BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival

Subject: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Abuwood
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 03:57 AM

Did any one watch this last night, made me glad I did not buy a £62 ticket plus £20 odd camping. Again the BBC showed mostly foreign acts, though I liked the McCarthy's and Eric Bibb. Taraf de Haidouks played so fast they must have been in a hurry to get home! Most of it looked like a pop festival, or a country festival or a blues festival and Irish with Salsa? I think not!! Is it just me or is this what Joe Public wants from folk, and where we will all end up?

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 06:26 AM

I think the same applies to folk on Radio 2 Since Mike harding took over. John p

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 06:46 AM

Well its what some people want from folk obviously. Market forces apply

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Jane Bird
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 07:39 AM

It's not necessarily what everyone wants, though, is it? Otherwise we wouldn't be complaining, and festivals like The National at Sutton Bonnington and the Intervarsity Folk Dance Festival (they have everything from medieval courtly to global trance) wouldn't exist.

Perhaps the music played on broadcasts from festvivals such as Cambridge isn't always that acurate a reflection of the festival as a whole.

Personally, I don't have a problem with the sort of variety of music heard on Mike Harding, because it's trying to reach a very broad audience, many of whom really like Kate Rusby, Cara Dillon, Martyn Bennet, The Be Good Tanyas &c &c, but aren't so interested in slightly more obscure (for want of a better word) stuff. Or perhaps that's what the producers believe, and aren't adventureous enough to experiement at bit more.

I do however, also want to listen to broadcasts which are a bit more challenging, which play music I don't think I'm interested in (and then I find that I am). Radio 3 is doing this brilliantly at the moment.

Yours,
Jane

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ringer
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 09:50 AM

Is Radio 3 is doing this brilliantly at the moment in folk? Or just more generally?

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Veteran of Manchester folk scene
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 01:10 PM

I was very disappointed at the coverage. My non-folk minded friend said it would not tempt her to go to a folk festival.It's a pity that the sound "on stage" doesn't come across better.There were some awful flats and sharps in the supposed harmonies. The best sound seemed to be kept for the Dubliners! Perhaps it's time for more technology for concert work ie:ear-pieces, like those used by rock singers and musicians. The sheer brilliance of the vocal talents of Coope Boyes & Simpson was lost altogether!! What I saw was not my idea of a folk festival. What I heard was akin to an average singers night at any club.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 01:20 PM

I watched the last hour of it, as i forgot that it was on, I thought it was good but it was not all folk, ie Chumba wumba were singing pop/rock songs, though some of it was very good ie John Prine/Iris Dement, the sound quality was fine for me, I use a Pace ADSL reciever, then run the Audio out through my Hi-Fi Amplifier.I thought there was a bit too much talking, and not enough music, i cant remember who the presenter was, Andy Kershaw? but he was going on a bit when he was interviewng The Dubliners, I wish i could have taped it, but i still hav'nt figured out how to tape digital TV.john

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: HuwG
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 01:31 PM

Abuwood and Veteran of Manchester folk scene, as I am too tightfisted to cough up for cable TV, I cannot comment on the BBC4 coverage. However, I consider my £62 ticket plus £20 camping more than well spent. I think the sound at the festival itself was excellent, especially that at Arena 1. (Perhaps predictably, the Radio 2 tent was the most uncomfortable and had the worst sound).

BBC4 would also lack some of the other features which made the festival memorable for me; hearing three plucky West Country women's tribute to Abba and to the Coldham Common camp site, "Portaloo"; some horse-trading at the Hobgoblin stall, which later netted me a Gremlin electro-acoustic at £70 (normal price £119, so I have saved most of the ticket price already) - OK, it's not exactly the most desired guitar, but at Coldham Common again, I heard two folkies from Norwich hack out a very good accompaniment with one on Sunday night; the Eric Bibb workshop, Cara Dillon, the Indigo Girls, the Be Good Tanyas (some people have criticised their performance as lacklustre, but the Roysten Vasey contingent would disagree with that); two Rory MacLeod sets etc.

I can't say that I'd miss the comfort of my own living room. If the atmosphere is right, I don't mind my trousers being so stiff with mud that they stand up by themselved. With luck, I and most of my friends will be going again next year.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Jennifer, Cambridge
Date: 14 Aug 02 - 05:58 PM

The price was beyond my means, even as a city resident, but I managed to catch the Friday night and heard some good stuff from Token Women running an hilarious ceilidh, & a bit of Eric Bibb. Some good gospel-style on the mainstage gave pleasure, along with the Guiness, but I gave up all hope when Coope Boyes Simpson floored me utterly by apologising for singing a political song!!! I was going to see them again in Norfolk but decided to go back north to Durham that weekend instead, where traditional folk thrives alongside other styles - a lot of it still fizzingly political, thank goodness! - rather than being displaced by it.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: songs2play
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 03:29 AM

Presenters were Mark Radcliffe and Eliza Carthy.

Eliza was very enthusistic and informative.

I though M.R. was c**p.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ringer
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 06:10 AM

Guest Jane Bird: I'd really really like to know your views on R3 & folk. Could you answer my question above, please, please, please?

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Aug 02 - 07:27 AM

Dear Ringer,

Sorry for delay.

Yes, Radio 3 are playing a lot of traditional and roots music, along side a lot of other things, too:

"World Routes" (Saturdays, 1-2pm) is traditional and roots music from all over the world (as the name suggests), but that doesn't mean that they miss out the UK and Ireland.

Andy Kershaw's show (Fridays c10.15pm) is as ecelctic as it ever has been: anything from The Clash to Blind Willy Johnston or Kate Rusby to Orchestra Baubab (please excluse my spelling).

"Late Junction" (Mon-Thu, 10.15pm) is the oddest. Early music, world, roots, mainsteam British folk, experimental jazz, and new "serious" music (like bizzare stuff for prepared pianos). Pat Metheny to La Bottine Souriante.

There's lots of music I've listened to and liked, but wouldn't have even picked in the library before, if it hadn't been for hearing it on Late Junction. There's stuff I don't really like as well, but I don't mind that, because I know they'll be something else better soon.

If nothing else, both LJ presenters, Fiona Talkington and Verity Sharp have very pleasant voices, and make very soothing late night listening.

Have a look at the Radio 3 website.

Hope you find it interesting.

Jane

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Mr Quickly
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 06:42 AM

I went on the first Friday specifically to see Eric Bibb. What a mess that festival is! For a start, the car parking wasn't signposted and was a mile from the event. Then the event itself was so crowded you could hardly move - imagine if there was a fire? The main tent was crammed full of people - no chairs so everyone sat on the floor. With everyone having claimed their area, there was no way of getting in. I sat on the floor outside the tent and could just about see the acts through binoculars although of course I could hear.

I'm just glad I wasn't camping - those poor souls were crowded together like in a refugee camp. I returned home exhausted and frazzled and I will never go there again no matter who's on - far better to see it on TV or hear it on the radio. I went to Ely festival the week before and Sidmouth the week after and enjoyed these immensely - highly recommended.

I think the organisers(Cambridge City Coucil) seem to be motivated by greed and need to radically change things for comfort and safety.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ringer
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 09:30 AM

Thanks, Jane. I'll try some of your tips. I haven't listened to R3 for years: it used to be too "experimental" for me - I'd be looking for pleasant music & find musique concrete or some such unharmonious drivel.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 09:36 AM

Jane Bird - I'm just curious, were you in a folk group of three women from Liverpool that once played in NJ?

Ron

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Grab
Date: 16 Aug 02 - 09:41 AM

I went on Friday and Sunday (Saturday was pissing down). I was frankly unimpressed. As someone who enjoys playing music as well as listening to it, it was a bit of a desert session-wise. I heard there was stuff happening over at the campsite - well it sure wasn't happening at the festival proper. I brought my guitar along on Friday and found the Guinness tent had a dozen or so drunks with instruments, some of whom were very good musicians, but after their second drunken homophobic rant I decided I'd rather not be hanging around those people. I dropped in a bit later Friday night, in time to see the accordian player so drunk that he literally couldn't stand up, and still insisting on playing stuff. Screw that. Sunday I didn't bother bringing my guitar.

No way on earth was this worth £50. Had I been coming from anywhere other than Cambridge, paying £90 for a ticket and tent pitch, I would have been *very* unhappy. I spose it was worth doing once so I didn't have to wonder whether it's worth it - now I know for sure it isn't, I'll be spending my money on festivals other than Cambridge.

Graham.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Jane Bird
Date: 19 Aug 02 - 11:16 AM

As if my magic, last Saturday's "World Routes" is a fiddling special from the Edinbrugh Festival, and features Paul Anderson, the Scottish fiddler, and Senegalese kora player Solo Cissokho and Swedish fiddler Ellika Frissel. The latter make a wonderful conbination, by the way.

Ron, in short, no. I've never even been to Liverpool or NJ (New Jersey?).

Yours,
Jane

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 07:39 AM

Guest Jane Bird... A brilliant summation of Radio 3's attitude.
As I've already said in the "BBC" thread, that it's great to hear "Our" Music sitting comfortably alongside other musics, with no apology, or wisecracks!
Glad to be associated with it all. Thanks for listening
Cheers Ralphie
PS. We also cover a huge amount of the UK WOMAD fest each year

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 07:43 AM

Why did my last post come out in Bold?? Curious.
and Jane, will have to get hold of last Sats WR....Was away and missed it. I haven't seen Ellika, since the days of Filarfolket, but a majestic fiddler indeed.
Regards Ralphie

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Allen Woodpecker
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 08:32 AM

Yeah, yeah. Firstly, the Camb Folk Festival was not especially folky. Joe Strummer, Chumbas, Eric Bibb, Salsa Celtica, Billy Bragg etc. They're trying to attract filthy lucre, but real folkies don't dig this stuff really. I was part of one of the bands that played (will remain incognito) and lots of this populist crossover World music appeals to people coz they think that's what folk music should sound like. The BBC4 prog was rubbish coz Mark Radcliffe knows nowt about the genre, the emphasis was on the world music-kack side of things, and there was no Scottish representation whatsoever. Thanks BRITISH broadcasting corporation. The BBC4 coverage would not attract non-folkies into the fold, coz it was not presenting any folk music vestiges. In addition, was it just me or was every bu**er singing about Jesus?

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 01:49 PM

Allen
When was the last time that Cambridge fest pretended to be folky?
It's always been a very eclectic melange organised by whoever runs it!
I don't see a problem with that, It's their money after all..Not particularly my bag, I must admit, but seeing you accepted the Cambridge shilling by allowing to be booked, what is your problem..??
I certainly wouldn't turn down the chance, for whatever you may say about the Fest, It does have a pretty high profile. Don't take the gig if you don't like the artist list!

Sorry you had a bad time, Regards
Ralphie

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Eliza Carthy
Date: 20 Aug 02 - 07:52 PM

Hiya. Don't want to go on about the coverage as it would be a bit biased of me, but I thought folk music was as well-represented at that festival as it could be, given the format. I have always thought it's very hard to have a folk festival in that sort of "rock" format: big stages, big PAs, that sort of thing. I think Salsa Celtica really covered the Scots side of things (and of course, a Scot is half of Kate Rusby's musical arrangement), though you may think of them as a "fusion" band they do know their stuff and have represented in the lineup some of Scotland's finest traditional musicians...and surely World music is folk music? Iris Dement is a singer-songwriter, isn't she? She doesn't sing traditional music, anyway. I wouldn't include her or John Prine in the "folk" element of the bill myself, but now I am becoming confusing and should stop!! It's that old hoary question again, isn't it, what is it?? What do you include and what do you exclude? One person's indigenous social commentary is another's World music-kack? I think what I wanted to say is that a festival of Cambridge's format could never present traditional music in its simplest form, if that is what you think folk music is: big and electric bands work best on big stages. I suppose coverage of same would have the same limitations and more. Need to cover all the festivals to get the best impression of what a wonderfully eclectic thing folk music is. Horses (!) for courses. I really am going now. xx

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Allen Woodpecker
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 05:25 AM

Wahey! Debate! Intercourse!! People pretending to be Eliza Carthy!!! I love the mudcat. Actually, Ralphie, I had just a brilliant time. Hopefully I'll be back at some point in the future. My gripe was mainly with the Beeb coverage, not the festival itself. Sorry if that didn't come across. The great thing about Cambridge is that if you want to see someone, you can. If you don't want to see someone, you can go and have a goat curry instead. Accusations of "Taking the shilling" are a bit off - it's not exactly a BNP fundraiser - I'd have been delighted to be a part of it regardless of the lineup coz it's all about the people you meet, the performances are practically secondary to the crack. I still maintain that the BBC coverage was not terribly good - this was nowt to do with Eliza by the way. Martin and Eliza's brief duet was tops - he's the daddy in more ways than one. Peace.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 05:47 AM

GUEST, Allen..!!
Apologies if I misunderstood your comments...And as I don't have Digi TV, I didn't see any of BBC4's coverage. Maybe it should have been on BBC2 instead...!!
I'm just trying to work out who you are!...But, I'm glad you had a good time. Please ignore my comments re "Shillings"...Only sour grapes on my part that they didn't book my up and coming beat combo!,
Regards Ralphie
PS....It probably was Eliza C.....She's been known to skulk around these parts in the past!

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ringer
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 05:55 AM

"When was the last time that Cambridge fest pretended to be folky?" asks Ralphie. Doesn't calling it The Cambridge Folk Festival pretend that it's folky?

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: GUEST,Allen Woodpecker
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 06:27 AM

Ralphie. No worries, man. DigiTV is mostly crap anyway. The word "folk" is truly wondrous. It can mean precisely anything, or precisely nothing. Because of this, the Cambridge "Folk" Festival, like any festival, can book practically anyone they think people will pay to see (within reason - Marilyn Manson at Sidmouth, anyone?). And why the hell not? There's plenty of room in this ol' world for everyone's music. I defy anyone to dig every act at ANY festival - because folk music is challenging and meaningful, people get passionate about it - you can't please all the people all of the time. This is the beauty of the genre. Only bland stuff has mass appeal. Thank (insert deity of choice) we can all think for ourselves. A.W.

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 06:28 AM

Ringer...Good Point...!!
Maybe we should start a discussion as to what is, (or isn't) Folk Music...No....No...No!!!
Regards Ralphie (with a smile)

Subject: RE: BBC4 Cambridge Folk Festival
From: Ralphie
Date: 21 Aug 02 - 06:34 AM

A.W.
A more intelligent viewpoint I have yet to read...
I'll call Alan Bearman re Marilyn Manson immediately, maybe a double header on the Arena with Rolf Harris?
R