To the Big Garage On The Hill (aka the Wiltshire Music Centre - see blog of 18.12.11) for Québecois trio, Genticorum.
The auditorium looked slightly less stark than at our last visit as the tastefully pastel-coloured acoustic panels had been put up to give the place a more intimate sound. But it still feels more car maintenance than concert hall. The band was good - technically highly proficient with oodles of good humour in their presentation. But only the a capella numbers gave the hairs on the back of my neck any exercise. This was perhaps more to do with the very nature of the French-Canadian music they play which, stripped of the big band arrangements of the likes of La Bottine Souriante or the more eclectic style of La Volée d'Castors, comes across as rather relentlessly repetitive.
It didn't help that for the whole of the first half Yann Falquet's guitar was virtually inaudible. I mentioned this to him in the interval (someone had to) and matters improved somewhat in part 2.That was until Yann whipped out his Jew's Harp (!) - which we couldn't hear either.
There's not much point in playing a hall which trumpets "the best acoustic outside London", if your sound engineer has Van Gogh's ear for music.
www.genticorum.com
www. wiltshiremusic.org
Showing posts with label folk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label folk. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Frome Folk
Frome is hosting its first Folk Festival in February.
When this was announced there was rejoicing at Weekender Towers, as Mrs W and myself are very partial to a bit of 'trad. arr.' However, as the line-up was gradually unveiled our collective heart sank somewhat. Highly talented people like Spiers & Boden, Steve Knightley and Chris Wood are the leading acts - top names on the English Folk Scene, indeed. But not really the sort of performer to get the blood racing in anticipation of them visiting 'our town'. They are hard-working musicians who are on the road a lot, so there are frequent opportunities to see them around and about. There's no 'wow' element in the acts on offer. No surprises. Nothing that makes this festival stand out from myriad others in the UK (except that it's being held in the winter - and while that's rare, it's not unique). I really don't like to criticise, as the idea of a weekend of traditional music in Frome is to be loudly applauded. But it all feels a bit safe and predictable.
The 'Early Bird' ticket prices are on offer right up until the event, which suggests that sales are not as healthy as they might be. Is this because of the general economic malaise? Or something to do with the programme? I do hope the FFF gets through its first year OK and becomes a regular fixture. But a bit more imagination in the booking policy would not go amiss from now on.
Familiarity breeds contempt - or contentment? We'll find out on the 18th February.
www.fromefolkfestival.co.uk
When this was announced there was rejoicing at Weekender Towers, as Mrs W and myself are very partial to a bit of 'trad. arr.' However, as the line-up was gradually unveiled our collective heart sank somewhat. Highly talented people like Spiers & Boden, Steve Knightley and Chris Wood are the leading acts - top names on the English Folk Scene, indeed. But not really the sort of performer to get the blood racing in anticipation of them visiting 'our town'. They are hard-working musicians who are on the road a lot, so there are frequent opportunities to see them around and about. There's no 'wow' element in the acts on offer. No surprises. Nothing that makes this festival stand out from myriad others in the UK (except that it's being held in the winter - and while that's rare, it's not unique). I really don't like to criticise, as the idea of a weekend of traditional music in Frome is to be loudly applauded. But it all feels a bit safe and predictable.
The 'Early Bird' ticket prices are on offer right up until the event, which suggests that sales are not as healthy as they might be. Is this because of the general economic malaise? Or something to do with the programme? I do hope the FFF gets through its first year OK and becomes a regular fixture. But a bit more imagination in the booking policy would not go amiss from now on.
Familiarity breeds contempt - or contentment? We'll find out on the 18th February.
www.fromefolkfestival.co.uk
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