Saturday morning heralds another egg and bacon roll, banana milkshake breakfast. A quick read of the paper to see how qualifying went, before meeting up with the rest of the team. Apart from the juggling workshop, to be avoided at all costs, the only other thing happening is a workshop by Radio Two Young Folk Award winner TIM VAN EYKEN(And Friends).
A check in at the press caravan tells me that work is going to start early today with an interview with CHRISTINE COLLISTER. Hailing from the Isle Of Man, Christine has made a number of appearances at the festival before, but this was her first as a solo artist.
Interview in the can, it’s off to the Radio Two Stage for the Festival Session. This can be quite an interesting event. The Festival Session allows musicians from a number of the bands to get together, jam a little and even offer practical advice to other musicians in the audience.
This year the majority of the Festival Session was taken up with musicians from DANU and the BATLEFIELD BAND. The second half of the session was taken up with a performance by the TIM VAN EYKEN QUARTET, but I’m off to the Stage One to catch EDWARD II and their heady blend of folk and reggae.
The early afternoon heat compliments EDWARD II’s sound perfectly. I resist the temptation to dance and just sit down and chill to the honey sweet vocals of Glen LaTouche. I appear to be in a minority as many of those around take the opportunity to bop and gyrate.
It wasn’t until EDWARD II had finished their set that I realised I’d screwed up. EDWARD II would be playing again later, the TIM VAN EYKEN set that I missed was their last appearance at the festival this year. Subsequent reports told me that it had been a good set, which only added to my aggravation at having missed it.
Anyway,
it was time to head off to the Folk Tent to catch the first UK
festival appearance of STACEY EARLE. Sister of country singer
Steve, Stacey came to performance late, but quickly carved out
a niche for herself. A singer/songwriter with a sparse sound,
Stacey was supported on stage by her husband Mark Stuart.
With a sound that hints at the finer edges of torch, Stacey’s
songs are moving. One of the reasons for this is that you know
that these have come from experience rather than imagination.
Her songs, both self penned and covers were far more than tales
of unrequited love, these were about life.
The accompaniment, two guitars provided a supporting structure
that the songs were woven around. Simple and to the point, almost
minimal in places STACEY EARLE provided a set that was little
short of devastating.
The relative size of the Folk Tent as a venue for the set
enhanced the atmosphere still further. It would be interesting
to see if Stacey could carry off such intimacy on the two bigger
stages that she would be appearing on later.
