Cambridge Folk Festival
Posted: 6th August, 2011
I thought that having had a week to digest it all, I’d write a short note about the great few days I had at Cambridge Folk Festival last weekend.
My only scheduled performance was on the Saturday, but I arrived on the Friday afternoon after being asked to come down early and perform a ‘backstage session’ for filming being done by BBC and Sky Arts as part of the ‘Cambridge Highlights show’. It was my first Cambridge I’d been to so it took me a while to navigate my way around what is a pretty big and busy festival. My first destination was the atmospheric Yurt that was set up behind the mainstage. The contrast of a nomadic Mongolian tent, packed with industrial lighting, sound equipment and a TV crew was slightly odd, but I had lots of fun recording and the Smooth Ops people there were as friendly and professional as ever.
The show I did at the Club Tent on Saturday was a real pleasure. Mid-afternoon on the busiest day, it was packed out and the audience were just great. I could have happily stayed on and played all afternoon, but they run a tight ship and there’s so much great music to get on. I think my highlight of that gig was glancing down during performing my own song ‘Yorkshire Regiment’ and seeing a bunch of young people sat in the middle mouthing the words to it – I was first shocked then really chuffed. I’m glad people are listening to the lyrics. I was equally touched by the people who came up after and commented on that song – it was fantastic to hear that despite what seemed to me like a lack of political songs at the festival there certainly wasn’t disinterest amongst the festival-goers. Thanks to all who came along and listened in the club tent and for making me feel right at home!
(You can read a review of that gig here: www.fatea-records.co.uk/CAMBRID/cam11/saturday4.html)
Having done my piece I had the rest of the festival to enjoy, and it being my birthday on the Sunday I managed to get a good drink in too. I got around and saw a lot of music – almost too much, it felt like overload at times! There was so much fantastic stuff on and it was really inspiring seeing just how much talent and ideas there is in folk music at the moment. A couple of highlights for me: first of all was a tip-off from a friend, someone I’d never come across before but that turned out to be brilliant – Damien O’Kane; the second was one I’d been looking forward to all week, Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill, who’s performance on stage 2 was incredibly moving, virtuosic and I think my favourite moment of the weekend.
Great festival all round and hope to be back there soon.
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