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06 Aug 18 - 11:58 AM (#3942031) Subject: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Rumncoke I was rather dismayed to hear that the evenings in the Royal York and Falkner are no longer a 'fringe' happening but are now under the control of the festival, and have been changed to music and song 'sessions'. I was going to try to go back for several days at the end of the week after a flying visit yesterday - but am not sure that I want to - anyone got good news of the situation as developing? |
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06 Aug 18 - 01:31 PM (#3942044) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: JHW They were a staunch event for me from the days Rosie ran them but Dave Taylor (who has run them recently) told me as you say that the venue is now 'official' and that sadly the evenings were not wanted. A real shame and the last clincher for me so I'm not down there again this year, maybe will never go back. |
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07 Aug 18 - 04:12 AM (#3942132) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Acorn4 The last I heard was that there will be sessions in the evening run by a group of people - I don't know any more about this or who are the people involved but something does seem to be happening in the evenings. |
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07 Aug 18 - 05:13 AM (#3942151) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: The Sandman is the organiser of the festival Alan Bearman? |
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07 Aug 18 - 06:54 AM (#3942192) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Rumncoke I wandered in before the start on Sunday and the group doing the running seemed very nice - but their thought was that there would be a circle of performers and each one would get a turn to either start a tune or sing. No thought to having a running order so that someone who arrived for the start was not left out, but a late arrival in a lucky chair was included. I did suggest that there should be something more organized, but it did not meet with favour. I did not stay for the session as I had a distinct sinking feeling about the venture - and I was supposed to be meeting someone somewhere else, who did not arrive but I sat and played a few tunes so the time was not wasted - and then I came home. I do find tune sessions difficult - too loud often too fast and unfamiliar and too long, and too many out of tune instruments or players. I play mostly for dancing and singing which seems to be outside the remit for sessions. I used to play along in the musical interludes, led by Taff - and enjoyed that immensely but now I am at a loss as to where to find singing at Sidmouth in the evenings in a venue I can cope with in terms of distance, temperature and convenience. |
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07 Aug 18 - 11:03 AM (#3942248) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Andiliqueur How sad that such a well run and musically well balaced evening venue should be lost. I loved it's own unforgettable traditions like the "The Proud Tailor" and "All Kinds of Everything". It was always somewhere to drop in for the last hour after attending a concert and you never knew who might turn up. Heh ho I guess it's all about money..... |
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07 Aug 18 - 11:59 AM (#3942255) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: RTim There is a message on Facebook today (Aug. 7th) - inviting anyone and everyone to a Music & Song Session at the RY&F...........so not all is a loss. Tim Radford |
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07 Aug 18 - 03:38 PM (#3942308) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Rumncoke I suppose it is just the connotation of 'session' - I do go to a music session here in Poole, second Wednesdays at the Branksome Railway hotel, but it gives me a headache most times. Just a warning - the RY&F session now closes at 11 o'clock not midnight. I tried to find the post on facebook, but nothing turned up when I used my obviously feeble talents and the search function. Oh - yes - I forgot the proud tailor. When will we see the like again? |
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09 Aug 18 - 08:15 PM (#3942797) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Tattie Bogle There were different hosts every night (or rather, some did 2 nights). I was one of those who used to go regularly, but later on, after a concert, in Rosie's, then Dave and Julia's time running it. This year, with it finishing earlier, it wasn't worth going in for maybe the last 10-15 minutes only. Looking through the windows, there were some familar faces there, but probably those who always went for the whole evening. Can't really comment further, as I did not actually enter! |
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10 Aug 18 - 04:55 AM (#3942838) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: JHW Rosie was so good at getting performers on, whenever they arrived or had to go (maybe on somewhere). On the hoof all night she'd be noting who was there and fitting folks in and balancing the night. |
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10 Aug 18 - 06:47 AM (#3942873) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Andiliqueur Dave Taylor who took over from Rosie worked hard to run a fair evening too. |
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10 Aug 18 - 12:35 PM (#3942952) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Herga Kitty Alan Austen and Linda Smith did a fine job on the evening I was there (Friday 3rd), running it as an inclusive song session with musical interludes, pretty much as Rosy and Dave and Julia had with Taff. Running it fairly while maintaining a good performance standard for the audience is never easy..... but some people are better at it than others! Kitty |
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10 Aug 18 - 12:45 PM (#3942956) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: JennyO This year Rob and I only went down to Sidmouth for one day (Wednesday). Normally we would be up in the Middle Bar, but because of my bad hips (awaiting a hip replacement) I cannot get up the stairs, so we thought of the RY&F session. When we got in there, it was packed, I was being wheeled in a combination rollator, so it would not have been easy to negotiate past people to find a seat up the back, even if there had been one, and somebody was singing a long and rather mournful-sounding song, more suited to Doom and Gloom I thought. I only recognised one face, nobody made a move to try and find us somewhere to sit, even after the song was finished, so we gave up and left. |
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11 Aug 18 - 12:31 PM (#3943152) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Essex Girl The evening sessions in the York are still part of the fringe, I.e there is not an admission charge and we have a collecting tin going round, the same as previous years. The management of the hotel requested something more lively than the previous year's and I hope that we went a way to supporting that. All of the hosts were volunteers and it was a learning curve for some of them but when anything new starts there are bound to be some teething troubles. Apart from the evenings we hosted we went there on the Thursday when the singers and musicians from Southwold ran an excellent evening with plenty of tunes and choruses, and everyone of wanted to perform got a chance. As we all know there is a shortage of venues in Sidmouth and we should be thankful to the York and Faulkner to letting us take over their very nice hotel for the week. |
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11 Aug 18 - 05:27 PM (#3943217) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Rumncoke I was asked to go back for the Friday for the procession and went in for the first hour or so of the evening session - there was rather a shortage of singers, but the host band were trying hard and there were lots pf musicians - they tried to get an even mix but it would have been far easier for them to have run a music session. I think that if the arrangement continues then it should be allowed to become a music session as there is such a wish for them - there were two going on at the rugby club on the Sunday evening when I was waiting to leave, one upstairs and one down. The definition of fringe is arguable - but it did not feel the same at all. I suppose the success will be judged by the takings at the bar, when all said and done, with a nod to the total of the collection. |
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13 Aug 18 - 07:02 AM (#3943568) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Tug the Cox Change is always difficult, but I don't think this tear was an improvement. Went on Fri and Weds, same hosts ( Alan and Linda), there was a list, much like other years, but with more invited guests, 11.00 session end was a shame. Fri went, and was told a list was not running, so left. We don't need another music session, there are already several. A Folk club like environment is rare at Sidmouth, and was certainly provided by Rosie, and by Dave and Julia. |
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14 Aug 18 - 06:23 AM (#3943806) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Derek Schofield All the events in licensed (and unlicensed) premises at any festival are dependent on the goodwill of the owners/managers/licensees. At Sidmouth, some of these events are fringe - ie not included in the formal programme. The Royal York and Faulkner events (morning and evening) were included in the official programme this year (see page 50 of the programme). This was no doubt at the request of the hotel. There was no admission charge - instead there was a collection. I sometimes hear the comment that there should be more participative song and music events in the programme. This was an addition to that provision. If festival goers (especially ticket holders) have comments on these particular sessions, then there is a feedback opportunity (bottom of home page of the festival website). Derek Schofield (not writing on behalf of the festival) |
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14 Aug 18 - 08:44 AM (#3943848) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Herga Kitty The feedback I've had is that this year was a learning curve but sufficiently successful for evening sessions to be included in next year's programme, still as a free event with collecting tin. Much as we enjoyed the late sessions in previous years (largely because of the influx of some very talented performers after other events had finished), there is no likelihood of RY&F sessions running beyond 11pm next year because the hotel has to accommodate the wishes of paying guests as well as festival-goers (notwithstanding that there are a number of festival-goers staying in the hotel...). Kitty |
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14 Aug 18 - 08:53 AM (#3943853) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Observer "the influx of some very talented performers after other events had finished" - hope I'm not reading this right but festival performers come in and take over "sessions" or "sing-arounds"? To me one of the best part of festivals where we have played has been sitting in and listening to people other than performers playing and singing - one of the best and easiest ways of picking up new material. |
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14 Aug 18 - 09:19 AM (#3943865) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Acorn4 Observer. Just for info:- Not usually the case. It was more usually those who had festival tickets and had been to concerts or had been stewarding. There would be the occasional guest pop in but just took a turn like everyone else. When the session ran from 8 to 12 the slot after 10 o clock was half the evening and the new arrivals would give the second half a new lease of life. |
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14 Aug 18 - 09:23 AM (#3943867) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: treewind ' festival performers come in and take over "sessions" or "sing-arounds"?' Who said anything about taking over? And if a festival performer contributes a song or tune to a session, why should you not 'pick up new material' from them as much as anyone else? (speaking as a minor festival performer who was invited to one of the RY&F sessions and played a couple of tunes when nobody else was in a hurry to start one.) |
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14 Aug 18 - 10:38 AM (#3943889) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: GUEST,Observer Unfortunately treewind most festival performers tend to have rehearsed festival or concert "sets" which they will stick to over the course of a number of festivals, you know exactly what THEY will be doing. "Joe Bloggs" the local, on the other hand, who was sitting in the audience and then turns up at a session or sing-around is more like-than-not to come up with material that you as a visitor to those parts may never have come across before. As to stage performers taking their turn at after concert sing-arounds there is a story concerning the late great Johnny Silvo at one of these sessions where a band consisting of four people used to take their individual turns to perform four songs or sets of tunes from their band's repertoire. During a break at the bar Johnny pointed out to them that the crowd at the session had willingly paid their money and had sat quietly listening to the concert performers all night and that now at this session it was their turn to do their stuff and not an opportunity for the performers to hog the show - They took the point. By the way if you have to be "invited" to play then it is not really an open session or sing-around. Only experienced one of those once where a well known Glaswegian folk singer managed to turn it into an additional "him and his pals" concert. The rather large room was packed at the start but soon thinned out. |
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14 Aug 18 - 10:44 AM (#3943890) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Herga Kitty Acorn4 - you also did a brilliant job as MC in alternating between the new arrivals and the people who'd come early and performed an hour or two before! Kitty |
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14 Aug 18 - 12:19 PM (#3943899) Subject: RE: Sidmouth RY&F evenings From: Acorn4 Thanks, Kitty. It was a bit of a delicate balancing act but we always just got away with it! |