To festival or not to festival, that is the question?

It's an expensive job being a 'folkie'...........

Folk music fans are a tough lot. Weathering the storms of winter with nowt but 'singarounds' and 'sessions' to keep our 'hands in', while looking forward to the long lazy festival days to come. I think festivals are our 'wages' in payment for all the money spent on Kate Rusby and Seth Lakeman CD's. Or the set of 'olive label' fiddle strings you bought that cost more than the instrument! As I mentioned in a previous post, I want to make 2012 a festival going year and was looking forward to every 'folkie' minute of it. Being a Yorkshireman and of limited means, I thought doing some sums was the order of the day. Well bu*?er me you could have knocked me over with a 14lb lump hammer! My 'wish list' was Beverley in June, Rothbury in July, Whitby Folk Week in Aug and Otley in Sept. Quite a lot, but it's not every year, is it? Not taking money for pints of the 'black stuff' and eating into consideration and camping (I'm still daft enough to do it), I still have a dilemma, on the one hand I have 15 days of 'folking' goodness and the other, 14 nights 'all in', in sunny Mexico and change!! Now don't forget, I'm single and no kids. If I had, I would be hard pressed to justify even Whitby. It would be thank goodness for Saltburn (no offence). The reason for these ramblings? I thank my lucky stars I'm single, have a few bob and not bothered about a suntan! I do have some good news...... David Hope has an EP ("Hell or High Water") available for download.

Our association is all I find good about the 'Twitter' age. Without it I would never have found this super chap with such a talent. He has just returned from entertaining the Germans and is working on an album for release later in the year. As soon as I get wind of it I will bring you the news. For now at least the EP will have to do!You can find him along with the 'Henchmen' on MySpace and at www.davidhope.ie.

Late news...the Wilson Family are confirmed for Rothbury festival on the 14th July.

This weeks 'pet hate', kids that say "innit" at every verse end!! Byeeee.

Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Phone: 07526 504285.

A big "thank you to Black Diamond Accordions"

I bet Samuel Johnson would be proud..........?

It's time for a big 'thank you' to Juliet Doyle. She is one of the 'squeezers' down at Black Diamond Accordions who I gave a mention to in my last post. I had tried to nick some pictures from their site to show you how super dooper these instruments are. Anyroad, I failed (as usual) but Juliet came to my rescue, so here we have them, mmmmm.

These give you a good idea of what goes on down at http://blackdiamondaccordions.com/ at lunchtime!

"I'll show you mine if you show me yours" and "the flautists cardigan is very orange"!

I (more than most) enjoy a bit of silliness to help the day along, but  very serious selling and marketing are possible through the likes of Twitter. I have my doubts when it comes to that Facepamphlet thing. A very poor relation if you ask me.

Oh, the Samuel Johnson reference.......I have invented a new word! People go on about making so called 'friends' on one social networking site or another. I think if you make one of these 'friends' on Twitter you could say "I have made a Twiffer, you never know, it could catch on, the wheel did! See Ya.

Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: (and become a 'Twiffer') @folktalkinfolk, Tel:07526 504285.

ps, thinking about building a website as an 'all in one place', free resource for everything 'folkie', please let me know what you think. 

Your never too old to 'Tweet'!

If squeezin' a box is your thing..............?

Now as you all know, I'm no expert at owt! But I know men and women who are (not many!). I was telling a pal of mine over a pint of 'Scrutucks Old Derigable' about a new 'Twitter' contact, Black Diamond Accordions and how our days are now 20% 'Tweeting' to like minded folk (read 'daft' for like minded). This is a new furnominomb for me. If you have not tried it yet, give it a go. It will not be for everyone but seems a really good way to get some free (yes thats 'FREE' Scottish readers!) promo for your company or band etc.

I have tried to nick some super pic's from http://blackdiamondaccordions.com/ to show you how ace these instruments are but failed so you will have to take a 'visit' yourselves. It's well worth it. And I hope to see them at a festival this year (it will soon be summer).

I did notice that they may be missing out on a selling point. If you are of the lady type, you could play one sitting down in the nude and give yourself a 'Brazilian'! Just a thought. TTFN.

email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Tel: 07526 504285.

Art Ceilidh

You never thought vodka would give you the Celtic spirit did you?

When it comes to Celtic sounds, I for one think of, Ireland, Scotland and at a pinch Wales. Put your hand up if you read 'Celtic sounds' and thought Russia, or more to the point, Moscow, I bet you didn't!

Let me introduce 'Art Ceilidh' a folk rock band I stumbled upon while have one of my rants on Twitter.It's not like me but I followed a link (http://www.reverbnation.com/) and received an ear full of a track called "The Last Thing She Said". They produce what I can only sum up as an amazing sound. A bit more poking around and I found tracks on You Tube and My Space. So far my 'fave rave' is "Family Treasure", a better waltz I have not heard in a long time! Super flute playing and accordion too. No tenor banjo but I'm sure they will find me one day! The leader seems to be a guy named Mikhail Smirnov but when I get my hands on full details I will let you know.

Transatlantic Sessions........

Sorry, I'm a bit late with this news but I think Christmas and new year made the tv times go all to pot. Never mind, we get our weekly fix of all things folkie tonight with a 'Transatlantic Session' on BBC4 at 8.30pm.

 

We have Paul Brady with his song 'Rainbow', Eddy Reader and Karen Matheson join in too!

New Feature, Pet Hate Of The Week....

Women who waft their hand as if using a fan to cool themselves!!!

Byeeeee from all at 'Folk Talkin Folk Towers.

Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter @folktalkinfolk, Tel (please note new no): 07526 504285.

Essential Folk Albums

aka, 'Dessert Island' mp3's..........

I feel that us old fogeys, sorry, folkies (I am talking about myself here) have a duty to impart our wealth of knowledge among the 'youngsters' (under 40's!) or anyone new to folk music in general. In some ways I think we are going through yet another 'folk revival'. This is not a term I enjoy using as I believe it never went away to have to be 'revived', but for the want of anything better I have used it. Every now and again I would like to 'bloggerfie' or 're plug' the albums (some were originally made of a strange black plastic material) that satisfied our folkie needs way back then. This is not a 'they don't write em like that anymore'. Just good albums that may have 'slipped through the ears' at the time or are a good basis for any collection or just super nostalgic....

Where better to start, than with Nic Jones and his 1980 album 'Penguin Eggs'.

Although first issued on vinyl by Topic records the CD version was released by them in 1991 (TSCD 411). Nic was born in 1947 (that was even before me!). A fiddle and guitar player extrodinaire and not a bad singer to boot. He filled the years 64'-81' with several high quality recordings, 'Penguin Eggs' being the only one from Topic.

His career was all but over following a car accident (with a lorry!) in early 82'. It left him unable to play the fiddle at all and stopped any other appearances for 28 years! In 2010 it was great to see him guitar in hand at Sidmouth Folk Week where he played three songs. We hope for many more Nic.

Back to 'Penguin Eggs', 'Canadee-I-O' and 'Little Pot Stove' come at the top of my list but the whole album is great. I hope you enjoy it? Nic is married to Julia and lives in Devon. They have set up their own record label 'Mollie Music', you can find him and his work at http://www.nicjones.net/.

Contact : folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter : @folktalkinfolk



The Common Tongues..............

As I get older I seem to take my eye off the 'musical ball' far too often. Like a lot of us I tend to stay in the 'safe zone' when it comes to my likes regarding the solo artists and bands I enjoy giving ear room to. It is a fault I am constantly trying to correct. I try my best to catch Mike Harding on BBC 2 each week, if not live, it's via 'podcast' and listen out for any new artists that I like the sound of, but this band slipped through what must be a very holey net! As the title of this post suggests it's, 'The Common Tongues'.

A five bit 'indie' (what the hell does that mean) folk band from down in sunny Brighton where the rock comes from. They comprise of 'singist's' and guitarists Tom and Oli, plus rhythms from Dan and James, topped of with ace fiddlin' from Andy. Search the usual places for a good ear full. I found a great track released in May of 2011 called 'Jumping Ships' and wish I had found them sooner. They get a big folkie thumbs up from me. I hope you feel the same, it's great to see new faces around. You can also follow them on Twitter to keep right up to date. Bye for now, Phil.

Email : folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Tel : 07511 125805, Twitter @folktalkinfolk

Should we be feeling guilty.........?

Hot news in the UK at the moment is a very well known 'celebrity chef' who admits to having it away with a few items from his local supermarket! To a man (or woman), we seem to be 'up in arms' about it, "how could he do such a thing", "he's well off and has no need to do it" (as if being skint gives you the right to go shoplifting!).
"What has this to do with folk music", I hear you ask? Well, we are all as bad as AWT. Do you own a phone or MP3 player? Do you have any music on your laptop? I think most of us do. As we copy a track from one device to another we are nicking a few bob from the artist. Most folk musicians I know are not rolling in dosh and could do with that extra few quid. One way or another we are all as guilty as AWT but when we do it, it's OK!
Just to change the boot from one foot to the other you artists do not do yourselves any favours. I keep hearing that you can now knock out an album in your bedroom and posting music whether it be for sale or free, is easy. Well why the hell don't you do it then? I can give you a very good example. In about 1978 Vin Garbutt (one of my favourite folk artists) released the super album, Tossin' A Wobbler. I get a bit fed up with other hardcore fans asking for copies of tracks like 'The One Legged Beggar' and 'Photographic Memory'. Please take note Vin, we think your great and I for one would like you to get what you deserve, so please get them out there, At least then we do not have to feel guilty like old AWT!!
www.vingarbutt.com for his gig list etc,
Folktalkin Folk contact details, tel : 07511 125805, Twitter : @folktalkinfolk, Email : folktalkinfolk@gmail.com. Bye for now, Philip

Postscript to my last post, ('Banjo' Barney MaKenna)......

Thank you to Amanda 'C' for her email. To answer your question Amanda, Barney plays a 19 fret resonator (closed back) instrument. Personally I prefer a 17 fret resonator (Deering Goodtime Special) instrument. I find it far easier on the odd occasion I play chords. As for the maker and gauge of strings he plays, I have no idea. I have sent him a mail, so will report back when I hear.
I have new contact details here a 'Talkinfolk Towers'. Please make a note, all the best, Philip.
Tel : 07511 125805, Email : folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter : @folktalkinfolk.

It's my first 'player of the month' time......

First of all may I wish all you readers and players a happy, healthy and musical new year!

What better way to start 2012 with a few words about one of my favourite Irish tenor banjo (ITB) players. Who, according to famous Irish traditional player Mick Moloney, was solely responsible for the change from the original jazz tuning of CGDA to the 'traditional' GDAE we use today!

He is the one and only, Bernard Noel "Barney" McKenna. Otherwise known as Banjo Barney. The only surviving founding member (since 1962) of the Dubliners. 

Born in Dublin on the 16th December 1939 you can still catch his brilliance today. Playing and singing as well as he always has, on solo performances of the 'High Reel' and songs like 'South Austrailia'. Along with his musicianship he has a great wit and is a pleasure to be within hearing distance of. The Dubliners are on a 50th anniversary tour throughout 2012 and I, for one, hope to catch them at the Grand Theatre, Leeds in March. Cannot wait!

The best advice I can give to any new player is listen to as many of the great players as you can. Both live and recorded and what better person to start you off than 'Banjo Barney'........Enjoy him!

Any suggestions for future 'players of the month' are more than welcome, as are your comments. So it's bye for now, regards Phil.

Tel: 07511 125805, Tweet: @zoster1953 Email: zoster1953@gmail.com