southwestfolk

Hello People,

Welcome to the August edition of the Acoustic Calendar for Wessex (attachments). The calendar section now includes a list of festivals held over the next two months. As usual, the August edition is several inches shorter than normal – that’s because everyone goes to Sidmouth FolkWeek and after that they’re too knackered to do anything else for the rest of the month.

The Blazing Stump, Luxborough, which usually soldiers on right through the summer, has had to be cancelled this month because the pub is expecting to need every square inch of space for feeding summer visitors to Exmoor – what’s the world coming to?

I’ve naturally excluded all those venues which I know to be closed this month, but there may be others – so please check before going anywhere (you should be doing that anyway because, contrary to popular supposition, I am not omniscient).

One singaround/session that definitely will be taking place as usual is the one I run at the Hatch Inn, Hatch Beauchamp, so if you’ve got nowhere else to go, then come along to that (second Tuesday). Possession of a voice and/or an instrument guarantees you a warm welcome.

Here’s the latest news. Try not to fall asleep before you’ve scrolled all the way down as there are details of an important petition at the end.

Have a good winter…er, summer…whatever,

Tony

NEW VENUES
Bristol: The Chelsea Inn, 60-62 Chelsea Road BS5 6AU (0117 902 9186)
Every Wednesday, 9pm. Open mic hosted by Ian B.

Bristol: The Kings Arms, 168 Whiteladies Road BS8 2XZ (01179 735 922)
Every Thursday, 8.30pm. Open mic hosted by Errol (aka Delozo Gee). PA in situ, ready to go. All performers welcome. (The pub is near the top end of Whiteladies Road, on Blackboy Hill.)

Bristol: The Mother's Ruin, 7-9 St. Nicholas Street BS1 1UE (0117 925 6969)
Every Monday, 8.30pm till 11pm. Open mic hosted by Marc Griffiths. Free drink and bar nibbles for performers. PA ready set up. House guitar available.
Starting Monday 10th August

Bristol: Tantric Jazz Restaurant, 39-41 St Nicholas Street BS1 1TP (0117 940 2304)
Every Wednesday. Open mic hosted by Andy Couzens. It has amplification and is a quiet-ish venue, so may be a good place for open mic beginners who don't want a large audience. Don't be put off by the word 'jazz' in the venue name - any music goes.

NEW ADDITION
Bradninch (nr. Exeter): Bradninch Acoustic Music Club, St. Disen’s Hall, 1 Church St. EX5 4NS (Colin: 01392 882036, Jerry: 01392 881916)
Second Wednesday of the month, 8pm - 10.45pm. All styles. £1.50 admission. Please bring your own drinks.
Not to be confused with Folk at the Castle – different day, different venue.

CHANGE OF VENUE
From Tuesday 1st September Tiverton Folk Club will be moving to the following:
Tiverton: Tiverton Folk Club, The Prince Blucher, 98-102 West Exe South EX16 5DH (01884 253935, Susannah Billeter: 01884821286)
First Tuesday of the month, 8.30 pm. This club is run as a singers club, although from time to time they do have a guest.
NB: Next week's club will be as normal, at The Racehorse.

RIP
Taunton: The Grove Inn, Kingston Road TA2 7SE (01823 283444, Gary French: 01823 698626)
Mondays fortnightly. Open mic hosted by Gary French & Steve Kenniston.

SATURDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER AT THE ACORN
Minehead: Acorn Folk Club, The Old Ship Aground, Quay Street TA24 5UL (right next to the harbour) (Eileen or Jim: 07811 744158, acornfolkclub@googlemail.com, www.acornfolkclub.co.uk)
The Acorn Folk Club's Eighth Season starts with GUEST NIGHT NO 34, featuring RICHARD GRAINGER, longstanding singer/guitarist and CHRIS PARKINSON, virtuoso melodeon and accordion player. Superb duo, guitar, song and keyboards. http://web.onyxnet.co.uk/richard.grainger onyxnet.co.uk/. Tickets £5.50 in advance, £6.00 on the door. Raffle. PLEASE COME EARLY FOR A FLOOR SPOT. Musicians, singers and listeners all welcome.

MENDIP ASSOCIATION OF FOLK AND ENTERTAINING ARTS (supported by Folk Music Somerset)
Priddy (nr. Wells): MAFEA Launch Festival, Ebborways Farm, Pelting Drove BA5 3BA (Chris or Celia Street: 07970 735682, 07970 727582, enquiries@mendipfolk.org.uk, info@folkmusicsomerset.co.uk)
Chris Street writes: “A group of us have got together and are in the process of starting a new venture which fills a gap in the folk world. The Launch Festival is from 18th to 20th September 2009 and we aim to grow in strength from the launch. The Association aims to gather like-minded folk and artists of kindred spirit, to further the cause of our cultural past, with music, song, and dance, restoring and preserving forgotten meaningful work, upholding, enriching and protecting our traditions and folklore. All Musicians, Dancers, Singers and other Artists are invited to the launch of the new MAFEA Association, at a special weekend on the Mendip Hills. Special entertainments, performances and group activities will occur. Participation and spontaneous involvement will be the norm. This weekend is for the launch of the MAFEA and is not an event aimed at the general public, but families and friends of the invited participants are welcome. On-site Camping will be available at a moderate cost (self-catering is essential). Tea, Coffee, Soft drinks will be available. Bar facilities will be available in the Marquee.”
Friday Night: Individual performances and Jam Session (Marquee).
Saturday, 10.am: Launch of the MAFEA (Marquee).
Saturday, Lunchtime till Teatime: Singaround & Jam Session.
Saturday Evening onwards: Concert in the (Marquee).
Sunday, am-pm: Workshops, Singaround, Jam Sessions and other attractions.
Tickets: Weekend (inclusive): £25.00 + camping at £5 per night.
Day Pass: £10.00.
Children under 16: Free.
If fully paid up Members of the MAFEA Association attend and show membership card, the entrance fee will be waved.
Cheques payable to The MAFEA Association.
24hr toilets, water points, First aid and Security will be available.

PETITION FOR LIVE MUSIC
Please read the extracts below and sign the petition. Yes, I know it’s boring and you’re busy and you wish you had a life, but if everyone signs the thing then the government might actually do something sensible for a change. Who said, ‘Pigs might fly!’? Now that’s the sort of defeatist attitude that allowed them to get away with criminalising enjoyment in the first place!
“Following on from the Early Day Motion in favour of an exemption from licensing for small live music gigs (which is for MPs to sign), there is now a petition to the PM which can be signed by anyone eligible to vote in the UK. The last time such a petition was put up it attracted 80,000 signatures - and was summarily ignored. This one needs at least twice that, so please sign and publicise. It is at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/livemusicevents/ where the full text can be read.”
“Under the Licensing Act, a performance by one musician in a bar, restaurant, school or hospital not licensed for live music could lead to a criminal prosecution of those organising the event. Even a piano may count as a licensable 'entertainment facility'. By contrast, amplified big screen broadcast entertainment is exempt. The government says the Act is necessary to control noise nuisance, crime, disorder and public safety, even though other laws already deal with those risks. Musicians warned the Act would harm small events. About 50% of bars and 75% of restaurants have no live music permission. Obtaining permission for the mildest live music remains costly and time-consuming. In May, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee recommended exemptions for venues up to 200 capacity and for unamplified performance by one or two musicians. The government said no. But those exemptions would restore some fairness in the regulation of live music and encourage grassroots venues.”

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