Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival. Sep 2005

Subject: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 06:21 PM

he Sixth Annual Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival will be taking place in Portsmouth New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 24th and Sunday, Sept. 25th.

This musical celebration of seafaring life on deck and on shore will begin with a Shanty Session at the Press Room, 77 Daniel St., from 2:30 to 5:30 PM. Audience participation will be both welcomed and encouraged.

From 7:00 to 9:00 PM, a presentation, "A Sailor's Life," will take place at the Rockingham Hotel Ballroom. A blend of songs and commentary will provide a panorama of the joys, trials and tribulations of Jack Tar, his ladies (in every port) the boarding house masters, the crimps., and other characters.

Bginning at 1:00 PM on Sunday there will be performances at downtown pubs and restauants, Cameo Concerts at the Portsmouth Atheneum, concluding with a Shanty Sing in Market Square at 5:00.

For those Mudcatters and Guests who live within a reasonable distance or will be in the neighborhood, this will also be an opportunity to meet a lot of fellow Mudcat regulars - Charley Noble, Jeri, Naemanson and Wakana(here for an all to brief visit) Sinsull, Bat Goddess, maybe Barry Finn, and yrs truly.

I'll be posting more details later. But right now I'm too tired from a weekend of too much fun, a grand music party at Charley's family farm and a county Democratic Picnic with Linn and Jeri.

Stay tuned to this thread - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:07 PM

HMMMMM I think I may cancel the Song Circle at my place or postpone it. Damn! I have to get better at multitasking.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Pamela in Ithaca
Date: 11 Sep 05 - 07:39 PM

I'll be there! At least for the Saturday Shanty session
and all the great doings on Sunday. *And* I'll be picking
up Jeff Warner's new CD! I can hardly wait.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 12:56 PM

Looking forward to seeing you Pamela, and I hope hearing you sing a few songs. Not only will Jeff Warner be performing there with his new CD, but Deb Cowan will also be singing and have her new CD as well.

All the events are free, but bring some CD money as there will be more than just Jeff's and Deb's being offered - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 01:11 PM

I'm going to try and make it although I will have had a hernia repair on the preceding Wednesday. I'll see how I feel.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 01:23 PM

I believe Alison Freeman will also be singing. She's a former member of Roll & Go and a star in her own right. What a voice!

What downtown pubs and restaurants are we going to be circulating among? We like to pepper our lyrics with appropriate trade names.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 01:41 PM

The final schedule is not yet final, Charley, but you will be performing most likely at Jack Quigley's, Breaking New Grounds in Market Square, and the Bear's Den in Commercial Alley.

And here's a list of performers, but more may be added, and there are few who will be singing but didn't want their own slots.

JeffWarner
Tom Hall
Linn Schulz
Bruce MacIntyre
Dave Hallowell
David Behm
Emery Hutchins
Brett Burnham
Lynn Cullen
Alison Freeman
April Grant
Debra Cowan
Kevin Scanlon
Steve Carrigan
Roll and Go
The High Flying Pukka Squad

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Linda Kelly
Date: 12 Sep 05 - 04:11 PM

oops-wrong Portsmouth-I'll get me coat!!!

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 12:40 PM

"The Bear's Den"? Hmmm, what kind of songs do we know that might work well there?

Dancing with Bears
The Preacher & the Bear
Me "Usband's Got No Porridge in 'im

But I'm not aware of a single sea song about bears. Hmmm, maybe polar bears! We would welcome suggestions, even if they include bad puns.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Chanteyranger
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 01:28 PM

Charley, there's the West Indian shanty "Bear Away, Yankee." (ha,ha)

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 01:47 PM

Thanks, Chantyranger. You're reaching deep to dredge up that one!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 02:23 PM

You won't actually be in the Bear's Den, but rather in its outside area in Commercial Alley, facing a wine shop, book store and jewelry/antiques shop.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 06:17 PM

Does the bear shit in the Alley?

Barely,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Barry Finn
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 08:53 PM

Grizzly Bear (prision worksong)
Abraham Bailey ( Old Bangum / Sir Lionel #18 child)
Ol Slewfoot
Angel Band (Bear me away on you're)

Barry

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 11:05 AM

Charley, not only do bears not shit in the alley, but the city as begun a recent crackdown on the drunkards who piss in any alley or streetcorner.

But you might think in terms of Bully in Commercial Alley!

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 03:05 PM

Maybe the bears is Catholic.

"Bully down Commercial Al" sounds like it has possibilities.

Maybe Barry would be willing to dance the old Grizzly Bear!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 11:18 AM

I'm delighted to announce that we will also be joined by Bob Webb on Saturday and Chric Stevens on Sunday.

Bob has a great voice and vast repertoire of songs and stories, along with consummate skill on banjo and concertina. He'll also be bringing copies of his CDs for sale as well as his new book.

Chris is our yougest performer, but still at the tender age of "almost twenty one" his skill on concertina and button accordion surpass that of many of his senior box players. And in honor of his birthday, he's hinted that he might just sing some songs.

Hope to see many of you there - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 12:45 PM

Naemanson-

Your new and improved Roll & Go shirt is finished and it's absolutely stunning. Would you like to pick it up as you fly by Richmond or would you prefer me to stuff it in my backpack and hand it to you at the Festival if we happen to encounter one another on Sunday?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Barry Finn
Date: 17 Sep 05 - 02:02 PM

Charlie, I can't dance the Grizzly Bear, never saw it, never heard it except as maybe a make me up dance by a NH singer/songerwriter. Could ask him about it or ever do it? I could do the Buzzard Lope though but some one might have to sing in my condition. I might not be able to handle doing both. The Buzzard Lope dance is quite interesting. You flap your arms, elbow pointed out like wings, back haunched over, legs lifting high & knees bent sharp (like a buzzard walking) head bent toward to ground (like a chicken pecking for food) & all the while the lead singer sings.


"Through my body anywhere,,,,(& the chorus replies)in this ol field

Don't care where you through me Lord,,,,in this ol field


You can beat & kick me,,,, in this ol field

Long as Jesus loves me,,,, in this ol field".


Picture the buzzard pecking at the flesh of a slave who's just died in the field & hjs body has been tossed at the end of a row where it turns (turn row) & left to rot.


Could be used at a maritime festival. It's a work (actually slave) song from the Georgia Sea Islands.

See Ya there.

Barry

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime - Live Radio NOW
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 10:10 AM

Curmudgeon, Bat Goddess and other performers are appearing live on Jack Beard's show. Click for WUNH. The Listen thingie ("On Air") is in the upper left-hand corner.

On Now.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Brían
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 10:55 AM

Barry,

That song appears genetically engineered for you to sing.

B

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 11:41 AM

Barry-

You do the Buzzard Lope and I'll do the Funky Chicken, which I learned from my students while teaching urban mapping one summer in inner city Detroit.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 06:35 PM

You've read the lineup, you've seen the website, now you can hear some of what will be coming up at the festival by going to this site.

If you want to hear all of Jack's show, replace the "10" with "11"      Thisis site is good for a week.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 06:48 PM

BTW, don't be fooled by the opening music at the previously mentioned URL. That's just the end of the "Pickin' Parlor." Jack Beard's Folk Show follows with some of the the performes from the Maritime Festival - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 05 - 08:19 PM

Nice radio feed,Tom. Sounds like you had a great time at the station. I must ask Bruce to describe in more detail his "brawling and balling."!

"Farewell to Nova Scotia" can be traced back to a poem by Robert Tannahill (1774-1810) called "The Soldier's Adieu."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 10:26 AM

I think Bruce meant "bawling," but forgot the 'w.'

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Sep 05 - 12:39 PM

The Festival schedule looks great!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 12:58 AM

Charley, please just bring it along. I'm not sure I'll get by your place before the festival. We are taking Wakana to the Common Ground Fair on Friday.

Tom, were you able to line up accomodations for us?

Really looking forward to being there! I have always loved the Portsmouth festival. And I am looking forward to hearing the new configuration of Roll & Go.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 09:16 AM

Brett-

I'll bring everything, including the little wooden hors d'ouerves forks from Guam. Just remind me that they're packed somewhere in my van.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 11:56 AM

Tomorrow is the day the Festival starts, all events FREE! There's even a rumor of a jingly whale sighting.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 12:24 PM

Really? Be forewarned! I now own a bodhran and I'm not afraid to use it!
SINSULL

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 02:41 PM

And I own a wee pen knife. Plus, Tom and Linn still have that harpoon.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 02:48 PM

I'm still not exactly sure where the Bear's Den or Commercial St.

I know, just bear right..we may barely make it on time if this venue is not more clearly defined... The stress is almost too much to bear...

I'll be there 11 AM sharp on Sunday for brunch. The rest of the Roll & Go gang, I believe, will be arriving separately with about 15 minutes to find this venue. Clarification would be welcome before Saturday morning so I can forward directions to them.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 05:58 PM

Charlie, leave the Press Room, cross the street to the Post Office, go around the PO and down Penhallow. Cross Penhallow from the PO and go down the first alley you see. Commercial Alley is about the length of a bowling lane, so you should be able to find the Bear's Den.

  
      
          ______|  | _________
         X        ||         |
        _____   ||  Post   |
             |  || Office  |
  Penhallow->|  ||_________|
        _____|  |______________
   
       ________________________<--- Daniel St 




	

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 07:10 PM

Jeri-

Thank you!

So help me, Bob, they's bears in the alley!
Way, hey, bears in the alley!
So help me, Bob, they's bears in the alley!
Way down in Portsmouth town!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 10:32 PM

Don't panic , Charley. You're not scheduled to start until 1:45.    And it's really called "The Den." You'll get the bear connection after you get there - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: SINSULL
Date: 23 Sep 05 - 11:53 PM

COME they told me
parumpumpum
A new born king to see
parumpumpum

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 12:14 PM

If last night's session at the Prtess Room is any indication of things to come, this is going to be one fine festival. all the regulars, includingmany festival performers, were in fine tune and vibrant voice. We were pleasantly surprised by the appearance of Edmund (CET) come down from Canada, as well as early arrival singer/fiddler April Grant. And Pamela from Ithica brought in some fine songs and variants never before heard in these parts.

It all starts again in 2.5 hours. Hope to see some of you there - Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Sep 05 - 12:23 PM

I'd better get there early (on time) just to find a chair upon which to park my bum - the car (with it's FOUR cup holders) is going in the garage.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: curmudgeon
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 08:24 AM

The first full day of the festival was a smashing success! Perfect weather and a fine turn-out of very appreciative listeners, most of whom ended up singing along. There's nothing like a good shanty to elicit singing from the shy.

It was great to have Brett (Naemanson) back with us again, if only briefly. And Wakan mad her Press Room debut with "Grandfather's Clock" in Japanese of course.

But perhaps the high point was the return of Barry Finn. Barry's still working on getting his singing voice back for the Getaway, but Justine sang "Nove Scotia Farewell."We need to hear more from her.

The evening program went of very smoothly, a mix of songs, commentary and lore, and nearly an SRO crowd.

It all starts again at 1:00 this afternoon. Hope to see some of you there- Tom

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 09:19 AM

Gotta leave for Day II soon, cause:

Some come to work, even though there is no money
Some come to join the song, their voices sweet as honey
Some happen upon the festival and off the street they step,
But as for me, I come for to schlepp.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 09:44 PM

Apparently there are no other survivors of this fine Festival reporting in.

Roll & Go certainly had a fine time singing in the Alley of the Bears, in the Shop of the Bagels, and out at Market Square. We even got a break in the afternoon schedule so we could listen to April leading her wonderful ballads. It certainly was great to sing with Brett Burnham and Alison Freeman, former members of Roll & Go; we had lots of fun harmonizing on new interpretations of songs we all used to sing together!

Tom and Linn deserve our grateful thanks for pulling this Festival together. It's a whole lot of work, and it sure looked like the folks listening were really enjoying the results.

My only regret is we heard so little of the other performers, except for the final mass gathering at Market Square. Of course, we did miss all of Saturday, regretfully.

With regard to planning next year's event, I would suggest finding an alternative to Market Square. While the Square has great visibility, it was the most difficult venue for performers to sing at, competing as it were with the noise of passing traffic. I don't know what the alternatives might be but I would welcome at that point of the program any enclosed space.

However, we would be delighted to participate again as long as it's organized as well as it was this year.

Off to gargle more bourbon!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: SINSULL
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 09:53 PM

Bruised knees and an aching back kept me home. Tami can attest to the fact that this was the home base for the Walking Wounded yesterday. Three cranky old folkies and a passel of dogs and cats.

Give me the dates for next year so I can get it on my calendar NOW.

Sorry I missed it all but especially Barry, Brett and Wakana.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Sep 05 - 10:15 PM

Oh, and the "whale" also was briefly sighted in the Alley of the Bears.

It was great to see and hug Barry again, and Justine as well!

We had a relaxing dinner with Brett and Wakana at the Press Room before we all took off. Lod know what she really thinks of this gang of Brett's friends but she sure seems delightful.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 07:32 AM

I was starving when I left, but nobody'd said anything about dinner. I was tired anyway. This year's (did somebody say SIXTH annual?) Portsmouth Annnual Folk Festival was a success, I believe. Maybe not in terms of money, since it was donations-only and maybe some performers got gas money. In terms of enjoyment however, people seemed to be having a great time.

I'm not sure I have this straight, but there was a couple Jeff Warner met in the UK and they came here on their honeymoon to see him and the festival. If anyone knows them (stranger things have happened), I have a piccie or two I could sent them.

It was great to see Barry again, even if he does look like hell. He'll eventually get back to normal and... wait a minute. All the time in the world, and he's still gonna look like Barry. He's quieter than usual. I was sitting two rows behind him in Jeff's last spot and I could hear him singing, but I guess the people accross the street and down the block couldn't, so he's got a goal left to shoot for.

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 07:50 AM

The festival is always the last full weekend in September -- put it on your calendar NOW!!!

Tom and I had dinner with Peter Contrastano, the festival's founder, and went over details of this year's festival and discussed more on the transition to completely local control. (He now lives in North Carolina and has some other projects started.)

It was so gratifying to see people coming from distances to the festival, to see people coming back year after year, and also how many people came to ALL events on both Saturday and Sunday. There were also a lot of new people who just discovered us and became excited about the music.

It was really great seeing Barry -- wish I'd had more time to talk to Justine, but . . . it'll happen.

Too tired right now to write much -- and I have to dash off to work (ugh!) in a few minutes.

Linn

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 09:17 AM

Jeri-

We were all doing dinner on the fly. I had even said good-bye to Wakana and then she and Brett turned up at the Press Room. We actually learned a whole lot more about how they met, and cautiously got to know one another better. Maybe we'll learn even more at Getaway!

Oh, and I finally got to deliver Brett's new and improved Roll & Go T-shirt, to replace the one that was cut off in the emergency room in Guam after he tangled with Godzila...or was it Dr. Octopus?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: CET
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 02:36 PM

This is me closing my flight plan. I rolled in about half an hour ago. I didn't make quite as good time as I had hoped. The car let me down badly, going north on Route 93 instead of south and then missing the turn off from Route 89 west across the top of Lake Champlain. Other than that, a good drive and a wonderful time in my favourite American city. I also was able to stop off at Dick's Country Store near Chateaugay, NY (1,000 guns, 500 guitars) and get a banjo capo for Charmion.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you again at the Getaway.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Pamela from Ithaca
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 06:35 PM

I'm also home after a long drive - though not as far as Ottawa!
Fond memories of much fine singing kept me going through the wind and rain. (mmuch needed rain in these parts of central NY) I echo everyone's
pleasure in seeing Barry, and felt fortunate to be able to sit with him
over dinner after the Saturaday afternoon sing. Once he gets his weight
back he'll look more like himself again...as far as that goes.
Thanks to Tom and Linn for putting this together this year, and making
everything seem seamless. The sing arounds on Friday and Saturday
were especially fine.

Hope to see you all again - maybe at NOMAD.

Cheers, Pamela

Subject: RE: Portsmouth (NH) Maritime Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Julia
Date: 26 Sep 05 - 09:54 PM

We woulda been there if SOMEBODY had sent details...? Tom?
Just had dinner with Brett & Wakana and heard good reports
J