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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 MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on June 18, 2011 at 12:43am

aha the famous key of Eh?

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on July 6, 2011 at 8:33pm

Looking forward to the weekend..I assume everything (and everyone) is all set and ready to go?

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on July 6, 2011 at 8:43pm

Hi John - thanks - yep as far as I know all is going to plan except the weather! 2 of the guys are staying somewhere local(ish) the night before so will be around from about noon to help set up. The only thing that has gone badly awry so far is we don't have a wi-fi connection so I can't stream it live, which is a bit of a shame but there we go.

Looking forward to seeing all the Revolutionaries together - shouldl be a good show with the range of acts we have

ChickenboneJohn said:

Looking forward to the weekend..I assume everything (and everyone) is all set and ready to go?

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on July 6, 2011 at 9:08pm

Fighting off a cough and a sore throat but will use it to add a bit of "grit" to my singing if it doesn't clear up....(-;

otherwise all systems ready to show!!

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on July 6, 2011 at 9:17pm

Plenty of whisky and honey - well that would be my excuse anyway. Look forward to seeing you - I'll be the guy wearing a red carnation and a protective face mask!

Steve Trowbridge said:

Fighting off a cough and a sore throat but will use it to add a bit of "grit" to my singing if it doesn't clear up....(-;

otherwise all systems ready to show!!

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on July 6, 2011 at 9:40pm

Not sure what time I'll be there..I'll be driving down Sunday, aiming to get there lunchtime / early afternoon. I'm hellish busy at the moment trying to build a few guitars, as I've got virtually nothing in stock..until Tuesday I didn't have a 3 string guitar to call my own!

Permalink Reply by MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) on July 6, 2011 at 9:50pm

Hopefully there will be a few hands around to help you get set up. I had to do a sudden and unexpected strip down and repair to mine yesterday when the screw fixing on the jack socket came loose and shredded for no apparent reason!

ChickenboneJohn said:

Not sure what time I'll be there..I'll be driving down Sunday, aiming to get there lunchtime / early afternoon. I'm hellish busy at the moment trying to build a few guitars, as I've got virtually nothing in stock..until Tuesday I didn't have a 3 string guitar to call my own!

Permalink Reply by HOLLOWBELLY on July 6, 2011 at 11:17pm