So, a quick rundown of the festival...
Friday night was the pub concert which opens the festival. Food was good (and plentiful) as always.
Only took the one photo -
Carrie Martin (accompanied on bass by Gavin Coulson - Artiste and Liaison officer for Vintage Guitars). She's a protege of Gordon Giltrap who is managing her career. I like her. She has a nice voice and doesn't get too busy with the accompaniment.
I was staying in a B+B a few hundred yards away for the venue itself (up a bloody great hill!) Great place to stay - front door kept open so we could come and go as we pleased (and stay out as long as we wanted). No keys for interior doors either, mind you. And, as is the current trend, a bed plied with detritus which needs to be removed before sleep can be achieved.
The venue, Plas Glyn-Y-Weddw, is beautiful with views down to Cardigan Bay. It spends most of its time as an art gallery - this piece, which reminded me of my eldest daughter, caught my eye.
But £12,500 seemed a little steep.
Saturday is 'masterclass' day. It wasn't as practical as it has been in the past, with the three artists doing them, Ray Burley, Elliott Randall and Gordon Giltrap doing more of a Q&A.
Ray was first up - and spent a deal of time talking about posture. Fair enough. As a classical guitarist he explained why it is so important and even made me understand why footstools are used (all about keeping the wrist straight. I was rather distracted by his pink trews, mind...
2nd workshop of the morning was led by
Tom Newman. He was demonstrating analogue recording techniques by way of making a 'group' recording of Lennon's "Give Peace A Chance" using a 4-track. The results will, apparently, be uploaded. It was interesting in a 'quaint' way - and I know that many will prefer it and hanker back to the old days and so on - but this was the equipmwent he used:
Not exactly portable and it's a far more time consuming job, and takes up way more space, than my Zoom H2N and a laptop with Audacity! I suspect it cost a fair bit more new, too!
Next up was
Gordon Giltrap. Again a Q+A (and a publicity drive for JHS Vintage guitars - for which he has a signature model). Again a Q&A followed in which he reemphasised the point that Ray Burley had made about the benefit of being able to read music (and preferably sight read). I nodded encouragingly whilst admitting to myself that it wasn't ever going to happen.
Gavin Coulson was on hand to display a pretty full range of Vintage instruments and offer them at a special 'festival' price ("a Viator for £159 anyone?" Yup, lots of takers for that particular offer!)
In the afternoon, it was the turn of
Elliott Randall to share his thoughts. He'd been around the evening before and throughout the day. He shuffles a bit - kinda like if Ozzy Osborne had got off a bit lighter - but what a pleasant and unassuming man! And what a player! Now, I've no interest in owning or playing an electric guitar but he very nearly turned me!
He spoke, engagingly, for over an hour. It was brilliant.
There's always a 'young protege' somewhere at these things... this year it was 19 year old Rory Evans. He played some brilliant fingerstyle stuff (and some Tommy Emmanuel but I'll let that go). He opened the evening concert to a packed hall (which only holds about 70!)
Then Carrie did another set which, I am pleased to say, was completely different from the set she had done the evening before.
There was the 'scratch' band again (same set as the evening before)
And 'chelle Breeze joined them for their last number.
After a quick bar break, it was the headliner acts... starting with John Etheridge (who was leading a workshop on Jazz guitar the following morning). he was joined by singer
Vimala Rowe for three numbers. They have an album coming out soon but haven't, as yet, agreed on the cover design (sound familiar
scorpiodog and
tonywoods?
)
Gordon Giltrap joined in..
as did Raymond Burley... whose memory must be going cos he needed the music.
In a change to previous years, Martin (pub landlord) had an extended licence for the Saturday night and invited anyone and everyone back to the pub to pay for as long as they wanted to. Many did. I didn't. I went to bed. I am old and boring.
On Sunday,
John Etheridge was giving his masterclass/workshop, which was followed by lunch at the pub and the open air concert. Sadly, I had to get back for work so couldn't stay.
If some of the names being touted for next year's festival (Martin and Eliza Carthy were mentioned) come to pass I will definitely be going again! It's great value and great fun and you get the chance to get up close and personal with some fantastic musicians. And drink.
)
Jo whoever he is.
