on 28/11/2000 7:00 pm, Philip Whittaker at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>
> Regarding the Coldstream Gaitherin 2001,
> Ted Hastings wrote
>
>> I do have one query. The May holiday weekend is normally the time for the
>> long-running Girvan Folk Festival. Unless it's changed for next year
>> I don't see much point in having two events in Southern Scotland (albiet
>> some distance apart) on the same weekend. All you're going to do is
>> diminish the potential audience for both.
>
> Yes this new event does clash with Girvan and I think also the Dunbarton
> Feis. I cannot say whether the new event will detract from either of
> these. The Focus of the Coldstream Gaitherin is on tuition. A good number
> of the organisers are parents of young musicians. The aims are similar to
> the Gordon Feis but without the age limit! (One youth Scottish music
> festival website, I cannot remeber which, boasted about an event, "No
> Crusties!)
>
> One of the main organisers has driven across to Girvan every May holiday
> for several years, so was very aware of the clash. It is very difficult to
> find a spot in the calendar for a new event.
>
> Thanks for pointing out this clash though. Let's hope all these events
> will thrive.
>
>
I would add to Philip's reply that Coldstream also serves a good catchment
in England. Graham Dolan in Berwick-upon-Tweed has a substantial group of
youngsters coming up and ready for further development, and on top of that
there's probably more activity in the Eastern Borders on the traditional
music front than there has been for a long time (mainly due to many years of
the Small Hall Band, 10 years of 'JAM' as an outreach workshop organiser -
etc, etc). It's a long way from Berwick to Girvan or Dumbarton, Coldstream
is usually buzzing at the May weekend because of the 'fair' normally run by
the Home's Hirsel estate crafts complex (which attracts musicians as booked
entertainers and also as informal buskers). I don't know if the Gaitherin
coincides with the Hirsel Spring Fair weekend, but if it does, all the
better - the musicians booked or regulars at this event won't be going
elsewhere anyway and could add to sessions or workshops (some of them camp
at the Hirsel for the weekend).
Of course I may be wrong about the date coinciding but Philip can probably
answer this. If so, there's a double reason for being in Coldstream!
David
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