North of England Steel Guitar Festival 2012

[Tony Russell Davis]

Hey thanks - and Donny, you're a revelation too! Really enjoyed your set and jamming with you: and the jokes...well, nuff said!!!

[Peter Nylund]

Pictures and sound clips would be nice.
Peter

[Donny Johnston]

Peter, you should just come over.

[Digby Hardy]

Thanks to all of you who attended this first North of England Steel Guitar Festival. Looking back on my records, it appears that I contacted Tony, to ask for his help in setting up a steel guitar festival in north Yorkshire, around mid May 2011. It seems a long while and a lot of effort but Chanos (CISGF) took 14 months from first discussions to the first festival and Bristol (SESGF) took around 18 months. But the idea of steel guitar festivals which get people of all standards to play their guitars seeems to be taking off and is supported by some great players.

The majority of people who own a steel guitar, for a variety of reasons, never actually play their guitars in the company of other steelies and these are the players we want to encourage to greater effort. Now we have three annual festivals of this type in Europe and two are in the UK.

Thornton Watlass was a weekend of sheer pleasure - so many styles, some great players, enthusiastic beginners, and a lot of laughs. Everyone enjoyed themselves and even mine host Mike was seen to smile.

For your diaries: NESGF 2013 is being planned for the second weekend in August, the 10th & 11th.

[David Hartley]

Here's a few pictures from the NESGF.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Super, thanks David . Here's some names:-

Pic 1 - Ron Kew with grandson Aaron Williams on guitar.
Pic 2 - Digby's wife Chantal front right, David's Fran at right hand end of the bar. At the bar, right to left; Nick Payne (played 8 string plank in A6th and GFI in E9th); me in black shirt; Donny's back; Dave Frakes (my pal and guitar player); somebody else's back; my wife Anne (also in black top). The couple at the table are supporters.
Pic 3 - (on stage) Rod and Rosemary King on steel and bass with Digby on guitar between them.

Got any more? Anybody?

[Donny Johnston]

Digby, you must have a load of pictures, if you don't show them I,ll have to tell everyone what I saw do at the back of the pub. Don't make me do it.

[Digby Hardy]

Donny, now you've asked for it. I was only trying to shield your loveliness from an adoring public.
PICTURES

[Donny Johnston]

What a photographer.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Just a little local info - in the pic of Peter and Anny Lindsley, look at the photo on the wall - the guy with the cricket bat is Bing Crosby who used to holiday in the area!