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[Sandy]

I seem to have the only melodeon in the Sailing Club. (2.30pm) Help!

Oh dear ! I looked in at 2.15..........and didn't detect anything.....hope it all took off later on ?

cheers
Sandy
 

[Endolf]

I made the mistake of going down on sunday, on the front, then went and spent 3 hours in with the music rooms. Then watched a few friends in the Jig competition. It seemed like a very long walk back up the hill with my new Beltuna Alex 3

Endolf

[Sandy Flett]

I seem to have the only melodeon in the Sailing Club. (2.30pm) Help!

I got there passing 3pm and there were no melodeons in sight and an Irish session looking very established.

[Malcolm Austen]

I was there by 4, I think and it all looked very quiet in there.
No melnet gathering in the Sailing Club next year by the look of what went on Thursday, anyone with more info want to fill us all in.

[Selam]

Thanks for the tips. I spent most of the time (as in, any free time!) at the Radway so hello to anyone I may have met there. I even managed to start a few tunes and certainly learned a fair few with advice and encouragement from the nicest bunch of strangers I've met in a long time.
 

[ganderbox]

I was there by 4, I think and it all looked very quiet in there.
No melnet gathering in the Sailing Club next year by the look of what went on Thursday, anyone with more info want to fill us all in.

What went on Thursday? I didn't make it to Sidmouth this year so I have no idea what happened - please somebody tell us more.

Bob - I'm really sorry to hear about your wife, and your having to miss Sidmouth. I hope she is feeling better, and that both of you (and the dogs) will make it back next year.

[Ollie]

I was there by 4, I think and it all looked very quiet in there.
No melnet gathering in the Sailing Club next year by the look of what went on Thursday, anyone with more info want to fill us all in.

What went on Thursday? I didn't make it to Sidmouth this year so I have no idea what happened - please somebody tell us more.

I did, but I still have no idea what Malcolm is referring to! Expand, please!

[**DTN**]

I was there by 4, I think and it all looked very quiet in there.
No melnet gathering in the Sailing Club next year by the look of what went on Thursday, anyone with more info want to fill us all in.

What went on Thursday? I didn't make it to Sidmouth this year so I have no idea what happened - please somebody tell us more.

I did, but I still have no idea what Malcolm is referring to! Expand, please!

Err .... something to do with @ session... "if you ain't got a drink...please buy one or leave" sort of thing! ... has happened @ Whitby in the past too! ... this one @ sidders involved a musicians walkout i believe!    in all these things theres different arguments bandied around... but hey ho! ... call it a misunderstanding / folkie politics / poor stewarding or poor stewards being forced to implement a dodgy rule etc etc,,,.... thats it in a nutshell ... not melodeon specific so does'nt warrant a thread of discussion here.

[Ollie]

Ahhh, fairy snuff. I was spectacularly bad at getting to sessions this year, which would be why I hadn't heard.

[Just4Fun]

I think a misunderstanding is probably the most diplomatic way of putting it. If it means the the Sailing Club is not possible as a venue next year then I just hope somewhere else suitable is available, Downstairs in Kennaway house would be a lovely room/space but maybe it is needed for other things. We only went to the Sailing Club on two occasions (and on one we were party to a managerial dictate) and loved the otherwise relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Quite different to the Radway which was equally enjoyable for very different reasons. Let's hope any misunderstandings can be resolved and all and sundry can again enjoy the kind hospitality of the Sailing Club next year.

[Bob Ellis]

I don't know what has happened in the Sailing Club this year because I wasn't there, but we (the Loose Knit Band) and those who have attended our sessions have been made very welcome in the Sailing Club for around ten years now. However, it must be remembered that this is a private club and that it is perfectly reasonable for the staff to expect all who frequent it during Folk Week to buy a drink, whether they have come to play in the evening sessions, to listen to the music or just to socialise during the day. Each year there are problems with a small minority who don't buy a drink and who take umbrage when asked to either buy a drink or leave.

It continues to amaze me that such people can behave in such an inconsiderate and discourteous manner and it concerns me that their selfishness may jeopardise our future use of this very friendly, convenient and welcoming venue for sessions.

[george garside]

I agree Bob.  This applies to all festivals  and the  cost of a 'courtesy' drink or two is not going to harm anyone. The goodwill thus created  encourages landlords or club commitees to continue to offer us the use of their premises  and thereby creates a 'win win' deal for everyone.

george

[Owen Woods]

I take objection to being forced to buy a drink, but I think it extremely rude not to do so. People shouldn't need to be asked and there shouldn't be a rule. It should be a given that if you go to a session you buy a drink, that's the way that it works.

I had a pretty good Sidmouth, despite stewarding being much more hard work than usual. Highlight has to be Genticorum on the first Friday, absolutely stunning.

Met IanD again and also Inventor. who I saw in Accordions of London. Also saw Sandy and Microbot around. I went to the Sailing Club at around 5pm on the Monday to find no melnetters, next year maybe. Sorry that you had to miss it Bob, I wondered where you were

As usual I spend some time playing all of the boxes for sale and talking to the ever obliging Jon and Murray of the Music Room. For me, the Best Buy was at Accordions of London, a very nice Brandoni 3 voice D/G for a special introductory price of £1550, which is phenomenally cheap. Accordions of London was also the location of my choice of Best Box, the 60 bass B/C. The festival price was £5000, which I think is insane and definitely not worth it, but it was a gorgeous box, it really was. Played like a dream. Boxes I was also impressed with include the Binci 3 voice, which is about as perfect a Morris box as I've ever played, although the 2 voices are pretty good as well. The new Paolo Old Grey lookalike was also very nice, not as nice as the Brandoni, but £2k cheaper. The biggest thing though was the Beltunas. After spending some time playing them I've become rather a convert. I didn't like some of them, but the Padouk 2 row was gorgeous and although not as punchy as the Binci 3 it was a more refined and versatile sound. I also played Ollie's Alex 3 and thought it exceptional, I preferred it to the Handrys that I've tried (although to be fair there haven't been many of them).

Had some nice sessions in the Radway, Sailing Club and Bedford (middle room, opposite the venue room), including learning a lovely tune (below) called Bagpipes. Also enjoyed playing in the Jigs competition with one runthrough, 10 minutes before it started (which went wrong). It went OK, but we weren't placed.

X: 1
T:Bagpipes,The. WM.145
M:2/4
L:1/8
K:D
A|B/c/d d)c|~B3A|(B>ABc)|
(d/c/d/e/ d)A|(B/c/d d)c|~B3A|(B>A)(Bc)|d2d:|!
|:e|(f/g/a a)f|~f2-e2|(f/g/f/g/) aa|(f/e/f/g/ a)a|(B/c/d d)c|~B3A|(B>A)(
Bc|d2d:|]

[EeeJay]

However, it must be remembered that this is a private club and that it is perfectly reasonable for the staff to expect all who frequent it during Folk Week to buy a drink, whether they have come to play in the evening sessions, to listen to the music or just to socialise during the day. Each year there are problems with a small minority who don't buy a drink and who take umbrage when asked to either buy a drink or leave.

It continues to amaze me that such people can behave in such an inconsiderate and discourteous manner and it concerns me that their selfishness may jeopardise our future use of this very friendly, convenient and welcoming venue for sessions.

Exactly. 'Tis only good manners.

To be frank, I couldn't imagine much excuse for anyone not buying a drink last week. The weather was bloomin' scorching!

I therefore didn't detect the obligation to buy drink… it just seemed to be flowing… Decent (and reasonably priced) pint of London Pride , and a catering bit in the back room doing tea/coffe/rolls/spuds for a fair price… ideal for those festival breaks where you need a sharpish intake of 'food as fuel' rather than faffing about in busy cafes… And a splendid view of the ol' briny to boot…

Too busy for any melnet meet… sorry folks… too busy clogging up the roads… literally...

For me, the Best Buy was at Accordions of London, a very nice Brandoni 3 voice D/G for a special introductory price of £1550, which is phenomenally cheap.

Ah yes… hidden away a bit (as were most of the fiddle dealers)... Noticed their place on Tuesday whilst ensconced in the Tandoori opposite… didn't get round there 'till late Thursday afternoon. The pianna boxes were hiding in the Conservative Club (was very enticed by a 72 bass Brandoni - though I didn't much care for the gaudy finish, TBH...), but that 2 row 3 voice Brandoni D/G was probably the find of the week - bags more balls than other boxes I'd care mention, and a better price/quality. Even the hole where the stoppers went into was bushed with metal. I really like little details like this. Sent a couple of folks round there Friday to check 'em out too…

Accordions of London was also the location of my choice of Best Box, the 60 bass B/C. The festival price was £5000, which I think is insane and definitely not worth it, but it was a gorgeous box, it really was...

...The new Paolo Old Grey lookalike was also very nice, not as nice as the Brandoni, but £2k cheaper...

I'd wonder if that Brandoni Paddy's Box will ever sell for £5k. Hmmm… Actually, I preferred the Old Grey copy - however, I'd get the musette tightened up a bit. Nice to give one of these a run, and check out the mixed verdicts I've heard on them. I'd really like to see what the no coupler 3 voice version is like now...

My highlight of the week? Wednesday night in the Methodist Church - Brendan Begley & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, with Nell Ní Chróinín. Fantastic... especially with the second half played acoustic... the whole place just sang with the tunes and songs... and the thunderstorm added percussion...  

Ed J