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Cigar Box Shindig anyone?

Hi everyone

Down here on the English Riviera there are quite a few music pubs but I have yet to see a Cigar Box player in the spotlight (apart from when I braved it playing in the town square a while back with the ukulele club!) despite the esteemed Hollowbelly being a local resident. So I was thinking about organising a sort of open mic but a little more polished than that.

Perhaps like me you have a set that could last 20-30 minutes but feel that a whole evening of your stuff might be a bit much – after all variety is the spice of life and all that. I have agreed with a local publican that we could put on a little event at her pub here on a Sunday afternoon/evening (at a push I could make it a Saturday but she usually has acts booked well in advance) – no fees for players I am afraid but maybe a beer or two. I am planning to call it a “Cigar Box Shindig” for want of a better name. It’s not a big pub so it would be quite an intimate affair – not too daunting for the newbies. I know there are some local players as I have sold them guitars through our music shop but I am buggered if I know who/where they are!

I am thinking sometime in late June or July and may tie it in with a local festival or something to attract more punters. Maybe you fancy a weekend in Devon? If it takes off we could have another one and possibly tie in with the blues festival next year which is held at the end of May a few miles down the road and there are usually skiffle bands playing but no CBG’s yet!.

So if anyone is interested in taking part and helping educate the locals please get in touch. I am thinking me plus four or five others (depending on your set) would make a nice mini fest with something for all tastes. I can't provide accomodation I am afraid but we live round the corner form the pub so will have a local base to meet up beforehand. I can lay on some basic equipment and may be able to borrow a decent PA. Let's see if a bit of team effort can pull it off! All the best Brian

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on May 6, 2011 at 8:14pm

Would love to come down and do a turn if i can, Brian - July would be better for me tho' fairly flexible.

Have own transport and "accommodation" viz. estate car with sleeping bag...(-;

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on May 6, 2011 at 8:24pm

Sounds like a good idea..if I'm free I'd be up for dropping in... I've got the Upton upon Severn Blues Fest (including the HGMC Cigar Box Guitar Open Mic) on 16th & 17th July..so I'm committed elsewhere for those dates. Strangely enough, I've just had an enquiry from someone in Brixham asking if there was anything happening in their neck of the woods...I can't speak for Hollowbelly, but of course he's fairly local to you. I'm sure between us we could rustle up a PA (I can lay my hands on one that will do for small pub/bar..it's not great but it would do.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 6, 2011 at 8:57pm

Hey guys - this is taking shape already! What a wonderful community! So sometime in July - avoiding 16/17 - seems promising. I'll wait and see if anyone else has any preferences and I'll go and book the venue and we can take it from there. I'll maybe do a short film so you can see what/where we are looking at. John - great offer my man - I will check whether I can lay my hands on a rig from the guy at the music shop to save you having to cart stuff down - he is always after free advertising! And please ask the Brixham person to get in touch.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 6, 2011 at 9:25pm

Just realized the summer Carnival is 2nd to 10th July so it might be possible to attract some people with flyers or whatever if 3rd or 10th works for you guys

Permalink Reply by Roosterman on May 6, 2011 at 9:28pm

Excellent! DO IT!

Anything you need, holler.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 6, 2011 at 9:44pm

as in Hollerbelly?!

Roosterman said:

Excellent! DO IT!

Anything you need, holler.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 7, 2011 at 2:18am

Me again - OK the date I have provisionally booked is Sunday 10th July at the Saracen's Head in Newton Abbot from 4 pm onwards. It is the last night of the Town Carnival. A BBQ will be laid on in the beer garden and I can arrange a sofa bed or two at the pub or nearby if any players from far afield need to stop over (limited though so ask me!) or there are B&B's and camp sites fairly close. I hope we can provide a few hours entertainment and introduce some new people to the scene.

I took one of my guitars to the pub this morning to show them what it's all about - after they had stopped laughing most of them were gobsmacked at the noise it made and promised to come along and support us!

So hopefully we can make this a really cool event with your help

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on May 7, 2011 at 2:46am

10th July is in my diary...looks nice and simple..and fun.....Sunday afternoon pub gig, BBQ...

It it going to be outside or indoors..or does that depend on the weather? Keep us posted about the PA - if you can find something, that will be cool but don't sweat it, I'm sure we'll be able to sort something, somehow.

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on May 7, 2011 at 3:22am

Brilliant John - will be great to have you playing. The pub has two small bars and a garden - part covered - we will play indoors either way and if it rains they can either move the BBQ under cover or cheat and use the kitchens I guess so either way food will be available. There is a guy who runs a monthly open mic (for proper musicians!) at another pub and he is playing at our venue tomorrow so I will have a word about equipment although the music shop guy reckons he can lend us some stuff. Also might be able to persuade a local skiffle group to do a turn to add a bit more variety - we shall see!! Fingers crossed

ChickenboneJohn said:

10th July is in my diary...looks nice and simple..and fun.....Sunday afternoon pub gig, BBQ...

It it going to be outside or indoors..or does that depend on the weather? Keep us posted about the PA - if you can find something, that will be cool but don't sweat it, I'm sure we'll be able to sort something, somehow.

Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on May 7, 2011 at 6:42am