Bishopstock - keeping the faith?
Alan Lloyd
festival raises several questions:
Many people bought tickets because of the advertised appearance of Otis
Rush, Gatemouth Brown, Jimmy Smith and the Delta Blues Cartel.
Why was it possible to notify the printers of the £10 program in time
for them to change the lineup listed therein, and the manufacturers of
the souvenir T-shirts to be printed with the amended line-up, but not to
notify ticket-buyers until days before the festival?
The cancellation of the above acts and the Delta Blues Cartel was
explained in a letter from the organisers as due to financial reasons
resulting from the festival's postponement from May. Why was the non-
appearance of the Cartel announced only at the eleventh hour?
Before the official announcement of Johnny Winter's withdrawal on the
last day, there were rumours on the festival site that he was unfit to
appear and that this had been known by the organisers for a couple of
weeks. If this was true, why was his absence only announced 90 minutes
before his scheduled appearance?
The fact that the replacement act had been booked, assembled and driven
four hours from London in time to appear shows that the non-appearance
of Winter could have been notified hours earlier.
Many people expressed feelings that the ticket-buyers had been kept
uninformed in order to protect ticket sales. Certainly many will be
cautious about buying advance tickets for future festivals. I should not
be surprised if some performers also were wary of accepting bookings for
this festival in the future.
I hope the organisers will explain themselves more fully in the blues
press or elsewhere.
NB There were many positive things about the festival, but I will post
separately about them.
--
Alan Lloyd
London England
McIntosh, Iain
I agree entirely with Alan Lloyd's analysis of the Bishopstock situation.
I've been for the last 3 years, and I've always had the feeling that the
paying customer is a second class citizen at Bishopstock. It showed a
distinct lack of respect for the paying crowd that Johnny Winter's illness
was kept secret for at least several hours and maybe days. I'll not be
going next year.
Iain McIntosh
Winchester, UK
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jinx...@aol.com
>Many people expressed feelings that the ticket-buyers had been kept
>uninformed in order to protect ticket sales. Certainly many will be
>cautious about buying advance tickets for future festivals. I should not
>be surprised if some performers also were wary of accepting bookings for
>this festival in the future.
If an artist is not going to perform as scheduled, the promoters SHOULD post
the following at eye level at all entrances:
"(Blank) is not going to perform on today's show. If you have purchased
tickets in anticipation of seeing (BLANK), we apologize and offer a full
refund on your ticket."
This is not an explanation of why the artist is not there nor does it get the
promoter off the hook for any possible legal action from the artist's agency.
However, once a ticket holder reads this 'caveat' and proceeds through the
gate, they cannot ask for a refund at a later time.
Dick Waterman
Oxford, MS
Alan Lloyd
about this festival. However there was still some great entertainment to
be had.
Highlights included:
Day 1
GB Leighton from Minneapolis impressed with his Springsteen-derived
rock music, having a good voice and a gift for melodic songs. His act
consisted of originals and covers like "Sweet Jane" and "Sympathy For
The Devil".
UK's Michael Messer, on National Steel guitar with co-vocalist Sharon
from Chicago, performed tradition songs such as Walkin' Blues, Rollin &
Tumblin' & Worried Life Blues.
Courtney Pine said that this was his first blues festival, and promised
a bluesy set. Not being familiar with the saxophonists's repertoire, I
don't know if this was different from what he normally performs.
Booker T and the MG's showed that they are still as tight as ever, and
that an hour of instrumental R&B music can be very entertaining. All
familiar material; Summertime was a highlight. (Robert Dewar, you would
have loved all this!).
Taj Mahal's set was also familiar material, similar to what he has been
doing over the last couple of years: Senor Blues, Paint My Mailbox Blue,
Queen Bee, Down Home Blues, Mr Pitiful.
Day 2
A strong line-up, but not all blues:
Nawfel, 14 year-old French-Tunisian guitarist, who last year played a
cameo role alongside the likes of Otis Grand, showed genuine talent
whether playing heavy chords or soulful single-note music, but is still
looking for his own style.
Mighty Mo Rodgers was one of the artists I most wanted to see. He did
not disappoint, playing a set based around his excellent CD Blues Is My
Wailin' Wall - Took Away The Drum, Death Taxes & The Blues, Bring Back
Sweet Soul Music. Original, and with a good sense of humour.
Lynden David Hall, London soul singer entertained in a style influenced
by the likes of Al Green & Sly Stone.
Peter Green played material from his Fleetwood Mac days up to his recent
work with the Splinter Group.
Van Morrison plays about 80 dates a year in the UK, nevertheless he
probably attracted the largest crowd of the weekend. Highlights included
Boogie Chillen, Outskirts Of Town, It's All In The Game, St James
Infirmary.
Nina Simone, in poor health and claiming tiredness, performed a little
over half an hour. Many were disappointed by the brevity of her set, and
except for Mississippi Goddam, the absence of her best known songs.
Songs included Amazing Grace, Every Time I Feel the Spirit, Here Comes
The Sun, Just Like A Woman.
Day 3
A bit of a write-off for me.
Ben Andrews is an excellent acoustic guitarist, playing material
associated with the likes of Blind Willie McTell and artists of that
era. Statesboro Blues, Gallows Pole, JLH's Ride till I Die.
Sue Foley showed some good guitar work, and her band was very tight.
Tunes by Earl Hooker, Barbara Lynn, Slim Harpo, Jimmy Rogers.
After three songs by Gary Moore, I decided to head for the other end of
the festival site to the talent tent, where a number of lesser known but
often quite impressive bands were performing throughout the weekend.
Compared to the previous year, where an impeccable line-up of top-
drawer, mostly US and some British bands kept everyone entertained, the
line-up this year was pretty thin, with some forgettable bands, and the
last-minute withdrawal of those top names mean that the blues content
was somewhat less.
Jef Jaisun
veracity.
Jef
>>>>>>>>
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 5:58 PM
Subject: "Royal" Press Release....
---"This statement Was released at sixteen hundred hours from the desk
of "Queen" Helen Myers, Bishopstock Palace, Devon, ENGLAND. The
reclusive and self proclaimed "Queen of the Blues", Helen Myers made a
rare and tearful appearance at her exclusive Royal Garden Party and
Blues/Music Festival to announce to her select guests that due to a
minor and non-life threatening stroke headlining artist, Johnny
Winter, would no longer be able to perform. A small but aggressive
element of bikers in the audience were soon appeased by the appearance
of a frail Mr. Winter, ( a deeply concerned Ms. Myers supporting him
throughout), acompanied by his manager. A full medical report was read
to the crowd.This bitter blow came on top of the cancellation at very
short notice of five major US acts. It is rumoured that to save Queen
Helen's credibility in the blues world his manager has signed an
agreement guaranteeing Johnny's demise within the next six
months, er.. sorry, weeks."---
Hope you enjoyed that slight adaptation of the truth. I heard early
on in the afternoon that Johnny was in the country but had experienced
a minor stroke. I was just wondering how long they could hold out
before they told an already disgruntled crowd that the headliner for
the final day of the festival would not appear. Eventually, before the
penultimate act, Justin Adams and the Wayward Sheiks,(yes, "who??"), a
very nervous and tearful Helen Myers made her first appearance of the
festival. Dragging poorJohnny down there just to save her face was
ghoulish. She was hanging onto his arm in a very concerned way, but I
think on top of all her own ill-advised cancellations she probably
told his manager,"either he shows his face here or you don't get
paid!" Cynical, I know but otherwise the woman would probably have got
lynched. She managed to get The London Comunity Gospel Choir who had
closed the previous night, after an embarrassingly awful set by Nina
Simone, to return to fill the closing spot, but most people started
to drift away after the announcement about Johnny Winter.
For all its bad points it was still a pretty damn good weekend; the
weather was great and most of the other acts did not dissappoint.
Booker T ang the MGs were sensational, (first time in Britain for
twelve years), Taj was just Taj (great!) and Van Morrison and Mighty
Mo Rodgers both played blinding sets.
I found Sue Foley a bit of a dissappointment; a sort slightly more
talented Susan Tedeschi. The only acoustic act was (US) Ben Andrews,
who was brilliant and our own Gary Moore went some way to appeasing
the rock element in the audience. The surprise act of the festival was
The Fins, a swinging R&B band from New Jersey. Courtney Pine was great
but definitely not blues, as was Lynden David Hall, and US country
rock act G.B.Leighton.
Well we had fun and slagged Helen Myers off quite a lot but not too
loudly, as we all had free passes worth #120 each.
Love, Nn'J.
Alan Lloyd
>weather was great and most of the other acts did not dissappoint.
>Booker T ang the MGs were sensational, (first time in Britain for
>twelve years), Taj was just Taj (great!) and Van Morrison and Mighty
>Mo Rodgers both played blinding sets.
>
>I found Sue Foley a bit of a dissappointment; a sort slightly more
>talented Susan Tedeschi. The only acoustic act was (US) Ben Andrews,
>who was brilliant and our own Gary Moore went some way to appeasing
>the rock element in the audience. The surprise act of the festival was
>The Fins, a swinging R&B band from New Jersey. Courtney Pine was great
>but definitely not blues, as was Lynden David Hall, and US country
>rock act G.B.Leighton.
>
> Well we had fun and slagged Helen Myers off quite a lot but not too
>loudly, as we all had free passes worth #120 each.
>
I pretty much agree with this assessment. Pity I had to pay the full
whack for my tickets :(
Sonl...@aol.com
al...@alloyd.demon.co.uk writes:
<< The surprise act of the festival was The Fins, a swinging R&B band from
New Jersey. >>
Anyone know if John Pittas (formerly of The Son Lewis Blues Band) was
featured on Keyboards with The Fins at Bishopstock? John is an extremely
talented player with a real serious feel for the Blues, and some great
keyboard sounds...
Son Lewis
Blues Vocalist/Guitarist
<A HREF="http://www.silkcitycd.com/">www.silkcitycd.com</A>
World Talent Records
February 2001. I thought they were great musicians, even though they did
not win. Their show was energetic and full of great tone and sounds. I got
to meet some of the guys later on after they had played. They seemed like
really nice guys, and I wish them the best.
Debbie
words...@webtv.net
Nothing against the Fins, it just go to show how the slime factor of the
NYBS has so enraged the New York City Blues Community that they had to
import a band from across the Hudson. What the NYBS could have been
and what it turned into is a heartbreaker.
Dear Lord, please let me be half the person my dog thinks I am.
Gordon Lahmers
Who did they get to replace Johnny Winter?
>Many people expressed feelings that the ticket-buyers had been kept
>uninformed in order to protect ticket sales. Certainly many will be
>cautious about buying advance tickets for future festivals. I should not
>be surprised if some performers also were wary of accepting bookings for
>this festival in the future.
>
>I hope the organisers will explain themselves more fully in the blues
>press or elsewhere.
>
>NB There were many positive things about the festival, but I will post
>separately about them.
>--
>Alan Lloyd
>London England
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Alan Lloyd
<gordon_...@hotmail.com> writes
>Hi Alan,
>
>Who did they get to replace Johnny Winter?
>
>
performance, were called back from London to fill Johnny's spot.
--
Alan Lloyd
Dana
they were
just about back to London. This was a great way to end the concert.
They had closed the Festival Sat. Eve. Outstanding Choir to watch.
The crowd loves them. The irony here is that they were originally
scheduled to close the concert Sunday, this means that this was about
the only act to stay consistent with the roster.
gordon_...@HOTMAIL.COM (Gordon Lahmers) wrote in message news:<F29wYShEgSgNm...@hotmail.com>...
Norma Victor
Actually LCGC were originally billed to OPEN on sunday. After Jimmy Smith
was axed and Van Morrison was moved from headlining position and replaced by
Nina Simone, only then wre LCGC put in closing slot. The impression I got on
monday was that after the news about Johnny Winter's non-appearance was
confirmed the crowd were mightily pissed off. Lovely as LCGC are few people
wanted to see them twice as headliners. People were leaving in droves during
Justin Adams set, in fact extra buses had to be provided to cope with the
exodus. Perhaps it was not possible to arrange, but Gary Moore would have
made a suitable closing act.
Gordon Lahmers
Btw, did Johnny Winter fly in on the morning of his show? That's what
Bishopstock often do and any musician is going to be in a bad way after that
journey.
>From: Dana <loveinv...@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: Dana <loveinv...@yahoo.com>
>To: BLU...@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU
>Subject: Re: Bishopstock - keeping the faith?
>Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2001 15:20:43 -0700
>
>They contacted the London Gospel Choir, who turned the bus around when
>they were
>just about back to London. This was a great way to end the concert.
>They had closed the Festival Sat. Eve. Outstanding Choir to watch.
>The crowd loves them. The irony here is that they were originally
>scheduled to close the concert Sunday, this means that this was about
>the only act to stay consistent with the roster.
>
>
>gordon_...@HOTMAIL.COM (Gordon Lahmers) wrote in message
>news:<F29wYShEgSgNm...@hotmail.com>...
> > Hi Alan,
> >
> > Who did they get to replace Johnny Winter?
> >
> >
> >
Dana
gordon_...@HOTMAIL.COM (Gordon Lahmers) wrote in message news:<F122gMZZhKo79...@hotmail.com>...
Alan Lloyd
<gordon_...@HOTMAIL.COM> writes
>The London Gospel Choir are a great act and getting seen quite a lot now.
>
>Btw, did Johnny Winter fly in on the morning of his show? That's what
>Bishopstock often do and any musician is going to be in a bad way after that
>journey.
>
>
she had been there for the whole festival. (She made some comment along
the lines of wanting to give up the guitar after listening to Steve
Cropper).
The Fins, I believe, were already in the country for the Colne R&B
festival.
--
Alan Lloyd