TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Ralph embarks on a 30+ night UK tour on 4 October 2012.

See Ralph's website (http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/tour.php#uk) for dates and where to get tickets.

Would you be surprised to know I have tickets for Cadogan Hall?  ::) I think this year I'm sitting next to Martin Driver from this Parish, it's usually a fight between me and Steve K to get the best seats in the house!  ;D

Fantastic place to see Ralph, usually the final night of the tour. It usually starts early and all done and dusted by 10pm, not only because we are all old folkies  :P but it allows time to catch trains before the last one home.

Yabb attended this fine venue last year, will you be booking again Colin?  ;)

Yes, Cadogan Hall is a great venue. A little pricey maybe but well worth it (and well within walking distance of SteveK towers)

As you hinted JJ, I'll be there along with big brother "Martin K" a few seats away for you in the third row.

In the past the early finish has allowed room for a meet and greet afterwards.

Amused to see Coronation Hall, Ulverston (great venue...saw Patti Smith there a few years back) become Carnation Hall on the website  :)

Hmmmmm!

The two most convenient gigs for us are Morecombe 6th & Huddersfield 19th and we can’t make either – We’re getting married on the 6th and we’ve already booked for Seth Lakeman for the 19th.

I wonder if Ralph would like an afternoon set at a church..................................  ;)

Many congratulations Dunc, all the best for the 6th...bad timing though!  ;) ::)

I was there that night, Patti proved herself very astute when she called a friend of mine a wanker from the stage. A great venue though and around the same time, I saw Bettye Lavette, which is possibly the best gig I have ever attended.

We're off to the Wirral this evening.  Whoopee!   :D We're taking a few friends, one of whom has never seen Ralph before.  We'll tell you all about it - possibly Saturday evening.   :)

The Stables at Wavendon for me!

Grace

We'll also be at Clonter Opera Theatre near Macclesfield at the end of the month, seems like a strange sort of venue, but when all's said and done opera is only singing songs to music.

Excellent performance tonight, Ralph relaxed and looking like he was really enjoying himself.  Will write a full review shortly but this did not seem to be the tour of someone planning to stop anytime soon.

Clonter opera is near congleton

Thanks Jim.  To be honest Macclesfield or Congleton makes little difference.  It's still a farm in the middle of nowhere and we'll need the Satnag to get there.

Still a few tickets left for Ralph's final concert of the year at Cadogan Hall (http://www.cadoganhall.com/event/ralph-mctell-121208/) in London on Saturday.

Did I mention that Lady YaBB and I will be there?

Hmmm... One lone stall in the 3rd row (A few Talkawhilers in that row, incl. myself). Also some seats in the gallery.

I'm not too impressed with the gallery at Cadogan hall It's a great venue generally, but the gallery does not have enough rake for the seats further back to get a decent view.  I found that out when I went to see Seth Lakeman there a couple of months ago.

....Anyway, I'm looking forward to my annual dose of live Ralph this Saturday....

No, great, see you in the foyer for the TAW meet!

Where and what time? Is there a bar?! :P

Are you coming down from up norf then?
In the past we have informally met up whilst congregating in the foyer at Cadogan (which opens a long time before the performance).

Of course there is! ;D

Yes, packing my long johns for the trek darn sarf. Meeting friends for a meal pre-gig then hope to recognise a few more faces in the bar foyer.

I really can't remember a more enjoyable concert by Ralph and that's going back many a decade.

A really good selection of songs and styles, covering his whole career. Great musicianship, songwriting, humour and warmth.

Also nice to meet the good turnout of TAWers, albeit briefly, with some top Ralph stalking by JJ.  ;D  (photos ?)

My comment to Ralph post show was "you have matured musically like a fine wine"  ;) :D A favourite song from the show I cannot say, each one sung with warmth and feeling. I really do find "You well meaning" so difficult, from a painful time in Ralph's long career. What a brilliant re-do of 'Sand in your Shoes' sounded so good with harmonica adding depth and variance to this good song.

Ralph's only complaint was the absence of a beer at the signing table which was the longest I have ever seen. The 'orderly' queue (not very well organised, as we merged in with the merch table, so there was some polite jostling for position) wound snake-like in the foyer of this magnificant venue. I have a feeling that this is Ralph's favourite venue and I have to say I think he saves the best til last!  8)

The TAW company was great but the absence of our friend JohnB for the pre-concert drinks had me concerned that he was lost somewhere in London but good to say he wasn't missing so a quick hello/goodbye after the show to John made a perfect evening!  :-*

For those interested, Ralph's son Tom wasn't well so we saw the return of Donard on sound as a one off, Ralph seemed relaxed and happy about that.

Bought 'B2.'  Look forward to next year!  ;D

What can I add to that?

I really enjoyed the show, but then one thing that struck me was how much Ralph was obviously enjoying the show as well  :)

Nice to meet up in the foyer before he show.... Same time next year?

Safely back in the Irwell Valley, I can reflect on yesterday's excitement in the big city. Having booked a hotel on King's Cross Rd, we thought that Russell Square was a nearer Tube station so set out in that direction. On the way we saw a No. 19 bus to Sloan Square and jumped on. At Green Park we were suddenly told to get off without explanation. Green Park station was closed and I have never seen such a press of people not knowing how to get to their destinations. In short, we walked, and got to our restaurant on time. After a lovely dinner with friends, we arrived at Cadogan at 7.35 and went in the first door we came to, which was the box office. The door from there went into the huge bar. Which is why I never found the foyer. Sorry guys! Thanks, JJ, for seeking me out after the show! Great to see you again, and Colin... and several other friends made during forty-odd years of McTell concert-going!

I found fresh meaning in 'You Well-Meaning' during the tour and again last night. In 1971 it was a young man's lament, but in 2012 it applies to a lifetime's work. Yes, Ralph, you have done your best, and very good it is. Thank you.

Thanks for your fine reports good people  ;)

An inspired choice from there - You sir, are the London Apprentice!  ;D

No Prob - Same time, same place, next year? (Doesn't the Box office lobby lead into to the foyer-which does have a bar counter near the door to the box office???)

The venue and official stalker!  ;D

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McStalker..  ::) :D Of course, only in the line of duty so I am able to report back from the horses mouth so to speak...

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This boy from the north country was quite oppressed by the west end throng and very glad to find a way out albeit on foot!


In which case we did find the foyer! We stood at that bar for 20 mins. Where was the TaW cohort?

Clustered around a small table in the quarter of the room that the merch table against one wall and the stairs to the low numbered stalls and to the gallery.

You certainly were unlucky to get tipped out of a bus that was being short tripped, at a place where the local tube station was evacuated!. Green Park is a major interchange station and I can imagine the chaos outside if they had to close that.

Just posted on Ralph's website (http://www.ralphmctell.co.uk/):

"Happy New Year to all our visitors.

"See behind the scenes photographs from the last tour by clicking here (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c8badfe87817b3f7&id=C8BADFE87817B3F7%21558&Bsrc=Share&Bpub=SDX.SkyDrive&sc=Documents)."

This link (https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=c8badfe87817b3f7&id=C8BADFE87817B3F7%21558&Bsrc=Share&Bpub=SDX.SkyDrive&sc=Documents) may work better.

Thanks John Andy....Unfortunately despite jumping through hoops neither link works for me!

They both take you to a skydrive sign in page..?

Try going to the website first.

Thanks again All...I am sorted and delighted ;D

Yes, thanks, works from Ralph's website and I must say there are lots of terrific photos there. Good to see Ralph working with his son Tom, many of the pictures show them looking fairly serious and pensive at times, I love the way photos can do this, capturing 'the moment' 8 frames a second springs to mind....  ;)

 I think the black and white shots are lovely.