Village Pump Folk Festival overflows with good tunes and rain too (part two)

Village Pump Folk Festival 2015

Friday 24th to Sunday 26th July 2015
White Horse Country Park, Trowbridge Road, Westbury, Wiltshire, BA13 4LX, England MAP
tier 3 £120 for a weekend ticket

Daily capacity: 2,000

Saturday morning and thankfully the sun is shining. I'm a bit late for a cooked breakfast but find a lovely Glamorgan style sausage bap for £3.50. My first band for the day are Up The Creek they place a nice blend of their own snappy folk and some folked up covers versions of the likes of The Rolling Stones' 'Over Now'.

During a walk around the site I see a cycling jester who's to perform in the Family Tent later. I also note there is a hard base laid out on the grass for the sides of Morris dancers to perform upon, and see a whip cracking Knave, Kooky The Clown on a walk about and there's some session musicians playing (besides the site's cash machine tent) in between the Morris dancing. There really is all sorts going on in the warm sunshine in the nice open space surrounded by the stalls, a set up that seems to work nicely.

Allan Yn Y Fan are a 6 piece Welsh band, singing songs in Welsh and instrumental tunes. The 3 ladies of the group move easily between instruments, bodhran, mandolin, guitar and various wind instruments depending on their role within the tune.

Rod Clements previously of Lindisfarne sings tunes with a Teeside edge like 'Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong' also the theme from Barry Norman's film review programme, to many a 'oh yeah!' when he revealed where we might have heard it before. There are more stripped back Lindisfarne songs and solo songs proper like 'Stamping Ground'. He encores with 'Whisky Highway'.

False Lights are next, who I would describe as a more folk rock type band. Singing songs about a bawdy Australian maiden and going to the other side of the world with 'Banks Of Newfoundland' alongside cheery tales of ill fated highwayman called Alan and drowning a girl named Maria in the river.

A brief stop away from music to get some food. There are about 8 food vendors, ranging from baked potatoes, to a traditional fayre like casseroles and stews, noodles, pizza, Mexican and Indian. I plump for a Potato and chickpea curry with tarka dhal rice and naan for £7, whilst Ruth goes for chicken and leak casserole with half n half (half chips/half rice) for £6.50. Both are filling and good value.

Sam of Sam Green & The Midnight Heist plays a mean slide guitar. The band are from all over the south and so we're told, don't get to practice together often. The first few songs become a sort of rehearsal for them, though they are tight enough for sure. 'A Penny For A Song' leads into their set proper and its a good loud modern folk set.

A break again for us means a chance to walk around the shops, 'Go Womble' had some interesting preowned clothing and some Wombles. 'Asbeau' were selling alternative clothes and some clever reclaimed materials upcycled into new usable kit, like 7' singles sown together to create a handbag and stereo cassette lamp stands. There are some other clothing stalls, Wiltshire bee keepers, Wiltshire spinners and a stall selling DIY kits to convert old guitars into ukes.

Rosie Eade has a lovely easy listening folk voice and sings of taking the King's Shilling and 'Broomfield Hill'. One of the few covers she performs whilst pretending to be a rock chick is 'Behind Blue Eyes' by The Who. It transfers well to a folk version goes down very well with her audience.

For some reason (possibly food or drink related) we only catch the last few songs by Megson 'Tally I O The Grinder' rounds off a wonderful set by the husband and wife combo from Teesside. I'll have to try and find them elsewhere and give them more time.

Polly Barrett takes up now, she has a beautiful Irish lilt. 'Sparrow At The Window', is a random folk song about nothing in particular as she puts. 'Andrew' is a sad tale about a heroin addict she knew whilst busking in Cork. 'Almost Friend' was an unintentionally romantic song about people who pass by whilst on buses or the streets, these were standout songs for me in another great set of quality songs.

The Roving Crows again take us from solo performer to band back on the main stage. 'Nancy Valentine' written for a lady the lead singer met in Tewkesbury but never knew her real name and is dedicated to a couple who'd met here a couple of years back. 'Journeyman's Blues' was a great tale of being on the road. 'The White Petticoat Set' is a string of 7 trad tunes that draw some extra crowd in and start off some more dancing.

Show of Hands are patrons of the festival and also recording their gig this evening. opening with 'Hallows Eve' , it feels like the whole festival are in here for them. Steve Knightley has some great storytelling between each song. 'Roots' receives a massive welcome as does 'When Will You Return' when they welcome Jenna Witts to the stage to sing of two lovers being separated whilst at sea and on land. 'Sweet Bella' has the crowd singing the chorus. 'Country Life' has us all smiling as it's probably their signature song, well amongst a few really, but I think this is it in my opinion. Although 'Cousin Jack' stands a fair shout for the title and is dedicated to all their friends on the other side of Tamar! 'SanTiago' is first encore after a considerable 'show of hands' at the end of the regular set, and 'Gallaway Farmer' our second. Well that was a strong set and worth recording, something the audience were asked to sign up for beforehand but it was a performance for all new comers and massive fans alike.

A brief stop at the hall bar and on to Bill Smarme & The Bizness with 'Teenage Kicks' as and encore mashed up with their version of 'Shout' - great fun.

Edward II play an interesting and bouncy set of working songs from in and around the Manchester area made all the more interesting with their reggae sound.

Treacherous Orchestra are dressed all in black. The, mainly Scottish, band play bagpipes, accordion ,guitars, drums, fiddle etc they really get the night time crowd happily bouncing to some trad jigs, others have a haunting sound and yet some have definitely got a dance/rave beat in there! is this why the bounce is on or is it end of the night beer happiness kicking in? Either way a great set.

continues in part 3... more >>