Pics courtesy Bev Slaughter
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Wassailing Again
January in the Bere Peninsula - and it's wassailing time again. For this occasion you won't hear rollicking songs of the sea from the Tars but raucous drinking songs and tradition chants cajoling the apple trees to be productive. We were spared the bitter winds and ice this year, but the blazing bonfire in the orchard was still welcome, as were the mulled cider and pasties back in the church hall.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tavy Tars at Bere Ferrers Apple Fest
The Tavy Tars once again supported the annual Apple Fest in Bere Ferrers on the 8th October with a rousing chorus of "Come landlord fill the flowing bowl" as the large hydraulic apple press was put into operation. Nearly 2 tons of apples [the winter wassailing session obviously worked!] were processed on the day making about 570 litres of apple juice. The Tavy Tars later did a rumbustious version of "Drink up thy Zider" and a more melodic "Farmer's Toast" to compliment the Border Morris group strutting their stuff in the main road....Charities supported this year include the Devon Air Ambulance and a donation to refurbish equipment in the local children's play area.
Photo by Bev Slaughter
Monday, August 8, 2011
Plymouth RNLI Open Day Report
The Tars started their performance in bright sunny conditions with freshening winds. Keeping a weather eye open to the west it became clear that it was going to be a close run thing between us finishing our set and the weather arriving. Arrive it did half way through the penultimate number, scattering audience and Tars alike. However, a good collection was made for the Plymouth lifeboat we are told.
Nic Randall from the Plymouth Post was there and these links here and here go to his reports on the RNLI open day.
Nic Randall from the Plymouth Post was there and these links here and here go to his reports on the RNLI open day.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Plymouth RNLI Open Day
The Tavy Tars are proud to support the Plymouth lifeboat and will be singing at this event on Sunday 7 August at 2pm in Plymouth's Barbican.
Bristol Harbour Festival 2011 Report
The Tars furthest and biggest event yet! The Tavy Tars went ‘up the line’ as invited performers for three days at the 2011 Bristol Harbour Festival. This festival is impressively colourful, diverse and vivid – Bristol really does itself and its many guests proud. Huge crowds throng the waterfront area to view a wonderful array of ships and boats in the Floating Harbour and to enjoy all manner of entertainments, food and drink. So we had a very good time – and hopefully added to the salty festival flavour!
The visit opened on Thursday July 28, with the Tars doing gigs outside the Nova Scotia, Pump House and Cottage Inn waterside pubs. A special moment was outside 'The Pumphouse' watching hot-air balloons floating towards us, suddenly to have 'The Matthew' come into view, gliding through the still water.
Then on Friday July 29, the Tars were the musical entertainment at the opening ceremony, held in the impressive new ‘M Shed’ museum. The audience included the Lord Mayor of Bristol, naval officers from visiting HMS Cattestock and various other dignitaries. After this – a real treat! The Tars boarded the wonderful three-masted topsail Schooner, Kathleen and May, and performed from the deck for the crowds outside the adjacent Arnolfini Centre. A familiar sight down at Plymouth’s Barbican back in the 1970s, the beautifully-restored Kathleen and May is now based up in Liverpool, having been ousted, sadly, from her berth at Bideford. The Friday evening closed with a jolly session with Bristol Gig Club in that fascinating haven of shipwrights and other nautical craftsmen, the Underfall Boatyard.
Saturday July 30th saw the Harbour Festival in full swing, with huge crowds out in fine weather. The Tars had the great privilege of being the only group to perform aboard Brunel’s famous iron steamship, the Great Britain. We sang first beneath her big red iron propeller, down in the dry dock that now shelters the historic ship (and in which she was built), then did a stint up on deck, before an extended session in the gilded splendour of the First Class Dining Room. After that, we had to make our way over to the other side of the Floating Harbour. Although acoustic evenings at the Olde Plough Inn, Bere Ferrers, have given the Tars experience of closely-packed humanity, at Bristol the merry throng stretched for over half a mile. But getting to our final venue for the weekend was well worthwhile, for we sang on board the ketch Irene, moored outside the Lloyds Amphitheatre. This beautiful sailing vessel, with her gently curving grey hull, has been brought back to life from utter dereliction. She is now a superb credit to her owners and supporters, so it was splendid to be able to sing to a large, appreciative crowd from her deck (we couldn’t resist an impromptu rendering of ‘Goodnight Irene’ before we left!).
So Bristol Harbour Festival 2011 was brilliant! A fabulous, colourful event in an impressive city - and plenty of singing, including sessions aboard three great historic ships. Thanks from the Tars to our talented musicians and musical advisors, Jane Musgrave, Carol Horner and Beth Barnes (the youngest shanty person in the West?), as well as the ‘Tavy Tarts’ (also known as ‘wives’!), and our much appreciated travelling fans, Tilly and Marcel Kelly. And Ray’s hat impressed, even if not as tall as Brunel’s.
There are pictures taken by our official photographer Carol in our gallery and also some pictures taken by Rowena Sutcliffe in her copyright Photostream here. There is also video on board Irene here.
The visit opened on Thursday July 28, with the Tars doing gigs outside the Nova Scotia, Pump House and Cottage Inn waterside pubs. A special moment was outside 'The Pumphouse' watching hot-air balloons floating towards us, suddenly to have 'The Matthew' come into view, gliding through the still water.
Then on Friday July 29, the Tars were the musical entertainment at the opening ceremony, held in the impressive new ‘M Shed’ museum. The audience included the Lord Mayor of Bristol, naval officers from visiting HMS Cattestock and various other dignitaries. After this – a real treat! The Tars boarded the wonderful three-masted topsail Schooner, Kathleen and May, and performed from the deck for the crowds outside the adjacent Arnolfini Centre. A familiar sight down at Plymouth’s Barbican back in the 1970s, the beautifully-restored Kathleen and May is now based up in Liverpool, having been ousted, sadly, from her berth at Bideford. The Friday evening closed with a jolly session with Bristol Gig Club in that fascinating haven of shipwrights and other nautical craftsmen, the Underfall Boatyard.
Saturday July 30th saw the Harbour Festival in full swing, with huge crowds out in fine weather. The Tars had the great privilege of being the only group to perform aboard Brunel’s famous iron steamship, the Great Britain. We sang first beneath her big red iron propeller, down in the dry dock that now shelters the historic ship (and in which she was built), then did a stint up on deck, before an extended session in the gilded splendour of the First Class Dining Room. After that, we had to make our way over to the other side of the Floating Harbour. Although acoustic evenings at the Olde Plough Inn, Bere Ferrers, have given the Tars experience of closely-packed humanity, at Bristol the merry throng stretched for over half a mile. But getting to our final venue for the weekend was well worthwhile, for we sang on board the ketch Irene, moored outside the Lloyds Amphitheatre. This beautiful sailing vessel, with her gently curving grey hull, has been brought back to life from utter dereliction. She is now a superb credit to her owners and supporters, so it was splendid to be able to sing to a large, appreciative crowd from her deck (we couldn’t resist an impromptu rendering of ‘Goodnight Irene’ before we left!).
So Bristol Harbour Festival 2011 was brilliant! A fabulous, colourful event in an impressive city - and plenty of singing, including sessions aboard three great historic ships. Thanks from the Tars to our talented musicians and musical advisors, Jane Musgrave, Carol Horner and Beth Barnes (the youngest shanty person in the West?), as well as the ‘Tavy Tarts’ (also known as ‘wives’!), and our much appreciated travelling fans, Tilly and Marcel Kelly. And Ray’s hat impressed, even if not as tall as Brunel’s.
There are pictures taken by our official photographer Carol in our gallery and also some pictures taken by Rowena Sutcliffe in her copyright Photostream here. There is also video on board Irene here.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Bristol Harbour Festival-Tars Schedule
The latest programme we have for the Tars at the Bristol Harbour Festival is as follows. We hope to see you there.
Thursday 28/7 harbourside pubs.
18.00-18.40 outside Nova Scotia pub.
19.00-19.40 outside Pumphouse Pub.
20.00-20.45 outside Cottage pub.
Friday 29/7
18.00 mini gig at Festival launch at Mshed, Wapping Road, Prince's Wharf.
19.15-19.45 onboard Kathleen and May to play to audience ashore at Bush Corner opposite Mshed.
Saturday 30/7
11.00-13.00 SS Great Britain in the dry dock by the propeller, on deck and in the first class saloon.
1400- Lloyds Ampitheatre - exact timings not yet known.
Thursday 28/7 harbourside pubs.
18.00-18.40 outside Nova Scotia pub.
19.00-19.40 outside Pumphouse Pub.
20.00-20.45 outside Cottage pub.
Friday 29/7
18.00 mini gig at Festival launch at Mshed, Wapping Road, Prince's Wharf.
19.15-19.45 onboard Kathleen and May to play to audience ashore at Bush Corner opposite Mshed.
Saturday 30/7
11.00-13.00 SS Great Britain in the dry dock by the propeller, on deck and in the first class saloon.
1400- Lloyds Ampitheatre - exact timings not yet known.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Dartmouth Shanty Festival Weekend
In fine South Hams summer weather, The Tavy Tars helped launch Dartmouth’s first ‘Sea Shanty Festival Weekend’ on Sunday July 10. The Tars first set was in the delightful Victorian bandstand in the Royal Avenue Gardens. But then they got afloat, with two trips serenading passengers on the ‘Dart Explorer’ as she made her way up to Dittisham and back down through the busy harbour as far as Dartmouth Castle. Some of the nautical audience had come down from Bristol on a special train to Kingswear, hauled by the splendid steam loco ‘Tornado’. Besides the singing, The Tars enjoyed seeing some familiar faces (and the odd bit of banter!) among the other shanty crews taking part - Falmouth Shout, Flash Jack and Mariners Away. With its superb harbourside setting, lively crowds and friendly hosts, Dartmouth’s first shanty weekend was a great success.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Tars at Bristol Harbour Festival
For the first time, the Tars have been invited to perform at this large event. The Tars are involved for three days, 28, 29 and 30 July, performing at various harbourside locations as well on the SS Great Britain.
Read more about this exciting event here
Read more about this exciting event here
Tars at Falmouth 18th and 19th June
The Tars will be at the Falmouth International Shanty Festival again this year. We hope to see you there.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Exmouth Festival
The Tars performed at the Exmouth Festival this year, at their shanty evening. We shared the evening of 1st June with the Exmouth Shantymen and Flash Jack. A good evening was had by all and particular thanks to to the Exmouth crew for their organising and providing some excellent food.
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