|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 9, 2019 22:02:13 GMT
Thank you 🙏 for such kind words
Shine On Michael
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2019 8:04:17 GMT
Did Gurdain get his tabla fixed in time? TT
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 12, 2019 10:58:21 GMT
Did Gurdain get his tabla fixed in time? TT In a word...."No". Truro does not have an Asian community, so there was nobody in that neck of the woods to loan or repair a tabla. We borrowed a small djembe drum from a very kind friend of the venue's called Paul, which got us through the show, but it really was nothing like a tabla in any way at all because like most drums apart from tabla, it does not have any notes and is just a percussion instrument. Tabla is tuned to the key of the piece being played and is used as a melodic instrument as well as a rhythmic one. The left hand drum, the bayan, is not tuned to a note and creates the deep bass. Anyway....we got through the show because Gurdain is such a brilliant musician, but it was limiting and strange for him and us. The next day we were staying at an AirB&B in the Kingstanding area of Birmingham. I know that Birmingham has a large Asian community, but luck was really on our side. A friend of Manish's, a tabla player, Pulkit Sharma, lives ten minutes from where we were staying and not only lent us a tabla, but he delivered it to our door! How sweet was that! Tabla repairers are much like resonator guitar luthiers, they are as rare as rocking-horse manure and of the ones that can do it, only one or two of them are any good. It is much like our world of cones and skills, they not only have to have the skill, but they have to get the right skins from India. It is a very serious business, just like cones and biscuits. But....luck being on our side that day, it turned out that one of the only trustworthy tabla repairers in the UK was a seven minute drive from our AirB&B. So we dropped the tabla off at his house and headed off to the festival with the one that Pulkit lent us! Phew.....these things are sent to try us. Such is life! Thanks TT, your concern is much appreciated :-) Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by bonzo on Aug 12, 2019 11:29:42 GMT
Hi Michael, a djembe drum in your set-up.....interesting! You may have started a whole new genre of fusion music!
Best wishes to you all, John
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 12, 2019 12:19:46 GMT
All's well then! Next question: did you survive Farmer Phil's festival hurricane? TT
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 12, 2019 20:55:06 GMT
All's well then! Next question: did you survive Farmer Phil's festival hurricane? TT In Cornwall on Thursday we had a minor earthquake, well a tremor - 2.2 on the Richter scale. Then during the night we had rain and serious gale force winds. On Saturday at Farmer Phil's Festival the weather was so bad that we were almost unable to play. Mud, wind and rain made it pretty difficult to do anything. We played, went down a storm (no pun intended) with a great audience, and then escaped as soon as possible. It was too muddy and wet to relax and enjoy. I felt so sorry for the organisers because it takes a year to set up and costs a lot of money. They fund the whole thing themselves and it is a really lovely event.... on a sunny day. The wind meter was one digit away from them having to close down the festival. Luckily the weather improved and they continued. Shine On Michael
|
|
|
Post by Michael Messer on Aug 14, 2019 19:51:49 GMT
The last two dates on this tour are at Shrewsbury Folk Festival - Sunday 25th & Monday 26th August. Let's hope for sunshine, but I'll take my wellies and brolly just in case! Shine On Michael
|
|