The wood pigeons inhabiting the trees in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall once again sent out their annual alarm calls to neighbouring birds, which roughly translate to 'why are all these large white marquees here?' As other assorted wildlife woke to the sound of tent pegs being hammered in, hundreds of people descended upon the sleepy fields of Cherry Hinton park on Thursday morning, a few hours before Ezio welcomed regular visiters and newcomers alike to the 46th consecutive Cambridge Folk Festival.
This latest Folk Delivering Hope concert followed the first successful AHS Foundation benefit concert last year, where such artists as Clive Gregson, Jez Lowe, Ray Hearne, Steve Womack and Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts gave their time and effort, not to mention memorable performances, to support this dedicated team headed by fund-raising co-ordinator Eileen Myles, to help victims of the tragic Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan. Almost a year on, this latest concert was set up by Eileen, once again under the banner of Folk Delivering Hope, with a little help from a small band of friends and helpers, including a bunch of musicians and the local music promoter and enthusiast Hedley Jones, all giving their time freely to help this worthwhile cause.
This latest Folk Delivering Hope concert followed the first successful AHS Foundation benefit concert last year, where such artists as Clive Gregson, Jez Lowe, Ray Hearne, Steve Womack and Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts gave their time and effort, not to mention memorable performances, to support this dedicated team headed by fund-raising co-ordinator Eileen Myles, to help victims of the tragic Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan. Almost a year on, this latest concert was set up by Eileen, once again under the banner of Folk Delivering Hope, with a little help from a small band of friends and helpers, including a bunch of musicians and the local music promoter and enthusiast Hedley Jones, all giving their time freely to help this worthwhile cause.
It was a moment of inspiration when folk DJ Tony Hitchcock of Sine FM pointed out to fundraising co-ordinator Eileen Myles of the AHS Foundation, that with such an array of talent due to play at a forthcoming Doncaster charity concert in aid of earthquake victims in Kashmir, there must be an opportunity to compile a fund raising CD to bring in much needed additional funds. With Jez Lowe, Clive Gregson, Ray Hearne, Steve Womack and Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts already onboard for the concert, the potential for an interesting CD was almost certainly on the cards.
The Regent Hotel is perfectly situated in the centre of Doncaster and provides an ideal setting for a major charity event both in terms of its location and its own musical heritage. The Hallgate/South Parade junction was heaving with traffic at lunchtime today as motorists slowed down to witness the last few remaining hours in the life of the Gaumont Theatre right next door. As diggers of various sizes reduced the old place to rubble, the ghost of Lonnie Donegan was no doubt felt by some of the older onlookers, recalling the night the Skiffle King recorded My Old Man's A Dustman live on that very stage in 1960, the recording of which was released as a single and which went on to sell over a million copies. Then there was the theatre's relationship with The Beatles who played there no less than three times in 1963 before Beatlemania stormed America. There was an air of sadness as I watched the bricks fall to the ground heralding the end of an era.
'Do you want the quiet camp?' asked one of the friendly box office stewards as I checked into the Beverley Acoustic Roots Festival on Friday afternoon, to which I responded, without hesitation, 'oh noo, put me down for the noisy camp!' Of course there's nothing that could really be described as 'noisy' at this charming little East Riding festival, not even if you happened to find yourself right next to the speaker stacks during Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams' extraordinarily vibrant set on Saturday night, or if you chose to postpone sleep temporarily in order to squeeze into the Wold Top Marquee for one of their popular late night sessions. The normally sleepy town of Beverley does however come alive at this time of the year for a weekend full of quality music, poetry, comedy, storytelling and dance events, all of which run simultaneously on various stages throughout the weekend, including one main indoor stage, three marquees of varying sizes, an indoor club room and the nearby Friary, not to mention the village green, the towns many welcoming pubs and the beacon that is Beverley Minster itself.
Northern Sky met up once again with Jeni and Billy at the Beverley Acoustic Roots Festival to talk about their new album, their return to Beverley and quilts.
'"Ello Beverley!" begins Rory Motion as he steps into the pink-yellow glow of the acoustic stage lights. "It feels quite intimate, saying 'ello Beverley," he continues in his familiar, friendly North Yorkshire accent, referring to the town as if it were an old mate of the same name who had, perhaps, been waiting there since last year's festival. And as Rory begins shuffling his scraps of paper and nudging his guitar, harmonica and vibraphone into position at his feet, one feels almost compelled to respond with a jovial "welcome back" or a much more suitable "how's tha been, feller?"
'"Ello Beverley!" begins Rory Motion as he steps into the pink-yellow glow of the acoustic stage lights. "It feels quite intimate, saying 'ello Beverley," he continues in his familiar, friendly North Yorkshire accent, referring to the town as if it were an old mate of the same name who had, perhaps, been waiting there since last year's festival. And as Rory begins shuffling his scraps of paper and nudging his guitar, harmonica and vibraphone into position at his feet, one feels almost compelled to respond with a jovial "welcome back" or a much more suitable "how's tha been, feller?"
The most welcomed visitor to Shepley this year was without doubt the sun, the presence of which was felt throughout the entire weekend, arriving just about the time the first tent peg was being hammered in and hanging around until the very last one was pulled out. Poor inclement weather has plagued the Shepley Spring Festival over the last couple of years, so much so that special provisions were made this year, including a heating system for the main marquee, which as it turned out wasn't required after all. Those familiar with Shepley will know that weather conditions never stop the smiles though and this year they were just that bit wider.
Northern Sky had a relaxing hour with two of the festival organisers Mac McKinlay and Andy Smith during Friday afternoon to chat about the 4th Shepley Spring Festival.
It is by way of a gradual process that you become aware of the rural charms of Holmfirth; once you leave behind the usual red brick chaos of the city or town from whence you came and descend upon this sleepy town in the rolling hills of West Yorkshire. The familiar brown stone buildings, dry stone border walls and astonishingly beautiful panoramic hillside views allow you to breathe once again as the old A635 meanders down towards a different and much more conducive kind of chaos, that of a small town community willing to embrace some of those almost forgotten local traditions, whether they fully understand them or not.
Northern Sky spoke to local traditional folk singer Will Noble about Holmfirth and its relationship with traditional song, followed by the Holmfirth Anthem.
1 day 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson
2 weeks 2 days agoAllan Wilkinson
5 weeks 1 day agoAllan Wilkinson.JPG)
5 weeks 5 days agoAllan Wilkinson
5 weeks 5 days agoAllan Wilkinson
9 weeks 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson
1 day 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson
1 day 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson
2 days 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson
1 week 23 hours agoAllan Wilkinson.JPG)
