Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06

Subject: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:03 PM

Tams and Coope were nice, and some of the other playing impressive, but kind of sad to see a programme about the Cambridge Folk Festival without a single bit of English folk music or song.

I hate what Emmylou Harris does, but didn't her guitar sound wonderful? - Unlike young Thompson's: I was torn between which I liked less, the guitar sound or the song!

The girl from the Western Isles was good. Not my thing, but good

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 05:27 PM

I can't believe nobody posted advance notice of this programme.

Fortunately it is being repeated at 25 minutes past midnight.

Too late for me but my Sky Plus will be recording it, along with the whole of the Folk Britannia series following directly after.

And Richard, how can you possibly hate what Emmylou Harris does ?

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 06:00 PM

I have no interest in what Emmylou Harris does so I didn't watch it. Actually I've had little interest in Cambridge since about 1979. I knew the 'highlights' were on as it's been well publicised but it just makes me angry that it's the only festival that takes place in England that the BBC chooses to televise. WOMAD has been ignored for the second year running (by television anyway). What I've been doing instead is trying to fix the cable lead to my new (2nd hand) video so that I can record all three episodes of Folk Britannia together on one tape. Since I don't have an instruction manual I'm not winning but becoming even more angry at how digitally challenged I really am.

For those who inexplicably want to watch this stuff, here is the playlist

With just over two hours to go to sort it out, I have to get back to the muddle of leads all over the floor.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 06:30 PM

I attended my first Cambridge Festival in 1975 ( went again in 1976 ), and I have to say that the acts which remain in my memory were almost all American.

David Bromberg (along with Dick Fegy) , Paul Geremiah, Country Gazette, Leo Kottke, the David Grisman Band (with Tony Rice David Grisman and Bill Keith) , Don McLean, Isaac Guillory, Stephen Wade, and others whom I would recall given time.

Emmylou is simply carrying on the tradition of outstanding American artists at Cambridge.

More power to them, I say.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 07:15 PM

Countess, you may be able to download a manual from the manufacturer's website.

Murray - I hate country! Of your list of wonderfuls, I'd listen to Kottke (but not for long) and Guillory.

The best I've seen at Cambridge - might have been Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson. Then of course there was the year that Anglia TV recorded and broadcast the 4-piece (performing on the campsite) of Roger the Chorister with Rachel (me, Jacqui, our daughter Rachel and Royston Ford) - grin!

The worst - the year the club tent walked out on the then best living squeezer in the country, a certain Fitzpatrick, possibly the rantings of John Cooper-Clarke, maybe the german bikers who wanted to rape my step-daughter.

Nah. I doubt I will ever go again.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 07:38 PM

Richard. why ever didn't I think of that hours ago?

Hehe, the only one of the list of 'wonderfuls' I've even heard of is Isaac Guillory, and he was Cuban, was he not? I think that's what he said at the best Cambridge I remember which was 1971, I think. Robin and Barry Dransfield onstage with Sue Draheim and Steeleye before they got silly. I went to the first ten festivals, then it tailed off, especially after I had all my instruments stolen from the campsite. In the past ten years, I've been twice and that was just straight in and out for specific performances. I think the slide downhill began when it outgrew Cherry Hinton and split into two sites. The death knell sounded deafeningly when the BBC took over and turned it into an out-and-out blandfest.

Don't suppose I'll go again either.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Effsee
Date: 13 Oct 06 - 09:13 PM

It's repeated on BBC4 Sunday morning 01:15. Minus points for me were Thompson jnr, Cerys, Roddy Woomble. Repeating a line 6 times in a song fails to impress I'm afraid. Enjoyed the rest though, especially the New Rope String Band, flipping (sorry) brilliant!

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 07:32 AM

"how can you possibly hate what Emmylou Harris does ?"

Hate is a bit strong, but her voice is well past its best. She'd be better sticking to harmony vocals now that there is so much drop-out throughout her range. It is sad to see her decline into a "heritage act".

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 08:21 AM

The same old BBC rubbish.

A few clips from performances with far more shots of presenters talking to camera and talking to each other and of them walking past tents talking about the weather, the catering or the toilets or anything but the music.

There are other shows that talk about the music - perhaps it is not too much to ask for a show like this to just have all the time spent ONLY on letting the audience see and hear the music?

They could have captions and do away with the presenters altogether and we the licence payers would not have to pay to be annoyed and distracted by them.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 08:40 AM

Information is nice (if you get it).

I would not criticise the manner in which Emmylou Harris does what she does. I think she does it in a manner that is very true to type. It's what she does that I don't like. But her guitar still sounded very good.

And even if that was BBC rubbish (I think that's a bit harsh) think how bad it could have been if C5 had done it - lots of questions about performers' bodypiercings.

Or Sky - right-wing political judgments about the songs.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: The Borchester Echo
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 08:50 AM

Erm . . . don't forget that it was C5 who did that marvellous Kathryn Tickell doc repeated only the other day.

I saw some of the end of the Cambridge transmission while still struggling with the video to record the next three hours. I'm with Smambles on this one; I wonder just how many licence fees it took to bribe Verity Sharp to witter on so with Mark Radcliffe?

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 09:33 AM

Yon Teddy Thompson was a waste of time and space, John Tams and Barry Coope were good and Chris Thile was superb, Nickel Creek were good too, the rest was instantly forgettable.

eric

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 09:39 AM

Was Chris Thile the young mandolin wiz? Very nice bit of Bach, but "Daddy Fox" was highly underwhelming. Didn't you like that young girl from the Western Isles, Eric? Agreed about young Thompson. Songwhiney crap.

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 10:05 AM

Julie Fowlis, absolutely stunning singer, yeah I forgot her, this is what GOOD music is about.

eric

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Black Diamond
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 12:48 PM

first time Ive seen Seth Lakema - thought he was good
Black Diamond

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: Lanfranc
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 08:06 PM

Would Teddy Thompson have been there were he not who he is (or rather the son of who he is)? Loved Linda, respected Richard, but Teddy? Get yerself a day job lad, it won't last!

Chris Thile was pretty damn good, and I quite liked "Daddy Fox" and so did the audience.

Julie Fowlis was impressive, but I doubt that I could sit through more than a couple of numbers without nodding off.

John Tams and Barry Coope were probably the best of the lot from my perspective.

I'd like to buy Emmylou a smaller guitar and swap her for that J200, it's much too big for her!

Alan

Subject: RE: Cambridge, BBC4TV 13/10/06
From: BanjoRay
Date: 14 Oct 06 - 09:05 PM

I thought the New Rope String Band were superb, playing Duck Shoes Rag from the old Grinnell Giggers band, hopping about in swim fins. Those guys are brilliant musicians as well as being very funny.
Ray