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Underneath The Stars

Venue: Cannon Hall Farm
Town: Cawthorn
Date: 25-27/7/14
Website: http://underthestarsfest.co.uk/

'Never a truer word spoken in jest' they say. Probably in Yorkshire. And how long has Kate Rusby been telling her audiences during the last twelve months to go along to the Rusby family curated festival because it was going to be fantastic with the sun shining and everything. For once in the good old English festival season, the stars aligned and provided a spectacular weekend to remember and made Joe (Rusby)'s dream come true.

Apart from the scorching weather, a relaxed family friendly vibe ran throughput the festival alongside a stunning venue packed with local traders and on two very smart stages inside two impressive tents with a musical line up which ranged from the tried, trusted and sublime performances of headliners Kate Rusby and the stately Richard Thompson to the new discoveries and bright young folk you always make at events like this.

Calling on many of their musical friends and acquaintances, Friday's musical treats kicked off with local legend Dave Burland and via the classy swing of the Puppini Sisters, slowly built up to a magnificent frenzy with the Scots fiddle and bagpipe fuelled tumult and boundary pushing ambitions of the eleven piece Treacherous Orchestra. Their hugely impressive set saw the spacious Planets stage area taking on an ambience in which some traditional Scottish and Irish tunes were severely dealt with, bringing a 'folk rave' to the front of the stage and testing the mettle of those who prefer their folk of a more traditional manner.

Across in the smaller stage, Little rach played the first of two weekends sets and Blair Dunlop had impressed yet again. Playing solo with occasional fiddle accompaniment from Kat Gilmore he got the chance to show both his acoustic guitar chops and why he's destined for a slot on a bigger stage this time next year if not before. He gave way to Barnsley's hilariously juvenile Bar Steward Sons Of Val Doonican and their interpretations of classic songs adapted with their own Viz Comic styled lyrics who provided some light relief before Friday ended on a high on the main stage.

While Saturday provided a more gentle musical atmosphere there was no compromise on quality. Some respite from a mainly folk programme was provided with the impressive atmospherics of Tunng and a lively rockabilly set from Jonny Hick's Jukebox Allstars but the quality of the young brigade who are Moore, Moss and Rutter who opened proceedings and through Damien O'Kane's banjo led set and the excellence of John Smith and Sarah Jarosz, set the scene perfectly for a typically homely yet quality performance from Kate Rusby. Showcasing her new album 'Ghost' with a band including a string quartet, she could hardly fail to end her set with a gorgeously string backed 'Underneath The Stars' before dashing to the signing tent and a refreshing midnight rainstorm.

Sunday dawned with the understated solo skills of Jack Harris and Rachel Sermanni before Ade Edmondson's Bad Shepherds delivered their 'punk on folk instruments' package . One couldn't help but recall the Young Ones Vyvian as he sang "anger is an energy" in their take on Public Image's 'Rise', but following up in doing what many believe he does best and playing solo acoustic, Richard Thompson offered up a dazzling end of festival highlight. Although his new album of re-recorded acoustic classics might well be surplus to requirements for many fans there's no doubting his commanding presence; poised and statuesque on the stage and adding a few flourishes to the enthusiastically received anthem, nay Thompson hymn, 'Vincent Black Lightning' it's easy to see why he's regarded as an English musical treasure.

All told, from the handy camping facilities to the local farm fresh ice cream and the 'Ghost' festival ale, for a first go, the event was nothing less than a triumph. Taking what they've seen as the best of festival practices over the years and adding their own idiosyncratic touches - the oversized knitted flowers dotted round the site and the emphasis on 'local' particularly within the setting of the Cannon Hall estate, they created a truly unpretentious and cosy feel. With dates provisionally set for 2015, Underneath The Stars can consider itself firmly established on the folk festival map.

Mike Ainscoe
Pics: Phil Carter