Wombwell Mad-Fest
Friday Sunday Sunday Galleries
.jpg)
Sunday
The sun was out in force on Sunday lunchtime and potentially threatened audience attendance in the Wombwell Church Hall during the afternoon. No one could be blamed for choosing a day in the sun over an afternoon indoors but surprisingly, the audience were enjoying the continual stream of quality acts at the festival so much, they showed up in force. Sunday's impressive line up included the song writing talents of Reg Meuross, Winter Wilson and Emily Slade, the musical dexterity of Uiscedwr, Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley and Phil Beer and topped off with some good old British Folk Rock courtesy of Little Johnny England.
Winter Wilson opened both the Sunday afternoon and evening concerts with a couple of sets filled with well written and thought provoking songs, each featuring great melodies and delicious harmonies before Emily Slade made a welcome return to Wombwell with a set of intelligent songs from one of the most captivating performers in the country.
Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley returned to their original duo form for an outstanding set of songs and tunes peppered with Sherburn's ever-present charismatic wit. Last Night's Fun may have called it a day but this duo can still deliver some of the onstage magic of one of the best live bands of the last couple of decades, not least in their beautiful rendition of "Roseville Fair".
.jpg)
Closing Sunday afternoon's concert was the outstanding Uiscedwr. Fiddler Anna Esslemont and percussionist Cormac Byrne were joined for the first time by guitarist James Hickman for a set of songs and tunes by arguably one of the most engaging of contemporary folk bands in Britain today. Equally at home with jazz, Latin, blues and klezmer tunes as they are with traditional folk music, Uiscedwr brought their own distinct taste of world Music to Wombwell, which was well received by a very appreciative audience.
Once again bridging the gap between the afternoon and evening concerts, Lou Marriott led a singaround in the bar of the Conservative Club, where a small gathering of musicians and song writers had gathered to share songs or play favourites from the likes of Bob Dylan, Ray Davies and Steve Tilston, whilst a portrait of The Queen looked down, wondering the same thing as me, what catastrophe in politics would have led to folkies entering a Conservative Club? What do you reckon Mr Brown? These thoughts were evaporated as soon as the sandwiches arrived, once again courtesy of the staff.