Editorial - Editor's Letter
 THE
NEW ‘OLD’ EDALE FESTIVAL, an important
stage in the development of this longest-standing of British Bluegrass Festivals,
has been and gone. Steve Read, the initial organiser, did his stint, to be
followed by Tom Travis. When Tom called
it a day, Bev Williams took it on. Bev got some things very right and
others not. The report is the thoughts of a fairly representative selection
of people, like the ‘Barbican’
report. But I would like to make comments possible not mentioned elsewhere:
Bev worked very hard, taking an enormous risk putting RochEdale on. He was
very successful musically and the food concession, Gobble and Go, was top-rate,
open all hours and reasonably priced. But the biggest risk was caused by
the location. A field at nearly 1,110ft (333m) on top of a saddle makes a
terrific fair-weather site. The land was well-drained and, though some feared
a swamp, no cars became stuck and the grass didn’t get cut up either.
Bev had “ordered good weather” but unfortunately delivery was late:
it threw everything at us Friday night. The gale sliced through the slatted
sides of the concert barn in collimated sheets. Like blades of ice they tore
into Scotland’s Runaway String Band, dressed in their short sleeve-shirts.
The weather was good on Saturday and most of Sunday; the single heavy downpour
on Saturday caused few problems. The big tent for picking in failed to
materialise, as did the bar... The Farmer was extremely helpful.
Sadly, there were not enough non-performers present for financial success. It seems these days that too many so-called Bluegrass fans will only support things that are free, or have an USA band (incl. banjo), a pub, or all of these. See the September issue for Bev’s own comments. THIS YEAR TERRY HOLLAND’s picking weekend was the best it’s been, if the reports herein are to be believed. Jean and I recently attended a pickers weekend that was the best we’ve ever seen - I’ll write about that next time! TODAY I HEARD BANJO on two TV programs within an hour, both played bluegrass-style. One was in the intro music to BBC1’s All Over The Shop (just before I switched off!). Then Granada TV’s This Morning band slot featured The Dixie Chicks with a 5-string. Initially boringly picked, at the end she ‘let go’ with some decent stuff. But all exposure is good. I preferred the Chicks! I REALLY COULD DO WITH someone volunteering to enter the tablatures into a PC - any takers? No time-wasters, please! And more people to send in Tabs... please... And still on Tabs, I'm sorry to have to report that Martyn Peters is unable to do any more Guitar tabs for us. I would like to thank him very much for his valuable contributions to the NWBN. If anyone would like to send any please do - preferably in Tabrite format - but they must have accompanying notes of interest. Eg, explaining special points about the tab, background story/history of the tune, etc., etc. See John Baldry's contributions for excellent examples.
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