Bryn's "Edale Stand-in" Picking Weekend
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Organised by Bryn & Stuart Williams, Tom Travis guaranteed good weather by cancelling ‘Edale’ this year. It was rather a very good weekend and well run, though Bryn had some problems with the organisation, resulting in him saying “I’m not doing any more weekends - it’s too hard!” Time will tell. Camping on the field behind the Millstone was top rate, despite the absence of night-time toilet facilities, and nothing could be better than lounging and picking in the glorious sunshine! One section of the field was reserved for Gordon Shuttleworth’s boomerang display - real boomerangs were being thrown this time so only the foolhardy camped anywhere near that end! The concerts in the ‘Hall’ featured not only Baker’s Fabulous Boys and ‘The J.P. Ensemble’ but also several novice scratch bands in a competition. The winner got ‘The Battered Guitar’ as trophy. The evenings were so balmy that concerts could be held in the pub patio, where the amplified sound quality was 100%. The Rainy City band and ‘BFB’ played really well there, to rapturous applause. Some of the picking sessions in the pub were not only red-hot but white-hot - one in particular, featuring Leo Shaw, Billy Vosper and Eamon Walsh, was a miracle to behold and clearly un-joinable by all but a few of the pickers present. But no problem, there were plenty of other sessions going on and one could always start one’s own. But there was a definite, large “hole in the middle” of the range of playing ability of those present, which made it a little difficult to ‘bridge the gap’. Some people, including Tom Travis, Johnny Hulme and Derek & Jean Brandon, made special efforts to overcome the problem. There was a final easy-going pick on the campsite late Sunday. The highlight was, apparently, when Eamon Walsh played the same tune, Scruggs-style, on Dave Crowley’s Stelling, Derek Brandon’s ‘Scruggs Mastertone’ and his own Davidson. The general consensus of the listening panel was “Can hardly tell the difference!” It must be down to the player.... Let’s keep our fingers crossed for equally good weather for Tom Degney’s weekend in September!!!
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