Dorset UKA Weekend

A new venue for us arranged by our Secretary Neil Gillard.

DORSET AUTOHARP WEEKEND LIVE EVENT  (DOR AWE) UK

8^th – 10^th SEPTEMBER, 2023 

Hosted by Neil Gillard. Contact Neil: neilgillard@hotmail.com or 07814 585514 for further information.

Tutors: Heather Farrell Roberts, Lyn Jones

Host: Neil Gillard

Location: The whole event will take place in the village of Stourton Caundle, either in the Trooper Inn (DT10 2JW) – where you can be assured of a warm welcome – or the Village Hall (DT10 2JN)

The Area: Stourton Caundle is a village of about 400 inhabitants set in the beautiful Blackmore Vale (Thomas Hardy’s ‘Vale of Small Dairies’, which is also known as the Vale of the White Hart) in the North of Dorset, about 20 miles from the fabulous Dorset coast. As well as being very scenic, the area is also home to many historically significant places – abbey churches, castles, the Tolpuddle Martyrs and so on. The Dorset dialect poet William Barnes also lived in this area at one time, as well as Sir Walter Raleigh and many other notables!

 

UK Autoharps – Dorset Autoharp Weekend (DOR AWE) 8^th– 10^th September 2023 

Tutors: Heather Farrell Roberts, Lyn Jones

Host: Neil Gillard

Location: The whole event will take place in the village of Stourton Caundle, either in the Trooper Inn (DT10 2JW) – where you can be assured of a warm welcome – or the Village Hall (DT10 2JN)

Programme:

Friday 8^th September 

1. 4.30pm Free autoharp taster for local people and/or absolute beginners at the Trooper.
2. 6pm onwards fish and chips, etc, available at the Trooper, followed by social time and sing/play around in the marquee at the Trooper. In the event of unsuitable weather we will meet in the Hall for the music making from 7.30pm on.

Saturday 9^th September 

Autoharp Day – Hall open from 10am on – (tea, coffee available), social time, tune and prepare for the Day.

11am – Welcome, introductions, playing demonstration.

11.15 – Morning classes – 1. beginners/movers on (Heather) 2. intermediate and more advanced players (Lyn – melody playing and learning techniques. 2 tunes, 1 relatively easy, the other with more ‘meat’. Ideas for arranging. Taught closed chorded, but possible to open chord using a diatonic ‘harp.

12.30 – Own lunch.

1pm – Slow jam

1.45pm – Afternoon Classes – Lyn – 2 songs, a ‘chromatic’ song, backing chords and melody,  then a more simple ‘sing along’ song.

2.45pm – Break.

3pm – Whole Group Class with Heather.

4pm – Break, tea and cakes Please bring something to share (but not too much!

4.15pm Open stage for those not taking part in concert.

5pm  Clearing up/ preparing hall for concert – many hands make light work!

6pm on – Trooper open for meals, etc.

Informal Concert 7.30pm – tutors, local musicians. Open this to attendance by those interested from the village.

9pm – Jam, share songs & tunes at the Trooper for those who still want more!

 

Sunday 10^th September

10am – 12noon – Hall open, assistance available with autoharp maintenance tasks, opportunity to discuss songs, tunes, song writing and to share the same.

12 noon – Trooper open for lunches, etc

Accommodation:

1. There is a Camping and Caravan Club certificated site behind the Trooper Inn which is open all year (subject to weather conditions). www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk – listed under certificated sites as Sturminster Newton (our postal town), The Trooper Inn. If you book this, please let Neil know so he can join the dots with the Trooper!
2. Starlight Glamping – luxury tents and access to facilities – nominally closes at the end of August, but if there is interest, it may be prepared to open for the weekend (bookings@starlightglamping.co.uk). If you book this, please let Neil know so he can join the dots with the Trooper.
3. AirB&B – at least 20 places within a few miles of the village in North Dorset or South Somerset, including cabins, shepherds huts, cottages, rooms, etc (www.airbnb.co.uk >dorset):

1. This one – https://www.airbnb.com/h/bedatbyways – run by Julie, the daughter of a music friend of mine (who is also a musician and teacher), is between Wincanton and Stourton Caundle – about 15-20minutes by car.
2. Hotels and B&Bs in, or near, Sherborne (7 miles) – Claire House, Munden House, The Plume of Feathers, The Half Moon, The Newell, Rose Cottage, Hound House, The Eastbury, The Grange (all    these are on Trip Advisor). Others listed under Shaftesbury (12 miles), Yeovil (12 miles), Blandford           (12 miles) and various villages listed under these towns.
3.   Travel Lodges – Wincanton (12 miles), Yeovil (actually on A303 at Podimore (12 miles).
4. Premier Inn – Yeovil centre.
5. Possibility of 1 or 2 informal B&B in the village (not professional, but friends who might be prepared to put people up for a modest charge, if so this might mean going to the Trooper for breakfast). If you want to do this please contact Neil – see below.

Please note that I have little personal knowledge of much of the above, and these are not recommendations!

Cost:      Standard UKA Day charge – £25, Concert – £5 (or donation).

Further Information: Contact Neil: neilgillard@hotmail.com or 07814 585514

 

Please follow this PayPal link to make your booking.  http://py.pl/2H4UXV

If you need to pay by another method, please let me know on janbrodie01@gmail.com. Thanks.