| Hello
Everybody, We
have some news for you, after the success of last year and the enquires of
many people this year and a little coaxing it has developed .................. GOING
TO THE WEST FEST IS HAPPENING!! September 25th -27th. Please tell your friends
and anyone you think may be interested. Welcome
to Going to the West Fest, Pembrokeshire's second Old-Time Festival which will
be held September 25 – 27 in The Snooty Fox, Martletwy, nr Narberth,
SA67 8AD. The
festival organisation process is now well under way, after a late start. The festival
is being organised by Pembrokeshire Eclectic Music Society (PEMS), now one year
old! It is a voluntary organisation which aims to inform people about different
kinds of music and dance and expand their experience through organising events
in Pembrokeshire and West Wales. It
is going to be an amazing weekend filled with fun music and dance! We look
forward to seeing you all there, below are the artists that will be appearing.
The
festival will be kicking off on Friday night with a concert (& maybe a short
dance), then on Saturday daytime there will be workshops galore! This will be followed
in the evening with another concert and a dance! Sunday will be a wind down with
a couple of workshops in the morning and a session in the bar afterwards. From
the USA Beverly
Smith & Carl Jones are a duo that are recognised throughout the scene of old
time music and dance http://www.smithnjones.net/ For years Carl Jones and Beverly
Smith have appeared on the traditional music scene, whether this is at festivals,
on record, at contests and dances, in various bands and formations and they play
just about anything with strings or tossing in vocal harmonies wherever there
is the opportunity. In their recordings they bring those years of experience to
the art of the duet—songs and tunes, old and new, done simply and with love. Carl Jones toured with Norman and Nancy Blake
as part of the Rising Fawn String Ensemble, playing mandolin, banjo and fiddle.
He often plays as a duo with James Bryan and is sometimes found pickin' as part
of a trio with Bruce Green and Don Pedi. Carl has been an instructor at Pinewoods,
Port Townsend's Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Mars Hill Old Time Week and
the Swannanoa Gathering. His songs have been recorded by the Nashville Bluegrass
Band, Rickie Simpkins and others. One
of the most respected guitar players in old time music today is Beverly Smith
who is also in demand as a singer, fiddler and dance caller. Beverly has made
numerous recordings, backing up fiddlers such as Bruce Molsky, Rafe Stefanini,
Tara Nevins and Brad Leftwich, vocalising with Irish musicians Mick Moloney and
John Doyle and also singing with bluegrass great Laurie Lewis. She has taught
and played at many camps and folk festivals and, in addition to her collaboration
with Carl, also plays with old time band The Rockinghams. The Buffalo Gals need no introduction to the UK
old-time scene. http://www.buffalogals.co.uk/ Firmly rooted in traditional American music, Buffalo
Gals’ authentic style is infused with their own unique brand of excitement and
energy. Driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance and soaring harmonies,
they produce an irresistible show in the time-honoured style of the old country
string band. The band features Kate Lissauer on
fiddle and vocals with Sue Clare adding wonderful harmonies and the occasional
lead as well as mandolin. The third female Gal is flatfoot dancer Sibylle Riesen
and Eve Morris on double bass. The male Gals are Pete Dunn, who sings and plays
rock-solid flatpick guitar and banjoist Johnny Whelan adds ringing banjo melodies.
This
is a real band, the whole greater than the sum of its parts. That extra ingredient
is spirit, and the gals have that in abundance
.These artists will perform and lead
workshops on a variety of instruments and dance, giving an opportunity for learning
at all levels. There will be a concert on Friday night, followed by a square dance,
workshops in the day time on Saturday, a concert on Saturday night followed by
a square dance and a workshop or singing group and an open stage on Sunday, as
well of lots and lots of tunes! Now
for the important logistical information: Directions Directions
from Canaston
Bridge (A40) Follow
the A4075 south heading towards Oakwood, once you get to Oakwood, keep on this
road until you get to the Bowling Centre/ Chrystal Maze on the right, turn right
at the crossroads (sign posted to Lawrenny & Martletwy), you will pass Credland
Timber yard on the right............keep on going about another 1/2 mile and The
Snooty Fox is on your Right. Bobs your Uncle come on in and have a few tunes! Directions
from Carew Cheriton roundabout (A477) Follow
the 4075 north heading towards Oakwood, pass Cresselly House on the left, and
keep on going. Before getting to Oakwood, there is a crossroads and on the left
is the Bowling Centre/Chrystal Maze, Turn left here ( signposted to Lawrenny &
Martletwy), pass Credland Timber on the right and keep going about 1/2 mile.
The Snooty Fox is on your right set back off the road. The
post code is SA67 8AD for those of you with navigational tools! So
come on out into the wilds of Martletwy to experience the warm glowing fire in
the bar, and music to lift your spirits! Pembrokeshire On
the upper reaches of the Daugleddau on the eastern banks lie several sleepy villages
(Martletwy, Lawrenny & Landshipping) with a quiet rural atmosphere. Even
though this area is inland, most of it is part of The Pembrokeshire Coast National
Park. These villages are steeped in their own history where there are cafés and
hostelries to visit and enjoy should you wish to get off the festival site for
a few hours with the family. There
are also a variety of B&B’s available for those wishing for more luxurious
accommodation than canvass, as well as a Youth Hostel in Lawrenny. http://www.cwm-deri.co.uk/about-cwm-deri/holiday-accommodation.asp
http://www.rentahostel.com/web/site/Hostels/EnglandWales/Lawrenny.asp www.visitpembrokeshire.com
Please
do check our website, www.myspace.com/goingtothewestfest where you will find lots of photos
of last years festival at Angle, the surrounding area, as well as links to other
sites which may be of interest. Prices Weekend
ticket £29.00 (£25) One
night concert and dance ticket £7.50 (£6) family £25 Family
weekend ticket £60 (2 adults & 2 Children) Any
questions please get in touch, also please let your friends and family who may
be interested in the festival know. Contact
details: Jackie – 01646 661363; Keep
playing and dancing! Jackie
|