New Forest Folk Festival is one for the music fans and the self-caterers

The New Forest Folk Festival is, as its title suggests , a folk festival in the middle of a forest. The approach to the event, at least in so far as my sat-nav takes me, is shaded by leaves from overhanging trees and every now and again I cross a babbling stream. It’s very ‘Lord of the Rings’, and if there was an award titled ‘best approach to a folk festival’, it would definitely be in with a shout. I guess the clue is in the title and it’s very promising so far.

I arrive to a scene that is part festival, part evangelical church gathering; hands in the air, lots of clapping and waving. It’s like a mass aerobics session has broken out at Creationfest. It turns out to be nothing of the sort though, just Southampton Ukulele Jam belting out the hits and everyone joining in.

Mad Dog Mcrea follow and the crowd is well on its way. Lots are dancing down at the front and if you want to get up out of your chair and dance, everyone is OK with that, and plenty do. People are up and but it is so early in the day that I wonder if they’ll make it to the end. The Roving Crows do a fine job of keeping the party going, then The Urban Folk Quartet exert a mesmerising pull down to the front. Compelling as ever, its difficult to be indifferent when they’re on. Though It’s 11 hours from the Ukuleles to Show of Hands, who rousingly round things off with Cousin Jack, folks are on their feet until the last.

On the subject of standing up and sitting down, this is one of those festivals where people bring their own chairs. You can’t just find an empty one and sit in it; that’s bad form apparently. Saturday seems to be the most popular day: the event is packed, and if you’re not one of those people who likes lugging furniture around festivals, you have to pick your space very carefully if you don't want to spend your time staring at the back of someone else’s chair.

And it’s not just chairs that you have to bring. At the New Forest Folk Festival, the tents are easily outnumbered by caravans and camper vans. It’s a self catering crowd, so there isn’t much on site for folks who like festival food. There’s a tent doing the staples; chilli, curry, chips etc, there’s a pizza stall, and that’s your lot. If you want a proper coffee, there is a Costa in the petrol station opposite, and then there’s a local shop down the road. If you enjoy the perennial festival dilemma of “Shall I have Mexican, or Carribean or Goan Fish Curry etc etc”, then you’d have to make them all beforehand and bring them with you, which kind of ruins the magic, in my opinion.

But the festival site is far from sparse, there are plenty of craft stalls, a gardening stall and even a couple of stalls for dogs, who are very welcome in the New Forest. You can get blankets, treats and even a festival bandana for them, if the budget stretches.

Many leave on Sunday morning, which is a bit puzzling, as the quality of the program is equally high, and possibly even more folky, with Feast of Fiddles headlining, Tony Christie, and Ranagri in support and Chris Leslie opening. A lovely, mellow Megan Henwood plays in the afternoon: just the thing to accompany ice-cream and sunshine.

Being a folk festival, there is also a program here for people who like to join in. Each day starts with a Morris workshop, then there’s poetry and crafts to follow. The poets take to the stage between acts to share a bit of verse whilst those around them move musical things about. It’s a good touch and keeps the event moving merrily along.

On arrival, the New Forest Folk Festival seemed like a case of “does what it says on the tin”, a folk festival in a forest. But ‘folk’ is a broad church nowadays, and in some ways this festival is more mainstream in spirit. Firstly, there is a single stage; you just sit down and the acts come to you. Then, there isn’t so much of the workshop element that is typical at a folk festival, nor is there the Morris dancing and social dancing scene that you often get. What is does offer is a great atmosphere, sustained by a programme of acts of far higher quality than you could typically expect at a festival this small and cosy. So it’s definitely one for the music fans, and if you are a fan of self catering too, so much the better.

Latest Updates