Armed Morris Men from Gripping Beast!

[JollyBob]

Saw these up on Frothers, and I know a few of you chaps have expressed an interest in having their unarmed counterparts as local colour for your VBCW games.



Almost available here:

http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=317

Hope I'm not repeating anybody else's announcements but I couldn't see it on the board. 

[joroas]

You know you want to buy..........

[Hammers]

Do we have any real Morris men among us? Come on, fess up...

I'd like to know what names Morris Societies pick for themselves.

Saw these up on Frothers, and I know a few of you chaps have expressed an interest in having their unarmed counterparts as local colour for your VBCW games.



Almost available here:

http://www.grippingbeast.com/shop.php?CatID=317

Hope I'm not repeating anybody else's announcements but I couldn't see it on the board. 

[Plynkes]

Do we have any real Morris men among us? Come on, fess up...

I'd like to know what names Morris Societies pick for themselves.

I done it once. Good fun.

You want names? Here's one of my local mobs, the Silurian Border Morrismen from Herefordshire (yay!). Or you could have the Shropshire Bedlams (Boo!).


Border Morris has a blackface tradition. Some people say it's racist. Some other people say it's nothing to do with minstrels or Al Jolson, but was originally a form of disguise. Others say that it's because "Morris" comes from "Moorish" and they're supposed to be Moors. I don't know what the truth is.

[Hammers]

I done it once. Good fun.

Of course you have. I should have known.

You want names? Here's one of my local mobs, the Silurian Border Morrismen from Herefordshire (yay!). Or you could have the Shropshire Bedlams (Boo!).

Thanks! I need to understand the form of the thing.

Blackamoor faces and a band? I thought it was all done with silly hats, white cotton duck, sticks and bells?

[Overlord]

This may be of some use (I havent explored the site personally): http://www.themorrisring.org

My local Morrismen are here: www.abingdonmorris.org.uk/mababout1.htm

I thought it was all done with silly hats, white cotton duck, sticks and bells?

Just for you Hammers...

[Hammers]

This may be of some use (I havent explored the site personally): http://www.themorrisring.org

My local Morrismen are here: www.abingdonmorris.org.uk/mababout1.htm
Just for you Hammers...

...and hankies.

[Plynkes]

Thanks! I needs to understand the form of the thing.

They mostly seem to follow the form <insert name of place> -Morris or Morrismen. Some of them have slightly more interesting names, though, like the above-mentioned ones.

[Hammers]

Following Overlords linky and reading a bit it appears that some aspects of Morris and (definitely) Molly dancing are quite punk. I like that.

[Overlord]

Following Overlords linky and reading a bit it appears that some aspects of Morris and (definitely) Molly dancing are quite punk. I like that.

From Abingdon Morris:
The physical artefacts associated with our Morris are also significant. The Ock Street Horns are reputedly the horns of an ox roasted in the town in 1700 which were later won as a trophy by the men of Ock Street in combat with the men of The Vineyard at the opposite end of town.
300 years later and Friday & Saturday nights have changed little.....

[JollyBob]

I am proud to say that I once witnessed a performance by the tragically short-lived group The West Cumberland Techno Morris Men.

Traditional Morris routines performed to a soundtrack of hardcore Belgian house music.

Absolutely one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life. 


tinkatinka tinka tinka tinka
BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM BOM
tinkatinka tinka tiddly tinka
Oh-arrr, me ducks!

[Arlequín]

We have a Morris festival in Chester iirc.

The Border Black face tradition has, as Plynkes said, several beliefs, the one he didn't mention was some low level sabotage of farm machinery, the black faces disguising those doing it. My money is on 'Blackamoor' being the antecedent though, particularly as this was a livery badge of the Touchet family, local magnates back in the day.

The Abbots Bromley Horn Dancers should be mentioned though....



As Harry Enfield would say.. "Hey Nonny, NO!"

[carlos marighela]

The real question is when will the first dwyle flunking figures be released.

[soapy]

The real question is when will the first dwyle flunking figures be released.

Possibly a little too specialised a set for general consumption...

[Captain Blood]

I've danced Morris since I was 18 years old. That's almost as long as I've been wargaming. Nearly 30 years.

So be very careful before taking the piss, because - rather like wargaming, painting and modelling - whilst there is a lot about morris dancing that is risible, weird and downright nerdy, and whilst there are a lot of shit or average morris teams out there (like there are a lot of shit or average gamers, painters and modellers), if you are ever lucky enough to see the real thing done really well by expert (young) dancers, it's not funny at all. It's transcendant - like any dance form performed with skill, athleticism and passion.
Hard to believe perhaps, given the funny/weird reputation - but quite true I do assure you.

You want to hear what morris dancers think about wargamers? 

Now what was it you wanted to know?