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home » festivals » Bearded Theory » Bearded Theory 2011
Dub Pistols & Hobo Jones are the highlights of Saturday at Bearded TheoryBearded Theory 2011 reviewFriday 20th May 2011 Having gone to bed as the dawn chorus is about to get into full swing, our morning begins a little later than normal. The frost and ice in evidence in the hushed late hours of Friday has been replaced with a crisp Saturday morning and expectant chatter of our fellow campers.
Speaking to a couple of the organisers, it becomes apparent that they have had nothing to do with the increase in prices or the notices. I draw the conclusion that the company brought in to run the bar have done this off their own backs. On further investigation, both of the ales off the previous day are still no longer available, and throughout the day, attempts to buy ale are thwarted by further lack of availability or quality issues. Reluctantly, I become a cider drinker for the day and reflect that the very people we rely on to organise a piss up in a field, have failed us. It's annoying for the ale drinking punters and the festival organisers. Despite a fuzzy head, I quite enjoy Neck and their ceilidh sounds get the party back to the frenetic bounce that we enjoyed the night before. Its great fun to watch and those whose breakfast has settled, are making all the moves that we would if we were so inclined (we're not, we're reclined). The predicted downpours haven't materialised and we're lucky to encounter only a few brief showers over the entire weekend. After a few weeks of glorious sunshine, the downturn in weather conditions doesn't dampen spirits and smiles and grins seem a permanent fixture on most faces, especially the children. There is loads it do for kids at Bearded Theory. The Angel Gardens offer all kinds of workshops, arts and crafts in beautifully decorated surroundings. There's the opportunity to meet The Gruffalo (or Wagner if you really want to), there's story telling, games and enough to keep nippers happy and involved for hours at a time. Dotted around the site are various Busk Stops. Here punters are encouraged to show off a skill or talent. Guitarists, singers, diablo wielders and hula hoopers all put on fantastic shows throughout the weekend and it's a great idea to get everyone involved. On a similar note, The Something Else Tea Tent offers open mic slots as well as bands playing through the festival. I managed to catch Deferred Success play an absolutely brilliant set. Not worth the effort of trying to pigeon hole, just enjoy them. The tea tent also supplies comfort and warmth in the way of a hot drink with an added alcoholic warmer. At several points over the weekend, this is exactly what the doctor ordered!
The next act is a strange lot. They'd have to be. They're fronted by 'Ade Edmondson. The Bad Shepherds play punk rock in a folk style. It sounds like it shouldn't work, but for me it really does.
I feel a bit sorry for Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs this weekend. The council had brought forward the curfew so their headline set in the bearded top had also been changed from the programmed time. They have done their best to tell everyone during several impromptu busk offs in and around the festival site. The set time has been moved back to the original time and shortened. Celebrating guitarist Miser Bill's birthday with some home made cider being gulped down on stage, the usual merriment is made and the boys are joined on stage by Doozer to sing 'Hobo Jones'. Covers of Green day and The Levellers songs are also shoehorned into the shortened set. From what I can see, these guys have the biggest crown of the weekend in the Bearded Top. Hopefully they'll be back at Bearded Theory next year and who know – a main stage slot? Back in the Magical Sounds dance arena, Ed Tangent, and Eat Static whirl the decks to a packed tent. Again, the council's intervention means it's a lot quieter than last night but the UV cannons glow and the dance tent strung with woolly spiders webs looks amazing. Outside the tent, giant mushrooms and illuminated stars decorate the arena. A man wearing a kilt playing the spoons to psychedelic trance is perhaps one of the more surreal moments and there are plenty of double takes from passers by. Another cold night means we search for a fire and warm ourselves for a while before seeking the sanctuary and welcoming arms of sleep in a sleeping bag.  review by James Tayler photos by Phil Bull 
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