About a year ago I posted a few posts here, but then I suddenly felt the urge to study German and that wiped out all my spare time - hence I have not been here since, nor have I played my whistles
But about the tiny world: I was utterly and truly shocked (have still not recovered 100%) on Saturday. I was walking along, desperately (more or less) searching for some AA batteries for my camera - seeing as I was very intent on taking pictures at this lovely concert. As a last shot I trotted over to what seemed to be a familiar face - and asked him very politely (I hope) if he spoke English. (I should add that this concert took place in Germany.)
It just so turned out that he did. Still does, I guess. In fact he is English. And then it of course dawned on me that it was the bloke that plays the beautiful low whistle on one of my favourite albums by my favourite group⌠âThat blokeâ would be Colin Goldie. And with him was Brigitte.
After having chatted for a while it seemed like Colin and Brigitte both had a revelation. And I must say, Iâd love to be able to remember things as well as the two obviously do, because for some obscure reason they remembered my short time here, managed to patch that together with âNorwegianâ and whatnot - and thus arrived at the conclusion that this strange girl standing in front of them would have to be Henkersbraut. So we had a tiny board meeting. At Burg Hoheneck, Deep Bavaria.
Needless to say, I felt the need to swing by and say hi! - add that Colin and Brigitte are really nice and that the world is tinier than I ever thought possible. (Though I did not meet my neighbour from Norway later on.) A big hi! to both of you - hope to see you again soon! And thanks, Colin, for helping me out with the batteries. They almost lasted through the 2nd Eric Fish concert g
And in case anyone wondered - Colin played like a dream. Sadly I was not able to film him this time, but I really enjoyed watching him jump around and play the flute like a guitar (Oh, yes, Fiddlerâs Green were great too.)
Thank you for sharing that story with us. I too have found Colin and Brigitte to be quite friendly and personable. They have always answered my questions and communicated with me in a âno strings attachedâ way. That is VERY refreshing.
Indeed it is a tiny world. Yes, you were very polite and I first took you for being English as you had no accent. And when I asked where in England I was surprised to hear you were from Norway. When you wanted to dash away to see Eric Fish play I put 2 and 2 together. There are not too many Norwegian girls living somewhere in Germany heavily into Eric Fish I suppose. I remembered the postings well because I was listening a lot to âSubway to Sallyâ at that time. (Eric Fish is the lead singer from Subway to Sally). And âHenkersbrautâ (Hangmanâs wife) certainly stays in memory. Glad I could help out with the batteries. I should have gotten more for you as there was plenty available.
As some people here know I occasionally play a few tunes with a band called âFiddlerâs Greenâ www.fiddlers.de when they tour in our area. It was an important weekend of gigs for them last weekend. On Friday was a headlining gig at a festival in Bad Wertheim, Bavaria or is it Franken? This was a warm up gig for Saturday which was their 1000th concert and it was filmed for making a DVD. We arrived on Friday to a wonderful half ruined castle, something like Disney would use if possible. Lots of turrets and things. I wish I had taken some more photographs before it got dark as it was impressive from all angles. During the course of the evening the clouds darkened and came an amazing thunder, lightening, wind and rain storm. The castle was on top of a hill overlooking the valley and completely exposed to the elements. When the rain came we went to the dressing room (big pavilions). The pavilions we were using ended up having to be evacuated and everything taking out including TV, sofas etc. And the pavilion had to be taken down while the lightening was striking all around us. It was close to being blown off the side of the castle. It was freaky as the poles where all made of metal, the festival manager was always shouting âDonât touch the polesâ which was quite hard when they had to be taken apart. It became so bad that the concert had to be stopped and we did not get a chance to play.
Nevertheless I managed to get a couple of good pictures. One of the lightening across the sky over the wall near to where the stage was and another one when leaving of one of the outside walls. We then left and drove over to Nuremberg where we were staying and followed the storm all the way. I was incredible how much traffic was on the motorway at midnight, holidays in Germany⌠the following morning on that section of motorway there was 85 km of traffic jam as everyone headed south for their holidays.
Saturday came we went to Burg Hoheneck also Bavaria or Franken. When we started sound checking the clouds opened up and it poured down with rain. We were now in a different castle, on top of a hill overlooking the valley Everyone was worried a bit but it ended up being perfect weather when the gates opened to let people in. The whole day went really well and 4 other bands played until finally Fiddlerâs. The audience was 110% behind them from the very beginning and it was real great fun playing. I only played on 4 tracks from about 3 hours worth of music. They also their old fiddler coming up and playing with them along with the 2 ex-drummers. What made my evening was when they played Tangerine which is a real dark gothicy number and Eric Fish came in to sing on the last bars. It is the first time he sang with them live. It did not last long but boy it was powerful. There was a six men camera crew filming the concert and the band also made short film with silly things going on. Looking forward to see the DVD when it comes out, probably around next February. I got some nice pictures from Saturday as well and if you follow the link http://www.overton.de/texte/colingallery.html you can see them.
Henkersbraut, sorry for not meeting up afterwards but we decided to drive home instead of staying over as we wanted to have a chilled out Sunday instead of driving half the day so we got home at gone 6 in the morning. There is nothing like your own bed, especially if it is filled with warm water
Hopefully catch up with you again at some obscure place.
Colin
Ah, no worries, I was sitting in the middle of the group listening to Eric anyway He continued playing until 4 or so - and Albi even joined him for a while. And you are right, I guess not many Norwegians are familiar with Ericâs music laughs
Yes, both castles were beautiful for concerts, the Wertheim one especially. Great picture of the lightning! (Wertheim is in Baden-WĂźrtenberg and Hoheneck in Bayern, and both are in Franken, btw.)
Iâve gotten my pictures online, and hereâs one of Colin:
A rather untraditional way of playing a flute, but I guess he should know how to⌠much better than I do, anyway g
Yup, we will most probably bump into each other again. Hope youâll be there (there = wherever the Fiddlerâs play) soon again, for some stupid reason Peter has abandoned the flute, it seems
Thank you Henkrsbaut for sharing the story and the pictures. I went over to Collinâs website and looked at the pictures he posted there of the concert. Collin even has one with lightning in it, really spooky considering the venu.
(Oh, yes, Fiddlerâs Green were great too.)
Everyone was worried a bit but it ended up being perfect weather when the gates opened to let people in. The whole day went really well and 4 other bands played until finally Fiddlerâs. The audience was 110% behind them from the very beginning and it was real great fun playing. I only played on 4 tracks from about 3 hours worth of music. They also their old fiddler coming up and playing with them along with the 2 ex-drummers. What made my evening was when they played Tangerine which is a real dark gothicy number and Eric Fish came in to sing on the last bars. It is the first time he sang with them live. It did not last long but boy it was powerful. There was a six men camera crew filming the concert and the band also made short film with silly things going on. Looking forward to see the DVD when it comes out, probably around next February. I got some nice pictures from Saturday as well and if you follow the link 
