Sam Carter's Unsung Heroes
It is interesting - although not surprising - that the most widely lauded guitarists in folk music are all accompanists.
Archives for August 2009
Sam Carter on His First Cambridge
The first thing I noticed when I arrived into Cambridge train station for my first Cambridge Folk Festival was that the pace of life was considerably slower than that of London.
Jon Boden on Song Parodies
writes:
I heard the best folk song parody ever at Sidmouth. Its author, , sang it but I can't remember what it's called and I don't know whether he's recorded it.
I was too busy convulsing in hysterics to memorise any of the words, but one line that sticks in my head was something along the lines of "she had a dark and a rolling eye. The other was pale and static."
You probably get the idea. Or do you?
If you are a folky than the answer is probably yes, but if you are new to folk song then parodies may seem like a foreign language.
Jon Boden on Cambridge and Sidmouth Festivals
writes:
Recently got back from Cambridge Folk Festival via .
Both brilliant as usual, albeit in very different ways.
Nice to be kept fairly busy at both (Cambridge particularly) as I tend to get fidgety if I spend too long at a festival without a gig (or three).
Karine Responds To Email Complaint
Karine Polwart writes:
I received an email today from someone who'd come to one of my gigs and, it seems, had a pretty rotten time.
The reason? Bad songs? Bad sound? Bad performance?
All of these would be perfectly understandable. I don't expect everyone to like what I do.
And everyone is entitled to their own tastes.
Karine Polwart on porridge, pipes and Potter
St Hild and St Bede's College at makes a good bowl of porridge, let me tell you.
Which is just as well, I'm afraid, since there's not nearly quite such a good cup of coffee to be had on campus.
Indeed, I'm thinking rather enviously upon a certain Kentish folk singer that travels everywhere with his camping stove, an espresso pot and a massive vat of Lavazza.
Dreams Of The Open Road
I was sitting outside the Helwith Bridge pub in Ribblesdale this afternoon, supping a pint and watching the sun moving westward after a lovely warm Yorkshire Dales day, when the bloke on the table beside me started up a conversation.
Turned out he was a regular and was also heading off to .
He has a VW Campervan 1978 vintage in perfect nick and spends a good deal of the summer going off to festivals with his wife and two small children.
Paddy's Rambles Through The Park
We have had ever so many emails from people wanting to know more about the track 'Paddy's Rambles Through The Park' that I played recently.
The story goes that Donegal fiddler Johnny Doherty was coming home from playing at a dance one night. He took a short cut across country and found himself in the middle of a fairy fort.
Fairy forts are the remnants of old stone circles and, as you might imagine, they are plentiful in Ireland.
The story goes that Donegal fiddler Johnny Doherty was coming home from playing at a dance one night. He took a short cut across country and found himself in the middle of a fairy fort.
Fairy forts are the remnants of old stone circles and, as you might imagine, they are plentiful in Ireland.
Cambridge Folk Festival & The Unthanks
On my programme tonight you can hear highlights from last weekend's Cambridge Folk Festival.
There's music from Bellowhead, The Waterson Family and Martin Simpson amongst others as well as backstage interviews with Paul Brady, Eddi Reader and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
You MUST go and have a look at the online coverage here as well - it really is terrific.
You can see videos of loads of the artists performing on the main stage, tons of photos and a great piece featuring Jon Boden performing a secret session.
Sunshine All The Way
A sudden rainstorm last night of tropical strength had the umbrellas out in spades so that from the roof of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã sound editing van it looked as though Cambridge festival had been covered by a mass gathering of multi-coloured dancing tortoises.
People soldiered on in the rain though and jigged it in great style to Los Lobos and the Saw Doctors who gave of their very best.
A lovely sunny day here has done something to dry up the field and has lifted people's spirits quite a lot. I've just seen Mairtin O'Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O'Dowd do a brilliant spot, followed closely by Lau who were simply amazing.
Bella Hardy (who also got up to sing with Lau) opened the afternoon session main stage with a lovely set based mainly around her new CD 'In The Shadow Of Mountains'.
I'm working my way round the field meeting old mates and making new ones and looking forward to seeing Paul Brady tonight. A long admirer of Paul's work - I'm really looking forward to seeing him live again. The last time I saw him do a live set was here at Cambridge a long time ago.
After Paul has left the stage it will be time for me and my producer Kellie to get in the van and work a serious few hours on this Wednesday's programme of the highlights of Cambridge Folk Festival 2009. There's so much great stuff that it's going to be hard putting the programme together.
I'll just have to gibber less.
Jon Boden's Surprise Session
Jon Boden did a great busking spot this morning before things had actually kicked off. At 1100 armed only with his fiddle, he stood in the middle of the festival field and sang and played up a storm to the early morning crowd.
Storming Set from Crooked Still
Five and a half years ago I was in San Diego, California for the Folk Alliance Conference.
