Bromyard Folk Festival 2009

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Posted by Liz Osman on 18 September 2009

Day two started at Bromyard in glorious sunshine. I hotfooted into town for a concertina workshop whilst the ceilidh tent reverberated to the sound of many clogs tapping. Having learnt some excellent advice on song accompaniment I was then treated to morris displays as I walked back through town.

Next up was shanty songs with Graeme Knights and Jim Mageean. The Football Club was packed for the occasion and the rousing choruses carried far and wide. Luckily, with the weather so fine, a few decided to couple the shanties with a quick bit of sunbathing.

Maz O’Connor started my concert day, with her sensitive unaccompanied singing. One highlight for me was the ’Trimdon Grange Explosion’ lament, as well as the anti-war song ’Here’s a Tender Coming’. Ably accompanied for some songs by Matthew Jones on guitar and by, her newest toy, the popular shruti box. She is a voice to watch.

On the main stage 4Square produced a typically energetic and accomplished performance with their jazzy take on folk. Perhaps a few tunes had a little too much experimentation but the young band play with a cheek and enthusiasm that is infectious.

Crucible were next and did not disappoint, providing both close harmony singing and exciting tunes. The four part a capella song ’Pilgrimage’, with its repetitious ’where are you going, you sons and daughters?’ delights and earworms in equal measure.

A break from the music led me to a story-telling workshop in the football club. Here we were treated to scary tales and lost our inhibitions blowing raspberries for the story of a very stupid man and his donkey. Good fun was had by all the (mostly adult!) audience. As we left the workshop a parade of children dressed as jellyfish and flying saucers walked past to the sound of drum and melodeon.

Back down in the town, and the fabulous Falcon Mews venue (a miniature banqueting hall), His Worship and the Pig performed their latest show ’China Town’. Providing a history of the pottery industry of Stoke-on-Trent, the songs were both informative and poignant. I can now proudly explain exactly what a sagger maker’s bottom knocker is.

The marketplace was alive with the samba rhythms of the Sambassadors of Groove. A marked change from the morris of earlier in the day. The whistles, drums and percussion brought an entirely new flavour to this small town.

Suitably fed and watered I headed for the evening concert, starting with Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies. I’ve seen Jez a few times, and thoroughly enjoyed once more his songs of the North East. He also did an excellent job of getting the crowd singing, particularly in ’Another Man’s Wife’ with the wonderful chorus line of ’ooh she’s another man’s wife’.

Jackie Oates’ new album ’Hyperboreans’ launched the week of the festival, so the audience was treated to a set mixing old favourites with new tracks. With James Dumpleton on guitar and joined on stage at times by her brother, Jim Moray. Ever the experimentalist Jim was playing only his second gig with a banjo, that gave a slight bluegrass feel to some material.

Braebach’s arrival onstage gave an immediate acceleration in pace and decibels, as the four piece Scottish band launched straight into a ’double-bagpipe’ tune. The speed and skill of the pipers is breath-taking, as they take an instrument loathed by many, and turn into something to be loved. It was also good to hear that a second album is in the works.

Outside fireworks shot into the night sky, followed by a number of paper lanterns. On the ground children were still practising their circus skills by glow of the equipment.

The ceilidh tent was buzzing to Tickled Pink and caller Pete Rees kept a fun and frenetic pace. At the same time the Battlefield Band could be heard drifting across the site to rapturous applause. Whichever tent you chose, it was a good end to the day, and the mid-point of the festival.

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Jim Moray

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