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05 Oct 14 - 02:30 PM (#3666359) Subject: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: Richard Bridge Tenterden Review. Bugger all to do on Thursday - I rarely do concerts, not even if it is the admirable and amiable Tom Lewis. Nice sesh in the Caxton Freddy lunchtime. Horrible electric shit outside the Woolpack on Freddy afternoon, but happily it did not last long. Nice sesh in the Woolpack Freddy night. Sprog found me and added Vox. Little Ministry of Sound tent served her well. Some unexpected amiability (not of the horizontal sort) from elsewhere on Freddy, but it seemed not to last. Another nice sesh in the Caxton Sat lunch (a booked artist had a LOVELY Collings guitar), then PIA trying to find fodder after the sesh ended. Sprog thought the Woolpack had BBQ and I was SURE I'd seen a sign somewhere about pulled pork, but after getting wet and grumpy we ate expensively but not all that well in an Eyetie called something like "Prezzo" where the waitress was downright hostile. Shanties and Sea Songs was a bit too much sea song and not enough shanty, but I always enjoy both Peter Collins and Tom Lewis. Generally over the weekend we heard some good shanty singers and a lot of terrible ones. Why do non-singers so often join shanty crews? Then to the Caxton, where I nearly walked straight out again due to (censored)- but Sprog was dirigiste so we hid at the bar and it was a good evening. Some well spoken locals just behind me REALLY enjoyed it - they were amazed by the thought of participative music. Other "Names" (in context) gratified me by criticising the same people I criticise. Later on some of the booked guests came in and up to midnight we had a CRACKING "Guilty Pleasures" session - I even played one Bob Dylan! I think there may have been some hangovers, but I stayed mostly on the very weak beers until whisky-O'clock. I suppose some of the Morris sides sang in the Vine Sat lunchtime, so I missed them. |
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06 Oct 14 - 04:33 AM (#3666511) Subject: RE: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: GUEST,FloraG I think Tenterden is one of the most improved festivals around. There was a time when the only sessions going on were the ones we started. What was really pleasing was the number of young people who sang in the sessions - and mostly traditional songs rather than the self penned teenage angst that some youngsters seem to like. I talked to a young fiddle player who was in the local schools folk band - and although her lessons are mostly classical we both could enthuse about my electric fiddle and the improvisation she was able to do playing folk. I think I see a groundswell of enthusiasm starting. For the fist time the local OAP home was involved. Some of the residents were very enthusiastic - although I think 2 morris sides would have been enough. I have suggested through a steward that they consider having a sing around in the venue as well. Sunday was a bit empty in the high street of morris sides - a few rather than the many. Andys cake was one of the best - so the tradition of tea and cake in the awning after the dancing contines to be a highlight for the side. Good fish and chips too from the shop near the Vine. On a personal note I heard of the death of Graham ( never did know his surname) who played mouth organ and melodeon. When I first heard him play the mouth organ it was like hearing 3 people play. He always enjoyed Tenterden and continued to play into his 80's. Miss you Graham. FloraG |
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06 Oct 14 - 05:49 AM (#3666527) Subject: RE: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: GUEST Mr Bridge- don't you talk funny in Kent? |
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06 Oct 14 - 09:42 AM (#3666600) Subject: RE: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: My guru always said I managed to pop along for a few hours on Saturday afternoon, but didn't stay for the evening (although I really wanted to get to a Sing) as there seemed to be a big gap in things happening around tea-time. I could offer to host a MudGather next year in that gap, what do people think? |
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06 Oct 14 - 10:20 AM (#3666608) Subject: RE: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: Richard Bridge I should have mentioned Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham too. Always a pleasure. Perhaps those who went to the concerts might review those concerts. I've been going to Tenterden for years, and I seem to remember there having been sessions in the late lamented 8 Bells since time immemorial (yes, it's a contradiction in terms) as well as squeezed into the front room at the Woolpack, often in the White Lion, and sometimes in the Vine, although then rarely in the Caxton. The upstairs room at the back of the 8 Bells could get a bit solemn in those days. I never manage to last the Sunday out - work on a Monday and need to get self back to normal. Maybe the year after next when I am fully retired. The barn at the Woolpack can be excellent, but it needs a certain number of reasonably commanding participants to stay above critical mass and indeed above freezing point on a cold night. When the procession is full size, that takes longer and so the apparent Saturday gap is less. But one cannot expect that in teeming rain. I am not at all clear when a MudGather would be best, but if it is to be official it needs to be put to Alan. It'd be nice to see a BBQ or hog roast or something running from say 2pm to 6pm somewhere, and an official kebab van for night-time noffling and to soak up the beer, without upsetting the chippy. And speaking of beer, the beer prices were eye-watering! |
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07 Oct 14 - 03:07 AM (#3666817) Subject: RE: Review: Tenterden 2014 From: The Barden of England I enjoyed myself on Saturday, and managed to sink a few and sing a few too. The spot between the lunchtime sessions and the evening sessions was when I went to the Barn behind the Woolpack and had an impromptu session, so think that is well worth thinking about again.Got the caravan back yesterday so will probably be there the whole time next year if I can, so Cava breakfast will be back on the menu. John Barden |