No better place to 'cut your teeth'............
I know of little else that gives me greater pleasure than getting 'Nellie' or her sister, 'Bertha' out of the case and playing a set of reels or jigs, or learning a new tune just for the hell of it. Along with the many hours of frustration comes the satisfaction of 'nailing' a new tune. But to what end? In fact do we really need an 'end'? Well I think we do. I also live in the real world and realise the main stage at Cambridge Folk Festival and opening a concert for Kate Rusby are not going to happen anytime soon. What we can do though is pay a visit to our local (and not so local) folk club on a 'singaround' night or a 'session'. I am pleased to report that most (but unfortunately not all) have shaken off the cliquish image. You are no longer 'shot at dawn' for going for a pee while the turn is on. And even worse, going to the bar for a pint! In the main, they are frequented by sensible, 'like minded' people who will welcome you with open arms. This takes me to my golden rule of performance. We all make mistakes, from 'bum' notes to badly timed triplets. I make more than the national average! The time to make them is at home when practising and at a musicians session at the club. The minute you charge even a single penny the bum notes have to stop! So what better place to hone your skills and receive advice aplenty, than your local folk club. In the not too distant future I hope to pay a visit to Barnsley Folk Club. Held every Monday evening (not bank hols) at Barnsley Trades Club. Contact can be made at http://www.reverbnation.com/venue/barnsleyfolkandacousticnight. You can also sign up for the mailing list. I will 'jot' a report following my visit.
So I am pleased to say that (in the North at least) the folk club is alive and well and giving that first 'leg up' that we all need.
A quick reminder on the David Hope gig (along with the 'Henry Girls') in Cork. It's at the Half Moon Theatre, Cork Opera House on the 26th Feb at 8.30pm, enjoy it!
I am hoping to start a VERY basic web site for the devotees of all 'folk'instruments tuned GDAE. I will try and incorporate a second hand 'For Sale' section, basic lessons, description of available instruments, links to other sites and much more. Details to follow.
It's time to go as Mike Harding beckons on BBC Radio 2 for my weekly fix of 'folkiness'.
Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Moan Line: 07526 504285.
I know of little else that gives me greater pleasure than getting 'Nellie' or her sister, 'Bertha' out of the case and playing a set of reels or jigs, or learning a new tune just for the hell of it. Along with the many hours of frustration comes the satisfaction of 'nailing' a new tune. But to what end? In fact do we really need an 'end'? Well I think we do. I also live in the real world and realise the main stage at Cambridge Folk Festival and opening a concert for Kate Rusby are not going to happen anytime soon. What we can do though is pay a visit to our local (and not so local) folk club on a 'singaround' night or a 'session'. I am pleased to report that most (but unfortunately not all) have shaken off the cliquish image. You are no longer 'shot at dawn' for going for a pee while the turn is on. And even worse, going to the bar for a pint! In the main, they are frequented by sensible, 'like minded' people who will welcome you with open arms. This takes me to my golden rule of performance. We all make mistakes, from 'bum' notes to badly timed triplets. I make more than the national average! The time to make them is at home when practising and at a musicians session at the club. The minute you charge even a single penny the bum notes have to stop! So what better place to hone your skills and receive advice aplenty, than your local folk club. In the not too distant future I hope to pay a visit to Barnsley Folk Club. Held every Monday evening (not bank hols) at Barnsley Trades Club. Contact can be made at http://www.reverbnation.com/venue/barnsleyfolkandacousticnight. You can also sign up for the mailing list. I will 'jot' a report following my visit.
So I am pleased to say that (in the North at least) the folk club is alive and well and giving that first 'leg up' that we all need.
A quick reminder on the David Hope gig (along with the 'Henry Girls') in Cork. It's at the Half Moon Theatre, Cork Opera House on the 26th Feb at 8.30pm, enjoy it!
I am hoping to start a VERY basic web site for the devotees of all 'folk'instruments tuned GDAE. I will try and incorporate a second hand 'For Sale' section, basic lessons, description of available instruments, links to other sites and much more. Details to follow.
It's time to go as Mike Harding beckons on BBC Radio 2 for my weekly fix of 'folkiness'.
Email: folktalkinfolk@gmail.com, Twitter: @folktalkinfolk, Moan Line: 07526 504285.
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