Big Session Festival 2009
Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June 2009De Montfort Hall, Granville Road, Leicester LE1 7RU, England MAP
£70 for the whole weekend, child 5-15 £25
Now in it's fifth year, the Big Session is the folkie younger sister of Leicester's Summer Sundae Weekender. It's the signature festival of veteran folk rockers the Oysterband, who pop up in various forms across the weekend, which they also co-curate.
The music gets off to a slightly shaky start with a late and wobbly set from the winner of the Sunflower Song Competition whose name she should be pleased I have missed, on the Orange Tree stage. Luckily, order is restored by the The Heartland Roots Band, who take us on a trip through local culture in contemporary folk style, with a bit of Americana thrown in for good measure.
There's barely time to look in on the Oysters' John Jones with his new band The Reluctant Ramblers who are playing in the Big Top, but the dedicated Oyster following are lapping it up, unsurprisingly.
Into the main hall for the Peatbog Faeries, who arguably don't work on CD and I hadn't seen them live before so had no expectations. They were absolutely electrifying, a riot of techno folk, mixing up traditional and new forms, instruments and dancing. Judging by the ecstatic reaction will be many people's surprise hit set of the festival.
The DMH campsite, across the road in the playing fields of a local college, beckons and its a very civilised affair with immaculate loos, hot showers (!) and plentiful helpful stewards. The campers return the hospitality and its a peaceful night, apart from the rain at about 4am.
review by: Katharine Owen
photos by: Phil Bull
Latest Updates
The Big Session 2017
festival details
festival details
last updated: Fri 7th Apr 2017
Big Session Festival
festival home page
festival home page
last updated: Wed 15th Feb 2017
The Big Session 2016
festival details
festival details
last updated: Mon 18th Apr 2016
The Big Session expands to 3 days in 2016
featuring Oysterband plus June Tabor, Seth Lakeman and Edward II
featuring Oysterband plus June Tabor, Seth Lakeman and Edward II
last updated: Thu 15th Oct 2015
The Big Session 2016
line-ups & rumours
line-ups & rumours
last updated: Thu 15th Oct 2015