Every year we have an AUK Writers weekend which our editor Mark referred to in his final piece of the week before last. In the end there were no arguments about banjos but a jolly time was had by all and the Buxton brewery hit their monthly beer sales targets in a couple of days! There was something very comforting about being able to sit in a bar and debate the merits of David Berman’s oeuvre or the definition of Americana with like-minded individuals without feeling slightly strange or having to sit on a special stool. Not for everyone I grant you but there’s a thing about finding your tribe and this is mine… or one of them anyway.
So, you ask, did anything get done? Were world-changing events planned? Had the petition to have my posts permanently removed from public access reached the powers that be? Well… none of the above really. There were serious editorial discussions and thoughts on interviews and writing style but just as many thoughts about PR companies hyperbole or the price of beer the further North you go. And lots of talk about music, festivals and gigs. Always gigs, the lifeblood of music. There was a brief mention of heavy metal but the less said the better eh Andrew?
As readers of this page and the site in general you should all feel reassured that the writers genuinely care about the genre and the way it is presented to you and for that there must be a vote of thanks to Mark Whitfield founder and overall editor of the site. I can’t think of a better person to write for or indeed spend a weekend with. Keep reading folks, we’re going from strength to strength.
Listening-wise, I spent a great deal of time waiting for cancelled trains over the weekend. I found myself heading back to Cory Hanson and Leif Vollebekk (currently on tour in the UK) both of whom inspire a sense of calm with these tracks. The radio show features The Pernice Brothers, Bill Callahan, Hannah White, Sparklehorse and Green on Red amongst others. As ever…
You broke the cardinal rule here! What happens in Buxton stays in Buxton