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

Hi MrRandomWritings(Brian)

I certainly did enjoy it, as I had a Sunday appointment (?) I did not arrive till late at your event at Newton Abbot, I managed some of the indoor guest appearences and the garden joviality and performances. I am pleased to hear you are attempting to keep the event ongoing into other areas. There are a number of music events through the Summer in Mid Devon, East Devon, North and South Devon it seems this year. You will have a goodly choice of venues to choose from. Covering each area would seem a valid way of interesting the County.

Thank you for your reply and God Bless you all !!

MrRandomWritings (Brian) said:

Hi there - glad you enjoyed it. We weren't sure how it would go down but the event was well received so I will do it again either as an independant gig or latched onto a blues fest or something. I am talking with the organiser of the Ashburton and Torquay Blues Festivals. If you want a guitar....

Revd Mississippi Mud said:
Hi Brian,

I was impressed by the guests and camaraderie, friendliness, and non commercialialty of the event, my congratulations on a notable event and follow up with video pictures.

I do not know how many you won over to CBG at Newton Abbot, however I was one. Now to get a guitar and some action going.... Cheers

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Revd Mississippi Mud July 19, 2011 at 7:23am

Hi MrRandomWritings(Brian)

I certainly did enjoy it, as I had a Sunday appointment (?) I did not arrive till late at your event at Newton Abbot, I managed some of the indoor guest appearences and the garden joviality and performances. I am pleased to hear you are attempting to keep the event ongoing into other areas. There are a number of music events through the Summer in Mid Devon, East Devon, North and South Devon it seems this year. You will have a goodly choice of venues to choose from. Covering each area would seem a valid way of interesting the County.

Thank you for your reply and God Bless you all !!

MrRandomWritings (Brian) said:

Hi there - glad you enjoyed it. We weren't sure how it would go down but the event was well received so I will do it again either as an independant gig or latched onto a blues fest or something. I am talking with the organiser of the Ashburton and Torquay Blues Festivals. If you want a guitar....

Revd Mississippi Mud said:
Hi Brian,

I was impressed by the guests and camaraderie, friendliness, and non commercialialty of the event, my congratulations on a notable event and follow up with video pictures.

I do not know how many you won over to CBG at Newton Abbot, however I was one. Now to get a guitar and some action going.... Cheers
MrRandomWritings (Backwater Bri) July 19, 2011 at 2:12am

Hi there - glad you enjoyed it. We weren't sure how it would go down but the event was well received so I will do it again either as an independant gig or latched onto a blues fest or something. I am talking with the organiser of the Ashburton and Torquay Blues Festivals. If you want a guitar....

Revd Mississippi Mud said:
Hi Brian,

I was impressed by the guests and camaraderie, friendliness, and non commercialialty of the event, my congratulations on a notable event and follow up with video pictures.

I do not know how many you won over to CBG at Newton Abbot, however I was one. Now to get a guitar and some action going.... Cheers
Revd Mississippi Mud July 18, 2011 at 6:11pm

Thanks Slowpaw Steve !

My comments were just my humble impressions, and I hope they encourage others within the events organisers and the guest players, to go onward with their enthusiatic interest on behalf of others within the movement here in Devon and in the UK and even further abroad.

My Best Wishes to you...

Slowpaw Steve T said:

That's great to hear Revd ! (-:
Slowpaw Steve T July 18, 2011 at 5:53pm

That's great to hear Revd ! (-:
Revd Mississippi Mud July 18, 2011 at 5:06pm

Hi Brian,

I was impressed by the guests and camaraderie, friendliness, and non commercialialty of the event, my congratulations on a notable event and follow up with video pictures.

I do not know how many you won over to CBG at Newton Abbot, however I was one. Now to get a guitar and some action going.... Cheers
Slowpaw Steve T July 15, 2011 at 8:33am

Yup put me down for the next Shindig - learned a lot from it, promise i'll be wicked next time! (-;
Pyno July 11, 2011 at 3:19pm

Thanks again Brian for organising what turned out to be a great 24 hours,good company, superb hospitality,7 acts,7 different styles,it just shows how diverse the miusic can be using similar instruments. Can't wait for the next one
ChickenboneJohn July 11, 2011 at 2:03pm

Well done Brian...and well done everyone who turned up and played. I felt I wasn't really "in the zone" at all, so my apologies..and also for heading off home early...loads of c**p going on for me generally so I'm a bit pre-occupied with other stuff. Super performances by everybody....I think this show needs taking on the road for a wider airing. It goes to show that there's a lot of strength in depth. Anyhow, I got home at 1.00am after a 350 mile round trip...definitely worth the drive.
Barry "Backwater Jack" Nova July 11, 2011 at 1:36pm

hope it went well.any footage up yet?
Brian Tin-Pot Pearse July 11, 2011 at 8:00am

CIGAR BOX SHINDIG, SARACEN'S HEAD, NEWTON ABBOT, DEVON - SUNDAY 10th JULY 2011

WoooooHooooo!!! Great event, (MrRandomWritings) Brian, amazing organisation, thank you. A big thanks also to the stars of the gig (obviously includin' yerself!): Hollowbelly, ChickenboneJohn, StumbleCol, Lost Tone, Brickdust & Pyno, Steve Trowbridge and Chillicool-Kev for their dedication to the cause, not to mention their fine playin'. That was one hell of a line up. Great to meet y'all and I hope I didn't miss anyone, Guys. Next year? B-)

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The Brits are coming

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