25th Fylde Folk Festival (29-31 August 1997)

Graham Gurrin

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Aug 6, 1997, 3:00:00 AM8/6/97

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In case anyone is still undecided whether or not to go to Fylde for
this year's 25th festival, if there are any tickets left, this may
help you to decide. It's my review of last year's festival, as it
appeared in The Living Tradition issue 18 (Nov-Dec 1996):

Fylde Folk Festival 1996

It occurred to me while travelling up the motorway from London, while
pitching my tent in the dark and while lying awake half the night
listening to the wind howling across from Morecambe Bay, that I had
totally lost control of my senses. But with a programme full to the
brim with typical festival goodies, a weekend of quite reasonable
weather and beer at less than £1.40 a pint, I soon settled in and had
a whale of a time.

I missed the first day, arriving at Fleetwood just after midnight on
Friday, but my very first event on the Saturday passed the festival
test of giving me the chance to catch up with an artist I knew I would
enjoy and also discovering someone new to me. I had last seen Kate
Rusby in her role as junior Poozy, so I was pleased to see her still
delivering the goods solo -- singing solo at least, as she was
accompanied on fiddle on a couple of numbers by the Battlefield Band's
John McCusker. At the same session I was introduced to the formidable
voice and repertoire of Heather Heywood, the first of my discoveries
for 1996.

I must admit to a tinge of disappointment at Si Kahn's afternoon
performance. I hope his devotees will forgive me. Perhaps it was the
wrong time of day to listen to him, especially as he concentrated on
some of his lesser-covered songs. In my defence, I found Roy Bailey's
performance of Kahn's song "Here is my Home" on Sunday evening
absolutely stunning.

In the evening I was torn between two concerts so I spent the first
half at the Manx Maid Restaurant, where the surroundings gave rise to
an obligatory chip shop joke from each performer, but with Stormalong
John's rousing enthusiasm for the shanty the audience soon forgot the
cutlery clinking in the background. I knew Martin Carthy would be good
-- he sang a few songs including "Geordie" and "Bill Norrie" -- but
another pleasant surprise came with Robert Harbron's concertina
playing, particularly on Andy Cutting's "The History Man". I just had
time to hear Fred Jordan's stirring performances of "Claudy Banks" and
"The Banks of the Sweet Primroses" before a quick walk to the
Fleetwood Gym, to hear Michael Chapman play a fantastic set. Listening
to his spectacular guitar work on "Geordie's Down the Road" I thought
this was worth the trip to Lancashire alone. This concert was finished
off by a set from Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle, the highlight for me
being their exquisite performance of "Linden Lea". I looked in on the
Marine Hall to see how the ceilidh was going. Everyone appeared to be
enjoying themselves, and the band Stömp sounded good enough to listen
to -- so I did.

Much dashing about by day, taking part in a couple of good Irish
sessions in the New Victoria Hotel and looking in on the Youthquake
workshop. Run by fiddle player Jenny Shotliff, this band of five
fiddles, two flutes and a guitar gave a good account of themselves as
the opening act of Sunday afternoon's New Generation Concert. It's a
shame there weren't a few more people in the audience to offer
encouragement. No shortage of people enjoying Shave the Monkey, who
get better every time I see them.

I thought the final concert would be a chance to sit down and relax
without rushing back and forth between different gigs. Think on. The
Marine Hall was packed. It was a chance to stand up. Stanley
Accrington was hilarious. I particularly liked his treatment of the
recent Royal divorce to the tune of "The Boxer". ("Di, Di, Di" --
geddit?) The Guv'nor and his team seem to have evolved into the Albion
Country & Western Band. No disrespect intended, but much of their set
simply showcased the songwriting and vocal talents of Julie Matthews
and Chris While. Roy Bailey took a while to overcome the rather
inhibited atmosphere that had developed. His earlier set at the
British Legion had far more vitality, including stirring versions of
"No Mas" and "Tolpuddle Man". Signing -- rather than singing -- "May
There Always Be Me" was one of the most moving experiences of my
weekend.

Show of Hands seem at the moment unable to do wrong. We enjoyed their
singing as much as they did, because we brought them back for two
encores, "The Galway Farmer" and "Time after Time". The downside of
this was that the excellent Garva had to be wound up at the witching
hour, having barely had time to get into their stride. It was the
price we had to pay for bringing everyone else back for more.

I bumped into Alan Bell on the Sunday evening -- modesty forbids me to
tell you where but it had running water and a hand drier -- and asked
him if he was enjoying himself. "I'll enjoy it in retrospect," he
said, thinking for a moment and adding: "I just like good music." Well
we had more than our fair share of that at this year's Fylde.

~~~

This year's festival has another extraordinary line-up, including:
Battlefield Band
Show of Hands
Waterson/Carthy
The Wrigleys
Sid Kipper
Cyril Tawney
Enda Kenny
Isaac Guillory
Pauline Cato & Tom McConville
Les Barker
Mrs Ackroyd Band
Stanley Accrington
Fred Jordan
Pete and Heather Heywood
Robert Harbron

and loads more!

And if you fancy a rest from all that music, you can take a tram into
Blackpool, or fly your kite on the beach. The wind blowing in off
Morecambe Bay does have its uses...

For more information on this year's festival, phone 01772 683027.

--
Kind regards,
Graham Gurrin,
Surrey, England.................................................
Why not pour yourself a cup of tea and pop round to my Web site?
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin
The Ram Club, Claygate: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin/ram.htm
Folk on Line archives: http://web.ukonline.co.uk/graham.gurrin/folkonline.htm

Mark Fergusson

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Oct 25, 1997, 3:00:00 AM10/25/97

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When I was at school we used to sing a song about the ship Titanic.
could any body who knows the song please let me have the words. I have
searched long and hard for them but to no avail. a private mail would be
most appreciated. The song goes something like this,

They built the ship Titanic to sail the ocean blue
they thought they had a ship that the water would never go through
but the company in their greed said we must increase the speed
It was sad when that great ship went down

Chorus
It was sad it was sad it was sad mighty sad it was sad when that great
ship went down

And the rest I can not recall. Can anyone please help.

Ma...@bfib.demon .co.uk
--
Mark Fergusson

Jim Spinelli

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Oct 25, 1997, 3:00:00 AM10/25/97

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THE TITANIC

D G D
Oh, they built the ship 'Titanic' to sail the ocean blue
D E7
A
And they thought they had a ship that water would ne'er go through
D D7 G
D
But the Lord he took a stand, and he said she would not land
D A D