even more festivals

I had a great week in Bideford in August,taking in lots more music. There was a strange, to me, feel about this festival, because there was so much going on, but not that many people around to enjoy it. There was a second opportunity to see the Navvy's Wife and individual performances from the participants, along with Nicola Clark, Pete Coe and Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer.
My final festival of the season was Whitby. What more can you say. It is certainly THE festival and until I visit some of the other big festivals which I missed this year, will remain my favourite. I'm definitely going back next year!
Whitby and surrounding countryside are spectacular and I felt immediately "at home" in the area. Perhaps, a little of this can be attributed to my origins....a Sunderland girl! but that apart a very friendly bunch of people. This year saw the festival sharing the first weekend with the regatta...so sometimes places were very packed...but it didn't matter.
I stayed with friends from the Chichester folk club and we all had a fantastic time, doing stuff together and apart. I signed up for the harmony workshops run by Craig, Morgan, Robson, so that meant an early start each morning, culminating in a performance at the end of the week. The rest of the days were spent wandering the town, Robin Hood's Bay and joining in and listening to great music. What better way to spend time!!!! By having a season ticket every option was available and sometimes too many choices to make!!
Some of my favourites included The Wilsons, Martyn Wyndham-Read with Iris Bishop, Sara Grey with Kieron Means and Jeff Warner, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Pete Morton, Jez Lowe, Jim Causley, Colum Sands, Jamie Roberts and Katriona Gilmore, Dave Fletcher and Bill Whaley, Dave Burland, Chris Sherburn and Denny Bartley and the Axford Five. Apart fom all these wonderful musicians there was time to take in workshops about songwriting, go to singaround sessions and I even had a spot at the folk club hosted by Mike Tickell when two of the guests didn't make it!!! Late night drinking back at our cottage helped cement friendships and I'm looking forward to next year!!!