Irish Steel Guitar Festival 2014

[Dave Nutt]

Bob, Only just read about yur dad, glad to hear he is home, chin up mate,and give the old boy our regards, chat soon.
Dave &Pauline.

[Uffe]

Well after a tiresome flight and crowded train fron Copenhagen Denmark we are finally home safe in Ängelholm Sweden!
Wooow!!! what a nice weekend we had among all good people. It will take a month to digest all inputs from this Days! So much nice steel guitar playing among all those guys...
Buck is a star from Another galax I guess, but there are so many shining stars from our own galax to!!!
How can I surive to nex year? Well just get my but down in the Music room practice
For our specially friend from up North, Donny we missed you and hope to see you next year! I got my lens cleaned and open wide for this photo. The steel twinns, I guess there is only the mother that can tell us who is who.. In my opinion they look like they were molded in the same form
Thanks to all people that make this event come alive....
Uffe and Janet from Sweden

[Willie Gamble]

What a weekend, I don't know when I had so much fun There was some seriously good steel playing, Buck Reid's picking should be made illegal
Bob and Donny there were so many questions as to how and where you both were
Bob I carried out your instruction to the letter re Mr Orpen
It was nice to meet Ken Bing at last and hear him play
Many thanks to Ted Nesbitt for the loan of the guitar, pedal etc to allow me to play my humble set
I seriously cannot wait until next year
Thank you everybody who was there, especially Biggles, Doris and the Budda

Asleep at the steel

[Malcolm]

Mr gamble and Mr Byng did excellent job, Buck Reid was an education for all present--wow ,Maurice and the committee did a fantastic job.Mr Heap failed yet again to provide the donuts, but did offer a four day old sandwich made before he left Bristol, ( and he has cheek to say us Scots are mean) Syl was great as usual , don't know how shen puts up with him
a great time was had by all.Will try and get some pics to load.

[coolsteel]

Thank you to all who made the ISGF possible including all who attended, the organisers, the stallholders and last but not least the excellent players. I had a very enjoyable time meeting friends both old and new. Ken gave a wonderful performance his sound was to kill for ( very envious of the new Telonics Combo ) yes I don't mind admitting, I too would like one ). Willy also did us proud, such an under-rated player, with Willy you also get a comedy act thrown in for good measure. Kevin also produced very good performances on both of his sets. The pinnacle of the festival for me was Buck Reid his playing was absolutely stunning, having spoken to Buck all I can say is just what a humble lovely down to earth man he is. Bob I was sorry to learn that your Father has not been too well I hope and pray that he returns to good health soon.

Richard

[Ken Byng]

Richard Stanton
Very nice to meet you after all this time. Re the Telonics, I bet if you tried playing through one you would have an order in straight away. Malcolm would finance it for you.

I spent a very enjoyable day yesterday with Ivor and Frances Greenwood at the Greenwood mansion. After having a long look at and playing his MSA, I have to admit - a very very nice guitar. Incredibly well put together, and the interchangeable pickups should be made compulsory on all pedal steels. I played my Show Pro through Ivor's rig, and he had to admit the the SP's tone was BIGGER. But, the MSA sounded really good. I know I have had a friendly josh about MSA's, but you cannot knock the workmanship in any way. Put a Mark Giles body on it and you have a guitar that is exceptional.

It is nice that the pre - festival hype the I put out about Buck Reid lived up to expectations. I haven't long been home after a 16 hour ferry queueing and crossing and then a 4 hour drive home from Holyhead. I will put together a review of the whole show, but I have to say that Buck was just sensational. Little wonder that none of the top pros in the USA want to follow him on a steel guitar show. His was just on fire, and the jam session with Lionel Wendling brought out the free-flowing best of Buck where he could just cut loose.

Those of us who were there to hear Buck playing Alabama Jubilee on the Sunday night will never forget it. It was just astonishing. Uncle Roy came over to speak to me and was beaming from ear to ear. Buck is an object lesson in humility and modesty. For a man of his considerable expertise, he has absolutely no big-headedness or conceit whatsoever. An absolute gent.

[Malcolm]

Ken, you are mistaking me for Spence, my interest rate for loans is way higher Ken, I could be wrong but I thought the wood cabinets on Legends were Supplied by Mark Giles.Glad you had good time with Ivor, and are now considering buying MSA .Great to see you at Dublin.

[Ken Byng]

Ken, you are mistaking me for Spence, my interest rate for loans is way higher Ken, I could be wrong but I thought the wood cabinets on Legends were Supplied by Mark Giles.Glad you had good time with Ivor, and are now considering buying MSA .Great to see you at Dublin.

Yes Malcolm, the lacquer bodies for the Legend series are made by Mark Giles. That's why I made reference to it. No finer bodies made anywhere than Mark's. I will pick up my blue Zum body from Mark in March, and I am so looking forward to it.

Re consideration to buying an MSA - I always say never say never. If the right guitar ever comes up for sale I will have it, no messing. One thing that was very surprising. My Show Pro guitar is much larger than Ivor's Legend, yet is lighter. How does that work out? The machine head assembly's alone are twice the size of those on the MSA's.

Ivor knocked me right out with everything - his house, cars, steel, amps, radio gear, aerial masts, engineering equipment, garages etc, etc. He has worked hard in his life and has all the trappings, and fair play to him. I am trying to teach him to play his pedal steel and he will get there. Not quite like teaching nuclear physics to an Aborigine, but just like it.

The boys from Hampshire all went home wagging their tails, especially after seeing and hearing Buck. They are still talking about it today.

[Malcolm]

All I can say is, He is some man, everything you said is right.Hope he can progress on steel.As we say "gone yersel Ivor".

[Ken Byng]

He took me for a spin in his V8 Lexus down a country lane close to his house. 120mph!!!!!!! I had to change my jeans when we got back to his house.