Magnificent Pow Wow & Party

What a way to celebrate a truly Magnificent 10th year after all the hullaballoo and the immense event at Bristol's St George's Hall, than to return whence we came, back to our roots in dear old village with a "Very Ashton Keynes" evening, full of ale, singing and cheese!

We held our Pow Wow (Annual General Meeting) in the Village Hall that was resplendent with huge amounts of memorabilia dangling from the ceiling and mounted on boards to remind us of so many of our  mini-man adventures over the years. 

Some wonderful memories of gigs, tours, days out, daft places we have sung and so much of the bonhomie of lurking in pubs, and camaraderie of singing pretty much everywhere we go.

And this event was no exception as we were joined by many of the Blokes' significant others to thank them and celebrate being allowed to do this stuff as much as we are.  Many of the ladies already know it each other from various gigs and events, such as Folk East, so it was a chance to cement friendships and be serenaded by the fellas.

But it was not just blokes singing, we were also graced by the presence of many of Ashton Keynes' finest ladies singing group, Siren Sisters, who enthusiastically enjoyed helping us devour the mountains of cheese and barrel of ale we had on hand, before delighting us with some of their finest ditties.

All in all a lovely way to celebrate (the first) 10 years of this thing known as The Magnificent AK47.

Thank you to all who make it possible, in particular Chris Samuel our Belovéd ChoirMeister, Big Chief Bill and the team in the Inner Circle and Neil B for much doing of things including the general organising, decoration and exhibition.

Pow Wow 2017

Most years we have what we call a "Pow Wow", which is basically an Annual General Meeting (or AGM) renamed to make it sound a bit more interesting and fun (which of course it is...).

This year we thought we would double check we are using the term even vaguely correctly and the venerable Wikipedia has this to say about the term:

"A pow wow (also powwow or pow-wow) is a social gathering held by many different Native American communities. 

The word is derived from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning "spiritual leader".  A similar gathering by California Natives, usually in the fall, is called a Big Time. 

A modern pow wow is a specific type of event for Native American people to meet and dance, sing, socialize, and honor their cultures. Pow wows may be private or public. 

There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Pow wows vary in length from a one-day event, to major pow wows called for a special occasion which can be up to one week long."  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pow_wow.

So, maybe some passing similarity to our events, but strangely you won't find too much dancing going on, but plenty of singing, socializing, and honouring our culture - so, maybe more similar than one might have initially thought.

Makes you think that maybe people ain't so different after all...

We'll see whoever turns up in the Back Room of The White Hart Inn, Ashton Keynes, from 20:00 Wednesday 18th Oct for most of what goes on at a real Pow Wow, but maybe not the dancing..., well, not this time.

Pow Wow 2016

The Magnificent Pow Wow 2016 passed off with a few controversies this year, mainly engendered by the rush to consume the Cheese and Biscuits that had been salvaged from the Village Harvest Thanksgiving lunch earlier in the day.

There were others but they shall remain unmuttered about for the moment, save to say a big thanks to Angus V who steps down as FinanceMeister after somehow managing to keep the books in some semblance of order for EIGHT years!

More information about dates into 2017 and thoughts about how to celebrate 10 years of BlokeSong in Ashton Keynes and beyond, soon(ish).

The Magnificent AK47 ride back into town for this year's Pow Wow

Lock up your drinks cabinets, The Magnificent AK47 are back in town!

Those rootin', tootin', hollerin' and cahootin' reprobates and "Plunders of the High Seas and Low Notes of BlokeSong" are back in the neighbourhood and all self-respecting village folks should be afeared for their exploits.

Luckily, they are really quite a nice bunch of blokes and only prone to high spirits, beyond those found in public house optics, in the form of singing in public whenever no one can quite stop them in time.

And so they will gather for for this year's Pow Wow, a thinly veiled AGM (but don't tell those of an operationally and administratively averse nature) with the blokes lured to a Workshop then forced to remain, possibly have a glass or two, and hear blokes waffle on about what a great year it has been (no really!) and what great plans we have for next year (and even beyond... yes, indeed).

It all kicks off after this coming Sunday's workshop in the Back Room of The White Hart Inn, so expect controversy, bitter in-fighting, and petty rivalries aplenty - but that's just to work out who's round it is, you understand...

Pow Wow Now

Tis that time of year when we ask ourselves important questions, and ponder inponderables, such as "what did we do last year?", "was it a good one?", "what should we do next year?", "who's round is it?"

Yes, it is "Pow Wow" time because we in The Magnificent AK47 don't do anything by halves, we do it in pints and then squeeze quarts into those pints.  

We most certainly have had a most Magnificent seventh year and have many plans afoot to continue into 2016 and some even beyond.

So what have we done?

A (shortened) list could include

1. The Hammerman Wold Tour celebrating Alfred Williams
2. Sang on a Windmill
3. Bristol Festival of Song singing in multiple locations
4. Sang on a replica of "The Matthew" floating in Bristol docks
5. Had our first "Boot Camp"
6. Sang in a former Convent
7. Did our fourth "Beer & Carols"
8. Had 3 days' of trips to the big city to sing in London's The Roundhouse
9. Sang on BBC Radio 3
10. Went on our first multi day proper tour to Cornwall
11. Were interviewed and sang on national Cornish Radio
12. Singing in caves at Tintagel Castle
13. Singing on Cornish clifftops to (nearly) abandoned maidens
14. Had THE best time ever at BlokeFest
15. Got our very own Comic Strip!
16. Blooming well sang inside the stones at Stonehenge
17. Did many other gigs around the local area
18. Sang in a tipi
19. Had a rather marvelous time doing it all

So, what next?  We'll find out at our Annual Chewing of the Cud that is known as "The Pow Wow" at the end of our 2nd Boot Camp on Sunday at Chiseldon Rec.

What a Magnificent Tool!

 

Everyone who knows anything about the blokes of The Magnificent AK47 knows they LOVE a good bit of hardware, and here we can see a particularly Magnificent specimen of top quality toolage, and even more special than that, it is monogrammed with the name of a very special person within our ranks.

And what is so extra special about this tool, we hear you ask?  (We are talking of the spanner not the bloke at this point you understand . . . ).  It is not only a wonderful piece of industrial heritage in pristine working order, having been specially lubricated for the occasion, but it is a potent symbol of immense esteem, it is token for the very first Edwin Beard Budding Unsung Hero Award, which has been dreamt up to be, er, awarded to recognize an Unsung Hero who makes "stuff happen" for all concerned in the group and beyond. And the inaugural winner at this year's Pow Wow is none other than former Chief Instigator, the infamous Neil B, the  typist behind the majority of the mistyfyingling vast number of emails that whistle round the planet to help make all the Magnficence happen.  As you can see from the photo he is a practical sort of chap using a pair of pliers to try to lever off the top of the whisky box to try to get into the bottle stuck underneath!

Either way, a very well deserved prize and here's to the next winner at some point.

Thanks as ever to Bill H for such a lovely snap of Neil in action.

Pow and Wow!

The Magnificent AK47 clambered back into action last Sunday, reaching unprecedented heights of activity, quite literally. . . from the top of a Windmill!

The blokes kicked off their new season seranading Wilton Windmill at one of their occasional open days, close by to this year's BlokeFest.  Luckily for the somewhat startled throng that was gathered abouts, most of their performance at the bottom of the windmill rather than the rather cramped upper rooms.  

And after wowwing the audience with their first couple of songs, receiveing a rapturous reception from the cake and tea swilling mob, as well as demands from elderly ladies to photograph blokes in their finery of their Magnificent T-Shirt, "because you are great", it nearly went to the blokes' head.  However, luckily they were brought down to earth by not quite remembering their new pieces and having to nip round the back and have a quick impromptu rehearsal, reviving cuppa, then to storm back into give a rousing rendition for the second half.

To be fair to them, they had only started learning the pieces earlier that week so it was quite an achievement to even half remember them!  And this and other progress was bourne out by some of the comments from our belovéd ChoirMeister during review of the year made as part of the Pow Wow that followed our windmill experience.

The Pow Wow (AGM to more conventional types) took place in the darkened drinking den that is The Bruce Arms, which was the actual location for BlokeFest.  It was extremely well attended and covered some healthy and hearty discussions about activities in the past year and plans for the coming months and into the next year and even a little beyond.  There was much passing of motions (in an administrative, procedural sense you understand) and proposing and seconding of blokes for posts to help with the orderly running of the machine behind the music.

All in all another Magnificent day out, soon to be followed by many more adventures around these parts, so keep tuned in for more news of serious silliness to come.

Pow Wow plus Wind Mill = Another Magnificent Day Out

Tis the time of year when many of us start a pondering "when can I start larking about and singing with all those top blokes I'm fortunate enough to know?"  And the answer is THIS Wednesday onwards!

There is much girding of vocal loins, lubricating of larynxes after the long summer recess and re-unlocking of the inner minstrel as the Magnificent Multi-hatted singing machine cranks itself back into action.

And what an Autumn / pre-Yuletide season we have planned!  Adventures start from the very beginning with a return to the School Hall where it all started some six years ago and continue with a combined "sonic / cultural experience" and Pow Wow (AGM in slightly more conventional speak) this coming Sunday 14th September.  There may also be talk of C.AM.E.L.s (Collectives [not committees] Acting with More or less Executive Level powers) and much more besides.  So come along and hear all about it if you are interested.

We will be making the trip to close by to where BlokeFest 2014 took place, very near to the Crofton Beam Engine and will be visiting the historical Wilton Windmill.  The blokes will be wandering around on a semi-organized guided tour at around 13:00 and doing a bit of singing to anyone within earshot, thence at around 14:00 to The Bruce Arms, scene of the highly successful BlokeFest 2014 where the lads

FoBaFoBs (Family of Blokes and Friends of Blokes) all very welcome to come along to visit the Windmill, hear the singing, see the highly tuned democratic process that is a Pow Wow in action and maybe have a bite to eat and something to drink.

For more information about other forthcoming adventures, such as Wold Tour, singing in a Convent etc, check out all the dates on the er, Dates page on themagnificentak47.com/, up a bit, right a bit, fire!

P.S.  Thanks to Bill H for yet another fabulous poster - he is a clever chap!

Pow Wow 2013

Pow Wow 2013 Prep

Dear Reader,

This is a long(ish) and possibly dull, but very important posting about setting up for the Pow Wow (AGM), so please read on.  

Pow Wow Agenda for 22nd September 2013 after the Workshop is:

1. Apologies for shameful lack of attendance
2. Review Minutes of last Pow Wow
3. Big Chief's Report (summary of last year, proposals/dates for the next year & Fascinating Facts Quiz)
4. Finance Meister's Report
5. Review the any of the above, of the Objects of the group, & Subscriptions & Membership
6. Review any Proposed Amendments to "The Magnificent Charter".
7. Election of Officers
8. A.O.B.
9. Group Meal - Veg or Meat Chile - you will be asked your preference in advance

We hereby give notification of a call for nominations for the Inner Circle of Magnificent Representatives and an amendment to the Magnificent Constitution.  All sounds a bit serious but it is very worthy stuff and helps the group run as smoothly as it does - "cat herding" 30+ blokes is never easy, it helps to be a bit organized.

Currently we have these officers of The Inner Circle:

• the “Big Chief” (Chairbloke and Chief Instigator)
• one or two “Little Chiefs” (Vice Instigators)
• a “Scribe” (Secretary or Record Keeper)
• a “Finance  Meister” (Treasurer)
• a Memorabilia Meister” responsible for T-Shirts and other items of memorabilia
• a “Music Meister” responsible for maintaining a library of songs, words and music.

The “Principal Choir Meister” (Choirmaster) is appointed by the Inner Circle and is a member of the Inner Circle ex-officio.

The Inner Circle and/or Principal Choir Meister may nominate additional “Deputy Choir Meisters” (a.k.a. Section Leaders) to lead sessions when the Principal Choir Meister is not able to be present or simply wishes to delegate musical matters*.

We are letting it be known that we welcome nominations for any of these posts and in addition:

• Art Meister (to produce Posters and other Art Work)
• Local Media Officer (to liaise with local media TV & Radio, village magazines & papers)
• Regional and National Media Officer (the above but beyond the local)
• Gig Meister #1 Gig Meister  #2 (to do leg work organizing gigs)
• Web Meister #1 and Web Meister #2 (to organize all the webstuff and a Deputy)

We anticipate some of these may be appointed in an honorary capacity, ie to someone not a current member of the group.  These are all voluntary post with no payment other than satisfaction of a job well done and maybe the occasional beer from the Group kitty.  However, before you get any ideas of lavish knees ups, any expenditure needs to be ratified by a majority of the Inner Circle and will be published in the accounts, so any expensive jollies will be noticed and the miscreants brought to book.

Appointees will be expected to attend a minimum of four meetings held per year scheduled once a quarter, most likely after a Workshop, to discuss Magnificent matters, decide what to do and get on with doing it in a timely fashion.

Basically, most of the guys have been doing their posts for a couple of years and at the very least we need to shuffle the pack so if you have some time and skills to offer and would like to play a part in running the group then step forward.  It is NOT a huge commitment, is good fun and the reward is seeing the group flourish under your influence.

We also need to change the Magnificent Constitution so that we can have more achievable dates for the End of Year and Pow Wow.  To view the current version click here.

Right, that is enough serious stuff for a while.  There is still a little bit more info* to come out this next week and the one beyond about the Pow Wow and other plans, but not much more now you will be relieved to know.

Yours, in mutual brotherly admiration

The Magnificent AK47 Inner Circle

Post Pow Wow 2012

And so, after weeks of anticipation, days of preparation and minutes of firkling around setting up, there we all were, at our 2nd Magnificent AK47 Pow Wow, aka Annual General meeting in layperson's speak.

As you can just about make out from the photo it was exceptionally well attended with around 75% regulars turning up and 2 or 3 familiar faces from BlokeFest popping along to find out more and meet up with the rest of the blokes.

We covered a number of topics including a Financial report from Angus V, delivered by a nearly "look-a-like" Peter B, a long rant by Big Chief Neil B yarning on about what a great year it had been, outlining all the terrific events that are lined up before the end of the year and even talking about the "Wold Tour" and mooted proper recording in the new year.  After a bit of debate about ethos, direction and the need to adjust the subscriptions we toasted the various sections of the agenda as they were passed and got on with a mini-workshop lead by our esteemed ChoirMeister the sunshine in the pub garden, followed by a BYO BBQ and social. 

A great way to finish off the first "half" of the year and launch into the second part.

Pow Wow 2012

From the evidence in this photo it looks like it can be quite a tough crowd at our annual Pow Wow!  And you would be right . . . 

We have instigated a new tradition (!) of meeting up at least once a year to discuss "stuff" to with the group, what we like / dislike, hadn't thought of doing / maybe want to do, how we want to do it or not, latest beard growing / trimming techniques, pretty much anything that is relevant and sometimes plenty that is not.

As with everything we do, we try to be at least vaguely organized before the chaos of 30+ opinions kick in and people seek to express views they hold strongly before seeing the other side of a point of view and then recognizing the worth of their original line of thought before losing concentration and forgetting that they had their own opinion and then fall in line with the best idea they heard 2 minutes ago, if only they (or anyone) could remember what it was.  You get the idea.

Anyway, worst case we have an archetypal "Mrs Merton Heated Debate" and turn it into an excuse for a beer or two, a song or two, and some food and general social.

This year's agenda is

 Inner Circlers who can attend
16:15 - Set up Gazebo & BBQ & Back Room of The White Hart

Everybody else
17:00 - Arrive at The White Hart & buy refreshments at bar
17:15 - Start Pow Wow in Back room - Agenda below
18:15 - Singing session with Chris to review Delilah, Dry Stone Waller's song
18:45 - Food (BYO BBQ) & Social + some singing to the masses

As ever, all timings approximate, liable to change and acts of nature.

Please consider Family & Friends invited to the Food & Social side of things, BBQ facilities are being provided but to keep things as simple as possible we ask YOU to bring your own food to cook on the BBQ and any veg / salads etc to accompany it, basically a Bring Your Own BBQ.  Crockery and cutlery will be provided.

If Family & Friends need to arrive earlier than 18:45 can we suggest they might want to avail themselves of the pub facilities in the bar area, reading the paper or having a stroll round the village rather than attending the Pow Wow? (it's not like it is a secret session or anything, more in case they don't want to hear us yarning on about Bloke singing!)

Pow Wow Agenda

1. Apologies for shameful lack of attendance
2. Review Minutes of last Pow Wow
3. Big Chief's Report (summary of last year, proposals/dates for the next year & Fascinating Facts Quiz)
4. Finance Meister's Report
5. Subscriptions
6. Membership
7. Review any Proposed Amendments to "The Magnificent Charter".
8. Election of Officers
9. A.O.B.

If you fancy coming along all we ask is that you let us know in advance so we know to let you in without giving you too hard a Paddington stare.  Email themagnificentak47@gmail.com, just to be on the safe side.