X-rated Bob European tour

Bob-Dubery

Coming up in September. The UK & Spain won't come to me, so I shall have to go to them.

Last overseas holiday we went on we did very well on the musical front - Martin Simpson, Norma Waterson (fabulously good), Loudon Wainwright III, Tom Robinson, Olabelle... oh... and some bloke named "Thompson". I'd wanted to see Elvis Costello but a fast sell and a buggy on-line booking system (it doesn't just happen here, folks) put the kibosh on that - but then if I'd seen him I wouldn't have seen Simpson, so swings and roundabouts...

This time I'm struggling. There seems to be a distinct lack of musical action in the UK in September in dates that are convenient for me. We are going to see Simpson again (solo this time, in 2010 we saw him with his band). I won't manage to see Bruce Cockburn. Plainsong (Ian Matthews, ex of Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort) are in London the night after we leave... etc etc. Possibly there are gigs not yet publicised, but my travel plans are now fixed and so they have to be in a town that I'm in on a night I'm in it.

I must mention again the joys of dealing with the British folk club circuit. I had three options to see Simpson. Eventually I settled on a gig near Sevenoaks in Kent, because the B&B we're booked into is about 10 minutes walk. But my initial idea was to see him at the Kalamazoo Klub in North London. I was concerned about timings though because we'd have to catch a couple of trains (or give a taxi driver lots of the folding stuff). So I dropped them a line. I got a lovely reply full of information about good hotels with reasonable rates near the gig, bus numbers and times etc etc. I wish I'd spoken them to them earlier.

This reminds me of the last time we saw Simpson. He was playing in the middle of nowhere in Hampshire, and I dropped the club a line (they had no on-line booking) and got a very detailed reply that included (again) tips about accomodation, where to get a good pub lunch etc etc. When we got there we had to get tickets from the club secretary who introduced us to the chairman who offered us the seats he usually uses. Marvellously friendly... That whole scene is run by volunteers who put on gigs in little venues and take nothing themselves which means that the artist gets all the proceeds and so they can attract a high calibre of artist.

Lets not leave the audiences out of the equation. Martin Carthy said something like "they let you do what you want, when you want, how you want and cheer while you're doing it". So the artists enjoy working that circuit too.

Anyhoo... I might just take a flutter on some gigs. There's one in Bath on a night we're there, a few minutes walk from my Aunt's house. I don't know anything about the performers, but some of the best gigs I've been to have been when I didn't know much about the artist and thus had little in the way of expectations or preconceptions.

I don't wish to be rude to Mr Simpson, but after the many musical delights of our 2010 holiday, seeing just him feels like thin pickings. Quantity wise, that is. Quality wise I have no doubt that that gig will be very good indeed.

I have no idea what to do in Spain. There seems to be a small but vital Americana scene there. I was hoping (and it was just hope with no rational basis) that Terry Lee Hale would be in Madrid or Alicante whilst we're there, but no such luck (he is based in France and does lots of gigs in France, Germany and the Benelux with occasional forays into Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe). Again I might just take a chance on what's there at the time.

deefstes

Any chance of finding an open mic somewhere where you could apply some of your British inspired South African craft?

Bob-Dubery

deefstes wrote Any chance of finding an open mic somewhere where you could apply some of your British inspired South African craft?

Ha! I got roped into one of those a couple of years ago. We were on the island of Arran (two "R"s, off the coast of scotland, Aran with one "R" is off the coast of Ireland and is famous for jerseys). The wife asked the lady running the B&B if there was a ceilidh happening anywhere nearby. We were directed to the Catacol hotel, and lo! there was a ceilidh. Very informal too. I was enjoying it when the guy running it pressed a guitar into my hands and said "your Missus says you want a turn."

And the Forest Folk Club in North Boarhunt (where we saw Simpson a couple of years ago) has lovely sounding evenings (if you're there at the right time) when they just go out to a field round the back of the club house, put chairs in a circle and pass a guitar around. Summer months only, of course.

Bob-Dubery

There's some very interesting flamenco venues in Madrid. Small places (typically 100 seats) and some of them completely unplugged/unmiced. Prices not too bad.

Squonk

Where are you going in the UK(and Date) and I will have a squizz as well

Bob-Dubery

There is a reverse, I suppose, to an open mic which happens around some festivals.

We were up in Beverly, Yorkshire a couple of years ago. They have a really good folk/roots festival there. We went for two nights and the standard was very high - even the acts that you've never heard of. And a lot of these guys would go into the local pubs after their show and just jam with whoever was around.

Trouble was it's all spontaneous and unplanned so you have no way of knowing who will turn up where. We went to see Appalachian fiddler Bruce Molsky who was fantabulously good. After his set he watched the headline act (the Coalporters) then went to the jam tent on the festival grounds THEN went to some local pub and played for the crowd there until about 2 in the morning.

The town was buzzing with such stories. Come Monday several pubs were closed and those that were open were selling bottled lager only because all the real ale was drunk and they had to wait for deliveries.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote Where are you going in the UK(and Date) and I will have a squizz as well

What I was REALLY hoping to see this year was one of the duo shows that Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson are doing. But our time window was heavily constrained by various issues at Mrs X-rated's place of employment, so we lucked out there.

London 14th September (well.. half of the 13th too, but I'll be all jet-lagged out)
Brighton 15th and 16th
Kent (Sevenoaks, but will travel) 17th to 19th (we see Simpson on the 19th)
20th to 22nd Bath (but that's within easy reach of Bristol or Marlborough)
23rd and 24th Horley, Surrey (near Gatwick, easy ride to London)

Then off to Spain.

Bob-Dubery

X-rated Bob wrote Then off to Spain.

Some googling revealed some very interesting Flamenco venues with a very good reputation and that strive for intimacy and authenticity. Several of them are +- 100 seaters. The one I took a flutter on eventually is 100 seats, it seems to be a venue for the up and coming players. Totally unplugged - no PA, no nothing and the audience are expected to know when to shut up. It's called Cafetin La Quimera.

Hold onto those credit cards! I will go check it out and then report back. In October.

Conrad

X-rated Bob wrote
X-rated Bob wrote Then off to Spain.
Some googling revealed some very interesting Flamenco venues with a very good reputation and that strive for intimacy and authenticity. Several of them are +- 100 seaters. The one I took a flutter on eventually is 100 seats, it seems to be a venue for the up and coming players. Totally unplugged - no PA, no nothing and the audience are expected to know when to shut up. It's called Cafetin La Quimera.

Hold onto those credit cards! I will go check it out and then report back. In October.

That sounds good!

I can give you the name of a great flamenco venue in Seville and another in Granada but I'll have to go through some photos to find them.

deefstes

X-rated Bob wrote
X-rated Bob wrote Then off to Spain.
Some googling revealed some very interesting Flamenco venues with a very good reputation and that strive for intimacy and authenticity. Several of them are +- 100 seaters. The one I took a flutter on eventually is 100 seats, it seems to be a venue for the up and coming players. Totally unplugged - no PA, no nothing and the audience are expected to know when to shut up. It's called Cafetin La Quimera.

Hold onto those credit cards! I will go check it out and then report back. In October.

I had a bit of a squizzle on the interwebs and it looks awesome. Here's a video that gives an idea.
=

Bob-Dubery

Conrad wrote I can give you the name of a great flamenco venue in Seville and another in Granada but I'll have to go through some photos to find them.

And I'd have to go to Seville or Granda ? Our time in Spain is split between Alicante and Madrid.

Conrad

X-rated Bob wrote
Conrad wrote I can give you the name of a great flamenco venue in Seville and another in Granada but I'll have to go through some photos to find them.
And I'd have to go to Seville or Granda ? Our time in Spain is split between Alicante and Madrid.

I'll try to find the names. The Granada venue is actually inside modernised caves with a view of the Alhambra and this was my favourite hour in Spain.

Even Paco de Lucia goes to this venue now and then, I hope I can find the name. Will keep you posted.

Bob-Dubery

Conrad wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
Conrad wrote I can give you the name of a great flamenco venue in Seville and another in Granada but I'll have to go through some photos to find them.
And I'd have to go to Seville or Granda ? Our time in Spain is split between Alicante and Madrid.
I'll try to find the names. The Granada venue is actually inside modernised caves with a view of the Alhambra and this was my favourite hour in Spain.

Even Paco de Lucia goes to this venue now and then, I hope I can find the name. Will keep you posted.

Well thanks... but I don't think I explained myself clearly. We're not going to be going to Seville or Granada this time around. We'd like to, but we just can't make it. We are in Alicante to see family, and then there's lank to see in Madrid.

Conrad

X-rated Bob wrote
Conrad wrote
X-rated Bob wrote
Conrad wrote I can give you the name of a great flamenco venue in Seville and another in Granada but I'll have to go through some photos to find them.
And I'd have to go to Seville or Granda ? Our time in Spain is split between Alicante and Madrid.
I'll try to find the names. The Granada venue is actually inside modernised caves with a view of the Alhambra and this was my favourite hour in Spain.

Even Paco de Lucia goes to this venue now and then, I hope I can find the name. Will keep you posted.
Well thanks... but I don't think I explained myself clearly. We're not going to be going to Seville or Granada this time around. We'd like to, but we just can't make it. We are in Alicante to see family, and then there's lank to see in Madrid.

Oh.... :'(

Anyway I found it ☹ Cuevas de la Rocio granada.

=

Conrad

Oh and in Madrid, the Prado museum has no entrance fee on Sundays!

Just saying.

Bob-Dubery

OK.... I determined that instead of spending lots of time and money looking for shows to go to in the UK, I would devote more of each to going to shows right here in Jo'burg. And I've upped my game in that area. But various things happened that forced some minor changes of plan and now we're going to see Spiers and Boden in Banbury on the 22nd. But y'all won't be interested in them - NO GUITAR ?