Blimey! This feels like the real deal – once again, up early and on the road to a town never yet visited before. We were off to Alcester in Warwickshire for their folk festival. For us, it was just like old times going broadly the same route that we had travelled dozens of times to Blue Moon studio to record The Bite. To shorten the journey, we listened to some old Alan Stivell recordings, if that isn’t a tonic for a Sunday morning, I don’t know what is.
Arrived in good time at the immensely pretty town of Alcester and made our way to the local Greig Centre to meet Marje and get our festival wristbands. Our impression was that, in the same way one gets clubs that are singing clubs and some that are listening clubs, this seemed to be a singing festival –with lots of local talent on show in a numerous venues. Lots of dancing going on too.
We had a quick walk round the town and then made our way to the Town Hall, to get ready for our first of two sessions. Lunchtime on Sunday, meant that revellers (?) from the night before were only just getting going. As such, the early acts had fewer people watching than they deserved. It was nice to see the excellent Les Sullivan again – whom I had seen at the Maidenhead Folk Club in April – singing with the equally excellent Christine Connolly, Steve Last and others.
We followed Fairfield from the Bromsgrove Folk Club, who performed a wide range of really interesting material. Then we were on. In the need for a quick turnaround, we didn’t get the chance to thank Bob Bignell of Fairfield for his really supportive review of The Bite in Folk Monthly magazine – many thanks Bob!
We had maybe 20-25 in the audience. The upstairs room at the Town Hall was an historic and atmospheric place to play. It gave us the chance to do justice to Only for Three Months –which was commented on favourably afterwards.
Such is the nature of this festival that there needs to quick turnovers and quick movements around town. As soon as we finished we had to move off to do another set elsewhere. It felt a bit unseemly departing so quickly but I hope the band that followed us realised that was why we were leaving what sounded a lively set so quickly.
Down to the Royal Oak for the second set. We made it with about 10 minutes to spare; waited for the act before us (who I’m afraid I never caught the name of but he could certainly play!) to finish a song, and then stagger in with the kit. Ten minutes later, we were on – as mystery guests in a way, since no-one had heard us or of us before.
We kicked off with Compagnons de la Marjolaine, which set an upbeat tempo and with, Avery and the Merchants of Bristol, Nellie Torrence and Jeannie Waldie and Billy Don’t You Weep For Me, was very well received. As is the case with many pubs, this wasn’t an easy venue to play. We had a sympathetic and good audience but tills ringing, coffee grinders grinding didn’t make it easy. However, we had a good chat in the back bar afterwards with the MC and it seemed clear he had appreciated the set, which was great.
So, mid afternoon we turned for the two hour journey home. We went back to see Marje, pick up our on offer CDs (and bought an album of songs by Richard Grainger about Middlesbrough – which I haven’t heard yet but am keen to). Grabbed some food at a service station on the way home. Back for 6.00pm absolutely cream crackered.
Marje was kind enough to mention the possibility of an invite back to the Alcester winter folk festival – which sounded a lively affair, and we would certainly be keen to oblige!