Comus for Cropredy 2011 campaign starts here!

[davidmjs]

Comus don't swear, they're just bloody odd.  I like bloody odd bigtime of course, but, I dunno, maybe small children might be scared or something?  

[Dave Brzeski]

Comus don't swear, they're just bloody odd.  I like bloody odd bigtime of course, but, I dunno, maybe small children might be scared or something?  

I clearly remember Nick Harper doing a very odd & very rude Frank Zappa cover one sunny afternoon at Cropredy.

Just put Comus on after dark & we can limit the nightmares to the adults.

[Goaty]

I clearly remember Nick Harper doing a very odd & very rude Frank Zappa cover one sunny afternoon at Cropredy.

What pickle ?

[hendo (Dave)]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

Leatherat, Digance, Levellers, anyone singing  folk songs about death and cross dressing........John Martyn, Hank Wangford,Buzzcocks,Wakeman, Danny Thompson ,3 Daft Monkeys etc family friendly??......and when did it become a family festival?
Will you please welcome onstage , the Wombles, The Ivor the Engine Roadshow(featuring Jones the Steam) the Hoobs and our headliners the Postman Pat Band with surprise guests Jess (triangle and vocals) and Mrs Goggins( sousaphone)........ I thank you.

[PLW (Peter)]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

Family festival? Remember The Bad Shepherds' All Around My Hat? And Ade's comment, "There'll be a few four year olds singing that in the car on the way home"? Effin family festivals!

[Andy]

I've no knowledge of Comus at all, what exactly is their act? On-stage sex with rabbits?

[Big Dave]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

Family festival? Remember The Bad Shepherds' All Around My Hat? And Ade's comment, "There'll be a few four year olds singing that in the car on the way home"? Effin family festivals!

Nice one peter, PMSL!  

[Shane (Skirky)]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

I suspect that the main issue is contained within that third sentence there. If as widely-listened a person as Andy (and I say that without a shred of irony) has to ask what these people do on stage, it's hardly a name likely to light up the box office, is it?

[davidmjs]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

I suspect that the main issue is contained within that third sentence there. If as widely-listened a person as Andy (and I say that without a shred of irony) has to ask what these people do on stage, it's hardly a name likely to light up the box office, is it?

I think thats very true, to an extent, but then a fair section of artistes booked for the festival could very easily fit into the same category (or a different specialist appeal sector).  There's only really ever 3 or 4 acts booked over the 3 days who are specifically there to bring in ticket sales I'd suggest...its one of the weird things about Cropredy...probably half the audience would turn up whoever was playing.

[Big Dave]

Wot David said in the closing part of his last post  

[Jim]

From what I hear (from one of the horse's mouths) it has been made known from within that Comus aren't quite what is expected for a family festival.  I can sort of understand that conclusion, if conclusion it indeed is, as disappointing as it may be.  They do have a specialist appeal....still, we can but try...and we shall  

I suspect that the main issue is contained within that third sentence there. If as widely-listened a person as Andy (and I say that without a shred of irony) has to ask what these people do on stage, it's hardly a name likely to light up the box office, is it?

I think thats very true, to an extent, but then a fair section of artistes booked for the festival could very easily fit into the same category (or a different specialist appeal sector).  There's only really ever 3 or 4 acts booked over the 3 days who are specifically there to bring in ticket sales I'd suggest...its one of the weird things about Cropredy...probably half the audience would turn up whoever was playing.

i suspect that 90% of the audience wouldnt be taking any notice whatsoever, what with bar duties, bogs and the need to fill ones face with delicious grub

[Malcolm]

There's some stuff about Comus in Electric Eden....strange. I had never heard of them nor did I know that their name comes from one of Milton's poems.

[Paolo]

Well, it's never too late for good, never too late to discover Comus  

all the best

P

[richardkendell]

Having just had a listen on Youtube I suspect the fringe artists would welcome Comus on the main stage.

[hendo (Dave)]

Is that a no to the Wombles then?

[Shane (Skirky)]

Is that a no to the Wombles then?

I'm sure they'd be wholly welcomed on the field...

[bassline (Mike)]

Especially Richard,Tomsk's son.

[hendo (Dave)]

Especially Richard,Tomsk's son.

Brilliant!
Sorry. I can only get Uncle BulGerryia so far........... but trust me i am working on it.

[Brendan]

I recently had an e-mail exchange with the creators of one of my all-time favourite wyrdfolk-rock LPs, 'First Utterance'. This of corse being the legendary Comus.

We all know by now that they are back together & gigging & planning new recordings & I for one would love to see them at Cropredy.

I have, of course, come up with numerous other suggestions over the years of artists I'd like to see play Cropredy, as have we all. So why do I particularly feel this one is worth pushing for?

I quote from the e-mail they sent me....

"We actually live about 2 fields away from the Fairport Festival site! And
yes, if enough people ask for Comus to be on at Fairport, maybe they will
have us!! So get all your friends etc., etc.........."

Can I thank the members of this site for bringing this band to my attention. I bought the double album for my best mates birthday and he absolutely loves it and now I have heard the tracks off the first album I totally understand what the fuss is all about. Thanks (exclamation mark)

They live practically next door to the site. Peggy, they will be cheap!!!!. LOL

I'm certainly going to mention this to the chaps whenever I get the chance, so if anyone else would love to see them play our festival, I suggest you do the same.

[davidmjs]

Interesting piece in David Tibet's (Current 93) latest Coptic Cat newsletter:

Comus and ‘Malgard’

I wanted to tell all those reading this update that when I was in London last week with Bobbie Watson of Comus, I was immensely privileged to hear their astonishing work ‘Malgard’.

‘Malgard’ was a 16 minute long conceptual suite in several movements and was recorded live on reel to reel at a concert in 1972, and only performed once – or at the very most twice. There was no studio recording made. Very few outside of Comus have ever heard, or even heard of, this work – including myself, and I count myself as one of the ultimate Comus obsessives!

It is a work of staggering power and beauty, capturing all the elements that made ‘First Utterance’ such a masterpiece, and developing them in a most remarkable and unpredictable way. This amazing live recording will form part of Comus’ next release (as yet untitled) and will be released in the next six months or so.

‘Malgard’! I still don’t know what has hit me; I had goosebumps hearing it in a crowded café, and even more when I listened to it at home LOUD. I still haven’t recovered! It is ASTONISHING!