Post by leoroberts on Oct 2, 2016 20:40:45 GMT
It's a shame that this always follows hot on the heels of the forum meet in Halifax (consecutive weekends and all that). I'm lucky enough to be able to arrange my diary (and my finances) to accommodate both.
This year's festival (organised by guitbrett ) was as good as ever.
The performers were (in no particular order):
Clive Carroll
Gary Ryan
Doug Morter and Gerry Donahue
Hunter Muskett
Rory Evans
Mike Dawes
The weekend takes place at Oriel Plas Gwyn y Weddw in Llanbedrog (on the North Wales coast between Pwllheli and Abersoch) Accommodation is in local B+Bs (unless, like Riverman , you have a caravan somewhere nearby or, like Adrian, have bought a tent especially and pitched it at the local campsite).
Your £125 weekend ticket gets you: a meal and an organised singaround at the pub 200 yards from the venue, sandwich lunch on the Saturday, carvery lunch (back at the pub) on the Sunday) and, in between meals, masterclasses run by the guest artists, a Saturday night concert (this year's lasted nearly 4 hours!), a lock-in and singaround at the pub after the concert and an open air concert by other guests on the Sunday afternoon. Pretty good value for money!
It was great to see Riverman , jonnymosco and Adrian (Jonny's mate who came to HB6) again.
I took no pics of the Friday night singaround thingy - The entertainment kicked off with guitbrett doing a couple of numbers, as did Riverman , as did Doug Morter and, after a break to replenish glasses, Rory Evans did a short set. All very good.
Saturday morning started (well, after Jonny and I got over our mirth as Adrian dragged himself in with a wet arse and a miserable face - it had been a stormy night and his tent wasn't as waterproof as he'd hoped!) with a masterclass by Rory Evans. He's 20.
He took us through his warm up routine which he reckons takes him about 25 minutes. It would put me in traction! It includes finger stretches from 1st-6th fret walked up the neck on all strings. I guess it's why he's such a good guitarist and I'm not. I just make sure the bloody thing is facing the right way...
Gary Ryan was up next including tips on the psychology of performing (start with something well within your capabilities and build from there) and, of course, nail care.
As you can see from the photos you get really up close to these folk (particularly if, like me you don't mind sitting near the front!) and there's only maybe 40 folk in the workshops - so plenty of chances for questions.
Next up was the magnificent Clive Carroll. His masterclass focussed on how to build a composition using his own piece 'In The Deep'
He made it sound so simple! Basically, according to Clive:
1. Hum the tune in your head
2. Pretend a band is playing it
3. Work out what the bass player is doing
4. Work out what the rhythm guitarist is playing
5. Work out what the lead guitarist is playing
6. Work out what the horn section is playing
7. Play all those parts yourself, at the same time, on one guitar*
Simple, apparently.
*may require using a non-standard tuning
He also talked about ghost notes... note the alternating bass he uses in the video throughout 'In The Deep'. Except he doesn't. Start strong he says, make it a feature and listeners will imagine your still playing it even when you're not. And it's true!
Workshop #4 was with Mike Dawes. You know my views on tippy-tappy stuff. This workshop confirmed them. He started off by saying that, as he was only linked to a small amp and didn't have any pedals, only one of the FOUR microphones/pickups installed in his guitar could be amplified. So much for 'acoustic' guitar.
It does nothing for me. Used in small doses (more of that later) it can be fine, and add to a choon. But it was the be all and end all of Mike's stuff (or so it seemed) and I just couldn't find a melody to follow in any of his stuff. I regretted sitting near the front as I couldn't slip away. Still Liverpool had come from behind to win against Swansea so I was in a good mood. His guitar was built, in 2 weeks, by German luthier Andreas Cuntz. He explained how this got him into a few scrapes in the USA as he was provided with a guitar case with CUNTZ embossed into the plastic (a la Gibson). It is an odd looking guitar. If you think ajlucas ' guitars have pointy bits - check out a Cuntz!
Learning from previous experience I got to the hall for the evening concert very early to make sure I had a seat, let a lone a good one. It paid off - second row, next to the stairs, and I got to watch the soundchecks. Rory was staffing the sound desk (and neither he nor Paul played in the evening concert). Clive took 5 minutes to sound check, Doug even shorter. Mike's soundcheck was nearly as long as his set - there was something wrong with one of his 27 million pedals/cables and the only way to work out which it was involved a length process of elimination.
Finally the culprit was found and peace was restored as punters drifted in (The evening concert is opened up to the general public and always sells out)
The evening concert - held in the entrance hall - was superb. Started off with 40 minutes of Clive Carroll - including a tippy-tappy number to finish.
It was perfect - just a few percussive effects every now and then. Exactly how it should be.
This was followed by aninterminable interesting set by Mike. I'll say this for him - he has a good sense of humour and an engaging manner.
Actually, that's pretty much all I can say for him. He did an unplugged song. Which was brilliant. I mean, I assume it was - he was right by me and I couldn't hear a bloody thing. I suspect his acoustic guitar is so filled with electronic bits and bobs that it may as well be a solid body job. But we all clapped anyway. We're nice like that.
After a short break tosell CDs get more alcohol, Doug did three numbers
before being joined by the rest of the members of Hunter Muskett for another 3 numbers. Finally some vocals to listen to...
The evening finished with Gary Ryan being very Gary Ryany and playing some incredible music - including a tippy-tappy song to finish and, like Clive's, it was gloriously effective. Cos there was still a melody. I loved it.
And he dressed up for the performance. Because we're worth it. guitbrett put on a jacket, mind - just to prove he owns one...
I didn't go to the lock in - Jonny did so he'll maybe comment but, by all accounts, it was a trifle disappointing.
Sunday morning started off with an impromptu jam before most of the punters arrived involving Doug and Rory.
Then they were joined by the bassist from Hunter Muskett, Roger...
then the Mandola player, Terry ...
all good and bluesy.
The only workshop of the morning was the songwriting workshop led by Doug and Terry (and the other members of Hunter Muskett). It wasn't really a songwriting workshop - more a "this is how I came to write this song" followed by the song.
Engaging and interesting, but more about anecdotes than hints and tips. I'll say this for them, though, almost all the songs rhymed. Yay!
As I mentioned, your weekend ticket included the price of a carvery lunch at the pub and a concert in the afternoon (which featured Rory Evans and Hunter Muskett with invited guests - including our very own Riverman ). Sadly I had to leave before the lunch so gave my ticket to someone who looked particularly thin. Generous to a fault, me.
Undoubtedly good value for money. I got rid of a few forum business cards and it's great to see that Chris (@sinisterdisco ) has already joined up. Maybe he'll even join in at some stage
Next year...well, guests could include The Strawbs, Stefan Grossman, Catherine Craig and Brian Willoughby (again)... You'll just have to pester guitbrett for details
This year's festival (organised by guitbrett ) was as good as ever.
The performers were (in no particular order):
Clive Carroll
Gary Ryan
Doug Morter and Gerry Donahue
Hunter Muskett
Rory Evans
Mike Dawes
The weekend takes place at Oriel Plas Gwyn y Weddw in Llanbedrog (on the North Wales coast between Pwllheli and Abersoch) Accommodation is in local B+Bs (unless, like Riverman , you have a caravan somewhere nearby or, like Adrian, have bought a tent especially and pitched it at the local campsite).
Your £125 weekend ticket gets you: a meal and an organised singaround at the pub 200 yards from the venue, sandwich lunch on the Saturday, carvery lunch (back at the pub) on the Sunday) and, in between meals, masterclasses run by the guest artists, a Saturday night concert (this year's lasted nearly 4 hours!), a lock-in and singaround at the pub after the concert and an open air concert by other guests on the Sunday afternoon. Pretty good value for money!
It was great to see Riverman , jonnymosco and Adrian (Jonny's mate who came to HB6) again.
I took no pics of the Friday night singaround thingy - The entertainment kicked off with guitbrett doing a couple of numbers, as did Riverman , as did Doug Morter and, after a break to replenish glasses, Rory Evans did a short set. All very good.
Saturday morning started (well, after Jonny and I got over our mirth as Adrian dragged himself in with a wet arse and a miserable face - it had been a stormy night and his tent wasn't as waterproof as he'd hoped!) with a masterclass by Rory Evans. He's 20.
He took us through his warm up routine which he reckons takes him about 25 minutes. It would put me in traction! It includes finger stretches from 1st-6th fret walked up the neck on all strings. I guess it's why he's such a good guitarist and I'm not. I just make sure the bloody thing is facing the right way...
Gary Ryan was up next including tips on the psychology of performing (start with something well within your capabilities and build from there) and, of course, nail care.
As you can see from the photos you get really up close to these folk (particularly if, like me you don't mind sitting near the front!) and there's only maybe 40 folk in the workshops - so plenty of chances for questions.
Next up was the magnificent Clive Carroll. His masterclass focussed on how to build a composition using his own piece 'In The Deep'
He made it sound so simple! Basically, according to Clive:
1. Hum the tune in your head
2. Pretend a band is playing it
3. Work out what the bass player is doing
4. Work out what the rhythm guitarist is playing
5. Work out what the lead guitarist is playing
6. Work out what the horn section is playing
7. Play all those parts yourself, at the same time, on one guitar*
Simple, apparently.
*may require using a non-standard tuning
He also talked about ghost notes... note the alternating bass he uses in the video throughout 'In The Deep'. Except he doesn't. Start strong he says, make it a feature and listeners will imagine your still playing it even when you're not. And it's true!
Workshop #4 was with Mike Dawes. You know my views on tippy-tappy stuff. This workshop confirmed them. He started off by saying that, as he was only linked to a small amp and didn't have any pedals, only one of the FOUR microphones/pickups installed in his guitar could be amplified. So much for 'acoustic' guitar.
It does nothing for me. Used in small doses (more of that later) it can be fine, and add to a choon. But it was the be all and end all of Mike's stuff (or so it seemed) and I just couldn't find a melody to follow in any of his stuff. I regretted sitting near the front as I couldn't slip away. Still Liverpool had come from behind to win against Swansea so I was in a good mood. His guitar was built, in 2 weeks, by German luthier Andreas Cuntz. He explained how this got him into a few scrapes in the USA as he was provided with a guitar case with CUNTZ embossed into the plastic (a la Gibson). It is an odd looking guitar. If you think ajlucas ' guitars have pointy bits - check out a Cuntz!
Learning from previous experience I got to the hall for the evening concert very early to make sure I had a seat, let a lone a good one. It paid off - second row, next to the stairs, and I got to watch the soundchecks. Rory was staffing the sound desk (and neither he nor Paul played in the evening concert). Clive took 5 minutes to sound check, Doug even shorter. Mike's soundcheck was nearly as long as his set - there was something wrong with one of his 27 million pedals/cables and the only way to work out which it was involved a length process of elimination.
Finally the culprit was found and peace was restored as punters drifted in (The evening concert is opened up to the general public and always sells out)
The evening concert - held in the entrance hall - was superb. Started off with 40 minutes of Clive Carroll - including a tippy-tappy number to finish.
It was perfect - just a few percussive effects every now and then. Exactly how it should be.
This was followed by an
Actually, that's pretty much all I can say for him. He did an unplugged song. Which was brilliant. I mean, I assume it was - he was right by me and I couldn't hear a bloody thing. I suspect his acoustic guitar is so filled with electronic bits and bobs that it may as well be a solid body job. But we all clapped anyway. We're nice like that.
After a short break to
before being joined by the rest of the members of Hunter Muskett for another 3 numbers. Finally some vocals to listen to...
The evening finished with Gary Ryan being very Gary Ryany and playing some incredible music - including a tippy-tappy song to finish and, like Clive's, it was gloriously effective. Cos there was still a melody. I loved it.
And he dressed up for the performance. Because we're worth it. guitbrett put on a jacket, mind - just to prove he owns one...
I didn't go to the lock in - Jonny did so he'll maybe comment but, by all accounts, it was a trifle disappointing.
Sunday morning started off with an impromptu jam before most of the punters arrived involving Doug and Rory.
Then they were joined by the bassist from Hunter Muskett, Roger...
then the Mandola player, Terry ...
all good and bluesy.
The only workshop of the morning was the songwriting workshop led by Doug and Terry (and the other members of Hunter Muskett). It wasn't really a songwriting workshop - more a "this is how I came to write this song" followed by the song.
Engaging and interesting, but more about anecdotes than hints and tips. I'll say this for them, though, almost all the songs rhymed. Yay!
As I mentioned, your weekend ticket included the price of a carvery lunch at the pub and a concert in the afternoon (which featured Rory Evans and Hunter Muskett with invited guests - including our very own Riverman ). Sadly I had to leave before the lunch so gave my ticket to someone who looked particularly thin. Generous to a fault, me.
Undoubtedly good value for money. I got rid of a few forum business cards and it's great to see that Chris (@sinisterdisco ) has already joined up. Maybe he'll even join in at some stage
Next year...well, guests could include The Strawbs, Stefan Grossman, Catherine Craig and Brian Willoughby (again)... You'll just have to pester guitbrett for details
Jo whoever he is.
