Why--- yer bugger a hell

[gratedenini]

By--theres been some shite on here and I`ve only been awa a few days like! Ar tell yer man--yer canna dee a thing nowadays.

Anyways, yes we are back from The Acoustic Festival of Great Briytain...... how long have yer got?

Well, we didnt get set off till late cos IS had that castration to do, then the van to load up, then shopping to get,kids to ready etc etc etc...and as MTF can only waltz along at 65 top --and it was Holiday Friday --it was a push. However--no probs..even had time to stop for two unforyunates who`d ran out of petrol nr Wakefiled, so we gave them lifts.

So, we arrives at Catton hall--about 10.30pm--this was after the sat nav took us along a road culminating in a bridge as wide as an Anorexics waist--and with a restriction of 3.2tons... so there we were completely stuck up a narrow lane with a huge queue behind us-- next thingv a bloke is braying on Sils window--mouthing off...I mentioned that I`d made a mistake and that if he didnt apologise for speaking to my tired,pregnant wife in that tone of voive---,I`d rip his f**kin knapper off--seemed to do the trick.

So, i had to reverse MTF a long way back down this narrow road--pitch black...managed in the end and arrived at the fest... ALL LOCKED UP !!! Gates closed now mate--and yer NOT coming in! Well tbh--no sweat for us as we had everything we wanted in the van of course... 10 minutes later... along comes another motor--a little pink affair containing 3 obscures--from the IOW dont yer know! I firstly asked em if they knew of a Jock Excile on the island and when they denied it-- I knew they were ok.

Well, what could they do--3 of em in that little car--nowhere to camp---only one thing for it-- we offered the use of MTF...so we all piled in and made the most of it all. So--- that was TWO good deeds for the day eh!

Turns out we spent the rest of the fest together and became good mates.

Now--lets get this right--it was friggin freezin--rainy and WINDY... God I`m so glad we had the van--felt really sorry for those camping with kids...last night it pissed down all night and we awoke to several wrecked tents strewn over the campsite.

Unfortunately, our recently purcahsed pop-up Gazebo didnt make it past 2nd erection--afetr a dummy run at home--on site--- it wouldnt open out--and with a struggle--we pulled a bit-- snapped in several places... well we patched it up as best we could--but the prevailing winds to their toll and by this morning ---it was just a crumpled shell--straight on the blower tommo about that--but it means we are now without shelter for this coming weekend--as the eldest daughter has knacked our tent up on a camping trip[ to the Lakes this weekend!

Anyway--no sweat--we had a cracking time and lots of sharing was done--Hells Flame--sat night, which was the best weather wise (and music)... a laddo an me balsted away on one... half-way down I had to bid farewell as I needed to sit down.... I never got up again that night!!! A whitey of whitest proportions was being had by my very self.... what a state i was in (apparently)... I could HEAR Jethro Tull--- but I couldn`t SEE em!

Evevntually I was wheeled home in Larmers Trolley--much to the hoots of derision from fellow festies on the way back to the campsite... I could feel the flashes of cameras and giggles and howls as I was wheeled over bumpy terrain with me pleading (i found out later) "Stop Stop--I wanna face the engine!"

A good festival, spoilt a bit by the wind as the main open air stage had to be de-commissioned --Bad Comapny refusing to play in the other venues-- easily big eneough tbh.

If some of the lessons are taken on board--this will become a good festival on the circuit imo--we`d def go back.

Pics to follow... and now lets bulid up for this weekend eh....

den the acoustic twig of great britain

Edited May 27, 2008 by gratedenini

[jollynolly]

Stop Stop--I wanna face the engine!"

Where was this splendid jamboree? And what acts took to the stages?

It has been very quiet around thse parts apart from me stamping my feet and demanding a site map!

[gratedenini]

Aye aye Jolls--I`m nback me likkle marrer....

Catton Hall in Derbyshire...

Jethro Tull

Marillion

Melanie

Donovan

Peter Took (monkeys)

Gordon Giltrap

Midge Ure

Bad Company (bad crack more like)

Hazel O`Connor

The Animals

Someone from Whitesnake

...sure i`ve missed a few "big" names--but there was about 20 odd other bands spread over 3 stages.

We had a really good time.. the arena itself could have been condensed imo-- it was a large area for the amount of punters (about 4 thousand i reckon).. facilities were fine..camp shop open 24hrs--stocked well.

Only thing i suppose looking back was that a lot of it was a bit "samey"-- ie acoustic guitar--which i adore--- but it gets a bit monotonous if you know what i mean.

Dont be fooled thinking cos it was "acoustic" it was queit and namby pamby--oh no-- esp towrds end of the night--the bands were rocking.

Quiye suprisingly for me-- I thought the best acts were -- Midge Ure who`s voivce can still hit the notes--but yre wouldnt know him in the street! He was very very good--Sil loved him (80s see).

Donovan was good for us --we like him... and Hazel O`connor has a little "something" one or two songs were exeptional.

Also some of the unknowns were very very good--only one duffer we came across so all in all I`d say it was a crackin success... off to scour for a to buy pop up gazebo now.

DEn

(cold rain and windy up here int Narth)

[jollynolly]

Please dont tell me the little midge man played Vienna ? That was my room 101 of the 80's along with anything by Dire Straits, I have a pathalogical hatred.

Donovan however is lovely. And I love your ref to someone from Whitesnake. Peter Took? Was he the gormless looking one? I think I had a bit of a crush on him (when the repeats were on)

It is bucketing down in Cardiff today. And my air bed has sprung a leak

Edited May 28, 2008 by jollynolly

[shugie]

Please dont tell me the little midge man played Vienna ? That was my room 101 of the 80's along with anything by Dire Straits, I have a pathalogical hatred.

Donovan however is lovely. And I love your ref to someone from Whitesnake. Peter Took? Was he the gormless looking one? I think I had a bit of a crush on him (when the repeats were on)

It is bucketing down in Cardiff today. And my air bed has sprung a leak

[gratedenini]

Aye--he did Rigsbys Cat --without a synth in sight--and the other hits--but tbh--although I wasnt an Ultravox fan---- he did a great set--easily the best sound set up of the weekend.

Donovan is a bit pretentious for some now (can you sing? can you sing with me?)--but--as we were talking--- theres just something about certain people--and simple songs-- he has that something theres no doubt about it--but he IS a likkle bit right up his own arse!

Yes Peter Tork was (and still is) the ugly bastard --but --he was the ONLY one who actually played an instrument..it was good to dance on the grass with our hippy gear on to wake Up sleepy Jean and daydream believer etc.

den

[jollynolly]

Ohh I do like a good sing song me, what with comming from over the border and all that. I was hoping that you would be in fine voice on the Sunday and would lead us in a splendid chorus of Jennifer Juniper ammoungst others.

My mate Paula does a wonderful rendition of I'll do anything

[gratedenini]

Ohh I do like a good sing song me, what with comming from over the border and all that. I was hoping that you would be in fine voice on the Sunday and would lead us in a splendid chorus of Jennifer Juniper ammoungst others.

My mate Paula does a wonderful rendition of I'll do anything