Big Session Festival
BIG SESSION FESTIVALtakes a short break
The relaunch of Oysterband’s signature festival, The Big Session, was a great success in June 2012 on its new site at Catton Hall, South Derbyshire. Coupled with the band’s scoop of 4 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for their landmark CD with June Tabor, “Ragged Kingdom” and their sell-out tour, OYSTERBAND had a mighty year in 2012.
Friends who came to the festival loved it - “Amazing festival - one of the best ever!”,
“Nothing but fabulous music all weekend”, “Lucy Ward, Merry Hell and Oysterband - stunning”.
And so did musicians - “The Big Session was a delight to attend as an artist - first class”,
“Thank you so much, we had a brilliant weekend”.
After Catton Hall and no fewer than 19 other summer festivals, Oysterband have now embarked on autumn tours of Canada and Denmark, to be followed immediately in November by the second and final leg of their hugely successful “Ragged Kingdom” tour with June Tabor, a collaboration that has brought a wider public to their music.
And there are plans to record a new Oysterband album early in 2013.
With all that, not to mention a very busy festival season for their Big Session partners Mrs Casey Music, there has been little time to plan properly for the Festival in 2013.
The band took a year away from the Big Session in 2011 before the new site was found. It seems the 2-year planning cycle was the right choice.
So, Oysterband and Mrs Casey Music have set about planning the next Big Session for a couple of years’ time.
The Big Session, first an album, then a tour, then a festival. It might appear as a one-off show too in the future, and it will be back as a festival before long. Watch the press for dates and plans.
Meanwhile Oysterband/Tabor shows in the UK start at Basingstoke Anvil on 27 November. See www.oysterband.co.uk for dates.
Mrs Casey Music will present
The Association of Festival Organisers Conference 16-18 November 2012 at Eastwood Hall, Nottingham
The 49th Towersey Festival, 22-26 August 2013, Oxfordshire
Two new CDs on their Mrs Casey Records label
TYDE – The Hidden Spoon (MCRCD3102) and
MERRY HELL – Bury Me Naked (MCRCD3103)
www.oysterband.co.uk
www.mrscasey.co.uk
www.bigsessionfestival.com
www.towerseyfestival.com
www.festivalorganisers.org
Long live THE BIG SESSION!
