Last of The Cracking Festival Concerts / News from the World of Folk / Web Site Additions

So the Rotherham Open Arts Festival winds down.  The final Concert has been played out but there are still two days, Tuesday and Wednesday to pop into the Gallery and check out the fantastic Art Work on show created mainly by the people of Rotherham from the very young to the more Senior members of our Community. 

I’m not going to go into my full Review of the Festival experience in this Blog.  There are two reasons, first so that we can give full credit to the artists who have appeared this week and secondly I feel that such a Review deserves a little more time in the “cooking” and requires to be treated as a standalone.

So with the week starting with a classic Masher mistake by shouting out that it was Nellie Folk last Monday –IT’S TODAY (MONDAY)  – the week could only get better. 

And so it did.

The Wednesday Festival Concert was a cracker. By popular demand!! it was kicked off by The Masher set where I was joined on stage by John Statter, making it our first more formal outing, which given the total lack of any practice session together proved to be a truly enjoyable experience. Good to hear folks joining in on choruses, and even those who were new to The Mashers seemed to enjoy it.  So, result.

Then Pocketful of N’owt, the smaller, took the audience by storm, with a rite rousing set of frivolity pushed along by the high wire stool walking of Mike O’Brian.   Mike’s performances seem to become more outrageous each time I see him, and he even included my favourite song into this makeshift set.  

They also included their fantastic new Christmas song.  Here’s the link. HERE Head in that direction as we’re trying to make it this year’s Christmas number one – at which point Mike says he will buy me a pint!   Thanks Mike. 

But you have to give these lads a lot of credit.  They are magic supporters of the local music scene and through “hard work” have in a very short period of time created a very positive profile with fans and Promoters.  We really hope that current problems are quickly sorted and that they return to full numbers soon. 

I’ve also had the privilege of checking out their six track studio EP which contains what might be described as their greatest hits.  You can pick a copy up by heading off to Pocketful of N’owt Gig or find Mike O’Brian and beg………………..   worth a fiver of anyone’s money.   Check out their Facebook Page HERE

To complete a night of madness and Politician hating satire came Cracktown.  My good friends Silver Fox and the King Rat providing us with some fine blues harp along with an upbeat set of their very best songs.   

I’m not sure why they worry so much.   They give off this air of Devil take the hindmost yet are sensitive to audience response.   In this particular case they needn’t have worried.  I’ve seen them amongst their own when they’ve gone for it and are absolutely brilliant, almost different level to us mere mortals, yet one sensed in the Gallery environment something was being held back.  Just my feeling. 

Cracktown will always be at the top of my booking list for what they are, challenging, clever with words and lyrics and juxta positioned arguments and above all creative and talented.  Be yourselves lads and let it rip.  The other reason they will always be at the top of list, is that they’re cheap, but hurry that may change I believe Silver Fox will soon need a new Top Hat and Leather coat, while I noticed King Rat’s jeans had shrunk a bit (or he’s grown) and as we go into winter he’ll need something to keep him warm. 

Check out their CDs and more by joining their Facebook page HERE

Of course our thanks also go to Christine our Poet in residence.

On Friday the Festival hosted a Special Presentation of Hearts of Steel, the collated result of work started at a Festival workshop two years ago.  It’s a celebration of Steel Production in Rotherham and it’s two public performances earlier in the year received many accolades from the critics.  

It was a great shame that the cast very much outnumbered the audience by two to one.  The reason we’ll return to at another time. 

For now I want to congratulate Ray Hearne, and the full cast for an outstanding presentation under very difficult circumstances.  And for those who missed the evening, it was incredible.  

The good news though is that there are still a few copies of the original DVD available which contains the work of the Group along with some fantastic images of the time when steel was King in the Town.   Go HERE to buy.

I’m also told that the same group might be coming together for another project soon.   Stay tuned for news.  In the meantime why not check out the Millmoor Memories project all the details and links are on the Festival page HERE

And so to the final Concert of the Festival on Saturday.  A true Rotherham day with the ever young Roy Blackman kicking off proceedings with renditions of songs old and new, punctuated with the odd poem.  

It was fantastic to see Roy in full Concert mode, instead of performing the odd song here and there.  He’s a true entertainer.  

Roy let slip that the 26^th November was his late Partner Doreen birthday, and it was to have been their Wedding Day.  So it was befitting to dedicate his performance on the day to Doreen.

And don’t forget folks……………..    Roy has his CD coming out soon, “Roy Blackman – Rotherham’s Man of Memories” .  We’re still hoping for a late December launch, but it will certainly be with us early in the New Year.  The snag has been in the proof reading, which due to the size of the CD Insert is taking just a little longer to put together than we originally thought. 

More details and the teaser track that won’t be on CD can be found HERE

Roy was followed by Will Padfield.   Will’s a young singer song writer now based in Wath and has one of the strongest and best voices in the Town.  His songs are full of carefully crafted lyrics and hold a blues like melody.  It was a well-crafted set which was videoed, so I hope you’ll get to some of the tracks before too long. 

Will tells me that he’s currently experimenting with his recording, which is exciting news and I’m really looking forward to hearing some of the results in the near future.  

And great to see the family come and give full support.

And from one powerful vocal to another as Rachel Barley made one of her too rare solo appearances in Rotherham.  

What can I say about this young lady who is gaining in confidence with every performance thanks to her Band Papa Legbas.   

It was just so good to hear her jazz and blues all brilliantly supported by confident guitar playing. 

We really need to convince Rachel to get something recorded properly so that a wider audience can enjoy the music that she makes.  

Unfortunately Paul Newman couldn’t be with us because of health issues, so as we moved into the final moments of the Festival Concerts it was very kind of Paul Pearson to give us a surprise three song set.  Magical as ever and so typical of the guy to perform at a moment’s notice.   

And to finish – well with the aid of “Little” Neil The Masher was able to deliver a rendition of Bloody Rotten Audience – which was probably directed towards those who had missed some of the outstanding performances during the Month.   

All this, plus, brilliant contributions from Carol Robson and Christine May Turner providing the poetical interludes.  

So at this point all that remains is to THANK EVERY ONE OF THE THIRTY SEVEN PERFORMERS INCLUDING THE POETS FROM ROMP FOR THEIR FREELY GIVEN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FESTIVAL.  

I can tell you all that because of your amazing efforts the profile of Rotherham created music has been enhanced enormously.  The standards reached, in sometimes challenging conditions have left me opened mouthed as each of you produced performances worthy of your professional status. 

I will be making sure that you all get a copy of my final Review / Write Up  + put it up as a Blog so that you can add your own comments about your experiences at the Festival.  Better still if you have anything that you think might be overlooked please send your comments by Email acousticrotherham@jmucreate.com or add them to the bottom of this Blog. 

Already work on next year’s various projects has started.  But before diving headlong into the mire, the first thing that has to be done is make sure that we get the Macro Organisation in place. 

The Masher will be warming the troops up on Wednesday 30^th November, that’s the day of the Public Workers Strike.  I’ll be kicking off with a few heart-warming songs while the Marchers gather for the Speeches at Rotherham Town Hall and head off to join the main March and Rally in Sheffield. I should be underway by about 9:50 am – yes you did read that correctly 9:50 AM    

There’s a TUC Sponsored song from The Workers which you can find HERE and well worth downloading, it’s light hearted way of showing your support for this important stand not only to save the existing Pensions of our Public Workers but also kick forward the upgrading of Private Pension schemes that have taken a hammering over the past three years.

The UKFCN published their Good Practice Guide to Folk Clubs this week.   It’s well worth a read by Folk Club Organisers, especially the guest booking ones and anyone thinking of setting a Folk Club up.  The link is HERE  Even if you think that you have nothing to learn it's worth taking a look.

It is a step forward.

However, I still have my doubts about whether or not this closed approach by Folk Clubs is the way to go.   I’m still convinced that if we are really to grow audiences by creating new Folk Clubs or strengthen our existing Club base then we need to ally ourselves with other musical genre and general arts.   

I’m also put off a bit by some really petty nit picking by some of the people involved in this Group.  Too often at the critical moment someone throws a spoke into the wheel and everything gets reduced to a fairly juvenile level of debate. 

However, I’m sure as the Group develops some useful things will come out of it. 

Another organisation UK Folk Music  marches on though.  You can check out their Web Site pages HERE   They are to Launch a Podcast in the very near future and if you would like any of your material featured they have set up an Upload Page on SoundCloud HERE 

The week head and we have a full programme of all the regular Clubs.   This past week we have been told of a couple sessions featured on the Diary that have become defunct and they have been deleted.  I can only delete or more importantly add if you tell me – so please if you find anything not working on the Web Site or want to add or tell me about a Club that has become defunct email me at acousticrotherham@jmucreate.com  

One event I would give you a head’s up to is the return of Big Neil to the scene.  I’ve not seen him out and about for years but I’m told a new Band has been formed Penno and they will be performing at Delaney’s Music Bar in Sheffield on Sunday 4^th from 6:00pm.  You’ll be sure to be in for some great Irish tunes and good crack.  

Everything going on can be found HERE

There have been additions to the Resource Page HERE  and new tracks have been added to the Acoustic Rotherham Player.  In fact you'll find tracks from most, if not all Festival performers on the Player which you can find on every page of the Web Site.

And with that we draw to an end this week’s News Blog.  Watch out for the Festival Special later in the week.   And please try, no matter how inconvenienced on Wednesday, just what it is all about.  The Tories have always been good at setting worker against worker, person against person, it’s their standard strategy.   

Whatever you are doing this week have great fun, support live music and keep it LIVE

Standing Room Only at The Festival Concerts / Good Things for 2012 / and a Great Week Coming Up

This week has been full of meetings and Festival events.  A fine way for this officially sick bloke to be carrying on, and I have to say that I’m beginning to pay for it. 

I can safely say that by way of a change for such things this week’s round of Meetings have been positive, and this Masher is really excited about the potential for 2012 in respect of the Arts in Rotherham.  There is just so many great things already on the drawing board, and again, for a change I’m sure that most if not all will become reality.  

What I hope is that the Arts Community will give their support and add another nail to the coffin of those who would view Rotherham as some sort of cultural desert. 

You’ll have to watch this space, as Rotherham MBC, ROMP, Acoustic Rotherham, The Myke Barritt Music Trust and ROAR  all of which I’m now involved with at one level or another, get down to sorting out their various roles, structures and programmes.  And you can expect some big surprises and some great opportunities for “Grass Roots” artists of all genres.  

Some of you regular readers will know that I have been monitoring and taking part in the discussions of the UKFCN, look up their Facebook page if you want to find out what it is all about, a very short synopsis would be to say that it’s overall objective is to build links and ties between “Guest Booking” Folk Clubs in an attempt to build audiences so as to make sure they survive.  Having followed the debate and discussions closely and taken a look at the Survey Results I have to say that overall I’m not that impressed the thinking which seems so “closed”.

There was in the Survey one outstanding statistic in my view, that being that 70%+ of Festival attendees and even existing Club Members would not be attracted to going to a Club or a different Club to test new waters. 

From my experience that is just about right.  Perhaps even an understatement of the problem. 

So if we cannot grow or cross fertilize our audiences from within, we of Folk Music must look without, especially if artists are to be rewarded their worth.  

The supposed audience problem within Folk Clubs, is shared by every art genre.  Since the destruction of our traditional Pub base, the art of going out to be entertained has been lost.  Smokers don’t leave home as the novelty of freezing to death in beer gardens or the street corner has lost its glamour, (and like it or not this is by far the most singular reason for the decline in our pubs), and we now compete not only with other events for the shrinking audiences, but the glamour of 3D 60 inch Televisions, Computers and of course Game Consuls.  

I’m convinced more than ever that what we need to be doing is joining with other Art genres to promote our talented people, and that applies at all levels, and you can be sure this is the direction Acoustic Rotherham and The MBMT will be going. 

So watch out for News as it all starts coming together. 

The Rotherham Open Arts Festival

We enter the final week of events – Facebook folks will be over joyed to know – Wednesday will see The Masher make his appearance, hopefully with John Statter to my left so that the bottles have two targets to home in on.  Yes, I’ve been dragged reluctantly to the stage, having been told that if all those artists who have already done their bit in the Gallery freezer have been made to suffer, it is more than due that the season ticket holders and sundry unsuspecting visitors should also be made to suffer. 

I do plan to sing just one song on Saturday as well, but we’ll put that aside for now.  

Joining me on Wednesday will be Cracktown all the way from Hull.  If you’ve not seen these lads take it from me, it’s an experience that you will never forget.  

Also appearing will be Pocketful of N’owt.  They will be appearing either in their full frontal glory, or as a cut down version due to Mike having made his Wife suffer so much over the past month.  

It’s a night of total madness and a fitting end I think to the Wednesday Night Concert season. 

On Friday.  That’s the 25^th November.  We have something very special, a rare live presentation of Hearts of Steel, which is a reflection in song and verse on the production of Steel in Rotherham.  The team, led by Ray Hearne, (for his sins making a third appearance at the Festival) and including that man of song, Roy Blackman will performing in the Gallery for Free.  Might be a good idea to get in early for this one.  If you’ve not been or intend not to come to any of our events, this is the one worth making an exception for.   Copies of the DVD will be available at £9.99 at The Gallery Reception from Friday through to closure on 30^th November. 

And then on Saturday we have the last of the Saturday Brunch Concerts, and I can promise you a real treat.  Paul Newman the Bard of Sheffield will be entertaining us with his brilliant stories and songs.  One to bring the Children to………. You won’t be disappointed.  We have Roy Blackman singing songs from his upcoming CD “Roy Blackman – Rotherham’s Man of Memories”, in full concert mode, and not to be missed.  The fabulous vocals of Rachel Barley will be ringing out around the Gallery and the powerful voice of singer song writer Will Padmore will be in residence for a rare performance.  Ad as stated, The Masher will have the perfect song for finishing the whole thing off.  

I’m sure that we’ll also have contributions from the poets of ROMP.   

The remaining programme can be found in full HERE

We have to thank Christine from ROMP in particular who has not only been a season ticket holding member of the audience but has filled in brilliantly with her poems between the music, whenever I have asked, or when some people have failed to show their face. 

And the past week at The Festival has been quite special.   

On Wednesday and Saturday it’s been standing room only at various stages of the events, which has been fantastic for both artists and the atmosphere – let’s face it the more we squeeze in the warmer we’ll all be. 

Tuesday there was an enthusiastic gathering of Poets and Song Writers to explore memories of Saturday afternoons at Millmoor, led by Ray Hearne.

It’s funny how we get all romantic about our football going memories – of course mine were all based at Fratton Park, so it was with interest that I listened to the memories of United supporters, and reflect upon how similar the sights and sounds around a ground no matter where they are placed were.   

A lovely evening.  For those who came along and want to get work to Ray you’re find the links HERE and there is also a link for anyone who wants to find out more about the overall project. 

On Wednesday night we  were again treated to a fantastic, and thankfully up beat and warming set from Storm Trees (Eskimo Kissed!).  My personal thanks to Julie and Richard who have been great supporters of the Rotherham Open Arts Festival having made three appearances.  They are a hard working musical couple, and on the evidence of what I’ve seen this month will be heading onwards to much better things in the years ahead.  I think they have made many new friends over the November who I hope will help swell the audiences at their local appearances. 

My considerable thanks also go to Mark Hearne who stood in with only 48 hours’ notice for The Backyard Buskers who could not appear because of illness to their lead singer Richard.  We hope Richard is well on the road to recovery.  

What a great performance?  A mixture of songs from traditional to rock – and some brilliant musical improvisations, showing off his rather dry sense of humour…………

So thanks Mark.  And what a pity we don’t see a lot more of you around the venues of Rotherham. 

And someone managed to capture a picture of brotherly love as the Hearne takeover of the Festival was completed. 

Bringing up the rear, were the fantastic Troubadors.  Steve and the Boys had feet a tapping as they overcame a couple of technical difficulties to produce another fine professional performance. 

OK these guys come from Wakefield, but they have been great supporters of live music in South Yorkshire.  The good news is that they are beginning to get the wider recognition they deserve, and somehow I don’t think I’ll be able to book them for the huge Fees I pay anytime soon.  Their Diary is looking full, but I’m sure for the right bribe they could have their arm twisted into making more appearances in the area.   

Big hugs and thank you to the Boys.    And we all left the Gallery feeling pretty warm.  

And our thanks also go out to John Cawthorn for the poetry contribution from ROMP

And onwards to Saturday where we had another feast of music at the Saturday Brunch Concert.  

Making many new friends was Rotherham’s young song writing talent Phil Sinclar.  A strong performance of his songs had unusually early morning large audience hanging on his every note.

Well done Phil.  Once again this a chap that really needs the support of the Arts Community to spread the word about his work, and help boost his confidence.  Phil deserves many more Gigs, and I hope they will be coming his way.  

If Phil was not enough evidence enough of the hidden talent in Rotherham, then the vocal performance of Catherine Bindon, supported by Rotherham trouper Andy Hoult on guitar certainly rammed the point home with a huge swing of the hammer.  

Complicated songs sung majestically, understates this fine performance of a set hurriedly put together in the early hours of the morning, because Catherine had to travel up from Bristol University to be with us.  

I don’t think I saw one person leave the Gallery during her performance, they were just captured by not only the delivery of the songs but also the care taken with a programme of jazz, blues, pop, and traditional songs.  

Also producing a confident and wonderful set full of great vocals was Heather Woodhead, and I have to say what a pity that so many left during the interval and missed what was a superb performance.  Again it was a full mixture of songs, from the traditional to the contemporary side of Folk Music.  

And yet another performer deserving of a wider audience. 

I was really impressed with Heather’s professionalism, and dare I say that her confidence and her delivery of the songs has soured since I last got to hear from her at an Acoustic Rotherham.  A very important reminder that we must invite her back again in the very near future if she can find room for us in her busy Diary.

Following on from Heather came a set of yet more magical vocals from the talented Karen Gilmore, who along with her Partner Nigel Smith go under the name of Swansong Acoustic (when in duo mode and Swansong when in quartet full rockin’ mode)  

It was again a programme delivered so professionally in difficult circumstances.

While I love their rockin’ sets, I have to say that I think the full value of Karen’s singing versatility is best heard in acoustic sets.   In a day of outstanding vocal performances from the start it was another brilliant performance. 

Karen works really hard on the circuit, not only does she join up with the full Band but she also performs as a solo performer in Club Land – a show I still have to see, (so get yourself booked into The Rawmarsh Trades and Labour Club) but like me, if you see her name of the Billing for your Club go along and give her some support and someone to chat to during the Bingo.

And the day’s extra surprise came from the really powerful voice and amazing songs written by Andrew Oxley.   

OK you’re bored of me saying it, but, again, Andrew is another undervalued talent that should be nurtured a lot more by Promoters in the area.  

The power of his playing is so evident by the fact that our decibel counter was closing in on the red on his own, even out doing the Troubadors.  The breaking of a string was also a bit of a giveaway to.  He tells me that it’s third time in as many gigs that has happened, so perhaps he needs to invest in a backup guitar, something he will only be able to afford if we get out there and book him. 

Well done Andrew, and I’m only sorry so few were there to actually enjoy your performance.  We’ll put that right at Acoustic Rotherham 14. 

And the reason Andrew was a surprise inclusion is that he was due to have taken part in The Festival Within a Festival – that which did not happen.  So I was more than happy to have Andrew come and play at the Festival venue.

We’ll deal with some of the negatives in next week’s summing up Festival Blog.

And I should also add that this Saturday did not follow the pattern of the previous two Concerts, where audiences grew over the day, instead, the audience crammed in for the morning bit of the Brunch concert and then sort of gradually evaporated in an unexplained way……………   so my thanks to the those on in the afternoon for being so professional and producing such outstanding performances.

Thanks to Christine for the poetical interludes between the music, as said before they were much appreciated. 

All the pictures can be found HERE

Unfortunately I was not able to get to either of the Dance events at Magna this weekend, under instructions from she who must be obeyed to rest.  

However, I was very pleased to read that both events were simply fantastic spectacles, especially the Retina Dance Company production on Sunday which from those who saw it I learn was a really uplifting experience.  

Dancing with the Retina Company were a dozen Rotherham Dancers who I’m told excelled, and demonstrated the Dance talent we have in Rotherham.  It’s worth noting that they had only five days to learn the Dance making their achievements even more notable. 

My congratulations to all those involved. 

The Web Site  is currently going from strength to strength.   I’m not going to make any false claims on the usage of the Site as some clearly do, (I recently saw one local site claiming 250,000 hits, when checked, it’s possible that they added three zeroes to actual hits as the World ranking was a 20,000,000 away from Acoustic Rotherham).  

Our World Ranking is the highest it has ever been at 529,000 according to Alexia.  Our National ranking is 22,000. We normally trundle along at 560,000 and 26,000 respectively. 

Even our Blog Rankings have significantly improved, reaching the level of eight months ago when Myspace blacked us out when they changed all their RSS links without telling anyone.  

The improvements seem to be working and in December I’ll try and get the reconstruction finished so that the site has a uniform look to it.  

The figures do show that we are one of the most read music sites, especially in the Folk / Acoustic genre in the UK, the notable exception being Spiral Earth.  

We will be seeking to strengthen our Resource Page early in 2012 – and widening the scope of the Arts that we feature on our pages.  Keen readers will have already noted that the visual Arts are already being featured on the Diary pages. 

This week Philip Cockerham’s latest CD has been added to the David Kidman Review Page HERE – the final Art work for Roy Blackman’s CD is on display on the Roy Blackman Page HERE – and of course all the pictures from the Festival and Busking Day are up.  

And don’t forget there is an open invitation to have your music on our Demo page.  All you have to do is forward the Tracks or send me a CD and we’ll make sure that it is featured.  You can check out the great packages already on the site HERE

I’ve updated our Facebook profile photograph with a picture taken by John Rosling a young Photographer and Film maker from Rotherham.  Check out his fantastic work.  

Westgate Chambers, the new home of ROAR is nearing completion.  Volunteers are still wanted to finish off the painting and next weekend play at being Mr Shifter Men.  If you have some spare time that you can give please contact Katherine on 07834341468.

The Opening will be taking place on 7^th December, starting at 5:00pm.

I got to meet Matt this past week, who is to be ROAR’s Development Officer.  His Official start date is 5^th December, but will be out and about talking and listening to people before then, he will also be available for discussions about raising Funds and writing claims. 

 

Rotherham Trade Unions will be on the March in Support of the Public Service Pensions Strike on 30^th November.  There is a possibility that The Masher and other Rotherham Working Class artists will do short spots in All Saints Square between 10:40 and 11:20 am.    

I’m still hoping that we’ll have the Roy Blackman CD out before Christmas………..  it’s going to be touch and go, but the Art Work is currently being proof read by David Kidman and then it’s all systems go to the duplicators.   Advanced Orders can be made HERE

Finally, besides all the great things going on in the last ten days of the Rotherham Open Arts Festival, and if you’ve not been to the Gallery yet, get down there, the art work is just stunning, and it comes from our own Rotherham Artists, there are some other great events going off, head off to the November Diary page HERE for all the details. 

I hope we’ll see you at one or another of the events over the next week.  And if you’re a Facebook friend and we’ve not met then come up and say a few words.  

Whatever you are doing this week, have fun, support local musicians and KEEP IT LIVE.  (see you at the Gallery on Wednesday)