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14 Aug 01 - 09:10 AM (#527583) Subject: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST Tis the season, so share your favorite music festivals and experiences...and what makes them your favorite? |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:04 AM (#527615) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Toledo Great thread idea! Winnipeg, 1994. One of my (many!)proud parent moments. My daughter, age 8, gets up to do her Irish dancing to Trian. The crowd opens for her, she receives a thunderous round of applause, and great appreciation from the other dancers of her fine dance abilities, who come up after the tune to congratulate her, ask her where she learned to dance like that, etc etc Not only that, it was cloudy and cool all week long--no sweltering in the heat, or misery huddled under tarps from rain, mud, mosquitos... It was divine and sublime!
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14 Aug 01 - 10:19 AM (#527627) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Buffalo Gal My long-time favorite for all types of music, Chicago's Ravinia Music Festival. Too many wonderful experiences over the years to single out just one. |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:19 AM (#527628) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Jon Freeman Oh well, I know the post says music bu my favourite was the first couple of years of the Conwy Festival which was really a street festival. I loved the atmosphere in the town, seeing the jugglers, some magic, some street theatre - some of the acts were fantastic, chatting to some of the street traders on the quay and joining in with the music down there. There was of course other music, a few buskers and bands around the town and also concerts in the civic hall in the evening that tried to cater for all tastes, maybe Rock one night, Folk another... A couple of my favourites were Flaco Jiminez and the Tex Mex band and an excellent folk rock band called You Slosh - I wonder what happened to them. Sadly as time went on, the funds got lower and less happened particularly on the streets but I have some great memories, especailly of the early ones. Jon |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:55 AM (#527659) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,lilter Hi there, Best Festival surely is Saint Chartier, it`s absolutly from another world. Related discuss in BS MOUTH MUSIC. Tonight I`m posting lilter |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:58 AM (#527662) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Russ Clifftop. For the old time music obsessed. Everybody (literally) is there. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:15 AM (#527674) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: ard mhacha Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann, All-Ireland Fleadh, unsurpassed, held this year in Listowel Co Kerry, August 24th-26th. Meet people from all corners of the Globe, hope that Tibetan nose whistler turns up. Slan Ard Mhacha. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:21 AM (#527680) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST And for those who prefer a more intimate Irish music gathering, try the Frankie Kennedy Winter School in Gweedore every New Years. Its not for the squeamish, however. As Liam O Maoinlai says, its a pilgrimmage more than a festival. Dark of winter, empty beaches, and dead brilliant sessions and craic. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:26 AM (#527686) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: ChanteyMatt The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival. Sure, the primary attraction is the boats, but we've had a tradition of fine maritime music. The highlight is an informal officially unofficial chanty sing on the Saturday night of the festival. Scores of folks join in and the result is wonderous. You can bet I'll be there this year and many years to come. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:29 AM (#527692) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Dunc THE GLENFARG FOLK FEAST I have been going to the Glenfarg Folk Feast, Perthshire, Scotland for quite a few years now and it remains the highlight of the Scottish festival scene for me. It is limited in size because of the location and lack of big venues in Glenfarg Village... and beacuase of that it has never grown too big or lost its unique charm. It is held every year in mid April and is the first festival of the season for a lot of people. This gives it a freshness after the winter with people starved of that festival atmosphere. GRANT BAYNHAM in his latest CD (recorded live at Glenfarg) refers to it as "The worlds friendliest festival" with an "Audience who'd clearly just come in from the HowToBeAPureDeadBrilliantAudience Workshop (Including Module 2: HowToProvideTheArtistWithGiftHeckles) What more can one say? |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:41 AM (#527702) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Tedham Porterhouse For small festivals, my favorite is Champlain Valley. For big festivals, the best I've been to is Vancouver. (That endorsement is qualified by the fact that I haven't been there since 1997). |
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14 Aug 01 - 12:54 PM (#527761) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: black walnut This summer? Vancouver Folk Music Festival (BC) and Celtic Roots Festival (Ontario). ~b.w. |
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14 Aug 01 - 01:24 PM (#527806) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: selby The best by far has to be folk week at Whitby UK but after many years of going we go now to meet friends we have not seen for a year. Keith |
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14 Aug 01 - 01:44 PM (#527831) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Deni My vote's on Dartmoor Festival, at South Zeal in Okehampton, Devon, the most fantastic, friendly, folk frisson of the year. it's small, its intimate, but crammed. Muscians and festival-goers spill onto the streets. There's a huge marquee on a sort of village green and hundreds of people go there to do the concerts & ceilidhs. The singarounds are second to none, and the Oxenham Arms and the Kings Arms, are lovely pubs with just the right atmosphere. even the campsite... Last year a party from our folk club, The Hyde visited and it was heartwarming to see groups of our friends coming down the village street. Everybody say aaah. Of couse, this year it did rain a bit... Deni Hyde Folk Club http://www.beehive.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/hydefolk
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14 Aug 01 - 01:48 PM (#527835) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: kendall Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival. |
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14 Aug 01 - 01:59 PM (#527848) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: McGrath of Harlow Might be Sidmouth, might be Whitby - but it might just as well be , and I think that's where I'm headed next.
God but I'd love to get to the Fleadh again. I haven't been since the times it was at Clonmel. |
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14 Aug 01 - 02:10 PM (#527865) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Hawker I'm with Deni, though I also Love Bromyard - being a parent of a 10 and 6 year old, I take into account not just the music, singing & all that but also what they can offer to my kids and whether they enjoy it Its no fun for me if its no fun for them! I know that Deni has the same problem And Deni! it didn't rain as much as last year! but it WAS VERY Windy!!!!! Lucy |
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14 Aug 01 - 02:17 PM (#527877) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Toledo Ah Hawker--I loved Winnipeg for the same reason. Family campgrounds far away from the all night beer case drummers. A beautiful children's area, right between the stages and the arts booths. You could put the kids on the mountain of sand, or at the arts and crafts table, or in the tent where the music, dance, movement stuff was going on. And then keep an eye on them while you strolled through the arts booths, wandered from one stage to another...it is a grand festival that caters to families without dumbing down (? that probably isn't the right term, but I hope you catch my drift) the festival. |
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14 Aug 01 - 02:19 PM (#527878) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Wyrd Sister Whitby, Whitby, Whitby!!! |
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14 Aug 01 - 06:00 PM (#528098) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Dorrie u go selby and wyrd siter WHITBY ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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14 Aug 01 - 08:23 PM (#528207) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Lyle Walnut Valley Festival, Winfield, Kansas. Third weekend in September (Thursday - Sunday). Makes all the other festivals in the world look second rate!! (Think I might be biased??) Lyle |
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14 Aug 01 - 09:09 PM (#528223) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST Lyle, No one can be biased in this thread--its about your favorites! That's the fun of it! |
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14 Aug 01 - 09:10 PM (#528224) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: WFDU - Ron Olesko Old Songs Festival |
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14 Aug 01 - 09:41 PM (#528243) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Sandy Paton I'll go along with Olesko. Old Songs. But, if the Getaway were to be termed a "festival"... Sandy |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:44 PM (#528290) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: SandyBob Anyone know of an online, comprehensive list of folk festivals and dates? SandyBob |
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14 Aug 01 - 10:56 PM (#528302) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: thosp try this blueclicketything> and look at the musical peace (Y) thosp |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:07 PM (#528309) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Bluebelle This year? River Valley Bluegrass Jamboree, Ontario. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:12 PM (#528313) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: John Nolan Before this year it was Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders. Now it has to be Calgary (see separate thread posting). Winnipeg, from the comments above seems worth investigation. Also heard great things about Vancouver as well as Edmonton and Canmore (last two both in Alberta).Anybody got reports from there? Folk music seems to be vibrantly alive in Canada. |
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14 Aug 01 - 11:23 PM (#528322) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Charlie Baum Historically, it might be Fox Hollow (1965-1979). But these days, I'd say Old Songs. Though I'd second Sandy Paton's nomination of the Getaway if it weren't such a conflict of interest for me. (I'm this year's chair). Then again, the little group we had on our front porch Sunday evening wasn't half bad... And SandyBob, another good on-line resource listing folk festivals can be found compliments of Dirty Linen. --Charlie Baum. |
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15 Aug 01 - 05:49 AM (#528414) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: JohnInKansas GUEST,Lyle is not biased! The Walnut Valley Festival is a real winner. I've been going for 1986, with only 3 years missed when I was in the far Northwest. Lots of people refer to it as a "bluegrass" festival, but it's not. Officially it's an "acoustic music" bash, with International Championship competitions in several instruments and very high level "showoffs" in others. Flat pick and finger pick guitar, mando, fiddle, lap dulcimer, hammer dulcimer, autoharp, banjo - you name it. The competition is fierce to get good camping spots, so a good many of the folk show up and beat on the gates until they let 'em in. Nearly two full weeks of campground pickin' so good most of us seldom go to any of the 6 stages to hear the hired talent (which is very good). We mostly leave that for the "day pass" people. John
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15 Aug 01 - 07:56 AM (#528429) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Jeri Dirty Linen Festival and Events List. You can also view listings by States/Provinces and artist's name. I'll have to say Old Songs as well. I haven't been to that many other festivals, and I grew up near where Old Songs is held. Not only do I get to hear a great selection of musicians and get to sing a lot, I meet a lot of friends from my folkie past. |
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15 Aug 01 - 11:01 AM (#528480) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Charley Noble Let's add Lunenburg's Folk Harbor Festival in Nova Scotia, usually held the 2nd weeken of August. It's a great example of cooperation of a small but beautiful harbor town and folk music organizers. There are concerts and workshops on the wharf, the gazebo, the opera house, and a large tent on Blockhouse Hill, and informal singing and playing far into the night. My favorite memory is of my first sighting of Tanglefoot singing their pirate song "Traighli Bay" on the wharf. |
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15 Aug 01 - 11:43 AM (#528505) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Midchuck #1 - Old Songs #2 - Champlain Valley at the old site, which is to be the new site. Peter. |
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15 Aug 01 - 03:52 PM (#528754) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST froots.demon.co.uk/festivals for UK/europe festival details |
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15 Aug 01 - 05:04 PM (#528810) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Jenny the T Well, I've had a fine time the past couple years at the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival, which features not only some very fine acts, but a hoppin' session tent as well. In the realm of small, barely-known festivals, the Bloomington (Indiana) Lotus Festival of World Music offers some great times as well, for very little cost. I sure would like to give the Frankie Kennedy school and Ennis' Willie Clancy Week a try, though. JtT |
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15 Aug 01 - 05:47 PM (#528833) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: AllisonA(Animaterra) Old Songs! |
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15 Aug 01 - 06:30 PM (#528857) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,jerbear Favorite large fest has to be Milwaukee Irish Fest, with every big name in Irish & celtic music. My favorite all time is Bliss Festival in northern Mich. Sitting under a perfect Milky Way at 3:am with an Andian pan pipe band playing 15 feet away! Sheer bliss. |
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16 Aug 01 - 01:08 AM (#528997) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,chrisj Down in Australia its hard to beat the Port Fairy Folk Festival. Port Fairy is a little town on the coast of the Southern Ocean in western Victoria (the area was first settled by whaling crews as a base in early 19 Century). Its a pretty town that started off as Belfast and was once a commercial port but now is mostly a fishing and tourist centre. The festival now is so popular you need to book accomodation months in advance. It attracts many well-known names in 'world music'and goes on over a week. |
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16 Aug 01 - 01:50 AM (#529008) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Liz the Squeak Towersey, Oxfordshire. Friendly, all kinds of music, good friends living nearby, singing like you wouldn't believe and weather that can only be described as changeable. Heatwave one year, hurricane the next... Yes, Les Barker fans... I was at Towersey in '86, hang gliding in a frame tent with a bottle of Imperial Welsh Vodka - Tafski.... Had my hen party there, had morning sickness there, even did it camping with a 4 month old baby. Absolutely bloody marvellous! LTS |
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16 Aug 01 - 06:54 AM (#529074) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,PCW Trouble is that you settle down to the ones you like and never get around to trying the rest. For me it must be Whitby, The National and the English Country Music Weekend. Peter |
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16 Aug 01 - 07:18 AM (#529083) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Banjo-Flower it's just got to be WHITBY(UK) this weekend All excited and on countdown see you all in the Middle Earth and the Pluff Gerry |
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16 Aug 01 - 09:05 AM (#529119) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: KingBrilliant All UK so far for me.. Gosport Easter Festival Chippeham Folk Festival Guildford Live Towersey + assorted little festivals in pubs & such Probably best fave is Towersey. Kris |
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16 Aug 01 - 09:59 AM (#529156) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,maryrrf Well, We have a few festivals here in Virginia. Recently I was at the Potomac Festival in Leesburg and got to see Tommy Peoples - which was a real treat. But Girvan was my first festival in Europe. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven! |
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16 Aug 01 - 10:16 AM (#529169) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: JudeL I can't narrow it down as I love different festivals of different types for different reasons,and the bits that I enjoy are not necessarily officially part of the festivals but they include: Wareham Wail, Fox & Hounds, Grove, and Miskin Chippenham, Sidmouth, and Towersey Jude |
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16 Aug 01 - 10:54 AM (#529218) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,John Leeder I have to put in a word for the Canmore (Alberta) Heritage Day Folk Festival. It's held in a gorgeous setting in the middle of the Rockies (mountains in every direction). Although it's small enough that it hasn't lost the local favour, it gets big names by virtue of being close in time to the Cagary and Edmonton festivals, so it's a stop on the Western Canada tour. (I shouldn't tell people -- now everybody will go there, and it'll get big and unmanageable...) |
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16 Aug 01 - 11:23 AM (#529252) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: winniemih |
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16 Aug 01 - 11:37 AM (#529262) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: winniemih I attended the Canmore, Alberta festival this year (Aug 4-7) and feel it's the best I've been to. There are probably only 4000 people (mostly very polite friendly Canadians, it seemed to me) in a well designed festival space with 3 stages, much available shade and adequate washrooms and water. The performers (a world class group) are for the most part very approachable ( I watched Dougie Maclean's guitar for him while he ducked back inside a tent briefly; I must have an honest face!) Canmore is a beautiful place on the eastern edge of the Canadian Rockies. There's hiking and swimming within a few minutes of the town. I found a campground on the outskirts of town where several dozen young people from all over Canada play music, both modern and traditional, into the wee hours; I joined in around the campfire as well. It was a magical experience! SandyBob, I've got a great picture of Jesse Winchester and his son for you when we next meet. Winnie |
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16 Aug 01 - 12:43 PM (#529323) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,John Leeder There are photos from the Canmore area on Dougie MacLean's website at http://www.dougiemaclean.com/ontour/canada2001/canada.htm. (Sorry, some day I'll learn to do the blue clicky thing...) I was impressed! They were posted less than a week after the festival, whie he was still in Canada! Also, the Canmore Festival's website is http://www.canmorefolkfestival.com. |
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16 Aug 01 - 03:17 PM (#529502) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Mr Red Upton upon Severn - Worecestershire UK - early May Bank Holiday because I have been to every one because it is traditionally laid back and disorganised (notso now) but just works Is within sight of my beloved Malvern Hills and a few reasons I care not to share. |
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16 Aug 01 - 05:57 PM (#529660) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: John Nolan www.davidfrancey.com also contains a glowing report from the performer about the calgary festival and other stops on his Canadian tour. Word sure spreads fast these day, eh. Western Canada is the place to visit. I estimate 15,000 at Canmore in 2002. There goes the neighborhood. |
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16 Aug 01 - 07:22 PM (#529710) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST Mr. Red sez: "and a few reasons I care not to share. " Big smile. |
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17 Aug 01 - 06:15 AM (#529991) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: forty two I gotta agree with maryrrf. Girvan in Ayrshire has got to be one of the best small festivals. First weekend in May, it has a great mixture of Irish, Scottish and north English music. And it's a musicians festival with a very healthy ratio of musicians to punters. The session quality is as good as any All Ireland Fleadh except you don't have the hastle of trying to get a seat in a session and have some drunk pouring Guinness down your neck!! |
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17 Aug 01 - 01:09 PM (#530248) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,Shona Auchtermuchty in Fife (UK) is a brilliant festival. a real mixture of every kind of music. mostly scottish though! its a tmsa festival and there are competitions as well. its a great laugh! |
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17 Aug 01 - 01:33 PM (#530260) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,John Leeder Re Canmore: Next year is its 25th anniversary (oldest in Alberta). So I guess it'll be an overnight success, eh? |
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17 Aug 01 - 01:51 PM (#530268) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: brid widder Whitby UK...and I can't wait...this time tomorrow I'll be there!!! |
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17 Aug 01 - 01:57 PM (#530277) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: GUEST,tabbycat I've only been to English festivals (so far) Each one is different, so difficult to rank : Cromer - folk on the pier - the main venue is in the theatre on the end of the Pier - hence many jokes about overseas gigs. Bridgenorth, amazing range of music, very relaxed atmosphere. I discovered Alan Burke & The FOS brothers there. Cheltenham - very civilised - excellent music - AND it's in february so it cheers up a dark/cold part of the year. On downbeat note - the only festival I haven't enjoyed was this years Cambridge - far far too crowded. Haven't been to Fylde/Sidmouth/Tonder ...... Just out of curiosity,does WOMAD count as a folk festival? I'm already planning 2002 ! |
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17 Aug 01 - 03:30 PM (#530342) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: scouse It would seem to me that no one's yet been to the best Festival. There's only one!, ask your fellow muscians where-ever you come from! If they've played there they will say Tonder Festival in Denmark. As Arlo what it's like. As Aye Phil |
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18 Aug 01 - 12:10 AM (#530632) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Peter Kasin The two times I've been to the Mystic Seaport Maritime Music Festival have been great experiences. The music all day at the various venues and the comraderie and sessions at night in and around the dining commons were memorable. Sitting on the back porch right by the Mystic river, watching boats go by in the evening, and jamming til the wee hours - just memorable. Barry Finn knows what I'm talking about. Performers have several spots, so if you missed an act the first time, you get more chances. You rarely felt like you missed anyone completely. A great mix of established performers and a few newer acts. -chanteyranger
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09 Sep 01 - 10:25 PM (#545926) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull |
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10 Sep 01 - 02:09 PM (#546441) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: janey Newcastleton, Scottish Borders...really relaxed with a welcome from all the village. Camping right in the middle or down by the river. Great musicians, great singers, no people trying to organise me or check tickets, no closing times! Everyone friendly and enthusiastic. Whitby is great too! And on the way up...Alcester near Stratford upon Avon; quality pubs, excellent campsite (well the portaloos are ok), catering by Moor 'n' Coast, real ale, and seems to be getting more popular after only two years. |
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10 Sep 01 - 02:26 PM (#546453) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: Cllr Sidmouth 'cos I have a house there and it last for over a week. Best festival/ weekend of Song ever for me was in "The Anchor" Sidmouth. The Middle bar Winter Reunion February 1994 (twenty four hour non stop song session no repeats) Cllr |
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10 Sep 01 - 02:33 PM (#546468) Subject: RE: Your favorite festivals From: O'Trasno Well for me,it has to be the Shetland Folk Festival.There aren't enough hotel rooms on the islands(or pound notes in the kitty) to accomodate the artists,so everyone has to stay with the native "friends of the festival".And the people of Shetland must be the warmest and kindest on the planet, isolated as they are on their own little planet... But when the festival comes round at eastertime everyone emerges from the endless dark of winter to party it up big style. Many's the "visiting foreign artist" who has left the islands with a tear in their eyes as the ferry leaves the harbour of Lerwick (it's a 14 hour trip from Aberdeen!),and it seems like the entire population of the islands is waving goodbye from the pier. |