15/4/13 Paul McLaughlin, manager of Stroud Subscription Rooms, tells me that sales of tickets for Flossie Mallavialle (on Thursday April 18 at 7.30pm £14 Info: 01453 760900) are a little disappointing. He is trying very hard to put on a good folk programme - do support this if you can!
30.12.12 The Dubliners will be making their last ever public appearance on the Jools Holland TV Hootenanny Show on 31st December. However 'Former members of the Dubliners' are now accepting bookings! (Sean, Eamonn, Patsy, and Gerry O'Connor)
13.10.12 Tony Gibbons tells me he is restarting the music sessions at The Queen's Head, Aston Cross nr Tewkesbury GL20 8LP, on 4th Wednesdays from 8.30pm (not December) - new landlord! may even be refreshments! Next one October 24 Info: tonyjgibbons@btinternet.com
7.10.12 Some people have reported difficulties in obtaining copies of Gerald Tween's new book of scripts for Gloucestershire mumming plays 'Step In' from Amazon. You should have no diffficulty from Waterstones: http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/gerald+tween/22step+in22/9291601/ Or why not cut out the middleman, and send me a cheque for £10, or go to Gloucester Folk Museum, or even catch a live performance of Lassington Oak Morris Men!
1.10.12 FOLK MUSIC IN OCTOBER 2012 Folk music enthusiasts in Gloucestershire have much to look forward to in October with a record of 275 events to choose from. There are concert appearances by Johnny Coppin & Mike Silver at Bishop’s Cleeve on October 5, Celtish at Hartpury Old Chapel on October 6, Chris Wood at Cheltenham Town Hall also on October 6, Karine Polwart at Stroud Subscription Rooms on October 7, Jinski at Forest Folk Club on the same date, Jan Vaisey & Ian Harvey are at The Wheatsheaf in Cheltenham on October 9, Whalebone at Apperley Village Hall on October 20, Sarah Jones at Phoenix Theatre, Ross-on-Wye also on October 20, Joe Penland at Dursley on October 21, and Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury on October 24. There are ceilidhs and barn dances for the more energetic at Stroud with The Bees Knees Band on October 6, The Geckoes also at Stroud on the same day, a Scottish Dance at The Reddings, Cheltenham on October 13, and a Barn Dance at Tewkesbury with the Free Spirit Band on the same day at Tewkesbury, Stroud Ukulele Ceilidh Band at Avening on October 19, Baily’s Beads in Cheltenham on October 20, Forest Brown Band at Huntley, and The Eelgrinders at Horsley on October 27. There are mid week country dance sessions at Witcombe on October 10, and 24, Bethesda in Cheltenham on 3rd & 17th, Hucclecote every Friday, Holy Trinity in Cheltenham every Monday, Cirencester on 9th, 10th, and 23rd, Apperley on October 25, and May Hill Village Hall on October 31. All the usual folk clubs will be operating – Frampton every Tuesday, Minchinhampton every Thursday, Forest Club on October 7 & 21, Winchcombe on October 2, Stroud Singer’s Club on October 3 and 17, Gloucester on October 8 and 22, Conderton near Tewkesbury on October 10, Mitcheldean on October 11, Lechlade on October 12 & 26, Cheltenham Folk Club have a local’s nights on October 12, and Michelle Soine on October 26. Music and song sessions as always are at pubs all over the county, too numerous to mention individually, but the full and updated listings are always available on line from www.glosfolk.org.uk, and if your event is not mentioned then do let me know! All the many morris and clog dance sides in the county are now getting ready for the spring, and will soon be performing at a fête or pub near you, and they all welcome new members, dancers and musicians. The annual morris dancers conkers championship is at Hayles Fruit Farm, near Winchcombe on October 14 (a sight not to be missed!) Lassington Oak Morris Men are holding a free workshop at Gloucester Folk Museum on October 20 as aprt of the Apple Day festivities Peter Cripps (Glosfolk)
1.7.12 NEW BOOK BY LOCAL MORRISMAN A new book has been written by local morrisman, dance caller and mummer Gerald Tween entitled ‘Step In’. The book, his first, has the detailed scripts of 26 mummer’s plays from Gloucestershire, and has been the subject of considerable research over the years by the author, involving numerous visits to the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library in London, and the Bodleian Library in Oxford, as well as collecting scripts from the many mumming groups active in the county today. The 107 page book is published by Vale Publishing Services ISBN 978-0-9514743-8, is printed by KM Reprographics of Gloucester, and is available from the author, Amazon, or from all good bookshops price £10.95
5.4.12 Just heard the very sad news that 'Banjo' Barney McKenna, founder member of The Dubliners, passed away this morning. He was 72. We luckily saw him at Cheltenham Town Hall on March 9th, and thought he was actually looking better than he had for some time. His singing of 'I wish I had someone to love me', and his stunning banjo playing, that evening brought the house down! Full story HERE
3.4.12 Risk Assessments: Astrid & I were asked the other day for a copy of our risk assessment for a little gig we are doing soon. A first! We did not have one! I quickly devised a form, and thought of a few hazards, and how to reduce/eliminate them. Here it is as a MS Word document: RISK ASSESSMENT FORM.doc If anyone wants another format please ask (BTW I missed off the 'hanging basket' hazard! - thanks Norma!)
10.2.12 New regular music session: Tony Gibbons writes - I am starting a new session at ‘The Queen’s Head’ Aston Cross, Ashchurch, Tewkesbury GL20 8LP on Wednesday 22nd February starting at approx 8.30 p.m. This is aimed at musicians NOT singers and will be completely open to music traditions (including foreign). I can promise a good selection from the U.K. Definitely present at this first one to get the ball rolling will be:- myself (melodeon), Hamish West (guitar, mandolin), Roly Alcock (melodeon) Rod Penlington (concertina). The pub has ‘Doom Bar’ on tap amongst others. Beginners and slow players will be catered for. Anyone can ring me if they wish on 01242 232126.
10.2.12 Nearly 50 folk events next week, including Cheltenham Folk Festival all weekend, concerts by the excellent John Kirkpatrick at Clifford’s Mesne, and Arlingham, Dave Swarbrick at Bristol Folk House, Phil Beer and his band at Tewkesbury. The Square Folk dance club have John Boucher with Musical Folk at Witcombe. Cheltenham Folk Song Club have a singer’s night, and Lechlade, Gloucester, Frampton, Roaring Jelly, Stroud Singer’s and Minchinhampton (at Avening) clubs are all meeting as usual. There are music sessions at Sapperton, Prestbury, Gloucester, Dursley, and Nailsworth, and Scottish dancing at Montpellier in Cheltenham, and Kingsholm in Gloucester. English country dancing is on at Hucclecote, Holy Apostles and Holy Trinity in Cheltenham. Cheltenham. All the morris and clog dance sides are practising as usual, and all welcome new members. Full details of all the events can be found HERE
27.1.12 Just heard that the Joe Broughton & Kevin Dempsey gig at The Roses Theatre Tewkesbury next week has been postponed to the autumn, because Kevin has sustained an injury. More details when we get them
20.1.12 Today Lord Clement Jones' Live Music Bill passed the Report stage in the House of Commons. Although the live music lobby's target of 100 plus MPs were present, things looked decidedly risky when the debate on the Daylight Saving Bill, the first Bill on the list, occupied the entire session and at 1-30 pm the Live Music Bill looked doomed, with not enough time to be debated. However, at the end of the session the names of the Bills that have not been dealt with are read out, and, if nobody shouts "Objection !", then the Bill can proceed. It is unusual for a Bill to proceed without objection at this stage, but, this was the case with the Live Music Bill which was passed in about two seconds. "Even Chope said Aye!" tweeted Kerry McCarthy (Labour MP for Bristol East) who has been quite vocal in supporting the Live Musc Bill. This is perhaps the most difficult obstacle the Live Music Bill has had to overcome and it is difficult to see how the Bill can fail to become law now. More HERE
31.12.11 New Folk Club Just heard of new (or rather revived, last meeting in 2006!) Folk Club. Gloucester Folk Session & Song Club, The Dick Whittington, Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2PE will meet fortnightly on Mondays from January 9, Info: Mhairi Strauss HERE
18.12.11 Live Music Bill The Live Music Bill has passed the committee stage in House of Commons, and is likely to become law sometime in the New Year. Two minor technical amendments were agreed during Committee which require the bill to return, briefly, to the House of Lords. But there is every expectation that it will move to Report and 3rd reading in the Commons early next year. If enacted, entertainment licensing would no longer apply to most performances of live music to audiences of up to 200, between 8am and 11pm. In alcohol-licensed premises, that freedom could be subject to conditions if there were problems. No help yet for mummer's plays unfortunately, but live music in pubs and village halls will be greatly helped! More at: http://www.livemusicforum.co.uk/
18.12.11 Cultural Olympiad This is to alert you to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get involved with the Cultural Olympiad, as the Olympics come to Britain this summer. Weymouth is hosting the sailing Olympics, and there will be a fabulous cultural event: The Battle of the Winds, centrepiece of the high-profile regional Quest programme. And you can be part of it. Jo Bousfield, who is coordinating the Gloucestershire contribution, says: "Volunteering at the Battle for the Winds Cultural Olympiad event will give people the opportunity to experience a once-in-a-lifetime event. Simply go to the website www.battleforthewinds.com and click on 'GET INVOLVED' You can then tick the boxes showing how you'd like to participate - including being part of a huge crowd of people wading into the sea with lit torches at dusk on Sat July 28th 2012. The key events in Gloucestershire are May 10th kite flying on Selsley Common, Stroud April 28th Launch of the Wind Vessel in the Brunel Goodshed Stroud plus awarding of the medals for the creative olympics contest. Details of how to enter from Glosfolk - please submit your original song, dance, or piece of music etc - it would be great to see some folkies getting 'olympic' medals! (Any problems reading it let me know) May 23rd Creative Carnival at the Torch Relay event Cheltenham Racecourse 7.30 - 9pm
26.11.11 The Private Members Bill to liberalise the entertainment licensing has now cleared its Second Reading in the House of Commons, and will start the committee stage probably before Christmas. More details here
2.7.11 Good afternoon of entertainment at National Star College today. Performers included Peter & Astrid Cripps, Tarran Gray, Jan Vaisey & Ian Harvey, Gael Force, and Friggitt.
13.7.10 Interesting article on 'Folk = English' as opposed to 'Folk = Irish' or 'Folk = Scots' etc at http://journalofmusic.com/article/1171