It all comes round again

Categories: uncategorized

Date: 16 August 2005 14:38:20

Well, I'm supposed to be working, but here I am blogging instead. Hmm, that's never happened before ;) Anyway, there's no way that a ramblin' folkie can't blog about a folk festival now, is there?!

So, what to say, where to start? Amazing, fabulous, stonking (to borrow a favourite word of a friend of mine!). Three days of fun, laughter, singing, dancing, shouting over loud music, and, for me, sneezing coughing and almost losing my voice (see shouting)!!! There are no words, though the lyrics from 'The Crowd', some of which I put in my last post sum it up fairly well.

The music was fantastic as always, if at times a little 'over my head' (I was told more than once over the weekend that I'd simply been born 20-30 years too late!!). There were some that I knew- the aptly named Dylan Project who I saw at my first Cropredy did a great set on Friday evening, and before them Richard Thompson was equally good- though I don't know his music very well, the more I hear the more I like it! Also on Friday were a href="http://www.whileandmatthews.co.uk">Chris While and Julie Matthews- definately a favourite of mine. These ladies just have a knack with words, and put them to music in a way that hits me every time- they did 'class reunion' as a request and I was in tears again.

There were also those that were new to me- the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain were rather good I must say, for more than just the comedy element of seeing that many Ukulele's all at once!!! Tickled Pink, a one time ceilidh band, started the festival off in style, and had everyone dancing from the start! So much so that I couldn't resist buying their CD (I only bought one all weekend. I was being good honest!).

And then the grand finale on Saturday night when Fairport took the stage- fantastic as always. It's always difficult to describe it to those who've never experienced it. As the minister who led the service in the Cropredy anglican church the next day said, it's like being part of something thats more than just a concert, something bigger than the sum of its parts. And its like you're not just a spectator, but you're actually involved in it, taking part. There's an atmosphere in that field on the Saturday night, when the first chords of Matty Groves ring out, and everyone knows it has come round again. Those of you who've been will (maybe?) know what I mean. Anyone else, you'll either have to experience it for yourself someday, or just take my word for it. It's a special place, and on the second weekend in August next year, I know where I'll be!