We're now very close to completing our line-up, but still have a few pieces to add to the jigsaw over the coming weeks.We’re pleased to announce that we have added Nancy Kerr, James Fagan & Robert Harbron to the main concert schedule; Nancy & James were brilliant at the 2006 festival, and it's great to have them with us again for 2008.
They will play on both our main concert stages as Kerr Fagan Harbron.
They will play on both our main concert stages as Kerr Fagan Harbron.
Nancy & James will be on the festival site all weekend, so there may be other opportunities to see and hear them (workshops etc) – we’ll confirm everything a little closer to the event.
5 comments:
Hi folks - lineup for this year is starting to look really strong. Any chance (at this porbably late stage) of tempting over Carolina's The Avett Brothers? They really are the real deal - not toured UK yet, would be a real feather in the cap and would add some nice balance. Also Megson would be a welcome addition and would be great to see them back in 08.
Thanks for that - we're always looking for good steers on suitable bands...I know of The Avett Brothers, but their name was not mentioned when programming the festival, perhaps we'll put their name on the table for next year!
Megson were excellent, but we do have to keep the festival fresh and evolving, and obviously have to change the line-up each year - they will definitely be back in the future though.
"...we do have to keep the festival fresh and evolving, and obviously have to change the line-up each year" as said by Neil.
However, there appears to be at least half a dozen artists on this year that were on last year - Whilst, some of the repeats are no doubt very good I'd like to think that the choice of artist is due to a bit a research and word of mouth and not a job lot package that an agent may offer.
There is an immense amount of talent locally too that appears to have been overlooked - Perhaps one or two of the repeat slots could have been more wisely used for them.
Anon,
Thanks for your comments; I’m happy to take each one in turn….
We have re-booked a couple of acts, noticeably the young bands Kerfuffle (who were brilliant) and 4Square (who were also excellent). We feel it’s important and one of our responsibilities to recognise young talent as well as established artists; we make no apologies for supporting these emerging talents and bringing them back to the festival.
We work really hard at the line-up, bringing in acts that no other festival would be likely to consider (in 2007 and 2008 consider Richard Shindell, Crooked Still, Eilen Jewell, Pete Lockett & Joji Hirota, John Wesley Harding); and despite your fears we book the artists we want and who we think will deliver a balanced festival, not what is convenient to agents!
We agree that there is a good amount of talent locally, and we continue to book and support these people, but we obviously can’t provide main stage slots for everyone; there is a truly open ‘open-mic’ event, that gives everyone a chance to be recognised, with the winner earning a slot on one of the main stages, and a guaranteed booking for the following year.
We also field submissions for the festival, and receive many hundreds of enquiries from artists looking to play at Shrewsbury. It’s obvious that not everyone will be successful and invited to play, but we do listen to and consider everything that is sent our way.
Well said.
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