The Annual Nick Drake Gathering 2023 (A Short Film)

Описание: Robert Barnett - The Annual Nick Drake Gathering 2023 (A Short Film)
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A tribute to music, memory, and the magic of community.

This short film was my attempt at capturing the spirit of the Annual Nick Drake Gathering and the warmth and joy that those who attend regularly bring to the event. I have been attending the Gathering now for the best part of a decade, and I felt that it was high time I documented it in all its 'quiet Englishness'.

The Nick Drake Gathering is an annual event that brings together fans, musicians, and admirers of the late British singer-songwriter Nick Drake. Held in the peaceful village of Tanworth-In-Arden, the Gathering celebrates his life, music, and lasting influence through live performances, informal jam sessions, and conversation. It's a grassroots, community-driven event known for its warmth, intimacy, and deep sense of connection; a space where people from all walks of life come together to share their appreciation for Drake’s timeless artistry.

Those of you with a keen eye will spot that this is two years overdue... After filming in 2023 I returned home and found that my handheld recorder had basically given up the ghost, so the crushing weight of losing that high quality audio effectively contributed to me dragging my heels in putting something together. My laptop nearly caught fire multiple times trying to cope with the video editing of this - so much so that I thought I had lost all of my work forever more than once!

The constant dance with perfectionism that comes with trying to do justice to something so meaningful never went away, but through it all, the joy, patience, and generosity of everyone involved has spurred me on to finish what I started. As my friend Stuart Anthony said at the 2025 Gathering - "It tells a story".

I had no coherent plan for what I was going to film and record (what you might call a 'storyboard'), so a massive thank you goes to Paul Bradshaw who gave me so much guidance. This is my first foray into making something that isn't solely focusing on me playing an instrument, so helping me to take those first tentative steps into something new is greatly appreciated. He is currently working on a far more polished documentary concerning Nick and the Gathering, of which I was fortunate to have been interviewed for, whilst also providing 'some' footage for him since getting a better camera than my phone!

I will always feel a massive pang of disappointment in myself for not getting this out sooner, but I have come to learn that you have to be patient with yourself sometimes.

Above all, this film is a celebration of the people: the organisers, musicians, volunteers, and attendees, whose dedication and openness make the Nick Drake Gathering so special. It's a thank you to a community that continues to grow in kindness and purpose.

I hope this video brings you a little of the peace, warmth, and inspiration that filled the air during those few magical days.

🎶 "And now we rise, and we are everywhere."

Technical details:
Music recorded and mixed by Peter Rice live at the Gathering.

Filmed on an iPhone 12. Sound balancing and clip sequencing/editing in Vegas Movie Studio 16 Platinum. Colour correction, fonts, subtitles, and graphics in Adobe Premiere Pro.

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Watch more Robert Barnett:
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Rambling Sessions:    • Rambling Sessions | Robert Barnett  
Afterglow (Album):    • Robert Barnett - Afterglow (Promo Video)  
Voiceless (Album):    • Robert Barnett - Ram Fjord (Official Visua...  

About Robert Barnett
Robert Barnett is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in Rugby, Warwickshire. Robert has received high praise for his fingerstyle guitar technique and poetic lyricism. He is the guitarist for the band Wax Rats (their debut album drops on 30th August 2025), but still continues to be an active solo musician. Robert has released two full-length albums of original music, with 'Afterglow' seeing a release in December 2021, and his first instrumental album 'Voiceless' hot on its heels just 3 months later in February 2022!

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