DIARY DATES

2003 (Provisional)

Rabble Diary 2003

25 January 2003 - Burton Winter Beer Festival

A departure for the Rabble was to be invited to the CAMRA Winter Beer Festival which was moved to Burton this year.
The music is always swallowed up by the large venue of the Town Hall, so this year the musicians were on the stage with an amplifier and speakers to try and make a bit more noise. The dancers said it was louder so it must have done some good.
Much the usual format as previously with two sessions but this time border performing most dances with a few solo clog routines interspersed due to injury and a lack of dancers.
These CAMRA drinkers are a bit more serious than the normal beer festival types with appaluse given very begrugingly.

2 February 2003 - Rabble Full Practice

Following on from a similar event last year, this practice day was identified for the full repertoire of dances to be performed in two sessions, as if we were out on a booking. This was to identify weaknesses which may not have been apparent during normal practice.
Unfortunately the sword side was not avilable and the clog team were down to 2 members but none the less they did 3 dances with the border side filling in the rest, consequently it was an early visit to the pub.

2 March 2003 - Four Counties Tour

The fifth annual Four Counties Tour started at the White Swan in Walton-upon-Trent which is in the county of Derbyshire and contrary to tradition, the weather was great and remained so for the whole tour.
We were joined this year by Bare Bones who are a ladies border morris side from Loughborough and a photographer from the local paper.
As it was a little cramped outside the White Swan we moved onto to the bigger car park at the Green Man in Clifton Campville which is in Staffordshire. As this venue the landlord was good enough to lay on some excellent sandwiches for the dancers which was well appreciated. Bare Bones musician just made it to this pub as it was time to move onto the Four Counties in Warwickshire.
Parking was a little difficult at this one but there was enough room to get several dances in before moving onto the Black Hourse in Leicestershire.
No problems at the finale although dwindling Rabble numbers made for some interesting dances which were designed for eight but completed with four. The final dance was a joint effort of "Up with the Noone" which I believe is the first public rendition of this lost tradition for many years.
Thanks to Bare Bones for their company and fine dancing.

22 March 2003 - The Great Northen Fig and Date Fayre

The Rabble nearly made this one but the number were always a little low and with a few having to pull out we couldn't get a side together.
However a couple of us went along to see what sort of things go on at this event, and we can report there is dancing and there are "games".
The location was a lone pub in the middle of the Yorkshire wilderness somewhere near Penistone. The Fez heads started things off with one of their unique peformances and then each side got a couple of dances in before the games started.
Spitting a date stone through the eye of a camel, fig and spoon race with Fez Head obstacles, fruit rounders with various types of rotting fruit and a bat of your choice, roulette where the wheel of fortune selects the lucky person to eat an ever increasing amount of chillied dates.
The last event moved inside and was a belly dancing contest judged by a panel of "experts", the Fez Heads. There were a lot of sides there and a good time was had by all; a shame we missed it really.


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4 to 6 April 2003 - DERT 2003 in Glasgow

Unfortuately, due to unforseen circumstances, our Rapper side wasn't able to attend this year. Our squire, who was the only member of the Rabble to go along, (and as member of Black Swan), seems to recollect that they won but couldn't seem to remember much else.


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6 April 2003 - Burton Tulip Festival

An event in a garden by the Trent to celebrate the tulips which were in bloom, presumably. There were a collection of stalls selling all sorts from plants and shrubs to homemade cakes, a bandstand and a network of paths connecting it altogether.
Our timed slots quickly evaporated and so we busked around the lower section for a while performing border and clog to a small audience.
When we finally managed to get a spot by the bandstand it was good. There was a large crowd, we enjoyed ourselves and got a good applause.
Being messed about a bit is one of those things that goes along with a free event unfortunately.

4 and 5 May 2003 - Lichfield Mysteries

The Rabble have performed plays in all the Lichfield Mysteries and so continued the tradition in 2003.
This time we performed the Slaughter of the Innocents where King Herod orders all young male children to be killed in order to eliminate the baby Jesus, as we all know he fails.
The play was performed 3 time on Sunday and 3 times on Monday at 3 different locations to variable sized audiences but was always well received.
Several of our side had their pictures in the local paper as a result.


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9 to 11 May 2003 - Holmfirth Folk Festival

The Rabble were one of about 17 sides to attend the 25th Holmfirth festival, and it was good.
Most people arrived on Friday evening and it was "cosy" on the new campsite, but it all adds to the atmosphere.
There was a regular bus service from the campsite to the town for the dance spots at various venues around the centre, which always seemed to attract a good crowd, (how many were on the "Last of the Summer Wine" tour is however unknown).
Although most of the Rabble were able to attend this festival, on Saturday the dances were mainly border, with a few clog and an appearance of Camilla the clog dancing camel. There was the normal procession with a 2 min. dance at the end; ours was an exact timed 2 mins which raised an extra applause.
The evening was open to personal preference of staying on the campsite, attending a concert or going to the excellent ceilidh with Florida and a very entertaining interpretation of Swan Lake by Black Adder in the interval.
Sunday saw more spots around the town with again mostly border but with a sprinkling of clog dances.
The weather was kind all weekend and everyone enjoyed themseleves and we even had 16 up for Ragged Crow which must be a record for recent events.

18 May 2003 - Etwall Well Dressing

The Rabble have been regular attendees at the Etwall Well Dressing for approximately 8 years at it is always a popular event with the majority of the side turning out. In recent years we have been towards the end of the programme and this year did not buck that trend with our spots being at 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. but fortunately we were still able to perform to good sized crowds.
This also worked out very well with the weather as the heavy showers had moved through by the time we were on, and it just goes to prove that it never rains on good (sic) Morris dancers.
This time we were lucky enough to have a rapper side and musician so we were able to perform border, clog and sword dances at each spot (and there was even a suprise appearance of Camilla the camel which went down very well with the children.

14 June 2003 - Saxonhill School Fete

Two of the Rabble work as teachers at Saxonhill School in Lichfield, so it was no good trying to get out of this event.
Rather that the normal fete, where we are stuck in the middle of a playing field miles away from the audience, this one was well thought out with a programme of events in a prominent tarmac location with a very good P.A. system.
The normal two twenty minute spots was what was in the programme and that is what we did. Unfortunately there was no clog or sword but with a made up introduction for each dance, we managed four dances in each allocated slot.
There were lots of stalls and other activities going on with the wellie throwing competition proving very popular if a little unpredictable.

21 June 2003 - Lichfield Folk Festival

Its been a little while since the Rabble had attended the Lichfield Folk Festival for the main dance displays on the Saturday, so this event was a welcome return.
There were four spots and a procession evenly spaced out throughout the day with the Rabble dancing either on their own or with one other side. The grand finale was each side doing a 12 minute spot outside the cathederal, with the Rabble appearing last.
Afterwards there was tea and home made cakes at a local hall and performers tickets available so we could enjoy the evening events.

27 to 29 June 2003 - Scarborough Fayre

Most of us arrived at the campsite on Friday night and then it rained.
Fortunately this wasn't the blueprint for the weekend which provided glorious weather for the 17 or so sides which were attending the weekend of dance at the seaside resort of Scarborough.
It was a slightly early start Saturday morning on the buses which took us into the town centre for our fist spot by the Queen Victoria monument. Then it was back to the bus and off to Filey for lunch and a couple more spots on the sea front.
In the evening there were more buses to take us into town and the excellent ceilidh with Whapweasel and caller Martyn Harvey, but was it ever hot.
More buses on Sunday to a showcase venue at the end of the north beach and then onto the south beach and a longish procession along the seafront to finish with a dance on the beach and for some in the sea.
A very enjoyable weekend, well organised and we would certainly go again.

18 to 20 July 2003 - Crook Morris Weekend of Dance

We like Crook Morris and it is always a pleasure to be invited to their annual weekend of dance, and we don't seem to have upset them too much as we have been fortunate enough to be asked every other year.
This time there was a new venue at Coniston rather than Windemere but the accommodation was just as good and the arrangements just as impressive. It's an all inclusive deal with meals and entertainment provided from Friday evening through to Sunday breakfast.
A slightly different set of locations for the tours on Saturday (plus a packed lunch) and a reverse ferry ride than normal to suit the new base camp but still just as enjoyable. An excellent ceilidh but this year Martyn didn't do the calling, he must have wanted a break.
Sunday was the normal format at Kirkby Lonsdale with a procession and spots in the town square.
The weather was pretty good for the Lake District as well.

5 to 7 Sept 2003 - York Weekend of Traditional Dance

After the Summer hiatus there was one chance to practice and then it was off to York for the weekend of traditional dance organised by the Ebor Morris Men.
Most arrived on the racecourse Friday evening but a few early risers left it until Saturday morning but all managed to arrive in time catch the coach into town and join the procession.
Following this, the Rabble alternated between two dance locations for the rest of the day pausing for an excellent packed lunch in the guild hall and a brief shower break when there was a downpour (the only one of the whole weekend). The last dance was in front of the civic party as normal.
An early start on Sunday, as the Rabble had a group booking at the Yorvik centre which was enjoyed by all.
A spot more dancing around the city and a quick shandy followed, due to the narrow window of opportunity to get the caravans and campers off of the racecourse due to a Sunday race meeting.
Needless to say the information was spot on and we all got away in a timely manner (and we even managed to see the third race).

20 Sept 2003 - Burton Rapper Tour

Rapper Tour  of Burton-on-Trent - Mabel Gubbins and Ryknild Rapper

We started at this pub in the old Everard’s Brewery complex. As the pub has a cobbled floor, we danced outside the front door. Having been fine all day, it started to spot with rain, but this did not put Mabel or Ryknild off dancing and a lot of the customers came out to watch as well. Some commented that they had seen us at previous beer festivals. Pete performed his first public rapper dance here. We finished off inside with a clog dance by Adrienne & Hannah.

A bit of space at the end of the bar proved a good dance floor, but you had to watch your position as Jackie found out when she banged her hip on the corner of the bar. Much to Toby’s disgust, Lizzy beat him at a rather dis-jointed game of pool.

Lovely dancing space here and a small but appreciative audience saw the performance of three rapper dances by Mabel and Ryknild.

Roll up the darts mat and dance on a quarry tile floor. The room was hot and packed with other customers peering in at the door to watch the dancing.

We arrived to find the Landlord’s farewell party in full swing. Due to lack of space we had to dance on the carpet in the front room, so each team did one token dance. There was a concern that the pub was going to close down, but we learnt that a pub chain had bought it. We await developments.......... Food had been laid on and there was still plenty left when we arrived and with no sign of the bar closing, it was a good way to finish a good tour.

26 to 28 Sept 2003 - White Rose 50th

The theme for the weekend was the 1950s and there was Spam.
Although only a few of the Rabble stayed for the whole weekend, there were just enough dancers for the Saturday tours, although it was hard work.
There were loads of coaches departing for various venues around Huddersfield and No7 (ours) had a packed itinerary with 6 venues including, Hudderfield City centre near a pub, a pub on top of a hill, lunch in a pub, a museum with no pub, a pub on a cross roads and a small courtyard next to a pub in Holmfirth.
Our tour guide kept us on track and we did them all.
In the evening there was a 1950s theme dinner with most people making the effort be it rock and roll, climbing everest or just plain kitsch.
Afterwards there was a ceilidh which was a bit echoie due to the rather box shaped hall but everyone had a good time.
It was great to help White Rose celebrate 50 years and they certainly know how to put on a good event with everything laid on and subsidised beer, although not quite at 1953 prices

31 Oct 2003 - Shugborough Halloween

Halloween actually being on a Friday night brought the public out in force and the Rabble tail enders only just made the start of our first spot due to the queues.
We were in the usual location in the courtyard and there was a reasonable crowd to watch a full 30 mins of border dancing with a slight halloween theme.
Well we were dressed up a bit spookily. (It's always good fun when there's a bit of a free rein on kit as peoples persona come through - you know who you are!)
After a bit of a break the second spot was slightly less well attended but those that did watch seemed to enjoy it.
Three new dancers performed out during the course of the evening, so well done to Karim, Linda and Carole.
The trip home was punctuated with a stop at a local pub where the locals seemed to enjoy our costumes - well we assume so as they stared at us a lot.

23 Nov 2003 - Tutbury Christmas Fayre

We were approached to provide part of the entertainment for the shoppers at the Tutbury Castle Chritmas Fayre which was being held over the weekend of 22-23 Nov 2003.
The Rabble weren't available on Saturday, so Black Dog stood in, but we made it for the requested three spots on the Sunday.
The organisers felt that the early arrivals often lost out because the entertainment is often bias towards the afternoon, so at this event the clown, jugglers and morris was spread out over most of the opening times. Consequently, there was a full repetoire of sword dancing, clog dancing and border morris.
It was a enjoyable day with time to look around the stalls, castle and partake of the provided free lunch which was followed by a very pleasant tea chez Robin and Theresa.

17 Dec 2003 - Mumming at Norton Canes

In 2003 the Norton Canes Community Partnership were lucky enough to get a grant to study the traditions of the area, and they approached the Rabble to perform a Mumming play at one of their Heritage Project events.
As we are always up for a challenge we said yes and decided the Armitage play was probably close enough to Norton Canes to be relevant to them.
Following casting and rehersals plus a dry run in Lichfield the troupe performed between the local singers and the quiz.
Not universally enjoyed by the audience, but a good show none the less.

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