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
I figure I've done my poetry duty so go I start the day with The Miserable Rich in the Hall and what a find they are. Swirling, atmospheric sounds from a bunch a very talented young players (HOW many instruments?). If there is such a thing as New Romantic-folk then these boys are it. And a Hot Chip cover thrown in.
Local rising star Jersey Budd closes the Big Top. There's no denying that he's a very charismatic frontman with a powerful sound, and elsewhere on the bill he would probably have ripped it up. But the loyal Oyster fans were all in the Hall. There was a risk of "young rocker has strop due to small crowd" but to his credit he threw everything he had at it. Definitely worth a look at other festivals.
All in all, Big Session looks and feels very much like the traditional folk festival/village pump event (the first person I saw when I came on site was carrying a leather tankard, which sets the tone). But the programme itself is much bigger, louder and braver than ever. Bring your friends who 'don't like folk' and watch them change their minds.
review by: Katharine Owen
photos by: Phil Bull
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