We start this week with the most exciting News for The Mashers. We have a NEW FAN. Not that I suppose he’ll know much about it. So it’s a big welcome to the this mad World to Fynn William Sutherland-Chivers, and we look forward to seeing you Mash around Rawmarsh in the years ahead.
It’s been one of those highly active weeks with just so much happening that becomes so hard to know where to start.
But a start we must make.
I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support we have received from the musicians of the Region in support of the series of Concerts that will be taking place during the full run of The Rotherham Open Arts Festival in November. Barring late drop outs etc., within one week we have a full season of Concerts that will showcase the full extent of music in the South Yorkshire and Rotherham in particular area. You can see all those involved HERE
The main drive now is to generate interest and activity for the proposed Busking Day in Rotherham on Saturday October 29th. We need, Street Performers, Break Dancers, Morris Men, Ballet even, Fire Eaters, Brass Bands, Pipe Bands, Sword Dancers, Singers Poets, Street Drama, Choirs………… In fact we want everyone involved.
Ideally it would be great if we could make this day one of those talked about in Rotherham for the months to come, and we can only make this happen if the performing Arts in Rotherham get behind the idea.
So if you want to get involved, or have links to any of the mentioned groups and would like to get involved then please get in touch.
Unfortunately we cannot make this a turn up and go event. We have to have organisation, well as far as we can, and the Buskers will have to be accredited, this means that they will need to Register with us at The Rotherham Open Arts Festival. All you have to do is complete the form HERE or Email HERE or call me on 07507588964 and leave a message on the voice mail.
With all this in mind, and of course The Festival Within A Festival that is to take place on Saturday 19th November, I headed out to the Rotherham Poets Open Mic Night at The Bridge, Rotherham on Friday night.
What a fantastically refreshing evening this was. Besides the considerable talent on display the first thing that really hit was the youthfulness of what to many Folk Clubs would have been a huge turnout of people.
The range of work offered was fantastic, full of humour but also very moving and thought provoking, my congratulations to all those involved.
What’s more the audience was attentive and tolerant of the various poet genre on offer.
Yes, you can see this coming can’t you? So why can’t Folk Clubs have the same youthfulness, vibrancy, and energy? And we can’t argue that Poets are Poets and Folk is Folk, for their joining in with Roy Blackman (for it was he) with his ditty “The Twelve Days Of Murdoch” was louder and brilliantly harmonised than I’ve heard in many Folk venues.
There are lessons for us in the Folk area to learn. That’s if the powers that be can be bothered to actually DO something about it. The talent and interest is out there amongst our young people yet we in the main do nothing to encourage it. Which is why I’m so pleased that local youngsters like Phil Sinclaire and Catherine Bindon have agreed to take to the stage for the Rotherham Open Arts Festival, and not forgetting Folk On Fire who will be doing their thing at the Acoustic Rotherham Third Birthday Party.
Which brings me to The Rotherham Show, and the Folk bit of it. Again my congratulations to Judy Dalton, or should I say the bright colourful Judy Dalton for bringing together an excellent Main Stage programme in The Folk Tent, which this year featured local top man and all round good guy Ray Hearne.
Ray is always good value for money and his songs and presentation are just so hypnotic. All us budding Folkies can learn something from Ray. Just love him, he’s a local treasure. But there were other good things on show.
Contrasting from the gritty themes of Ray songs came a duo I’d heard about but heard live before Vicky Swann and Jonny Dyer. Superb musicianship of the highest quality producing wonderful folk harmonies and sound as they played through a programme of traditional music supplemented by their own compositions. I’m sure we’re likely to be seeing a lot more of this duo in the years ahead.
And Monkeys Orphan were, Monkeys Orphan. Entertaining as ever.
I’m sorry but I personally missed the performance of Kasai Masai, but the Acoustic Rotherham spies were out in force amongst the packed Folk Tent, and the reports I received were all raving about the rhythms beats that this band sounded out.
And that brings me to the Showcase of Local Folk Talent and Singaround which if you were lucky enough to come across was hidden away in the fine setting of the Library within the Museum.
I’m ashamed to say that this was my first visit to the Museum since it’s recent transformation and what a fantastic job has been done with the modernisation not in any way comprising the beauty of the character of the building.
Acoustic Rotherham has argued for many years for the inclusion of local talent within the Rotherham Show, but what a pity it was hidden away within the confines of The Museum without any signing or mention of the featured artists. So the audience comprised of, I’m afraid to say, all the usual suspects. If you had asked me two weeks ago who would be definite shoe ins to make up the singers and audience, I would not have been wrong. And of course the intimacy of the room did little to encourage people to venture within to sample the delights on offer.
Once again one fears that local talent is taken for granted with the likes of Andy Hault, Paul Pearson, Lou Marriot and Dave and Rob + John all giving freely of their time. The Singaround was just as patchy as the limited folks split their time between Feature Tent and their loyalty to the locals.
We should not forget to mention some excellent contributions from out of Town David Kidman and Jimmy Saville both adding value to the event.
Yes, The Masher did his bit, aided and abetted by some excellent harmony from the massed voices of The Show Singaround for a bit of Three Nights and May Day.
And The Masher was out again on Sunday. With huge thanks to his Roadies / good friends / and fetchers and carriers Sue and Barrie along with their Grandsons Mitchell and Danny, without whom it would not have been possible.
Yes, we were all out for The Wirksworth Festival 2011. Email problems had meant that The Rawmarsh Masher and Roy Blackman failed to reach the match day programme. However, we slotted in at late notice to perform four, yes four, forty five minute sets.
This was The Mashers fourth year at the Wirksworth Festival (it’s not often we’re invited back twice, let alone four years running) and it’s a highlight of our Diary, even if for an old bugger it makes for a long and tiring day.
For a change we were in luck this year, with all our venues being situated around the Village Centre, and starting within the walls of The United Reform Church. Here, showing due reverence, The Masher played his set out without a cap, and even Roy took his coat off to perform his numbers.
What a super new venue for The Festival, the acoustics in the Church were spectacular, and we’d love to get a chance to play their again.
Next stop was the Stable Block, a fine outdoor location again offering great acoustics for the material that Roy and I perform.
A short break for a well-earned pint, where Roy and I discovered that we had Ruskin College I common, he on a yearlong creative writing course and I on a two year Trade Union Course in Labour Studies. Good times re-lived.
Onwards to Hadfield Farm, which has a lovely garden, in addition to a wonderful view of the Railway yards. Another outdoor venue where the weather was kind to us, with the rain holding off nicely. New friends made we then headed off to our final pitch in the middle of the Village, I think this stage was created to substitute for The Town Hall Square location.
Both Roy and I came away very happy with new friends made, if very tired and exhausted. Well we’re both getting on you know, or so some say.
And News of Acoustic Rotherham artists……………….
On Saturday night Pocketfulof Now’t made their debut at The Bridge, Rotherham supported by their friends from Hull The Three Ages of Cheese.
I’d not seen or heard The Three Ages of Cheese before and so a new experience and a super one it was to. A delightful set of home grown material demonstrating great humour both in the lyrics and arrangements of the songs. I hope that we get to see this band our way again, perhaps at an Acoustic Rotherham soon.
As to Pocketful of Now’t – another great performance in my view, captivating a super attentive audience if only to answer all the questions on their quiz sheet to win ……………………. A Pocketful CD, lucky folks. I have to admit to being mildly surprised at the competiveness of the audience.
The first set was played through acoustically, with a few numbers I had not heard before, all demonstrating their wicked sense of humour and observations of the music scene and friends.
The second set was more electric, in all senses, as they played through what was to me their more familiar songs. Not quite sure about the drum box, but hey, looking at the venues they normally play it well be an essential just to get attention.
Well done lads and a super Bridge debut, and I’m sure Ben will looking to book you again in the New Year.
And it was great to see a super turn out, dipping their toes into something new. Many debuts’ I’ve seen at the Bridge have been a little quiet.
Pictures from the Gig can be found HERE
This week also marked the launch of Phil Sinclaire’s first venture into video. His classic self-penned song “Road To Nowhere”. For a first video this is as good as it gets and is well worth a few minutes of your time to visit HERE
Podcasts are becoming ever more popular publicity tools by artists, and Acoustic Rotherham artists have not been slow on the uptake. My old mates Cracktown have been doing for some time, with madcap (not sure they’d appreciate the word madcap) ranting’s from their living room sofa which can be found HERE
But for an excellent package of poems, stories and song you will not find much better than our chum Paul Newman. Well worth a listen with a super presentation HERE
And if all this clever technology stuff is not enough, our chums on the circuit The Bar Steward Sons of Val Doonigan are taking it all a step further for us at the gritty end of the music scene by live streaming of some concerts and concert packages from their bedroom you can keep up with when to look out for them HERE
And so the week ahead.
A mention for a couple of new local Open Mic Sessions hosted by that man of the mixer, Left Handed Andy. Each Thursday night you’ll find him at Vascos in Wickersley, very posh, so best behaviour please along with your smartest bib and tucker, and on a Sunday you’ll find him at Wombwell at The Ash Inn.
And that gives me a good kick to remind you budding guitarists and singers that Ken the Hat is still providing a fantastic facility each Monday night at The Rig Dyke, Manor Farm, Rawmarsh, providing you with the opportunity to bash out a few numbers along with others. I promise you it’s a great way to build confidence and learn to play and sing in public, and many of the acts on the local scene have all gone through the Rig Dyke experience at their outset, The Masher amongst them. It’s one of those unsung events overseen by Ken The Hat who does not get enough credit for all the work he does encouraging budding performers. I promise you, that without him there would be no Rawmarsh Mashers, although I’m not sure what sort of recommendation that is.
Other stuff coming your way.
The Otley Folk Festival gets underway on Thursday; Saturday it’s Pirate Day at Whitby; Thursday and Friday South Yorkshire Folk evenings at Crookes details HERE and it’s good to see that bi monthly gatherings of Hillsborough Folk will be kicking off at the now fully refurbished Burton Street Foundation Bar starting TUESDAY at 8:00pm; and again on Saturday we have the Model Railway Live Exhibition at Chesterfield where some of Myke’s trains will be on sale. You can check it all out with links to the detailed Web Sites HERE
Is all that enough for you?
It’s certainly enough for my fingers…………………… so whatever you are doing this week, have great fun and KEEP IT LIVE.
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