| July
2008 |
31st July Eve Morris has asked me to say that if anyone is aiming to renew their membership at Summer Camp, it would be a real help if they can remember their membership cards. ************************************* Finishing in just under 19 hours for their 62 miles, Michi's sponsored Trailwalk has successfully exceeded its target and (at the time I'm writing this) has raised almost £1800. I guess there's always room for a few more donations if you are feeling benevolent. http://www.justgiving.com/teamfarrago Congratulations to the team!! ************************************* Bruce Molsky is doing a UK tour in October Oct 07 Magpie's Nest, Islington, London Oct 08 Letchworth & Baldock FC, The Orange Tree, Baldock Oct 09 Lewes Folk Club, The Royal Oak, Lewes, Sussex Oct 10 Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge, Wales Oct 11 Davy Lamp Folk Club, Washington Arts Centre, Tyne & Wear Oct 13 Glenfarg Folk Club, Perth Oct 15 Edinburgh Folk Club, The Pleasance,Edinburgh Oct 16 Star Folk Club, St Andrews In The Square, Glasgow Oct 17 Gamble Halls, Gourock, Inverclyde, Scotland Oct 18 Old Laundry Theatre, Bowness on Windermere, Cumbria Oct 19 Halfpenny Folk Club, Llanrhidian, Gower, Wales Oct 20 Amberley Folk Club, Black Horse Inn, Amberley, West Sussex More details on his web site www.brucemolsky.com ************************************* There's some photographs from Going To The West Fest at www.goingtothewestfest.com/Fest/Photos%20.html ************************************* Dates for the autumn Sewerby Hall weekend are August 29th to the 31st. However, as always, you can get on to the park from Thursday the 28th around 1300hrs and you do not have to leave till Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning. As a rider on this the Rose and flower gardens are at their best so don't forget your cameras. More information from John Yeaman ************************************* Walt Koken has identified the fiddle making lady featured in the CBS video mentioned recently as Violet Hensley. She is one of the featured musicians in the tune book that Clare Milliner and Walt are working on. ************************************* 10 Year Anniversary Diller-Bing November Banjo-Fiddle Workshops For the 10th Year Dwight Diller and Dave Bing are coming to Gainsborough to provide their special tuition on Banjo and Fiddle. These workshops provide opportunities for beginners and advanced players alike to get tuition from West Virginias finest teachers. They will be held on the weekends of 8th and 15th November in the new venue, which was used last year and has been very well received. Indoor Camping and all food is included Nov 8-9 Beginners Nov 15-16 Advanced Please contact Keith Johnson in early September to give him advanced notice of your wish to get more information or to be included. Keiths contacts are Email johnson- Tel 01427 613643 Please note the comment 'early September' - that doesn't mean 'now'. (and I know no more than you read here - Nick) ************************************* Colm Daly has sent a link to some vide clips of GOMAD 2008 HERE and informs that the Pickin’ Lunchtime session this coming Sunday 3rd Aug is cancelled, due to so many being on hols or making the most of the weather. The plan anyway was to have it in his back garden and not at The Retreat, so if you are still of a mind to go do call him first, 0118 9677408 or 07776373906. Next one is on Sunday 7th Sept. ************************************* The Anthology of American Folk Music is available online: http://towerofbabel.com/sections/music/troubadours/anthology 24th July Clogging at Sidmouth Sue Coe will be doing 3 Appalachian Flatfooting workshops for adults on Saturday, Sunday and Monday 1.00-2.30pm in All Saints School Hall at Sidmouth Festival. (August 2nd, 3rd, 4th) And I guess that the old time session will be in the right hand bar of the Bedford as normal. ************************************* Anyone interested in researching early American secular music and its European sources (1589–1839) might care to take a look at www.colonialdancing.org/Easmes/Index.htm ************************************* 17th July On Saturday the 20th September ROOTS (Rainham Oast Old Time Sessions, Oast Community Centre, Kent) will be having another day of workshops and evening concert. Cost on the day will be an all inclusive price of £20 for workshops and concert, or separately £10 for workshops and £10 for concert. Early booked tickets will cost £16 per day or £8 for workshops or £8 for the concert. Contact Graham or Josie on 01634 260281 or Line up as follows: Pete & Joan Wernick (Bluegrass banjo), Gina Richardson (Fiddle) Kerry Fletcher & David Carr (Percussive dance) Graham Anstee (Frailing banjo) ************************************** Tuesday August 26th - Sheffield Folk Train 7.14pm platform 2C Sheffield station. £Train ticket The Down Trodden String Band are playing one of their favourite gigs - they've done the folk train a few times now and it's always a great evening. They play on the 7.14pm from Sheffield, get off and play in the Rambler at Edale, and then play on the 9.28 back to Sheffield to an audience which is a mixture of folk fans and puzzled commuters. This time they hope to be joined by some of the Well Heeled dance team at the Rambler pub in Edale. Pictures of previous Folk Train appearances at www.folktrain.org.uk/gallery2007.htm ************************************* There are new videos for you to enjoy on YouTube. Watch segments with Doc Watson, clips from Fire On the Mountain and interviews with interesting old-time musicians. http://youtube.com/results?search_query=banjofolk&search_type=&aq=f and follow the various suggestions ************************************* Details for the 5th Annual Cornish Bluegrass Festival 19th – 21st September Hendra Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall Among the bands already booked are Hungry Hill (Canada), the Whitetop Mountain Band (Southwest Virginia) and the Lluis Gomez Quintet (Spain). We are also delighted to have Leon Hunt and his Quartet. Other top bands include: A Band Like Alice, Blueflint, Buffalo Gals, Doghouse Central, Foggy Bottom String Band, The Morris Boys, Richard Plank and Guy Charles, Southern Tenant Folk Union and Wood, Wire and Words. Appalachian and Flat-footing Dancing exhibitions and workshops with Shuffle the Deck and Sibs Riesen throughout the weekend plus a Square Dance on Saturday, with music and calling being provided by Cornwall’s very own ‘Foggy Bottom String Band‘. Ticket prices the same as last year at £35.00 for a full weekend adult ticket, with children under 16 having FREE ENTRY. For more information visit www.cornishbluegrass.co.uk or phone Nigel and Carolyn 01209 710060 or ************************************* Tour dates for the Hot Club of Cowtown Operating on the outer fringes of old-time - the part where Bob Wills meets Django Reinhardt - the Hot Club of Cowtown are simply one of the hottest acts around. September Thu 4 Dingwall's London Fri 5 Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Ireland Sat 6 Black Box, Belfast, Ireland Sun 7 Seamus Ennis Cultural Center, Naul, nr Dublin, Ireland Mon 8 Ireland (Venue TBA) Tue 9 Memorial Hall, Sheffield Wed 10 National Centre for Early Music, York Thu 11 The Met, Bury, Lancashire Fri 12 The Sage, Gateshead Mon 15 The Glee Club, Birmingham Wed 17 The Stables Theatre, Wavendon Thu 18 Norwich Arts Centre, Norfolk Fri 19 Manor Ballroom, Ipswich, Suffolk Sun 21 Komedia, Brighton Mon 22 Maverick @ The Zebra Bar, Maidstone, Kent ************************************* Colm Daly has found the following two clips of old fiddle makers: A clip of Noah Skelton, violin maker (from FOX but hosted on a Russion site - what were you doing there Comrade Colm?) http://ru.truveo.com/Absolutely-Alabama-Fiddle-Man/id/1987999363 and another of an eldrerly lady whose name I couldn't pick up on from CBS http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yljP2qyk6BU ************************************* 10th July Very advanced notice for The Carolina Chocolate Drops touring the U.K and Europe in November Dates so far: Nov 12 Walberton Village Hall, Arundel Nov 13 Fiddlers, Bristol Nov 14 London Jazz Festival Nov 15 Darwin Suite, Derby Nov 16 The Sage, Gateshead Nov 18 Festival Blues Sur Scene, Paris Nov 19 Paradiso Upstairs, Amsterdam http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com ************************************** For those of you down in Cornwall, Richard Plank & Guy Charles with Dave Swift present an evening of american folk music - early country; folk blues; old time; fiddle tunes Carnon Downs Village Hall, Carnon Downs, nr.Truro, Cornwall Saturday 19th July 2008 Doors open 7.15pm. Tickets £6 Please bring your own drinks Booking & info: village hall: 01872 865126 www.acousticart.co.uk and if you plan on going to the Cornish Bluegrass Festival at Hendra Holiday Park Newquay, Cornwall on 19th - 21st September it is probably worth while booking early: phone 01209 710060 or email ************************************* 3rd July Just in case there is any confusion, The Freight Hoppers oldtime band will NOT not be appearing at Rochfest '08. This is another band of the same name. ************************************** The Down Trodden String Band are playing Warslow Beer festival on Sat 5 July. Warslow is a small village between Buxton and Ashbourne in Derbyshire. They'll be playing in the village hall between 7 and 11. And the DTSB feature in the latest issue of Sandman magazine - this is a free mag which is widely distributed in the north and midlands. it is squarely aimed at the youth market, so it mostly features rock bands and such-like - but they decided they'd like to diversify and cover a more varied range of musical styles, so elected to do a piece on the Down Troddens. The current issue can be downloaded from the web site - click on 'download current issue' and then features http://www.sandmanmagazine.co.uk/ or you can go to the relevant section and find them there http://www.sandmanmagazine.co.uk/145/02.pdf ************************************* Hugh Connor reports that having just returned from USA he can strongly recommend the White Top Mountain String Band who are touring in September. He says that there is no doubt that Thornton & Emily Spencer have worked hard to preserve the old time music from Grayson County and surrounding area. They have taught hundreds of musicians, including Brian & Debbie Grimm of the Konnarock Critters and have preserved many great tunes such as Picking Out the Devil's Eyes, Sally Was a Poor Girl and Lost John. Thornton is interested in seeing some English Square Dance music, so if anyone knows of any dances that coincide with their tour itinery, please let Hugh know and he will forward details on to the band. ************************************* Here's an interesting site and user friendly site for finding sessions. I guess organisers need to fill it in. ************************************* For bluegrass fans, Valerie Smith and her band Liberty Pike will be playing their only gig in the South West at THE PLOUGH ARTS CENTRE, Fore Street, GREAT TORRINGTON, EX38 8HQ on FRIDAY, 25 July 2008 at 8.30 pm. Tickets are £12, £11, £!0 and available by ringing the BOX OFFICE: Tel 01805 624624. ************************************* The Dustbowl String Band are starring at the regular monthly Old Time and Bluegrass meeting at Bulkington War Memorial Club on Tuesday 8th July at 8:30pm. The band is also appearing at The Engine pub in Kenilworth at 8:30 on Friday 18 July as part of the Kenilworth Festival. Then, over the weekend of 25-27 July, the band are at Warwick Folk Festival, playing in the Roebuck on Saturday night, 26 July and in an Americana afternoon at The Great Western pub, also in Warwick, from midday onwards. More details of the band can be found at: www.myspace.com/dustbowlstringband ************************************* New member Dick Mullinger from Glengarriff, West Cork, Eire would like to know of any old time events or contacts in Eire (or N.I.). If anyone fancies emailing him with info or anything old time in general his email is blueloofiddlemz @hotmail.com He met a number of people at the Stoke St Mary weekend and had a great time there. ************************************* Colm Daly reports that next month’s Pickin' Lunchtime session at The Retreat Pub, Reading, Tel 0118 957 1593, will be on Sun 6th July 2008, midday to whenever. The Retreat Pub, 8 St. Johns St, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4EH. MAP All players and listeners welcome….predominantly American fiddle and banjo genres but who’s checking…..bring your small items for selling or exchanging (records, cds, instruments, tuners etc)…bring Granny too, she’ll thank you by leaving you her fortune! The Retreat Pub have arranged licensed parking at the Ukrainian Club nearby (see Directions and Parking Arrangements below) but if that don’t suit there is always the Queens Road Car Park almost directly opposite the pub… - just that it ain’t free. Please note that the following Pickin Lunchtime on Sun 3rd August is to be RE-LOCATED to Colm's back garden to join his annual garden party of GOMAD, details of which will soon be posted. |