Harmonica 2009 - at The Folk House, Bristol, UK

Friday October 23th to Sunday 25th, 2009

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Welcome to the NHL Festival in Bristol View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2008 Disclaimer: The information shown below is the best information we have at the moment and more will be added as we get closer to the event. Changes may be necessary if circumstances change. Following the huge success of last year’s festival we are organising another event packed weekend for every type and style of harmonica player. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, H2009 will be another unmissable event. Friday 23th October Informal meet and greet night from about 7pm. Blues jam & open mic play. NHL AGM will take place aroun 8pm. We hope as many members as possible will join us to help set up the venue for the weekend activities. We will be there from mid afternoon. All help is greatly appreciated & will ensure the festival runs as smoothly as possible. Please contact Gerry Ezard (01656784904) if you can help in anway. Come and enjoy the night, and meet the committee. Saturday 24th October Doors open 9.15am The competition takes place in the main hall on the Saturday, starting at 9.30am. There will be the usual wide range of workshops running through the day to provide invaluable information on all aspects of harmonica playing. There will harmonica traders with all the harmonica wares you need as well as the opportunity to pick up a bargain in the lunchtime auction. Sunday 25th October Doors open 9:30am. Workshops continue on Sunday morning & as well as workshops specifically for children. A Sunday afternoon concert follows. Concert This year's artists are expected to include: Brendan Power Lee Sankey Will Pound Gerry Ezard Franks Semus There will be displays from from Seydel, Hohner, Suzuki and Lee Oskar harmonicas. Harmonicas Direct will be have a shop at the festival. Evening concert starts 7:30pm and runs till late. Contest Information Details will be posted a few months before the event. Adjudicator - An experienced adjudicator from the Federation of Festivals will officiate for a fourth year. Contact David Hambley about the competition rules, classes (blues, chromatic etc.), and how to take part. Workshops We have three rooms dedicated to workshops on Saturday and Sunday morning. The workshop topics include the usual wide range through from beginner to advanced tuition, diatonic, tremolo & chromatic, harmonica maintenance, classical, blues and jazz. Shops Harmonicas Direct will have their new range of harmonica accessories and tuition materials. Keith Parker will be selling some vintage microphones and cables as well as Harpers Bazaar. All will be displayed in one of the upstairs rooms & support staff from Hohner, Seydel and Suzuki will also be present. Auction We will repeat last year's very successful lunchtime auction on Saturday, and possibly Sunday, so bring your cheque books and pick up a bargain. If you have any CDs, music or equipment etc. which you would like to donate for the auction, please let Gerry know. We need your money to run events like this, so dig deep. Volunteers Lots of hands make light work, so please look for ways to help, don't wait to be asked if you see an opportunity. Ask Steve, Ben or Barbara at the ticket or NHL desk when you register, and they will let you know what needs to be done. You can always email Steve Dooley in advance to let him know. This is important if our events are to continue. Location The two and a half day festival will take place inside the Bristol Folk House (0117-9262987), a popular Adult Education Centre in Bristol. It is a multi-level building at 40a Park Street, a hundred yards north of the Cathedral, in the centre of Bristol. It has a concert room, a licensed café, and half a dozen workshop rooms. The main entrance is through a short passage between two shops on Park Street, a lively shopping area. There is limited on street parking, but cheap all day parking on Saturday and Sunday in the Trenchard Street (P1)and West End (P2) multistorey car parks marked on the map. The one drawback of this venue is its many levels and tight staircases which make it very difficult or impossible for anyone with physical disabilities. Bristol is a great location, as everyone found who attended last year's festival. There are lots of things to enjoy - click here for information about Bristol for tourists. The old docks area has been refurbished and brought alive again. The new interactive "At Bristol" development complements the old streets, pubs, restaurants, churches, museums, and restored old sailing ships. With lots to do, even for non-harmonica players, why not make a weekend of it. Transport Bristol has a compact city centre and is very easy to reach by motorway, coach, rail and air. If travelling by train the station is 'Bristol Temple Meads'. Or why not take advantage of the cheap flights into Bristol airport? Accommodation Bristol has accommodation of all types and prices, but don't delay booking as the best goes very quickly. There is a YHA (0117 922 1659), and the Bristol Backpackers (0117 925 7900) in the city centre, both at around £14 per night. Information on B&Bs and rooms, at a range of prices from £25 upwards, can be obtained from the Bristol Tourist Information Centre (08454080474). These are usually away from the city centre. There is a Travel Lodge and a Holiday Inn Express in the centre at about £50 per room. The main festival hotel, where the artists and most members meet up before & afterwards is the recently renovated Jurys hotel. Booking details will be available soon. Festival Contact Information Click here for maps of the area View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2008 Return to top