Reviews
St Albans Festival 2003
St
Albans - Where friends meet - by Jenny O'Reilly
Every year I am reminded why St Albans is my favourite festival. It's
not its size, or big name artists, or the weather. Rain and mist are normal
- the mist does have its charm though, and sunsets are often spectacular.
No, it's the people that make it what it is - the friendliest festival
around. When I arrived, lovely people gave me cups of tea and helped erect
my tarp. This became a gathering place for friends dropping in, and the
roof over a delightfully late session on a rainy Saturday night. The rain
just didn't matter. The warmth of friends was all that was needed.
The Thursday night concert in the Marquee offered a taste of things to
come. The BBQ sizzled, and Arch's food van proved a great success, offering
a variety of taste sensations throughout the festival.
We were lucky to have artists from the National, as well as our well loved
locals, so performance standard was high, and we were kept very busy.
New discoveries for me included Voicepopfoible, Anne Ridgeway and The
Counterfeit Gypsies - and what can you say about Jigzag(2/3), Bruce Watson
and the Sommers Family? So much brilliance in the one place!
You know the usual festival "complaint" - on your way to a concert
you run into a friend - you forgo the concert and opt for a chat and drink
instead. To me, this kind of informality is what festivals are about -
and it happens a lot at Snalbans. The speakers placed outside for those
socializing was a nice touch here.
The Church was ideal for singing. Helen Rowe and Lonnie Martin were my
favourites. The Courthouse, a spacious room with a view, made my drumming
workshop very special. Dancers were well catered for in the Hall, and
the Fickle Wombat was great for Poets Breakfasts. I particularly commend
Alison for the sane programming, which had one in the afternoon! Sessions
around the pub were alive and well as usual, despite the rain.
Congratulations to the team who made this festival great, including Frank
and Marilyn Russell, who ran a full children's festival in the Clubhouse
area. Some parts were too good to let the kids have it to themselves.
I caught the Sommers family concert there and, just quietly, some of the
"kids" were not so little! And after the ukelele workshops,
I suspect more "big kids" now know about "My dog has fleas".
Came the Chorus Cup on Sunday, and John Dengate as a judge did not disappoint!
The winner of the adults' section was a group singing "Jesus is my
drinking pal". Sort of says it all, really.
Another great year for Snalbans - still SIMPLY THE BEST!
Jenny O'Reilly
Kids
at Snalbans - by Dot Dawson
One Big Kid sat in on a Kids session and was delighted.
Brian Hungerford is such a consumate storyteller, quickly establishing
rapport
and engaging the full attention of kids and adults alike. The story of
the seal
changing to human and back again, to the music of pipes, seemed to echo
the
swelling of the ocean.
Bruce Watson soon had happy clapping happening, and kids obviously related
to
the toddler tantrum song with great enjoyment and hilarity.
The Somers Family clearly impressed, with kids sitting up with total
attention
and feet tapping. This group was very popular, and were obliged to perform
several enthusiastically received encores.
Snalbans kids are fortunate to have such quality entertainment by artists
who
give of their best for their young audiences.
Dot Dawson
What
the Performers Said
Alison, thanks for a fabbo festival. we very much enjoyed it and even
the driving! (though we wouldn't want to do that too much)...
Vox Pop Foible
Congratulations on a great festival! We all thoroughly
enjoyed ourselves. The friendly energy of the festival and the beautiful
surroundings ,not to mention the effect of the misty rain combined with
excellent music ,made it a wonderful experience. I feel the workshop went
well even if we did go for a difficult final song to learn- Grey funnel
line- although this proved to be a good choice.The reception we recieved
at the concerts was so very warm and encouraging, and the feeling of singing
'Grey funnel line', in the church with everyone joining in, was quite
moving.Thankyou for giving us that opportunity, I felt as I was singing
in the church,looking out the church doors to the hills beyond, " this
is living!"
Mothers of Intention
congrats on the festival, you and your team did a great
job.
Duncan Chalmers
I just wanted to thank you for including me in the festival:
I had a wonderful time. It was one of my favourite festivals: beautiful
location, people, etc....
Raelene Bruinsma
If anyone has any other reviews please contact:
Alison
Boyd
its a zero!!
Reviews of previous festivals
