No more Wine

[Merlin]

No more Wine and Alchemy at Scarborough..... *sad face*

[Merlin the Elder]

Wine & Alchemy at Sherwood, however, I believe. Get thy tush down there this weekend!

[Alerrick Afon Adou]

What. Say it isn't so Merlin . So who else are we losing this year? I have got to get Sherwood this year...........Huzzah

[Merlin]

Heard it straight from Roxanne.... they will be at Sherwood but I don't think Mark is with them anymore.

[Alerrick Afon Adou]

On there facebook page I read Mark is persuing a different path. WOW,It wont be the same ..........Huzzah

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Yep, TRF was Mark's last with W&A - I really liked this group.  I have Roxanne's solo CD put put out a few months back.  I wonder if they will be more like that?  I will also be curious as to what Mark ends up doing (he did cut his hair short - hope he is not going "corporate" - 

[Merlin the Elder]

I did not know them by name. Was Mark the multi-instrumentalist (sitar, etc)?

[Meagan]

Yes, Mark played the sitar.

I will miss the group. They were my favorite act.

[DonaCatalina]

I liked them when they first split off from E Muzeki, but last year they had gotten a little repetitive. I am sorry they won't be at Scarby though.

[BagPipeBabe]

Sad Face
I like them a lot.

[William the Braveheart]

I liked them when they first split off from E Muzeki, but last year they had gotten a little repetitive. I am sorry they won't be at Scarby though.

Wont be the same without them. They were a staple at TRF and Scarborough.

As a current playing member of 2 bagpipe bands in Louisiana and former member of three others in Florida, I can say that this is no surprise. A LOT of ego's and eccentric personalities in bands of all types.  Many don't stay together for very long because of this.

BTW, I just got to play with "Kilts of Many Colors" on Mardi Gras Day in the "Big One. " (Krewe of Rex in New Orleans) It was a blast, even though the parade was very long. My feet are still recovering!

[Merlin the Elder]

Having played in many bands over a period of nearly 50 years, I can attest for sure: it is surprising when a band remains intact for more than a few short years, even those of legend status like the Beatles, for example. While a band name may survive, it may do so through a lot of personnel changes. Fairport Convention, the iconic folk-rock band, has had no less than 25 members over its 45 years of existence.  William is quite right about the egos, but there are lots of other forces at work as well.

The nomadic life doesn't work for everyone, and especially with this type of group, that's the only way to make an almost living. I say "almost living" because having been there, I know how hard it can be, even for people with as much talent as some of these youngsters (if you'll excuse my characterisation).

I would have loved to have been able to play music and live my life, but I had an aversion to hunger.

[Riff Raff]

Roxanne reformed Wine & Alchemy after TRF last year, which I believe was Mark's last hurrah with them.  Albert Cofrin (of many different groups) was playing with Wine & Alchemy opening weekend at Sherwood.  A couple of VaNa MaZi members (conveniently performing on the same stage at Sherwood) are sometimes pulling double duty with the two groups.  This past weekend both Corinne (viola) and Ian (guitar/bouzouki) were doubling, which meant they performed for seven hours straight with just short breaks between sets.  You certainly wouldn't have known it though with the sheer exuberant energy they still had for the final joint Wine & Alchemy/VaNa MaZi jam at the end of the day.  Love them all.

[skitter]

If TRF last year was Mark's last hurrah with them, then I'm glad I saw their set twice there. 

I wonder what musical acts will be at SRF this year . . . I'm so looking forward to finding out!

[angusmacinnes]

Saw the new group at Sherwood on opening weekend.  They are as good as ever in my humble opinion.

[DonaCatalina]

I wonder if they'll be at TRF?

[Molden]

Thanks for the heads up that they are at Sherwood Forest! I'll make it a point to catch them when I go on Closing weekend there. 

[SQiRL]

little bummed about this...  with the issues with circa paleo as well,   its getting hard to get good groups to play for us.

[William the Braveheart]

little bummed about this...  with the issues with circa paleo as well,   its getting hard to get good groups to play for us.

What exactly were the issues with Circa Paleo at TRF? Anybody know that story?

BTW, I'm itching and chomping at the bit to move back to Houston and form a Celtic Fusion Band that's a mix of Tartanic and The Rouges with the addition of Fiddles and some Drum Corps elements. Something unique and different that hasn't been seen before.  Wish my financial situation were better so I could take a chance and risk to see it happen.

Have to start somewhere and this is good a place as any. Anybody on here know of any talented Fiddlers and Pipers from the Houston area that might be interested, please give them a heads up and have them PM me from this site or at braveheartfusion@cox.net 

[SQiRL]

don't know about TRF but for Sherwood,  the last 2 years there was no circa paleo save for a couple of weekends the year prior...

As with Scarby and the rogues..,  it just didn't feel right not to have them at Sherwood.