2010 - what was it all about? An what of 2011?
The beginning of a new year is the time to reminisce about the year that's passed and to make foolish promises about the new one. Far be it from me to break with such solid and well-founded traditions. So what was 2010 all about? We played gigs - quite a few but we didn't overdo it. We made many people happy playing for their events - small affairs in local halls through to an international conference and then even on to TV. But really these things are mainly (and I say this as someone who has eaten a lot of cake recently) the icing on the cake, but not the cake itself. What 2010 was really about were the Friday evening sessions (we had 45 or thereabouts) workshops and away weekends, about learning new tunes and new people coming along to join the rest of us in playing together. And that all seemed to happen pretty much as it has before. We had the best annual ceilidh for several years and raised loads of money for WaterAid.
Over the past couple of years we have had many new people joining the group and we have more or less run out of the Music Book One and stocks are pretty low now of the Big Ceilidh. We'll be needing new books soon - see below.
So what next for 2011? Well the sensible thing would be to carry on doing the same sort of things in more or less the same way I suppose, providing that's what everyone wants, which from what you have been saying it is. A few people have commented on ways to improve things - one to one tutor sessions (which we began in 2010), more "session style" playing later in the evening on Fridays, mixing up the sets a bit. A bit less tune learning except for those who want to get to the ceilidh band level; they have asked to learn more. We can do all these things. There was one comment about managing to stay informal but still having a sort of structure that everyone can follow. We'll carry on with that unless you say stop. And of course we'll do more gigs - because they are great fun.
Sadly we lose people from the group for all sorts of different reasons. This is always a pity. Sometimes we are simply not what they were looking for, others just can't come often enough and they drift away. Some go off to new jobs or university. We do our best to find out if we are providing what members need and as always we encourage anyone to tell us what that is.
Workshops and tutors
Dates for tutors will be announced in January. As we had to cancel so many dates at the end of 2010 because of the unusually cold and snowy conditions we can afford to run quite a few in 2011. There will be a mix of group and one-to-one sessions aimed mainly at under 18s but covering all stages of learning.
What about away weekends in 2011? If you are interested send us an email. (Members only)
Latest Tunes on the Music pages
At the end of 2010 we put up three tunes that were asked for;
- Da Slockit Light; Da Peerie Hoose Ahint the Burn; Hector the Hero
Gigs
December was a pinnacle of gig months for BFG. Despite having two cancelled because of the weather (including Camphill - haven't missed that for years - our longests standing regular event perhaps) we had four absolutely superb gigs to finish the year. The Kincarrathie House everyone gig on the Wednesday evening before Christmas was fantastic. I really want to thank everyone who came - I didn't count but there must have been nearly 30 of us there - and you all played so well. We had plenty of foot-tapping and even a bit of singing and somehow managed the epic version of Troika too. Great gig. We had a very good ceilidh in Dunning - a family party with plenty of enthusiastic dancing. Of course on the 4th we played Perth Concert Hall (un-rehearsed new sets, boy we live dangerously) for the Hands Up for Trad (Na Trads) music awards. This was then broadcast on TV. And then in huge contrast to all these things we had a four piece band at a small wedding in Comrie, overlooking the beautifully snowy landscape and accompanying the Humanist ceremony and the informal pre-meal gathering. Diversity and adaptability - and a little bit of flying by the seats of our pants. Thanks to everyone in BFG who make the gigs possible and who puts themselves out to come along. We really do need you and in 2011 we aim to have a few more Everyone gigs.
If you missed the BFG performance at the Hands Up for Trad 2010 awards go to our Old News page (Dec 2010) for links.
Friday Sessions
December was a bit quieter due to the weather - especially the week we had to cancel! Hope no one turned up. Remember to watch the web for last minute changes of plan. We had a good social at the Hotel to finish the year - thanks go to the Blackford Hotel for making us welcome and allowing us to use the function room occasionally. At the social we had a mini performance led by Cameron who has been learning the guitar accompaniments for his Duke of Edinburgh award. The boy done well - but the proof of the effort will be in whether he carries on. Remember Cameron, music and a guitar (fiddle, banjo etc.) is for life not just for Christmas.
New Music Books
We are running out of books so we are taking this opportunity to revise the ones we have. We will add some more beginners tunes to the first book and take out the harder ones. We will also add more to help beginners with learning. This book will become the Wee Music Book. The harder tunes will be added to a revised version of the Big Ceilidh Book which will also include some of the tunes we have learn over the past 2 years but which are not in either book. We'll also drop a few things that we have never really played.
The Wee Music Book will be made entirely by BFG and we may be looking for some volunteers to help with putting them together. Binding may take a a couple of evenings. We'll be doing this book in February all being well. The revised Big Ceilidh Book will be printed commercially and that will cost us a lot of money. So we want everyone in the group to buy a copy of their own so that BFG doesn't have to put up all the money at the start.
Before we finish these books we want your ideas and suggestions for tunes to include. Please email them or add them to the list at the hall on Fridays.
Photos
There are new photos on the Members' Page and more to follow. Does anyone want to take responsibility for making sure we always havge a supply of photos? BFG owns a camera and it is available for anyone to use at gigs and sessions.
Sessions
The Niblick, Auchterarder. Next one is possibly on Thursday 6th January from 8.30 pm. All welcome. No previous experience of sessions required. We'll play stuff everyone knows. The Tappit Hen in Dunblane Session every Tuesday from 9.00. Well worth the journey.
