Now in its third year The Great British Folk Festival held
at Butlin’s Skegness resort has now become an established part of the festival
scene. Forget any preconceptions of the ‘holiday camp’. The images lampooned in
programmes such as Hi-Di-Hi are outdated and have absolutely nothing to do with
the modern first class visitor experience. Comfortable and welcoming
Accommodation is included in the package, the stages skilfully managed, and the
music takes in all aspects of loosely
defined ‘folk’ – a chance to want to have a good time while maybe unearthing
something new. This is why GBBF wins.
Friday’s line-up included Pie, Feast of Fiddles, The Fureys
and Davey Arthur, The Travelling Band. All estimable talents however some of
the other acts that day did not deliver. Fake Thackray would have been better
suited to a smaller venue as would Oh Susanna. The Travelling Band sadly lost
some of the The Fureys large audience. Although To be fair, the Fureys must be
a hard act to follow. Meanwhile Feast of Fiddles dazzled the audience on the
Centre Stage with their eleven fiddler players.
Saturday afternoon and Babajack shook the Centre Stage with
an intense mix of blues, roots and folk. Becky Tate’s cajon (box drum) and Trevor Steger’s semi-acoustic ‘winebox’
guitar invoked a past area of raw and unpolished blues and roots. Not for the
faint hearted.
The session’s other bands and singers – Deborah Bonham,
Shinjig, and The Billy Mitchell Band rewarded the audience in a more
traditional style. In contrast, the band Moonshee took on a global slant with
Sitar, tablas, fiddle and harp. OK so it’s not unique these days but
nevertheless a band definitely worth catching.
Saturday evening was probably, for the weekend’s audience,
the best with Show of Hands, Thea Gilmore, June Tabor and The Oyster Band,
Merry Hell and Fay Hield and The Hurricane Party.
June Tabor’s reunion with The Oyster Band after a twenty-one
year gap and now on tour was the highlight of the weekend. Tabor has a
startling and compelling presence yet never overshadows the band. Their take on
Jefferson Airplane’s psychedelic ‘White Rabbit’ was electrifying. The gig ended
on a high with ‘Put Out the Lights’. Merry Hell – “Folk-rock with punk
attitude” (their words) closed the evening on Reds with firm favourites Show of
Hands closing Centre Stage.
Finally to Sunday afternoon on Centre Stage with a
welcome diversion for tired heads – Animals and Friends with their storming session of nostalgic R’n’B.
Gallagher’s keyboards were much to the fore offering a driving rhythm through
many of the old standards but were nicely contrasted by Barton’s deep booming
voice. That evening saw amongst others Ashley Hutchings & Morris On,
Steel Threads, Gigspanner, Gordon Giltrap, The Gathering and headliners ,The
Albion Band on Centre Stage and on Reds Stage,
King Arthur’s Dream.
So over, for another year and clearly all of the above is
both subjective and selective and not under any circumstances definitive.
Therefore, I offer apologies to those missing their favourite artists or
wanting a complete set-list. Overall, a fantastic weekend and already bookings
are being taken for 2013!
If you want to see some of this year’s performances take a
look at Peter Simmonds’ You Tube Site.http://www.youtube.com/user/SIMMO7TS
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