Loading

Great British Folk Festival

Venue: Butlins
Town: Skegness
Date: 30th November - 2nd December
Website: http://www.bigweekends.com

Sunday

As anticipated the site seems to be a bit slower and later coming to life than it did the previous morning. A decent breakfast sets the team up for the day. I briefly consider taking in a film or doing a bit of laser tag. Last year I went swimming at this time and will do so next year in the new refurbished aquatic centre.

The team get some exercise walking around the venues getting promotional material on to the tables. We encounter Roy Mette coming the other way doing the same thing. Roy is one of the acts that is performing in one of the bars when the two main venues aren't up and running. He's recently released a new album, "Pirates".

"Pirates Of The East Coast Of The Americas & The Caribbean" to give it it's full name is a concept album based around the characters from the days when stealing vast amount of cash from its owner involved physical efforts, rather than pressing a few buttons from the comfort of a posh desk in the city. All of the songs on the album are self penned. A copy is proffered for review and will be covered elsewhere in this publication.

There's time to get in a coffee, is that an age thing wanting a coffee before the music kicks in rather than a beer? Centre Stage have got Animals And Friends, but I'm not really in a "House Of The Rising Sun" sort of mood and I've also been looking forward to catching folk power trio Steel Threads.

When it comes to dedication to duty you have to give Steel Threads fiddle player a whole load of credit, having got in a gender change and a name change in recent months. Having released their album "Timing Is Everything" during the summer, the band have got a new single, "At The Start Again" just out.

Steel Threads are a great start to the musical day. They plenty of energy to knock any lingering torpor out of the audience, as they power their way through a set of their own songs and occasional covers, including AC/DC. There seems to be something about Skeggy that encourages the adaption of punk and rock songs into folk, though in this case it did lead to a great sing-a-long opportunity.

The band's lead vocalist, Neil Wardleworth does a great line in self-depreciating banter, ably assisted by the band's bass player Stuart Eastham. There is a natural feel to the way they bounce off each other and that easy familiarity finds its way into the band's music. If you didn't know the history, you wouldn't think that Laura Wilcockson has only recently become a part of the band.

Steel Threads have got the whole intensity thing off pat, a light touch where required, deep and brooding when deep and brooding is where you need to be and some great join in moments. Hopefully it won't be too long before I get to see them again. I think it would be fair to say they've got themselves a good number of new fans.

The next choice is between Jiggerypipery, who, as the name implies, are bagpipe lead, think Ceilidh Minogue and Hunter Muskett. Hunter Muskett are a folk rock band from the 70s that had a modicum of success. They reformed following a reissue of their albums a couple of years back. I've actually quite liked a number of the fringe bands from that area as I come across them and as I'm already settled in I go to get the first pint of the day and get ready to watch.

The snag is once you've bought a pint, you're sort of committed. You can't carry glass between venues and I'm barely at the top of the glass when I realise I've made an horrendous mistake. Neither sound nor delivery appears good. In fairness I give them a second number, but notice that a leisurely beer is now turning into a very swift one. It looks like I'm not the only one having these thoughts, a lot of the front row is already on the move. Hunter Muskett may have improved during their set but I'm not prepared to risk it, I'm off. That's the thing with festivals, it's near on impossible to like everything and I'd got to the Sunday afternoon before hitting something that disagreed with me.

Jigerypipery on the other hand have got the audience moving in a much more positive way. There's a good number of people in the flat floor area in the front of the stage going for it. I'm not sure a lot of the steps would be recognised on Strictly or would even come with a name so let's call it The Butlins Swirl, because there is a great word that sums up what they were doing, enthusiastic. Everyone in Centre Stage seems to be having a great time. It's not just those that have made the effort to get up and dance either, there's a great deal of movement on the tables with head bobbing and the like. Definitely the better choice and one I'm glad I moved for.

To round off the afternoon session it's Heidi Talbot. Heidi's band includes her partner multi-instrumentalist John McCusker, Andy Cutting, Phin Cunningham and fellow singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine so you know that this has got quality written all over it. Once again the stage is running slightly late and it's down to soundchecking.

It's always difficult weighing up the needs of the artists with the desires of the audience. With a curtain surrounding the band and modern sound checks being pretty silent, the audience can't see and hear what's going on, which can lead to impatience. As soon as the curtain opens so does the mood. Heidi has a new EP out "My Sister The Moon", which will be followed by a new album, "Angels Without Wings" which features, amongst others, Mark Knopfler (Who didn't put in a guest appearance) in January.

Heidi is one of those artists whose between song banter makes you feel like an old friend. There were lots of new songs on display and we were quickly learning choruses to sing-a-long to, though it has to be said the biggest volume from the audience to the stage was when Boo Hewerdine took over the lead vocal duties for his song "Patience Of Angels".

Heidi's set was a wonderful blend of the traditional and the contemporary, there's a lot of promise for the album and a room full of beaming smiles. A great way to round off the afternoon and there's still roast beef with all the trimmings to come. There's not a lot of folk festival's where you can say that.

More