The Smallpiper Blog

Helllo!
It's competition time and there are a couple of competitions that we'd really love everyone to enter us for! The first one is Marc Gunns Celtic mp3s.com. We'd love you to enter us for as many categories as you think fit, but definitely, Traditional Band, Traditional Instrumentalist, Traditionals Singer, or erm, oh, just any of them!

Second up is the BBC radio 2 folk awards - you can vote for us on Favourite Folk Track of All Time. If you don't fancy voting for us, then I'm putting in a request for Martyn Bennett's - How It Got There, in memory of Martyn who unfortunately died of cancer last year.
Even if you don't vote for us, then go and support the competitions anyway and cast your vote!
:)
VIcki & Jonny

Hello!
I was asked last night a really tricky question. It's not one I've ever been asked before, not really anyway. So what was the question? Well it was simply - "where do I find good folk music?". At a first glance it seems simple to answer, but the question was from a lady who really wants to get into folk and play in a group but who knows nothing about folk. So the answer is, wow, where to start. This got me thinking, where is a good place to start as an adult musician who wants to get into folk but doesn't know where to go. So here is my list of useful information:

The BBC is a fantastic resource of radio programmes and with the wonders of the internet it is possible to listen to most of the local folk shows. So to go to listen to the folk and acoustic radio player click here! You'll need real player to be able to listen, make sure you root around and download the free version, click here! (It should go to the correct page for your operating system)

The next place to visit would be online radio stations and podcasts. Radio Britfolk has to be my favourite place, there is a wide variety of shows made by folkies for folkies. (I'd go here before the BBC tbh!) Then there is FolkCast a podcast that is pretty on the ball.

Next up has to be the BBC online virtual session. You get to read the dots and play along with a session. It's got a really good repertoire and is really enjoyable!

Erm, that's all I can think of for the moment. You can also check out our myspace profile, if you go and look at our friends there are a whole heap of fantastic folkies in amongst them, so take a look and go clicking. I hope that helps a bit!
:)
Vicki

Hello!
At long last I've finished recording and editing the Scottish Smallpipe tutor! In celebration of this we have put together a small podcast of Scottish Smallpipe tracks for everyone to have a listen to. So if you fancy just having a listen to a 20 minute episodette from mosey on down to blogger and take a listen! Or bung this RSS into your podcast aggregator (such as iTunes) and Bob's your Uncle!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

Hello!
We've finally got a weekend off, hurrah! My fingers are sore as I've being playing the bass all day and we're about to go off to the gym. In the middle of all the admin for sorting out dates for next year I thought I'd treat you to a little picture of the bluetack man. I had to censor him though, for obvious reasons! I've promised at so many gigs to put him up, so here he is! We hope you're all well and hope to see you again soon!
:)
Vicki & Jonny

We've just finished uploading a new photo gallery for 2006. I seem to have lost my camera lead, so it's all pictures taken by other people. I'll have to order another lead to get the pictures off the camera! Although, to be honest, they're mostly pictures of Jonny knocking down a shed at the back of the garden, but hey! We've had a great year so far. It's definitely not over yet though. Our biggest plans are getting the material written for the new album. (Still don't have a name!) The tunes and songs are decided, but it takes time to fix the arrangements exactly as we want them, decide which bass I'm going to play and how often. We're also busy rehearsing for a collaboration in November at the Bedworth Folk Festival with not only the lively Isambarde but also the prolific George Papavgeris. We've written some six part arrangements of some of our more challenging tunes, it's been hard work on limited rehearsal, but I'm sure that the rehearsals we've got left will come up trumps and fingers crossed that it will be a good sound. Fitting this in around rehearsing for Mundy-Turners "Fools, Heros, Traitors", their CD launch in January and our own new album is certainly time consuming but so much fun. If this wasn't enough, my MA dissertation is due in at the start of January. Watch this space!
:)
Vicki & Jonny