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English Folk Expo/Homegrown
A Festival Of Fine English Folk

Venue: The Met
Town: Bury
Dates: 15-17/10/15
Website: http://www.themet.biz
http://www.englishfolkexpo.com

Thursday Friday Saturday

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SATURDAY

An interesting Saturday afternoon treat in The Met for anyone fancying a matinee, saw the bigger hitters in Fay Hield and Emily Portman swelling the ranks of their bands to larger proportions to cope with the reproducing their new music, both calling on the services of folk musician of the year Sam Sweeney. With Emily professing to sound like Marj Simpson and that Sam Sweeney could do a better impression of her than she was managing, her delicate new music form the 'Coracle' album was performed beautifully despite her not being at full fitness - even allowing Lucy Farrell to do some of the intros to save her voice but fully deserving of the acclaim she's received on the back of her new album.

Fay Hield and her Hurricane Party, included the South Yorks gang of Rob Harbron alongside his regular sparring partner Sam Sweeney and fellow Full English collaborator Ben Nicholls as the core of her band. Her new album ('Old Adam') is all ready to go in the new year in the works and she has a new EP of songs ahead of the album out right now. Sporting the Les Mis cum biker chick look she took the chance to preview the material in front of an audience and give her usual detailed level of background - she is an academic after all - to the stories behind the songs.

While Fay and Emily might have been there and done it, bought the t shirt and washed the colour out of it, Moore, Moss & Rutter are on their way and doing it. The dashing trio had opened the afternoon with a set of songs and tunes in particular which could easily see these young men described by someone enthusiastic and prophetic enough in terms of Jon Landau's famous "I saw the future of rock and roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen" quote - but in folk terms. In Archie Churchill-Moss' John McEnroe in the late seventies headband look, they have an endearing charm and unaffected demeanour. On the back of a five star review from R2 magazine for their 'II' album a gig like this can't do MMR any harm. A waaay better bet than heading down to Gigg Lane for what turned out to be a drab 0-0 draw.

Later that same evening, all over Bury could be heard the sound of pins dropping. Both Gren Bartley with his female backing trio and a solo Jess Morgan can't complain that no-one paid attention or under appreciated their performances. Both might be new names to most, but both have their rabid supporters in the music media hoping they're onto the next big thing and hard not to see why with their sensitive songwriting and playing and in Gren's case, some subtle string and harmony support. Showing an awareness for the fine local cuisine, Jess had been on the trail of some Bury black pudding, something that always endears a visitor to the locals.

A similar respectful reverence accompanied the chance to see The Unthanks in their ten piece arrangement, Becky and Rachel and the usual crew accompanied by a string section, is a rare treat. Big turn out too with busy seating areas running right to the back of the Drill Hall. Some consider their music on the lacklustre and cheerless side, and granted, it doesn't kick ass in the jiggery folkery way that some fans prefer and visually it's hardly a dynamic show. The most 'action' in the form of a bit of clog dancing which broke up the atmosphere of stillness. Yet on the other hand, their progressive outlook to the arrangements which accompany their folk tinged tales is truly original and again, as seems to be an indication of the standard of musicianship on display, wonderfully executed courtesy in the main of Adrian McNally. The music from their recent 'Mount The Air', another landmark album, floated and drifted lightly over the assemble masses who seemed to be totally absorbed in the tranquillity of the performance.

Prededing The Unthanks, the album launch show from the Andy May Trio which included fellow Baltic Crossing member (Baltic Crosser?) Ian Stephenson on guitar was a tremendous little unpretentious set. Light hearted and non too strenuous on the ear, it was a welcome piece of more relaxed and friendly North East folk. Andy's Northumbrian pipe playing gave an extra dimension to the weekend and next to the black pudding added another piece of local folk culture to procedings

While pins were being dropped elsewhere, the sound of hair being let loose was more the ticket for the last push at The Met. A much more loose and joyous occasion you couldn't hope to find with Keston Cobblers Club once again leading a charge to the dance floor and proving that their particular brand of instrument swapping, affable appeal and energetic air is a guaranteed crowd puller/pleaser. Just a pity that amongst another stage full of kit, Bethan couldn't head more down stage to add to the visual appeal and increase the possibility of crowd surfing with a tuba.

If you made it to the end, then False Lights were the perfect band with which to bring down the curtain to the festival. Curtain? Bring down the house more like. The band born at last year's event after a slightly tipsy conversation between Sam Carter and Jim Moray, it was quite apt that a year on they should commandeer the closing slot. You could almost hear the ghost of local lad Peter Kay: Folk music and electric guitars? Electric? Guitars? It might not be to some more traditional folkies tastes, loud, proud and raucous, but taking their set of traditional songs and basically rocking them up is a real shot in the arm and something which appeals to the vibrant younger crowd the genre is attracting. A feedback induced opening from Sam Carter's smart Gibson, all the way through to the end via a joyous excuse to sing about jumping into Australian bushes, False Lights were undeniably exciting. And with 'Crossing The Bar' they provided the perfect ending not just to the night but the whole event. Tennyson's words against the backdrop of Jim's chapel organ, building to an exuberant and inspirational romp was as good an end as you can get. Until the band jumped into the audience to do a proper unplugged 'How Can I Keep From Singing' with Nick Cooke's melodeon - and if Seth struggled with it on Thursday, there's the trick - just get among the people. A perfect sentiment and another perfect ending. Until. The band once again took to the stage running through an electric (as in plugged back in) and exhilarating set of tunes. #louderandwierder for the next album? Don't bet against it!

It typified the new buzz coming from the likes of Moore, Moss & Rutter, the Keston Cobblers and Stick In The Wheel alongside the established names, not to mention the solo performers who added some sprinkles to the toppings. The hollandaise sauce to the meat and two veg. And once again, Homegrown proved to be the ideal vehicle to spread the word.

Words And Pictures, Mike Ainscoe