Pics from Didmarton Bluegrass Picking Weekend UK

[grandmainger]

Here are some photos and a couple of short videos from the Didmarton Bluegrass Picking Weekend 2004 (http://didmarton-bluegrass.co.uk/) I went to last weekend.

It was my first time at an event such as this! I had a whole lot of fun! When I posted here last month asking if anybody was going, I had a reply from Paul (mancmando here) who agreed to meet me at the festival and "chaperon" me as it were. It was great as I felt at home instantly. Thanks Paul http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ! Would you believe it was the first I actually saw a real life person (other than me) play the mandolin http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Overall, I thought the event was great, good concerts, excellent jamming and a brilliant atmosphere!

The video clips are 40 seconds quicktime clips. quality is not too good, but should give you an idea:
- Clip 1 (11Mb, .MOV) (http://homepages.uel.ac.uk/G.Mesureur/didmarton_1.mov): night-time jamming by the campfire.
- Clip 2 (11Mb, .MOV) (http://homepages.uel.ac.uk/G.Mesureur/didmarton_2.mov): more jamming on the Sunday.

[grandmainger]

more jamming...

[grandmainger]

The mandolin workshop with Roland White:
(Steve Kaufman was running the guitar workshop)

[grandmainger]

and a concert.

[grandmainger]

and the kids joined in!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[pathfinder]

Excellent report and links! #But two quick questions. #Firstly, are these campground pickers mostly expatriate Americans, or are they primarily British? #

And secondly, does the festival draw other European pickers across the channel (eg: from France, Sweden, Germany, etc)?

Regardless, everyone looks like they're having a fantastic time!http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[grandmainger]

Since I'm French, I'm not overly good at telling accents, but nearly all the people I spoke too were I think from Britain. If he reads this, mancmando will be able to provide better stats. In terms of performances and concerts, all were British bands apart from Roland White and Steve Kaufman. The list of UK bands included:

*The New Essex Bluegrass Band
*The Knockdown Boys
*Dulaman
*Buffalo Gals
*Brejeiro
*Ponchartrain
*Bill Smarme & the Bizness
*Blue South
*Monroe's Revenge
*Texas Allnite Boys
*Keep Off the Grass
*Rabbi John
*The Whole Band
*The Down County Boys
*Minor Swing

I didn't spot any continental Europeans pickers, and I don't count as one since I've lived in the UK for 9 years.

A good list of UK bluegrass festivals can be found on http://www.bluegrassfestivals.net/

Germain

[french guy]

hi all
Just a little thing
"Keep of the grass" is a french group , and good friends
good report grandmainger

[grandmainger]

"Keep of the grass" is a french group , and good friends
Too bad I didn't know, I'd have gone over to say Bonjour http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mancmando]

good to see those photo's - reminded me of a top weekend, and one where the weather was actually pretty nice......

There must be 2 bands called keep off the grass, the one at this festy were definitely british.

Virtually all the pickers there were from the UK, but as grandmainger says the organisers had got a handful of Americans over to play.

Anyhow, good to meet up with grandmainger, and looking forward to next years festies already.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif