It had been building into a week where I would have very
little to say, but then all of a sudden a whole host of stories have hit the
editor’s spike, and so with no more ado let’s get into the week that was.
There’s no better way to start than with a Good News
story. So congratulations to Olivia and
Ben, hosts of Rotherham’s Arts den of iniquity The Bridge Inn, on the
birth of their first, Amelia, who joined the music at around 6:00 am on
Wednesday morning.
Rock Bands appearing at The Bridge please note, turn volume
down three notches please! Only
joking, the proud Father says she will have to get used to it……………… although in my experience I’m not sure what
Mum will say about that.
Looking back, and for those who missed it I have eventually published
my reflections on the Rotherham Open
Arts Festival 2011, hopefully it’s more a look forward to how we can do
things better in 2012, you can find it HERE
UK FOLK have just
put out their first Podcast called
Folkrise – you can download / listen to
the ten tracks from emerging Folk Acts HERE
Here’s a bit of update on the UKFCN or Folk21 as the
Group is now to be called. The skeleton
of a Web Site has been created with the aims and general objectives and other
stuff currently available, HERE.
Sitting back and watching / reading the debates as they take
place on the Group News page demonstrates the difficulty of bringing Folk Clubs
and Artists together in common cause, summed up in one word, frustrating.
It seems to me that unless one is well known nationally on
the Folk Circuit then one’s views are taken as secondary and little attention
is paid. Big Fish, Small Pond, comes to
mind.
I shall not go into the reasons why some people have dropped
out, nor of the suspicion that some other Folk Organisations are held in, it
just goes to show that politics and Politics wind their roots throughout all facets
of life.
However it’s good to report some positive progress, but even
that has not had it’s moments of what I consider to be small minded controversy. The first Regional Networking & Presentation Day will be taking place in
Yorkshire at The Music Room in Cleckheaton, on the 31st March. During the afternoon there will be a
discussion about raising the profile of Folk Music within the Yorkshire Region
and in the evening there will be a Showcase Concert featuring some of the top
emerging musicians from around the Country.
There are opportunities for Arts and Folk Music
Organisations and Agents to have stalls at the Day for around £20.
Still can’t help thinking that this in the box development
is a recipe to nowhere. My view remains
that we should be seeking Partnerships with Organisations on a wider Arts front
and seek far more collaboration.
Speaking of which…………………………………………………
Friday night found me at the ROMP General Meeting / Open Mic
Night. I had made the bus ride
because there should also have been an MBMT Meeting, but no one other than I
turned up so I have no idea what is happening on that front.
But instead of the controversy of the MBMT I was treated to
a night of pure positivism and direction.
How good would it be if the Musicians of Rotherham could
come together as the poets appear to do in such a positive way, where ego can
be placed so firmly on the back burner?
And you have to take your hat off to Gav Roberts for
handling things in such an informal yet positive manner, allowing everyone to
have their say, picking up the essential points made, and incorporating varying
ideas into a final plan.
Main decisions. FROM MARCH, ROMP will be the first
Friday of the Month at The Bridge.
From MARCH a second gathering of poets will be promoted at
SNAFU on the third Wednesday, which happens to be the 21st. We’re hoping that members of the SNAFU Monday
Night Jam session will want to join in on the evening.
Looking further ahead, ROMP will be looking to hold a series
of family based Sunday Afternoon events in Clifton and Rosehill Park, also to
include music. Looking to start the
events around June and through the Summer.
Also discussed was the possibility of filming some of our
poets in performing mode, and these will feature on the “Poets Corner” pages of
the Acoustic Rotherham Web Site as well as on Utube.
A reminder to all members of ROMP, if you would like a poem
featured on the page then please Email them in HERE and if you’d like to publicise and event on the Page which
would include the Diary pages please filter through Carol Robson, who is the
Official Poets Corner Correspondent.
We’ve had a bit of interest in the Publicity Zsar idea. It’s
forced me to flesh things out a bit, which was good as it rammed home just what
a huge job it is. Publicity / Marketing is often viewed as a secondary thought, something that can be
hobbled together for an Event at the last moment and with a zero or less
budget, especially it seems in Rotherham, yet I suspect it happens in many
other places as well. But that’s not an
excuse for Rotherham, Event organisers need to be educated to budget properly
for Publicity and marketing, and to make it look professional.
There really is no point in creating fantastic events and
then publicising them with what sometimes is at best is Third Division stuff,
and we can’t expect to be taken seriously by probable Sponsors if the Events
fail to make a visual impact. Make no
mistake Sponsors are going to become ever more important to the Arts.
The call is still out
there, if anyone is interested or mad
enough in joining the Creative Events teams to provide a range of Publicity
and Marketing services we would love to hear from you. There’s some great stuff lined up for 2012 /
13 to get your teeth into, if you fancy it.
Email HERE
Sad news came this
week from our Folky friends in the North of the County. Steve Mathews will be giving up the
running of The Angel Acoustic events in Topcliffe through pressure of work in
the real World. Steve has been stalwart
of the Northern Folk scene for many years and the work he has done in building
a lively Monthly Club has been much appreciated by the folks. He will be bowing out on the 18th
March when he will be featuring himself as the guest artist – well done Steve
that’s the way to get the bookings. Just
a reminder that Steve will be at Acoustic Rotherham 14 on 29th
January.
More bad news……………..
after twelve years the January 25th gathering of the Burnestone Folk Club run by that
fantastic Folk partnership, Glyn and Joolz Cavell will be the last. Those able to get to this one please do so
and make the last a real night to remember.
But sad to see another established Folk Club ending.
Rob Dickinson, he of Florin fame, brought our attention to a
possible scam this week. However, as someone has rightly pointed out
the venture might well be genuine and just perhaps has failed to explain
themselves to the possible participants clearly enough.
However, this was Rob’s experience, which I put in quotes,
“warning to my musician friends, there’s a supposed festival
called Surface Festival, they have loads of sites and links on Facebook asking
you to apply, I then received an email saying we had been selected (even though
they hadn't even heard our music) and to go to a meeting in a certain city in
England, they then ask you for £50 just in case you don't turn up for the first
gig they select for you, we were suspicious straight away and declined, now
imagine how many hungry musicians there are out there, all being asked to do
the same, and how much they will be making from this... be aware people!"
Now I’ve checked out the Surface Festival myself. They seem to have a track record. However, having looked through their
Application process and nowhere can I find any mention of Bands having to make
any sort of payment in the form of a deposit. I’d also point to the voting that takes place
to advance Bands to the later stages of the Festival, it’s not so much a
Festival as a battle of the Bands.
My only observation is that many of these Festivals offer
Bands much, and deliver little in terms of exposure. If what is being offered looks too good to be
true then it probably is, and unfortunately there is no substitute to simple
hard-work to get your music heard or your career advanced. One normally finds that if a Band or Musician
is make any sort of major impact it’s either by Peer recognition or sheer good
luck.
You’ll probably find that advice and help offered by the
Unsigned Guide HERE
just or more valuable than parting with cash to appear at an event.
Having said all that, I’d draw your attention to Yorkshire
Unplugged a more local competition amongst Yorkshire Musicians, and one that is
not promising you the World in terms of exposure and prizes. If this tickles your fancy check out their
Web Site and application Form HERE
Good News this week for Rotherham Folkies, especially those
of a certain age. Two legends of the
Folk scene are to visit Rotherham in February and March in the form of the Haughton Weavers and Mike Harding. February
the 1st is the date for the Haughton Weavers and March 6th
for Mike Harding. Both are bound to be
sale outs so ticket booking details can be found on the appropriate days on the
Diary pages HERE
While I’m at it, you’ll find a wonderful programme of
musical and theatrical events within the Civic
Theatre listings for late Winter / Spring.
Something for everyone, and worth checking out in full. HERE
A couple of odds and sods.
Fans of The
Troubadors, of which there are many around the Rotherham / South Yorkshire
area might be interested in this picture of the Band. Besides the overall psychedelic sixties feel
to the picture I noted that all but Big Steve’s form cannot be made out.
And here’s a song that had me chuckling this week, very reminiscent of Victoria Wood
I thought I’d also add this song from one of my favourite
performers Philip Cockerham , especially for those who have already broken
their New Year Resolutions.
So to the week ahead.
Monday, it’s a New Venue on me, but the River Sheaf Band
will be taking their brand of bluegrass to Goldthorpe, at the Horse and
Groom. Tuesday it’s the Handsworth Folk
Club, with Rob Slow and John Statter as guest star turns. Wednesday it’s Paul and Liz Davenport at the
Burton Street Foundation Hillsborough Ballads Night, Thursday South Anston Folk
Meet.
On Friday it’s the second Down At The Bridge Open Mic
Acoustic Session. December’s hastily put together night was not
a great success, but the organisers are hoping for a better turn out this time
around – a Masher favourite, Bonzo’s The Urban Spaceman seems to have been
quite a hit last time.
And of course the usual full programme of Weekly Clubs and
Sessions.
Find it all with more detail on the Diary Page HERE
My spies have been out again and they tell me that they’ve
discovered a venue that competes with the Old Market Gallery as being the
coldest in Rotherham. I’m told that if
you’re heading for Vasco’s wrap up warm.
So, whatever you’re doing this week, have fun, support local
music and keep it live.
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