Local Goings On

I said I would write a blog about my obsession (not cricket, though it's close, like a thin top edge that just doesn't carry to the keeper) and that is music. And this submission concerns what happens when councillors get involved in music. Or try. In the space of two weeks, two yearly musical festivals are held in the summertime. One is WidBest, an event which features the best local rock bands of the area, who perform free of charge for the public. They have to apply to the council for a licence to perform using the open-air stage in the centre of my hometown, Withernsea. The second event the week after is called the SummerTime Special, a council funded event which gives little attention to local bands, preferring to draft in tribute bands from the U.K. They do not let local bands play. Fair enough - the two events actually compliment each other.

But this year's Widbest involved a hint of controversy as a feisty, young band called Surviving Hityiu, which to me sounds like the title of some Japanese manga film, performed their set. It didn't go down too well, as it did include some verbal profanities. Even their guitars weren't clean (Heh, what a bad pun). I thought little of this, simply seeing some musically able lads letting off some steam on stage, and thoroughly enjoying themselves, even if their patter with the audience was as assured as Derby County's defence.

Anyway, this licentious lapsus linguae caused a letter of complaint to the local newspaper from a family who were disgusted by the band and went elsewhere. The following week, Mr. Hardcastle, a councillor, wrote a letter condemning the band, commanding them to write an apology to the Gazette for their behaviour, and he threatened to pull the plug on the successful event should 'anything like this happen again'. I was as pleased at reading this misguided missive about as much as the Australians were pleased at being beaten by the Poms in the Olympics.

Anyhow, I penned a letter in response to the editorial of the Gazette, and even if they do not publish it, it will always be available to view on my blog here - it runs thus:

'Dear Gazette, I hope that Mr. Hardcastle's verdict on Widbest is not shared by other members of the town council. Mr. Hardcastle threatened to pull the plug should 'anything like this happen on stage'. He is referring of course, to Surviving Hityiu's performance.

Some, not all, of their songs did indeed include some verbal obscenity, but I do not believe that mere words are so powerful that they can corrupt you the minute you hear them. What's more, Surviving Hityiu were not representative of the other bands who played there. Their performances were clean, in every respect.

Banning a successful event such as Widfest because of the actions of one band is rather like treating dandruff with decapitation. We ought to do our best to support local events like Widbest, especially as the musicians agree to perform (and lend their valuable equipment) out of the goodness of their hearts. They are not paid unless persons agree to privately donate money. The council prefers to give its money to tribute bands from outside the local area. That is their decision. What we must not do is take ill-considered actions that would damage the local music scene by denying local bands their yearly showcase'.

I know very well, as it says in my letter, that words do not really mean a lot, but reasonable argument rather than reflexive reaxtions to things are to be preferred.