, MS - where I've been invited to perform this year; and, yes, this is a big deal. No, it doesn't pay; but, everyone I know who plays it - loves it. Regional or headliner you get stage time by invitation - and they don't throw it around willy-nilly. I couldn't make it last year but I'll be there in September - see you there!