UPDATE - 3 August
The stepdance day duly took place in a not-very-big marquee behind The Ship in Blaxhall. This wouldn't have mattered too much if the warm weather had held, instead of which the rain set in and quite a few spectators had to stand outside the marquee and get wet to watch the show. Nevertheless the event went ahead as planned and both competitions were held with EATMT trustees Ivan Cutting and Lindsay Want-Beal and administrator Alex Bartholomew taking charge of proceedings. One or two of the dancers listed had to be called in from the bar to do their bit.
The competitions were followed by a great session in the bar with lively music and more step dancing.
Some photos of the afternoon:
Received from David Cain, the new Operations Manager of East Anglian Traditional Music Trust:
Don’t forget to join us at the Blaxhall Ship! Everyone welcome to dance, take your first steps go or just watch and enjoy some top stepping. As always the event is free, and there will be free parking at Blaxhall Village Hall. The Ship Inn is a short walk from the car parking area. The competitions and music take place in the marquee area behind The Ship Inn. The workshops this year are to be held in the Village Hall. This year please bring with you portable chairs and seating. Should it be wet the event will take place at the Village Hall.
Food will be available on the day from the fantastic kitchen at The Ship Inn. And of course the bar is open!
Fast rising duo Winter Wilson will be performing a totally acoustic, intimate, show in the Lounge of Hungate Church, Beccles on Saturday 22 September in a setting with great acoustics.
THE POTTY MORRIS & FOLK FESTIVAL CELEBRATES IT'S 25TH YEAR
WITH ATTEMPT AT GUINESS WORLD RECORD
THE 25th POTTY MORRIS AND FOLK FESTIVAL, SHERINGHAM, 7th & 8th JULY 2018
As its a special birthday for The Potty festival this year, we are celebrating it with a Guinness World Record attempt. The largest Morris dance. The current record stands at 144 Morris dancers dancing a border dance called Tinners Rabbit, organised by Stone the Crows (Border Morris) in Preston on 5th September 2015. We will also be using the same dance for the attempt. The name of the dance refers to the three hares symbol from the west country. Originating in Devon, the dance is now widely danced throughout the U.K. This is a dance for sets of three, facing inwards in a triangle.
An event to celebrate the life and music of Julia Clifford will be going ahead on the weekend of 26th-28th April 2019 in Suffolk, organised by Katie Howson.
"We are thrilled to be able to announce the first of our special guests for “I Looked East and I Looked West”. We will be welcoming from Ireland: Billy Clifford, Matt Cranitch, Jackie Daly, Bryan O'Leary, Gerry Harrington, Peter Browne and Jerry O'Reilly for starters! Alongside them will be many musicians and friends of Julia’s from England, and there will be more invitations going out when we are a bit further along the road."
This is a fantastic line-up of brilliant musicians, not to be missed. Melodeon / Button accordion fans should not miss the chance to see Jackie Daly and Bryan O'Leary, grandson of the great Sliabh Luachra accordionist, Johnny O'Leary.
Tickets for the event are likely to be available in late 2018.
Not sure where this photograph was taken, Ciarán MacMathúna in the background, so in Ireland c. 1982. Any more information welcomed!
