8am, and yesterday’s suspicions of a very hot weekend are realised as campers stumble desperately out of sleeping bags and tents to lie in the relative cool of the open air. The smell of frying bacon is strong, and the sound of kettles whistling as they boil provides the early morning festival soundtrack.
Later on, this changed to yelps of cold from the solar-powered showers (I have it on good authority that they were warmer later in the day!), but cool showers were a blessed relief as the day got ever hotter.
The usual parade of festival stalls were all set up by this morning, selling all manner of things, from shiny jewellery and brightly coloured clothing, to clay and temporary tattoos to tempt in passing trade - although I have to say that those selling sun-hats were doing particularly good business.
Wood is a particularly child-friendly festival, as is evidence by the fact that, at times, the site appeared to full of children with nary an adult in sight! There is a whole tent given over entirely to children’s activities, face-painting, and of course the traditional fun of waterbombs and water pistols. The general feel appeared to be very much that parents were happy to let their children roam, because there is only so mischief that can be found on such a small site!
At 11, there came a trumpet call to alert everyone to gather in the workshop village (an encampment of yurts, teepees and mini marquees not far from the main stage and tree tent), where we were given the choice of a number of workshops for the next 2 hours, ranging from making recycled bags and keyrings, felt making, African dance and learning about chakras to making a junk instrument, photography skills, T’ai Chi and thatching. One of the really wonderful things about this festival is the way it is organised to encourage active participation - the afternoon music doesn’t start until after the morning workshops.
Over lunchtime, the crowd grew to listen to the gentle music of 9bach and the Minnikins.
Come 3pm, and again the sound of the trumpet summoning us to another set of workshops - this time a different choice including making a wormery for under £10 (and no, I’m not going to tell you how - you’ll just have to go next year and find out), harmony singing, circle dancing, jewellery making and working with nature spirits. You certainly come away from the festival knowing more than you did when you started!
Meanwhile, over on the Hammer and Tongue stage, a large number of canny people had gathered, drawn both by the shade and cooling breeze, and the rather excellent music and poetry.
On, then, to the music - the afternoon continued with some excellent sets by Malpas, Cate le Bon, Holton’s Opulent Oog, the Candyskins and KTB, alternating between the hot grass outside and the mildly cooler tree tent.
The real highlight of Saturday though was Martin Simpson’s evening set, which included a lot of his familiar songs, excellent guitar playing and rather unexpectedly (for me, anyway) some really amazing banjo! He was followed by the equally excellent Trevor Moss and Hannah Lou. There’s definitely something to be said for lying comfortably on the grass with a beer in your hand listening to such wonderful music.
As the evening cooled off, Tunng took to the stage with their folk/electronica to get the crowd dancing. Meanwhile, the campfire this evening was playing host to assorted music, from singing to drumming and a flautist.
Your correspondant was witness to an impromptu drumming workshop - and at the moment could just have easily been sat around in an African savannah as an Oxfordshire field! The night finished off with the excellent Dusty and Dreaming Spires in the tree tent for those who still had the energy, and a very good time they had of it too.
Photos by Sam Styles.
