Read all about it!

You can't make some of this up... we are in the newspaper again.

Trundle over to http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/ to read all about it us and see us in action this Saturday at the Platform - tickets from http://themagnificentak47.com/tickets/.

And stand by for more local media action this coming Saturday... more in the next post.

Rosie Hood and Alfred Williams on the Radio

It was with great pleasure and to much excitement within Magnificent circles that we heard a local voice on the radio talking about a local hero we much admire.  

Rosie Hood is a very up and coming young folk singer who grew up in our neighbouring village of Minety and was on Radio 4's Front Row program last night speaking about her various projects with particular reference to Alfred Williams.

As long term readers will know we have been admirers of Mr Williams for a good while (see 
http://themagnificentak47.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=alfred+williams) and to hear her singing his praises and songs is a great pleasure.

Check out the clip from the program at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03c7t71 and find out more about Rose from http://www.rosiehood.co.uk/ and watch this space for more news...

Hoe, Hoe, Hoe!

Here we have yet another fine example of our Wiltshire agricultural heritage being preserved by our continuing interest in local songs.

Often these pieces can be lost as the generations pass unless they are actively preserved, such as the many songs written down by the likes of local heroes Alfred Williams and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Hopefully our rendition of "The Turnip Hoer's Song", a.k.a. "The Vly" will preserve one particular piece for a while longer and we very much hope to explore some more in the coming year.

Over at Magnificent HQ, plans are afoot to incorporate pieces from these great collectors of local folk songs and who knows what exactly will emerge (or when!).

Here for you delectation in the meantime, is this photo parade of the collection of hoes that became misplaced from their not so careful owners one recent gig.  Thankfully we have not had to resort to naming and shaming the miscreants but we will insist that they are labelled in future.

Only remains to say that next time we have such a photo opportunity we will try to time it just a little better so as to be all the more seasonal when we say "Hoe, hoe, hoe, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year"!

The Full English

Another tasty nugget from that nice young man on the radio, Mark Radcliffe and his, that there, Folk Show regaling us with The Full English, a majorly significant project, about which you can learn more at http://www.efdss.org/efdss-the-full-english.

Listening to the show they played a piece call "Man In The Moon" which was based on words salvaged from oblivion by Alfred Williams, the "Hammerman Poet", known to several members of our group and a regular local hero.  A snippet of the show appears to be available here.

Full information about our growing connection with Alfred's legacy will escape over time as certain plots are hatched and progress beyond mere "pubtalk".

Reading through the blurb on the Full English website it really is a remarkable resource and voluminous archive, one of which our members will be encouraged to plunder in the quest for material relevant to our burgeoning repetoire and needs of BlokeFest (more on the 2014 version soonish).

Everyone should cherish this resource and also consider patronising the gigs that are scheduled including one nearby(ish) in that there Bristol Town at the Colston Hall - see http://www.colstonhall.org/?s=full+english.

Do drop us a line at themagnificentak47@gmail.com if you are interested in attending as we may well be semi-organizing a "Class Outing" for the gang to go along in an Elliison's charabanc - more on a more local possible "Class Outing" and top Ukranian singing soon.