TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

http://www.festivalfolk.co.uk/

Feel like telling us more, Joss?

Hi Chris & everybody - thanks for raising this, still working my way through a long list!

Please look at my website promoting the book at www.festivalfolk.co.uk for full details, postal ordering and on-line ordering.

The book is 'Festival Folk - a celebration of the unique style of Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival'. 112 pages containing approx 270 photographs of festivalgoers and performers in all their colourful finery and believe me, there's some fine looking people out there! The photos were taken over the last 10 years.

It's at the printers now and due to me by the end of next week. Apart from fulfilling postal orders, it's first public appearance will be at Tewkesbury on 2nd Feb, although I hope to drop off copies at Cropredy (Bridge Store & Green Scene) on the way over.

It also contains an entertaining 3 page essay by Catherine Hayward, fashion director of Esquire magazine, an erudite foreword by Simon Nicol, and some beautiful celtic artwork by artist Donna Westley.

Finally, profits from the sale will be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust which is the trust supported previously by the folk fraternity through the Hearts of England cds.

Hope you all buy it and enjoy it!!
regards
Joss

Looks Good Joss. Had problems trying to order it tonight but that was probably down to me and not entering the right addresses or whatever. Have just moved house and haven't caught up with all the change of address details yet.

Anyway. Will sort that tomorrow and get it oredered.

thanks

MikeC 

Excellent work Joss. Looking forward to seeing the copies at The Green Scene. I hope you sell shed loads.
Steve (Heart of England)

Looks wonderful... it'll be on my (Feb) birthday desires list... I'll catch it on the wintour.

Amy :)

Looks wonderful Joss. I'll be getting one in Chesterfield. Well done, great cause.

I ordered one today....

looks fascinating

Jude

Many thanks for your orders and expressions of interest. I think you'll find the book different & fun !!  As you are probably aware, 99.9% of music publishing concentrates on the musicians.  I decided to turn my attention & camera to the audience because, lets face it, there's some fantastic looking people/outfits at Cropredy.

As far as I'm aware, there is very little else published in the way of 'music people pictures' - the only two related books I have are Jeremy Sandford & Ron Reid's TOMORROWS PEOPLE published in 1974, and Lynne Elstob & Anne Howes THE GLASTONBURY FESTIVALS published in 1987.  Other books major on the artists.  Does anyone know of any other British festival, or audience orientated books of photographs?

Having said that, I have included pictures of artists too, and Jude (nice to hear from you), there's a lovely one of you, even if I say so myself. I hope you like it too.

Regards
Joss

Oooh!! Can't wait now!!!

Jude  8)  :o (not really shocked but those eyes are amazing!!!)

[Oooh!! Can't wait now!!!]

Of course, I could always e-mail you a scan, Jude, but that would take away the fun of eager anticipation!!  No, on second thoughts if I start that I don't know where it will end.
 

Just a thought (though probably already been asked & answered) but who gives a sh1t cares...

Maybe some copies of the book could be stacked on the CD table at the forthcoming Winter Tour gigs ?

While I am sure FC would like to see maximum 'pocket-money' being spent on tee-shirts & CD's (quite understandably and why not ?).. maybe a little corner can be found for this book for the benefit of the Teenage Cancer Trust ? ::)

http://www.fairportconvention.com/news13.htm

Hi Nuthouse - yes thanks, FC have kindly agreed to sell them on their stall.  I am taking a supply over to Tewkesbury ready for the opening night.

Well that's fantastic.......

I am in the process of catching up as I killed my broadband by downloading a recommended upgrade ! - so I perhaps should have read all messages and links before responding... but what the heck !

Once again, FC show where their heart is....... a glass is raised in their direction... and look forward to picking up my copy !

Best wishes.....

Hey - that's no problem, I do the same myself sometimes, much to my embarassment!

Hope you enjoy the book when you see it. I know I can't wait to see the finished product.  It's all very well checking proofs and so on but they're not the real thing.  The book has been printed and folded, but before the Printers bind it on Monday/Tuesday, they are delivering a final set of printed pages to me tomorrow for one final check. 

Regards
Joss

Will the book be available for us fans in the USA?

I just ordered one now from the USA via the PAYPAL link in the "Order Now" selection on the book's website.

Cheers ///  Tom***

No no I want the excitement of opening the book and looking through it!  ;D

Jude

Thanks Westwind & Basinger - yes USA orders can be placed through the website using Paypal.  Europe is also catered for on the website.

If there's anyone elsewhere in the world who would like a copy, you can either:  use the US$ Paypal facility (the postage & packing charge is the same for anywhere outside Europe, or please email me first & we'll sort something out. email is: thiswaybooks@btinternet.com

I received from the printers a final set of printed pages today - they look fabulous (well I would say that wouldn't I!!). Binding on Monday, shrink wrapping mid week, delivery to me Friday 28th or Monday 31st.

Cheers
Joss


 

And here's the link again www.festivalfolk.co.uk  on this page.

Look forward to reading it - the picture on the site of a chap with a spiral of skeletons on his back looks like a friend of mine. The one who named me "Toerag" in fact - I await the photos with anticipation  8).

Received my copy this morning.

What a stunning book it is!

Ok. Own up. How many board members will admit to being in it?

And what page are you on?

My picture's gorgeous and my daughter-in- law will be amazed to see her sequinned/mirrored jacket in all it's glory.

(I borrowed it from her. It was the closest thing to 1967 wear I could find)

Thankyou Joss. It's a treasure of a book. 8)

Jude

The only board member that I can see is Kaylakins in her fairy outfit.... :D

It's a superb book - really captures Cropredy :)

Yes, this book is a MUST for every Cropredian  O0

Lots of pink hair in the book. Most of the people looked like someone I know (but not quite).

Made me all the more keen on a return to Cropredy - Roll on August!  [;-)

There's one person who features x times......who can work out how many?

Good competition Chris !!! have fun searching !   ::)

Can we assume that person isn't a member of the band (or ex member)??

Amy

Maart Allcock: 3 times
annA rydeR: 4 times.

You can.....so keep going, Ulla. Please provide a description of this person, too.....

I noticed a girl with pink hair and a pierced tongue that appeared about 5 times, I believe.

Well done Toerag! Got it in one..... ;D

Hasn't anyone found & named the Fez's yet ?

Still looking for the fezzes Joss...

Amy ;)

I finally got a chance on the weekend to sit back, relax, and browse through the whole book.
(Not with a pint of Guinness, unfortunately; I was at my son's high school track meet, occupying myself between his races.)

It is really a beautiful work, Joss.   I say this even despite the fact that I didn't make it in there myself (in my only opportunity, 2004); the only category in which I might have been a contender was the t-shirt section.   What the h*ll, my odds were only 1 in 20,000 or so!

The "Style On Stage" section was great, to see the differences in people over the years, and for 2004, to get some pictures that I missed getting myself.   My camera's flash was too anemic to give me good pictures of FC and Jethro Tull because they performed after dark.   Also, I missed out on getting pictures of the Morris On band and the Morris dancers; I was holding the camera above my head to get above the people standing in front of me, but I angled it downward too much and mostly just took pictures of the backs of those people.   Your pictures helped me out wonderfully on those situations (and you, no doubt, got better pictures than I would have gotten, anyway).

Also, your pictures of the nearby camping areas and the canal and Cropredy village are good to have because I did not get to take any of these; I and my family did not camp out, but stayed in a B & B in Bodicote (just south of Banbury).   While at the festival, I concentrated on the music and did not walk into the village until after midnight when it was time to catch the bus.

For those of us situated away from the local FC fan social circles, it could be fun if board members note here their own appearance(s) in the book (give page number), or the identity of people they know.

I would surely think that if you have any copies left by the time of Cropredy 2005, you will sell out the rest there!


Many thanks / Cheers,
Tom***

I sold three for Joss this weekend...

... all to board members too.. only one of them is in it though!!

Amy ;)

Just got the book as a birthday pressie - brilliant it is too, well done Joss and all  [;-) I'm not in it cos I'm not hippy enough! Must do something about that this Croppers!!!!! - JJ will have a new look!!!  [;-)

Thanks Tom - sounds like you've studied it cover to cover! Thank you, very pleased to hear you are enjoying it, and understanding the layouts!

JJ - thanks - so what style will you go for?

Amy - well done & thanks. Glad to hear the first evening at Farnsfield went well.

I'll be at High Wycombe on saturday, if anyone would like a signed copy. See you there  ;)

Good to see it on sale at the Stables last night.

Thanks for signing my copy!

delfini

Tom - nice idea to ask people to identify themselves if they want to, but I'm not so sure about suggesting they should identify other people they know. Although people were gracious enough to be photographed, some people could possibly not want their names publicised too, after all, even on this site not all board members show their own picture.  For this reason I deliberately omitted names from the book, apart from the performers of course.

Hope this suggestion doesn't spoil anyone's fun.

Got my copy last week, its fantastic, i want to be there now!!
When is volume 2 due?

hi Hippybird - as soon as we've sold another 1200 plus !!!! ;D

Joss

There is a copy of this on EBay. It says it is direct from the publishers, and the proceeds do go to the cancer trust. I prseume this is put there by you, and not some scam that you are not aware of.

Paul

hi Paul, yes it is my advert, but thanks for mentioning it.  In case you're wondering, its shown at £14.99 cos I pay less eBay fees at this price instead of £15 !!  So, I sell it for less, and make more !!! its a topsy turvy world   ^-^

But, I still make more for the charity from my website www.festivalfolk.co.uk, so if anyone in TalkAwhile is thinking of buying a copy, please go through the website and not eBay. Thank you

Will do  ;) If you get an order from Ipswich anytime soon it'll probably be for a surprise birthday present, by the way (I've been dropping hints for weeks)....obviously any signatures are always welcome  ::) . Not least of all yours  ;) . Good work Joss - it's rare that you get to combine a passion with a...well...passion.
Very Best Wishes
SKx   

Joss, the "order from Ipswich" was in fact placed today from Coggeshall in Essex, so if you'd like to annotate the margins for the boy Skirky (or Shane as we often know him), that'd be great.

Can everyone please not mention to Skirky that we've bought him 'Festival Folk' for his birthday. Cheers. Oh wait a minute.... ::)

OK, James. Won't say a word about Skirky's birthday present.

Everybody just act normal, right.

In very quiet voice...

'WHEN IS SHIRKY'S BURPDAY THEN JAMES??'

Amy ;)

Amy, I had to ask a girl but I'm told it's on 24th March.  ::) But don't let on that you know.

sssssssssssch,  ok !!!

...ok James I won't....

Amy ;) :D

Just wanted to say "great book".  Got my copy at St Albans on Friday (busted the merchandise budget a bit but hey, it's all in a good cause!)

It's brillig!

Oh Joss  what a great book ,I bought mine  from amethyst at the Farnsfield  David Hughes gig.
Just a slight concern ---
 It was only recently (past 4 years) that I decided to risk going to Cropredy. Yes I`m regretting not going before. The courage it took for me to go was  enormous. I was seriously concerned that I would not "FIT IN". Yes I was wrong.
Your book, for anyone having never been to Cropredy  or wish they dare give it a go , may be put off from going because they ,being self concious , will feel too square. The photos show a sample of characters who attend. But no Square folks .
It would  certainly scare me off from going to Cropredy if I`d never been before.
GET MY DRIFT?

I asked John Kirkpatrick, on saturday, if he would sign the photo of him on page 109 of the book, which he was quite happy to do.  Though he was a bit bemused by the date, which says he was there last year.  I was a bit confused by this too.....thought maybe I was having a senior moment, or a 6xxx memory blip ::),  but he said he definatly wasn't there last year, but the year before. He liked the book though!! ;D

Angela

Joss

My friend bought 2 books last night at the Southend gig and got them signed by the band!  ;) Such a good cause!

Time for an alternative version, d'you reckon?  :)

"Square'n'Crusty" (hm...sounds like a pizza)

It was great to meet you and pastiegrrrrlll at David Hughes' Farnsfield gig - I thought you looked pretty groovy  8)

And I think you have a very good point.

So...what now?

PS Claudie (Banks?) is getting a copy for her Birthday. Shhh....don't tell her  ;)

 :)

For some of us 'Round and Creased' more hits the mark :) :)

Sandra

Page 23 Nick, Mark and A N Other perhaps?

MikeC - who was wearing his Fez but was probably at the Bar buying everyone a drink when this photo was taken ;) ;D

Good spot Denjack - there had to be one mistake!!!  I trawled through the dates several times to check & re-check, but oh dear, there had to be one!!!
Apologies to John Kirkpatrick, Kevin Dempsey & Dave Pegg.

From the fairport website:

"Photographer Joss Mullinger and Fairport's Simon Nicol will be signing copies of Festival Folk at two midlands book shops during April.

"Joss put together the photographic essay about Cropredy and its audience and Simon contributed the Foreword. Profits from sales of Festival Folk are being donated to Teenage Cancer Trust, the charity which supports young cancer sufferers and their families.

"The first book signing takes place at Ottakers, Castle Shopping Centre, Banbury on Saturday 16 April starting at 1pm.

"The second signing is at 7pm on the evening of Friday 22 April at The Book Shop, West Street, Chipping Norton."

If you haven't already purchased this book, then may I recommend it? If you can't get to the book signings, you might try phoning the shop and asking if they can get one signed and post it to you, charging your credit card over the phone.

Just a thought - a good cause to support.

My copy arrived very promptly to day and I'm in it.  :)

Paul

And what page is that then Paul?

Jude

The front piece.

Magnifying glasses on standby. To the right of the bloke with the beard and the girl with the hat there is me lying back looking at my camera screen.

Nice picture of you Jude.

Paul

Ah so you are Paul, and very relaxed you look too........  I think....


Jude

I'm sitting on a legless chair. Possibly not the only thing that was legless in the photograph  ;D They give a little support to the back, without blocking the view of people behind. Unfortunately they are not the most comfortable chairs in the world.

Paul

Excellent Paul - it's amazing how many people have got in touch with me having found themselves in the book, and not just the main subject pix but people who've found themselves in the backgrounds.

Without being disrespectful to anyone, does anyone remember the 'Where's Wally?' books in the 1980's?  It seems like 'Festival Folk'  has an element of that !!!

Happy hunting folks !!

Joss

Looks like a good book - must investigate closer  ;)

J-B-M

Never managed to spot any of mine, but.... for the first time ever, I can clearly make out my FLAG!!!  :D
- (well it's not very big, out of consideration for those behind)

Thought you might be interested in seeing a review of the book 'FESTIVAL FOLK' which appears in the October/November issue of the USA magazine 'Dirty Linen'.    Many thanks to the journalist Pamela Murray Winters who has written this great review!!   If you try googling her name you'll find she has written interesting articles on a wide variety of musicians.

I've had difficulty attaching the actual review but I'll ask Chris to help.

In the meantime, if anyone has not yet bought a copy this is an opportunity to learn a bit more about it and to whet your appetite. I have received so many enthusiastic responses and good feedback that I am happy to guarantee your money back if you don't enjoy it !!! (returned in good nick of course!).    There are still copies available but i need to sell them all (from the limited edition of 1500) in order to finalise the profit amount to be donated to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Please visit www.festivalfolk.co.uk to order

cheers
Joss




 

OK - here it is....from a journalist on the Washington Times, no less - although this was written for Dirty Linen, the US equivalent of our FRoots, I suppose.

FESTIVAL FOLK
by Joss Mullinger and Catherine Hayward
This Way Books ISBN 0-9549434-0-6 (2005); £15

If you've ever been to Fairport Convention's Cropredy festival, you'll want a gander at this book - even if you don't have the same dedication to the event as the woman whose back, tattooed with a tasteful dragons-and¬-vines-bedecked "Fairport Convention Cropredy”, is pictured on the front cover.

Simon Nicol confirmed by e¬mail that it's a real tattoo, and he should know - this most eloquent Fairporter wrote the foreword to this photo collection. Catherine Hayward, fashion editor of Esquire (!), describes the clothing worn by the photos' subjects as "style innovation in its purest form. Alternative, entrepre¬neurial, and sometimes ever so slightly loopy."

Now I've been to Cropredy a half-dozen times or so, and I've seen few of these colorful folk - mostly it's lots of Fairport-related T-shirts, muddy Doc Martens, and rookie-¬Caucasian sunburns.

Joss Mul1inger, who shot these photos in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has clearly gone out of his way to show the most exotic creatures in that temporary Eden by the canal. Some of the photos are grouped by "festival style themes"¬ - hair, T-shirts, hats, beards. (My editor quipped, "What, no 'bald heads'?") My favorite "model" is on p.76, a grey-haired fellow whose nickname, Bazza, is woven in beads into twin strands of his long beard.

Photos of Cropredy performers also appear, including a really sweet one of Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy, who seem to be fondly watching and applauding daughter Eliza Carthy during her 2001 set. But the best moments for nostalgists such as myself (as I write this review, it's just days before a Cropredy 1 won't be attending) come from catching glimpses of the shuttle bus, the Brasenose Arms, and the Canoe Club breakfast sign. Proceeds from this book benefit England's Teenage Cancer Trust. Alas, no shoppers' guide to Britfolk-themed tattoos is included.

- Pamela Murray Winters    (Churchton, MD)

Obviously wasn't there this year, then! ;D

Just updated the Festival Folk website with 3 pix from Cropredy 2005, with any luck I might be able to get some more different ones onto here for you to see.

 http://www.festivalfolk.co.uk/events_3.htm

cheers
Joss

Joss have you got a book out ?

whats it about?

Errrr....read the thread???

I suspect, ChrisBatesDotOrg, that you have been taken in by the dryness and drollery of Messrs McMurphy and, errr, Jim. It's a good book, actually, I have a signed copy which has pride of place on one of my coffee tables. Haven't found myself in it yet, but one lives in hope...

oi skirks!
SSSSHHHHH

Hi folks--

Thanks, Chris, for posting my review of Festival Folk...but I have to say: Washington Post, not Washington Times! The latter is a nutbag right-wing rag (although the guy who does music reviews is a fine fellow).

Joss, great book.

Maybe next year <sigh>...