The Wizards Pot

SQUIRRELKICKER

2011-10-13T00:04:00.001Z

OK, Here it is the first NUTS IN MAY SPECIAL podcast. Not every track on it is by someone appearing at the festival but I’ll tell you here who they are and in every subsequent podcast there will be more as they are announced. By the time the next one goes up the website for the festival will be fully up and running and not the “holding page” that you’ll see at present.

Anyhow, here’s the running order for the current podcast…

THE BOAT BAND – CUMBERLAND REEL

THE POLYJESTERS – THOMAS BUILDER

MISHAPED PEARLS - ODI EL AMO

ACHISA - ACHISA

MALARCHY – VIOLIN DOINA

ANONYMOUS – DRUNKEN PRACTICE (MUDDY HYMNAL)

COLD STONE JIVE – GAY LOVE

FREE BEER – PICK UP THE PIECES

LES NEGRESSES VERTES – MAMBO SHOW

NEVERLAND – STONED AS A WALL

WALSH & POUND – THE WRONG SAMPLE

THE BLACK HARES – SKEWBALL

JUNCTION POOL – FUNKY WHIPPETS

EVIE PLUMB – JIGSAW

JENNY McCORMICK – MY SWEET WILLIAM

DELTA MAID – BROKEN BRANCHES

THE WISHING WELL – LIFE ON THE BORDER

ZOO SONG FROM MIKE LIEGHS “NUTS IN MAY”

As it’s early days yet bookings for the festival aren’t yet at full roster so to speak so this podcast features those who are definitely coming and first on the podcast are the sublime MISHAPED PEARLS who I’ve written at some length about on a previous blog (A CRACKING COUPLE OF FESTIVALS) so it would be silly to repeat myself other than saying that this group are simply wonderful.

COLD STONE JIVE is the new venture from Will Taylor who’s questionable tunes I’ve featured before. Will writes really funny songs that are so near the knuckle the actually cut into the bone and draw blood. If you are a fan of Tim Minchin or Stephen Lynch then you’ll understand what Wills work is all about. If not, you may be offended. Don’t be just put your worries aside and laugh your socks off on the way to eternal damnation. Will is of course too part of THE DISH OF CHEESE along with The Mighty Tree, Phil Dance, Elton Herzegovina and myself.

FREE BEER are a group of extremely talented musicians who are also part of The Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra and are as tight a musical unit as you can ever hope to find. The track here the Average White Bands “Pick Up The Pieces” isn’t the best recording as its taken from a YouTube clip of them playing live at The Gregson in Lancaster, but to see them live is a far more rewarding experience than this track suggests.

WALSH & POUND Dan Walsh the Banjo playing half of the duo is another who I’ve spoken of before after his brilliant set at Solfest in 2010 and the excellent night he gave at The Spinners earlier this year and although this track is just Dan playing solo here at NUTS IN MAY hell be with the equally talented Will Pound who is as good a Harmonica player as Dan is on the Banjo and their set at NUTS IN MAY will be very special indeed.

EVIE PLUMB from the Windermere (my hometown) area of South Cumbria and is just sixteen has already been featured on one of the BBC Introducing stage when they held the BIG WEEKEND in Carlisle earlier this year. Here’s what presenter Ally McCrae had to say about her

“I welcomed to the stage an immensely talented 16-year-old girl called Evie Plumb who, with her opening lines silenced the entire room. She sang and played the keys with a confidence that I definitely lacked when I was 16. Her tracks were down the Katie Melua route of pop and the crowd were hooked. The way she captivated and held the attention of the audience was something to be admired – especially when the beer was so cheap.”

The track here is another taken from a YouTube download and was made for her audition for The Pizza Express Big Audition with Jamie Cullum.

That’s it for NUTS IN MAY bookings for now, more to come soon I can assure you.

Of the other tracks there are one or two of special note The Boat Bands “Cumberland Reel” taken from the album “A Trip To The Lakes” and it’s just sums up the whole jollity that is gathering your nuts about you in the springtime. Following this is “Thomas Builder” from The Polyjesters a Canadian band who I saw in Mawbray village hall about five years ago and have tried since to get them booked for the Drystone, unfortunately they where always in Canada at that time of year. I love their lighthearted easy jazz sound and I’ve been meaning to put them on the podcast for ages but the CD had been hiding forever.

Achisa and Les Negresses Vertes are both two CDs that I got from I don’t know where in ages past, I think one was a cover mounted freebie on some world music magazine and one probably a charity shop job. The Malarchy and Junction Pool pieces are from my bottomless supply of submitted CDs for Drystone gigs (get them sent in for a chance to play on the Jack In The Green Stage) and both nearly got on, though Junction Pool I suggested that they’d do better on mainstage as at the time it came in The Drystone was a tiny babe, not the behemoth of latter years and the band has a huge number of personnel.

It says what is at the top!

The Black Hares and The Wishing Well are both emailed submissions and the latters track has prevously been featured on the podcast back in 2008 and being lazy I’ll just copy what I wrote then…

Jai Larkin sent me this via the demo upload page of my website which is cheaper than sending it through the post from Australia where this band hails from and what a fantastic track it is with Jai blasting out like Mark Chadwick of but only for a few seconds as it's soon clear that these are no Levellers rip off. They have their own sound and a confidence that only comes with experience Jai himself having performed with Bob Geldof, Liam O'Moonlai, Tim Finn and Andy White. For a band that have only been together for two years these chalked up an impressive 180 gigs and travelled 10 Australian festivals this year. Visit their MySpace for more stuff, it's worth it.

Here’s an interesting vid of Jai discussing the background to “Life On The Border”

Jenny McCormick was one of the first acts ever to play the Drystone and I would have given her a return booking this year and I’m certainly going to be getting in touch regarding Nuts In May as I will with Delta Maid.

Which brings me finally to Neverland, my mate Boz who puts together Off The Tracks plays percussion for them and they are someone else who I’ll be speaking to, for quality Folk/Rock you can’t do much better.

YOU SAY GOODBYE AND I’LL SAY HELLO

2011-10-04T12:32:00.001Z

I was intending this blog to be just another teaser about

Nuts IN May

(though it still will be that and more) but I can’t let last Saturday (October 1st) go by without writing some thing here.

Sadly it saw the very last DRYSTONE SESSIONS at The Spinners Arms. The sessions started about eighteen months ago and for a time were run in tandem with WIZARDMARRAS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE SPINNERS Open Mic nights. The idea was to give a paid gig to some of the up and coming acts that were coming through the Open Mics which would also keep a weather eye out for promising newcomers who could then get an unpaid support slot.

It all started well, with decent enough numbers turning up every month. Though perhaps we should have seen the pattern emerging with the Open Mics which by this time, six months or so into the Sessions had died out completely. Barely a punter in sight and once or twice no performers.

So to see the delightful KATUS performing to about six people (four of which were Alain and Alison (of The Spinners) Karen and myself. There were about six others, but they hadn’t come for the music, a fact made obvious by their conversation.

The hard thing being that no punters equals no takings and the pub ends up making a loss. Add to that the fact that as with most pubs business is bad (certainly worse than normal).

But KATUS gave a set that was actually so lovely in it’s intimacy, instead of pretending that the room was full of beaming faces she sang and spoke to the few of us without any hint of the arrogance that so called bigger stars would have succumbed to in the same situation.

But here’s the rub, the question that makes me want to snap at the Simon Cowells of this world. Actually I want to snap at Louis Walsh more, who I think has a much colder heart than Mr Cowell despite his outward toora loora loo “I t’ink yer just Great, sure yer livin’ der dree’am” before he chews them up and spits them out. If you want a clincher JEDWARD, Slap slap slap to the three of them and bloody hard with it.

Why this anger that I’ve surprised myself with, well it’s people like that who are if not responsible for the downfall of the Drystone Sessions they are partly responsible for our attitude as a nation to what we consider to be good and quality performance.

By that I mean the use of backing tracks by live acts. Karaoke basically, that somewhere along the line it became OK for a singer to perform without a real musical instrument anywhere in sight. The singer may be great, but without accompanying themselves or working alongside other musicians all they are is karaoke with knobs on. The sad thing the really sad thing is that these acts can fill a pub performing songs by other people and it seems to me that it’s at the expense of those who spend long hours working on a craft, writing their own songs and learning to play an instrument.

All that remains is to thank Alain and Alison for giving me an opportunity to present some of the areas best and brightest. For three years or more of fantastic Saturday nights over which they have become great friends and to thank all the people who have come along and given their all at the Open Mics and Drystone Sessions. Too numerous to name each one. Thank you.

NUTS IN MAY

THE FORTH BE WITH YOU

So on to happier and more exciting things, something features real live music with as many instruments as can be imagined. I speak of course of Nuts in May which from the above header you will see that it opens on

STAR WARS DAY

and runs from the 4th to the 6th with at least four stages The Jack In The Green Stage, Bar Stage (cool and groovy name to be decided upon) organized by the able hands of Dave and Jude Proud, a chilled out venue presided over by the eminent Dubbers, I don’t if he’ll be calling it it The Love Shack or John’s Snug but anyone who’s familiar with those venues at Solfest or Beatherder will know what to expect. There will be a magical woodland stage and session tent (you can probably guess who’ll be running this but as i haven’t confirmed it yet). I can’t give you any clue as yet to any acts but rest assured that I’m working it and already have some fantastic names lined up and I know that Dave has too. My next podcast will have some of them on it so you won’t have to wait long and we’ll be making the official announcements before long as tickets will be going on sale very very soon.

Who’s the chap on the poster?

That’s Squirrelkicker and you will be wanting a tee shirt.

SPOILERS!

2011-09-28T00:04:00.001Z

Just because I can’t resist and I can be a real tease sometimes and as Big Scott has asked me so very nicely. Here’s a first la’al taste.

NUTS IN MAY will be Cumbria newest festival, small yet perfectly formed nestling in an idyllic location just outside Workington (yes, they can be found) where the elven folk dwell.

The link above will take you to the website which although quiet and unassuming will soon grow into the locus of all wonders regarding NUTS IN MAY, a surprisingly economical festival.

As soon as I have more to tell you I will, but we are still at the stage where the proto festival still has rough edges to be smoothed, legal hoops to dive through and several more pints to be drunk.

One last thing for now…

…I can confirm that the awesomeness that is

THE DISH OF CHEESE

will be appearing on

I just have to tell the rest of the band!

A CRACKING COUPLE OF FESTIVALS

2011-09-19T14:17:00.001Z

It has been my very great pleasure in the past fortnight to go as a guest to two excellent festivals…

OFF THE TRACKS

at Isley Walton in Derbyshire and

THE DOCK OF THE BAY

at Glasson Dock near Lancaster, the former so called because it’s slap bang next the the Donnington Park racecourse and these days can be considered one of the elder statesmen among festivals as it has been going twice yearly for twenty three years and has established itself very nicely as one of the good ones serving up a decent helping of good music washed down with perhaps one of the best real ale bars you can find anywhere. Sixty, yes SIXTY different beers, ciders and perrys. I can be very happy at a place like that.

I’d been invited there by Andy “Boz” Borys one of the two organisers and asked to do one story which is a fair swap for a ticket for Karen and myself. The story was to fill in time in between John Otways set and that of Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick which to me was billing to die for. But the thing which made the weekend for me (and it was a weekend of some soaring musical highs from the swirling celtic pipes of THE PEATBOG FAERIES who gave us plenty of their familiar favourite tunes as well as a sizeable helping from the the new album DUST which I can only describe as brilliant classic Peatbogs but with a new edge, to the stomping banging wonderfully exuberant drumming of THE DHOL FOUNDATION.)was a set held in Helen Pinks tiny open mic marquee on traders alley. Karen and I had set off there as I’d promised Helen (a great friend and lovely person) that I’d do a bit of taletelling and when we arrived a band was well settled into a impromptu gig which lasted in all about two hours and it was the best two hours of the weekend. The name of the group is MISHAPED PEARLS and here is where I have to possibly use up my entire supply of superlatives for this year. Saying that how do I categorize this excellent band? Quasi folk/classical? I don’t really know, be be sure of this Mishaped Pearls make music of substance.

Just take five to listen this rehearsal

Ged Floods compositions are exactly that, to call him a songwriter would be to demean him slightly he is most assuredly a composer and when you add the haunting vocals of Manuela Schuette to this you find yourself listening to something very special indeed. Most of the songs are sung in languages other than English not that it matters one jot, for me listening to a song in a foreign language only helps as you hear the voice as an instrument in the fullest sense and what a beautiful instrument it is too. During the set I was transported to a delightful place where I could have happily sat for many hours and there were one or two surprises in there too, as at one point Manuelas voice was complemented by the esoteric sound of a Theremin which was even more of a surprise to find that it was actually an ap on an iPhone held up to a mic.

They will certainly be featured on my next podcast though in the meantime I wholeheartedly advise you to get the free download of HD video and track of theirs from their website, just click on the highlighted name above to go there.

THE DOCK OF THE BAY

Glasson Dock has been the home of a brilliant little festival for a few short years until it’s end a couple of years ago and has been the site of some of my most enjoyable storytelling sessions and indeed some of my more outlandish sessions.

Particularly memorable was my rendition of Homers Odyssey performed in its entirety on a toilet.

Sadly the worst rain for four decades had dampened the site somewhat and most parts of the festival had been relocated from the intended field. I no way did this spoil a great little event.

One thing you can be sure of at Glasson though is the quality of two things; the music and the fish and chips at the Lantern O’er The Lune cafe on the dock itself. It had come under new ownership since we last visited and I was worried that the best fish and chips to be had anywhere would become like the newspaper that once wrapped a nations chips and consigned to yesterday. But my fears were unfounded as it’s still the best.

Now let’s get down to the music, just about all of which was from Lancaster and environs. For such a small event the program was absolutely packed with acts most of which I didn’t get to see being pleasantly ensconced in “PIZZA SLUT” (incidentally I’ve just done a quick Google to see if there were any pictures or website/Facebook etc. for them and OMG! Let’s just say I didn’t expect what is out there.)

But of the music I did see I must give the biggest shout and kudos to FREE BEER

So young and so talented

This funky seven piece are all members of Lancasters Youth Jazz Orchestra and they are tight as Captain Tight of the good ship HMS Tight and the horn section are even tighter than that. I was so impressed by them that they became my first official booking for the JACK IN THE GREEN STAGE at NUTS IN MAY…

…But you’ll have wait for my next blog to find out all about Cumbria's newest festival.

A FANTASY LINE UP FROM A SAD OLD MAN

2011-08-27T16:24:00.001Z

Presenting the ultimate FANTASY LINE UP for a final farewell and to show my appreciation for everybody over the years who made THE DRYSTONE STAGE possible.

WIZARDMARRAS

NOT

THE DRYSTONE STAGE

2011

THE TRACK LISTINGS

WIZARDMARRA - ANGUS' BOOGIE/GAYNES STAR

MARK SAUL - JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE CELTS

THE MYST – BURN

DRAGONSFLY – ISHQ ALLAH (LIVE ON THE DRYSTONE STAGE SOLFEST 2008)

MARY CUSTY - TALES FROM THE HEART OF CHUANG TZU

JENNY MCCORMICK - ME, I PREFER THE MOON

EVIE PLUMB - UNAFFORDABLE DAYDREAMS

SWEETBEATS – ORANGE STREET (LIVE ON THE DRYSTONE STAGE SOLFEST 2008)

HELEN PINK - MOVE UP (WITH THE SOCIAL IGNITION)

STEAM RADIO - THE BLUE BUS

QUERCUS BURLESQUE - TUFTY GUSSET

WALSH & POUND – CCC

NAKED - FEN NIC

KATUS YOUNG - FIGHTING & SCREAMING & DRINKING

TARANTISM – TURN IT UP (LIVE ON THE DRYSTONE STAGE SOLFEST 2008)

WIZARDMARRA - ANGUS' BOOGIE/DOMACLES PRATT/DELPHINIUM & HALFMOON

Well I thought that rather than mithering to myself about how bad I felt about things and how that sadness in me meant that I wouldn’t be able to face Solfest…

…You see the depth of feeling I had about the Drystone stage like parent to child and more. That the feelings I was having were like a bereavement and I was suddenly shocked to realise recently also like a divorce! and I could no longer go to see the stage in operation at Solfest than I could if I had been cuckolded, divorced and then get invited to go and watch the nuptuals take place with the filthy ne’er do well vile lowlife blackguard that took her .

But I’m not bitter!

I thought a better, more positive thing to do would be to put my energy into another podcast and with this one I broadcast my “Fantasy Line Up”. The acts that I would have booked this year if I’d still been running the stage.

Not to try and prove anything or to in competition to have a “better” line up. In fact I spoke to Dave Camlin who’s running the stage this year and complemented him on his line up. yes, there are one or two acts that I wouldn’t have booked but also a lot that I would have, have done in the past and will book elsewhere in the future. I started the ball rolling with one or two this year in booking them anyway before I resigned.

No, just for the fun of it. But as on this occasion I could give myself an infinite budget I could book some quality big name headliners. Then of course I realised the problem…

…that I can only play the music that is not covered by copyright or if it’s been specifically stated by the artist that I can, as yet I can’t afford the PRS license that would let me play anything I like.

But I can still write it down as it is just for fun. I had one or two rules to restrict me too as it is (light hearted or not) an alternative line up to that of The Drystone Stage at Solfest this year. So I decided that any of the acts playing the stage this year can’t be included, even as in a couple of cases I’d made initial bookings with them. Nor would I include acts that had been on my wish list for this year if they had bookings on the drystone (with one exception!). As I don’t know what the full line up is then I may make an unplanned “double booking” but if that is the case then it only goes to show that that particular act is good enough to get noticed.

Regretfully I’ve not got the huge selection of submitted CDs that I used to get to draw on and I’ve not heard that one track or voice that sends tingles down my spine and I know I’ve discovered someone special.

But I got some rather tasty stuff from the hundreds of mp3s I’ve been sent and I’ve still got loads from previous years a good percentage of them who I’d filed away for future reference and good enough for a gig. Return bookings too, that’s all part and parcel of the Drystone and I got plenty of their stuff.

Incidentally, things are in the pipeline for another stage, in another place and I’ve a need for talent. DRYSTONE PROMOTIONS requires submissions for future events.

alan.drystone@gmail.com

for details

So on to the the line up. I was going to lay it out like an actual programme with timed sets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then I thought “bugger that for a game of soldiers” so here are merely lists of who I’d have on each particular day. Each day with at least one impossible headliner who would more than likely be way out of my real life budget but I would love to have them on that stage.

so here goes…

FRIDAY

…and in no particular order

MELODICA MELODY AND ME

FEN NIC

*I must say too that I’m as excited as buggery because next weekend I’m telling stories at “OFF THE TRACKS” on Saturday night in between JOHN OTWAY and MARTIN CARTHY & DAVE SWARBRICK! How’s that for a billing!

SATURDAY

THE TREACHEROUS ORCHESTRA

RORY McLEOD & THE FAMILIAR STRANGERS

SUNDAY

ROB HERON & THE TEA PAD ORCHESTRA

THE SWEETBEATS

THE MYST

THE LOST PADRES

THE LOSCOE STATE OPERA

TONGUE TIDE

WIZARDMARRA

Well, that’s it for what it’s worth. Of course had I actually been doing it the line up would have looked different again in reality. But it’s been a bit of fun and saved me from being a total Billy No Mates as I sit here on Saturday afternoon August 27th, the sun is shining and I know the punters will be having a great time on the Solfest field. Somewhere in there the beloved Ladymarra, Karen will be either happy or fraught. Possibly the latter if her phone call to me last night is anything to go by.

I am sad not be there and I missing friends that I see there, I’m missing the backstage buzz, I have not missed for one second the stress of being involved in the Solfest committee and because of that I’m not missing Solfest as such. I’m really happy to have got out of that nonsense, nonsense that gradually took over from the important task of putting on the best damn festival possible and eroded away a fantastic team. The vision seems to be changing and I really don’t feel that it’s the right one. It is true that Solfest must evolve and adapt as the years go by, change is good and right and proper, but it has to be the correct change especially so in these penurious economic times where the disposable income of the audiences is strictly limited. The choice of festivals nowadays is vast and only the very strong and very good survive.

But where one gate closes on field, another opens up elsewhere.

Now lets see if I’ve time to record an extra bit of nonsense for the start of the podcast….

…Yes I had and it’s right at the start GAYNES STAR it’s something made fresh today for you.

FROM PEDALS TO PODCAST

2011-08-10T23:51:00.003Z

Well as it’s high time I got this blog and my podcast updated I can’t have a better reason to do so than commemorate the 4th annual Spinners Arms sponsored cycle ride for Cancer Research and both the blog and the podcast are dedicated to this.

As well as dedicating this and the podcast to all my fellow riders I must say a huge, Huge, HUGE

HUGE

THANK YOU

to everyone who sponsored me. I raised £175 (I’m still waiting for £15 you know who you are!) and I’ve learned from a visit to the Spinners and this why a bang up update today 12-8-11 that so far £3483 pounds has been raised so with my £160 I handed in today that’s £3643 and there’s still 30 riders yet to hand in their cash so with luck and a fair wind seven grand may well be in sight.

All the usual links and details of the artists on the podcast are detailed below but first here’s an account of the ride itself. I have to say that it was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had for some time even though the weather could have been better. Just how bad it was you’ll understand in a moment but an indication is given in the above picture and from now on I’ll always think of it as

THE THUNDERIDE

It all all began on a wonderfully warm and sunny summer Saturday morning as some sixty odd riders and their bicycle gathered outside the Spinners Arms at Cummersdale. Last minutes adjustments and tunings being made to a large assortment of bikes in varying degrees of newness and sophistication. Here I must send out a huge thank you to Scott daly who loaned me a beautiful bike that was the sweetest thing to ride and made the whole event easy, particularly the gel seat which took the worst ache and removed it from the whole scenario at the very start.

So after instructions from Alison Davis and the nice lady from Cancer Research whose name I forget we set off on the first leg down into Carlisle and its marvellous traffic. I was once told by a seasoned motorist that driving in Carlisle was worse than London.

“In London they don’t take any notice of other road users, in Carlisle they just drive at you.”

That unfortunately proved true as the ride suffered it’s first casualty before we’d gone too far due to a driver just not giving a fellow cyclist a little bit of consideration, thankfully he didn’t suffer any serious injuries and was able to continue.

Ben Delivo of the freewheelin’ Delivo brothers lost his chain as he arrived at Bridge Street and bravely walked his bike to Scotby Cycles for repair intending to catch up with the rest of the party later (and he did).

The weather was still good as we sailed (much later on that will be used as literal description of the the ride and not poetic as here) round the Castle past Bitts Park and up over the Eden to glide down through Rickerby Park, Rickerby itself and then Linstock. (Which recalls to mind that fine actor Sir Rickerby Linstock star of so many triumphs of the Stage, who indeed can forget when he gave us his Bottom at Stratford.) Finally crossing over the M6 and finishing this, the longest stage of the ride at The Stag at Crosby on Eden.

Replenished by water and bananas we set off on stage two Little Corby to Great Corby (which appears from looking at Google Earth to be smaller than it’s “little” namesake, perhaps it was named because the original settlers just thought it was that much better.) Cruising in what was to be the last of the sunshine, an easy idyllic ride past well kept tidy houses and an immaculate golf course. Birdsong ringing on high and I was feeling great, happy and content that it was a sheer pleasure and I was doing something worthwhile possibly the most worthwhile thing I’d done for years.

Then came the ominous warning from the stewards at Little as they directed us to Great…

…”You’ve got the big hill coming up.”

To be fair it’s the only really serious hill on the route (in this direction anyway) but it’s not too long though quite steep and given that there were no prizes for cycling every inch of the way, I wimped out and got off and pushed it uphill to be rewarded by the sight of the next checkpoint at the very top The Corby Bridge Inn.

More water and bananas consumed there and sandwiches too, and of course being a public house some of the more health conscious riders felt duty bound to exercise their drinking arms quite extensively.

You’ll perhaps notice the beginning of a theme here.

It was here we noticed the dark and ominous cloud drifting somewhere northwest of us, it looked like it was going to miss us and we could continue in sunny bliss but it wasn’t long until we found out how wrong we were for shortly after crossing the impressive Wetheral railway viaduct the heavens began to open. Slowly at first, like holding the door ajar slightly to let the cat out and keep the dog in but then thinking “Oh the hell with it!” and letting all the dogs out along with the cats, rabbits, pot bellied pig and the wolf who you’d tried to keep from the door but then let it inside to starve with you as it was great with the kids. So by the time reached the next stop of The Lowther Arms at Cumwhinton we’d got properly wet.

Let me make it clear that quite few of the riders were liberally pouring ale down their throats at every stop so along with the rain they were in effect just a collection of cells swimming in an aqueous solution and I’m not sure how they managed to keep upright on a bike. Here of course special mention must be made of one of the rides heroes, Big Neil Ferguson (who Alain Landlord tells me was one of the initiators of the ride)

This year he was sponsored not to drink on the way round after consuming 14 pints during the ride last year. He didn’t and got round quicker than I did and made up for it that night. So there’s at least three reasons to raise a glass to a really nice fella who is as they say “As sound as a pound”

The next section from Cumwhinton to Durdar was as close to the dictionary definition of hell as you can get, that is if hell is seen as a cold wet bleak landscape lashed by rain, scoured by wind and populated by maniacal motorists who when seeing somebody wearing a T shirt saying Cancer Research feel the need to blast their horns and call out in the manner of a New York ruffian “ Get off the &$%!!@# road!” or as happened to me on this stretch to actually play a game of Grand Theft Auto for real knocking the cyclist from his velocipede to whoops and cussing amain. This particular idiot who I imagine probably makes a “BRRMMM BRRRMMMM BRRMM” sound as he drives not only nearly took me out but also Tina and Harold as well.

All respect and power to Harold seventy odd and can ride better stronger and faster than men half his age.

By this time the sky was darkened to an ominous Tolkienesque roiling mass as I pedalling like buggery to get as far from Mordor as possible, deep and booming thunderclaps rattling like Brian Blessed belching in an echo chamber while the ghost of Oliver Reed loudly farts next to him. Lightning flashed across the sky like the Dark Lord with prostate trouble trying to piss electricity into the Solway Firth and missing bowl entirely.

The ever darkening sky sending sets of staccato bursts of plasma on the road to Durdar where the pub is dry…

As we cycle to Durdar

Where the pub is dry

Three for Karen and Alison sheltered from the sky

Seven for the Sponsors sitting at home

Nine for the riders doomed never to dry

One bell to ring as they’re drenched to the bone

One bell to ring them

One bell to chime them

One bell to ding a ling ling

As the deluge slowly drowns them

As we cycle to Durdar

Where the pub is dry

After crossing the M6 (via bridge dumkopf and the rain was so bad at this point that a whale had actually got itself stranded on the motorway) I was up a in something of a quandary as I’d kept track of the unfamiliar route by always keeping some other riders in sight ahead of me so I wasn’t sure which way to go, luckily I’ve got a good sense of direction and set of in the direction of Durdar (luckily I was right though it could have gone so easily and badly wrong) and the worst section of road which was a long long drag uphill and in the pouring rain was thoroughly miserable but also provided for me the best moment as Joe White dressed in full clown costume raced past me with a cheery “Come on Wizardmarra!” and the image of his feet in enormous clowns shoes pedalling furiously still makes me laugh.

Next stop The Black Lion at Durdar I’ll say no more about it other than I would have thought when a hostelry, inn or tavern suddenly gets a crowd of sixty odd folk arriving at their threshold and a goodly amount of them wanting ale. One would have thought that they would be welcomed with open arms and cash registers. Not so at the Black Lion as the miserable buggers were closing and gave what can only be likened to the eponymous Lion showing us it’s arse.

Nearly done and spinning into Dalston the rain began to stop…

…no it didn’t it carried on pissing down and then through down more as we reached The Bridge End Inn, a really brilliant pub run by friendly people. By this point I was just wanting it all to be over so after a brief rest and a cough and drag on to the next stop (after the shortest stage in between) at The Blue Bell and it was here that I succumbed to having a swift half, discovering as I did that when your body is chittered with cold, your clothes soaked with rain and your gentlemen parts shrunken to the size of peanuts and a jelly worm the last thing you want is ice cold beer inside your body and I nearly went into hypothermic shock.

So I bit the bullet and set off on the last leg, along the lovely smooth riding cycle path that runs between Dalston and Carlisle and along this section the rain began to come down harder faster and crueller than at any other time that day. I cursed myself for not bringing a snorkel after a brief detour when I didn’t realise I should not have gone over the bridge but soon after that it was the final slog uphill into Cummersdale (and yeah, I got off and pushed as there were no prizes for staying on the bike) I proudly dripped and splashed into The Spinners Arms. It would also have been Karen's arms too but I was too wet for a hug but the kiss she gave me calling me “her superhero” made the whole thing worthwhile. That and the fact that it was despite the rain one of the very best days of my life and I raised nearly £200, the whole event will have raised three or four thousand for Cancer Research.

Not bad eh.

A big warm hug of thanks and respect and love to Alison Davies who got it all together along with the support crew for sandwiches bananas and so much more.

…………………………

I’ve just found out how to put a player for the podcasts on here so here is the current one.

WIZARDMARRAS

DRYSTONE

WIRELESS SHOW

THE THUNDERIDE

Track listings with links to the artists website (where possible)

WHISKEY SUITS FOLK - MACARTHURS ROAD/SPOOTISKERRY
STOOSHIE - FIDDEN SANDS
EVIE PLUMB - PURPLE LAKE
FEN NIC - SHE CAN DANCE WITH THE STARS
SUNDAY DRIVER - GAYATI MANTRA
CELLOMAN - GOBI
PHIL SAUNDERS - WHO DO YOU LOVE
RUGOSA NERVADA - BORNEO FUNCTION
RA NI - SUPERCOLLIDER
WILL TAYLOR - HMP
DAN WALSH - JOXERS TUNE/BOXING DAY/VORTEX
HELEN PINK - ONE LIFE
DIDDLEY SQUAT LIVE ON THE DRYSTONE STAGE, SOLFEST 2008

Now I’m no longer involved with Solfest and The Drystone Stage there is in another's hands I’m no longer restricting the music to acts only appearing on that stage and so I’m taking the opportunity to put out some of the other acts from the amazingly large collection of music I’ve had submitted to me that didn’t make it onto that stage (for a variety of reasons) and I feel deserve a hearing to a wider audience.

Coming out on Saturday 27th August 2011 the next edition of

Wizardmarras Drystone Wireless Show

will be

and will feature a “fantasy line up” of who might have been the Drystone Stage this year if I’d still been doing it.

Here also is my brand new podcast it’s a fantasy serial read by me and I aim to get an instalment out a month and it’s called…

TALES FROM THE STANDUP CHAMELEON

…and relates the adventures of the singing barbarian Jib Longwilly and his partner Swanky Morris in one corner of the multiverse and in another of Jabberlique and Smiggle Banjaxx the interdimensional repair men. The first instalment is the begining of Book 1, THE ETERNAL SIDEKICK the next instalment will be out by the end of this month.

…………………………

I’m still grieving somewhat for the end of my association with Solfest, events causing my resignation still leave a bad taste in my mouth and I feel that the future of what was the most wonderful festival is in jeopardy but at the same time I feel whether the festival is a huge success or a dismal train wreck of a failure I can hold my head up and say that I’m proud to have been a part of it’s past and equally proud that I have nothing to do with the 2011 event. But I have nothing but the best wishes for Ben Durkan, Gerard Irving, Tosh, Karen, JT, Matt, Simon T and everybody who is working hard against tough circumstances.

FAREWELL TO SOLFEST

2011-01-02T00:00:00.002Z

Before I get down to the grimness I’ll put a full stop on the current thread extoling the talent and success of Emma’s Imagination and it’s succinctly put. Following getting signed to Gary Barlow's Future records her Album Standing Still is released on January 10th and a new single version of This Day is released on Monday January 3rd.

Now for the hard bit.

Here’s a blog that I never thought I would write.

I’ve quit Solfest and my heart is heavier than it’s been for many along year but I don’t feel that I’ve been left with any other choice.

Changes have taken place in the way the organisation runs which in some ways is a good thing, I have been advocating a change for a long time. But the changes as they now stand have been I feel hurriedly made without full consideration of the implications and the structure of the organisation not fully fleshed. I don’t believe it will make for a better festival.

When long standing bands split the reason is often given as “musical differences” usually this is a euphemism for “personal conflicts” of some form or another and I think in this case it’s probably apt too.

So I thought it’s better I go and let people get on with rather than sit filled with negative energy and make a bad situation worse, I will miss Solfest more than I can express here and the sense of bereavement I now feel knowing that my beloved Drystone Stage will no longer be a part of my life and will be in someone else's hands.

I will not put down here those personal feelings I have against some who I feel are now involved in the festival, they are my feelings alone and I am as susceptible as anyone to getting it wrong. I am sure that if you asked some of them they would declare that they are so passionate about Solfest that if you cut them in half they would have Solfest written all the way through. I’d prefer it if it was heart on display and I worry about the quality of the event this year.

SHE’S A WINNER

2010-09-19T23:06:00.001Z

SHE’S DONE IT!

Emma has won the final of “MUST BE THE MUSIC” after winning a place in the final three acts, she won the phone vote boosted by huge audience support in the Wembley arena beating bands “Missing Andy” and “The Pictures”.

Giving a beautiful performance while visibly fighting with nerves she won over everybody, including the judges who had been vocal in their support and belief in Emma from the start.

Before the voting opened they said of Emma.

Dizzee Rascal said “That was beautiful and I think you’re a star already” Jamie Cullem added “You are the most complete artist we have here at the moment – a winner!” and Sharleen Spiteri said “God I love you and your experience really showed the amount of time you have spent practising.”

Here’s how she did it.

Song copywrite Emma Gillespie other stuff Sky

This is even better, it’s Emma recording “This Day” for the downloadable version.

This Day, copywrite Emma Gillespie

I’ve actually got video of this track of when she sang it the very first time (the day after she wrote it ) at The Spinners Arms. But I’m waiting for her to give me permission to use it before I post it on YouTube.

Anyway I’ll close now as I’m knackered but in closing I just have to say

CONGRATULATIONS

EMMA!

YOU DESERVE EVERYTHING YOU HAVE ACHEIVED

THE IRRESISTIBLE RISE OF EMMA, AND SOLFEST2010

2010-09-06T00:07:00.001Z

First of all huge congratulations to EMMA GILLESPIE or as I should correctly say EMMA’S IMAGINATION who has won through to the finals of “Must Be The Music” on Sky1 and will be singing live next Sunday at Wembley against the other finalist/s the group THE PICTURES. Biased as I am I am bound to say that Emma is hands down and head above shoulders in an overwhelming winning yoga position. Unbiased, I would still say that as her song “This Day” is a masterpiece and a winning song anyway. If you don’t believe me check out the i Tunes download chart and you will see it’s currently at number five.

Check out the “Must Be The Music” website for details of how to download the song and how to get other goodies to support Emma

When you download it remember that 100% of the net profits go to Emma herself and not into Sky’s coffers.

Emma’s Imagination, The story so far. Copyright Sky

As a nice little addendum to the story, I am a honoured and delighted to say that the song “This Day” received it’s premiere performance at The Spinners Arms earlier this year the day after she wrote it.

She is truly an incredibly talented and beautiful performer and deserves every ounce of success she gets and it was a great 45 minutes or so for me to sit and watch her on The Drystone last week, fronted by a wall full of kids.

So on to a review of sorts of some of the best moments for me at Solfest 2010.

And by cracky what a good one it was too, an exceptional event and this year the weather was our best friend.

It was hard work leading up to it for several reasons not in the least spending the previous four months suffering from a mystery infection (which I now know to be “prostatitis” a severe infection of the prostate, and it’s likely to be another four months before it’s sorted out) but this enforced me to let go of the reins and sit back while my fantastic and capable crew did the lions share of the work.

I discovered something quite wonderful because of this as for the first time in six years I was actually able to relax, sit back and enjoy entire sets by the acts I’d booked. I saw The Drystone Stage through the audiences eyes for the first time and was quite amazed by the magic that is created before your eyes on the stage. My goodness it’s wonderful, how did that happen as I’m sure it’s got nothing to do with me; though I can’t express in words how proud I am to be a part of it.

OK, so who rocked my boat this year other than Emma and everybody else.

FRIDAY. Jonny and Lucy followed Rob Heron and The T Pad Orchestra and set me up for a good night to begin with before an act that I’ve been waiting to see gave a standout set. I speak of course of SEAN TAYLOR. Sometimes I’ll book an act knowing full well that this is a standout performer who is going to go a long way and then be totally knocked out by the set they give as it transcends any expectation I may have had. I like sets like that, to know I truly am in the presence of greatness. That’s how it was with Sean on the Friday, a fact underlined by the large crowd sitting down and just listening. Quality, quality, quality.

Later that night the incredible INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE did exactly what I thought and pulled a blinding set out of the hat. I can pick up all manner of influences/tones in their music, recalling sixties psychadelia, R’n’B, to eighties agit folk/rock. Damn fine tunes though and a set that makes me think they’ll be back on the Drystone very soon.

Anyhow it’s late now and I’m beginning to feel a little crappy so to bed I shall away.

More to come soon…

HOW COOL IS THIS…

2010-08-22T23:01:00.001Z

You will recall in my last blog a had to rewrite it to take account of the fantastic news that Emma Gillespie had won round one of her audition on the Sky1 show “Must Be The Music”.

Well, it gets better for Emma has won a place in the live semi finals which will be broadcast the week after Solfest. Click on the line below to see her audition.

EMMA'S IMAGINATION ON TELLY

“Captivating” Jamie Cullem

“The song was beautiful and you have a wicked voice” Dizzee Rascal

“Your voice is stunning, it’s an absolute pleasure having someone of your talent coming through” Sharleen Spitteri

Here is the link to the latest and full gen on Emma’s next step to the big enchilada.

YES, I WILL CLICK THIS LINK AS I THINK EMMA'S BRILLIANT

and as a special celebration of this Emmafest here’s a great la’al vid of her track “Stamp Your Feet”

Emma’s Imagination, Stamp Your Feet.

Her appearance on The Drystone Stage at Solfest will be the last chance to see Emma live before she sings in front af a television audience of millions and after that. Who knows where?

Good luck Emma, you deserve all the success and everything that it will bring with it.

COMING AROUND AGAIN…

2010-08-14T13:33:00.000Z

The ongoing tale of one mans life caught up in a “groundhog day” of festival preparation and execution…

Read on…

Well it’s that time of year again. So it’s time I wrote one of my accounts of how things are doing, who’s doing then and for a bit of spice, who’s doing it to whom.

It’s odd though as I feel I’m watching the festival develop from afar, taking a back seat on the scary rollercoaster this year and yet still doing all the stuff I usually do. Although I have to say that I’m getting lot of help

You see the old fart isn’t well and I’m having a shitty time due to a nasty infection in my nethers. After countless anti-biotics and an ultra sound scan. I still don’t know what’s wrong and after Solfest I have further tests including one in a machine that goes “BING!” and another where a camera is going where the sun don’t shine (and I’m not talking “backdoor” either) DVD not available on You Tube.

So I’m having to take it easy and the huge thanks going to Laurence, Jo, Dean, JT, Kat and everybody who are helping me along the way. Most of all my wonderful wife, Lady Marra herself. Karen.

I am still doing my bit getting the contracts sorted out and so on, drudgery stuff that has to be done. But perhaps this is the karma that comes with all the happy hours listening to all the free CDs.

But sadly I’ll be as visible at Solfest this year and I’ll not be storytelling on the Saturday as usual. Dr Theatre is amazing and can sometimes cure you completely and make you healthier fitter and brighter than before. Sometimes it’s a permanent cure, more often it’s setting your body up for a hell of a kick as the illness or infinity smacks back into your system with the finesse of an Intercity 125 driven by a berserker on coke and coffee.

This is one of those times where I know I can’t do that to myself.

I’m hoping to do a little bit of comparing and I really want to do one or two songs with THE DISH OF CHEESE but that might not happen.

There is much to be exited about though, along with some acts coming back who’ve just got that little bit better and stronger over the year/s. There are some amazing people making their debut.

ARCOMNIA – ALEJANDRO TOLEDO & THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS – THIS FRONTIER NEEDS HEROES – JONNY KEARNEY & LUCY FARRELL – SEAN TAYLOR = AND LOADS MORE.

but it’s late and I need to get my head down, though sleeps never brilliant at the moment.

Love

Wiz

End of part 1.

So part two begins…

Which along with my usual aimless ramblings from life at Solfest central (although I’m not really up to speed with what’s happening and I can’t comment really on what’s been decided in committee) there will be all the attendant hoo-hah, links and news of my latest podcast which is up now and has some magnificent tracks there by artists who’ll be on the Drystone this year to hopefully get you in the mood as well as a couple tracks by a mainstage act that I really like and I feel deserve to be heard.

Before all that I must tell you about FESTIVAL HARVEST a rather cracking double CD your purchase at various places, hopefully the new merchandising CD sales tent adjacent to the Drystone will have a copy or two. Incidentally I’m hoping we can set up one or two “meet and greets” there. But back to the point I was making, this special CD.

This year Solfest has been proud to have been working with the “A Greener Festival” organisation and if you need me to explain what it does I’ll say “It’s on the bloody tin.” because the name says it all. But this fine body of men and women has brought out a double CD in collaboration with UK festivals including Glastonbury, Isle Of Wight, T in The Park, Kendal Calling, and Solfest and it features 28 (count em) tracks by the best of emerging talent working the circuit. Among the recommendations I made for inclusion on the CD (and there is at least four others from that list appearing on the Drystone this year) was Drystone favourites MR & MRS and their track “Cut All Strings” is track 2 on CD 1. Though they have changed their name to CHANGING HORSES it’s still the Ric and Bev that we know and love.

It’s also rather cool to have my name in the thanks and acknowledgments along with Emily Eavis and a whole charabanc full of names of the great and good of the festival industry. click the underlined link above to find out more and where you can get this very worthy CD that (never mind the cause) it hasn’t got a bad track on it.

“BREAKING NEWS REQUIRING EDIT OF POST”

This lady is on the Drystone!

http://sky1.sky.com/must-be-the-music-emmas-imagination-the-audition

As a special treat though to get you all excited and ready for Solfest and because she’s damn good and gorgeous here is a vid of EMMA GILLESPIE performing live at one of the DRYSTONE SESSIONS at THE SPINNERS ARMS, Cummersdale, Carlisle.

Emma Gillespie

THE DRYSTONE SESSIONS are on the first Saturday in every month and has a featured artist in for the full night with occasionally a support. WIZARDMARRAS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE SPINNERS now happens on the second Saturday in the month.

August will see BILLY JOHNSON & ANDY CARTWRIGHT, having there own showcase and in future months we’ll have THE WEIRDSTRING BAND, RORY CONNOR and a return set from the splendid RIGHTEOUS BEES.

THE PODCAST

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 2010, TYAN

THE 2010 BUMPER SUMMER SPECIAL

Track Listing, click the names to get to the relevant websites.

Big Beowulf Drum – Wizardmarra

THE PEATBOG FAERIES – FOLKPOLICE

ARCOMNIA – NINE MILES MORE

TASTEBUDS – HOLD THE CANDLE CLOSER (WHILE I SHAVE THE CHICKENS LIPS)

JACA – BLING

WIZARDMARRA - PANDEMONIUM MASQUERADE

THIS FRONTIER NEEDS HEROES – PARDON ME

O’HOOLEY & TIDOW – BEAUTIFUL DANGER

JONNY KEARNEY & LUCYFARRELL = HARES ON THE MOUNTAIN

SEAN TAYLOR – NIGHTMARES

TASTEBUDS – WHEN I THINK OF YOU

THE INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE – STARS ABODE

ORCHESTRE DC DANSETTE – JUIFE

WIZARDMARRA – SOONG

The Big Beowulf drum is something made for the recording I’m making of that tale, perhaps I’ll get it finished one day.

The Peatbogs track comes from their brand new live CD which captures all the energy and excitement of the festival sessions. Folk Police is just about my favourite ever tune by them and I can’t wait to see them on The Drystone.

Arcomnia are another band who be good to see up there and they will get everybody dancing and a twirling in a tantric stylee.

Tastebuds are actually on the mainstage but I like them an awful lot and they do need to be heard as their sound is a lovely mix of retro sixties and bang up to date. Of the two tracks, both of which I love (and it was a hard choice to pick exactly what of a quality CD chock full of goodness) I have to give special mention to “When I Think Of You” and the exquisite guitar playing of Richard Fingers (yes that what it says on cover) who picks a tune as well as Peter Green did back in the day.

Jaca has come a long way in four years, at which time she was a reporter with the local paper standing in front of the Drystone and desperately wanting to be onstage. Since then she has completed a music degree and performed at the prestigious South By South West Festival in Nashville.

My track Pandemonium Masquerade is can be found elsewhere on the net but I just fancied putting it out here.

Pure and blissfully good new Americana from This Frontier Needs Heroes. Who will be the first act from over the big pond to play on the Drystone. This brother and sister duo make such a good sound together (which, bottom line is all that’s required) telling storysongs that take you on a rich journey through a landscape of Hopper (both Edward and Dennis), Kerouac and Henri David Thoreau.

O’Hooley and Tidow are on their way to becoming “well respected and credible folk performers” in the same way that The Unthanks (who Belinda used to play with) are now lauded. Which I reckon to be a very good thing, there music carries along with it a continuity of tradition but declares very nicely you don’t need a Fair Isle sweater, one finger in your ear and the other up your arse to be part of the new and living tradition.

Jonny & Lucy their music is just growing and growing on me, I loved it to begin with but it just gets better with every listen. Hares On The Mountain is just so beautiful. a perfect example of how good something can sound when pared down to it’s simplest form. Gently sung by the pair it almost makes me weep it is so lovely. The last sentence of the previous paragraph applies here too.

Now and again an act comes along that just blows you away completely and that’s what happened with Sean Taylor. His CD Calcutta Grove came through the door and has been played more or less daily since then. Superlatives become obsolete when talking about Sean, you just need to listen to the music. From his fine compositions which are beautiful, exciting and emotional to covers of things like Gil Scott Herons “Freedom” which is tour de force by itself.

Hailing from the better part of South Cumbria (that which used to be Westmorland) The Indian Postal Service deliver (see what I did there) and what a rich sound it is, screaming guitars have never sounded better.

Finally Orchestre DC Dansette from the Lancaster area and featuring on trumpet, flugelhorn and accordion Pete Moser who was at Solfest a couple of years back as “The Fastest One Man Band In The World!” which he was and still is and sounding rather excellent surrounded by lots of other musicians.

Lastly another one of mine which I could;t think of a title for so I called it Song and put another “o” in it. One for listening with headphones while stoned.

and that’s the podcast sorted.

BACK ONLINE WITH THE WIRELESS SHOW

2010-05-07T17:20:00.001Z

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 2010 NUMBER 1

http://drystone.podomatic.com/

Well, after a year of my podcast being offline it is such a good feeling to put one out there at last particularly so as its jam packed full of Drystone acts for this year's forthcoming festival, with one exception and more about that in due course.

I'm not actually going to say much about the tracks in this podcast as I'll be talking more about some of them in later blog when they are officially announced as Drystone acts and some of the featured artists have already been mentioned in previous blogs.

What I have done is cleared out all of the old podcasts from a couple of years ago to make room for new music this year and to make sure that I can keep these new episodes online for a while so lots of people get to hear them.

All the earlier podcasts are available from me if you'd really like a copy so just send an email and I'll sort you out and I'll probably do something like a "best of" to go on the player page of my website.

However here's a track listing of the current one.

ARCOMNIA – ANDRO

THE INDIAN POSTAL SERVICE – ALL OF A SUDDEN

ORCHESTRE DC DANSETTE – DC DANSEZ

AWALE – SVENFRO

PIKEY BEATZ – SPOONFISH

THE WIERDSTRING BAND – FELLWALKING CUM-BRI-AY

ORKESTRA DEL SOL – BIG TOP

ALEJANDRO TOLEDO AND THE MAGIC TOMBALINOS – BRAVO

RED TIDES – ALIGNED

ROOMFULL OF OWLS – PATTERNS

Can you spot the elephant in the room here? It is of course Orkestra Del Sol who'll be on Mainstage not the Drystone but I'll not hold that against them and they do fit with the overall sound of this one.

Next official Drystone announcement soon which will have all the usual links to all the acts in it with vids as well.

AUNTIES CALLING AND MGM

2010-03-26T01:05:00.005Z

Well. I'll not say a word about the kerfuffle my last post caused. But least said soonest mended.

But my main purpose on writing this is actually two fold, and neither related in any way to a musical gathering I am honoured to serve,

Firstly. I have been invited by BBC Radio Cumbria to take part in Little Cumbria.

A five day online diary, so this blog and that broadcast will become somewhat merged over the next few days as I write the radio script.

Secondly to pass on word of this guy

MYSTERY GUITAR MAN

http://www.youtube.com/user/MysteryGuitarMan#p/c/3/OPpUTyG3gec

I'll just say that this guy may possibly be the first true internet artistic genius. His use of the you tube format is using the full potential of the medium, taking it beyond cell phone fart gags, comical accidents and the sheer putrid kak that is the Reality TV generation.

He takes it far above all that and beautifully too.

Even better. He's really really funny too.
These videos are probably better displayed if you view the blog through my website.
http://www.wizardmarra.com/news/

This is probably the best place to start discovering the labyrynth of wonder that is MYSTERY GUITAR MAN.

While this is just a thing of genius.

I BELIEVE IN FAERIES!

2010-03-18T03:32:00.002Z

DRYSTONE ACTS PART TWO

I BELIEVE IN FAERIES!

I can finally announce what I've been keeping secret for all this time and it with great pleasure and excitement that I can confirm that this year on the Drystone will be the fantastic...

PEATBOG FAERIES

http://www.peatbogfaeries.com/

I don't really have to say an awful lot about these guys as they have been regulars on the UK festival scene for years. They of course pretty much founded the Acid Croft genre of music and set countless imitators on their musical careers. With a live album out now and another studio album currently being recorded for release this summer we can expect a storming set on The Drystone.

I can't wait.

I've always wanted to put more world music on The Drystone and this year I'm going some way to redress the balance with one or two tasty treats that'll bring a multi cultural flavour to the Drystone Arena.

ALEJANDRO TOLEDO & THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS

http://www.magictombolinos.co.uk

The thing is with World music these days and the fact that the UK is blessed with being possibly one of the biggest melting pots of international culture is that you don't necessarily have to look overseas for World music acts take these guys from London (by way of Argentina, France, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, and Italy) and of their music

Here's what Alejandro says.

"Our ever-evolving musical idiom reflects the way we think and live. Our music, among other things, is a conjunction of various influences (Classical, Rock, Gypsy, African, Middle-Eastern, Latin, and Hip-Hop rhythms) which we bring from places we have lived, visited, or simply the music we like, and have filtered through our own distinct voice."

AWALE

http://www.myspace.com/awale

Again a rich brew of music fermented in the heady scene that thrives in "The Smoke" which is arguably the most multi cultural city on the planet. Awale brings us Afro Gypsy Beats with a line up who amongst them have played with with Hugh Masekela, Jamie Cullum, Dub Colossus, Dr John and Madness.

BTB feat Awalé from Satsang TV on Vimeo.

Nice!

CELLOMAN

http://www.celloman.co.uk/

I saw Celloman a few years back at Knockengorroch and I've been wanting to put him on The Drystone ever since I started doing it and now at long last here he is.

How do I describe what he does apart from injecting some damn good funk into the Cello? Well I won't I'll let The Observer and Songlines do it.

The Observer Review 3 December 2000 by Neil Spencer

"Classically trained, Cellist Ivan Hussey has spent 10 years as a typically nomadic sideman, graduating from the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra to saw strings for the likes of Gabrielle, M People, Smoke City and Sonique. His solo project is a delightfully maverick creation, moving between pastoral, ambient moods to smoky middle-eastern pieces like 'Chebba' (he spent a couple of years in Tel Aviv) and even the odd chunk of roots reggae. There are accomplished voices and accompanists on hand, but the star is Hussey's Cello, proof that the instrument can be surprising, sensuous and funky - all at the same time.

Songlines review June 2009 by Jon Mitchell

"After two EPs and three albums, this collective of electric violinist Samy Bishai, percussionist Oli Savill, drummer Cosimo Keita, bass guitarist Oroh Angiama and director Ivan Hussey on cello continue to combine Middle Eastern and African rythms and melodies with articulate string arrangements in a startling and often highly intense fashion. It's largely a gritty and urban sound, full of clusters of amplified instruments, but has a welcome sweetness provided by guest vocalists Sam Bonner, Frances Rufelle, Eliza Doolittle and the poet Poppy Seed. Despite a few uninspired moments, the highlights are many. 'Sharptown' with it's delightful Afro-pop guitar motif and arresting string arrangement, is typical of their own unique and beautiful sound. When the music picks up, it can hint at a more vivacious and raucous side too, as on the brooding, apocalyptic 'Years To Come'. Across the album's somewhat over-saturated production we hear a sort of tumbling autumnal Afro-Arabic electro-pop which broods and moves quite unlike any other. An extremely bold album with a lot to digest, it should perhaps be celebrated for its unrestrained, uncompromising and unrelenting vision. "

Of course Solfest wouldn't be Solfest and The Drystone wouldn't be The Drystone without

THE WIERDSTRING BAND

http://www.wierdstring.co.uk/

Let's face it we sometimes don't shout enough about how good our own musicians are. Wal, Paddy and James have since Solfest began been one of the reasons Solfest and The Drystone Arena (The festival within a festival) are so good.

Can you imagine Solfest without the session tent alongside Weirdigans, no. It's bloody inconceivable.

Don't forget too that last years Ceilidh saw The Weirdstrings get nominated in the first stage of the Critics Choice award. The award that celebrates those magical moments which make a festival that little bit special.

Well that's it for now.

BUT THERE'S STILL MORE TO COME!

GO ON GET A LA'AL BIT DRYSTYAN THIS YEAR

CHANGE AND THE FIRST DRYSTONE STAGE ACTS ANNOUNCED

2010-02-14T14:35:00.005Z

The French have a word for it in fact, damn the expense “Au diable les dépenses” they have six, “Plus ça change, Plus c'est pareil” translated (and we’ll noy be outdone by the French for the price of a word or two) it means “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Take Radio 2, we’ve just got rid of Parkinson on Sundays when “avant de le savoir” before you know it, Wogan’s got the show. It makes me long for the days when we had DLT so I don’t know what that says about me, something quite sad I think. But was snooker on the radio such a bad thing.

“You potted a red and nominated blue so here is your blue ball question, What is the chemical name for Stilton?“

I have to say I’d much rather it was Johnnie Walker, though I have been enjoying Uber Luvvie Michael Ball of late.

All this is a preamble for drawing your attention to my new refurbished website which although it’s still undergoing construction has changed somewhat becoming a little bit slicker and looking a bit fancier. Partly because it’s good to just clean things up and out with the old in with the new “Avec l'ancienne à la nouvelle.” And partly because it just wasn’t doing all I wanted it to, so as time goes by it should be a brilliant all singing and dancing site that is also a portal to the world of all things Wizardmarra. Such as this blog, my podcast, of course the Drystone Stage and everything else.
Though it’ll still be a bit the same.

So will the Drystone Stage at Solfest 2010 or SOLFEST MMX as we are saying on the Solfest Mothership.

The Drystone will once more have an unrivalled plethora “incomparable pléthore” of music performed by rising stars and troubadours of the established scene. But they will in the main be newcomers to Solfest although one or two of The Drystyans ever expanding family of artists will be back...
...and on that note let’s have a look at the first release of acts for

DRYSTYAN MMX

First off a returnee to play the gig that I gave them directly after the storming set they played last year.

PIKEY BEATZ
www.myspace.com/pikeybeatz

That Sunday afternoon slot seems to be breeding quality, DIDDLEY SQUAT the year before became the sensation of the year, and did you know that last year DIDDLEY SQUATS set along with THE WIERDSTRING BANDS SOLFEST CEILIDH were both individually nominated for THE CRITICS CHOICE AWARD in the UK FESTIVAL AWARDS.

Virtual Festivals Critics' Choice Award
In association with Pimm’s

This award is designed to celebrate those special acts who added something a little extra to their festival show. It could be comedy, nostalgia, crowd interaction or just that 'secret ingredient' - basically something that sets them apart from other performers as a real crowd pleaser.
And the winner is

La Casa Azul - Indie Tracks

“Who?...”
There’s a time when I really wished I’d had a working PC. I don’t think it was pushed as much as it should have been.

Anyway back on track to the incomparable PIKEY BEATZ and their set last year. They had of course brought a large contingency of their loyal fans to the festival, which is an important thing to note “These guys sell tickets!” bums on seats or as it actually was, feet on wet ground rapidly becoming muddy as the drizzle inexorably turned to rain but what happy punters danced before such a stage of stars.
For such a young act they presented such command of a stage as I have rarely seen in some older and more seasoned acts the combined latent star quality in both Wilfy and MC Boo Blistah is something to see. But you could also just enjoy seeing the HUGE GRIN on Niggles face. Though most folk were dancing and having the time of their lives.
So they’ll be back for a later slot.

Wilfy- Vocals, Electric Guitar
Niggle- Rhythm Guitar
Dan Dan- Bass
MC Boo Blistah (Kyle) - Uke, Backing Vocals + growling
Hannah The Spanna- Accordion, Saxophone
Midge- Percussion
Mad Skillz Tam- Drums

JONNY KEARNEY AND LUCY FARRELL
http://jonnyandlucy.com/

JONNY KEARNEY AND LUCY FARRELL toured as support for THE UNTHANKS last year which led RACHEL UNTHANK to say of them...
“Their song writing is heartbreaking and touching, humorous and unexpected, and never ceases to enthral. Jonny and Lucy are perfect foils for each other. The fragility of one and warmth of the other is a moving combination.”
They’ll be having a major CD launch (I’ve got a copy of the preview CD and its blissful music.) around the time of Solfest so we may have our name dropped in the media a time or two.

THIS FRONTIER NEEDS HEROES
http://web.mac.com/jessicalauretti/jessicalauretti.com/This_Frontier_Needs_Heroes_HOME.html

This is what they say about them back home in the States.

"SPINEARTH was there and caught up with Brad and Jess Lauretti of This Frontier Needs Heroes , to get a sense of the brother-and-sister band who have received much acclaim for their folk-styled, Americana sound. A bit cynical of the times, but fairly hopeful in the consciousness and sensibilities of a new generation—the band's name says it all."
SPIN EARTH

"This is an excellent brother-sister duo (I think) from Brooklyn. They keep it simple for the most part, with light harmonies and instrumentation – Brad’s vocals compare very favorable to a mixture of mostly Fleet Foxes with a hint of Damien Jurado thrown in for flavour. Now even though most arrangements are simple, they do manage to work in very appropriate little flourishes of sound – in the end you get ten songs that can really dig down deep. RR 2/29/09"
WTUL NEW ORLEANS

"With harmonies so tight they sound like they come from a single larynx, the act crafts a shuffling, aching Americana that taps deep into the whole back-porch vibe that folk music ought to exude—but not without a tinge of The Band and Will Oldham to help modernize it.”
DECIDER.COM

SEAN TAYLOR
http://www.seantaylorsongs.com/

I’m listening to Sean right now. His brilliant CD “Calcutta Grove” singing the blues and as they say “Telling it like it is.” Or as the The Indonesians say, "Mengatakan itu seperti itu." But that sounds like the title of an album of Buddhist Chants and distracts from Seans work.

To put him down as simply a bluesman takes too much away from this extremely gifted musician a multi instrumentalist and songwriter who has been compared to JOHN MARTYN, TOM WAITS, and indeed BOB DYLAN. Yes you can see how his work is influenced by them but he’s no cheap imitator. Like the good Doctor Frank N Furter says...
...I am trembling with anticipation.”
I have turn volume up right now as SEANS version of RITCHIE HAVENS “Freedom” has just come on...
,,,GOD IT’S GOOD!!!

O’HOOLEY AND TIDOW
http://www.myspace.com/belindaohooleymusic

BELINDA O'HOOLEY is best known as the former songwriter and pianist with RACHEAL UNTHANK AND THE WINTERSET on leaving the band it led the TELEGRAPH to say “... (it’s) like Brian Eno leaving Roxy Music...” Then teaming up with Yorkshire songwriter HEIDI TIDOW brings us a duo whose stage manner has been likened to a meeting of JO BRAND & LAUREL AND HARDY. Their songs are their own wry mixtures of their unconventional take on life, it sounds beautiful as well. Result!

DAN WALSH
www.danwalshbanjo.co.uk

Dan was with us a couple of years back playing with CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS and performing sterling work as part of the band. It’s mark of a musician’s quality and commitment when you note how many bands they are in. It regards how much in demand as a artist and speaks testament to their skill being wanted to enhance the sound of a band. Commitment shown by the number of bands the musician actually works with regularly. As well as CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS, DAN also plays with MOTHERS RUIN, HUNDRED MAN ORCHESTRA. LAND OR SEA, KATHRYN DAVIDSON and WILL POUND. If you need any further comment from me Dan takes the Banjo into another place and makes all the Banjo jokes obsolete, he actually makes it a bit cool.
The final worD on DAN WALSH comes from HAYSEED DIXIES DON WAYNE RENO who pronounced that DAN was “the best banjo player I’ve seen in Britain.”

MARK GWYNNE JONES & THE PSYCHICBREAD
http://www.psychicbread.org/

He we have returning from a few years back MARK GWYNNE-JONES and PSYCHICBREAD. One of my great regrets of that year (I think offhand that it was 2006) with as I’ve mentioned earlier in these writings that with comparing acts on Mainstage I missed a lot of the stuff that I booked because I loved what they did. That’s why I book them, because they make music that I would be well pleased to hear elsewhere if I’d bought a ticket. I’ve got eclectic tastes so I can make a big enough mix. I know I won’t hit the bull’s-eye with everyone on occasion but that’s the way apple tastes in the Popes coffee when the bears eat cookies in the wood! Or “det er slik eple smaker i Popes kaffe når bjørnene spise informasjonskapsler i skogen! “ As they say in Norway.

What I started out to say was my regret at missing Marks set, I write a bit of poetry, (I used write a lot, being fortunate enough to get about forty published and earning me the astounding wealth of five of your English pounds.) Mark really knows how to do it and uses the spoken voice in a way that’s a kind of non singing that emphasises the music in the words themselves so the words are the singers of the song.

THE CACTUS ROOM
www.myspace.com/thecactusroom

DEBBS who plays with PSYCHICBREAD also plays with THE CACTUS ROOM the brainchild of TEDS CHAPMAN, the discoverer of “diddley reggae”. He’s been about Solfest for the past two festivals playing his saxophone. Now you get the full band, believe me it’s good.

ANTHONY BATTERSBY

Two Solfests ago he attended his first festival; he went home and wrote a song about it. The following year he stood on the Drystone Stage and sang it to great acclaim and showed that there was latent talent blossoming before your eyes. He’s back for his third Solfest and a well deserved second appearance on the Drystone.

SID WRIGHT
http://www.myspace.com/solowork

Occasionally a CD will come through the door, hand produced on PC with scrawled names and titles in marker pen.

I often dread these, but no more of that.

Some are the very best things you can get through the post; SID WRIGHTS was one of these, another young singer songwriter starting out who doesn’t quite yet see what they have within them. It’s damn good though mark my words.

WILL TAYLOR & THE DISH OF CHEESE
http://www.myspace.com/mrwilltaylor

I’ll apologise right now for this farrago of an entertainment. WILL TAYLOR a man who writes songs featuring the worst obscenities that live on Solfest FM broadcasting to half the county said that word on open microphone, twice!
They are though some of the funniest things you will ever hear though and it is a great delight to get onstage with him alongside THE ONE AND ONLY MIGHTY TREE, PHIL DANCE and ELTON RITCHIE to hold forth was joyous madness and yes adult content.

The end of Solfest is the end of a party and we are the singing drunks, though I have to say there was a sea of happy faces standing before us every one of them drunker than us.
As the Welsh say, "Mewn byd meddw, y dyn yn squiffy King"

“In a drunken world, the squiffy man is King.”

MORE ACTS TO COME SOON

ANOTHER NEW YEAR

2010-01-30T17:21:00.002Z

My GOD! It's 2010 already and it's been about six months since I've been comprehensively online apart from the odd day in the library and at two quid for an hour they were few and far between.

So what's new Al? Well the biggest and most important thing is of course that I am now married to the most wonderful lady in the world my darling Karen and I can thoroughly recommend married life. The wedding day itself was perfect and I have to put on record here a great big word of thanks to my best man BIG JOHN THOMPSON he did me proud got me to the registry office on time and embarrassed me big style in his speech. Thanks also to all our brilliant friends and families who came along laden with good food for the shared wedding breakfast, to TRYCKSTER who played the best music ever to come out of Cumbria and it's something they sadly don't do much of anymore, to ANGELA who led us all in a circle dance that was for me the best fun of the night and finally to SUNNY who performed the ceremony that handfasted Karen and I in front of all our great extended family of those we love.

When I find where Karen has put the CD I'll get some pictures up here.

I must think mention the other band that played as it will lead to the next thing I want to say. They were THE BIG DISH OF CHEESE (formally known as WIZARDMARRAS BIG DISH OF CHEESE which give you a clue to one of the members) our prior and first gig was closing the proceedings on the Drystone Stage at last year's Solfest and was the biggest laugh, surprisingly we got an awful lot of nice things said about us and we will be doing the same again this year.

We are Will Taylor, Phil (The One and Only Mighty Tree) Haslehurst, Phil Dance, Elton Ritchie, and myself

The wedding gig was slightly more drunken than that (I recall vaguely drinking something like Lambrini straight out of a jug) and surprisingly the song that went down the best was Wills evil piece of work "SLUTBITCH" a hideous piece of writing that has nothing to recommend it all, but Will is a true and rare poet who manages to say the most obscene and disgusting things in song and lift them from the sewer raising them to the level of inspired comedy genius. I cannot lay such claims to the potty mouthed rap I lay over the top of the instrumental breaks while not (even though I say it myself) playing some thick and funky harmonica. While performing this it was an absolute blast seeing lots of people dancing in front of us.

The band was formed through us getting together at my regular Open Mic session at The Spinners Arms in Carlisle, which brings me on to what I want to say next for that aforementioned session is changing.

WIZARDMARRAS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE SPINNERS regenerates on Saturday February 6^th 2010 and will no longer be the Open Mic but rather the new embryonic folk club that I've had a hankering to run for some time and our first performer will be the delightful Elaine Davidson http://www.elainedavidson.net/

(Not be confused with the lady who is the world's most pierced woman. That little faux pas caused some severe consternation with a lot of Real Ale drinking beardy types at one festival I can't possibly mention)

Supporting Elaine will be the much loved local singer BILLY JOHNSON.

Then from March it gets even better on the first Saturday (6^th) we'll have another visiting featured artist and support and then from the second Saturday (13^th) and every second Saturday we'll have the revamped Open Mic in the form of THE DRYSTONE SESSIONS and will follow the pattern as before but we'll be keeping weather eye on the talent who might end up getting a paid gig at one of the other Saturdays or indeed on the Drystone Stage itself at Solfest. When all is done and dusted the mics get switched off and we get together for a full on session (which will probably feature a few tunes by "THE CHEESE"

See you there.

BIG LOVE

DEEP THOUGHTS

2009-09-15T02:46:00.000Z

As I’ve been lazing around a bit in the peaceful backwater that is post Solfest (along with trying to get all the wedding preparations done with Karen…The day is ten days tomorrow) I’ve been watching some of the stuff I’ve recording on my BT box that I couldn’t watch as I was too busy with other things.

One thing was the documentary on the late Harry Patch who was until his recent death the last surviving participant in World War One, now there are none left. A most moving programme, again saying to me how important it is to keep the stories of your own lives alive, tell your children what it was like for you as a child. It may not be long ago but times are changing fast. Thirty five years ago moving two huge knobs to control flat white lines up and down on the side of a TV screen to stop a white dot from flying off screen was considered shit hot technological entertainment, how the hell can the WII generation understand how good that was at the time. Forty five years ago clipper lighters were a huge excitement to me and my sad crowd of mates and only rich kids had colour tallies, fifty fives and was born into world still rationed and Sputnik and Telstar were still unlaunched.

The other show I watched today pointed this out and perhaps something important too, it was from the Beebs “Blues Britannia” series entitled “Can Blue Men Sing The Whites?” (Borrowing a title from THE BONZO DO DOO DAH BAND) and it told of the rise and influence of the great British Blues Revolution and spawning the likes of FLEETWOOD MAC, JOHN MAYALLS BLUESBREAKERS, CREAM, THE ROLLING STONES, MANFRED MANN and THE YARDBIRDS.

In those days people like the young Mick Fleetwood and Chris Dreja of THE YARDBIRDS could only get the authentic black blues music that excited them in specialist shops. Rock and Roll having been and gone leaving only a watered down copy in it’s wake, but in a few shops off main streets and frequented by somewhat dodgy looking post war proto geeks in Mackintosh’s recordings by MUDDY WATERS, HOWLIN WOLF and LEADBELLY could be found.

You heard on the grapevine that “Someone in Ealing has a Champion Jack Dupree LP” so you’d get on the bus and go to an address you’d been, knock on a strange door and timidly ask “Can I see you record please.”

Time and effort were spent seeking out this Wonderstuff that spoke to you.

Today the music ever written is available at the click of a few tiny buttons and can then be played on your mobile phone for pence. Is it a true improvement? If something is so cheap and requires no effort, do we value it less? Does its message have less importance because we choose not to listen long enough to let it speak before we are chasing the next synthesized dragon?

That of course brings me back to Solfest, the community where we can sit as villagers used too. To talk and care about each other as we did all our homes were part of small and tight villages, and where in all likelihood as at Solfest there was live music every night. It is only about one hundred years ago when the only way you could hear music was live. In the century just gone we got recordings, before then you had to make some effort to go and listen.

Solfest rocks doesn’t it.

WHY I'M DOING WHAT I'M DOING

2009-07-24T01:29:00.002Z

The Festival Journal of Mr A R Whittaker, "Mr Wizardmarra" Part Two "Tingles"

DISCLAIMER:

The Festival Journal of Mr A R Whittaker, "Mr Wizardmarra" Is not The Festival Journal of Solway Festivals Limited and the opinions and statements below are those entirely of Mr Wizardmarra. Who is as sharp as a pincushion and as mad as cheese.

FROM A VERY UNTIDY DESK

So if you've hit on this page following the link from the Solfest message board here's the crack.

In some ways I've become jaded with Mainstage. Even though believe me standing up there in front of you wonderful people is the biggest buzz in the world (and sometimes the scariest) it is run in such a way…

…and here I pause to commend to you the brilliant and lovely Sam Jelfs who is the finest stage manager that Solfest could wish for, not forgetting Gerard works harder than he should for a volunteer, year long putting together a terrific line up year on year and depending on who is available within the budget he's given. Sometimes it's a harder job than it should be. Finally Anna, who came to us a student studying Festival and Event management and who has now become an indispensible part of Gerards team and the Solfest family and this year has just graduated with first. I spoke to her at the weekend at Stainsby festival and she puts a lot of her success down to Solfest and in particular to Gerard and Simon too for being interviewed for her dissertation.

It is run professionally and efficiently because that's how the big guys like it, and that's how it has to be. But it becomes impersonal; the high rolling bands haven't the time or the inclination to get to know on a personal basis every MC at every gig they play. That's what MySpace is for.

But I need the craic, and every year I book bands and acts for The Drystone and only get to see a third of them.

I book the acts that make the music I hear, who are bright young things who will one day grace stages far bigger than The Drystone or even Mainstage and in locations far more exotic than the wind blasted fields of West Cumbria. I book them and care about them. And every bloody year I miss some of the most fantastic sets the festival gives us all.

I don't get to speak to the people I've built up a relationship with through emails and contracts. I'd like to meet them and talk to them.

There's the other really exiting thing too, the thing that I enjoyed more than anything last year. Using the radio mic to compere from the audience and to actually talk to people, have them introduce a band or shout for more. I can't wait to do that again, to bring you into the show. This year all being well sees a little refinement too, you'll have wait and see what that is.

For bands, well we of course have the brilliant Adrian Edmondson and The Bad Shepherds. I've seen them play twice now at Workington and Dent Festival and both times they rocked. I think some people still think it's a joke, that Adrian is doing another "Bad News" but he's not it's serious stuff this and I think in some ways it's the best thing to happen to Folk Music since Fairport Convention got plugged in. Punk tunes on folk instruments in a folk style, it could oh so easily go down a very smelly pan. But if you surround yourself with some absolutely Stellar Folk Musicians like Fairports Maartin Allcock, the truly amazing Andy Dinan who can play a fucking fiddle let me tell you, and of course Workingtons own Troy Donockley who plays the Ukulele and Pipes like no other man. He also told a very funny story about a local character named "Tucker" and Border Crack and Deekabout doing story about a "loch Ness monster" type sighting in Maryport harbor which I can't possibly repeat here as it's worse than the swearie word above.

Songs like "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" become tragic tales like Kate Rusby ballads of sorrow and loss, you can hear the poetry and dare I say it the literature of the song. Their version of "Teenage Kicks" a song described by John Peel as the best Pop record ever becomes the best Folk Song ever. Just listen to what Andy and Troy do on the instrumental break, spot what's in there. It's a piece of genius.

Someone who didn't quite see what I saw said.

"Yes, they are good. But they're just a covers band."

But isn't that what folk bands have been doing for years. Other people stuff, keeping it alive, keeping it relevant in a changing world.

The Festival Journal of Mr A R Whittaker, "Mr Wizardmarra" Part One. "Harumph!

2009-06-05T16:51:00.010Z

DISCLAIMER:
The Festival Journal of Mr A R Whittaker, "Mr Wizardmarra" Is not The Festival Journal of Solway Festivals Limited and the opinions and statements below are those entirely of Mr Wizardmarra. Who is as sharp as a pincushion and as mad as cheese.

FROM THE VICE CHAIRMANS CUSHION

As I write this the Solfest countdown on www.wizardmarra.com says 83days 08 hours 01 minute 13 seconds and counting

down.

So it's time I sat down using my Vice Chairmans Arse (Worzel Gummidge had a selection of heads which enabled him to multi task. I have a Box of Arses.) and say a bit about how we are doing with putting Solfest together.

Perhaps to try and address some of the concerns that some may have and to chew the fat about what we think is actually going to be a bloody fantastic weekend in weather that personally I think will be exceptionally nice.

The festival is intentionally smaller this year as we aim to achieve the feeling of the festival that we have become. Friendly in the way it was back in the day. When the music business was actually about music and creativity, not the corporate and corpulent monster (in the very worst Clive Barker, Stephen King Ramseycampbellhutson James Herbert Sense.) it is now.

Really the compliments about Solfest that I have had comparing us not only to Glastonbury, but more wonderfully early Glastonburies. That we are a festival like they were in the seventies, so Old Skool that it's actually a term that's perhaps a little too fashionable for us, and it's spelled SCHOOL anyway.

But those are the nicest things to hear, and thank you.

The problem arises as nothing comes free. Everything must be paid for in one form or another. So we as a festival selling one thousand tickets less correspondingly has less income. As we don't want to be a festival that just bleeds it's customers every year we try and set fair prices for our tickets. We (though this is entirely my personal thought and not that of the Solfest Committee) screwed up last year with the parking fee of 10 quid per car, so we scrapped it. Last year we could have just upped the tickets to ninety quid for everyone and said no more. This year we've gone up a fiver, and around 750 tickets are available to the 12 to 16 year old at sixty quid whereas last year this age group would have paid full price. Blah blah blah blah.
But we try and be fair. If you don't buy tickets we can't do it. No festival without you guys, it's your money that does it.

FULL ON REALITY: #1. That this is what pays for everything.

From the Toilets to the Land and the Security, the generators the fencing the session tent dogs in space cleaning out the proclaimers shit on the roadway stewards dinners and the guy that works the lights.

ALL THE BANDS

And the paper that wipes their arses.

This year we are down on our budget around eighty to one hundred thousand pounds, so it's pretty important we sell the tickets this year. But the downshot of this is that we have to cut our cloth accordingly.

FULL ON REALITY: #2. Most things cost more this year than they did last year.

So all the practical nuts and bolts ( in their various forms holding the fence, drystone stage, site art, and bedlam boudoir together and offering too many other solutions when “...and how? do you say, is it fastened?” is the question asked.) the clean up crew and the mainstage structure itself
all the wires
plugs
amplifiers

ALL THE BANDS

and their roadies and Dave
who's the bloke that sweeps up Big Trees leaves.

But first off is the hard and fast cost of the physical side of the festival. This always is more costly than previous years. So the cuts have to be made to the show, to the sparkle to the open air circus we give you.

FULL ON REALITY: #3. We have less money to spend on bands that cost more now anyway.

This for Gerard, Alec, Tom and myself is the hardest reality. The heaviest weight falling on the mainstage. No one comes to a festival purely on the line up, but if it's not right it's as bloody wrong as it ever could be and you should be ashamed of your mantle of bandmaster.

So we try using our best judgment and (particularly so on mainstage) depending on who is on offer this year and very importantly how much they will cost. One mainstage act can cost more than the Drystone Stages budget. One band last year cost more than has ever been spent on the bar stage since it began.

But we try our best, to try and put on the best show we can with the money we have.

For Solfest it means we cannot afford everybody that everybody wants to come and please everybody at once and all the time.

Sometimes people will think it's crap.

So we'll try our best in the full light of truth that sometimes
some people
won't like
some
of what we do
but if we did what they wanted if we could afford it anyway then...

...somebody else
wouldn't like
it
and
we'd be bastards for even thinking of it.

But we try our best, if you are disappointed in some parts of the festival. Well, we've tried. we can't do any more.

I think that this is going to be an amazing year, come along if you'd like to. If you don't fancy it this year we can't make you come. Lots of people are though and they are up for a damn fine party.

If you're not keen on the mainstage line up, come down to the Drystone where I'm taking up full residence this year, or check out the bar stage, dance, visit Wal in the session tent. Really do the festival, I'm told it's the kind of place where you can talk to your neighbour. There's a lot to be said for just sitting with your family and friends (the family you actually choose) in your camp talking like you never do at home.
Talking to each other.
Completely lost in the craic that you miss the bands you want to see anyway.
Good Craic though, well worth it.

More to follow soon, now I must away and make Karen her tea.

THE EIGHTY YEAR OLD MAN

2009-02-09T17:13:00.002Z

To find out what this is about see the fancy dress thread on the Solfest message board.

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW REVIEW OF 2008

2009-02-03T18:03:00.001Z

Yeah I know I should have had this one up a week or two (or three or four) ago. But sometimes life gets in the way of doing what you'd like to do. Anyway it here it is at last

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW REVIEW OF 2008

Some of the tracks have been on the podcast already but as the casts in question have been taken off line it's good opportunity to play some of my favourites from last year, some of the tracks are new ones but from artists that I really like and in the case of one it's neither been on the cast nor have they appeared at Solfest or my open mic at The Spinners Arms but more of that later first lets get down to business with...

BUSHPLANT
www.bushplant.com/
www.myspace.com/bushplant
GO MAKE SOMEBODY HAPPY HERE

I love this track pulse poundingly good full on celtic boogie with hints of Peatbog Faerie like fiddling from Mary Custy. As I said when I first put this up Bushplant have made this available as free download on the understanding that if you get it you will donate something to a children s charity. Not a bad deal in my book and they will be appearing on the Drystone stage this year.

BILL LLOYD
www.myspace.com/banjobilly
CAREY

Back from podcast number 1 here's my good friend Banjo Bill Lloyd with his wonderful version of Joni Mitchells "Carey” there is something about Bills singing here that just makes me feel so good every time I hear it. Bill who runs the session yurt at Solfest (and about a million other festivals too) is one of those people that seems to bring out the best in others. No one who wishes to play is ever turned away and are encouraged to join in and not hold back. Top man.

MR & MRS
www.myspace.com/mrandmrsmusic
CUT ALL STRINGS

Since I first met Ric and Chez on Preston platform (doing a soft shoe shuffle dance, thanks Jethro) the have performed a cracking set on The Drystone and I'm still in admiration for the sheer quality of songwriting. So much so I emailed Steve Lamacq and said he should check them out. He did and has subsequently played them on two of his shows. Remember you heard them first here.

FLUTATIOUS
www.myspace.com/flutatiousUK
SPACE

Pure good trippy music thats beyond definition, is it folk, is it psychedelic, is it neo classical or something else altogether. Whatever, it's very good. Just let it wash over you and enjoy.

THE MELODICA MELODY AND ME
www.myspace.com/mmmelodic
PLUNGE

There's a strangely haunting quality to MMM's music, and another band the the aforementioned Mr Lamacq likes too. Though he got wind of them before I did. Complication on the journey up to Cumbria meant they arrived late and had to play a truncated set at Solfest but that being said if you flip to the previous blog to this you can see them performing unplugged in the bus that was behind the stage.

DUMB INSTRUMENT
www.dumbinstrument.com/
www.myspace.com/dumbinstrument
EXTERMINATING ANGEL

If this track from Scotlands Dumb Instrument doesn't make you feel a bit spooked, you have something wrong with you. It's an unsettling comment on the time we live in but exceptionally well done.

THE DUPLETS
www.theduplets.com/
www.myspace.com/theduplets
LILLIAN'S

Another band who will be on The Drystone this year and a fresh track from them as I thought to play the Green Set again after it was on the last podcast wasn't a good idea. Gillian Fleetwood and Freya Thompson simply make great music. And here's a jolly good and lighthearted video of the “Queen of All Argyle” another track as is Lillian's from their album “Tree Of Life”

THE CACTUS ROOM
www.myspace.com/thecactusroom
CRAZY RHYTHYM

Another studio recording from Ted Chapman aka “The Cactus Room” He has created a rhythm which he calls “Diddley Reggae” Diddly reggae was born when Ted fastened a bit of a Bo Diddley riff onto half a bar of a reggae 'Skank' - The groove felt good but it had a chopped half a beat off the bar, making it 7/8 time. So when thinking about it, the only other popular tune in sevens is Pink Floyd's 'Money' and you cant dance to that. Invent your own footwork that fits and you can name that dance. Can you do the Diddly reggae? Its 1-2-3-4- - 1-2-3- - 1-2-3-4 - -1-2 ..... Go on have a go.

ROB HERON
www.myspace.com/robheronmusic
LOVE DRUG

A great favourite of me, The Drystone Stage and my open mics at the Spinners Arms. Rob is now studying music over in Newcastle so we don't see him quite as much but I'll take any opportunity I can to play his stuff, so here's a new one from his album “Korsa Floden” which is I believe a river in Norway.

MARY LOUISE MARTIN
www.myspace.com/louisemarymartin
GREENSWEETS

It's just damn good music.

TEN BEARS
www.myspace.com/tenbearsmusic
BRACES

Ten Bears current single is the theme tune for Channel Fours T4 Orange Unsigned band show. They've not been on the podcast before, nor have they been on the Drystone. But when this track arrived via email I simply had to put it up on the podcast. I passed it on to Gerard who runs our mainstage saying that I thought they were worth a slot. So you never know.

Finally a story from me...

THE NIGHT VISITOR.
Being the first part of a larger work that may end up as a print piece rather than a full recording.

And that's it for 2008. Next cast up will feature some of the acts lined up for appearing on the Drystone Stage this this year and believe me I have some TRULY FANTASTIC musicians already booked and more to come.

A word to the wise also, tickets for Solfest 2009 go on sale next Monday, February 9th full details will be on the Solfest website tomorrow Feb 4th .

See you soon

Wiz.

THE TILTON SESSIONS

2009-01-30T08:43:00.004Z

This is what went on in the bus referred to by Gaz Coombes as "The Space Bus" at the back of the Drystone Stage. For you, a collection of DRYSTONE SETS.

Jodi Watson & Ali Rigg
TONGUE TIDE

Paul Harrison

The Casual Terrorist

Laura James

Fiona Clayton

Three

from

The Wierdstring Band

The Melodica, Melody and Me

FROM THE DESK OF THE VICE CHAIRMAN

2008-12-17T02:53:00.008Z

Right here it is Ladies and Gentlemen, the information you have been waiting for (well some of it anyway) oh before I get onto that if you are looking for podcast information it's on the blog entry prior to this.

SOLFEST 2009 TICKET PRICES

Adult tickets: 85 pounds

Child tickets (6 – 11yrs) 25 “

Young peoples tickets (12 – 16) 60 “

So there you have it, and believe me these prices are the product of THREE committee meetings that were long and hard. It was not an easy thing this year, but we have listened to what you have said about our pricing last year and that is why we now have the new ticket bracket for young people of 60 pounds, yes we have put up the adult and child tickets as well but this has been off set by the reduction for in young peoples tickets.

But look NO CAR PARKING CHARGE we realize that this was a very unpopular decision last year so we've ditched it. We are now one of the increasingly few festivals not to charge for cars and even with the five pound increase on adult tickets our prices are very competitive to just about every other comparable festival. We did try to see if we could keep it at eighty quid but with all our “overheads” costing us more this year we just couldn't and still make the festival viable this year

In a year when it's going to be hard on everybody with the “Credit Crunch” we are trying to make Solfest as accessible as we can. We have also reduced the numbers that we shall be putting on sale to try and get back to the more intimate Solfest that so many of you have said you missed. This year only 6.500 adult tickets and 750 of both the child and young peoples tickets will be on sale.

This won't be easy for us, we will have to tighten our belts while still trying to put on the quality event that has won us so much praise and loyalty from you our supporters.

Here's something else that should cheer you up, NO TIXMOB. We will again be selling all tickets through a locally based outlet. The arrangement has not yet been finalized so I can't say who it is just yet nor when the tickets will be on sale, though we may be selling them earlier in the year than we have in previous years. Once we have got Christmas and New Year over with and we get stuck into business then I will let you know, it will of course be on the Solfest website too.

http://www.solwayfestival.co.uk/

I can promise you too that we should have a superb display of site art for Solfest 2009, the much loved and iconic emblem of Solfest “The Steel Wizard” will be back as we have bought this from Abbott though sad to say I fear the “Wicker Women” have now seen better days and it is doubtful that they will be back. We have already booked some of the bands (and no I'm not telling you yet but I know that one will please an awful lot of you as you have asked for them).

Other more mundane things to consider, last Solfest you don't need me to tell you that the traffic problems for you getting on site were a nightmare. Although it has to be said that when you get a mass of people turning up in cars for an event (whatever it may be) it is inevitable that you will have a traffic queue, we will however be working really hard to minimize this and get you onsite as quickly and efficiently as we can so you can get your tents up and getting down to the serious business of enjoying the festival. We will also try and ensure that all of the camping fields are well lit and have adequate toilet facilities. This was a virtually impossible task this year as we had to hire three extra fields on the Friday and we just couldn't get the infrastructure in place to fulfill these needs.

In closing for now. I hope that all of the above meets with your approval and as the New Year rolls out you'll find that we will have some fantastic acts lined up (I'm really excited about The Drystone, though I have set myself a hard act to follow on from the last one, where I felt I had the strongest line up I've ever had.)

Don't forget you can mail me with your feedback on

wizardmarratalk@googlemail.com

HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Alan

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 7. There's a fella with a BIG NOSE on it.

2008-12-14T12:20:00.005Z

WIZARDMARRA'S DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW No:7

There's fella with a BIG NOSE on it!

Well my friends far too long has gone by since I last posted one of these, so I have decided that straight after this podcast I'm going to sort another straight away in the manner of a CHRISTMAS CLIP SHOW. That is put the best tracks from all my previous casts in one BIG BUMPER CHRISTMAS NUMBER with some cleverly crafted new linking material.

But enough of that for we've just got a NEW one up and lets get right down to telling all about the fantastic array of musical talent within it.

One more thing first. If your'e here looking for SOLFEST NEWS of which I intend this blog to be my personal channel of information to you, check out the entry just before this one or wait until next week for my delayed information on 2009 TICKETS PRICES and more.

OK! Let me make it clear first that most of the acts featured on this podcast are from the piles of submissions already winging there way to me. I've haven't picked up post bag yet from the Solfest PO Box yet, but I know that is going to be a FULL SACK. No thse acts on the podcast have not nesacerily got themselves a slot on the Drystone Stage, but I'm not saying that haven't either, only time will tell (although some are!!!) There are also one or two who have been on the Drystone or Solfest before. Right that's the disclaimer over with and the first band up is...

THE WISHING WELL
www.myspace.com/thewishingwellband

LIFE ON THE BORDER

Jai Larkin sent me this via the demo upload page of my website which is cheaper than sending it through the post from Australia where this band hails from and what a fantastic track it is with Jai blasting out like Mark Chadwick but only for a few seconds as it's son clear that these are no Levellers rip off. They their own sound and a confidence that only comes with experience Jai himself having performed with Bob Geldof, Liam O'Moonlai, Tim Finn and Andy White. For a band that have only been together for two years these chalked up an impressive 180 gigs and travelled 10 Australian festivals this year. Visit their MySpace for more stuff, it's worth it.

Another band that used the demo upload are

THE AMATEURS

myspace.com/theamateursuk

HOMESICK

To quote what the bands Andrew Fletcher says in the brief biog he sent me with the track

“Hailing from the Midlands The Amateurs owe their humble beginnings to performing as a backing band for Robert Plant's (Led Zeppelin) ‘Tsunami Relief’ project, playing a string of shows and raising thousands for charity. As winners of the Kerrang! Radio best unsigned song competition 2007 & Festibull 2008, they have been led onto some excellent live shows; including support slots with cage the elephant, guillemots, & Jack Savoretti, a host of shows around the UK, and a standout performance at 2008's Guilfest. Performing live sets on local and national radio stations has secured them regular airplay. With the advent of their new EP (set for release in January), and the latest addition to Jagermusic, The Amateurs supply the listeners with 3 new catchy Indie pop classics to be enjoyed by all.. “

I wish I could remember who they remind me off. I should really stop comparing these different bands to others, but in this case it stops me from really getting into what is a beautifully crafted track. Again though visit their MySpace there is also a free download of their live version of “Homesick” to be had at

http://www.tourdates.co.uk/The-Amateurs

EMMA McGORDON AND SUE WICKWAR

http://www.litfest.org/flax005/mcgordon/mcgordon.html

OPAL BLUE
THE SCARY THING

Emma is a poet of exception from West Cumbria (not Barrow as I say on the podcast) who performed accompanied by Sue Wickwar in The ALHAMBRA marquee at this years Solfest and she sent me the tracks for the podcast before Solfest and it is to my shame that I haven't used them before. OPAL BLUE is as joyous expression of life and love that you could wish for and later on it the cast THE SCARY THING is uncompromising, unsettling and thought provoking and all the more wonderful because of it.

ROB HERON
myspace.com/robheronmusic

INTROSPECTION

I can't anything about Rob that I've not already said on previous blog entries. Young, good looked and talented. It makes you sick sometimes.

KIRK McELHINNEY & BECKY TAYLOR

http://www.myspace.com/kirkmcelhinney
http://www.myspace.com/piperbeckytaylor

YESTERDAY

Another member of the emerging music scene in Cumbria the present time Kirk McElhinney has so many irons in the fire it's hard to keep up as a solo artist and collaborator. Here is teams up with Becky Taylor who came to my notice when a CD of hers and this solo track where given to me by a good friend who'd promised to pass them on. The fact that she'd forgottent to do so for two years not withstanding I still got them and I just LOVE this track, Becky is doing things with a set of Uillean Pipes that are HOT! Sit back and enjoy it.

While you are whizzing about the internet checking these links out be sure to go to one of Kirks other projects.

http://www.myspace.com/straydogshowlin

I had booked Straydogs to perform on the Drystone this year but unforeseen circumstances prevented the guys from coming, so I have just slid the gig along year. So there you have it, the name of the first act announced to perform at Solfest 2009 are STRAYDOGS. That's as long as they still available of course.

THE DUPLETS

http://www.theduplets.com/
http://www.myspace.com/theduplets

THE GREEN SET

The Duplets are Fraya Thomsen and Gillian Fleetwood and have been playing together for sometime now. They are taking Scottish traditional music into some very new and exiting pastures indeed. As their album “Tree Of Strings” from which this track is taken shows. “The Green Set” is made up of the tunes “Chloe's Passion, The Up Downie and The Triangle.” and to be honest I could have played anything from the album as they all sound equally good. I strongly advise you to visit their website and hear more from them. Check out to the extra video here too which is a lot of fun on top of sounding great. You'll all be doing the dance!

ALEJANDRO TOLEDO & THE MAGIC TOMBOLINOS

http://www.magictombolinos.co.uk/musicians.html

http://www.myspace.com/alejandrosax

FANFARIAN IMPRO

Like The Duplets this was a CD that came through the post and was a delight to hear. It's always exciting to get the submissions through the door and I want each one to be special. Sometimes it's not everything it should be, sometimes it's a real disappointment and sometimes the band just doesn't do it for me the music is great but not really my cup of tea. Not so with this one, it's loads of fun and blasts you out of a bleak mood in an instant (it did me) getting you dancing around the kitchen.

PROJECT NOTION

http://www.myspace.com/projectnotion

CONSTELLATE IN CUBISM

A bit different this one. Hailing from Melton Mowbray this slice of jazz/funk urban ...
...sod the definitions this is good stuff featuring the lead vocals of Tori Maries just sit back and enjoy

PEANUT ALBINOS

http://www.myspace.com/peanutalbinos

CARTIHEYNA

Another one that came through the door and has rarely left the CD player (it's either been this one or The Duplets) and another one where I could have put anytrack on the podcast. “Falling From The saddle Of A High Horse” is great album and possibly has the best title of any I've received over the years.

To quote Paul Carrea in Nightshift issue 152
'Imagine a band that look like a bunch of old-fashioned tinkers, who play skiffle banjo, mandolin and brushed drums with a masterful depth of dark gothic and celtic soul, but are mercifully devoid of any carousing Irish accents... Peanut Albinos, in soft, battered, slept-in suits and hats, have an English take on longing, regret and coming to terms with consequences, all while making you think you are in a late night lock-in with Tom Waits on the Kilburn High Road.'

I could also quote what was said on www.unpeeled.net
'No peanuts, no albinos. Lying bastards. Dead good though.'
All things considered a bloody good band.

AGENTS OF JANE
http://www.myspace.com/agentsofjane
BIG HAT
MONANS DANCE
SHETLAND BRAE
AGENTS OF JANE played for us at the Solfest Stewards party. The bash with free beer and nibbles that we throw for all those who give us their help over Solfest weekend and beyond and these guys aquited themselves well. The first two tracks are on for a bit of nonsense but are featured along with “Shetland Brae” on the album “Karaoke Boy” Good stuff indeed.

EMMA McGORDON AND SUE WICKWAR
THE SCARY THING
See above

It gets a bit monotonous trying to think of superlatives and something original and constructive about all these bands. But I'm not going to put something out on the podcast that I don't like (nor indeed on The Drystone) so what do I say about

THE CACTUS ROOM

myspace.com/thecactusroom

SEVEN TO HEAVEN

Basically this is my mate Ted Chapman. Ted is someone who has provide entertainment at various late night sessions at festivals I've been to this year, notably Stainsby and is a regular at the open mic sessions that I run at Wheaton Aston festival. You may have caught him lurking in the ALHAMBRA marquee at Solfest this year. The Cactus Room is his other hat where he takes the rythym he discovered for a walk. It's called Diddley Reggae being a fusion of the famous Bo Diddley rythym and of course reggae. He's asked me to encourage anybody to use it, go on give it a go. They can't touch you for it.

Finally as usual, one of mine called Big Groove. I'm a hell of a one for snappy titles as you can see, I'm not saying the tracks brilliant. But it's mine.

See you soon. It's Sunday afternoon and I'm off to retire in front of a roaring fire and enjoy some movies with a nice glass of Guinness.

Alan

SOLFEST FM

2008-12-13T07:16:00.000Z

SOLFEST 2009

2008-11-12T04:47:00.005Z

Hi Everybody.

Or to be precise anybody, anybody who chances upon the blog or has somehow found their way here by intent.

Heres an announcement. A gentle word so you can say that we did tell you.

As of yesterday evening 11th November 2008 Simon Kay stepped down as Chairman of Solfest after five years in the post. Simon has said from the start that he would do the job for five years and then review it. He did and said it was time move on.

Should Simon wish to make further public comment it is entirely his business.

Following this Dave Camlin was duly elected Chairman and myself Alan Whittaker was elected as Vice Chairman. There were six nominees for Chairman, Myself, Alec Pyne, Gerard Irving, Alwyn Branniff and Dave Camlin. Further discussion led to two candidates up for election to be elected by secret ballot. The result Dave Elected chair and me Vice. (How appropriate) I don't know the split of the vote.

I am honoured to be elected Vice Chairman of Solfest and I believe Dave and I can really work together to keep Solfest moving forwards as the wonder filled event it has become (remember the LED Cyclists!!!) but also so we can get back on track and reconnect with some aspects of Solfests heart. Important things that we are perhaps in danger of losing if we aren't careful.

We have a lot to learn from this last years festival, mistakes made need addressing.

Publicly too I take pride in thanking Simon for what he has contributed to Solfest over the years and I look forward to watching his plans for this year blossom. For he has not left the committee but will be developing some exciting stuff for..

... here quietly is the first announcement of the date.

Friday August 28th to Sunday the 30th, 2009

Solfest VI

I need your feedback and thoughts so I've set up a dedicated email.

wizardmarratalk@googlemail.com

I'll not gaurentee a prompt response, nor indeed will I gaurentee a response. But I will read them and take on board what is said. I'll immediately trash any that I feel are frankly RUBBISH. But stuff that is sensibly put forward will be taken on board.

I'll not put up with anything offensive to me or any other committee member.

But I do have a sincere desire to make SOLFEST VI the culmanation of the MAGICAL ASPECTS of last years festival but dealing also with the stuff the made it BAD IN SO MANY WAYS. Bringing that friendly atmosphere back, that feeling Solfest had of a rootsy festival like they had in the seventies, we have to keep that in sight.

So I'll read and listen to the good stuff. The Wise Stuff. But I'll not promise reply to all.

We have two new committee members too in Matt Kirk (who sang as Che Guevara on Mainstage) and Ben Durkin (Compere about town and more) both strong team members over the years who have now taken that plunge to running things with us.

Matt and I intend to really open your eyes with some incredible SITE ART!!!

Anyhow

See you soon.

We have a festival to put on.

BUBBLES

2008-10-03T04:28:00.020Z

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 6

BUBBLES

Well here it is after too long an absence for which I apologize, preparation for Solfest took more of my time than I'd expected (of which I should have been aware, Solfest always takes more time than I allow for) and post festival. Well one tends to get knackered during the weekend and there is always period of brain death were I just don't want to do a thing.

But getting grips with myself and putting onto the net edition 6 of the wireless show has done me a power of good and it gives me great delight to present it.

Here as always you'll find the links to the featured acts websites and some musings on the festival itself. At the end too I'll tell you all about “THE DRYSTYAN TOUCH” which is my version of “The X-Factor”

I'll put on record here before I do anything else a huge thank you to everyone who worked on The Drystone Stage this year.

CREW DRYSTYAN 2008

Dean Pendleton

Dan Pearson,

Charlie Cragg,

Adrian Hull

Oliver Suckling

Andrea Tynan

Sharon O’Connor

Alec Morris

Cat Hirst

Chloe Thwaites

Mick Fuller

Peter Milston

Gavin Bradshaw

Mark Twiss

Sean Kerr

and my brilliant team of PA's who made my job so much easier on the weekend.

Hannah Rogers

Kat Askew

Sky Higgins

Vikki McMullen

Sunny Dermott

Elton Ritchie

Dylan Reay Bennet

and to Jon Purkins who organized the team of artists who made the stage look so wonderful, better than it has ever looked before.

Last but in no way least of course the absolute light of my life Karen Butler, fellow Solfest Organizer and superstar. (Don't put it about too much, but she's going to make an honest man of me before the next Solfest!)

So to the podcast.

Opening as usual with a musical gewgaw from me before opening properly with

TRIXY FOLK from DIDDLEY SQUAT

http://www.myspace.com/bodiddleysquat

I'd said in the program that these guys were my “punt of the weekend” and I wasn't lying. The crowd in front of the Drystone seemed to agree with me too. It was packed, everyone of which
bouncing along to the most original band ever to grace the stage. The followed this storming set with a further impromptu gig in the Alhambra marquee. Our new splendid red and black Berber tent that was the home of the spoken word, comedy and Music Hall for the weekend.
Who needs Gogol Bordello when you have Diddley Squat.

I wasn't going to make an issue about the use of the tent as a music venue as it is owned by one of the members of Diddley Squat, Jonah Maurice.

Jonah has been a regular at Solfest for four years now with “My Giddy Aunts Theater Company” performing as the BFG a stilt character who is now a fixture at the festival last year he introduced the L.A.D. (Long Armed Depressive) one of the funniest walkabout characters I've ever seen. Now with the addition of Diddley Squat in his repertoire I can't wait to see what he'll bring to Solfest next year.

It was Jonah who gave me one of the best Solfest moments too as we were setting up on the Wednesday, I was enjoying a sit down and brew on the Drystone reveling in the fact that my stage had power and sound running before anyone else. The speakers blasting out a selection of tracks which made the whole atmosphere in the Drystone Arena palpably good and abuzz with anticipation of a great event when at the very moment Freddie Mercury sang out “I Want To Break Free” I saw Jonah and his two brothers arrive on three Horse drawn carts across the skyline in front of the stone circle. Incidentally from the same vantage point on the Saturday night across the darkened field I saw the magical LED cyclists ride in the opposite direction. A potent dreamlike image straight out of a Peter Greenaway film.

Wonderful.

Staying with the Eastern European flavour (which is definitely the new music of the age) we have MAGIC VIOLIN by MINNIE MOOSIKA

http://www.minniemoosika.co.uk/

Klezmer, as I've said before it's the white mans reggae (a term possibly coined by my good friend and Solfest Chairman Simon Kay, then again he maybe heard it elsewhere) the music of the diaspora. The track here MAGIC VIOLIN, I particularly like. As a sidebar here Gavin Tolan (a very tall man) the bands mandola player also constructs wonderful mechanical puppet shows, you can see one in action on the bands website.

Next track.

WHAT A FUCKER – THE CASUAL TERRORIST

http://www.myspace.com/thecasualterrorist

From the title you will appreciate there is strong language on this track so I repeat here what I have said on the podcast. If you are offended by such language, skip the track. It's not gratuitous though. Christian Reay the eponymous terrorist writes songs that combine the anger and anarchy of punk with considered lyricism and a deft hand at catchy melodies that can catch you off guard. We all know men such as the one he sings about here along with his friend Daniel (and shamefully I can't find my notes that has his surname on). They turned up at one of my open mic night at The Spinners Arms and I'd really finished booking acts for The Drystone. But the response from the crowd was a loud BOOK THEM so I had no choice really, the blew us all away and it was a pleasure to give them the opportunity to perform. It's good that there are still people unafraid to write really uncompromising and challenging material, more power to them and more of Daniel later in this blog.

WELL WELL WELL – CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS

www.christi-andropolis.com

Christi took to the stage on Saturday night and owned it. A powerhouse performer that gave a breathtakingly good set. I've banged on a lot about how this years line up on the Drystone was my strongest yet and Christi was one of the best of the weekend. A native of New York state she plays a wonderful fusion of Appalachian style fiddling with the English and Celtic traditions.

This track (recorded at The Sage, Gateshead) exemplifies her tour de force playing. She should have been at last years Solfest but as sometimes happens communication went astray and it didn't happen. Needless to say I was more than happy to set matters to right this year and without a shadow of a doubt she will be seen on the Drystone again at some point in the future.

JESUS ON THE MAIN LINE – CHRIS JAMES

http://www.myspace.com/chrisjamesblues

I can't believe it was May that I last had a track by Chris up here. One of the regulars at The Spinners and well known on the Folk and Blues scene Chris followed Christi on the Saturday night wearing possibly the funniest fancy dress of the festival that was also elegant in its simplicity. A white paper “boiler suit” (or was it a very large Babygro) and an orange cardboard carrot nose he came as a snowman. It was a surreal image on stage for sure as he began to sing in his distinctive style.

THEA GILMORE SONG (???!!!) - JUDE & DAVE PROUD

A live track here from the open mic sessions at the Spinners Arms with my very good friends Jude and Dave Proud again they are also Solfest organizers.

Back to the music, Jude has got to be Thea Gilmores biggest fan (and didn't she do a beautiful set at Solfest a couple of years back) so she entranced us at the Spinners with some gorgeous versions of some of Thea s songs. Jude has a fantastic voice which I think we have under rated and undervalued for too long. Dave has often been in the limelight having been a leading member of local band DELIVO (featured on podcast number 2, which will have been taken off line by the time you read this, if you really want a copy email me and I'll sort something out for you) and a regular singer at the open mics. Another one of Judes songs will being going up on

http://www.myspace.com/wizardmarrassaturdaynightatthespinners

very soon, enjoy.

Jude is to be a mum is another couple of months or so and Dave has just turned 30.

Now there is a lot of talk right now about 70 being the new 50 (so that makes my 54 the new 34, yay! I've almost got my zits back and the full flower of youth AND that also means my fiancée is a cracking stunner at (the new) 23!!!) therefore Dave having turned a real thirty means he's at the new 10!...

...That explains a lot too.

BLUE SKIES – DANIEL VERSUS THE WORLD

http://www.myspace.com/danielversustheworld

As I said earlier more from Daniel here on his own without The Casual Terrorist and showing a nice touch on the pianoforte too. Daniels work is as full of venom as the Terrorists is though the track here is one of his milder songs. But the thing with Daniel is to follow his career over the years for his voice as it matures and acquires experience will be a good thing to hear.

STAR – LOUISE MARY MARTIN

http://www.myspace.com/louisemarymartin

Louise has been on The Drystone two years running now and both times has been soooo good, you could (and one day if god is in his heaven it will happen) put her on stage alongside Duffy, Roisin Murphy, Annie Lennox, Amy (the carphone) Winehouse or just about any sublime lady vocalist and she would be able to stand there and hold her head up as one of THE BEST. If you are reading this before November the 8th and are anywhere near Kendal she is supporting Cara Dillon (another brilliant lady singer who gave a storming set on mainstage three years back) and it would be well worth you while to spend a pound or two for that show. Her song the scintillatingly good “Greensweets” was on podcast number 2 but you can still hear it on her myspace.

Also if you remember a rather good close up musician around the festival, that was Jay who plays guitar in her band.

BE FREE – BILLY GLEW

http://www.myspace.com/billyglew

Billy was one of those brave pioneers who took to the Drystone in its first year, when it was just a few pieces of wood, canvas and a trailer. Oh how things have changed. A maestro of the guitar and writer of compelling music. High time he got to be heard bit more.

SAMBENCO - DOS BAULS

I can't find any web presence for Dos Bauls but that could be due to the fact that half of the Bauls is Dan Fox who is one of the busiest men in the county. Percussionist in Sonic Tradition (Who of course are part of Solfest and The Drystones history having performed on both the Drystone and mainstage and the aforementioned Louise Mary Martin is now their lead singer replacing Ali Wood now of Tongue Tide) Dan is also the man behind SOLFEST FM whose website should be regularly checked for they will soon have recordings of live sets from many of the Drystones acts online.

http://www.solfestfm.com/

VENUS IN FURS - THE WIERDSTRING BAND

http://www.wierdstring.co.uk/

What can I say, this has to be the definitive version of Venus in Furs played by the Drystone Stages house band, Wal, Paddy and James. Who have established themselves as our ceilidh band (Wal also being part of Sonic Tradition and at one time a member of Dragonsfly who I've had on earlier podcasts and were on The Drystone on Sunday night)

LA'AL CLOUDS – WIZARDMARRA

It was only a matter of time until I put this up on here and it's still one of the things I'm most proud of thanks to Tom Kay tuneage. It was made with E jay a few years ago now but none the worse for that. It's the sound of a Cumbrian summer in the twenty first century and I'll thump anyone that disagrees with me.

Finally

THE CAMEL SONG - DIDDLEY SQUAT

See above, it's the Squats once more

AND REALLY WELL AND TRULY FINALLY.

IT'S

THE DRYSTYAN TOUCH
What is it? It's a new talent competition to find the brightest and best new Cumbrian singer songwriters and give them a world stage platform on The Drystone Stage at Solfest. Cumbria is the best place on Earth to live. That's a given, a fact. But the cost of living here is that if you have any artistic leanings whatsoever it is that little bit harder to get your name known. To be heard and seen.

Solfest has established itself as a world class festival, we get an audience from everywhere. Australia, all parts of Europe and Canada and the USA. The Drystone Stage has also established itself as a very special stage, to quote Rob Armstrong of “TARRAS” the Mercury Award nominated band who chose to have their re union gig on the Drystone.

“"The Drystone Stage is the cool place every cool band wants to play"

Well Solfest 2009 will see three brand new acts get a prime time evening slot on the Drystone and the process begins at my Open Mics at The Spinners Arms, Cummersdale, Carlisle. on the FIRST Saturday inevery month And The Last Man Inn at Plumbland near Aspatria on the THIRD Saturday in every month. Both sessions start at 8pm.

To be in with a chance the contenders must be resident in Cumbria or if they are a student at a College out of the county their parents must reside in the county. There is no age limit, but entrants must write and perform their own material. No backing tracks allowed, if you want to be a “Pop” singer there is nothing wrong in that and that's what the X Factor and Carlisles Stobbart factor are for.

If you come along to one of the open mics, say you want to try for the Drystone Touch and that's it. You'll get to perform two or three songs on the night (and come back as many times as you want) assessing and judging it all (in these preliminary sessions) will be myself, Karen and the very discerning audience at each session. In around May or June there will be a “final” in a well known local concert venue and that's when the three winners will be decided. I'm also working on some other extra prizes to go with the paid slot on the Drystone but they are under wraps until I've got them sorted out. At the very least you'll get a free drink for performing at the sessions, which at the Spinners means a free pints of REAL ALE and they've just made it into the prestigious GOOD BEER GUIDE so you know it's quality stuff! The Last Man also provides free food later in the evening for everybody performers and punters alike.

And that is it. The LONGEST blog in a while. Until the next one, bye.

UNTIL THE NEW PODCAST.......

2008-09-30T11:47:00.002Z

Here's some cool vids from MR & MRS who impressed me greatly this year and gave us a great set on the Drystone.

The new podcast will be up very soon along with details of "The Drystyan Touch!"

THE BEAT AT SOLFEST 2007

2008-08-08T11:16:00.000Z

THE UNDERTONES AT SOLFEST 2007

2008-08-08T06:22:00.001Z

BADLY DRAWN BOY AT SOLFEST 2007

2008-08-08T06:05:00.002Z

Part 1

Part 2

SOLFEST 2007 - THE TRAILER

2008-08-08T01:33:00.000Z

THE ONE ON THE SLATE

2008-08-03T17:57:00.002Z

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 5

THE ONE ON THE SLATE

The penultimate podcast before Solfest! Kicking off with my latest piece of sequenced nonsense, “The Lonely Dancer” 'nuff said.

It then kicks into a brilliant track by the first official booking for Solfest 2009 a terrific Irish band by the name of

BUSHPLANT.
“Go Make Somebody Happy Here.”
bushplant.com
http://www.myspace.com/bushplant

Who got in touch with me via MySpace and have just played by all accounts a cracking set at Hawkfest. They are a truly hi energy band and you'll have to wait an eternal 13 months before you get to see them on The Drystone.
The track here “Go Make Somebody Happy Here” is a piece of pure ass kicking joy, and when I asked the band if I could use it on the podcast I got the lovely reply “It's a track that was made for sharing.” How nice is that.

The tune inside it will be familiar to any fan of the Peatbog Faeries as it is the traditional reel “Lexy McAskill” one of their signature tunes from the “Mellowosity” album by the Shetland mega stars.

But to quote Bushplant MySpace page regarding the track.

“the single is a pounding beast of a thing, sounding like the bastard spawn of an illicit liaison between Alabama3 and S-Express at a Clare fleadh, all the while delicately embroidered with the silvery fiddling of Mary Custy, a star in her own right with 3 solo albums of her own. The single is available as a free download, with the request that a donation is made to a children's charity, however small - 'for the children of the world', whenever. “

So it would be nice if you took that to heart and did the decent thing with a quid or two.

PADDY ROGAN & JACK HARTLEY.
“epic medley number 3”
http://www.myspace.com/paddyandjack

Next up another track from Paddy Rogan and Jack Hartley who I featured a couple of casts ago. These two awfully talented chaps who hail from East Cumbria (a cold land where all who dwell there wear black leather talking of grim days and darkling skies!)

They will be on the Drystone Stage over the Solfest weekend.

Would you like to know when? As you are aware if you are a Solfest regular, we don't publish our running order until the weekend. Well if you go to

http://wiki.wizardmarra.com/tiki-mobile.php

via your mobile phone over the weekend you can call up the running orders for each stage.

You'll not find

OUTROADS
“Hellbound On My Trail”
http://outroads.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/outroads

Over the weekend though, well not officially but I do know for a fact that half of them at least are coming to Solfest as punters so there may be spontaneous blues outbreaks in a session tent or two. The two track that I've featured here are from their new album “Goodbye To All That” and thanks to Eddy Lomas for the copy and for allowing me to put a couple of tracks on the cast. The First “Hellbound On My Trail” is pure gritty mean down on the crossroads by a steeltown and the devil drives a Cadillac with it's headlights shining black. The other is “Amigo Mio” (Bacon) which for me reminds me of early Pink Floyd in there “Meddle” days and tracks like “Shamus” it'll no doubt be reminiscent of other stuff too but I've not heard everything yet.

THE WIERDSTRING BAND
“Hangover Cure”
http://www.wierdstring.co.uk/

Wal, James and Paddy. Collectively The Wierdstring Band.

If I ever get my own TV show (not likely I know, but it's a harmless fantasy and a comfort to an old man) I would have these guys as my house band. Jonathan Ross can keep his poofs, I'll have these shabby bearded fellows. Choosing a track to play was actually just a case of sticking my hand in the bran tub of their music and using whatever stuck to it. You can find more on their websites. Like the brilliant cover of “Venus In Furs” or other gems such as “Lambing”. So then “Hangover Cure” is here and I salute The Wierdstring Band the ONLY band to have a Drystone Stage residency as they lead the (it'll be three years old now so I can call it ...) ...TRADITIONAL SOLFEST CEILIDH on Sunday afternoon.

WILL MORGAN
“The Castleford Ladies Magic Circle”
Will is someone I like to call my friend. We have met literally a handful of times. We share a common link with Glasson Music Festival and Wheaton Aston Music Festival. The former we have both worked at (4 or 5 times each) and the latter four or so times for me once for him. He works as a compare though he is a fine singer and musician and I always try and catch his act. Among other things he is for my money the best practitioner of the late Jake Thackrays work on the circuit nowadays. Anyone who is of an age with me will remember Jake Thackray guesting on many black & white televisions shows of the sixties. He sang funny songs in a bit of a funny voice in those days with titles like “Bantam Cock” and “Sister Josephine”. Now I understand the humour much more, most of which had gone over my head as a youth. Will brings them to life again as you'll hear in this one taken from his album “Will Morgan sings The Genius Of Jake Thackray”

It may be a long while before he's on the Drystone. But he will be one day.

RICHARD ANDERSON
“Thank God For The Little Things”
richard-anderson.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/richardandersonmusic

Richard Anderson. This is his second outing here and the track is the single from his CD “Songs That Chose Me” which frankly hasn't got a bad track on it. I can only advise you to go to his website and purchase a copy.

It's odd, and I'm gonna fess up here. Richard has been trying to get a gig at Solfest for a while now, but the demo's and stuff of his I'd heard. Well it didn't quite hit the mark for me; I don't know why? was it his voice? The pitch not quite to my ears or was it the tunes? I don't know but this album is so bloody good I actually play it a lot. Until you are in the (VERY fortunate) position of getting loads of free CDs from people wanting gigs, all of whom need a fair listen. To make time to listen to stuff that you really like shrinks as the years go by. But Richards there in that select clutch of albums and demos, he also plays a cracking live set too as I've also seen and you will too this year.

PALE LILAC
“Black Knight”
thehowesband.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/palelilac

As I say in this years program for Solfest these guys are “The sincerest Deep Purple tribute act going”

As they say on their MySpace page they sound like “Machinehead meet Morris On” Micheal, Claire, James and Joel are a true family band being Dad, Mum, and “the Boys” occasionally joined by daughter/sis Nicola. The James – Joel combination on Djembe and Accordion that doing killer business on classic metal anthems.

Here is “Black Knight” from them, for you by me

OUTROADS
“Amigo Mio” (Bacon)

See above

DRAGONSFLY
“Familiar Shores”
http://www.dragonsfly.org/

Dragonsfly are part of The Stainsby Connection. In that the are an act that I have first seen at Stainsby Festival. As with Silverwheel and KTB last year (and some tasty contacts have already been made at this years FORTIETH Stainsby festival).

Led by the lovely Maya Preece who can sing in more than one language which I find very impressive Dragonsfly are a band that really make you get up and dance. This track sees them in more sedate pace and allows Mayas vocals to take you on a gentle ride.

FLUTATIOUS
“Trippy”
http://www.myspace.com/flutatiousUK

Like Dragonsfly, Flutatious have been featured on here before. But why let that stop me from putting up more of their superb tune making.

Most of the acts featured on this cast will be at Solfest this year, the exceptions being Will Morgan, Outroads and Bushplant. Those that are, apart from one act are coincidentally on the same day too.

What day is that?

That would be telling wouldn't it

The next podcast the final one before Solfest will be up around the 12 and will feature some tasty stuff from WIZARDMARRAS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE SPINNERS

And if you are of a mind for some pure Drystone Wall PORN check out.

http://www.dswa.org.uk/

From this podcast on to make room on the “podmatic” website one previous episode gets removed so Episode One has now been deleted.

Hopefully I'll get them archived somewhere on my website.

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 5

2008-08-03T17:57:00.000Z

BEAR CUB

2008-07-30T02:41:00.003Z

The BEAR CUB SOUNDSYSTEM will be appearing at various locations around the Solfest site this year. Their amazing 12volt soundsystem will bring to you anything from old time dance ska/ rocksteady knees-up, to modern conscious roots bouncing.

This completely mobile soundsystem will perform at selected sites during Saturday and Sunday. On both the main site and Shoreside campsite.

At the time of writing this the likely line up of DJ's will be
DJ DUBJON, Steve Jahvis (One Love Sound System, Lancaster) and Steve Cat
and featuring the sunshine vocalist and MC Reggae "Birdman"

Stay tuned for more snippets of stuff about SOLFEST 2008

The music played on the above clip has nothing to do with BEAR CUB SOUNDSYSTEM but has been made by me and features a sample from a track by DIDDLEY SQUAT who are appearing on The Drystone Stage this year and sequencing by me.

IT'S NAFF BUT I LOVE IT!

SOLFEST FM

2008-07-30T02:09:00.000Z

Solfest FM

Do you know it is a fact that I listen to nothing else!

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 4 - HELLO WORLD

2008-07-01T16:39:00.002Z

...and welcome to the blog of WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW numero 4 and before I say anything else this one is dedicated to my THIRD GRANDCHILD who made here way into the world on June 20th weighing 7lbs 12ozs her name is ELLIE GRACE ARROWSMITH and the most beautiful baby I have ever laid eyes upon.

To the music now and the opening track is from a fine Klezmer band by the name of
MINNIE MOOSIKA - CHAVA

http://www.minniemoosika.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/106581393

As any right thinking person knows Klezmer is the white mans reggae and Minnie Moosika are one of our (for my money) prime exponents, they have the somewhat dubious honour of being the last act I booked this year for The Drystone Stage,I'll also have the pleasure of introducing them on stage at Glasson Music Festival this weekend where I'm comparing, standing in for the usual MC Will Morgan who unfortunately is elsewhere. (listen out in the next WDWS for a track by Will)

THE MELODICA, MELODY AND ME - PIECE ME BACK TOGETHER

http://www.myspace.com/mmmelodic

I featured these guys back in April on the first WDWS, and I just had to put another track up they are (as the describe themselves on their myspace) The Original Folksteppers. Which really is as good a description as any, though they really defy categorization. They are true originals, and it's not just me who thinks they are brilliant. Rob Da Bank has recently played them on his Sunday night Radio1 show (and booked them to played BESTIVAL the week after SOLFEST) Steve Lamacq has played them on Radio 2 and Gary Crowley on BBC London. They are also interviewed on a rather excellent podcast

http://tuckshopcommunityradio.podomatic.com/?badge=1

and there's an interesting article about the guys in VOLUME magazine which you can read online at

http://cde.cerosmedia.com/Issue-3/1I47c7d415eca1f012.cde/page/14

You'll find the links on their myspace but it's easy to miss stuff sometimes and I really recommend you to check out their myspace page as it has a couple of truly wonderful YOUTUBE vids that you simply must see. One is of the legendary Irish drinking band THE DUBLINERS demonstrating how to play instruments together! The other clip is of I know not who, to say it's a group of semi naked men in a waterfall pool could give entirely the wrong impression. These guys are making fantastic music, mind blowingly breathtaking amazing music that you won't believe. Watch it all.

DUMB INSTRUMENT - EXTERMINATING ANGELS
www.myspace.com/dumbinstrument

www.dumbinstrument.com

Mikey Grant sent me the track by DUMB INSTRUMENT through my demo upload page on my website. This is music to make your flesh creep (in a good way) it's the stories they tell that send a pleasurable thrill of unease through you. They are timely songs that make poignant comments about todays world with truth by the bucket load. Simply put they tell it like it is but underscored with beautiful tunes. This track has also been featured on Radio One making the late play list.
For those who don't live in Scotland “Neds” are “Chavs” ( or insert your own name for troublesome youths).

FIONA CLAYTON - EVEN THOUGH
www.fionaclaytonmusic.co.uk

http://www.myspace.com/soloaccusation

After that last track what's needed is the sweet voice of a young Cumbrian girl who is another to add to the list of talented singer/songwriters emerging from the Eastern side of the County. She featured on mainstage last year at Solfest, and came to The Spinners last session and sounded so wonderful that I simply had to put her onto The Drystone this year. (next Spinners Open Mic, this Saturday 5th July)

CHRISTI ANDROPOLIS - THE GALLOWS TREE
http://www.christi-andropolis.com/

Someone else who should really have been at Solfest last year but something went askew somewhere down the line and so she didn't. However the matter has been addressed and she will be with us this year. Listen to the luxurious harmonica on this track, so tasty you could dip your bread in it. It's closely followed by...

EMMA & THE PROFESSOR - THE RAGGED BEGGARMAN
http://www.myspace.com/emmaandtheprofessor

This track is for me one so synonymous with Solfest that it gives me extra special goosebumps every time I hear it. Emma and the Professor were another act who played on the Drystone Stage in it's debut year and it's special because of that. Emma Heath and The Professor (Mark Davies) have an on stage chemistry that spreads outwards off the stage in waves. Then you take Emmas soaring vocals and Marks super funky bodrahn playing (that really takes the instrument into new dimensions) and you have sheer unalloyed pleasure. Nowadays they are augmented by Jonathan Draper aka Jonny Cello on cello (surprise) and Kevin Willoughby on Bass and the mix is even better. Another act to see at Glasson Music Festival this coming weekend. Although I'll miss them as I'll be back I Carlisle on Saturday for the Spinners.

RORY CONNOR - AUSTRALIAN WINE
http://www.myspace.com/roryconnormusic

Rory Connor finished the Drystones contribution to last years Solfest and as I say on the podcast they were my favourite act of the weekend and not just because I'd finished my compering duties for the night and I could completely relax. No, they were just a damn good band making fine music. They are back this year, appearing on one night as The Rory Connor Band and then with a slightly different line up as TARRAS making a return to the stage after far too long an absence. In truth I should say that some members of Tarras are in the Rory Connor Band and Rory is a new member of the reformed Tarras, along with Ben from Digitalis and a few others. Confused you won't be just enjoy the tunes, that's what counts.

JACA - STAY THE SAME
http://www.myspace.com/juliestolemyspace

Jaca (Julie Armstrong) is a petite lady whose size belies the power of her voice, and what a fantastic voice it is too. At last years Solfest she was attending as a journalist standing in front of the stage wishing she was on it, she told me this in the letter accompanying her demo and when I put it on, well there was no question about it. She had a gig at the next one. She calls to mind Tori Amos, Regina Spector, and yes there's Joni Mitchell there too. Check out the article in the Cumberland News.

http://beta.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.99562

and there's a nice video too

http://beta.cumberland-news.co.uk/1.99562?resourceView=video&index=1#video

WILL TAYLOR - OFFICER
http://www.myspace.com/baddacid

This is an exclusive recording and mix of Wills new song “Officer” and there are one or two swear words in it and it deals with subjects that some may find offensive. But it IS a comedy song and if anyone should be upset by it then I hear and now apologize. But it is a joke and an extremely well written one at that. It had the audience in stitches at the Spinners when he premièred it and it is for his many fans that I take pleasure in including it here.

WIZARDMARRA - THE REASONABLE SONG

A bit of nonsense from me from some while ago, as a welcome to the world and hello to Ellie.

Finally

THE MARRATIMES - MAYBE
http://www.myspace.com/themarratimescouk

The official very first band on the Drystone. Lead by Stephen (Spud) Murphy who also played solo set last year. It's pure pop and sumptuously good at that.

Next one hopefully a bit sooner. We're less than two months away from Solfest now so I'm hoping to put a couple of these out a month until then. There are still tickets available if you want to come along and enjoy the bestest ever festival there is.

http://www.solwayfestival.co.uk/

LOADSALOVE till next time.

Wiz

THE ONE WITH THE BIG ROCK

2008-06-17T01:03:00.004Z

http://drystone.podomatic.com/

Here we go

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW 3
THE ONE WITH THE BIG ROCK

Unfortunately problems with my microphone mean that this podcast is without me doing any pretend DJ bits introducing the tracks. But in the great scheme of things that is no great loss to humanity, what is important are the brilliant musicians represented and their work is brought to a little larger audience. Check them out it'll be time well spent.
The first piece of music doesn't count though, well as it's my podcast it opens with one of mine. This one is called “Tantric Dancing” and I did it yonks ago using EJay, and anybody who has ever used EJay will recognize some of the samples I'm sure. But it is closely followed by some real musicians who are one of the hardest working bands on the festival circuit.

TARANTISM
http://www.myspace.com/tarantismband

The track is “Loretta” and you can't say it's typical of the band as they stride across musical genres confidently defying anybody who says that musicians should stick to one style and enable them to be nicely pigeon-holed. Loretta is if anything a treatise on exactly that, one minute a medieval romp the next a dance hall anthem with a cheeky snatch of The Eagles, “Journey of the Sorcerer” popping up. Great stuff from the album “Last Band Standing” Which quite often is the case, you really can't stop them sometimes and that is no bad thing.

Next up a return to the Wireless Show for

MR & MRS
http://www.myspace.com/mrandmrsmusic

who featured on the very first one. I could not resist putting this one up, Ric Birtill the “MR” of the duo writes bloody good songs with real tunes great hooks and literate words. If there is any justice in the world one day they will be getting lots of radio play and lots of cash for doing it. This track is called “Cut All Strings” do give them a portion of your time at Solfest this year if you are coming, you'll not regret it.

KTB
www.ktb.org.uk

KTB who is Katie Bennett and was on The Drystone last year is a delightful young lady who not only works as a solo artist but with her band LITTLE SISTER who also appeared on the Drystone last year. Katies track here is “Five” and I just love it, listen and let it speak for itself you'll love it too.

ROB HERON
http://www.myspace.com/robheronmusic

Another returnee to the Drystone this year and I've no doubt I will have more of his work up on here too. What can I say about Rob that hasn't been said by others; not much I'm sure, the obvious things are that Rob is a Cumbrian Nick Drake, or a Tim Buckley in that he writes intelligent songs and performs them with passion and sensitivity as they did. But I never like drawing such similes to performers. Rob is Rob not Nick or Tim his songs and voice are his own and I'm sure it's a voice that one day the world will enjoy. But not too soon so those of you who live here in North West Cumbria can come and see one of our own before he's off on the world stage, he is one of the lynch pins of my open mic sessions at The Spinners Arms in Cummersdale being such a success and I must also mention his own venue The Number 15 Cafe in Penrith where Rob programs a fantastic line up over the year. Go there and see what I mean. BTW The menu is also bloody amazing and they probably serve the HOTTEST cups of coffee on the planet. Oh yeah, the song is "Things Get Washed Away"

http://www.myspace.com/no15cafe

DRAGONSFLY
http://www.dragonsfly.org/

Dragonsfly are another band I saw at Stainsby Festival fronted by the charismatic Maya Preece they play some of the most infectious dance music you could wish for. I saw them again just a few weeks ago at Wheaton Aston Festival and they were as good as the first time and I sorely regretted the fact that at present I have a torn ligament or some such in my leg that stops me from dancing. The track here “O'u Qu't Etais” is one that when played live you just can't help it, your feet move and you are dancing, and they do that for an entire set. FANTASTIC.

HUB
www.myspace.com/hubthebanduk

I said that not only acts who've been on the Drystone (or will be) but also those who didn't quite make it for whatever reason. Hub are one of those, but they bear the dubious honour of being the first band to take advantage of using the demo upload page on my website. It's only just gone up and in truth it's too late for Solfest this year. But this track I like, I thinks it's fair to say that it unrepresentative of the band and if you check out their myspace you'll see what I mean and in honesty I'm unsure if they are right for the Drystone Stage. But they would do well on the Bar Stage and I'll be pushing them to Alec who runs that stage for next year. The track is called “Pletinckx” and they cite this enigmatic word in their influences but I'm none the wiser. A quick Google search revealed several answers ranging from...

Joseph Pletinckx who was a Belgian water polo player who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics, in the 1912 Summer Olympics, in the 1920 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics. He was part of the Belgian team, which was able to win four consecutive medals in a 22 years Olympic career.

To White Pletinckx a strain of racing pigeons created by Mons. Plentinckx of Belgium of whom it was said “M. Pletinckx kept about 300 pigeons, which may appear to be too many,”

and also a musician called Koen Plentinckx check him out at

wwws.sheetmusicplus.com/sheetmusic/artist/P/Koen_Pletinckx.html

You can hear samples of his work there. I recommend “Happy Bubbles” and “Whistling Kettles” though I somehow think that none of these have anything to do with HUB.

Next Track

PADDY ROGAN & JACK HARTLEY
http://www.myspace.com/paddyandjack

Another pair of astoundingly good young Cumbrian musicians their contribution here called “I Can Hear Those Hills” showcases their virtuoso guitar playing. They are at present recording an album which I am anxious to get my grubby paws on as it'll be a belter.

The talent of the likes of Paddy, Jack, Rob, Laura James (who is on the last podcast) and others (who'll be featured here in due course) leads me to wonder what exactly was in the water eighteen or so years ago to produce such a wonderful generation of exceptionally creative people. It is really good to be able to enjoy what they are doing though, and to enjoy a fresh upsurge of real music, played live on real instruments.

Finally
DYFRAMIX
http://www.myspace.com/dyframix

From last years Solfest, Nick Burman and Stef. M two of the nicest guys you could meet and who make some wonderful tunes, this track “Emu Wrestling” is just the business Nick taking The Didgereedoo to places Rolf Harris never didgereedid (I'm sorry that cropped up with the predictive spelling and a couldn't resist keeping it with a slight alteration)

I'll shut up now, until number 4 sometime in July.

THE BIG NUMBER TWO (Podcast that is)

2008-05-30T16:03:00.005Z

http://drystone.podomatic.com/

A huge apology first for this current podcast being delayed an enforced temporary loss of my internet has been a problem in so many ways.

So apart from the title (which will mean nothing to listeners outside the UK) whats big about this the second installments of Wizardmarras Drystone Wireless Show? Well first off I've got to say it has an exclusive track from the ever popular stars of the Drystone for two years running THE 3 DAFT MONKEYS. The track “Paranoid Big Brotherr” is from their brand new album “Social Vertigo” and I could have played anything from it as it's all good. A huge thank you to Tim Ashton for allowing me to use something from the album visit their website and BUY a copy you'll not regret it.

http://www.3daftmonkeys.co.uk

I've been lucky enough to see the Monkeys twice in as many weeks just now, first at Wheaton Aston Festival in Staffordshire at what could be the last fezzi there and the Monkeys were possibly the last band to play it and they finished it in style after initially having a very cold crowd to please turned the atmosphere electric becoming one of the very best gigs I've seen them do. Then a week later they were at Knockengorroch Festival though timetabled far too early in the day to really kick ass they still gave a cracking set.

http://www.wheatonastonfestival.supanet.com/
http://www.knockengorroch.org.uk/

I'm doing things out of sequence though so to get it all back on track the first music you hear is mine it's short and sweet to start it all off and should you be interested in such an inconsequential musical gewgaw it's called “Fresh Eight” Why? Because that's what came into my head when I saved the file.

Next the real music begins. It's from “FLUTATIOUS” and the track is called “Space”, Flutatious are one of those bands that when you hear the demo that's come through the post you get a tingle shooting up your spine and you know you have to book them. They will go down so well on the Drystone, wait until you hear what they've done with a brief snippet of Faure's “Pavane” (it may even feature on a later podcast, you never know.)

Next is the aforementioned Monkeys track, followed by “Follow The Lights” from DELIVO a now sadly non existent band who were the very first band to perform on the Drystone Stage. Although some purists may insist the first “official” performance was by fellow West Cumbrian band “THE MARRATIMES” (hear them on the next podcast). But Delivo did do the business first for the benefit of Border Television. Made up of Matt Kirk on drums (See him play guitar with Sheepskin Beard on the Drystone this year) Dave Connor on rhythm guitar and vocals, brothers Dave and Mikey Proud on Lead and Bass guitars. As I said on the podcast Dave is on the road to becoming a Dad and bucket loads of love and congratulations to him and Jude.

Mikey is now playing with rising West Cumbrian stars MAZZONI

http://www.themazzoni.com/

Delivo are followed by the wonderful SLEEPY ED HICKS and the old standard “Frankie and Johnnie' performed however in Eds inimitable style. Ed was one off the first program of acts I had on the Drystone back in 2005 it's first year and Solfests second, his fantastic performance and great reception guaranteed a return booking in 2006. If you can find him performing anywhere near you you go and see him and you will not be disappointed

http://www.fredwoodbear.com

The next two tracks are from two members of the same family. First the daughter, LAURA JAMES and a beautiful track called “All I Ask” performed live at The Spinners Arms, Cummersdale, Carlisle. You can also hear it on the”Wizardmarras Saturday Night at The Spinners “myspace” but it will be getting changed very soon, there is also a really nice studio version of it on hers. Laura like Rob Heron who was featured on the last podcast are still (in the great scheme of things and on a global geological timescale) very young, being so talented at such a young age can only mean one of two things they will either go a very long way or they'll peak soon. I think the former is true in both cases.

http://www.myspace.com/songsabouttheweather

Following Laura is her father CHRIS JAMES who doesn't actually look like a rum and whiskey soaked sot whose life was wrecked by a woman who “Done him wrong” in the ante bellum land of levees and satanically attended crossroads. No he's from somewhere near London Village but that doesn't stop him from singing the blues like he's lived it. The track here is “Will and Testament” from his album “Trick Of The Light” and like the Monkeys album I was hard pressed to choose what to play. Honestly there is not a single bad track on the album, for a full flavour of what he can do (if you haven't already realized that he can play a guitar like he was ringing a bell) go to his myspace and enjoy and again there is more on the “Spinners” myspace too.

http://www.myspace.com/chrisjamesblues

http://www.myspace.com/wizardmarrassaturdaynightatthespinners

Hands up next as I must apologize for I have involuntarily reversed the Christian names of my next artist on the podcast who is in truth LOUISE MARY MARTIN (which I should easily remember as it is also the name of one of my step daughters, I slap myself for being an idiot) Louise gives us the quite hypnotic and wonderful “Green Sweets”
I love the sound of Louise's voice, jazzy and sexy and damn fine music, a big hit at last years Solfest and she'll be returning again to the Drystone this year.

http://www.myspace.com/louisemarymartin

Last of all a tune by my son ADAM WHITTAKER. (hey if I can't practice a little nepotism here then where can I?) Adam was Stage and Technical manager of The Drystone for it's first two years of life and the hard work he put in gives him the right to be included anyway but It's a more special reason that the track “Dancing Maiden” is here. The quality of the recording is admittedly poor but until I find the CD that's got better stuff on it will have to do.

On Tuesday 20th May 2008 and 5:30(ish) his daughter JASMINE TANHAYER WHITTAKER was born and it's to her that this podcast is dedicated, my sweet wonderful and tiny tiny granddaughter.

Finally check out my new website

www.wizardmarra.com

Which has among other things a Drystone page and one where you can submit electronic press kits for consideration to perform at Solfest or to have your work featured on the podcast

http://www.wizardmarra.com/drystyan/

http://www.wizardmarra.com/demo/

WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW

2008-04-14T18:54:00.004Z

Well here I am back blogging again after too long an absence with every good intention of getting it done once more on a regular basis.

To start it of here are a few details of the very first ever WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE WIRELESS SHOW my new podcast in which I'm featuring acts from the past three years of the DRYSTONE STAGE at Solfest and those who will be appearing on it this year. I'll also be putting some tracks up from artists who have submitted for a slot on the stage but for whatever reason haven't made it. I can only put on so many acts per year and nowhere near as many as I would like to so it's a small way to redress the balance. There are some fantastic acts out there all of whom deserve to be heard.

I'll also be playing EXCLUSIVE recordings made at my Open Mic sessions at the Spinners Arms in Cummersdale, Carlisle which takes place on the first Saturday in the month. It's worth mentioning here that I'm also running one at THE LAST MAN INN in Plumbland near Aspatria on Friday 25th April which will also be a regular session should it go well.

Back to the podcast and who's on it.

It opens with a bit of naffness by me and then into the track...

No Accident by OUTROADS.
This sensationally good blues band was on the Drystone back in 2005, its first year after their demo from which this track is taken blew me away. They were back at Solfest on mainstage a year later and also on the Drystone filling in for Dyframix who were unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. They will be back on the Drystone at some point, in the meantime enjoy this track which should have a place on a TOP GEAR album or such like pure driving music that it is.

next up

ISAAC & LUCY THOMPSON
Here is their full set from The Spinners. Neither Isaac nor Lucy his sister have reached their teens yet and they are refreshingly unencumbered with the nonsense of ego that besets performers as the years advance. Their playing is fresh and exceptionally good and the excellent recording by Will Taylor of Montgomery Funk Enterprises captures the energy of their set perfectly. Enjoy.

BANJO BILL LLOYD - Carey
A well known figure in the folk music scene in Cumbria and The North of England. A really nice bloke and someone who is far too well preserved for his age. This song Carey from his myspace page is one that I have played and played and played. In short I love it I hope you do too.

MELODICA, MELODY AND ME - Hold On
I nearly missed these guys when they submitted to Solfest and they are also responsible for me starting to take more notice of bands myspace pages. I prefer a demo and listening to a myspace is not always convenient, but I did with these chaps and was taken by their sound. Quite original to say the least, charming and in some ways hypnotic. But never mind me, make your own mind up.

RICHARD ANDERSON - Till I've Done Good
Came to the Spinners last month an enormously likable guy and shamelessly plugged his new album. From which this track is taken, it is well worth getting a copy and can be had from
www.crucialmusic.co.uk

MR & MRS - Get Well Soon
I was returning home from a gig in Burnley and there on Preston Platform doing a soft shoe shuffle dance and was about to brush away the cigarette ash that fallen down my pants when I realised that I'd stopped smoking the year before and it would have looked suspect when I noticed a couple laden with guitars, banjos, melodicas, saxophones, clarinets and a full church organ in a rucksack and I though "ah musicians" and quickly introduced myself and my involvement with Solfest. We shared the journey north until Lancaster where they left for a gig and gave me a demo. I loved it and booked them for the Drystone. A week later another act I have coming this year Louise Mary Martin who was on the Drystone last year too contacted me and said "I saw this great duo in Lancaster last week, they'd be great on the Drystone they're called Mr and Mrs."

BAD ACID - Christmas Number One
The aforementioned Will Taylor performing this beautiful song which I'll let speak for itself.

THE ONE AND ONLY MIGHTY TREE/PHIL HAZLEHURST - Bovril In The Jar
A show stopping live recording from one of the undeniable stars of The Spinners sessions and fellow compere at Solfest.

Finally a track of mine which I've entitled Old School Varnish, don't ask me why I just have.

SUNSHINE

2007-08-21T00:43:00.001Z

WIZARDMARRAS SOLFEST DIARY

FOREPLAY

DAY summet or other, mebbe 3

Monday 20^th of August.

I actually got out of bed with a bit of enthusiasm today, that little breath of magic and joy that being onsite had brought to my heart has grown overnight. I can't believe how good I feel, I feel happier and fuller of life than I have for months. There is REAL MAGIC
IN THE AIR OF
THIS SOLFEST.

I endeavoured to finish my sign painting, but I had on umpteen occasions the necessity to go and do something else. I don't wish to give the impression this was a complaint. Quite the other side of the coin, It was good "going on the rounds" each new point that needed attending getting sorted and then I went and checked that everybody else who was doing something for me was OK. It followed too that conversations ensued and so forth. But also deals were made, compromises agreed and the festival is literally shaped by what is said.

Like I was saying yesterday on how the Drystone Stage has changed again. In that change the Pyramid is no longer part of the stage and really has no function other than being a "green room" for the acts. I don't have a problem with that. As an "act" myself it's nice to be treated well by your employer and you give a good show to your public because of it. But artistically it doesn't look right next to the new stage. But this year there will be a few traders down by the stage and its look will be very different. There will also be THE SMOKEHOLE SPEAKEASY a new late night session venue to play the stuff that doesn't quite fit in Wals and Bills is something else again so if you want to get into the JAZZ and a few other things to intrigue you.

But the really lovely thing about today was that the sun came out, and it came out in style, bright and warm and wonderful and it's HERE TO STAY.

So painting my signs, including now two chalkboards to announce the acts on the Drystone, in the sunlight has been a pleasant thing. Watching the wall go up was good too. So the Drystone Stage is once more resplendent with a wall built by Eddie Allen and Dave Corrie. Jamie's crew (who have been the guys putting it all together this year (who's names shall be checked tomorrow)) have worked damn hard putting it up. They have dealt with my grumblings and adapted the backstage to work as a practical music venue and to function well.

That's it for today. I must be brief, for I have to write a copious book of notes for my Personal Assistants and Stage managers. It's half past one...

...and we have a site meeting at 8:00 am

I
LURVE
SOLFEST

IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC.

2007-08-19T23:44:00.001Z

WIZARDMARRAS SOLFEST DIARY

FOREPLAY

DAY 1

Sunday 19^th of August.

5 days and counting...

In truth I haven't been able to get round to writing anything regularly or anything near, as it has suddenly become too damn busy.

The lists that must be made of names

And names

All the same

For

This

That

And for meals, Drystone passes (all cumbered with Wainwright Walls and herdwicks) Mainstage back passages to sit among the Glitterati of badly drawn boys and chalked menu upon a blackout board. A Camping Kenneth Williams limp cloth wristbands to get you in.

A STAGE HAS BEEN BUILT TOO.

As always the Drystone Stage, first to go up. It's changed again providing me with the most ridiculous statistic in the known universe. The Drystone Stage has had 50% more regenerations than Dr Who in the same amount of time.

This is actually the first time that a significant thought has occurred to me. The Drystone Stage has been in existence for as long as the new series of Dr Who, so...

...Has one affected the other?

It is no longer connected to the Pyramid. Which has now just become a "Green Room" for the artists, it's drifted a long, long way from my original idea was. Which I'll not repeat as it's written elsewhere.

But The Stage will still in all things be THE VERY BEST STAGE

IN ALL OF ENGLAND! As I've often said before.

There will be traders next to it so you can get a brew and munchies and there's just up from it. The SMOKE HOLE SPEAKEASY. This is for cover should the weather get grim, sunshine mix of world music and tribal tunes will play in a morning set upon Saturday and Sunday by Paul Thompsons' Beat Roots.

The main thing is today I felt for the very first time since last year a sense of REAL EXCITEMENT. That certain buzz, which brings with it a frisson that only Solfest, gives.

Tom's new dance tent has arrived, and what a sight it was seeing Tosh actually pushing a lorry with the Tele-Handler up the wet field when it got stuck.

Big bugger that tent is. You mark my words, you wait and see, you w...

...but I'm getting ahead of myself. Way to far ahead as it starts on Thursday and I'd decided to take a break from all the paperwork.

(Read this in a Phillip Marlowe Style, practise saying "SCHWEETHEART" like Bogey.)

What I needed to do was chill out; I was feeling guilty about having nothing written or to write for the blog. But how many times can you write.

"I've got shit loads to do, going spare and trying to get it all in balance making sure all acts are attended to with all problems dealt with! Before it gets boring, and the only interesting (a bit) bits are the bands problems and none of your damn business thank you very much.

You will never believe the stuff this year!!!

Any way I did what I had to do mundane stuff that really makes no story to tell. I went to Carlisle to see Gary and organise my sound and lights. Bit interesting, but I can't make

"We sat down around a BIG TABLE and said things like microphone, radio link, bass trap and backline."

Much better than that.

I gritted my teeth and excelled at making my excel sheet of guests and fees and meal tickets and said right Alan here is you treat.

I sat here on the pooter and recorded two "WIZARDMARRAS DRYSTONE RADIO SHOWS" which will probably be broadcast on the Test transmission day. It's all cheese but with good tracks from Drystone Stage Acts Past and Present. I'll probably adapt them a bit post Solfest as podcasts. I really enjoyed myself though, loads of fun. That gets us to Friday, only I somehow am stuck in Thursday so when I get a message from Alwyn that we were putting the Drystone Up I chortle

"Daft Alwyn's muddled as we are putting up on Saturday and it's not even Friday yet. But for half four I'm on my bike and off down to the site, and it dawns upon it is indeed Friday and we are putting up today because BLOODY HELL THE FESTIVAL WILL BE STARTING

EXACTLY

SEVEN

DAYS

SHIT!

When I get there it's good to see JT, Tosh, Chris, and Alec and Massam too who had vanished last year. Jamie arrives too, who I was hoping to work with last year using his green diesel jenny for the stage. This year he comes to build, brought in by JT.

What a squad we have this year, in seven days we shall build for you a field of dreams

An arena of diamond illusions in one week.

As Sandmartins swoop across the grass, at first wet from the constant drip

Drip

Of relentless never-ending soul destroying dampening cooling soaking horrible wet wet wet wetwetwetwet

WET

WATTER

Last night was lovely after a wet and a grafting hard work grit toothed day.

We had Leah to stay with us, and it was great. You cannot imagine how much pleasure (remember in the middle of SOLFEST WEEK) changing a nappy and giving ones Grand Daughter a feed at Four in the morning is.

I am smitten

With Princess Leah

Slowly over two to three days the weather dries and Alec said a lovely thing as seven O'clock clouds cumbered overhead in an air that was softly dry and dark.

"It's very nearly sunshine this!"

And it was, and later today we had the most wonderful most golden brassy XANTHIC (look it up, good word) sky. I have been so chilled painting the sign that our LOLLYPOP HIPPY will be using.

And I felt the buzz again

THIS IS GOING TO BE A

GOOD

ONE

COUNTDOWN

2007-08-19T00:37:00.000Z

Wizardmarras SOLFEST DIARY 1

2007-08-15T00:58:00.001Z

WIZARDMARRAS SOLFEST DIARY

FOREPLAY

DAY 1

Tuesday 14^th of August.

10 days and counting...

...Rain the size of peanuts has been falling on West Cumbria today creating mini rivers on the roads and small lakes wherever it could stop and party. Regardless of this in three days we begin to build a festival. A prospect I am finding incredibly daunting, looking back over my Solfest Diary for last year I was shocked to find that this time last year I had been living onsite for nearly a fortnight and things had begun. This year Seven Days to build a festival, dear god is that possible?

Well yes it is clearly, as I remember only too well last year there were days when all I did was stand in an empty field and harangue sheep about their dress sense and table manners.

Didn't tell you about that did I!

Let's get this week into perspective first. It began nearly 300 miles away on the Belladrum estate in Inverness shire for the TARTAN HEART FESTIVAL where I had a booking. Not a bad fezzi, in size similar to Solfest (They cater for £10,000) which will be pretty much the total number of folk at Solfest when all the crew and artists appearing are taken into account. It was pricey if you were a punter, seventy odd quids for two days but with names like The Magic Numbers, James, Martha Wainwright as well as newbie rising stars Amy McDonald and Kate Nash (if you like these ladies don't miss KTB on the Drystone) I suppose it's fair (Hang on Wiz, fifty nine quids gets you Badly Drawn Boy, Levellers, Chumbawamba, Thea Gilmore, Bens Brother and around one hundred and fifty ish other acts of equally good calibre).

You couldn't take drink or food into the main festival site so you had to buy it inside at £3 a pint.

Here Wizardmarras anti bullshit and hierocracy meter kicked in reminding him that he was paid handsomely for the gig and to carp about prices is bad form. Now Wiz, get on to SOLFEST. That is what people are waiting to hear about.

OK. We start building on Friday; tonight (actually last night as I write this) was the final meeting at SOLFEST CENTRAL COMMAND before we are all onsite. It started with good news too, that being that Allerdale Borough Council have granted us our license, so there is very little now that can stop us from having a brilliant festival. The only other piece of important paper being that from Health and Safety which is always a little worrying as we don't get it until about 4:30pm on the Friday of the festival when everybody is there.

I must confess that a lot of the meeting went by and on around me and I can't actually remember much of what was said on account of me holding my Grand-daughter in my arms for her first meeting. (It is important to get them started on festivals young and if we are to ensure a committee is there to keep Solfest going in the future, they need to know what it's like now). Dan is usually there for every meeting, though he does sleep through a lot (as did Leah tonight) tonight Dan mainly climbed in and out of a cupboard, only banging his head the once.

In truth there wasn't much of an exciting nature discussed in the meeting. Meeting are like meetings the world over.

But we begin to build Solfest on Friday, ferrying all the stuff stored at SOLFEST CENTRAL COMMAND down to the site. I am pleased to note just now that according to the Beeb weather site it's dry and sunny on Friday and Saturday. Saturday the Drystone goes up, as always the Drystone is the first stage to go up, on Monday Eddie and Dave my Wallers will come and build the wall.

We have learnt from previous years though and this year I think we will have such a good compliment of workers to assist us that we very well be spoilt for the future. As well as stalwarts who have been with us from the beginning like the indispensible TOSH (who this year is making something very special for "Sunset Hill" which I am really looking forward to seeing, and the idea for it came from (so I believe) a steward) and Cumber Chris. Brian "The Silver Fox" Gibson and of course JT (now a fully fledged committee member), they'll all be there putting up the regular things as well as new stuff.

I've just realised how tired I am and I need to get my head down for tomorrow I have a meeting quite early with Gary my main man for the Sound and Light on The Drystone.

Those of you who followed my blog and proceedings over last years festival will know that my original Sound Technician Dave Davidson suffered a massive stroke on the Friday morning of last years Solfest as was unable to be there. His shoes were filled by Paul Doherty and Gary Kerr of "Rhythm Of Life" from Carlisle who provided all the gear and the fantastic quality of sound we had last year.

Dave I am happy to say has made a full recovery, albeit with a pacemaker but as he was quite literally at deaths door and unlikely to survive just to have him walking talking and smiling is a full recovery. But unfortunately he cannot resume the job of Sound tech so Gary and his team will be doing the jib this year, but they are BLOODY GOOD AT IT so I'm happy there.

Daves wife Elaine, who was due to sing last year but had to cancel due to a terrible throat problem is back with us this year and accompanied by the aforementioned Paul Doherty. Come and say hello to them and give Dave some of the accolades he missed out on last year. The world would be a less bright place without him.

HOLIPOP HOLIPOP OO LALLY HOLIPOP

2007-07-19T04:52:00.001Z

Well, this is Holipops fault.

She asked on the Solfest message board when my blog was starting again.

I have, like with so many other things left my blog unattended this year. Yet there has been so much that has happened to me that I should have kept it up.

Like my travels around the county with Karen as she's doing Market Research stuff, in the course of which (while searching for it in toy shops) I discover Knottie in one (not realising that of course if I walk into a fancy dress shop in Kendal It's pretty much a certainty that she'll be there)

"Of all the joke joints in all the towns in all the world, he has to walk into mine!

...plate it and then flan!!!

After Solfest, there was Knockengorroch. Meeting Sandgrinder; Knottie, Dubbers, Sloanz, Jam Jar Fairy & Dreadpirate Bob. Drinking the last of the Solfest Wise Apple Cider that Bob had won...

...and what a wonderful brew that is and I hate Cider with a passion!

Great craic with Bob too discussing many things; shoes and ships and ceiling wax plans that come to nought or half a page of scribbled¹ lines, and whether pigs have things.

What a Knockengorroch it was too, playing the most unbelievable sessions in the Longhouse. Like no other sets I've done before and certainly not afterwards.

I missed the Spring Knockengorroch.

I had received a booking for another regular festival at Wheaton Aston, it was only after I'd accepted that I realised it was the same week as Knock, they'd moved Wheaton Aston forward. The thing was I'm trying to make a living and Knocks a tickets deal.

Karen and I are buying a house so what can I say.

But I did miss Knock...

There was other stuff too, important stuff that I've now forgotten.

THERE WAS AMERICA!!!

That story will be told, sometime before I start the SOLFEST blog proper. Twas an experience to say the least, and like this bit of stream of consciousness twiddling it'll get me into the habit of writing again.

It's just like riding a bike, writing. You get out of practise and when you do it again after a break, it's hard work going up the steep bits and other bits ache the next morning.

Writing a bike is easy; it's just five letters A - B – I – K –E.

Riding on the computer is not advised.

I do know what I speak of I cycled to a committee meeting at SOLFEST CENTRAL COMMAND. That's a good sixteen mile journey, the first six or so being a bit of an uphill bugger to Tallentire, but then it's more or less downhill for the last ten. But my calves ached like hell on Wednesday morning.

Still I'm Fifty Three next week, so I rather pleased I can get on a bike at all let alone ride it anywhere.

It's also the first time I'd been on it for a decent ride since stopping smoking (a tale to be told when I tell you about the trip to the Yooessoffay!) and boy can I tell the difference. Like I could when Karen and I were dancing to 3 Daft Monkeys at Glasson Festival the other week, it feels wonderful getting your lungs back.

But enough of that for I'll not preach.

Holipop got me thinking though; as it'll not be enough (for me) to just repeat what I did last year. That will be there of course, documenting in my own way what happens when a festival goes up.

But I'm doing podcasts now too! On those, as well as a bit of nonsense and the serial podtale "JACK & THE BEAM" I'll be playing tracks from some Drystone Stage artists. So in the blog I can give a bit more background to them and why I choose them.

Now I think this is a problem (perhaps) but I only really get excited about the nuts and bolts and the running of the festival around about now. Due in part no doubt to the fact that it abso
bloody
lutely knackers me and I need to lie down for a long time in a very dark room after its all over. But there is something in the fact that doing it near the time simply is more exciting. The adrenalin kicks in when things have deadlines; when Solfest becomes the imperative, not the hobby.

For that's what it is in February with the cold wind and rain slashing down outside while I'm sitting by the fire opening jiffy bags with CDs inside.

Then in July when the meetings at SOLFEST CENTRAL COMMAND become weekly and you get to hear how everybody is doing their stuff. All the NEW STUFF that's happening this year. In particular one thing that I've pushed for a bit and I'm so glad it's off the ground this year.

We just need one tiny bit of official stuff before we can say EXACTLY what it is, though there are rumours.

A clue...

...Solfest has a POTENTIAL AUDIENCE of TWENTY THOUSAND OR SO this year.

Nuff said.

Gerard is driving the ladies in Workington Post Office to distraction going in daily to post in the region of 5000 tickets, recorded delivery at around 150 per day.

"He's tekking allt' styamps Muriel, will be 'evving a styamp droot afooer lang."

I mentioned earlier about giving a bit more info on the acts on the podcasts, well the first one is up and running...

...Rob Heron

http://www.myspace.com/robheronmusic

Rob performed with Blue Jam last year, though he then kept his light under something of a bushel. Or in fairness maybe I didn't see it for at Solfest I'm busy making sure EVERYBODY sees my light.

However it came to pass while Karen and I were in the States that a letter with a CD came to the house from Carolyne, Karens oldest and bestest friend.

So I played the CD...

..It was very good stuff too, mind you he's a talented lad is Rob after learning to play the guitar at 11 he started writing songs at 13. He's 17 now and writing songs that have a maturity and sensitivity that normally doesn't come until much later in life. What he will be writing in later life will surely be worth listening to.

It was also the fact that somebody else, Karen's friend believed in him enough to send the letter and CD. Now I think it's nice if somebody does that, I would like it enormously if someone did that for me, the thing is Rob is good and I believe that he'll go down a storm on the Drystone

Emma & The Professor

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=69576964

Jonathan Draper

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=167947749

Emma & The Professor need no introduction to Solfest, a return booking from the Drystones first year. Emmas voice still blows me away and Mark is becoming the Clapton of the Bodrahn...

"Move over Jonjo, once you were the master, now I am the master...!"

They are joined this year by Jonathan Draper aka Johnny Cello. I first met Johnny three years ago at Glasson and he is a Maestro, and I don't mean a speedy roadster. I have been trying to get him to Solfest ever since. Make sure you check out his solo set where he swaps his Cello for a Piano and to paraphrase Nigel Kennedy.

"Does a bit of damage to Gershwin."

Although damage it he does not, it WILL be a talked about set and one of the highlights of Solfest.

As will his set with Emma and The Professor. The track on the podcast "Rain and Snow." Gives some indication of the fireworks that will happen when these three play live.

Good God look at the time.

There you are Holipop I hope you are satisfied, keeping me awake until Knobhead O'Clock in the morning writing this...

...I have rather enjoyed it though

"Wear a tall hat like they did in the old days; Wear a tall hat and a tattered gown."

Marc Bolan

¹ A rough modernisation of the old nursery rhyme, "Paddling Up The Creekle" a satire on the reign of King George 111, attributed to Barmkirk Bunyan

"Half a page of scribbly lines

Half a cabbage in treacle

That's the way the King is deposed

Paddling up the Creekle"

A BEAUTIFUL GRAND-DAUGHTER

2007-07-16T14:17:00.000Z

LEAH PATTINSON

Born July 15th 2007

9lbs 13oz

One beautiful, wonderful Grand daughter.

SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY TOO!

2006-11-19T06:06:00.000Z

SOLFEST 2006 – THE EVENT, BACKSTAGE AND ALL THAT

SATURDAY.

Well, the plan was to write Fridays blog live and upload it from the BBC Bus that had established itself at Solfest. It’s plain that that didn’t occur, so what was I doing on Saturday morning. Sleeping that’s what, and when I finally extricated myself from my tent it was only an hour or so before my first storytelling session of the festival. My first stop was the canteen. I cannot be unstinting in my praise for Debbs and her team of WONDERFUL HARD WORKING KITCHEN STAFF. The food that we given over the weekend was so good, and never a word of complaint from any of them about how much they had to do. I could comment on the unconventional chefs apparel worn by Micheal, a sarong not been found in most kitchens. In fact, we can only thank a greater god that Anthony Worrall Thompson has never felt the urge to don one.

It was not an easy task getting there though as it seemed that every step I took brought some performer or other to me with questions; I’ll not say anything about these as they are not very interesting, and were in some cases a major annoyance, and really I would liked to have responded with a “GET ON WITH IT, take some initiative for yourself.”
However, perhaps they have not had the benefit of experience of working at festivals as much as I and it is silly grumbling about it now.

So let’s get on with the good stuff and my first session of the day. If I remember correctly, I did Marragob and Marragump an old Irish tale that I’ve transposed to Cumbria by way of accent changing the names of the main characters from Murraghomore and Murraghobeg. I love this one and it has been one of my stock stories for all my gigs this year, that and THE FISH again this one been with me for ages it seems now, and I really like it because it’s constantly evolving.

CONFESSION TIME!

It’s now several days since I wrote that. It has been hard work getting the writing of this. Why, well first off sheer bloody exhaustion and to be honest. Being completely pig sick and pissed off about Solfest altogether.

“AHH THE HORROR, WIZARDMARRA PISSED OFF ABOUT THE MOST WONDERFUL FESTIVAL IN THE WESTERN WORLD OR THE EASTERN WORLD FOR THAT MATTER.

True, I was just so completely depleted by the event. Now though a month on I can face it with alacrity and put some sketches of the festy down. Sketches are all they are though for with Solfest 2006 as with last year, the event is just that for me a blur of images and incidents. I am when it happens so taken up with the moment as it happens that I’m not lazily savouring it’s magic.

But it is good.

So where was I
Oh yeah
Telling tales down by the Drystone. Starting the Saturday marathon. Time off day circa 12 noon to 1 O’clock. I would not see my bed until after five in the Sunday Morning.
Read on…

…My Good mate David Straightjacket was up next

http://www.straitjacketcircus.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/dstraitjacket

He is to my mind the best proponent of the long-standing art of escapology and sword swallowing. These guys have been entertaining and astounding audiences all over the world for just about as long as storytellers. It is a pure art this. Not derivative of another, and like storyteller a descendants of the holy men who would spin enchantments by word and sound and body magic. Fakirs and Shaman both.
David is so very good at what he does and is one of the nicest people I have met in my gigging about the land. You would think that knowing him, knowing he is so thouroughly professional at his job, that his skill is equal to this. That he can perform and come up with the goods and he will get out of the death defying situation he has found himself and he will escape with seconds to spare to huge applause. .
…I will still be biting my nails and filled with concern that my mates going to really hurt himself!
A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT!

Thanks for the comedy mp3s David; they are helping me write this! Love to Nikki too.

CAPOEIRA

I was so glad to see William and his group back at Solfest and one of the stand out visual moments was seeing them around the stone circle doing their stuff watched over by Adams Wizard. I didn’t have my camera with me enough this year. That was one moment I would have liked a picture of. I didn’t get to see the set they did on the Drystone as I’d handed over to the incomparable SARAH LEDGER

http://www.comedycv.co.uk/sarahledger/index.htm

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=406597

Sarah has been a regular on the comedy circuit for a while now. I was so pleased to have her come and be another compere at Solfest, and I knew she could handle you lot out there. Though I must say you are one of the most well behaved crowds, I worked with.

However, it gave me the chance of taking BLUESMONKEY out for a spin. This is a complete blur in my head and was as soon as I’d done it. The ultra focus that takes place in my head when I’m doing the monkey is quite scary and if I’m into it for more than half an hour at a time gets my head into weird scary places. I have to concentrate on being this really quite poor puppet so people believe in it, and they do quite amazingly wonderfully and hilariously as the monkey makes people laugh more than I do in my story sessions. How he is as quick witted and how he gets it all together is beyond me.

And the fact that I am referring to a puppet I operate in the second person with a distinct intelligence of his own is worrying in itself.

Back onstage introducing DEAD OVER HEELS, fronted by the daughter of my sound technician Paul DEAD OVER HEELS kicked off Saturday evening with a little arse kicking Goth rock. I had seen them at the benefit gig I’d done for Abbott earlier in the year (links to the full story in blog archive under “Guerrilla Storytelling”) and liked what they did. They warmed the stage well for the nights line up chased quickly on their heels by OWEN SAUNDERS vocal gymnastics, another mate. I do have a definite “It’s a local stage for local people” ethic regarding the Drystone. The way I see it I get a regular (though unpaid) gig there every year so it is only fair that the same offer is there for locals who are I believe particularly talented in there fields. Though of course I still apply the same “quality” control.

I know I sometimes take a risk in someone who is either local or is in some way connected to the festival and it hasn’t quite cut the mustard. I am learning all the time is all I can say.

Next, up someone who has become a mate over the past two years. The incomparable SLEEPY ED HICKS

http://www.fredwoodbear.com/

who deserves far more recognition and I’m sure over the coming years it will be afforded him. His individual style of singing combined with quality picking on the Banjo, an instrument long suffering from the reputation it’s achieved through years of crap players playing crap tunes. Ed is about as far removed from these guys as you can possibly be. His version of “Frankie and Johnny” is an entire movie in three or four minutes and “Californian Girls” complete with additional lyrics is pure class. Hail BANJOMAN.

Another period of several days have passed since I last wrote. Angst ridden I have given myself hell for not getting this done, and I need to get it finished and give myself closure on Solfest 2006. But the above paragraph is some indication of the state of mental confusion I am in over the festival, as anyone who was there knows (and you would think that I should include myself here) Sleepy Ed played the Drystone on the Friday, not Saturday. But what the hell he’s a lovely guy and I will not flagellate my back with a leaden Cat O’Nine Tails for giving him more publicity and kudos. I mean the stage full of kids was testimony to the mans charisma and quality as an entertainer of the highest order…

… I will kick myself though for omitting one of Saturdays acts, the wonderful SMALL CHANGE. Fronted by Neal Reay-Bennet and his good lady Yvonne, whose onstage banter is for me some of the funniest you could hope to hear. Also on Bass guitar Joanne Braniff, Solfests very own treasurer (and this brief slot on the Drystone was about the only time she had away from doing that job all weekend, possibly the most thankless and boring job in the world) She is also Dans (Solfest baby) Mum, Alwyns good lady and sister to no less than two members of DELIVO and THE BEST BASS GUITARIST IN CUMBRIA!!! With Craig Hodgson on Drums with Solfests Dave Camlin and the exemplary fiddler Mark Newport (If anyone remembers my telling of Blind Raftery The Poet at last years Solfest, it was Mark who gave me such magical accompaniment) these four were part of the now (sadly) defunct TRYCKSTER, the band who were at the time Cumbria’s best kept secret. This was a crime in itself for they deserved fame and accolades beyond our borders, composers and performers of some of the greatest and most danceable tunes ever written.
Simon Warner must not be forgotten and apart from being a really nice chap and David Walliams double plays the keyboards for Small Change.

Now that I’ve thoroughly confused myself I think I am somewhat back on track with the cavalcade of unmitigated talent brings me to

JAMBIENCE

http://www.didgemusic.com/Jambience/

I first saw these guys at Wheaton Aston Festival two years ago and wanted them for Solfest 2005, only that year I wasn’t able to pay them so they were a huge priority for me this year now that I had CASH! Anybody who saw the set will know what a fantastic and mind blowingly good set it was too. Music to gather you up in its arms and carry you off into the distant reaches of the universe, and that is without any mind-altering substances to assist you either. If you had had any of those naughty drugs while listening to Jambience on Saturday night…
…Are you back on the planet yet?

Mind you it’s not just the audience than can be affected by the music, Phil Jackson the antipodean didge player told me before going onstage “Give me us a good ten minutes notice before the end of the set as we tend to get carried away in it!”

They were certainly one of my highpoints of the weekend, ABSOBLOODYFANTASTIC!!! I would have loved them to have stuck around and enjoyed the festival more after they had finished, but they had to fly for Phil also presents a show called SOUTH LIVE for BBC Southern Counties Radio on Sundays.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southerncounties/entertainment/music/south_live/

Check it out on The BBC Radio Player.

That brings me to Nine O’clock on the Saturday and the adorable JENNY McCORMICK.

http://www.jennymccormick.com/

www.myspace.com/jennymccormick

Another returnee from last year. What can I say about Jenny?

1: She is beautiful.
2: She has a sweet, crystal voice that could charm birds from the trees.
3: She is beautiful.
4: She writes songs of quality.
5: She is beautiful.

It would be too easy to just say that Jenny is a singer in the Kate Rusby mould, and I think I’ve made this point earlier in this blog. She is much more than that, her voice is as distinct and different from Kates as is Sandy Dennys. It is her own and special and I for one am glad.
I must mention her band too consisting of her Dad Kevin and Brother Julian (who’s own band LIEF is worth checking out) completing the family is her Mum Anni who is her manager, and there’s a family of four who through Solfest I feel I can now call my friends, which is probably one of the best perks of running the stage.
Did I say Jenny was beautiful too!

In all fairness, I cannot say that of the next act on. However, I am sure JOHNNY DICKINSON would not want me to.

http://www.johnnydickinson.com/

But oh, my god that man can play a guitar.

I got an email from his agent just a little less than a year ago and on checking out his website clicked onto the “video” it’s still up there, the track being “If ever I go” and it was one of those “OOOOOHHHHH!” moments, and I thought “We must have him” on showing the clip to Adam later that week after the first two or three bars he said “Book him” So I did.

It’s something of an injustice that he didn’t win the BBC Radio Two Musician of the Year Award for which he was nominated.
And here’s a thing, my good mate Tom had been offsite to pick up Freq Nasty (Have I spelt that correctly?) who as they drove up the lonning past the Drystone got Tom to stop so he could listen to Johnny, and after checking in came down to see the rest of his set before doing his own in the Dance Tent.

Now anyone who has read any of these blogs or seen my act knows I’m not one to blow my own trumpet (ahem) BUT. BY CRACKY I’D BOOKED SO MUCH QUALITY FOR THAT STAGE ON THE SATURDAY NIGHT.

I pause awhile to bask in the glow of my own pride…

…. It didn’t stop with Johnny Dickinson though because it was then time for my hero. The one and only RORY McLEOD

http://www.rorymcleod.com/

Flip the clock back twenty-three years to 1983; the place was The Strawberry Hotel Barrow-In-Furness. The Occasion Captain Reals Free and Easy. An event (part of a series) organised by Welfare State International as part of the groundwork for the project that was to eventually become “KING REAL & THE HOODLUMS” a film reworking of Shakespears King Lear. I was ultimately to play the part of the Archbishop of Stare and was the first foot upon the road for me that would lead to my becoming The Wizardmarra and being involved with Solfest. Part of the evening entertainment was “Improv” sketches (long before Who’s Line Is It Anyway and the Comedy Store players made it almost a cliché) and what a cast of players we had. Myself being the least of them; for there was the esteemed poet Adrian Mitchell (who authored the film), the sadly now deceased Marcel Steiner (famed for The Smallest Theatre In The World, Tiswas and being a bad guy alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in Arabian Adventure), and Rory McLeod. Who also did what he does best as well, just as he did at Solfest entertaining people in consummate style with more energy and panache than just about anyone else on the planet.
It was the worst thing in the world to tell him his time was up at Solfest, for he would have played all night I’m sure. I wish I could have let him too, you simply cannot have too much of Rory.
All right, I confess, I would love to have his babies.

It is midnight now (not right now as I’m writing this at 1:59, no 2:00 in the morning) but back at Solfest, it is midnight, The Witching hour and by rights, I should have been telling tales. I know three years into the life of a festival is a bit premature to say anything is a “tradition” but I’ve done a midnight story session at the previous two and I really enjoyed it. So I was looking forward to doing it again. But the timings had gone right up the spout, I might have booked some damn fine acts, but I royally screwed it up on organising the running order not allowing enough time for the changeovers. Most of the acts appearing were fairly flexible and not at all upset at not getting on slap bang on the scheduled time. But the closing act of the night THE MARK SAUL BAND had to go on as planned at one thirty, having to set off early next morning for Shrewsbury Folk Festival.

I was disappointed at not getting to do my gig, but hey what the hell I would have only lowered the tone.

MARK SAUL

http://www.marksaul.tv/

However did no such thing. I had been waiting MONTHS for this moment, ever since I’d got the CD through the door I knew this would be one of the stand out sets of the entire festival. As I said to Simon then, and repeated it all over the place since then they sound like The Peatbog Fairies meet the late great Martyn Bennett, and then some. Mind you check out Marks website and you’ll end up feeling like the worlds worst under achiever, even if you have found a cure for every lurgi going! He is also young and far too good looking than any Australian has a right to be. The band did provide possibly the most accurate proof that they were indeed from Australia by asking almost as soon as they walked through the door of the Pyramid backstage by asking
“Where’s the rider mate?”
Onstage though they gave the set I had expected, and they are now as far as I am concerned the best band in the entire world. I had tried to fix the timing so they would be onstage just as Loonaloop were coming off the mainstage, but mainstage were running late as well so though there was a damn fine crowd in front of the Drystone I would have liked to have seen more, they deserved more. To cap it all the bloody genny kicked out just when everybody was up there with the gods dancing in the clouds. I could have died at that moment, but at least it got fixed and the set was closed with more of their sublime sounds.

Check out what Charlotte, Marks Fiddle player had to say about Solfest in her blog.

http://likethespider.com/?p=301

And that was Saturday done and dusted, I was knackered but not yet finished. For I then had to assume the mantle of Duty Manager. Responsible for the entire festival and every living soul therein.
Though I quickly went back to my tent to change out of my Wizardmarra red jacket and put a thick jumper on and my leather jacket. Ridiculous as it may seem I had actually left my pass at home and was nearly thrown off site by a zealous security guard as I climbed over the artists entrance gate, but it did feel rather good to have about four people tell him who I was and didn’t really need a pass.

It was actually quite relaxing being Duty Manager, and completely different to everything I normally do at Solfest. A change is as good as a rest so they say, well not quite seeing as I had to deal with an ambulance arriving for a young lady who (possibly) had had her drinks spiked and was very poorly indeed and an attempted break in to one of the caravans. But here on both of these incidents I must hold my hands up and declare that these were handled in the most professional and efficient manner by Martin our head of Security, I merely stood around while he did all the work and all respect and thanks to him for that. Praise also to Chris, Robin and Angus who never seemed to be off duty stewarding the festival. All the stewards who came on at four in the morning to pick litter. The Moonlight Wombles of Tarns, the real heroes of Solfest.

It was Five O’clock when Alwyn came to take over from me, and if was knackered before I was completely buggered beyond belief when I finally got back to my tent at around Five thirty.

SUNDAY

It was a decidedly jaded Wizardmarra that was up on Sunday morning to start the proceedings on the Drystone, but what a start. BLUE JAM from Penrith, an impressive mix of age groups in this band. Who fall into that category of “Community Arts” which often belies an outfit where enthusiasm wins over expertise. Not so, with BLUE JAM, the quality of musicianship in all the members of the band was second to none and for me it was exactly what I needed to hear on a lazy festival Sunday lunchtime. Jazz. Good jazz too, and I think it was (in spite of what I have just said about Mark Saul) my ultimate musical moment for this years Solfest as I lay backstage and just let their cool and good vibrations wash over me.

They were followed with a complete change of pace by someone who is as much a part of Solfest as any of us on the committee. I speak of course of Banjo Bill Lloyd, familiar to anyone who frequented the acoustic sessions tent. Bill is a true music aficionado and one who really knows his stuff. It’s not my cup of tea if I’m honest, but running the Drystone is not just about what I like all the time. Bills does what he does well and it is important that it gets an airing on stage. Traditional songs sung by someone whose heart is truly in his craft and he is such a good bloke. Check out his website for the full monty on all his activities, he is keeping real music alive up here in Cumbria and long may he continue.

http://www.georgelloyd.com/wildwoodacoustic/index_billlloyd.htm

What can I say about the act that followed him? A bit of a sad old fart at the best of times, but I have to say that this was one of the best of times for him. To see such a crowd of people sitting in the Sunday sunshine stretching up to the top of the bank in front of the Drystone was heart-warming for this humble storyteller. People who I’d got to know through name only via the Solfest message board sitting there in the flesh. Dread Pirate Bob, Jam jar Fairy, Eden Dub, Holipop and countless others who I did not know. Loyal fans who have sat and watched me at previous Solfests and other gigs up and down the country and newcomers to Solfest and storytelling.
I love you all.

There is a freedom afforded me at Solfest when tale telling that I don’t have at other festivals (with perhaps the exception of Knockengorroch) and it is so much fun. I have to be honest it never lasts long enough, and I always want to do more. It was particularly frustrating that I had to speed up the end of the set and truncate the end of the Odyssey lest we fell into the same time difficulties of the Saturday, so I had to finish it and let the next act on.

I can’t comment on them though as I handed over comparing duties to Sarah Ledger and found myself enjoying the LUXURY of some time off. Which after feeding myself and a bit of a lie down back in my tent I was able to wander around the festival as a punter and see it as any festivalgoer sees it.

Its rather good innit!

The sight of the WIERDSTRING BAND leading a huge crowd of dancers in the first SOLFEST CEILIDH was magnificent. I’d had my doubts and worries as to whether it would work, but work it did and in that moment I’d made my mind up that it would be a permanent feature in all subsequent Solfests and Wierdstring have a job for life playing for it.

http://www.wierdstring.co.uk/home.html

I was delighted to discover spaces and paths that I never knew were there, places that had grown while I was busy concerning myself with the Drystone Stage. So much happening everywhere, and on every bodies face a smile. It looked so good too, I found myself sitting on my shooting stick (the only thing I have that belonged to my father and possibly the best bit of tackle you could have at a festy) outside the site office looking across from a forest of flags to the distant mainstage, which in turn was given the most wonderful backdrop of Skiddaw and the North Western fells.

My relaxation was not long enough though and before I knew it, I was back in my tent getting back into the red jacket and making my way to mainstage for the final night.

I met Dread Pirate Bob and Jamjar Fairy at some point over the weekend and I don’t want to miss out giving them a name check and reminds me of something I’ve been meaning to say regarding folk that you have got to know through the message boards. It’s like getting to know someone over the phone as you create mental image of that person.

In Bobs case the person fit the picture almost perfectly! He really IS a pirate! I assumed he was wearing “extra pirate” due to it being the fancy dress and all, and made allowances for that. Poor sod! I thought, nobody could that sad! I found out weeks later at Knockengorroch that he really is like that and could probably start his own charity. I must qualify immediately that he his a gentleman of the highest order and I am so glad to have got know him. More on this in a later blog, now read on…

…Dubbers is bit on the wobbly side as well!

SO THE FINAL NIGHT COMMENCES!

I usher off UISCEDWR

http://www.uiscedwr.com/
The when?, exactly of my memories of talking to the audience from mainstage are hazy at the best of times so those I have I can’t place which bit went in between what act. So in recounting the memorable parts I’ll just stick them in wherever and flesh out the account of the night.

I remember getting everybody to hug each other again…

…it would have been nice to have been amongst it!

CARA DILLON
http://www.caradillon.co.uk/

There is one image, one feeling, one sound that supersedes all others as my Solfest moment. In that it encompasses so many individual elements into one whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts.

I was standing backstage of our “new” stage, it felt odd in it’s newness. I had come to know the simple topography of our old handmade stage and the gap in time between year one and two seemed a non existant thing. The only constant, the only reality being on and around that stage. It’s a very strange feeling, you get it with good festivals that you’re just always there and the world and life in between are the dream.
Which may be true.
But on this new thing, and my did it look tatty close up! Built like a battleship with a space the size of the old stage behind the backdrop, gantries and walkways and high above your head an almost geodesic temple of a ceiling of aluminium and tarpaulin. Sam Jelfs the Stage Manager was the only crossover from the previous years the sound and lighting technicians we’ve had elsewhere.

It hadn’t felt the same. It will next year. But 2006 it was new…

But as Cara Dillion sang. That clear, crystal voice from some swirling sidhe filled Irish mist , filled the sky.

The Sound

As she sang the Solway sunset became golden and illuminated the metal spars above the stage and became the metal of that colour, behind the backdrop the stage is open in the direction of Carlisle and the Pennine and the sky was pink. The world then filled with the kind of colours you would only see on a fantasy book cover. That pink sky! A warm coral pink that activated the light; washing over the landscape turning green things bronze, putting a touch of Midas on the ending of the day. From where I stood I could see the sand pit, it’s Dr Who planet surface glowing red like a West Cumbrian Ayres Rock.

The Image

The moment was supernatural, a word which however you read it doesn’t seem adqauate to describe the feeling it evoked in me. A moment where whatever you’re beliefs; if you experienced it, would make you think Richard Dawkins had’nt got it exactly right.
But it was’nt supernatural in the sense you would imagine from that word nor was exactly a sense of super (greater than) natural (normal). Rather more than the sum of its parts this expierience of the ultranatural.
The Feeling

Before It all becomes to mawkish I feel I should make more of the aforementioned Mr Jelfs, who aside from having the most Dickensian surname in modern day life. Is indeed a thourough professional and as stage manager makes me doing what I do a breeze and I verbally abuse him onstage and he does not deserve one jot of it! He is a pleasure to work with and Solfest owes him great deal.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Severial more weeks have passed and I had once more slunk into a gloom but today Tis better than it has been for a while.

LOTS OF GOODNESS TO SANDGRINDER WHO’S EMAIL DID MORE GOOD THAN HE KNEW!

On to the matter in hand, there’s SOO much to be said before I can get up to date, and I need to do that for lots of reasons.

SETH LAKEMAN

http://www.sethlakeman.co.uk/

Are all the Lakeman brothers made by HASBRO? They’ve got the wiggling eyes and everything, though I must confess there was no scar. But does the modern version of ACTION MAN have scar. I also didn’t check that they had a formless and smooth groin, their skin hardened into a belt like shape below a navel-less torso

Backstage there was a lot of whizzing about; I didn’t get a chance to have crack with him, which I would have liked.

Personally, I really like his stuff and enjoyed the set.

However, twas on route my viewing his set from the front that possibly may ultimate Solfest golden moment occurred.
The Proclaimers (of whom more later) had made it very clear they would be available for no autographs post set as they had an urgent recording date the next day and must away fast and perhaps they felt they didn’t real need it and fans bothering them, but they had allowed a group of eight children to come and meet them backstage and sign photos for them. These children had left the backstage area just prior to me going round the front and seeing me the cry went up “It’s Wizardmarra let’s get his autograph!” but the only writing material to hand were the photographs of The Proclaimers. And even though I protested that my name would only devalue them it was insisted I sign, this was only the third time I’d ever been asked for my autograph and the first with a large group.

I have to be honest, IT WAS BRILLIANT! I like my fans and if they want to bother me that’s cool, I’d be shit without them.

CROFT No. 5
http://www.croftnofive.com/

I loved these guys at Solfest number one and felt they were the best act we had that year. So it was with a real mixture sadness and pleasure introducing them again. Solfest was their last ever “international” gig, and their penultimate. One more in Scotland (which will at the time of writing already be history) and that was it. Apparently, they insisted on the Ostrich being onstage! More of that sort of thing I say!

Though I do look forward to following the individual careers of the band. Look out for them at Solfest.

THE PROCLAIMERS

When I say I will not give them a link for there website, you will have some indication of my feelings about these two. Which makes the story above all the sweeter. I must be honest and state that I have never really been a fan and “500 MILES” has always irritated the bejesus out of me.

But I had heard so much about how they were really good live that I’d decided to give them a chance. The song they had in Shreck 2 was OK as well.

But disappointment soon set in when The Reid Twins did’nt turn up riding a tandem clad against the chill Cumbrian air in warm Fairisle sweaters. If it had been a huge FUCKOFFTOURBUS it would have been acceptable. You can respect a little flash in a big name. But two transits!

Fair play to their band who as I said onstage were “crackling” with energy. I really wanted to hear those guys let rip! Then up came Craig and Charlie with an aloofness that I found disappointing too, so much so I’ll not bother to find a simile for “disappointing” why should I waste an attempt at eloquence for these two who gave a (in my opinion) purely by the numbers set. Could these two Caledonians not relate to the fact they were singing on the ancient soil that was once part of the great Kingdom of Strathclyde. Celtic land.
I admit they was joy to be had in the crowd as we all joined in but that was us, not them, I did sing “LET’S GET MARRIED!” Directly into Karens face very loudly and with feeling. But that was me not them.

(NOTE TO SELF: MUST ASK HER AGAIN)

Now my ego didn’t suffer when Sam came up to me and said, “They didn’t want me to introduce their encore. I was a bit miffed, true. But that’s just cause I love being up there and too often at Solfest I can’t let bands have encores. So, I don’t have the fun of getting the MORE shout good and loud, which is one hell of a blast! But Sam said they didn’t really need me to do it, “C’mon they are The Proclaimers” true they surely didn’t.
And thought of signing “Wizardmarra” on the backs of their bespectacled heads earlier.

I’m kicking myself for forgetting three important names. As the Reids were on there were three kids backstage, connected with one of the bar stage bands. They had blagged parents passes backstage in the hope of getting signatures of the two Hibernian Postman Pat clones onstage. Also I knew there was no chance of this, though I did check. They were really quite upset about it. (Even though it seemed they didn’t know who they were) So it was with great delight I sorted it out to let them watch from backstage once the set was underway (and the manager out of sight) that was cool!

Whatever your names are and wherever you are thank you …

…And then they were gone, the twins and so was the audience and when Sonic Tradition came onstage…

SONIC TRADITION

http://www.sonictradition.net/

(That link wasn’t working at the time of writing,)

…and didn’t have the audience they deserved. The place seemed to have died. I had finally clocked off work (almost) and the party had gone. But I was quite exhausted. I did meet up in the smaller but excellent crowd with John Fox and Sue Gill (Their son Dan is in the band) two of my oldest and dearest friends. There’s a Solfest story there too but I need to check up as I can’t remember if I haven’t already related it.

Then as it goes with these nocturnal thieves of biblical legends and days of reckoning. SOLFEST WAS OFFICIALLY OVER. Well the mainstage anyway, and I truly had finished and could get on to the getting royally pissed. But I think it was purely me being completely knackered it just didn’t happen for me and even though I did spend a while with my old mate Brampton Paul and few others. I ended up in bed sooner rather than later at Boring O’Clock (on the way nearly tripping over one of those bastard letters that some idiot had put on the darkened Drystone Hill!!!) and dead to the world

MONDAY

What a weird day. All I really wanted to do was go home and sleep.

I ended up spending some hours sitting in the Pyramid talking to a succession of performers and others and enjoying it immensely. Though I still wished I was in bed. I had it easy Karen had been summoned away with Debbs to help attend the tragic accident, which led to the death of Matt Sanderson.

Dealing with in particular, another motorcyclist; a resident of Aspatria who come to Solfest and found his bad preconceptions of people had bee turned upside down. That “Hippies and suchlike” were actually “The Salt of the Earth” and he had had a fantastic time…

…and his final memory of Solfest was watching another festival goer fly from the road to his death as he rode some ten or twenty yards behind him.

He too is “The Salt of the Earth”

Against this, the one or two annoying things to plague me were nothing.

I spent a great hour or so with my fellow MC and friend TREE, he’s the only other one who really knows what it’s up there on mainstage and he’s been there from the start. God I love him. Every year we remark on how we felt in year one and knew that we had fallen on our feet with this one, that we had the best jobs in the world! For life!

I had a really good time with ALHAMBRA too
http://www.poppyrecords.co.uk/alhambra/alhambra1.htm

I had been so worried that because the plans that had been made as to where onsite these guys would be performing had gone like others, a bit askew they may not have had the best festival experience, I’d not had time to deal with them as much as I would have liked due to being too damn busy.

Turns out they’d had a fantastic time.

I’d first met these guys at Wheaton Aston and knew their Music Hall would go down really well at Solfest. So I was pleased as punch to hear how much they had enjoyed it and your response was wonderful. THEY LOVE YOU

So sitting chilled in the Pyramid talking to Pete, John and Andy. Who really have a passion for their art and making surely its place in “The English Tradition” in the fullest sense of the words. Pictures will in (hopefully a short time) grace these words and you will see for me another Solfest moment as Pete and John stood backstage between the named scaffolding of Dan Leno & Grimaldi, Marie Lloyd underneath their feet.

And the wonderfully Ruebensian portrait of Pete.

The pictures of Twent and the others as they picked up the crap of cornucopias end.

True Heroes.

And the picture that goes with this story.

During course of the day, returning from my tent to the Pyramid after putting some warmer clothes on, a car leaving the site stopped…

This is another GOLDEN SOLFEST MOMENT and I think really the very very best and one reason why I have felt real guilt in not finishing this account on the blog.
So now, the tale will be told.

…Out from the car leapt a slim golden haired lady all asmile and loveglow! From the car a beardyface calling
“Look out, she’s coming!”

She hugged me warmly and lovely and introduced herself as Debbs the beardy in the car was Wayne and they too were (it was evident) head over heels in love! They had met at last years Festival and have been together since then and one year in the future it is their wish and intention to be married
AT SOLFEST.

Now that IS a GOLDEN SOLFEST MOMENT.