Well, that was fun. Three days of folk, anti-folk, funny-folk, legendary-folk, old-folk, young-folk, what-the-folk...you get the picture. I have to say that, having attended the very first MFF in 2006, this one (barring one or two minor grumbles) seemed even better. A more thorough dissection of the bands that 'rocked the show' will follow, but a few spring to mind straightaway...Gemma Quarterman (stunning version of Hush - you can catch her at The Sound Bar this Wednesday night), Ben Calvert (check out his new track Broken Family Daysaver), Chris Wood, Albino, Kinkajou, The Destroyers (of course), Chris T-T, Waterson: Carthy (we are not worthy), Ian Campbell (for a memorable song about someone in an old folks home retelling his life to a young Ian in the 1960's - if you know the name of the track please let me know) and Sexy Seth (pictured)...that's just for starters. It's pretty unusual to go to a festival and like everything you see, but I can't think of anything I disliked. The crowd were pretty chilled, the oik element was low and after the Friday night 45 minute queue for the bar (not quite sure what happened there - but lessons seem to have been learnt pretty swiftly)...getting a drink on Saturday and Sunday was a breeze (bigge up the Tardebigge Cider). It's weekends like this that make me glad to live in Birmingham...and live in general. The organisers should be rubbed up and down in a slightly sexy manner. I loved the Bohemian Jukebox tent. A nice mix of workshops and bands. Anyone who can get me up and folk dancing deserves a medal (not sure who the lady was but she was very kind...I'd have had me shot for bringing the name of dancing into disrepute).
Like I say I'll be reviewing my picks shortly in greater depth...probably when I've had time to listen to the mountain of CD's I bought...but for now...that's all folk(s)...I just had to go be silly again didn't I?
I think that Ian Campbell song was called "The Old Man's Tale". It definitely had 'old' in the title, at the very least. That was my song-of-the-entire-weekend, too.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I'd been able to see The Destroyers. Really really really.
Ahhh yes...that sounds familiar..."The Old Man's Tale"...I'll have to try and track it down. Awesome stuff. Heard a rumour somewhere that it was his last ever gig.
ReplyDeleteHopefully The Destroyers will be playing Artsfest again this year. In a similar kind of stylee Old School Dance were pretty darn fine too (think they're local as well).