A Good Tradition - #ISBF9 Style

“You hear me callin'
Callin' brother, are you listenin'?
We need to cool at night for our future
For the little bitty boys and girls

We need to take our time, come together
Are you willing?
So we can make it right for the people
And everyone I love will come…. “

“Just A Little Bit Of Love” - Curtis Mayfield

Home - Hemsley House

If I had to choose my all time musical hero, it would be Curtis.

Like many, as a child, I heard the propulsion of “Move On Up” just as a happy tune. I might even - if I dug deep into the memory banks - have a vague recollection of hearing “Superfly”. But that would be it.

Then, in the early days of romance, I met Phil Wakerley. A man who, if you ever met him, left an impression.

One of the finest of humans (I won't dwell here, but I SO could!), he properly introduced me to the utter genius that is Curtis Mayfield. An artist and human whose work has - subconsciously - influenced much of what ISBF is.

The song above was recorded with Curtis paralysed, following a tragic accident that occurred during a concert rehearsal. That paralysis couldn't stop him putting his message out. Heart, soul, determination. The mark of the man.

I also like to think that there's a lot of Curtis fans in the ISBF Family who just haven't found him yet!

Ah! The Early Days at St Sebastians! #ISBF3 (2016)

ISBF doesn’t have airs and graces. It makes no grand pronouncements. There never has been hype or fuss. What it is, is a small event that has fabulous beer, great cider and even better people.

It’s always about the people. And raising lots of money for a lovely local cause that means the world to us, Start Inspiring Minds.

Remember (other than a tiny bit held back for bills), ALL profits go Start Inspiring Minds

There's always been something “traditional” about ISBF.

When “planning 🤣” the first one back in 2014, I took the lessons I'd learned in nearly 30 years of going to (mostly CAMRA) beer festivals.

Great beer, yes, almost 3 years of blogging about beer told me who made the good stuff. But it was more about the things I didn't like, the things I wanted in an event, things that always seemed missing.

Space. Seating. A sense of calm. Fun.

There was no “budget”. There wasn't even really a plan as such. What there was, was a bunch of people - most of whom i’d never so much as met - who offered of themselves. To do the stuff I couldn't (pretty much everything really). People who came together and made the event work. Gave the event a certain “feel”.

The Halcyon Days of 2015 (#ISBF2) and the #ISBFFamily

They still do. Most of those people from 2014 still come together and make this work.

Little did I know, that then, in 2014, I'd find a new family. The #ISBFFamily.

A tradition was started that maintains to this day.

Tradition has seemed to become a dirty word. Especially within the beer world. The abbreviation “Trad” is used as dismissive of what's come before. Constant innovation, the search for ‘the new”, “fresh”….. It becomes incredibly easy to overlook the comfort that tradition sometimes can bring.

In 2016, little did we know it then, but we started a tradition. In a little bar called “The Brink”, on Bridge Street in Manchester.

A place which - far from being traditional itself - was run with the same heart and soul that runs through ISBF.

We had a party. We got together, almost like a family (that word again), people who sat apart on their own were embraced, we had fun (much of it at my expense).

The Third Rate Kraftwerk Tribute Band - The Brink : #ISBF6 Launch Party

I kept details of what was in store “locked down” until that night, so that those who came had a few nice surprises. And after I read our the list of breweries and the details on the little “mini events” I'd planned for ISBF, those in attendance were given an exclusive link to buy their tickets, an hour before going on public sale.

It was our little slice of summer heaven.

A month later, our family’s world fell apart. And the #ISBFFamily threw their arms around us. Lovely Humans that they are.

We held that bash each year (‘17, ‘18 & ‘19)

Then the Pandemic struck. And The Brink closed.

Sad though that beery loss was, as we learned all too well, the world moves on.

Not wanting ISBF to go the same way, we needed to start a new tradition.

Now then, the thing about ISBF is, it has friends. People who “get” what we do.

One of those friends is Jan Rogers. Owner of a certain Manchester institution….

“Come to The Arch” she said…..

The Marble Arch

So. A new tradition was born. And for the last 2 years, on a Sunday in August, we've taken over Manchester's most lovely pub.

And that tradition continues. As does ISBF, stumbling on for another year, partly because I was told - in no uncertain terms (Yes, I'm looking at YOU Messrs Broadhead & Granata!) - that it HAD to carry on.

“Just A Little Bit Of Love” indeed. We come full circle.

And, guess what? We're doing it again! It’s Tradition!

On Sunday August 11th, we’re back at the most beautiful pub, getting together again - like families do - having a chuckle (again, mostly at my expense).

Those who come along will be first to learn about what we’ve got planned. Breweries, little side events, the bits and bobs that go their small way to help ISBF be what it is. A small, grassroots, friendly and relaxed coming together. With the bonus of exceptional Beers and Ciders to lubricate the conversation.

And those who attend will get the opportunity to GUARANTEE their tickets for their chosen sessions at the “main event”.

Because there are limited seats available, the event has to be ticketed.

Fancy coming along and joining us in this “new tradition”?

Those tickets are available here. They’re free.

And that word “tradition”, hold that thought….. 😁 #Teaser

Back all too soon!

Be kind to one another.

Jim x