Post by Admin Mal on May 7, 2007 16:02:50 GMT 1
Well, did anyone go? We got caught out this year and couldn't get tickets for Clickimin as they sold out soon after the festival shop was open. Pity, as Mary Black was about the only act I really wanted to see - should have gone for advance membership! I'm not really a dyed-in-the-oo folkie, preferring something with a bit more rock or blues to it. Or jazz. Or classical. Or.. Anything but traditional folk & country!! But, thankfully the Folk Festival is a bit of a hotch-potch of world music, and since there's a dearth of outside music, a lot of people take the chance to see what's on offer.
So, it was just Ollaberry for us this year. www.shetland-news.co.uk/news_05_2007/A%20wealth%20of%20talent%20from%20near%20and%20far.htm
Gavin's written a nice piece but was it just me, or was the compere Frank Robb a bit painful? I thought his stream-of-conciousness stuff was the only part that saved him. Otherwise he looked ill-prepared and appeared as though he'd been plonked down as a last-minute stand-in.
"..packed venue in Ollaberry". Too right!! I don't know if it was the Folk Festival trying to cram people in, but it was very uncomfortably squashed. Yes, we were unfortunately sitting in the rat-run for the bar, but we were almost back-to-back with the people at the next table, meaning that it was constant shuffling and squashing in to the table, trying to let people through what was a ridiculously tiny space.
More importantly, the music. The May & Mackie band were in the unenviable position of being opening act. Personally, I don't think you go <as a local> to the Folk Festival to see local bands - you can see the locals any time through the year. Passable but a bit bland in my opinion - I know they're a talented pair and have seen them do other stuff.
Then the Slovenian instrumentalists, Terrafolk. They woke the audience up with their passionate and lively playing and the classical violinist, Anja Bukovec, who joined them was vivacious and stunning.
This was followed by Erin Sandison, accompanied by her band, including young Maggie Adamson on fiddle and Brian Nicholson on guitar. The compere mentioned Erin's mature style for her young age, but I didn't realise she was 14!! She'll be someone to look out for as she gets older and develops her bluesy voice, but very talented for someone so young.
Our favourites of the night came next - Crooked Still, an American bluegrass band. The cellist elf was magnificent. We found the sound a bit high for the instrumentalists which left the vocalist a bit submerged. It would have been nice to be able to have heard her a bit more.
The concert ended with Mauvais Sort from Quebec who I thought were non mauvais - full marks for enthusiasm and trying to get the crowd going but didn't quite do it as a finale for me.
All in all, not a bad night but not the best FF night I've had. And - when did Burger King open a branch north of Mavis Grind?
So, it was just Ollaberry for us this year. www.shetland-news.co.uk/news_05_2007/A%20wealth%20of%20talent%20from%20near%20and%20far.htm
Gavin's written a nice piece but was it just me, or was the compere Frank Robb a bit painful? I thought his stream-of-conciousness stuff was the only part that saved him. Otherwise he looked ill-prepared and appeared as though he'd been plonked down as a last-minute stand-in.
"..packed venue in Ollaberry". Too right!! I don't know if it was the Folk Festival trying to cram people in, but it was very uncomfortably squashed. Yes, we were unfortunately sitting in the rat-run for the bar, but we were almost back-to-back with the people at the next table, meaning that it was constant shuffling and squashing in to the table, trying to let people through what was a ridiculously tiny space.
More importantly, the music. The May & Mackie band were in the unenviable position of being opening act. Personally, I don't think you go <as a local> to the Folk Festival to see local bands - you can see the locals any time through the year. Passable but a bit bland in my opinion - I know they're a talented pair and have seen them do other stuff.
Then the Slovenian instrumentalists, Terrafolk. They woke the audience up with their passionate and lively playing and the classical violinist, Anja Bukovec, who joined them was vivacious and stunning.
This was followed by Erin Sandison, accompanied by her band, including young Maggie Adamson on fiddle and Brian Nicholson on guitar. The compere mentioned Erin's mature style for her young age, but I didn't realise she was 14!! She'll be someone to look out for as she gets older and develops her bluesy voice, but very talented for someone so young.
Our favourites of the night came next - Crooked Still, an American bluegrass band. The cellist elf was magnificent. We found the sound a bit high for the instrumentalists which left the vocalist a bit submerged. It would have been nice to be able to have heard her a bit more.
The concert ended with Mauvais Sort from Quebec who I thought were non mauvais - full marks for enthusiasm and trying to get the crowd going but didn't quite do it as a finale for me.
All in all, not a bad night but not the best FF night I've had. And - when did Burger King open a branch north of Mavis Grind?