Important: Please note that the photograph of the Kathryn Tickell Band
should be credited to G S Studios
GOSPORT & FAREHAM EASTER FESTIVAL – 03 &
04.04.10
I
suppose it seems a little weird reviewing a festival that you are a participant
as a performer. Still, why not? Firstly let’s set the record straight. I’ve
always enjoyed the Gosport & Fareham Easter Festival because it is so
audience and performer friendly. Our host is the ever affable Peter Chegwyn who,
like myself has impeccable taste when it comes to selecting which artists to
utilise…only joking. Along with his own dynamic duo Keith and Jayne Humpleby,
the festival has established itself as one that most performers would give their
right arms to get on the bill such has its reputation for hospitality and
respect for the artists gone before it. Unfortunately I was only able to judge
the festival this time round on the merits of a full evening and one afternoon
concert but to be honest having chatted to a fair few of the audience and
traders we were all in agreement that this was yet another successful year. Now,
for those who have wondered what it’s like in the ‘Green Room’ (yes, this
festival has a genuine one!) let me tell you that the conversations are
sprinkled with outlandish tales with each artist trying to outdo each other and
that you’d better watch out if you sing “The Wild Roverâ€ð. Still, if you can’t
roll with the punches…don’t get in the ring. You have been warned. Onto the
evening performance and Saturday night’s packed auditorium. Garry and I haven’t
performed as Band Of Two at the festival for a good five or six years but the
reception we received was like a real home-coming. More than likely because we
didn’t play “The Wild Rover!â€ð Unfortunately due to me having to chill out in the
Green Room I missed Kathryn and her band’s first set of the weekend but, via the
sound from speakers in the room she was extremely well received. Having recouped
my energy I managed to catch the Feast Of Fiddles (of which Garry is also a
member) opening with the first track from their new album “The Magnificent
Severalâ€ð and was particularly impressed by Peter Knight’s “Sharpe Goes
Walkaboutâ€ð and Chris Leslie’s “Geronimo’s Cadillacâ€ð. From the audience point of
view it was the set of tunes including Dave Roberts’ French Waltz that had many
octogenarians swaying in time to the Parisienne style melodies accompanied by
evocative guitar chords and sleazy (in the nicest possible way) melodeon from
Hugh Crabtree that proved the highlight of the gig. After a good night’s sleep
back at the hotel (well, it would have been if it hadn’t been for some serious
folk ‘buffs’ tripping upstairs at four in the morning) we woke up to a hearty
breakfast joined by Ron Kavana and Ms Tickell (boy, can this lad name-drop). So,
onto my final concert of the weekend and what a cracker it turned out to be with
an outrageous set performed by Kathryn and her band of happy chappies. Peter
Tickell whipped up the audience with dervish digits flailing on his fiddle
accompanied by Julian Sutton’s pumping melodeon and Joss Clapp’s truly ‘funky’
rhythm guitar chops. Like me, the rest of the audience were inspired by new
heights of professionalism and pleasantly exhausted by the end of the set. So a
fine finishing finale (at least for me) and many thanks to Peter Chegwyn and his
team for providing possibly the best ‘folk’ festival in the UK…here’s to plenty
more. ps/ Many thanks to the Gosport sound and lighting crew and Feast Of
Fiddles soundman Paul Smith for turning a good sound into a great one…nice one
lads!
PETE
FYFE