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Great British Folk Festival 2014

Venue: Butlins
Town: Skegness
Date: 5-7/12/14
Website: http://www.bigweekends.com/

Friday Saturday Sunday Gallery

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My first full English of the day sets me up for Sunday. There'll be another Full English later, but that one is very much of the musical variety, coming from The Full English that are currently holders of the Fatea Tradition Award and who came out of the back of the project to digitise the music in the library at Cecil Sharp House, more of which later.

For those inclined, there is a French Tourdion(Dance) workshop on in the Sun & Moon, which is, apart from bopping in front of the stages, the only real dancing opportunity of the weekend, I get the feeling that a ceilidh might not go amiss and the Sunday Morning on the Skyline Stage may be just the place, but as yet, it's not to be. Actually talking about workshops and the like, whilst I didn't get there this year, there is also an open mic that runs in Jaks from 4:30 until 7 if you want to bring along your instrument and singing voice.

I mentioned bopping about in front of a stage and actually Sunday Afternoon at Reds is the best opportunity and rather than running around like the proverbial blue arsed fly, I'm going to take in a Lazy Sunday and soak in the atmosphere in Reds. It means that I'm going to miss New Celeste Acoustic and Robbie McIntosh, but it does put We Banjo 3 and Treacherous Orchestra right in the listening line and there is space out front for the people that want to strut their stuff.

If the trade's description act applied to band names, We Banjo 3 would be in serious trouble, for a start, there's four in the band and at best there are two banjos on stage at any given time. Now I know there are people with a belief that one banjo is more than enough, but if you were expecting three you were going to be disappointed.

It was the only disappointing thing about them. They reeled off a fine selection of songs and tunes and got a few dancers into the pit and warmed up for the mass ranks of Treacherous Orchestra, who happen to have a new album out in 2015.

There's plenty of time for a comfort break and pint before aforementioned Treacherous Orchestra take to a darkened stage, this one is going to be atmospheric. Whilst the setting is dark and misty, the music is packed full of energy with a massed rank of instruments approach. There's a lot of people up and dancing and a fair few bouncing up and down to boot, so much for a lazy Sunday.

Just before four, I head off to the introducing stage back in the Skyline. The Band From County Hell are kicking off today and kicking off is probably a good phrase as in the tradition of the likes of The Men They Couldn't Hang, Rev Hammer and the like, this is a band that have infused their Celtic folk rock with more than a few punk sensibilities .

They coincide with an outpouring from both of the main venues and manage to pull in quite a few bystanders and even manage to get one or two pogoing in the pit. It's a lively performance, especially in the early afternoon and whilst I suspect that that their best slot is late at night after a drink or two, but this was a showcase and they showcased well.

If solo blues man, Matt Woosey was intimidated by what went before him, he didn't show it. I was slightly concerned that his more sedate folk blues would be swamped by the atmosphere that had gone before it, but far from it. Matt just walked up to his chair, took his jacket off, sat down and brought us into his world.

I've seen Matt perform both solo and with his band and he seems to make it the right show for the right time. Somehow, he managed to make the cavernous room that is The Skyline, feel like a small intimate club and that requires a real talent. The acoustics and sound were excellent and that meant Matt could let the music do the work and just concentrate on performing great songs.

The last time I saw Steel Threads live, they were a three piece, but have now slimed down to a guitar and fiddle duo, Neil Wardleworth, guitar and bass drum, Laura Wilcockson, fiddle with both performers contributing vocals.

That double vocal attack really gives them a set that pulls in different influences along the rock and folk rock genres, whilst giving them the chance to establish their own identity. There's a nice political side to their songs, the issues that seem to impact more of us, lack of social justice, the feeding of money to the rich, but their material is about the impacts rather than the easy chantsof it all being unfair. I've enjoyed their most recent album. "For Those That Are Left" and can easily recommend them both on recording and live.

Closing the Introducing Stage for the day and the festival was Edwina Hayes. Edwina has actually been on the circuit for a while and I've seen her a number of times before. When singing she's got a pretty good voice and her set varies between her own material and a fair number of covers. I guess she summed herself up quite nicely when she mentioned that whilst on tour with Fairport Convention they asked her to give them a song to join her on stage and play along with her, for that she chose a cover.

I enjoy her performance, but when it comes to catching the last part of her set or going and getting ready for The Young Uns, it's no contest.

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