... Youth Summer School (and Adult, but who really cares), starts on Monday!!! There will be awesome choonz, awesome sessions and awesome people who I mostly haven't seen since last year!
This isn't really a discussion I suppose, just a lame way of venting my excitement for next week during this very boring week prior to it! (Though who knows, it could easily somehow turn into a heated discussion about dots versus ears, as a lot of things here do.)
Anyone else here going?? (I know D.J.F. is!) Anyone here not going, and extremely jealous of those who are? Cos if you're not going, you should be jealous.
This is The City Of Durham Trust's appeal against relocating the equestrian statue in Durham Market Place that many Folkworks-goers will know.
The local planning partnership Durham City Vision have their scheme for the Market Place awaiting Council planning permission right now. It involves bunging the horse further up and turning it round, stepping the Market Place, and putting in lots of foul hard stone benches while getting rid of the nice comfortable wooden ones that people actually like to use.
Durham City Vision, in fact, are manifesting the vision of a cane toad.
There is a reason for all this. It is that with RDA / Westminster / European backing they intend to make Durham a turbo-charged tourist destination. To this end, the Market Place is to be sterilised of local life, made rigid in its use by these bloody stone obstacles, and function as a marshalling-yard for tourists while the access for stalls and vehicles becomes that much more cramped and no doubt selective. (Stalls will go where the horse now is, according to this plan; the horse will limit the space available to vehicles at the top - but tourists coming up to certain viewpoints may see it lit up and go, "Oo-aah!" - Classic totalitarian townscaping, in short: all done for effect on targeted crowds, horrible close up.)
And what do I *really* think? The present surface badly needs upgrading to make it safe and even. But the DCV scheme is a potential disaster from every aesthetic and practical point of view. It is hatched in a pigs' nest of special interests, directives, and a regeneration/ PR industry completely unhinged by its own succulent propaganda.
This supposed cultural advance promises to give more space to "outdoor events" - though the place happily accommodates many now. That's while the money lasts, I suppose, and some here may well be interested in the place as a future venue. They have my blessing - though DCV's intended revamp does not.
SO - Folkworks-goers - Have a good look at the Market Place this time. Take photos. It may have been trashed up by the time you come again. But I hope not.
This is a civic planning issue which may be deemed irrelevant and deleted - but I'll try it on, as Durham is visited by many tradheads, especially this month when Folkworks is on.
I believe the Market Place stands to be turned into a soulless and dysfunctional piazza if a current planning scheme for it gets accepted. The quangos and the tourist industry want to pile as many tourists into Durham as possible and coin it, and the scheme is a means to that end. Some may get rich but I think residents and visitors alike will be ill-served.
I've put more details and an online petition site in the 'Folkwooooorks!!!' thread. I'll put the petition site here too:
Although I was in two minds about going... the year I went, they had a solo singers element, which they since appear to have shelved - so it's not longer so useful to me...
I started a separate thread about (against...) the current plans to revamp Durham's Market Place, which Jeremy has amalgamated with this one. Hence, a certain amount of reduplication in my posts above. )
Artistically, the statue is the worst kind of Victoriana (God bless her late Majesty's little cotton socks!), but like the rest of you, I'm very fond of it and, if Durham Council is anything like ours in York, their motto is "The Tourist is King". The rest of us just say "***king tourists" (read Lord Pratchett on how to pronounce that hard penultimate word, in his socially explicit novel "The Truth").
I don't know where the statue ranks in the minds of conoisseurs (I think it's pretty good!), but it has to be a lot higher in the cultural firmament than the grisly calligraphic twaddle that stands to bedizen the revamp - if they are allowed to proceed.
Durham has till now been spared the mass tourism of York or Canterbury (I lived some years in the latter). Now, though, the RDA and others want to make it a turbo-charged tourist mecca. The idea that tourism and Durham in particular could contribute a lot to the NE's economy deserves respect, but the way they're going about it here is crass. It's calculated to make some people rich, degrade real heritage for a fake one, and send visitors away despising the place forever.
Durham's such a beautiful place. Now it's about to be scarred forever by a load of snivelling teenage musicians who don't wash under their arms properly and who will only play tunes with you if you'll accompany them with a special harmony the third time through just like they do it on the Lunasa CD.
I was talking to somebody local this afternoon and she didn't think the council had a cat in hell's chance, because of the deep local resistance to their plan.
PS. We beat York Council who wanted to put their monstrosity of an office set slap next to a 15th century half timbered house! Don't forget lads and lasses, that the best architect is a dead one - preferably VERY painfully!
My rant over. Thank you for your attention. God bless Durham.
Dow - I'll have you know that of the 111 attendees of the Youth Summer School this year, I and a few select (that is, probably less than ten) others were the only ones who had even heard of Lúnasa! Get your facts straight, Dow! There's not much Irish music at Folkworks.
For your information, Folkworks this year was amazing, as usual. Incredible music, incredible tutors, and incredibly fun times. But, Dow, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that, cos you know it very well, and you're just jealous.
Folkwooooorks!!!
Folkwooooorks!!!
... Youth Summer School (and Adult, but who really cares), starts on Monday!!! There will be awesome choonz, awesome sessions and awesome people who I mostly haven't seen since last year!
This isn't really a discussion I suppose, just a lame way of venting my excitement for next week during this very boring week prior to it! (Though who knows, it could easily somehow turn into a heated discussion about dots versus ears, as a lot of things here do.)
Anyone else here going?? (I know D.J.F. is!) Anyone here not going, and extremely jealous of those who are? Cos if you're not going, you should be jealous.
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Joe CSS
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Oh gowon, Joe, give us a clue. Where is this thing happening? Or don't! I don't care.
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Mark Harmer
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Better to avoid Durham then ..........
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Hope you have a good time, Joe. May you meet lots of "legends"!
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Kenny
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Watch out for the ticks.
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by Strummer007
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
http://www.durhamcity.org/index.html
This is The City Of Durham Trust's appeal against relocating the equestrian statue in Durham Market Place that many Folkworks-goers will know.
The local planning partnership Durham City Vision have their scheme for the Market Place awaiting Council planning permission right now. It involves bunging the horse further up and turning it round, stepping the Market Place, and putting in lots of foul hard stone benches while getting rid of the nice comfortable wooden ones that people actually like to use.
Durham City Vision, in fact, are manifesting the vision of a cane toad.
There is a reason for all this. It is that with RDA / Westminster / European backing they intend to make Durham a turbo-charged tourist destination. To this end, the Market Place is to be sterilised of local life, made rigid in its use by these bloody stone obstacles, and function as a marshalling-yard for tourists while the access for stalls and vehicles becomes that much more cramped and no doubt selective. (Stalls will go where the horse now is, according to this plan; the horse will limit the space available to vehicles at the top - but tourists coming up to certain viewpoints may see it lit up and go, "Oo-aah!" - Classic totalitarian townscaping, in short: all done for effect on targeted crowds, horrible close up.)
And what do I *really* think? The present surface badly needs upgrading to make it safe and even. But the DCV scheme is a potential disaster from every aesthetic and practical point of view. It is hatched in a pigs' nest of special interests, directives, and a regeneration/ PR industry completely unhinged by its own succulent propaganda.
This supposed cultural advance promises to give more space to "outdoor events" - though the place happily accommodates many now. That's while the money lasts, I suppose, and some here may well be interested in the place as a future venue. They have my blessing - though DCV's intended revamp does not.
SO - Folkworks-goers - Have a good look at the Market Place this time. Take photos. It may have been trashed up by the time you come again. But I hope not.
I can bore for England on this, but I'll stop.
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
"The ticks" he says!
Does look like fun:
http://www.thesagegateshead.org/folkworks/index.aspx
# Posted on August 4th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Battle for Durham City's Market Place
This is a civic planning issue which may be deemed irrelevant and deleted - but I'll try it on, as Durham is visited by many tradheads, especially this month when Folkworks is on.
I believe the Market Place stands to be turned into a soulless and dysfunctional piazza if a current planning scheme for it gets accepted. The quangos and the tourist industry want to pile as many tourists into Durham as possible and coin it, and the scheme is a means to that end. Some may get rich but I think residents and visitors alike will be ill-served.
I've put more details and an online petition site in the 'Folkwooooorks!!!' thread. I'll put the petition site here too:
http://www.durhamcity.org/index.html
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Battle for Durham City's Market Place
That is rubbish. I always liked that statue.
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
OK - yes, I'm jealous! went to Folkworks a couple of years ago and had a great time. Sadly can't go this time cos gotta gig! hopefully next year.
Sue
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by suesinger
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Although I was in two minds about going... the year I went, they had a solo singers element, which they since appear to have shelved - so it's not longer so useful to me...
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by suesinger
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
It's the adults who are looking forward to it the most...a week away from the kids, cooking, housework and plenty of good music.
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by minijackpot
Re: Battle for Durham City's Market Place
I have actually played some tunes by it many years ago and my daughter danced there .
Petition signed
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by bazouki dave
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
(Note here from nicholas:
I started a separate thread about (against...) the current plans to revamp Durham's Market Place, which Jeremy has amalgamated with this one. Hence, a certain amount of reduplication in my posts above. )
# Posted on August 5th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Artistically, the statue is the worst kind of Victoriana (God bless her late Majesty's little cotton socks!), but like the rest of you, I'm very fond of it and, if Durham Council is anything like ours in York, their motto is "The Tourist is King". The rest of us just say "***king tourists" (read Lord Pratchett on how to pronounce that hard penultimate word, in his socially explicit novel "The Truth").
# Posted on August 7th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
@Ebor_fiddler:
I don't know where the statue ranks in the minds of conoisseurs (I think it's pretty good!), but it has to be a lot higher in the cultural firmament than the grisly calligraphic twaddle that stands to bedizen the revamp - if they are allowed to proceed.
Durham has till now been spared the mass tourism of York or Canterbury (I lived some years in the latter). Now, though, the RDA and others want to make it a turbo-charged tourist mecca. The idea that tourism and Durham in particular could contribute a lot to the NE's economy deserves respect, but the way they're going about it here is crass. It's calculated to make some people rich, degrade real heritage for a fake one, and send visitors away despising the place forever.
OK, rant over for now!..
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Durham's such a beautiful place. Now it's about to be scarred forever by a load of snivelling teenage musicians who don't wash under their arms properly and who will only play tunes with you if you'll accompany them with a special harmony the third time through just like they do it on the Lunasa CD.
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by Dr. Dow
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Teehee, Dow.
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
I was talking to somebody local this afternoon and she didn't think the council had a cat in hell's chance, because of the deep local resistance to their plan.
PS. We beat York Council who wanted to put their monstrosity of an office set slap next to a 15th century half timbered house! Don't forget lads and lasses, that the best architect is a dead one - preferably VERY painfully!
My rant over. Thank you for your attention. God bless Durham.
# Posted on August 9th 2009 by Ebor_fiddler
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
I've long grown out of sniffing the armpits of teenage musicians.
In fact, I don't believe I ever grew into it.
# Posted on August 11th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Folkwooooorks!!!
Dow - I'll have you know that of the 111 attendees of the Youth Summer School this year, I and a few select (that is, probably less than ten) others were the only ones who had even heard of Lúnasa! Get your facts straight, Dow! There's not much Irish music at Folkworks.
For your information, Folkworks this year was amazing, as usual. Incredible music, incredible tutors, and incredibly fun times. But, Dow, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that, cos you know it very well, and you're just jealous.
# Posted on August 23rd 2009 by Joe CSS