Bardic Madness South will be taking place at Crossroads of the Stage in Meridies.
Visit the site here: https://owlsnest.meridies.org/events-and-demos/crossroads-2025-crossroads-of-the-stage/
Preregister via this link by April 16 to reserve cabin space: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSGCY_cNENNqKDHXWo-eNaS7mD70SIqav6xWQ_3GG9KyJNkQ/viewform
April 25-27 at Booker T. Washington State Park
5801 Champion Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37416-1614, United States
Join us for a Bardic Madness at Crossroads’ Performing Arts themed event! Please register on the main event page. Limited cabin space is available.
Bardic Madness activities will be held indoors!
Feast information is available on the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/events/616025557622343
The event is doing a fundraiser lunch for $5
Bardic Madness Provosts:
Aibhilin inghean Daibhidh (Trimaris) and Mathias Blackett (Meridies)
Contact aibhilind@gmail.com with questions
What is Bardic Madness?
Bardic Madness is an event devoted to challenging yourself to try new things and try the bardic arts. There are NO competitions and NO winners at Bardic Madness. Instead, we host a series of challenges, arranged into Fyts, that will encourage you to explore new skills and try your hand at new activities. We welcome song, story, poetry, magic, instruments, and more! This is an event where there is NO memorization required, where we challenge you to learn new pieces and try new art forms, and where we have FUN supporting each other in sharing the Bardic Arts.
Who are Patrons?
Each challenge at Bardic Madness is hosted by a Patron. ANYONE can be a patron, regardless of “rank”. The Patron will MC the challenge and give each participant a token of largess as a thank you for participating. We have challenge ideas for you, or you can come up with your own challenge! If you would like to be a Patron, please contact aibhilind@gmail.com.
Schedule (in wet jello)
Fyt 1: 9 AM
Lord What Fools These Mortals Be
What’s In a Name
Something Wicked This Way Comes
Brevity is the Soul of Wit
Classes: 11 AM
Shenanigans 101
Bardic Circle 101
Shakespearean Pronunciation
Fyt 2: 1 PM
There is not one wise man in twenty that will praise himself
Band of Brothers
Words, Mere Words; Th’ Effect Doth Operate Another Way
Classes: 2:30 PM
Contrafacta: Is Filking Period?
Beginning Bodhran
Fyt 3: 3:30 PM
Cry Havoc! And Release the Dogs of War
To Thine Own Self Be True
It Was Greek to Me
Final Fyts:
6 PM (after court/before Feast): A Dish Fit For the Gods
8 PM (during Revel): If Music Be The Food of Love, Play On!
Challenges
1 – Lord What Fools These Mortals Be!
Patron: Mistress Aibhilin inghean Daibhidh
Perform pieces about the mystical folk of the medieval era – Fairies, Selkies, Aos Si, Gods, Goddesses – you get the idea!
2 – What’s In A Name?
Patron: Master Mathias Blackett
Perform a piece about a historical or mythical figure in Medieval or SCA history. The name of the person should feature prominently in the song or song title!
3 – Words, Mere Words; Th’ Effect Doth Operate Another Way
Patron: Hagar the Black
Perform a piece which makes use of allegory or some other device in which words may have meaning beyond what is immediately apparent (such as a Kenning)
4 – Cry Havoc! And Release The Dogs of War
Patron: Omokehindegbegbon Ayoka Opo
Perform a piece about war!
5 – There is not one wise man in twenty that will praise himself
Patron: Baron Knut and Baron Simon
Perform the work of some other SCAdian! Anything goes, as long as you didn’t write it and someone in the SCA did! Extra applause for making it a piece from someone you’ve never heard of, or from a different Kingdom! Check out resources such as https://www.youtube.com/@ShavaSue and https://www.youtube.com/@CeriansKeep for new songs to learn! http://calonsong.org/ is a great resource for lyrics!
6 – Band of Brothers
Patron: Meister Guntram von Koln
Perform a piece in a group (duet, theatrical scene, etc)
7 – Brevity is the Soul of Wit
Patron: HL Davock Walkere
Perform a piece in 90 seconds or less.
8 – To Thine Own Self Be True
Patron: THL Melkorka Farkona
Perform a piece that focuses on empowerment – an anthem, a power ballad, something that tells someone or some group that they can be who they want to be or do the thing! (Savage Daughter, etc)
9 – If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On!
Patron: Astrið Stefansdottir
Perform a love song or instrumental song.
10 – Something Wicked This Way Comes
Patron: Countess Alainn
Perform a piece about an anti-hero, or a song about defeat / victory of an enemy, or a piece that comments on or warns about some evil
11 – A Dish Fit for the Gods
Patron: Mistress Temair Cerr
Perform a piece about food or feasting
12 – It Was Greek to Me
Patron: Ollamh Brendan O Corraidhe
Perform a Piece in a foreign or historic language
Classes
Shenanigans 101: The Art of the Unexpected
Instructor: Lady Tali Essen
We’ve all seen shenanigans whether in court schtick or in a Zoom bardic. On the surface they may seem like just a cute idea that someone has pulled off, but under that surface is hours of work and forethought. Shenanigans are performances that are tailored to the recipient and have merit. They are meant to be a way to make the world a better place.
In this class we will go over good versus bad shenanigans, planning, your audience, and a rubric to help you plan future shenanigans!
Shakespearean pronunciation
Instructor: Mathias Blackett
Learn how Shakespeare’s works are meant to sound in the original accent, and uncover hidden meanings and puns!
Bardic Circle 101
Instructor: Davock Walker
Basic introduction to Bardic Circles: etiquette, how to join one that’s in progress, basic expectations. There will be discussions about both in-person and online circles.
Contrafacta: Is Filking Period?
Instructor: Melanie de la Tour
We will discuss the history and impact of *contrafacta* (period filks), and give some tips on how to write them.
Beginning Bodhran
Instructor: Davock Walker
Learning the basics of playing a bodhran: how to hold the drum, how to use the tipper, and basic rhythms. Feel free to bring your own bodhran if you have one. If you don’t, that’s okay, I have practice pads.