TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Not sure if this is the best place to post (please move it if not), but according to Richard Digance post on Facebook, he's not at Cropredy next year. I for one think it is a bit of a shame.  I wonder what the chaps are planning...

His website says 2017 is his 50th anniversary in the business and the entire month of August is marked out as 'Summer Break'.

Jasper Carrot was pretty good a couple of years ago.

Oh dear... there's a shame....   ;D

Jasper will be great!

Excellent news.

I was thinking to myself that for many this should have been posted in the TUT thread.   ;)

Jules

has there been a falling out?

Nah, I've never been a fan.  Oh, hang on, you didn't mean that, did you?   ;)

The reaction to this news on the Facebook Fairporters page has been bordering on hysterical and completely over the top.

It doesn't matter to me if he's there or not : he's ok but maybe it's time to try something else in that slot ? Another folky comedian type, perhaps ?

Pro Digance, you mean?

Burn him!  He's a witch!   ;)

Jules

Well , it may not matter to you or to many of us who endured his right wing hanky waving antics, but he has been a fixture in the 12.00 slot on saturday for many years and i assume he would have been expecting to be there to warm up the crowd on the 50th anniversary cropredy, so it's fair game for us to speculate as to why he will be absent next year.
 

I agree, it's totally fair game to speculate as to why he won't be there next year, and I must say I'm surprised by the news, just finding the extreme reactions of some people on social meeja a bit odd.

Making more room for Fairport-related acts hopefully.

The "making room" reasoning works, or they could have started at 11!

Personally I can't stand the man, but then again, he can't stand me, so that's fine. I know a lot of people love him, so I understand their being upset, but changes happen. I look forward to the announcements of acts in the next few months.

There is a certain amount of prejudice knocking about here (I've never been to Crop and I don't hold Jeremy C's views) and I'm aware that he upset some of you some years ago but I can only go on what I have seen in concert which is a very good singer-songwriter and someone who is extraordinarily funny.  

What was his name then?   ;)

Jules

Have you ever seen him?

who is Jeremy C?

I believe he is the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition, Jim.  

Should we have a binding referendum over Digexit?

I thought he was the bloke who punched a producer at the BBC!

Post of the week!

I did actually think he meant Clarkson!

Jules

I think he meant that he's not a socialist, and in this respect his politics are more in tune with Dicky D than some of the rest of us.

(But I have only reached this conclusion now that I understand he didn't mean Clarkson.)

Jules

Cropredy is different(better) than all the others because of its little traditions.

We meet noonish at the Cricket Pavilion on Thursday.

Fairport Acoustic open it at 4pm on thursday after the bell is rung in the village.

Richard Digance frolics at 12 noon on saturday (and if you want a referendum them look at the numbers on the field at 12 noon Saturday and then those still there at 2pm).

Leatherat play at the brasenose about 4-30.

We gather to poison each other at about 7pm.

Fairport close it on Saturday night and end with Matty followed by Meet on the ledge.

ANYTHING that changes any of that is a crime against me personally. I abhor it.

Digance MUST play at 12.

Had anyone considered that he might just not want to?

Is he involved in this decision then?

- Puzzled of Llandybie.

He's the bass player in The Levellers.

Ah, that explains Mister D. not appearing at Beautiful Days.

Much as I love you Trev, there was a time before Digance at Cropredy............

Cropredy hasn't always HAD a Thursday lunchtime at which to meet.

Whilst "Fairport Acoustic open it at 4pm on thursday after the bell is rung in the village." is only in the last few years.

As I said before (perhaps elsewhere) the only tradition at Cropredy that really matters is that Fairport finish the festivities. Everything else is up for grabs. If, as ChrisB suggests, this may mean an additional slot for the Fairport family, I'm sure many will be in favour, even if it is only for one year.

A prime example of the extreme reactions I referred to in my earlier post is kicking off right now on the Fairporters Facebook page !

RD a sensitive soul? Perleeze.....about the least sensitive artist I can think of.

"Anyone have a means of contact?"....maybe his afore-mentioned Facebook page? Doh!

And it seems as though dissenters (although there isn't much expressed support for Digance actually (in terms of % of likers of that page)) aren't welcome there. I'm happy not to be on there! Awful .

Does seem to be split by length of 'service' at Cropredy. Those who have been going longer than Digance have had enough, those more recent Goers are aghast.

Seems as though a hanky protest might be being planned?

Maybe we could have a Jeremy C supergroup with Corbyn, Clarkson, and that chap from the Levellers.

Jules

What pray tell, has Jeremy Corbyn's views got to do with all this? Gawd help us.

I've already explained this, Pete.  Digance is no lefty, and neither, it would seem, is Mr Blagden.  Some of Digance's detractors clearly are, and it is after all his political leanings that seem to disturb most of the feathers that he ruffles.

Jules

...and Jasper Carrott.  ;D

You beat me to it Dave.

These are very recent traditions, to the degree that they are not, in fact, traditions. There were far more years when RD did not play on Saturday lunchtime than when he has.

Richard Digance is a bit of fun on Saturday early doors which a good deal of people have enjoyed over the years, however other opening acts are available and I am sure that if he isn't going to be there next year for whatever reason both Cropredy and everyone who attends it WILL survive and find other entertainment for the 12.00 slot, I know I will. Can you imagine the posts on here if the Bar decided it wasn't going to attend next year, He He. ps I was gutted when Welsh Lamb Oggies disappeared off the menu (hint hint if your listening Oggie stallholder).

They could do a Johnny Cougar song, with a four and a half minute solo by John Cage in the middle?

Thank you Jules, you beat me to it and put my view more articulately than I could.

And then Jesus Christ could turn all the water into Wadsworth 6X.

Jules

Seems that those that care really care a little too much.

Seems those that don't care really don't care.

Coming at the moment from a country were divisive is the new norm I was hoping for a little calm here, hey ho.

Seems like Digance has made his own choice for his own reasons and those that want him to play want him to play. Not much anyone can do about that apart from accept his choice.

Of course the conspiracy theorists will read into it what they will.

The truth is that Mr. Digance has joined a socialist commune and cannot admit he has realized he was wrong all along. :o :o

15,000 people will cry into their white hankies (since they've no other use for them now...)

Seriously, I do think it's a bit sad. I have immensely enjoyed him over the years and fitted in his gig as part of the annual ritual (Burger on the bridge, car boot sale, Digance...)

And yes, he is a political dinosaur, and an uber-sensitive prat, But he's also immensely talented, a superb singer-songwriter, raconteur and guitarist IMHO. So I'll put up with the rest, as many thousands of others do. It should be remembered that the demographic of this particular forum is skewed away from the overall Cropredy demographic (especially given his rather personal and puerile antipathy towards it).

But hey ho, it's hardly going to put me off buying my ticket. maybe whoever takes over the slot should, in some bizarre kind of deference, include their own tissue-waving slot at 12.45. Then that could become a real Cropredy tradition that would transcend fickle individuals...

I'm missing something here. IMHO.  

Not being a member of Facebook or any other forums, does this mean that he will not be back after next year?

At the moment all he has said is that he won't be there in 2017 as he'll have just completed an 80-gig tour and is taking August off.

Thanks, Andy.

Well I'll miss him. I find him very funny and a great start to the Saturday, as do thousands of others. I'd much rather have a laugh  :D  than a moan  >:(

From his website.  He must be doing something right to have lasted so long.

Richard is a BAFTA Nominated  entertainer and a Gold Award recipient from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He is also listed in the Virgin Anthology of Music as an influential writer of comedic songs. Not many guitarists have played a duet with Queen's Brian May, worked with Steve Martin, played an acoustic set with Status Quo or performed at The London Palladium with the late Robin Williams, Richard has 3 million YouTube hits, 27 albums and a Golden Anniversary Tour, 50 years of songs and stories, coming in 2017

It never ceases to amaze me when people who don't like someone can't understand why other people do! I can't stand Cliff Richard but he has thousands (maybe millions) of fans across the globe. It doesn't make them wrong, or me wrong for that matter.
RD is a seasoned performer. So what if he does hold views to the right of the political spectrum? that's not a crime and obviously doesn't bother FC in any way as they still book him and rave about him and what a good friend and performer he his.

Really? I have always thought that TAW was a pretty broad church.

The folk music community however (to generalise enormously) seems largely liberal centre left leaning, not least because much of the traditional music is rooted in the experience of and is sympathetic to the working man and that chimes with the sensibilities of such an audience. In a crowd of 20,000 people you will of course find the full diversity of viewpoints but it has always seemed to me that the Cropredy audience largely conforms to that demographic.

RD stands out because his views are at odds with that ethos. However, he probably does not view himself as being part of the folk tradition.

Are those the only alternatives?

How about laugh or dance?
Laugh or sing?
Laugh or picnic?
Cake or death?  ;)

It's about context and personal beliefs, isn't it?  If somebody said to me "read this article in The Sun, it's really funny", and I read it and actually found it not only not very funny, but actually offensive, then the other person's insistence that I've got no sense of humour or that I'm just a moaning git will probably result in two people who can't understand each other at all.

Still, "you gotta laugh", as they say.

Jules

Indeed, though what I was really, satirically trying to get at was the implication that the only alternative to Mr Digance's presence is for everyone to be miserable.

Oh my!! I was staying out of this.
Richard has done the lunchtime spot at Cropredy since 2002.
Some people liked him some didn't.( for varied reasons).
So there were 23(??!) Cropredys before him and this yr he has chosen not to do it.
End of.
An opportunity for the  return of the mighty Chuckletruck? :o ??? ;D

Bring back Captain Coco's Country Dance Band!  :)

Cake or Death.

Now there's a mantra I can shout from the barricades!!!

I like it  :D

IN MY OPINION he is a very average guitarist and singer, and I just don't find him amusing.
This is an open forum and I'm merely expressing my view.
We can't all agree that waving a handkerchief around for ten minutes is remotely entertaining.  ;D

 :)

I choose..... CAKE!

Copywright E. Izzard. And if you have never heard that routine, I urge you to seek it out. One of the funniest things ever (imho).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csgReYhhVCg

As a matter of interest. who IN YOUR OPINION is amusing?

Jasper Carrot.

Billy Conolly.

Etc

Nope. Not Carrott.

Mike Harding was a great comic performer, he has also written a few good songs and I believe he has some sort of connection to folk music. It would be good to see him tell a joke again.

Indeed. ..

http://www.mikehardingfolkshow.com/

Cake or Death.

Now there's a mantra I can shout from the barricades!!!
 ;D

Still, at least with Mr. D making this announcement in advance it's cleared the way for when the official line up is announced and we won't have to have this discussion all over again. It also ensures the focus is on him right now, rather than overshadowing (say) who might be closing on the Friday - the, if you will, pre-Digance spot.  

I see Chuckletruck. have been playing the Golden Coast Holiday Park in Woolacombe recently! Perfect!😱😀
Brij , if you wonder who Chuckletruck are, they did the last Saturday lunchtime spot before RD arrived.
Comedy show band from Banbury!
Go to go now. Decorating.
Ceilings, stop painting bloody ceilings............

I'd definitely turn up at the field on time for this !... ;D ;D

John Shuttleworth... 8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVJhY0bXUCg

I give up......

Yeah, right.   ;)

Jules

I like the idea of John Shuttleworth, but of course it doesn't have to be a "comedy" spot it can be anything the organisers want it to be. A massed Morris, a film about FC down the ages, a popular beat combo. Frankly, I can't wait to find out.

I don't care who it is as long as it isn't Jasper Carrot, whose free 20 minute slot I didn't find even slightly funny the other year.

I love the old Digance Saturday morning performance as far as I am concerned it has become a Cropredy institution and would be like not having  Leon's , 6X or the Goan fish curry stall .

Hello Again folks, can we keep it civil, and on topic please?  [;-)

What will happen now, after a bit of eye scratching, hair-pulling and handbags at dawn here, the old f***** will decide he's playing after all.

It's not his political leanings that bother me, it's just the 'miserable old git' stage personality I dislike.
 I used to be a real fan, back in the 70s/80s when he was playing the folk clubs, until I met and spoke to him after one gig when he was really rude and offensive to me. I think he's a clever, witty man, but appears to be an egotistical a**e.

That's why I dislike him.....I like some of the songs, and he can be funny, but I'm not a fan. I don't get cross with people who like him. Everyone has their opinion, and it's right for them. No need to be rude

Diane that's one of the reasons I never speak to these people except to say, "well done, thanks very much". A very well-known keyboard player plays a monthly gig near me, and puts on a fantastic show, but when he's not on stage he is, *ahem*, not the pleasantest conversationalist. Even his band tend to ignore him.  But who cares? He's an old man, and he spends so much energy doing his job, that I'm surprised the bugger can walk off stage.

There is a thing on TAW where you allowed to be critical about an artists performance, but not make personal comments. However it's a bit of a fine line where you have personal experience of meeting the person.

Personalty I can see the attraction in what he does and some of his material is very clever, but then he goes and piles on the sugary overly patriotic nostalgia for a Britain that never was.

Please try to keep it the comments reasoned.  [;-)

Most of the people/musicians are lovely.

Sorry Colin,...bad day :-[. Please remove my post if you think it is inappropriate

It's a special year. Wouldn't it be good to start Saturday with something loud, bouncy and completely unexpected and with a Fairport connection!

The Morris On Band?

A thumbs up from me but even better would be a return of the GPs, wonderful joyful stuff last time.

Great band.  Yes please.

A fair bet that they will all be there

Last time around - when was that - they 'just' did a mini-set within the main set didn't they?  3 songs maybe?  Or am I wrong...?

All who have been coming since well before Digance, who would be the new kid on the block amongst them :-)

You are right. And I had entirely forgotten about it until you mentioned it.

I'd certainly be at the front for them!!

The Cropredy Box had Cut Across Shorty, which to my mind was the last time they were all together as The GP's.

the GP's(full line up) appeared a couple of years ago for a brief set

Can anyone put me out of my misery and supply a timeline of GP's appearances?

Unless I'm mistaken, the GP's last appeared in 2009, the track "Can't Be Satisfied" is on the Off The Screen DVD.

Funny, isn't it? How comedians are like Marmite and when one person makes a suggestion for a RD replacement there is always someone else ready to jump in and say "ooh, not THEM!"

Well, I'll have my tuppence worth now.

I like RD on a Saturday morning,  though there have been times I wish he'd be less Daily Mail in his views. But he can play guitar and sings a pretty good song. And you only have to see the number of folk waving their white hankies in the air during his set to see how much people look forward to him.

I really like Jasper Carrott and Mike Harding and would love to see either or both of them on stage at Cropredy. Likewise the wonderful but increasingly frail Billy Connolly.

Whatever happens won't please everyone, but there's enough to do around the field and the village if you don't want to watch, and you can be damn sure that whoever it is, there's going to be a rush of people trying to get in to a good position with their encampments for the day. And thousands of Cropredy-goers will enjoy it, because they go with that intention.

Indeed, whoever it is, the field will only be slightly less full on Saturday lunchtime!

What about a proper set from Anthony John Clarke?