The Welcome Mat: Do Come In, New Talkawhile Member

[MikeB (Mike)]

Hey Dave! Nice to see you venturing into the strange world of TAW!

Whose turn is it to bring the whisky this year?

[Andy]

Whose turn is it to bring the whisky this year?

That'd be everyone, Mike.

[Rob Anthony]

Hi,

I'm that wierd guy that stands to one side, singing along so loud I get strange looks from the band!  Everyone else ignores me, though!

Well, I used to stand - I have to sit down, these days.

[Matt_Bentley]

Hmmmm... I just spent an hour thoroughly answering all the questions from the first post, and it lost them all when I tried to place my post.

Bum rats.

[Matt_Bentley]

I shall try again...

[Matt_Bentley]

1.   Who are you and where are you from?

I’m Matt Bentley. I’m originally from Burnley, but now I live in sunny Leeds.

2.   What made you join Talkawhile?

I was looking for a general national folk forum to try to arrange gigs, meet folky people and have a lovely time. I know from looking about that this forum started with some specifics, but it appears to have grown into something thriving and wide ranging, so I figured “what the heck.”

3.   What do you know of Fairport Convention and/or Cropredy if anything?

I’ve been a fan of Richard Thompson for years, but could probably do with a bit of educating in the ways of The Fairport Convention if I’m honest.

4.   What kind of music do you like?

This is a really wide ranging question for me, as I’m quite picky with the specific artists I listen to, but quite eclectic in scope with regard to genre:
Folk:- Pretty contemporary really; people like Richard Thompson. For more Americanised stuff, I like Loudon Wainwright, Joni Mitchell, M. Ward, tom Waits etc. I also recently discovered a band called First Aid Kit, who’re great.
Rock:- I’ve always been fond of REM. I also like some of the older stuff too; The Rolling Stones, The Beatles – ranging through to things like Black Sabbath and Led Zepplin.
Dance / Electro:- Stuff like La Roux, Le Rhythm Digital, MGMT, DJ Shadow, Asian Dub Foundation, DJ Hype etc.
Metal:- Pantera, RATM etc, through to really horrible stuff like Cryptopsy.
Local:- I try to support and listen to local acts as much as possible. I can recommend a lot of my mates such as ChickenHawk (rock/metal), The Afternoon Gentlemen (grindcore), Jon Gomm (acoustic impresario), Liz Reynolds (country acoustic), Sam Airey (contemporary folk), Giles Winterton (soul and folk)…

5.   What was the last gig/festival/recital/concert that you attended?  What was it like?

The biggest festival I’ve been to was probably Leeds Fest in 2000. I was a mere boy back then, and didn’t have a great time, as I had a gippy tummy. After that I vowed never to attend another festival until I was playing it, had my own backstage area to chill in, had band only toilets, and could stay in a hotel.
I managed this in 2008 when my band (a metal band… erk, I know, but don’t worry, my stuff is very laid back and folky) played a festival in the Czech Republic to 4500 people. That was an amazing experience.
The biggest acoustic gig I’ve done recently was while supporting First Aid kit in Leeds. It was lovely, and the headline act were brilliant.

6.   What was the last CD that you bought?  Would you recommend it?

Jon Gomm – Don’t Panic. I’d definitely recommend it, as Jon is not only a scholar and a gentleman, but also one of the most gifted guitarists alive today. No joke.

7.   Complete the following sentence:
          “Tonight, Sir Robert, I am going to be my all time favourite singer “Richard Thompson” (name of singer) and I will
            sing:  “Beeswing” (name of song)

[neil fatea]

Matt,

apologies for the delay in replying. I look forward to meeting you on the boards and getting the drinks in when you're in the Arms

Welcome

Neil

[Matt_Bentley]

Matt,

apologies for the delay in replying. I look forward to meeting you on the boards and getting the drinks in when you're in the Arms

Welcome

Neil

Cheers Neil; hopefully there'll be much chatting abound

[H (Heather Smith)]

1.   Who are you and where are you from?

I'm H, well okay I was Christened Heather, but please don't call me that - the only times I get called that is when I'm working or in trouble, or both.  Usually both, come to think of it.  I'm Derbyshire born an' Derbyshire bred.

2.   What made you join Talkawhile?

I was browsing the web for Fairport related sites and found you.  I joined because I wanted to thank the people that had posted clips in the Fairport-related You Tube videos thread, seeing as I'd enjoyed them so much.

3.   What do you know of Fairport Convention and/or Cropredy if anything?

Fairport are probably, on balance my favourite band, but I wouldn't claim to be any sort of expert!  This year will be my first Cropredy

4.   What kind of music do you like?

All sorts.  I tend to prefer something reasonably up-tempo, and I like to be able to hear the lyrics (although I have extremely dodgy hearing, so lyrics that sound clear as a bell to most people can be unintelligible to me)

5.   What was the last gig/festival/recital/concert that you attended?  What was it like?

Err, did I mention a rather dodgy memory?  Oh wait, actually it would be Hastings Jack in the Green on May Day.  An excellent day out, I attend every year.  Drums, morris men, dancers, bands and lots of beer.  To quote a mate "Christmas Day?  Nah, best time of the year is 1300 on May Day, on George St, just outside the Anchor Inn".

6.   What was the last CD that you bought?  Would you recommend it?

Err, did I mention the memory thing?  I *think* it was Oysterband's The Shouting End of Life.  Would I recommend it, very much so, if you like your folk with a punk edge and politics mixed in.

7.   Complete the following sentence:
          “Tonight, Sir Robert, I am going to be my all time favourite singer ……. (name of singer) and I will
            sing:  ' ................................'   (name of song)

You want rain?  No, seriously, I have the most god-awful singing voice known to man. It has been known to cause the ears of dogs 3 miles away to bleed.

[Malcolm]

  I'm Derbyshire born an' Derbyshire bred.

Don't worry, no-one on here would be so rude as to complete that rhyme!!! ( A pal of mine's from there, so I know it)  

PS  Welcome, by the way

[H (Heather Smith)]

  I'm Derbyshire born an' Derbyshire bred.

Don't worry, no-one on here would be so rude as to complete that rhyme!!! ( A pal of mine's from there, so I know it)  

PS  Welcome, by the way

Ah, but a true native knows that the last line isn't an insult - 'wick' is local slang for quick.

Thanks for the welcome!

[Big Dave]

Nowt wrong wi' abein 'wick in yed lass, I should know   (Strong in th' arm as well!)

[H (Heather Smith)]

Nowt wrong wi' abein 'wick in yed lass, I should know   (Strong in th' arm as well!)

Ah, a fellow countyman.  Excellent news.  Bet your place is a bit quieter now Gattis' mob have moved out!

[gower flower (Shirl)]

A new Talkawhiler, and a Cropredy virgin to boot! Excellent news  

A warm welcome to you, H. I hope you will make yourself known to us at the cricket Pavilion at Thursday lunchtime, 12th August.  We are (as we often claim) mostly harmless.  

[Big Dave]

nah, still as daft as ever H, I don't why they bothered writing a script and hiring actors etc.  They could have just sent the camera crew and made a documentary over a months period especially at full moon, would have been even funnier!!!!!!   Welcome to the madhouse BTW

[H (Heather Smith)]

A warm welcome to you, H. I hope you will make yourself known to us at the cricket Pavilion at Thursday lunchtime, 12th August.  We are (as we often claim) mostly harmless.  

I certainly intent to, assuming I can find it.  Which is by no means a given, you are talking to someone capable of getting lost in the village she's lived in all her life...

Thanks Dave  

[folk fan jimmy]

I'm James/Jimmy, and from North Wales.

I signed up for talkawhile after stumbling on it a few days ago when googling for... umm, yeah. I actually have no recollection, despite it being about 12 hours ago. This is impressively poor even by my standards. Some young folk artist I saw at Warwick, probably.

I saw FC a few months ago at Shrewsbury playing an acoustic set in Theatre Severn and really enjoyed it, have never been to Cropredy but hope to get there at some point over the next couple of years.

I love lots of different types of music, mainly folk (particularly Irish) and country.

Went to Warwick over the weekend - great fun, especially the amazing Maz O'Connor, who I saw three times and just kept getting better, Tri/Niamh Boadle, great group and met Niamh who was lovely, and Jackie Oates, who I was at uni with but haven't seen for years. Oh, and Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts played Hunter Man for me - fantastic!

Picked up several CDs at Warwick, Jackie Oates' Hyperboreans, Maz O'Connor's sampler, and the 2 4Square albums - would all be high recommendations.

I've changed my mind on the singing one at least 7 times over the past 30 minutes so have finally given up!

Good to be here everyone.

[Big Dave]

You do realise of, that your life will never be the same again now dont you? Don't say I didn't warn you..... On the other hand, I dare say you're big enough and daft enough to cope!

[David (terrrrrrrr)]

Hello there Jimmy. You are guaranteed a warm welcome here. Please do join in. As the old saying goes, the more you put in, the more you get back...

[Viv G]

hi Jimmy,
Good to "meet" you