Sore fingers
this week, as cap on the Masher worked hard to bring the Irish songs up to
speed ready for Saturday’s Paddy Day celebrations at The Cannon in Worksop.
And what a
night it was. Typically Mashers, with
the usual round of technical hiccups, key clashing starts and those magic
moments when everything comes together wonderfully. It happened on at least three songs…………
The night’s
deliberate mistakes were well crafted in lack of co-ordinated practice with
poor John Statter who joined me for the evening again in his role of adopted
Masher. And typically a long sad story.
We were supposed
to have got together on Tuesday, however due to the financial embarrassment of
my not being able to afford the bus fare into Town, 2p no longer covering a
return trip mores the pity, I had to pull out.
Calling John’s mobile took me direct to Call Message and while I
desperately tried to get hold of him it was not until he was installed at The
Bridge and enjoying a post gym pint (John in the gym being an awful image) that
he decided to turn his phone on!!! I
think it was deliberately, as I think it was his second pint when he turned the
phone on. In any event I was lambasted
for having upset Yvon’s plans for a nice long afternoon walk in the sunshine……. Personally I think she thought John had
planned it all deliberately, even carrying three instruments!
We did get
together on Friday morning courtesy of the road crew, that’s Barrie, and seemed
to bash things through in 90 minutes, as we discovered. The start of the Wild Rover was more than
interesting, but I did get the timing right so the fact that John was in a
completely different key shouldn’t have been noticed! And my phrasing for McAlpines Fusiliers has
never been right, hence the reason the song was avoided by The Masher in the
past.
But hey it
was Paddy night and the Guinness flowed, so all the errors went unnoticed, didn’t
they Oh and there was an awkward moment
when for reasons unknown at the time John’s mic started to feedback and then
for some reason die. The cause turned
out to be the amp fairies, veterans of the PA will know exactly what I mean,
the inexplicable movement of knobs.
It was funny
though watching John adjust and attempting to sing and play banjo into what was
a dead mic……. My sick sense of humour I
fear.
All in all a
super night. Once again The Masher has
to thank the best Folk Roadies on the Road, Sue and Barrie, who not only get me
to places safely; they also do all the lugging around of kit. I really cannot thank them enough.
I can’t say
I will be that sorry to close the Irish song book for another year and move
back to what I consider to be core Masher material, because I won’t. I think it really is time to add a few new
songs to freshen things up though, so watch out folk.
And boy, I
was pleased to see all my friends out working on St Patrick’s Night; it really
is good to see the Folkies being taken out of their box for the night. From
the Mashers – Billy and The Boys – Ceol – Mark Hearne – The Rogues and of
course Jack’s Rake, our thanks to the Pubs for their support and just perhaps
you should use us on more than just one night a year.
Hoho.
And so other
things.
One of
Rotherham Arts Events team has had her own problems this week. Our Lisa Marie was walking home along Broom
Valley when she was hit by a taxi that mounted the pavement. The Taxi didn't bother to stop!! Obviously once the adrenaline dropped and the
bruises started coming out the full
extent of the injuries became clear.
Lucky to be
alive in many respects, Lisa Marie is very uncomfortable at the moment. The poor girl is not having the best of
things at the moment, as she was already having to combat a serious injury
caused by a medic that has prevented her from playing her Instrument. So please spare a few good thoughts for her
and we look forward to having her back in the RAE team very soon.
And if
anyone heard any rumours about this hit and run incident please get in touch with Lisa who’ll
tell you who to contact. Thanks.
It’s been
another busy set up admin week for RAE.
This coming week is again full of Meetings that will deal directly with
the Organisation and funding of RAE, supplemented with ROAR, Art Networks, and
Rotherham Art Strategy Meetings. All
good fun.
However on
the fun side of things. Meetings this
week with Jonathon from the Jazz fraternity and my friends in The Rotherham
Against The Cuts group were both positive.
This means
we add Jazz to the growing list of music genres that will be featured
during Slamfest and the ROAF Fringe.
It also
means that Banners High is virtually
sorted. Speaker invitations have been
sent out and a tie in with the LPYS has been secured to join us on the
day. I still await confirmation from two
Acts concerning the afternoon event, while tickets
for both the full Festival and Rock Concert are beginning to be booked. A positive I think.BOOK HERE
As a
negative, it would appear that Rotherham Trades Council have dismissed
involvement. However, I’ve yet to make
formal contact so will do so immediately.
I’ve also secured provisional agreement from BBC
Horizon Folk Award Winner Lucy Ward and the amazing Sheedyfrost
to appear at the Fringe Festival in
October. Expect more attractive names to
be announced in the months ahead.
At grass roots I’m pleased to say that
Plays are hitting my Inbox! Thanks so
much, I know FOF Theatre will be thrilled with the excellent work submitted so
far. Remember the closing date for submissions is the 30th April. If you’re
not on the Internet you can post your submissions to Richard Millard, RAE,
26 Payne Crescent, Rawmarsh, Rotherham, S62 7JB.
We
are also looking for Poems of Protest to
be published in the Banners High Brochure. Again we will need your submissions by the 30th April. No prizes or anything, it’s all for the
glory………..
While on Competitions. Don’t forget to get your entries for the
Wath Folk Festival “Silver Roots Award” on 5th May to me asap. We have a very limited amount of time to run
the showcase for us emerging oldies, and while entries will be taken on the
day, I really do advise folks to declare their interest to avoid any
disappointment. Email HERE £50 + Cup to the
Winner, + Tickets to the remaining Concerts of the Festival – an excellent
Prize for what we hope will essentially be a bit of fun.
Not
forgetting the RAE call for entries into the Create an image for the Open Arts
Festival in October carrying a £200 first prize, along with other
Extras. Closing date 7th July.
Quite a few
balls in the air there then.
On Thursday evening I popped down to
Rosehill Park, Rawmarsh, with Mac Masher in tow, to see the outside SPARKS presentation of films featuring
some of local young people. It was a
really creative idea, with the films being projected onto the side of the
lodge. Baked potatoes and burgers were
also on offer for this splendid evening.
Well done to all involved, which included Artists “The Collaborators”
and Academics from Sheffield University.
The project was to highlight the social use of green open spaces. A little more detail about the project HERE
So the week
ahead. Eagle eyed and regular folks
using the site will be aware of a couple of corrections, but close to home I
would just draw your attention that Ken
The Hat’s Monday Session has moved to THE MARQUIS, Upper Haugh. Close to Rawmarsh. It’s easy to find on the main Barnsley
Road. This is a great session for folks
looking to gain confidence with guitars etc, in a friendly and welcoming
atmosphere. Be prepared to play a lot of
As and B7s - yes it’s where the Masher
cut his teeth nearly ten years ago, and a group to which I will always be
grateful.
Tuesday and
Roy Blackman will be hosting what I call the Handsworth Folk Club, and my memory is as bad as Roy’s as I can’t
remember who the main guest is this Month.
It’s a busy
Wednesday!!! ROMP will be holding their first
gathering at SNAFU, for an Open Mic Session. Musicians are particularly welcome to this
one as it’s Gav’s intention to use the SNAFU evening to cross fertilise poetry
and music. Everyone is welcome of
course.
Also on
Wednesday evening at ROAR’s HQ in Westgate Chambers at 6;30pm there will be a
meeting of the Rotherham Arts Network. Anyone with a passing interest in the Arts is
cordially invited. This meeting will be
concentrating on the progress of the CCP bid, which is the Arts Community’s
immediate priority. If anyone wants to
say something about how money could usefully spent within Arts this Meeting is
for you.
And Paul and Liz Davenport will be holding
their Monthly Ballads Session at Burton Street, Hillsborough. (Really must get to one of those).
Thursday
programme is quite standard – in other words packed with places to sing and
play, and on Friday Jakes Rake and Nowhere Fast are both out playing live.
On Saturday
I would draw your attention to Varsity Slam at The Riverside in Sheffield, as a
non-standard event.
So plenty to
get your teeth into for another week. All the details, events, Clubs and Sessions can be found HERE
As usual I
suspect that I will have left something really important out, but I suppose
there is a danger of information overload – at which point my brain might
explode.
Whatever you’re
doing this week, have great fun, support the local music scene and please keep
it LIVE.
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