Post by olirow on Oct 27, 2021 17:51:07 GMT
So a few final thoughts from me...
- I enjoyed pretty much all of the music, although must admit I missed a few that C&D/SC enjoyed most, which is always annoying
- Kinaara were good although it felt like they were finding their way a bit. But I loved her interest in UK traditional music, and looking for the links with traditional Punjabi music. They may well develop into a really interesting group
- I found Ciderhouse Rebellion interesting but it's not really my kind of music, so not a proper favourite. Plus I am not sure it's a great idea to be upstaged by your precocious daughter... My Darling Clementine did it too, maybe it's a thing...
- As well as all the great music, Musicport also always seems to manage to find one act that is, in some senses at least, absolutely terrible. This time it was the 'Czech' artist Katus. Or should that be Katerina Young from Cumbria. I think I might be more Czech than she is, although she did at least sing a couple of Czech language songs. She was supposed to be accompanied by a Kora player, but a quick internet search showed that plan fell through a few months ago (he couldn't afford to travel). But her performance was best summed up when she spent at least 3 minutes (it felt much longer) before her last song 'detuning' her guitar, during which much of the audience left. Having finally finished, she put her guitar down, picked up some pipes, and we never saw the guitar again... But even she had some interesting aspects, she played two connected pipes from which she seemed to be able to produce two different melodies at the same time. Plus she lives 'off-grid' and I think is just the right side of completely bonkers, which is kind of endearing I guess...
- Finally, back to the future of Musicport. I got the strong impression that Sue has taken the decision, not Jim. He said things that sounded like he wants to carry on. I saw him standing at the side when Kanda Bongo Man kicked things off, and his expression told a story. I would have thought it would be quite easy to pass the running of the festival to a company or trust with Jim as a director or trustee. That would give some continuity and allow new people to get involved. As long as the festival is called Musicport and stays in Whitby (at least for a while) it should feel like the same event. As a festival, it's pretty low risk given its indoors, audience numbers are stable and Arts Council funding appears to be available. So I hope something along those lines can be done. There were some optimistic things said, so fingers crossed...
- I enjoyed pretty much all of the music, although must admit I missed a few that C&D/SC enjoyed most, which is always annoying
- Kinaara were good although it felt like they were finding their way a bit. But I loved her interest in UK traditional music, and looking for the links with traditional Punjabi music. They may well develop into a really interesting group
- I found Ciderhouse Rebellion interesting but it's not really my kind of music, so not a proper favourite. Plus I am not sure it's a great idea to be upstaged by your precocious daughter... My Darling Clementine did it too, maybe it's a thing...
- As well as all the great music, Musicport also always seems to manage to find one act that is, in some senses at least, absolutely terrible. This time it was the 'Czech' artist Katus. Or should that be Katerina Young from Cumbria. I think I might be more Czech than she is, although she did at least sing a couple of Czech language songs. She was supposed to be accompanied by a Kora player, but a quick internet search showed that plan fell through a few months ago (he couldn't afford to travel). But her performance was best summed up when she spent at least 3 minutes (it felt much longer) before her last song 'detuning' her guitar, during which much of the audience left. Having finally finished, she put her guitar down, picked up some pipes, and we never saw the guitar again... But even she had some interesting aspects, she played two connected pipes from which she seemed to be able to produce two different melodies at the same time. Plus she lives 'off-grid' and I think is just the right side of completely bonkers, which is kind of endearing I guess...
- Finally, back to the future of Musicport. I got the strong impression that Sue has taken the decision, not Jim. He said things that sounded like he wants to carry on. I saw him standing at the side when Kanda Bongo Man kicked things off, and his expression told a story. I would have thought it would be quite easy to pass the running of the festival to a company or trust with Jim as a director or trustee. That would give some continuity and allow new people to get involved. As long as the festival is called Musicport and stays in Whitby (at least for a while) it should feel like the same event. As a festival, it's pretty low risk given its indoors, audience numbers are stable and Arts Council funding appears to be available. So I hope something along those lines can be done. There were some optimistic things said, so fingers crossed...
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