Bromyard Folk Festival 2009 - day three report

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Posted by Liz Osman on 20 September 2009

The final day of Bromyard started with sunshine again, and with a full programme ahead. One of the great things about Bromyard is that most performers stay for the whole festival and if you miss them once you can catch them another time or see your favourites twice!

Sunday was a slightly sleepy start for many, cooking bacon and eggs and basking in the sun. Others took the opportunity to either go to the folk church service in town, or a workshop from Windsor Ladies Morris. The workshop was a brisk lively start to the morning for the novice and a few ringers who obviously knew their stuff. This was then followed by an Appalachian dance workshop, again populated with a range of abilities all learning new things.

I headed down to town for an intriguing proposition - the Fred Jordan Memorial Competition. The competition is open to any young singer up to the age of 25, and I was looking forward to seeing what the entrants were like, and also hearing last year’s joint winners.

First came the competition, with all entrants producing confident and charming performances. I certainly hope that those who did not win will come back next year. The eventual victor was Niamh Boadle, and she now has the great opportunity of bookings at both Bromyard and Warwick Folk Festivals next year.

Whilst the judges were deliberating I got the chance to hear Ffion Thomas and Kate Holland, last year’s joint winners. Ffion has a background in the eisteddfod traditions, and is at ease singing in English and Welsh. Kate hails from Kent and cites everything from ’the Bushburys to Anne Briggs’ as influences,

Back on the main stage I saw the Tunewrights, a young person’s music project, with members between the ages of 11 and 18. 13 members, including many multi-instrumentalists, provided a spirited variety of familiar tunes, interspersed with a couple of songs.

Next up came my revelation of the weekend. The Young ’Uns are three young chaps from Hartlepool with a fantastic repertoire of shanties, intricate and pleasing harmonies, and fantastic patter to boot. Their completely unaccompanied singing was with passion and without pretension. I enjoyed them so much caught them again at another concert later.

Outside Dr Sunshine was involving kids and adults alike in some spirited and silly parachute games, even as the weather turned cooler. In the ceilidh tent the rapper workshop was well attended, and it was lovely to see everyone getting to have a proper go in teams of a routine.

Back at the main stage, Jeff Warner brought an American flavour to proceedings, with his Eastern USA retellings of British folk song, and some less familiar to these shores. Often it felt a little like a game of name that tune, as it was familiar whilst the words were completely different. One song that stuck in mind was ’Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still’ which he learnt from some ladies in an Amish community. It was beautiful.

Ashley Hutchings and the Rainbow Chasers treated the audience to their brand of self-penned songs, including quite a few new tracks. Everyone took turns on vocals in this musically tight ensemble. Meanwhile, in the ceilidh tent Ceilidhography were creating their own brand of busy and funky dance music.

The evening began with Typsy Jazz, and their skillful rendering of some well loved standards. The playing, whilst not to my taste, was masterful and the audience very vocally appreciated the talent on display.

Next up was a complete change of tack with Keith Donnelly and his mix of music and comedy. His ability to get an entire crowd singing in appreciate of chocolate (in a number of silly voices) was something to behold. Also, I cannot begin to explain the Hong Kong airport ukulele story, but suffice to say it was very funny to everyone there.

Drever, McCusker, Talbot and Hewerdine have all worked together and collaborated on a number of projects, but this concert marked a new foursome, carrying on the great gigs that previously featured Roddy Woomble. As someone who had most recently seen Drever, McCusker and Woomble, I did notice Roddy’s absence but the wealth of material all four performers have at their fingertips really meant it was not apparent to the audience on the whole. The performers all took turns with material, with the highlight being ’Poor Man’s Son’ from Kris’ solo album. I look forward to seeing more of this altered line up.

To close the festival, there are few acts that can put on the deserved spectacle but the Demon Barber Roadshow is one. Rousing songs move into clog dancing intervals at a frenetic pace. The icing of it all was then the Demon Barbers’ rapper team performance, featuring three of the band, including Damien Barber. The speed and accuracy of their dancing was truly something to behold. No wonder some of those in the side also belong to the current world champion side.

And that was that, the end of Bromyard for another year, and another hugely successful festival. I really like Bromyard - it makes a great festival to close the summer season and retains the charm of being smaller in size whilst also attracting some of the best names. Long may it continue to do so.

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Kris Drever

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