January 2012 |
Hi everyone,
Hope this finds you well. Here we are, almost the end of 2011. It’s been a good year for all things Village Pump. There have been quite a few improvements to the building, with more to come early in 2012 when we (the usual team) get back into the ‘work a few hours a week’ habit. If you feel that you can offer any help with the work please do give Gerry a ring on 01225-767670. All help would be greatly appreciated.
The folk club has been artistically really successful; the standard of artists on the folk club scene is as good as it has ever been. Attendances have not been as good as we would have liked, a sign of the times maybe? We will stick to our original idea of presenting good quality entertainment in a place where you can concentrate on the act, those people who are happy to see an act in a pub type setting will probably never want to part with a few quid to show their appreciation of an artist’s work. By the way we have had to amend our opening night of 2012 to an open mic night, so come along and see if anyone has had the time over the festive period to learn a new song.
We have organised a couple of charity concerts during the year, the first being a 12 hour open mic in aid of The Bath Cancer Unit, in honour of FRED WEDLOCK and then our VILLAGE PUMP NIGHT at THE ARC THEATRE with proceeds going to DOROTHY HOUSE in memory of ALAN BRAIRS. The Arc night was recorded and hopefully we will be releasing a CD with proceeds to DOROTHY HOUSE.
With the demise of the original VILLAGE PUMP (FOLK) FESTIVAL a group of us ran the highly successful VILLAGE PUMP WEEKENDER at the Lamb. The team responsible are now working very hard to organise THE VILLAGE PUMP FOLK FESTIVAL in 2012. The festival will be at The White Horse Country Park in Westbury. Tickets are selling very well and there seems to be quite a buzz about the event. Festival Patrons Show of Hands will, subject to contract, be joined by Oysterband, Seth Lakeman, 3 Daft Monkeys, Karine Polwart, Cara Dillon, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner, Fay Hield & The Hurricane Party, Michael Chapman, Keith Christmas, Mike Silver & Johnny Coppin, Allan Taylor, The Reg Meuross Band, O’Hooley & Tidow, Allan Yn Y Fan, Jenna Witts, The Merv Grist Players, The Yirdbards, The Silver Street Band, Spill The Whiskey, The Haiku, Killing No Murder, Fearne with more names to be confirmed. Add to this a full family tent programme, sessions, open mikes, workshops and real ale and quite a week-end is in prospect, look at the web site WWW.VILLAGEPUMPFOLKFESTIVAL.CO.UK for up to date news.
I hope that we will see you at some VILLAGE PUMP events during 2012 until then
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR