Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?

Subject: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 12:02 PM

Hi all
I know a few other 'cats were going, so I thought I'd see if anyone else enjoyed it as much as we did.
Its a really nice friendly festival, with brilliant bands. Lots of celtic music etc.
Show Of Hands were excellent as always, and seemed very relaxed & happy to be there.
Ralph McTell was amazing - I thought he was going to be some boring old geezer, but NO - he is fantastic.
There was an amazing Canadian band called Barrage, with the most incredible choreographed movement as they played their 6 fiddles + bass guitar + guitar + drums. They are very worth seeing for anyone that gets a chance.
The three blokes who were bits of Flook + another bloke were stunning - especially JohnJoe's bodhran solo!
Alan Taylor I had not registered before, he played in the smaller venue and was truly fantastic - very masterly and with some lovely songs.
Bill Jones + Sarah Wright (?surname) were excellent - as was Emily Slade. These three particularly seem to be really nice people as well as good performers.
That's just the highlights I can call immediately to mind - but the whole weekend was wonderful, with plenty of music in the bar & the late night extra bit at the Hotel.
Anyone else enjoy it??

Kris

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: The Shambles
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 12:22 PM

The farewell party, Monday night at the Hotel was a session led by Fiddler's Bid from Shetland and it was well worth the trek on its own.

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 12:27 PM

Anyone catch Mairead Nesbitt's set?

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 01:03 PM

KB I haven't seen Bill Jones with Sarah, but Bill is now Mrs Wright, so sounds plausible (and the North-east seems to be full of musical Wrights, apart from the expats Micahel and John in Oxfordshire and Brittany respectively).

Kitty

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: GUEST,mike
Date: 02 Apr 02 - 01:20 PM

Waterboys?

M

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 08:29 AM

Waterboys indeed (or is it two words?) - they were excellent. Main blokie mostly on accoustic guitar, another blokie on grand piano, and yet another blokie on fiddle. Excellent performers.
Mairead's performance was immediately after some amazingly athletic & versatile Canadian fiddle-players. It was a bit unfortunate because Mairead's style seemed technically much better and she and her band were clearly on brilliant form (as was their dancing-boy), but the whole thing didn't have the intense vibe of the prior band & so it was a bit like having two clashing colours close together. Each excellent in their own right, but somehow didn't go well together. It was a bit of a shame, and I think it worked to her disadvantage.
The Sarah working with Bill has the same surname, but is no relation.
We didn't go to the farewell session - damn it!!

Kris

Subject: RE: Gosport Fest UK Easter w/end - enjoyed?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 02 - 01:18 PM

Well, I don't think anybody should have to follow Barrage!

I'm glad to hear Mariead's back up band was good--I believe it included most of Capercaillie!