I was fascinated this week by a post on Facebook from the Folk legend that is Ray Padgett. He announced that the Fred Jordan, Unaccompanied Singer Contest to be sung out at the Saltburn Festival in August was now open to entries, and that he had the Application forms, and RULES.
Now, why should nice Folkie types need RULES to sing a song? The brain was a whirlwind full of evil tricks that singers may be tempted to try.
Could it be that nasty folkies go around sticking chewing gum in pitch pipes, thus rendering a singer keyless? Or perhaps it was to prevent singers from embarking upon an eighty verse marathon, sometimes witnessed in the Folk Clubs? Or could it be the dreaded bootlace trick, tied together causing the unsuspecting singer to go head over heels as they march towards the stage area? Could that firm handshake conceal enough super glue to firmly fix a singers hand to the ear? Perhaps the rules are to prevent that slightly out of key cough at the vital moment? Or do they warn against criminal harmonies in choruses, where the singer might feel they are singing a completely different song?
Being completely naïve about these things I really don't know but you might well have your own thoughts.
But what about extra prizes. Best beard (Oh that’s a naughty cliché) or best ear hold, best singing pose with a pint ; best singing lean on fire place mantle; most Ambitious Harmony?
Yes, we could go on taking the Michael for ages.
Sorry…………..
But seriously to you heroes of the unaccompanied song interested in taking part in this year’s Competition head off to Ray’s Facebook page and send him a message. HERE and he’ll send you all the details.
This week I was lucky enough to be taken off to the opening Concert of the 2011 Doncaster Folk Festival.
I went in disguise, no hat, yet despite this effort several people approached to say, “You are The Rawmarsh Masher and I claim my prize”. I had to tell them that the CD had sold out……….. so disappointment all round I’m afraid.
But let’s get the negative stuff out of the way. Who on earth planned the Festival for the weekend which also boasted the relatively local and established Festival at Shepley?
If my memory serves me right the Doncaster Festival had normally run in April.
And why was it that my Google search engine could only find details of the 2010 Festival? Other than, of course, the reference in the Acoustic Rotherham site.
If these Festivals are going to succeed Publicity, especially on the Web is crucial, as is some would argue, a fixed weekend in the year. However, there may have been unseen factors at work or funding issues, the later being an issue that so many of the smaller Festivals are having to overcome.
The Opening Concert though was great fun, played out unfortunately to a sparse yet enthusiastic audience (the important people were there, as Paul Pearson observed) at a new to me venue, yet one with great potential, The Doncaster Ukrainian Centre.
Kicking off the Festival was Welsh Geoff who gave us a truly entertaining set of his works, both old and new. His songs about Saints, Kings and Mythical events are fantastic stories set to music, and full of his cheeky humour. And how does Geoff deliver such complicated lyrics with so much smoothness and so quickly? It left me breathless for sure.
It was also good to hear so many people singing along to the song choruses.
Bringing glamour to the evening’s concert was Zoe Bottomley, ably accompanied by Dad Dave. (I bet she’s fed up with that sort of observation)
Somehow Zoe and The Mashers have contrived to avoid each other over the years we’ve been about, so this was a set that I was especially interested in listening to. And I wasn’t disappointed for here’s a young lady that sings from the heart and completely naturally, there’s none of the “girly” type singing voice, nor an attempt at what some consider to be an “earthy” folky voice.
Her set was refreshing, ranging from traditional folk to Tom Watts. Super stuff.
Next came The Steel City Troubadour, Mr Paul Pearson. Now, I’ve seen Paul perform in all types of settings, from small Folk Clubs to Festival stages. How will I ever forget how he shared what turned out to be the final performance of Myke at The Butchers Arms.
Paul has been around far longer than The Mashers, yet the improvement in his performance over the time we’ve been active on the scene has been extraordinary. Sometimes I have to pinch myself, as he seems to hypnotise the audience into the warmth of his voice and the soft delivery of his songs mostly taken from Ron Trueman-Boarder of whom Paul is great fan.
Paul is a stalwart of the local Folk scene and in my view deserves a lot more recognition than he gets, and you would just not believe the nerves and arthritic pain he often has to overcome to give a performance.
Paul’s Friday night set was right up there with the very best.
Topping the Bill was that “old” rogue of the East Yorkshire Folk scene, Mick McGarry. This is the first time that I had seen Mick in solo mode, previously he’s been joined by his mates in Owd Chivers. How can anyone be disappointed listening to such a fantastic voice, and it was the unaccompanied numbers that were the standout moments of his set.
For me he sings as he looks, rich and smoky, a true character of the Folk scene.
I’ve got to be honest, I’m not sure if it was the PA or the his guitar, but the guitar backed songs didn’t work quite so well, but who cares, the entertaining introductions and general good humour of Mick simply carries one away into the World of good Folk song.
As I said before a super night that demonstrated the full range of song and music that falls within the Folk genre.
And let this be a lesson to other Festival Organisers. You don’t have to always seek a “name” to create a fantastic Concert, here were four acts drawn from the local Yorkshire Folk circuit, more than capable of drawing an audience, if the publicity had been right.
Congratulations to all.
And if I needed more to make my evening even better, I got my hands on a copy of the String Theory CD “Watery Gravey”. String Theory are the main stays of the Barnsley Folk Club, comprising of Sarah Greenwood, David Bottomley and John Platt.
To get your hands on a copy of the twelve track CD you can grab one at any of their Gigs or look up Sarah Greenwood on Facebook HERE
My initial listen to the CD suggests you won’t be disappointed.
Finally, thanks to Sue and Barry, for picking me up and delivering me safely back home, your kindness is much appreciated.
Just a word for Mick who having done an exhausting hour headed off to Shipley to join up with his Owd Chivers friends to prepare for one or two sets they had been booked in for there.
There is a wicked rumour going around that the Government cuts are not having any affect at all. So here’s how it is already affecting my business. Three months ago two weeks to turn around a Provisional License, now TWO MONTHS and getting worse. Also wait for me to see someone about my condition, eight weeks. So not only will we feel that we’re paying more, but the service we receive is going to get worse and worse. This Government will take us back two decades if we are not careful.
Onto the week ahead.
A reminder that Monday is Nellie Folk night at The Bridge in Rotherham. Somehow I’ve contrived to miss the last two so I’m quite looking forward to this one. And who knows I might launch a new rep. song or two.
May 30th, that’s a Bank Holiday, (that will make a change won’t it?) there’s the all-day Charity Festival at The Bridge, Rotherham with Papa Legbas and many more. I’ve no idea how the slots are being filled, but if your band fancies a spot then grab Ben at The Bridge and I’m sure he’ll tell you exactly what the situation is.
Major Festivals in Bath and Chester and some stand out Gigs with Garforth and Myers and Jack’s Rake in action. Full details can be found on the links on the Diary Page HERE
Heads Up into June. Saturday the 4th at The Domino, Kimberworth Park, Rotherham there’s to be an all-day session from around 12:00 in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, from what I can see it’s a turn up and play event.
11th June, Ray Hearne at the Royal Oak, Deepcar, Sheffield Details on the Diary pages.
The Acoustic Rotherham 12 slots are filling – if you fancy a place get in quick, Email me HERE also if I’ve promised you a place and your name isn’t on the list HERE then use the Email link above to give me an ear bashing.
On the Web Site, the additions were made to Demo page with tracks from Florin and Dylan Brierley available. HERE
A number of people have asked about the Kurt Sawalies Gig at The Bridge, which they missed, you’ll find a Demo pack from Kurt on the same page.
More friends have been added on the Friends Page – remember if you’ve a Reverbnation page and cannot be found just add yourself as a friend of the Mashers HERE
I’ve kept the links to the “Folk’s Not Dead” Film HERE Poor old Bob Humphries with typical foot in mouth managed to create quite a thread on my Facebook Page by suggesting that Folk was not dead but just needed the “kiss of life”, and so started an interesting exchange of views. HERE
You’ll also notice a couple of additions to The Mashers Gig List, as per usual they’re a little sandwiched up.
We could still do with more of you Acoustic Rotherham / Myke Barritt Music Trust and Masher followers hitting the FACEBOOK LIKE BUTTONS that you’ll find on all the pages of the Web Site. Honest folks it does help to raise the profile of the site, but more importantly to raise the profile of local grassroots music at it’s very best and artists who go to make it up. So please give them a click. Thank you.
And so whatever you’re doing this week have great fun and keep it LIVE.
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