| bigmooth Posts: 1701 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 09:43 I am very annoyed by the arguments here, which take away from the superb band Vasen. They are without a doubt one of the best bands we have ever had at our club. Please bear in mind we have had Session A9, Outside Track, The Shee, Duncan Chisholm and Ivan Drever, Steve Tilston,Greg Trooper, Hot Seats, Archie Fisher, Michael Marra, Nashville Acoustic All Stars, Willy Clay Band, Eddie Walker and Fraser Spiers, Les Barker, Back of the Moon,Paul Anderson, Chris Stout and Katriona McKay, Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, McGregor Brechin O'Headhra and many other absolutely superb bands from a huge range of musical genres. Please stop pointless arguing that takes away from the music. |
| BGPR Posts: 1317 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 12:26 Thanks, Fiona |
| JAJ Posts: 14286 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 13:53 I don't think anyone here has disagreed about the fact that Väsen are one of the very best bands around. Mind you, i don't have any issue with describing them as "folk" or "traditional" and they themselves use the the "f word" in theor own biography. I first became acquaint with them even earlier than 2004 having first seen them play in Denmark but I believe they toured over here too. Quite a few of us have been playing Josefin's waltz too even before we knew its origins..... (It had already been popularised by Dervish amongst others) Anyway, I'd have loved to have seen them this time but circumstances can't permit. |
| Jack Campin Posts: 1709 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 14:58 Maverick magazine said their patina was “richly burnished and deep in tone and polished performance” Which for most of Väsen's target audience, is about as useful a recommendation as was Tony Blair saying how much he liked Atomic Kitten. Who cares what the house organ of the open-mike country-wannabe industry thinks about them? |
| BGPR Posts: 1317 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 15:21 Jack - you might not care what Maverick says but the publication gets a huge amount of new product from Scottish trad circles, so the performers who send in their CDs for review must care what the magazine says. And, if you don't mind me asking, what is this "target" audience you speak of? I hope you mean every human being on this planet of ours and not some narrow-focus scenario. Also, I suspect that if Maverick didn't pay any attention to Scottish trad, there are many here who'd have something negative to say about it. As Bigmooth says, such a shame when something so great attracts more negative comments. |
| blues x man Posts: 982 |
Posted: 16-Sep-2011 17:12 I can't speak for Jack, but from my own point of view; how can asking about the possibility of Vasen playing Glasgow or Edinburgh be considered negative? With all due respect, though, BGPR, I hardly expect anyone who gets paid to talk up a band to be speak negatively of said group. |
| seaton Posts: 129 |
Posted: 17-Sep-2011 21:02 Having loved Vasen's music for years and Roger's guitar playing since he was one of the original lineup in Catriona Macdonald"s String Sister's in 2000 so the drive to Peebles will be well worth the evening, I once sent my mother-in-law from Hawick to Nova Scotia for a Leonard Cohen concert so it's all in context...it was cheaper then tickets to Edinburgh Castle gig.... |
| racH Posts: 313 |
Posted: 17-Sep-2011 21:40 Quite jealous of you folks getting to see Vasen (I'm away just now).... my friends are all training it from Edinburgh to the Stirling gig tonight. Very doable as the train times work out well for the gig. In fact 2 of my friends that are going have flown over from the Isle of Man especially for the gig! Looking forward to hearing the gig reports about it. Incidentally, have any of you heard the album that they did with Americans Mike Marshall and Daryl Anger a few years back now? So so so so so good..... |
| hedley Posts: 165 |
Posted: 18-Sep-2011 11:08 Well, as Bigmooth says, I also felt that this was probably the best 'live' music I have ever heard performed. The trio was in quite startling form, at Stirling last night, despite the fact that the theatre was not even close to being full to capacity. What a shame that so many people missed such a wonderful opportunity. I noticed Simon T sitting in the audience, obviously enjoying the occasion too. I don't think this is music which should be given any particular tag, other than GREAT. |
| BGPR Posts: 1317 |
Posted: 18-Sep-2011 11:31 Hedley - were you the guy sitting along from me on the front row with a big smile all night long? So many positves already and the word-of-mouth (not just among musicians) will do the trio a lot of good. I saw Rob Adams in the audience last night as well as Simon so, hopefully there will be some more positives to follow in The Herald. The Kilbarchan show is now sold out but there are still some tickets left for the Peebles gig at the Eastgate Theatre. |
| QueenBee Posts: 576 |
Posted: 18-Sep-2011 15:46 We travelled over from Arran specially and were so glad we made the effort. Thought we'd be the farthest travelled, but there were people there from the Isle of Man and a couple from Aberdeen. As BGPR says, there wasn't a soor puss in the hoose, so maybe it's just as well that blues x man couldna raise the bus fare. |
| blues x man Posts: 982 |
Posted: 18-Sep-2011 22:59 BGPR said: "...the majority of our acts don't care to play in places where folks don't bother their arse to come out and enjoy them." Will you be adding Stirling to that list now, given the poor turn out? Meanwhile, QueenBee's obsession with me continues. |
| Oilrig Posts: 2082 |
Posted: 18-Sep-2011 23:29 Beautiful, life-affirming music in today's Watercolour gig - the trio are one of the finest line-ups of any genre, and so worth seeing live. |
| BGPR Posts: 1317 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 00:09 Blues x man: The Tolbooth is one of the best venues in the country, not just for its reputation for good attendance figures but also for the reputation it has earned in terms of warmth of welcome and hospitality. We would not dream of by-passing the place, even if the odd event turns out to be less than well attended. This was first time there for Väsen and everyone said that when they return (as they most certainly will), the word-of-mouth will be sure to build a bigger turn-out next time. Sometimes it's like that as most of us in this game knows. It was like that first time The Wilders toured Scotland too and we all know how that shaped up in the following years. I am happy to say that the vast majority of acts we send to The Tolbooth pull near-capacity or capacity crowds. What we were talking about was the over-all trend in Edinburgh and Glasgow, where it seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Do keep popping away though, as we will always be happy to put you straight on these matters. Loved that quote tonight on Facebook from Mary Ann Kennedy, by the way. She called Väsen "supreme rulers of the trad world". |
| blues x man Posts: 982 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 00:46 BGPR, I take umbrage with your statement that 'your' artists (not the band in question) don't wish to play places such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, because you maintain no-one there can be bothered to turn up and see them. As someone who attends folk gigs regularly in both cities, this is complete tosh. To be fair, though, I can't, however comment on the audience/ ticket stats on the abundance of (mainly) Americana acts you represent. Of course, the Tollbooth in Stirling is indeed a fine venue. However, if one of 'your' acts can't come within near of filling such a place on a Saturday night, then perhaps the good folk of Stirling can't be bothered, either(?). Or, maybe you aren't doing enough to cajole people into coming along? For the record, I've said on countless threads that Vasen are not only a great trad band, they're one of the best bands around, regardless of genre. Needless to say, though, I hardly expect a PR man - who is paid to represent Vasen, and other acts who appear at the Tollbooth - to promote anything other than goodwill, spin and hype. |
| BGPR Posts: 1317 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 07:55 We'll leave it to the good folks who post here to decide who is "obsessed", Barry. |
| Duncmac Posts: 383 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 08:11 Rob Adams enjoyed the Stirling gig even though the venue was not full. http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/arts-ents/music-reviews/vasen-tolbooth-stirling-1.1124380 |
| Gordon Posts: 1001 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 09:21 I have to say that the Ardgour gig was pretty special. What more could you want? One of the best bands in the world in a house concert setting in Watercolour's lovely studio, a grand sunny afternoon with great views of Ben Nevis and a really nice atmosphere. Vasen are complete masters at what they do. Virtually impossible not to enjoy a performance by them, I would have thought. Thanks to Mary Ann and Nick for putting it on. Dagger |
| Simon T Posts: 8539 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 09:39 I loved the gig in Stirling. Such synergy between the musicians even in the way they moved (a bit like the Shadows :-)). I'm hoping they're coming over to Celtic Connections so I can hear them again. I bought their tune book on Saturday and I'm looking forward to 1. Getting the notes right in the tunes I half know Their decision to play acoustic was the right one as it showcased their use of dynamics to great effect. |
| Oilrig Posts: 2082 |
Posted: 19-Sep-2011 10:22 Cheers Dagger - look forward to seeing some of those pics soon! |
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