Beverley Folk Festival 2012

**English Bloke** · 18th June 12, 09:14 AM

This weekend gone, my wife and little-ones, mee mate Phil and X Marker "Weepeskythistle" went to the Beverley Folk festival in East Yorkshire. Beverley is a lovely little Market Town in the Yorkshire Wolds and a crackin' place to host an event, if a little wet... it rained... rather a lot as it happens.

There was a wealth of folky culture on the programme. Some great artists and dance groups to be seen but I thought I'd give you a flavour of some of the stuff we enjoyed.

Phil asked if he could borrow a Kilt from me so he could see for himself what all the fuss was about. My roo-skin hat discussed in another thread also acts as a handy brolly in the downpour as well as a parasol when the sun does peek out. If you're wondering about the flags by the way, we were pitched next to a Bloke from Yorkshire and his Scottish Wife.

Phil and I have been mates for 40 years and he has long 'admired' my kilt wearing from a safe distance. He told me later that it's the most comfortable man's garment he's ever worn... I hate to say "I told you so..." It's taken me a year or two but he's another convert.

This was home for the weekend. That's Beverley Minster in the background. We're camped on the sports pitches of the local Leisure Centre.

The family settles in once the tent is pitched. Check the pram-wheels out.

On the fringes of the music, there were lots of craft stalls selling all kinds of handmade stuff from full on musical instruments (some beautiful guitars, mandolins and violins in one corner) to ceramics to silver bits and bobs to this Bloke who for £1.50 would use his cycle-powered jigsaw to fashion you a wooden name-plate for your bedroom door. My daughter got me one that says "Best*Dad" but only 'cause I can be talked into buying sweeties.

The obligatory face painting was also available.

So No1 daughter had to have a go.

There was lots of little groups of musicians everywhere and it was very much a session oriented festival during the day where you could bring your instrument and voice and just sit in with like minded people and jam along. There were also three main venues. The Main stage, The Concert Marquee and the Wold Big Top.

Bands performing (to name but a few) were The Tom Townsend Blues Band. The Toy Hearts, The Mighty Doonans, The Hope Choir (from Rwanda), Martin Carthy, The Peatbog Faeries...

**English Bloke** · 18th June 12, 09:18 AM

First up for us on the first night were Steeleye Span. Great to see them live. A band I've been following for nearly 40 years and the last time I saw them live was 1982.

Steeleye Span - Line up was Peter Knight, Rick Kemp, Maddy Prior, Liam Genockey and Ken Nicol.

It really did rain hard all weekend, so much so that the field next door which was acting as a car park was closed after all the cars go bogged in. There were only a few moments of sunshine and the mud was absolutely everywhere.

Taking the Boy for a walk.

Visiting the children's drum workshop.

The little Bloke gets into the Samba rhythms

Getting in the swing... under the tailgate of my car.

Me an' my wife (and hippy daisy).

My little ones.

**Spartan Tartan** · 18th June 12, 09:34 AM

That tent is something else!! My goodness...you must be able to put 10-12 people in that! Did you (or are you) camp for the entire event? Looks like a pretty good time.

**English Bloke** · 18th June 12, 09:37 AM

That evening we went to see the Carrivick Sisters (Twins Laura and Charlotte).

Influenced by Bluegrass but not hiding their Englishness, their precision multi-instrumentals and tight harmonies were superb.

Next up were Chumbawamba. A particular favorite of mine. I've been listening to this band for years and it was great to see them playing their acoustic set with a line-up of Neil Ferguson (guitar, vocals), Lou Watts (vocals, percussion), Boff Whalley (guitar, vocals), Jude Abbott (vocals, trumpet, flute, recorder) and Phil Moody (vocals, accordion and wash-board tie). A great band indeed. I was chuffed to bits to have caught them.

Neil Ferguson, Lou Watts, Boff Whalley.

Boff, Jude Abbott, Phil Moody

Stepped up to give a hand with one of their songs. They asked for someone to sing a Johnny Cash song so I offered my interpretation of Johnny Cash singing "Danny Boy". I guess you had to be there...

Thanks... Now get off!!

Quick photo-op for my little girl and me... With the Band.

And so after we'd dropped our tent and packed everything up we headed home.

Another grand kiltie adventure.

**cessna152towser** · 18th June 12, 09:48 AM

Excellent pics John.
Looks like good fun despite the weather.
Thanks for sharing.

**English Bloke** · 18th June 12, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Spartan Tartan

That tent is something else!! My goodness...you must be able to put 10-12 people in that! Did you (or are you) camp for the entire event? Looks like a pretty good time.

We did camp all weekend but thinned out late Sunday afternoon missing Joe Brown (60's Rock and Roll icon and Sam Brown's Dad) who was lined up for Sunday Night in the main hall... Tent is an 8 man, but you could get more in if you pushed the boundries. We just fill it up with two kids and all their accoutrements. Any idiot can be uncomfy.