With high profile festivals such as T in the Park taking centre stage in Scotland’s festival calendar and the abundance of small festivals becoming increasingly popular amongst the younger generations, you often find yourself questioning where the old school festivals have gone? The festivals that celebrate great music and arts and not just the level of alcohol consumed by the young lads in their early 20's.
On May Day weekend this year…I found one…
The Yellow's on the Broom is a small international music and arts festival based near Inverbervie, NE Scotland. The festival runs over two days and includes a number of arts and crafts workshops based at the nearby Mill of Benholm with activities ranging from African Drumming to the art of becoming a faerie. Yet with all this variety through the day, it is the evening events that capture the soul. There is no field, no tent, no worry of rain, no horrible toilets. Yellows, as it's known at a local level, is to me... the best barn dance I've been to in a very long time.
Set inside with a small selection of outdoor food stalls, clothes stalls and a childrens' tent, this festival has a very strong local following and I can now see why. Showcasing a huge variety of local and international talent, the selection of artists to play seems to be so precise and suited that it is hard to distinguish which acts are local and new to the stage and which ones are the more travelled.
Upon arrival I was met by an array of daffodils lining the walk way from the car to the barn. Inside the theme continues and the magic begins. I was greeted by a sprinkling of faerie dust and the magical sight of The All or Nothing Aerial Theatre Company, sitting pretty above the entrance adding a special feeling to the event before I'd even reached the bar...
The barn had a very homely feel to it, encompassing a large dance floor, ample seating and the much appreciated heaters at either end (very much needed after a trip outside). At the far end of the bar there were a couple of stalls and an area with kids face painting. At the rear exit of the barn I was greeted with a small variety of food stalls, a kids tent, alternative clothing stall and the best looked after festival toilets I've seen in two years.
With such an array of amazing talent on stage, the evening was never dull and seemed to be enjoyed by all, with the dance floor constantly buzzing and the bar kept steady. The residents put in a much loved performance to a dedicated bunch of followers for this local band, Crowd favourites being their renditions of KT Tunstall's 'Black Horse' and 'The Cherry Tree' and Amy MacDonald's 'Mr Rock N Roll'. Following The Residents on the side stage were Lord Todhead & The Beamers. A name that couldn't drag your imagination further from the amazing and powerful vocals that they graced the stage with. Gerry Jablonski took to the stage next with his blues project. Gerry is a man I've seen perform onstage on a number of occasions and without fail, each time, he outdoes the previous performance. Garry never fails to win over the crowd and have everyone on their feet. A favourite in Aberdeen and a name to be watched through the up and coming year.
Now in true Yellow's style was a slight change in pace and an act that won over the entire crowd. Performing centre stage, and from the barn ceiling, All or Nothing brought an inspiring and spectacular show of aerial dance to the festival which seemed over just a bit too quickly for my liking. To close the festival this year… The Tramps, A band all the way from Norway and bringing a mix of country/pop/rock/folk through their own material and a very well chosen selection of covers from the likes of The Pogues and Johnny Cash.
With the evening over in what seemed like such a short time we all left with a 'yellow glow' and the desperation for the year to pass and next year's festival to begin...
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