Harmonica 2008 - at The Folk House, Bristol, UK

Friday October 24th to Sunday 26th, 2008

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Welcome to the NHL Festival in Bristol Details of this years festival View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2007 All You Need To Know Disclaimer: The information shown below is the best information we have at the moment but changes may be necessary if circumstances change. Click here to download an A4 poster like the small image on the right. Following the huge success of last year’s festival we have organised another event packed weekend for every type and style of harmonica player. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, H2008 will be another unmissable event. Hotels are filling up and tickets are being sold now! You can get more information about the weekend activities by downloading early draft versions of the Workshop and activities plan - the final version will be posted around the Folk House. Souvenir Festival Program (1.7MB) - printed copies will be available for sale at the festival. Please check these details on the day as they are subject to change. Friday 24th 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 25th 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 26th 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 include: UK blues great - West Weston US jazz star - William Galison UK jazz performer - Adam Glasser Dutch harp player and customiser - Ben Bouman Eddie Ong - brilliant young chromatic player Chromatic legend - Harry Pitch Harmonica Band - Four In Accord English traditional tremolo player - Eddie Upton a director of Folk South West. There will be displays from Jonny Cope's ethnic instruments - particularly his jaws harps and 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 See the contest webpage for full details. If you are interested in the annual contest, which covers a range of age, harmonica type and music sections, check out the contest rules. If you wish to take part, print and send both a festival application form, and a contest application form, (form also available in the August/September NHL magazine) with your payment (£12.50 for NHL members, £20 for non-members). Or register on the day upon arrival (note: this option is subject to places still being available). Adjudicator - Eric Jennings, an experienced adjudicator from the Federation of Festivals will officiate for a fourth year. He will be assisted by technical advisers for each class of the contest. 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 Eagle Music and 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 Frank or Gerry at the NHL desk when you register, and they will let you know what needs to be done. You can always email Gerry Ezard in advance to let him know. This is important if our events are to continue. Prices Entry to the Folk House and access to all the daytime activities/workshops/shops/videos etc., including watching the contest which take place on Saturday, but not the Saturday evening concert - NHL members £12.50 (Non members £17.50) Saturday evening festival concert - NHL members: £10.00 (Non members: £12.50) Family ticket for the Sunday: £5 The Contest entry fee is £12.50 for NHL members and £20.00 for non-members. Contest rules and information are on the contest webpage Click here for the festival workshops, contest and concert booking information and forms. 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. For the main hotel, where most members meet up before & afterwards, Jurys hotel is being upgraded so we have moved to The Mercure Holland House, a luxury Four Star hotel with a pool. They are holding single rooms at £80.00 B&B and a room for two adults at £90.00 B&B - when booking quote Harmonica Weekend or ref NATI241008. It is located between Jurys and Temple Meads Station. Phone: 0117/9689900 Email: H6698@accor.com Website: www.tinyurl.com/3at8dg Festival Contact Information Click here for booking forms for the festival/contest. Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG, UK. Tel:0117-9262987, http://www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk/. Bristol International Youth Hostel, Hayman House, 14 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. Tel: (0)117 922 1659 - Fax: (0)117 927 3789 - Email: bristol@yha.org.uk http://www.yha.org.uk Bristol Backpackers, 17 Saint Stephen's Street, Old City, The Centre, Bristol BS1 1EQ England. Tele: (0)117 925 7900 http://www.bristolbackpackers.co.uk/ Bristol Tourist Information Centre, Bristol Tourist Information Centre, The Annexe, Wildscreen Walk, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5DB, UK - tel: 0845 408 0474 Here are some city centre hotels from the Tourist Information Centre search page The Mercure Holland House, when booking quote Harmonica Weekend or ref NATI241008. Phone: 0117/9689900 Email: H6698@accor.com Website: www.tinyurl.com/3at8dg Click here for maps of the area View details of last year's festival: Harmonica 2007 Return to top