Harmonica 2004 - at The Folk House, Bristol, UK
October 29th to 31st, 2004
Harmonica 2004 - at The Folk House, Bristol, UK
October 29th to 31st, 2004
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Welcome to the NHL Festival in Bristol, Oct 29th to 31st, 2004Details of this years festival View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2003 We have built on the positive feedback from last year's very successful festival and Harmonica 2004 should be even better. Here is the latest information about the great things we are planning. The festival is a wonderful chance to meet other players and learn more about all aspects of the harmonica. You can also meet your committee and help us make the NHL into an even more dynamic and enjoyable organisation. This year we expect to have some of the great current and former chromatic players from the 60' and 70s, such as our former President Ronald Chesney and Les Henry, plus some other UK and international stars! Click here to see some images from the 2001 festival. Harmonica 2004 Festival OutlineFriday 29th October - Informal meet and greet night from about 7pm. Blues jam with local Folk House musicians. Rooms for open mic play. NHL AGM at 8:30pm. We hope as many members as possible will join us to help set up the venue for the weekend activities. We will be there from mid afternoon. Anyone who would be prepared to help in any way over the weekend should contact Gerry Ezard (01656784904). Come and enjoy the night, and meet the committee. Saturday 30th October - Doors open 9.15am. Adult and youth contest (under 18yrs - includes the old junior section) starts 10am - register immediately on arrival at 9:15am. Harmonica workshops run through from about 11am till 5pm. Auction and raffle. Evening concert starts 7:30pm and runs till late. Sunday 31st October - Doors open 9:30am. We are planning programme of workshops and activities for children which will start about 10am. Auction and raffle. Open concert/open mic when programme is completed. Festival closes about 4pm. Please note the junior competition has been incorporated into the youth competion (under 18 years), and it will take place on the Saturday.Contest Information See the contest webpage. Here are some recent winners of the competitions. They were members like you when they won, and some have gone on to great things. Diatonic Blues - (1989)Ian Briggs, (1990)Kieran Doherty, (1991)Steve Hillan, (1992)Ken Howell, (1993)Lee Sankey, (1994)John Burr, (1996)Vinny Reed, (1997)Paul Gillings, (1998)Kevin Wells, (1999)Robin Andrews, (2000)Stuart Farquharson, (2001)Stuart Farquharson, (2002) Adam Wirich, (2003) Tony Jukes. Chromatic Solo - (1988-91)Julian Jackson, (1992)Ken Howell, (1993)John Brassington, (1997)Roy Green, (1999)Levy Bourbonnais, (2000)David Inns, (2001)Stuart Farquharson, (2002) Philip Achille, (2003) Gerry Ezard. Adjudicator - Eric Jennings, an experienced adjudicator from the Federation of Festivals will officiate for a third year. He will be assisted by technical advisers for each class of the contest. Artists appearing We will feature artists and former artists from the Golden Age of the Chromatic Harmonica. Former NHL President Ronald Chesney, and Les Henry - Cedric of The Three Monarchs - plan to attend. Harry Pitch, Douglas Tate, Jim Hughes, Dave Beckford, Dave Conway, Johnny Stafford, Carol Axford ..... hope to participate. Latest new - Ronald Chesney has been requested not to travel by his doctor. We also have a strong traditional/blues representation with Brendan Power, Rick Epping, Mick Kinsella, Ernie Gordon, and Eddie Martin who plays blues with rack harmonica. Plus Ben Hewlett, Four in Accord, Phillip Achille ..... The artists will be accompanied by Chris Collis (piano), and Eddie Martin's rhythm section - Marion Dolton (bass) from Dorset and Mike Wiedrich (drums) from Chicago. Donal Siggins (guitar) will acccompany Brendan, Mick and Rick. This list may change, with additions or withdrawals before the event. Workshops We have two rooms dedicated to workshops on Saturday and Sunday morning. The workshop topics should include rack playing (Eddie Martin), beginner and advanced diatonic blues techniques, Celtic music, Sonny Terry, chromatic and group techniques and harmonica repair. Shops Norman Ives will be selling his full range of harmonicas, accessories and CDs. Eagle Music and Harmonicas Direct will have their new range of harmonica accessories and tuition materials. Keith Parker will be selling some vintage microphones and cables. All will be displayed in one of the upstairs rooms. Auction We will repeat last year's very successful auction on Saturday, and possibly Sunday, so bring your cheque books and pick up a bargain. If you have any CDs, music or equipment etc. which you would like to donate for the auction, please let Gerry know. We need your money to run events like this, so dig deep. Volunteers Lots of hands make light work, so please look for ways to help, don't wait to be asked if you see an opportunity. Ask Frank or Gerry at the NHL desk when you register, and they will let you know what needs to be done. You can always email Gerry Ezard in advance to let him know. This is important if our events are to continue. We are even more shorthanded this year due to personal committments and the small team cannot be expected to do all the work. Prices Attendance at all the daytime activities/workshops/ etc including watch the contest, which take place on Saturday and Sunday, except the Saturday evening concert - NHL members £12.50 (Non members £15.00) Location The two and a half day festival will take place inside the Bristol Folk House (0117-9262987), a popular Adult Education Centre in Bristol. It is a multi-level building at 40a Park Street, a hundred yards north of the Cathedral, in the centre of Bristol. It has a concert room, a licensed café, and half a dozen workshop rooms. The main entrance is through a short passage between two shops on Park Street, a lively shopping area. There is limited on street parking, but cheap all day parking on Saturday and Sunday in the Trenchard Street (P1)and West End (P2) multistorey car parks marked on the map. The one drawback of this venue is its many levels and tight staircases which make it very difficult or impossible for anyone with physical disabilities. Bristol is a great location, as everyone found who attended last year's festival. There are lots of things to enjoy - click here for information about Bristol for tourists. The old docks area has been refurbished and brought alive again. The new interactive "At Bristol" development complements the old streets, pubs, restaurants, churches, museums, and restored old sailing ships. With lots to do, even for non-harmonica players, why not make a weekend of it. Transport Bristol has a compact city centre and is very easy to reach by motorway, coach, rail and air. We have already heard of visitors planning to fly from Dublin and Glasgow, taking advantage of the cheap flights into Bristol airport. Accommodation Bristol has accommodation of all types and prices, but don't delay booking as the best goes very quickly. There is a YHA (0117 922 1659), and the Bristol Backpackers (0117 925 7900) in the city centre, both at around £14 per night. Information on B&Bs and rooms, at a range of prices from £25 upwards, can be obtained from the Bristol Tourist Information Centre (08454080474). These are usually away from the city centre. There is a Travel Lodge and a Holiday Inn Express in the centre at about £50 per room. If you want a modern hotel, our suggestion is Jurys, one of the best hotels in Bristol where the artists and organisers will stay. The room prices they have quoted for our Festival are very reasonable, considering the high standard of the accommodation. If you want to take up the offer, don't delay as we have only reserved a fixed number of rooms at these prices, and any not taken up will be released in October: Single rooms - £55, Double/Twin rooms - £65, Triple rooms - £75, Family rooms - £65 plus £5 supplement per child. These are room prices, so sharing brings down the price to £30 per person or less. They also include full English breakfast and overnight parking. The hotel is situated right in the centre of the redeveloped docks area, within easy walking distance of most attractions. It has an NCP car park built into it, and is about half a mile from the Folk House. Festival Contact Information
Click here for maps of the area Annual Contest Information If you are interested in the annual contest, which covers a range of age, harmonica type and music sections, check out the contest rules. If you wish to take part, print and send both a festival application form, and a contest application form, with your payment. Contact Peter Wheat (0118 901 4234) about tickets for the festival workshops and concert, any questions about the competition rules, classes (blues, chromatic etc.), and how to take part. There is also a postal tape/CD competition which is run separately from this festival. It is open to members and non-members worldwide, and the music is submitted by post. Contact Colin Mort (01329832178) if you have any questions. More details will be added as they become certain. View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2003
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